Vikings 30, Bears 12
THOMAS BROWN: Obviously disappointing again just with the result. Kind of what I just told the guys in the locker room, myself in particular was not good enough for the entire group. Wanted to be aggressive going into the game. Was kind of a point of emphasis for our unit to be able to stay on the grass and make some plays.
Backfired early. Defense I thought battled their butts off. Put us in really good spots and kept us in the game for the most part. I thought special teams also played particularly well.
When you end up having nine penalties, you're one of whatever, one of 12 on third down, makes it very difficult to stay on the grass and stay in drives. Just too many plays ended up kind of biting us in the butt.
Questions?
Q. What is your understanding of what happened with Braxton yesterday and the shuffle it caused?
THOMAS BROWN: I was just told he reported symptoms on Sunday morning, and so got ruled out from there.
Q. The decision to play, you could have played a veteran or a rookie; why good with...
THOMAS BROWN: I have confidence in his ability. I think being able to have an opportunity to work him in that spot, he kind of rotating the last few days and weeks also behind Braxton. More about just the spot play on the left side.
Q. Why was the passing game so limited as far as downfield in the first half?
THOMAS BROWN: Well, got to protect, so that obviously affects some stuff that you do. I think being able to also understand what this defense does as far as disguising and pressuring. First game, you can't make a living trying to chuck the ball down the field. That's when he creates so many turnovers.
Even on the third down, third and eight, tried to hold the ball a little bit longer, so those kind of deter you from wanting to (indiscernible) down the field.
Q. With Kramer with the reporting issue, what was your view from the sideline? What was your understanding?
THOMAS BROWN: Normally when he reports in the game his back is to me so I can't tell if you does or he doesn't. I think if there was some indecision I could have called a timeout to save it got back in the huddle. I put that on myself.
Q. Candid have a view on the strip sack, what happened there?
THOMAS BROWN: Just got beat.
Q. Jaylon didn't have a captaincy patch. Is he still a captain?
THOMAS BROWN: Jaylon? Of course he is, yep.
Q. (Regarding equipment.)
THOMAS BROWN: I didn't even see it, so I can't speak on that. He's definitely a captain. He's in every captain's meeting and a guy that speaks for our group a lot. Actually did a really good job at Saturday's practice after we kind of broke it down. Let him get in the middle and did a great job of delivering a timely message. He is definitely a captain on and off the field for us.
Q. What's your frustration level with the fourth downs that didn't convert?
THOMAS BROWN: I'm frustrated with all of it. I think just trying to find ways to put us in better spots, design some better plays, call better plays, if we can execute them better. Any time we're not able to stay on the grass and move the ball and score points I'm going to be frustrated.
About the same as I am with everything else.
Q. Still three games left. Feels like a team that doesn't have a lot left in the tank. How do you get them across the finish line?
THOMAS BROWN: I would disagree with you. If you watch the tape, our guys battled until the very end. Saying we don't have a lot left in the tank alludes to our guys quitting, and I didn't see that at all on tape.
I think our guys continue to battle. I'm going to continue battling. I am going to continue to fight for them and stay behind them. We'll go back to work.
Q. Back to back really lopsided losses. That's why I meant that. You disagree that you guys still have the ability to compete with these teams?
THOMAS BROWN: I would challenge you to go turn on the tape and see who didn't play hard and didn't finish. I think it's more about me putting us in better spots on the offense to execute and stay on the grass better, and defense continuing to make strides.
Q. You guys went to the locker room at halftime scoreless for the third time in three games.
THOMAS BROWN: Yeah.
Q. I know if you can put your finger on it you can fix it.
THOMAS BROWN: 1000%.
Q. Do you have a sense what's contributing to all that?
THOMAS BROWN: A sense I got to be better, put us in better spots, and make better plays. That's the sense I have.
Q. There are some throws that Caleb makes where it feels like he has a one-on-one opportunity and they're misfired by four, five feet. How do you get him in a mindset to put balls where they can be more 50/50 opportunities and give some of these guys a chance?
THOMAS BROWN: It's not a one size fits all answer to that question. Might be different between the rush and the cover that he is facing as well. But just trying to find way to find a matchup to exploit, and also keep you long enough staying in the pocket, on his backfoot and deliver, like you said, a 50/50 opportunity ball for some of our guys.
Q. When you report with an O-lineman eligible, is it someone's responsibility to make sure he checks in? Is that like...
THOMAS BROWN: He checks with the ref.
Q. Oh, he did?
THOMAS BROWN: No, he does. That's what normally does.
Q. Is there a coach on the sideline that is supposed to keep an eye on that?
THOMAS BROWN: Supposed to? I think we keep an eye on everything that happens before and after the snap. We have a lot of the guys that look at different areas of the field. Like I said, if it was in question I could have just called a timeout to save it and just get us back in the huddle and have the same play call.
Q. On the strip sack, the pass rushers backed up right away. What is realistic to expect from Caleb in that situation?
THOMAS BROWN: For him, he can't see the ball, see the defender coming, so I can't expect him to be able to have eyes in the back of his head. Obviously being on the road, the noise does have an affect when it comes to guys getting off on a snap versus us not.
Just be better in that situation, and also I can do a better job calling better plays where the ball can come out faster versus holding onto it. That will help, too.
Q. What was the challenge of getting Kiran ready for his career start on the road? Not a lot of the prep time. Short notice.
THOMAS BROWN: I think he's been prepping the entire time. He's been rotating like I said before, reps with Braxton. It's more about -- if we had to make some adjustments late in the game, it's myself on the call sheet making some notes about max protection and those type of things. He's a tough dude. Going to be a really good player. Still a good player for us right now. He'll get better. We'll all get better. I'll get better.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports