|
For an organization that is well-versed in drama and pratfall — Adrian Peterson's child abuse case two years ago, Brett Favre's downfall in 2010, the Love Boat, etc., etc. — this season ranks nowhere near the top of the list when it comes to misfortune. But it has had no shortage of adversity.
"We have to take advantage of the opportunities we have," said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who filled in as head coach for Zimmer last week.
—Norv Turner, coach Mike Zimmer's right-hand man in charge of the offense, abruptly left the team in early November with the offense having trouble pulling its own weight.
The Jerseys NFL Wholesale margin for error has disappeared, and now they're hoping for a 4-0 finish to the season just like the one in 2012 that pushed them into the postseason after a 6-6 start.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings' season began with an ambulance rushing to team headquarters to save the leg of their starting quarterback.
—Zimmer has needed multiple surgeries on his right eye to address a detached retina,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, which caused him to miss the game last week against the Cowboys.
—Peterson tore the meniscus in his right knee in Week 3, robbing the offense of its most potent and well-established playmaker.
All Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Authentic.us/]Cheap Football Jerseys China[/url] of the injuries have made an essential position group the biggest weakness on the team and the biggest reason the offense is ranked 31st in the league.
There remains a chance he will play before the season is over, but only if the Vikings' playoff hopes remain alive.
A blockbuster trade followed to get another quarterback in town just ahead of the season opener in hopes of keeping a championship window open only to have the offensive line decimated by injuries, their star running back go down with a knee injury and their offensive coordinator to walk away midseason with the offense struggling to get going.
"Coach Zimmer talked to the team this week about our backs being against the wall. We've got to go get a win on Sunday and then hopefully the sky is the limit from there,Cheap Jerseys Supply. But we've got to get this one first."
"This year, things are a little bumpy in a road. But just like a football game, when you're going in a football game, adversity is going to hit at one point. What you're going to do after that is going to determine the rest of the game."
He wore an eye patch during practice on Tuesday and sunglasses on Wednesday and Thursday and will be coaching the team in Jacksonville on Sunday.
Pat Shurmer was elevated from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, but the change Jerseys NFL Wholesale has done little to spark a unit ranked 26th in the league in scoring.
"As far as last year,NFL Jerseys From China, things are a little bit different, like smooth sailing, good things happen, everybody's happy," receiver Stefon Diggs said,China Jerseys, thinking back to an NFC North-championship winning season in 2015.
—The Wholesale NFL Jerseys offensive line lost tackles Andre Smith, Matt Kalil, Jake Long and Phil Loadholt and guard Mike Harris for the season with injuries. Center Joe Berger and right guard Brandon Fusco have also missed time and left guard Alex Boone has been playing through pain for weeks.
But they have lost six of their past seven games as they prepare to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, and have gone from Super Bowl hopefuls to holding on to their playoff lives over the past month.
The Vikings are operating under the assumption that they have to win their final four games to get into the playoffs, a stark difference from the team that was flying high after routing the Houston Texans in Week 5.
Few teams have faced more adversity this season than the Vikings (6-6), and their play on the field has reflected the chaos.
And after all that, their head coach showed up to work this week with an eye patch after needing emergency eye surgery.
—Kicker Blair Walsh needed to be cut after leading the NFL in missed extra points, forcing the Vikings to scramble to add Kai Forbath in free agency.
They started the season 5-0 thanks to an elite defense and Sam Bradford's smooth transition from Philadelphia to Minnesota.
—Teddy Bridgewater suffered a dislocated knee that, were it not for the fast action by the Vikings training staff and trauma medics who rushed to the scene, could have resulted in an amputation from a non-contact drill.
"You're so frustrated because it is things that we're doing to ourselves," Boone said. "At the same time you have to learn and really grow. This is the time where you're either going to take a step forward or take a step back." |
|