GREEN BAY, WIS. – Kevin O'Connell awarded game balls Sunday to every member of the Vikings defense and to all his assistant coaches on that side of the ball.
The defense earned it. Brian Flores' unit has been disruptive and opportunistic and difficult to play against lately.
Now, suddenly, the defense needs to become a strength, or in the words of safety Josh Metellus, "the rock of the team."
The Vikings departed Lambeau Field late Sunday afternoon with a 24-10 victory and with a crisis after quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles against the Green Bay Packers.