Vikings fans walking into work/school tomorrow pic.twitter.com/ZUGK43X3qq

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 16, 2024

There are a lot of reasons for the Vikings’ hot start. But really, there are two MVP factors in their undefeated record, through two weeks. First, Sam Darnold looks more like a No. 3 overall draft pick, than he does a 1st round bust. Second, Brian Flores has the defense playing on fire.

Minnesota Vikings defense playing dominant

Depending on down and distance, there is no telling what the Vikings defense is going to throw at an opposing offense, and it makes scheming during the week very difficult for the brilliant offensive minds in the league, like Kyle Shanahan.

For example, the Vikings blitzed more than any other team in the NFL last year, and brought more than four pass rushers at Daniel Jones a bunch, in week 1. It’s all anyone ever talks about, when Minnesota’s defense is brought up. ‘Oh, Brian Flores? Yeah, all that guy does is blitz, blitz, blitz, no matter what.’

Related: Minnesota Vikings Give Justin Jefferson Injury Update

But not in week two. With the San Francisco 49ers in town, Flores was hyper-focused on stopping the run and putting a bunch of bodies in the secondary, when QB Brock Purdy dropped back to pass.

On 3rd downs, they didn’t rush five or more, very often. Instead, they relied on their “NASCAR package” to get pressure on Purdy. That’s is a four-man defensive line made up of all EDGE rushers (Van Ginkel, Greenard, Turner, Pat Jones).

The Vikings defense was unhinged today. This is what it felt like all afternoon.

Line up in a Cover 0 look on 3rd down, eject into a wonky Cover 2.

Purdy has to hang on. Stunt with Jihad Ward earholing the OT and Greenard getting in Purdy's face as he tries to make the throw. pic.twitter.com/PtEZWi6OGp

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) September 15, 2024

Purdy and Shanahan battled rather valiantly, and absolutely got some blows in on Flores and his defense. But in the end, the Niners’ sophomore QB and his ballyhooed head coach were exhausted by the Vikings’ physicality. Mentally, Flores and his crew twisted their football brains into tightly wound pretzels.

Brock Purdy knows how crazy Brian Flores’ schemes are

The 49ers offense finished just 2 of 10, on 3rd down, and that’s because they were in 3rd-and-long a lot. Of the twenty-three 1st downs gained by San Francisco’s offense on Sunday, only four were on the ground. The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive mission on Sunday was to make Brock Purdy beat them, and it worked.

Related: NFL Defense Rankings, After Week Two Sunday

After the game, Brian Flores tapped the 49ers quarterback on the shoulder after the game. A shell-shocked Purdy turned around, shook the defensive coordinator’s hand. He only got in a few words before Flores walked away. The CBS microphones caught them clearly. “Great job today. Your scheme man, it’s crazy.”

"Scheme is crazy." #49ers QB Brock Purdy paid a compliment to #Vikings DC Brian Flores after congratulating Sam Darnold. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/uwrZTnbKOK

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) September 16, 2024

Thanks to two Vikings red zone turnovers, on offense, San Francisco had a chance to win Sunday’s matchup, all the way until the end of the 4th quarter. But had Kevin O’Connell, Sam Darnold and the boys on offense been able to convert those turnovers into scores, of any kind, yesterday would’ve been over before the 4th quarter even started.

As Minnesota sports fans, we are trying our best not to get ahead of ourselves. This state isn’t just known for its lakes. It’s also The Land of “I’m ready to hurt again” Memes. As soon as the sports world starts to turn in our favor, we’re almost always reminded that we can’t have nice things.

Related: Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Gets Emotional Talking About Sam Darnold

But maybe… just maybe… the Minnesota Vikings are in a much better place than where we expected them to be. Great coaching makes a difference. And so far, both at the head coach and defensive coordinator levels, this team is professional proof of that.

Related: NFC Wildcard Round Proved Vikings Need to Bring Kirk Cousins Back

All game long, Love looked like the next coming of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, probably a combination of the two. All Minnesota Vikings fans could do was look on and wonder what the next decade is going to be like if that really does come to fruition.

Jordan Love ain't real
pic.twitter.com/99puEk9Djn

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 21, 2024

Kyle Shanahan wishing he had Kirk Cousins instead of Brock Purdy tonight

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers were riding the struggle bus offensively all game long and the problem was clear. It was Brock Purdy. He couldn’t hang onto the football or hit wide open receivers.

And it didn’t matter how many YPC Christian McCaffrey was averaging, Kyle Shanahan is who he is… and that’s a pass-happy play-caller, just like everyone who has fallen from the Shanahan tree, including Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell.

Name your Shanahan disciple, McVay, Shanahan, O’Connell… they all love to call passing plays, no matter how well their running backs are playing. And on Saturday night, Brock Purdy was not good enough to operate that type of offense.

Brock Purdy facing his first adversity in WEEKS pic.twitter.com/KFzOyVRPSl

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 21, 2024

Which brings us back to the Minnesota Vikings, who are getting ready to sit down at the negotiating table with their quarterback since 2018, Kirk Cousins. In case you haven’t heard, there’s one head coach in the NFL who might like Kirk more than KOC and his name rhymes with Smile Kanahan.

Read More: Kyle Shanahan Explains His Love For Kirk Cousins in 49ers Press Conference

He coaches the same 49ers team whose quarterback nearly lost them another playoff game Saturday night. For a lot of this game, it sure felt like San Francisco’s season was going to be over and that they’d be on the hunt for a QB who could get them over the hump. A QB like Kirk Cousins.

Jordan Love goes full Brett Favre…

But then, the unpredictable world of sports took over and some weird shit happened. That’s why we love sports, right? The 49ers drove down and finally took the lead, late in the 4th quarter with just 1:06 remaining in the game. It felt like the moment Jordan Love would be knighted as the next great NFL quarterback.

Everything leading up to the Packers last drive would have made any right-minded fan feel that way. Instead, Love went full 2009-10 NFC Championship Game Brett Favre across the body, “It can’t end like this” and threw a game-sealing interception that ended Green Bay’s season and kept Mike Shanahan and the 49ers away from Kirk Cousins for at least one more week.

It’s crazy how similar these throws are. I’m getting PTSD from it. pic.twitter.com/qvXkI2LxbF

— 10,000 Takes (@10k_Takes) January 21, 2024

So instead of worrying about the San Francisco 49ers coming for Kirk Cousins, we can celebrate Jordan Love not yet being what Green Bay Packers fans thought he was. Sports have a funny way of surprising you like that.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Can Sign Cousins, Jefferson and Hunter Without Breaking Salary Cap Bank