NFL: Vikings downplay coverage issues.

The postgame admission by Minnesota cornerback Xavier

Rhodes that the Vikings went rogue from coach Mike Zimmer’s plan for covering Green Bay wide receiver Jordy Nelson was surprising in its own right, a snapshot of a spoiled season.

That the source of this suggestion of defiance came from the secondary, where Zimmer long ago made his mark as a mastermind of pass defense and has developed some of his strongest professional relationships, was even more of a stunner for a team that has endured all kinds of unpredictable setbacks this season.

Two days after the 38-25 loss to the rival Packers that eliminated the Vikings (7-8) from postseason contention, erasing the last shred of hope lingering from their 5-0 start, Zimmer and his players made a thorough attempt to dismantle any controversy or tension.

“It was a miscommunication,” Rhodes said, “and we got it fixed after the first series.”

The fourth-year player and first-time Pro Bowl pick used the term “miscommunication” nine times in a two-minute interview session at his cubicle at team headquarters on Monday. Then Terence Newman entered the locker room a few minutes later and said the same word six times in a little more than five minutes.

The veteran of 14 NFL seasons was more willing to speak about the situation than Rhodes, but equally adamant about it being a non-issue.

“I’d like to get that clear: This thing is not what people think,” Newman said.

That was the message from Zimmer on Monday, too.

“I probably wasn’t specific enough in the things I was asking them to do, and it went out there,” Zimmer said. Texans tab Savage:

The Houston Texans are sticking with Tom

Savage at quarterback on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Savage made his first career start in place of Brock Osweiler on Saturday night in a 12-10 win over the Bengals that allowed the Texans to clinch the AFC South.

Osweiler was benched in the second quarter two weeks ago against Jacksonville and Savage took over to help the Texans rally for a 21-20 victory. Coach Bill O’Brien said early last week that Osweiler would remain on the bench, but wouldn’t say then if Savage would start the rest of the season. On Monday he said that Savage would start in the regular-season finale against Tennessee, but didn’t say anything about Houston’s playoff game. Cowboys 42, Lions

21: Dez Bryant caught two touchdown passes and threw another for Dallas, which scored 28 straight points to down visiting Detroit.

The Lions will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, with the winner taking the NFC North title and playoff berth.