The Minnesota Vikings continue to find different ways to win.
On a day when points were hard to come by, the Vikings leaned on another dominant defensive performance and a timely touchdown drive to rally past the Indianapolis Colts 16-10, improving to 6-0 and extending their winning streak to 11 games dating back to last season.
KSTP Sports was in the Vikings’ locker room postgame and spoke with S Harrison Smith, LB Blake Cashman, TE T.J. Hockenson, and WR Jordan Addison.
**_\*\*\*Click the video box above to watch Vikings reaction to their win over Indianapolis\*\*\*_**
Smith put the finishing touch on the win with the 40th interception of his career, while linebacker Blake Cashman delivered one of the best games of his Vikings tenure.
“We’re playing tough,” Smith said. “It’s not always how we want it to be as far as things we can clean up here and there, but we’re finding ways to win, and we’re a tough group.”
For Smith, interception No. 40 was less about individual accomplishment and more about the teammates and coaches who helped him get there.
“A lot goes into it,” Smith said. “The coaches I’ve had, the guys I’ve played with. All of those aren’t just me. I have a lot of appreciation for the people that have helped me along the way.”
The game-clinching takeaway was vintage Smith, arriving at the perfect moment late in a tight game.
“It was at a big moment in the game, which I’ve kind of always prided myself on,” Smith said. “Playing big when it matters most.”
Smith credited Cashman’s coverage for creating the opportunity.
“Cash did a good job getting depth and putting air on the ball,” Smith said. “He had a crazy game, by the way.”
Cashman was seemingly everywhere Sunday. The linebacker recorded two sacks and four passes defended while orchestrating Brian Flores’ defense from the middle of the field.
Despite the eye-popping statistics, Cashman was focused on the collective effort.
“Really proud of the way this defense and offense and special teams played today,” Cashman said. “We’ve had a lot of gritty football games where we’ve had to play tough, keep throwing punches and finish the game by any means necessary.”
Smith was among several teammates who praised Cashman’s impact beyond the box score.
“Dudes are yelling at him all game. ‘What’s the call? What’s the call?'” Smith said. “He’s got so much going on. For him to be able to quiet that when the ball snaps and play with a lot of intelligence and a lot of violence all at one time, he’s playing lights out.”
Now in his third season under Flores, Cashman said familiarity with the scheme has allowed him to play faster and trust what everyone around him is doing.
“When you really trust the coaching and understand how the scheme can limit an offense’s menu, it allows you to anticipate,” Cashman said. “It allows you to be a step faster to the ball.”
That confidence is showing throughout the defense, which has become one of the league’s most disruptive units.
“We’re a hungry group and we’re never satisfied,” Cashman said. “People can tell us how great we’re playing, but we just look at the plays we need to be better on because we know what’s out in front of us.”
Offensively, the Vikings finally broke through after a missed Colts field goal gave them favorable field position in the second half.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson capped the drive with a touchdown that helped swing momentum permanently in Minnesota’s favor.
“We knew we needed a score,” Hockenson said. “It was nice to get one in the end zone, keep the offense moving and take the lead for the first time. And then not give it back up.”
For Hockenson, who stretched the ball across the goal line for the score, the mission was simple.
“I just wanted to score,” he said with a smile. “I missed out on a couple weeks ago, so I needed one today.”
Wide receiver Jordan Addison felt the game’s turning point came when Indianapolis missed the field goal that would have extended its lead.
“Once that happened, I already knew we was going to win,” Addison said. “Good field position. All we got to do is take care of the ball, do what we do, no penalties and just punch it in.”
Addison said the Vikings’ formula continues to be simple: protect the football and let a playmaking defense do its job.
“If we don’t turn the ball over, we definitely got a better chance of winning and succeeding,” Addison said.
The receiver also praised Hockenson’s continued impact as both a receiver and blocker.
“T.J.’s a baller,” Addison said. “He’s been balling all season, really since he got to Minnesota. That’s just who he is. We’re going to need him.”
As the victories pile up, nobody inside the Vikings locker room seems interested in discussing streaks or records.
Addison said the focus remains the same as it has all season.
“We ain’t even keeping track like that,” he said. “We’re just trying to make sure we go 1-0 each week.”
Still, there was no hiding the excitement surrounding a perfect start.
“6-0 sounds awesome,” Hockenson said. “To be here and to be with this team is the best. We have such a tight-knit group, and it’s been a lot of fun this year.”
The Vikings have made plenty of mistakes through six games, but they have consistently done what good teams do: make the critical plays when it matters most. On Sunday, Smith’s milestone interception, Cashman’s dominant all-around performance and a clutch touchdown from Hockenson were enough to keep Minnesota unbeaten and rolling into Week 7.
The Vikings are the only unbeaten team in the NFC following Atlanta’s win over San Francisco on Sunday.