Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer 3y

Vikings need to see touchdowns from offense in preseason finale

EAGAN, Minn. -- Sample size provides important context when weighing where the Minnesota Vikings’ level of offensive concern should be with just over two weeks until the season opener at Cincinnati.

The Vikings are the only team without an offensive touchdown this preseason, though it’s worth noting quarterback Kirk Cousins and the starting offensive line have played just three series together -- two punts and a missed 51-yard field goal -- in a 12-10 loss to the Colts in the second game. And they were without running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

A week earlier, the Vikings scored six points on two field goals vs. Denver.

“I’d like to see touchdowns to be honest with you,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said this week. “I think we need to have some success.

“They’re confident, but you know confidence comes when you play well and you show it. I really don’t want to go into the first ballgame and we haven’t looked crisp or sharp.”

Minnesota has one more chance to generate some preseason offensive momentum on Friday in Kansas City (8 p.m. ET, Fox).

“We really didn’t get the ball down the field in the passing game at all,” Zimmer said about the first two games. “We ran the ball pretty good.

“If you’re going to throw 5-yard checkdowns all day long, it takes 20 of them, so ... We’d like to get the ball down the field a little bit more.”

Aside from one sack, Cousins voiced confidence in his pass protection and was encouraged by the overall operation, including how quickly he could progress through his reads and see coverage.

But those things weren’t reflected on a dismal stat sheet. Cousins utilized running backs Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah on checkdowns, and the only pass-catcher he connected with was third-string tight end Brandon Dillon. Adam Thielen sustained a thigh bruise on a play over the middle of the field where Cousins threw into double coverage.

The offense -- backup QBs included -- went a collective 2-of-13 on third down.

Minnesota’s offense ranked fourth in yards and 11th in scoring in 2020, and Zimmer called it the most explosive unit of his tenure. That’s what the Vikings believe they’re capable of repeating in 2021 spite of a lack of consistency in two preseason games.

Some of that has to do with the product they’re fielding behind Cousins. The play from Jake Browning and Kellen Mond raises questions about whether the Vikings have a viable backup quarterback on the roster, but bringing in a veteran may pose a challenge.

“We'll see,” Zimmer said after the Colts game. “With the monetary situation, we have to be careful about that as well.”

No matter how little the starters have played, and playing time is expected to look the same vs. Kansas City with Adam Thielen ruled out and Cook likely to stay sidelined, Cousins understands the carryover effect that comes from establishing rhythm.

“The name of the game is points,” Cousins said. “Touchdowns preferably always. But to get that, you’ve got to convert third downs, avoid negative plays, sacks, penalties, obviously avoid turnovers, have to have explosive plays, which I think is something we did well last year.

“We’ve got to find ways to get those. It’s tough to just drive down the field with 5- and 6-yard gains over and over. We’ve just got to put it all together and get points.”

On Tuesday, the Vikings scrimmaged for the first time in the preseason. Zimmer wanted to find out where his team stood with its conditioning, how quickly the offense could get in and out of the huddle and how it would react to various game situations in a controlled environment.

It allowed Minnesota to get a look at what its offense will look like on Sept. 12 against the Bengals. The Vikings’ ability to sell play-action looks different when Cook is on the field. Jefferson, who has not played in the preseason while recovering from a shoulder injury, caught a 2-yard touchdown from Cousins to cap off an 11-play, 67-yard drive during which the offense converted two third downs. Even Browning had a highlight-reel play with a 51-yard pass to tight end Shane Zylstra.

It’s those moments the Vikings anticipate in the regular season. And while Zimmer called his QBs “skittish” against Indianapolis, Cousins believes the opportunity he has Friday can put the offense on the fast track toward Week 1.

“You’ve got to start fast, because there is no real opportunity later on to pick it up,” he said. “You’ve got to come out fast or you don’t really come out at all.”

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