MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings hit their stride last ye

well before midseason Riley Reiff Jersey , using an eight-game winning streak to build a 13-3 record for the second seed in the NFC.This year, the second half of the season is going to be much more difficult.More Vikings coveragePreview: Cook, Vikings look to keep rolling vs. PackersTop Tweets: Vikings prepare for Packers with TMNT hype videoBarr, seasoned Vikings defense off to strong startNew offense, same Rodgers: Vikings prep for LaFleur’s PackersVikings re-sign center Jones, waive rookie TE DillonThe challenge starts with the schedule. The next five games include trips to Chicago, New England and Seattle, with two division-leading foes and one of the toughest venues to play in. Detroit and Green Bay are the home opponents during that stretch, bringing two dangerous quarterbacks to U.S. Bank Stadium.The Vikings are also 4-3-1, just behind the Bears in the NFC North and slightly ahead of the Packers, so they’ve squandered their margin for error.“I’m not disappointed,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “It is what it is. We have eight more games to go, and that will determine what we end up doing.”After losing 30-20 to New Orleans on Sunday night , the Vikings were mostly upset about the way they let the game slip away . They were in control late in the second quarter with a 13-10 lead, when Adam Thielen plunged forward for extra yardage and lost the ball at the 14-yard line. The Saints turned that fumble into a touchdown Latavius Murray Jersey , making the potential cost of that rare mistake by Thielen a whopping 14 points.“It’s more frustrating because I think we had it going execution-wise and scheme-wise and all that,” Thielen said on Monday.“I think when it’s maybe a lack of concentration or just being too relaxed or what have you, that’s the frustrating part. Because you know how many times that you’ve done it a different way and the right way, and the one time you slip up it costs you maybe the game.”The other half of Minnesota’s dominant receiver duo, Stefon Diggs, was responsible for the other devastating turnover. Diggs stopped his drag route short before an under-pressure Kirk Cousins dumped the ball off to the spot where he expected Diggs to be had he kept running. The interception was returned for a score to give the Saints a 27-13 advantage.Thielen and Diggs were outspoken after the game about their acceptance of blame, but Zimmer wasn’t having it, and he said as much to the team.“Like I told them in the meeting today, the receivers need to stop saying that stuff because one person doesn’t lose a game. One person doesn’t win a game. We win around here as a team. We lose around here as a team,” Zimmer said.“Guys make mistakes, miscommunication, whatever you want to call it happens. I will never put any one of those one things on one player, ever.”Though the loss clearly hurt the Vikings in the conference and division standings, there were reasons for them to feel better about where they’re headed at the halfway mark. Thielen and Diggs don’t have a pattern of such gaffes, for one. They also played without six injured starters George Iloka Jersey , and young subs such as right tackle Brian O’Neill, linebacker Eric Wilson and cornerback Holton Hill fared well in extended action.“I’m encouraged after this ballgame. I’m encouraged after the last four weeks,” Zimmer said. “If I was ticked off, I’d let them know. Trust me.” MINNEAPOLIS — The pressure is on Minnesota’s offense to improve, and a more productive passing attack will depend partially on a diversified group of targets for Kirk Cousins.Some of that depth was on display Sunday night against Seattle.Rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. and backup wide receiver Brandon Zylstra each had touchdown receptions, and the Vikings used a versatile offense to beat the Seahawks 25-19 in a preseason matchup.More Vikings coveragePreview: Cook, Vikings look to keep rolling vs. PackersTop Tweets: Vikings prepare for Packers with TMNT hype videoBarr, seasoned Vikings defense off to strong startNew offense, same Rodgers: Vikings prep for LaFleur’s PackersVikings re-sign center Jones, waive rookie TE Dillon“I honestly thought it was a really positive night,” said Cousins, who went 6 for 8 for 68 yards. “It’s a small sample size. It’s the preseason. You try not to read too much into it, but I came away feeling good about the first two drives and also really the rest of the offense the rest of the way.”Second-string quarterback Sean Mannion took over for the third possession, which ended in an interception that safety DeShawn Shead returned 88 yards for a score. Mannion bounced back by finding Smith with a short throw into the end zone just before halftime.The Vikings, who underwent an offseason scheme change with offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and offensive adviser Gary Kubiak after an underwhelming first year with Cousins at the helm Matt Wile Jersey , had 409 total yards.“We have so many different weapons, and coach Stefanski and coach Kubiak, they want to get us all in involved,” said Smith, a second-round draft pick from Alabama. “So they did a great job of that.”Mannion went 11 for 14 for 88 yards. Kyle Sloter, who finished 11 for 13 for 116 yards, delivered the touchdown pass to Zylstra in the third quarter and directed another scoring drive capped by fullback Khari Blasingame’s 1-yard plunge.Seattle’s pass rush was strong in the first half, but Minnesota’s much-scrutinized offensive line again avoided allowing a sack. Barkevious Mingo pressured Mannion as he threw before Chad Beebe was expecting the ball after a turn on a hitch route, prompting Shead’s pick-six. Cousins and rookie center Garrett Bradbury shared a botched under-center snap resulting in a fumble the Vikings recovered.The first team took two turns for the Seahawks, too, and Russell Wilson went 6 for 9 for 82 yards after sitting out the preseason opener. He had a 33-yard completion to Jaron Brown, who has a starting wide receiver spot for now following the retirement of Doug Baldwin. D.K. Metcalf, the second-round draft pick from Mississippi, did not play, and coach Pete Carroll later said he’ll need minor knee surgery. Brown’s catch set up the first of four field goals by Jason Myers.“I thought we did a really good job with tempo. Guys were in and out of the huddle making plays Rashod Hill Jersey ,” Wilson said. “I thought we moved the ball down the field against a very good defense.”JUST KICKING ITThe Vikings gave Kaare Vedvik his debut a week after acquiring him in a trade with Baltimore. He punted three times for a 46.7-yard average, handled kickoffs and made his only extra point try. Dan Bailey, the incumbent kicker, made a chip shot field goal. Matt Wile, the incumbent punter, had only one attempt.DAY OF RESTAll-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner watched from the sideline in a Seahawks sweatshirt, being eased back into action following a minor knee procedure . Defensive end Ezekial Ansah remains in rehab mode following offseason shoulder surgery.The Vikings again held running back Dalvin Cook out as a precaution and gave rookie Alexander Mattison 10 carries for 41 yards. Mike Boone followed him with 21 rushes for 66 yards, plus a 45-yard reception. Right tackle Brian O’Neill was sidelined again, after suffering an arm injury two weeks ago.TESTING, TESTINGAdam Thielen caught a 34-yard pass from Cousins, an over-the-shoulder ball near the sideline after he beat Shaquill Griffin in coverage. With the NFL encouraging teams in the preseason to test the new instant replay rule that makes pass interference reviewable, Carroll tossed his red flag to see if he could get a penalty on the Vikings. Thielen was bewildered, respectfully assuring Carroll and Wagner during the review that there was no foul.“I was surprised. Like every fan watching the game, I’m interested to see how often that flag gets pulled and how often people want a look at every play,” Cousins said Tom Compton Jersey , adding: “Adam said, ‘If I can’t do what I did, then I can’t play.'”The no-call was upheld. Then on the next play, Thielen drew a defensive pass interference penalty on Tre Flowers inside the 10.BIG HITVikings cornerback Holton Hill was ejected in the fourth quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Paxton Lynch, whose neck snapped back awkwardly from the impact. After needing some time for evaluation, Lynch, the leader in the competition to be Wilson’s backup, walked off on his own. J.T. Barrett replaced Lynch, who entered the concussion protocol after going 6 for 15 for 67 yards.“He felt like he was OK, but he’s still got to pass those tests,” Carroll said.UP NEXTSeahawks: Play at the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night.Vikings: Host the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday afternoon.