The Cowboys are favorites in Week 8 for a reason.
Dallas has a high-octane offense. In fact, the team has the top-ranked offense in yards and points per game this year. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is expected to be ready for the Vikings matchup, despite suffering a calf strain in Week 6. All that is to say, Minnesota cannot take Dallas lightly.
But Mike Zimmer has been through this kind of game before. According to NFL Media Research, Zimmer is 6-2 all time against the league’s best offense (H/T Vikings team reporter Eric Smith). That stat includes when he was a defensive coordinator earlier in his coaching career.
In those eight games, Zimmer’s teams held opposing offenses below their season scoring average every time.
Some fun facts from @NFL Media Research:
Mike Zimmer is 6-2 as a head coach or defensive coordinator against the league’s top-ranked offense.
And, he has held those eight teams below their season scoring average in each game.#Vikings #Cowboys @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/XfWz68alDa
— Eric Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) October 27, 2021
This year, the Vikings’ defense has not been perfect. Minnesota allowed Cincinnati and Arizona to torch its secondary. The Vikings’ 0-2 start was mostly due to a lack of execution on that side of the ball.
However, the Minnesota defense has been better the past several games. The Vikings will need the more recent version of the defense to show up against the Cowboys. If that’s the case, NFL Media Research may have to add one to the win column on that Zimmer stat after Week 8.