Vikes Confident They Can Bounce Back After Seahawks Beatdown
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A physically beat-up Minnesota Vikings practiced Tuesday. They have to remember rule number one of the NFL: injuries are not an excuse; tough-minded people are the cure.
"I do think this team has a lot of character, and has a lot of smart guys that … don't like to be embarrassed," coach Mike Zimmer said.
They can take some advice from kicker Blair Walsh, who is paid to have a "short memory."
"You know what, we've bounced back from losses before. I think if you look at San Francisco and then the next game, then after the Green Bay game," Walsh said. "So, I mean, we can bounce back from losses, there's no doubt. You know, it happens to be that we're going against a very good team. But we're a good team, too."
This now becomes about trying to slow down an efficient offense. That task was formidable before the injuries. Still, no excuses.
"In the NFL, things going to happen in the middle of the season. I mean, players are going to go down, there's going to be nicks and bruises and injuries here and there," cornerback Xavier Rhodes said. "The next guy got to be up and ready, and got to get into the flow of things."
With a short week and a team that is injury-riddled, and a running back that is fresh because he did not carry the football much on Sunday – expect a lot of Adrian Peterson right and Adrian Peterson left, at least to start the game Thursday night.
Peterson was disappointed in how little he was used two days ago. He says that is behind him, and he guaranteed that will not be the case this week.
"Whatever it takes," Peterson said. "I always say, 'I'm going to play my role,' you know, and that's all I can do."
The Vikings head to Arizona to face the Cardinals Thursday night at University of Phoenix Stadium.