Shaq Mason #69 and Nick Broeker #64 both of the Houston Texans (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS - Shaq Mason has seen this show before, witnessing up close and personal the unpredictable strategies of Minnesota Vikings defensive boss Brian Flores.
When Mason was winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, Flores was a linebackers coach who kept taking a greater and greater role in building the defensive game plans in collaboration with Bill Belichick.
Ultimately, Flores took his defensive artistry to the Miami Dolphins as a head coach. And Mason saw even more of Flores' aggressive style in the AFC East battles between the Patriots and Dolphins before the Houston Texans' veteran offensive guard was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Texans with Flores fired in Miami then spending the past few seasons with the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
One year after signing a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Texans and earning an AFC South division title, Mason is ready for whatever unpredictable defense Flores throws at him on Sunday as he calls the plays for the Vikings' aggressive scheme that features a lot of Cover-0 and disguised looks.
In an upset win over the San Francisco 49ers last week, the Vikings limited quarterback Brock Purdy to a 2-for-10 rate on third downs.
"With their defense, they're a well-coached group," Mason told RG. "You've got to stay true to your keys. There's a saying: 'Don't believe lying eyes.' The Vikings create a lot of mishaps and miscommunication with offenses with all the stuff they do. So, you've got to be true to their keys."
The Vikings frequently will show an all-out blitz alignment before the snap, getting quarterbacks to audible out of deeper passes. Then, the Vikings will bail out of the blitz look and drop seven or eight players into coverage.
It's a confusing mix that's been effective so far for the undefeated, 2-0 Vikings.
They lead the NFL with 11 sacks, including four from backup Patrick Jones II. The Vikings already have 19 quarterback hits with relentless pressure coming from former Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who signed a four-year, $72 million free agent deal as Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter left Minnesota to join his hometown Texans on a two-year, $51 million deal.
Everything is going according to Flores' plan for the eighth-ranked run defense and third-ranked scoring defense. The Vikings have 14 tackles for losses.
The Texans' offense, led by Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, is plugging in a new RB1 for this game.
Cam Akers, the former Los Angeles Rams second-round pick who played for the Vikings last season before tearing his Achilles tendon for the second time in his career, will start for the Texans on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon is out for this game with a sprained ankle. Mixon didn't travel with the team and was officially ruled out Saturday after being listed as doubtful on the injury report. He didn't practice all week and is out along with backup running back Dameon Pierce due to a strained hamstring.
So, Akers, who excelled during the preseason and had his moments in relief of Mixon with 32 yards on seven carries with one lost fumble against the Chicago Bears, will start with Dare Ogunbowale backing him up along with rookie British Brooks and J.J. Taylor.
Akers has made a full recovery from his injuries, qualifying as something of a medical miracle. He has a great spin move and a strong stiff-arm working in his repertoire.
"A lot of confidence, man," Mason said. "Cam is a great back. He presents that home-run threat."
In a battle of unbeaten squads, someone is going to be 2-1 Sunday night and someone will be a commanding 3-0.
"The place to be is in Minnesota," Mason said. "It's always good to start off 2-0. Whether you like the way the game finished or not, we're 2-0 and that's all you can ask for."
Aaron WIlson
