Vikings’ Brian Flores puts Jared Goff among NFL’s best before trying to get after him in Lions game

With the Minnesota Vikings (6-0) taking on the Detroit Lions (4-2) in Week 8 on Sunday, there is no denying that defensive coordinator Brian Flores will be looking to stop Jared Goff and the high-powered opposing offense. While Flores' blitz-happy Vikings defense will be ready for the Lions, the coach would praise Goff for his NFL career.

Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's game, Flores said he "had been thinking" about Goff's career in the NFL, saying the 32-year-old has "been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over a good amount of time," according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.

"Thought it was telling how Vikings DC Brian Flores talked about Lions QB Jared Goff this morning… Said he had been thinking about Goff's career this morning," Lewis wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

"Period. He's been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over a good amount of time. He's grown quite a bit," Flores said about Goff.

Lions' Jared Goff has to be ready for Brian Flores' blitz-heavy Vikings

After coming out as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, he started with the Los Angeles Rams, as Sean McVay developed him into a productive NFL quarterback. That led to the trade in March of 2021, when the Lions acquired Goff in a deal that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.

Since 2021, Goff has recorded standout seasons, looking to reach new heights this season, but he'll have to be prepared for Flores and his immense blitz rates.

"Highest blitz rates in a game this season: 1 Vikings Week 7…2 Vikings Week 2…3 Vikings Week 1," Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer wrote on X. "For the season, the difference in blitz rate between the Vikings and No. 2 Commanders is the same as the difference between the Commanders and No. 32 Bengals."

At any rate, it remains to be seen if Flores and Minnesota get the best of Goff and Detroit on Sunday.