EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. –The Vikings may be the only undefeated team left standing, but they're not celebrating just yet.
"I don't think they feel like they've arrived," Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday. "I think they feel like they have a long way to go, and really, I don't think they feel satisfied."
Zimmer on Monday told Twin Cities media that Minnesota's game at Philadelphia is essentially **kicking off an 11-game season**. He's not one to soak in the limelight, and the unsatisfied mindset is one inherited by his team.
"We're 0-0 right now. We're trying to go in on Sunday and start 1-0," cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. "We know we're undefeated, but at the same time, we know everybody's going to be coming after us.
"We're trying to compete and get this win," he added.
The Vikings aren't about to put the cart before the horse. Earlier this week, linebacker Eric Kendricks said he and his teammates are taking the season one week at a time. Don't ask him about matchups two or three games ahead, because he's only focusing on the Eagles.
"I can honestly say, at this moment right now, I have no idea who we even play after Philadelphia," said Kendricks. "I really don't."
According to Kendricks, there are multiple factors involved in the Vikings success thus far, but he believes a main element is maintaining an attitude adopted from Zimmer.
"I think the mindset and everyone's work ethic is definitely part of [the success]," Kendricks said. "We've played good team defense, but I still have high expectations and a lot of things I want to improve on going forward. I think we're going to do that."
There's plenty of hype surrounding the Vikings, who have won their first five games after seeing Teddy Bridgewater suffer a season-knee injury and having Adrian Peterson and Matt Kalil added to the injured reserve list.
But Zimmer and the Vikings tune it all out.
"Honestly, we try not to look too much back or too much forward," Zimmer said. "We've played pretty good team football. But, I'm sure we could've lost some games, and we could've won some games. So, I'm not a real sentimental guy like that."
The Vikings don't take their success for granted, and they don't expect to be handed anything moving ahead.
When asked if he believes Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz fears the Vikings defense, Munnerlyn said intimidating Wentz now doesn't mean a thing if they don't make their statement on the field Sunday.
"We're not going to get a win by saying, 'Oh, [we're] the Minnesota Vikings. The 5-0 Minnesota Vikings.' No one cares," Munnerlyn said. "We still have to go out there and put these pads on and lace up these cleats and go out there to play."
