Featuring postgame quotes from the following:

Head Coach Mike Macdonald

Great team win. Great atmosphere. 12s were rocking. Just really proud of our team. You know, we're just really doubling down on our process every week and really trying to just be dedicated to playing our style of ball, and I think that is starting to show up, which is great. We talk about all these phases complementing one another, stacking plays throughout the course of the game, which has been a point of emphasis over the last couple months and our guys have done that. The resolve that they've shown when we do hit adversity in games is really incredible. Shoot, I am the guy they have to calm down sometimes, which is a great sign. Guys have each other's backs; playing really hard. Like even offensively today we started the game slow but we stuck to the game plan, found some more runs in the second half, and were able to close the game out there on that Charbs run, which was a dynamite play. I know the defense played really well. Proud of them. Takeaways on defense make a huge impact on the game. Really was a team win. Complementary football and excited to kind of get back to get to work for Atlanta.

For a defense to get to celebrate a shutout, those are pretty rare in this league.

It's great. When shut-outs happen, it's hard to keep teams out of plus territory, so when you get there, taking the ball away in the red zone, I mean, DeMarcus Lawrence caused fumble is probably my new favorite play of all-time. Just an incredible, incredible play. I just saw a blur coming down and just violently attack the ball. It's been such a point of emphasis, and to see him do that was really great.

Offensively seemed like they brought a lot of pressures.

Yeah.

Offensive line maybe at times confused?

Yeah, we need to start faster, especially in terms of protection and making sure we're on the same page. On paper it's nice to say we have it protected, but when they're doing it full speed we got to be ahead of plays faster on offense. But guys have resolve. Thought we protected Sam better in the second half. The run game helps with all that as well.

What do you think allowed you guys to pick up on the protection front kind of as the game progressed after halftime?

I think everybody deserves credit. We didn't go all haywire. Just go back to the drawing board, get to good protection that you like, get to better plays, stay out of certain situations, get a better feel for how they're matching us, all the things going on there. Then I think players calming down and executing at a higher level. Look, you got to give Minnesota a lot of credit, too. They had a good plan. They called an aggressive game and they did a good job.

The Charbonnet touchdown, what went into the decision to bring the offense back out on the field?

I was being like too much of a nerd by just saying, make it a three touchdown game rather than a three score game. To Klint's credit, he was confident in what we were going to be in, so we decided to call timeout and go for it.

Hear the fans disagreeing with the field goal?

I did hear the fans, yeah. Turns out they were right.

Any concerns about the offense?

No. It's the same thing every week. Look, there are things that Minnesota did that was really good and there are some things that we capitalized on, which was good for us. We got to understand those things so we can make sure they're not issues moving forward. That's the same thing every week. Every phase, at this time of year, you know, it's hard to come up with new ideas. There is a lot of teams being inspired by things that happen from prior weeks. Happens in all three phases, happens every week, so same process.

Seems like the defense gets better every week. How can you assess where they are right now?

It's funny, we're not worried about all that. We're just worried about playing our style of ball, playing for each other, making sure we do it every day, and then doing it on Sunday. It's like we're really not out to impress anybody or prove anybody wrong. We really don't care. Just trying to prove ourselves right, you know? Our guys are dedicated to doing that. It's a great group.

You mentioned DeMarcus Lawrence already. He also had the pressure on the pick six.

Yeah.

Seems like every game he's...

That's one of these things that DeMarcus does probably better than anybody I've been around, is he plays with anticipation and understands situational football at an incredibly high level. Fourth-and-one in a run-or-pass type of situation and reads it, it's a movement, and that's not part of his technique. That's just him being a great football player and understanding situational ball. Just an awesome play.

What about the effort on the forced fumble?

Oh, yeah, I said it. It was just my new favorite play. Unbelievable. Just plays like a blur of a human. It's on the other side of the field, and then you're like holy crap he's going to make the play. Then you see him coming down with the right hand and it's like, okay. Hopefully recovered the ball. It was awesome.

His resume was awfully impressive before he got here. Anything about him surprise him?

About D-Law?

Yeah.

I mean, I wish I could say yes but it's like AD loved him, we knew he would fit in great with our culture and add to it. I think that's probably the coolest thing, is how well that group, the defensive line room and our defense has really meshed and grown together, which is just a fun group to be around every day. And that's the environment we're trying to create and they've done that. They're the ones that have done it every day. We talk about what's fun and not fun. What's fun is going to work and having great days with the guys you work with and trying to achieve a goal together.

What do you know about Anthony Bradford's injury?

Shouldn't be major I don't think. Just enough for him not to finish.

Looked like Ty Okada played almost every snap or maybe he did play every snap. Made a quick recovery this week.

Talk about really tough football players, Ty is one of those guys -- you know, couple things that we did to get him ready to play medically speaking, and he just got ready to play. Didn't obviously take a lot of reps throughout the week so mentally was ready to go and played good. If D-Bell was the guy to go in we felt great about it as well. Felt like Ty deserved chance to go start.

With the play that Lawrence made, a 12-year vet making that play, what did he have to say in the locker room?

I don't know if the guys see it as an age thing. I think that's just the standard how we want to play. He's right there leading them with the rest of the crew.

I don't think we asked about Ernest. His game, tackles, two picks, coming back from injury?

He had such a great message to the team in the locker room. Hopefully they got video of it. The guy has been through a lot and it's -- you know people -- it's just the position that we're put in as coaches. That's really the reason you have a team, is that you can be there for your brother when they need you. I know we're in a business and there is transactions and stuff, but at the end of the day these are the relationships you're going to have for a long time hopefully. It's really great to see that the rest of the guys are there to support him. And he's playing great football. You know, playing great football and battled through some health things throughout the year as well. I mean, some of the plays he's making in the run game are just really tremendous, really great plays that allows us to really call some defenses that you normally wouldn't call in those situations.

With the pick-six specifically, obviously it's a 14-point swing to that matters a lot, but what's the intangible in terms of how much that matters to a sideline...

It was huge because coming off the takeaway as well. Was that coming off the fumble?

Yeah.

So just a huge turning point in the game. Again, if you make the situations bigger than they are, it's the next play, defense, we're up, let's rock and roll, fourth and one. Josh Jobe deserves a lot of credit. We defend a blade the grass. He made a tackle to create the fourth and one that might have forced them in a pass situation rather than running it. All that stuff adds up, and that was a huge turning point in the game.

Speaking of Jobe, he was checked for a concussion. What's the status?

Yeah, I think he's fine.

On that same note, he had the breakup on Ernest's second pick too.

Yeah, he did. He did. That's a great player he's going against. Just competing. Did a great job.

Cooper Kupp, that fumble recovery, how big was that to dive on that?

Yeah, that was big time. Ball was probably in jeopardy a little too much on offense, but ball finds energy, man. Ball is on the ground, it's ours. That's our attitude.

Seems like we are asking you about Riq Woolen every week now, but obviously didn't end well, but --

I'm yelling ball security. Ball is out here. Come on, man. Such a great play. It was a phenomenal play until he caught it. Then it wasn't a great play. So we'll learn from it. I'm sure CP will have a presentation ready for when the guys get back. Bad call by me; great call by them; better play by Riq. So when your players bail out like that it's big time.

Going back to the comment about energy, what kind of energy did the team have and did you see that coming in in practice or that's just the way they roll?

I'm paranoid by nature. Our guys were awesome. Our guys were awesome. They've been awesome. They've just been great. They bring it every day. When guys need a pick me up other guys pick them up, hold each other accountable and go chase it, man. They been great.

Do they do anything on Jaxon that you guys hadn't seen?

I'm not sure. Got to look at it. I am sure protection is definitely part of it. Have a better answer for you probably tomorrow.

With all that, what did you think of how Sam played? A lot of free rushers coming and blocked passes at the line of scrimmage. How would you assess the day?

Yeah, the blocked passes are tough. You don't want to put the ball in jeopardy, but also trying to get rid of it on time. So we'll look at that. Thought he made some smart decisions, fast decisions. Got away from the rush well. I know it sounds weird, but he took some good sacks actually in some of those critical moments, which is good team football. Did a great job. There is a lot of things he's doing outside of the pass game in that second half that really helped us win the game as well, so operating at a high level.

Some good sacks meaning not forcing the ball like you had in L.A.?

I mean, look, a field goal from the 10 is just, you know, with the ball not being in jeopardy is better than -- just as good as a field goal from the 16 or something, so... not thinking like prior things but I thought those were good decisions in the moment.

QB Sam Darnold

Yeah, obviously an interesting game. As an offense I don't think we played necessarily our best football, but we were able to come out with a win. That's all that matters. Feel like our defense and special teams played really well today.

There were times I felt like in the second half when we were able to get things going a little bit offensively, but, yeah, I think we did enough offensively to win the ballgame.

(On the Vikings' defensive pressure…)

Yeah, they had some good pressures for us. We've just got to look at the tape and see how we can correct some mistakes and how we can get better from it.

You knew they would be aggressive. Did they do anything out of the ordinary that you guys hadn't seen?

They just did some really good things. Some stuff we've seen from them in the past. But yeah, I think just their scheme and players making it come to life, they did a really good job. Again, it's stuff that we've got to continue to look at for ourselves to be able to look at it, and for me personally I got to get the ball out in certain situations.

When you're having a protection issue in a game, regardless of whatever game it is, how do you try to work through that and find the fix as the game is going on, as you're out there getting ready for the next series? What's the process like?

Yeah, you talk about it on the sideline. Talk about the look on the sideline. Maybe it's a third down, maybe it's a second and long. So just going about it that way and moving forward.

You went in the blue tent for a minute. Anything significant at all?

No, should be good to go.

Getting the late touchdown to finish the drive towards the end of the game, what does that do for the offense?

Yeah, to be able to essentially—it felt like—put game away at that moment in time was good for us. Obviously we've got to do that earlier in the game and finish drives out earlier in the football game. Again, it's a credit to our offensive line, tight ends, receivers, running backs, everyone doing their job, doing their 1/11th to put the ball in the end zone on that drive. Good to end of the game that way.

They do anything different on Jaxon (Smith-Njigba) today that you guys hadn't seen?

We'll have to look at the tape and go from there.

How much of his success from down the field is exactly against the pressure package? When you don't get the pressure then Smith-Njigba's game is...

Yeah, I think it goes both ways. I think if teams pressure us we can make them pay. If teams don't pressure us sometimes they can put guys in certain areas to take Jaxon (Smith-Njigba) away. Sometimes it can go both ways. Today I just felt like they did a really good job. They had a good plan. Again, we've got to look at ourselves in the mirror and see how we can be better.

What does it mean to see the defense play the way they did today?

Yeah, it's unbelievable to have a defense like this, you know, just consistently. For us, as an offense especially, for me personally, I hate putting them in positions to where I'm getting a sack-fumble and the defense is recovering it and all of a sudden they're in the red zone and our defense is able to turn that somehow into six points. To be able to play with and for a defense like that is unbelievable. Don't take it for granted one day.

Mike (Macdonald) mentioned Ernest Jones IV talking to the team after the game. What does he mean to this group?

Yeah, he's a big time leader for us. Without going down a rabbit hole of just what he means to this team but he's one of our leaders, big time leaders and what he says carries a lot weight for us. He's just a great leader. He doesn't say much but when he does, people listen.

What did you think when you saw him down the field with the interception?

I was just, to be honest I was watching and I was like "Okay this is good." But we've got to figure some stuff out on offense, so I wasn't necessarily running down the sideline hooting and hollering. No, it was great. Whenever our defenses can go out and make a play like that it's always awesome to watch as a quarterback.

Ernest has had a reputation for a while as a great leader. He's only 26 years old. Are you ever surprised that he is still this relatively young in his NFL career?

Yeah, it was his birthday recently and it got put up in the team meeting. Every time there is a birthday Coach (Macdonald) asks how old are you, and the guy has to say their age. Ernest said 26, and everyone looked around like are you serious, that's it? So he is wise beyond his years just with how he speaks and just with the way he plays football as well. So like I said, he's a great leader for us and someone we can all depend on.

WR Cooper Kupp

On today's win

It was good, wins you're going to take, they're too hard to get in this League. We were the benefactors of some very good defense being played on the other side of the ball. The defense played lights out, put us in some really good positions, and then capitalized on some very bad positions that we put them in. A lot of stuff offensively we're going to want to tune up, a lot of stuff that just wasn't up to our standard, but looking forward to looking at the film, and we're so close. There's a lot of things just right there, just those little details and I'm looking forward to making those adjustments and moving forward."

On what wasn't up to the offensive standard

It's going to be all over the tape. There's going to be stuff at every position, everyone's got a hand in it, and its small things. You play against this defense and what Flo (Brian Flores) presents, and you have to be on your stuff. You have to be able to adapt, move, and understand that there's going to be some looks that we haven't practiced. There's going to be some things out there that you just have to know your rules and be able to go make it happen, players have to make plays. I thought, specifically for us at receiver, you've got to find ways to get the ball in your hands and make some explosives off the ball. Getting out quick, knowing you have to run and make some explosive plays, and give Kubs (Klint Kubiak) and the offensive coaches a chance to be able to jump the ball to regulate some of the pressures that we were seeing. Obviously the was defense playing so well and keeping the pressure on them offensively, I think, kept them in some of that aggressive stuff longer. They just knew that the defense was going to try to find a way to win it for them and it made it very challenging. And other stuff, little things, the amount of balls that were bad down the line of scrimmage, so, how do we find ways to get those out of the pocket? How do we find ways to make those positives? And again, there's not one person that's responsible for that. It's everyone finding ways, like, 'Hey how do we make that happen?'"

On the importance of finishing the last drive and getting a touchdown

Yeah, that's huge. Just being able to run the ball when you're in a situation where we know that the ball is going to be on the ground and finding ways to continue to move the line of scrimmage and battle. I thought as time went on the guys did a great job of being able to, I don't know the word exactly, but to continue to assert your will. It's going to be hard early in the game when everyone's fresh and everyone's feeling good. But how can you do it in a third and fourth quarter? How can you continue to come off the rock and move the line of scrimmage and hit guys and move bodies? I thought the guys did a good job of that.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

On what he thought of the defense

Great. The best in the world. Happy to have those guys. Front line to linebackers to the DBs, they played a great game. They led us, and we're super happy to have the best defense in the world. It's awesome.

On if the Vikings were doing anything to him today

Yeah, Coach (Brian) Flores does a great job mixing up looks, and we're taking what they give us, and Sam (Darnold) made the best decisions for the team and Zach (Charbonnet) and K9 (Kenneth Walker III) doing their thing. It was one of those days.

On what he was thinking on Ernest Jones IV's pick six

Happy. I love seeing that, me sitting on the bench. It's awesome for him having a huge day today and credit to the whole defense. I know he would say that and the ball finding him and him making a play is huge for us.

On trying to break through the defense

You have to stay ready. You have to stay level-headed. It's a fight out there. It's a 12-round fight. Can't win it in the first quarter or the second quarter. You've got to keep punching out there. I'm proud of my guys that we did that today and found a way to win.

LB Demarcus Lawrence

On his forced fumble play

I wanted to do a hit call on the running back. I knew the ball was coming out quick. As soon as I did the hit call, he actually gave me a little thump, so I fell, but playing football all the years that I've played, that's a hot stove, so you got to get up fast. Once I got up and re-traced, the ball carrier was there; attack it.

On his view of the pick six by Ernest Jones

While I was in the process of bringing him down, I'm thinking he was throwing it out of bounds. But, when I heard the crowd roar I am trying to find out what was going on, and I just see E.J. just chucking right beside me. I got up and ran and celebrated.

On the defense getting a shutout

Growth. We have had opportunities where we could have made that happen, but we didn't capitalize on the opportunity, and today we capitalized.

On what this season has been like for him

It is rejuvenating, man. We got a dope brotherhood, we are well connected in our locker room, we fight for each other, we all love the game, so I'm excited to be a part of this group, and excited to go out and hunt again next week.

On what Ernest Jones IV means to the defense

E.J. is special. Having a Mike linebacker that is a great communicator but also that loves to run and hit. Clearly, he makes interceptions now, too. He's all around and I'm glad to have him.

On whether this is the best defense he has played on in his career

Yes. I mean that whole heartedly, but I feel it's another level that we can reach. You all haven't seen the best of us, and we're going to capitalize on our opportunities.

On whether he noticed that the Rams had lost before today's game started

That don't even matter. We got to just continue to play our style of ball. Go out there week after week, 1 and Oh. Don't look at what's down the road, just handle business, what's in front of us.

On the team being able to control their own future for the playoffs

I don't care. They line up, excuse my language, they get f---ed up. Thank you.

LB Ernest Jones IV

On Cooper Kupp's postgame press conference comments about him

For me, that's what it's all about. Once football's over not too many people are going to remember the football player. I want everybody to remember the person, I want everybody to know I love each and every guy that's in that locker room. I put my life on the line for them, and that's no exaggeration. That meant everything to me. I'll take that with me forever.

On his postgame speech to the team

I was telling them it's been rough for me. It's been tough. The release that I get is being around these guys and playing football. I told the guys that I feel like I've been missing something. I wear this cross around my neck, but I haven't been living like it. I took this time this week and gave my life back to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, got back on my knees, started praying. What he did for me out there on the field, it comes from that, but the biggest thing for me is I got that piece that I was missing and it's going to help me.

On his pick six

I saw DeMarcus (Lawrence) holding him, getting ready to bring him to the ground, and when you catch these interceptions, everything slows down. I'm thinking, 'There's no way he's about to throw this.' He let it go, then I catch it, and I'm like, 'There's nobody in front of me.' So, I immediately started running. I look up at the video board and I'm like, 'Dang, somebody's catching me.' It was Riq (Tariq Woolen). Riq was trying to beat me to the end zone. That was my first ever defensive touchdown. It's been a while since I've seen the endzone, so it's great.

CB Riq Woolen

On the mantra of defending every blade of grass being apparent today, especially on their side of the 50-yard line

I thought it goes back to early in the season and being put in that situation and in the red zone. Being (one) yard, being five yards, and we went out there and we got the job done. We continue to (have) those moments and whatever comes, it's nothing new to us and it just feels good because when we get in those situations, we're not stressed. We're more relaxed. We know what to do when we get there."

On his interception

It felt good to have the first one of the season. I've been itching to get one and I finally got one. They come in bunches so let's keep going on a roll. I got to go score that thing. We were up 26-0 so I tried to turn into (a) Madden user. I felt good. I was going through the [offensive] line and I felt like Derrick Henry. Other than that, I was happy to make a play and I'm happy we won.

On the performance of the defensive line

All-around ballers. We all feed off of each other. To have a front like that, it's amazing. It contributes to us doing well. And even with us doing well, that helped them out a little because it gives them more chances to win their rushes because we're covering up their [recievers]. Us working together hand-in-hand and having those great guys up front, it helps.

T Charles Cross

On how important it is to realize that you win in the fourth quarter

Something Mike (Macdonald) has preached to us week in and week out. Being able to run the ball and when the fourth quarter comes you have to take advantage of the opportunities.

On what the Vikings defense was doing

They moved a lot. They play a lot of different defenses. They did a great job most times of stopping the run and stopping the process but you have to turn the tables and take advantage of the opportunities.

On Sam Darnold's ability to stay calm

He had a lot of force in the pocket. Sometimes it wasn't clean, but he made the best out of every situation. He put us in a position for success.

CB Josh Jobe

On the secondary being able to limit Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison

We decided to be aggressive and disrupt timing on guys. That's what we were talking about the whole week. Just pressuring those guys. That was the goal.

On if he's licking his chops when the goal is the pressure the receivers

Yeah, it was to press these guys, but throughout the game, I had to do a little bit better with my press hands. I had to keep working on my craft and pressing. Pressing those guys and disrupting timing and let the D-line get to where they want to be.

On the pride they take on not giving up points when a team gets on their side of the field

We just have to execute and play. That's the result of that.

LB Drake Thomas

On why the defense was so strong when the Vikings crossed midfield

I feel like you see it a lot this season. It doesn't matter what happens, we just go out there with the same mentality. It's process over results. He (Mike Macdonald) talks about that all the time. You can put the ball down wherever and we're going to take the same mindset and approach.

On how the defense forced four interceptions today

Just being sticky in coverage, the rush working well together, the rush and the coverage marrying up well together, being around the ball, making plays on the ball. That's what happens. They say they come in bunches and today we got blessed.

On how it is to play linebacker behind Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II

It's a dream come true. They're not going to go one for one. It's going to take more than one guy to block them. Sometimes two guys can't even block them. They're disruptive. They're selfless. They're great dudes. It's just so many different things that make them what they are.

On shutting out the Vikings

The win is the most important thing. Regardless of the outcome, I feel like it's important just to get back to how we do things throughout the week and what got us there. Even the games we've lost, just coming back in with the same mindset, same approach. What are the things that we need to get better at? What can we improve? What are areas we can grow in and just continue to be better?

LB Uchenna Nwosu

On how the defense disrupted rookie QB Max Brosmer today

Just make everything muggy for him. He hasn't been in an environment like Seattle. He hasn't played against nobody like this. When we saw that and we knew who we were going up against, we had to just make it bloody for him and make everything very uncomfortable. We got after him today.

On forcing four interceptions

It just says we were just working together. Us in the back end, rushing coverage. That's what we do. We disrupt timing up front, and the guys in the back end do what they do best, and that's make plays. It's a complimentary game.

On why a shutout is so difficult in the NFL

It's the NFL. Everybody gets paid. Everybody is a good player in this league. Shutting down a team is extremely hard, but as a defense, we know we're capable of it and we were able to go out there and execute.

DT Leonard Williams

On if playing against a backup quarterback matters in the NFL

I don't think it matters. I think regardless of who we're playing, the quarterback is our target as a defense, especially as the defensive line that we value ourselves as. As long as we get to, flush or disrupt the quarterback, regardless of who we're playing, that's going to affect the offense, especially with a young guy like this.

On the defense "carrying" the game today

Like we always say, defense wins championships. It feels great to have good plays on all sides of the ball. The special teams are showing up, offense is showing up, and defense is showing up, and I think that's really rare in this league. I've been a part of some really good defenses in my career, but this is one of the first times I've had all three phases.

On playing alongside DeMarcus Lawrence

It's amazing. We always talk about how he's just like a ball magnet. He just has an instinct for it. Whenever he's around the ball, he's punching for the ball and he's getting interceptions. He keeps finding the ball, and it's great to have him on our team.

RB Kenneth Walker lll

On if the Vikings showed them anything different defensively than expected

They didn't show much different. Everything we studied is what they brought. We knew that they were an aggressive team, and they brought all the blitzes that we looked over.

On how you mentally prepare for tackles for loss as a running back

It's going to happen. Everything doesn't work out how it's drawn on paper. You've got to get ready for the next play and stay focused on that.

On how much the defense helps swing things back to their side

It's lit. When we are not performing to our standard on offense, our defense picks us up. We love those guys.

On not living up to their standards on offense

We want to score touchdowns. You don't want to settle for field goals and everything but that's a whole offensive thing, myself included. We'll go back and watch that and make the corrections and we're going to get better.

G Grey Zabel

On why the offense struggled to score a touchdown until the fourth quarter today

Just kudos to the Vikings defense. They're moving, shifting and giving us options and a 6-2 look. That ability to decipher that stuff is tough, but I think it's just about figuring out the process during the entire football game. Shout out to our defense for putting some points on the board and helping us out, but at the end of the day, it's tough to win in the National Football League, so we're definitely happy in it.

On the offensive line allowing four sacks today

We've got to be better. I know Sam (Darnold) took way too many hits today, and we can be better up front. That starts with me. There were a few times that I got beat, and it's just can't keep happening. At the end of the day, it's one of those moments and we've just got to get back to work."

On how the run game is beginning to click

I definitely think it's just blocking guys in front of us. We have unbelievable running backs that are able to make those splash plays. It falls on our shoulders and Ken Walker (Kenneth Walker III) is just getting better and better every single week.

S Coby Bryant

On recording the first shutout for the team in 10 years

It means a lot honestly, we definitely don't want to allow any points. It's all-around, complete, good football. It's exciting.

On the team recording four interceptions

From a defensive standpoint, we preach turnovers every day. That's what we went out there and did and got the dub.

On what DeMarcus Lawrence means to the team

Besides him being an old guy, he's been a vet and someone that has been making plays each week. He's been consistent, and a been a leader too.

DT Byron Murphy ll

On his productivity this year

It means a lot. It's showing that my preparation and everything I did in the offseason is paying off.

On what he has learned from DeMarcus Lawrence

Man, I've learned a lot. He's taught me how to be relentless, to always keep going. And another thing too is that football, in general, is about learning how to study o-linemen, and just the o-line.

On what it means to him to get a shutout as a team

It's a big deal. That's hard to do in this league. It means a lot. We haven't had a shutout, I just learned, in 10 years, so that's big and we're going to celebrate that.

On the example that DeMarcus Lawrence sets

I feel like it just makes us hungrier. It makes us hungrier to keep going, to keep pushing, keep making those types of plays, and keep making the offense feel uncomfortable.

LB Derick Hall

On the defense being dominant

It's the process we take every single week. Every time we come out on the field, we want to put together a dominant performance. We've been saying here lately, it doesn't have to be close. Being able to go out there, shut them out. Even late in the game, when they started to move the ball a little bit there on that last drive. You've got Law (DeMarcus Lawrence) and Leo (Leonard Williams), and they're trying to get back in the game, to be able to do what we said we want to do. That's being dominant, controlling the game up front on every single play, the whole four quarters. It's a little bit of relief off our shoulders, being able to practice that.

On Ernest Jones IV returning to the defense

Oh, hell yeah. Anytime you've got 13 (Ernest Jones IV) out there, it's going to be a great day. He's a guy who's seasoned. He's a veteran. He's calm, collected. He goes out there, makes the plays, keeps the defense in the spot we're supposed to be. And we're able to execute with him, so it's good.

On Mike Macdonald

It's hard to say. Mike (Macdonald), he's a goat. It just seems like he doesn't miss a play call. And us being able to go out and execute, knowing what we need to do, being able to go out and, like I said, just execute our job up front, in the middle, and on the back end. And running and hunting, running and hitting. And that's our motto. That's what we live by, and we find that energy. You saw that a lot today.

On him saying it doesn't have to be close

That's what we want as a defense. We want to hold you. We know the offense put up points. So being able to go out there, get stops, be consistent. Just not making the game closer, and playing dominant every single chance we get.