The Colts may get a look at a possible future head coach when they face the Vikings in Week 7, and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon is expected to care far more about results than optics.
That matters because one of the names who could surface if Shane Steichen is moved out is Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores has an active lawsuit against the NFL alleging racial discrimination, a detail that could give some owners pause. Irsay-Gordon, though, appears likely to judge him on whether he can help Indianapolis win.
She would also get a direct look at what Flores brings. The Colts’ offense will run into one of the league’s most aggressive pressure defenses, while Steichen will be trying to show he can handle a matchup against a top defensive mind. Steichen was hired as an offensive innovator, and Flores would be in the running because of his defensive reputation.
The on-field contrast is hard to ignore. Indianapolis has already shown a weakness in protecting the quarterback, and Minnesota’s defense is built to punish exactly that.
Daniel Jones was sacked six times and hit 11 times against a Tennessee Titans team that was struggling entering Week 6, and the Titans were able to bring heat with blitzes that worked far too well. Steichen looked unprepared for it and unable to make the necessary schematic fixes once the game was underway.
Flores has turned blitzing into a defining feature of Minnesota’s defense. The Vikings blitz 65.6 percent of the time, easily the highest mark in the league.
The New York Giants are second at 38.0 percent. That aggression has helped Minnesota post the NFL’s top pressure percentage at 36.7 percent.
The Vikings’ 17 sacks rank fifth, though they have also played one fewer game than three teams with more sacks. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has allowed 15 sacks, the 10th-most in the league.
Lou Anarumo is unlikely to build a game plan that completely erases Minnesota’s offense, so the Week 7 result may come down to the matchup between Steichen and Flores. If Steichen comes out on top, it would say plenty about his value as an offensive coach. More likely, though, Flores’ pass rush will make life miserable for Daniel Jones, and the Colts could be staring at a rough afternoon.
And if Flores ever does end up in Indianapolis, what Colts fans see from the Vikings defense in Week 7 could look a lot like the Colts defense in 2027.
In Other News...
Colts Suddenly Have A Travis Hunter Problem In AFC South Race
Travis Hunters role in Jacksonville has started to look a lot different, and that matters for the Colts as the AFC South race tightens. The Jaguars have been easing him into a larger offensive workload lately, and Week 6 showed just how dangerous that can make him on both sides of the ball. Against a league opponent, Hunter produced a standout all-around game with an interception, a receiving touchdown, three tackles and a pass defended, while also turning four catches into 59 yards.
For Indianapolis, the challenge is no longer just accounting for a gifted defensive back. Hunters expanded usage gives Jacksonville another layer of stress on game day, especially with the Colts trying to keep pace in the division. The bigger question is how much more often the Jaguars are willing to put him in position to impact the game on offense, because the recent trend suggests that part of his value is only starting to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Colts May Get A Needed Boost Right Before Minnesota
Tyler Warrens status is one of the bigger health updates hanging over the Colts as they prepare for Minnesota, and it sounds like the rookie tight end is moving in the right direction after a groin injury. Indianapolis has already had to manage the ripple effects of injuries elsewhere, signing veteran punter Thomas Morstead as insurance after Rigoberto Sanchez went down, so any sign of a key contributor trending back matters even more this time of year.
The timing also matters because the Colts could use a little stability before facing the Vikings, especially with Sauce Gardner now listed week-to-week because of a left calf injury that should keep him out of the upcoming matchup. Warrens availability is still something to watch, but the fact that a return is at least on the table gives Indianapolis a chance to regain a piece of its offense just as the schedule starts asking for more from everyone else. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Have A Big Question About Chasing Sauce Gardner
The idea of the Panthers chasing Sauce Gardner is the kind of thought experiment that starts because of timing as much as talent. Carolina is 3-2 and coming off a win in Philadelphia, so its natural for outside observers to wonder whether a contender-in-the-making might look for a bold upgrade, even if theres no reporting that Gardner is actually on the market or that the Panthers have reached out. From Indianapolis perspective, though, this is not the sort of player you casually move.
Gardner also carries the kind of contract and price tag that make any trade discussion complicated before it even gets serious. The Colts invested heavily to get him from the Jets last November, and he is already under a recent extension, which means any team interested in prying him away would need to be prepared for a major commitment on top of the acquisition cost. For now, the question isnt just whether Carolina would want him, but whether Indianapolis would entertain anything at all. [Read more 🡒]