The LA Chargers are back at home in Week 10 and are hosting their extra opponent of the 2021 season in the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were not originally scheduled to play the Chargers this season and were added with the 17th game.
The Chargers and Vikings are somewhat connected because of their dynamic second-year Justins. Justin Herbert had arguably the greatest rookie quarterback season of all time in 2020 while Justin Jefferson set numerous rookie wide receiver records. Herbert ultimately emerged victorious as the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Vikings and Chargers also have similar narratives surrounding them. Both teams are notorious for having kicking problems and the Vikings' 2021 season is looking woefully similar to the LA Chargers' 2020 season.
The Vikings are 3-5 and have lost all five games by one possession. The Chargers were 2-6 at this point last season with all six losses coming by one possession. Anthony Lynn was the main culprit for the Chargers last season and this year Mike Zimmer is taking a lot of heat.
Fittingly enough, the LA Chargers can seal Mike Zimmer's fate with the Vikings in Week 10.
Mike Zimmer is absolutely on the hot seat (just check out our FanSided sister site's coverage on Zimmer and you will see). While this might seem pretty early to fire a head coach, it really isn't. We have seen coaches fired as early as four games into a season. Ten weeks is plenty of time.
If this team was not talented it would be one thing and Zimmer would get the benefit of the doubt. The Vikings are a talented football team that are simply not being utilized. and it is absolutely fair to blame the coaching.
Zimmer is also coming off of two brutal losses that make him look really bad. The team lost to Cooper Rush and the Dallas Cowboys despite having a halftime lead and blew a lead to Baltimore in Week 9. The Vikings had two separate 14-point leads over Baltimore and lost in overtime.
Zimmer got too careful when the Vikings were up, getting a total of 13 yards in the offense's first two drives of the second half. What does that sound woefully familiar to? Anthony Lynn.
Another ugly loss in Week 10 could be enough for the Vikings to move on from Mike Zimmer. We know how explosive the LA Chargers offense is and while the Vikings' defense is better than last year, it is pretty banged up and Justin Herbert is coming off of his best game of the season.
The run defense for LA is obviously going to be a problem against Dalvin Cook and that is a storyline to follow in this one. However, there is a reality in which the Chargers get out to a big early lead and force Kirk Cousins to beat them. If that happens, things could get ugly quick.
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While it would likely take a huge win for Zimmer to get canned at this point, the LA Chargers, with their high-powered offense, certainly are a threat to Zimmer's job security.