Vikings - 27
Giants - 24
A: Huge win again. Found the inches again. It was another team win. When you look at how close that game was, you see the plays made by our defense, the turnovers they created, blocked punt by the special teams unit, 60-yard plus field goal. You see how it takes all three phases making plays for us to win. Wouldn't have any other way.
On the offensive side, obviously Justin broke a big record. Any time you're breaking a record that is held by a guy named Randy Moss, you're doing something special. Great to break it in that 16-game window as opposed to 17.
T.J. obviously was targeted a lot today. Had a big game. I felt like his second touchdown was a really critical play in the game, but also very difficult play to make. To high point the ball, a little underthrown, come down in bounds and hold on, just a testament to his ability and his focus.
Just keep playing complementary football. I think it's so important when the defense creates a turnover, we go down and get points. When we get in field goal range, hit a field goal. Complementing off each other I think is so important.
Wasn't perfect today, but the Giants are a good football team. Made it hard for us. We'll just keep building. Got a long week now with an extra day before we head to Green Bay. We'll enjoy Christmas and keep moving forward.
Take any questions you guys have.
Q. Are you thinking of a specific yardline for Joseph? Is it target 35, target something?
A: I think you do want to get as close as you can. I didn't feel like where we were was close enough. I don't think you really settle. You're just going to take whatever you can get.
But you want to get in that makable range, wherever that may be.
Q. How much does home-field advantage and seeding count? Is that a real important piece?
A: I don't think we talk a lot about it. I think we're all aware of the importance of trying to get the right seed position. But there's a lot in that that's out of our control. There's certainly a large part that's in our control.
You just got to play each game and really let the chips sort where they may at the end of the year. Try to go win all these games, go from there.
Q. When you see the whiteout like that today, first time they wore white uniforms, explain what home-field advantage does mean when you see the fans respond?
A: I can't say enough about our home atmosphere. That was our last regular season home game of the year. I think we did a tremendous job at home this year. I think a lot of that goes to our fans and the way they brought energy.
I think the whiteout was a fun idea. I think it added an element to the game around Christmastime, with the weather outside. I think as well, it was just a good fit.
The fans showed up and showed up in their white and did a great job. Can't say enough about the noise in those critical moments at the end of the game that I think really moves the needle.
Q. Time and time again we saw Greg practice with a long field goal. He hit a bit of a rough patch with the 50-plus. What was it like to see that moment for him, the faith the team kept in him?
A: It was a huge kick. I didn't think we were close enough. I didn't ask for the yardage. I thought it was closer to like 64 maybe where it was really far.
When he hit it, it just looked so good. It was straight. Looked long enough from where we were standing. You never know. But it felt good right away.
He did, just like you said, in training camp and multiple practices with a kick like that. It was so great to see it from August show up here in late December.
Q. If the season ended, would this be the most incredible season or unique season that you ever experienced in football in your life?
A: It's a great question.
When you talk about playing at this level, where the stakes are much higher, the grind is much more, you know the margin for error is so small. Then when you think about the challenge that it is to win in this league. Started now my eighth year starting. I mean, it's a battle just to get to .500 many times with how close these games are.
To be at 12-3, you understand now in year 11 just how difficult that is to do. Yet you also sit there and feel like there's so much football now up ahead of us that we've got to be playing our best football and peaking as we move forward.
Q. What allowed you and T.J. to have such a big day? What did you see on the second touchdown?
A: T.J. first of all is a great football player. He caught a ball on a third down where I threw the ball too high. Got drilled, held on. There's a toughness there. Has a good savvy, good feel for the game.
On the second touchdown, we got the look we wanted, felt like I just needed to hold the safety for a second, then put the ball out there to him. He did the rest.
He's kind of the backside of the concept, they defended it well, was able to kick backside and get the ball to him.
He's got great movement skills, great hands. He's a smart football player. Then I think our coaches have done a great job of the scheme to make sure that he's able to put his skills to use.
Q. On the screen at the end there, what made you decide that was the moment to do it? What is the clock situation like there when you're trying to run it?
A: Yeah, the defense, Coach Martindale's defense, really dictated a lot all day long because of the way that they play. You're just trying to be aware of what they're presenting to you, then get to plays that have a good answer.
That was kind of the battle all game long, was they were going to win some, we were going to win some. But he certainly makes you prepare hard and have a plan with the way they play on defense.
Q. (No microphone.)
A: On the final drive?
Q. Is that just a by-product of the connection you have, you can make that throw, he can make that catch?
A: I got hit as I threw it. Probably wasn't the most accurate throw. You're throwing it so early, you're trying to put it out there guessing. That was a touchdown, as well. I'm throwing that guessing where to put it. I'm just hoping. I'm getting my cue off the crowd. If the crowd cheers, it must have been good.
That was the case again on that one, just got to a max protection and wanted to give Justin a chance there. It's tough to have the time with the way they pressure.
Q. All those third down throws to Jefferson, what can you say about his ability?
A: Honestly, I mean, there's many that were impressive. The one that's jumping out to me was we rolled out to our right and threw one in the flat to him versus man coverage. He was two to three yards short of the sticks. He only had a yard or two from the sideline. His ability to get north and toe tap and get the first down, very subtle. I can't tell you how many guys would just run out of bounds there, we'd be kicking a field goal or punting.
I remember just to myself thinking like, That's a pretty good play right there, to toe tap, get up and out before they get him out of bounds.
A subtle thing, but one of the many ways he shows up.
Then just the continued catches in traffic. A lot of people there. Just his ability to hold on and finish, it's elite. Probably owed him a few more. There were a few more plays out there for him. The short yardage in the first half where I didn't throw it well enough to him. That's a big, big play for him there if we can connect. Then in the two minute at the end of the half, I thought there was a route there I could have worked him as well that I didn't.
Glad that we got to finish with a couple big completions there to him.
Q. Second touchdown to T.J., did you think he's open, I have him, or more of a what-the-heck throw?
A: I don't like to make what-the-heck throws. That would be really foolish (smiling).
Man coverage. You hold the safety. You want to make sure you trust your teammates to do their job. You understand man coverage, what the rules are, the coverage, where the ball needs to go, the redline or the sideline. Make sure you don't overthrow it. I want to give him a chance.
His height, if it's underthrown, he can still make the play, and he did. The key is he stayed inbounds as he came down to the ground. Big-time play by him.
It was a great call by Kevin because we got the coverage look we wanted which enables us to run that.
Q. With this home crowd and everything, describe the level of importance of getting the No. 2 seed?
A: I think there's still a lot of football to be played. Going into this game, coming out of this game, we got to go get it.
I think it's helpful if we can be at home. I remember in the 2019 season, the 2020 Playoffs, going on the road to New Orleans, going on the road to San Francisco, coming away from that saying the more games you can play at home the better in the Playoffs.
We got to do our part to make that happen.
Q. It seems every player in the locker room just now was saying it's more than football. They love the win, happy to celebrate, but it's more than football, it's about the guys in the locker room. Any point in your career, coming from the kicker, from yourself, what does it mean at this point in the season?
A: We've had a good core nucleus of guys in this team for a few years now. In August looking at the season, you realize your group is only together for so long. In the NFL, NFL stands for 'not for long'. People move on.
I kind of felt that this is a special group, and there's a time sensitivity here where we got to do it now. So I do feel really strongly about the group we have. I've said it when we were .500, we have a great locker room, great camaraderie. I don't think anybody really cares when you're not winning, but we had a great group and we have a great group.
Just grateful we've been finding the inches this year and that's been able to show through the chemistry we have.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports