EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The defense that was so dominant during Minnesotas 5-0 start has morphed into a rather ordinary unit.Opponents have since adjusted with quick passes and well-timed play calls to neutralize what has been a relentless rush, the turnovers havent come as often and the Vikings have been more susceptible to those confidence-sapping third-down conversions.Just as much of a factor in the recent rut, though, could be the seemingly illogical problem of players trying too hard to help stop the slide.When youre struggling and youve got a bunch of really good guys, guys that really care, guys tend to try to do a little too much, including myself, coach Mike Zimmer said.Instead of allowing guys to make plays, you try to make plays for them. We just need to settle down. We need to do what we do. Get back to being the Vikings defense again.Washingtons Kirk Cousins averaged around 2+ seconds to release the ball when he dropped back to pass last week, when the Vikings (5-4) lost their fourth straight game . Detroits Matthew Stafford and Chicagos Jay Cutler followed similar quick-throwing strategies in the games before that.Were going to have to adjust how we do some things with the pass rush, Zimmer said.The Vikings have only three sacks over the past four games. Not coincidentally, each of the past three opponents have converted exactly half of their third downs.If you look at the tape, theyre getting the ball out quick. Theyre running boots. Theyre running screens. Theyre doing all the things to slow us down in the rush, defensive end Everson Griffen said.We cant get frustrated. Weve just got to get out there and keep rushing. Sacks come in bunches. Do we want more sacks? Yeah, but Id rather have wins than sacks.Missed tackles have a problem, too, none more costly than in overtime against the Lions when cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith both whiffed during Golden Tates winning touchdown reception .The Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1) will bring plenty of challenges for the Vikings to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, with running back David Johnson chief among them.Still, its worth remembering that the Vikings defense, despite the lag of late, remains a daunting matchup for opponents, too. The Cardinals were raving this week about Zimmer and his scheme.Hes one of the best defensive play-callers in the game, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. Hes just got a wealth of knowledge. He does a great job of trying to break down opponents and trying to neutralize the things that they do well, and you couple that with an unbelievable amount of talent.After missing nickel cornerback Captain Munnerlyn against the Redskins because of an ankle injury, the Vikings should be back to full strength in the secondary.It definitely was a tough, tough situation for me to watch the game, Munnerlyn said. I kind of got mad here and there, probably kicked some boxes or something, punched a box here and there.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Manuel Margot Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Cory Spangenberg Jersey . 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Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. TROON, Scotland -- Henrik Stenson kept hitting the best shots of his life, one after another, because there was no other way to beat Phil Mickelson in an Open showdown that ranked among the best in golf.Stenson shot an 8-under 63 on Sunday to finish the tournament at 20-under and claim his first major championship. He won Sundays matchup with Mickelson by 2 strokes and the Claret Jug by 3 over the American.Stensons final stroke of this major masterpiece was a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Royal Troon that tumbled into the cup on the final turn. His 63 matched Johnny Miller for the lowest closing round by a major champion.I didnt know until they told me in the recorders hut, Stenson said when asked if he knew that last putt was for 63.Both Stenson and Mickelson played stellar golf, combining for an eagle, 14 birdies and two bogeys in the final pairing.Thank you very much for a great fight, Stenson told Mickelson as he accepted the Claret Jug.Stenson ended his winners speech on the 18th green by dedicating the victory to a close friend who died of cancer the day before The Open started.I feel like he has been with me all week. Mike, this one is for you, said an emotional Stenson as he raised the Claret Jug one more time and kissed it.Mike Gerbich was a pal of the Stenson and his wife Emma when they lived in Dubai. Gerbich and Henrik Stenson used to play golf together.I know hes hurting inside, Stensons caddie Gareth Lord said. Its a perfect way to say thanks.Stenson delivered a crushing blow to Mickelsons chances of capturing a sixth major championship by making a 50-foot birdie putt from off the green at No. 15 that gave him a 2-shot lead with three to play. It was the first time all day the final group had been separated by more than 1 stroke.The 40-year-old Stenson started walking when the putt was halfway there, stopping to pump his fist, rare emotion for the Swede with ice-blue eyes.Mickelson narrowly missed an eagle putt on the 16th hole, and Stenson kept his 2-shot lead with an up-and-down for birdie from the deep rough.I knew he wasnt going to back down at any point, and in a way that makes it easier for myself, Stenson said. I knew I had to keep on pushing, keep on giving myself birdie chances. He wasnt going to give it to me, so I had to pull away.dddddddddddd Im just delighted I managed to do that with a couple of birdies at the right time.Mickelson led only once, a two-shot swing on the opening hole. They were tied with five holes to play until Stenson made an 18-foot birdie on the par-3 14th and then buried Lefty with a putt that defined his moment as a major champion.J.B. Holmes finished third. He was 14 shots behind.Those guys are playing a different golf course than everyone else, Holmes said.Stensons previous best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2013 Open at Muirfield, which Mickelson won for his most recent major victory.He gave Sweden a long-awaited major in mens golf, 19 years after Jesper Parnevik lost a 54-hole lead at Royal Troon. Stenson said Parnevik sent him a message that said, Go out and finish what I didnt manage to finish.Im really proud to have done that, and its going to be massive for golf in Sweden with this win, Stenson said.Stensons total of 264 set a record for lowest score at a major. Stenson eclipsed the Open mark of 267 set by Greg Norman at Royal St. Georges in 1993 and the overall mark of 265 by David Toms at the 2001 PGA Championship. Stenson also tied Jason Days record for lowest score under par set last year at the PGA Championship.Its disappointing to come in second, but Im happy for Henrik, Mickelson said. Ive always thought that he is one of the best ball strikers in the game and that major championships are perfectly suited for him. I knew that he would ultimately come through and win. Im happy that he did. Im disappointed that it was at my expense.For Mickelson, its an 11th runner-up finish at a major in his career. Only Jack Nicklaus, with 19, has more second-place results.Its probably the best Ive played and not won, Mickelson said. Thats probably why its disappointing in that I dont have a point where I can look back and say, I should have done that or Had I only done this. I played a bogey-free round of 65 on the final round of a major. Usually thats good enough to do it. And I got beat. I got beat by 10 birdies.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '