Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores takes center stage once again in Lions-Vikings finale

Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News on Jan 3, 2025

Published in Football

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Every time the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings have played each other since the start of 2023, the matchup between Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been one of the most compelling storylines.

Both are in charge of units that rank among the best in the league. The Lions’ scoring offense (33.3 points per game) ranks first in the NFL, while the Vikings’ scoring defense (18.8) ranks fourth.

“(Flores) does a great job. Each week, you try to find a weakness in the armor and look to attack it, and this defense, it just doesn’t have much (weakness),” Johnson said. “It’s been that way for two years now.”

Johnson respects Flores’ defense, but the Lions have decidedly gotten the better of Flores and Co. over their three meetings. Detroit is 3-0 and has scored 30 points or more in all three games.

In Week 7, a 31-29 Lions win at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Detroit put up 391 yards of offense as running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 116 yards with two touchdowns and quarterback Jared Goff totaled 280 yards and two touchdowns on 22-for-25 passing.

Entering Week 18, Detroit is playing some of its best offensive football of the season. The Lions have averaged 37.5 points over their last four games.

“They’re really firing on all cylinders offensively at all positions, starting with the quarterback but they’re all playing really well,” Flores said this week. “O-line, backs, receivers, tight end. Ben’s one of the best in the game as far as calling it, so they do a phenomenal job across the board. Big challenge for us.”

In addition to running fundamentally sound units, Johnson and Flores have another thing in common: Being challenging to predict.

For Flores, that comes in the form of exotic blitzes and disguises, as well as mixing coverages well. Minnesota ranks first in blitz percentage (39.9%) and eighth in pressure rate (35.5%). The Vikings’ pass rush mauled the Lions at the start of their Week 7 meeting en route to a 10-0 lead.

“He always has a curveball every week,” Johnson said. “ I think (Packers head coach) Matt LaFleur said last week that they weren’t anticipating quite as much man as they got early in the game and had to make some adjustments. There’s no question, as a coaching staff, all of us, we have to be on our Ps and Qs and just make sure we’re able to respond if he’s hitting them with something that we weren’t necessarily prepared for.”

For Johnson, his creativity shines through in his seemingly endless Rolodex of trick plays. Just this past week, the Lions ran a hook-and-ladder to receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams for a 42-yard touchdown. The week prior was “Stumble bum,” a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta that followed a fake fumble by Goff.

“Ben’s got a lot in the bag,” Flores said this week. “You’ve gotta be ready for all of it.”

Sunday's winner-take-all between the Lions and Vikings, the first-ever meeting between two 14-win teams, will certainly bring out the best of both coordinators. The winner gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, while the loser will head on the road for wild-card weekend.

Both coaches will have to be at the top of their game in order for their team to have a chance. But based on their track record, it's safe to assume they will be.