1 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,159 Speaker 1: Hey, what's going on? Welcome to State Farm Stadium for 2 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: the final Minnesota Vikings game of the twenty twenty four 3 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: season it ends in twenty twenty five and a playoff 4 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: loss to the La Rams. It was a wild card 5 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: Monday from Glendale, Arizona. First to the a topic, the 6 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: game was in Arizona because of the sad fires that 7 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: are taking place in southern California. So therefore the Arizona Cardinals, 8 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: along with the employees here at State Farm Stadium, on 9 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: very short notice, they handled a lot of difficult tasks, 10 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: including a lot of fine tuning of things because they're 11 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: team's out of the playoffs, the Arizona Cardinals, but they 12 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,119 Speaker 1: welcomed the Minnesota Vikings in the La Rams here in gracious. 13 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: Second to non fashion, very very impressed with how they 14 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: handled things. 15 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, you have to be. I mean, you talk about 16 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: a team that has every excuse to be distracted. You know, 17 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: their families are all affected, where they practice has been affected, 18 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 2: and for them to come out and really you look 19 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: at the beginning of the game, because that's where a 20 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: lot of that shows up. If it's if you're going 21 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: to be distracted, I mean, they were up and down 22 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 2: the field early on us and had ten points on 23 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: the board before we knew what could happen. And really 24 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: they're the only ones that stopped themselves on that second 25 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,919 Speaker 2: drive with the with the personal fall in their center, 26 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: and you know, it took a little bit for the 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: defense to wake up. I think they did respond. We 28 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: were very very close to a fumble recovery for a 29 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: touchdown major moment, right, So they had they had some 30 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: fighting them defensively. It's just offensively, it's what two weeks 31 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: in a row now that we put up nine points 32 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: and you know, you're just not You're not gonna win 33 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: a lot of football games, especially playoff football when you 34 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: can't be efficient on offense. It's everything that we saw 35 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: out of this offense going in and it's like it's 36 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: just evaporated after the Green Bay game. Now, what exactly happened, 37 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: how it happened, you know, we we shall see. But 38 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: when you're getting sacked, you know, fifty six seven, fifty 39 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: eight times. 40 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: A year, nine times. 41 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was sacked six or seven against Detroit, So 42 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 2: that's sixteen in the last two weeks. Z. Yeah, that's 43 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: a problem, right, And so what is that problem? Well, 44 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: they got to rip this thing apart and figure exactly 45 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: what's going on, because just think about. 46 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: What you just said, how strange means that. I mean, 47 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: it's a fourteen and four team and you're saying they 48 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: have to rip it apart. And I'm not going to 49 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: argue with you, not all of it, but bastlets of it. 50 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: Right, well, at least rip it apart and figure out 51 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: what exactly happened toward the end of the season. Why 52 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: could we now protect the quarterback? Was he not moving 53 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: around in the pocket the way he should? Were we 54 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 2: just being out physical at the line of scrimmage? 55 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: Right? 56 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 2: I mean early on it didn't look like they were 57 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: running a long line games. They were just trying to 58 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: collapse the pocket on Donald to make them uncomfortable. So 59 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 2: it's there's so many things that you have to look at, 60 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: and you you're right, Paul, you get to a wild 61 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: card type game, you should have a thing here or 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 2: there to say, hey, we're this close. We just need 63 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: a little bit here, a little bit there, and now 64 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: we gotta sweat. You know, we're gonna sweat the offseason 65 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: to see if Brian Flores sticks around, if he gets 66 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: his opportunity to be a head coach point because defensively, 67 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: I think we're a defensive tackle away from being even better. 68 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: And then offensively, yeah, there there are a lot of questions, uh, 69 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: you know, with the offensive line and the development of 70 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: those guys and to see what we're gonna do going forward. 71 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: Well, Sam Donald actually was sacked only two times against 72 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: the Lions, but I see what you're saying here. You know, 73 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: Sam Donald was sacked nine times a career worse going 74 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: back to twenty eighteen or twenty nineteen, his second year 75 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: in the league with the New York Jets, he got 76 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: sacked eight times by the Jacksonville Jaguars, nine against the 77 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: La Rams. And we can go back more than a month, ma'n. 78 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: He was sacked twice by the Lions, once by the 79 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: Packers the previous the game before that, three then two. 80 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: So we're looking at eight sacks over the last four games, 81 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: six in the first half tonight by the Rams alone, 82 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: and a nine in the game. So that's a major talker, 83 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: no doubt about it. But you know what, before we 84 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: pivot to Kevin O'Connell. By the way, Paul Allen with 85 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: Pete Bursige on the Vikings postgame report. Good evening, good morning, 86 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: good afternoon, whenever you listen to this at Vikings dot com. 87 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: The Los Angeles Rams absolutely can get to the Super Bowl. 88 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a quarterback who has won a 89 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. They have so much youthful, vigor and talent. Defensively, 90 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: Ice running back Puka Naku is a high end receiver. 91 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: They got tight end Tyler Higbee back. They love him. 92 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: He's a super Bowl winning tight end. Their offensive lines 93 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: pretty solid, and their head coach has already been to 94 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: two Super Bowls in one to one. So we did 95 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: run into a buzz saw this evening the Rams at 96 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: ten and seven. Man, they're the into this game. They're 97 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: a very good team. 98 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, they are a very good football team. I think 99 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: the only weakness that they have maybe depth at the 100 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: interior defensive line. Yeah, you know, and outside of that, 101 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, I don't know how much I 102 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 2: mean a Keller Witherspoon came out, so they'll be I'm 103 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: sure a big question mark heading into their next playoff 104 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: game out in the East coast of Philadelphia. So yeah, 105 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: but yeah, I mean the way Stafford is playing right now, 106 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: he's he's on his game. He's not misfiring much. It's 107 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: going to be on the Philadelphia front to be able 108 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: to provide pressure without having to blitz and get it 109 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: to him, you know, get it on him quickly and 110 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: then tackling. I mean that was a little bit frustrating. 111 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: Early on in the game. We knew that they're going 112 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 2: to want to get the ball in a hand to 113 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: pookin the kua, right, you know, get some things in 114 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: the outside and and I don't you know, we didn't 115 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: we didn't you know, make a statement, so to speak. 116 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 2: And and you know, stop these seven eight nine yards 117 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 2: you know, yards after contact if you will. But again, 118 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: it's so hard to point a finger at the defense, 119 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: you know, after a game like this where it's it's 120 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 2: it's really the offense. I mean, they didn't provide much 121 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: breathing room for the defense. They you know, they put 122 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: us behind the eight ball and then the turnover for 123 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: a touchdown. I mean, that's that's a killer in most 124 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 2: in most games. And it was the second time they 125 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: blitzed the corner. So ku kudos to them because they 126 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: I don't think they had shown that for at least 127 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: the last six or seven weeks. Wow, So you know, 128 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: it's one of those things. They called it once and 129 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 2: got a sack, called it twice and got a sack, 130 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: force fumble and a touchdown. I mean, yeah, it was 131 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 2: a night of first. 132 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: I mean the first playoff game relocated since nineteen thirty six. 133 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: Kello Witherspoon, an eight and eight year corner from Colorado. 134 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: He was the one who blitzed Darnald that led to 135 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: the Jared Verse scoop and score. Rookie from Florida State, 136 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: by the way, is the bomb. It was the first 137 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: touchdown of his career all Witherspoon. Not only had they 138 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: not shown that for you say, like the last whatever 139 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: amount of weeks. Yeah, this was his ninety sixth game. 140 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: He had zero sacks in his career, and he got 141 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: his first tonight. So it was a night of first 142 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: and it was the first playoff start for Sam Darnold. 143 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: There's so much to unpack. We don't have time on 144 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: the Vikings postgame report. Listen to the Flagship f N 145 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: one hundred point three kfa N. There will be a 146 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: lot of unpacking beginning Tuesday and all throughout the week 147 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: because the Vikings have a lot of free agents. They 148 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: have JJ McCarthy on the mend and so on. But 149 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: in closing here before we hear from Kevin O'Connell, it's 150 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: accurate and very interesting the way you put that last 151 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: statement about you know, tough to figure out despite mistackles, 152 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: you know what to think of the d in certain situations. 153 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: They played their tails off for a long time in 154 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: that Lions game and then they just got tired. And 155 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: then you know, they ran into a bit of a 156 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: buzz saw tonight, but really didn't do that poorly. But 157 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: and this is a team that has an identity of offense. 158 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: They went twenty one consecutive possessions without a touchdown. Cam 159 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: Akers caught a touchdown end of the third quarter against 160 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: Green Bay and that was the Vikings last touchdown drive 161 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: until TJ. Hawkinson caught a touchdown in the second half tonight. 162 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: And here you got Sam Darnold, who has the most 163 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: completions of any quarterback in the NFL of twenty five 164 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: yards or more. You have Jefferson with ten touchdowns, Addison 165 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: with a combined ten touchdowns. You put Jalen Naylor on six. 166 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: I mean, how crazy is that? 167 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 3: Yeah? 168 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: It is, And that's again, that's what you're talking about 169 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: having to dissect this thing and take it apart and 170 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 2: realize what are defenses doing and what and or what 171 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: didn't we do right to you know, to continue that 172 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: and that's that's the ebb and flow. That's the season. 173 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: That's what this is all about. 174 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 4: And so. 175 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 2: But yeah, you talk about taking the win out of 176 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 2: your sales. You talk about, you know, not finishing the 177 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: season per se on a high note. Yeah, that's a 178 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: you know, back to back losses to the same two 179 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: teams that you lost back to back to in the 180 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: regular season, you know, to have that come back again, 181 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: that's right, that's a that's a tough bit. 182 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 5: Yeah. 183 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: The Vikings finished fourteen and four overall after the playoff 184 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: lost to the l. A. Rams, And let's hear from 185 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: former Rams Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator and Minnesota Vikings 186 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: head coach Kevin O'Connell. 187 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 5: No, very tough feeling in that locker room right now. 188 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 6: This team was really one of one in my mind 189 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 6: as far as the feeling that's in there right now, 190 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 6: the brotherhood. This team truly did a lot of special 191 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 6: things this year. But you know, we just we didn't 192 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 6: play well off to win the football game and first 193 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 6: first and always. I know I've got to be better 194 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 6: for our team. I've got one confidence in our players, 195 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 6: our coaches. We've got the right kind of things going 196 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 6: on in this organization. But we've got to find a 197 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 6: way to play better as a team, compliment each other, 198 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 6: and do the things we need to do to win 199 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 6: games against the class of the NFL. And that's what 200 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 6: we're going to go back to work and do. I 201 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 6: love this organization. I love those players more than anything, 202 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 6: and I just appreciate everything about those guys and what 203 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 6: they mean to me. 204 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 5: They're a part of me and they all know that. 205 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 5: But you know that only gets you so far. 206 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 6: You got to play to a certain standard, and we 207 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 6: did not do that way too many negatives on offense, 208 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 6: missed opportunities and things that we could all do better. 209 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 6: And that's where we're going to go back to work 210 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 6: and do. But yes, it's obviously very fresh right now 211 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 6: for a team that from the moment I stood before 212 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 6: in training camp to right now, all they've ever done 213 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 6: is uh, you know, will be the exact team you 214 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 6: want as a head coach. 215 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 5: And I'm very very fortunate to have this group. 216 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 6: If you feel very blessed to be able to stand 217 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 6: before them back to where we go. But the stings, 218 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 6: I know it stings for our fans. It hurts, and 219 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 6: we've got to use this as fuel moving forward. But 220 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 6: at the same time understand the special group we had 221 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 6: and acknowledge it and acknowledge it and make sure we're 222 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 6: aware of how we move forward trying to build upon 223 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 6: this team. 224 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 5: In the next year. 225 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 4: Cony Sechs, Did you think it was Sam holding the ball? 226 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 4: Is difficulty difficult? Pressure? 227 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 7: Yeah? 228 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 6: I thought we you know, I thought we gave up 229 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 6: some pressure, you know, some you know, some a couple 230 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 6: of those there where they they were able to scheme 231 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 6: up a guy here or there that that you know, 232 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 6: on paper you have accounted for, but it doesn't matter 233 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 6: on paper. 234 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 4: Uh. 235 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 6: And then I did think, you know, there were some 236 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 6: other times where you know, we're not going to be 237 00:11:59,200 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 6: able to win. 238 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 5: The game on one play and me. 239 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 6: Included, but there was, you know, there was just some 240 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 6: plays there that if we go back and look at it, 241 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 6: I'm sure you know everybody in that in that room 242 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 6: will acknowledge we'll play here or there And just far 243 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 6: too many negatives really over the last two weeks, just 244 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,719 Speaker 6: too many negative plays that set you. 245 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 5: Behind and in in a. 246 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 6: Game like that, you know, you've you've got to find 247 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 6: a way to sustain a little bit more forward momentum 248 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 6: and still try to have your playmakers make plays, give 249 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 6: Sam the chance to put the ball in play. We 250 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 6: just got to, you know, find a way to eliminate 251 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 6: some of those negatives, because that's never going to be 252 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 6: a formula for any kind of success, regardless of if 253 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 6: it's January. 254 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 5: Or not, just not a formula to win. 255 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 7: A lot of things that go into it, just broadly, 256 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 7: what do you think happened to say in these past 257 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 7: two weeks? 258 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 6: You know, I think I think it's important that we 259 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 6: look at it really two ways, you know, football wise, 260 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 6: playing the position a quarterback, you know, areas that that 261 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 6: we can focus on to improve, areas as an offense 262 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 6: where we can pick our quarterback up with a little 263 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 6: bit of execution, give him another click when it is 264 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 6: a four man rush, you know, whatever it is, we've 265 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 6: got to find a way to look at it from 266 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 6: that standpoint. But also I just want to say, you know, 267 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 6: I think it's very important we all think about, you know, 268 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 6: Sam's body of work, what he was able to do 269 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 6: this year when not very many people thought he would 270 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 6: be able to lead a team to fourteen wins. 271 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 5: I'm very rare for a quarterback in their first year. 272 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 6: In fact, it is rare the most wins by a 273 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 6: first year quarterback with a team, and just the way 274 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 6: he came in committed himself to just a daily process 275 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 6: to be the best version of himself. It did not 276 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 6: work out in the end, and I think Sam would 277 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 6: be the first one to tell you could he have 278 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 6: played better tonight? 279 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 5: I'm sure he would tell you that he could have. 280 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 5: Could I have coached better? I promise you I could have. 281 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 6: Could our team have rallied around, you know, all play 282 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 6: here or there to try to keep that thing competitive? 283 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 5: For sure? But the other phase of it. 284 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 6: For Sam is acknowledging the things that made him a 285 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 6: winning quarterback this year and the consistency at the times 286 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 6: he had it throughout the year and what that meant 287 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 6: for our team, because I think that can stay with 288 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 6: him moving forward as he goes back to work. Proud 289 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 6: of him, proud of you know, really everybody in that 290 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 6: locker room. But Sam and the journey him and I 291 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 6: went on this year will always, you know, be a 292 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 6: you know something that's a special place in my heart 293 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 6: for sure. 294 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 8: How much did you feel like him holding the ball 295 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 8: had to do with the pressure? 296 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 5: Yeah? 297 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 6: I think you know, Ben, There's there's just times where 298 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 6: no matter how much you believe in the scheme and 299 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 6: how much you believe in in things, especially when you 300 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 6: know sometimes you're calling quick game and if they take 301 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 6: away your first throw, there's completions to be had if 302 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 6: you've got to find a way to check the ball 303 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 6: down and just keep moving the ball forward. Completions have 304 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 6: negative effects on defense, is they just do and those 305 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 6: moments where you're holding that ball and your reaction is 306 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 6: to try to make a play. We can't talk out 307 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 6: of both sides of our mouth, because he sure as 308 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 6: heck made a lot of plays doing that this year. 309 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 6: But I think that's part of the growth. Remember this guy's, 310 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 6: you know, twenty seven years old or whatever he is, 311 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 6: and I think he has a foundation now of both 312 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 6: the things you do at the quarterback position to have 313 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 6: success in the things that sometimes you have to learn 314 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 6: the hard way. You talk to some of the greatest 315 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 6: players that ever played the game at that position, and 316 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 6: they all had learning moments throughout their journey. And I 317 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 6: think Sam will take a lot of positive out of 318 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 6: this year, and I think he'll look, you know, like 319 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 6: we all will very much, you know, inward, and what's 320 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 6: the next step, what's the next phase for him to 321 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 6: find that consistency? 322 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 5: Then you know, I'm going to do the same thing. 323 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 6: And I still feel there's there's so many ways I 324 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 6: could be better for this team. So fortunate to have 325 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 6: this group's coaching staff, and that's what we're gonna do. 326 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 4: You've talked a lot all. 327 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 9: Year about rhythm and timing, eyes and how those all 328 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 9: operate together. How much does the type of pressure that 329 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 9: that he saw tonight and last week affect like trusting 330 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 9: that rhythm and timing. 331 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 6: It's the number one to turn for it because you know, 332 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 6: I think there were some examples where when you go 333 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 6: back and watch the tape and you're in an air 334 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 6: conditioning room tomorrow, it's going to feel like, man, why 335 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 6: didn't I just do this or that? 336 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 5: But it's hard in the moment. 337 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 6: It's hard with how fast things happen out there, and 338 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 6: it's just it's it's all part of of it. 339 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 5: And I think Sam uh, you. 340 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 6: Know, showed us all in there in real time he 341 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 6: could make h you know, adjustments throughout the season to 342 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 6: find that consistency. We just didn't do that over these 343 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 6: last two weeks. And that's a wee thing. 344 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 5: That's all of us. 345 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 4: How close do you think this franchise is to a 346 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 4: championship level? 347 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 5: Yeah? 348 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 6: Well, what I would tell you is when you have 349 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 6: the makeup of players that are smart, tough, love football, 350 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 6: being great teammates, you have the feeling that exists in 351 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 6: that locker room right now. 352 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 5: That's the foundation. 353 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 6: We've got to find a way to match that foundation 354 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 6: with our performance across the board as a team and 355 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:12,959 Speaker 6: a coaching staff. 356 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 5: And like I said, it starts with me. 357 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 6: I think the important parts of building this organization to 358 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 6: where we want to get to is acknowledging these moments 359 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 6: and feeling these moments, but also never underestimating the power 360 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 6: of the way we do things and why we do 361 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 6: things the way we do, and then understanding that that 362 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 6: is a foundation of rock that we can build upon 363 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 6: as we continue to improve and improve our team, improve 364 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 6: the way we coach our team as and and and 365 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 6: I'm sure is Heck going to be excited, uh, you know, 366 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 6: to to get right back at it with this group 367 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 6: to be to compete. 368 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 4: And beat these delete teams in these big games. 369 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 9: Where would you put improving the offensive line in this offseason. 370 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, there's there's no question. You know, we've we've got 371 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 5: to find a way to be able. 372 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 6: To give a quarterback, especially with you know, players like 373 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 6: Justin Jordan TJ. We've got to find a way to 374 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 6: solidify just the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost. 375 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 6: And there there can be a thousand excuses made, whether 376 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 6: it's losing CD or even you know, midway through the 377 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 6: game losing b O tonight, But for me, it's the 378 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 6: foundation of the interior of the pocket that we're gonna 379 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 6: have to take a long look at. I thought those 380 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 6: guys battled that's a good, young, fast, athletic front. But 381 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 6: really when you look at it, over the course of 382 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 6: the of of you know, the entirety of the season, 383 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 6: we lost the two football teams, and both of them 384 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 6: were able to do some similar things against us via pressure, 385 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 6: via some four down pressure, non pressure, you know, non 386 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 6: blitz pressure, and we just weren't able to ever find 387 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 6: that rhythm, find those two or three plays that can 388 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 6: kind of you know, take a little bit of of 389 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 6: of the steam out of what they're doing and sustain 390 00:18:59,440 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 6: a little bit. 391 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 5: And that's a lot of different things. 392 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 6: Mark, That's that's a lot of things that we're going 393 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 6: to take a look at and find ways to you know, 394 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 6: win the games we did and and acknowledge the things 395 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 6: we did well in those games throughout the year. But 396 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 6: there's no question that to get to where we want 397 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 6: to get to where our fans deserve for us to 398 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 6: go to. As you know, we got the greatest fans 399 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 6: of the National Football League and we uh, you know, 400 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 6: we've got to find a way to host games at 401 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 6: US Bank Stadium, have our home environment and and and 402 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 6: put the kind of performance together in these moments, uh 403 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 6: that allows you to keep playing. 404 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 5: In the single elimination. 405 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 10: Tournament fumble by Sam that got returned for a touchdown. 406 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 4: Is is that an example of trying to do too much? 407 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 6: It's you know, that's probably one that comes to mind. 408 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,719 Speaker 6: You know, it's it's one of those things where, like 409 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 6: I said, it's you you have to be very careful 410 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 6: with the quarterback position, talking out of both sides of 411 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 6: your mouth. You know, all those plays that he does 412 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 6: make off schedule. A lot of guys around the league 413 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 6: can make those plays, but there is a level of 414 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 6: understanding the situation. Hey, you know, we can't allow such 415 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 6: a game changing play to happen. I've got to acknowledge 416 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 6: it with the play call, making sure that we consistently 417 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 6: just have multiple eligibles for them while also having a 418 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 6: you know, a pressure plan and making sure we're taking 419 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 6: care of the matchups that maybe we aren't having. 420 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 5: Uh, you know, the. 421 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 6: Best of days against and and when you think about 422 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 6: losing the two teams, you know, really a combined four 423 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 6: times they had a matchup on us wherever it was, 424 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 6: and they were able to expose that enough to beat 425 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 6: us four times. When you look at the two teams 426 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 6: we lost to this year, and that's where you know, 427 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 6: I've got to do a better job finding ways to 428 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 6: mitigate that. But also our players will be the first 429 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 6: one to tell you that there'll be a you know, 430 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 6: a total toe of the line of us all together 431 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 6: as we attack this thing. 432 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 11: What was the explanation for the fumble return for touchdown 433 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 11: that they turn over today? 434 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 6: Tell you, yeah, they just said that, you know, seventeen 435 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 6: was in the area and. 436 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 5: Uh, and it was an incomplete pass. 437 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 6: I know that quarterback pretty well and and know when 438 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 6: he's trying to throw it to somebody and when he's not. 439 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,479 Speaker 6: But that was the explanation I got, and we had 440 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 6: to just keep playing. 441 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 8: What did you think there was so much space for 442 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 8: Stafford onds first couple drives is kind of attacking coverage? 443 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 4: I guess probably almost. 444 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 6: Yeah, they found they found some similar spots there with 445 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 6: some you know, drive starter kind of plays. 446 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 5: And that's the thing with Matthew. 447 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 6: I mean, you know, we'll go back and watch the 448 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 6: tape and on some of those explosives, Uh, there's gonna 449 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 6: be a viking within a step of him, and he 450 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 6: and his willingness to stand in there even versus some 451 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 6: of those free runners and uh put the ball up 452 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 6: and and they were coming down with a lot of 453 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 6: those with a lot of whether it was Higbee's catch, 454 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 6: Cooper's catch, Pooka was finding a Robinson and they and 455 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 6: I loved the aggressive nature at which we tried to 456 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 6: play the game, kind of of looking back on the 457 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 6: previous matchup and and playing true to our style, and 458 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 6: they just made some plays against it. That's gonna that's 459 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 6: what's going to happen when you know you're playing against 460 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 6: Matthew Stafford. Like I said, I know, I know that 461 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 6: guy pretty well, and uh, he made some plays and 462 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 6: and those are win As an offense, you've got to 463 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 6: go out and try to respond and try to make 464 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 6: a few. 465 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 5: And I've got to give. 466 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 6: Our guys better plays and and try to find a 467 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 6: way to be consistent and put the ball in the 468 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 6: end zone and and show our defense and our you know, 469 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 6: our special teams that we can respond in those moments. 470 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 6: And and that's when the negative plays just kind of 471 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 6: was a wait, you know, a weight on our whole 472 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 6: football team. 473 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 5: God, how does a I. 474 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 7: Know it's very raw right now, but how as you 475 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 7: walk off the field, how does a fourteen win season 476 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 7: that ends with these past two weeks? 477 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 4: Kind Of? 478 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, definitely, I think it's important. 479 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 6: Just uh, it's important, Kevin, that we acknowledge and really 480 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 6: take a true, true centered focus into the why. 481 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 5: And that's what that's what we do as coaches. 482 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 6: And you know, you hate you hate it more than 483 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 6: anything for your team, for the looks. 484 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 5: You know, the look in the eye of this. 485 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 6: Group all year long, every time I spoke with them, 486 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 6: every time I was fortunate enough to stand before him. 487 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 6: You want you certainly have such a strong desire to 488 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 6: do absolutely anything to make these guys not feel that 489 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 6: and for us all to feel it. But you know, 490 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 6: I think it's important we got to take a look 491 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 6: at what we did throughout the season to make us 492 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 6: a good football team. What were our weaknesses as a 493 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 6: team throughout the year, not just over these last two weeks, 494 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 6: and acknowledge all those things and and craft a path 495 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 6: moving forward where we where we do everything we can 496 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 6: to eliminate some of those things that that hurt our 497 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 6: football team. And like you guys know, I'm gonna spend 498 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 6: every waking moment doing it. And I've got such belief 499 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 6: in the core of that locker room and the team 500 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 6: that we had this year. We've got to go back 501 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 6: to work and build it all, build it all from 502 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 6: scratch again with next year's team, and make sure we 503 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 6: stay true to who and what we want to be 504 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 6: as an organization as we continue to chase improvement. 505 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 8: Just kind of similar lines of questioning here. But you 506 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 8: have the two seasons of thirteen wins and fourteen wins, 507 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 8: and then you both those with one and done playoffs. 508 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 8: What is the disconnect between being able to win regular 509 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 8: season games and then being able to turn over and. 510 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:27,360 Speaker 4: Doing the playoffs. 511 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think, you know, two out of three years 512 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,199 Speaker 6: we've we've done the things that we wanted to do 513 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 6: to get into the tournament. Last year, I thought we 514 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 6: overcame a lot and did not did not do enough 515 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 6: in the end to get into the tournament. 516 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 5: But these are one game, you know, eliminations, and. 517 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 6: If you don't find a way to play well in 518 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 6: those sixty minutes against the type of teams you're going 519 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 6: to play in January, Ben, You're gonna lose. So I think, 520 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 6: you know, it's it's very very I understand the question, 521 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 6: and I appreciate the question and the big picture. 522 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 5: Thought process of the results. 523 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 6: Driving that question. But what I've got to do is 524 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 6: make sure that I continue to reinforce the process we 525 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 6: have here, the teams we've built up from the inside 526 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 6: out of that locker room being the strongest point of 527 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 6: our organization. And then when it comes time to make 528 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 6: sure we're improving in the areas we need to, we're 529 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 6: ready to do that against the best teams in this 530 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 6: league to continue to play on in the month of January. 531 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,640 Speaker 5: But that's how I feel about that, all right. 532 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,239 Speaker 1: So the Vikings do finish fourteen and four, and they 533 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: do have those ballet hoot offensive numbers. It's just so 534 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: strange as a Vikings fan, for all of you listening, 535 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: or fans like Pete and I, you know who call 536 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: the games, to think, just two weeks ago the team 537 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: in won nine games in a row and was heading 538 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: to the Motor City playing for the one seed in 539 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,120 Speaker 1: the NFC. They don't score a touchdown in that game. 540 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: It feels terrible, but that's okay. 541 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 5: You know what. 542 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: Let's go on the road in the postseason with this 543 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: nice offense and opportunistic defense which led the NFL and 544 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: interceptions was tied for the most takeaways in the regular season. 545 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: They shoot, they're a plus twelve turnover differential into the game, 546 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: and and then it finishes like this. It's just what 547 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 1: a tough business man, what a tough. 548 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 2: Business I mean, there's no question that this team exceeded expectations, Paul, 549 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 2: I mean, no one, no one put a put this 550 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 2: team on a fourteen win season with all the question 551 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 2: marks that were that were there going into it, and 552 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 2: there will be the same a lot of the same 553 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 2: question marks going into this year, especially at the quarterback position. 554 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: So you know, I don't want to overlook all that 555 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: was accomplished this year by this team. Great Jonathan Bernard, 556 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 2: we haven't even mentioned him. He's he's he's the most 557 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 2: consistent pass rush that back. He and Van Ginkle have 558 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 2: been fantastic this year. What a what a what a bookend? 559 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 2: What a pair a bookends? Defensive ends or outside linebackers 560 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: if you want to call him? That cashman coming in 561 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 2: and playing playing so well. And so yeah, this team, 562 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 2: I no question exceeded expectations. But you see the talent 563 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 2: that's there and the possibilities that are there, and so 564 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,880 Speaker 2: where you know, where did that go off the rails? 565 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 2: And then maybe make a couple of changes and some fixes, 566 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 2: and now you get yourself a team that really has 567 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 2: to be contented with him. We're in a tough division. 568 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 2: You know, I don't see I don't see Green Bay 569 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,199 Speaker 2: or Detroit changing much over the next season either. So 570 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 2: it's a it's gonna be a tough road again next year. 571 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: Uh. The loss, the playoff loss to the Rams, by 572 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: the way, very well could be Sam Darnold's final game 573 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. As he was 574 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: on a one year deal, and a lot of things 575 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: will play themselves out in the off season. Speaking of Sam, 576 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: here's what he had to say after the l. 577 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 12: Yeah, obviously a tough loss. 578 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 11: Uh, you know, first off, you know, I felt like, 579 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 11: obviously we played a really good team, really good team today, 580 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 11: and they were just better than us today. And I 581 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 11: felt like, you know, I left a couple of throws 582 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 11: out there that you know, I could be better on, 583 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 11: especially early in the game, really the first half, third quarter. 584 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 11: That one to speedy in the middle of the field, 585 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 11: I got to hit that, But yeah, just just missed opportunities. 586 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 11: Got to take care of the football, cam the interception, 587 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 11: can have the fumble obviously returned for a touchdown. That's 588 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 11: a huge play in the game. Uh yeah, just just 589 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 11: too many mistakes on my end. But again, just you know, 590 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 11: really proud of the guys in the locker room for 591 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 11: the way they fought all season. We just didn't come 592 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 11: out on top this time around. And yeah, it's pretty 593 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 11: much it. 594 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 9: Right, obviously, well for you, but how do you process 595 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 9: just I mean, the. 596 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 4: Mistakes that you had was tonight last week. 597 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 11: Yeah, you know, I clearly just didn't play good enough 598 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 11: the last couple of weeks. 599 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 4: You know. 600 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 11: Uh, just like like I said, you know, left too 601 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 11: many throws out there that I would usually make and 602 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 11: got to. 603 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 12: Take better care of the football today especially. Yeah. 604 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 10: Same. 605 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:12,719 Speaker 12: I know it's a combination of teams that happen through 606 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 12: the game. 607 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 11: But they what were they doing, especially in the first 608 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 11: first half to step Yeah, you know, they they had 609 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 11: a really good plan. You know, they they brought some 610 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 11: good pressures, you know, played played some good man coverage 611 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 11: in those you know, second and longs even third downs. 612 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 11: But again, you know, I feel like I can be 613 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 11: a lot better in terms of just moving on with 614 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 11: my progressions, not trying to force anything. And you know, 615 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 11: but yeah, again, I give them a lot of credit 616 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 11: for the way they came out, they played in the 617 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 11: plan that they had. 618 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 5: Sam. 619 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 4: I asked Kevin the same thing. 620 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 9: But how much like you talked, You've talked to you 621 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 9: about feet dies rhythm, how how much does the pressure 622 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 9: specifically interior pressure affect what you want to do from 623 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 9: guys perspective. 624 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, it doesn't change anything, you know. 625 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 11: For me, I'm always going to continue to go through 626 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 11: my progressions if I feel, you know, people in my 627 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 11: face or people you know, coming off the edge. It's 628 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 11: it's up to me to be able to move and 629 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 11: still find a window to throw it. You know, I'm 630 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 11: one hundred percent responsible for the football and what happens 631 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 11: to it, you know, and and for me, it's it's 632 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 11: it's up to me to be able to feel that 633 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 11: and and either step up, move, go run for first down, 634 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 11: or just simply throw it away. You know, I felt like, 635 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 11: you know, there were a lot of sacks today that 636 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 11: that you know, I was responsible for where I was 637 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 11: just holding onto the football and and taking sacks where 638 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 11: I could have either dirted at someone's feet or just 639 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 11: simply thrown over someone's head. 640 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 4: Why didn't. 641 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 11: Just in the moment decision trying to trying to get 642 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 11: away and and. 643 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 12: You know, wasn't able to get the ball out. 644 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 4: Just how do you reflect on this season as a whole? 645 00:30:58,080 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 4: You know, it's very fresh, but. 646 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 12: Just yeah, you know, obviously it was. 647 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 11: You know, at the end of the day, all that 648 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 11: matters is when you have a good season, what do 649 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 11: you do in the playoffs? And we didn't get it 650 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 11: done to them, and that's all that matters. 651 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 10: Yeah, You'll take away from it nothing about I'll have 652 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 10: a lot of time after this to be able to 653 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 10: think about, you know, what the season entailed, but to 654 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 10: be honest and you know, just thinking about today and 655 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 10: what I could have done better. 656 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 8: Say, I'm on the fact that it looks like you 657 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 8: guys were able to pick up some of the pressure 658 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 8: in the front side. Did you feel Witherspoon coming around 659 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 8: the backside at all. 660 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 11: Or what was your Yeah, they brought a good pressure, 661 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 11: like I said, you know, kind of like I said 662 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 11: about just bringing different pressures, you know, obviously bringing the 663 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 11: corner cat there with Witherspoon. 664 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 12: Yeah, and he did a really. 665 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 11: Good job of of timing it up and getting to me. 666 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 4: Sam. 667 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 3: How much do you think these past two weeks will 668 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 3: impact your future? 669 00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 5: Uh? 670 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 11: Yeah, I mean I'm not worried about that, you know, 671 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 11: that's in the past right now. I'm just I'm thinking about, 672 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 11: like I said, what I could have done better today, 673 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 11: and just really spending time with the guys in the 674 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 11: locker room. That's That's really all I'm focused on right now, 675 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 11: is just you know, because at the end of the day, 676 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 11: in the NFL, you only get one season with one 677 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 11: team with everyone together, and today wasn't our day. And 678 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 11: it's as simple as that. And for me, I'm just 679 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,959 Speaker 11: going to be focused on spending as much time as 680 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 11: I can with those guys in the locker room, and 681 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 11: and then I'll think about, you know, whatever the future 682 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 11: holds after that. 683 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:43,600 Speaker 3: Knowing the type of group you guys have have, Yeah, absolutely, 684 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 3: you know we you know, we knew right from the 685 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 3: jump what kind of group we had, and obviously it 686 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 3: sucks to be able to come up short. 687 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: All right, you heard from Sam Darnold and Kevin O'Connell. 688 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 1: You've also heard from Pete Bersich and yours surely, Paul Allen. 689 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 1: All season, thank you very much for listening to the 690 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: postgame report when you do. We thank Eric Davidson and 691 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: the Curly Heares for the production all season, and it 692 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: was great calling games with you this year. Man, Thanks 693 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: very much for your work. 694 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 2: Being awesome, Paul, and we enjoyed it and like I said, 695 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 2: fourteen wins, I mean, yep, what a great ride. 696 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening for Pete versage. I'm Paul Allen. 697 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 1: That's the Vikings postgame report. Sad news to finish hip. 698 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: Vikings lose twenty seven to nine in Arizona to the 699 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Rams and the season is over.