The Minnesota Vikings season to this point has been a rollercoaster of emotions headlined by heartbreaking losses and the optimism of having a playoff team. The rollercoaster only continued in prime time on Sunday Night Football in Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season.
Going into a game where Minnesota was viewed as a favorite and while taking on the Dak Prescott-less and Cooper Rush-led Dallas Cowboys on the national stage at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the Vikings put on a pathetic performance that resulted in the team dropping a winnable game while falling to 3-4 overall. Not only did the game end in defeat, but the way it happened is far more concerning and has become a way-too-common occurrence already this season. As frustration continues to build, pundits are calling for Minnesota to ultimately blow things up and clean house to already start focusing on 2022. After the loss to Dallas in Week 8, it’s time to do just that.
Minnesota Vikings Need To Clean House and Blow Things Up
Why It’s Time
Long story short, the 2021 season has not gone as planned for the Vikings just seven games and eight weeks into the year. Not only is Minnesota sitting at an underwhelming record of 3-4 overall, but the way it has lost in most of those games is more concerning than anything else.
From mental mistakes both on the field with the players and on the sidelines with the coaching staff, mixed with the play-calling and decision making made by the entire team, the Vikings struggles to this point in the year has many calling for change once and for all. Change that could include both player and coaching personnel.
The biggest issue that has come to fruition this season has been the coaching decisions made by Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and the rest of his staff. Zimmer has made multiple mistakes already in just seven games, something he even admitted after the Week 8 loss to Dallas. And Zimmer’s assistant staff, mainly at the offensive coordinator position with Klint Kubiak, has been less than impressive in trying to get the most out of a talented group of players.
Another reason outside of the coaching decisions as to why it might be time to restart in Minnesota are the injuries that have taken place recently, especially star defensive players Danielle Hunter who suffered a season-ending torn pectoral in Week 8 and newcomer Patrick Peterson who is currently out for an extended period of time with an injury.
It’s been the perfect storm of underwhelming performances, mental mistakes and injuries that might already put the Vikings out of the playoff picture at about the midway point in the regular season schedule. And with the schedule about to get even harder for Minnesota, it should be time to consider cleaning house to start fresh beginning in 2022.
Start With Mike Zimmer
If the Vikings were to start cleaning house and blowing things up, it likely will and should start with Zimmer at head coach. The reason Zimmer would likely be the first candidate out in Minnesota is to see if a change of voice would make any different on the team moving forward. That is, if the firing of Zimmer took place during the season rather than in the off-season.
Zimmer, who took over as head coach of the Vikings in 2014, has done a nice job in his tenure in Minnesota and has notably helped the purple and gold establish a dominant defense nearly every season he has held his role. But as of late, his old-school approach has run its course with the Vikings. The systemic failure that has taken place this fall is an example of why it is time for Zimmer and Minnesota to ultimately part ways.
Outside of Zimmer, other changes could also follow, both in the front office and on the field with players. If the Vikings fire Zimmer, General Manager Rick Spielman would likely also be on his way out. For players, Minnesota could also try and unload the contract of quarterback Kirk Cousins, although that will be no easy task, as well as other veterans on the team such as wide receiver Adam Thielen and a handful of players on the defensive side of the ball.
It is yet to be seen if the Vikings will indeed blow things up and clean house. Now, however, is the time to strongly consider that possibility. If the Minnesota Vikings rebuild does happen, the process will start with Zimmer continue to spiral down to the rest of the team.
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