Case Keenum on impressive start for Vikings: ‘I try to prepare the same way every week’

Case Keenum wasn’t merely adequate in helping the Minnesota Vikings beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.

Keenum, who replaced injured Sam Bradford as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, had the best game of his career in completing 25 of 33 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns (for a passer rating of 142.1) to help Minnesota to a 34-17 victory.

‘I try to get every rep I can whether I’m actually in the huddle, calling the play, running it against the scout-team defense or sitting there behind the play’

“For me, being a backup quarterback, I try to prepare the same way every week,” Keenum told Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn on the SiriusXM Blitz. “I try to get every rep I can whether I’m actually in the huddle, calling the play, running it against the scout-team defense or sitting there behind the play, kind of going through the reads in my mind, calling the play to myself.

“So we split up the reps, and when I knew it was going to be me, I got the rest of them and I think guys did a great job up front playing for me. Offensive line, that’s obviously where it starts, but down on the field, those guys did a great job making plays for me as well.”

‘There’s obviously a little percentage of doubt here and there that goes into not knowing certain things’

Keenum stressed that preparing for a game in which he starts is no different than preparing when he is designated in his usual backup spot.

“I try as hard as I can to prepare the same way,” he said. “There’s obviously a little percentage of doubt here and there that goes into not knowing certain things, but in my mind, I try to block everything else out and just go get ready to play and stick to my schedule, do the routine that works for me. It worked last week and I’m going to try to tweak it and make it even better this week, but keep doing the things that I like doing and try to go out and do it again this week.”

‘I’m going to be ready if my team needs me’

And what if Keenum is called on again to start when the Vikings face the Detroit Lions next Sunday?

“I’m going to be ready if my team needs me,” he said. “That’s why I came, that’s why I want to be here, so for that I’m going to be ready and be prepared to give my guys the best shot in order to win football games and win this week.”