1
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,800
Speaker 1: The baby bye week is over and Vikings football is

2
00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,160
Speaker 1: back in action. As we welcome you to the nine

3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,560
Speaker 1: and two edition of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. My name

4
00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,400
Speaker 1: is Gay Headerson from the Vikings Entertainment Network and joining

5
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,639
Speaker 1: me tonight to break down this week thirteen Vikings versus

6
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,840
Speaker 1: Jets matchup. It's friend of the show Matthew Kyler from

7
00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:24,920
Speaker 1: The Purple Insider, And I don't know if it's just

8
00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,080
Speaker 1: me finally getting over my food coma from Thanksgiving or

9
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,760
Speaker 1: trying to pitch myself that we're two wins away from

10
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,360
Speaker 1: clinching the NFC North. But I'm ready to see what

11
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,240
Speaker 1: this Minnesota Vikings team is going to do on Sunday

12
00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,720
Speaker 1: against this gang green from New York. Yeah. I know,

13
00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,200
Speaker 1: it's hard not to start thinking about the playoffs already

14
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,000
Speaker 1: because of you know, where this team is at and

15
00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,080
Speaker 1: what's happened with the NFC North that somehow the Vikings

16
00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,920
Speaker 1: put a hex on every team in the NFC North,

17
00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,320
Speaker 1: whether it's the Lions not being able to figure out

18
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,240
Speaker 1: how to manage late games and win them, or Green

19
00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,320
Speaker 1: Bay falling off in a way that Vikings fans not

20
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,680
Speaker 1: seen in a very very long time. I mean even

21
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,720
Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen, when the Packers were not that good,

22
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,680
Speaker 1: it wasn't like this where they just weren't even competing

23
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,039
Speaker 1: with the Vikings for the division. It's kind of kind

24
00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,880
Speaker 1: of wild. But this matchup with the Jets is actually

25
00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,319
Speaker 1: a big one in my mind, not just because of

26
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,320
Speaker 1: seating or where you stand in the playoffs. I mean,

27
00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,880
Speaker 1: their standing is pretty solid, and if they don't win

28
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,560
Speaker 1: this game, it's not the end of the world. But

29
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,560
Speaker 1: at the same time, it's another really good test for

30
00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,080
Speaker 1: how they face off with an elite defense and an

31
00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,000
Speaker 1: offense that actually has some playmakers and a quarterback that

32
00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,120
Speaker 1: has instilled the new confidence into the New York Jets.

33
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,679
Speaker 1: I mean, you're facing a team that feels really, really

34
00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,640
Speaker 1: good about itself after beating the Chicago Bears the way

35
00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,520
Speaker 1: that they did last week. So you know, I think

36
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,320
Speaker 1: that this is another good test. And it also I

37
00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,440
Speaker 1: mean I was very, very impressed by the way that

38
00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,240
Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell adapted on offense to beat the New England

39
00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,040
Speaker 1: Patriots and get that passing game going and really have

40
00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,760
Speaker 1: the passing game drive their success through all quarters. It

41
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,520
Speaker 1: wasn't really like just oh, they showed up in the

42
00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,000
Speaker 1: fourth quarter, or they just had that opening script that

43
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,040
Speaker 1: worked out. It was really a pretty consistent effort all

44
00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,520
Speaker 1: the way through. But can they do that again against

45
00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:16,120
Speaker 1: a terrific defensive line and a phenomenal, phenomenal defensive coach

46
00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,480
Speaker 1: in Robert Sala coming off of that win against Bill

47
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,000
Speaker 1: Belichick's team, Yeah, for sure. This seven and four Jets

48
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,000
Speaker 1: team that comes the US Bank Stadium to face the

49
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,880
Speaker 1: nine and two Vikings kick off at noon Central time

50
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,520
Speaker 1: on CBS. This is going to be an interesting matchup

51
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,760
Speaker 1: because you know, after beating the Patriots last week, you say, okay,

52
00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,760
Speaker 1: well the Patriots beat the Jets twice this year, so

53
00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,360
Speaker 1: this should be an easier win. But you made a

54
00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,359
Speaker 1: good point. This defense, they propose a lot of problems

55
00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,240
Speaker 1: for Kirk Cousins and this Minnesota Vikings offense. To you,

56
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,239
Speaker 1: what are some of those concerns or some of those problems. Yeah,

57
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,720
Speaker 1: I think I mean number one is Quinn Williams in

58
00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:56,840
Speaker 1: the middle of their pass rush. They also have a

59
00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,639
Speaker 1: deep pass rush. It's not just one guy, but where

60
00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,160
Speaker 1: I think we've seen the kryptonite over the years for

61
00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,760
Speaker 1: the Vikings offense. No matter if it was John d Philippo,

62
00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,040
Speaker 1: Gary Kubiak, Kevin Stefanski, Clint Kubiak or Kevin O'Connell calling

63
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,800
Speaker 1: the plays. It's always been interior pressure which has made

64
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,240
Speaker 1: things really difficult for them. And we saw that in

65
00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,200
Speaker 1: Washington a couple of weeks ago, where it was Jonathan

66
00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,840
Speaker 1: Allen and John Payne and those guys were putting pressure

67
00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,239
Speaker 1: on Cousins that he is very, very good when he's

68
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,440
Speaker 1: working in rhythm, but when people get in his face,

69
00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,160
Speaker 1: it's just not easy for him. I mean, he's not

70
00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,880
Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson. He's not gonna I know, he hit eighteen

71
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,360
Speaker 1: miles an hour or whatever running for a touchdown earlier

72
00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,400
Speaker 1: this year. He wears number eight and wears purple too,

73
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,480
Speaker 1: so why not. So yeah, it's close, but you know,

74
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,560
Speaker 1: he's not going to take off and run left or

75
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,240
Speaker 1: right or escape for a twenty yard run or something

76
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,320
Speaker 1: like that. When there's pressure up the middle, it really

77
00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,360
Speaker 1: speeds up his process, and I think that that's caused

78
00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,080
Speaker 1: the Vikings some problems also, when the Vikings can't get

79
00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,600
Speaker 1: a running game going and then they're sort of forced

80
00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,440
Speaker 1: into those situations where you're talking about third and seven,

81
00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,040
Speaker 1: third and eight, third and nine, where the other team

82
00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:07,880
Speaker 1: can really pin its ears back. I mean, it's a

83
00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,240
Speaker 1: lot of fundamental football stuff that comes into these matchups

84
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,480
Speaker 1: in the trenches. I was impressed by the way that

85
00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,880
Speaker 1: O'Connell moved the pocket around and went back to kind

86
00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,599
Speaker 1: of some of the Kevin Stefanski and Gary Kubiak stuff.

87
00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,160
Speaker 1: I mean, there's a reason why Gary had a lot

88
00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,440
Speaker 1: of success throughout the years in the NFL with those

89
00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,840
Speaker 1: play actions and bootlegs. And we also saw CJ. Hamm

90
00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,440
Speaker 1: get a little more work in the backfield last week.

91
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,440
Speaker 1: And when I looked back at the tape, you could

92
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,240
Speaker 1: really see even when CJ. Hamm's in there, when there's

93
00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,680
Speaker 1: motions or play actions, you could see some of the

94
00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,800
Speaker 1: defenders looking a little confused, a little conflicted, and space

95
00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,360
Speaker 1: being created. And plus Cousins on the run and on

96
00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,200
Speaker 1: the move when he's using those play actions and bootlegs,

97
00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,000
Speaker 1: he's just very good like that. He seems very comfortable

98
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,240
Speaker 1: when he's rolling to his right or he's rolling to

99
00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,920
Speaker 1: his left and throwing. And I thought that O'Connell used

100
00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,400
Speaker 1: that brilliantly to create some time to throw for him

101
00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,479
Speaker 1: against New England. And they'll definitely have to do that

102
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,640
Speaker 1: again against the Jets. Those are all really good points

103
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,920
Speaker 1: because that's something that really stood out to me when

104
00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:09,920
Speaker 1: I was watching the game last week. As far as

105
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,440
Speaker 1: the Patriots game versus the Cowboys game, Kirk Cousins was

106
00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,200
Speaker 1: rolling out of the pocket more times than none. Clearly.

107
00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,800
Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell went back to the film after that Dallas

108
00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,279
Speaker 1: Cowboys game and said, Okay, we need to get the

109
00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,960
Speaker 1: ball out of Kirk cousins hands early one and then

110
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,080
Speaker 1: get him out of the pocket to keep the defense

111
00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,280
Speaker 1: guessing for success going forward. Understanding that this is a

112
00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,400
Speaker 1: team that can beat you both by drop back and

113
00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,680
Speaker 1: both by getting outs out of the pocket. How do

114
00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,080
Speaker 1: you define success for this Vikings offense getting the ball

115
00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,640
Speaker 1: out of Kirk cousins hands early or just letting him

116
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,440
Speaker 1: be Kirk. Yeah, I mean I think that it has

117
00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,479
Speaker 1: to be a combination of those things. But I think

118
00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,680
Speaker 1: it's picking the right times to go down the field

119
00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,520
Speaker 1: is really what it means. I mean, because his average

120
00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,679
Speaker 1: depth of target was not that deep against New England.

121
00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,560
Speaker 1: I mean, he did have a lot of short passes

122
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,640
Speaker 1: and short completions, but then at the times where they

123
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,080
Speaker 1: needed it most, he was firing at downfield and finding

124
00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,240
Speaker 1: a way to hit Justin Jefferson. And you have to

125
00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,640
Speaker 1: be patient with that because you know that the Jets

126
00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,680
Speaker 1: are going to try to get Sauce Gardner on him.

127
00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,680
Speaker 1: You also know that their other cornerback, DJ Reid is

128
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,800
Speaker 1: very good, so there might have to be patients on

129
00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,080
Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins point. I mean, it might have to be

130
00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,839
Speaker 1: check downs or throws the Dalvin Cook. You know who

131
00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,920
Speaker 1: I think is really big in this formula is TJ Hockinson.

132
00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,360
Speaker 1: That he kind of changes the game when it comes

133
00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,479
Speaker 1: to this Vikings offense. Because you can get seven to

134
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,160
Speaker 1: ten yard completions to TJ Hockinson over and over and

135
00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,960
Speaker 1: then look for those deep shots to Justin Jefferson. It

136
00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,960
Speaker 1: gives the opposing defense another guy to think about. And

137
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,600
Speaker 1: I think it's I think it's hard for opposing defenses.

138
00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,000
Speaker 1: And we know that Cousins can complete eighty percent of

139
00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,120
Speaker 1: his passes through a game. When the opposing quarterback is

140
00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,479
Speaker 1: just throwing completion after completion after completion, I mean, I

141
00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,800
Speaker 1: think it gets frustrating. And the defensive lineman are pinning

142
00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,920
Speaker 1: their ears back and they're coming after the quarterback, but

143
00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,840
Speaker 1: the balls out in two seconds and then all of

144
00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,080
Speaker 1: a sudden, after you've worn down over a game with

145
00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,920
Speaker 1: running the ball and those quick passes, then you hit

146
00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,400
Speaker 1: that deep shot to Justin Jefferson where you actually do

147
00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,880
Speaker 1: get time or Adam Thalan as we saw in the

148
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,800
Speaker 1: end zone on those deep prossers. I think that's important.

149
00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,560
Speaker 1: I don't think that at any point this year we've

150
00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,160
Speaker 1: really seen a fully complete offensive performance. We're still kind

151
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,160
Speaker 1: of waiting on that. But you always see, you always

152
00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,320
Speaker 1: see like the hints of it. You see what Hawkinson brings,

153
00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,880
Speaker 1: you see what Jefferson brings. But Osborne hasn't been that involved.

154
00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,440
Speaker 1: Cook hasn't been that involved in the passing game. Like,

155
00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,440
Speaker 1: there's still meat on the bone for this offense to

156
00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,680
Speaker 1: even improve as we go down the stretch. And what

157
00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,120
Speaker 1: better opponent to face than one of the best defenses

158
00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,880
Speaker 1: in the NFL to try to keep that momentum going

159
00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,720
Speaker 1: from New England. Yeah. Absolutely, that's a really good point.

160
00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,120
Speaker 1: You just hit on the fact that we're still winning

161
00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,320
Speaker 1: these games. However, we're winning them and things have not

162
00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,200
Speaker 1: clipped on all cylinders on the offense, defense or special

163
00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,160
Speaker 1: team side of the ball. I think that is encouraging.

164
00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,120
Speaker 1: At the same time. It can make you scratch your

165
00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,920
Speaker 1: head a little bit because you know the defensive side

166
00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:03,520
Speaker 1: of the ball, we're living off as sacks and turnovers,

167
00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,360
Speaker 1: and I mean we're in the top fifteen in both

168
00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,280
Speaker 1: of those categories. And then on the offenses side of

169
00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,920
Speaker 1: the ball, you see flashes here, you see flashes there.

170
00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,600
Speaker 1: And Dalvin cook ye had two yards per carrey against

171
00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,239
Speaker 1: the New England Patriots last week, and I think all

172
00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,200
Speaker 1: of those yards were felt. I think the New England

173
00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,520
Speaker 1: Patriots felt every single forty two of those yards because

174
00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,040
Speaker 1: they were hard herd fault. They kept the defense honest,

175
00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,960
Speaker 1: and you had to respect the run game because like

176
00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,080
Speaker 1: that Dolphins game, we're like the Buffalo Bill's game. Dalvincom

177
00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,120
Speaker 1: can bust you for a long run. But TJ. Hockinson

178
00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,040
Speaker 1: twenty six catches almost two hundred yards. I got his

179
00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,840
Speaker 1: first touchdown this past Thursday against the New England Patriots.

180
00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,920
Speaker 1: Is he on par as far as expectations for you

181
00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,000
Speaker 1: or has he exceeded them in his first four games

182
00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,120
Speaker 1: as a Minnesota Viking. Yeah, I mean I think that

183
00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,640
Speaker 1: he probably has been. I mean I had high expectations

184
00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,840
Speaker 1: for the move, so I would say on par with them.

185
00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,280
Speaker 1: That I thought there was a possibility he would become

186
00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,480
Speaker 1: one of Kirk Cousins, if not Kirk cousins favorite target.

187
00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,680
Speaker 1: Of course, it's gonna be Jefferson number one, but next

188
00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,320
Speaker 1: to Jefferson his favorite target. And I think that's what

189
00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:10,000
Speaker 1: we've seen play out. His adaptation into the offense after

190
00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,839
Speaker 1: not playing for this football team and then showing up

191
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,199
Speaker 1: and playing sixty plays against Washington. Now, that really did

192
00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,120
Speaker 1: surprise me because I thought this is gonna be hard

193
00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,280
Speaker 1: for such a challenging position. I mean, I think there's

194
00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,200
Speaker 1: a case to be made that it's one of the

195
00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,480
Speaker 1: most complex positions in the sport because you have to

196
00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,880
Speaker 1: play as an offensive lineman half the time and then

197
00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,360
Speaker 1: as a receiver half the time, and you know, there's

198
00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,120
Speaker 1: just a lot of different levels to that. You have

199
00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,160
Speaker 1: to do a lot of reads with linebackers, with defensive

200
00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,320
Speaker 1: backs and TJ. Hockinson. I mean, I think we really

201
00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,160
Speaker 1: see his intelligence there in the way that he's been

202
00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,000
Speaker 1: able to adapt himself to this offense. But also you know,

203
00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,640
Speaker 1: he's got good speed, he's good with the football in

204
00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,600
Speaker 1: his hands. I mean, he's a guy that can be

205
00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,559
Speaker 1: a security blanket, but he can also go downfield a little,

206
00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,920
Speaker 1: and we saw it a couple of times in Washington

207
00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,640
Speaker 1: where it was third down in something, third and seven,

208
00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,520
Speaker 1: third and eight, and there's j Hawkinson coming through that

209
00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,640
Speaker 1: if all the attention is going to go on to

210
00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,959
Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson Hockinson is there. I think that really from

211
00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,160
Speaker 1: day one when they made that move, you sort of

212
00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,960
Speaker 1: envisioned a world where he became a huge weapon for

213
00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,160
Speaker 1: this team and sort of made them a more complete

214
00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,560
Speaker 1: passing game. And it's been that really in spade since

215
00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,880
Speaker 1: he got here. And I mean, I think that when

216
00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,000
Speaker 1: they made that move, it was kind of you know,

217
00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,240
Speaker 1: there's maybe a debate of is it pushing the chips

218
00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,240
Speaker 1: into the middle of the table, is it going full

219
00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,839
Speaker 1: rams or whatever. Like, I don't know if it's quite that.

220
00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:31,199
Speaker 1: It's not like they gave up three firsts for him,

221
00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:32,880
Speaker 1: but it was a move to kind of make a

222
00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,760
Speaker 1: bet on themselves and where they stand. And that bet

223
00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,000
Speaker 1: so far has paid off, and you could see it

224
00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,160
Speaker 1: continuing to pay dividends as he becomes even more comfortable

225
00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,319
Speaker 1: with the offense. Yeah, he's getting very comfortable, and I'm

226
00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,480
Speaker 1: getting very comfortable talking to you right now on the

227
00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,679
Speaker 1: Vikings Radio Network. But we got to go to break,

228
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,080
Speaker 1: and when we get back from the break, I want

229
00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,760
Speaker 1: to pose a question regarding this Vikings defense and how

230
00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,920
Speaker 1: they can start to see some progress going forward. So

231
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,600
Speaker 1: Vikings fans don't turn the down with you. Right back

232
00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,720
Speaker 1: with the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by Pepsi. Hey, Vikings fans,

233
00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,440
Speaker 1: right now you can pick up a commemorative Vikings Cup

234
00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,320
Speaker 1: at us Bank Stadium. Fill it with a nice coote Pepsi,

235
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:18,920
Speaker 1: and you'll be ready for football watching. Spalan Montage is

236
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,520
Speaker 1: the Twin Cities premier salon and spa destination and proud

237
00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,600
Speaker 1: official hair sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders. With three

238
00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:31,000
Speaker 1: convenient locations any Dinah Woodberry and Chanhassan. There's a Spalon

239
00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,320
Speaker 1: close to you. Visit online at Salon dot com. Welcome

240
00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,319
Speaker 1: back to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by Pepsi. My

241
00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,000
Speaker 1: name is Gabe Henderson. We got Matthew Koller from The

242
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,280
Speaker 1: Purple Insider joining me today. Eric Davison from the Vikings

243
00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,720
Speaker 1: Entertainment Network, producer on the Ones and twos, and Matthew.

