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The Monday Morning Mashup, NFL Week 3: Vikings and Eagles Shine on Defense, Cowboys Struggle, and a New Star Emerges

The Vikings and Eagles show up on defense, the 49ers stumble in Los Angeles, and the Lions bounce back in Arizona. Here is what you need to know from NFL Week 3.
by Shawn Syed|September 23, 2024

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Welcome to The Monday Morning Mashup! In this column, I will share all of the things from NFL Sunday that I think are worth your time. It may be good things, it may be bad things, it may be plays or play calls or players, but it will all be rooted in my love for this beautiful, ugly, fascinating, frustrating game we call football.

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First Things First: The Minnesota Vikings Defense is the Best in Football.

If you only remember one thing from this Sunday, this is what it should be.

To borrow some words from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Brian Flores’s scheme is crazy. The best part is it is actually less crazy than last year, and that should scare offenses. Last year, Flores and the Vikings made a habit of crowding the line and either sending six or more rushers or only sending three rushers. It was a thoroughly fun defense of extremes that gave offensive lines fits:

The Vikings defensive evolution still includes some of those extreme looks, but Minnesota can now confidently generate pressure from only a four or five man pass rush while still dictating the terms of engagement to the offense. On early downs, Flores’s fronts clog up lanes while linebackers play fast to the running back or close windows in zone coverage over the middle. This helps setup tough third downs where the Vikings held the 49ers and Texans to a combined 6/24 over the last two games. The Vikings also held the Texans to seven points, had two interceptions, and notched five sacks.

Playing against this defense is an unenviable task because it shifts from snap to snap. The defense literally shifts to disguise coverage, but Flores also withholds pressure for drives at a time only to send it when it matters most. He has a great feel for both when and how to pressure an offense that leaves a quarterback with no option but to hang their head.

This is combined with personnel that is surgically fit into the larger scheme. Andrew Van Ginkel makes an impact dropping into coverage off the edge. Josh Metellus, Cam Bynum, and Harrison Smith cover the entire field in rotation. Harrison Phillips and Jonathon Greenard are winning up front. Blake Cashman is playing above and beyond expectations.

Brian Flores has gotten more from less from this Vikings defense. Only now each player has elevated their play to add onto a crazy scheme that is producing a top defensive unit in the NFL. The players are also having a ton of fun:

After a dominant win over the Texans this week and a second win in two matchups with the 49ers, Flores has laid claim to the Shanahan stopper title.

The Matter Meter

How much does what we saw on Sunday actually matter?

It Definitely Matters: Vic Fangio has the Eagles Defense Back on Track.

Last Monday night, the Eagles defensive front was pushed around in every phase of the game. The Atlanta Falcons saw Vic Fangio’s defense matching their 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) with nickel personnel and enjoyed massive running lanes.

Fangio’s defense sat in four down fronts as the Falcons climbed to the second level to cut linebackers. As the Eagles marched into New Orleans, all eyes were on Fangio to see how a flailing defense would deal with the league’s hottest offense.

What Fangio and the Eagles defensive line put together was nothing short of a gem. Fangio dug into the playbook and pulled out the six down linemen front (the 40 package) that he used in 2018 before Bill Belichick ran it to a Super Bowl victory. This front, as well as the other five down linemen fronts that Fangio employed, let his defensive line play more aggressive to blocks, kept linebackers clean, and was the difference on the ground in a tight win over the Saints.

The Eagles players, and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, deserve a ton of credit as Jalen Carter was a frequent flyer in the backfield, Jordan Davis handled blocks, and Brandon Graham continued setting the edge in his final NFL season. They were able to stay in base fronts on early downs to match the Saints heavy personnel that had less flexibility without Taysom Hill.

The Eagles win came along with unfortunate injuries to Lane Johnson and DeVonta Smith who will join A.J. Brown on the injury report. Questions about how Philadelphia will play the run out of nickel fronts still remain as they head to Tampa Bay before an early bye week.

It Matters: The Cowboys Run Defense Struggled, Again.

On the other end of the NFC East run defense spectrum, the Dallas Cowboys lost a game in which Derrick Henry ran for 151 yards, 2 touchdowns, and had 45 rush yards over expected. The Cowboys struggled to tackle Henry even when they loaded up the box and Lamar Jackson was able to find the edge when things were clogged up inside.

Mike Zimmer’s defense can’t get to fancy third pressure down looks when teams are having this type of success on the ground. Some of the gains Zimmer showed in Week 1 have been set back by two straight performances that ask a whole lot more from this Dallas Cowboys interior.

The offense will look to pick it up as well as Dak Prescott threw into tight windows over and over before a late comeback was shut down. The run game has found no room, and defenses that are able to devote extra resources to CeeDee Lamb find themselves in manageable matchups elsewhere. This situation is starting to mirror some of the struggles of last year as Dallas hopes for a palate cleanser on Thursday night against the Giants.

It Doesn’t Matter, yet: The 49ers Fell to 1-2.

The 49ers have a lot going against them. Their injury luck over the last few years has run thin and regression appears to be at San Francisco’s front door. Even without Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffery, Brock Purdy was able to push the ball down the field to Jauan Jennings and put together a strong day in a stunning loss to the Rams (more on that later). Jennings ended the day with 11 receptions, 175 yards, and three touchdowns, while Purdy was 12 of 16 on pass attempts over 10 yards.

