Questions Answered: A Vikings Reunion, Mike Zimmer, Week 1 Score Prediction

The Mike Zimmer era where did it go wrong

The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the September 3rd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].

Questions Answered: A Vikings Reunion, Mike Zimmer, Week 1 Score Prediction

Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.

A New Wrinkle
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Q: Of all the players cut last week, which player would you like the Vikings to sign for a reunion?

7 Predictions for Vikings Training Camp
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Answer: Luiji Vilain.

Vilain joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2022 — the year before Ivan Pace Jr.

Fans had high hopes for Vilain, but the Panthers yanked him off the purple practice squad midseason 2023. Yet, Carolina doesn’t want him anymore. Vilain should get another practice squad job soon.

That should be the Vikings because Vilain’s upside seems pretty sweet. The only problem is that Minnesota likely would’ve signed him by now.

Q: Wowzers. Thought on the Mike Zimmer tell-all interview?

Mike Zimmer might
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Answer: Not impressed. To each their own — but he came off as a bitter, grudge-holding, mean human.

For those who haven’t read it: After his January 2022 termination, the Vikings’ owners, Mark and Zygi Wilf, asked Zimmer if he wished to address his football team — basically to say goodbye, a farewell address. According to Zimmer, he had no interest. “They asked me if I wanted to address the team. And I said, ‘Hell, no. They got me fired!'” Zimmer told the Star Tribune in a tell-interview.

“I can tell you I’ve not watched one Minnesota game since,” Zimmer added.

Zimmer then claimed he and Rick Spielman stopped talking in 2021, implied that Kirk Cousins was too expensive, and discussed “the shove” with Cousins in 2021.

His honesty is neat, but the first quote about not addressing the team because “they got him fired” was childish and unbecoming of a leader.

We’ll always love Zimmer because he’s Zimmer but nobody needed that tell-all interview.

Q: What’s your prediction for Vikings at Giants?

The 13 Notable Folks Picking
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

A: We don’t expect the Vikings to rattle off too many wins in the season’s first two months, but let’s go with the Vikings over the Giants in Week 1, 24-20.

Everything will be sloppy — that’s what Week 1 often involves. But Minnesota will get to Daniel Jones just enough to fluster him while Sam Darnold’s offense begins to hit a little bit of a stride.

Considering the schedule after, it’s not a must-win game, but Minnesota really needs to win this one.

Also — don’t forget about this.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.