3 biggest takeaways from the Vikings Week 8 win over the Packers

Zim is still a defensive wizard

Before Sunday’s result, it’s been difficult to figure out why the Vikings were only able to end up with one win in their first six games this season.

Fingers have been pointed in multiple directions for Minnesota’s lack of success this year, including at head coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings defense has struggled more than normal this season and that’s the part of the team that Zimmer has the most control over.

During the first half of Sunday’s game against the Packers, it didn’t look like the Minnesota head coach was able to come up with anything new during the bye week to fix his defense. Green Bay easily marched down the field and scored a touchdown on both of their first two offensive drives of the matchup.

But then the Vikings came out in the second half and held the Packers to just eight points in their final five drives of the game.

After giving up 81 rushing yards in the first half, Minnesota’s defense also held Green Bay to just 28 yards on the ground during the matchup’s final two quarters. Packers running back Jamaal Williams ended his day with a solid 75 rushing yards, but only 19 of those yards came during the second half.

With a secondary depleting by the minute, Zimmer also made the decision to have Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks help out in coverage on Green Bay receiver Davante Adams.

While Adams was able to haul in three touchdown passes (all during goal-line situations), he only finished with seven catches for 53 yards on Sunday. It was the first time he hasn’t ended a game against Minnesota with more than 100 receiving yards since 2018.

6 quarterbacks who could be the Vikings starter in 2021

With how poorly Kirk Cousins has performed so far this season, who will start under center for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021?

The most impressive aspect of all the adjustments Zimmer made to the Vikings defense in the second half is that he was able to do it with a ton of inexperience out on the field. Minnesota was using a number of guys from the bottom of their defensive depth chart on Sunday, but thanks to the direction from their head coach, they were able to get the job done.