JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On his thoughts on the game and getting the season sweep over the Titans) “Found a way
to win. Proud of the guys. So happy for them. Coaching staff, the way these guys hang
together, they stick together, there is no quit. They keep fighting. I keep telling them, you
never know when the play is coming your way. When it does, just make it. You saw at the
end there. [S] Antonio Johnson made the play and you win the game. So, a lot of good
efforts in this game. Defense created a takeaway; offense was effective and good in the red
zone today. Just a good team win.”
(On if the win was particularly emotional) “It’s definitely emotional the way our season has
gone. Obviously, we talked a lot about this, just the disappointment and the expectation
not where it is, or should be. But any time you get a chance to win a game, especially
against a good football team and division opponent, it’s always great. Locker room is
excited. Probably a little bit of relief as well just to get another win. It’s part of what we keep
talking about every day. We want to finish this thing the right way.”
(On WR Brian Thomas Jr. tying former WR Randy Moss’s rookie-NFL-record eight games
with 60-plus receiving yards and a touchdown) “Yeah, you said Randy Moss, I was on the
sideline in Green Bay when Randy had a big day in Minnesota against us. I remember that
his rookie season. Randy Moss is a heck of a receiver and Brian just keeps impressing each
week. Can’t say enough good things about Brian and just happy for him. But just goes to
show you just with him, and speaking of Brian, the way he works, the way he handles
himself for a young kid, very impressive. Very impressed with Brian.”
(On QB Mac Jones’ play down the stretch) “I thought Mac played probably obviously one of
his better games today. I thought he did a great job just putting the ball in play and taking
what the defense gave him. Some really good scrambles early in the game to keep us on
the field. Helped us in our third-down conversion rate today. The touchdown pass to Brian
Thomas and just doing things that we ask him to do. Great performance by Mac, and he’s
one of many guys that really had a hand in this win, but he played really well today.”
(On the value Thomas Jr. can add as a runner) “Well, it adds a lot. It’s an element of
surprise to the defense. A couple of times today on different things, giving him the football
in space, guys just did a great job blocking for him, too. Any time you get Brian Thomas on
the ball, in his hands, it’s pretty electric. He does some great things with it. So just want to
continue to expand that role for him. But at the same time be smart and if it helps the
offense, then we’re going to do it.”
(On the importance of playing clean football) “Yeah, it’s been a minute since we’ve done
that really in all three phases. Even down to the two-minute situations today, both at the
end of the half and the end of the game, different scenarios there that, stuff we talk about,
and our players did a great job of execution there. Like I said, the defense came up big. Had
the takeaway. Offense scored. And then the turnover on downs at the end. Just a complete
football game. Just excited for all those guys.”
(On keeping coaches engaged at this point of the season) “For me,it’s more about just
having some one-off conversations. I don’t get them together and say, hey, guys this is
what needs — we’re adults and we understand. We see what is being written, being said.
Listen, obviously, we put ourselves in — I’m the leader of that ship or captain of that ship
and obviously we’ve put ourselves in this situation. Just having one-off conversations and
trying to, for me, still to encourage them as well and get them to understand that, hey,
we’ve got a lot to play for and coach for, and you put your best foot forward and you give it
everything you have during the week. When you’re rewarded like we were today, just makes
it sweeter.”
(On if it’s any consolation that the team has stayed engaged through the last few weeks of
the season despite close losses) “Thank you. Thank you for reminding me. But it’s obvious.
You’re right. The thing is the guys aren’t — they’re not waving the white flag. I think even
when you talk to them in the locker room, they’re not — they’re busting their tails during the
week and doing everything I’m asking them to do, coaches and players. Look, whatever
happens at the end of the season is going to happen. We’ve still got one game left. Before
today we had two games left. For us to finish the way we want to finish, whatever happens,
regardless, we want to finish this thing the right way. We won today and that’s a huge step.
Now we move on to the next one. Put another game plan together and go practice and try
to do it again on the road. Then whatever happens, is going to happen. But just proud of the
way the coaches and players have just stuck together and hung together. The fact that we
were rewarded today speaks to that.”
(On the chance to finish 4-2 in the division) “Yeah, I mean, that would be something to be
very proud of in the midst of a disappointing season. To finish 4-2, that would be great. Just
goes to show you and goes to show our team that these close games, the plays we made
today were the ones we weren’t making in those close games. If it goes the other way
maybe we win a few more of those games and it’s a different story. You know, I just think
that to finish that way, to finish strong, it sends a good message to the team that you can
still have a hold I think on your division, right? If you do that next week. You’ve got to win the
game obviously. But just shows you can kind of control it. You control your own destiny,
right, year in and year out. It will be a good message to the guys if we can accomplish that.”
JAGUARS QUARTERBACK MAC JONES
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On if he’s every had three QB sneaks in a game before) “I think I did it maybe once back in
the day. I definitely love the quarterback sneak. Mitch [Morse] has a great IQ for it. He really
understands the play. It’s a great play. It’s a high percentage play. When the conditions are
like that, it’s a good play.”
(On if he felt in more of a rhythm this game than any of his previous starts) “Yeah, not
really. I played the same way each week. Sometimes that’s the NFL. The chips fall a
different way, results fall a different way. I stick to the same process and I’m going to do
that this week so we can get another win.”
(On the two touchdown throws, if one was originally meant for Brian Thomas Jr. and the
other one was a check to him) “Yeah, I have to watch it, but the one, the first one to Parker
[Washington], there were three guys going that way and there was a little bit of a dropper,
17 [LB Jerome Baker], so he kind of got in my vision a little bit. I probably could have thrown
it to Brian but then I just came back to my second read. Then he made a great catch on the
next one. They brought a blitz coverage and it was man to man, so I threw it to the back. He
made a good catch on the line. Did a good job blocking.”
(On if he hung on to the football at the end of the game for a reason) “No. I just like to keep
it so we don’t give it to the refs so they don’t take it home. [Laughter]”
(On what it means to close the home game with a win being a longtime Jaguars fan) “Feels
great. It’s a rivalry game, as we know, the Titans, so it was good to get that win, and try and
do it again next week against another rivalry opponent. So it’s a good opportunity. I thought
the guys played well. Defense did a great job at the end. Offensive line did a great job. And
then playing in those conditions was tough, too. I think you can’t overlook that for a lot of
young guys. I thought BT [Brian Thomas Jr.] did a great job in the rain and the ball carriers
did a good job holding onto the ball.”
(On if he thinks this year in Jacksonville has been a refresh for his career) “Yeah, it’s been
fun. I really have enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to finishing this strong with another win.”
(On what Head Coach Doug Pederson and his staff have meant to him this year) “Yeah, it’s
been awesome. I’ve definitely found a little bit more joy in football, and that’s a big credit to
the coaches. They just keep it loose no matter what, regardless of the results. Just go in
each week and have fun at practice, which is important for me. Obviously want to translate
that into wins. That will come. I’ve been really impressed with not only their football IQ and
knowledge, but how they run the team. All the coaches really on the offensive side have
done a great job.”
(On shaking hands with the 100-year-old fan in the stands at the end of the game) “That
was insane. I was leaving the field and I think [a member of the PR staff] told me, hey, look
at that sign. I was like, ‘100 years is crazy.’ I shook the lady’s hand. I’m glad we won on her
birthday. It was cool. But we’ll see if I make it to 100.”
(On having back-to-back clean games and where he wants to be as a quarterback) “Great
question. I think that’s a big question with me a lot. I get that a lot. I’ve been really focusing
on it and studying it, really just looking at the statistics and other games, watching other
games. At the end of the day if you don’t turn the ball over you at least give your team a
chance to win. I got to continue to do that, hopefully three games in a row. Also you’re not
going out there like, ‘Don’t throw a pick!’ So there is a psychology of that. It’s going through
my reads and take completions and survive the down, especially on a day like today, early
in the game, survive the down with the weather.”
(On if he has any additional detail on the postgame handshake with the 100-year-old fan)
“Honestly, she was just like looking at us, just happy to be there. I didn’t say much. Just
shook her hand and said congratulations or whatever. Thanks for the support.”
(On what, if anything, a game like this will do for his resume) “Yeah, every play has a story.
Unless you’re in the building, in the room, you don’t know what that story is, so there has
been good and bad ones. At the end of the day what I’ve done is after the bye week really
put my best foot forward and play better football. We’ve been really good on third down
and done some things really well on offense. Hopefully we can build on that, and I can
continue to do that this week in practice.”
JAGUARS DEFENSIVE END TRAVON WALKER
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On what it means to sweep the Tennessee Titans) “It feels good to get a win. We know that
they don’t like us and that’s in the division, so we always want to come out of that with a
dub.”
(On his feelings on today’s defensive performance) “I feel like we did a pretty good job. It’s
always going to be a few plays that we could’ve did better on here and there. But overall, I
feel like we played together from a special teams standpoint, offense and defense.”
(On if he likes the defense being on the field at the end to win both games over the Titans)
“Most definitely. Anytime it comes down to the last play of the game, I’d rather for it to be in
our hands. Not to say the offense can’t do it, they truly can, but I’d rather for it to be in my
hands than anybody else’s hands, or (I want it to be in) the defense’s hands.”
(On getting into the top 10 in several different all-time Jaguars franchise defensive marks)
“It’s a great feeling. It really means a lot, to be honest, to mark my name into something in
Jaguars history. It really means a lot, but it’s just the beginning, though. I’ve got to keep
going, keep chipping away. That’s it.”
(On the Jaguars continuing to play hard late in a tough season) “It just goes to show you
that the guys in this locker room, we play this game of football for the right reasons.
Obviously because we love the game of football, and then we love playing for each other.
We don’t go to work every day just to come out on Sundays and half-way do things. We
come to win, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re just staying together as a collective unit,
and continuously going, no matter the circumstances.”
(On if it feels good to get a win in Jacksonville) “Most definitely. The last one at home, we’re
just trying to continuously keep building momentum to finish this season and obviously
continuously building in the years to come, next year, and just continuously build.”
(On if he can believe that the home schedule is complete) “Man, this season, it definitely
went by fast, but that goes the part of cherishing every moment. You can’t take anything for
granted, even the few home games that we did have. We just have to always cherish those
moments.”
(On Josh Hines-Allen’s dominant series) “After the first play, I went up to him, like, ‘Man,
you’re balling.’ Second play, came back, we talking big cash-money, and then he came
back, he got the sack the second play and came back, made another play on that third
down. It was exciting to see for me. That’s just Josh tapping into that mindset. He was just
talking to himself on the sideline and I could just tell he was tapping back into that mindset
that he finished the season with last year. Just hungry; he’s wanting to finish and put the
defense on his back, and that’s what he did right there.”
(On some of the Jaguars’ individual players’ accomplishments giving validity to the thought
that the team is better than its record) “Most definitely. Like I say, we play the game of
football for the right reasons. We love the game, we play for each other and just to
continuously build with each other, for this season, it’s coming to an end but we want to
carry it over to next season.”
(On Maason Smith’s sack) “Maason, he was going, he was at it. He’s been coming along.
That’s something that we in this organization knew that he could do from ever since he got
here, and he’s showing it now. He had a couple games where was injured early in the
season. Now, he’s on the field and you see it for yourself.”
(On Maason Smith’s celebration) “Love it, that’s that Louisiana stuff.”
JAGUARS DEFENSIVE END JOSH HINES-ALLEN
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On how it feels to close out a game for the first time in a while) “Man, it felt good. We kind
of finished like we finished the last game, so when we can obviously put the last couple of
seconds on our back, man. It feels great. It feels great.”
(On what it means to sweep the division-rival Titans) “For sure. I mean, any divisional
game, to sweep a divisional game, is huge, especially for the conference. Obviously, the
whole season hasn’t been where we wanted it to be, but if we can dominate our division,
we have one more divisional game. I think right now, what are we, 3-2 in the division? We
win that game and we’re 4-2 in our division. So, we can hold our heads up high, knowing
that we keep handling our business in the division that when we get outside it, we’re going
to be in a good space.”
(On how dominant he was on the sack series) “I just hit that groove. I felt like I kind of knew
what to expect in those plays coming up. The communication was great. I had my mind set
on the first play that they were going to do that. Then Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun]
confirming that only just gave me the queue to just, ‘Hey, go make a play.’ And then that
second one, I feel like I was beating them like that all game. Cornerbacks and DBs did a
hell of a job in the back end, holding up coverages so that allowed me to sneak in and get
the sack. And then that third one, [DT] Arik [Armstead] called a great game that allowed
one of us to be on the movement to see what was happening, so just put ourselves in good
positions to make plays and can’t wait to do that again next week.”
(On what it means to continue playing hard despite their record) “I mean, I hope not. You
go out there to play, to win every game. Obviously, I feel like we had the lead all game, so
that gives us a little bit more boost, a little bit more confidence. If we do what we do
defensively… I feel like we could’ve done a better job of stopping the run. I think they had a
lot of leaky yardage after contact. So, we can just hone in on those. Obviously, next week,
it’s a good offense, the running game has been picking up over there, but a good back. So,
our challenge is to steal the table. If the offense keeps putting up points on the board, and
we play with a lead, and we can make a little run—I guess a 2-0 run.”
