There's been a lot of questions about leadership on this team. But when you see guys like Jeff (Simmons) and Nico (Denico Autry) step up defensively, and Derrick (Henry) on offense, what does that say about how these other veteran leaders came up and pushed you guys to this win today?
That may be assumed outside, because getting through a season like this, with some of the losses we've taken, and to come back and win, and stay composed in the locker room throughout the weeks of practices, that takes leadership. The leadership hasn't wavered and has been there for the past couple of weeks. We win at home, that's what we do. So that was already planned by us. But to go out there and do what we do every week. It's a new a opportunity, you can't let the ones that already happened affect you today.
4-7, and obviously you've got more hill to climb. But you get a divisional game at home next week, so what's going to be the mindset heading into this week?
Win. That's all it is. That's all it's about. That's what it's always going to be about until I finish my career, and this game keeps going on. It's all about winning. That's all people care about. The coaches, the fans, the owners, the players. Win.
There were seven consecutive punts between both teams, in the second half. How as a defense, can you guys withstand that kind of that back and forth with the Panthers?
That's our goal, every time we go out there. To make them punt, or get a turnover, something like that. And to put our offense in the best position we can to get points. They're not going to go down there and score every time. That's just how the game goes. The players get paid. And whenever we punt, it's just an opportunity for us to do our job and stop them from scoring and get the ball to our offense again. I think that's just kind of how we look at it.
What does a defensive performance like this, do for the defense, for you guys as a unit, just talking all week about affecting the quarterback, and then really getting back there today?
I think it just rights the ship a little bit, for us personally. Sometimes in some of these games, it's a little tougher when we lose. Maybe some good plays were overshadowed. So the win, and a performance like that, allows the defense to be highlighted, with the guys that make plays.
