Vikings - 27
Giants - 24
A: Knew this was going to be a grind of a game against a really well-coached football team in all three phases on that sideline. We weren't exactly at our best throughout. We're still hunting that four quarters of true, consistent football that we want to see. But I was really proud of our guys, the complementary football that showed up there to help put that thing away.
Some real significant performances today, none bigger than Greg Joseph stepping in there for his career long longest field goal in team history for the 61-yard game winner. Matellus with the blocked punt. Danielle Hunter, two sacks and seven tackles. Then T.J. Hockenson and Justin Jefferson with some record-setting days here amongst our team.
Our quarterback continuously plays very, very good to help us when we need him the most in those fourth quarters to try to will our team to some wins.
A lot of things we can do better, a lot of things coaches can do better. But no better feeling than doing it after winning our 12th game of the season with two to go. We're well aware that our best football is hopefully out in front of us, and that's only going to come from the work and the commitment to continuing to build what we're doing here the right way.
Just injury updates for you guys. Lynch did kind of reaggravate that shoulder. We'll see how he turns over. Reaggravation of a previous shoulder injury. He could be day to day. We'll let you guys know early this week how he does.
Chandon Sullivan came back in the game, kind of banged that knee a little bit, was able to respond and come back in, show his toughness.
Hard-fought victory against a team that we've got a chance to possibly see again here. It's a good football team over there. We're really proud of our guys for being able to overcome and win.
Thought our crowd was tremendous again, as they always are. That's why it's so important to us to try to secure some of those victories to try to give ourselves as many opportunities here at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Q. How close did you need to get before you decided to kick there at the end?
A: Right about that line. Right about that line (smiling).
I think the big thing right there is always the threat. You saw them put Love back there to catch the ball. And to block for a long field goal attempt you got to have a lot of your linemen on the field. It's that gauge.
I looked over at Greg, could just see he had a great look in his eye. He absolutely hammered that kick. So much credit goes to him. All the preparation he does when no one's watching for moments exactly like that. Really proud of Greg. I think our whole team, you could kind of feel it in the locker room, how proud everyone was of him.
Q. When you run a screen there towards the end, what thought process goes into the consideration of trying to manage the clock?
A: We alert the huddle. Regardless, there were a couple plays called in the huddle based upon the looks. We alert the huddle of the situation, that we're going to clock the football. Then kind of from there it's really calling a premier, premier mentality. If they're going to send pressure like we expected, clock stop, two minute, we're going to try to put the ball in play, see if we could possibly get up and under some of those blocks. They did bring one of their overloads, whether away or to it. Great execution.
As we saw last week with some big screens and moments, I don't know what Justin got on that play, but for him to get north and south, cover people up, almost run out of the thing. Then 19 seconds left to have the ability to get up there and get that thing clocked, give Greg a chance, I thought it was a huge moment, as well as the completetion to Justin previously where we held up versus kind of a boundary overload pressure. A lot of what the Giants are.
Like I said, when I say I have a lot of respect for those coaches, not only their head coach has done a phenomenal job, but Wink has always been one of those coordinators. It's a challenge every time you go against those guys because at any moment they can create a play that can change the game.
You have to mitigate risk while also trying to be aggressive yourself in some moments like that.
Q. You work so much on situational stuff, starting in training camp. Did you ever honestly think it would play a role in 11 wins this year?
A: I knew it would play a role in some wins. Probably not that many. But our guys' ability to be able to play with a quieted mind, understand the situation, pitch and catch, execute some things, maybe the best execution all day in those moments. That's a theme for our team.
Now what we've got to do is create that kind of urgency and execution level throughout four quarters and we're going to see something really special with this team.
Every week in this league, it's a grind to win games, especially teams like that that are going to play good football. Proud we were able to overcome it.
Like always, there's a lot we can do better, me no more than anyone else. I got to be out in front making sure I continue to push our team.
Understand 12 wins is great. We've earned each and every one of those wins, sometimes right down to the very end, most times right down to the very end. But we're still building something here that every moment we get to prepare, grow as a team, those things matter and we got to take advantage of them.
Q. What does the mindset come with all these wins you pull out? No matter the circumstances, the team assumes they're going to win? These wins become routine?
A: No, I don't think they assume. I think they're prepared in those moments to find a way. Whatever phase that is, understanding the importance of stepping on the grass, no matter how much time, no matter the urgency, no matter the situation, hopefully we've repped it, talked about it, practiced is. Acknowledged the difficulty and accept the challenge to go get it done.
I think that's what our team has done a lot this year in those moments.
Q. Talk about T.J. getting open on the first touchdown pass.
A: We were in a big grouping there. He's an attached tight end, kind of almost like a low cross route we call it on a keeper. Kirk is attacking the edge. We just allow JJ to change direction there, kind of lose his defender.
Perfect look for the play. But then it's on Kirk and T.J. to execute there. Even with the multi white-purple-white end zone, able to get his feet in. That was the only fear when I saw him running across the back, would he know where the actual back line was.
Great pitch and catch by those guys. We had a similar play designed on one of those early third-and-short where JJ ran something pretty similar, taking a shot there, hoping we would convert that one, but we didn't.
Wanted to be aggressive in those moments where we could dictate a little bit more on third-and-eight. They may be coming over the walls at you. You got to be careful at that moment.
Q. What kind of superlative do you have for Justin Jefferson?
A: I told him after the third down catch in the red zone, it's a pleasure and honor to coach a player like that, that can show up in those biggest moments. One of his best routes quite honestly that I've seen him run. He's ran a lot of great ones, a lot of ones that end up on social media.
But the type of coverage he was facing in that moment, the detail, his ability to separate in an absolutely huge, critical moment, let's just call it a less-than-ideal look. I just told him he's a special player. I just absolutely love him to death. Just hope that he knows that it's never a bad thing to tell somebody you love 'em. That's what my wife tells me (smiling).
Q. What has it been like, Greg Joseph went through the rough stretch, but the way he's fought there and bounced back?
A: Yeah, I think it's important that our players understand that adversity is going to be met with opportunity. As our team has done, we've not always played well as a team in moments, in games. That's an adversity we need to respond to.
On an individual level for a kicker, it's hard, right? Greg had a couple swings there early on in the season where, hey, let's get back and make sure we continue to work technique, fundamentals, make sure we're dialed in with the execution of snap, hold, kick, so that you guys can be what you've been for us since I got here: ultra consistent.
Pick him up, let him know we got nothing but 100% confidence in those guys to execute. Then you have to give them the opportunities in those moments to prove what you say.
When you see the ball go through the uprights, our team go crazy, those are real growth moments for everybody.
Q. When you get up there 23-16, did you give any thought to go for two?
A: I did. In that moment I felt strongly about making it an eight-point game to ensure it would be tied. Worst-case scenario for us they go down, score, get the two point. I just didn't want to give -- at that point you can eliminate them from then going down to get the two point to take the lead. Then the last drive, kicking a 61-yarder to possibly not lose the game.
We went back and forth. I talked to Ryan quite a bit about it in the moment. But, yeah, that was one that we did discuss. I thought it was important to get that eight-point lead in that moment.
Q. Did you see this being the type of game that would allow T.J. to have as big of a game as he did?
A: I thought he would have an opportunity, I really did. If it turned into an ultra pressure game, like it could be at times against that team, it would be hard to get him out truly as much as we'd like.
But he was able to really make some hay underneath coverage. A lot of roll coverage to Justin, playing a lot of split safety. Able to get Justin and him kind of working the middle of the field at different times.
Then quite honestly, just the red zone, the way he showed up on that first touchdown, kind of that designed play. His second one, as well. Just really sharp by T.J. Continues to find a real role for us in our offense.
Just like K.J. can have a huge game last week, that game is out there for all of our players with our quarterback kind of finding the open man, playing with great poise, our offensive execution being consistently where we want.
We could have quite honestly across the board been better today offensively, helped our team a little bit more. That's what we'll go back and continue to work through. To get it done was a credit to our players.
Q. You mentioned the pressure late. What did you think about how Kirk handled those situations?
A: Yeah, those are the moments they are trying to cause chaos. They are trying to cause a frantic field to how you play.
The throw to Justin, before the screen, was a great example of trusting that protection, stepping up. Our guys executing up front, get that ball thrown and caught in a huge moment that allowed us to then give ourselves a huddle call chance to be aggressive with the play call and also have that screen to Justin in our back pocket to execute at a high level.
Those plays mean a lot to our team in those moments. That's how you execute in situational football, by everybody having a level head and being led by your quarterback like he's done time and time and time again this year.
Q. You talked about trying to be more aggressive on defense. The corner blitzes today, was that something that got cooked up this week?
A: No, we've had those. Whether you're sending the nickel, corner, whatever it is. Sometimes a run stopping pressure. Sometimes just trying to catch off maybe some of their RPO game or gun run.
I thought Ed was aggressive in spots and continues to kind of make adjustments in game to give ourselves a chance. They held them under 30% on third down, forced some turnovers there, and offensively we were able to not have any turnovers. When you win that battle, although sometimes it can feel like a grind against that team, you play clean enough, you'll give yourself a chance to end. That's when our team tends to respond.
Q. You said you had that screen in your back pocket. Did you start that possession thinking this is on a short list of plays?
A: It was just something I could add to the call when I felt like it might be justified to give Kirk that opportunity. We were going to try to be aggressive and get the ball down the field because you don't want to have to rely on a 61-yarder if you don't have to.
We had some injury things throughout the second half that I needed to be better knowing who was available. Kind of play clock ran down, had to take a timeout. It's 100% on me. Without our full complement of timeouts, I knew we would need chunks, but I didn't want to jeopardize putting Kirk in a tough situation.
Great audible by him that he had at his disposal. You have to execute that screen in that moment, with athletic people chasing and running, to make that tackle. Big play for our team. Gave Greg a chance.
Thanks, guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports