December 13, 2025 • 22 mins
Tatum Everett from VEN gets you set for the Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys!
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome into the Two Minute Warning, presented by three M,
the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm your host Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Network, and your Vikes are coming off a huge thirty
one to zero victory over the Commanders last week. Now
they head to the lone Star State to take on
quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night football.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Dallas's high powered offense.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Is putting up the most yards and points in the
NFL this.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Season, but defensively they have been vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Dallas's defense giving up ninety three points combined in their
last three games and the second most points overall in
twenty twenty five. This looks to be a high scoring affairs.
The big question is which team will be able to
capitalize on their chances early and often. Head coach Kevin
O'Connell spoke to the media this week about the challenges
posed by this Cowboys team and the opportunities available heading
(00:55):
in a Sunday night All right.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Quick injury rundown.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We'll just have two players questionable, Ty Chandler still in
his ramp up period.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Ad another good week.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
We'll kind of get together as a group and determine
his status for tomorrow, but he'll go in questionable and
then Christian Dersall got a limited practice in today and
we'll see how he feels coming off of today, but
other than that, won't have any other designations for the game.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Excited for this opportunity.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Looking to our team to consistency has been the word
that we've talked about. Have not stacked two performances together
completely as a team yet this year, And obviously.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Another good week of practice.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Our guys are in a great mindset and we're gonna
need it going down there Sunday Night football Dallas Cowboys,
you know, with obviously them being a very talented team.
Well coach shot he does a great job fluse on
the defensive side. So got our hands full and we
need to play well and need to stack a couple
of weeks here together.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Kevin, it sounds like Jordan Datison is fine for the game,
which is what happened with that Achilles.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Nothing really happened, just you know the product of kind
of normal December football kind of soreness, and he's just
been limited a little bit here and there, but won't
have a designation.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
For the game. What if you respect level for Dak
oh Ton.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I mean, I think you know it leads the league
in passing. You see him will that team to to wins.
Obviously they've got a lot of talent around him on
that offense, but just you know, his makeup is the
way he leads, the way he you know, you there
is a sense of belief that they're going to go
out there and win every game because of how he
operates in the standard he's set not only for himself,
(02:33):
but that he sets for that.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Team and and and others follow.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
So I couldn't respect Dak Prescott anymore as a person
and more importantly, you know, just as a quarterback in
this league for a really long time.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Came to the league as a fourth round pick. Did
love him coming.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Out, but he's proved a lot of people right as
far as the type of player in person that he.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Is and how much how much different is their defense
with winning Williams.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, it's different. I mean, he's incredibly impactful. They already
had a really solid into your front with some impact
guys in there that we know well, and then they
add him to it gives them great depth. But it
allows them to put a grouping on the field where
where they're you know, there's there's not a lot of uh,
there's not a lot of doubt on what they're attempting
(03:22):
to do. You know, get five to one on ones,
disrupt the run game like crazy.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
You've seen it his ability.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
I know, we we get carried away a lot with
the overall statistics for a season, but teams change, they evolved,
They maybe add a player like that throughout the season,
and regardless of what the big picture numbers, maybe the
current film might tell a totally different story. And that's
what his addition has kind of meant for. I think
this team and and how they're playing with him in there, Kevin, when.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Their kicker can make it from sixty five?
Speaker 7 (03:54):
Yeah, how does that change the dynamic for how you
manage it?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I think you got to you got to understand that
situational football could be different. You know, how you handle
the end of the first half could be different because
between the dynamic kickoff and and maybe one of the
best returners in our league, and then the fact that
they're a player to even if you handle that play well,
there are one or two you know, Dack completions from
(04:18):
giving him a swing at it, and you almost.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Have to look like it.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
It look like any time left on the clock, he's
going to get a swing at it.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
If you think about it.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
You know, a great returner and a kicker that can
you know, kick it from you know, probably outside the
building and have a chance to make it. You know,
you've you've got to either decide can we execute maybe
a unique kind of kick, you know, to try to
see if you can, which Will's done a few times
this year where we've you know, forced the touch back
to the twenty and because he can you know, either
(04:49):
hit a certain kind of kick or try to play
the game with the returner of where he's going to
kick it. You got to try some things, but more
likely you've got to cover down and make sure that
you can turn it into a momentum play for you
where if you can get that returner down you know,
anywhere inside the thirty five, that's a it's a win
for that group.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
On that D and D.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
And now the defense has got to go out there
and make sure there's no let up because, like I said,
one completion that doesn't even have to be a chunk
play and he's probably taking a swing at one.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
The Vikings offense accounted for one hundred and sixty two
yards on the ground Sunday, and the offensive line was humming.
Vikings guard Will Fries was encouraged by their ability to
sustain long drives against the Commanders, and they hope to
repeat their previous performance down in Dallas.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
It's a lot of fun and anytime that you can
move the ball like that in the run game, you know,
or it helps out up the whole offense. So, you know,
for us to continue to have success, you know, we've
got to keep their on game going. We'll be able
to lean on defensive lines in front seven. So you
know it's important that we take advantage of the re
ups from practice and you know, make them go in
the game when they're called.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Do you think that helps McCarthy get comfortable too, obviously
to being able to run the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Could you sense that at all last week?
Speaker 8 (05:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
Oh, you know, as a as a guy, as a quarterback,
I'm sure he wants, you know, sing the ball over
the place. That's fun for quarterbacks, but you know, I
think for you know, the whole team, for us, it's
fun to run block, so you know, uh, I think
it all kind of marries together and you know, I
think it helps him out. Uh, you know in the
in the long run, you ever.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Been part of a nineteen play drive that goes twelve
minutes like that?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I mean, that's yeah, that was that was That was
a heck of a drive.
Speaker 7 (06:21):
It was a lot of fun, yet pretty tiring towards
the end there like oh yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure.
But you know that's a that's a that's a good
drive for us to build off off, you know, to
prove ourselves and maybe if a run doesn't go or
or you know, not necessarily a positive play happens, you know,
you know, we can step back up to the line
and continue to drive and got to go. And you know,
JJ did a great job making some stuff happen on
(06:42):
third down, and all our receivers, you know, credit to
them for you know, getting us, uh you know, moving
down the line and get us you know some supposed
places we needed it. So it was a whole a
whole group effort and everyone, you know, that's what we
need to continue to build. All eleven guys doing their
job at the same time and be able to you know,
like I said before, marry the run in the past
game and that's how you you know, have an efficient
offense and you know we're able to you know, score
some good points.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
H Dallas. I know Michael Parsons obviously not there anymore,
but that that pass rush, that d line is that
whole just as good.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Yeah, they have an extremely talented and uh you know
defensive line.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It to be a challenge for us this week.
Speaker 7 (07:16):
You know, we have to really be on our fundamentals
and technique and uh, you know, play hard, play through
the whistle. You know, they're like I said, they're a
really good front of a lot of good players, and
you know we'd be need to need to be on
our you know p's and q's and all that stuff
this week.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
If you could take one thing, I know Dallas and
the Commanders are two different football teams, but if you
could take something from last week and reapply it this
week for the offense, what would that be?
Speaker 7 (07:39):
You know, I think it's just a mentality of you know,
not being denied and you know, really holding on those details,
you know, kind of like I was saying before, when
we're you know detailed that all eleven guys are doing
their job. You know a lot of good things can
happen on offense, So you know, it's that extra focus.
It's you know a lot of things that haven't necessarily
gone our way this year, but you know it's time
to kind of build off of that, be consistent and
(08:01):
the you know, start building off that game last week.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is only one hundred and
ninety yards away from his sixth straight one thousand yard
season with four games remaining. That is a very attainable goal,
especially the ability to pad those numbers again, say Dallas secondary,
that's been a liability this season.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Jet spoke to the media.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
About playing in prime time and how this team can
take advantage of the opportunity.
Speaker 9 (08:27):
No, I always always love the big time moments and
love those big time, prime time games. You know, it's
just history wise, you know, we just haven't been good
on those type of games, and you know we haven't
shown up the way we have we should have shown up.
So it's just time for things to change, you know,
Tom for us to go out there with that mentality
(08:48):
to go out there and just kill it no.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Matter the play. That's called.
Speaker 9 (08:52):
No matter what's going on throughout the game, as soon
as the play gets called, go executed at the most.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
And just not wait for a play, Go make a play.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
So I feel like that's.
Speaker 9 (09:02):
The biggest thing that's that's uh you know talked about.
Uh And it's just all about just us sticking together
as a team and not really listening to the outside
noise and just playing our own ball.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
What do you think you've learned about yourself this year?
Speaker 9 (09:16):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Being patient?
Speaker 9 (09:17):
Uh, you know, having to learn how to be patient
and overcome the adversity of having a new quarterback, having
uh to to learn some new things and uh, you know,
it's it's tough, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
You want to win.
Speaker 9 (09:29):
You want to be a big part of the offense
and big part of uh you know, just having all
of the yards and everything. But uh, sometimes you gotta
sacrifice that for to be a leader, to be uh
you know, a person that has that good energy uh
throughout the week even though things aren't the best. So uh,
you know, I'll say patience is definitely one of the
(09:50):
things that I have to learn this year.
Speaker 10 (09:52):
That some people just throw out the term leadership a lot.
What what's the hard part that you learned of leadership.
But some of the girls are kind of coaching too.
But you're a player, You're still a peer. What was
the hardest thing that people don't see about that term leadership?
Speaker 9 (10:05):
Yeah, the hardest thing about being a leader is being
a leader when you're losing, or being a leader when
uh things aren't going well. Uh to continue on having
that leadership, continue on being that vocal person and having
the get energy around, having you know, getting everybody motivated
to continue on, uh.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
To the next week and the next week and the
next week.
Speaker 9 (10:25):
Uh So, you know, just especially with this type of season,
having five wins and not really going the way we
wanted to go, still being that leader on the sidelines,
not really you know, uh you know, exploding or showing
my emotions and uh, you know, just doing things I
feel like typical receivers do nowadays. Uh, you know, just
understanding the circumstances, understanding uh my role on this team,
(10:48):
and uh just going out there and uh with that
you know, smile on my face still and uh just
trying to make a play and being that being that
leader for us.
Speaker 10 (10:57):
Because you're gonna really a rob Row type of me
to begin with right. So it's hard to do that
in a losing season, so that must be difficult.
Speaker 9 (11:05):
Yeah, it is difficult, but uh you know, just understanding
my position and understanding that, uh you know, my words
can go a long way, and uh you know, so
some people, uh you know, take my.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Words a little more seriously than others.
Speaker 9 (11:17):
So uh it's just all about just letting everybody know that,
you know, I'm still involved, I'm still locked in into
this season, and I still want to win.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Uh So it's just.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Coming out here every single week, coming to practice, every
single play, just doing what I need to do to
to get open and create that separation.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh so people can see.
Speaker 9 (11:34):
That I'm working hard and I'm practicing to my fullest potential,
so we can you know, win on Sundays and uh
so we can have those good looks for JJ typically
be prepared to make those thows. Uh So it's just
all about just coming to work every single day. Uh
not really you know, looking at the record, not really
listening to to what everybody else has to say. Just
come here, get our job done, and uh you know,
(11:56):
look forward to Sunday to to.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Win more to I'm on the two minute warning we
will hear from offensive coordinator Wes Phillips and quarterback JJ
McCarthy about how they think they did against the Commanders
and what they hope to do against Dallas. We'll also
hear from a linebacker Eric Wilson as he's having a
heater of a season. Stay tuned. You're listening to the
(12:19):
two minute Warning, but first from the field, to the
roof and everywhere in between.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Three am.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
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Speaker 2 (12:32):
Hey Vikings fans.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
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Speaker 2 (12:51):
I'm your host.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network Minnesota travels down
to Dallas to face the six six and one Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Following a shut out the week before.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
The Vikings regain their footing and posted thirty one points
in Sunday's win over Washington. The Vikings offense now looks
to continue their late season maturation against the Dallas defense,
who currently gives up an average of two hundred and
fifty five yards through the air, which is dead last
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Offensive coordinator West Phillips spoke.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
This week about the positive steps this team took and
how they look to improve even more on Sunday.
Speaker 11 (13:27):
The plan is going to change from week to week
based on what you know, what we're seeing from the defense.
So you know, I know a lot's been been talked about,
but whether it's runs or passes, fronts, coverages, there's new
challenges every week in this league and different structures of
(13:47):
defense that is presented to you, and you have to,
you know, the best thing we can do for him
is try to put together a plan that you know,
gets gets guys open. Gets number one. Want to open
more often than not. Is ideal, not always going to happen,
but uh, but you know, you're trying to find ways
to attack the defense and at the same time do
(14:10):
things our guys do well.
Speaker 6 (14:12):
When you love your game playing with a quarterback at
JJ's status for first year doing this, how much of
a learning curve is there? For you guys as coaches
about what he likes, how to coach him, how to
work with them in the game.
Speaker 11 (14:24):
Lining, Yeah, I think, uh, I think you got to
be careful with what what they like. I mean, you
obviously don't want to call plays or put plays in
that they don't like. But sometimes there's just a level
of a young quarterback doesn't always maybe see it see
it the way we see it. And generally there's some discussions,
(14:47):
you know, about certain plays where hey, and it's not like, hey,
I don't like this, it's hey, what are what are
you seeing here? And that's the question you'll get from him,
what what are we thinking? Is is happening on this
on this scheme? You know, and then once it's explained,
you you know, oftentimes, you know, Kevin might pull up
some clips say hey, this is this is what we're
(15:07):
seeing in this coverage. You see that and generally, generally,
you know, the quarterbacks in this league they understand those
types of things. But uh, but yeah, we're you know,
our job is to try to try to put in
plays that our players can execute. So you know, if
there's something we feel I feel like, uh, you know,
(15:28):
it's just not quite there yet with any player at
any position or you know, then then we'll try to
stay away from those things or or try to coach
it hard during the week and and and if we
really like something, and and uh give them the why
and make sure they understand why it's in. What do
you think of Dallas's defense and what they're They move
(15:53):
a lot up front, They play hard, extremely hard. They've
got a lot of good athletes, a lot of former
first round picks. And you know, obviously adding qu Quinn
Williams with Kenny Clark inside, two really good players on
the inside. But their edge guys, you know, have played
(16:13):
very hard as well. I'm fifty four and forty one
are guys that don't get a lot of play extremely
hard along with you know, the more name guys Fowlers
and Clowney's and they got a lot, They got a
lot of talent over there. The linebackers are very athletic.
Hooker at safety has been been a good player in
(16:36):
this league for a long time. You know, Diggs will
see see where he's at as far as you know,
being able to play this week. But Bland has obviously
been great ball skills. You know, he's kind of a
dangerous guy out there playing that field corner to try
to throw some balls out there on him. So yeah,
(16:58):
it's good. It's a good defense. I always said, you know,
when when Flus was here, I got a lot of
respect for him as a coordinator and scheme wise and
how they attack the football, you know, the whole the
whole system that he's run and it's and you know,
to his credit, he's a good coach. He's he's doing
(17:19):
some different things there with those players, and then he
did in Chicago with the group he had there.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
One of the key performances last week included the three
touchdown pass performance by quarterback JJ McCarthy. Going into the game,
there was a lot of talk about adjusting the game
plan to speed up the offense, and the adjustments seemed
to result in those three receiving scores for tight ends.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Josh Oliver and TJ. Hockinson.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
JJ spoke on Wednesday about how the Vikings offense can
continue to build on that success and why game to
game consistency is key.
Speaker 12 (17:53):
The boys and I were coming off a great win,
but you know, there's a lot of things that we
need to fix, a lot of the ways we can
get better and continue to grow as an offense, defense
and special teams. And we're excited to attack these this
film and get ready for tomorrow to get better.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Do you build on?
Speaker 13 (18:08):
What do you take from last week's game that you
want to keep going forward?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Now?
Speaker 12 (18:12):
I feel like, you know, there was a point in
the game where the defense took the ball away and
we weren't weren't able to capitalize, you know, going three
and out. There is something that you know sits with
us as an offense, me personally, and just making sure
we capitalize on those turnovers because that changes the momentum
of the entire game.
Speaker 13 (18:28):
What does Dallas's defense looked like? Obviously, you know they
made the trade before the year for Parsons, and they'd
done some different things gave them a lot to the trade.
When you see them, what do you see an athletic
gamble a lot?
Speaker 12 (18:38):
What do they do from an overall scheme standpoint? You know,
ibra Flus has been doing this for a while. Tremendous
respect for him and the way he calls his game,
calls the game and you know coaches those players, but obviously,
you know, really good in the interior, you know, with
those two guys up front, those two additions, it's going
to be, you know, a test for us up front.
You know, they got you know, maybe Trayvon back. The
linebackers are extremely athletic, extremely physical, and uh, you know,
(19:01):
we're gonna have a work cut out for us. So
we just got to continue to work and you know,
execute this game plan and see where we end up
Sunday night.
Speaker 13 (19:07):
Me much for playing that big, grandiose stadium and all
that goes with the you know, Cowboy Nation and the
Cowboy aura.
Speaker 12 (19:13):
It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
It's an honor.
Speaker 12 (19:15):
You know, it's every kid's dream growing up watching NFL
football to play in that stadium. I've been fortunate enough
to play there twice for seven on seven and then
practice there when I was at IMG Academy and we're
playing Dunkinville that weekend. So it's a tremendous stadium. And
can't wait to get back there.
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Having that type of game you did Sunday, like, confidence wise,
how does that kind of spring board you until the
next week.
Speaker 12 (19:36):
That's something I expect every week, you know, to go
out there and execute it at a high level. But
you know, it's about being consistent, you know, that's the
true measure of performance is consistency and making sure we
could do it over and over again. And we know
it as an offense, your only as successful as your
last successful act. So every single drive, every single play,
we just got to focus on that next one and
execute that.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
One of the veteran leaders for the Vikings defense is
a linebacker, Eric Wilson, and who's made his presence known
with the five and a half sacks, three forced fumbles,
and it's currently second on the team with ninety one
tackles on the season. He spoke in the locker room
this week about the threat post by Dallas's offensive weapons
and how important forcing turnovers in this game will be.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
Turnovers are huge for us, So it's definitely like a
feeling that you keep itching for because it makes such
a difference.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Man, it hypes us up. It really keeps momentums. Of
of course, there.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
That twelve minute drive that the offense had last week.
Junior person, yet well you don't see that ever, Like
what was that kind of Like.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean it's cool.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
It's cool to see them, you know, roling moving the
ball like they did, you know, taking time off the clock,
And I mean it gives us a rest, so you know,
we're fresh when we go.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Back out there.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
But then for them to go down there, all those
all those yards, you know, all that time and then
put some points on the board.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
It's huge.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
Dallas offensively, I mean just that quick glance, they're the
top offense or whatever in the league.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Like, what do you what makes them so good? Yeah,
you know they move the ball around a lot.
Speaker 8 (21:04):
I think they're like topping yards, topping this, stopping that.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
So, uh, you gotta be ready for anything.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
You know, they do a good job rushing the ball,
running back, you know, he runs hard.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
All the whole line is good. They got receivers and
they got Dax.
Speaker 8 (21:18):
So I mean you got to be kind of well
rounded on defense, making sure you're you know, you're ready
for for them. You got to be aware, you know
where people are, and uh, we got to play team
defense first and foremost.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Dallas is obviously a different team than the Commanders. But
what if you could pick something to take from last
week defensively to this week?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What would that be for you? Guys?
Speaker 8 (21:39):
Let's play together, play together, man, play physical ball, don't
take a playoff. I think when we play together and
everybody's playing, you know, with their hair on fire. You
know we're a great defense. So just a matter of stacking,
matter of being consistent, the.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Stars at Night will be big and bright down in Dallas.
A Sunday Night's game will be primetime over on NBC.
As always, Mike Tarico, Chris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will
have the game call as kickoff is scheduled for seven
to twenty Central Time. You can also catch Pa, Pete Bursich,
Ben Lieber and Mike Mussman right here on KFAM with
(22:14):
the pregame show beginning at five point thirty all across
the Vikings Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Thank you so much for listening to.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
The two minute warning presented by three AM, the official
science partners of the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
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Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm your host Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Network, and your Vikes are coming off a huge thirty
one to zero victory over the Commanders last week. Now
they head to the lone Star State to take on
quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night football.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Dallas's high powered offense.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Is putting up the most yards and points in the
NFL this.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Season, but defensively they have been vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Dallas's defense giving up ninety three points combined in their
last three games and the second most points overall in
twenty twenty five. This looks to be a high scoring affairs.
The big question is which team will be able to
capitalize on their chances early and often. Head coach Kevin
O'Connell spoke to the media this week about the challenges
posed by this Cowboys team and the opportunities available heading
(00:55):
in a Sunday night All right.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Quick injury rundown.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We'll just have two players questionable, Ty Chandler still in
his ramp up period.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Ad another good week.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
We'll kind of get together as a group and determine
his status for tomorrow, but he'll go in questionable and
then Christian Dersall got a limited practice in today and
we'll see how he feels coming off of today, but
other than that, won't have any other designations for the game.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Excited for this opportunity.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Looking to our team to consistency has been the word
that we've talked about. Have not stacked two performances together
completely as a team yet this year, And obviously.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Another good week of practice.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Our guys are in a great mindset and we're gonna
need it going down there Sunday Night football Dallas Cowboys,
you know, with obviously them being a very talented team.
Well coach shot he does a great job fluse on
the defensive side. So got our hands full and we
need to play well and need to stack a couple
of weeks here together.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Kevin, it sounds like Jordan Datison is fine for the game,
which is what happened with that Achilles.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Nothing really happened, just you know the product of kind
of normal December football kind of soreness, and he's just
been limited a little bit here and there, but won't
have a designation.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
For the game. What if you respect level for Dak
oh Ton.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I mean, I think you know it leads the league
in passing. You see him will that team to to wins.
Obviously they've got a lot of talent around him on
that offense, but just you know, his makeup is the
way he leads, the way he you know, you there
is a sense of belief that they're going to go
out there and win every game because of how he
operates in the standard he's set not only for himself,
(02:33):
but that he sets for that.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Team and and and others follow.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
So I couldn't respect Dak Prescott anymore as a person
and more importantly, you know, just as a quarterback in
this league for a really long time.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Came to the league as a fourth round pick. Did
love him coming.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Out, but he's proved a lot of people right as
far as the type of player in person that he.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Is and how much how much different is their defense
with winning Williams.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, it's different. I mean, he's incredibly impactful. They already
had a really solid into your front with some impact
guys in there that we know well, and then they
add him to it gives them great depth. But it
allows them to put a grouping on the field where
where they're you know, there's there's not a lot of uh,
there's not a lot of doubt on what they're attempting
(03:22):
to do. You know, get five to one on ones,
disrupt the run game like crazy.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
You've seen it his ability.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
I know, we we get carried away a lot with
the overall statistics for a season, but teams change, they evolved,
They maybe add a player like that throughout the season,
and regardless of what the big picture numbers, maybe the
current film might tell a totally different story. And that's
what his addition has kind of meant for. I think
this team and and how they're playing with him in there, Kevin, when.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Their kicker can make it from sixty five?
Speaker 7 (03:54):
Yeah, how does that change the dynamic for how you
manage it?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I think you got to you got to understand that
situational football could be different. You know, how you handle
the end of the first half could be different because
between the dynamic kickoff and and maybe one of the
best returners in our league, and then the fact that
they're a player to even if you handle that play well,
there are one or two you know, Dack completions from
(04:18):
giving him a swing at it, and you almost.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Have to look like it.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
It look like any time left on the clock, he's
going to get a swing at it.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
If you think about it.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
You know, a great returner and a kicker that can
you know, kick it from you know, probably outside the
building and have a chance to make it. You know,
you've you've got to either decide can we execute maybe
a unique kind of kick, you know, to try to
see if you can, which Will's done a few times
this year where we've you know, forced the touch back
to the twenty and because he can you know, either
(04:49):
hit a certain kind of kick or try to play
the game with the returner of where he's going to
kick it. You got to try some things, but more
likely you've got to cover down and make sure that
you can turn it into a momentum play for you
where if you can get that returner down you know,
anywhere inside the thirty five, that's a it's a win
for that group.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
On that D and D.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
And now the defense has got to go out there
and make sure there's no let up because, like I said,
one completion that doesn't even have to be a chunk
play and he's probably taking a swing at one.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
The Vikings offense accounted for one hundred and sixty two
yards on the ground Sunday, and the offensive line was humming.
Vikings guard Will Fries was encouraged by their ability to
sustain long drives against the Commanders, and they hope to
repeat their previous performance down in Dallas.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
It's a lot of fun and anytime that you can
move the ball like that in the run game, you know,
or it helps out up the whole offense. So, you know,
for us to continue to have success, you know, we've
got to keep their on game going. We'll be able
to lean on defensive lines in front seven. So you
know it's important that we take advantage of the re
ups from practice and you know, make them go in
the game when they're called.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Do you think that helps McCarthy get comfortable too, obviously
to being able to run the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Could you sense that at all last week?
Speaker 8 (05:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
Oh, you know, as a as a guy, as a quarterback,
I'm sure he wants, you know, sing the ball over
the place. That's fun for quarterbacks, but you know, I
think for you know, the whole team, for us, it's
fun to run block, so you know, uh, I think
it all kind of marries together and you know, I
think it helps him out. Uh, you know in the
in the long run, you ever.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Been part of a nineteen play drive that goes twelve
minutes like that?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I mean, that's yeah, that was that was That was
a heck of a drive.
Speaker 7 (06:21):
It was a lot of fun, yet pretty tiring towards
the end there like oh yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure.
But you know that's a that's a that's a good
drive for us to build off off, you know, to
prove ourselves and maybe if a run doesn't go or
or you know, not necessarily a positive play happens, you know,
you know, we can step back up to the line
and continue to drive and got to go. And you know,
JJ did a great job making some stuff happen on
(06:42):
third down, and all our receivers, you know, credit to
them for you know, getting us, uh you know, moving
down the line and get us you know some supposed
places we needed it. So it was a whole a
whole group effort and everyone, you know, that's what we
need to continue to build. All eleven guys doing their
job at the same time and be able to you know,
like I said before, marry the run in the past
game and that's how you you know, have an efficient
offense and you know we're able to you know, score
some good points.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
H Dallas. I know Michael Parsons obviously not there anymore,
but that that pass rush, that d line is that
whole just as good.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Yeah, they have an extremely talented and uh you know
defensive line.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It to be a challenge for us this week.
Speaker 7 (07:16):
You know, we have to really be on our fundamentals
and technique and uh, you know, play hard, play through
the whistle. You know, they're like I said, they're a
really good front of a lot of good players, and
you know we'd be need to need to be on
our you know p's and q's and all that stuff
this week.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
If you could take one thing, I know Dallas and
the Commanders are two different football teams, but if you
could take something from last week and reapply it this
week for the offense, what would that be?
Speaker 7 (07:39):
You know, I think it's just a mentality of you know,
not being denied and you know, really holding on those details,
you know, kind of like I was saying before, when
we're you know detailed that all eleven guys are doing
their job. You know a lot of good things can
happen on offense, So you know, it's that extra focus.
It's you know a lot of things that haven't necessarily
gone our way this year, but you know it's time
to kind of build off of that, be consistent and
(08:01):
the you know, start building off that game last week.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is only one hundred and
ninety yards away from his sixth straight one thousand yard
season with four games remaining. That is a very attainable goal,
especially the ability to pad those numbers again, say Dallas secondary,
that's been a liability this season.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Jet spoke to the media.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
About playing in prime time and how this team can
take advantage of the opportunity.
Speaker 9 (08:27):
No, I always always love the big time moments and
love those big time, prime time games. You know, it's
just history wise, you know, we just haven't been good
on those type of games, and you know we haven't
shown up the way we have we should have shown up.
So it's just time for things to change, you know,
Tom for us to go out there with that mentality
(08:48):
to go out there and just kill it no.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Matter the play. That's called.
Speaker 9 (08:52):
No matter what's going on throughout the game, as soon
as the play gets called, go executed at the most.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
And just not wait for a play, Go make a play.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
So I feel like that's.
Speaker 9 (09:02):
The biggest thing that's that's uh you know talked about.
Uh And it's just all about just us sticking together
as a team and not really listening to the outside
noise and just playing our own ball.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
What do you think you've learned about yourself this year?
Speaker 9 (09:16):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Being patient?
Speaker 9 (09:17):
Uh, you know, having to learn how to be patient
and overcome the adversity of having a new quarterback, having
uh to to learn some new things and uh, you know,
it's it's tough, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
You want to win.
Speaker 9 (09:29):
You want to be a big part of the offense
and big part of uh you know, just having all
of the yards and everything. But uh, sometimes you gotta
sacrifice that for to be a leader, to be uh
you know, a person that has that good energy uh
throughout the week even though things aren't the best. So uh,
you know, I'll say patience is definitely one of the
(09:50):
things that I have to learn this year.
Speaker 10 (09:52):
That some people just throw out the term leadership a lot.
What what's the hard part that you learned of leadership.
But some of the girls are kind of coaching too.
But you're a player, You're still a peer. What was
the hardest thing that people don't see about that term leadership?
Speaker 9 (10:05):
Yeah, the hardest thing about being a leader is being
a leader when you're losing, or being a leader when
uh things aren't going well. Uh to continue on having
that leadership, continue on being that vocal person and having
the get energy around, having you know, getting everybody motivated
to continue on, uh.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
To the next week and the next week and the
next week.
Speaker 9 (10:25):
Uh So, you know, just especially with this type of season,
having five wins and not really going the way we
wanted to go, still being that leader on the sidelines,
not really you know, uh you know, exploding or showing
my emotions and uh, you know, just doing things I
feel like typical receivers do nowadays. Uh, you know, just
understanding the circumstances, understanding uh my role on this team,
(10:48):
and uh just going out there and uh with that
you know, smile on my face still and uh just
trying to make a play and being that being that
leader for us.
Speaker 10 (10:57):
Because you're gonna really a rob Row type of me
to begin with right. So it's hard to do that
in a losing season, so that must be difficult.
Speaker 9 (11:05):
Yeah, it is difficult, but uh you know, just understanding
my position and understanding that, uh you know, my words
can go a long way, and uh you know, so
some people, uh you know, take my.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Words a little more seriously than others.
Speaker 9 (11:17):
So uh it's just all about just letting everybody know that,
you know, I'm still involved, I'm still locked in into
this season, and I still want to win.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Uh So it's just.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Coming out here every single week, coming to practice, every
single play, just doing what I need to do to
to get open and create that separation.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh so people can see.
Speaker 9 (11:34):
That I'm working hard and I'm practicing to my fullest potential,
so we can you know, win on Sundays and uh
so we can have those good looks for JJ typically
be prepared to make those thows. Uh So it's just
all about just coming to work every single day. Uh
not really you know, looking at the record, not really
listening to to what everybody else has to say. Just
come here, get our job done, and uh you know,
(11:56):
look forward to Sunday to to.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Win more to I'm on the two minute warning we
will hear from offensive coordinator Wes Phillips and quarterback JJ
McCarthy about how they think they did against the Commanders
and what they hope to do against Dallas. We'll also
hear from a linebacker Eric Wilson as he's having a
heater of a season. Stay tuned. You're listening to the
(12:19):
two minute Warning, but first from the field, to the
roof and everywhere in between.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Three am.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
The official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings is here.
Visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to learn more.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Hey Vikings fans.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
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Speaker 2 (12:51):
I'm your host.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network Minnesota travels down
to Dallas to face the six six and one Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Following a shut out the week before.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
The Vikings regain their footing and posted thirty one points
in Sunday's win over Washington. The Vikings offense now looks
to continue their late season maturation against the Dallas defense,
who currently gives up an average of two hundred and
fifty five yards through the air, which is dead last
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Offensive coordinator West Phillips spoke.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
This week about the positive steps this team took and
how they look to improve even more on Sunday.
Speaker 11 (13:27):
The plan is going to change from week to week
based on what you know, what we're seeing from the defense.
So you know, I know a lot's been been talked about,
but whether it's runs or passes, fronts, coverages, there's new
challenges every week in this league and different structures of
(13:47):
defense that is presented to you, and you have to,
you know, the best thing we can do for him
is try to put together a plan that you know,
gets gets guys open. Gets number one. Want to open
more often than not. Is ideal, not always going to happen,
but uh, but you know, you're trying to find ways
to attack the defense and at the same time do
(14:10):
things our guys do well.
Speaker 6 (14:12):
When you love your game playing with a quarterback at
JJ's status for first year doing this, how much of
a learning curve is there? For you guys as coaches
about what he likes, how to coach him, how to
work with them in the game.
Speaker 11 (14:24):
Lining, Yeah, I think, uh, I think you got to
be careful with what what they like. I mean, you
obviously don't want to call plays or put plays in
that they don't like. But sometimes there's just a level
of a young quarterback doesn't always maybe see it see
it the way we see it. And generally there's some discussions,
(14:47):
you know, about certain plays where hey, and it's not like, hey,
I don't like this, it's hey, what are what are
you seeing here? And that's the question you'll get from him,
what what are we thinking? Is is happening on this
on this scheme? You know, and then once it's explained,
you you know, oftentimes, you know, Kevin might pull up
some clips say hey, this is this is what we're
(15:07):
seeing in this coverage. You see that and generally, generally,
you know, the quarterbacks in this league they understand those
types of things. But uh, but yeah, we're you know,
our job is to try to try to put in
plays that our players can execute. So you know, if
there's something we feel I feel like, uh, you know,
(15:28):
it's just not quite there yet with any player at
any position or you know, then then we'll try to
stay away from those things or or try to coach
it hard during the week and and and if we
really like something, and and uh give them the why
and make sure they understand why it's in. What do
you think of Dallas's defense and what they're They move
(15:53):
a lot up front, They play hard, extremely hard. They've
got a lot of good athletes, a lot of former
first round picks. And you know, obviously adding qu Quinn
Williams with Kenny Clark inside, two really good players on
the inside. But their edge guys, you know, have played
(16:13):
very hard as well. I'm fifty four and forty one
are guys that don't get a lot of play extremely
hard along with you know, the more name guys Fowlers
and Clowney's and they got a lot, They got a
lot of talent over there. The linebackers are very athletic.
Hooker at safety has been been a good player in
(16:36):
this league for a long time. You know, Diggs will
see see where he's at as far as you know,
being able to play this week. But Bland has obviously
been great ball skills. You know, he's kind of a
dangerous guy out there playing that field corner to try
to throw some balls out there on him. So yeah,
(16:58):
it's good. It's a good defense. I always said, you know,
when when Flus was here, I got a lot of
respect for him as a coordinator and scheme wise and
how they attack the football, you know, the whole the
whole system that he's run and it's and you know,
to his credit, he's a good coach. He's he's doing
(17:19):
some different things there with those players, and then he
did in Chicago with the group he had there.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
One of the key performances last week included the three
touchdown pass performance by quarterback JJ McCarthy. Going into the game,
there was a lot of talk about adjusting the game
plan to speed up the offense, and the adjustments seemed
to result in those three receiving scores for tight ends.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Josh Oliver and TJ. Hockinson.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
JJ spoke on Wednesday about how the Vikings offense can
continue to build on that success and why game to
game consistency is key.
Speaker 12 (17:53):
The boys and I were coming off a great win,
but you know, there's a lot of things that we
need to fix, a lot of the ways we can
get better and continue to grow as an offense, defense
and special teams. And we're excited to attack these this
film and get ready for tomorrow to get better.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Do you build on?
Speaker 13 (18:08):
What do you take from last week's game that you
want to keep going forward?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Now?
Speaker 12 (18:12):
I feel like, you know, there was a point in
the game where the defense took the ball away and
we weren't weren't able to capitalize, you know, going three
and out. There is something that you know sits with
us as an offense, me personally, and just making sure
we capitalize on those turnovers because that changes the momentum
of the entire game.
Speaker 13 (18:28):
What does Dallas's defense looked like? Obviously, you know they
made the trade before the year for Parsons, and they'd
done some different things gave them a lot to the trade.
When you see them, what do you see an athletic
gamble a lot?
Speaker 12 (18:38):
What do they do from an overall scheme standpoint? You know,
ibra Flus has been doing this for a while. Tremendous
respect for him and the way he calls his game,
calls the game and you know coaches those players, but obviously,
you know, really good in the interior, you know, with
those two guys up front, those two additions, it's going
to be, you know, a test for us up front.
You know, they got you know, maybe Trayvon back. The
linebackers are extremely athletic, extremely physical, and uh, you know,
(19:01):
we're gonna have a work cut out for us. So
we just got to continue to work and you know,
execute this game plan and see where we end up
Sunday night.
Speaker 13 (19:07):
Me much for playing that big, grandiose stadium and all
that goes with the you know, Cowboy Nation and the
Cowboy aura.
Speaker 12 (19:13):
It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
It's an honor.
Speaker 12 (19:15):
You know, it's every kid's dream growing up watching NFL
football to play in that stadium. I've been fortunate enough
to play there twice for seven on seven and then
practice there when I was at IMG Academy and we're
playing Dunkinville that weekend. So it's a tremendous stadium. And
can't wait to get back there.
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Having that type of game you did Sunday, like, confidence wise,
how does that kind of spring board you until the
next week.
Speaker 12 (19:36):
That's something I expect every week, you know, to go
out there and execute it at a high level. But
you know, it's about being consistent, you know, that's the
true measure of performance is consistency and making sure we
could do it over and over again. And we know
it as an offense, your only as successful as your
last successful act. So every single drive, every single play,
we just got to focus on that next one and
execute that.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
One of the veteran leaders for the Vikings defense is
a linebacker, Eric Wilson, and who's made his presence known
with the five and a half sacks, three forced fumbles,
and it's currently second on the team with ninety one
tackles on the season. He spoke in the locker room
this week about the threat post by Dallas's offensive weapons
and how important forcing turnovers in this game will be.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
Turnovers are huge for us, So it's definitely like a
feeling that you keep itching for because it makes such
a difference.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Man, it hypes us up. It really keeps momentums. Of
of course, there.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
That twelve minute drive that the offense had last week.
Junior person, yet well you don't see that ever, Like
what was that kind of Like.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean it's cool.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
It's cool to see them, you know, roling moving the
ball like they did, you know, taking time off the clock,
And I mean it gives us a rest, so you know,
we're fresh when we go.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Back out there.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
But then for them to go down there, all those
all those yards, you know, all that time and then
put some points on the board.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
It's huge.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
Dallas offensively, I mean just that quick glance, they're the
top offense or whatever in the league.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Like, what do you what makes them so good? Yeah,
you know they move the ball around a lot.
Speaker 8 (21:04):
I think they're like topping yards, topping this, stopping that.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
So, uh, you gotta be ready for anything.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
You know, they do a good job rushing the ball,
running back, you know, he runs hard.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
All the whole line is good. They got receivers and
they got Dax.
Speaker 8 (21:18):
So I mean you got to be kind of well
rounded on defense, making sure you're you know, you're ready
for for them. You got to be aware, you know
where people are, and uh, we got to play team
defense first and foremost.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Dallas is obviously a different team than the Commanders. But
what if you could pick something to take from last
week defensively to this week?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What would that be for you? Guys?
Speaker 8 (21:39):
Let's play together, play together, man, play physical ball, don't
take a playoff. I think when we play together and
everybody's playing, you know, with their hair on fire. You
know we're a great defense. So just a matter of stacking,
matter of being consistent, the.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Stars at Night will be big and bright down in Dallas.
A Sunday Night's game will be primetime over on NBC.
As always, Mike Tarico, Chris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will
have the game call as kickoff is scheduled for seven
to twenty Central Time. You can also catch Pa, Pete Bursich,
Ben Lieber and Mike Mussman right here on KFAM with
(22:14):
the pregame show beginning at five point thirty all across
the Vikings Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Thank you so much for listening to.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
The two minute warning presented by three AM, the official
science partners of the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Minnesota needed a go to source for everything high school sports.
That's why the Minnesota Star Tribune created Strib Varsity. Sign
up now at startribune dot com slash Strib Varsity
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