Vikings Linebacker Gerald Hodges

Q: How did you see the first play develop?

A: We worked really hard on formations this week. That is what Coach Zimmer is really hard on is formations, formations, formations. You get the chance to see the formations so many times that when it comes up in game time you see the formation and you already know what play is coming. You put yourself in position before the ball is even snapped. Knowing the formations and the lineups all week helps a lot. 

Q: Did you see a touchdown immediately?

A: I didn't see a touchdown right away I was just making sure that I secured the ball. Once I got the ball then I saw a touchdown the rest of the way.

Q: Did you think that Geno Smith didn't see you?

A: I think he looked me right in the eye and tried to throw it over my shoulder and I think it was just being in the right place at the right time.

Q: What is it like having a clear path to the end zone?

A: My eyes just lit up. When you see that end zone you get that running back feeling like nothing can stop me. When you're like ten to fifteen yards away that is all you smell.

Q: Was the touchdown one of the best plays you ever made?

A: Best play in my life. That was my first pick-six ever.

Q: What was the mood right after that touchdown?

A: It was great but it was the first play of the game so I still had three more quarters to play plus that quarter. It was a good memory but just had to put it away and keep playing.

Vikings Safety Harrison Smith

Q: What did you think of Percy Harvin?

A: He is a baller. Kickoff, receiver, line up at running back, he can do it all. I know some of the fans here were booing him and stuff, but to me he is a great player, and I have a lot of respect for the way he plays the game.

Q: He has a lot of commodities, when you play him you had better come for him.

A: Yeah, he can do it all, and the thing that I like is that he doesn't talk about it.

Q: What's going through your mind when you know that blitz call is coming?

A: It depends. You just have to make sure you keep contained and make the most of your opportunities.

Q: What was your view on Jarius's touchdown on the end?

A: Honestly we were kind of going over some defensive stuff and I just heard the crowd go crazy, so I looked up and saw Jarius running. I had to watch the replay to see what play it was. Unbelievable way to win the game. Jarius has some jets so I'm glad he got the ball.

Q: What is it like starting overtime on defense, when you know that there is just no margin for error?

A: I kind of like it. You wouldn't choose to go on defense first, but you know if you stop them, you're favored to win. That's probably why, if you stop them there then you know you have a shot. 

Vikings Cornerback Xavier Rhodes

Q: Fourth quarter and overtime you guys bent and bent but never broke.

A: We fought as a team and we did what we had to do to get the win.

Q: You had the swat on the last drive, what was the like?

A: We just had to come up with the right play at the right moment and I did and helped my team out and we got the victory.

Q: Are you guys happy with you run defense compared to last week?

A:  We just knew we had to improve and we did this week. We stepped up to the plate and we stopped them.

Q: On that last play you kind of just laid out and had the longest arms ever, you're just kind of feeling it right now aren't you?

A: I guess you could say that. Gaining confidence each week and looking at film and my mistakes and correcting them each week

Q: What were your thoughts on Jarius's play?

A: That was just all God on that one, it was a miracle play. The blocks were made and he ran all the way down the field and made the play.

Vikings Wide Receiver Charles Johnson

Q: How did you feel when you saw Jarius Wright score that game winning touchdown?

A: I was excited. I was so excited it was one of our fellow receivers to make the play. I was happy.

Q: Describe how things have come together so quickly for you in the last few weeks. Are you surprised?

A: I am not surprised. I work hard; come out to work every day as hard as I can. When you get an opportunity you take advantage of it.

Q: How have you and Teddy Bridgewater done such a good job to get on the same page?

A: I really don't know. I work hard, I get open, and he throws me great balls and I catch them. I like to believe it's because he played at a school in Kentucky and I'm from Kentucky; I guess that might be a connection but I really don't know.

Q: Was that touchdown pass one where it was right on the money or was it a pass that you had to get underneath quickly?

A: Yeah, he threw a great ball. I knew it was going to end up coming to me because of the coverage they played. They rolled up on Jarius (Wright)'s side, so I knew that there was a good chance the balls was coming to me. He threw a great ball, and I made the play.

Q: What's the difference between playing here and playing in Green Bay?

A: It's still football to me. I just go out and play football, I don't notice differences.

Q: Do you think that they just didn't give you a fair opportunity in Green Bay?

A: I was plagued by injuries. I couldn't get on the field to get an opportunity. You have to get out there and practice to get an opportunity, and I couldn't do that.

Q: Were you happy that Jerome Felton was there to scoop up that ball in the endzone?

A: Yeah, I was happy that one of our teammates got it. But, I was real upset that I didn't get that touchdown because they're hard to come by in this league. I am happy that he got it, and I'm happy for him.

Q: You could have had two big touchdowns today if it weren't for that fumble.

A: Yeah, I could have had them. I left big plays out there. I have to come back next week and clean them up.

Q: On that fumble, were you just trying to stretch it over the endzone line?

A: Yeah. I saw a dude on my leg, and thought I was going to be able to stretch out. I didn't know a guy was coming behind me and we ended up making a great play. But luckily we got it back and we won the game.

Q: Do you think this week has been a solidifying performance for you?

A: Yeah, like I said, I come out and I try to take advantage of what people take for granted. I take nothing for granted because I've worked for everything I have in my life. We aren't promised tomorrow. I just come out and work as hard as I can every day.

Q: Teddy Bridgewater looked like he was missing some throws and some chances earlier in the season, it looks like he has started to step into more of his throws, and is getting some velocity, do you see a change in that way?

A: Oh yeah. Teddy works hard. He does it every day after practice. He tries to get some deep throws in and I try to get some in there with him, just cause I need to work on those deep balls, too. He is going to continue to get better; we're all going to continue to get better, that's all that we can do is improve.

Vikings Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn

Q: In the second half there wasn't a touchdown scored by any team until the overtime, both teams seemed to settle in.

A: We just settled in and tried to make plays on defense. We wanted to get off the field on third down, in the beginning we didn't get off the field. We just settled in and tried to make plays.

Q: What does this do for confidence with two straight wins at home in the cold weather?

A: A loss would have been a heartbreaker. We are just trying to build confidence each and every week and set the tone. We got another tough test next week in Detroit. I'm sure we'll be ready for it as we are coming off a great win. I'm excited to be on this team and see where this team is going.

Q: Are you most proud of the fact that you guys played hard defensively for 60 minutes?

A: Oh yeah, but at the same time we didn't play well in the beginning of the game. We have to start faster, last week we came out and didn't start fast. This week we got a pick-six on the first play but other than that they did what they wanted in the first half. We just settled down and made plays.

Vikings FB Jerome Felton

Q: Take us through the fumble recovery.

A: I was actually just trying to throw a block for him. We always talk about finishing plays and he started cutting in so I thought I was going to throw a block but they actually got to him and popped the ball out so I was just in the right place at the right time. It was good to get that ball.

Q: Looking at the replay, it looked like you didn't lose sight of it at all?

A: Yeah like I said I was just trying to throw a block for him and it popped out right there and I was just able to dive on it so it's kind of a cheap touchdown but I'll take it.

Q: What was your view on Jarius's play there on the end?

A: Once he went up and got it and got through that first wave I knew it was a walkoff touchdown because no one is touching Jarius. He's a big time player. He makes lots of big plays. I tell him every week it's time to make a big play and he did it.

Q: What does it mean for this offense to get touchdowns in various ways?

A: I mean obviously we're a young team. We're still developing and Teddy is getting better. Offensive line is playing well. It's just about growing.

Q: How does it feel to finally be that guy to score?

A: It was kind of a cheap touchdown but I'll take it. It's all about finishing hard and playing through the whistle. That's something we preach every week and it paid off today.

Q: You guys kind of struggled to score points in the second half, what happened?

A: Too many mistakes, penalties, things like that. We need to get better. It was an important week for us because next week we're going to Detroit and it's going to be a tough game, division rivals, so we had to get better this week.

Q: Is Charles going to owe you dinner now?

A: I might owe him for getting me my first touchdown. I appreciate that touchdown, but he's been making really good plays and he's getting better and better every week.

Vikings Linebacker Chad Greenway

Q: What did you think of your much improved run defense this week?

A: Different teams have different focuses. You always want to be good against the run to give yourself an opportunity to rush the quarterback and make them one dimensional.  You get the win but you aren't very satisfied with how you played.  You might make all the plays on defense but miss that one and you're going to be upset with the play you missed. You look at the scoreboard and you see that we gave up twenty points.  We know we're better than that and think we can keep teams under that 16 point barrier.

Q: Percy Harvin is still dangerous isn't he?

A: Percy is a great player, he is so explosive and a guy that can be a game changer no matter when he touches the ball or how he gets it. We knew that going in and we prepared for it.  He makes a play early and that gets him going and that is the last thing you want.

Q: In the big picture, the team actually has a chance to have a winning record. What do you think of the way the team has battled?

A: When you look at the season you look at what you've gone through and we've had our fair share of bumps in the road.  In a different year the way the NFC shakes out, or even in a different division we'd be sitting in a better position. Reality of it is we just have to keep doing what we are doing and that is winning football games. Getting a divisional win next week would be huge.

Q: What did you think of Gerald Hodges coming into the game and getting the first big play?

A: It was an incredible play and he had great concentration. The kid is a great athlete and when he has been inserted into the lineup this year he has done well. He has shown that he's got a lot of ability.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer

Honestly it was a pretty sloppy game today in my opinion. It was good to win and it was good to see we overcame a lot of adversity, although most of adversity was a lot caused by ourselves. We didn't play near as well as I hoped we'd play but there were some good things that happened in the game as well. I thought Teddy [Bridgewater] played great. He had a lot of zero blitzes at him today, he checked out of a lot of things. He checked into the play that won us the football game. It was a great effort by Jerome Felton to get on the ball. That would have been another touchdown, Teddy didn't get credit for the touchdown pass there but he would have that. The one interception he had was at the end of the (half) so his quarterback rating of 117 would have been much higher. I thought he played outstanding but we've got to quit doing these things that allow us not to be as good as I want to be.

Q: What are your biggest takeaways right now?

A: We didn't cover anybody today. We let them out on third downs. We didn't protect the quarterback near as well as I thought. We were sloppy with the ball. I don't know, how much time do you got?  

Q: What does it say about Teddy Bridgewater that he has a penchant for winning these close ballgames?

A: Well you know I thought he played great the whole time and everybody wanted us to use no-huddle so we no-huddled a lot, we were trying to keep them off balance. I think he likes to do that. I think he likes those things, but this kid is a tough kid now, he's a tough kid. He got racked a couple of times today and hung in there. He made a lot of great decisions with the ball and then he made some great throws. I don't know. You people finally get a chance to see a lot of the things I see in practice every single day – his composure and his competitiveness - and you know what, he's a tough guy. He really is a tough guy, quiet, but he's tough.

Q: Did you do anything with mechanics or just encourage him to step into throws?

A: A few weeks ago we did talk to him about something when he was throwing it high, I don't know three or four weeks ago. We talked about the mechanics some. I do think that he's continued to get stronger as the season is progressing and in practice he really hums it and it comes out like you say, you can see a little bit more velocity coming. He's so accurate that at times it looks like he's floating it on some of the outside breaking routes. It looks like he's floating it but the ball really jumps out of his hands. I have seen a lot lately where he's gunning it a little bit harder. Norv [Turner] talks about throwing it with a grunt.

Q: Did you start this interview unlike any coach after a dramatic overtime win because you are just looking at the big picture?

A: I think it's honesty to be honest, I'm trying to be honest. That's not the kind of performance that I want to have. Quite honestly I think we should have won that game handily. I expected us to win it that way. We go out, we score the first play of the ballgame. We get a penalty on the extra point, we have to kick the ball on the 20-yard line. Good teams don't do these things. Just because you win doesn't cover up your mistakes just like sometimes when you lose you play good too. My expectations are way higher than that performance.

Q: What does it say about Teddy Bridgewater that as a rookie he can check into that play in a tough situation that ends up winning the game?

A: Well the check was built into the call so if he saw something he was going to check to that and he did. It's not so much the leeway, it's the call that's being made. He did that several times today, one of the third downs I think he hit Charles [Johnson] on the slant on third down, that was another one he checked into. Actually there were quite a few. A lot of the calls are do this or do that. The kid, and that's the thing that the veterans really respect and appreciate about Teddy,is the way he prepares, the way he studies, the way he cares about his job and I think the way loves playing this game. I know you guys don't see him practice, and I said this earlier in the week you know he missed maybe two throws in practice. He practices to be perfect in the games as well.

Q: When did you get the idea that Charles Johnson might be something?

A: Well he continues to show every week. The one, we should have had another touchdown and we got pressure up the middle, he was 15 yards behind the guy. He's a big strong guy that can run routes. He's got good acceleration and he can get guys off of him and then he feels routes and he feels the zone and feels the thing and he didn't catch that one ball in the end zone, I think that's the one I was talking about and then the one slant that he missed but for the most part he's got strong hands as well.  

*Q: What did you see on Gerald Hodges' interception return touchdown to start the game? *

A: Yeah, it was but for about the next 40 minutes it wasn't really what I wanted. We played better in the fourth quarter so I'll give our guys that that we fought back and we perservered and all of the things that happened we didn't go in the tank, we just kept playing. But anyway, on that play, they had a play-action pass, they were trying to throw a slant to [Percy] Harvin, it's a play that a few teams have thrown on this year and the safety was outside on the slant and then he dropped up underneath and he made a great catch and ran it in.  

*Q: What do you like from what you've seen of Gerald Hodges? *

A: Gerald has a ton of ability. He's got fast twitch and he's got some physicality to him. He continually works hard in practice. I just have to remind him to be on the reservation some. Sometimes he sees this and does that. We've just got to get him a little more discipline, and he'll be fine.  

Q: Is there any concern with any of the injuries guys had today?

A: I don't know. I don't know how severe they are. I don't anticipate it. [Robert] Blanton was getting an MRI, the other ones an ankle sprain, [Charlie] Johnson is an ankle sprain. Sharrif same thing.

*Q: What do you anticipate with your offensive line now that you were down to two original starters? *

A: We'll see. What week is this, [Week] 14. Guys get hurt, guys got to come back and play and that's why guys are on the team because they the have to step in and do their job and that's why everyone you never know when it's your turn. You have to prepare and be ready to go. That's why they are here.

*Q: Do you feel Cordarrelle Patterson is starting to lose confidence with the fumble on the kick return? *

A: I don't know. You'd have to ask him. I don't have a lack of confidence in him. Obviously he didn't do as well in the return game but he had the one run that was pretty good. We just didn't get him in the game.  

Q: Did he talk to you this week about the lack of opportunities?

A: I've talked to him, yes. I've talked to him.   

Q: Did you notice anything about the way he was holding the ball on those?

A: I didn't notice, no.  

Q: Was that touchdown pass to Charles Johnson an example of Teddy's ability to throw the deep ball that you've seen in practice?

A: Yeah. Last week he had the great throw to Jarius, this week he had the nice throw to him. Honestly the throw that he had that got intercepted, he had a lot of pressure, he rolled out, throwing it on the run, threw it about 50 yards and I think our guys probably could have done a better job of going up and getting the ball. He is throwing the ball better now than he has at any time that he's here and he continues to get better all of the time.  

*Q: He's progressed quite a bit but what else would you like to see out of him? *

A: That's a good question. I think when Teddy decides to be the leader of the football team, because right now he's still feeling his way a little bit and his personality is just do what you do and do what you have to do. This franchise is Teddy's. I know that was a good headline for you. That's what he needs to do, he needs to take it over. This is his team now.

Q: Is that hesitation normal for a rookie?

A: No doubt, yeah. Teddy is so respectful of knowing his place and understanding everything and quite honestly I'm glad he's like that because the veterans gravitate to him, the offensive line gravitates to him, the defensive players gravitate to him. Those are the things that, and he'll eventually – I don't know when it'll be – but he'll eventually grow into that. He's the guy.

Q: How does his personality equate to becoming that guy?

A: You don't have to be a mean jerk like me. You can be a nice guy but a great leader. I go back and equate to where he came out of high school and the situation there and how he was really the leader of that school and everybody there respects him. That to me showed an awful lot. They've had great, great, great athletes and players come out of his high school but they all talk about Teddy Bridgewater and what he did for that school, what he's done for their program and but not only football – the teachers, the administratotrs and everybody else – and to me that says an awful lot.

Q: How much goes into the week to slowing down a guy like Percy Harvin?

A: Honestly we put a lot of effort into playing the run this week but when he was starting to catch balls and we had to change and start concentrating on him a lot more, that was a disappointing thing to me that we did not cover, we didn't cover anybody. Let's be honest, guys were wide open. That's not the kind of pass defense I want to teach around here.

Q: Was there anything in coverage that you'd like to see improve?

A: Yeah, I'd like them to be a little tighter. We are way too far off of guys. We didn't contest balls. All of the things I've talked about from the day I walked in – we want to contest balls, we want to get in people's face, we want to disrupt routes. We had penalties.

Q: What's supposed to happen on the safety that was given up? Is that Matt Kalil's responsibility?

A: Well it was a combination between the two guys. I saw it on the thing but I don't know if one guy overset too far. I'll have to look at it tomorrow and see. They're supposed to work together.

Vikings Receiver Jarius Wright

Q: Tell me about that last play.

A: We had an option on that play, a pass-pass option, and Teddy [Bridgewater] did a good job of seeing what they were going to be in, and Teddy did a good job of getting me the ball.  Kyle [Rudolph], Greg [Jennings], and Sully [John Sullivan] were three of the nice blocks that I saw to set up that run, and Teddy threw me a good ball and I just tried to do the rest.

Q: Did you use the old Jumbotron trick to see if you were clear?

A: Not this time.  That's what got me caught last time, Jumbotron trick, so I just looked back myself and once I got out there I saw that 91 was the only one that really had a chance.  I just tried to speed up a little bit, that big guy can run.

Q: Third and five, was that a check down play or was that the primary call out of the huddle?

A: It wasn't the primary call. We had another call in. Teddy silent counted and saw what they were going to be in, and we switched to the better call. I'm glad that I had the chance to be in that situation.

Q: Was that the biggest touchdown you ever caught in football?

A: You know that's number one. That's the first time I ever had not only a walk off touchdown, but I did it in OT. So I can say this is one of the happiest moments of my life and I thank God for the opportunity.

Q: Did you know right away once Teddy made the check into that call that it was a good look for you?

A: I did know it was a good look.  We ran it a couple times earlier in the game, and it was one man away from being a touchdown then. The last time we ran it, I don't even remember if I made the one guy miss, but I got in open field and said in my head to myself, "I have to score." 

*Q: How crucial was that Jennings block?  It seemed like right as you were cutting for the ball Jennings was laying the lick on somebody. *

A: Well you know Jennings is a great blocker, and he does a great job of putting himself in the best situation to get the block. He did a great job and basically, that's the block that really set me free. Kyle did a great job of picking up the next guy, and as I broke free I saw Sully, and I said "Oh yeah, this going a long ways."

Q: What's it been like to watch Charles Johnson emerge into the role he is in?

A: It's been real good. Another receiver that came in late and everything, so just to see the strides that he's made is great and to add another guy like that to our receiving core helps us out a lot.

Q: You said you had to score.  You get the ball, you see some open field, what else is going on in your head?  What are you saying to yourself?

A: The whole time I'm saying "score, score".  Like I said, earlier in the game I thought in my head that there's a chance to score. Then we go third and four, and I saw they had a couple guys that were kind of tight in the box like they were going to blitz.  They showed us some blitz looks a couple times earlier in the game, and on third down they brought the blitz and it worked out for us.

Q: You guys have kind of been running that play all year, when did it get set up to go to you?

A: Well if you remember from the Atlanta game that was like the third game of the year, I had a chance to score and I ended up getting caught. Ever since Norv [Turner] got in we've been running it a little bit to me. 

Q: What did you hear from the sideline as you were going? could you hear the guys that were hollering?

A: I didn't hear any of the guys. All I hear was the crowd stand up, and like I said in my head I just had to score.

Q: You said last time you got caught on the Jumbotron, so this time you were just looking straight ahead, saying "don't look don't look"?

A: Straight ahead, eyes were on the end zone and I wasn't stopping until I got there. 

Q: How about when you got in the end zone, was the celebration planned or was that a spontaneous leap in there?

A: It was kind of a little spontaneous, I didn't know what to do.  I was just happy to be able to make a play like that.

Vikings Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater

It was a great win today, the guys showed great effort. We continue to battle through adversity and show that we have a group of resilient guys here. Like I said, we continue to battle through adversity, some of it self-inflicted. Coach Zimmer is hard on us. He preaches about playing four quarters or more and today it came down to overtime. We love to finish the games in the four quarters of regulation, but our guys knew what the situation was and did a great job stepping up today.

Q: What did you see with that check and the throw to Jarius Wright?

A: I just saw that the New York Jets were going to bring an all-out blitz, so we had a check built into the play. I just saw the look and got us into the right play.

Q: Mike Zimmer just said that this is your franchise. Do you have any reaction to that?

A: This is everyone's franchise and this is the Vikings franchise and I am the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. This is as much Vladimir Ducasse's franchise, Jabari Price, you talk about Jerick McKinnon. All of us play a role and that's what makes a team great. We all play well here in Minnesota, so we are just going to look at it that way.

Q: Coach Zimmer thinks that you taking over the franchise is the next step in your development. Do you see it that way?

A: I would love to get to that stage. Like I said, I don't want to just be the guy for just a couple games or a year, I want to continue to be the guy and have a long career. I just have to continue to get better. Like I said, this is the Minnesota Vikings franchise and I'm just the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

Q: What are you thinking once Jarius Wright gets by Sheldon Richardson and you know he's going to score?

A: I knew it was going to be a touchdown. Jarius, he's a fast guy, and surprisingly (Sheldon) Richardson for the New York Jets, he's a fast guy also to be that big. I knew that once we got the play set up it was Jarius to do the rest. The offensive line did a great job of getting out there and kicking out the defenders, Greg (Jennings) and Kyle (Rudolph) were out there also, and did a great job kicking out defenders and getting Jarius a lane to run through and eventually score.

Q: Have you changed any of your throwing mechanics to get more velocity on the ball?

A: I haven't done anything. I've just been able to make quicker decisions and it's allowing me to get the ball out much faster and play in rhythm. Each week, we've been talking about trying to get better and improving as a team entirely. Whether it's me trying to get better with my ball placement and my accuracy, or the offensive line trying to get better protection, the defense trying to get better, it's an overall team effort and we're all just trying to get better each week.

Q: Where have you seen improvements from Charles Johnson since the Chicago game?

A: Charles, he's a great route runner. He's a guy who's very patient. He's a guy who's going to continue to work hard. We've seen nothing but flashes from him ever since he's arrived here, back before we played Green Bay the first time. He's a guy who's going to continue to work hard. That entire wide receiver unit, talk about Jarius (Wright), having two wide receivers over 100 yards today, that was a huge step for our offense, but those guys as a group do a great job of pushing each other, motivating each other and just competing.

Q: Coach didn't sound like a winning coach in his press conference. Was that the tone that he presented in the locker room after the game?

A: Yes, and as a team, we are aware that it wasn't a pretty game. We had some turnovers; we left a lot of plays on the field, but at the end of the day we got the win. Like coach said, it wasn't pretty. We're going to come back tomorrow, we're going to watch the tape and try to make adjustments and improvements.

Q: Do you physically stronger now than you did at the beginning of the season?

A: I feel pretty much the same, but at the same time, our strength and conditioning staff has been doing a great job of taking care of our bodies. Our nutritional staff also plays a role in our bodies withstanding and maintaining throughout the course of the season. We have great resources around the facilities and they're doing a great job of just helping guys just remain healthy throughout the course of the year.

Q: Is it at much about not making mistakes as it is about making plays for you at this point of your rookie season?

A: I had to get rid of that mindset of not trying to make mistakes. No game is going to perfect. I just continue to go out there. Coach Scott Turner, he's a great coach; he constantly tells me, "Just have fun. Let it rip." And hearing those words every time I come on the field, every time I come on the sideline, he's right there to give me a recap of what the defense was doing. He just tells to me to go out there and let it rip, don't worry about overthinking things and trying to be perfect, because when you try to be perfect, that's when you make mistakes.

Q: Do you think you have got rid of that mindset?

A: I think so. Like I said, I've just been able to make quicker decisions. That's allowed me to think less and just get rid of the football and play faster. Q: Is it a big in-game adjustment when you lose an offensive lineman?

A: It is, but at the same time, that group of guys knows what we're asking those guys to do. You talk about, we only have two guys who are starters on that line right now with Sully (John Sullivan) and Matt Kalil, (that were week-one starters), but with the guys that were asked to step up, those guys have been doing a great job. You talk about Vlad (Ducasse), Mike Harris and Joe Berger, those guys are doing a great job of just stepping in and filling in for the injuries that we have. I'm proud of that group; I'm proud of this entire offense.

Q: What do you think has contributed to better down-field accuracy?

A: Just giving our guys a chance. Before, like I said, I tried to be perfect with ball placement. I wanted to make sure I could throw the perfect ball, whether it's an out-cut, a deep ball, or a quick-hitch. I just have to learn to lay it up there, give our guys a chance. It's either going to be a pass interference or a catch by our wide receivers. I like those chances rather than trying to be perfect and over-throwing a guy or under-throwing a guy.

Q: Can you walk us through the Charles Johnson touchdown and the route that he ran?

A: It was just a double-move route on the outside. He did a great job of setting up the route. Like I said, Charles, he's a patient receiver, so he understands what we were asking him to do. He did a great job of just setting up the route, giving me a chance and basically all I had to do is lay it out there and throw a catchable ball and he did the rest.

Q: Do you feel like this offense is transitioning more into a passing offense?

A: I think we are a multiple offense. Whatever works for us, that's what we're going to do. Today we did a great job of executing the no-huddle. Whether it's running the ball a lot in the no-huddle situation or passing the ball, I think we did a great job today. Matt (Asiata) did a great job, Joe Banyard and Ben (Tate), those guys did a great job. Talk about Jerome Felton, he doesn't get enough credit around here. I know he just scored his first-career touchdown today, but he doesn't get enough credit. He's the guy in there doing the dirty work, opening holes and taking on linebackers. This offense is pretty multiple and we're just going to continue to do whatever is working for us.

Q: What was the reason for more no-huddle?

A: We just wanted to get some tempo. We knew that the New York Jets were struggling with teams that were up-tempo, so we just wanted to come out and jump on them early.

Q: How big of a loss is it to lose Jerick McKinnon for the rest of the season?

A: Like I said, this entire season has been about overcoming adversity. That's just one more guy that we've lost this year. It's going to give other guys, like I said, Matt Asiata, Ben Tate, Joe Banyard, it's going to give those guys a chance to continue to make a name for themselves in this offense and in this league.