We are at the crossroads of the Minnesota Vikings 2023 season.
Sitting at 6-6, the Vikings have both looked dead in the water and like a legit threat to win the NFC North. As things sit right now, they have lost their last two games after pulling out five straight wins, all without superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The bye week comes at a good time for the Vikings. Jefferson just came off of injured reserve and will play against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 14. It also gives players like Akayleb Evans and Marcus Davenport one more week to get back onto the field.
During the bye week, the Vikings need to fix these things.
Managing editor Tyler Forness: Give receivers YAC opportunites
Without Kirk Cousins under center, the Vikings are going to be relatively limited in attacking down the field. It’s been an issue for the Vikings because the quarterbacks left on the roster don’t have the same kind of ball placement and accuracy prowess that Cousins has. To combat that, the Vikings should move to more route concepts with yards after the catch opportunities. It will help ease the pressure on the downfield passing game and give the receivers opportunities to make plays.
Columnist Judd Zulgad: Turnovers
Nothing matters if you can’t hang onto the football.
Columnist Saivion Mixon: Turnovers
There have been 192 teams that have played in the NFL since 2018. Of those 192, the 2023 Minnesota Vikings place 42nd in total turnovers with 24. They still have five games left to play in the season.
They are currently on pace for 34 this season, that would have them tied for fourth-most in that span with last year’s 4-12-1 Indianapolis Colts team. This is not the correct side of history. Something has to happen over the bye week to where ball security is at the forefront. Of the 42 teams with 24+ turnovers, only nine have made the playoffs, and the highest mark is last year’s Bills team with 27.
Columnist Chris Spooner: The quarterback situation
The Josh Dobbs story has been an extraordinary one, but it’s looking more and more like it won’t have a storybook ending. What Dobbs was able to do on short notice under extreme circumstances is the stuff of legends, but his play in the weeks following simply has not been good enough. The Vikings have dropped their last two games, and with better quarterback play could have easily walked away from both games with a win.
The rumors are swirling regarding Dobbs and whether or not he’ll keep his job after the bye week. No matter who it is at the helm for the Vikings, they are going to need to get better play from the position moving forward if they want to close out the season on a high note and make the playoffs.
