If there's any player on the Vikings roster who knows how to handle the emotions of a tough loss or a big win, it's veteran cornerback Terence Newman.

The 37-year-old has had 13 years of experience in the NFL and he had a message when he addressed the media in the locker room on Monday.

"I don't know why people are acting like we lost 10 games in a row or something," Newman said. "It's one game and we didn't play the best that we could and they made plays. So we'll just get back to the drawing board and work and focus on Atlanta."

Jason Gonzalez of the Star Tribune wrote that Newman reminded media on Monday at Winter Park that Sunday's loss to Green Bay was just one game.

The Vikings hadn't lost since Oct. 4, a Week 4, 23-20, loss at Denver and were 2-2 entering the bye week. They rattled off five straight wins before the streak was snapped by division rival Green Bay.

Despite the loss, the Vikings still remain tied for first place in the NFC North and in good position to claim a spot in the playoffs.

"What we've done previously was to put ourselves in position to where we could control our own destiny," Newman said. "The biggest thing we have to do is just continue to win games and as long as we do that I think everything else will take care of itself. We just have to keep playing as a team and playing together and understand there might be some games where guys might make some plays. But we've got to be *resilient and bounce back and make some plays of our own."*

Sacks not just an O-line problem?

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**Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com writes as hits on Bridgewater continue to mount, Zimmer says it's not just an offensive line problem.

To keep up with their level of play from a recent five-game win streak, they'll need more from the offensive line, but it's also up to Bridgewater to throw the ball sooner. The longer he holds onto it looking for something to develop downfield, the longer pass rushers have to beat their blocker and wrap up the quarterback.

"It wasn't all the offensive line [Sunday]," Zimmer said. "There was times that Teddy didn't get the ball out on time, there was times that we didn't block them, guys missed blocks. And their defensive front did a good job."

"There were some times where we probably called a few more quicks in this ballgame," Zimmer said, referring to shorter passing plays that are quicker to develop than deep routes. "But there's some times where we're going to take seven[-step drop] and a hitch and get it out. But he's got to get it out. He can't take seven [steps] and two hitches, it's gotta [be] seven and a hitch."

Sullivan 'more conservative' with 2nd rehab

John Sullivan might have pushed too hard to return to action earlier this season, and is now taking a more conservative approach, writes Tim Yotter of Viking Update.

The Minnesota Vikings' longtime starting center underwent lumbar microdiscectomy surgery prior to the regular season and was placed on injured reserve/designated to return. About five weeks into rehab, he suffered a setback while lifting weights and had to have surgery once again.

Now he is at about the same point he was in his first rehab when he re-injured the back.

"We're going a little bit slower this time, more conservative," Sullivan said, admitting he might have pushed himself to come back too quickly the first time around.

"In hindsight, yeah, I think that is the case, but I think we were doing what we had to do to try to play this season. But I won't say that anything is off the table. I think that's up to the training and coaching staff."

Quick Hitters

Vikings confident in bounce-back ability, writes Eric Oslund of Viking Update.

Andrew Krammer of 1500ESPN.com gives a look at Vikings’ stance in playoff picture with two key upcoming games.