BRETT FAVRE, QUARTERBACK

Q: How's the chin? Do you think you might have a concussion?

BF: I don't think so. My chin is numb right now. They had to put eight stitches in, but right now it feels fine.

Q: Do you remember what happened on the play?

BF: Yeah, I got hit very hard.

Q: And when you went down, was it just a shooting pain?

BF: Oh yeah. It was sore and bleeding.

Q: When you were on the sideline, you looked a little pale and Brad [Childress] said you were woozy. Were you ever unconscious? Might you be further along with this injury?

BF: No, I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I remember everything, unfortunately. I will be fine.

Q: At what point did Childress come to you and say you were starting today?

BF: We didn't discuss it very much. It was more or less me trying to rehab. I shouldn't even say rehab, it was treatment. I don't know what to say. I was shocked that I was able to play and move around the way I was. My prayers were answered. I wanted the chance to play. I wanted the chance to play and play at a high enough level to give us a chance to win. That was my main concern, which it would be if you were [Childress] or anyone else. I didn't want to play just to play. I didn't want to come in for one play to get a start; I didn't want to do that. I wanted to come in and help this team win. It was touch-and-go even before the game today. You guys were in there for the first five or 10 minutes on Friday and you probably saw me do as much then as I did after you left. I didn't go through the mock game yesterday. I missed Wednesday and Thursday. I just went out for the last 10 minutes of practice. I don't know what to say. The foot is still broken; it is a clear break. It probably should hurt worse than it does. I don't know what to say. So, to be able to come out and play and to give us a chance to win and play at a high enough level, you know, Monday and Tuesday I couldn't even walk.

Q: Do you expect to be questionable every week for the rest of the season?

BF: Like I have said all along, it has been so long since I haven't played that I expect to play. I don't expect to get eight stitches in my chin - that is a first time. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don't expect to get hurt but when I do, I expect to bounce back. As I said last week, I came back and made a decision to come back. I feel like this team is close. I have no idea what will happen the rest of the year, but I am in it to win it. So hopefully our guys will not go south from this. I think we have good character guys. There is still a lot of football left but it is disappointing. I could care less about the questionable, probable, all that stuff. I just expect to play, but I expect to play at a high level.

Q: How does it strike you that one week it is the elbow, the next, the foot and now, the jaw, in the context of the streak?

BF: I am sure people right now ... I had to come out and didn't get to see the end of the game, which is rare for me. Going into the tunnel on the cart, I thought to myself for a brief second, 'What in the world am I doing?' But there is nothing like competing. But, then again, there is nothing worse than losing. So weighing that, and for the physical side of it, I really can't complain. I probably should. I played with a broken foot and I am getting eight stitches in my chin and then the elbow – I have been battling tendonitis. I thought I threw the ball as well as I have thrown it in quite awhile. We ran some bootlegs. Now, talk to me in 10 years and we may think differently, but then again, we may not. Here I am 20 years, I don't know how many games – a lot – and I still feel like I can play at a high level, getting hit like that. I think what would keep most guys out for a long time obviously hasn't kept me out. Call it dumb, call it hard-headed, call it what you want, maybe all of the above. I love to compete. It is just unfortunate when you lose a game like this. By the way, I thought Tom Brady's play – I couldn't help but laugh – that was just an awesome play he made. I just figured I'd throw that out there. It looked pretty nifty there, but that was a heck of a play. But, you know, what can you say?

Q: Can you see this team making the playoffs?

BF: I think this team is capable of it, but I am not going to sit here and sound like Herm Edwards or Jim Mora either. We have to win a game. No secret there. This team is very capable. If you look at this season, a play or two here or there, and you can point to all different phases and parts of the game, times of the game. Bottom line is we have had a chance to win every one of our games. We haven't; we've won two. There are nine left. None of us need to be talking about nine games from now. We need to be talking about Arizona next week. All of our games will be tough as you have seen up to this point. How we respond from a character standpoint will be the difference. I thought we played extremely hard. I thought we made some plays, but we didn't make enough. [New England] made more than we did. I see why they are a 6-1 and a good football team. We are going to be tested every week, but until they say, mathematically, we are out, I would say we have a chance.

Q: Are the shots just not there for Randy Moss?

BF: I would say that most of the time, Moss is going to get a two-deep look to him. I threw the ball deep to Percy [Harvin] that I had the chance [for Moss]. That was one of the few times they played single-safety, man-to-man. But they also played way off. It was two go routes. I could have thrown it to Randy's side, the guy was way off. In hindsight, I wish I had thrown a back-shoulder throw to one of those two, the way they played so high. So there are going to be some rare opportunities where you will [have the chance]. If teams line up and play bump-and-run on [Moss], no help over the top, I'd throw it to him every time. And that is what happened when we played the Jets. They put [Antonio] Cromartie on him and got a lot of single-coverage and I took a lot of shots with him. Now maybe we can scheme up ways to move [Moss] around or maybe even when it is two-deep coverage, you buy enough time and protection by some type of play action, I don't know, but I know what it has done, it has made Percy a better player. He has gotten a coverage that is going to allow him to win. And we are doing some things from a route standpoint, by Randy's coverage – what he is drawing, it is enabling our other guys to get open. I know that is one of the things that New England had done with him. He isn't going to catch 10, 12 passes a game – he could – but it is what he does to the underneath coverage, and I think we have done a pretty decent job of taking advantage of that, but we have to get some points.

Q: As well as you have played all day, what happened on that one interception?

BF: I threw it a little behind [Harvin]. I couldn't exactly tell what happened. Now after the fact, I think, correct me if I'm wrong, he tried to cradle it in, it was just a freak thing. Yeah, I would have liked to put it out more in front of him, but I couldn't really tell where Randy and his guy were. Randy, as we were just talking, had a go-route on that play, and I thought he was taking both guys out – the safety and his guy – and I couldn't really tell where that transition point was going to be or whatever so I tried to drill it to Percy and put it a little behind him, and I am sure that that had something to do with the non-catch that he made – got his view blocked or something, I don't know. But yes, I would have liked to have thrown it a little bit more out.

Q: Are you going to get the concussion test done?

BF: I don't know; I can't remember... No, I am just joking.

Q: But, in all seriousness, are you going to get that test?

BF: Probably, I don't know, but I think I am fine. Nobody knows their body like me, and there are plenty of times I should have been knocked out, but I wasn't, so I think I will be alright and ready to play next week.

RANDY MOSS, WIDE RECEIVER

RM: Well I am going to go ahead and start this thing off. I am going to go ahead and say this - I said this a couple of weeks ago - but I got fined $25,000 for not talking to you all. Me, personally, I really don't care, but at the same time, I do answer questions throughout the week, and for the league to fine me $25,000 ... I am not going to answer any more questions for the rest of this year. If it is going to be an interview, I am going to conduct it. So, I will answer my own questions and ask myself the questions and give you the answers. So from here on out, I am not answering any more questions the rest of this season. Enough said about that, now we will get to the game ... Let me hold it down. I really haven't had a chance to talk to the guys, so this is no disrespect to the Minnesota Vikings and their organization. The captains, [Vince] Wilfork, [Tom Brady], [Jerod] Mayo, Kevin Faulk, I miss those guys. I miss the team. It was hard for me to come here and play. It has been an up-and-down roller-coaster emotionally all week. Then to be able to come in here and see those guys and running plays that I know what they're doing. The success they had on the field - the running game - so I kind of know what type of feeling they have in their locker room and I just want to be able to tell the guys that I miss the hell out of them, every last helmet in that locker room. Deion Branch came up to me after the game and I have never really had the chance to meet Deion Branch, but it was definitely a pleasure to meet him. Coach Belichick gave me an opportunity to be a part of something special and that is something I really take to heart. I actually salute Coach Belichick and his team for the success that they have had before me, during me and after me. So I am actually stuck for words, just because there are a lot of memories here. To the New England Patriots' fans, that ovation at the end of the game, that really felt heart-warming. I think I actually shed a tear for that. Like I said, it has been an emotional roller-coaster this whole week. I tried to prepare; tried to talk to the coaches and players about how this game was going to be played - a couple tendencies here and a couple tendencies there. But the bad part about it, you have six days to prepare for a team and on the seventh day, that's Sunday, meaning today, I guess they come over to me and say, 'Dang Moss, you were right about a couple plays and a couple schemes that they were going to run.' It hurts as a player that you put a lot of hard work in all week and toward the end of the week, Sunday, when you get on the field, that is when they acknowledge the hard work you have put in all week. So that is a disappointment. You know, I can't really say enough about this team and this organization. I met with Mrs. Kraft before the game, because I didn't really have a chance to talk to her before I left, and I just thank Mrs. Kraft for the opportunity to let me be a part of something special. The New England Patriots have always been a special organization, and I have always watched from afar. When I got drafted by Minnesota, and I think I said this a couple of weeks ago, I felt obligated to try and bring a Super Bowl to Minnesota, and this season is still not over. Do I know what next season and the future is going to bring? No I do not, but all I can say is that it is a lot of work that we leave on the field each day. There is a lot of film study that we leave in that room each day. I know how hard these guys work here in New England and the only thing that I really tried to do was take what the best coach in football history has brought upon me, or the knowledge that he has given me about the game of football, and I try to just sprinkle it off to the guys the best way I know how. So I am going to go ahead and end this interview. I have my family to see. I am definitely down that we lost this game, because I didn't really expect us to lose this game knowing that we had a few things that we had to clean up. But like I said, they played a good game. I wish we could have had that three at the end of the half. Maybe it could have been different, maybe not. I don't know how many more times I am going to be up here in New England, but I am going to leave the New England Patriots and Coach Belichick here with a salute. I love you guys. I miss you. I'm out.

Bryant McKinnie, Left Tackle
(On the frustration of climbing out of this hole)
"We have no choice but to. Definitely, it's frustrating, I thought we played pretty hard and just came up with a loss. We have to eliminate the turnovers as well."

(On the little things of being 2-5 instead of 5-2)
"Definitely. Especially on the road having the turnover, really hurts you, so we have to just try and eliminate that and keep fighting."

(On if failing to knock it in at the end of the first half was a key to the game)
"Possibly, but will still had the opportunities a couple of other times. It was a close game, I feel like the turnovers kind of turned it around and gave it to them and they scored off of them."

Greg Lewis, Wide Receiver
(On Randy Moss)
"I knew him from before, like six months of last year. I knew he was a great guy, he fits right in with everybody. He likes to enjoy it, laugh and joke around. He knows when to be serious and when to get it done. He takes his job as a receiver seriously and he wants to win. That's what we all want to do, that's a good mix for us."

(On if Moss was frustrated)
"I couldn't tell you how frustrated he was, I can't speak for him. I can tell you, I am frustrated we keep losing. That's the main goal, whether he had 20 catches or zero catches. The main goal for us as a team is to win and that didn't happen. So, that is frustrating."

Asher Allen, Cornerback
(On the Brandon Tate touchdown)
"We were in man to man coverage and it was my man. We just had to get off the field, and we make that tackle and we are off the field. We have to look at the film and see what happened. There were just too many missed tackles. We got to win one, that is how we have to start things by winning one. They basically ran a play like an out cut, and the quarterback started scrambling. You just have to stay on your guy, no matter how long the play is and I kind of lost him towards the end. "

(On the Tate touchdown)
"As a DB you are always thinking turnover. You usually have a little mental clock going off. You actually want to change the game by making a play. They were just improvising. They were improvising plays, running plays. You try to figure out what's going on. You can't stay on him like that because you are figuring the ball is coming out. You want to make a play on it but it didn't happen like that. We have got to win one. Start out by winning one then everything else will take care of itself."

Jared Allen, Defensive End
(On the defensive pass rush)
"I don't know where to start. I don't think we made the plays we had to make. It is kind of how our season is going. We are almost really good. I don't really know and I will have to watch the film. I don't know what happened out there, obviously in the second half we were not attacking the run. They established that on us. Other than that, you have a scramble that goes for a touchdown and then a kick that should have been a kick. We didn't stop them at the end of the game and get the ball back to our offense to try and score points. It is always frustrating when you are out there and close isn't good enough. We were getting guys in their face. I missed a blatant one out there tonight, I went for the ball and he (Brady) brought his arm back and I missed him. I think we need to focus on just getting out there and not try and do too much. It is just one of those years where things are just not going our way."

(On being 2-5)
"Every game is going to be like a Super Bowl and we have to win out to try and do something. Other than that, we will see how it goes. I mean losing [stinks], you go out there and prepare all week. You practice well and then you come here and feel like things are going your way and just like that, things turn. I guess that is the NFL and they (the Patriots) get paid too. It is frustrating because we have a super-talented team. We are just not putting it together."
Tavaris Jackson, Quarterback
(On coming in cold and getting a TD on his first play)
"As a backup QB you just need to be ready, whenever your number is called regardless of the situation. On that play they had man-to-man and my guy did a good job of getting off the bump. He got open and I got it to him."

(On the hit on Favre)
"I was watching the play and saw him go down, so I started to warm up quick and went in. I did not know how bad it was at the time, I just knew I had to go in. I'll be ready next week if I get the call."

Antoine Winfield, Cornerback
(On the difference in the game)
"A lot of it came down to missed tackles, which is very unlike this team. You've got to give those guys (the Patriots) credit. It is not very often a back gets over 100 yards on us."

(On what the Vikings are going to do to get ready for Arizona next week)
"Well, we need to get back to work, make the tackles and look for a W (win) against Arizona. Not a lot of guys on this team have played 'a lot' of football. I am in my 12th year and I know what we have to do to be successful."

Toby Gerhart, Running Back
(On being a rookie behind Adrian Peterson)
"It is great for me, and we have a good relationship. I have the opportunity to learn from arguably the best back in the league. I am a little bit different type of runner, more north-south, but I can certainly learn a lot, just looking to do whatever I can whenever I get the ball."

Ryan Longwell, Kicker
(On Brett Favre)
"I have seen him, so many times over the years that we have been together, come back from something that would keep someone else out and play well. He did that today. He was in control of the team, in control of the offense and certainly inspirational. I said on Wednesday that I know to never bet against the guy. He is just so good in those type of situations where there is something going on like an injury. He is not only playing but playing well. He is a guy to rally around. He worked hard during the week. You see a 41-year-old doing that with the resume he has, it is inspirational. Guys rallied around him and he came out and played well today."

(On what the team needs to do to get better)
"The little things. Last year things were going our way and right now they are not. It is frustrating to be where we are. There is a lot of football left, but we are starting to run out of time. We need to get a win."

John Sullivan, Center
(On the game)
"I don't know what the stats look like but we have to finish drives better, watch the turnovers and play better as a team. What the Patriots do is put a lot of different looks on tape. It seems they have a different scheme for each team that they play. You don't know what you are going to get but we were well prepared by our coaches. They did a good job scouting."

Chris Cook, Cornerback
(Asked if the Patriot offense did anything Minnesota did not expect)
"No, no nothing at all. It is about playing together and we've got to play together. It is a tough loss. I don't even know what to say about it. "

(On the Patriots being able to run the football)
"Tackling, you've got to tackle. We missed a lot of tackles. I am pretty sure that will be our emphasis going into next week."

Naufahu Tahi, Fullback
(On his TD)
"It was just a quick flat play to the fullback. He got me on the flat, it took a little longer than it should have but we still executed it. I got out late but it worked out. Whatever play they called I was going to do my best to execute it and they called that one. We were confident but there are things we have to take care of."

Adrian Peterson, Running Back
(On not get points before the end of the first half)
"It was tough. Playing a good team like the Patriots you have to capitalize on your opportunities, unfortunately we didn't."

(On being 2-5)
"It's hard to believe. What are you going to do about it, hang you head or move forward?"

(On the 4th and 1 play)
"I saw a crease on the inside and I tried to cram it in. After seeing the replay, if I could do it again I would take it outside."

(On the hit to Brett Favre)
"I didn't think it was to bad until I saw him unbuckle his chinstraps and it was leaking pretty good."

(On the Patriots defense)
"They did a good job containing our offense; I feel we did a good job of moving the ball. We knew we were coming into a physical defense, and they showed it today. I feel like we did a lot to beat ourselves, and those guys made plays when they needed to."