Viking 29, Bears 22
Q. From where you were, did you have a good view of Darnell's catch in the first half?
A. I didn't even see it. Like people -- a guy just asked me did I see his catch, one hander, whatever, but I didn't see it until after the game. Just thought he went up with two and grabbed it and made a contested catch. After seeing the video of it, that was great catch by him and a great play, great protection, great all around.
Q. How much momentum does that give you guys in what you're trying to accomplish?
A. It gave us a lot. You know, a big play like that before the end of the second half, you know, it set us up for that touchdown. It definitely gave us a lot of momentum.
Q. As a leader of the offense, what do you tell your team to get more consistent or keep the morale up?
A. Just keep going. That's all you can do. Keep going, keep? Fighting, keep grinding. That's it, yeah.
Q. Justin, how tough is it to be so close? You guys were moving the ball, you were driving, and to have that turnover at the end.
A. Yeah, it's tough. You know, Ihmir, he's feeling down right now, so our job is to pick him up. He's a great player. I know personally what he can do on the field. He's young, second year, so he's just got to learn from that mistake and keep going.
He can be one hell of a player in this league for sure.
Q. How do you feel about the way the two-minute drive was going before that? You had a completion that would put him around I think 45.
A. Yeah, I mean, I think it was going good. I think we had plenty of time, so it was going good.
I think we were moving efficiently, so who knows what would've happened. Yeah.
Q. How do you process good plays being taken out, negated like that?
A. You said how do I feel about it?
Q. How do you process it?
A. Just got it move on. You can't dwell on it. After the touchdown, I'm looking up to the stands and seeing all the Viking fans pointing back, this and that, so I'm already knowing it's a flag.
In that setting you just got to reset and try to go score again.
Q. What adjustments were made at halftime, and where do you think this offense took a step forward?
A. Yeah, I think efficiency in the passing game I think we took a step forward for sure. Felt like the protection was better today for sure. I think we definitely handled their blitz better than last week, so I felt like we took a step forward in that.
Just overall proud of everybody and the way they fought. We were down 21-3. A lot teams in this league would've laid down and stopped playing, but I'm proud of our guys and the way they fought.
Q. (Regarding protection.) You got more of a rhythm in the second half.
A. Yeah, for sure. You know, just trying to stay calm, not thinking about the last drive, just taking it play by play.
Q. What did Velus show you on that (indiscernible)?
A. Yeah, we were talking about that all week. I was like, bro, go crib it. He did that. Of course great physical run by him, and that's one thing he's good at, is just getting ball in his hands and making guys try to tackle him. Definitely proud of him.
Q. Was that the most comfortable you felt this year?
A. I would say so. I mean, just like trying to stay calm, I think. I think when I first got here you see big guys flying around, D-linemen going fast. You just think you have to speed everything up, but I'm just starting to figure out you got to play within your own rhythm and the way you know how to play and staying calm in the pocket. So, yeah.
Q. First drive of the game, what were the wires crossed on that one?
A. Yeah, he was playing inside leverage. Mooney wanted to take it more -- like we were more mid-field. In that situation we were close to the end zone, so I was trying to put it more back shoulder, especially since the defender was inside.
So of course I didn't want to leave it inside to where it would be a turnover; just missed that one.
And then just got to be on the same page in that sense. So, yeah.
Q. Coach calls an onside kick and goes to all sorts of aggressive moves. What does that do?
A. I love it, personally. I think it's confidence in us. I think he believes in us. If we do get that onside kick, it gives us momentum. It shows if we don't get it, he trusts in the defense. I think it gives us confidence, the two-point play, shows his confidence in us and his belief in our execution.
So, yeah.
Q. On the third and three before your go-head field goal, do you have any chance to lobby for going for it on fourth down there?
A. Do I have a choice to say we're going for it?
Q. Yeah.
A. To say we're going for it?
Q. Yeah.
A. No sir. That is not my job. No, sir, not at all. I think right there you got to take the lead and just trust in the defense. So, yeah.
Q. What happened on the first play of the game? Why did you have a delay of game?
A. I'm not sure, to be honest with you. That should never happen. We go over the first ten plays at the walk -- through, so I think KB is on kickoff. I don't know if he forgot or it was a coach's thing.
I just broke the huddle looked out there and he wasn't out there, so, yeah, that's definitely frustrating to see for sure first play.
Q. (Regarding Mustipher snapped the ball.)
A. So our cadence, it's the leg kick, so I was trying to come up and I think either can the play or change the protection, so when I was walking up he just got that leg kick mixed up with me walking up.
Next time I'm just going to put my hands down and make sure he sees them and then just be more decisive with my body movement in a loud environment like this.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports