Brian Flores just sent the Minnesota Vikings into the NFL record books with an outrageous blitz rate, but Josh Allen could make that same approach considerably more dangerous Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.
Minnesota blitzed Jared Goff on 26 of his 29 dropbacks against Detroit, an 89.7 percent rate that NFL Next Gen Stats identified as the highest in a game since at least 2018. It surpassed the previous blitzing record against Indianapolis, which Flores established just one week earlier.
Goff survived that pressure well enough for Detroit to hand Minnesota its first loss, 19-15. Allen presents an entirely different problem. Unlike Goff, Buffalo's quarterback can turn a free rusher into a 20-yard scramble without needing anybody to get open.
Why the Minnesota Vikings' aggressive defense faces a different challenge against Josh Allen
Allen isn't exactly struggling against extra rushers. According to TruMedia statistics reported by the Star Tribune, he's completing 65.7 percent of his passes against five or more rushers this season, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt.
He's also thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions against that pressure. Minnesota can certainly force Allen into mistakes, but repeatedly throwing six or seven rushers at him sounds like a good way to get burned.
Allen's ability to escape changes everything about the rush plan. A linebacker charging through an interior gap might create immediate pressure, but losing containment can leave the middle of the field completely exposed.
Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner become especially important here. Both need to threaten the pocket without repeatedly surrendering outside escape lanes.
Blake Cashman's responsibilities are equally complicated. His versatility within Flores' defense lets Minnesota disguise interior pressure, but committing him forward can eliminate a defender who can track Allen underneath.
Flores doesn't necessarily need fewer threatening defenders at the line. He needs more uncertainty about which defenders actually rush.
Minnesota can show six potential rushers, send four, and drop an edge defender into coverage. That approach still creates protection confusion while preserving additional bodies to contain Allen's improvisation.
Nobody can blame Flores for wanting to stick with what's been working. Minnesota leads the NFL with 25 sacks through seven games, and its aggressive identity has helped produce the league's stingiest scoring defense.
Flores shouldn't have to reinvent his defense just because Allen is on the other side.
But Detroit demonstrated the danger of Minnesota's vulnerable run defense. The Lions rushed for 197 yards, exposing problems that Buffalo can attack with Allen and James Cook.
The NFL's official Week 9 statistics show Buffalo averaging 148.4 rushing yards per game, third-most in the league.
Against that combination, Minnesota's edge defenders must recognize designed quarterback runs while maintaining disciplined pursuit angles. One missed assignment could turn an otherwise successful pressure call into an explosive gain.
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