MINNEAPOLIS -- After the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers for the 10th time in 12 games on Sunday and gave back their one-game NFC North lead with a 30-13 loss at TCF Bank Stadium, running back Adrian Peterson said the Vikings need to take a comprehensive look at what they can do better.
"I think it's from the top to the bottom," Peterson said. "It's from the coaches on both sides and the players, as well. No matter what position we were in, we had calls, and we didn't execute on a lot of plays. It came back to hurt us. But it's the coaches' job to put us in the best position, as well."
Peterson later said he wasn't referring to a specific element of the Vikings' game plan but felt like a loss such as Sunday's warranted a thorough review of what everyone could have done better.
He pointed out the Vikings' uncharacteristic mistakes Sunday, such as their eight penalties for 110 yards.
The Vikings (7-3) had been the league's least-penalized team before Sunday. But against the Packers (7-3), left tackle Matt Kalil alone was penalized three times -- including a holding penalty on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage -- and defensive back Terence Newman was hit for a 50-yard pass-interference penalty that set up a Packers touchdown late in the first half.
Peterson had one of his worst days of the season, with 13 carries for 45 yards. Only seven of those carries were after the first quarter, when Peterson posted 30 yards on six attempts. Peterson fumbled on the Packers' 22-yard line when the Vikings were trying to pull within a touchdown.
The fumble, which came as Morgan Burnett stripped Peterson once he emerged from a spin move, was Peterson's sixth of the season, though he has lost only two.
"Just me doing what I do -- trying to make a play," Peterson said. "I remember spinning out, and my legs got wrapped up, and the ball got away from me. The defensive lineman did what those guys do: They caught me slipping on that one, and it really hurt us."
Following the loss to the Packers, the Vikings have another pivotal game looming. They'll head to Atlanta next Sunday to face the Falcons, who are a game behind the Vikings for the NFC's top wild-card spot.