Minnesota needed its defense to step up against the undefeated, high-powered Texans. The Vikings did that and more on Sunday in a 34-7 win.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Brian Flores told the CBS broadcast crew he went to work upon his 2023 arrival building his defense to stop the 49ers-style offense. His Vikings defense did more than simply stop the Texans on Sunday.
The Vikings froze Houston like Minnesota frostbite, getting key contributions from former Texans Jonathan Greenard (three sacks) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (interception) in a 34-7 win. Minnesota shut out Houston over the game’s first 41 minutes, frustrating C.J. Stroud most of the day.
“Flo, like I said, has been calling really, really good games, balanced, keeping us balanced while keeping our opponents off balance is the best way I can describe it,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell after the win. “And staying aggressive, who we want to be. And then really two weeks in a row of really on both sides, offense and defensively, that play style showing up, like some of those short-yardage conversions we had offensively. And defensively, the physicality I saw.”
O’Connell also saw quarterback Sam Darnold win a third consecutive start, something he hasn’t done since 2019. Darnold matched a single-game career best with four touchdown passes. He left late in the third quarter after his legs got rolled up in the pass rush, but returned to a standing ovation one play later.
Minnesota (3-0) has a challenging road trip next week, at Green Bay (2-1). The Packers are expected to return quarterback Jordan Love following his Week 1 knee injury.