September 21, 2025 • 34 mins
Welcome back to the Vikings Postgame Report presented by Lumen - The trusted network of A.I. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings had a host of "firsts" in the game. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is the first player in NFL history to record an INT for a touchdown, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and 2 forced fumbles in a game. Kicker Will Reichard kicked a franchise record 62-yard field goal right before the end of the first half. Running back Jordan Mason scored his first 2 rushing touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Carson Wentz threw his first touchdowns in a regular season game as a Viking. Carson becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to start a game for 6 different teams in 6 consecutive seasons. Statistical highlights in the game, include: Wentz finished the day 14-of-20 passing for 173 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and 4 yards rushing. Running Back Jordan Mason added 116 yards on the ground and 2 rushing touchdowns. Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson led the team with 5 receptions for 75 yards, while Tight Ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver both scored through the air. Kicker Will Reichard was perfect again on the day, finishing with 2 FG's and 6 extra points converted. Defensively, the Vikings forced 5 turnovers in the game, including 2 INT's and 3 fumble recoveries. Defensively, Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. led the team with 12 tackles in the game. Linebackers Chaz Chambliss and Austin Keys both recorded a sack on the day, while Outside Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recorded 2. Paul Allen and Pete Bercich recap the game, including: the dominance of the Defense today, Wentz executing the game plan "like a point guard," Jordan Mason breaking out in the running game, and the amount of reoccurring "2's" throughout the game. Plus, Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and Quarterback Carson Wentz press conferences are all in this edition of the Vikings Postgame Report - presented by Lumen - The trusted network of A.I.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yo, what's going on? Welcome to a celebratory version of
the Minnesota Vikings postgame report, and I'm Paul Allen, joined
to buy former Vikings player and coach Pete Bersich after
each and every game here at Vikings dot com. And
this is courtesy of Lumen. The Minnesota Vikings beat the
Cincinnati Bengals forty eight to ten. That's the best news.
(00:42):
But the Cleveland Browns also beat the Green Bay Packers
thirteen to ten, so that's like the one A of
good news. Kevin Stefanski, former offensive coordinator, here his former
team of solid But back to the lesson at hand. Here,
let's begin here. Carson Wentz started a quarterback, replaced JJ
McCarthy with his bad ankle. Carson Wentz two touchdown passes.
(01:04):
What's you think?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I think Carson Wentz did a great job executing the
offense that they asked him to do. His anticipation, his
timing on his release, him strategically just holding out of
the ball on a short drop to get the receivers open,
knowing where to go with the football. I think I
think he managed this offense and ran it very well
(01:26):
for him. What a special day, right to be able
to get out there and get that bad taste out
of your mouth from what happened to her Sunday night,
to beat a Cincinnati team that was undefeated, by the way,
and just leave no doubt so offensively, just getting back
to that passing game. See that come alive. That's Vikings football.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The number two seems to be a common thread here.
The Minnesota Vikings achieved their second victory of the season.
Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes for the first time
in Jordan Mason's career. The running back. He ran for
two touchdowns his fourth game of more than one hundred yards.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Jordan Mason, Yeah, you know why you brought him in, right.
He saw what he did with the forty nine ers
last year getting his chance to start and his ability.
I mean, he almost put up a thousand yards or
right at a thousand yards last year. He's a big back.
He's gonna punish a defense. And you may not be
getting a lot of moving the ten to fifteen twenty
(02:23):
yard runs early on in the game, but just in
this case, when once you get a lead and you
have some time and you have the patients to hand
that ball off some of those big runs, right, they
start to appear out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And Jordan Mason has absolutely delivered what he did in
the third, in the fourth quarter, excuse me of the
Bears game averaging eight and a half or eight eight
something in the yards per carry, and then in this
game coming up with seven point three per carry. What
a great day. And by the way, with an offensive
line with it with substitute center. We had, you know,
our first game back with Darris saus He was in
(02:57):
and out, so things up front weren't were necessary early,
all of a sudden back together again. Mason went out
there and did a fantastic job. That's why you brought
him in. I mean Isaiah Rodgers. To think about that,
you bring in Isaiah Rodgers. I don't think anybody was
was just over the moon when we signed Isaiah Rodgers.
Most most everybody was like, who's this guy?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Well?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
How about that? Our defense, our defensive coaching staff, our
personnel department, they found him right. They they lasered on
him very very early in free agency to bring him
in here, and my heavens says, he paid dividends to
this defense. What a great day, you know by him
and I just go back to that fumble Eric Wilson
(03:38):
caused on Sunday Night. That has started a trend and
the way that this defense is just punching that football
out every team, right the Pittsburgh Steelers, when they turn
on this tape, they're gonna see, hey, we have to
protect the football against this bunch because they are ballhowking
no interceptions the first two weeks, you come back with
two today three, you know, three, and a couple of
(04:00):
fumbles turnover wise defensively, it's on again.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And with that number two being the operative theme here,
Isaiah Rodgers wars number two. And he had two defensive
touchdowns a pick six from eighty seven first of his career,
first interception for Isaiah Rodgers since twenty twenty one when
he played with the Indianapolis Colts. And he also had
a fumble recovery touchdown from sixty six to sixty seven yards. Well,
(04:28):
he became the first player in the history of Minnesota
Vikings football to have two defensive touchdowns in a game.
How about this, He's football immortality for the entire NFL.
He's the only player in the history of the NFL
with two defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles in the
same game.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
He's Isaiah Rodgins. And think about this, Carson Wentz on
his number two quarterback. He's a number two quarterback, but
he's the first guy to start for six different teams
in six seasons. He went from Philly to Indianapolis to Washington,
La Rams to Kansas City back to US. Right, so
you have another guy and to be the first person
to do anything in the NFL. And it's been around now, yeah,
(05:08):
you know, seventy years, eighty years, whatever it's been. Technically,
that's incredible. So the two theme continues. I just thought
of it.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Oh, here you go. What number does Harrison Smith ware?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Twenty two?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
So he has two twos and he tipped the he
tipped the pass that was the pick six for Isaiah Rodgers.
I mean, this was so perfect for Kevin O'Connell today
because if you're reintegrating Christian Darisaw, Andrew Van Ginkle and
Harrison Smith back into the mix, so you were able
Darrisow came in with a pitch count and he left
(05:39):
at the end of the first half. There are no problems.
It was part of the recovery plan. But then he
came back in the second half. I think Ben Ginkle
had two sacks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I was gonna say, how many secks you think Bean
Ginkle had it turn he had two?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah, two twos the yeah. I mean, we're just too
hot to stop with this postgame report right now, so
you know, but let's pause, why because we have two
press conferences coming up, and the first just from head
coach Kevin O'Connell in areas.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Really proud of our team.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
It was not too long ago we were, you know,
in this very room, our team in that very locker room,
and we did we didn't have very good taste in
our mouth. And this the NFL is about facing adversity
head on, collectively working to do the things you gotta
do to correct whatever you need to. But sometimes it's
(06:25):
just a reality check on figuring out exactly who you
want to be as a team. And I felt like
there were some critical parts to not only our preparation
but our performance today from a standpoint of winning the
turnover battle clearly five to nothing, that that's a hallmark
of our organization, led by our defense, our offense, and
(06:47):
special team's ability to not turn it over and effectively
move the ball and do our jobs and play complimentary
of one another. But it was also about the leadership
and our team, and we've got a lot of them.
It's not just our captains. We've got nearly thirty players
received votes to be captains this year. And I can
name player after player that showed up today and we're
(07:10):
phenomenal for their team and just so proud of those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And this is the feeling that we chase.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
And now we've got to go back to work and
start checking the box of being a consistent football team
showing up on game day still very much some things
to correct. I thought we had way too many penalties,
way too many self inflicted penalties.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
But when we were not hurting.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Ourselves, we did move the ball effectively and complimented the
other two phases of our team well. Individual performances, you
have to start with Isaiah Rodgers. It's really hard to
find a performance defensively, especially on the you know, in
the back end and the secondary where the players normally
have to come to them for them to make such
(07:52):
an impact on the game. He was finding plays to
make regardless of whether the ball was thrown to him
his way or he was just seeking the ability to
impact the game, and my goodness, what a performance. Not
surprised though, it's that's a player that from the very
moment we signed him, I knew he was going to
have a monumental impact on our team. Jordan Mason clearly,
(08:14):
you know, being a little bit of a bel cout today.
I thought the other two runners, A and Cam both
ran it well when they got opportunities our offensive line
controlling the.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Line of scrimmage. Uh. And then I do believe.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Carson Wentz just uh, you know, a guy that came
in played point guard for.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Us, ran the show. It was efficient. Uh.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
He made great decisions, he got through his progressions and
did a lot of things to help the Minnesota Vikings win.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Today.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I know was a you know, out of body kind
of experience for him, you know, today winning winning a
game here at Eos Banks Stadium as a former uh
you know, lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. Not former, he is
a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. But to me, the goal
was to go want to know today, I know sometimes
the owen ones you know, cause a cause a like
(09:00):
storm and frenzy, and they should, especially with the expectations
that I know I have for this team and hopefully
what our fans have for us. But it showed some
growth and maturity and the ability to come back and
put a performance like that together. Really in all three
phases was very encouraging for the future. Just a little
(09:20):
injury update, we did come out relatively clean for the
most part of Kudo was evaluated for a concussion but
was cleared to return, and Hargrave had a you know,
like a chest rib contusion that whatever that is. But
he could have came back if required, but we wanted
to be smart with him. I thought Christian darsol snaps
(09:42):
were absolutely outstanding and he could have continued as well,
but we had a mindset on kind of what we
got from Christian today from a snap standpoint, and hopefully
this is a big stepping stone for the future. Harrison
Smith comes back and immediately puts his hands on a ball,
tips it and led to Isa's first touchdown on the
pick six.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And then you know Andrew.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Van Ginkle with the two sacks coming back being his
reliable self in every way. I could go player after player,
but today and it's about those guys today, so I
want to make sure I allow you guys to get
back there and continue to talk to those guys about
the win they just had.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
How much of the turnovers can you attribute to personality?
The defense on the pick six Marriguez was a Brownings
feed Harrison Tipsey, Asiah picks it off.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And then goes downfield.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, and it goes to Flow on the call it
goes to There's probably four or five other guys that
had in some way shape or form an impact, whether
it's eating double teams, whether it's attacking with movement, regardless
of the call. I thought Flow called a tremendous game.
I thought we had a great plan, mix it really well,
and the guys made it.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Come to life.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
So but clearly, when you can have your defense scoring
fourteen points and giving you opportunities as an offense, and
then what I did like was our ability to, you know,
for the most part, turn those things around and execute.
And when we didn't have penalties, I thought our offensive
execution was was pretty good. And to me, it's the
pre snap ones, new quarterback, you know, new center, cadence,
(11:08):
all those things.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
All those things can be excuses.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
They're not going to be We've got to fix those
things and be on the hunt to play even more
consistent football for sixty minutes next week. What you're seeing
from Isaiah Rogers behind the scenes that sort of legendi
believe this building, Well, it starts I mean, if I'm
being one hundred percent honest, you know it starts with
I can remember vividly the conversation with Brian Flores about
him when in the vision for the player, the vision
(11:36):
pairing him with Murph, and what we thought that could be, Like,
you know, Flow, you know, I don't want to go
through the time we've been together and those types of
names when he's got that tone in his voice when
he brings it to me and we collectively then collaborate
with the personnel side. But he Isaiah's on that list
of guys and the other ones that he's mentioned have
(11:58):
turned out pretty darn well here and then some of
the guys that maybe went elsewhere, those guys have showed
up well. So I think it's a matter of Flow's
impact and his ability to have vision for players like
we've seen here with two free agencies now where there's
been an immediate impact on our team from some of
these guys that show up and end up being great
Minnesota vikings for us since he.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Got Travision for a player, like what did you see
for Jordan Mason?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And then has he kind of met what you've offered
him exactly?
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I mean, you guys can feel the power he runs with.
He's a really good, you know, eight to nine wide
zone runner. He finds the space, he can put his
foot in the ground, he can get north and when
he gets around the goal line, and we have the
type of movement and some of our work up front
that we had both from our line and our tight ends.
Our receivers were involved in the plan today big time.
(12:46):
I thought Adam Thielen was huge in the run game,
Jalen Naylor justin Jefferson had some you know blocks that
you would have thought we threw an adr touchdown with
how the guys in the booth and some of the
coaches were reacting. So the all eleven feel was there
absolutely in our run game. And then I felt it
as well, you know, in our execution in the past game.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
And there's some.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Plays out there that that we would you know, thought
we could make and and we'll make those we'll continue
to grow as a unit. But Jordan Mason, I mean
I would have loved to get him more work. But
it got you know, it got to the point there
where we wanted to be smart with him, and he
got north of that Hunter mark. He got on the
end zone twice and we're gonna shut him down for
the day.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Christian, what was the conversation like over the last week
getting him to the point where everybody.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah, I knew Ben.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I knew basically wednesday's practice he was the first guy
to every drill, first guy in the huddle, just a
juice that quite honestly elevated our entire team. I told
him if there's I told him out on the field,
if there's ever a question of what a franchise left
tackle means to an organization. I think we felt it today.
(13:51):
I think we felt it throughout the week. I think
the confidence level that his teammates had, our quarterback had.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Was felt.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
And that's really what guys like CD at the you know,
the top tier their position in the NFL due to
football teams. And I knew early in the week we
would have a chance. But at the same time, it's
all it was always going to be a process, the
work from the start of his rehab, from the moment
he had the procedure to now. I could get emotional
(14:21):
talking about it, just because I'm there every day and
I see it. I see the journey that this guy's
been on, and I, you know, the love of football
and the love of his teammates every single day working
back to this moment, probably my you know, I loved
giving Will Reker and Isaiah Rodgers and Carson Wentz game balls,
but that was by far my most you know, the
most memorable one that I've had in a long time,
(14:42):
just because of the personal, one on one kind of
journey from that moment late in the second quarter against
the Rams on Thursday night to right now and watching
him do what he did today, and he will only
build on it. But I think he's you know, I'm
just so proud of him.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
This is what you envisioned when you signed Carson's uttered backup,
and I know he didn't want to necessarily want to
see him when he did.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
And yeah, I think I think the most important thing
is Carson. Whether it was the Thursday practice Atlanta week
he stepped in or having all the reps all week long,
I think he's learning with the type of people in
that huddle with him. If he just takes the right footwork,
does his job, runs the show. There's going to be
people to throw the ball to. We're gonna be able
(15:24):
to be efficient, and once we rectify the penalty being
something that gets in our way from success, we will
have a chance to be a complete offense. And I
think he felt that and he just you know, felt
like he could go out there and execute. And I
thought he gained kind of confidence and settle down as
the game went on, and really proud of him. That's,
you know, this is the vision you have for sure
(15:46):
to answer your question. And I thought that his his poise,
his calmness, and his do your job kind of effectiveness
as the quarterback provided poise for everybody in that huddle.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
A nice He's a speed pretty much every day.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah, I'm pretty confident when he got the ball in
his hands both times that he was gonna be able to.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Take it all the way.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Oh, I mean it was.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I just know this guy is begging to return kicks
and he's begging to go back there. But as I've
told him many times, you're gonna score this year. And
he told me in the locker room, he's like, coach,
you said, I was going to score. I said, I
wasn't telling you something you didn't know. We just had
to get your hands on the ball. And and then
he's a problem when he's got it because he's got
natural running instincts and the guys get the guys know
(16:29):
when when number two, you know, catches that ball, that
there's gonna be some uh, there's reasons to go put
a hat on somebody in block because he's all he
needs is a crease and he's.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Gonna be a tough guy to catch for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Do you remember what Flow saw specifically with him that
maybe other people hadn't seen from a covers carner.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Well, you know, I think he saw sticky coverage. I
think he saw a guy that you know, was growing
from a standpoint of being able to project his fit
with how we would use him, you know, specifically when
he's that kind of field corner. And then we wanted
to pay that with a you know, big physical body
like Jeff Acuda who did a lot of good things
today as well. And then that allows Murph to really
(17:07):
be what we need Murph to be, incredibly impactful inside
outside the flex of all that. But but yeah, it
was it was a combination of a lot of things,
and then you know, we sat down and watched him,
and quite frankly, I was you know, I was pretty
surprised that we were gonna have a legitimate chance to
get him. And I think that's sometimes teams have whether
they've drafted you know, a couple DB's in the first round,
(17:29):
and they you know, have a veteran player, you know,
like the team Zay was on. But I know that,
I know that, you know, he's been impactful wherever he's
ever been. He just it's the consistency of getting the
opportunity and what a performance today is just spectacular.
Speaker 7 (17:44):
Does a kick like that from will change how far
you might be willing to let him let.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Him dry in? Yeah, I mean you guys saw it.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
It was to hit it sixty two, you know, darn
near halfway up the net is something else. And he
I got so much confidence and will it's almost dangerous
because he starts seeing Okay, you know they give me
lines before the game of make it, take it all
that stuff. I normally add two or if I scratch
it out and add two or three to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
It to either number.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
But I thought it was just a nice way of
capitalizing getting points off that last turnover. I'd kind of
told Flow, hey, all the timeouts are yours, you know,
we let's let's get a stop here and then we'll
come out and get another stop and keep the momentum going.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
And then all of a sudden we had an op
and I wish we didn't get the penalty on first
and ten there.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
You know, you know, Christian was gonna go in and
get retaped to be able to come back out. That
was the only reason why he missed that sequence of
snaps right there, because he was excited to get in
and make sure he was ready to.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Come back out and roll.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
And then we got called for, you know, our left
tackle being lined up too far back, which seemed to
be something that probably both sides were getting warned about
throughout the day. It was unfair to Blake. It's his
first snap really in there, and they call him for it.
But that's that's the rules. That's the way. It's very
clear to us that's that's what happens. But would have
nice to see, hey, little drive starter, a little trick
(19:06):
play there and then see where we could have maybe
gone from that with all of our timeouts left. But
we got the three points and carried that momentum through
the second half.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Would you have let him go from sixty two if
you hadn't run out of time?
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Say that again.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Would you let him go from sixty two any other
time during the game if you weren't up.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Against the clock? Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean
we'd be right on that number.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
The big thing is, you know you're thinking about throughout
the game, you know, is it a fourth and is
it a green on our charts to maybe go for it?
You know, the way Ryan Wright's been punting the ball
and our gunners are consistently showing up at the shoelaces
of the returners, like sometimes the menfield position in a game. Sometimes,
especially with your defense playing like that, that leads into it.
(19:49):
But there's gonna be times where Will's gonna hit that
kick in a really close game, and it could be
to win it. It could be to be the three
points we need to win it. It could come early
on in the game if it if it presents itself.
And that's the kind of confidence that I have in him.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
Kevin Carson has a ton of experiences in this league.
I mean, you talk about his poise, can you feel
just him drawing on everything that he's been through as
he goes through a practice, as he goes through the game.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
So smart, so smart has an understanding of exactly who
he is as a player at this point. And look,
I you know, I know that we write a lot
of narratives about these guys, good and bad, and we
use those words very quickly in many ways. But listen,
he's last couple of years, he's played in Week seventeen
(20:37):
for two really good football teams in many ways, with
you know, a lot of the starters resting right alongside
the starting quarterback. And he goes out there and competes,
and when you go back and you really go back
over the you know, the timeline when he's been given
really good opportunity normally he's played really good football. And
(20:58):
I've always been a fan of his. You know, he's big,
he's strong, he's smart, he commands and I was not
you know, I told him, you know, when we took
him out of the game, I was the least surprised
person in the whole building today that he was able
to go out there and effectively run our offense. And
I think there's a reason why I came here, he
had a lot of you know, opportunities potentially, and and
(21:19):
going through the plan, probably the most fun part was
we were trying to, you know, make sure he was
comfortable with everything we were doing. We did some things
that were new for us but very comfortable for him,
some RPO type plays, some some different things that he
made come to life throughout the week and then showed
up on game day. But at one point he said, Coach,
the reason why.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I came here is this system.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
And you guys and our players and the guys they
get to be in the huddle with, so you fire
away and let's rock. And that was probably you know,
as exciting of anything throughout the week because then at
that point I knew the trust was there. We clearly
trusted him to go play football. And and he did
so many good things today and and I think he'd
be the first one to tell you that there's there's
(21:59):
even more you know comfort now that he's kind of
gone through a full week, played a game, and now
you know he'll he'll he'll get another opportunity.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Here, you mentioned get another opportunity you go in. I
see that means going the week we're playing for him
to start.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Yeah, see the thing about JJ's you know, he's got
his high ankle. He's responded well to the early part
of the treatment. But for a young player, you know,
I want to make sure that he's healthy, especially the
guy with the movement skills that he has UH and
has clearly shown in his first two opportunities. We're you know,
we're gonna do right by him and make sure Listen,
he you know this guy, this guy probably would have
(22:38):
tried to go today and be, you know, out there
doing whatever he could. I mean, he nothing that he
wants more than to be back out there with his
teammates and and but at the same time, he was
so supportive of Carson all week. I thought Josh McCown
did a phenomenal job getting Carson ready to go, leaning
on their experiences previously together and finding that balance of
allowing me to have my time with him as well
(22:58):
so that on game that that dynamic could help us win.
So look, this was a you know, we wanted to
win a football game. Get the taste of last Sunday
at home out of our mouth with a great another
unbelievable performance by our fans. You felt them all day
long and that you know, I call it feed the
energy at the bank.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Our team knows how important it is to do that
because our fans never let us down when we're able
to give them things to get excited about. And can't
wait to get back here. It's going to be a while,
but I can't wait to get back here for our
next opportunity we can in front of our fans.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
All right, coach. The Vikings also have two games in
Europe coming up next week, the first against the Pittsburgh
Steelers from Dublin next Sunday, then our home away from
home Pete Tottenham Hotspur in London to play the Cleveland Browns.
Kevin Stefanski, former offensive coordinator for the Vikings, did us
a solid today, but Vikings will try to beat him
(23:56):
in a couple of weeks and you know, we'll see
who's that quarterback at that time. JJ McCarthy having that
ankle sprain. You know, before we hear from Carson Wentz
Pete on the broadcast today in the first half when
it was still kind of a game. It was like
fourteen zero something like that. Yeah, that there were plays.
Wentz throw a touchdown to Josh Oliver Okay to start
Festivity seven zero. But a lot of the plays we
(24:18):
were seeing were between the numbers, between the hash marks
with Jefferson and Hockinson and players catching it and running
after the catch in the middle of the field. We
just hadn't seen a lot of that the last two games.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
What changed, No, we hadn't seen a lot of that
in in in a lot in a little more of
the pistol type of a look in a quick, a
quick throwing game. What's changed is just this is the
That's the offense that Carson Wentz has used to executing.
That's the offense that Carson Wentz executed brilliantly in his
in his one game that he played with the UH
with the La Rams a couple of years ago against
(24:52):
the forty nine ers. He's very very good with the timing.
No one when to pause, let that let that MI
receiver come open, and then not have to really put
his foot in the ground and deliver the football on time.
But when it's going to the flat, it gets out
there early. Allot TJ. Hocketson to turn one up yes,
you know, in the end zone, almost almost into the
end zone for a touchdown. Later hits him over the
(25:14):
middle of the field right, kind of an off schedule throw.
So for Carson Wentz, he played as well as I
think you could expect for a guy who hasn't been
here for very long, and you feel confident with him
going forward. Now here's the other thing, too, Paul, is
you take a look. I mean, Pittsburgh I think had
a good day today. Cleveland won. These are two road
games that we're playing on neutral sites, so it's gonna
(25:37):
be a lot easier for this football team, I think
to travel on Ireland and then to London instead of
having to go back to back from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.
And this game, this was as big of a third
game of a season, I think as you can get
in that you lose this one, it's a long week,
long road trip, and then whatever happens in Ireland, you've
(25:59):
got another week in London to just fester with it,
good or bad, and you know, a shot in the arm.
Guys responded when they needed to write proverbial fork in
the road. You're you give up nine sacks in the
first two weeks of the season. Offensively, You're you're stagnant,
You're just it's just not the offense that we've seen here.
(26:21):
For them to bounce back impressive.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Carson Wentz Bismarck, North Dakota go crazy through for two
touchdown passes today and here's what he had to say
after the game.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
Person you talked on Friday about being excited just for
this opportunity and especially with the Vikings, just wondering kind
of what your emotions were today and the first series following.
Speaker 8 (26:42):
Yeah, there was definitely a lot of emotions. I had
a channel, you know, running out there. It's been a
while since get any chance to do this, But then
obviously being in the Purple and Gold means means a
little extra something to me personally. So yeah, I definitely
had a lot of emotions, but it was able to
channel them to the best of my ability to go
out there and have a lot of fun those guys.
Speaker 9 (27:01):
Yeah, and that's what it was. It was a ton
of fun. Also, a ton of fun. Watching the defense
play like that always helps.
Speaker 8 (27:07):
I think it was five turnovers or whatever, so that
definitely made it a little easier for for the whole squad.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
But yeah, it was it was.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
All I can say is I had had a blast out.
There was something tone early on on that first drive
kind of yeah. I mean I think that was, you know,
big for me personally, but big for this team. You know.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
I think that's something that we've we've been maybe lacking
a little bit. So it's something we've talked about, is
starting fast, you know, and and finding our identity in
a game quickly. And I thought the guys really the
old line kind of set that tone right away, both
with with the run game. I mean, we were getting
JP wasn't getting hit till he was ten yeards down
the field, it felt like early on. And so just
with that, but then protecting me early in that drive,
(27:47):
Like I mean, it was it was fun to go
out there and just go right down the field like
that and set the tone early and then kind of
let our defense dig in.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
Carson, it looked like you were comfortable out there all game.
Did you feel a comfort level even though you haven't
been here terribly long?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
It felt felt like football game, you know, which was fun.
So you know, once once that that kickoff happened, it
just felt like another game going out there, and so,
like I said, I was able to channel all those
emotions just go play. Did I play a perfect game.
By no means there's definitely plays I want back. Took
a couple of sacks. I can't be doing that, you know,
So there's still a lot to learn. But any time
to come away with a win like that, it's hard
(28:24):
to win in this league. So it's it's fun to
be fun to get him when you can.
Speaker 7 (28:27):
Said you might have a point guard the way you
kind of were a distributive.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
All did feel like that you kind of get into
rhythm as the game went on with with your personnel.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Yeah, I mean that's that's obviously, that's what I want
to do when I go out there. I mean, I
don't want I don't want to be the one making plays.
I just want to get it to these playmakers.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
You know.
Speaker 8 (28:42):
That's always been my my philosophy. And we got some
good ones here and that's been fun just seeing them
work and practice. It's only been a couple of weeks obviously,
but seeing it live in a game like today, even
Jets just catching you know, a little deep slant and
turn it into whatever he did thirty forty yards. It's
one for me to see that because my job just one, two, three,
(29:02):
throw it and let them do the hard work, and
so that's really the goal every time, you know, I
don't want to be running around trying to make plays.
It happens, but yeah, it's fun to fun to kind
of see that and see those guys come to life
like that. What were the emotions out of the tunnel
when you go to your girls and you guys had
that moment. Yeah, it's been now, we've been doing that
in a couple of different uniforms, but that moment as
(29:23):
a family was was pretty special.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
It always is.
Speaker 8 (29:25):
You know, It's something I don't take take for granted.
I'm seeing my my beautiful wife and my beautiful three
little girls standing there. They are so fired up to
come to these games, and they're already doing the skull chance.
They got it down. So for me to come out
and just get that breath of fresh air with just
my family remind me of, you know, put my brain
in my mind in that perspective, there's so much more
to life than just this football game. That kind of
(29:47):
helps me have a comfort when I go out and
play with a little sense of peace that's a little different.
So seeing them that meant a lot always does to me.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
With Zickie with you talk with your owners briefly after
meeting with your family, would you would you chat with him?
Speaker 8 (30:00):
Yeah, nothing, nothing in particular, but it was it was
fun to fun to talk to him. I've talked to
him now a couple of times, and you know, again,
grew up chairing for this team, so it's it's pretty
special even just chatting with him pre game quickly and
getting this opportunity like.
Speaker 7 (30:13):
Playing with with Justin for the first time, and maybe
some of the unique ways that teams covered him.
Speaker 9 (30:18):
Yeah, he's he's pretty good.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
That's that's the obvious statement, but it definitely presents teams are,
without a doubt aware of him, and you know, you
get some unique coverages that quite frankly, I've probably never
seen in my now ten ten years, just because of
who he is and the attention he draws. And so
there's some different coverages that teams are throwing at us,
and I'm seeing that on film already, and so it'll
(30:43):
be interesting to see how teams want to keep trying
to stop him. Thankfully, we have a plethora of options,
which is which is pretty fun. Uh fun to be
the guy pulling the trigger to all these other guys. So,
but yeah, he's he's pretty dang good, and so it's
fun to get out there and finally connect with him person.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
You mentioned the play that justin extended. I guess, just
what is it like when you have a receiver of
his caliber who's so willing to basically run a guy
over and take that contact.
Speaker 8 (31:09):
Yeah, I mean, just seeing him do that is obviously
pretty special. But I think just seeing him do that,
as far as being a leader on this team, speaks
volumes of that. You know, he wants to he wants
to not only make the catches, but he wants to win.
You know, he's gonna do everything he can help this
team win. And I see that in practice. I see
it with how how hard he practices. You know, guys,
I've been around some really good players in my career,
(31:30):
and he works as hard as any of them, and
so I respect that about him. And again, it's only
been a couple weeks since I've been here, but that's
something I noticed pretty quickly.
Speaker 9 (31:37):
So the leadership that.
Speaker 8 (31:38):
He brings to the table. Not only is he as
good as he is, but he works as hard as
he does. And when those two things go hand in hand,
it's tough to stop.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You're a new guy. How much easier does it make
it for you? When your quarterback has two touchdowns.
Speaker 9 (31:49):
On its terrific. It's just terrific.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
I mean, for a while there, I don't think we're
on the field, and we scored a couple of touchdowns.
Speaker 9 (31:55):
I didn't have to do anything. That's great.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
That's great is I'm not sure sure I've ever well,
nobody's ever seen a performance like that, So that was
That makes it real nice early in a game like
that to settle in, especially after we already kind of
did go down and score, to see them do that.
This defense, our defense pretty nasty.
Speaker 6 (32:13):
Especially about the way Jordan Mason runs.
Speaker 9 (32:15):
I mean, he's not afraid to go right up the middle,
even if there's only a.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
Little bit of a hole and all that.
Speaker 9 (32:19):
Yeah, he runs hard.
Speaker 8 (32:20):
He runs hard, and obviously that's pretty clear to see.
But I think defenses will be you know, they don't
want to come downhill and tackle him either. And he
runs hard, and he though line did a great job
of opening those gaps and getting him into the second level.
And if I was playing safety, I wouldn't want to
come downhill and tackle him. So, and he does all
the other little things well too. He you know, pass
protects really well, catches it out of the backfield. He's
(32:42):
really on his on his stuff. So I can't say
enough good things about him. It's fun to see him
kind of slashing out there today. Ken mentioned during the
league that you had told him, like, you came here
because of the plays, and you kind of wanted the
plays that he had, just what you would envision when
you came here, and why the decision.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
To be at Viking.
Speaker 8 (32:58):
Yeah, just something i'd scene, you know, in my last
couple of years of him being a play caller and
head coach. Is just the way he's always able to
move the football and be successful. And so that was
a big part of wanting to come here, was working
with him, but also just this roster and so getting
to see it up close and personal today. Obviously it
(33:18):
was only three quarters, which was weird. Didn't expect that one,
but it was fun to kind of just get our
feet wet, so to speak, and looking forward to to
the next one.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
All right, Steelers next with Aaron Rodgers, a familiar foe.
The Vikings played Aaron Rodgers in Europe last year in
London and Andrew Van Ginkel picked him off for a
pick six and they beat the Jets. Pittsburgh will be formidable,
but they're all formidable. Unfortunately, the Vikings come at it
from a two and one record after they beat the
(33:48):
Cincinnati Bengals forty eight ten. Thank you very much, Luman,
We thank Pete Bursich, and I'm Paul Allen convincing Minnesota
Vikings victory today at US Bank Stadium. Thank you for
listening to the postgame report, and don't forget to peruse
vikings dot com for reaction and recaps of all of
the action.
Yo, what's going on? Welcome to a celebratory version of
the Minnesota Vikings postgame report, and I'm Paul Allen, joined
to buy former Vikings player and coach Pete Bersich after
each and every game here at Vikings dot com. And
this is courtesy of Lumen. The Minnesota Vikings beat the
Cincinnati Bengals forty eight to ten. That's the best news.
(00:42):
But the Cleveland Browns also beat the Green Bay Packers
thirteen to ten, so that's like the one A of
good news. Kevin Stefanski, former offensive coordinator, here his former
team of solid But back to the lesson at hand. Here,
let's begin here. Carson Wentz started a quarterback, replaced JJ
McCarthy with his bad ankle. Carson Wentz two touchdown passes.
(01:04):
What's you think?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I think Carson Wentz did a great job executing the
offense that they asked him to do. His anticipation, his
timing on his release, him strategically just holding out of
the ball on a short drop to get the receivers open,
knowing where to go with the football. I think I
think he managed this offense and ran it very well
(01:26):
for him. What a special day, right to be able
to get out there and get that bad taste out
of your mouth from what happened to her Sunday night,
to beat a Cincinnati team that was undefeated, by the way,
and just leave no doubt so offensively, just getting back
to that passing game. See that come alive. That's Vikings football.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The number two seems to be a common thread here.
The Minnesota Vikings achieved their second victory of the season.
Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes for the first time
in Jordan Mason's career. The running back. He ran for
two touchdowns his fourth game of more than one hundred yards.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Jordan Mason, Yeah, you know why you brought him in, right.
He saw what he did with the forty nine ers
last year getting his chance to start and his ability.
I mean, he almost put up a thousand yards or
right at a thousand yards last year. He's a big back.
He's gonna punish a defense. And you may not be
getting a lot of moving the ten to fifteen twenty
(02:23):
yard runs early on in the game, but just in
this case, when once you get a lead and you
have some time and you have the patients to hand
that ball off some of those big runs, right, they
start to appear out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And Jordan Mason has absolutely delivered what he did in
the third, in the fourth quarter, excuse me of the
Bears game averaging eight and a half or eight eight
something in the yards per carry, and then in this
game coming up with seven point three per carry. What
a great day. And by the way, with an offensive
line with it with substitute center. We had, you know,
our first game back with Darris saus He was in
(02:57):
and out, so things up front weren't were necessary early,
all of a sudden back together again. Mason went out
there and did a fantastic job. That's why you brought
him in. I mean Isaiah Rodgers. To think about that,
you bring in Isaiah Rodgers. I don't think anybody was
was just over the moon when we signed Isaiah Rodgers.
Most most everybody was like, who's this guy?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Well?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
How about that? Our defense, our defensive coaching staff, our
personnel department, they found him right. They they lasered on
him very very early in free agency to bring him
in here, and my heavens says, he paid dividends to
this defense. What a great day, you know by him
and I just go back to that fumble Eric Wilson
(03:38):
caused on Sunday Night. That has started a trend and
the way that this defense is just punching that football
out every team, right the Pittsburgh Steelers, when they turn
on this tape, they're gonna see, hey, we have to
protect the football against this bunch because they are ballhowking
no interceptions the first two weeks, you come back with
two today three, you know, three, and a couple of
(04:00):
fumbles turnover wise defensively, it's on again.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And with that number two being the operative theme here,
Isaiah Rodgers wars number two. And he had two defensive
touchdowns a pick six from eighty seven first of his career,
first interception for Isaiah Rodgers since twenty twenty one when
he played with the Indianapolis Colts. And he also had
a fumble recovery touchdown from sixty six to sixty seven yards. Well,
(04:28):
he became the first player in the history of Minnesota
Vikings football to have two defensive touchdowns in a game.
How about this, He's football immortality for the entire NFL.
He's the only player in the history of the NFL
with two defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles in the
same game.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
He's Isaiah Rodgins. And think about this, Carson Wentz on
his number two quarterback. He's a number two quarterback, but
he's the first guy to start for six different teams
in six seasons. He went from Philly to Indianapolis to Washington,
La Rams to Kansas City back to US. Right, so
you have another guy and to be the first person
to do anything in the NFL. And it's been around now, yeah,
(05:08):
you know, seventy years, eighty years, whatever it's been. Technically,
that's incredible. So the two theme continues. I just thought
of it.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Oh, here you go. What number does Harrison Smith ware?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Twenty two?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
So he has two twos and he tipped the he
tipped the pass that was the pick six for Isaiah Rodgers.
I mean, this was so perfect for Kevin O'Connell today
because if you're reintegrating Christian Darisaw, Andrew Van Ginkle and
Harrison Smith back into the mix, so you were able
Darrisow came in with a pitch count and he left
(05:39):
at the end of the first half. There are no problems.
It was part of the recovery plan. But then he
came back in the second half. I think Ben Ginkle
had two sacks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I was gonna say, how many secks you think Bean
Ginkle had it turn he had two?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah, two twos the yeah. I mean, we're just too
hot to stop with this postgame report right now, so
you know, but let's pause, why because we have two
press conferences coming up, and the first just from head
coach Kevin O'Connell in areas.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Really proud of our team.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
It was not too long ago we were, you know,
in this very room, our team in that very locker room,
and we did we didn't have very good taste in
our mouth. And this the NFL is about facing adversity
head on, collectively working to do the things you gotta
do to correct whatever you need to. But sometimes it's
(06:25):
just a reality check on figuring out exactly who you
want to be as a team. And I felt like
there were some critical parts to not only our preparation
but our performance today from a standpoint of winning the
turnover battle clearly five to nothing, that that's a hallmark
of our organization, led by our defense, our offense, and
(06:47):
special team's ability to not turn it over and effectively
move the ball and do our jobs and play complimentary
of one another. But it was also about the leadership
and our team, and we've got a lot of them.
It's not just our captains. We've got nearly thirty players
received votes to be captains this year. And I can
name player after player that showed up today and we're
(07:10):
phenomenal for their team and just so proud of those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And this is the feeling that we chase.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
And now we've got to go back to work and
start checking the box of being a consistent football team
showing up on game day still very much some things
to correct. I thought we had way too many penalties,
way too many self inflicted penalties.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
But when we were not hurting.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Ourselves, we did move the ball effectively and complimented the
other two phases of our team well. Individual performances, you
have to start with Isaiah Rodgers. It's really hard to
find a performance defensively, especially on the you know, in
the back end and the secondary where the players normally
have to come to them for them to make such
(07:52):
an impact on the game. He was finding plays to
make regardless of whether the ball was thrown to him
his way or he was just seeking the ability to
impact the game, and my goodness, what a performance. Not
surprised though, it's that's a player that from the very
moment we signed him, I knew he was going to
have a monumental impact on our team. Jordan Mason clearly,
(08:14):
you know, being a little bit of a bel cout today.
I thought the other two runners, A and Cam both
ran it well when they got opportunities our offensive line
controlling the.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Line of scrimmage. Uh. And then I do believe.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Carson Wentz just uh, you know, a guy that came
in played point guard for.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Us, ran the show. It was efficient. Uh.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
He made great decisions, he got through his progressions and
did a lot of things to help the Minnesota Vikings win.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Today.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I know was a you know, out of body kind
of experience for him, you know, today winning winning a
game here at Eos Banks Stadium as a former uh
you know, lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. Not former, he is
a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. But to me, the goal
was to go want to know today, I know sometimes
the owen ones you know, cause a cause a like
(09:00):
storm and frenzy, and they should, especially with the expectations
that I know I have for this team and hopefully
what our fans have for us. But it showed some
growth and maturity and the ability to come back and
put a performance like that together. Really in all three
phases was very encouraging for the future. Just a little
(09:20):
injury update, we did come out relatively clean for the
most part of Kudo was evaluated for a concussion but
was cleared to return, and Hargrave had a you know,
like a chest rib contusion that whatever that is. But
he could have came back if required, but we wanted
to be smart with him. I thought Christian darsol snaps
(09:42):
were absolutely outstanding and he could have continued as well,
but we had a mindset on kind of what we
got from Christian today from a snap standpoint, and hopefully
this is a big stepping stone for the future. Harrison
Smith comes back and immediately puts his hands on a ball,
tips it and led to Isa's first touchdown on the
pick six.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And then you know Andrew.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Van Ginkle with the two sacks coming back being his
reliable self in every way. I could go player after player,
but today and it's about those guys today, so I
want to make sure I allow you guys to get
back there and continue to talk to those guys about
the win they just had.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
How much of the turnovers can you attribute to personality?
The defense on the pick six Marriguez was a Brownings
feed Harrison Tipsey, Asiah picks it off.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And then goes downfield.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, and it goes to Flow on the call it
goes to There's probably four or five other guys that
had in some way shape or form an impact, whether
it's eating double teams, whether it's attacking with movement, regardless
of the call. I thought Flow called a tremendous game.
I thought we had a great plan, mix it really well,
and the guys made it.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Come to life.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
So but clearly, when you can have your defense scoring
fourteen points and giving you opportunities as an offense, and
then what I did like was our ability to, you know,
for the most part, turn those things around and execute.
And when we didn't have penalties, I thought our offensive
execution was was pretty good. And to me, it's the
pre snap ones, new quarterback, you know, new center, cadence,
(11:08):
all those things.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
All those things can be excuses.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
They're not going to be We've got to fix those
things and be on the hunt to play even more
consistent football for sixty minutes next week. What you're seeing
from Isaiah Rogers behind the scenes that sort of legendi
believe this building, Well, it starts I mean, if I'm
being one hundred percent honest, you know it starts with
I can remember vividly the conversation with Brian Flores about
him when in the vision for the player, the vision
(11:36):
pairing him with Murph, and what we thought that could be, Like,
you know, Flow, you know, I don't want to go
through the time we've been together and those types of
names when he's got that tone in his voice when
he brings it to me and we collectively then collaborate
with the personnel side. But he Isaiah's on that list
of guys and the other ones that he's mentioned have
(11:58):
turned out pretty darn well here and then some of
the guys that maybe went elsewhere, those guys have showed
up well. So I think it's a matter of Flow's
impact and his ability to have vision for players like
we've seen here with two free agencies now where there's
been an immediate impact on our team from some of
these guys that show up and end up being great
Minnesota vikings for us since he.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Got Travision for a player, like what did you see
for Jordan Mason?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And then has he kind of met what you've offered
him exactly?
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I mean, you guys can feel the power he runs with.
He's a really good, you know, eight to nine wide
zone runner. He finds the space, he can put his
foot in the ground, he can get north and when
he gets around the goal line, and we have the
type of movement and some of our work up front
that we had both from our line and our tight ends.
Our receivers were involved in the plan today big time.
(12:46):
I thought Adam Thielen was huge in the run game,
Jalen Naylor justin Jefferson had some you know blocks that
you would have thought we threw an adr touchdown with
how the guys in the booth and some of the
coaches were reacting. So the all eleven feel was there
absolutely in our run game. And then I felt it
as well, you know, in our execution in the past game.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
And there's some.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Plays out there that that we would you know, thought
we could make and and we'll make those we'll continue
to grow as a unit. But Jordan Mason, I mean
I would have loved to get him more work. But
it got you know, it got to the point there
where we wanted to be smart with him, and he
got north of that Hunter mark. He got on the
end zone twice and we're gonna shut him down for
the day.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Christian, what was the conversation like over the last week
getting him to the point where everybody.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah, I knew Ben.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I knew basically wednesday's practice he was the first guy
to every drill, first guy in the huddle, just a
juice that quite honestly elevated our entire team. I told
him if there's I told him out on the field,
if there's ever a question of what a franchise left
tackle means to an organization. I think we felt it today.
(13:51):
I think we felt it throughout the week. I think
the confidence level that his teammates had, our quarterback had.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Was felt.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
And that's really what guys like CD at the you know,
the top tier their position in the NFL due to
football teams. And I knew early in the week we
would have a chance. But at the same time, it's
all it was always going to be a process, the
work from the start of his rehab, from the moment
he had the procedure to now. I could get emotional
(14:21):
talking about it, just because I'm there every day and
I see it. I see the journey that this guy's
been on, and I, you know, the love of football
and the love of his teammates every single day working
back to this moment, probably my you know, I loved
giving Will Reker and Isaiah Rodgers and Carson Wentz game balls,
but that was by far my most you know, the
most memorable one that I've had in a long time,
(14:42):
just because of the personal, one on one kind of
journey from that moment late in the second quarter against
the Rams on Thursday night to right now and watching
him do what he did today, and he will only
build on it. But I think he's you know, I'm
just so proud of him.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
This is what you envisioned when you signed Carson's uttered backup,
and I know he didn't want to necessarily want to
see him when he did.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
And yeah, I think I think the most important thing
is Carson. Whether it was the Thursday practice Atlanta week
he stepped in or having all the reps all week long,
I think he's learning with the type of people in
that huddle with him. If he just takes the right footwork,
does his job, runs the show. There's going to be
people to throw the ball to. We're gonna be able
(15:24):
to be efficient, and once we rectify the penalty being
something that gets in our way from success, we will
have a chance to be a complete offense. And I
think he felt that and he just you know, felt
like he could go out there and execute. And I
thought he gained kind of confidence and settle down as
the game went on, and really proud of him. That's,
you know, this is the vision you have for sure
(15:46):
to answer your question. And I thought that his his poise,
his calmness, and his do your job kind of effectiveness
as the quarterback provided poise for everybody in that huddle.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
A nice He's a speed pretty much every day.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Yeah, I'm pretty confident when he got the ball in
his hands both times that he was gonna be able to.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Take it all the way.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Oh, I mean it was.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I just know this guy is begging to return kicks
and he's begging to go back there. But as I've
told him many times, you're gonna score this year. And
he told me in the locker room, he's like, coach,
you said, I was going to score. I said, I
wasn't telling you something you didn't know. We just had
to get your hands on the ball. And and then
he's a problem when he's got it because he's got
natural running instincts and the guys get the guys know
(16:29):
when when number two, you know, catches that ball, that
there's gonna be some uh, there's reasons to go put
a hat on somebody in block because he's all he
needs is a crease and he's.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Gonna be a tough guy to catch for sure.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Do you remember what Flow saw specifically with him that
maybe other people hadn't seen from a covers carner.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Well, you know, I think he saw sticky coverage. I
think he saw a guy that you know, was growing
from a standpoint of being able to project his fit
with how we would use him, you know, specifically when
he's that kind of field corner. And then we wanted
to pay that with a you know, big physical body
like Jeff Acuda who did a lot of good things
today as well. And then that allows Murph to really
(17:07):
be what we need Murph to be, incredibly impactful inside
outside the flex of all that. But but yeah, it
was it was a combination of a lot of things,
and then you know, we sat down and watched him,
and quite frankly, I was you know, I was pretty
surprised that we were gonna have a legitimate chance to
get him. And I think that's sometimes teams have whether
they've drafted you know, a couple DB's in the first round,
(17:29):
and they you know, have a veteran player, you know,
like the team Zay was on. But I know that,
I know that, you know, he's been impactful wherever he's
ever been. He just it's the consistency of getting the
opportunity and what a performance today is just spectacular.
Speaker 7 (17:44):
Does a kick like that from will change how far
you might be willing to let him let.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Him dry in? Yeah, I mean you guys saw it.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
It was to hit it sixty two, you know, darn
near halfway up the net is something else. And he
I got so much confidence and will it's almost dangerous
because he starts seeing Okay, you know they give me
lines before the game of make it, take it all
that stuff. I normally add two or if I scratch
it out and add two or three to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
It to either number.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
But I thought it was just a nice way of
capitalizing getting points off that last turnover. I'd kind of
told Flow, hey, all the timeouts are yours, you know,
we let's let's get a stop here and then we'll
come out and get another stop and keep the momentum going.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
And then all of a sudden we had an op
and I wish we didn't get the penalty on first
and ten there.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
You know, you know, Christian was gonna go in and
get retaped to be able to come back out. That
was the only reason why he missed that sequence of
snaps right there, because he was excited to get in
and make sure he was ready to.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Come back out and roll.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
And then we got called for, you know, our left
tackle being lined up too far back, which seemed to
be something that probably both sides were getting warned about
throughout the day. It was unfair to Blake. It's his
first snap really in there, and they call him for it.
But that's that's the rules. That's the way. It's very
clear to us that's that's what happens. But would have
nice to see, hey, little drive starter, a little trick
(19:06):
play there and then see where we could have maybe
gone from that with all of our timeouts left. But
we got the three points and carried that momentum through
the second half.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Would you have let him go from sixty two if
you hadn't run out of time?
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Say that again.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Would you let him go from sixty two any other
time during the game if you weren't up.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Against the clock? Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean
we'd be right on that number.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
The big thing is, you know you're thinking about throughout
the game, you know, is it a fourth and is
it a green on our charts to maybe go for it?
You know, the way Ryan Wright's been punting the ball
and our gunners are consistently showing up at the shoelaces
of the returners, like sometimes the menfield position in a game. Sometimes,
especially with your defense playing like that, that leads into it.
(19:49):
But there's gonna be times where Will's gonna hit that
kick in a really close game, and it could be
to win it. It could be to be the three
points we need to win it. It could come early
on in the game if it if it presents itself.
And that's the kind of confidence that I have in him.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
Kevin Carson has a ton of experiences in this league.
I mean, you talk about his poise, can you feel
just him drawing on everything that he's been through as
he goes through a practice, as he goes through the game.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
So smart, so smart has an understanding of exactly who
he is as a player at this point. And look,
I you know, I know that we write a lot
of narratives about these guys, good and bad, and we
use those words very quickly in many ways. But listen,
he's last couple of years, he's played in Week seventeen
(20:37):
for two really good football teams in many ways, with
you know, a lot of the starters resting right alongside
the starting quarterback. And he goes out there and competes,
and when you go back and you really go back
over the you know, the timeline when he's been given
really good opportunity normally he's played really good football. And
(20:58):
I've always been a fan of his. You know, he's big,
he's strong, he's smart, he commands and I was not
you know, I told him, you know, when we took
him out of the game, I was the least surprised
person in the whole building today that he was able
to go out there and effectively run our offense. And
I think there's a reason why I came here, he
had a lot of you know, opportunities potentially, and and
(21:19):
going through the plan, probably the most fun part was
we were trying to, you know, make sure he was
comfortable with everything we were doing. We did some things
that were new for us but very comfortable for him,
some RPO type plays, some some different things that he
made come to life throughout the week and then showed
up on game day. But at one point he said, Coach,
the reason why.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I came here is this system.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
And you guys and our players and the guys they
get to be in the huddle with, so you fire
away and let's rock. And that was probably you know,
as exciting of anything throughout the week because then at
that point I knew the trust was there. We clearly
trusted him to go play football. And and he did
so many good things today and and I think he'd
be the first one to tell you that there's there's
(21:59):
even more you know comfort now that he's kind of
gone through a full week, played a game, and now
you know he'll he'll he'll get another opportunity.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Here, you mentioned get another opportunity you go in. I
see that means going the week we're playing for him
to start.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Yeah, see the thing about JJ's you know, he's got
his high ankle. He's responded well to the early part
of the treatment. But for a young player, you know,
I want to make sure that he's healthy, especially the
guy with the movement skills that he has UH and
has clearly shown in his first two opportunities. We're you know,
we're gonna do right by him and make sure Listen,
he you know this guy, this guy probably would have
(22:38):
tried to go today and be, you know, out there
doing whatever he could. I mean, he nothing that he
wants more than to be back out there with his
teammates and and but at the same time, he was
so supportive of Carson all week. I thought Josh McCown
did a phenomenal job getting Carson ready to go, leaning
on their experiences previously together and finding that balance of
allowing me to have my time with him as well
(22:58):
so that on game that that dynamic could help us win.
So look, this was a you know, we wanted to
win a football game. Get the taste of last Sunday
at home out of our mouth with a great another
unbelievable performance by our fans. You felt them all day
long and that you know, I call it feed the
energy at the bank.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Our team knows how important it is to do that
because our fans never let us down when we're able
to give them things to get excited about. And can't
wait to get back here. It's going to be a while,
but I can't wait to get back here for our
next opportunity we can in front of our fans.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
All right, coach. The Vikings also have two games in
Europe coming up next week, the first against the Pittsburgh
Steelers from Dublin next Sunday, then our home away from
home Pete Tottenham Hotspur in London to play the Cleveland Browns.
Kevin Stefanski, former offensive coordinator for the Vikings, did us
a solid today, but Vikings will try to beat him
(23:56):
in a couple of weeks and you know, we'll see
who's that quarterback at that time. JJ McCarthy having that
ankle sprain. You know, before we hear from Carson Wentz
Pete on the broadcast today in the first half when
it was still kind of a game. It was like
fourteen zero something like that. Yeah, that there were plays.
Wentz throw a touchdown to Josh Oliver Okay to start
Festivity seven zero. But a lot of the plays we
(24:18):
were seeing were between the numbers, between the hash marks
with Jefferson and Hockinson and players catching it and running
after the catch in the middle of the field. We
just hadn't seen a lot of that the last two games.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
What changed, No, we hadn't seen a lot of that
in in in a lot in a little more of
the pistol type of a look in a quick, a
quick throwing game. What's changed is just this is the
That's the offense that Carson Wentz has used to executing.
That's the offense that Carson Wentz executed brilliantly in his
in his one game that he played with the UH
with the La Rams a couple of years ago against
(24:52):
the forty nine ers. He's very very good with the timing.
No one when to pause, let that let that MI
receiver come open, and then not have to really put
his foot in the ground and deliver the football on time.
But when it's going to the flat, it gets out
there early. Allot TJ. Hocketson to turn one up yes,
you know, in the end zone, almost almost into the
end zone for a touchdown. Later hits him over the
(25:14):
middle of the field right, kind of an off schedule throw.
So for Carson Wentz, he played as well as I
think you could expect for a guy who hasn't been
here for very long, and you feel confident with him
going forward. Now here's the other thing, too, Paul, is
you take a look. I mean, Pittsburgh I think had
a good day today. Cleveland won. These are two road
games that we're playing on neutral sites, so it's gonna
(25:37):
be a lot easier for this football team, I think
to travel on Ireland and then to London instead of
having to go back to back from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.
And this game, this was as big of a third
game of a season, I think as you can get
in that you lose this one, it's a long week,
long road trip, and then whatever happens in Ireland, you've
(25:59):
got another week in London to just fester with it,
good or bad, and you know, a shot in the arm.
Guys responded when they needed to write proverbial fork in
the road. You're you give up nine sacks in the
first two weeks of the season. Offensively, You're you're stagnant,
You're just it's just not the offense that we've seen here.
(26:21):
For them to bounce back impressive.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Carson Wentz Bismarck, North Dakota go crazy through for two
touchdown passes today and here's what he had to say
after the game.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
Person you talked on Friday about being excited just for
this opportunity and especially with the Vikings, just wondering kind
of what your emotions were today and the first series following.
