01-04-2021, 03:32 PM
Asked to reflect on the end of the Vikings' 2020 season on Sunday afternoon, Mike Zimmer closed his postgame news conference after a 37-35 win over the Lions at Ford Field with something of a valedictory statement.
"I'm proud of the way these guys went through all the [COVID-19] protocols and everything they had to do, and all the different changes that were made and the way we handled our business," he said. "The way they practiced. You know, it's frustrating that we had so many injuries, especially defensively. Guys opt out and [Danielle] Hunter and [Anthony] Barr and [Eric] Kendricks. Lot of times when you get injured players, it depends on who the injured players are. And we had a lot of really good ones get hurt this year. So we've got a lot of work to do. I've got a lot of work to do.
"In saying all that, I'll say two things: We probably weren't good enough of a football team this year to be in the playoffs. We weren't good enough defensively, obviously. But we missed a lot of guys. And the guys that ended up playing battled like crazy and we still had opportunities to win a few more games, probably. But, you know, with the turnover that we had, the injuries that we had on defense, we just weren't good enough. We fought like crazy and 7-9 is not great, but under the circumstances and everything that went on, maybe it's the best we could have done."
The claim's veracity will probably be in the eyes of the beholder, at the end of a year where the Vikings played six games that were decided by a field goal or less, losing to Tennessee, Seattle and Dallas before beating Carolina, Jacksonville and Detroit. And there might not be much riding on its interpretation, five months after Vikings ownership gave both the coach and general manager Rick Spielman contract extensions.
"You realize, boy, Seattle, we're a play away, Tennessee we're a play away, Dallas we might've been a play away. Even the Chicago game there [in Week 15] we might've been a play away," he said. "You could also point to some wins that we were maybe a play away from losing. You do know, golly, we were really close to being in the playoffs. If anything it just gives me an edge a little bit, and I'll want to make sure our teammates have that edge as we go to the offseason and get ready for next year. 'Hey guys, wins and losses are one play and we've gotta work and prepare and grind with that understanding."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-lion...600006372/
"I'm proud of the way these guys went through all the [COVID-19] protocols and everything they had to do, and all the different changes that were made and the way we handled our business," he said. "The way they practiced. You know, it's frustrating that we had so many injuries, especially defensively. Guys opt out and [Danielle] Hunter and [Anthony] Barr and [Eric] Kendricks. Lot of times when you get injured players, it depends on who the injured players are. And we had a lot of really good ones get hurt this year. So we've got a lot of work to do. I've got a lot of work to do.
"In saying all that, I'll say two things: We probably weren't good enough of a football team this year to be in the playoffs. We weren't good enough defensively, obviously. But we missed a lot of guys. And the guys that ended up playing battled like crazy and we still had opportunities to win a few more games, probably. But, you know, with the turnover that we had, the injuries that we had on defense, we just weren't good enough. We fought like crazy and 7-9 is not great, but under the circumstances and everything that went on, maybe it's the best we could have done."
The claim's veracity will probably be in the eyes of the beholder, at the end of a year where the Vikings played six games that were decided by a field goal or less, losing to Tennessee, Seattle and Dallas before beating Carolina, Jacksonville and Detroit. And there might not be much riding on its interpretation, five months after Vikings ownership gave both the coach and general manager Rick Spielman contract extensions.
"You realize, boy, Seattle, we're a play away, Tennessee we're a play away, Dallas we might've been a play away. Even the Chicago game there [in Week 15] we might've been a play away," he said. "You could also point to some wins that we were maybe a play away from losing. You do know, golly, we were really close to being in the playoffs. If anything it just gives me an edge a little bit, and I'll want to make sure our teammates have that edge as we go to the offseason and get ready for next year. 'Hey guys, wins and losses are one play and we've gotta work and prepare and grind with that understanding."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-lion...600006372/
