The Minnesota Vikings looked downright awful in the first half, and in the third quarter, they somehow looked even more lost. It all led to a fourth quarter that many people had expected to become a bloodbath for the Vikings, but instead, the defense and Brian Flores had other plans.
The defense said, "Fine, I will do it myself," and they were able to change the momentum completely in the game.
Everyone started making plays on defense while Brian Flores ended the game with a blitz rate of nearly 80%. The offense was able to capitalize on short fields, they didn't make mistakes, and everyone at every level of the roster was making plays. The end result was a 39-22 win for the Vikings, and it now has us buzzing heading into our post-game analysis.
First up, some instant takeaways.
Brian Flores should be a head coach
Brian Flores is a madman, a genius, but a madman. He ended this game doing his best Coach Yoast impression from Remember the Titans. He blitzed all night, never let the Packers' offense breathe, and the end result was that the Vikings had a comeback win, and Flores had another memorable performance from his defense. With that said, he is long overdue for a head coaching job. Yes, some legal proceedings still need to play out, but that shouldn't stop a team from wanting to win. Projecting some openings for the 2027 cycle, teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, or Washington Commanders could all use his scheme and leadership. Someone needs to make the move, or else the Vikings will keep wrecking the NFC North.
Dallas Turner could be an All-Pro
Dallas Turner had a big role waiting for him in 2026 after the team traded away Jonathan Greenard. He not only met the moment, but also thrived. He had 10 pressures, seven QB hits, one sack, and one forced fumble. He could not have had a better debut as the man of this defense, and he is now poised for a season of success. Because of that, he could be on his way to an All-Pro season as he is on pace for 170 pressures and 17 sacks.
Justin Jefferson is back
In 2025, Justin Jefferson was hamstrung by the Vikings ' quarterback play. While we didn't get to see him with the talented arm of Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz was still able to get the most out of him. He had just two touchdowns all last season, and he had two on Sunday in Week 1. He came within eight yards of 100 on the day and it seems he has his spark and energy back after a tough 2025 season.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Instant Takeaways from the Vikings' comeback win in Week 1
