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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Mike Zimmer had been an also-ran for so many NFL head coaching positions that he almost declined a second interview in Minnesota, exasperated by being passed over for yet another top job.The best fits in life can take time to transpire.Not quite three years into his first chance to be in charge, Zimmer has quickly proven his qualifications after waiting until age 57 for the opportunity. Zimmer has the Vikings so enmeshed with his defiant, demanding and direct personality that its difficult to imagine either one without the other anymore.I think your team does that naturally with a coach, good or bad. He embodies this football team, linebacker Chad Greenway said, and we obviously respond to him.Inheriting in 2014 a defense that yielded the most points and the second-most yards in the league the season before, Zimmer helped raise those rankings to 11th and 14th in his first year. The Vikings finished 7-9 while learning his aggressive, creative scheme.In 2015, they were fifth and 13th respectively, while stepping in front of favorite and four-time defending division champion Green Bay to win the NFC North at 11-5.Now their 5-0 record is the only perfect mark in the NFL. Theyve surrendered a league-low 12.6 points per game and are fourth in yards allowed, having beaten three playoff teams from last season (Green Bay, Carolina, Houston) and the last two league MVP award winners (Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton). All this despite the absence of several key players that poked a big hole in that championship goal.I dont think our team ever thought of us as kind of being written off. Maybe other people did, but I dont think our team did, Zimmer said after the Vikings sailed into their bye week on the strength of a 31-13 victory over Houston .No team is ever immune to injuries, and plenty of Super Bowl winners have survived the loss of multiple starters over the course of a 16-game schedule and the playoffs. Thats not a novel feat in this brutal sport.Few outfits are as well-built as this edition of the Vikings is, though, to withstand such an early onslaught. The franchise quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), the reigning NFL rushing leader (Adrian Peterson), both starting offensive tackles (Matt Kalil and Andre Smith) and a starting defensive tackle (Sharrif Floyd), all former first-round draft picks, are recovering from surgeries after suffering long-term injuries. Floyd is expected back this year, and perhaps Peterson, but the depth of the roster and the resilience of the players have been tested hard.We know the show must go on no matter what, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said, adding: Coach Zimmer let us know that no one is going to feel sorry for us in this league.That next-man-up, one-week-at-a-time mentality is coach speak, but its a real factor in this strong start.Thats one of the things that I really appreciate about this team and these guys. When they come in here to the building, they grind in the meeting rooms, they listen to the things that I tell them, they study, Zimmer said. There are still a lot of things we have to clean up and get better at, but they try. When they come out to practice, they have fun, but they really work, too. So I think all of this is about just a singleness, a purposefulness at hand.The trade general manager Rick Spielman made for Sam Bradford gave the players an emotional lift four days after Bridgewater went down, but the boost Bradford has provided the offense has been just as big. He has attempted 125 passes without an interception, displaying the quick release, confident touch and strong arm befitting the first overall pick in the 2010 draft. The offense has run 310 plays without a turnover.They keep coming into the games and figuring out a way to get it done, defensive end Brian Robison said. Sam Bradford is playing lights out. That O-line, with the guys that theyve had to shuffle and everything else like that, theyre putting their heart out each and every day. I really cant say enough for those guys.Since the 12-team playoffs format was adopted in 1990, nearly 90 percent (44 of 49) of the clubs that began 5-0 have qualified for the postseason. The Vikings were one of the unfortunate five, when a 6-0 start in 2003 became 9-7. None of the current coaches or players was around then, but this snake-bitten fan base sure remembers that year, along with all the other promising teams that finished with a crushing defeat.The depth of the offensive line, and thus its ability to keep Bradford healthy, is a significant concern. So is the mindset of kicker Blair Walsh, who has had more than his share of misses after the 27-yard field goal that went wide left in January against Seattle to keep the Vikings from advancing in the playoffs.Theyre at least well-equipped to endure the next setback, no matter how the season turns out. Zimmer wouldnt have it any other way.Its all about keeping the blinders on, defensive end Everson Griffen said, and keep on grinding. If we do that, were going to be a hard team to beat.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLJustice Hill Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Joe Flacco Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Hayden-Hurst-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Justin Tucker Womens Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Jaylon Ferguson Womens Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Another big victory was slipping away from North Carolina State. Because the Wolfpack finally learned how to finish a game, their season isnt finished just yet.Jaylen Samuels ran for one touchdown and threw for another on a trick play, and N.C. State held on to upset rival North Carolina 28-21 on Friday, earning bowl eligibility while also locking up a division title for Virginia Tech.Its been a frustrating season for the Wolfpack (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), who seemingly had victories in hand against a pair of nationally ranked division rivals -- Clemson and Florida State -- only to let them get away.It definitely makes you feel the worth of all your work, coach Dave Doeren said. Were playing every game but one -- Louisville -- for four quarters, toe to toe, with every team. We havent won enough of them. I agree. But we are so much more competitive than weve ever been.In what at times seemed like a replay of N.C. States 35-7 rout here two years ago, Matt Dayes rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The second of those put the Wolfpack up 21-0 early in the second quarter.Samuels threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Louis on a trick play on the opening drive, and ran 4 yards for the TD that made it 28-7.Mitch Trubisky threw three touchdown passes for the Tar Heels (8-4, 5-3), including a 48-yarder to Bug Howard that made it a seven-point game with 7:52 left. But on their next possession, they were stopped on downs near midfield with 3:10 to go and N.C. State ran out the clock -- with backup quarterback Jalen McClendon sealing it with a 14-yard run on third-and-5 with about 2 minutes left.Its about these players and these coaches hanging together amid a lot of heartbreaking days and negativity and doubt, Doeren said. Guys just kept fighting with each other and for each other and they knew where our program is headed. ... Today was about mastering ourselves and finding a way to win and doing it against our rival.The Tar Heels, 10 1/2-point favorites, needed a win and a Virginia Tech loss to Virginia to earn a second straight ACC championship game berth. This loss locks the Hokies into next weeks matchup with No. 4 Clemson in Orlando, Florida.THE TAKEAWAYN.C. State: This should take some heat off Doeren, who had been drawing criticism from a segment of the fan base after going 8-23 in ACC games before this one. In four years, Doeren now has wwon almost as many ACC games at UNCs Kenan Stadium (two) as he has at his own Carter-Finley Stadium (three).ddddddddddddNorth Carolina: By losing to a pair of neighborhood rivals -- both of whom were under .500 at the time -- the Tar Heels blew their chance to repeat as Coastal champions. They lost to Duke and N.C. State in the same season for the first time since 2003, and in some ways this game felt like an extension of the loss in Durham -- with the Tar Heels managing a combined 13 points in the last two quarters of that game and the first three of this one.Thats on us, running back Elijah Hood said about the teams lack of focus. Weve got to go out there -- were on the football field, the balls coming to us, weve got to make that catch. Theres really no excuse for it.THE BRAWLThings got chippy late in the first half when UNC DT Jalen Dalton was ejected for throwing a punch during a fight that cleared the benches. The skirmish broke out near midfield with about six minutes left in the half after N.C. States Matt Dayes fumbled. The ball squirted about 20 yards downfield with at least four players trying to scoop it up. That led to a pileup near midfield, and Dalton appeared to hit Wolfpack lineman Terronne Prescod. Later in the skirmish, UNC coach Larry Fedora unsuccessfully tried to restrain Dalton by the back of his collar. After a review, the pass was ruled incomplete.KEY MOMENTNorth Carolina trailed 21-7 at halftime and started the second half by recovering an onside kick to seemingly seize momentum. But during an official review, it was determined that Ayden Bonilla had delivered an illegal block before Anthony Ratliff-Williams recovered the ball. That wiped out the recovery and required a rekick, and N.C. State then chewed up 6 1/2 minutes with a 14-play drive that ended with Samuels touchdown run that made it 28-7.UP NEXTN.C. State: This victory earned the Wolfpack a spot in a bowl game, and on Dec. 4 theyll find out who and where they play.North Carolina: The Tar Heels wont have to worry about flying to Orlando next week for the ACC championship game. Instead, theyll await their bowl opponent.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.More AP college basketball: www.collegebas