Mike Zimmer is tired of the Vikings losing

The Minnesota Vikings looked like the class of the NFC at the beginning of the season. Minnesota jumped out to a 5-0 start on the strength of a dominant defense that was able to mask the team’s offensive weaknesses. Now, however, the Vikings are 7-6, and head coach Mike Zimmer is tired of losing.

“We’re losing. Yeah, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of losing, I’m tired of penalties, I’m tired of not living up to our ability,” Zimmer said Tuesday via the Star-Tribune. “I’m tired of it. I’m not going to stand for it.”

Zimmer is feisty on the sideline even when his team is winning, so it’s not surprising he’s frustrated now.

This is a Vikings team that has been decimated by injury, and key players started dropping before the season even began. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a knee injury just before the start of the season, prompting a trade to acquire Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Adrian Peterson tore his meniscus in Week 2, and by Week 4, the Vikings had placed both starting offensive tackles, Matt Kalil and Andre Smith, on injured reserve.

Running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon obviously aren’t on the same level as Peterson, but the line has also struggled to create any space for them in the run game. The offense was never going to be dynamic given the circumstances, but a perfect storm of injuries has rendered the run game in particular completely ineffective.

The injuries have been so problematic that ESPN ranked Minnesota at the top of its list of teams with the worst injury situations.

Even Zimmer ended up being briefly incapacitated with an injury. Zimmer suffered a torn retina and had to undergo emergency surgery. He was hospitalized during Minnesota’s Week 13 loss to the Cowboys.

Zimmer said after the Week 14 win in Jacksonville that he has no intention of ever missing another game.

The defense has continued to play well, but it hasn’t been enough to overcome the offensive weaknesses, and Zimmer doesn’t feel the team is playing up to its potential despite the injuries.

Still, half of the losses the Vikings have suffered this season have been by six points or less. Those close losses suggest the team is capable of being more competitive.

With the Detroit Lions leading the division with a 9-4 record, and the Vikings trailing by two full games, Minnesota really needs to win out for its best shot at the postseason.

Zimmer said the team needs to keep its focus in the right place.

“I know everybody says we need to win out. I just want to beat Indianapolis this week, and then we’ll worry about the next game and the next game after that,” Zimmer said. “But if we start thinking about down the road and this and that and all these different scenarios, then we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do.”

There is certainly hope. Peterson was designated for return from injured reserve and will practice with the team on Wednesday. The remainder of Minnesota’s schedule consists of a slate of teams the Vikings should be able to handle. The Vikings face the Colts this Sunday, and will take on the Packers next week. Minnesota finishes the season against the Chicago Bears.