(On whether the sack record is within reach with one game left) “Hey man, I missed two. I
had one and then—but I’m glad we didn’t let him escape. I’m glad Tray [DE Travon Walker]
got him. That would’ve sucked if I would’ve got him and then he released and ran for 13
yards. So, I’m glad that didn’t happen. But again, I’m excited about the win. I think, first and
foremost, I think that’s what it’s all about. Putting my team in a position to be successful
and I’m ready to do it again next week.”
(On whether he can feel S Andrew Wingard’s presence out on the field now that he’s back)
“Yeah, for sure. I feel like he’s always—obviously, he didn’t start previously this week, but
just to have him out there is good. Love Dewey [Andrew Wingard], excited to see him play
again and I know he’s going to continue making plays. He should’ve had that sack, so I’ve
got to get on him about that, but we’re all good.”
(On his thoughts on CB Jarrian Jones’ rookie season) “It isn’t over yet, but so far so good.
We’ve got one more. Ask me that next week and I’ll have a better answer.”
TITANS QUARTERBACK MASON RUDOLPH
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On why it took so long for the offense to get going) “Yeah, we had the one turnover and
then some stalled drives. I don’t have the answer for you. I think just got to execute better
and move the sticks. Our defense was getting us the ball back. I thought they played, well
but we’ve got to score more points.”
(On what happened on the final play) “Yeah, I mean, DB [Jaguars S Antonio Johnson] made
a good play through the seam. He overlapped, played in the middle of both number one
and number two. Maybe lead him in a little bit more, but thought he made a good play.”
(On what he and Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan told guys as they were trying to come
back at the end) “Yeah, we knew we had a chance and we knew if we scored some points,
they’re going to kick the field goal, get the ball back and get a chance to drive and our
defense did a great job getting us that stop when we needed it. We just didn’t make enough
plays.”
(On how disappointing it is to lose close games) “Yeah, losing’s never fun. There are
lessons to be learned and generally, they end up hardening you as a player and teaching
you lessons. Experience is the best teacher.”
(On if it’s tough to balance creating a spark and not doing too much) “Eh, that’s always the
balance. I felt like right before half, we had to have points going in, we delivered and came
out and got seven points and doubled them up there so I was proud of the guys for the way
they got us back in the game and the defense did their part. I don’t know how many
possessions we had but it didn’t seem like a lot. They did a good job of controlling the ball,
running the ball well.”
(On what lessons the team is learning right now) “Going back and looking — schematically
there’s lessons but also general adversity. I’ve never been part of a season like this, but it’s
taught me a lot. I think it makes you appreciate the wins more and probably brings you
closer as a unit going through something that’s tough.”
JAGUARS WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN THOMAS JR.
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On playing his final home game as a rookie) “It’s kind of crazy. I felt like it flew by a little bit,
but I’m just grateful that we were able to get a dub on the last one.”
(On setting records as a rookie and if he cares about them) “Yeah, for sure. I wouldn’t say I
don’t care about them, but it’s definitely a great feeling to be able to do some of the things
that I did. I don’t even know all of them, but some of them that I’ve heard, great
accomplishments.”
(On tying WR Randy Moss’s rookie record as the only other rookie with 60-plus receiving
yards and a touchdown in eight games) “It’s a great accomplishment just to be in the same
conversation as Randy Moss. He’s one of the all-time greats. So, just to be in the same
conversation, I’m just grateful and thankful.”
(On what it’s like to be in the rhythm he is in right now) “Just coming out and working hard
each and every day. Just my work paying off, going out there, practice being able to
translate to the field and continuing to go out there and be my best, do my best.”
(On what it says about the locker room that they continue to play hard regardless of how
the season has gone) “We’re going to continue to play hard, that’s how every guy is wired in
this locker room. Even though some things haven’t gone our way this season, we’re going to
still continue to fight and continue to play hard.”
(On if he would like to see this coaching staff come back in 2025) “That’s not my decision. I
don’t have anything to do with that.”
(On what it means for QB Mac Jones to get a win in Jacksonville) “I know it’s a great feeling
for Mac, just to be able to get one. Last home game. It’s a great feeling for him, amazing
feeling.”
(On his relationship with QB Mac Jones) “I’d say me and Mac’s relationship has grown a lot.
I’m cool with his dad jokes, he’s a pretty funny dude. Me and him have gotten a lot closer,
just by him being out there playing. We’ve got a great relationship and it’s going to continue
to build.”
(On it would mean to finish the season with a win) “It means everything to me. Just finish
the season out strong and have momentum going into next season. So, I would say it
means a lot to me.”
(On if he thinks he stamped his ticket to the Pro Bowl) “I don’t know, I hope so. I hope so for
sure.”
TITANS HEAD COACH BRIAN CALLAHAN
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
Opening Statement: Two guys left the game did not return, Spears with a concussion. He’ll
likely be out this week, and JD, Jaelyn Duncan, with a shoulder, he’ll be out this week.
Really at the end of the day, we needed one more play somewhere and we didn’t quite get
it. Had chances, had opportunities, it was a low-possession game. I think we only had eight
possessions. Two of those were two-minute possessions, so kind of a weird flow of the
game with the weather early on and needed one more play to make a chance to get the win
and we didn’t do it, so we were probably a play short today.
(On the final play of the game) “Yeah, he made a good play. I thought we had a chance at it.
The ball was in there, it’s fourth down from wherever we were to 20-something yard-line so
took a shot to the end zone and had a chance to go make a play on the ball and the guy
made a nice play coming over the top of Nick without doing any interference. That was a
good play by that kid.”
(On the urgency of the offense on their second to last possession of the game) “Yeah, I
mean, we were — it’s — we were trying to go as fast as we can and still maintain the ability
to get first downs. It’s hard to get — as you get into those red zones to get the plays you
want. A lot of them are huddle calls, we had a couple on the ball, but we worked as fast as
we could in the moment and try to make sure we had good play calls, too. Didn’t want to
waste calls, so, yeah, we got the ball back with a chance to win the game.”
(On opening the second half with an eight-minute drive) “Yeah, wanted to have a chance to
get the ball back sooner than that. Those drives take a lot out of your — take a lot out of the
clock, pushes the game into a waning minutes really quickly. Would have loved to find a
way to get a stop but they kept moving the ball slowly down the field and kept taking up
time and getting first downs. It felt like they were in third and short for a lot of it and they
kept converting those. It was easy for them to keep the ball on the field and the offense on
the field and didn’t do a good enough job stopping it.
(On taking shots down the field to try to score quickly) “Yeah, I mean, you’re trying to be as
smart as you can, trying to make sure you’re maintaining the ability to move the ball down
the field. You still got to get first downs, you still got to find ways to move the ball and
they’re playing a coverage that’s designed to keep in front of them, too. You’re going to have
to take the completions where you get them and hope you hit a big one or two, which we
did, and got ourselves in position, so, again, just a little bit short.”
(On if he thought about spiking the ball on the second to last possessions to preserve time)
“No, we were trying to “toro” field goal that to get it before the warning, so we were going as
fast as we could to kick the field goal. We wanted to kick the ball out of bounds in the
kickoff. We didn’t want them to return it either. We were kicking in the breeze so we
couldn’t quite get it into the end zone, so those two things factored in. We were trying to go
as fast as we could to kick the field goal, save as much time as we could and then kick the
ball out of the end zone in the kickoff but didn’t get that one all the way done and they were
probably going to take it out if they were anywhere five deep or less, so, just to make sure
they got the ball down there. So, yeah, we were going as fast as we could. Didn’t want to
clock it. It was a third and long, went to a fourth and nine so would have been tough for the
fourth down there to clock that ball.”
(On not being able to score a lot of points against Jacksonville) “I mean, that’s an overall
season. You look at their last couple of games, they’ve held some teams in check, too.
They’re not a — they got talent on their football team, you know. I don’t look at those kind of
statistics in that regard. We didn’t play well enough, didn’t make enough plays with the
chance to go win the game, so muddy, sloppy game and limited possessions, you’re not
going to get a lot of scoring done on either end and that’s what you got, a 20-13 game.”
(On the Jaguars short yardage offensive success) “Yeah, I think thaw probably had a
quarterback sneak in what felt like four or five of them. Those are challenging plays to stop.
You would like to see one of them get stopped in there somewhere, but, yeah, when you’re
in third and one that many times, that’s a tough spot to be in defensively. Doesn’t give you a
whole lot of options to get a stop and they just get six inches and they got a first down.”
(On RB Tyjae Spears’ performance) “Tyjae played great. I thought Tyjae was having an
outstanding day. He got slammed on the ground in that last play and got up wobbly and
they took him in and had a concussion, so there’s a not much we can do about it, but I
thought he was playing really, really well. It was good to see that and unfortunate that we
lost him. I thought he was having a really nice game.”
(On the offensive penalties in the game) “No, no. The snap slipped. It was just a bad snap
and it was a wet ball and then Mason lined up and he went to check with the official and
she was going to try to tell him to move back and he looked back inside so she couldn’t tell
him. He was checking with her to make sure he was good and she was about to tell him to
move back, he wasn’t quite where he was supposed to be and he had looked back inside,
so, I mean, it’s one of these things. We’ve repped that a thousand times. I didn’t think that
was that challenging of a thing to execute.”
(On if today’s loss feels different) “No. They all feel terrible, to be honest. We still had a
tipped ball turnover and that was the difference in the game. We lost the turnover battle 1-
0, and that’s been the story of the season as the turnovers are putting ourselves in tough
spots and that was ultimately the difference. Again, it was one — needed to find one play
somewhere and they found one, the turnover, and found a way to score and we didn’t get
one.”
(On how he keeps players from getting numb to losing) “I hope they’re not numb to them.
I’m sure not. It sucks. It’s terrible. It’s no — there’s no joy in this process. There’s no fun in
this. It’s terrible. I feel it every day I walk in to work. I feel out every day I stand up here in
front of you guys. Nothing is enjoyable about this, so I don’t get numb to any of it and I hope
nobody gets numb to it. My job is to try to fix it and do whatever we can to fix whatever
problems we got to fix to add whatever players we have to add to make sure we have a
better football team moving forward.”
(On what he tells players heading into the final game of the year) “You got one more game
to finish it. They’ve done everything we’ve asked in terms of how we work and practice,
have come up short too many times but you got one more opportunity to put it on tape. You
got one more opportunity to play football and you only are guaranteed 17 games. A lot guys
aren’t guaranteed a couple shots at playing in the NFL so make the most of it. Play your
best football, play as well as you can, prepare the same way you prepared to start the
season and try to finish it off right.”
(On if he takes solace in knowing the players have done everything his staff has asked of
them) “No, there’s no solace in that. There’s things that are positive that I like to see from
the way our football team does things, but, no, solace is the wrong word. I don’t — we got to
find a way get better and we got to find a way to put together a team that can go win more
games. We lost a lot of close games this year and those are the games we got to find ways
to win and right now we haven’t done a good enough job of it. So, no, there’s no solace in
that. Trying everything we can to win and right now we’re not winning.”
(On his message to people talking about the team’s draft position) “That’s for you guys to
talk about. We don’t talk about that. It’s not something I ever talk to the team about. It’s not
something I think about. That’s all for news and clicks and conversation and we’re focused
trying to play one more football game this year and try to win it and that’s all I’m really
focused on and all I put my energy towards. The rest of it is what it is and we’ll talk about
the draft another time.”
TITANS QUARTERBACK MASON RUDOLPH
POSTGAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
(On why it took so long for the offense to get going) “Yeah, we had the one turnover and
then some stalled drives. I don’t have the answer for you. I think just got to execute better
and move the sticks. Our defense was getting us the ball back. I thought they played, well
but we’ve got to score more points.”
(On what happened on the final play) “Yeah, I mean, DB [Jaguars S Antonio Johnson] made
a good play through the seam. He overlapped, played in the middle of both number one
and number two. Maybe lead him in a little bit more, but thought he made a good play.”
(On what he and Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan told guys as they were trying to come
back at the end) “Yeah, we knew we had a chance and we knew if we scored some points,
they’re going to kick the field goal, get the ball back and get a chance to drive and our
defense did a great job getting us that stop when we needed it. We just didn’t make enough
plays.”
(On how disappointing it is to lose close games) “Yeah, losing’s never fun. There are
lessons to be learned and generally, they end up hardening you as a player and teaching
you lessons. Experience is the best teacher.”
(On if it’s tough to balance creating a spark and not doing too much) “Eh, that’s always the
balance. I felt like right before half, we had to have points going in, we delivered and came
out and got seven points and doubled them up there so I was proud of the guys for the way
they got us back in the game and the defense did their part. I don’t know how many
possessions we had but it didn’t seem like a lot. They did a good job of controlling the ball,
running the ball well.”
(On what lessons the team is learning right now) “Going back and looking — schematically
there’s lessons but also general adversity. I’ve never been part of a season like this, but it’s
taught me a lot. I think it makes you appreciate the wins more and probably brings you
closer as a unit going through something that’s tough.”
