December 22, 2024 • 28 mins
Welcome to the Vikings Postgame Report. The Minnesota Vikings won their 8th game in a row by defeating the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 at a rainy Lumen Field. The win was the Vikings first victory in Seattle since week 7 of the 2006 season. Justin Jefferson had a season high 144 receiving yards on 10 receptions and 2 touchdowns. Jordan Addison had the other receiving touchdown on 5 receptions and 35 yards. Aaron Jones was a key part of the offense with 18 rushes, 67 yards on the ground, and another 26 yards through the air. Sam Darnold had another great game, finishing with 246 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and a 112.3 QBR. Darnold tied Peyton Manning and Steve McNair by winning his 13th game as a quarterback in the first season with a new team. Kicker Will Reichard was perfect again today with 3 extra points and 2 field goals, including a 52 yarder in the 2nd quarter. As for the defense, the guys stepped up the pressure in the 2nd half and only gave up 10 points on 6 drives for the Seahawks. Andrew Van Ginkel had 2 sacks on Geno Smith, Dallas Turner had an interception in the 2nd quarter, and Theo Jackson sealed the victory with an interception in the final minute of the game. Paul Allen and Pete Bercich breakdown the win in the 'emerald city,' including: the level of resiliency the Vikings continue to produce on a weekly basis, the growth in the Jefferson-Darnold connection, Kevin O'Connell's historic coaching start, the ability to stay poised in tight games, and the team's young players stepping up in big moments. Plus, Kevin O'Connell and Sam Darnold spoke in the postgame press conferences about the victory. All of this and more is in tonight's edition of the Vikings Postgame Report.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
Ho lea cow. Your Minnesota Vikings have won eight consecutive
games after taking down Seattle and spine tingling fashion. Welcome
to the Vikings postgame report at Vikings dot Com with
Pete Bursa j I'm Paul Allen. Twenty seven to twenty
four was the final Your.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thoughts, Well, you know what, this team just refuses to
give up. And you know, offensively in the second half,
we had the momentum early and then kind of gave
it up around just before halftime and then giving up
some points beginning in the second half, but they hung
in there and ultimately, you know, when Seattle did take
the lead with about four minutes left to go, our
(00:50):
offense right down, I mean right down the field, and uh,
you know, this team, just when you need it, they
somehow I'll conjure it up, you know. And we hadn't
seen it for a lot of that a lot of
that game, and they were able to bring it up.
So good job by the offensive line to protect Donald
(01:10):
and Darnold with some unbelievable throws, especially that last one
to touchdown at JJ that was the thing of beauty.
So this team just finds a way. They find a
way it's winning ugly man. You know, it's just like
the you know, like the nineteen eighty two I think
it was eighty two White Sox winning ugly man.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I was just thinking that the eighty two White Sox
Craig Lozinski and Ron karkobis him all right, three to two,
Carlton Fisk and Bobby think Ben. But nevertheless, the Vikings
won by three points and kept pace with the Detroit Lions,
who beat Chicago. Each team is thirteen and two.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Philadelphia not only lost Jalen Hurts to a concussion, but
they lost at FedEx Field. So if the Vikings win
their final two games, they are the number one seed
in the NFC, meaning off week after the Lions, then
Divisional Round game at us Bank Stadium, NFC Title game
at us Bank Stadium, if you get it. But for now,
(02:07):
Ring Bay next week. The lesson at hand today you
mentioned justin Jefferson and all the coverage that we've heard,
Kevin O'Connell mentioned he gets than Addison and Hawkinson take off,
so it loosens on Jefferson. He finished with one hundred
and forty four yards today. I think thirteen targets, ten catches,
a couple of tds. Getting Justin Jefferson hot like this
at this time of the season. Wow, that's perfect.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
It's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
And I think the rapport between he and Donald is
getting better. And by that I mean when Donald's able
to scramble and extend plays, JJ is starting to turn
routes up. He's starting to do different things, and Donald's
keeping his eyes on him once the play breaks down.
So there's some there's some Kansas City Chiefs type, you know,
bit going on there, and it's fantastic to see happen.
(02:55):
So when Donald starts to scramble, he's looking for number eighteen,
He's looking for eighteen down the field, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
And we saw that today. And you know, so.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
JJ though answering big plays, Big players make big plays
in big games, and Jerry Burns would always say that,
and that's exactly what happened today.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
All right, Sure it wasn't Bob Lemon coach of the
eighty two White Sox.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
A might have been. No, it wasn't. No, I'm pretty
sure as Jerry, I think it was Burns.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I think now Kevin O'Connell, we're gonna hear from him
moment jerily. The Minnesota Vikings have won eight in a row.
That's the fourth longest winning streak in the history of
Minnesota Vikings football. But how about this, Kevin O'Connell has
multiple seasons with thirteen wins. Now, he hasn't even finished
his third season as head coach, but we already have
a couple at thirteen wins, meaning he's the only coach
(03:43):
in the history of Minnesota Vikings football to do that
and the team is sixty three years old.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Kayo, Yeah, Koe, it's I think it just points to
how important that quarterback position is.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Paul.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You think back and going in the season, we had
no idea what we were going to get out of
Sam Darnold and the quarterback on this team this year,
and it's been nothing but amazing to watch Donald do
what he's been doing, this offense do what it's been doing.
I got to give a lot of credit to the
offensive line. They protected him very well for the most part,
kept kept the pressure off of him and he was
(04:16):
able to make plays. So a couple of throws just
just they were just a bit off right to keep
this offense from really being efficient the entire game, but
for the most part, you know, Donald was just fantastic.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Let's hear from Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell after
a twenty seven to twenty four victory over Seattle.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
You know what it doesn't get, doesn't get you know,
much more greater than that, playing a you know, playing
in one of the hardest places to come play, dealing
with some elements and just finding a way to win,
win a game. That's what this team's been really able
to do all season long, some real, you know, real
performances to point out with Jets and Sam offensively, and
(05:00):
then Van Gink with the two sacks I thought, Dallas
Turner with the interception, and then theo to close it,
and really with it being such a you know, two
good teams to win that game, field position is always
going to play.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
A critical role. That was part of what we thought
it would take to win the game.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
And Ryan right was fantastic in the unit, our punt unit,
and then will to be three or three you know
in that kind of day, just critical, really really good execution.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Far from perfect, but that's what.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
This time of year, you got to find a way
to win these games and you learn a lot about
your team, and as I told him, it's, you know,
a hell of an accomplishment to win thirteen thirteen in
this league, and you know, just proud of our guys
and the same same type of feeling just keeps coming up.
You know, very fortunate, you know, in this in this group,
in this locker room, coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
And now we've got to move on to the.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Next What was that all?
Speaker 7 (05:52):
And like when Sam throws a touchdown and Justin and
you see the offensive lineman just developing him on the field.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, no, I thought it was.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Sam's had some huge plays this year considering the circumstances
and and kind of you know how that play kind
of came to life. For him to move up and
throw the ball really on the move there with that
kind of accuracy and to know where Justin was going
to be in the moment was a remarkable play.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
You know, doesn't get better than that.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
And you know, I thought, as I told the team,
you know, his twelfth time being over one hundred rating,
which is a very very significant number in our offense
in this system. What has become Sam's offense making some
of the plays and throws he did. Like I said,
it was far from perfect. There's a lot of things
that we all can do better, but you know, this
(06:44):
is what it's going to take. Every sixty minute opportunity
we have the rest of the way to find a
way to win football games. Big plays and big moments,
doing the little things, winning the turnover battle, you know,
winning the penalty battle, field position battle. Wasn't a great
day running the football, but we did out rush him
because of our defense's ability to to stop the run.
So just a lot of really really positive things that
(07:07):
maybe might not jump out to a lot of folks,
but but it's things we pour into to try to
win football games every week. Is justin adjusting on that
as well, or is he bet where he was going regards?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
It was a route adjustment there that those guys were
on the same page.
Speaker 7 (07:21):
It looked like on parts of that drive, like Sam
was having a hard time hearing.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
My headset went out.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Yeah, my headset went out, and we had a great,
you know, MVP performance from our sideline To get that,
I got a new battery pack, but yeah, my headset
went out completely, which I thought was was curious in
that moment, But you know, Sam was able to he
scrambled on the play before, so I was able to
talk to him coming off the sideline, get that play called.
(07:48):
And then by the time you know, the next snap
was up, I had a new pack on, so dealing
with adversity the.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
One he's running. Did did he have a call there?
I mean, it looked like he was kind of just threst.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I was trying to get him, you know, I was
trying to get him a call, and my head said,
he the last thing he heard was the formation, so
his ability to get a play called, and then, you know,
I gotta be honest with I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
He particularly called.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
I just know that when I saw him have space
and go run like he did, I was relieved. I
know what that play call is, QB run left, you
know is what it was? Is what it seemed like
just the poison.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
I mean, to come on the field trailing.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Have that happen to.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Like, yeah, I mean it's you know, he's had some
he's had some moments, you know, like that this year
where he just seems to be, you know, at his
best in those moments, and like I said, there was
a lot of things offensively, I thought we could have
done better, and that's all of us, but there wasn't
really one guy. And I know I'm not speaking for myself.
(08:53):
I thought we were gonna go down and we're gonna
get a touchdown. And and I think the level of
confidence that that group has in their quarterback and the
level of confidence the quarterback has in the ten guys
in the huddle's significant, and that's how you're able to
go do that in that moment on the road at
this place.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
You know, you can't hear yourself think, you.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Know, to one of the critical things I thought was
to try to win the penalty battle on the road
in this environment, possibly some weather that our guys worked
through there in the first half.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
It cleared up a little bit, came back a little.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Late, but you know, it was a pretty pretty fantastic,
you know performance in that moment by you know, not
just our quarterback, but but all eleven of those guys
out there. Do you think defensively, you guys suggested without
Harrison and is here just a short term thing? Yeah,
very short term. Was truly kind of a game day
kind of decision with him, and you know, wanted to
(09:44):
make sure Harrison is a guy that you know, sometimes
you got to make the decision to sit him down
otherwise he's going to go. And we knew he was
dealing with some significant soreness that just kind of never never,
kind of turned over.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
But we're expecting him to be fine and be ready
roll this week.
Speaker 7 (10:01):
When Sam throws that touchdowns in that moment, like, do
you remember your reactions?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I do?
Speaker 5 (10:07):
I do, because it was a it was kind of
an adjustment on the route based upon how you know,
Justin reacted in the moment, and we had talked a
little bit about that sequence. You know, he'd be on
the backside and if they wanted to, you know, shove
coverage over to him, we thought, you know J or
TJ maybe on the front side.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But how it played out is he got such a.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Clean, good release on the inside release he felt the
vertical grass and took it and uh, you know, in
honor of Randy Moss through the mailbox sign up and
Sam saw him as he climbed up in the pocket.
And I want those guys to have some freedom in
those moments, especially. We do a lot of things with
Justin and Sam seeing the coverage and then you know,
(10:48):
with some some route opportunities to get to at the
line of scrimmage, and I think those guys were just
gotten so comfortable with that stuff that they're able to
execute it like they did, which was maybe the play,
you know, absolutely the play of the game, maybe even
considering just the moment and the circumstances the season as well.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You've got thirteen wins.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
First coach to do that in consecutive seasons for the team.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
But the thing that strikes me is you've done it
with different quarterbacks. Yeah, through those two years.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
How challenging hasn't been to reach those milestones?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yeah, I just I mean, I've talked to this team
a lot. I told him last night that it can
be a very tired cliche to talk about going want
to know, until you've systematically built your entire operation daily
of trying to just do that every single day. These guys,
it's not a cliche at that point. It becomes part
of your football foundation and make the makeup of your
(11:43):
locker room, of your leadership, coaching staff, really everybody that
comes on these trips that have a role in helping
us win football games. It's about everybody. And that's what
I wanted when I came here. I wanted an organization
where it just felt like these kind of moments, you know,
whether big picture moments going into a season when you know,
(12:04):
folks don't necessarily have a lot of you know, outward
confidence of what this group's gonna, you know, be able
to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
We just go to work and we try to improve.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
We have tremendous belief, a sense of belonging, and we
start to really care deeply about what we do here
and in the process do all the little things that
you do when you you know, have the discipline to
care about something like these players do.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Kevin Wan doesn't say about the depth of the defense
that Levi Drake could come in there. THEO Jackson makes
the interception at the end.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Yeah, I think Flow and his guys have done a
phenomenal job all year of really preaching the next man
up mentality when we need it, hoping to have Ip
come back in the coming days.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
But we've had guy after guy.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
You know, whether it's for a game here or there,
short term stints getting healthy, We've had guys step up.
I mean, Bobby McCain really, you know, took a lot
of the week on the defensive scout team, you know,
because everybody just kind of asumed we'd have to two
out there, and THEO took a lot of reps, but
Derounte Jones, Michael Hutchings flow to get that safety group
(13:08):
ready and to communicate the way they did, and that's
why those guys are here. We preached to our guys
a lot about no matter who it is, we're gonna
step in there and we're gonna make a play. We've
seen that happen a few times on offense this year. Speedy,
you know, Jalen Naylor comes to mind, Josh Johnny Munk
come to mind early on in the year, and it's
(13:28):
just part of uh, you know, our left tackle right
now is a perfect example of it. You might not
need to be here for months or years, but when
we call on you, we're gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Get you ready to play and you're gonna go play well.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Adjusting that route in Sam c And is that something
that they could accomplish back in September October?
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Is that a culmination of.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
All the reps.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yeah, I'm glad we didn't have to find out that
was that was kind of a first, you know, on
a on a pretty standard concept, just with a little
window dressing or kind of sauce to it, you know,
to try to you know, make it things look the
same sameness and likeness. And then through that process, Justin's
got an innate feel for open grass and to go
(14:08):
find it and then to be so decisive with it
that the quarterback can feel it as he climbs the pocket.
And then you need a guy that can make that
throw on the move up in the pocket to place
it where he did.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
What a moment, It was really cool. Do you allow
yourself to speak about what could happen.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
If you go to and Oh in terms of playoff
seating and with the whether it's with us.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Or not, but you're lobbing it right at the.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Rim man, but with or with the team, we can't
we can't go to and Oh without going one and
Oh like and.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And we'll talk next week. We'll talk next week.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
We got a we got a heck of a two
challenges for sure, and we've got to have one laser
focus on you know another you know, another playoff caliber team.
Get him at US Bank, which which will be you know, huge,
being back in front of our fans, and then we'll
worry about what's ahead out in front of us then,
(15:03):
But Kevin, I mean it. I mean, I'm like, it's
I know, it's fun to laugh about, but it is
very critical, and I think this team kind of understands
how we got to this point. It's a mature team
that can be dangerous. I do believe if we continue
to just understand what got us to this moment, from
the first day we came to training camp, through each
(15:23):
and every one of our fifteen opportunities so far.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
So that's just what we're going to do.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Remember what you said to saying after that play or
work in the locker.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Room, I do, I do, I cannot, I cannot.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Particular type of language or vise it's personal.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
No more of the personal subject matter. Yeah, those are
such emotional moments. I mean, it's hard to replicate. I
know some of our players have talked about the feeling
of certain things this year when really good things happen,
But it's hard to replicate that because I want this
so bad for these guys, and it's been awesome and
being a part of this journey with Sam from many, many,
(16:03):
many days and months ago in my office just projecting
nothing but confidence and belief in him, and he's not
only earned much much more than that, he continues to
go out and do it in some really tough circumstances.
So Sam Darnold deserves so much of the credit for
really all the credit, I would say, of what he's become.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
You know, we're number fourteen in Purple this year.
Speaker 8 (16:29):
He is the gritty taunting.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Now, did you get an explanation?
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yeah, that was an interesting one, I'll defer to you know,
they saw what they saw, and you know, and we've
got to be you know, we've got to be smart
about the direction at which you know, we gritty, I guess.
But but no, I understand they're they're trying to get
they're trying to get the taunting penalty out of the game,
(16:53):
which you know, which I'm I'm all for, and I
just you know, when there's some other aspects of the
game where people are you know, pointing and directly pointing
it and some folks and and sometimes those things don't
end up being seen. And that's the thing is these
officials have to see in real time those things. So
they got a really hard job. I was, you know,
(17:15):
very very happy we got the face mask call that
really gave us a chance to you know, having earned
first down there on that last drive, and you know,
credit to those officials for making that call and kind
of continuing to let Sam play and keep us on
track with you know, a valid penalty.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
You've been here before with other teams obviously, but the
difficulty of winning in this building, I guess what does
that say about the team's resourcefulness to come in here
and handle the noise, the rain to a team that's
fighting for its life all events.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Yeah, I mean, you know, credit to their fans and
we had a lot of you know, I was, I
was pretty fired.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
Up to see the Purple out there as well.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Our fans always travel great, but this building, the environment,
it's built to be loud. The fans know that and
they are momentum swings in the game.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
You know, you can you can feel it in this building.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
But you're right, just we haven't had a lot of games,
I mean really just the game in London, you know
where it kind of spit rain for most of the night,
so you're as a coach, you're you're trying to prepare
your teams with things throughout the week, wet ball drill.
But we had you know, six inches of snow on
the ground, and we're trying to simulate what this would
be like in our indoor and the guys were ready
(18:24):
to play, and the energy in this building, I could
feel it within our team and warm ups and these
guys were ready to go. Like getting off to a
fast start with that opening drive that can always help,
but you know that means absolutely nothing on the road.
It's going to be sixty minutes slugfest for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
By the way, O'Connell twenty five and nine in one
score games, that's already top three in the history of
the National Football League. What what do you think helps
or leads to Kevin being so poised and the team
taking on the personality of the coach where it stays
poised when things get hot.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
You know, and I go back.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I kind of go back to the you know when,
the when when your best is needed, right when this
game requires the best that you have to be able
to provide it. I think that in a sneaky back
door way, lets these guys know that there are going
to be a lot of times when you know your
backs against the wall. So when you get to these
points where you're you know, behind by a field goal
(19:22):
late in the game. You're going, yeah, that's that. We're
down by four points. We needed a touchdown. Field goal,
wasn't gonna get it done. They kind of they kind
of go, yeah, okay, this is exactly what coach has
been talking about. He hasn't quite he didn't say it
that way, right. It's kind of an interesting way to
phrase it to make these guys say, all right, here
we go. You know we're down, we need to touchdown.
We got two minutes left to go. We got to
(19:43):
make something happen, and they find a way to do it.
So I think that mentally they've been conditioned the entire
time with Kevin O'Connell that they respond in situations like
this now.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Over the last forty years of a quarterback play in
the National Football League, there only are three quarterbacks who
have won at least thirteen games in their first season
with the new team. One is Peyton Manning, the other
is Steve McNair, and now Sam Darnold, who achieved his
thirteenth victory uh and certainly did his part. As Pete said,
(20:17):
he gave his best when his best was required. The
touchdown pass to Justin was beautiful And here's what Sam
had to say after the game.
Speaker 9 (20:24):
So, guys, Yeah, obviously a really good win. And you know,
I feel like that second half, you know, it was
kind of up and down the way that we were,
you know, kind of stalled on a couple of drives,
a couple three.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
And outs, I think.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
But our defense, man, I feel like our defense played
really well today, per usual, our special teams, you know,
Will the thrill, Will Rekerd was able to do his
thing today and droll some big field goals for US,
Ryan Wright doing his thing punting the ball. So just
a total team effort today and you know, a ton
of credit to to those guys. And you know, on
(21:01):
the other side of the ball, I feel like defensively, man,
they have some really good scheme and uh com paired
with you know.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Obviously really good players.
Speaker 9 (21:10):
So just just very proud of the guys in the
locker room for the way that they handled everything throughout
the game, the ups and the downs, and just another
resilient win for us.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
So in your last four starts, you've had three go
ahead touchdowns in the four corner. How have you been
able to do that?
Speaker 9 (21:27):
Yeah, I think, first off, it's a total group effort.
I think just the way that we've been able to
you know, keep our heads down throughout the game and
just do our job every single play. That's that's really
been the key for us. And we're just going to
continue to do that.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Can you take us through.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
The last touchdown pass and your teammates reaction to it?
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Yeah, you know, I think, first and foremost, just doing
a great job of feeling that zone with the route
that he ran, feeling the feeling the cloud to him
and being able to get a little bit of w
to get away from that safety and felt like I
just needed to give him a shot, you know, put
it on his back hip and let him do the rest.
So and then yeah, obviously you know my teammates being
(22:07):
pumped up about it, wouldn't wouldn't expect anything less. And
you know, I was just telling him like, you know,
we got to get a stop here. You know, it's
not over.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
So sure enough we did that.
Speaker 9 (22:17):
Super proud of THEO Jackson man the way that he
was able to play today and step in when we
need him most.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
What happened with the head SATs kind of mass.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
Yeah, I just uh, you know, didn't get the call
for whatever reason, so just called to play and you know,
did my best to make it work.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
Say, what's the process like of getting a call into
everybody with twelve thirteen seconds there? When he I think
Kao said he got the formation that wasn't buy it.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
Yeah, I mean, obviously time outs are crucial, so wasn't
gonna you know, burn a time out there.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
I was able to just get a call into.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
The guys, something that we're familiar with, and you know,
I was able to play the play and obviously felt
felt a little bit of room on the left and
was able to scramble out for a for a solid game.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Sam.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
With Philadelphia's lost, you guys could potentially earn the number
one seed if you in the next two games. What
does that mean to the scroup to be a position
to do that?
Speaker 9 (23:12):
Yeah, I mean it's nothing's changed for us. I think
for us it's you know, just that one and the
mentality that we always talk about. And you know, we
got to grow a little bit from from some of
the things in the second half, like I said, kind
of stalled a little bit, be able to figure out
you know, what happened there, And for me, I feel
like I can be better with a little you know,
better ball placement on some of the throws that I had,
(23:32):
not only in the second half, but in the first
half as well. And you know, we just kind of
continue to grow, get better and you know, have good
weeks of practice.
Speaker 6 (23:41):
And just continue to do our thing.
Speaker 9 (23:42):
And if we do that, put our heads down and
go to work, we'll be good.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
I think you know that's you know, I'm not not
gonna get into you know, kind of what we're capable of.
We we know exactly what kind of team we have.
We know exactly the kind of guys we have in
that locker room. You know, it's just for us to
be able to you know, continue to go. Want to know,
in your reminding teammates that's not over like did you celebrate?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Did you have times?
Speaker 9 (24:11):
But yeah, I think you know, in between you know,
catching my breath and trying to you know, get my
feet back under me. Uh, you know, I was more
worried about that and just truly you know, getting ready
to maybe go back out there if they you know,
we're going to kick a field goal. And you know
I was just you know, because you always got to
keep your mind right, you know, we had a minute left.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
I think they you know, if.
Speaker 9 (24:34):
They drove it forty forty five yards or whatever and
kicked a field goal, we were going to have to
go back out there, potentially go to overtime. So you know,
it's it's never over in this league. And that's kind
of my mindset.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
The first touchdown.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Pass to Justin, did you think he was open or
he just willing to take a shot?
Speaker 6 (24:52):
No, I think you know, I say it all the time.
Speaker 9 (24:54):
I feel like anytime he scores a touchdown against you know,
man coverage, you know, I come in here and I say,
any time hes one on one, I'm gonna try to
give him a shot.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
So that's what I did. And it's pretty much it
fairly difficult.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Yeah, I mean, it's something we practice all the time though,
you know, and obviously it's a you know, it's a
difficult throw to the field all that stuff, but something
we practice a lot.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
And boys that you displayed in that final drive.
Speaker 9 (25:21):
Where does that come.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
A lot of practice?
Speaker 9 (25:24):
You know, I think just being able to get a
ton of reps in the off season against our defense,
you know, a defense that can get to a lot
of their calls, a lot of different pressures in two
minute situations. So being able to find that that poison
training camp ot as whenever we get that two minute
drill going, it really starts there, and just being really
good with my feet, my eyes, trust my progressions, and
(25:47):
you know, if I need to scramble, make a play,
get up and out of the pocket, I'll be willing
to do that.
Speaker 8 (25:55):
The Packers coming to town kind of an interesting read
this week with the holiday in the middle of it, Like,
how do you make sure that you're focused on them?
And almost also how much does it help that you
guys are familiar with them?
Speaker 9 (26:06):
Yeah, you know, obviously it's been a while since we
played them, so we got to continue to do our
film study and and do our do due diligence. Uh.
That way, there's that communication major but uh no, but
uh it's a super important to be able to, you know,
just put our heads down and keep working, you know.
I think that's the biggest thing. And yeah, obviously they're
(26:29):
they're a really good team, another division opponent, so we
got our hands full with them. But again, I think
these next couple of days just getting the guys, you know,
coming off of a Monday night game, getting everyone healthy,
feeling good, and then coming to work on Wednesday.
Speaker 7 (26:42):
Just with a different kind of victory just because of
the setting and the weather, the stakes.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, coming into this hostile environment,
you know, it's always in it's always a good feeling
to get to get a win here. But again, you
know it's a it's a tough opponent obviously in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
So to be able to come in here get a win.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
This huge, you know, in closing here, jahad Ward played
a sneaky big role in this game today. I mean,
I don't have the snap couts in front of me,
but like he and Dallas Turner, Dallas had the first
interception of his career, Theo Jackson's he sealed at his
first interception this year. He and Bobby McCain had to
play a lot today because Harrison Smith was scratched. But
(27:25):
jahad Ward and that physicality, it just seemed from Afar
like he really really helped.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yeah, he did. And it was a chippy game, Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I mean both their their wide receivers and their dbs
and our and you know and vice versa on our
defensive side of the ball. But yeah, jahad Ward just
a three man rush, Paul puts a spin move on
the center able to get in Geno Smith's face, which
forces the last the last interception of Bobby McCain. Again
that you need that play at the exact time, and
(27:55):
with a three man rush you still get cut pressure,
which has been kind of Geno Smith's kryptonite all night.
Just a fantastic job the defense. They gave up some plays,
I'm sure they wish they had a lot of them back,
but at the same time, came up big when you
needed it.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
The Minnesota Vikings win for the first time in the
state of Washington in the city of Seattle since two
thousand and six, snapping a five game losing streak out here,
sending the Seahawks to eight and seven, and your Vikings
are thirteen and two with a game at home next
week against the Green Bay Packers. For Pete Versa, John
Paul Allen, the news is good from the Cappuccino Capital
(28:34):
twenty seven, twenty four, Minnesota, and this has been the
Vikings postgame report.
Ho lea cow. Your Minnesota Vikings have won eight consecutive
games after taking down Seattle and spine tingling fashion. Welcome
to the Vikings postgame report at Vikings dot Com with
Pete Bursa j I'm Paul Allen. Twenty seven to twenty
four was the final Your.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thoughts, Well, you know what, this team just refuses to
give up. And you know, offensively in the second half,
we had the momentum early and then kind of gave
it up around just before halftime and then giving up
some points beginning in the second half, but they hung
in there and ultimately, you know, when Seattle did take
the lead with about four minutes left to go, our
(00:50):
offense right down, I mean right down the field, and uh,
you know, this team, just when you need it, they
somehow I'll conjure it up, you know. And we hadn't
seen it for a lot of that a lot of
that game, and they were able to bring it up.
So good job by the offensive line to protect Donald
(01:10):
and Darnold with some unbelievable throws, especially that last one
to touchdown at JJ that was the thing of beauty.
So this team just finds a way. They find a
way it's winning ugly man. You know, it's just like
the you know, like the nineteen eighty two I think
it was eighty two White Sox winning ugly man.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I was just thinking that the eighty two White Sox
Craig Lozinski and Ron karkobis him all right, three to two,
Carlton Fisk and Bobby think Ben. But nevertheless, the Vikings
won by three points and kept pace with the Detroit Lions,
who beat Chicago. Each team is thirteen and two.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Philadelphia not only lost Jalen Hurts to a concussion, but
they lost at FedEx Field. So if the Vikings win
their final two games, they are the number one seed
in the NFC, meaning off week after the Lions, then
Divisional Round game at us Bank Stadium, NFC Title game
at us Bank Stadium, if you get it. But for now,
(02:07):
Ring Bay next week. The lesson at hand today you
mentioned justin Jefferson and all the coverage that we've heard,
Kevin O'Connell mentioned he gets than Addison and Hawkinson take off,
so it loosens on Jefferson. He finished with one hundred
and forty four yards today. I think thirteen targets, ten catches,
a couple of tds. Getting Justin Jefferson hot like this
at this time of the season. Wow, that's perfect.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
It's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
And I think the rapport between he and Donald is
getting better. And by that I mean when Donald's able
to scramble and extend plays, JJ is starting to turn
routes up. He's starting to do different things, and Donald's
keeping his eyes on him once the play breaks down.
So there's some there's some Kansas City Chiefs type, you know,
bit going on there, and it's fantastic to see happen.
(02:55):
So when Donald starts to scramble, he's looking for number eighteen,
He's looking for eighteen down the field, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
And we saw that today. And you know, so.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
JJ though answering big plays, Big players make big plays
in big games, and Jerry Burns would always say that,
and that's exactly what happened today.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
All right, Sure it wasn't Bob Lemon coach of the
eighty two White Sox.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
A might have been. No, it wasn't. No, I'm pretty
sure as Jerry, I think it was Burns.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I think now Kevin O'Connell, we're gonna hear from him
moment jerily. The Minnesota Vikings have won eight in a row.
That's the fourth longest winning streak in the history of
Minnesota Vikings football. But how about this, Kevin O'Connell has
multiple seasons with thirteen wins. Now, he hasn't even finished
his third season as head coach, but we already have
a couple at thirteen wins, meaning he's the only coach
(03:43):
in the history of Minnesota Vikings football to do that
and the team is sixty three years old.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Kayo, Yeah, Koe, it's I think it just points to
how important that quarterback position is.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Paul.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You think back and going in the season, we had
no idea what we were going to get out of
Sam Darnold and the quarterback on this team this year,
and it's been nothing but amazing to watch Donald do
what he's been doing, this offense do what it's been doing.
I got to give a lot of credit to the
offensive line. They protected him very well for the most part,
kept kept the pressure off of him and he was
(04:16):
able to make plays. So a couple of throws just
just they were just a bit off right to keep
this offense from really being efficient the entire game, but
for the most part, you know, Donald was just fantastic.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Let's hear from Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell after
a twenty seven to twenty four victory over Seattle.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
You know what it doesn't get, doesn't get you know,
much more greater than that, playing a you know, playing
in one of the hardest places to come play, dealing
with some elements and just finding a way to win,
win a game. That's what this team's been really able
to do all season long, some real, you know, real
performances to point out with Jets and Sam offensively, and
(05:00):
then Van Gink with the two sacks I thought, Dallas
Turner with the interception, and then theo to close it,
and really with it being such a you know, two
good teams to win that game, field position is always
going to play.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
A critical role. That was part of what we thought
it would take to win the game.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
And Ryan right was fantastic in the unit, our punt unit,
and then will to be three or three you know
in that kind of day, just critical, really really good execution.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Far from perfect, but that's what.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
This time of year, you got to find a way
to win these games and you learn a lot about
your team, and as I told him, it's, you know,
a hell of an accomplishment to win thirteen thirteen in
this league, and you know, just proud of our guys
and the same same type of feeling just keeps coming up.
You know, very fortunate, you know, in this in this group,
in this locker room, coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
And now we've got to move on to the.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Next What was that all?
Speaker 7 (05:52):
And like when Sam throws a touchdown and Justin and
you see the offensive lineman just developing him on the field.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, no, I thought it was.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Sam's had some huge plays this year considering the circumstances
and and kind of you know how that play kind
of came to life. For him to move up and
throw the ball really on the move there with that
kind of accuracy and to know where Justin was going
to be in the moment was a remarkable play.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
You know, doesn't get better than that.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
And you know, I thought, as I told the team,
you know, his twelfth time being over one hundred rating,
which is a very very significant number in our offense
in this system. What has become Sam's offense making some
of the plays and throws he did. Like I said,
it was far from perfect. There's a lot of things
that we all can do better, but you know, this
(06:44):
is what it's going to take. Every sixty minute opportunity
we have the rest of the way to find a
way to win football games. Big plays and big moments,
doing the little things, winning the turnover battle, you know,
winning the penalty battle, field position battle. Wasn't a great
day running the football, but we did out rush him
because of our defense's ability to to stop the run.
So just a lot of really really positive things that
(07:07):
maybe might not jump out to a lot of folks,
but but it's things we pour into to try to
win football games every week. Is justin adjusting on that
as well, or is he bet where he was going regards?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
It was a route adjustment there that those guys were
on the same page.
Speaker 7 (07:21):
It looked like on parts of that drive, like Sam
was having a hard time hearing.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
My headset went out.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Yeah, my headset went out, and we had a great,
you know, MVP performance from our sideline To get that,
I got a new battery pack, but yeah, my headset
went out completely, which I thought was was curious in
that moment, But you know, Sam was able to he
scrambled on the play before, so I was able to
talk to him coming off the sideline, get that play called.
(07:48):
And then by the time you know, the next snap
was up, I had a new pack on, so dealing
with adversity the.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
One he's running. Did did he have a call there?
I mean, it looked like he was kind of just threst.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I was trying to get him, you know, I was
trying to get him a call, and my head said,
he the last thing he heard was the formation, so
his ability to get a play called, and then, you know,
I gotta be honest with I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
He particularly called.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
I just know that when I saw him have space
and go run like he did, I was relieved. I
know what that play call is, QB run left, you
know is what it was? Is what it seemed like
just the poison.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
I mean, to come on the field trailing.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Have that happen to.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Like, yeah, I mean it's you know, he's had some
he's had some moments, you know, like that this year
where he just seems to be, you know, at his
best in those moments, and like I said, there was
a lot of things offensively, I thought we could have
done better, and that's all of us, but there wasn't
really one guy. And I know I'm not speaking for myself.
(08:53):
I thought we were gonna go down and we're gonna
get a touchdown. And and I think the level of
confidence that that group has in their quarterback and the
level of confidence the quarterback has in the ten guys
in the huddle's significant, and that's how you're able to
go do that in that moment on the road at
this place.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
You know, you can't hear yourself think, you.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Know, to one of the critical things I thought was
to try to win the penalty battle on the road
in this environment, possibly some weather that our guys worked
through there in the first half.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
It cleared up a little bit, came back a little.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Late, but you know, it was a pretty pretty fantastic,
you know performance in that moment by you know, not
just our quarterback, but but all eleven of those guys
out there. Do you think defensively, you guys suggested without
Harrison and is here just a short term thing? Yeah,
very short term. Was truly kind of a game day
kind of decision with him, and you know, wanted to
(09:44):
make sure Harrison is a guy that you know, sometimes
you got to make the decision to sit him down
otherwise he's going to go. And we knew he was
dealing with some significant soreness that just kind of never never,
kind of turned over.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
But we're expecting him to be fine and be ready
roll this week.
Speaker 7 (10:01):
When Sam throws that touchdowns in that moment, like, do
you remember your reactions?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I do?
Speaker 5 (10:07):
I do, because it was a it was kind of
an adjustment on the route based upon how you know,
Justin reacted in the moment, and we had talked a
little bit about that sequence. You know, he'd be on
the backside and if they wanted to, you know, shove
coverage over to him, we thought, you know J or
TJ maybe on the front side.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But how it played out is he got such a.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Clean, good release on the inside release he felt the
vertical grass and took it and uh, you know, in
honor of Randy Moss through the mailbox sign up and
Sam saw him as he climbed up in the pocket.
And I want those guys to have some freedom in
those moments, especially. We do a lot of things with
Justin and Sam seeing the coverage and then you know,
(10:48):
with some some route opportunities to get to at the
line of scrimmage, and I think those guys were just
gotten so comfortable with that stuff that they're able to
execute it like they did, which was maybe the play,
you know, absolutely the play of the game, maybe even
considering just the moment and the circumstances the season as well.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You've got thirteen wins.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
First coach to do that in consecutive seasons for the team.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
But the thing that strikes me is you've done it
with different quarterbacks. Yeah, through those two years.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
How challenging hasn't been to reach those milestones?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yeah, I just I mean, I've talked to this team
a lot. I told him last night that it can
be a very tired cliche to talk about going want
to know, until you've systematically built your entire operation daily
of trying to just do that every single day. These guys,
it's not a cliche at that point. It becomes part
of your football foundation and make the makeup of your
(11:43):
locker room, of your leadership, coaching staff, really everybody that
comes on these trips that have a role in helping
us win football games. It's about everybody. And that's what
I wanted when I came here. I wanted an organization
where it just felt like these kind of moments, you know,
whether big picture moments going into a season when you know,
(12:04):
folks don't necessarily have a lot of you know, outward
confidence of what this group's gonna, you know, be able
to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
We just go to work and we try to improve.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
We have tremendous belief, a sense of belonging, and we
start to really care deeply about what we do here
and in the process do all the little things that
you do when you you know, have the discipline to
care about something like these players do.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Kevin Wan doesn't say about the depth of the defense
that Levi Drake could come in there. THEO Jackson makes
the interception at the end.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Yeah, I think Flow and his guys have done a
phenomenal job all year of really preaching the next man
up mentality when we need it, hoping to have Ip
come back in the coming days.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
But we've had guy after guy.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
You know, whether it's for a game here or there,
short term stints getting healthy, We've had guys step up.
I mean, Bobby McCain really, you know, took a lot
of the week on the defensive scout team, you know,
because everybody just kind of asumed we'd have to two
out there, and THEO took a lot of reps, but
Derounte Jones, Michael Hutchings flow to get that safety group
(13:08):
ready and to communicate the way they did, and that's
why those guys are here. We preached to our guys
a lot about no matter who it is, we're gonna
step in there and we're gonna make a play. We've
seen that happen a few times on offense this year. Speedy,
you know, Jalen Naylor comes to mind, Josh Johnny Munk
come to mind early on in the year, and it's
(13:28):
just part of uh, you know, our left tackle right
now is a perfect example of it. You might not
need to be here for months or years, but when
we call on you, we're gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Get you ready to play and you're gonna go play well.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Adjusting that route in Sam c And is that something
that they could accomplish back in September October?
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Is that a culmination of.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
All the reps.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yeah, I'm glad we didn't have to find out that
was that was kind of a first, you know, on
a on a pretty standard concept, just with a little
window dressing or kind of sauce to it, you know,
to try to you know, make it things look the
same sameness and likeness. And then through that process, Justin's
got an innate feel for open grass and to go
(14:08):
find it and then to be so decisive with it
that the quarterback can feel it as he climbs the pocket.
And then you need a guy that can make that
throw on the move up in the pocket to place
it where he did.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
What a moment, It was really cool. Do you allow
yourself to speak about what could happen.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
If you go to and Oh in terms of playoff
seating and with the whether it's with us.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Or not, but you're lobbing it right at the.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Rim man, but with or with the team, we can't
we can't go to and Oh without going one and
Oh like and.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And we'll talk next week. We'll talk next week.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
We got a we got a heck of a two
challenges for sure, and we've got to have one laser
focus on you know another you know, another playoff caliber team.
Get him at US Bank, which which will be you know, huge,
being back in front of our fans, and then we'll
worry about what's ahead out in front of us then,
(15:03):
But Kevin, I mean it. I mean, I'm like, it's
I know, it's fun to laugh about, but it is
very critical, and I think this team kind of understands
how we got to this point. It's a mature team
that can be dangerous. I do believe if we continue
to just understand what got us to this moment, from
the first day we came to training camp, through each
(15:23):
and every one of our fifteen opportunities so far.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
So that's just what we're going to do.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Remember what you said to saying after that play or
work in the locker.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Room, I do, I do, I cannot, I cannot.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Particular type of language or vise it's personal.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
No more of the personal subject matter. Yeah, those are
such emotional moments. I mean, it's hard to replicate. I
know some of our players have talked about the feeling
of certain things this year when really good things happen,
But it's hard to replicate that because I want this
so bad for these guys, and it's been awesome and
being a part of this journey with Sam from many, many,
(16:03):
many days and months ago in my office just projecting
nothing but confidence and belief in him, and he's not
only earned much much more than that, he continues to
go out and do it in some really tough circumstances.
So Sam Darnold deserves so much of the credit for
really all the credit, I would say, of what he's become.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
You know, we're number fourteen in Purple this year.
Speaker 8 (16:29):
He is the gritty taunting.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Now, did you get an explanation?
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yeah, that was an interesting one, I'll defer to you know,
they saw what they saw, and you know, and we've
got to be you know, we've got to be smart
about the direction at which you know, we gritty, I guess.
But but no, I understand they're they're trying to get
they're trying to get the taunting penalty out of the game,
(16:53):
which you know, which I'm I'm all for, and I
just you know, when there's some other aspects of the
game where people are you know, pointing and directly pointing
it and some folks and and sometimes those things don't
end up being seen. And that's the thing is these
officials have to see in real time those things. So
they got a really hard job. I was, you know,
(17:15):
very very happy we got the face mask call that
really gave us a chance to you know, having earned
first down there on that last drive, and you know,
credit to those officials for making that call and kind
of continuing to let Sam play and keep us on
track with you know, a valid penalty.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
You've been here before with other teams obviously, but the
difficulty of winning in this building, I guess what does
that say about the team's resourcefulness to come in here
and handle the noise, the rain to a team that's
fighting for its life all events.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Yeah, I mean, you know, credit to their fans and
we had a lot of you know, I was, I
was pretty fired.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
Up to see the Purple out there as well.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Our fans always travel great, but this building, the environment,
it's built to be loud. The fans know that and
they are momentum swings in the game.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
You know, you can you can feel it in this building.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
But you're right, just we haven't had a lot of games,
I mean really just the game in London, you know
where it kind of spit rain for most of the night,
so you're as a coach, you're you're trying to prepare
your teams with things throughout the week, wet ball drill.
But we had you know, six inches of snow on
the ground, and we're trying to simulate what this would
be like in our indoor and the guys were ready
(18:24):
to play, and the energy in this building, I could
feel it within our team and warm ups and these
guys were ready to go. Like getting off to a
fast start with that opening drive that can always help,
but you know that means absolutely nothing on the road.
It's going to be sixty minutes slugfest for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
By the way, O'Connell twenty five and nine in one
score games, that's already top three in the history of
the National Football League. What what do you think helps
or leads to Kevin being so poised and the team
taking on the personality of the coach where it stays
poised when things get hot.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
You know, and I go back.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I kind of go back to the you know when,
the when when your best is needed, right when this
game requires the best that you have to be able
to provide it. I think that in a sneaky back
door way, lets these guys know that there are going
to be a lot of times when you know your
backs against the wall. So when you get to these
points where you're you know, behind by a field goal
(19:22):
late in the game. You're going, yeah, that's that. We're
down by four points. We needed a touchdown. Field goal,
wasn't gonna get it done. They kind of they kind
of go, yeah, okay, this is exactly what coach has
been talking about. He hasn't quite he didn't say it
that way, right. It's kind of an interesting way to
phrase it to make these guys say, all right, here
we go. You know we're down, we need to touchdown.
We got two minutes left to go. We got to
(19:43):
make something happen, and they find a way to do it.
So I think that mentally they've been conditioned the entire
time with Kevin O'Connell that they respond in situations like
this now.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Over the last forty years of a quarterback play in
the National Football League, there only are three quarterbacks who
have won at least thirteen games in their first season
with the new team. One is Peyton Manning, the other
is Steve McNair, and now Sam Darnold, who achieved his
thirteenth victory uh and certainly did his part. As Pete said,
(20:17):
he gave his best when his best was required. The
touchdown pass to Justin was beautiful And here's what Sam
had to say after the game.
Speaker 9 (20:24):
So, guys, Yeah, obviously a really good win. And you know,
I feel like that second half, you know, it was
kind of up and down the way that we were,
you know, kind of stalled on a couple of drives,
a couple three.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
And outs, I think.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
But our defense, man, I feel like our defense played
really well today, per usual, our special teams, you know,
Will the thrill, Will Rekerd was able to do his
thing today and droll some big field goals for US,
Ryan Wright doing his thing punting the ball. So just
a total team effort today and you know, a ton
of credit to to those guys. And you know, on
(21:01):
the other side of the ball, I feel like defensively, man,
they have some really good scheme and uh com paired
with you know.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Obviously really good players.
Speaker 9 (21:10):
So just just very proud of the guys in the
locker room for the way that they handled everything throughout
the game, the ups and the downs, and just another
resilient win for us.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
So in your last four starts, you've had three go
ahead touchdowns in the four corner. How have you been
able to do that?
Speaker 9 (21:27):
Yeah, I think, first off, it's a total group effort.
I think just the way that we've been able to
you know, keep our heads down throughout the game and
just do our job every single play. That's that's really
been the key for us. And we're just going to
continue to do that.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Can you take us through.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
The last touchdown pass and your teammates reaction to it?
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Yeah, you know, I think, first and foremost, just doing
a great job of feeling that zone with the route
that he ran, feeling the feeling the cloud to him
and being able to get a little bit of w
to get away from that safety and felt like I
just needed to give him a shot, you know, put
it on his back hip and let him do the rest.
So and then yeah, obviously you know my teammates being
(22:07):
pumped up about it, wouldn't wouldn't expect anything less. And
you know, I was just telling him like, you know,
we got to get a stop here. You know, it's
not over.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
So sure enough we did that.
Speaker 9 (22:17):
Super proud of THEO Jackson man the way that he
was able to play today and step in when we
need him most.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
What happened with the head SATs kind of mass.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
Yeah, I just uh, you know, didn't get the call
for whatever reason, so just called to play and you know,
did my best to make it work.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
Say, what's the process like of getting a call into
everybody with twelve thirteen seconds there? When he I think
Kao said he got the formation that wasn't buy it.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
Yeah, I mean, obviously time outs are crucial, so wasn't
gonna you know, burn a time out there.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
I was able to just get a call into.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
The guys, something that we're familiar with, and you know,
I was able to play the play and obviously felt
felt a little bit of room on the left and
was able to scramble out for a for a solid game.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Sam.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
With Philadelphia's lost, you guys could potentially earn the number
one seed if you in the next two games. What
does that mean to the scroup to be a position
to do that?
Speaker 9 (23:12):
Yeah, I mean it's nothing's changed for us. I think
for us it's you know, just that one and the
mentality that we always talk about. And you know, we
got to grow a little bit from from some of
the things in the second half, like I said, kind
of stalled a little bit, be able to figure out
you know, what happened there, And for me, I feel
like I can be better with a little you know,
better ball placement on some of the throws that I had,
(23:32):
not only in the second half, but in the first
half as well. And you know, we just kind of
continue to grow, get better and you know, have good
weeks of practice.
Speaker 6 (23:41):
And just continue to do our thing.
Speaker 9 (23:42):
And if we do that, put our heads down and
go to work, we'll be good.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
I think you know that's you know, I'm not not
gonna get into you know, kind of what we're capable of.
We we know exactly what kind of team we have.
We know exactly the kind of guys we have in
that locker room. You know, it's just for us to
be able to you know, continue to go. Want to know,
in your reminding teammates that's not over like did you celebrate?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Did you have times?
Speaker 9 (24:11):
But yeah, I think you know, in between you know,
catching my breath and trying to you know, get my
feet back under me. Uh, you know, I was more
worried about that and just truly you know, getting ready
to maybe go back out there if they you know,
we're going to kick a field goal. And you know
I was just you know, because you always got to
keep your mind right, you know, we had a minute left.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
I think they you know, if.
Speaker 9 (24:34):
They drove it forty forty five yards or whatever and
kicked a field goal, we were going to have to
go back out there, potentially go to overtime. So you know,
it's it's never over in this league. And that's kind
of my mindset.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
The first touchdown.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Pass to Justin, did you think he was open or
he just willing to take a shot?
Speaker 6 (24:52):
No, I think you know, I say it all the time.
Speaker 9 (24:54):
I feel like anytime he scores a touchdown against you know,
man coverage, you know, I come in here and I say,
any time hes one on one, I'm gonna try to
give him a shot.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
So that's what I did. And it's pretty much it
fairly difficult.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Yeah, I mean, it's something we practice all the time though,
you know, and obviously it's a you know, it's a
difficult throw to the field all that stuff, but something
we practice a lot.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
And boys that you displayed in that final drive.
Speaker 9 (25:21):
Where does that come.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
A lot of practice?
Speaker 9 (25:24):
You know, I think just being able to get a
ton of reps in the off season against our defense,
you know, a defense that can get to a lot
of their calls, a lot of different pressures in two
minute situations. So being able to find that that poison
training camp ot as whenever we get that two minute
drill going, it really starts there, and just being really
good with my feet, my eyes, trust my progressions, and
(25:47):
you know, if I need to scramble, make a play,
get up and out of the pocket, I'll be willing
to do that.
Speaker 8 (25:55):
The Packers coming to town kind of an interesting read
this week with the holiday in the middle of it, Like,
how do you make sure that you're focused on them?
And almost also how much does it help that you
guys are familiar with them?
Speaker 9 (26:06):
Yeah, you know, obviously it's been a while since we
played them, so we got to continue to do our
film study and and do our do due diligence. Uh.
That way, there's that communication major but uh no, but
uh it's a super important to be able to, you know,
just put our heads down and keep working, you know.
I think that's the biggest thing. And yeah, obviously they're
(26:29):
they're a really good team, another division opponent, so we
got our hands full with them. But again, I think
these next couple of days just getting the guys, you know,
coming off of a Monday night game, getting everyone healthy,
feeling good, and then coming to work on Wednesday.
Speaker 7 (26:42):
Just with a different kind of victory just because of
the setting and the weather, the stakes.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, coming into this hostile environment,
you know, it's always in it's always a good feeling
to get to get a win here. But again, you
know it's a it's a tough opponent obviously in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
So to be able to come in here get a win.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
This huge, you know, in closing here, jahad Ward played
a sneaky big role in this game today. I mean,
I don't have the snap couts in front of me,
but like he and Dallas Turner, Dallas had the first
interception of his career, Theo Jackson's he sealed at his
first interception this year. He and Bobby McCain had to
play a lot today because Harrison Smith was scratched. But
(27:25):
jahad Ward and that physicality, it just seemed from Afar
like he really really helped.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Yeah, he did. And it was a chippy game, Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I mean both their their wide receivers and their dbs
and our and you know and vice versa on our
defensive side of the ball. But yeah, jahad Ward just
a three man rush, Paul puts a spin move on
the center able to get in Geno Smith's face, which
forces the last the last interception of Bobby McCain. Again
that you need that play at the exact time, and
(27:55):
with a three man rush you still get cut pressure,
which has been kind of Geno Smith's kryptonite all night.
Just a fantastic job the defense. They gave up some plays,
I'm sure they wish they had a lot of them back,
but at the same time, came up big when you
needed it.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
The Minnesota Vikings win for the first time in the
state of Washington in the city of Seattle since two
thousand and six, snapping a five game losing streak out here,
sending the Seahawks to eight and seven, and your Vikings
are thirteen and two with a game at home next
week against the Green Bay Packers. For Pete Versa, John
Paul Allen, the news is good from the Cappuccino Capital
(28:34):
twenty seven, twenty four, Minnesota, and this has been the
Vikings postgame report.
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