Andrew Zimmel | KBMW 1450

There are a handful of fan bases who know the pain that Vikings fans do. Sure the Bills went to four consecutive Super Bowls, only to lose each one in a more gut wrenching fashion than the last. And yes, the Browns were awful for the better part of 20 years, cycling through quarterbacks and head coaches while also being one of two teams in NFL history to go 0-16. 

What the Vikings are going through currently, from an outside observer, might not be as painful as the historic misfortunes that these two current AFC title contenders have been through. I assure you though, what Viking fans are dealing with is worse.

When you are a fan of a bad team, you can temper expectations. The faithful will still buy season tickets and jerseys and the fans base will come together every Sunday to cry into their metaphoric beers together.

But what happens when your team isn’t bad, and what happens when you are just…stuck? 

After their 19-17 trumpet over a winless Detroit Lions team last week, many Viking fans are at the end of their rope when it comes to this season and Head Coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings’ three losses have all been one score games, and while Greg Joseph’s redemption after missing a game winning field goal earlier in the year is heartwarming, many fans don’t think games should come down to last second field goals when the offense has looked as good as Minnesota’s has at times.

I have never been a Kirk Cousins fan, but I’ll be the first to admit that the problem isn’t him. Unlike other QBs, he’s taken the addition of rookie Kellen Mond as a competitive challenge that has taken his game to the next level. Cousins has been solid QB this year and if a few games bounce the other way- some might even be putting him into MVP conversations. 

Davlin Cook’s health has been an issue all year it seems, reminding every fan why you don’t pay running backs, but Alexander Mattison has been able to step up rushing for over 100 yards last week making him a suitable backup. Mattison won’t ever be named to an All Pro team, but having him be able to fill in helps. However, many fans think that the Vikings have leaned on their running game too much, giving other teams a chance to get back into games due to the lack of aggression by the Vikings offense.

Minnesota went into halftime of the Lions game with a 13-3 lead and were only able to score six points in the second half, due in part because of the game call. According to Adam New from Vikings Territory,  the Vikings offense has thrown the ball on 60% of plays. This is up considerably on last season’s average of 54.25%, leaving 40% for running plays. That is the 13th-highest percentage of passing plays in the league. However, most of the calls in the second half, while passing plays, were not shots down the field. Instead, Cousins and the offense used a mix of short over the middle, out routes and screen passes. The Vikings have also ran the ball almost a third of the time on first down, and when you compare that to some of the other more exciting offense in the league, the Vikings just don’t bring the same excitement even if they have some of the most exciting players. 

When you consider that Justin Jefferson has 33 catches on 45 targets for 462 yards and three touchdowns this season you makes you grind your teeth even more. Jefferson is averaging 14 yards a catch and 92.4 yards a game in man coverage. No other receiver has 200 yards versus man coverage at this point in the season. Which begs the question, why is more of the offense NOT running through the second year wide out. 

The last piece of the puzzle comes down to Mike Zimmer. 

Zimmer’s a defense first coach whose defense has been so-so this season. The return of Anthony Barr was a welcome addition, but even Barr would admit that he looked a step slow in the first game back on the field in over a season. Everson Griffen has been the most surprising addition. The 11 year veteran has made an impact almost immediately after resigning with the Vikings in the offseason. The secondary is still a head scratcher, and I will never understand how Bashaud Breeland is the best option at corner. 

 

D'Andre Swift trucks Bashaud Breeland pic.twitter.com/SHV8Lg97ur

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) October 11, 2021

 

While fans have been chanting for the removal of one of the most stable and successful coaches in Vikings history- I seriously doubt that Zimmer will get the boot during the season. If there was an assistant coach like Norv Turner, Gary Kubiak on staff or even younger coaches like current Browns’ Head Coach Kevin Stefanski or former New York Giant coach Pat Shurmur I might be able to make the case. Teams normally swing from offensive minded to defensive minded between coaching hires, and I can’t imagine 34 year old offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak taking over. 

The Panthers come into Sunday’s match up with the Vikings after blowing a lead to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Carolina has scored a league low seven points in the third quarter this season, so Minnesota isn’t the only team that has second half woes. While the game is on the road, Minnesota feels like a solid bet if they can figure out their offense. 

In the NFL, the days of needing a lockdown defense are gone. Instead if you just have a serviceable defense, you have a chance to win a lot of games. That is, if the offense can score some points. For Minnesota, they have the personal to make it happen- it just comes down to play calling. Maybe then, fans won’t feel so stuck.

Minnesota 20 Carolina 17