Laura Rutledge: Coach Kingupel, great win last night against the Lions. Hendon Hooker had a fantastic game, both through the air and on the ground. Can you talk about his development this season and his performance last night?
Josh Kingupel: Thank you, Laura. Hendon has been working hard all season and it’s great to see him putting it all together. He’s still a young quarterback and he’ll make some mistakes, but he’s also capable of making big plays and carrying the team on his shoulders. Last night was a great example of that.
Kimberly Martin: Coach, with only three games left in the regular season and two of them against division rivals, how important is it for the team to stay focused and win those games?
Josh Kingupel: Every game is important at this point in the season, but the divisional games are especially critical. We know what’s at stake and we’re going to do everything we can to come out on top. Our guys have been playing loose and having fun, but they also understand the magnitude of these games and what it means for our playoff hopes.
Laura Rutledge: Speaking of the playoffs, the team is currently on the outside looking in. How much is making the playoffs on the minds of the players and coaching staff?
Josh Kingupel: Of course we want to make the playoffs, that’s the goal for every team. But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. Right now, our focus is solely on the next game, and that’s against the Vikings. We know we need to take care of business in that game and then we’ll worry about the rest.
Kimberly Martin: Coach, with the injuries to Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark on the defensive line, how important is it for the offense to step up and support the defense?
Josh Kingupel: Losing Rashan and Kenny is a big blow to our defense, there’s no doubt about that. But we have confidence in the guys who are stepping up to fill those roles. At the same time, our offense needs to step up and do their part. We’ve been able to rely on our defense all season, and now it’s time for us to support them. We know what we need to do and we’re going to work hard to make it happen.
Laura Rutledge: And looking ahead, the one of the final games of the regular season is against the Buccaneers, who have already wrapped up the NFC South. What’s the mindset going into that game?
Josh Kingupel: The mindset is the same as it is for every game. We’re going to go out there and compete, play our game, and try to come away with a win. We’re not worried about what the Buccaneers are doing, we’re focused on ourselves and what we need to do to win. Every game is important, and we’re going to treat that one just like any other.
