*Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer *
Obviously, a very difficult loss for our team and for our fans. I told the team how proud I was of them. They fought to the bitter end and I know Coach Zimmer would have been very, very proud of them. Obviously, my thoughts and prayers go out to him and a speedy recovery. I know as tough as he is, he'll be back before long. We'll get this thing righted and keep fighting, try everything we can to win that next game and keep plugging away from there.
Q: When did you find out you would be handling the coaching duties tonight and how did you feel about it?
A: I found out last night that Coach [Zimmer] had to have an emergency surgery and that he may not be able to coach today. My thoughts immediately went to preparing for that.
Q: How do you prepare for this kind of role?
A: I think you kind of, hopefully, have been preparing your whole career. Learning, understanding the game. I appreciate what Rick [Spielman] and Coach Zimmer did, giving me this opportunity to help our football team win tonight. Obviously, I didn't do my part and we didn't get it done. I think you listen, you learn, you pay attention. I think the key is, at the end of the day, we have a great staff. Coach Edwards did a great job with the defense tonight. Coach Shurmur did a great job with the offense tonight. Ryan Ficken [Assistant Special Teams Coach], who helps me with special teams, kept guys together on the sideline and made all our corrections. So when you have a bunch of guys that work hard, when you've got a great locker room with great leadership, it makes my job a little bit easier to prepare for this type of game.
Q: What did you observe on the two-point conversion attempt? Did it look like hands to the face on Sam Bradford?
A: I saw it, it was a quick replay. I guess I'd have to see it on tape.
Q: What did you see on the challenge?
A: I got help from upstairs, they said we should challenge it because he started to slide prior to the yard-to-gain mark for the first down. I got a lot of help from upstairs, obviously. It was a good call by them.
Q: How frustrating was it that both punt units struggled tonight?
A: I wouldn't even call it the whole unit. I don't think our punter punted very well. He's been having a great year. Very disappointing performance and he knows that. We'll talk about it and we'll hopefully learn and get better. I didn't do a good enough job preparing the two returners back there. Cordarrelle [Patterson] looked uncomfortable and that's part of preparation. Adam [Thielen] took a chance on that one because we felt like we had to get some good field position for our offense. He did that a couple weeks ago, putting his arm out like that, we thought we had it corrected and it reared its ugly head again. The great thing about those guys is they want to win. Adam has been a fantastic special teams player over the years and, obviously, he's having a good year on offense. I feel bad for them, my heart goes out to those guys. But we can't have those type of mistakes against a team that is coming in here at 10-1, you just can't. Because if we don't have those mistakes I really think we have an opportunity to win that game.
Q: What kind of communication did you have with Coach Zimmer today?
A: He has an imprint on everything that we do, offense, defense, and special teams. I just spoke with him briefly this morning because he came in and talked to the team. It was tough for him. It was really tough to see his emotion knowing that he wouldn't be there with the team tonight. It would have been hard for me, because he's such a competitor, that's why I love working for him. He's a tough guy, he's a competitor and it would have been awesome to have him here tonight. But I had a brief conversation with him this morning about some game logistics, inactives and that sort of thing. Then talking to the other coaches, they all gave me encouragement. Pat Shurmur's been a former head coach, he doesn't have any ego at all, he's over there this morning and we're going over different situations and scenarios. George Edwards, I was doing the same thing with him. These guys have coached a lot of football over the years. At the end of the day, I got a lot of help from the staff. The players were phenomenal, they treated me great. It was a great opportunity for me, I'm just sorry we didn't get it done.
Q. How do you think the defense played with George Edwards calling the plays?
A. I thought our defense played fantastic. I think we gave up the one play to Dez Bryant, I think we gave up a pretty long run to Ezekiel [Elliott]; two obviously very good football players. Other than that our defense they buckled down, they played their tails off. When we turned the ball over at the 11 yard line we gave our defense phenomenally horrible position, field position, and we can't do that. Not against a team like that.
Q. What was Coach Zimmer's message to the team this morning?
A. You know, that he wanted to be there. Obviously it was tough for him not to be there. He let the team know that and the team already knew that but I think it was important for Coach to be there to let them know that. That's what I got out of it. He did a great job with the team this morning, he really did. It was very, like I said difficult for him to do but I'm proud of him that he stood up there and told the team what he had to tell them. I think he did the right thing. He's stubborn and tough but at the end of the day your eye, you could lose the use of your eye, that's crazy. I'm glad he stayed home and again I wish we could of done more to get him the victory.
Q. When do you expect to see him again?
A. I don't know the prognosis. I know he has an appointment tomorrow, a doctor's appointment tomorrow and then we'll go from there. Hopefully we get good news tomorrow.
Q. What can you say about Sam Bradford's play and toughness tonight?
A. I thought Sam did a great job tonight, I really do. He proved once again how tough he is. I thought he did a great job scrambling for us and getting a huge first down for us, I think it was the third quarter maybe. And then driving us down at the end of the game, giving us a chance to at least tie the game at the end. Like I said, we can't have those self-inflicted fouls. We had another, we moved again up front and we did that several times and you just can't do that against a good team. You keep shooting yourself in the foot when you have an opportunity to be in the redzone to score touchdowns, we shoot ourselves in the foot and we have to settle for field goals. The points for field goals are great, they're important but at the end of the day we have to score touchdowns to win games. I think we're getting close and with the leadership that Sam [Bradford] provides on the offense, like I said the more I see him play the tougher I know he is.
Q. Do you expect Sam Bradford to get an MRI on his ribs?
A. I don't know. I think we came out pretty clean tonight so hopefully we'll be okay.
Q. Have you allowed yourself any time to think about what this opportunity means for you as a coach?
A. No. I haven't thought about that at all. I just wanted to win tonight and give Coach Zimmer another win but that didn't materialize. I don't, it doesn't matter for me. I want to help our team.
Q. Are you prepared to be the Head Coach again next week?
A. I hope so. I hope I'm not needed in that capacity. Looks to me I have my work cut out for us for special teams. If Rick [Spielman] and Coach Zimmer think that we need another week for him to keep healing then I would obviously love to do it. I would be honored to do it.
Q. Lots of the guys are frustrated with the referees in the locker room. How do you keep that in check?
A. I think when you lose a close game like this and a game that we had some opportunities to win the game or at least tie it there at the end of course, there's going to be a lot of frustration. When you have that thing happen, that sort of thing happen, the veterans are all looking around hey we started 5-0 now we're sitting at 6-6 obviously there's going to be frustration with everybody. But I think with the leadership we have, from Coach Zimmer on down with the staff and then the leadership we have in our locker room, we just have to go back to the drawing board. We have to keep working we have to keep fighting because that's the only thing I know how to do and I know how the other coaches feel as well. You know we have good kids, we have good players, we have good people in there that want to win that it's important to them and that's why it's so tough. If we would of cashed in when we were down what, 17-9, like some teams would of, I've seen some teams cash it in in that scenario. When you're backed up and you don't have a chance to, you know you haven't really sustained a big drive yet, to go out and do what we did there at the end just shows me what the true character of this football is. So that's very encouraging going forward.
Vikings Quarterback Sam Bradford
Q: What was the evaluation of your injury at the end of the half?
A: I just took a shot to the ribs. I think it kind of knocked the wind out of me and they're a little sore. But, I just came in at halftime and I think just the time to take a deep breath after that they were really a non-factor.
Q: Will you get X-Rays or anything?
A: No.
Q: Did you get an MRI?
A: Not at the moment.
Q: Do you feel like you're ribs will be a non-factor going forward?
A: You know, they feel pretty good right now. I'm sure tomorrow, like any game, I'll be sore. But, I think obviously with need extra rest and the extra couple of days before next Sunday I think that'll help.
Q: Did you think you were going to get the facemask call at the end of the game?
A: I was hoping to, but it didn't happen. That's how it goes.
Q: How did the false start affect you on the 7-yard line?
A: Obviously, we'd prefer to have it on the 2-yard line. We really liked the call that we had when we had it there. Obviously, getting back up to the 7-yard line I felt like we had a good call. It obviously makes it more challenging.
Q: Did you get an explanation for that facemask?
A: He told me that I did not get hit in the facemask.
Q: Were you fairly certain that you got hit in the facemask?
A: I mean I saw the replay, but I'd probably have to look at it a little bit closer. I just caught a glimpse of it.
Q: Would you like to see a play like that reviewable?
A: That is way above my pay grade. I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make those decisions.
Q: How frustrating is it to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns?
A: That's probably the difference in that game. I thought we moved the ball well at times tonight, but we just continue to shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties especially in the red zone. It's something that we talk about each week. No penalties, no negative plays, no sacks when you're in the red zone. It's a crucial area. When we get down there we've got to score touchdowns not field goals. You know, it came back to bite us tonight.
Q: What was it like to hear that Coach Mike Zimmer wouldn't be here tonight?
A: It was pretty tough. He obviously came by the hotel this morning and told the team. Obviously, I think Coach Zim means the world to this locker room. I have a lot of respect for him just in the 12 weeks I've been here. He's awesome. And for him to not be here I think it was tougher on him to miss this game than it was for us. I would've been nice to go out there and win this one for him with him watching at home tonight.
Q: What was Coach Zimmer's message to the team?
A: It was pretty short, but he just wanted to let us know that he wasn't going to be able to be here with us tonight. And if there was any possible way that he could be there, that he would be here. I think we all know that and just go out there and play hard.
Q: You all threw the ball down the field more this game, what was the difference in the offense today?
A: I think the opportunities just presented themselves to take some of those shots. It's really some of the same play calls we've made in the past, but we just saw some more one-on-ones outside and some more single highs. We tried to take advantage. We missed a few of them and it'd be nice if we could have a few of those back and make some of those plays.
Q: You moved more outside the pocket today, was that your focus?
A: No, I think it was something that kind of just happened during the course of the game.
Q: What would you say to Adam Thielen?
A: It's not one play that decides the game. You know, it's 60 minutes and it's 60 minutes for a reason. There was a lot of football played tonight and I know that he's going to take some of that blame, but there's no reason for him to do that. When something like that happens and anybody on our team makes a mistake it's the job of everyone else to pick it up and make up for that.
Q: Is this the most that you've been hit this season?
A: I don't know. I don't know really what the numbers are, but I don't know.
Q: How does your body feel compared to other seasons?
A: It actually feels pretty good right now to be honest with you. I really haven't taken that many big shots especially the last couple of weeks. To have played 12 games I think my body feels pretty good.
Q: Did you think that the 10 days off will help the team?
A: Yeah, I think so. Obviously, it's been a tough stretch for us here. And I think there's still a lot ahead of us, but obviously there's a lot of improvements that we've got to make. A lot of corrections that have to be made. Hopefully after this break you know we can kind of get away, regroup, come back, focus and finish the season strong like we know we can.
Q: Did you know pretty early on in halftime that you'd come back to play?
A: Yeah.
Q: What was the emotional factor of being so close, but not being able to come through with the win?
A: It's still pretty disappointing to lose.
Vikings Linebacker Anthony Barr
Q: Did you have to deal with many adjustments due to the last-minute coaching change?
A: Not too many. These guys did a great job of coming in and picking up the slack for Coach Zimmer, and they called a great game. I think George (Edwards) did a great job calling the game, and the rest of the coaches did a great job helping him, so I don't think there was too much of a drop off.
Q: What did you think of Dallas?
A: They're a great team, a great offense. Everybody knows about their offensive line, the running back, and the quarterback. I think we didn't play as well as we could have, but we played them pretty tough today.
Q: You get ten days and then it's a playoff push basically the rest of the way, correct?
A: Yeah, we'll have to win out. I was hoping to get this win today and go on a run, but hopefully it starts next week.
Vikings Defensive End Brian Robison
I am just going to say it right now, I'm sick and tired of refereeing in this league. I'm sick and tired of it. You got holding calls all over the place that people don't want to call. [Sam] Bradford gets hit in the face at the end of the game and you don't call it. I'm not laying this loss on refereeing, but at some point it has to get better.
Q: There were ten penalties on Dallas.
A: I don't care. You can look play in and play out. The problem is the costly penalties that don't get called. When you look at the play that Dak [Prescott] scrambled there should have been penalties called on that play and they don't. At the end of the day, that's a game- changing play. It is what it is.
Q: Thoughts on your strip sack?
A: It's a momentum changer. Hats off to their defense. They were able to stop us. We were able to put three points on the board, but we have to be able to capitalize. Once again it comes back to sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot and sometimes they just made the plays in order to win the game.
*Vikings Linebacker Chad Greenway *
Q: Do you feel like you gifted Dallas this game?
A: You can't make those mistakes. Mistakes are mistakes, and in this league when you play hard, it is not enough, and it will never be enough. This is a win business, and you have to win in crunch time. You have to play your best ball when it matters the most. It is situational football. We did a lot of good things we can feel good about but we have to give ourselves a chance to win out and that has to be our mentality. For us as a football team, we will put this in the rearview. They are a good football team. We played hard. We lost. Now we go win four in a row. That is our only chance essentially. That is our mentality. We have done it before. I have been on a team that did that in 2012 and that is going to be our opportunity.
Q: With Prescott, are you at all surprised, given that he is a rookie, how patient he plays through situations?
A: No, I do not think so. I think there are guys that come in. In some situations people are surprised, but that is the draft process. We do not know what is going to come out of these players. You do not know what they are going to do in certain situations and certain schemes. Under the right guidance, it happens all of the time. He is a good football player, and he was a good football player in college. He was put in the right position, but he is a player. He is making plays. I am impressed by those young guys leading the offense, but they are a good football team all around and they play well on all three phases
Q: You know that this team does not give up, but to see it day in and day out in a game like this, what does that mean to you?
A: We have grit in this organization and this team. That is what we are made of. We embody Coach Zimmer. I think throughout my career, college and pro, and even high school, I think teams tend to follow the leader a little bit and go to that message that we all have come from where we have come from and we are coached in different ways, but you always mold yourself into what coach is telling you. No one has more grit than Zimmer, and we know that. Nobody wants to be here more than Coach Zimmer. We respect him so much. Having said that, it does not give us the win. We can be proud of the way we played; we played tough. It is not great. The reality is that we are six and six and that is just the NFL.
Vikings Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn
They came out they punched. We punched back. We had an opportunity to win the game. In the end it just slipped away.
Q: Was it different with a change in coaching staff?
A: No, I wouldn't say that. The coaches tonight did a great job. The coaches definitely stepped up and did a great job.
Q: What has it been like knowing you would play tonight without your head coach?
A: It's different. It's definitely different. But at the same time, this season we have always had the mentality of next man up attitude. That's even with coaches.
Q: Your season has been unreal with all of the injuries this year.
A: Oh yeah, there's definitely been a lot of stuff. At the same time, nobody in the NFL is going to make excuses for us. We are still going to move on. We have to find a way to win these games and try to get better.
Vikings Defensive End Everson Griffen
Q. How tough is this one, to end that way?
A. Tough. That is game we should won and it was a hard game. We fought and it was self-inflicted. We have to find a way to win these, even when we do shoot ourselves in the foot.
Q. What was it like without Coach Zimmer on the sidelines?
A. It was tough. We miss Coach Zimmer and he will be back shortly. He has to deal with himself and deal with his eye. We missed him today, but we fought for him, and we fought for the guy next to us.
Vikings Punter Jeff Locke
Q: From playing like a pro bowler to struggling tonight, what happened?
A: That's a great question. I'm pretty disappointed in how I punted tonight. Especially in a close game like this, we need the field position to help us win. I'm going to be looking at this film pretty quick to see what's going on.
Q: What caused you to punt poorly tonight? Was it mechanics?
A: On the really short one that went out of bounds at the thirty-two I didn't catch it clean. It kind of just got stuck in my hands so I just knew that right away. On the others ones I really have to check it out and see what I did.
Q: Are you frustrated in a game that was very back and forth?
A: Yeah, just like kind of how we play football here. It's all field position. It's all great defense and controlling the ball on offense. I have to be able to do my part.
Vikings Running Back Jerick Mckinnon
Q. Can you take us through that last drive where you got the touchdown?
A. It is just what we practice. The two- minute drills that we do every week and we have been in that situation a couple of times this year. It was time, we had to make this drive and put ourselves in position to have a chance at a two- point play and we did that, just came up short.* *
Q. A lot of guys say they are frustrated and wanted to win this for Coach Zimmer, when he spoke to you guys, how was that?
A. It was emotional. Coach Zimmer is competitive and wants to go to war. Not having him on the sidelines was tough and he spoke to the team which was tough as well seeing him like that. We wanted to come out and win for him tonight and not being able to do that is just frustrating. That was the biggest thing for everybody on the team, trying to get this win for Coach Zim. Coming up short, I am pretty sure everybody took it pretty tough.
Q. What were your thoughts on how Priefer did?
A. I think he did a great job. He kept enthusiasm the whole game and that is Coach Priefer. We were very thankful he stepped in and did a great job.
Vikings Kicker Kai Forbath
Q: Was it a difficult loss for the club today?
A: Yeah, absolutely. We had a chance there at the end. The whole team never gave up, and it's tough when you have a chance at the end and you don't get it done.
Q: You had opportunities, obviously, you made three field goals. But I'm sure as you're standing on the sideline you're hoping that those are going to be extra points.
A: Absolutely. But like I said, I take it one kick at a time. When I get called to go out there I try to score points for the team. But yeah, it's tough when we don't score touchdowns to win.
Q: How do you feel about where you're at, having come in at this point of the season and having a couple of successful games?
A: I feel good. I felt good when I got here because I know these guys well. It's kind of comforting having them down there, and everyone has been real welcoming. I feel good.
Q: You've had some success inside. Do you like kicking indoors here at U.S. Bank Stadium?
A: It's an amazing stadium. The fans are amazing too. It's definitely a fun place to play.
Q: Is this team still thinking they're a playoff team?
A: Absolutely. No one has a doubt in their mind that we can win a few games here and make a push.
Q: What was the discussion when you know Coach Zimmer wasn't going to play?
A: There wasn't a discussion. Everyone just knew what we had to do, and we tried to get a win for him.
Vikings Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs
Q: Were they double teaming you most of the game?
A: You know we are going to take what they give us. I am going to do my job and do whatever I can as a teammate, and make plays when they come.
Q: What does the future look like?
A: I'm not a future teller, but I will continue to work hard and continue to do what I have to do. Do my best and go full every day that is all I can do.
Q: Was there anything that stood out to you as a motivating factor today?
A: No, I am always excited to play no matter what. It doesn't really matter the venue or the stage. Definitely seeing Coach Zimmer go down does make you want to play for him. Every single play I am going to give it all I have regardless.
Q: What was it like on the sideline without Coach Zimmer there?
A: You know he brings some energy and he is always focused. Without him there, there is a difference, but no matter what you still have to play.
Q: How tough was it to march all the way down, get the touchdown but not the two point conversion?
A: You can imagine how tough it can be. You are doing everything you can, and things are still not going your way, but you cannot do anything about it. What is in the past is in the past. Moving forward, we are going to try and correct our mistakes and do what we can.
Q: Did it feel like you did enough to win today?
A: Obviously not, we didn't win.
Q: What is the team's confidence level after today?
A: You will have to ask every individual, but from my point of view I am still the same guy. I go to work, ready to work, get ready for the next opponent. You cannot do much about it, what is in the past is in the past. I approach it that way, and there is nothing I can do about it now.
Vikings Cornerback Xavier Rhodes
Q: How did you handle the coaching change tonight?
A: Just played the game. That's what Zimmer would have wanted, to just come out here and play and give it all we got. That's what we've been doing, just playing football and playing it to our fullest.
Q: There's been a lot of adversity this year, but there's still four games left.
A: We just have to win out, and hopefully we'll make it to the playoffs. Our plan is to just take it game- by- game, day- by- day, and try to win out.
Q: Do you feel like this defense played like you need to play in order to win the football game?
A: As you can see, no. If we would have won, different story, but that's not winning. I feel like a lot could have been done. Like I said, those two plays made a difference in the game, I feel like I could have done a much better job of putting us in a better situation.
Q: How difficult is it playing against a dual threat player like Dak Prescott?
A: For a rookie, he's really good. He gives his guys time to get open. He has great receivers, and they get open. We just have to do better in the coverage and contain him more.
Q: Is this still a playoff caliber team?
A: Yes. Like I said we'll just keep doing it day- by- day, game by game, and try to win out and hopefully get a playoff spot.
Q: How do you feel like the Vikings defensive line performed against Dallas's offensive line?
A: I think our front seven played well. Those guys were stopping Ezekiel Elliot. We watch film and this guy was breaking for long runs. He broke for one but it was called back, so you can't count it. But still, we held him from what he's usually doing, and I feel like those guys played well.