Speaker 8 (26:42):
Yeah, there was definitely a lot of emotions. I had
a channel, you know, running out there. It's been a
while since get any chance to do this, But then
obviously being in the Purple and Gold means means a
little extra something to me personally. So yeah, I definitely
had a lot of emotions, but it was able to
channel them to the best of my ability to go
out there and have a lot of fun those guys.
Speaker 9 (27:01):
Yeah, and that's what it was. It was a ton
of fun. Also, a ton of fun. Watching the defense
play like that always helps.
Speaker 8 (27:07):
I think it was five turnovers or whatever, so that
definitely made it a little easier for for the whole squad.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
But yeah, it was it was.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
All I can say is I had had a blast out.
There was something tone early on on that first drive
kind of yeah. I mean I think that was, you know,
big for me personally, but big for this team. You know.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
I think that's something that we've we've been maybe lacking
a little bit. So it's something we've talked about, is
starting fast, you know, and and finding our identity in
a game quickly. And I thought the guys really the
old line kind of set that tone right away, both
with with the run game. I mean, we were getting
JP wasn't getting hit till he was ten yeards down
the field, it felt like early on. And so just
with that, but then protecting me early in that drive,
(27:47):
Like I mean, it was it was fun to go
out there and just go right down the field like
that and set the tone early and then kind of
let our defense dig in.
Speaker 7 (27:54):
Carson, it looked like you were comfortable out there all game.
Did you feel a comfort level even though you haven't
been here terribly long?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
It felt felt like football game, you know, which was fun.
So you know, once once that that kickoff happened, it
just felt like another game going out there, and so,
like I said, I was able to channel all those
emotions just go play. Did I play a perfect game.
By no means there's definitely plays I want back. Took
a couple of sacks. I can't be doing that, you know,
So there's still a lot to learn. But any time
to come away with a win like that, it's hard
(28:24):
to win in this league. So it's it's fun to
be fun to get him when you can.
Speaker 7 (28:27):
Said you might have a point guard the way you
kind of were a distributive.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
All did feel like that you kind of get into
rhythm as the game went on with with your personnel.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Yeah, I mean that's that's obviously, that's what I want
to do when I go out there. I mean, I
don't want I don't want to be the one making plays.
I just want to get it to these playmakers.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
You know.
Speaker 8 (28:42):
That's always been my my philosophy. And we got some
good ones here and that's been fun just seeing them
work and practice. It's only been a couple of weeks obviously,
but seeing it live in a game like today, even
Jets just catching you know, a little deep slant and
turn it into whatever he did thirty forty yards. It's
one for me to see that because my job just one, two, three,
(29:02):
throw it and let them do the hard work, and
so that's really the goal every time, you know, I
don't want to be running around trying to make plays.
It happens, but yeah, it's fun to fun to kind
of see that and see those guys come to life
like that. What were the emotions out of the tunnel
when you go to your girls and you guys had
that moment. Yeah, it's been now, we've been doing that
in a couple of different uniforms, but that moment as
(29:23):
a family was was pretty special.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
It always is.
Speaker 8 (29:25):
You know, It's something I don't take take for granted.
I'm seeing my my beautiful wife and my beautiful three
little girls standing there. They are so fired up to
come to these games, and they're already doing the skull chance.
They got it down. So for me to come out
and just get that breath of fresh air with just
my family remind me of, you know, put my brain
in my mind in that perspective, there's so much more
to life than just this football game. That kind of
(29:47):
helps me have a comfort when I go out and
play with a little sense of peace that's a little different.
So seeing them that meant a lot always does to me.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
With Zickie with you talk with your owners briefly after
meeting with your family, would you would you chat with him?
Speaker 8 (30:00):
Yeah, nothing, nothing in particular, but it was it was
fun to fun to talk to him. I've talked to
him now a couple of times, and you know, again,
grew up chairing for this team, so it's it's pretty
special even just chatting with him pre game quickly and
getting this opportunity like.
Speaker 7 (30:13):
Playing with with Justin for the first time, and maybe
some of the unique ways that teams covered him.
Speaker 9 (30:18):
Yeah, he's he's pretty good.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
That's that's the obvious statement, but it definitely presents teams are,
without a doubt aware of him, and you know, you
get some unique coverages that quite frankly, I've probably never
seen in my now ten ten years, just because of
who he is and the attention he draws. And so
there's some different coverages that teams are throwing at us,
and I'm seeing that on film already, and so it'll
(30:43):
be interesting to see how teams want to keep trying
to stop him. Thankfully, we have a plethora of options,
which is which is pretty fun. Uh fun to be
the guy pulling the trigger to all these other guys. So,
but yeah, he's he's pretty dang good, and so it's
fun to get out there and finally connect with him person.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
You mentioned the play that justin extended. I guess, just
what is it like when you have a receiver of
his caliber who's so willing to basically run a guy
over and take that contact.
Speaker 8 (31:09):
Yeah, I mean, just seeing him do that is obviously
pretty special. But I think just seeing him do that,
as far as being a leader on this team, speaks
volumes of that. You know, he wants to he wants
to not only make the catches, but he wants to win.
You know, he's gonna do everything he can help this
team win. And I see that in practice. I see
it with how how hard he practices. You know, guys,
I've been around some really good players in my career,
(31:30):
and he works as hard as any of them, and
so I respect that about him. And again, it's only
been a couple weeks since I've been here, but that's
something I noticed pretty quickly.
Speaker 9 (31:37):
So the leadership that.
Speaker 8 (31:38):
He brings to the table. Not only is he as
good as he is, but he works as hard as
he does. And when those two things go hand in hand,
it's tough to stop.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You're a new guy. How much easier does it make
it for you? When your quarterback has two touchdowns.
Speaker 9 (31:49):
On its terrific. It's just terrific.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
I mean, for a while there, I don't think we're
on the field, and we scored a couple of touchdowns.
Speaker 9 (31:55):
I didn't have to do anything. That's great.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
That's great is I'm not sure sure I've ever well,
nobody's ever seen a performance like that, So that was
That makes it real nice early in a game like
that to settle in, especially after we already kind of
did go down and score, to see them do that.
This defense, our defense pretty nasty.
Speaker 6 (32:13):
Especially about the way Jordan Mason runs.
Speaker 9 (32:15):
I mean, he's not afraid to go right up the middle,
even if there's only a.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
Little bit of a hole and all that.
Speaker 9 (32:19):
Yeah, he runs hard.
Speaker 8 (32:20):
He runs hard, and obviously that's pretty clear to see.
But I think defenses will be you know, they don't
want to come downhill and tackle him either. And he
runs hard, and he though line did a great job
of opening those gaps and getting him into the second level.
And if I was playing safety, I wouldn't want to
come downhill and tackle him. So, and he does all
the other little things well too. He you know, pass
protects really well, catches it out of the backfield. He's
(32:42):
really on his on his stuff. So I can't say
enough good things about him. It's fun to see him
kind of slashing out there today. Ken mentioned during the
league that you had told him, like, you came here
because of the plays, and you kind of wanted the
plays that he had, just what you would envision when
you came here, and why the decision.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
To be at Viking.
Speaker 8 (32:58):
Yeah, just something i'd scene, you know, in my last
couple of years of him being a play caller and
head coach. Is just the way he's always able to
move the football and be successful. And so that was
a big part of wanting to come here, was working
with him, but also just this roster and so getting
to see it up close and personal today. Obviously it
(33:18):
was only three quarters, which was weird. Didn't expect that one,
but it was fun to kind of just get our
feet wet, so to speak, and looking forward to to
the next one.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
All right, Steelers next with Aaron Rodgers, a familiar foe.
The Vikings played Aaron Rodgers in Europe last year in
London and Andrew Van Ginkel picked him off for a
pick six and they beat the Jets. Pittsburgh will be formidable,
but they're all formidable. Unfortunately, the Vikings come at it
from a two and one record after they beat the
(33:48):
Cincinnati Bengals forty eight ten. Thank you very much, Luman,
We thank Pete Bursich, and I'm Paul Allen convincing Minnesota
Vikings victory today at US Bank Stadium. Thank you for
listening to the postgame report, and don't forget to peruse
vikings dot com for reaction and recaps of all of
the action.
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