Season of misfortune takes toll on Minnesota

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. — The Minnesota Vikings’ season began with an ambulance rushing to team headquarters to save the leg of their starting quarterback.

A blockbuster trade followed to get another quarterback in town just ahead of the season opener in hopes of keeping a championship window open only to have the offensive line decimated by injuries, their star running back go down with a knee injury and their offensive coordinator to walk away midseason with the offense struggling to get going.

And after all that, their head coach showed up to work this week with an eye patch after needing emergency retina surgery.

Few teams have faced more adversity this season than the Vikings (6-6), and their play on the field has reflected the chaos.

They started the season 5-0 thanks to an elite defense and Sam Bradford’s smooth transition from Philadelphia. But they have lost six of their past seven games as they prepare to play the Jaguars on Sunday, and have gone from Super Bowl hopefuls to holding on to their playoff lives.

“As far as last year, things are a little bit different, like smooth sailing, good things happen, everybody’s happy,” receiver Stefon Diggs said, thinking back to an NFC North-winning season. “This year, things are a little bumpy in a road. But just like a football game, when you’re going in a football game, adversity is going to hit at one point. What you’re going to do after that is going to determine the rest of the game.”

ED ZURGA / ASSOCIATED PRESS Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper’s attempt at a reception against Chiefs defensive back Steven Nelson was ruled an incompletion during Thursday night’s AFC West showdown. For game results, go to today’s ePaper.