This weekend is a big matchup between a couple of the best teams in football. The Detroit Lions at 4-1 look to take the NFC North lead if they are able to take down the Minnesota Vikings.
With the loss of Hutchinson for the Lions and the potential loss of Aaron for the Vikings, each team has a missing piece to what makes them great.
The biggest matchup that no one is talking about is perhaps two of the best coordinators going against one another.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has started to become a hot commodity to become a potential head coach, However, he prefers to stay back because of the culture that the Lions are creating.
Johnson has created one of the best offense’s in the league with the specific group of players that aren’t overwhelming superstars, but great because of how they work together and buy into what Johnson is building on the offensive side of the ball.
When you have offensive lineman reporting as eligible and they are displaying better hands than some of the tight ends across the league.
Jared Goff went from Hollywood bust to hometown hero, because of the way Johnson believed in him.
The leadership that Goff has grown into and trusted because of the belief Ben has in Goff. You can almost say Johnson went to Jared as both men are shopping for Super Bowl rings for the Motor City.
Goff has Johnson and Dan Campbell to thank for reviving his NFL Career.
On the other side of the ball you have Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, who has made the most out of his defensive unit.
Just like Johnson, you don’t have anyone who is overwhelmingly the most dominating player at their position, but when 11 guys are believing in his system the Vikings are quietly becoming one of the stingiest, strongest defenses in the National Football League.
Some of these guys that are excelling in the Flores defense that wouldn’t have the impact nearly like they are having in Minnesota.
Examples include Joshua Metullus, Cam Bynum, Byron Murphy Jr, among others. 2023 was the learning year of the Flores defense, and it’s only getting better.
There has been more takeaways on the defensive side of the ball based off how all 11 are in sync.
With the defense N SYNC like it is will the Detroit Lions go Bye Bye Bye?
We shall see.
This high-powered Lions offense, which takes really good care of the football against a Brian Flores defense that loves to take that ball away, makes this matchup that much more intriguing.
After this year both of these coaches could be in high demand for a head coaching job in the upcoming offseason.