We are finally in week one of the NFL regular season as the Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The first game of the season is filled with storylines, including new coordinators for both teams in Brian Flores and Dave Canales.
Buy Vikings TicketsAs we look at the first regular season game, seeing how each team comes out of the gate is going to set the tone for the rest of the year.
As a staff, we at Vikings Wire are going to bring you in-depth preview content from every angle. In our first piece, we each identified one player to watch. This piece breaks down four storylines to watch.
Managing Editor Tyler Forness: How aggressive will the defense be
We know that defensive coordinator Brian Flores is really aggressive with his scheme and loves to bring pressure. The real question is how he handles his aggressiveness with a cornerback room that is loaded with questions. Is he going to throw a lot at them early and do it trial by fire or be cautious and pick his spots? That will be telling in more ways than one. With the Buccaneers offensive line being poor, expect Flores to get exotic with his pressures, even if he doesn’t mean a lot of cover-0 looks.
Columnist Judd Zulgad: Brian Flores' Vikings debut
This will mark the debut of new coordinator Brian Flores’ defense. The Vikings had one of the NFL’s worst defenses last season under Ed Donatell and Flores was brought in to overhaul the scheme. The Vikings will employ an aggressive defense that should cause confusion but any mistakes could be very costly. Look for three-safety looks and a big dime package mixed in. If this unit can even be mid-pack, it will be a huge boost.
Columnist Kevin Fielder: Vikings stretching Todd Bowles' defense vertically
Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is one of the better defensive minds in the country, especially when it comes to preventing deep passes. However, the Vikings have put a lot of resources and emphasis into stretching defenses vertically. This makes the season opener a great test on how effective this new strategy is for Kevin O’Connell and the offense. Keep an eye on wide receivers Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn. Justin Jefferson will likely draw added attention from the secondary, leaving one-on-one matchups for the other weapons.
Columnist Saivion Mixson: Shifting to 12 personnel
The Vikings were in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) on 75% of their snaps last season. That ranks fourth in the league behind the Indianapolis Colts (78%), Cincinnati Bengals (84%) and Los Angeles Rams (92%). This off-season, they reset the tight end market by paying TJ Hockenson $68.5 million over the next four years. They bring in Josh Oliver, a tight end known for his ability to block in the run game, while also adding a fourth tight end in Nick Muse this season. These moves show a shift in mindset. What new wrinkles are O’Connell looking to add to this offense around the already lethal Cousins-to-Jefferson connection?
