In between being pelted with questions about running back Adrian Peterson, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was asked to evaluate the Vikings special teams performance. His answers were just as short as those regarding Peterson.

"It wasn't too good," Zimmer said of the special teams unit. "It wasn't too good."

Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones blocked kicker Blair Walsh's 48-yard field goal attempt and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown with nine seconds left in the first half. It was part of a stretch where New England ripped off 30 unanswered points in the 30-7 victory over the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium.

"We needed that kick," Walsh said. "We have to do better as a unit there, and we can't have that. We have to have enough room to do our kicks and do our job."

Zimmer said Jones swam inside to block the kick that would've trimmed the deficit down to 17-10 right before the half. Instead, the 10-point swing was part of many mistakes made on special teams.

The Patriots froze the Vikings defense on 4th and short situations, stalling their decision to punt with the offense still out on the field. They'd have their punt team ready on the sideline and wait late in the play clock to send out punter Ryan Allen.

During the first instance, the Vikings left their defense on the field with punt returner Marcus Sherels back to return the punt. The Patriots decided to punt the ball, and Sherels waived for a fair catch.

There was another moment in the second half when the Vikings defense was confused whether to remain on the field again, though the coaching staff was waving them over to the sideline with the Patriots lining up to punt. The Vikings only had nine players on the field.

The Vikings have been without their special teams coordinator, Mike Priefer, during the first two games as he serves a suspension for anti-gay comments made during the 2012 season. The three-game ban can be reduced to two games at the team's discretion, making Priefer available to return to the team on Monday. Zimmer did not say whether Priefer would return to coach against the Saints in Week 3.

"As far as I know, it's three weeks," Zimmer said.