EDEN PRARIE, Minn. — The Vikings’ four double-digit losses in five weeks are taking a toll on first-year coach Mike Zimmer’s limited patience.

After a 17-3 loss to Detroit at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday, Zimmer blasted his players, calling the Vikings an undisciplined team that was drawing too many fines for being late to meetings, treatment in the trainer’s room and other team activities. He added that such behavior has a carryover effect to the field and that he would increase fines to the maximum level to get his point across.

On Monday, a much calmer Zimmer backtracked, admitting it wasn’t the first time he has “flown off the handle.”

“I know one of the hot topics was this fine thing,” Zimmer said. “That was probably Zimmer being Zimmer. I was not in the best frame of mind at the time. The team has not had an issue, continually an issue, of being late.”

Zimmer also noted that part of what set him off on Sunday was the fact that two practice squad players had missed a lifting session on Saturday.

Asked whether he thinks he has an undisciplined team, Zimmer paused and phrased his words more carefully.

“I don’t think that we’re undisciplined,” Zimmer said. “I think we can be more disciplined than we are.”

Zimmer did say that he is unhappy with the amount of complaining that his players are doing to the officials during the game. Such conduct drew a personal foul two weeks ago against the Packers.

“They don’t need to do that,” Zimmer said. “They need to concentrate on playing football. And that includes coaches, so I addressed it again this morning.”

Zimmer, 58, said he’s unlikely to change at this point in his life. He said being honest and emotional is just part of who he is.

“Maybe I can do a better job of trying not to let some things bother me as much,” Zimmer said. “I am learning, trying to be a good head coach. I am trying to learn. I’m trying to do a better job every day, every game. I’m not perfect, just like the players aren’t. I want them to understand that it’s not OK to lose. That’s what I want them to understand.”

NOTES: RB Jerick McKinnon started Sunday and ran for 40 yards on 11 carries while catching six passes for 42 yards. Coach Mike Zimmer said McKinnon will continue to start ahead of RB Matt Asiata. … MLB Jasper Brinkley had his first career sack. He also was second on the team with seven tackles despite playing just 31 of 70 snaps. … K Blair Walsh has 23 touchbacks on kickoffs through six games. That already ranks fifth for an entire season in team history. Walsh’s 53 touchbacks in 2012 are the team record. He had 43 last season.

REPORT CARD VS. LIONS

PASSING OFFENSE: F — It’s rare in the NFL to see one unit overpower another as thoroughly as Detroit’s front four did the Vikings’ offensive line. The Lions had seven players share eight sacks. There also were 11 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback knockdowns. Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw three interceptions. The first came when the safety baited him into throwing for Cordarrelle Patterson in the end zone and then easily jumped the route. The second bounced off running back Matt Asiata’s hands. And the third was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

RUSHING OFFENSE: F — The defense held the game close enough that the running game could have remained a factor well into the second half. But the Vikings ran the ball only 18 times for 69 yards. Rookie Jerick McKinnon took over the primary running back job from Matt Asiata but had a quiet day, with 11 carries for 40 yards, including a long of nine. Again, the offensive line looked weak and slow against the Lions’ front four.

PASS DEFENSE: B-minus — In what is becoming a recurring theme for the defense, the Vikings played well except for early in the first quarter. Matthew Stafford, playing without Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush, completed 4 of 4 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive. After that, he completed 15 of 29 passes for 116 yards and no touchdowns.

RUSH DEFENSE: C — The gaping holes that opened against the Packers and other teams this year weren’t there nearly as much. And the Lions averaged only 3.6 yards, with a long rush of 13. But when the Vikings were down 10-0 early in the fourth quarter, the Lions ran straight up the gut on three consecutive carries inside the 10-yard line. They gained four yards on a fourth-and-1 and then simply handed off two more times to score easily.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D — The special teams weren’t much of a factor, other than punter Jeff Locke not rising to the occasion in a game that begged for the punter to control and shift field position. Locke punted seven times with a 37.9-yard net average and poor hang time. His line drive and 30-yard net allowed the Lions to go only 60 yards for the touchdown that made it a 17-0 game. The kick-return unit averaged only 14.5 yards on two returns, including a squib return by fullback Jerome Felton and a 15-yard return by Patterson. Punt returner Marcus Sherels averaged 9.3 yards on four returns. The Lions’ return games were quiet, with no kickoff returns and a 7.8-yard average on four punt returns.

COACHING: D — It was another lopsided disappointment in what appeared to be a winnable home game against a Lions team that was depleted offensively. The coaching staff deserves its share of the blame, but we’ll stop short of a failing grade because the physical mismatch was so great. The Lions simply beat up the Vikings’ offensive line. Perhaps the coaching staff could have made some better adjustments offensively to protect Bridgewater better, but the bulk of the blame in that regard rests with the offensive line. Defensively, the early first-quarter woes are more coaching-related. The team has been great at making defensive adjustments, but with this offense, the coaches can’t afford one or two bad series early in the game.