Mike Priefer’s first time running the show came in unwelcomed circumstances, with head coach Mike Zimmer at home recovering from emergency eye surgery.

The Minnesota Vikings were up to the task of playing on without their beloved boss, another sudden blow to a team that has endured so many setbacks.

If Zimmer’s absence created a strange scene, the outcome for Minnesota was awfully familiar. Stung by a critical special teams turnover, hurt on defense by a couple of long gains and unable to overcome a depleted offensive line or costly penalties while they had the ball, the Vikings lost 17-15 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

“They fought to the bitter end, and I know coach Zimmer would’ve been very, very proud of them,” Priefer said.

Zimmer was diagnosed with a detached retina, missing a game for the first time in his 23-year NFL coaching career