Lions defense overwhelms Vikings

By Chris Tomasson
St. Paul Pioneer Press
The Vikings aren’t scoring many points, but now they at least might start collecting a lot more fine money.
After two ugly losses in a row, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer has seen enough.
“We’re undisciplined,’’ Zimmer said after Sunday’s 17-3 loss to Detroit at TCF Bank Stadium. “Trust me, we’re going to get disciplined. … Like I told (the players), the fines are going to start going to the max now. I’m tired of it.’’
Zimmer revealed Sunday that he had to fine more players than usual last week for being late to meetings or treatment sessions. And, yes, that happened after the Vikings had been walloped 42-10 in their previous game, Oct. 2 at Green Bay.
The Vikings (2-4) have been outscored 59-13 in their past two games. Their apparent continued laissez-faire attitude won’t cut it with the first-year coach.
“I’m the boss,’’ Zimmer said. “Their job is to please me and not the other way around.’’
For the second straight game, the Vikings watched a foe waltz down the field on the first possession for a quick score. The Lions took a 7-0 lead on Matthew Stafford’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Theo Riddick with 11:06 left in the first quarter, and that’s all the points they needed.
The Vikings defense eventually settled down, although the cause was helped by star receiver Calvin Johnson and 1,000-yard back Reggie Bush both being out with sprained ankles. But the Minnesota offense never showed up.
The Vikings managed just 212 total yards and needed a 40-yard field by Blair Walsh with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter to avoid their first shutout since 2007 and first in 106 games played against Detroit. Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw three interceptions in his second career start and was sacked eight times.
“They kicked our butt,’’ said Zimmer, who said his team mostly has been practicing well. “I’m extremely disappointed in this loss. I can handle getting beat, but I can’t handle getting our butts whupped like that.’’
Zimmer vows to do something about it. It starts with discipline.
“It it takes Coach fining people to the max, fine them to the max,’’ said cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. “It’s about the small things first. You’ve got to get the small things under control so the big things just fall into place. … We definitely got to be more disciplined. (The loss was) very disappointing. We just got to play better football and execute better.’’
Bridgewater returned after missing one game because of a sprained ankle. He said he felt fine, but it was a wonder he still was standing after the game.
The rookie was sacked for a total of 45 yards. Throw in six sacks given up against the Packers, and that’s 14 the Vikings have allowed in the past two games.
“Obviously, we want to keep the quarterback up,’’ said center John Sullivan. “That’s our job as offensive linemen.’’
Bridgewater had looked great in his first start, throwing for 317 yards in a 41-28 win over Atlanta on Sept. 28. But it was a completely different situation Sunday as he completed 23 of 37 passes for 188 yards and threw the first three interceptions of his career.
The first was tossed right to safety Glover Quin in the first quarter. The second two were intercepted by middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead, one on a ball that bounced off the hand of running back Matt Asiata and another that was batted at the line of scrimmage.
“The first interception was just a poor decision,’’ Bridgewater said. “I have to see the safety when he’s back there. The other two you can’t control … Everything happens so fast for me. I could be better whether it’s ball placement or the trajectory of my passing. This is a situation that I can learn from.’’
Bridgewater has replaced Matt Cassel, who suffered a season-ending broken foot Sept. 21 at New Orleans. He’s had to make do on offense without running back Adrian Peterson, who missed his fifth straight game following an indictment last month on a felony charge of child abuse, guard Brandon Fusco, out for the season following shoulder surgery, and tight end Kyle Rudolph, out until November after groin surgery.
Zimmer won’t use injuries as excuse, but they’re catching up with the Vikings. To replace Peterson, after going with Asiata the previous four games, Zimmer turned Sunday to rookie Jerick McKinnon.
McKinnon was OK, carrying 11 times for 40 yards and catching a team-high six passes for 42 yards. But he wasn’t good enough to keep Detroit from teeing off on Bridgewater.
Stafford wasn’t anything special, completing 19 of 33 passes for 185 yards. But he did enough against a Minnesota defense that for the third straight game was missing linebacker Chad Greenway, who has a broken hand and broken ribs.
Now, the Vikings must play two straight games on the road, traveling to Buffalo next Sunday and Tampa Bay on Oct. 26. They will do so with Zimmer firmly letting it be known that he’s in charge.
“You definitely got to make guys open their eyes and show them how important it is to be somewhere on time,’’ linebacker Jasper Brinkley said of Zimmer’s threat of increased fines. “If you’re late, it carries over directly to the game. It makes sense what Coach said.’’
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