1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Welcome into the Two Minute Warning, presented by three M, 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. I'm your 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: host Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network, and your 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: Vikings are gearing up to take on the Detroit Lions 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: in the Motor City this Sunday. There's been a ton 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: of player news this week, the biggest headlines centering around 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: roster updates at the quarterback position. Head coach Kevin O'Connell 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: announced on Monday that Carson Wentz will need season ending 9 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: shoulder surgery, and as on injured reserve JJ McCarthy is 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,319 Speaker 1: now the starting quarterback this week. Coach O'Connell talked on 11 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: Friday to discuss the final injury news going into the 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: weekend and gave an update on his team's mentality as 13 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: they faced the Lions at Ford Field. 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: I'm really proud of our guys for the work of 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: the week of preparation that we had, with the extra 16 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 2: day on Monday and then pairing that with three really 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: good days. I feel really good about our team being 18 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: able to go compete a heck of an environment. Dan's 19 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: got a really good football team. We know well, they 20 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: know us well. You know, so just fired up. I 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 2: can tell the team is excited to get a chance 22 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: to go compete. Just a game status update. We'll have 23 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: three players ruled out C J. Ham, Jeff Akuda, and 24 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: Josh Oliver. We'll have four players questionable Andrew Van Ginkle, 25 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: Brian O'Neill, Josh Mattelus who just had some foot soreness, 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: and then Christian dear saw right there. So other than 27 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: that good week of prep, all those guys that I 28 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: just mentioned as questionable were either limited or full today 29 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: based upon uh, based upon a fast Friday workload. 30 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 3: So open it up to you, guys. Yes, it was 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 3: by my eyes he was, and by the sheet. 32 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: He was as well. Yeah, no, he's had a really 33 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: good week. Anticipate him playing J. J. 34 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: McCarthy's full practice week. How did he look to you? Yeah, 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 3: it was. 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: It was great to see him, you know, fully kind 37 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: of look like himself on Monday, you know, he kind 38 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: of felt like he was set up to have a 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: great week, went out there and you know, had a 40 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: good day and then that rolled right into every day 41 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: this week and the best thing was just post practice, 42 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 2: you know, no soreness, know anything like that. 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 3: So he feels one hundred percent ready to go. 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 4: Think gn goal if he plays, would you expect him 45 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 4: to be on a snap count. 46 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 3: Or I think I think we're going to talk through that. 47 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: I think all you know, with our defense as a whole, 48 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: one of the things we're pretty excited about was the 49 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: depth we did have and and getting back a little 50 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: closer to that original picture, especially in the front seven. 51 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 2: Dallas Turner's played a lot, you know, got gotten a 52 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: lot of valuable snaps and now getting ginked back. You know, 53 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: what it looks like could be based on you know, 54 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: situation down in distance or you know, as the game 55 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 2: kind of goes and the dialogue with the players and 56 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: the medical staff. But I think, you know, he's full, 57 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: he's ready to go, and and and we'll see kind 58 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: of what his workload looks like. 59 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 3: I'm just excited to get him out. 60 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 5: There, Havin with the Vince Simms up to speed and 61 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 5: able to go Sunday. 62 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: Ben Simms is up to speed, he's ready to roll. 63 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: We're gonna, you know, evaluate whether you know that those three, 64 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: you know, with the game plan, we have what it 65 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: looks like for Sunday. Nick Finnett's always a possibility, you know, 66 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: as a veteran player that's been working towards this. He 67 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: was up earlier this season and we still have his 68 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: elevations left as well as Bryson. 69 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 3: So we'll, uh, you. 70 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 2: Know, all those guys kind of took some reps, different 71 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 2: phases of the game plan and we'll make a determination 72 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: for Sunday. 73 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 6: With the way they run the ball, what kind of 74 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 6: a challenge do they present? 75 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 5: And you guys have seen them many times, but will 76 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 5: kind of a challenge they presented to try to get 77 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 5: the run defense? 78 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's I think you know their staff 79 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: and I know Hank's got a lot to do with that, 80 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: you know, Hank Freyley scheme is very difficult. I think 81 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: they've got, you know, clearly one of one of the 82 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: best backs in football. And then and then if you're 83 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: counting David Montgomery as a as A one A, one B, 84 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: that's a heck of a group. I mean, they are 85 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: the best set of running backs in the NFL. It's 86 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: been that way for a while. And they both do 87 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: so many things at such a high level, whether it's explosiveness, power, 88 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: They both can catch the football, they both can protect, 89 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: two totally complete backs that are a problem, and you 90 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: pair that with the personnel they have up front and 91 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: the tight ends that they have and their ability to 92 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: block on the perimeter with the white outs, it is 93 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: an all eleven challenge and you got to meet it. 94 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 2: You got to meet it against this team, especially when 95 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: they play at home, and we know the challenge that 96 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: it is. 97 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 3: I think flowing. 98 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: The staff have a really good plan and the players 99 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: are excited about it and they just want to get 100 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: a chance to go compete. 101 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: Full week of preparation. 102 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: Kind of a lot of things in our rearview mirror 103 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: as far as circumstance limiting practices here or there, not 104 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: being able to practice, you know, in this country, and 105 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: things like that. 106 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 3: That's all behind us. 107 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: We just got to go play and have confidence that 108 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: we've had a week of preparation. 109 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 3: Excited about it. 110 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: Despite his injured reserve designation, Curson Wentz spoke with the 111 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: media about his experience in Minnesota, specifically his approach LA 112 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 1: where you pushed through the pain in helps of helping 113 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: the team. 114 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 7: It's been interesting couple weeks, but feeling good with the 115 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 7: ultimate decision that we've made collectively, and you know, it's 116 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 7: weird being done this early in the season. Been on 117 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,239 Speaker 7: IR a couple of different times, but never this early. 118 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 7: So it's a bummer all those things. But life's a 119 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 7: lot bigger than this. You know, any minutes or day, 120 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 7: I'm about to have my fourth little girl and surgeries 121 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 7: on deck, so all the things that are so much 122 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 7: bigger than this are really occupying my mind in time. 123 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 7: But it is is a bummer. Obviously, it's a bummer, 124 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 7: the little loss, all the things. But yeah, I'm doing right. 125 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 4: Process in the game, whether you're trying to decide whether 126 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 4: you can or should go back out there. 127 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 7: It sounds like it's been reported kind of the situation 128 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 7: and how it happened against the Browns and all the things, 129 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 7: But the whole time, I felt I can still help 130 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 7: this team. You know, at the end of the day, 131 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,679 Speaker 7: I knew what I was signing up for. It wasn't 132 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 7: like anyone was forcing me to go. I mean, this 133 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 7: is my tenth year in the league. There's a lot 134 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 7: bigger things in my in my life to worry about, 135 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 7: so I wasn't gonna do anything that would be detrimental 136 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 7: to my own health. So I knew what I was 137 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 7: getting into and knew there was a chance I'd be 138 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 7: playing with some pain and discomfort the other nights, and 139 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 7: I'd be lying if I thought it I thought would 140 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 7: be a little less than what it was. But at 141 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 7: the end of the day, it's it's pain. And I 142 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 7: felt like, Okay, the hit happened, and then I could 143 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 7: go on and I could still help the team. And 144 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 7: so it was never something and i'd be lying too. 145 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 7: I mean, as a competitor, like you never want to 146 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 7: take yourself out, Like, no matter what you're going through, 147 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 7: it's hard to remove yourself from the game. And you know, 148 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 7: I'm maybe optimist too, optimistic, like thinking we can still 149 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 7: mount to come back here, you know, all the things, 150 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 7: and that it feels crazy. 151 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: Teams can score fast. 152 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 7: We have some dudes on this offense, and so scoring 153 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 7: in a hurry is a is a real expectation and 154 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 7: an opportunity. So I never once was like, yeah, I 155 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 7: need to be done. 156 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 5: You know. 157 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 7: It's like, yeah, that hurt, but you know, I'm optimist. 158 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 7: I'm gonna up and not get hit the next play 159 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 7: and we're gonna, you know, go score and all the things. 160 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 7: So that didn't really cross my mind. And yeah, that's 161 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 7: just kind of the way it was. 162 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 6: Find up a full extentity injury right after the Browns game. 163 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 8: Yep. 164 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 7: Yeah, And so you know, after the Browns game, we 165 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 7: knew surgery was in the future, which was obviously a 166 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 7: bummer in and of itself. You know, it's never fun. 167 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,679 Speaker 7: I've had more than I'd care to have over my career, 168 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 7: but it was one of those things, Let's see how 169 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 7: long we can we can ride with this thing. 170 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: You know. 171 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 7: It was never anyone forcing me. It was never any 172 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 7: of that. We just knew let's see kind of how 173 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 7: it can hold up. And obviously, you know, the Eagles game, 174 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 7: it was definitely bothering me a little bit, but it 175 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 7: was it was bearable. I mean, it was doable. The 176 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 7: short week made it way harder. I'm not gonna lie, 177 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 7: and I think that game just obviously was kind of 178 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 7: icing on the cake for me to know, Like, you know, 179 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 7: I think the frustration that you might have saw on 180 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 7: the sideline was me knowing, like, yeah, I'm probably not 181 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 7: playing again this year. So there's a lot of emotions 182 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 7: there mixed with the pain and all the things. We 183 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 7: knew what was coming, We just didn't know. 184 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: When quarterback JJ McCarthy will be back under center this 185 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: week after rehabbing a high ankle sprain for the past 186 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: six weeks. McCarthy is excited to get back out there 187 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: with his Viking squad in a state where he's had 188 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: a lot of collegiate success. There are a lot of 189 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: fond memories for him in the state of Michigan, but 190 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: he knows that the Lions defense won't be welcoming him 191 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: with open arms. 192 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 8: Hello, everyone, just finish up a great practice. Felt like 193 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 8: there was a lot that you know, we did well 194 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 8: and a lot that we got to improve on this week. 195 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 8: And you know, got a tremendous opportunity in front of 196 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 8: us against a divisional opponent, really tough opponent. You know, 197 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 8: they've done a lot of great things this year and 198 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 8: it'll be great to see where we stack up against him. 199 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 8: And you know, we're just really focused on attacking each 200 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 8: and every day and making sure we're prepared as possible 201 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 8: going into this one on Sunday. 202 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 3: So I'll open it up. 203 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 4: How hard has it been being eighty five ninety percent 204 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 4: thinking probably you could play, but having to wait until 205 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 4: you got that green light? 206 00:08:58,640 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 3: Really hard? 207 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 8: Everything in my pass, you know, how I went about things, 208 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 8: It was always like, if I felt you know, ten percent, 209 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 8: fifteen percent, I was gonna go out there and give 210 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 8: it my all. But understanding you know how this league 211 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 8: works and you know how everything operates. I was just listening, 212 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 8: you know, to my trainers and coach O'Connell and you know, 213 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:15,599 Speaker 8: obeying orders. 214 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 3: At the end of the day. 215 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 8: But I think it was the smartest thing possible, and 216 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 8: I feel great. How was your amazing ready to go? 217 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 8: I feel like myself again, feel like I, you know, 218 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 8: have those mobility things that I was concerned about, you know, 219 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 8: going into last week, in the prior weeks. So yeah, 220 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 8: ready to go. 221 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 9: Well, Johanna talked about how you guys went back and 222 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 9: watched your first couple of starts. 223 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 5: What were some of the main things you took away 224 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 5: from those first two games. 225 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 8: The biggest thing I took away was just how, you know, 226 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 8: we keep saying it, when we do the simple things right, 227 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 8: what does the outcome look like? So really just focusing 228 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 8: on my process is weak, you know, going through the reads, 229 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 8: making sure I'm taking the right footwork and staying you know, 230 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 8: kind of calm minded, and you know, duct mentality in 231 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 8: terms of you know, just how I go about each 232 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 8: play in each situation. So it really just came down 233 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 8: to the simple things and making sure we master that 234 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 8: going into each and every week. 235 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 9: How confident do you feel coming off missing those games, 236 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 9: going back to Michigan and being able to play well. 237 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 8: Extremely confident every time we step out there. You know, 238 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 8: it's the work that we put in every single week. 239 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 8: It's the trust in my teammates and coaches and all 240 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 8: of that's been at all time high. You know, it 241 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 8: sucks not being able to get the reps and you know, 242 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 8: be able to continue to progress all the fundamentals and 243 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 8: all the little things. But there was a lot of 244 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 8: areas that you know, I picked up and think I 245 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 8: be benefited from, you know, just watching and observing from 246 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 8: the sideline. So, you know, extremely confident and ready to 247 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 8: get after it. 248 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 4: Sorry you EARLD teammate Aiden Hutchinson spoke about you yesterday. 249 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 4: Imagine the only contact you're hoping up with them was 250 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 4: a handshake at the end of the game. 251 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 8: That would be nice, that's for sure. But I'm sure 252 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 8: you know, he's a great player, you know, fantastic leader, 253 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 8: and he's gonna have that defense rolling, and you know 254 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 8: we're we're not expecting him, but we're also expecting him 255 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 8: to make some plays because you got to give him 256 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 8: that credit. He is that good. So just being able to, 257 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 8: you know, take advantage of all the little details in 258 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 8: the game plan and make sure we execute, you know, 259 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 8: all the little things, then I'll give us our best shot. 260 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: There's more coming up after a quick break, we'll hear 261 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: from a few of the players, including Justin Jefferson and 262 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: Jonathan Grenard. But first from the field to the roof 263 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: and everywhere in between. Three m The official science partner 264 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota Vikings is here. Visit Vikings dot com 265 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: slash skull Science to learn more. Minnesota needed a go 266 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: to source for everything high school sports. That's why the 267 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: Minnesota Star Tribune created Strib Varsity. Sign up now at 268 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:39,839 Speaker 1: startribune dot com slash strib Varsity. Welcome back to the 269 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: two minute Warning once again. I'm your host, Tatum Everett, 270 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: and Ford Field has turned into one of the more 271 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: hostile environments in the NFL. One way to neutralize the 272 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: noise is to strike early and often to take the 273 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 1: crowd right out of it. One way, let's get Justin 274 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: Jefferson the ball. He's had success against the Lions with 275 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 1: six career performances of more and one hundred yards against 276 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: the kiddies. Justin spoke this week about his mindset heading 277 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: into this divisional battle. 278 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 9: I feel like me and Ko's relationship has been great 279 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 9: with that and especially with how the defense have been covering, 280 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 9: covering me and especially this exact team. So the relationship 281 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 9: and the communication has been, you know, a top tier. 282 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 9: It's just all about just going out there and knowing 283 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 9: that I'm going to get doubled, knowing the plays that 284 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 9: I have, knowing the ross that I have. It's just 285 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,119 Speaker 9: going out there and still winning against that double team. 286 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 8: Speaking of the Lions defense, do you feel like they 287 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 8: look similar to how they have in the past, even 288 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 8: with the coordinator change or different? 289 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 9: A little mixture of both. I know the coordinator very 290 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 9: very well. You know, he played at l SSU with 291 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 9: my brother, so the relationship has always been kind of there, 292 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 9: and you know, we always talked before and after the game, 293 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 9: So it definitely would be great to, you know, see 294 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 9: how he covered me, and especially with the past talks, 295 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 9: how he's been talkedalking about how he's been covering me 296 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 9: throughout the game. So, uh, it's gonna be fun. I 297 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 9: love going against these type of matchups and especially their 298 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 9: division team, So, uh, the juices will be high. You know, 299 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 9: hopefully everybody else feel that juice as well. Uh, and 300 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 9: we're going out there and just play out ball. 301 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 2: Brother. 302 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 3: It will be any advice how to attack, Uh, it's 303 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 3: gonna be physical. Just know that it's gonna be physical. 304 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: You know. They of course they will try to get 305 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: hands on. 306 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 7: Uh. 307 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 3: That's kind of what they've been doing in the past. 308 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 9: Uh, but you know, knowing this person and knowing how 309 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 9: he plays and he has that defensive mindset, I definitely 310 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 9: will be working against the press and the cover two 311 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 9: man and just getting hands on being physical. 312 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 8: They do a lot of the same stuff they used 313 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 8: to do, and so putting their hands on you and 314 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 8: making uh you know, basically daring officials to uh to 315 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 8: make your follower or not. 316 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 3: So how is your approach sort of evolved in terms of. 317 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 7: How you deal with that, you know, knowing that like. 318 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: That's he's a lot of physicality. 319 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 9: But yeah, yeah, I mean I kind of put that 320 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 9: into emphasis this past offseason, just working in the weight room, 321 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,839 Speaker 9: getting stronger and kind of knowing that I'm going to 322 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 9: get those double teams knowing I'm going to get that 323 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 9: cover two man where they try to put hands on 324 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 9: the kind of slow me, uh, slow the route process down. 325 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 9: So just kind of knowing that and working on my releases, 326 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 9: working on just being stronger, stronger throughout the route. But 327 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 9: you know, of course, you know, looking at it and 328 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 9: seeing the past games, they've been penalized, one of the most. 329 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 3: In the league. 330 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 9: So just trying to work on, work on just getting 331 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 9: off the hold. We know it's going to happen, and 332 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 9: it's not really something that we're gonna, you know, complain 333 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 9: about to the refs. It's just all about playing through 334 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 9: the contact and playing strong and physical and of course 335 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 9: making the catch. 336 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: Edge rusher Jonathan Gernard has been a strong presence for 337 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: this Vikings defense all season long. He leads the Vikings 338 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: with thirty pressures in seven games and hopes that continues 339 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: against Lions quarterback Jeered Golf on Sunday. As a key 340 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: part of the Minnesota run defense, Grenard sat down with 341 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: me this week to break down how he self scouted 342 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: during the break and how the Vikings front seven plans 343 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: on stopping the Lions tough running back tandem. Jonathan how 344 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: was the mini buy after the back to back. 345 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think that was like the most needed part 346 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 5: that we kind of didn't look forward to as much. 347 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 5: We knew that we're gonna come off of a short week. 348 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 5: We're coming into a show week on Thursday. But it 349 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 5: was great. I think that to just kind of get 350 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 5: a little small reset. On top of that, actually having 351 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 5: a bye week previously helped us out. 352 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 3: You know, we obviously had a little small injuries. 353 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 5: I had a couple of little small things and things 354 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 5: so that everybody deaf for benefit of for sure. 355 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: When you have that time, how do you personally use 356 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: it to self scout? 357 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, really just to go back through the old film 358 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 5: that you've already put out there, you know, just kind 359 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 5: of ask yourself, Listen, is this the best film I 360 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 5: putting out there? And I putting my best for four 361 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 5: I'm not actually using the techniques that I've worked in 362 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 5: the offseason. So it was a good self reflection. I 363 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 5: think it was really good overall. We know that we 364 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 5: have a lot of things to work on, myself included, 365 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 5: but we also know that there's small things, and I 366 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 5: think the smaller things are turning into big things now 367 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 5: in this game, and I think that's where I just 368 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 5: kind of went back to the table and kind of 369 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 5: asked myself, you know, am I doing those little small 370 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 5: things right? And I think everybody did that, so I 371 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 5: think we should definitely see a positive, you know, result 372 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 5: coming from that. 373 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: For Shure, what is one small thing you learned that 374 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: you want to attack now that you're back in the 375 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: in the regular routine of things. 376 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think ultimately, first things first is we know, 377 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 5: just got to stop the run. I think it's just 378 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 5: getting off blocks more violently, actually putting just that little 379 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 5: bit more effort into trying to get off the back 380 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 5: or making making that play because as we know, a 381 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 5: lot of guys in this league, I mean we're playing 382 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 5: some top back to literally every single week, and they're 383 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 5: not just going to go down on you know, one 384 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 5: guy grabbing them and one guy tackling them. We're just 385 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 5: trying to have that mentality to get everybody there. And 386 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 5: I think that's where we kind of challenge ourselves and 387 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 5: going to challenge ourselves this week is just getting off the 388 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 5: blocks a little bit more violently so that way we 389 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 5: can kind of go make those plays so that we 390 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 5: don't give them the chance to make these spontaneous players. 391 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: You face, it really tough to punch backfield with the 392 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: Lions and Jamior Gibbs, David Montgomery, what is the key 393 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: to slowing that down? 394 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think ultimately just getting eleven hats to the ball. 395 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 5: Don't give him any lanes, because as we know, Jimmie 396 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 5: is one of the if not the fastest back in 397 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 5: the league to make that one cut and kind of 398 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 5: stop and start at time to be able to hit 399 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 5: a gap when he sees it. As we know, Montgomery 400 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 5: has been a back in this league and been in 401 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 5: his vision. Obviously, what Chicago's was that down here, one 402 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 5: cut guy, who's their bruiser. You know, you you really 403 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 5: think that you're going to tackle him or he's down, 404 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 5: and next thing you know, he's breaking two more tackles. 405 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 5: I think he doesn't have as much as the top 406 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 5: end as Jimmier obviously respectfully, but he can still take 407 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 5: it to the distance as well. So having a one 408 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 5: to two punch that can both kind of take it 409 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 5: the distance is something that we basically got to throw 410 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 5: them off by, like I said, just being disruptive and 411 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 5: having lived at so long. 412 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: One of the biggest names covering the NFL is NFL 413 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: Network reporter and Minnesota native Tom Pellisero. Tom the Insider 414 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: has his finger on the pulse of everything happening across 415 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: the league. We brought him in this to give his 416 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 1: thoughts on the biggest talkers going into the Vikings and 417 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: Lions game Sunday. We've got a lot of storylines heading 418 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: into this divisional matchup. Obviously JJ McCarthy returning Saturday or 419 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: Sunday for the game. When he's under center, what do 420 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: you expect to see as he's only making his third 421 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: career NFL start. 422 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 6: Expectations are hard because we just haven't seen JJ McCarthy 423 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 6: play a whole lot of football. In my mind, your 424 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 6: hope if you're the coaching staff, if you're Kevin O'Connell, 425 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 6: is you see him function within the offense that you're 426 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 6: able to play within rhythm, the ball's going where it's 427 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 6: supposed to, the operation in and out of the huddle. 428 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 6: He's missed twenty two out of twenty four games so 429 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 6: far in his career because of injury, and he's missed 430 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 6: a ton of practice reps along the way as well, 431 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 6: and that's a big part of the driving force behind 432 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 6: why they gave him the full six weeks to get 433 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 6: recovered from the high ankle sprain. It wasn't just so 434 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 6: the ankle was healed, it was also have the time 435 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 6: to get him in a groove and really feel like 436 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 6: he's ready to go out there and play. 437 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 3: Well. 438 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 6: What exactly does that translate to? I just got the 439 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 6: bunch of mer gibbs. It's gonna be loud. It's gonna 440 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 6: be wild in Detroit, like it always is every time 441 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 6: in that stadium. They're going to have to be able 442 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 6: to come back at the noise, come back at the 443 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 6: challenges created by the environment here. I'm sure the ko 444 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:16,239 Speaker 6: is gonna have a great plan in terms of just 445 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 6: trying to get him some confidence nearly going some easy 446 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 6: throws and things like that. But everything's easier said than 447 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 6: done when you're playing a division game on the road 448 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 6: in the NFL. 449 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, no doubt. Forefield is one of the load of 450 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: stadiums I know I have ever been to. When you 451 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: think of the offense, it's almost that it's healthy. It's 452 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: it's been this season heading into the game. What improvements 453 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: would you like to see from that? 454 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 6: Well, the first thing, just going back to the Thursday 455 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 6: night of a game heince the Chargers is life is 456 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 6: hard in the NFL, not just when you're playing with 457 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 6: the backup quarterback, but when that backup quarterback is behind 458 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 6: your fourth and fifth offensive tackles, which realistically Christian Daras saw. 459 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 6: He tried to give it a go, but three days 460 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 6: when you're not used to playing the full snaps like 461 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 6: he did against the Eagles, it's hard. And then Brian 462 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 6: O'Neil same thing, quick turnaround isn't able to go. That 463 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 6: creates just all kinds of a domino effect along the 464 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 6: offensive line and it just makes it harder to function 465 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,479 Speaker 6: as a whole. They didn't run the football much more 466 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 6: effectively in that game. That's also a product of some 467 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 6: of the O line issues that they've had here. So 468 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 6: presumably we'll see exactly how this works out. But Christian 469 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 6: Derris I was full in practice, so he should be 470 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 6: out there. You're hoping Brian O'Neil is able to get back. 471 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 6: You know, the last time that JJ McCarthy was playing, 472 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 6: Jordan Adison was still suspended, Aaron Jones got hurt. Jones 473 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,959 Speaker 6: is now back. You'd anticipate that gets ramped up more 474 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 6: than Addison will be out there on the field. So 475 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 6: Ryan Kelly still out. That's a big deal not having 476 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 6: your center, but all those other pieces the way you 477 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 6: envisioned it in the offseason, they'll be there. Now, let's 478 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 6: figure out if this quarterback who just hasn't played a 479 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 6: whole lot, is able to not just hold his own 480 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 6: but also potentially elevate some of those things that the 481 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 6: past couple of weeks just were really really hard for 482 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 6: the Vikings to do. 483 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: In your eyes, how critical is this game for this 484 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: Vikings team? 485 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 6: It's big, you know, try before the trade deadline. One 486 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 6: game shouldn't impact thing, but certainly psychologically, there would be 487 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 6: a big difference between being four and four, two and 488 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 6: zero in the division and being three and five and 489 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 6: knowing we're going to have to go on some kind 490 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 6: of run. We're gonna have to go seven and two, 491 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 6: eight and one the rest of the way to get 492 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 6: into the playoffs. Everyone is important. It's seventeen games, it's 493 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 6: a longer season, you know, than we had ever had 494 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 6: as of a couple of years ago. So there's a 495 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 6: lot of opportunities, but it does put you behind. I mean, 496 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 6: you always say two game win when it's in the division, 497 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 6: especially when it's the team up top. The Vikings right 498 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 6: now are in last place in the division. It's a 499 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 6: really tough division. The Bears have played a lot better. 500 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 6: They had won four in a row prior to last week. 501 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 6: The Packers right now would be the number one seed, 502 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 6: and then you got the Lions, who are right there 503 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 6: on their heels. To beat Detroit in Detroit, I think 504 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 6: would just be a galvanizing type of thing. Again, it 505 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 6: counts the same relative to being a division game, but 506 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 6: it would just feel like a momentous moment. You all 507 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 6: of a sudden have a ton of a ton of momentum, 508 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 6: as opposed to if you slog out of there and 509 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 6: you've lost, or if you lose badly. It's just going 510 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 6: to feel heavier walking back into this building and knowing 511 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 6: kind of the treacherous road. 512 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 3: That you got ahead. 513 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: Sunday's game is a noon kickoff on Fox with the 514 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: A team of Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Tom Rinaldi, and 515 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 1: Aaron Andrews. You could also catch Pa Pete Bursich and 516 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: Mike Mussman right here on Sunday morning with the pregame 517 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: show beating at ten am on kfan, it's the Vikings 518 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: and Lions live from Ford Field. Thanks for listening to 519 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: the two minute warning presented by three AM, the official 520 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: science partners of the Minnesota Vikings. Enjoy the game, and 521 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: we'll see you back here next week.