Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores are elite strategists.

You don't have to take our word for it.

Zach Pereles of CBS Sports on Wednesday released Top 10 lists of offensive and defensive play-callers going into the season. The hierarchies were compiled with votes cast from 12 CBS Sports NFL experts.

The inclusion of O'Connell and Flores isn't surprising.

In two seasons with stability at quarterback (one starter in 2022 and 2024), O'Connell's offenses have ranked eighth and ninth in points scored per game.

Pereles wrote the following about the fifth-year head coach who was tabbed as the league's No. 8 offensive play-caller:

This season figures to be a crucial one for O'Connell, who has alternated excellent seasons with middling ones. He went 13-4 in his debut year with Kirk Cousins, then 7-10 when Cousins tore his Achilles, then 14-3 with Sam Darnold, then 9-8 last year while cycling through J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer.

Pereles assumed Kyler Murray will be named the 2026 starter eventually and wrote Murray "could hold the key to getting things back on track in Minnesota, and it's a big bet for O'Connell, who will also hope to improve his team's running game."

Flores, meanwhile, has a strong argument to be rated higher than his No. 5 designation.

Since onboarding Flo' in 2023, the Vikings defenses have limited opponents to 20.1 points per game, which is good for third-fewest after Kansas City (18.6) and Houston (20.0). Furthermore, Flores' mad genius has resulted in opponents gaining the fewest yards per rush (3.9) and fourth-fewest yards per play (5.06). Minnesota also has produced the fifth-most takeaways (76) and sacks (141) in that timeframe.

Here's what Pereles wrote about Flores as the DC prepares for his fourth season in Minnesota:

After [Mike] Macdonald, defensive play-callers No. 2-5 were separated by a mere nine points, so if we're tiering them, Flores really belongs in Tier 2, even if he finished No. 5 overall. In fact, Flores received two second-place votes and three third-place votes. Flores' uber-aggressive scheme — the Vikings led the NFL in pressure rate last year — rattles many quarterbacks from the get-go.

Click here to find out the rest of the 2026 NFL play-caller rankings.

Going for Gold Jacket

Football returns Thursday night with the 2026 Hall of Fame Game between Arizona and Carolina. On Saturday, former Vikings ball boy and iconic Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald will be immortalized in Canton, Ohio alongside LB Luke Kuechly, QB Drew Brees, RB Roger Craig (Vikings, 1992-93) and K Adam Vinatieri.

The weekend and its greatness should be appreciated to the fullest. But it also gets us looking ahead. …

Looking to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 — and 2026 Vikings Ring of Honor inductee Adrian Peterson.

Peterson is receiving flowers from the franchise Nov. 9 this season when Minnesota hosts Buffalo on Monday Night Football in Week 9. "All Day" is eligible for his next call in 2027, and he should get it.

In honor of this year's HOF enshrinement, Grant Gordon of NFL.com offered his predictions for the 2027 modern-era player selections, who he anticipates gaining entry to football immortality with Bill Belichick.

Like most prognostications, Peterson was included. Gordon proved Peterson's case speaks for itself:

History might hold tight to Peterson as the last running back of a bygone era. Like so many before him, and really none since, Peterson was a back viewed as the best player in the league for a time and just as vital to success as the guy handing him the ball. Sixteen running backs have won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, but Peterson's 2012 MVP was just the fourth this century, and the last, for a RB. Considering Saquon Barkley posed a 2,000-yard argument in 2024 and finished a distant No. 3 in the voting, Peterson could be the last RB to win MVP for a very long time — if not ever. Peterson ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards (14,918) and fifth in rushing TDs (120). Those numbers warrant a gold jacket, as do his seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro nods and other hardware (2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2012 Offensive Player of the Year).

Gordon also predicted T Willie Anderson, TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Torry Holt and TE Jason Witten to receive bronze busts in the 2027 Class, and he flagged nine others as notable modern-era candidates: G Jahri Evans, RB Frank Gore, QB Eli Manning, QB Ben Roethlisberger, CB Richard Sherman, WR Steve Smith, Sr., WR Reggie Wayne, DB Darren Woodson and OL Marshal Yanda.

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