I expect Purdy to continue his solid play and Kyle Shanahan to keep drawing up winners for a 49ers offense that was unable to generate yards after catch in the loss to the Rams. The NFC’s top teams continue to stumble, and the 49ers will be in this race to the end despite their slow start.

It Keeps Mattering More: The Lions Defense Continues to Improve.

After a near perfect performance from Kyler Murray last week, the Detroit Lions defense continued to rise up in a 20-13 win over the Cardinals. Murray completed only one out of his seven pass attempts that went 20 or more yards down the field and could not recreate last week’s magic against pressure.

When Murray was pressured, he was a mere one for six for seven yards. The Lions defense gives this offense more room for error as it gets things straightened out by generating pressure, playing tight man coverage, and making splash plays that can swing a game. Murray was far from his best and had multiple errant throws, but Aaron Glenn deserves credit for how this Lions defense is playing early this season.

And the Nominees Are…

Here are the ballots for some very real, very important awards. Cast your vote and let your voice be heard.

Best Way Too Early Coach of the Year Performance for a Team not yet Mentioned in this Week’s Column
1. Matt LaFleur, Wizard, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers entered this season with an offense that seemed to have no ceiling. After a Week 1 Jordan Love injury, Packers futures holders thought that dream was over. Matt LaFleur is holding it all together with two straight gems crafted with backup quarterback Malik Willis. LaFleur is using a creative run game, Malik Willis’s skill set, and horizontal stretches that leave the defense grabbing air as the Packers stack wins in Jordan Love’s absence.

2. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

In a battle of 2-0 teams that we don’t know enough about yet, the Steelers found a way to win again. Justin Herbert hobbled off the field as the Chargers had zero net yards in the second half. Even with the injury, the Steelers are making their case as the best defense in football. Justin Fields is being put in situations to succeed and the Steelers find themselves atop the AFC North standings. This team can brawl with anyone on the way to a win.

3. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

I am trying my best not to overreact to the start of the Mike Macdonald era in Seattle, and I have been unsuccessful. The Seahawks have wins over the Broncos, Patriots, and the Tua-less Miami Dolphins. Still, the Seahawks defense is flying around and players like Rayshawn Jenkins and Derick Hall along with Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen have welcomed the new playbook. Geno Smith is still playing like pressure doesn’t exist, and I cannot wait to see this Seahawks team play the Lions next Monday night.

Best Catch made by Malik Nabers

Malik Nabers already looks like a star. He entered Sunday fresh off 10 catches for 127 yards and a score against Washington but was disappointed in himself over a late drop in that game. He rebounded in a massive way with some highlight reel plays.

1. This ridiculous body control

There is so much to love about this catch. The high point. The upper body control. The toe tap. Nabers is a new entrant into the imaginary NFC East receiver contorted catch contest.

2. This ridiculous Mossing

If there was anything to improve on the judge’s score card on the first listed catch, a defender in the catch path would increase the degree of difficulty. Nabers obliged by climbing the ladder for another athletic catch late in the 2nd quarter.

3. This pretty route

Nabers is a complete receiver and is showing why multiple teams had him as the number one receiver on their draft boards this past April. Nabers did all of this on a well-regarded Browns secondary as he starts the chase for rookie records and a Rookie of the Year trophy. His usage last week on underneath routes was encouraging, and he is giving the Giants every reason to feed him double digit targets every game.

Best Performance in a Team’s First Win of the Season
1. Andrew Gregory Dalton aka the Red Rifle, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers

Panthers fans rode the entire roller coaster this week from Bryce Young benching all the way to an Andy Dalton return. The roller coaster ended on a high note as Andy Dalton took over the offense and made the most of the situation.

Dalton handled himself very well in a game where he faced the blitz often, got rid of the ball in a hurry, and fit throws into tight windows. Diontae Johnson was the beneficiary of Dalton’s big day as he totaled eight catches for 122 yards, mostly on in-breaking routes.

2. The Denver Broncos Defense

After back-to-back positive outings from Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers were looking to take over the NFC South. That was before Pat Surtain II shut down Mike Evans and the Broncos defense forced Baker into -16.8 total Expected Points Added. Denver’s defense tallied seven sacks and one interception as the Buccaneers look to regroup before a Week 4 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

3. The entire Los Angeles Rams team

The Rams upset victory over the 49ers was an elixir for a team in injury purgatory. No Kupp. No Nacua, seemingly no linemen, no worries for Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. The 49ers’ win probability climbed all the way to 96.8% as the Rams rode a fake punt, a missed field goal, and a big return to a late Matthew Stafford got to have it drive. The Rams used some 12 personnel in this game, and it helped them find room in the run game against a team that wants to stay in a nickel defense.

Best Acting Performance by Amon-Ra St. Brown
1. Hook and Ladder

As Ben Johnson and the Lions overcame some early season hiccups, they dug into their creativity with this hot potato hook and ladder. Amon-Ra St. Brown did a great job catching the ball and delivering it to Jahmyr Gibbs in a hurry before the defense even had a chance to react.

2. Woof

There is a movie coming out later this year where Amy Adams kinda sorta turns into a dog. Seriously! It is this whole meta commentary thing. That is what I thought of after Amon-Ra St. Brown broke out this Oscar worthy performance:

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