Vikings' unnecessary quarterback conundrum is Mike Zimmer's doing

There could easily be nothing to see in the Twin Cities this week.

Instead, Mike Zimmer created the biggest current cliff-hanger in the NFL by delaying his decision at quarterback. Oh, by the way, Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings are 7-2, have won five straight games and they lead the NFC North by two games. Minnesota is in a three-way tie for the No. 2 seed in the NFC with the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, and hosts the Rams on Sunday in a critical game in the conference.

Strange time to leave your quarterback hanging, you say?

Instead of the hot streak and the big game against the Rams, the story out of Minnesota is all about Zimmer’s quarterback delayed decision. Wednesday, he finally made the call to stick with Keenum, but why did it take so long?

Is there any question that Case Keenum deserves to be the Vikings’ quarterback until his bubble bursts, if it ever does? After all, Keenum has started seven games this season, and the Vikings have won six of those games. He hasn’t been brilliant, but he has been pretty darn good as the starter. The journeyman has completed 64.9 percent of his passes, thrown 11 touchdowns and tossed five interceptions. The numbers aren't eye-popping, but they have been more than enough to keep Minnesota rolling.      

The Vikings have a good thing going because they play top-flight defense and execute on offense. Keenum is a big part of it. Yet, he had to spend the week answering questions about potentially losing the starting job.

Why? The Teddy Bridgewater factor. Zimmer could turn to Bridgewater now that he's been activated after suffering a horrendous, freak injury in August 2016 during a non-contact drill in practice. There is a school of thought that Zimmer will turn to Bridgewater at some point because of the way he has handled this week. The coach told reporters Monday he would make his announcement after talking to everyone. If Zimmer wasn't contemplating a  QBchange, why would he have to have discussions with multiple people?

Sure, there is no doubt that Bridgewater is the more talented player and has a bigger ceiling, but the team is winning with Keenum right now. That’s the key. It is working in Minnesota with Keenum. It is next to impossible in the NFL to win five straight games with inadequate quarterback play —that means it’s no accident that the Vikings are winning with Keenum under center.

Victories in the NFL are also fragile. Things can change quickly. Taking Keenum off the field could backfire.

That’s why Zimmer’s approach for the rest of the season should be to let Keenum play until his play starts affecting the win-loss column. If he starts to falter, the Vikings should feel great that they have Bridgewater waiting to play.

Minnesota shouldn’t be swayed by loyalty to the younger QB or feel obligated to play him now that he is healthy. Yes, Bridgewater is universally loved in the organization, and his comeback has been remarkable. But, frankly, he is not needed right now.

When he is needed, he should play. When the Vikings hit the restart button in 2018, Bridgewater should be ahead of Keenum. But for now, Keenum is a big part of the Vikings’ high times. He needs to stay behind center.

It’s frankly strange that Zimmer doesn’t realize that enough that this is even a story. Yes, he correctly stuck with the hot hand, naming Keenum the starter for at least another week, but he could have made it a moot point to begin with.

Why cause a distraction? Now, if Keenum lays a sudden egg against the Rams – perhaps because he was looking over his shoulder early in the week – the Vikings will have a full-blown quarterback controversy on their hands.

It’s all so unnecessary. With seven weeks remaining in the regular season, the Vikings have a legitimate chance of becoming he first team in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl on their home field. So why stir up a quarterback controversy when all Keenum has done is help the team win?