The Vikings would not have this opportunity were it not for their defense, a group that gave up more points last year than any other in the league and is now 13th in that category. They've jumped from 31st to fourth in the NFL in passing yards allowed and from 13th to first in sacks. They've stayed steady in the middle of the pack in takeaways and yards rushing allowed.
The learning curve is typically steep for a first-time NFL head coach, and barely halfway into the season Zimmer and his staff have already faced several unpleasant surprises and had to navigate a handful of setbacks.
The Vikings are averaging just 18.7 points per game, the sixth-worst in the league. They have an NFL-worst six touchdown passes,
NFL Jerseys China, a total that Ben Roethlisberger reached for Pittsburgh in each of his past two games.
The 4-3 alignment is the same, but the strategy is more aggressive than what the Vikings played before. Not only has Zimmer excelled over his years running NFL defenses, he has succeeded in confusing opposing coaches and quarterbacks with a wily package of blitzes, but his overall pass-rushing scheme that calls for linemen to stay in certain lanes has helped produce plenty of pressure.
Here they are, though, resting during the bye week with a chance to remain in the NFC race. Their 4-5 record has the potential for swift improvement,
Cheap Wholesale Jerseys, with a trip to sputtering Chicago (3-5) on Nov. 16 followed by three straight home games. Of the seven games left, four are against NFC North foes.
The Vikings have allowed 30 sacks,
Wholesale NBA Jerseys, the second-most in the league. Bridgewater has played more like a rookie than not, and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has been a nonfactor after an electrifying second half of the 2013 season.
General manager Rick Spielman has been a sounding board for Zimmer, whose impatience has been impossible to mask.
"The defensive line is going out there and putting pressure on the quarterback. The linebackers are coming up and making tackles, and in the secondary we are trying to cover everybody up," cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)