Mike Zimmer coaches from sideline nine days after eye surgery

The Vikings struggled in the usual ways (offense, running game), but they rallied against a bad team and then pulled away late. After giving up the lead early in the fourth quarter, penalties and sloppy all-around play was just too much to overcome for the now 2-11 Jaguars to overcome.

“It’s always good to take a little break and kind of re-evaluate where you’re at and the things you need to do”, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.

It was a team effort and not in a good way. “All those things really helped”. Despite their 2-10 record, they have several interesting pieces on offense and defense that could do a lot of damage going forward.

It was a clear reaction to Robinson’s increased aggravation, Bortles’ continued inaccuracy and a seven-game losing streak that mostly can be blamed on the team’s offensive failures. With games against Indianapolis, Green Bay and Chicago remaining, the Vikings believe they can win out and slide in.

Quarterback Sam Bradford only threw one touchdown but he moved the offense down the field, finishing with 292 yards on 24-of-34 passing.

Peterson rushed 31 times for a mere 50 yards in two games before he was hurt. They would have made a formidable combination. But that number is skewed by an offense that has put the defense in tough spots amidst another coordinator change and uneven play by third-year quarterback Blake Bortles, who threw the 11th pick-six of his National Football League career in last week’s 20-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. It is incredible how reliable he has been since taking over for Blair Walsh. “You can’t win out until you win the first one”. “When they’re not rooting for us, they are Vikings fans”.

He has posted signs around the team’s headquarters underscoring that theme and challenged his players to live up to it.

Thielen, who finished with four catches for 101 yards, said he sensed a different vibe from a Vikings offense that had struck for just a pair of 40-plus yard plays this season.

Asiata had a chance to score three times, but he was stopped on a fourth-and-goal run in the second quarter and fumbled at the goal line in the fourth.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Vikings are two games behind Detroit in the NFC North and would lose a tiebreaker to the Lions, who swept the season series. This is credited to the offensive line, which gave Bradford time to operate in the pocket and to Bradford for bouncing out of the pocket to make some time. He also found Stefon Diggs for a diving, 45-yarder down the middle in the first half. “Early in the game, that’s what we wanted to do. I think it’s just going to keep their relationship going and allow them to get to where they were past year”. He turned short gains into long ones and spread the field for Bradford. On 3rd and 10 at the Jacksonville 28-yard line, Bradford targeted Cordarrelle Patterson. A field goal was blocked and a punt was deflected.

Minnesota’s defense summoned up two stops after the Vikings took the lead, and the Vikings’ stellar pass-rush trio of Brian Robison, Everson Griffen and Hunter combined for four sacks of Bortles.

The Vikings needed Bradford’s strong play. He was given a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, meaning the Jaguars picked up 26 total yards on the play. When Kai Forbath missed the extra point, Minnesota led 18-16 with 14:13 remaining.

Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell has a much better shot to stick, so the development of, and commitment to, the quarterback he drafted No. 3 overall in 2014 figure to be central topics with any prospective head coach.

The Vikings still cling to hopes of a playoff game.