Vikings 27, Packers 25
MATT LEFLEUR: Obviously dug ourselves in too deep of a hole right there. I was proud of our guys' effort. They continued to compete and battle. You just can't do that against good teams. The margins in this league, especially against a good football team, are razor thin. I don't think we were at our best, but that's a credit to them and our slow start.
That's me as much as in anybody. I got to be better and we got to get better and we got to learn from this and try to move on and get some momentum here. We got the Bears coming in, and try to finish this thing out the right way.
Q. (Indiscernible.) How unsettling is it that you haven't been able to (indiscernible.)
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, I'm not -- yeah, I mean obviously bothers me. You know, I just think that you can't get down against good football teams. If there is a lesson there, that is the lesson. It's tough to come back.
I think our guys continued to fight and battle and scratch and claw, but ultimately, we just can't put ourselves in a hole like that.
Certainly took us way too long to get going offensively. If that happens, then, I mean, this is the result.
Q. (Regarding momentum.) Taking the ball first and moving it and then you give it away and Minnesota...
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, it's tough. We knew that's kind of how they operate. They do a great job getting the ball out and putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback in the passing game, and in the run game giving you a lot of different front structures, a lot of hats towards the football.
We knew they were going to punch at the ball, and I mean, I didn't actually see it, whether or not it got punched out or we just coughed it up, but obviously can't happen. That's a tough way to start the game, especially when you take the ball.
Q. (Regarding a call.)
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, tough call. Tough call. I don't know -- I saw -- I'll tell you what I saw. Obviously the official disagreed with what I saw. I saw a tight end clearly signal he was off the ball and I saw Wicks take the ball. I wasn't standing on the sideline so I couldn't temp tell.
They obviously saw it differently.
Q. (Regarding penalties adding up.)
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, but I'm not going to make excuses for it. We put ourselves in a bad position ultimately. I was standing right down the line for that. I didn't see it that way. I'm not an official either so that's not my job and not what I get paid to do.
Q. (Regarding what Christian means to the offense.) Is that a by-product of not having...
MATT LEFLEUR: Well, I think it's a by-product of their coverage. Did you see how loose they were? Do you want to just throw it up?
Q. What can you do?
MATT LEFLEUR: You got to take the underneath routes and check downs. You got to have time to allow things to develop if you are going to take a shot.
They do a good job keeping a lid on the coverage. That's how they play. We knew that going in. So there would be minimal opportunities to push the ball down the field. Got to be super efficient and stay on schedule.
Once they get you in third down that's where they're really good. That's one of the best in the league at third downs. You got to stay in front of the sticks or out of third down in general.
Q. Do you think Jordan should have been a little quicker checking down some of those?
MATT LEFLEUR: Not necessarily. I got to go back and look at it. Credit to them. They came out and played a little bit more man than we were anticipating. They had shown that a couple games; didn't think we would get it.
I think that's part to our slow start, is we got to be able to adjust quicker and have some plays in there that can attack that coverage. That falls squarely on my shoulders.
Q. You know that locker room better than anyone. Having lost to these really good teams is there a belief there that you guys can get it turned around?
MATT LEFLEUR: Absolutely. I think there is absolutely a belief we can win one of those games. We got to go do it. Bottom line. And got to earn the right to play these guys again. Ain't going to began be easy. It's going to be a tough road.
I think that's a challenge that we'll gladly accept.
Q. Matt, what did you think of the way your defense slowed down Justin Jefferson?
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, they got two legitimate No. 1 receivers, and then you got Nailor out there making play after play.
They got a lot of weapons. Hockenson made some plays. So we just ultimately collectively as a unit, everybody has to play a little bit better.
Q. The success in the fourth quarter, do you chalk that up to defense or feel like you found something?
MATT LEFLEUR: I don't know. I mean, I just got to go back and look at it.
Q. The fourth down that you went for, what was the cut off on where you would've kicked it? What was your...
MATT LEFLEUR: Which one are you talking about? Early?
Q. Yeah.
MATT LEFLEUR: Just a gut thing. Said that a million times. If we feel good about it, then you go for it. If you don't, then you're going to kick a field goal.
Q. Anything in particular that made you feel pretty good?
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, thought we had a play that we liked. You know, Jayden won on the route; Jordan worked the weak side. It is what it is. And that's -- I'm not -- you can go -- it's a pick-a-side play. Unfortunately, we picked the side they ended up getting covered.
That happens sometimes. It's not anybody's fault. They did a good job covering the one side. Ultimately they peeled with our back in that situation and then there was a backer just hanging for the slant window. So they did a good job of taking that away. We went back across the board late to Jayden Reed.
I mean, you know, it's just one of those -- it was a tough play to make.
Q. (Regarding a flag.)
MATT LEFLEUR: No, we did. It's just it was early in the game and I thought to take the points was the right play.
So, you know, you can second guess all those after the fact, but in the moment you got to do what you think is right.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, big time play.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
MATT LEFLEUR: Well, I wouldn't say it was the only option. We had other options, but we felt that was the option, the best option to go with.
You know, right now unfortunately we're down two safeties, and it is what it is. You know, but we just got to be better collectively.
Q. What do you have to do better against these really good quarterbacks like Darnold, whoever is coming up next?
MATT LEFLEUR: Defensively?
Q. Yes.
MATT LEFLEUR: Got to get pressure on these guys if they're going to drop back that many times. If you don't, it's going to be a long day. It's tough to go try to single coverage a guy like Justin Jefferson. Then you got Addison and Hockenson; they got multiple players.
Like I said, Nailor was making plays out there. They got a lot of good players.
Q. Can I ask you one technical question? In the huddle are there procedures in place so that doesn't happen?
MATT LEFLEUR: Yeah, that was on us as coaches. Called the personnel, somebody heard it different. That's how we got 12 in the huddle. That's the first time that's happened in a really long time in my time here.
It can't happen because that was a critical penalty. Second and five and now goes second and ten and you're in those get-back-on-track situations. You know, those are drive-stopping penalties. Collectively we got to be better. Got to make sure we hear what's called and get the right people in the game.
That's not on the players at all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports