JAGUARS POSTGAME QUOTES 12-24-23
HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
(On the health status of QB Trevor Lawrence)
“It’s his right shoulder, I don’t have any further details until he gets evaluated either
tonight or back in Jacksonville.”
(On if Lawrence could have played through the injury if the game was closer)
“I mean, at the time, it was severe enough that he couldn’t continue. That’s all I know.”
(On if Lawrence’s lack of practice this week affected his performance in today’s game)
“I mean, you can’t pin this all on the quarterback, right? I mean everybody else
practiced. As a team, [the performance] – it wasn’t good. The sense of urgency wasn’t
there, we didn’t execute very well on offense, the turnovers keep piling up, the run game,
all that kind of stuff. It just affects the whole process. So, it’s not one guy, it’s the
coaches, myself, the players – we’re all in this together.”
(On if he would consider this a slump in the season for them)
“I would say yeah – a four-game skid, crisis. I mean our goals are still in front of us.
Nothing has changed there, but somewhere we’ve got to stop this dam from busting
wide open.”
(On what he wanted to see today to break through this slump that the team is in)
“You want to see a win, right? You want to see the guys come to this game and have
that sense of urgency. I give Tampa a lot of credit. They came ready to play. They’re
playing for the same things we’re playing for, you know, in their division. So, it just has to
mean something to everybody and today I just didn’t think it meant as much to us as it
did to them.”
(On if he considered not starting QB Trevor Lawrence this evening)
“I did not, I did not. Once Trevor was cleared and he was good – he spent the week in
the meetings and all that – I did not hesitate. Again, once he was cleared, he’s our
starter and we roll.”
(On his thoughts on the unforced errors by his team)
“I can’t go out there and do it. You know, (Offensive Coordinator) Press [Taylor] can’t do
it. (Defensive Coordinator) Mike Caldwell can’t do it. I mean the players at some point
have to have enough pride to not turn [it over]. Listen, they’re not trying to turn the ball
over, but there has to be a sense of urgency to have the ball security to protect the
football, and it’s not there right now.”
(On the message to the team going into the Carolina game next week)
“Well, the message is still [that] our goals are still in front of us. Everything is still right
there. Obviously, the division is kind of wide open. We’ve kind of opened that door, but
we’ve got to focus on one game at a time, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
(On his thoughts on remaining at the top of the division despite the four-game slide
they’re on)
“I mean in my brain and my mind, that’s what I hope for, but obviously we’ve got a lot of
things to fix.”
(On WR Elijah Cooks having a big first half and then not being targeted as much in the
second half)
“We shifted gears a little bit to try to get Calvin [Ridley] going a little bit more, but I
thought Elijah did some good things.”
(On if he considered benching QB Trevor Lawrence when the team was down by 30)
“Not at that time, no, no. I felt like, again, if we could find the endzone and score… Yes,
we were in hurry-up, two-minute [offense] the rest of the way but I did not consider it at
that time.”
(On if his decision to leave QB Trevor Lawrence in the game down 30 was to allow him
to regain confidence)
“I never want to throw in the towel and that’s nothing against C.J. [Beathard], but I felt
like too, Trevor, with our offense and the way we do things, just get him going and get
the guys going around him. So, I never considered taking him out at that time.”
(On RT Anton Harrison’s back injury)
“Yeah, just a back [injury], he should be fine.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
(On the status of his throwing shoulder)
“Yeah, it’s bothering me. We’re going to check it out tomorrow I’m sure, so [we’ll] have
more later on in the week. Hopefully its’s nothing major, but yeah, it’s bugging me right
now.”
(On what the Buccaneers were doing defensively to make it tough for the offense to get
going today)
“Man, yeah, we did plenty on our own to mess ourselves up to start there. Then, beyond
that, the Bucs had a good plan defensively. They gave a lot of different presentations,
brought a lot of pressure. [There was] some stuff that I don’t think we communicated great,
and that starts with me. Then just all the way around we didn’t execute. We didn’t do the
simple things right. I thought we had too many plays early in the game [on] first and second
down where we got behind the sticks. We let their pressure and their pass rush and all
those things get going because we were so far behind the sticks where we didn’t really
have much of a choice, but to throw the ball on most plays. So, there’s a lot of things there.
It’s not just one thing that went wrong.”
(On if he remembers what play he got hurt on)
“Yeah, it was on the fourth down where I scrambled and reached for the first down. I got
hit out of bounds and just landed on it, so yeah.”
(On if that play where he got hurt was on the touchdown drive)
“Yeah.”
(On how frustrating it is to want to establish a running game, but having to default to the
pass game to get back into games when the team goes down early)
“It’s frustrating. I mean yeah, it’s just every aspect of the game today was frustrating. Yeah,
that’s frustrating. It’s frustrating that we had so many mistakes all the way around. It’s
frustrating that I had a couple turnovers again. At some point we’ve got to take control of
it and go play the way that I know we’re capable of playing, and we’re not doing that. It’s
like we’re all waiting around, waiting on something to happen for us to get out of this funk
and it’s not happening. No one is coming to save us. We’ve got to go take control and take
these games, win them and put ourselves in position. So, yeah, I’ve got a lot of thoughts.
It’s frustrating. It’s really embarrassing and frustrating. You put a lot of work in to do that,
and to look like you don’t even practice… I mean, that’s what it looks like. You’ve just got
to call it like you see it sometimes. I mean, it’s bad all the way around. So, we’ve got to
find ways to get better. We’ve got to get out of our own way. It just feels like everything is
so difficult right now. Just do the simple things – make the simple plays. Just get back to
doing what we’ve done this season at points when we were playing well. We know we
have what it takes, but we haven’t the last month, so at the most important times, we’ve
got to play better, and we’re not.”
(On if the team is at a crisis point)
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t know how to answer that, really. We’ve got two games left and we
still control what we get in the postseason. We [have] to take care of business these next
two weeks. It’s really bad, though, that we’ve put this on the field the last three [or] four
weeks. It’s a problem and you want to be playing your best football at the end of the season
going into the post season hopefully and we’re playing our worst, so we need to find
answers and we’ve got to find answers quick. We [have] two weeks to figure it out, so
yeah… say crisis or whatever you want. At the end of the day, we’ve got to figure it out.
And, like I said, nobody is coming to save us. We’ve got to go do it. We’ve got two games
left and we’ll see what we earn from there.”
(On if the most frustrating part of the losing streak is that they can’t find a way out)
“Yeah, that is the frustrating part. Like I said, it looks like we don’t even practice. The
stuff that we’re doing, we look lost, no sense of urgency. I mean the list goes on and on.
I feel like we have good weeks of preparation and I feel like we’re prepared going into
games and then something happens on gameday the last month where it just all just falls
apart. We’ve got to figure that out. We’re all in it together. This is our season. We’ve
worked hard to be in this position, and we’re close to pissing it away, so we’ve got to figure
it out. We’ve got two weeks left, like I said, and we’ve got to flush it and move on to the
next one because there wasn’t much good to take from today, but we’ve got to get better.”
(On staying in the game after he hurt his shoulder)
“Yeah, when I landed, I knew something was off. Then, the next play, I throw it and it kind
of hurts to throw. I just wanted to finish the drive out. We were able to get some points and
then on the two-point [conversion], I just could tell by the way that I threw it that I couldn’t
really get my shoulder up good enough to really keep playing. So, I would’ve loved to have
stayed in, but I’m just kind of hurting everybody at that point if I do. They kind of made the
call and I was with it just to take a seat the rest of the night. [If I] can’t really throw, [I’m] not to going to help us with having to throw the ball every play. C.J. [Beathard] came in
and did a nice job.”
TIGHT END EVAN ENGRAM
(On QB Trevor Lawrence saying that at times it looked like they didn’t practice)
“We all [have to] be accountable for ourselves. We’re responsible for what we put out
there, so there’s just a lot of work we [have to] do. I don’t even have an answer for you
man, it’s just a lot of damn work we have to do.”
(On there is enough time to do the work they need to do)
“Yeah, there’s two games left [and] we just [have to] get one. It [freaking] sucks where
we’re at – it really sucks where we’re at, but we just got to get one. It’s a journey to figure
this out and we’re in this spot for a reason [and] I truly believe that we will figure it out.”
(On where their confidence level is at and how does the team control their mental game
as they control their own destiny)
“Just have to continue to look at ourselves in the mirror and get better at what we can
get better at individually and as a unit and put it all together when it counts. We can
practice great every week. When the [scout] teams are out there, we can be perfect
during the week. If we’re not getting the results when it matters, it doesn’t matter. So, we
have to put it all together.”
(On adjusting since losing WR Christian Kirk)
“I said it when we lost him, that everybody has to go up multiple levels because you can’t
fill that void. You can’t fill that type of void with that type of player. Right now, we really
miss him. We missed Zay [Jones] today. At the end of the day, it’s the NFL and
everybody’s in a uniform for a reason. So, everybody has to pick it up, and right now
we’re not.”
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER TRAVON WALKER
(On the team losing their momentum over the last four weeks)
“Back to the drawing board, obviously be very critical of ourselves. Just have to all be on
one accord offense, defense and special teams.
(On his shock level that the Jaguars fell behind 30-0)
“Obviously, from the mistakes, and things we gave them. Defense, we have to get off the
field on third down. I look at myself and even though [Baker Mayfield] was getting the
ball out fast, we have to get our hands up and be effective to the quarterback. Just be
able to take it into our own hands and not be relying on the offense’s energy or special
teams’ energy. Obviously, it was a shock but like I said, we have to get back to the
drawing board. Get back to work.”
BUCCANEERS POSTGAME QUOTES 12-24-23
HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES
(On the balanced success on of both sides of the football)
“Huge complementary football. It’s the kind of football you want to play in December.
Defense got turnovers [and] the offense cashed in. [We] kept the ball most of the first
half, gave the defense a rest, and they played good football.”
(On OLB Yaya Diaby)
“He’s settling in. He’s settling in – he’s feeling comfortable. We kind of let him go a little
bit. He’s adding to the tools he had in college and he’s making it own.”
(On S Antoine Winfield Jr. after being evaluated for a concussion)
“He’s fine – he could have went back in. We just held him out because it was towards
the end.”
(On if it was determined that Antoine Winfield Jr. did not have a concussion)
“No, he didn’t have one.”
(On LB Devin White’s return to the lineup this week and if there was any extra motivation
for him)
“I can’t speak for him, but it wasn’t from me. Me and Devin are very close – we talk about
everything. His practice was normal – he looked ready to go. He looked fresh in practice,
he was running around. He made the play in the game that he made in practice.”
(On the play of QB Baker Mayfield the past two weeks)
“He’s been outstanding. He’s been outstanding in December – that’s what you want from
your quarterback in December. Everybody knows each other’s plays right about now, but
when you’re trying to make a push and your quarterback is playing great, it gives you a
chance.”
(On creating takeaways early to create separation)
“Oh, it’s huge. That’s a great quarterback – it’s huge for us to get takeaways early. It
keeps them off the field, and it gives us some momentum, especially going into the half,
and it worked out for us.”
(On the improvement of the team late in the season)
“Well, we’re piecing it together. We’re piecing it together – everybody’s playing for each
other. Everybody is locked in and we’re trying to get in [to the playoffs]. We’re clawing,
we’re scrapping, we’re doing everything we can. Those guys have great attitudes – the
leaders have been great for us getting us through tough times, coming out on the other
side, and we know it’s not over.”
(On if the team’s comeback win at Atlanta was a catalyst for the team’s recent success)
“I don’t think I had a sense at that time – we needed to win every game. Like I said, we
had to start our playoffs and we started it around that time, and we’ve been going ever
since. We’re going to keep riding it – finding different ways to win. Finally coming
together as a group is great, but again, you’ve got to do it every week and they
understand that.”
(On if he considered pulling starters with a large lead in the second half)
“No, we’ve got a lot of young guys that need a lot of experience. I think last year, we
played Atlanta and pulled the starters in the last game – we lost our mojo going into the
playoffs. We’ve got things to work on and get better and we’re going to play.”
(On becoming more aggressive on fourth down decisions)
“It kind of helps when you’re up 30-0. You can pull the trigger and not have to think
about it as much. I’m sure if the game was 7-6, you’ve got to think about your calls a little
bit more. But, it kind of frees you up a little bit.”
(On the injuries to OLB Shaq Barrett and CB Carlton Davis Jr.)
“I know [outside linebacker] Shaq [Barrett] has a groin [injury], and I don’t have anything
on [cornerback] Carlton [Davis Jr.] yet. I don’t know how bad Shaq is at this time.”
(On if he plans to play starters in Week 18 if the team clinches the NFC South title with
win over New Orleans next week)
“Well, we’ll see. Our young guys are our starters, it’s not like we have young guys on the
bench to put in and get experience. They’ve all been playing since the beginning of the
season. So, we’ll discuss it then. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, because
we’ve got a heck of a game to play this Sunday.”
(On his upcoming Christmas dinner after the victory)
“For me, the win is everything. Obviously, it’s all about winning. Two of my boys, out of
three, are home. I’ve got everybody at the house right, so it’s going to be a great
Christmas.”
(On if the win makes things taste better)
“I won’t be eating cookies tonight.”
QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD
(On how tonight’s win felt)
“Great. Yeah, obviously, we’ve been taking the single-game mindset – one game at a
time. That was a big one. We started fast. Coach talked about that. That was the
message. And obviously, offensively, we’d like to finish better. We’d like to put them
away a little bit more. A few too many negative plays in the second half. But overall,
complementary football there in the first half, which allowed us to jump out to a huge
lead so. Can’t say enough about how the defense played and the way we played in the
first half.”
(On how the offense has progressed throughout the year)
“Yeah, it says a lot about the group that we have. About the coaches that haven’t
wavered on the game plans. Haven’t wavered on the foundation of our system, but then
the guys trusting it at the same time. Run game has come along. Pass game has
obviously improved. It says a lot about the group that we’ve had that had gone through a
big rough patch there in the mid-season. So, to stick it out and win four in a row, to be in
control of our own destiny at this point is great. That says a lot about the character that
we have.”
(On Coach Bowles usage of “scratching” and “clawing” to describe the team.)
“Yeah. By any means necessary, we are trying to find a way to win. Anybody can help
us out. We have a lot of guys that we trust, that we count on. And however it plays out,
it’s good for us. So, we know that anybody and everybody can step up for us.”
(On lowering his shoulder on seven-yard scramble and looking “Alstott-esque”.)
“Alstott-esque? I wouldn’t go that far. He probably would have scored. Yeah, can’t
disrespect Mike [Alstott]. But yeah, you know, third-down down there in the red zone, got
to find a way to get in closer and get the first down.”
(On if tonight was his best performance of the season at home.)
“Yeah, it was pretty close. There’s definitely some things that I want back. There’s a play
on third and long, threw a ball to Trey Palmer in the slot. I should’ve come back and
throw the screen – it’s probably going to be a touchdown. That’s going to be one that’s
going to haunt me tonight. There’s a few others. Got to trust Cade [Otton] in the flat just
to break a tackle on fourth and two. There’s just some critical things that still could
improve. But, like I’ve said in the past, it’s good to learn from a win instead of a loss. So,
we can continue to improve though.”
(On how difficult this team could be to play if they continue to play how they are right
now.)
“Extremely difficult. Obviously, had a lot of guys come back tonight on defense and then
just offensively, we are continuing to improve and so we are getting hot at the right time.
But, we can’t take that for granted. Got to keep working on that. We’ve got to realize the
one-game-at-a-time mentality has really been the turning point for us. That singular
focus has been the edge and intensity that we’ve needed. So, we’ve got to continue to
have that.”
(On his connection with Mike Evans.)
“Mike [Evans] is a stud. If he’s not double-teamed, then the ball’s going to find him. He’s
going to find a way to win. So, yeah, he played great today. The first touchdown, they
decided to keep somebody in the middle for Chris [Godwin] and Mike had a one-on-one.
Then, same thing on the second one. So, he continues to find ways to win. Then, can’t
say enough about Chris being clutch on third downs converting. He’s that consistent guy
for us.”
(On is he has been “letting it rip” more the last two weeks)
“A little bit. But also, we’re just more on the same page. I think we’ve improved that
much. There was a sack early, I think it was first drive actually, held onto the ball for too
long. I’ve got to find a way to get it out of my hand. But those are the sacks I truly hate
for the guys up front because they’re blocking for forever. And I’ve got to find a way to
throw it away or find somebody open. But, yeah, for the most part, our skill guys are –
we’re all on the same page right now.”
(On if the improvement had come with more trust with the receivers.)
“Absolutely, and that comes with each game rep in this new system as we are learning
each other – learning body language in and out of routes and understanding that.”
(On what it would mean to win the division next week at home)
“That’s our mindset. Going to close it out at home. And then, go in with the same
mentality to Carolina. We’re still playing for a better seeding. Obviously, if you win the division, you get the fourth seed. But, who knows what can happen. So, that one-game-
at-a-time mentality and we have New Orleans at home next week.”
(On how excited he is to come to work every day.)
“It’s a hell of a lot better than the last five years, I can say that.”
(On how satisfied he would be to stay in Tampa long-term.)
“Yeah, like I’ve said, answer’s not going to change, I’d love to be here. It’s a great city.
Great group of guys. Great organization. But, winning ball games takes care of that. So,
we’ll have that discussion after the year.”
(On if he asked Santa for the win today)
“I did ask for a win. Yeah. So, he brought that for me so that’s was great. But, I’ve got
another one coming. There were two parts to the wish.”
(On Payne Durham’s catch.)
“Payne [Durham]’s been doing a lot of dirty work but the way he’s able to high-point the
ball – he’s got a true knack for catching the ball and body control. So, yeah he had a
one-on-one with a linebacker, tried to give him enough air in case the linebacker
grabbed him. So, he made a great adjustment in the air and an unbelievable catch.”
WIDE RECEIVER CHRIS GODWIN
(On the next game against the New Orleans Saints)
“I think we’re trending upwards now, and we just have to refine the things that we made
mistakes on from this game and be ready to bring it. We know how divisional games are,
especially versus the Saints. Surely, they’ll bring their best and we have to bring ours.”
(On what it was like having a win at home on Christmas Eve)
“Man, I think we were talking about that on the sidelines. It’s cool to play on Christmas
Eve, but especially to be at home and be able to spend Christmas with your family on
Christmas day as opposed to being on the road, especially across the country. We are
fortunate in that regard, and it makes it even better to get a Bucs win, right.”
(On if he still gets amazed by WR Mike Evans)
“Honestly, somehow he does, man. It’s crazy how he’s so consistent. I say it all the time,
he’s underrated as they come, and it’s insane to me how he is, but he doesn’t care about
none of that [stuff].”
(On Evans leading the league in touchdown catches)
“It’s like he goes out there and he does his job, he executes at a high level, and you
have to account for him. Teams try to double him, and it still doesn’t work, so, you know
they’re going to try something else.”
(On if he would call today’s game a complete game)
“I think it was as complete of a game as we’ve played this year. With that being said, we
still have more growing to do, which is exciting. It’s like we go out there, we played
against a good team, and we handled our business. Now we [have] to learn from it, we
have to capitalize. Instead of scoring field goals we [have] to get touchdowns. Man, not
much to say about the defense, right? They forced a bunch of turnovers, and they were
playing their [butts] off. Even special teams, they were handling their business, so a
complete team victory, and it feels a lot better on Christmas Eve.”
LINEBACKER DEVIN WHITE
(On the performance of the defense helping keep the Jaguars off the scoreboard for
almost three quarters)
“Yeah, I mean that was a goal. We knew we [could] come out here and be very
aggressive, and man, we’re playing good ball right now. So, we’re just trying to keep it
up. I think Coach [Todd] Bowles is putting us in excellent positions to be successful.
Man, we are really locked in right now because we know what’s at stake. We don’t want
to just be a Cinderella team – we want to be a team that can make some noise.”
(On what it means for the team to keep playing with this positive momentum this late in
the season)
“Yeah, that’s what happens, man – you always want to play your best ball when it
matters most. You know, December ball means the most. And it’s good right now to be
winning and [not] losing, you know? So, we hit the streak at the right time and we’re just
taking it one day at a time and just staying locked in.”
(On the personal satisfaction of recording an interception in today’s game)
“I mean, that’s just what a healthy Devin White [does] – go out there and make plays, get
to the ball and find the ball. So, I’m just excited that they held it down while I was out, but
I’m even more excited to be back out there making those plays with them and
celebrating when they make those plays.”
(On if he came off the field at all)
“I mean, like I said, Coach Bowles, he tried to tell everybody… You know, once he got
me in a rhythm and got me going, he was going to let me go. And that’s what he did. And
I really appreciate him, you know, much more than anything because he helped me out.
He helped me to be able to get back to myself by taking the game away from me and
telling me to go heal up and then bringing me back on my own will when I felt right. I
really appreciate him for that.”
(On his interception being a huge momentum play early in the game)
“I mean, it’s just all credit to the defense, you know. Everything happened at the right
time. You know, Coach [Larry] Foote, we studied that formation. I kind of had a feeling
that it was coming, and we did it from a split look. So, it looked like I was blitzing, but I
was able to disguise and get in coverage and just make a great play.”
(On his preparation this week to be able to return to game action)
“I mean it was a great week for me. I had great preparation all week. You know, I went to
work just like I always do. And I felt good. You know, I felt better. I didn’t play with no
spat. I didn’t play with none of the extra stuff I’ve been playing with. I was able to go out
there and just be myself and, you know, full confidence in myself, in my body and
obviously my team backed me up. You know, there’s a lot of communication going on for
me to play fast for them, for those guys to play fast, and you know, you see what we do
when we play fast and communicate.”
SAFETY ANTOINE WINFIELD JR.
(On Head Coach Todd Bowles’ game plan)
“Great game plan. You know, we executed all around, so we just [have] to continue to do
that more. That really starts in your preparation in practice and things like that. We knew
what type of game it was going to be. We just came here and executed tonight.
(On the team clicking at the right time)
“It’s all about clicking at the right time. I feel like those few weeks right there when we
had some losses, you really find out a lot about the team. Right now, our goal is just to
continue and get better every week. Like I said, it’s playoff mode. It’s a playoff game
every week for us. It’s win or go home, and that’s our mentality.”
(On what he learned about the team during the adversity the team faced in the middle of
the season)
“We work hard. Whenever there is adversity, everybody comes together and works hard,
and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys that I work with every day.”
(On how big it would be to wrap up the division at home against the New Orleans
Saints)
“It would be huge. It would be huge. Like I said, our goal is to come out here and play
playoff football every week, so we just [have] to make sure we take care of business.”
(On the difference tonight for the defense)
“We were healthy. We knew we had everybody, and we were just ready to rock and roll.
We came out here and played lights out, so I’m proud of the guys.”
(On what is clicking right now to lead to victories)
“You know what, I [can’t] really say. We’re just coming together at the right time, that’s all
I can really say. You know, you always want that build up into the playoffs, so we’re just
clicking right now.”
-BUCCANEERS-
