TITANS vs RAVENS
AFC WILD CARD
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021
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(on if the celebration following the interception on the Titans' logo was orchestrated beforehand) "No. This was an emotional football game, and sometimes you just act out of emotion. And I felt like it was a good time to go ahead and do that, so we did it. It wasn't a disrespect thing. It was more like a team-unity thing; like we accomplished something as a team, so we're going to go out there and take a little bit of revenge, I guess. But I don't think it's a big deal."
(on if the goal was to limit RB Derrick Henry to a certain number of rushing yards) "We set a goal: let's try to keep him under 90 [rushing yards], and I think we held him to 40 [rushing yards] or something like that – 2.2 [yards] a carry on like 18 or 19 carries, which is huge. I've got a ton of respect for Derrick Henry. He's the hardest running back I've ever had to tackle. So, you've got to bring it every time you tackle him. Every touch, you've got an offensive lineman hanging off of you, so he'll run you over. I've got a ton of respect for him. So, for us to accomplish that kind of goal against a [running] back like that, who just got 2,000 yards rushing [this season], that's a testament to show you what kinds of guys we have up front, what kinds of guys we have on this defense, and what kinds of guys we have on this team."
(on what was going through his head when the team was down 10-0) "You don't look at the scoreboard. When it comes to the playoffs, you do not look at the scoreboard until it's the end, as a player, because you can't let up. You've got to just keep pounding, keep going, and eventually, it'll work out for you."
(on the opportunity to make a postseason run) "I came here because I wanted to get back to winning football games. That's why you play the game. When I started playing this game when I was seven years old, I started playing because I liked to win. So, unfortunately, I had the rough four years in Denver – we weren't winning football games. It made me really not love the game anymore. So, to find that love for the game again, it really makes you … When you can go win playoff games and have a chance to go win that Super Bowl … Because once you win one, it's like a drug; you want it again. And when that opportunity really isn't there, and you know you don't have the team that can really do it, it's heartbreaking, and it's hard to get up every day and go do it. But when you're on a team that has the players, the coaching staff, an organization that's fully invested in winning a Super Bowl, it makes it fun. Every day has a meaning. Every day you get up, you have a meaning – there's a reason. The sacrifices that we go through on a day-to-day basis; not seeing our families, our kids can't be around us, really, it's tough. It is tough. I miss my daughter so much, but that's why I give everything I have every day, because I can't let it all be for nothing. This sacrifice cannot be for nothing. We have to win."
(on CB Marcus Peters making a pivotal interception) "This guy [Marcus Peters] is the ultimate … You couldn't draw up a better defensive back. This guy is unbelievable. When a big play needs to happen, he makes it. We've got a bunch of guys on this defense like that, though. I talked to him the drive before [he made the interception]; I was like, 'C'mon, make a big play. Close this game out.' And he did it. That's a Hall of Fame-type of player right there."
(on playing with DE Calais Campbell and DT Brandon Williams) "I love those guys. I love this team as a whole, first of all. But I think that it shows … Think about it; we haven't even gotten to spend time around each other and really get to know each other that well. The only time we get to spend with each other is when we're on the field, so every second is precious. Every snap is precious that we get to be out there together, because you never know when somebody is going to get COVID-19, or somebody is going to have an injury, and you don't get to be around that guy anymore. Once somebody is in the training room … We can't be around each other. We can't spend more than five minutes around each other. We have to separate. You've got to be six feet apart. It's just a difficult time to get to know guys. So, we've gotten really close on the field, and we respect each other, and we love each other because of the way we ball out, and we play. We play hard, and we strain through blocks. We put our body on the line every snap. I've got nothing but respect for those guys."
(on the leadership he brings to the Ravens) "I just try to bring experiences that I've been through, because I've been on teams [where] we had the greatest team ever, and we went and lost in the first round of the playoffs. I've had teams that were kind of subpar on offense, but we had a great defense, and went and won it all. I've been to the Super Bowl and lost, I've been to the Super Bowl and won, and all in four years. So, [I got] a lot of experience in the first four years of my career. Then, I had four years of losing football. I really have so much experience that I know what a winning team looks like and the kinds of things you have to do. So, I really just try to lead by example, and I try to speak up when I feel like I need to say something. The great part about this team is we have a great head coach that treats people like men. I keep saying this; he treats us like men. And that's all I can ask for from a coach; treat me like a grown man, correct me when I'm wrong, coach me. And we've got nothing but coaches that will coach you all day – coach the hell out of you."
(on Tennessee's offensive coordinator Arthur Smith receiving interest as a head coach and the job Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale did this week) "I'm just focused on winning the next playoff game. All the coaching switches and that stuff … We've got to focus on the next game, and that's how you win playoff games. You don't think about all the other stuff – the offseason stuff that's going to happen – because if we win a Super Bowl, we'll be eternal."
(on how he would describe the Ravens' plan for RB Derrick Henry) "Physical. Physical, physical, physical – yeah, yeah, yeah."
