Minnesota - 31, Chicago - 17
Q. How frustrating was that? You had some things you wanted to get to and you just didn't have the opportunity. How frustrating is that?
ANDY DALTON: It is frustrating. Fourth downs are important plays. Those turned out to be the difference in this game today. I mean, it's unfortunate we weren't able to convert and make the plays we needed to.
Q. The one down at the goal line, obviously, when you thought you were in just a second earlier, what went wrong on that specific play? What were you guys looking to get out of that?
A: They did a good job covering. I think that's all it came down to. It's unfortunate that we weren't able to make that one.
Q. Your expectations coming into the season, the things they told you when they were signing you and how things actually went, would you be happy to get out of here to have a chance to reset your career?
A: The year just ended. Free agency and all that kind of stuff will take care of itself. We'll attack that whenever the time comes. Right now, I'll take a little time away and just kind of see where it goes in free agency.
Q. What was it like after that game? I imagine you've been in a lot of locker rooms at the end of the season and have a pretty good feel for it.
A: I think guys are pretty disappointed with the outcome today, and we should have been. We did a lot of good things, and we just weren't able to get it done in the end. There's a lot of guys just thanking guys for just what they meant to them this year and everything. I think that was the biggest take-away from the locker room after the game.
Q. Matt talked about life lessons and how you use this to make you better. What did you sense from him?
A: This is all part of your story and your journey. This is just one year of it. So take the lessons that you learn from this year and make it so you're a better person, better player because of it.
Q. So much of the future of this organization is about where Justin goes. You spent nine, ten months around him. What is your overview of where Justin is at and where he can head?
A: He's got a lot of talent. He can do a lot of really good things. I think there's a big step taken from the first year to your second year. I definitely think he'll take it.
Q. Andy, you had, obviously, experience playing in and watching the offense. What was the disconnect this season with what they were planning and the execution of it? Where do you think that lies?
A: I think there's a lot of things that kind of play into that, the ups and downs of the whole year. I think, when you switch quarterbacks, there's things that go into that and there's a lot of time that was spent in training camp with guys that they didn't get with Justin when it went to Justin. Then when he got hurt, then I'm back in there, and Nick gets to play. There's a lot of things that go into that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports