Vikings 21, Colts 13
A. Starting with our defense, I thought they were really the backbone tonight for us. Not only forcing two turnovers with Murph and Harry, but just the way they were able to answer the bell, even on a short field there in the second half.
Credit to Flo and his staff and all of our players for that effort. Thought our team limited penalties. I don't think we had any pre-snap things offensively. We really tried to emphasize that. I know it's been talked about at length, but good example. It we at least start there, I think we averaged almost six yards a play, we moved it all night.
Some critical turnovers and then we've got -- even against a good front with a new left tackle, still the expectation is just to protect Sam a little bit more. Give him an opportunity to keep getting the ball out of his hands.
Thought there was some huge performances from Jets. Loved the way Cam Akers popped a little bit coming in there really showing what he's capable of. And then Jordan Addison's catch was one of the better catches over there in a critical moment coming out of the half wanting to get 7.
Josh Oliver was huge, critical. The catch everybody is going to talk about at the end in four-minute, but I thought he was a fantastic blocker as he always is. Physical all night long and was really significant.
Give credit to cam Robinson showing up here about 72 hours ago and played a lot of snaps for us. Again, great to see and his staff for getting that done. The feeling you have when you can bring in a player like that on short notice, trust your staff, and being very thankful for getting that done.
TJ Hockensen, unbelievable seeing 87 run out on the field and be part of this thing, because he's a foundational playing player for us in this organization.
Q. Kevin, that first drive of the second half, was that how you envisioned it? You haven't had TJ and Jordan and Jefferson all together. Maybe I think sixth time.
A. Yeah.
Q. First drive of the -- is that how you see it going? JJ had the big catch and then TJ had one and then Jordan finished it off?
A. Yeah, to me, those three guys are who we want to build our offense around with Aaron Jones and our running game being a major part of what we want to do. I know Sam had a couple turnovers mixed in there and really the -- I did think that there was a potential discussion to be had on the play with the fumble just with the conversations ongoing just to get a little more clarity on the protection of our quarterback versus what the standard may or may not be.
I'll continue to get that clarity and coach my guys up how we need to to move the football. Turnovers were big.
But, yes, I would say for me we've got a lot of weapons. We just need to continue to trust in the fact that the next play, if we get 11 guys executing, we're going to have a good play, and then stacking those.
Thought our third down execution getting to 50% for the day was critical, including Speedy on his touchdown catch, which was really nice execution by the guys and Sam specifically hanging in there and making a big time throw.
Q. ... average looks you guys got for Justin tonight? When you see the one-on-one coverage, what goes through your mind?
A. Yeah, we go a few snaps now in some games without seeing it.
You know, I normally try to hide my reaction to it when we break the huddle and I can tell what may be about to occur then.
But, yeah, it was a critical moment for Sam and him to pitch and catch on that long throw, getting us down there, and ultimately got 7.
Justin was phenomenal, and I really felt him all game long from a leadership standpoint, which is phenomenal to see. Along with BO and CJ, Aaron Jones in that huddle. We've got some guys that I really lean into and rely upon really across our whole team.
Very fortunate to coach this football team.
Q. How would you assess Sam's game in totality?
A. Yeah, I mean, 28 of 34, threw a bunch of completions, was very accurate, had some critical pitch and catches for some huge kind of igniting plays for us. You know, that first drive he's trying to make a play off schedule there. Got to go back and look at it, but they played zone coverage, split safety like we saw the majority of the night.
He's just moving. Chance to possibly find Jalen Nailor out in the flats late in the down. But I want him to be aggressive on those scrambles because he's a very talented thrower. Might have just left that a little short there. If he can get it up and over the defender maybe TJ has a shot at it.
Once again, going to be -- my trust in Sam is something that I think is going to be a winning edge for our football team, and to win a football game when we lose the turnover battle, that means your quarterback played well. There were some plays to be made; 29 first downs. We moved it and just stayed the course.
Although you would like to see us be able to capitalize on the defense's performance and not have zero points at halftime, proud of the 21 in the second half. Proud of the way our guys battled.
Q. When you were talking to the officials about the fumble, what explanation did they give you for why they didn't pick that flag up?
A. Yeah, it seemed to be they were concerned about whether it was a face mask or not. That was not part of my argument. I just thought there was contact to the head and neck area of the quarterback.
Q. That stretch after halftime when you go out score, stop, score. We saw that a lot.
A. Yeah. Yeah, that's in this football team. It's still very much a part of who we are. Look, we lost two very tough names in five days, one of which we went to the west coast four days after losing to the team that's at the top of the division and a really good football team that we are right down to the wire trying to win in front of our fans at home against.
I got to make sure I continue to do a better job. Starts with me always. I do know this: I know our guys had a great week of prep. Felt like we had that pop back. We were flying around, especially defensively, and offensively the execution was improved.
I think there is a lot to pull from this and yet still have a lot of runway to improve as a team. When we can limit our turnovers and still have that kind of performance in certain aspects of our offense.
And then I flat out loved the last drive. Really getting -- they know we're running it, we're running it, Aaron is physical, guys winning at the line of scrimmage.
Then right about the time you get a chance to try to throw one in or at least settle the offset what they're doing to defend the run, we throw a touchdown. Big time performance there late by the defensive line. Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt and to put it in there was a big time moment.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
A. Yeah, hopefully people saw a guy that knows how to run the football. Not only just in this offense but at this level. The patience, the ability to find space. It's good front. We're trying to say connected and really get some movement.
So a lot of times the subtleness and the patience of the back helps those guys stay on those combinations longer. We get that movement. JO, TJ; thought CJ Ham gave us some good snaps as well in 21. To find that space in there, both by him there when he got a chance to really -- I think it speaks to watching Aaron, kind of seeing some things, and then go right in there and have it applied.
You know, I thought it was big and was great to see him out there and doing his thing.
Q. Second interception, was he just maybe going too quick?
A. He's aggressive on those dagger throws now and he throws them about as well as anybody I ever been around. It's one of his favorite throws. First and ten, P and ten, want to say aggressive as a playcaller. Thought the protection was phenomenal on that play.
As great as he feels about ripping those dagger cuts, sometimes the defense can make you say no, check the ball down, and move on like he did when we needed to throughout the night.
28 of 34 speaks to his ability to flat out throw it. This guy can throw the football and love every aspect what he's doing within our offense right now.
I'm sure Sam will be hard on himself about those two interceptions, but I'm going to stay aggressive with him because I do think my confidence in him, which is genuine, is real, it is, like I said, a winning edge for us moving forward.
Q. The broadcast they mentioned Reichard might've had some thigh discomfort. He was uncomfortable. Anything there?
A. Yeah, just at some point in the first half, don't know whether it was a field goal attempt or kickoff, but he started to feel a little tightness in there. Definitely something to monitor as we move forward.
In regards to that, I probably should have updated you guys on couple more injuries can. Ivan Pace returning, was able to return. Thought that was huge as the green dot. One more game without Blake and IP just keeps getting better and better for us.
So outside of that, I think for the most part we did all right tonight injury-wise. Yeah, I'll keep you guys posted on Will. He had no flinch and was ready to go if we needed him to.
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