The Minnesota Vikings found a way to not only upset the San Francisco 49ers 22-17, but they also saved their season in doing so.
Throughout the game, there was a theme that we saw on Monday night. The Vikings were much more disciplined than they had been in previous weeks.
Yes, they turned the ball over on the third play of the game, but they more than made up for it by forcing one of their own just five plays later.
There were multiple standout performances by the Vikings, including a true breakout performance by rookie Jordan Addison.
After the game, the media spoke with multiple players and coaches. These are the 15 most notable quotes from Monday’s win.
T.J. Hockenson: What sort of statement was made today?
“That we can play with anybody, and that we can beat anybody. That is just what we have been trying to say throughout this entire season. If we do our stuff and we do everything that we can that we can play with anybody and we can roll. Everybody had a mindset today coming into the stadium that we were going to do that and we were going to go out and win this game.”
T.J. Hockenson: How brilliant was Kirk Cousins?
“Incredible. Just being able to play with #8 and just the trust that he has on his guys to be able to spread the ball. You never know when the balls going to come your way which is incredible on an offense. I’ve been in a few that you know when you’re going to get the ball and you know when you don’t. And in this one you have to go like you’re going to it every time because #8 will get back to you. It’s incredible to get to play with him. His demeanor, the way he sits in the pocket, how tough he is, the way he carries himself in the huddle it’s just incredible. He is a guy you want to play for.”
Nick Bosa: Is there an easy way to answer why you guys didn’t sack Kirk Cousins today?
“I think a lot went into it. Wasn’t making the plays when they were there. The way the game went definitely played into their hands, especially in the first half. Definitely, going to look at the tape and not be too happy about how we performed in the moments where we could have changed it.”
Jordan Addison: Not exactly a coming, but you were sensational tonight
“I just did whatever I could do to help my team win. When they called my number, I made sure I showed up.”
Dalton Risner: You see Jordan Addison absolutely fearless up the middle playing and having a great game.
“Those guys will do anything that they are asked to do. They will put their bodies on the line, him and (Cam) Akers both. It’s fun to block for those guys, you know they’re going to put their heads down and make it happen. As an offensive lineman, you’re like let me do my job, and you know the guys behind you will do theirs.”
Kirk Cousins: Talk about the mental toughness this team, having a turnover on the first drive?
“Yeah, this game is going to punch you in the gut and you’re going to have things that don’t go your way. That turnover was tough, and you have to play through it. Play through the smoke as my college coach used to say. So we were able to do that tonight, and clearly the way Jordan responded, he had a couple tough catches in traffic. The one very easily could have been an interception and the other one the safety was driving. You could tell he made a decision that that’s not happening again, and it reflected in the way he played.”
Kirk Cousins: Did you get a feeling from the offensive line playing against this front meant a little more to them to have the kind of performance they did?
“I thought they did a great job protecting all night. Again, a lot of pass attempts. It’s not like we threw the ball 20 times. So they handled a lot. It’s a unit that has played together for a while, played with me for a while, and at times it helps to have three or four of the guys where you feel like, hey, we’ve been here before and they kind of can finish my thoughts and sentences before I even do myself. I think that helps.”
Kirk Cousins: . Is there any play among the two series down by the goal line that maybe stands out to you as you look back?
“For sure. (Indiscernible) tips I think is a touchdown, if he doesn’t tip it. I told him that after the game. You know, I have to go back and watch the one to Alex, but just wanted to but that right on his inside shoulder before the corner could get it. Thought we had a chance there, but have to go watch it. The one to Jordan Addison on a little corner route, I drove it to his outside shoulder thinking that that was a safe place to put it. I wish I just stopped him with the ball. Corner was climbing, the safety was inside out. Gave the safety a little too much credit he was going to get there when really he probably wasn’t, and I think we can score there if I just put it on him. There was one more I think. The sneak didn’t really get us much there and the penalty hurt. So there were a few plays there.”
Camryn Bynum: After the punt late in the 4th, the defense knew they had to put it on their shoulders. What was said? Did anything need to be said? What was going on?
“No words needed to be said, everybody understood exactly what we needed to do. We had a solid game defensively. Nothing matters unless you show up in the clutch. It was eye contact looking around the bench everybody was locked in and ready to go. But everyone was having fun, nobody was tight, nobody was nervous, everyone was ready to go out there. Anytime we face adversity we are excited to go back out there.”
Christian Darrisaw: Christian, you guys obviously protected Kirk really well tonight. I think there was maybe one play where he did get a lot of pressure and was able to get out. What can you say about Kirk’s composure on those plays he does get a little heat?
“We have a great quarterback back there and we know we just have to give him a little bit of time. He’s going to make the play, but when pressure does get on him, he doesn’t back off. He doesn’t fold or flinch; he’s going to make the play.”
Kevin O'Connell: ...telling TJ to get down in the first half. Is that just you want him to not...
“Yeah, it was more so about if he is coming out, similar to what you guys saw when we took a delay in a game earlier this year. When a guy comes on or comes off late, we are pretty meticulous about what personnel is on the field and what we’re going to call with those guys on the game. Just allows us a chance to reset. He was injured, so I credit all of our guys’ toughness, but sometimes depending on the time of the game and situation of the game where the clock really is not an issue, he was able to come back in the game from that, which was really impressive.”
Kevin O'Connell: First series Jordan was out-muscled for the interception and then comes back. What are you learning about the toughness of maybe one of the smaller guys on the field?
“Yeah, physical and mental toughness. We ask him to do a lot. He did a lot for us tonight in the game plan, and you just take that end of half play that he makes and essentially it’s the same type of thing. This was versus an all-out pressure. The guys up front, Kirk made a great check, and for him to make that play on that ball where it was was a game-changing play. It’s everything that — listen, Jordan has been everything that I hoped for from the moment I cut on the tape of his time in college. But he’s been more than that. He’s been really taking on a role within our team, within our offense. He’s earned an incredible amount of trust from Kirk and the rest of our guys. Jordan was fantastic tonight. This is a for sure performance he can build on for the future.”
Kevin O'Connell: For the offensive line to so what they did against that front, did that mean more to that group, do you think?
“I think so. They knew the challenge. Listen, Nick Bosa is a phenomenal, phenomenal player, and you have to be locked in on every single snap all night long, regardless of circumstance. But they also have Armstead and Hargrave and they have other players that continuously come at you. If you’re not locked in in one moment it can be catastrophically bad. Tackles have been really, really good all year for us, but to answer the bell like they did tonight, can’t say enough about CD and Brian O’Neil for what they mean to this team. How about Dalton Risner stepping in there. How about Ed Ingram’s continued progression. To me this guy just continues to get better and better, and obviously having Garrett back in there now consistently running the show, the rapport between him and Kirk is tremendous. I gave that whole group a game ball. This one will be special for them.”
Kevin O'Connell: You said Kirk was locked in. What was he locked in on? What was the vibe with him?
“Yeah, you know, he talked a lot to the offense yesterday about when the schedule comes out and you know you’re going to be playing at home on Monday Night Football against this team, I have so much respect for Kyle and the whole offensive and defensive staff, and they have really good players. They built that team the right way. Kirk talked to our offense about how these are the types of games you can really measure what you’re capable of, and really meeting the moment and capturing the moment with your execution and being willing to turn it lose regardless of what happened on the previous play. Just turn it loose, be confident in the guys next to you, and I think his message was really received clearly by our offense. That carried over to the whole team. That’s leadership. We could go for the next 35, 40 minutes about the way he played individual plays where he was overcoming some circumstances, moving within the pocket, trusting the protection, and seeing the whole field. Against that team, that’s big time quarterback play in my mind.”
Kevin O'Connell: Bynum has taken hold of that spot. What do you see that he does so well?
“To me, all year long his tackling has really jumped out. He’s been consistently right around, if not near the Top 5 in tackling in the NFL. He’s in a different kind of position than he was a year ago where he played a little bit more in the deep part consistently, but when we ask him to do that now, Harry or Metellus around the line of scrimmage, cam still is really, really good around the deep part of field both times tonight. That last interception was, you know, as far as him going up to get it, very tip of his fingers, looked familiar going back it the Kansas City game. He makes that play. That’s what I’m just so proud of our guys. Not worrying one bit about what has transpired but letting that fuel us. A, we’re capable, we’re confident, and we are going to go make those plays. Just go out there and play. We didn’t talk a lot about what we couldn’t do. Just emphasized the things we had to do to win the football game.”
