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HEAD COACH MIKE MULARKEY PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT — January 4, 2018**

(on the team's injuries)

DeMarco (Murray) did not practice, we'll list him as out. (Quinton) Spain did not practice, he's got a low back, we're going to list him as questionable. We had a couple of illnesses: (Luke) Stocker and (Da'Norris) Searcy's still stick. Jonnu (Smith) and Kalan Reed both passed their concussion tests, so they're both full. We're good other than 29 and possibly 67.

(on if G/C Brian Schwenke will step in for G Quinton Spain in the event that he can't play)

Yes.

(on seven teams in the playoffs not having won the Super Bowl, and if that levels the playing field)

I don't know with all their history and all that. It's a clean slate right now for all the teams that are in. I don't think anything in the past has anything to do with what's going to happen this weekend for us. 

(on having won close games in the past and if that can help if the game against the Chiefs is close)

We've had a lot of, in the two years, we've had a lot of close games. That's the way this team is built. We've played a lot of those games, we've won a lot. I don't know how it's going to come down, but we do have confidence in ourselves that we can win them.

(on why they've had success in close games)

Our guys don't flinch. They never once get away from what we're trying to do, nobody, that's coaches, that's players, that's all three phases. They stick to the plan and they play until the end. They know that they have a chance to win all of them, that's important. And what we've done, that's confirmed with what we're doing here.

(on the team being loose and confident all week)

Yeah, they have. I've kind of stressed it to be that way. There's no reason now. Every game that we've played has been a big game, that's just the NFL. This is, obviously, just the next one. I want them to be loose and feel good about themselves and enjoy this experience as we go through it.

(on running back Derrick Henry being hard on himself about his performance last week and how he expects him to respond)

We'll see. I saw that. I would imagine he will. He's a very, very tough competitor. I guarantee you, his intent is going to happen.

(on if Derrick Henry was challenged)

No, that's him. He doesn't need to be challenged. If you need to be challenged at this level, you're in the wrong business.

(on if it's good that Derrick Henry see's the need to run harder)

Yeah. Again, he's a young player that got a full-game experience and got to see a lot, which was good for him. That's hopefully going to pay off for this game.

(on cornerback Adoree' Jackson taking the second most snaps in the NFL this season and if that's impressive to see from a rookie)

Yeah, and he's still going strong. I haven't seen him waver at all in regards to his conditioning or just the mental process, especially for rookies. We've got a lot of young guys playing for this football team, and it's been impressive to watch how they've stuck to the plan. There has been no wall for any of them.

(on the team having the second fewest penalties in the league this season and what that says about discipline, especially for the rookies)

That's a disciplined football team. They know that's part of winning every week. Obviously, we work on it out here, we talk about it a lot. It is important, we really need that to happen as we move forward in these games.

(on what point in a playoff game does the hype around the game go away)

Once the ball is snapped, the first ball is snapped. Game's on, nothing's changed.