244
00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,840
Speaker 1: We talked about the offense at the first portion of

245
00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,120
Speaker 1: this show and move it to the defensive side of

246
00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,680
Speaker 1: the ball. I think facing Mike White, who you know

247
00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,120
Speaker 1: is going to get much deserve national attention just based

248
00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,319
Speaker 1: off of his performance last week three hundred and fifteen yards,

249
00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,960
Speaker 1: three touchdowns. I believe this past Thursday's game against the

250
00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,720
Speaker 1: New England Patriots prepared us for Mike White. And I'm

251
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,800
Speaker 1: saying that because Bill Belichick's offense it's all nicol and diamond.

252
00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,640
Speaker 1: You down the field five yards here, ten yards here,

253
00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,040
Speaker 1: and I do feel like we prepared for that from

254
00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:26,120
Speaker 1: the defensive perspective. And that's why, in my opinion, that

255
00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,400
Speaker 1: Mac Jones was able to take some deep shops down

256
00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,080
Speaker 1: the field. It was like, oh, the middle of the

257
00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,360
Speaker 1: field is wide open because they're preparing for me to

258
00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,920
Speaker 1: just to throw a slant route here. When you fast

259
00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,040
Speaker 1: forward to Mike White in this New York Jets offense

260
00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,760
Speaker 1: and how he succeeds, they do similar things. He doesn't

261
00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,400
Speaker 1: make too many bad decisions, he throws the ball, he

262
00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,080
Speaker 1: gets it out quick, it's all timing, all rhythm. But

263
00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,959
Speaker 1: I think this Vikings defense is prepared for both because

264
00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,560
Speaker 1: they've been beat both ways. How do you feel like

265
00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,680
Speaker 1: they can prepare for Mike White on Sunday, who is

266
00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:56,559
Speaker 1: looking to go three and O it's a starting quarterback

267
00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,560
Speaker 1: in the NFL. Yeah, I think that it's really all

268
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,920
Speaker 1: about pressure with Mike White, because last week he was

269
00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:06,200
Speaker 1: only under pressure according to PF three dropbacks out of thirty,

270
00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,080
Speaker 1: which I don't know if I've ever seen a rate

271
00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,120
Speaker 1: that low. But that's the Chicago Bears defense right now

272
00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,160
Speaker 1: after they got rid of their best pass rusher and

273
00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,880
Speaker 1: top linebacker. I mean, they can't get after the quarterback

274
00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,840
Speaker 1: at all. They don't have Zadarius Smith, they don't have

275
00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,360
Speaker 1: Daniel Hunter. But you know, a really big factor here

276
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,440
Speaker 1: too is the return of Dalvin Tomlinson, or the very

277
00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:28,679
Speaker 1: likely return of Dalvin Tomlinson, because he's actually been one

278
00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,360
Speaker 1: of the better pass rushing defensive tackles in the league,

279
00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,800
Speaker 1: which I didn't think I would be saying this year,

280
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,600
Speaker 1: but for whatever reason, he's been a great fit. Also,

281
00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,360
Speaker 1: you know, players like him with high intelligence they improve

282
00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,920
Speaker 1: over a career, and it seems like that's the biggest

283
00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,120
Speaker 1: area where he's improved. And another PF staff for you.

284
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,040
Speaker 1: I mean, he's been in the top ten in terms

285
00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,560
Speaker 1: of pass rush win rate this year, which again I

286
00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,400
Speaker 1: mean that's where like Quinnon Williams and you know, guys

287
00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,600
Speaker 1: like Aaron Donald live not usually Dalvin Tomlinson, but he's

288
00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,000
Speaker 1: been that good and not having him I think, especially

289
00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,199
Speaker 1: last week with Macs, they rarely pressured mac Jones. If

290
00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,800
Speaker 1: you could slow down Zadarius and Denial even a little bit,

291
00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,320
Speaker 1: that kind of eliminates the pass rush if you don't

292
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,480
Speaker 1: have one other guy pushing the pocket and getting in

293
00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,000
Speaker 1: the face of the quarterback and Mike White. The other

294
00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,320
Speaker 1: thing they're gonna have to look for is just the

295
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,240
Speaker 1: play action game that I mean that is a it's

296
00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,040
Speaker 1: a Lafleur type of staple. It's a going all the

297
00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,320
Speaker 1: way back to Kubiak the Shanahan like. They want to

298
00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,360
Speaker 1: do a lot of that stuff and try to make

299
00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,160
Speaker 1: it as easy as possible. And I think that's why

300
00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,880
Speaker 1: they were frustrated with Zach Wilson, is that if you

301
00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,600
Speaker 1: just execute the things that are drawn out for you

302
00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:34,680
Speaker 1: a lot of times you can have success. And I

303
00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,920
Speaker 1: think where the Vikings have to be concerned and maybe

304
00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,480
Speaker 1: this will help. If a Kayle Bevans is good to

305
00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,200
Speaker 1: go on Sunday, which it looks like he is, but

306
00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,720
Speaker 1: they have playmakers I mean, they have receivers that they

307
00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,160
Speaker 1: drafted high, and Garrett Wilson has shown some star potential.

308
00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,760
Speaker 1: Elijah Moore all of a sudden came to life after

309
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,800
Speaker 1: being a guy that was rarely getting targeted earlier this year.

310
00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,560
Speaker 1: And you know, I think that Mike White, what he

311
00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,240
Speaker 1: could do is get the ball out and get the

312
00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,560
Speaker 1: ball into the hands of some of their playmakers. So

313
00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,920
Speaker 1: the Vikings do have to be concerned about Mike White,

314
00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,040
Speaker 1: even though, like maybe you know, it's not exactly the

315
00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,880
Speaker 1: same circumstances as he had with a preseason level defense

316
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,600
Speaker 1: going against Chicago last week, so it's going to be

317
00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,560
Speaker 1: more difficult for him. But I think it comes down

318
00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,440
Speaker 1: to when you don't have the biggest arm or the

319
00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,920
Speaker 1: most athletic quarterback and it's just a guy who's trying

320
00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,760
Speaker 1: to execute it, how can you disrupt that. We know

321
00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,200
Speaker 1: that Ed Donna Tell's defense isn't going to give a

322
00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,440
Speaker 1: whole lot of confusing looks and send a ton of

323
00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,080
Speaker 1: blitzer or anything like that, So it really comes down

324
00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,200
Speaker 1: to can that front four rush him? And then, similar

325
00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,600
Speaker 1: to the Vikings, can you stop the run game? And

326
00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,760
Speaker 1: that's where the Vikings defense I think has really even

327
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,720
Speaker 1: though they've given up a lot of yards through the air,

328
00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,160
Speaker 1: they've really shined except for the Dallas game. Is being

329
00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,520
Speaker 1: able to shut down the run games. So you're having

330
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,920
Speaker 1: to pass out of those third and long situations all

331
00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,560
Speaker 1: the time. I don't think you really trust Mike White

332
00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,400
Speaker 1: to be able to do that. Yeah, we're talking to

333
00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,040
Speaker 1: Matthew Kyler from The Purple Insider here on the Vikings

334
00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,920
Speaker 1: Radio network. This is the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. My name's

335
00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,640
Speaker 1: Gabe Henderson and Kyler. There is going to be a

336
00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,280
Speaker 1: ton of coverage for a Sunday's game. If there was

337
00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,280
Speaker 1: one stat that stands out to you that could be

338
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,760
Speaker 1: the determining factor for Sunday's game at US Pink Stadium

339
00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,840
Speaker 1: at noon, what would that stat be for you? And why? Yeah,

340
00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,480
Speaker 1: I think that it's and I'm going to try to

341
00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:20,800
Speaker 1: quote this off the top of my head, but I

342
00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,160
Speaker 1: think that they're number two in the league in quarterback

343
00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,560
Speaker 1: knockdowns and number one was Dallas. So that's the thing

344
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,840
Speaker 1: that you really have to worry about, is this violent

345
00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,080
Speaker 1: defensive line. And I think that they can carry on

346
00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,000
Speaker 1: their defense throughout the playoffs. And if you remember, I mean,

347
00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,680
Speaker 1: I know it's a different coaching staff, but Robert Sala

348
00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,080
Speaker 1: twenty nineteen versus the Vikings offense, I mean, they just

349
00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:45,280
Speaker 1: had absolutely nothing in San Francisco on offense in that game.

350
00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,240
Speaker 1: And I'm sure that Kirk Cousins and a lot of

351
00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,480
Speaker 1: the other players that are on this team now Adam

352
00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,520
Speaker 1: feeling that we're there, Dalvin Cook probably remember that that

353
00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,640
Speaker 1: Robert Sala is one of the elite defensive minds in

354
00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,880
Speaker 1: the world. And I think that you know that can

355
00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,400
Speaker 1: that can guide that team to the playoffs. And I

356
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,760
Speaker 1: think that it's hard to see them making a super

357
00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,400
Speaker 1: Bowl with Mike White. It's not impossible. Rex Grossman did

358
00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,639
Speaker 1: it once. It can be done. I watched Nick Foles

359
00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,399
Speaker 1: win an NFC championship in Philadelphia. Can be done. But

360
00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,720
Speaker 1: would you want to face them like in the first

361
00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,080
Speaker 1: round after they've beaten Buffalo, they've beaten New England, Like

362
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,120
Speaker 1: they could be a little bit of a scary team,

363
00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,560
Speaker 1: especially if their offense is actually better with Mike White.

364
00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,879
Speaker 1: I think I'm still just a little bit skeptical whether

365
00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,560
Speaker 1: the Mike White experiment can go week after week after week,

366
00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,800
Speaker 1: usually with journeyman and backup quarterbacks. It's kind of the

367
00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,439
Speaker 1: up and down if you will. So, you know, but

368
00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,640
Speaker 1: I have a lot of respect for this Jets team.

369
00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,399
Speaker 1: I mean, for years they've been grinding away, drafting high

370
00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,400
Speaker 1: trying to put together this team, and Salah has kind

371
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,359
Speaker 1: of built this team, especially with Sauce Gardner and Quinny Williams.

372
00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,880
Speaker 1: He's kind of built this team in his vision as

373
00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,560
Speaker 1: this defensive monster. So I think it will be a

374
00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:58,560
Speaker 1: really great test for the Vikings and I wouldn't be

375
00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,320
Speaker 1: surprised if kind of a renewed energy by Benching Zach

376
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,320
Speaker 1: Wilson that they are a dangerous team that nobody really

377
00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,480
Speaker 1: wants to go against. Yeah, that's a really good point.

378
00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,159
Speaker 1: That's one thing I respect about this Jets team is

379
00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,800
Speaker 1: that the fact that they did it through the draft. Like, yeah,

380
00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,840
Speaker 1: they signed some key free agents, you I mean Tyler Conklin,

381
00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,639
Speaker 1: former Vikings tight end that you bring in CJ. Zoma,

382
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,040
Speaker 1: but they're O line. They did it through the draft.

383
00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,119
Speaker 1: Their receivers, their dbs, they did that through the draft.

384
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,040
Speaker 1: So the fact that they have you know, found a

385
00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,720
Speaker 1: method for success, I think that that should definitely you know,

386
00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,160
Speaker 1: keep this Vikings team or on their toes because at

387
00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,080
Speaker 1: this point in the year, and Eric Hendricks said it

388
00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,639
Speaker 1: earlier this week, the Vikings were going to get everyone's

389
00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,600
Speaker 1: best game of the year. Now, like the Vikings are

390
00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,919
Speaker 1: the team that everyone is hunting, So the Vikings have

391
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,920
Speaker 1: to change their mindset to that and understand that, Okay, yeah,

392
00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,760
Speaker 1: this is a really good team coming in, but they

393
00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,119
Speaker 1: want to put on their best performance on Sunday. And

394
00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,119
Speaker 1: I think that's something that you know, for me, that

395
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,639
Speaker 1: we need to continue to watch, is are these players

396
00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,359
Speaker 1: going to team to get up for these games and

397
00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,800
Speaker 1: not look at it as all right, well, we gotta

398
00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,320
Speaker 1: show up and we gotta play hard versus no, they're

399
00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,679
Speaker 1: coming to kick us in our mouth. For you, have

400
00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,119
Speaker 1: you seen a mindset shift in the locker room for

401
00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:12,919
Speaker 1: these Vikings team. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if

402
00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,959
Speaker 1: it's a shift exactly, but every week is sort of

403
00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,200
Speaker 1: building on we believe in ourselves a little bit more.

404
00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,560
Speaker 1: And even the Dallas game, it was hugely beneficial for

405
00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,520
Speaker 1: them to come out and win four days later, and

406
00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,520
Speaker 1: they can just look at that Dallas game as a

407
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,919
Speaker 1: typical blip along the way that just happens to almost

408
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,720
Speaker 1: every team. Usually forty to three does not happen against

409
00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,800
Speaker 1: every team, but those things do happen. I mean, the

410
00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,200
Speaker 1: Los Angeles Rams, they had a pretty bad loss against

411
00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,440
Speaker 1: the Tennessee I think against San Francisco last year along

412
00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,040
Speaker 1: the way, like every team that's a winner usually has

413
00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,320
Speaker 1: that bad loss, and it had some concerning things about it.

414
00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,280
Speaker 1: But to kind of wash that away almost instantly, it

415
00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,040
Speaker 1: just galvanizes this locker room further. And I think really

416
00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,920
Speaker 1: from day one with Kevin O'Connell, he came in and

417
00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,840
Speaker 1: he wanted this group to believe in itself. And as

418
00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,320
Speaker 1: has gone along and they've won and it's worked, I

419
00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,399
Speaker 1: think you've seen it. But I am really interested that.

420
00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,320
Speaker 1: You know, Okay, so the playoffs are a virtual lock,

421
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,480
Speaker 1: But what do you look like as you're going into

422
00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,840
Speaker 1: the playoffs? And that has to do with health, It

423
00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,840
Speaker 1: has to do with has your offense truly found its

424
00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,359
Speaker 1: identity where it's it's been kind of a roller coaster

425
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,600
Speaker 1: of opening scripts and fourth quarter comebacks and then in

426
00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,679
Speaker 1: between we're kind of going, are you guys okay? But

427
00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,160
Speaker 1: you know, in the same thing with the defense, where

428
00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,880
Speaker 1: it's like, okay, fourth quarter sacks and interceptions, as you mentioned,

429
00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,320
Speaker 1: they're among the best in the league. Get those, but

430
00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,959
Speaker 1: when you give up three hundred and eighty yards passing

431
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,480
Speaker 1: to mac Jones, we do raise an eyebrow. And I

432
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,960
Speaker 1: saw that, you know, like NFL Live was talking about

433
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,000
Speaker 1: that the other day, and you absolutely wonder, Okay, are

434
00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,720
Speaker 1: you going to be able to do that in the playoffs?

435
00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,439
Speaker 1: So how are you playing down the stretch? Are you

436
00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,720
Speaker 1: coming together? Are the schemes fitting? That matters a lot.

437
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,800
Speaker 1: And then of course they're playing for the number one seed,

438
00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,000
Speaker 1: so I think that there's a ton of motivation to

439
00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,240
Speaker 1: play for that one seed. Who doesn't want to sit

440
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,040
Speaker 1: at home and watch everybody else play for an entire

441
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,920
Speaker 1: round and get that automatic wins. So I think there

442
00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,280
Speaker 1: are a lot of things to find out down the stretch.

443
00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,800
Speaker 1: It's just different for us, right, I mean, since you

444
00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,880
Speaker 1: arrived in Minnesota, it's been in the hunt graphic. Now

445
00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,679
Speaker 1: you're at the top of that graphic. You don't have

446
00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,200
Speaker 1: to worry about it. I don't know how to feel

447
00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,920
Speaker 1: about it. I've been covering NFL teams for the past

448
00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:21,840
Speaker 1: five years and this is the first time I have

449
00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,240
Speaker 1: ever worked with the playoff team, so this is all

450
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,960
Speaker 1: new to me. And I think my last question is

451
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,199
Speaker 1: going to end on that notice. I talked to Nate

452
00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,040
Speaker 1: Brolson earlier this week the interviews on Vikings dot com,

453
00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,080
Speaker 1: and I'm a big lion King fan, and I quoted

454
00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,240
Speaker 1: a Lion King quote from UFAs and he said, you

455
00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,440
Speaker 1: believe in yourself, and there will come a day when

456
00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,520
Speaker 1: others will have no choice but to believe with you.

457
00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,440
Speaker 1: This Minnesota Vikings team believes in themselves. Why should people

458
00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,200
Speaker 1: start believing in them I think that Vikings fans after

459
00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,359
Speaker 1: that game on Thanksgiving are probably buying in now that

460
00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,280
Speaker 1: you know by the numbers. There's a lot of reasons

461
00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,840
Speaker 1: to ask questions. But I would look at it for

462
00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,359
Speaker 1: Vikings fans is ride the wave because you usually for

463
00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,120
Speaker 1: most franchises, you get one or two shots a decade

464
00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,600
Speaker 1: where you have a season where everything comes together the

465
00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:14,200
Speaker 1: way that this has. So embrace it. Embrace it, Vikings fans,

466
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,840
Speaker 1: and brace yourselves for another big one on Sunday, because

467
00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,520
Speaker 1: the seventy four New York Jets are coming to US

468
00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,080
Speaker 1: Bank Stadium trying to continue their win streak while the

469
00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,399
Speaker 1: Vikings are trying to start a new one. So for

470
00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:28,560
Speaker 1: Matthew Kyler from The Purple Insider, producer Eric Davidson. My

471
00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,880
Speaker 1: name is Gabe Henderson. Thank you all for tuning into

472
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,879
Speaker 1: another edition of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by PEPSI.

473
00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:36,680
Speaker 1: Talk to you all next week.