Cowboys - 40, Vikings - 3
Q. Can you just talk about how the team overall, across the board, responded to that loss to Green Bay coming in here today?
A. I think like anything, you have a chance on Monday to correct it, and I think the reduced work and just really focusing on the little things. We had a really good week. I think it's always rewarding as a football team when your process lines up with your performance.
So we wanted to come in here and play a complete game. Obviously we had a lot of respect for these guys. Extremely productive on film. And we knew we could play at a high level today. And we did.
Q. The combo of Tony and Zeke, how they worked. Tony was still a big part of it. Zeke was a short-yardage guy. Could you talk about that?
A. Definitely. Really just the ability to stay in and out of concepts and not worry about who (inaudible), it's a tremendous advantage for us. And we came in here obviously with an ability to focus on the run and then play the pass off of that just because of having both Tony and Zeke.
And honestly I thought Malik gave us some excellent, excellent carries there in the third and fourth quarter. The run game was a priority today. And I thought our men up front -- I mean, particularly the inside runs, I thought they did a really good job of knocking them back and giving our runners some space today.
Q. You know Tony (indiscernible), do you think his speed catches people off guard?
A. I know it catches them. I do know that ever since I've been here. (Indiscernible) not too many games he doesn't have a long run. And he takes the (indiscernible) out there for the big play touchdowns. So his ability to break tackles on the second level and finishes is excellent.
Q. You talked about the run will set up the pass, and the way Dak played today, the accuracy and certainly --
A. Dak, just visiting with him before game, just the last thing we talk about is just the completions. This is a better defense, a lot of experience. They do an excellent job taking the ball away. You can see that all week on video.
This is probably the most zone we knew we were going to see going in. I think they do a really good job with their eyes and playing your eyes and so forth. And I thought Dak was extremely, extremely patient.
Going back to the touchdown on Tony. He goes all the way through his progression. Tony is the last option. And that's the way you've got to play against these guys.
Q. First time Cousins goes back to pass gets strip sack by Micah. Seemed like you guys had consistent pressure on him all game. He didn't even finish the game. How important was that aspect of your game on defense?
A. I mean, let's be honest, the MO is going to be people are going to try to run the ball on us. And then we're going to have -- they've got their hands full when they try to throw it. And that's how we felt coming in.
We felt that just coming in here, stop the run and let our pass rush have some opportunities. We felt like we were successful. And Micah definitely got us started.
Q. Micah last week was talking about how he was disgusted by his play and the defense letting that lead slip away. Just how he played individually today and him kind of taking that on himself and kind of stepping out and saying we've got to stop this fire before --
A. Micah was extremely productive today. His urgency was at a different level. So I just think, like anything, he's still young. He has the ability to be elite and this is another standard type game for him that he'll need to continue to play to.
Q. You talked about Micah. Also talk about the earnest of the team after what happened last week. Have you had a team that had a better response to an emotional loss like you had last week, looking at the way you played today?
A. No, this team has got the work ethic. It's got the attitude. They've got a hard mindset, which you have to have. Frankly, seven days ago, just like I told them in the locker room, this game is going to help us because for as much -- for as much as you have a certain thing in this game whether it's third down or adversity football, adversity advancement, the time that we spent, if it doesn't quite work out at the end of the game, that stings you a little more.
For as good as we've been, particularly about midway through last year, this team does a really good job of situational football. I think we're clearly better this year than last year. And I think we've grown in that way.
So to have the opportunity to have the lead and put it away, I'm glad we were able to get that seven days from last week.
But, like I said, seven days in that locker room we talked about, hey, this game will help us in the long run. Let it and just learn from it. And I think that's clearly just part of our lesson.
Q. What happened at the end of the half there, Maher, after the catch? It seemed like a long time before the replay guys come out then he has to do it again?
A. I think Clay (phonetic) can explain it better than I can. Just some things, they had to look at the catch again. And I guess the buzzer went off right before we kicked it. That was the --
Q. What's it say about Maher to come back and nail it?
A. I thought Brett stroked the ball. We had a pre-game, he was (indiscernible) on the screws today. I thought he had an excellent day.
Q. Why (indiscernible) when you called the timeout --
A. I asked for my timeout back. He agreed with me because -- hey, officiating, I got nothing to say. They're good communicators. It was a good crew to work with. Stuff like that happens. (Indiscernible).
Q. The pass to Dak to CeeDee to set that up, did it look kind of Aaron Rodgers-esque that you saw in 2016?
A. Dak, his ability to extend plays, he needs to keep doing it because he's good at it. Scramble drill is something we put time into. And when that was a (indiscernible) situation and his play extension, and CeeDee's patience on sideline, to get his feet down, that's a great teaching tape. Two guys making big plays. Awesome.
Q. Like you said, this was a total response. But having Dak on one side of the ball and Micah on the other, who are willing to kind of stand up and take some of the heat coming off of a game like that, just how important is that when you can have that shared leadership on both units like that?
A. I speak on this a lot. I just can't say it enough. I really love the slot room. And we're definitely not short in the area of veteran leadership.
We had a chance to visit our leadership council, I think, on Tuesday or Wednesday. And I am just so impressed with the way these guys open up their hearts and really challenge each other. And I think all that is part of this championship formula that you have to have.
You have to go through adversity moments. You have you to have moments like last week. And you definitely have to respond like we did this week.
So reality of it is we're up in four days. This will be a quick flight home. But I'm proud of our guys. But the leadership group and the young guys buying in, Micah, the older guys putting their hands around him and helping him grow in that area. So we've got a lot of good things going on right now.
Q. What is it about Zeke's running style that seems, that guys like how hard he runs, how --
A. He runs behind his pass. If you go back to -- if you want to teach a runner the ability to get behind his pads and picks his knees up. He just runs with such power and force.
But also he's illusive, very instinctive. He's smart. Zeke's very intelligent and an instinctive, aware player. (Inaudible).
Q. Have you had two backs like this?
A. I've been blessed, Marcus Allen and Kim Williams (phonetic). That was a good duo. Ricky Williams, (inaudible) this 1-2 punch. This is the best part I've been of as far as how we game plan and just roll. They're dynamic.
Q. I know these are hard to come up with off the top of your head in the moment, but you scored on your first seven possessions to the start the game tonight. While it's very rare, do you ever remember being a part of a game like where you scored on the first seven?
A. I've been fortunate where part of games where there aren't any punts, and you love it when you roll like that, too. Keeps your defense off the field. Obviously when you're north of 10-play drives, anything above seven is exceptional.
We had the 19-play drive last week, too, that you never mentioned (laughter). But our efficiency has been pretty good the last month.
Q. When does it turn to Wednesday?
A. What do you mean?
Q. The short week, the Wednesday practice for you all -- you play Thursday. Don't you have a Wednesday practice on Monday or how do you --
A. We have a Thanksgiving week schedule because we play on Thanksgiving every year. And the practice, the main schedule is specific to the Thanksgiving week.
So it's not an opponent Wednesday or work (indiscernible) Thursday. So launch Saturday will be on Wednesday, if you're looking for a nugget.
Q. 3-1 against the North. Feel like home?
A. 4-0 would be better, but feels good. Feels good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports