Cowboys 20, Vikings 16
A. Yeah, you definitely dream about them, and it's just as good as the dream. It's pretty awesome to be able to show everyone and to be able to win like that. You always want to win like that.
Q. What was your reaction when you were told after pregame warmups that you would indeed start?
A. Man, (indiscernible) coming at me all week. I took everything in practice. So a bit more a sense of this is real than usual. So I had a pretty good feeling just based on kind of where he was all week. All week you prepare like you're playing.
Q. Your family were here today; they haven't seen you play any football games since college. What was it like to know that they were here for that?
A. Yeah, so I mean, obviously knew there was a chance, so my brothers flew in, parents got here, wife flew out with the baby, got someone to watch the baby. Pretty special to see them out there. Support system has been unbelievable my whole life. That's the reason I'm here.
Q. When you ripped that ball over the middle to Cedric, that seemed to be obviously the moment where you kind of finally got things rolling. What's that moment like when you see that ball drop into his arms?
A. Yeah, it was a great play call, number one, and we just caught him in a really good look. Saw the safety, just the Red Sea part there and was thinking, get in there, Ced, get in there, Ced. He got in there, and just run to the ball, take off, like put it out there too much (indiscernible) or not pretty (indiscernible) have a pretty good rapport with him. He was right on stride. When he made it all the way (indiscernible).
Q. For you guys to be working together all those years, what did it mean to have that moment?
A. Yeah, I played a lot with Ced in preseason games. A couple years he was on the scout team before we all realized how good he was and got up to the big show. He's an unbelievable player. We're lucky to have him. Does everything for us.
Q. Talk about your emotions on that last drive when you started that last (indiscernible).
A. Yeah, just got started, kind of got lucky Coop made a tipped catch on a bad ball, got lucky to get it going, but we took advantage of it once we were down there. Kind of started getting backed up, maybe missed a thing here or there and Zeke made a play on 3rd down. (Indiscernible) kind of felt some rush, (indiscernible) and he made an unbelievable play and then Kel called the play we wanted him to call in that situation. We knew we could get a match-up and Coop did the rest.
Q. You knew it was going to Cooper all along? Because Mike McCarthy said the run pass option and the run was probably open.
A. Yeah, I saw single high one-on-one with Cooper throwing.
Q. What were the nerves like, and when did you feel like you sort of --
A. It wasn't crazy. I felt like I belonged out there. We were in the huddle, breaking the huddle, getting in line ad going through your processes, it didn't feel overwhelming at all. I think I haven't played a lot, but being around the NFL, you're going against those guys every day, and our defense is pretty good. You're going against those guys every day, it's not like you're not seeing things, so it never felt too big in terms of speed or like -- I just felt like in command. Playing with those guys that I get to play with out there, just go down the list, O-line, running back, receiver, makes my job a lot easier.
Q. You've known Dak for a long time. What was it like having the roles reversed tonight with him waiting for you on the sideline?
A. Yeah, it was obviously different. He was a great supporter. He's still our team leader, so even if he's not dressed out there, he's leading. Guys feed off him, and helped me out wherever he could.
Q. You guys had a pretty special moment there in the tunnel coming right off the field where he chased you down and enveloped you in a bear hug. What's that moment like, and what does that say about the relationship you guys have?
A. Yeah, it was obviously special. Been there for a long time. A lot of games it was the other way around. He's making plays at the end, and I get to watch those. It was fun for me to get a chance to go do it and have his full support. The room is great, all those guys. I think it's a special group, and we've known each other and have a great relationship. It was an awesome moment.
Q. Are you pretty appreciative?
A. Yeah, it was great, yeah. We won. We kept it going.
Q. Did you ever wonder whether or not the day was going to come that you'd kind of get your career going?
A. I knew sometime it was coming. I've kind of waited a long time. Last year at this time I was on my couch. I think it was -- I've counted the games where I've dressed and prepared and didn't get in. It's up around 50, I think. So you just knew it was coming, be patient. I think all that preparation, (indiscernible) really helped, came through tonight (indiscernible) to play and stuff like that.
Q. You've been in this offense for a long time; how did your ability to apply your understanding of the offense compare to what you --
A. Yeah, Kel told me before the game it's stuff you've been running since 2017, and it is, same plays. Like I said, unbelievable players. Makes my job easy when you look out there and you're like, oh, he's going to win, he's going to win on that route, and you just cut it loose and he's there. Those guys up front did a heck of a job, obviously. Ran the ball really well in the first half. Protection was great all day, so makes the QB's job a lot easier.
Q. I know you focused on the offense between series and tweaking and all that, but anything jump out to you about the defense tonight?
A. They just hung in there. We had a couple three-and-outs or drives -- I think we stuck them with bad field position a couple times, we got pushed back, and they just hung tough. Could have easily folded on a few things over frustration or even that last drive they held tight, kept them to a field goal. That was obviously huge. Those guys are rolling over there, and it's fun watching them. They're an unbelievable group. Their cohesiveness, their team energy that they have, it's really fun to watch.
Q. What was the thought process on that last drive?
A. This is it. We've been -- we work two-minute drives constantly.
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