Minnesota Vikings 28
New Orleans Saints 25
PATRICK PETERSON: -- he knows where to go with the ball. It was a little different game planning for him once we found out that Jameis was out. It's always difficult to prepare for the backup because we watch so much film all week on Jameis. I believe we got the news Friday or something like that that he was going to be out.
We just have to come in and rely on our responsibilities, find a way to slow down the run, try to force them to beat us.
Q. You all have taken Lewis under your wings. Have you talked to him?
PATRICK PETERSON: No, we haven't talked to him yet. We just said our prayers, just told him to hang in there as he was getting carted off the field. I didn't know how severe the injury was until Harry told me. I don't even want to talk about it. It was pretty bad.
I just hope that Lewis continues to stay strong and knows that his brothers are here and we have his back.
Q. How do you try to focus and get back to what you needed to do after something like that?
PATRICK PETERSON: It's almost like the game last night we was watching, the kid from, what school was that, red and white school, I can't remember the school name, but the kid had to get carted off. He made a great tackle, his neck got pinned back a little bit.
That's the nature of the game. You can't play scared. You got to go out there and play at full speed. If you slow down an much, a tad bit, you find yourself not in a good situation as far as protecting yourself.
We understand the nature of this business, that there's going to be injuries, it's going to be gruesome injuries. At the same time we have to continue to pray and keep the faith that we can stay healthy, try to stay away from these type of injuries. These type of injuries can be very devastating, especially to a young guy that Lewis is.
I know he has his head on straight. He has a great supporting cast around him to make sure he's doing everything to rehab the best of his ability and come back stronger than ever next year.
Q. How does it change your approach defensively when you come up against a kicker that can kick from 60 yards?
PATRICK PETERSON: It doesn't make it difficult. Our job is to not let guys score touchdowns. We did a good job of that throughout this game, except for late.
At the end of the day if they want to kick a 60 yarder, however far it is, be my guest. That's not a good percentage of a kick. He has a great leg, great accuracy for it. Just hit I think the upright, ricocheted off the middle bar, bounced that way.
The thing I'm taking away from this, we did not get those bounces last year. We're just happy to be in the position to finish games now versus getting back on the plane with an L.
Just extremely proud of the guys, how they continue to fight, continue to lean on one another, and never flinch. That's what it's all about, guys sticking together for four quarters until the end.
Q. What is different from last year? Last year you gave up a lot of points in the last two minutes of the first half, this year forcing turnovers.
PATRICK PETERSON: Just attention to details. A lot of the guys that's on this defense right now was here last year. We obviously know that was unacceptable. That was a point of emphasis coming back into this season. It's showing that we take pride in that position now because looking at last year, they said we could have been 14-3, something like that, if we were able to keep teams out of the end zone in two-minute warnings, end of the game.
That's one of the things coming into the season has been a very situational football team and understanding what teams want to do in certain situations, just keeping our foot on the gas, man. That's what it's all about on both sides of the ball.
Q. (No microphone.)
PATRICK PETERSON: Loved it. Loved it. It was a great play in a key moment of the game. I can't remember who the receiver was, but he played it great. Face-guarded him. He understood the ball was being thrown over his shoulder. Came back, found the ball. Found it late, but had to fight the receiver to get the ball off him.
Unbelievable play. Cam had probably one of his better games since we've been playing together this year. I'm just excited to see him continue to grow into a pro, to a shutdown corner as well.
Q. How much of that technique stuff are you talking about with him?
PATRICK PETERSON: We talk almost endlessly throughout the game. In the study room when we're back watching film. We watch film twice a week. I always tell him, If we don't give up touchdowns, him and I, we'll have a good opportunity to win a ballgame.
Team wants to throw the ball in the end zone. Me and Cam have to stand up each and every week if this team wants to be successful.
Q. Last time you went home with a tough loss. How important with a long plane ride going back was it to get a win?
PATRICK PETERSON: It was very important to win because now we have to wait another three hours until the Saints get out of here. Very important we got the W today. I didn't want to be sitting wherever we were going to be for the next two and a half hours with an L (laughter). These next two hours are going to be great, for sure (smiling).
Q. Watch any of the games?
PATRICK PETERSON: Yeah f we have television, we'll definitely be watching something.
Q. How did you feel, short trip over here, short stay over here, compared to other times you've been over here?
PATRICK PETERSON: I came over here last time on the same schedule. Didn't like it because I felt like we didn't -- I don't want to say we didn't necessarily have enough time to get our bodies back going.
As athletes, we need sun. Wasn't no sun here last time. It was cold, it was gray, it was raining. Guys still was sleeping when we came to play the game on Sunday and it showed.
This go around, I like this go around better because we have the opportunity to get our bodies reacclimated with the time, especially with the schedule that Tyler and coach gave us. I think it worked out great.
Majority of the guys woke up with a ton of energy, ready to roll. That was what it was all about, making sure we had the right timing to make sure we could go out there and play our best.
Cheers.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports