Minnesota Vikings 28, New Orleans Saints 25
Q. How important is it to have resilient back-to-back wins early in the season?
ERIC KENDRICKS: It's huge. Obviously across the league you have people who are kind of figuring out their rosters and their team, their identities, including us.
It's good to know that when our back is against the wall, when it's a tight game like this, we're on the road in London, we can pull through, guys are confident in that as well.
Q. I spoke to coach about this. How difficult does it make it as a defense when you're coming up against a kicker with the long field goal range?
ERIC KENDRICKS: There's only so much you can do. Obviously our goal is to stop him at every down essentially.
A lot of people get paid in this league. He gets paid for a reason. I think that was a franchise record against us as far as the length of the field goal. He almost broke his own record during the game as well.
Q. You came here five years ago. How different or same is this experience? Did that help you in any way prepare for this one?
ERIC KENDRICKS: A little bit. We prepared a little bit differently as a team. It thought our plan was great. I think we executed it, everyone was bought in. I felt great, ready to go for the game. I didn't feel tired at all.
But I think from a fan's perspective, we knew that it was going to be kind of a mixed fan, not a home ground for everybody. But the stadium was beautiful. The stadium was beautiful. I'm looking forward to coming back and watching a real football match here.
Q. What was your plan coming in Friday?
ERIC KENDRICKS: A lot of times teams leave earlier to go to London. We left a little late. Got a lot of our work done in Minnesota, which is I guess a little bit controversial in some people's eyes. Some people do it differently.
Like I said, we had a plan. We attacked it. Everybody's ready to go.
Q. What is the understanding in general over in the States about the knowledge and understanding of the game here? Are players aware there is that knowledge base among the British fans?
ERIC KENDRICKS: Yeah. I think it's just great that we can come over here and share our love for the game. Obviously there's going to be some challenges. The travel is pretty far.
It's been a good experience so far.
Q. Vikings are the only team to win in all three venues. Does that mean anything to you?
ERIC KENDRICKS: It's pretty cool. I only played in two of 'em. Yeah, I mean, I guess it's cool. It's dope.
Q. Coach O'Connell said Cine has a fractured leg. How important will his loss be on the team as a player and person?
ERIC KENDRICKS: Unfortunately, that's the worst part of the game. We all know that. He's been grinding. It's hard enough as a rookie as it is. He showed up. He's worked hard. He's made an impact for us. He made an impact with the guys around the locker room. We all love him. Love his personality. He's a great guy at the end of the day.
Hate to see that happen. Everybody was pretty devastated. In the same breath, we want to get out there and get that win for him as well.
It sucks watching that, man. It sucks coming off the field, you kind of know what's going on. It's not good.
Q. (No microphone.)
ERIC KENDRICKS: There's aspects that each person has that makes everyone individually special. Things that I do different than other linebackers around the league.
What he does, obviously it's early in his career, we're going to see what he really specializes in. I think it's four games in, starting to know he's a guy. We knew he was a guy coming into this.
I think it's too early to tell still. We'll see what kind of player he is, see how clutchy he continues to be. You got to stack 'em in this league. You got to be consistent every week to be great. Good luck to him.
Q. Given your start, how do you feel about the team, two good division wins, this tough one on the road? How are you feeling?
ERIC KENDRICKS: I'm feeling great. It's never going to be easy. If I've learned one thing about the NFL, it's never over until it's over. Games are going to be close, come down to field goals often. It's about those important drives, whether it's the end of the second quarter, end of the fourth quarter, big third downs. You know what I mean? We got to get off the field, as well.
There's a lot of things to learn from this game, especially on defense. I feel like we have so much room to keep improving and doing better.
As far as how our energy is on the sideline, we're really clicking together and we're really trying to get this job done.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports