HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. Was today a little better and the game closer to where it was at the end of last season, a step in the
right direction?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, anytime you can obviously win a game, you feel good about yourself. I thought
the offense did some good things today. Picked up some big third downs in the second half. Obviously those last two drives, the ball was at the 10-yard line. You go down and get a field goal, ball at the six-
yard line, go down and get three and then finished the game the same way. Yeah, there’s still some things we’ve got to work on and clean up, but obviously much better today by the offense.
Q. Defensively [OLB] Josh Allen with three sacks. Can you talk about his performance, what he’s done
through three games?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, listen, he was in a great head space before the game, this whole week. Just an
outstanding performance, and obviously the big one there at the end. It’s what he’s capable of doing.
Same way when you talk about guys like [QB] Trevor [Lawrence] and [WR] Christian [Kirk] and [WR]
Calvin [Ridley] and [WR] Zay [Jones] and all those guys, he’s in that conversation. Those are the guys that
need to step up and make plays, and he did a great job for us today. It’s something that he can be proud
of and we can work on that.
Q. What was your decision process in starting OL Tyler Shatley?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, we felt, too, like this defensive front was a little bigger, heavier, stronger
front. We just felt like Shatley gave us the best opportunity there. Was nothing really against [OL] Ben
Bartch. We just as a staff just felt like it was Shatley’s time to get in there.
Q. Is that what it’ll look like moving forward?
DOUG PEDERSON: It’s hard to say. We’ll look at the film, evaluate it, but yeah, I’ll let you know on
Wednesday.
Q. You had a big pick six, a big stop in the end zone. Could those two plays may have been the
difference in the game for you guys?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, the pick six was huge, stopped the offensive score. I thought the defense played
pretty solid all day. The drive at the start of the third quarter, obviously, you’d like to do better there,
and then holding them out of the end zone when they did at the end of the game. Overall the turnovers
and [OLB] Josh’s [Allen] performance, there’s just a lot of good effort today, and they played together as a team. That’s the sign that we’re headed in the right direction. We’re getting some things fixed, and still
got some work to do, but very pleased with today’s win.
Q. Can you rate Trevor’s [QB Trevor Lawrence] performance today?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I thought he was solid. Saw the field well, saw Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] for the
first touchdown there, got in behind the defense and made a heck of a play, used his legs today on some
big third downs for us, played tough, physical. Just did Trevor-type stuff. He played a good game.
Q. How does it feel to win at home, now London is your second home, so how does it feel to get this
win?
DOUG PEDERSON: It feels great. The guys are excited, I’m excited. Anytime you come all the way over
here and spend a couple days and get a chance to play a football game, it’s exciting for our organization,
for Mr. Khan, [Jaguars Owner Shad Khan] and for us to get a win obviously is big.
Q. Next week against the Bills, how do you manage that?
DOUG PEDERSON: No different than a normal week back home. I’ll keep the schedule the same, routine
the same. I will give the guys some time, obviously once we move up to the other hotel, and tomorrow
we give up some time to recoup and enjoy the area and then it’s back to work on Tuesday, and we
prepare for Buffalo. We try to keep it as normal as I can throughout the week.
Q. Did you get a sense today that the team was completely over some of the losses?
DOUG PEDERSON: It’s hard to say if you’re over it, but I think they were much more relaxed, and really
the energy today was much better than last week. I saw it on the sideline. You saw it with the guys, the
demeanor, their play, all of that. It’s things that we talked about during the week. It’s about how we
respond, and the guys responded extremely well today.
Q. Any injury update for WR Parker Washington?
DOUG PEDERSON: Don’t know yet. We’ll get more evaluation, probably have a better idea in maybe the
next day or two.
Q. How close was WR Jamal Agnew to playing today?
DOUG PEDERSON: He was close. I didn’t want to risk it with him. I didn’t want to put him out there and
he pulls something or worse. Just want to make sure that — and Parker [WR Parker Washington] is the
next guy up. I thought Parker did a nice job during the week of practice, obviously, but I just want to
make sure Jamal will be ready for the foreseeable future.
Q. You kind of touched on it, but after the last two weeks, how important was it for the team to see
all three phases come together, play a complete game?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it’s great. Again, it’s all the things that we talk about during the week. It comes
down to the guys just understanding their role, doing their job, their ownership part of it, their football
team, all that. They responded well today.
Q. With everything that’s gone on with WR Calvin Ridley the past couple years, what did you think of
him today?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I’m so proud of Calvin, what he’s been through in his life. He’s put a lot of
things behind him. He’s focused on the future. His testimony is one that can be spread to a lot of
professional and younger generation athletes, what he’s gone through and overcome adversity, and
then to come out again today and get the touchdown and the big play at the end of the game, he’s just
doing things right. He loves football. We love having him on the football team. He’s got a lot of energy.
He’s excitable. I’m so proud of not only where he’s come from but where he’s going to as a ball player
for us.
Q. What you said about giving the guys a couple of days to enjoy the sights, that building, the spirit
and everything else, but away from America, how important is it for you to decompress almost?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think this trip hit us at the right time. I think we needed to get away. Kind of brings
you together a little bit, where we’re in the hotel together, we’re eating meals together, we’re in
meetings together, practice, so it’s a bonding type experience to kind of reunite with everybody, and
that’s what you need sometimes. We’ve got everybody here organizationally, and excited for these next
seven days.
Q. Does it feel like training camp all over again?
DOUG PEDERSON: Camp? A little bit, yeah. A little bit. Just the bonding. The guys are around each other
all the time. Yeah, it does feel like that.
Q. The Falcons have that kind of run-first predictable nature to their offense. Did that make it easier
to prepare for?
DOUG PEDERSON: I wouldn’t say it’s easy. They’ve got a tremendous young running back. He’s [Falcons
RB Bijan Robinson] going to be very good in this league for a long time, and they have weapons on
offense. That was evident. But obviously can’t speak for them, but for us to prepare, it’s something that
our defense does a nice job of stopping our at least slowing down the run. They got some big runs in the
second half, but those are things that we focus on, and anytime that you can either eliminate or sort of
minimize, whatever it might be, a certain aspect of your opponent and make them a one-dimensional
team, it is your favor, no matter who you’re playing. I thought our defense really rose to the occasion,
and when they had opportunities, the interceptions were big and the strip sacks, all that kind of stuff
were huge today, too.
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. Trevor, how good was it for you guys to bounce back this week after the last two?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, it felt great. Obviously just to find a way to win, and especially here in
London. It’s a lot of fun when you win here. It’s not so much fun when you lose. Especially being so far
from home. That was obviously a good response for our team. Our defense played great once again, it
was huge, them bouncing back. Offensively, I thought we played well at times, in spurts, and found a
way to win. We did some things better than we have in the past but still got a lot to clean up. But it’s a
lot easier to coach off of a win, obviously.
Q. Did you get the sense heading into this game — it might be easy to say now that you’ve won, but
did you get the sense the team was more loose, more relaxed than you were the last few weeks?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I think so. I think we had that confidence about us. I don’t want to say loose and
relaxed. I think that is important, but we were very intense and focused on the details, but I think we
just let it loose today as far as just going and playing. We didn’t really worry about doing anything wrong
or making mistakes. We just went and played. I think more the intensity and stuff during the week, I
think that helped us coming into today, more so than tightening up on Sunday.
Q. You talked about pressing a little bit. Did you get any sense of that today?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: No, I think guys did their job, and there’s always going to be things that you can do
better for all of us each week. I think guys did their job. They did what they needed to do, made the
plays they needed to make. There’s a ton more out there for us offensively, a couple plays that I missed
that I am kind of kicking myself over, but we’re going to turn the page and go into Buffalo and make the
corrections and get ready to put a game plan together to go win that game.
Q. How do you think the offense performed today?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of plays that, like I said, we left out there that if we
make, we feel a lot better, but we feel great because we won the game, and we did what we needed to
do to win. We had some big drives when we were backed up. I think we started one on our 10 and
ended up getting points, and the four-minute drive at the end of the game, obviously taking four plus
minutes off the clock and getting a field goal, that was huge, and just kind of securing the game for us,
and our defense getting the sack fumble at the end. Very complementary. I think that was the biggest
thing is we complemented each other today. It’s something that we haven’t done the past couple
weeks. Offensively, defensively, special teams, we did a great job of that, and it was great.
Q. How big was that fourth down throw, second drive, trying to get something started, Doug [Head
Coach Doug Pederson] decides to go for it at the 38-yard line. Seemed like a big moment. Was it?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, for sure. Third down didn’t go the way we wanted it to. Wasn’t exactly the
look that we wanted. Then on fourth down, him showing the confidence to keep us out there, and we
know that’s a big play, especially at the beginning of the game. That’s a big momentum swing for either
you or the other team if you don’t get it, and then you’re giving them field position. I guess it was maybe
the 35, 40. I don’t know exactly where we were at — 38? Yeah, so that’s a big opportunity to gain
momentum or to lose it. You’ve got to depend on your defense if we don’t get it, but it’s nice to be able
to keep our offense on the field and go get that when we needed it, then we ended up scoring on that
drive.
Q. That must be the best pre-birthday gift you could have asked for. It was your third London game.
How has it changed over the past few years? Has it become bigger?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I think so. Every game I think has been — was today sold out? Pretty close. Every
game has been packed, I think the fans are getting more and more involved as far as just being loud
during the game, all that stuff. I think that’s growing more and more. Every atmosphere has been
awesome, all three games. I think we’re playing in Tottenham next week, so that’s a really cool stadium.
We played there my rookie year, and obviously Wembley is incredible. It’s been awesome. I think the
fans are getting more and more into it and excited, and it’s cool.
Q. How does it feel spending the week here in London?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I’m excited. We have a little bit of time to get out and explore a little bit, something
I haven’t been able to do in the years past, especially after a win. It’s a little different feeling if you lose
today and then, yeah, the week here, you’re kind of just trying to get to Sunday to get that feeling out of
your system. But it’s exciting to get the win and to be able to have an off day this week to get to get out
in the city and explore. I’ve got family in town, so get some time with them.
Q. Do you have any plans?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I’m going to keep those personal, but nothing crazy. We’re going to go out to
dinner, walk around, check out the city. Nothing necessarily super special, but it’ll just be fun to check it
out, so excited for that.
Q. You mentioned you’d won at Tottenham in your rookie year. Do you think that gives you an
advantage as well as staying here before the Bills come here and play here for the first time?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I mean, yeah, I think it can. You’ve got to go play the game on Sunday. It doesn’t
really matter if you think you have an advantage or not. We’re going to use it as one. We’re going to
obviously be well-rested, adapted to the time change, because that is a real thing. You’re on a big time
change, it’s a long travel day. I’m not sure exactly what their travel plans are, if they’re coming out for
the week, kind of like we usually do, which is Thursday, get here Friday morning. We’re going to use it to
our advantage, and anything we can, but we’ve got to have a great week, got to prepare the exact same
way, but it’ll be nice to have a full week to get acclimated.
Q. You’re the first team to have back-to-back weeks here but you’re shifting stadiums, and you’re
playing against the Bills, as well. Does that have any impact at all? Would you have preferred to have
played here next week?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I don’t really care too much. They’re both great venues. The stadiums are
incredible. I played there my rookie year, so I’m somewhat familiar. Either way, it’s not like it’s your
home field, so I think either way it’s not like it’s going to feel necessarily like a home game. I don’t think
it matters too much to the guys. We’re excited to play over there. It’ll be a cool atmosphere.
WIDE RECEIVER CALVIN RIDLEY
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
How did it feel to win today against your former team?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It felt pretty good. Got in the endzone, got my team a touchdown, to put points on the
board, it felt good.
What does today’s win do for the team heading into next week?
CALVIN RIDLEY: We’ve got some momentum and we’ve got some energy. We were down two [wins],
now we’ve got one back. Now we’re looking for the next one.
How important was it to get off to a quick start early?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It was good, when we needed to make a play, we made a play and moved onto the next
one.
How did it feel to build the lead to 17 and put your defense in a good position to do what they do?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Yeah, we got off to a good start and we got to keep on doing that. Who cares? Just run
the score up. As offensive players, we’ve got to bite down and get in there.
Is that how you lead in this game? To be happy with a win but know there’s more out there?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Love the W. The game is over.
What do you think about [QB] Trevor [Lawrence] escaping that sack on the play that led to your
touchdown?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Yeah, Trevor can throw it, he has the wheels. That’s why I say when plays get broken
down, you still have a chance. We could do so much more on offense with his scrambling ability and
looking down the field. We run it up and create so much more on offense by him doing that and running
around.
How has it been working with QB Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It’s been great. There’s been some ups and downs, but it’s been great. We got a great
team; we’re just trying to play like we know we can and everything is going to be great.
What did you think of the fans singing “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the game?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Oh, yeah, they love that song. Hearing it from them and it was pretty cool to play in that
stadium.
How important has TE Evan Engram been to the team with first down catches and the rhythm plays?
CALVIN RIDLEY: I say this all the time to myself and my teammates, but I think Evan is one of the best
tight ends in the league. There’s a lot of tight ends that could play, but he can really run routes like the
receivers and he’s just a dawg. I respect Evan and I love being on his team.
With so much focus on you this week, how do you feel mentally after this game and how do you feel
going into another week in London?
CALVIN RIDLEY: It feels good. The first three days here I think are hard. Your body is just all over the
place. I feel like we’re here now, we’re ready for this next week. We’ve got some time off and I’m ready
to see a little bit of London. I love it.
Do you think getting out of your home stadium and have other things going on helped you a
distraction with so much focus on you this week?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Yeah, I think it did. I think losing two [games] helped it, too. It was like, ‘Alright. We’re not
as good as we think. So, let’s lock in and get as good as we think.’ I think it was very different.
How does it feel having a win going into your next week here in London?
CALVIN RIDLEY: Oh, it’s very helpful. You don’t want to lose and be that far away from home and know
you have another game. But, knowing you have another game, and we won this one, now we can’t relax
but we can lean back a little bit.
WIDE RECEIVER CHRISTIAN KIRK
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. Offensively much better this week than it has been the last couple. Is that a sign that things are
moving in the right direction?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: Yeah, I definitely think it’s a step in the right direction, and it started early on this week.
We kind of talked about it, just our sense of urgency and our execution and discipline throughout the
week of practice. You kind of felt that we were going to get back on track with where we needed to be
and just to go out there and be ourselves, and I thought we did that, but I still think we have a long way
to go to be a really good offense. There’s still some mistakes and some things that we didn’t do as well
today, but we were able to make enough plays to go out there and get enough points to get a win.
Q. The one play late, the fourth down play you were pretty much all alone in the end zone. With
Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] afterwards you talked through what happened?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: Yeah, Trevor made a great check at the line of scrimmage, just being able to identify a
certain coverage. They actually ended up busting the coverage, so I think it surprised him, and then he
had some pressure kind of in his face, so it caused him to scramble to the right. It’s unfortunate, but we
were able to win the game. I think we were on the sideline laughing about it. But those are also
opportunities that we need to take advantage of when we’re in tight games and we need those plays.
Stuff like that is going to happen. It’s no fault on him. He’s playing, and I trust what he sees, and
whatever he sees I’m going to stand behind him. It’s just a play in the game that I know for sure he’s
going to want back, but we’ll make it when it counts.
Q. When you say you’re close, but are those mistakes that just happen?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: For sure. Yeah, like I said, thankfully we’re sitting on the other side of it with a win. If
we were in a different situation right now, obviously that would be a situation to where we’d look back
on where we shot ourselves in the foot and whatnot, but we were able to make enough plays to get a
win today.
Q. After back-to-back losses, how big was this one?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: Huge. Winning in this league is tough, and especially when you’re losing it’s even
harder. When you go back-to-back losses, it weighs really heavy on you, weighs heavy on the locker
room. You’re just doing everything that you can to put together a performance like we did today and
just be able to get a win and being able to come into the locker room and the sideline, just the energy
and seeing the smiles on everybody’s face, you never take this stuff for granted winning in the NFL. Like I
said, just great for us to get this thing back on track and get our confidence back.
Q. Along those lines, how big was that fourth down conversion, the second drive from the Falcons 38-
yard line? From your perspective, how did that ignite the offense?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: I think it’s just going out there and we just all executed and did what we were supposed
to do. Maybe a couple weeks ago, maybe last week, guys would maybe have done something a little
different, tried to do something out of character, but you look at that play, everybody did their job, and
where were they supposed to be. I was on that play, supposed to be eight yards over the ball, sit down,
and if it’s zone, Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] will throw you the ball, and I did exactly that. Calvin [WR
Calvin Ridley] and Evan [TE Evan Engram] were on a rub, and they did exactly that, so everybody was
where they were supposed to be, and Trevor just sat in the pocket, he trusted it and made a great
throw. Those are the things that we need to build off of and keep going as an offense.
Q. How does it feel for you to be a role model for some of the younger kids here in London?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: Oh, it’s something that I never take for granted because I was one of those kids that
anytime I got around an NFL football player, it was a dream come true, the fact that I was able to meet
them, shake their hands and be able to talk to them. I know they view me in that light, as well, so I never
take that opportunity to meet kids for granted. I hope they have just a great time as I did when I was
able to meet some of my idols and people that I looked up to. Always good to be able to engage with
the kids, and I know how much it means to them.
Q. What does Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] bring to your team?
CHRISTIAN KIRK: He brings a lot. He’s a better person than he is a player. I’ll say that. He brings so much
charisma, energy, and let alone his athletic talent and everything that he’s able to do as a wide receiver
just kind of speaks for itself. But as a leader and as a veteran in our room, he means a lot to me, to Zay
[WR Zay Jones], to all the other young guys. We’re all constantly learning from him, and he’s a team
player. As long as we’re walking off the field with a W, he’s happy. Just to have that type of veteran
presence and what he’s able to do in our offense is great, and so it’s been a pleasure to be able to work
with him, and I’m excited to keep it going.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JOSH ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. You talked about it earlier in the week, you guys need to be dominant up front. Do you feel like you
guys accomplished that?
JOSH ALLEN: It was definitely progression. I think we let them off the hook a little bit at the beginning of
that second half to give them that touchdown. There’s still room for improvement up front, especially
for the whole defense to not allow that to happen. But it was a heck of a way to fight, heck of a way for
guys to make plays when their number was called, and for my performance, I couldn’t do a lot of it
without the guys in front of me. I had Foley [DL Folorunso Fatukasi] helping me push the pocket, as well,
to help me get that one, then [CB] Tre Herndon for the inside blitz. Quarterback rolled out right into me.
In the second one I told the DBs just to give me a little bit more time. It was definitely a collection of
everybody working together, but that process starts in practice. We’ll continue to practice hard,
continue to communicate, good things may come.
Q. This is the best start to a season in your entire career. What does that do for you momentum-wise
the rest of the year?
JOSH ALLEN: For me, it’s a week-by-week basis. First and foremost, I’ve got to take care of my body. I’ve
got to make sure that my body is where I can compete at a high level. When you’re playing in the
league, every week your body is going to be dealing with something, so it’s how well can I maintain that
and not have setbacks, so that’s first and foremost, and nutrition. I make sure to eat right, make sure to
study accordingly, know who I’m going against, know their weaknesses, know their strengths, and
execute those in practice, and it starts in practice. I think the preparation all week has been on point,
not only for myself but for the defense as a whole, communicate, run to the ball, do the little things
we’ve always done, and for me, just got to keep going, keep studying, keep putting time in, keep getting
your body right and just keep going.
Q. Is there a part of you that says this is the year for me and my future?
JOSH ALLEN: For me, it’s just day-to-day. I try not to become a robot and say I have to do this; I have to
do this. If I don’t do this, it’s not going to happen. I’m really in the moment and just handling my
business. For me, this is strictly business. I’m about my business, and I’m ready to win games. I want to
be the guy for the defense that we can count on. I know last week where I could have made a little bit
more plays, so I feel like I personally let the team down, and this week was just get back on track, and I
got back on track. Go home tonight, finish this game, learn my corrections, move on to the Buffalo Bills.
Q. How exciting would it be to sack [Bills QB] Josh Allen next weekend?
JOSH ALLEN: I’ve done it before, but the Buffalo Bills is a really good team behind a good experienced
offensive line, so it’s definitely going to have to go back and study. Like I said, I’m going to start tonight,
start looking at those guys because I have to be prepared for what I can do. Today I studied his
weakness, and I found a weakness that I could exploit, and it was just waiting to get to those
opportunities, which was stop the run. We stop the run, be able to rush the passer. Next week we’ll see
what their weakness is, stop that, and then I can have my opportunities. I’m excited to play another
game in London. I’m excited to get some rest tonight, and excited to go.
Q. Josh, what was the difference — last week the defense couldn’t get there, couldn’t make a play.
Today takeaways, sacks, every time you needed to make a play, you did. Can you pinpoint something
that was working today that didn’t work last week?
JOSH ALLEN: I think preparation. I think like just being dedicated to each other, playing for one another,
having energy and being focused. I think all that starts in practice. All that starts when you’re outside of
work, how do you prepare, because I think we all prepare individually, we have team success. But it
takes every 11, and this week, man, we prepared the right way.
Q. So the extra time that you had on a plane, in the Grove together, did that play into it at all, that you
got away from Jacksonville?
JOSH ALLEN: I definitely got with my guys, and we definitely hung out, just played the game, studied
some tape, just talked football, but I also spent time and talked to my family as much as I can at 12
o’clock at night. But we spent a lot of time together, and I’m glad we get to spend some more time
together, and just to keep building on this. For me, this week, after tonight, this game is done and over
with, and time to move on to the next one.
Q. Do you feel you have an advantage over your competitors because you’ve come to London so many
times, you come every year. Are you used to it by now?
JOSH ALLEN: I’ve traveled a lot to London in the past five years, so for me personally, I kind of know
what to do, when to sleep, when not to sleep, things to eat, things not to eat. I know I need to drink a lot
of water on the flight. But for us, this is home for us. When we come here, we feel like it’s a home game.
We feel the excitement. We feel our fans. We feel the energy in the stands. We love coming here. We
know we’ve got the fans of all the fans out there, 85,000, I believe, cheering for us, and it was a great
feeling.
Q. What did you think when you heard everybody sing “Sweet Caroline”?
JOSH ALLEN: It’s pretty dope. It’s pretty dope. I heard that. I was still locked into what I needed to do,
but it was right when our offense was coming out, so I kind of was sitting on the sideline. I thought it
was pretty cool. I thought it was pretty cool that everybody sang your guys’ National Anthem. I thought
that was pretty amazing, as well, real cultural, and yeah, just enjoyed the whole experience.
CORNERBACK DARIOUS WILLIAMS
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. How does today’s win feel?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: Great. You know, a lot of fans cheering. That’s all I want to hear. Give them a good
time.
Q. Can you walk us through what happened on that [pick-six] play? What did you see?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, just going through film, we knew they’re a good quick game team, and we
were in a man coverage pretty much. I got my look, I saw [CB] Tre Herndon go out, he kind of slowed
him down for me, and I just jumped it.
Q. Ridder seemed like he was readable to where it looked like he was looking in his eyes?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: I mean, he’s young, so I think that comes with more experience. But yeah, we kind
of saw film, his quick game tendencies, and played a part.
Q. Did you get on [S] Andre [Cisco] for not taking his back to the house?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: No, we got on Andre about fumbling. He’s got to work on his ball security. But it
was an excellent play.
Q. What about how many guys were able to make big plays at crucial times?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: Right, that’s what our defense is. We know what we can be. Last week obviously
wasn’t our week, but those are the type of plays that we have liked from the guys on this team, so we
expect those plays.
Q. What did you see from [OLB] Josh Allen, three sacks today? What have you seen from him
throughout the entire year? Seems like he’s having a good year.
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s eating, I don’t know what he’s drinking. He’s
doing something because he’s going crazy. We need that. That helps the whole defense. That helps us.
Q. What’s the mentality going into next week?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: It’s a good team to see. You’ll see this team later on in the year, so for us, they’ve
been dominant for the last few years, but we’re not worried about it. We like to challenge the guys like that. We like to play teams like that. This is nothing new; they’re just the next team, and we’re just ready
to see them.
Q. When you have a week over here, how important is it for you to have a change of scenery?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: I mean, that’s always good. We kind of feel out the grass. We were playing over
here, we kind of feel out the environment and everything, the weather. That’s obviously a big thing,
being able to just win here, just keep the momentum.
Q. Players and coaches all talk about trying to shut out the noise from outside, but the expectation
coming off the back of last season, how much did that play into the last couple of weeks and what’s
expected of you as a team?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think that kind of hit the first couple games, but we had to. Like Coach
Pederson said this week, we had to create our own edge again, obviously feeling the hype, getting Calvin
[WR Calvin Ridley], all that stuff has been great, but we’ve got to create that edge again. Just like Foye
[LB Foyesade Oluokun] said last week, people are coming for us, too. That’s what we’re prepared for
now.
Q. What’s your advantage against the Bills next week?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: We know they like to throw the ball, so we know [Bills QB] Josh Allen, we know
[Bills WR] Stephon Diggs, [WR] Bills Gabe Davis, all those guys are deep threats. They’re big-time
playmakers. We’ll have a challenge on our hands, but we love that.
Q. Darious, did this feel like a home game to you, and will you have much time in the next week for a
little sightseeing in London, or is it all business?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: I mean, I’m a boring guy, man, so there probably won’t be too much sightseeing for
me. I’m probably just going to be into film.
Q. Did today feel like a real home game?
DARIOUS WILLIAMS: I think they pretty much get excited to see every play, so I wouldn’t say it was too
much of a home game. I just know there was a lot of excitement, a lot of cheering. That’s always good.
KICKER BRANDON MCMANUS
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
A big bounce back from special teams after last week, how do you feel about that?
BRANDON MCMANUS: Yeah, I think everyone was upset last week with what happened. We looked at
ourselves in the mirror this week and it was good to get away. Anytime you go on trips like this, you get
to spend time with each other and play for each other a little harder. I’m just happy to bounce back here
and get a win.
How badly did you need this win after a few tough losses?
BRANDON MCMANUS: In order to get into the playoffs, you have to win games. This was the next one
we could get so we were able to do it and get back on the right foot. It’s good to get some momentum
going for us and confidence is a big thing in this league. I’ve just been vocal with that and keep building
on it.
How did it feel to play at Wembley Stadium and kick a few through?
BRANDON MCMANUS: This is our tradition to be playing here, and I’ve really liked coming here the past
two years. Obviously, I was on the other end of it last year, but being here this year again to see the
growth of the game and the fans has been a beautiful place to kick in today. The grounds crew and
everybody made it easy for me today.
Does making a 56-yard field goal take your confidence to a new level?
BRANDON MCMANUS: It always helps, this is still a new unit. I was in Denver for almost a decade and
coming here with Logan [P Logan Cooke] and Ross [LC Ross Matiscik] who do phenomenal jobs, make my
job easy for me. It still looks different for me, so the more reps we continue to get, obviously anytime
you hit a long one that’s good, it’ll build you for the future and for working together.
HEAD COACH ARTHUR SMITH
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. What are your overall thoughts on the team’s performance?
ARTHUR SMITH: Obviously we got to do a better job. Starts with me jump starting up the offense early.
Put ourselves in a hole again. Different reasons, but the reality is we put ourselves in a hole and can’t
turn the ball over. So that’s something we all got to look at. It’s not just one person. You make life hard
for yourself then you got to come back and you’re in fourth down territory and we don’t make the
fourth and three to try to cut it to one possession game late. We got to do a better job early in games.
There is no doubt about it.
Q. What went wrong on the interceptions?
ARTHUR SMITH: Yeah, I mean, first one, again, I got to look at the tape. They were popping out there in
zone coverage and you going in there to Drake [WR Drake London] I believe, and got popped up inside,
so made a play on it. It’s a tough lesson to learn from. You evaluate that, talk about it, and then you
want to give them a chance. There was a play earlier we felt we had Kyle [TE Kyle Pitts]; don’t fault him
foregoing to Drake. Came back to it; it’s a different look. The picture is never going to be the same, but
something we felt good about that and had options. I believe it was Cisco [Jaguars S Andre Cisco], came
out of the middle of the field and jumped it if I’m not mistaken. Obviously that happened back to back.
Thankfully the defense made a stand there. Now you’re limited in your possessions, so that’s what put
us in the hole, and thankfully in the third quarter we were able to do something to jump start. Again,
you’re going to make life hard on yourself when you put yourself behind like that.
Q. What was his mindset after those two picks?
ARTHUR SMITH: Yeah, I mean, that’s the thing, those are tough, tough lessons for a young quarterback.
You know, you find out about yourself when you go back out there. So that’s why the second half he was
able to push out ball down the field a little bit. Thought he played cleaner in the pocket. We were able
to get some looks and he was not risk adverse after that, which a lot of times that happens. Reality is we
got to find a way to jump start early. That’s always going to start with me. We got the right guys in the
locker room, but that is a reality, and the other reality is thankfully we’re 2-2 and got get back to Atlanta
and get this thing jump started.
Q. Seems like a common thread (indiscernible). You think that’s been a problem?
ARTHUR SMITH: Different coverages. Good question. There is something that’s happened that has led to
— today it happened twice, two different things. One was under coverage in a quick game and one was a
play-action. So different looks. I don’t know what essentially locking onto it, but I think sometimes you
got to learn some tough lessons in this league. Unfortunately, we got behind.
Q. What was it like to see Falcons fans here in the UK?
ARTHUR SMITH: Well, I think the whole NFL fan base. It’s great to have the Falcon fan base, as you see
the game growing internationally. Obviously not pleased at all with the result today. I mean, better
result last time, but the overall experience and playing over here has been excellent. It’s good to see the
game grow.
