Vikings 23, Jets 17
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: It's a great feeling, obviously when you can make a play like that, it can change the game. It's exciting, and I'm just glad I caught the ball and the rest is history.
Q. Did you think you were going to make it all the way to the end zone?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: Yeah, once I got out of that first tackle, I started running, I saw Harrison Smith had a huge block, and if he doesn't make that block, I don't think I score. It's a shout out to him and shout out to all the guys behind, just block the skill players so they couldn't catch me.
Q. It's your second one of the season; have you done anything different this year?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: You know, I think I had great coaches. Obviously Vic Fangio and then reuniting with Flores, these are two great coaches. They scheme well. They prepare you well. In certain formations, different looks that the offense give you, they just -- not give you answers, but they allow you to anticipate and play fast.
It's something that I just read and caught the ball.
Q. Were you supposed to drop or --
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: Yes, in that play I was just kind of reading the guard, and he came at me so I dropped and tried to get into that pocket where basically the hot throw is. Something that we planned on and expected.
Q. Andrew, what's the key to feeling that space there, getting into that hot area?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: You know, it's kind of reading the quarterback's eyes, kind of anticipating where -- expecting the ball where it should go. There's a couple different answers when we show that all-up look. It's kind of a thing, something that I anticipated, and dropped to the right spot.
Q. Can we be clear, though? I need a little bit more excitement. Aaron Rodgers, you want to be able to tell this story to your grandkids. It's almost like a defensive lineman sacking Peyton Manning. Think about that.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: Yeah. I mean, I'm lost for words. I couldn't believe it happened. He told me, too, Christmas came early for me. Just a guy of that caliber, that level, I'm just thankful, grateful, and all the hard work and just dedication that Flo puts in and then putting us in the right position to succeed, and the rest you've just got to make it come to life.
Q. You had a long time to soak up the noise, the color. Talk about what the atmosphere was like today.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: Yeah, I think it goes back to the Vikings atmosphere at home. We kind of got that sense here with the Skull chant. It's the best atmosphere, and when you get a crowd like that going and get them hyped, it's exciting.
We've got fans all over the world, and I'm excited to be -- I'm thankful to be a Viking because we've got the best fans in the world.
Q. How would you enjoy (indiscernible)?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: I love it. He holds us to a high standard, and he puts us in position to make plays and allows us to play fast, physical, and play at a high level.
Just the way that he works, the way that he kind of leads the room and just gives us confidence to play fast and go out there and anticipate and make plays. He keeps talking about this thing called joy and just love playing it. We're ultimately playing a kids' game, and if you're not enjoying this, you're not in the right sport or job.
Q. There was a lot of versatile defenders on defense. How did Flo and the rest of that defensive coaching staff prepare you to have so many different responsibilities?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: He does a great job of teaching the big picture. Metellus or I could be at different positions, but we're kind of doing the same thing. He kind of teaches it in ways that defenders on the field are just kind of Xs on the field. You could be here, you could be over there, you could be in the D-line, you could be inside backer. At the end of the day, it's kind of spots and positions and zones and coverage where you're dropping to.
Q. When did Aaron tell you about that Christmas came early?
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: I think it was third or fourth quarter. I kind of got close to him, and he just made that comment to me. (Laughter.)
Q. (Indiscernible).
ANDREW VAN GINKEL: No, I just told him thank you. Didn't say a whole lot. Kind of just walked away.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports