While there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings heading into the 2026 season, one thing the team can depend on is having one of the best defenses in the entire NFL as long as Brian Flores is leading the charge.
Minnesota's defense proved why it will likely be one of the league's best again in 2026 during the team's first of two joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday.
Thanks to the Vikings' defense blitzing "a ton," the Ravens' offense "struggled mightily" in the joint practice, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.
No one should be surprised by a Flores-led defense bringing the blitz on a frequent basis, even during a practice. Minnesota's blitzing ended up causing a bunch of frustration for Baltimore's offense, so much so that it turned into "some shoving and yelling" between both teams, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer.
Krammer also shared some details about a situational drill that saw the Vikings' defense get the best of the Ravens and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
"Starting from midfield, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson stalled out after throwing back-to-back incompletions, including a high throw over WR Ja'Kobi Lane and an apparent miscommunication when Jackson aired out a deep throw to no one.
During the ensuing third and fourth downs, Jackson completed passes short of the sticks."
Elite defense is one of the few things the Minnesota Vikings can count on for 2026
In each of the last two seasons, Minnesota's defense has ranked fourth in the NFL in points allowed per opposing offensive drive.
Some might think performing at that level will be harder for the Vikings' defense after losing multiple 2025 starters to free agency or retirement this past offseason. But they still have Flores leading the way, and that's the key to everything.
Minnesota will have at least four new starters on defense this year, following the departures of Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Harrison Smith.
No one on the Vikings' current roster will be able to make up for what Smith brought to the table each and every week, but one could easily make the argument that Minnesota upgraded at the positions in the starting lineup held by the other three.
If the Vikings are going to get back to the playoffs this season, and maybe even win a playoff game for the first time since 2019, the defense is going to be a big reason why.
Of course, Minnesota would love to have the best of both worlds with an unstoppable offense and a dominant defense this season.
But if the Vikings' offense goes through some hiccups in 2026 with Kyler Murray in his first year as the team's starting quarterback, Minnesota knows that it can at least count on its defense to keep them in every game.
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