Behind Enemy Lines: Mike Zimmer Has Concerns for Vikings' Passing Game

Let's go across the field to see what the hottest topic is for the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants' Week 5 opponent.

In the four games so far this season, the Minnesota Vikings' run game, which has averaged 155.2 yards per game and is ranked third in the league, has become its strength.

The same can't be said of its passing game, which currently has averaged 169.0 yards per game, 31st in the league.

These struggles have Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer perplexed as to why the 2-2 Vikings can't seem to achieve balance on offense.

“I want to do whatever we have to do to win,” Zimmer said. “I don’t really care.

“But I do think that we’re a better football team when we run and play-action pass, and I don’t want to run the ball 35 times and throw it 10,” Zimmer added. 

“But each game dictates kind of what we do and how we do it. But we do have an emphasis on wanting to run the football, and then work everything off of that.”

After the Vikings were criticized for being unable to run the football last season, they put a focus on that the off-season to fix that issue. 

Behind an improved offensive line, running back Dalvin Cook already has 71 rushing attempts for 410 yards and is projected to run 1,640 yards this season.

The Vikings passing game, as led by high-priced quarterback Kirk Cousins, hasn't been able to get untracked. 

The Vikings only attempted 10 passes in Week 1 against the Falcons and because of their commanding lead over the Raiders in Week 3, the Vikings only attempted 21 passes.

What's been behind the Vikings' passing game struggles?

“Like I told the team, there was enough blame to go around, whether it was protection or backs missing a protection or somebody dropping a ball or fumbling a ball or missing a throw,” Zimmer said.

Wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen have a combined 25 receptions this season and less than 400 yards receiving. 

Thielen made headlines Sunday when he aired his frustrations to the media following a 16-6 loss to the Bears, an outburst that Zimmer tried to downplay.

“Thielen is a terrific team player,” Zimmer said. “If you watched the interview, he’ll tell you that he’s going to be the first one into work tomorrow and he’s got to do better and work harder.”

Spinning ahead, the Vikings are hoping to jumpstart their lethargic passing game this weekend against a Giants pass defense that is relatively young but which over the last couple of weeks has begun playing better.

Currently, the Giants pass defense is allowing 279.5 yards to opponents,  25th in the league after one point being ranked dead last in average yards allowed in the air per game.

But after struggling to get turnovers, the Giants now have five interceptions for the season, tying them for second in the league. That could be bad news for an already struggling Vikings passing offense.  

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