Q. Was there a reason you didn’t run the ball on that fourth down late in the fourth quarter?
ARTHUR SMITH: It was pressure, so in that situation we call got-to-have-it, so you’re trying to give
yourself the best chance you can. They bring everybody in the middle, so we try to get out of the pocket
on it and I believe they kind of combo’d Mack [WR Mack Hollins] and Drake [WR Drake London] and
made the right read, unfortunately, out of the back of the end zone. But that’s why, sometimes the look
doesn’t work. You need a different call.
Q. How do you evaluate the last two drives?
ARTHUR SMITH: Yeah, I think you look at yourself as a team if you have the right guys. We’re frustrated.
There will be times, again, when it’s going to flip the other way. If you got a real team you understand
that you have that perspective. I think internally, yeah, everybody will be frustrated after a loss. When
you have the right guys and the right minds, they’re going to understand, hey, let’s not let them get
early momentum; make the play on the sack. Don’t let a busted coverage, a guy leak out on a cover.
Those are things you look at in reality. If you have the wrong guys it’s easy to splinter and ride the
rollercoaster. We got the right guys in there and we know we got to get back to work and jump start and
get this thing rolling, get back on the winning track.
Q. Coach, what was the talk at halftime?
ARTHUR SMITH: You know, different than Detroit, I thought we were a little tight and I told guys, relax.
Stop pressing. We’re going to take this first drive. Let’s not everybody try to do too much and get into
this drive and we’ll come out with a positive result. Thankfully the guys went out there, and to their
credit, they did that, got us going a little bit. We got another long drive after being backed up. Credit to
them. They made a play on the screen. Guy under cut on the screen and got us off track and we didn’t
overcome it. Then we had the long drive I believe, right, after that, and then it was in the fourth and
three. Again, to Michael’s point earlier, when you start slow, that’s going to put yourself in some really
pressure situations and trying to overcome a lot.
Q. Was there a moment you felt like in the first half that the pressing offense was obvious?
ARTHUR SMITH: You know, first drive we started backed up. Didn’t get out of there. The next one I
believe we went three and out. So thankfully we hit I believe it was the third drive to Jonnu [TE Jonnu
Smith], right, so at least started trying to get in a rhythm. Unfortunately the turnovers happened. But to
come back from that, that’s where you want to see who can actually come back and face adversity. The
odds are — you can’t turn the ball over three times. You lose a turnover, the numbers are astronomical and they’ll go against you. That’s always been life in the NFL. So, it’s always going to start with me and
we got to go back, objectively look, and whatever we have to do to get this thing jump started, that’s
what we’re going to do.
QUARTERBACK DESMOND RITTER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
Q. What went wrong in today’s performance?
DESMOND RIDDER: From the jump, the first play didn’t go as we planned. Throughout the first half, did a
terrible job of taking care of the ball. I had two picks obviously wish we could have back, one pick six.
That changed the momentum huge of the game. So obviously looking back we got to find a way to start
fast, so whatever that may be, however it is, that’s just what we got to do. Then I got to do a better job
taking care of the ball.
Q. Arthur [Head Coach Arthur Smith] said that this offense was pressing. Was there a moment where
you felt the same?
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, like we said, when we don’t get going early and fast, that’s when you feel the
press. Then we came back into halftime, we regrouped, came back out and said, we got to do what we
need to do. Came out that second half and was able to go down the field and get a touchdown and get
some momentum back. Obviously that’s something we got to figure out how to do from the jump.
Q. First time playing here in London. What did you think of the number of Falcons fans?
DESMOND RIDDER: It was great. They come from London, anywhere in the world to be here to watch us.
We thank them. We thank everyone that showed up and supported today. It was a great atmosphere
and great place to play.
Q. Desmond, seemed the theme… (indiscernible)
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, that one, I mean, you go back and look, the one to Kyle [TE Kyle Pitts], they cut
the crosser, so kind of ran a three-level read and the safety kind of drove on it. Yeah, I could have held
my eyes in a better place. The other one to Drake [WR Drake London], he was inside leverage, just
coming back. I didn’t get my eyes over there quick enough on that one. So yeah, it can go both ways.
Q. Looking at the week ahead, where do you want to improve the most?
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, me personally, you know, get back in there, take control of the game plan, go
in there and lead these guys. Don’t create any division of the team, and everyone and myself and just go
out there and be a leader, be where I’m supposed to be, and get better at the end of the day.
