Are we getting close to elite territory with this defense?

Banks looked good in limited snaps. Redmond is always in the backfield disrupting plays. I think with the guys we have and the coach we have, all we need is a bit of offense and we definitely could be in elite territory.

The in game adjustments from Flo are stellar.

How the D coaches and scouts work so well to bring in the right players for this scheme is right more than wrong (Allen, Hargrave aside)

I think they're there and It started about week 14? last year.

The #Vikings have recorded a sack in 31-straight games dating back to 2024. It is the team’s longest sack streak in franchise history.

(Via @VikingsPR) pic.twitter.com/njZqPHSwq4

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 28, 2026

As good as they are we need average QB play and not much more to make a run. They’re not the 85 bears but certainly very very good. The good thing is we have 2 average QB’s in the room and Murray has upside in this O

Not to be the negative nanny, but I wouldn't go that far this soon. The Bears game was marred by weather; the Pack torched blown coverages for half a game and the Bucs exploited a blown coverage for an easy (and explosive) TD early. We'll see if we improve at the same rate as offensive coordinators' find ways to exploit what we are doing. Love, Williams and Mayfield are not Allen, Mahomes and Burrow. Love what I see, but crown 'em after these three games? Nah.

This defense win not be elite for very long if the offense doesn't get it shit together. You can't sustain this, unless we can score points and win TOP. Otherwise it will wear down as the season goes.

If the Vikings get even a semblance of an offense going they may be unstoppable. https://t.co/c8L72MoVAR

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 29, 2026

Anyways, here’s to hoping the Vikings offense can get on track because the defense and special teams units are championship caliber.

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 28, 2026

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/JasonHarmonNFL/status/2104921330554470433?s=20

Literally no where to go but up.

PurplePorsche wrote:

Not to be the negative nanny, but I wouldn't go that far this soon. The Bears game was marred by weather; the Pack torched blown coverages for half a game and the Bucs exploited a blown coverage for an easy (and explosive) TD early. We'll see if we improve at the same rate as offensive coordinators' find ways to exploit what we are doing. Love, Williams and Mayfield are not Allen, Mahomes and Burrow. Love what I see, but crown 'em after these three games? Nah.

I need to see more as well, but if the offense could contribute more the D wouldn't have to be otherworldly every damn Sunday. 🙄

Flo always has seemed to be able to get pressure on QB's. The issue always was with a team like Detroit or Philly, they would just run it down our throats. The run defense in limited exposure has been better, with more upside and depth than any other year. Building up the beef in the trenches appears to be a very wise decision. If there is a weakness, Its likely on the back end. Having Harry back has solidified it though.

Look at #Vikings ILB Eric Wilson on this play! 🤯

Just blows up Bucky Irving and then finishes the play by helping fellow LB Blake Cashman take down #Bucs QB Baker Mayfield for the sack! #SKOL https://t.co/hfr8zx5ElU

— Steve Hoikkala (@stevehoikkala) September 30, 2026

I think to be elite you need to be elite in all areas and we are not yet in the secondary. I think the high blitz rates helps to make up for deficiencies there, but as we saw in some parts of games having an extremely high blitz rate is not sustainable as a QB who is good against the blitz like Goff will tear you up on it. We need to be able to blitz less and count on the coverage to hold.

I think the DL is much better than last year, they are getting a lot more push and effort. Our Edge and LBs have definitely been elite. Wilson right now is one of the best LBs in the league. I do not think we have great cover CBs and love Metellus, but he is more of a hybrid LB and not a true safety, he does not have the speed for it. I liked him much better in the role that Zimmer played him in. I think Pierre has turned out to be a solid signing so far, have not seen much of him which is always a good sign for a CB.

The Vikings defense has recorded 4+ sacks and 2+ takeaways in each of their first three games in 2026, making them the fifth team over the last 40 seasons to do so in three straight games to begin a season (2024 Vikings, 2018 Bears, 1993 Saints and 1989 Washington). pic.twitter.com/brbTjKYVma

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) September 30, 2026

PurplePorsche wrote:

Not to be the negative nanny, but I wouldn't go that far this soon. The Bears game was marred by weather; the Pack torched blown coverages for half a game and the Bucs exploited a blown coverage for an easy (and explosive) TD early. We'll see if we improve at the same rate as offensive coordinators' find ways to exploit what we are doing. Love, Williams and Mayfield are not Allen, Mahomes and Burrow. Love what I see, but crown 'em after these three games? Nah.

Agreed. We're still within a small sample size, with one of the games being a super low production bad weather game. Also teams with bad offenses (like ours) tend to have statistically better performing defenses because the opposing team doesn't have to push hard and can play conservatively and the game is still within reach.

That said, BFlo will feast on bad and mid QBs. It really is a matter to me on if we can hang with the better teams.

Today is the Vikings sixth-straight game with at least 4.0 sacks (Week 16 of the 2025 season at New York Giants). It is the longest streak by a team since the New York Giants had a six-game run from Weeks 3-8 of the 2001 season.#MINvsTB

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) September 27, 2026

Minnesota has now recorded a sack in 31-straight games dating back to 2024 (including postseason). It is the team’s longest sack streak in franchise history. The Vikings went on a 30-game run from January 1999-November 2000.#MINvsTB

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) September 27, 2026

I’m in the camp with @PurplePorsche and @JR44 that this defense is very good in a lot of areas, but there are still some questions in the secondary.

The blitzing has been out of this world lately, and it’s been far more effective than what we’ve seen in the past. But the big question is how sustainable that is against quarterbacks who can diagnose it and get the ball out quickly. When Love, Williams/Badget, and Mayfield were getting the ball out quickly, they were able to have success against it. A QB who consistently beats the blitz can force you to find another way to generate pressure.

And that ties into the offense. If our offense struggles to put points on the board, I think the defense becomes more vulnerable because you can’t consistently pin your ears back and attack the quarterback when the game script isn’t in your favor. Being able to play from ahead and force teams into obvious passing situations makes Flores’ life a whole lot easier.

That said, I absolutely love what I’m seeing from this smothering defense. It seems like every game there’s someone different stepping up and making plays. That’s exactly what you want from a defense, multiple guys contributing, trusting the scheme and each other, and playing as a cohesive unit.

So no, I’m not ready to crown them either. But there’s a lot to like here, and this defense is getting better every week. If the secondary continues to hold up and the young DL keeps developing, this could become a really fun unit to watch by the end of the season.