MINNEAPOLIS -- A 32-point loss on national TV should have been motivating enough for the Minnesota Vikings, who were embarrassed in a Thursday night loss last week at Green Bay.
Minnesota players were given a three-day weekend to refresh themselves mentally and physically, even though first-year head coach Mike Zimmer had questioned himself whether he should have had players return on Monday instead of Tuesday.
Zimmer believed his players were prepared for a Sunday home game against the Detroit Lions, ready to move on from one tough loss with an important divisional game at home. Like the rest of league, Zimmer is trying to figure out his team after another lopsided loss.
"I thought they were ready to play," Zimmer said. "I'm still having a hard time judging these guys a little bit."
The Vikings had three turnovers in a 17-3 loss to Detroit on Sunday. Minnesota's defense recovered from another poor start but the offense was unable to move the ball on the league's top-ranked defense. The Vikings had 212 yards of total offense and were 3 of 14 on third down.
Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's return to the lineup wasn't enough for a team dominated by the Lions' defensive line. Bridgewater had three interceptions and was sacked eight times
"I'm extremely disappointed about this loss," Zimmer said. "I can handle getting beat, but I can't handle getting our butts whipped like that."
Zimmer steered his new team through a tumultuous six weeks that left Minnesota without star running back, Adrian Peterson, because of legal issues. Receiver Jerome Simpson was released right as he was about to be reinstated from the suspended list when word came of another run-in with law enforcement.
The Vikings lost their starting quarterback (Matt Cassel) and starting right guard (Brandon Fusco) for the season. Starting tight end Kyle Rudolph is out several weeks after core muscle surgery and the team's leading tackler for the past six seasons, Chad Greenway, missed his third straight game on Sunday.
Through it, Zimmer has commended the team's steady approach but the finished product has been anything but stable. Zimmer then revealed Sunday that he's had to fine players for being late or missing meetings and treatment.
"I'm not going to let them slide," Zimmer said. "I'm going to keep pounding my head and like I told them, the fines are going to start going to the max now. I'm tired of it."
Zimmer said he fines players anytime they are late or miss meetings and treatment. He said it hasn't been an issue with the Vikings, but had to fine "a couple" more players than usual this week. The incidents somehow happened after three days off and a 32-point loss on national TV.
"I'm the boss," Zimmer said. "So, their job is to please me, not the other way around."
Players said they have to hold each other accountable.
"You got to get on them," cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. "Coaches can't be the ones to get on them. You got to let these guys know, this is our job. You're not in college anymore, nobody's going to hold your hand."
Asked about trying to change the direction of the team, linebacker Jasper Brinkley added: "Every man take a look in the mirror and challenge himself. That's the only way."
Aside from the times he has to fine players, Zimmer doesn't see any problems during a week of practice. Then Minnesota can't transfer their practice success to the game.
The Vikings have won games by 28 and 13 points. They've lost by 23, 11, 32 and 14.
"It's getting a feeling," Zimmer said of learning to judge his team. "We had a good week of practice. We practice good. Sundays we don't play as good as we need to. That's the thing I can't figure out. Why don't we play like we practice? You don't see any of this stuff going on in practice."
Players aren't sure why they can't transfer practice habits to games.
"From my perspective, everything's clear on what our assignments are, what we're supposed to do," safety Harrison Smith said. "That's as simple as it needs to be for players. For whatever reason, we're not getting it done. We just need to look at ourselves and hold ourselves accountable."
If not, Zimmer will keep pushing his players.
"We've got guys on the sideline talking to officials," Zimmer said. "I tell them don't talk to officials, let me do it. We're undisciplined. Trust me, we're going to get disciplined."
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