Let's recap and move forward.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com shared five takeaways Friday from Minnesota's prime-time loss at Los Angeles.

First, he pointed out how Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua might have changed the trajectory of Los Angeles' season. Both players operated on a pitch count, logging 42 and 40 of the Rams' 71 offensive snaps, but they frazzled the Vikings secondary, combining for 12 receptions and 157 yards.

Kupp had one touchdown and Nacua none, but their rapport with Matthew Stafford seemed to ignite him. Stafford tossed four touchdowns, eclipsing his three-TD total from the first six games of the 2024 schedule.

The next pertained to Minnesota's second loss in five days and its potentially even greater long-term loss of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who left the game after injuring his knee with under a minute to play in the first half. Frustratingly, it occurred on a run play 97 yards away from the Los Angeles end zone.

With Darrisaw out and veteran tackle David Quessenberry filling in, pressure on Sam Darnold ramped up. According to Next Gen Stats, the 34-year-old backup OL gave up six pressures on 14 pass-block snaps.

Edholm summed up the offensive performance in 70 words:

Sam Darnold ripped the Rams defense early with precision, but things had bogged down before Darrisaw left the game. Even while showing some life in a few field goal drives in the second half, it wasn't enough. The Rams got away with a facemask that was missed on the game-sealing safety by Byron Young, but the protection broke down on a key play with a chance to tie the game late.

Another NGS insight showed how valuable Darrisaw is to protecting Darnold.

Rams standout rookie edge rusher Jared Verse, who finished the game with 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits, was unable to generate a single pressure on six tries against Darrisaw. Things unraveled in the second half, with Verse notching three pressures and 0.5 sacks across eight matchups with Quessenberry.

After the game, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell mentioned he was cognizant of the drop off in blind-side protection – a testament to how good Darrisaw is at his job – and that limited the menu of play calls.

Edholm explored three other topics: 1) the Vikings failing to find Justin Jefferson for more magic late in the game; 2) wondering if Thursday's outcome makes both teams buyers at the trade deadline; and 3) O'Connell vs. great friend and mentor Sean McVay lived up to its billing early on for offensive pageantry.

On Jefferson, we wrote after the game how his first incomplete target on third-and-goal with about six minutes left in the third quarter was the last time Darnold, who attempted seven more passes, zipped one in Jefferson's direction. The superstar was unstoppable, reeling in his first eight targets for 115 yards.

Former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger analyzed the Rams' tide-turning stop in the end zone.

Check out Edholm's full article here.

Flores making himself at home

ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote Thursday about how Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores is so comfortable in the cold of Minnesota, stressing offenses in his first gig away from the East Coast and contributing to the Vikings family atmosphere by leaning into his own and embracing his new home.

Flores said recently that he didn't know anyone in Minnesota before his arrival, but then quickly corrected himself; he knew a few people very well, including the Coker brothers and their families.

"When we heard Brian Flores was coming to Minnesota," Cliff Coker told Seifert, "my brother and I wanted to make sure he was surrounded by great people. He's like a brother to us. And I know that he genuinely loves how warmly Minnesota has embraced him and his family."

One of Flores' mentors was the Coker brothers' father, Myles, who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. Myles was a former convicted heroin dealer and champion of prison sentencing reform in Flores' home state of New York. Two of Flores' connections in Minnesota are his sons Cliff and Kelvin Coker.

They've helped Flores settle his feet, and in turn positively influence the Vikings organization.

Seifert wrote the following:

With the blessing of General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Coach Kevin O'Connell, his presence inside the building extends beyond that of a typical defensive coordinator. For example, Flores met multiple times this summer with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, before the No. 10 pick suffered a season-ending knee injury, to provide tips on NFL defensive strategy, and he was central to the acquisition of most of the defensive free agents the Vikings acquired this spring.

Flores has taken a keen interest in building camaraderie off the field.

He and his wife, Jen, have hosted social gatherings at their home for players, coaches and families in each of the past two summers, and that fellowship has continued during the season with standing invitations for Thursday evening gatherings at local restaurants. …

This year's summer gathering at the Flores home, (safety Joshua) Metellus said, included catered food, shooting hoops in an indoor basketball court — a staple for pro athletes in Minnesota during the cold winters — and more than a dozen new families getting to know one another. (Cornerback Stephon) Gilmore attended a few days after signing a free agent contract, and Flores recently said he was shocked to see how much Gilmore's oldest son — now 9 — had grown since he last saw him in New England.

That team-building initiative has helped tremendously on game days. It makes players want to play for each other; to be unselfish; to care intensely about handling their business; and to enjoy the process.

Entering Thursday night's tilt out West, Flores' unit ranked first in the NFL in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) and several more prominent categories, including pressures and interceptions.

The numbers are a sign of great coaching and great performance blending together – but the work behind the scenes, out of uniform, unrelated to the Xs and Os is perhaps equally if not more important. Vikings pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones imparted that message to Seifert.

The group struggled Thursday night against a juiced up Rams squad that returned both starting receivers, but Minnesota is optimistic that the relationships built on the way to a 5-0 start help the Vikings rebound after consecutive losses.

"What you're building is relationships, and you're building camaraderie," Jones said. "Seeing guys outside of the building, and they get to see you outside of the building, the genuine relationships.

"This is a people's business, and he's all about relationships. He gets the players around his kids. The players bring their kids, and that's how you get a good family environment. You'd be surprised what can happen if you just step away for a little bit and get to know people on a personal basis."

Read the entirety of Seifert's article, which dives into the Vikings' vast experience on defense and Flores' focus on where his feet are – instead of the possibility of again becoming a head coach someday – here.