4. An exotic Vikings defense
It should be no surprise that Minnesota’s defense leads the NFL in blitz rate at 43.6 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ever since the Vikings hired Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator in 2023, Minnesota has topped the league in that stat the past three seasons.
“This defense we’re about to get ready to play is a hell of a defense,” Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said this week. “They’re a really good defense, extremely active up front. These guys run line games as well as anybody and their back end is really well coordinated, very rarely out of place.”
Justin Herbert knows that as well as anyone after the last meeting between these teams. Back in Week 3 of the 2023 season, Flores dialed up a blitz roughly 80 percent of the time against Herbert and the Bolts.
“Back then, too, we figured we were going to get a lot of pressure,” Herbert recalled. “I thought we had a really good protection plan and we talked about it all week.”
Herbert and the Chargers offensive line was up to the challenge as the quarterback threw for a then career-high 405 yards, a number he only surpassed last week against the Colts.
What does Herbert and the Chargers offense see now from Flores’ crew?
“They do a really good job getting after the quarterback,” Herbert said. “They’re going to bring a lot of pressure and have a really good front seven, really good cover guys.”
Johnson said: “They bring a multitude of pressures, they’re very exotic. It definitely takes a lot of thought and planning to go against a defense like that for sure.”
Alt added: “Multiple fronts, multiple different looks. Sophisticated. We have to be on our A-game on communications as a whole offense, whole offensive line and making sure we’re talking, seeing things together and making sure we can put our best foot forward presnap.”
A player to keep an eye on Thursday is safety Harrison Smith. The Vikings veteran has a 55.1-percent blitz rate this season, according to PFF, but can also make disruptive plays when the ball is in the air.
“He’s a very smart player,” Herbert said of Smith. “He’s been around for so long and has played at such a high level, 14 years.
“He’s a true pro, an incredible leader on that team and someone you have to be aware of on the field,” Herbert added.
5. Wentz to start for Vikings
Earlier in the week, the Chargers said they were preparing for both Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy to start at quarterback for the Vikings.
Wentz will be the guy as Minnesota announced that decision on Tuesday.
Minter said Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell will still run the same system with Wentz, who began the season as the backup.
“What they do with their offense, I would say, is very similar,” Minter said. “With the couple game sample with J.J. at the start of the year and then what Carson Wentz has done, he’s obviously played more football throughout his career and seen a lot. He’s played well at times for them and has made some key plays.”
St-Juste added: “The guy has a lot of experience. He’s been playing for a long time, played some great ball in the past. He can make all the throws and he’s athletic and has the ability to run the ball.”
Wentz is scheduled to make his 99th career start on Thursday night. He’ll face a depleted Chargers defensive line that is without Da’Shawn Hand and Otito Ogbonnia, both of whom are on Injured Reserve.
As a result, fullback Scott Matlock could see increased snaps on defense against the Vikings.
“It probably put more snaps on other guys … really just shortened the rotation in that room,” Minter said of the injuries up front.
He later added: “There certainly could be an opportunity for [Matlock] to get reps there.”
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