Vikings - 31, Bears - 17
A. Excellent second half. Obviously the first half was not very pretty. But played a lot better in the second half. I think we hit some long balls that helped some of the play-action passes. Jefferson made a great catch for one touchdown. We got some protection on the other ones. So we didn't protect very well in the first half.
And then defensively for the most part we played pretty well all day. Caused a -- harassed the quarterback a lot. Obviously Pat Peterson's interception for the touchdown was big. It was nice to get a win.
Q. After the game looked like you got to take a photo with Adam, wave to some fans, take it all in. What was that moment like for you?
A. Just something that we planned on doing. Andre [phonetic] and I hadn't had a picture together. We talked about it before the game.
Q. Have you heard anything about your job status and what are your thoughts just on the rumors?
A. No, I haven't heard anything about my job status. I haven't heard anything about yours either.
Q. Do you think this could have been your last chance as the Vikings coach?
A. Not my choice, not my decision.
Q. Are you aware of how close Justin Jefferson was to --
A. Yes, I was. I don't care about records. All I care about is wins.
Q. Did he care about it?
A. I don't know. Maybe, you'll have to ask him.
Q. He didn't say anything to you?
A. Hu-huh.
Q. What are you most proud of when you look back at the eight years you've been here?
A. Let's not go there today. You know what I'm talking about tomorrow, let's talk about it tomorrow. This isn't the time to recollect for eight years.
Q. What are you thinking about at the end of this season -- the season's over. What is the first thing on your mind about the last 17 games that took place?
A. We lost some games we shouldn't have lost. We missed a kick in Arizona to win the game. We gave up a touchdown against Detroit because we went too deep in the end zone. The Dallas game, we should have won that one. I'm sure there's more. But the record is what it says it is.
Q. Do you feel like the team came out with a lack of energy today just given that it was a no-stakes game?
A. I don't know. You'd have to ask them. We didn't play very good in the first half, I can tell you that. Played a lot better in the second half.
Q. Why do you think that was?
A. They kind of kicked our butts in the first half. They rushed. We couldn't run the ball. We tried to throw it on first down and we get an incompletion. On second and 10 we run it, it's third and eight. We didn't impose our will in the first half at all.
Q. How important do you think it was stopping them on 4th down in the first half? They could have been up by more at halftime?
A. En we played them last time they went for it on fourth down, like, three or four times and didn't get it, instead of kicking field goals. We knew that was the way it was. Those are all good stops. They're like getting turnovers.
Second half, we got another interception. Didn't do much with that offensively. And then I think we stopped them on fourth down. And I don't remember everything.
Q. What was the difference in Kirk Cousins? He got off to a rocky start and (indiscernible) the protection?
A. I think the protection was better. Started with some play-actions. He didn't look too good in the first half, but played a lot better in the second half.
Q. What do you like best about Ihmir and K.J.'s game since their last game?
A. K.J.'s a guy who has really improved a lot over the course of the year. He comes into work every day. I think he's gained a lot of confidence in his abilities, and he can play all the positions.
Smith-Marsette is very talented. Probably needs to continue to learn how to be a professional. It was good to see him out there because he's talented. He made a couple of nice catches today.
But moving forward that's what he's got to do. He's got a chance to be a really good football player. But he's got to be on point. He's got to do things right. It's just how it is.
Q. You mentioned after he ran a route that he didn't break open on. He talked to Adam Thielen on the sideline about how he could have broken on that route. Is that the sort of thing you're looking for from him?
A. Marsette? There's a lot of things. I wouldn't just say one thing. But the kid's talented. He's talented. He's got to be more disciplined and maybe I don't know -- because I'm doing stuff during the game. I don't know what they're talking about. But maybe that's what it was.
Q. I know that individual stats aren't the focus, but Pat Peterson had said earlier this week he wanted to get an interception this game so he had one for the season. Just the fact that he got the pick and the touchdown, what did you appreciate about that for him?
A. Pat has been a true professional when he comes in here. I've talked to him a lot the last couple of days. And he comes to work every single day. He takes care of his body. He wants to get better all the time. So it was nice to see him make a play like that and then score with it. I know he'll be happy about that.
Q. Anthony Barr becomes a free agent. It's uncertain what will happen with him. Against that backdrop, how good was it to see him have a big game like he did today?
A. Like I've said before, Barr is a terrific person. He's a really good football player. He does an awful lot of things for this team, this organization, for the community. He's extremely smart. He's a guy that I respect an awful lot.
Q. What really enabled the pass rush to be so effective with seven sacks? I know he had a lot of pass plays?
A. I think it's always a combination of things. We had a couple of free runners, obviously, but we had some young guys beat some guys, so that was good.
Q. D.J. Wonnum grabbed a couple of sacks. How was his development as a pass rusher moving forward this year?
A. It's getting better. He works really hard. He's a good kid. Very smart. You can do a lot of things with him. With a lot of these young guys it's a paint by numbers. And he has to continue just to be an athlete. And that's his best attribute is being an athlete. He probably could play linebacker.
Q. As you look back now that the season is over, do you feel as a whole you were given everything you needed to succeed this year? Was there more that you felt this team needed?
A. Let's talk about that another time.
Q. What about the plays and the effort that you got out of them this season, can you talk about what they gave you this year through all the issues they had to go through this season?
A. Yeah, obviously these last two years with COVID and protocols and guys not getting vaccinated and missing games and everything, it's been really difficult. But like I told -- I think I told them last night maybe in the meeting, I appreciate the way that this team goes about their business, the way they work, the way they represent the team, the way they represent the organization, the way they come out to practice every single day, the way they go in the weight room and into meetings. We don't have a lot of -- I can't say the word I'm wanting to say -- but we don't have a lot of guys who are just cashing checks. They're trying to get better each and every day.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports