Vikings 31, Texans 23
Q. 0 and 4, this team, what are the emotions like in the locker room for you and your teammates at this point?
WHITNEY MERCILUS: As anybody would feel after an 0-4 start, pissed, of course. Frustrated. Today there was a few plays out there we wish we could have got back, especially making it close there at the end just give us a chance to probably go into overtime.
But it was just frustration all around, but the thing is, we've just got to stick together and keep pushing forward.
Q. Dalvin Cook obviously everyone knows he's a great back, but your thoughts on kind of how difficult it was to get him down today and just occasionally he would get penetration, you'd hit him and couldn't get him on the ground.
WHITNEY MERCILUS: Well, first thing it starts up with up front, front seven setting the edges, building a wall, not letting him get through us down the middle or around the outside and all that. We understand he's got some great speed, he's a great back, great player, as well, too, but that's on us.
Q. They had drives of 56, 72, 75 and 73 yards. When you hear that kind of stuff, plus they had 162 yards on the ground, when you hear those kinds of numbers, how does that hit you?
WHITNEY MERCILUS: I mean, I'm pissed. I wish we could have got those plays back, play a little bit better. Starting up front, like I said, setting the edge, that's on me and everybody else who sets the edge, too, and just playing much more disciplined football. At times we were close there at the end, but we've got to start a lot earlier. The thing is we've got a 24-hour rule, take a look at it, correct the things that we did wrong, enhance the things that we did pretty well out there and keep pushing forward.
Q. Kirk Cousins averaged over three seconds a throw today. What makes it challenging to pressure him when they have those play action blowouts?
WHITNEY MERCILUS: Somebody has to get up into the pocket. Kirk Cousins, he's going to sit back there, especially on those play actions. Guys have to be very disciplined as far as seeing high hats from the offensive linemen, getting back, panicking back into their coverage and all that, but up front we've got to be able to get to the quarterback, especially in those situations.
Q. You talked about sticking together and the 24-hour rule. Are you confident this team has what it takes to turn things around and make something out of this season after this bad start?
WHITNEY MERCILUS: Yes, I do. I've been in much worse situations over the course of the years. I've been on teams where the defense held it down and led the team and everything. The thing is -- the biggest thing is for guys not to be separated, to come together, and the whole outside world is going to always doubt us no matter what. Even the time I stepped foot into these doors. The thing is we've got to go out there and go prove it, and it starts with us just believing in one another. This team is very talented top to bottom. We've got depth. But we've got to be able to believe in ourselves in order to go out there and go play the best ball that we know how to play and just string those things along.
Q. The 24-hour rule, the believing, all the things, is all that when you're 0-4, is that easier said than done?
WHITNEY MERCILUS: Yeah, it can be -- it's easier said than done because of course all that repeats probably in your head is probably the missed plays that you had out there, those missed opportunities, chances to get big plays, to turn things around and all that.
You know, time is always going to move on. The weeks, the days are always going to go by no matter what. You don't have a choice. 24 hours is all we've got. Go back, review it, let it sting, turn around, come back during the week on Wednesday and get to work and then focus on the next game.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports