The 2024 Minnesota Vikings are off to a surprisingly great start. They are 2-0 in the regular season and haven’t lost since they started playing games this preseason. If you’re crazy enough, you could say that they are 5-0.
This week’s game will feature some familiar faces. The Houston Texans feature Danielle Hunter and the mercurial Stefon Diggs in their defensive and offensive schemes. Former Gopher Eric Murray also starts at safety for Houston.
The challenges never stop in the NFL. This weekend, the Vikings will face another undefeated team led by head coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans hired Ryans last year, and he finished second in Coach of the Year voting, one vote shy of former Vikings offensive coordinator and Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Ryans keeps a special eye on the defense, with help from defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Houston’s defense has allowed 20 points per game through two games to rank 15th in the NFL. They’ll be going up against KOC’s offense, which is ninth in the NFL, averaging 25.5 yards per game.
The Texans play an Even front in their base defense, usually rushing four or five and counting on those guys to get pressure on the QB. Keep an eye on whether the Vikings can continue their effectiveness in the ground game, where they currently average 5.1 yards per attempt.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison‘s availability will be crucial because Houston played a great deal of man-to-man in their win over the Chicago Bears last week. Having one or both gifted WRs will make it much easier for KOC to dial up explosive plays in the pass game. Can Vikings tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill lead the rest of the offensive line in keeping Sam Darnold free? It will be critical in helping the comeback QB continue his efficient play against Houston’s elite pass rush.
On the other side of the ball, Brian Flores will face first-year OC and offensive playcaller Bobby Slowik. Houston features last year’s Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud, who has an uncanny combination of mobility, accuracy, and arm strength. Last year he was the first rookie QB since Davey O’Brien to lead the league in passing yardage. That was in 1939!
Stroud is exceptional. He just doesn’t throw INTs. Can the Vikings confuse another QB (and OC) this week and come up with some turnovers? One thing to keep an eye on is whether Minnesota’s defense can keep Stroud contained in the pocket and limit plays in which he hurts them via extending plays with his feet or running for key first downs.
Joe Mixon is the featured running back in Houston’s attack, but the Texans list him as doubtful. However, he has been a workhorse so far; the Oklahoma graduate already has 39 carries in two games. Houston features Mixon in some unconventional ways for an RB, as he’ll get the ball as a receiver aligned in the slot and on an occasional jet sweep. Also, watch out for No. 86, Dalton Schultz. Listed as a TE, he will line up at TE, WR, and also at FB. He’s often at the point of attack on Houston’s running plays.
The Texans have Diggs and Nico Collins at wide receiver, a dangerous tandem. Houston will be Flores’ biggest test thus far this year because they have their full complement of playmakers in the passing game.
Can Minnesota’s base defense, without injured run-stopper extraordinaire Ivan Pace Jr., limit Mixon and Houston’s play-action passing? Will Stroud and Slowik be the tandem to have an answer for Minnesota’s Bengal package? It will be another gauntlet for a Vikings team that has taken the league by surprise — and another chance to prove their balanced, crafty attack on both sides of the ball is not a fluke but the new normal.
Coordinators record so far:
KOC: 2-0
Flores: 2-0
