3 silver linings from the Vikings loss to the Cowboys in Week 8
By Nik Edlund
One step closer to change
Whether one is a Mike Zimmer fan or not, it’s clear to see that his tenure as the Vikings head coach needs to come to an end. It will be what is best for the entire franchise, and Minnesota’s embarrassing home loss to the Cowboys should bring this one step closer to becoming reality.
Zimmer just doesn’t seem to have this team playing anywhere near its talent level. They have been in close games with teams that on paper, they are much better than. The fact that these contests come down to the wire, shows that one team is getting coached much better than the other.
Zimmer also has issues with his clock management skills. It was evident in how the final seconds of the first half against Dallas were handled. The Vikings looked like they were going to try to move the ball down the field and at least get into field goal range. After a couple of decent gains and a timeout, he opted to let the clock run down, even though they had one time out remaining.
Speaking of timeouts, Zimmer also called back-to-back ones late in the game that gave the Cowboys an extra five yards that proved to be critical, as Ezekiel Elliott was able to convert on the next play.
Opposing offenses have also figured out how to attack Zimmer’s defense, which is evident when a quarterback making his first career start is able to put up over 300 yards in the air against Minnesota.
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Zimmer has done some great things for the Vikings organization during his tenure, but all good things must come to an end. This loss to the Cowboys just provided more evidence that a change in leadership is needed for Minnesota, and it is mildly surprising a move hasn’t already been made. It will be tough to see Zimmer go, but it is what’s best for this organization in the long run.