EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) &045; The Minnesota Vikings lobbied coach Mike Tice to cancel practice, hopeful their boss would observe the traditional &8220;Victory Monday&8221; following a comeback win over Green Bay.

Tice wouldn’t relent, not with his team still sporting a 2-4 record.

&8220;I don’t think right now we deserve a ‘Victory Monday,&8221;’ he said. &8220;So we’re going to go to work.&8221;

Off the Vikings went to their indoor field, where they began preparing for Sunday’s game at Carolina. It was a day for reflection &045; on an offense that actually finished some drives with touchdowns instead of turnovers; on a defense that looked comfortable again in a 3-4 scheme; and on a stellar performance by the special teams in a 23-20 win over the Packers.

It was a day for relief, too &045; that the criticism of their discipline both on and off the field had momentarily subsided; that the barrage of questions about their infamous boat party were moved to the background; that no new injuries were reported, leaving the training room mostly empty.

It was also a day, though, for reality.

&8220;We’ve got to find a way to win on the road,&8221; Tice said, looking ahead to the matchup with the Panthers and lamenting his team’s 9-31 record away from the Metrodome in the regular season since October 2000. &8220;And that’s the bottom line. Otherwise, that victory yesterday means really nothing.&8221;

Minnesota, which has dropped its three road games this year by a combined score of 95-21, maintained a one-game distance behind Chicago and Detroit in the diluted NFC North division race.

Tice indicated his team was bothered by the scandal-related distractions in last week’s loss to the Bears, but he praised the players and coaching staff for staying upbeat and focused. Many familiar mistakes put the Vikings in a 17-0 deficit at halftime on Sunday, but for once they refused to let the situation deteriorate.

&8220;They didn’t let anything rattle them,&8221; Tice said. &8220;The body language was very good.&8221;

The investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct on the boat earlier this month is, of course, unresolved.

But the players weren’t interested in discussing that.

&8220;I don’t see a cloud,&8221; said receiver Nate Burleson, who returned from a three-game absence because of a knee sprain. &8220;The sun always comes out after a storm, and I think the sun’s out right now.&8221;

After Paul Edinger’s 56-yard field goal as time expired gave the Vikings a much-needed victory, Tice bristled at suggestions he should’ve used the team’s final timeout when Green Bay had the ball instead of saving it for Minnesota’s last drive.

He even subtly criticized some members of the front office, including vice president for football operations Rob Brzezinski, who apparently voiced their displeasure with the decision in a suite next to the coaches’ booth.

But everything was just dandy on Monday, as it usually is in the fickle NFL after an emotional win. Edinger beamed as he talked about the 12 voice mails and 15 text messages he had waiting for him on his cell phone after the game, and Tice smiled through most of his news conference.

&8220;Maybe I was a little sensitive yesterday, because taking a shot at a couple of your own guys is not the thing to do,&8221; Tice said. &8220;Hopefully they’ll forgive me, because I know they’ve got my back.&8221;