EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — A day after the Vikings most lopsided defeat of the 2016 season, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer assessed his team's 34-6 loss to Indianapolis.

Minnesota's defense gave up a season-high 411 yards, the Vikings offense had three turnovers, and the special teams gave up a 30-yard punt return.

Zimmer called the performance "lethargic" on Sunday, something he reiterated Monday when he met with the Twin Cities media.

He also noted that he had a sense before the game that his team wasn't totally mentally ready to play.

"I don't think it was lack of effort; I think for some reason they were … maybe lethargic is the right word," Zimmer said. "I kind of felt it in pre-game. I don't know the reason. I don't know the reason."

With the Vikings down 27-0 at halftime, Zimmer sensed the same lackadaisical emotion in the locker room at the break.

"I'm saying we just acted like that at halftime when I talked to them at halftime," said Zimmer, who then imitated a blank stare of his players. "It was a different feeling throughout the course of the game than I've seen in a long time."

Here are four other topics covered by Zimmer at his podium session:

Getting off blocks

Zimmer called it an "uncharacteristic" performance by his defense after they gave up 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries to the Colts.

Zimmer pointed at Minnesota's inability to break free from blocks as a reason Indianapolis was able to consistently move the ball on the ground. 

"I thought we were catching a lot of blocks," Zimmer said. "We weren't hitting and getting off and trying to fly to the football like we normally do.

"A lot of times we talk about doing your job. So, it's taking on the block and staying in your gap," he later added. "But at the end of the day, when the ball goes somewhere else, it's getting off and getting to it."

Zimmer said that if a defensive player is assigned to his gap but the ball goes another way, he needs to find a way to disengage from his block and get to the ball.

"We were locked out and stalemated a lot of times, and we didn't get off and make tackles," Zimmer said.

Zimmer put the onus on his shoulders to get things turned around before Saturday's game in Green Bay.

"This isn't the first time since I've been here that we've had some bad defensive performances," Zimmer said. "I can think of Seattle a year ago and Green Bay a year ago.

"But, we need to fix it," he added. "I need to do a better job. I need to get these guys on point."

Assessing Adrian

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had six carries for 22 yards in his return from a three-month absence due to a torn meniscus.

Peterson's longest run of the day went for 13 yards and took the Vikings into the red zone, but he fumbled at the 9-yard line and the ball was recovered by the Colts. 

Zimmer was asked how the Vikings all-time leading rusher looked on Sunday.

"Good," Zimmer said. "There were some runs he probably needed to do a little bit better, and there were some times where there wasn't much there.

"He only had 12 plays," he added.

Peterson had seven total touches on his dozen plays. He only had two rushing attempts in the second half, partially due to the lopsided score.

Looking ahead to Lambeau

The Vikings have a short week before Saturday's noon (CT) game in Green Bay. The Packers are 8-6 and have won four straight games.

Zimmer chatted about Green Bay's offense, which put up 451 total yards on Sunday in a win over the Bears.

"They're playing really well right now," Zimmer said. "I think they've changed quite a bit offensively … a lot of different personnel groups, they've got some motions, they're huddling now.

"The last five weeks, I think they've had the most 20-yard completions in the league," he added. "Because they're running the ball better, they're getting some shots down the field as well. I know how good (Aaron) Rodgers is when he gets opportunities to throw it down the field."

Green Bay's offense is tied for seventh in the league with an average of 25.9 points per game.

Playoff prognostications

Although the Vikings cannot repeat as NFC North champions, they can still get into the playoffs by winning out and getting some help.

Zimmer was asked about his outlook toward the postseason with two games left to play as the Vikings sit at 7-7.

"I don't know," Zimmer said. "I haven't even looked at anything like that.

"My job is to go out and beat Green Bay, however we've got to do it," he added.

The best the Vikings can do is grab the sixth and final Wild Card spot in the postseason.