1. Zimmer not buying 'forward progress' on key play
For the most part, the officials stayed out of the way in the Vikings' 30-23 loss to the Rams at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Miraculously, the zebras called only three penalties, including one for 5 yards — a false start on Brian O'Neill — on the Vikings. But … that doesn't mean coach Mike Zimmer didn't come away a tad mad at the officiating. He thought the Vikings should have had a fumble recovery on the first play of the fourth quarter. Cornerback Cameron Dantzler stripped the ball from Cooper Kupp near the Vikings' sideline. Linebacker Eric Kendricks recovered. But …
"They said it was a non-reviewable play," Zimmer said. Forward progress was called. Zimmer and most of Purple Nation disagreed. "Well, I told [the officials], they let these [offensive] guys get in these piles and run forever," Zimmer said. "They never blow the whistle, and all of a sudden we got a one-on-one thing [with Dantzler and Kupp] and they're going to say it's blown dead. They did tell me the replay said the ball came out and touched a player that was out of bounds. So I don't know if he was or not."
The Rams took advantage of the favorable call, scoring a touchdown for a 27-13 lead seven plays later.
2. Jefferson speaks the truth on red zone woes
BREAKING: Player speaks his mind to reporters following NFL game! No cliches. No following talking points given to him on his way to the podium. Chances are Justin Jefferson got a good talking to after a seven-minute postgame news conference in which he just said how he felt about the team being flat, Kirk Cousins missing a throw and play-calling in the red zone.
On the Vikings going 2-for-5 in the red zone, he said, "I think we should be more aggressive when we get down there, as soon as we get down there, but I'm not the one calling plays."
The Vikings ran 10 plays in the three red-zone trips that fell short of the end zone. They ran the ball three times for minus-2 yards, including the easiest of Aaron Donald's three tackles for loss on second-and-goal from the 4. Cousins went 4-for-5, but the only time he threw to the end zone, the ball was intercepted. Jefferson had one catch for 5 yards in the red zone.