Head Coach Joe Judge

Opening Statement: First, I just want to give credit to Arizona. They came out and played a good football game today. They outplayed us. We were outcoached, outplayed. We have to do more to be successful. We have to have a better week this week and take steps forward as a team. A lot of mistakes were made in the game that can't happen again. We have to work harder to correct. There were some positives from the game, but positives always get overshadowed by the negatives and bad football on tape. With that being said, we'll go back to work this week like we do every week and we'll start to prepare and make gains on the next opponent. With that being said, I'll open it up to any questions you may have.

Q: What did you see from Daniel (Jones) and, specifically, how did you think he looked health wise?

A: Well, I thought he was able to protect himself in the pocket, which was the main concern as in can he step up and can he move in it. We knew there were going to be some situations today where he wasn't going to pull it down and just run like he's done in the past. We knew that he was going to either end up throwing the ball away or take sacks at certain point. We knew that going into the game and we saw that early on. But I thought, overall, that he showed that he was able to protect himself in the pocket. I checked on him at halftime. I checked on him throughout the course of the game. That was really kind of the feedback we got right there.

Q: Did it get worse throughout the game? Were there any regrets on playing him?

A: No, I have no regrets on playing him. We made a calculated decision based on what he could do as a player. We went out there, and as a team, we have to execute better.

Q: I don't know if you thought Daniel was rusty or anything like that, but what do you attribute to the overall offense with 10 first-downs, 159 yards? I mean really nothing at all in the first half. What do you attribute that to if it wasn't only Daniel?

A: I have to look at the tape before I make a lot of statements outside. Look, ultimately, we have to coach better, we have to play better, we have to execute. There were things that we did today in terms of turnovers and penalties that we have to take off of the map. You can't have success with those things. We give them credit. They played well. They were able to get the ball off of us several times and those led to points. We have to make sure we do a better job of protecting the ball and finishing drives.

Q: Did Daniel reaggravate the injury? It looked like he was favoring his left leg there at the end.

A: I'm going to have to check with him right there. After the game, I just touched base with him a little bit in terms of how he was feeling. In terms of where he is coming out of this game, we'll have more news on that internally tonight and tomorrow morning based on how he feels.

Q: Can you just go over the decision on the third-and-one deep in your own territory late in the third quarter? You kind of threw that pass down the sideline instead of running the ball and trying to get the first down.

A: There was a matchup we thought we liked right there. There are things we talk about going in terms of game plan and how they played and things we had to do to make plays down the field. That's part of what we discussed during the week and in practice. Look, we've hit some of those throughout the season as well. They've been big plays for us. To sit here and second guess everything we did - we went in, we knew what the plan was. We'll look going forward to see if that's the best decision for us or not. We'll make the decision based on the opponent and how we're playing in each game.

Q: Did you give any thought to taking Daniel out at halftime? And the fumble on the first drive seemed like something that he had cleaned up in recent appearances and it shows up again. How critical is it that he protects it and the field position if anything else?

A: Well, there are 11 guys on the field when that happened right there, so that's not one person's fault. There are some things that we have to do better in terms of communication, identification - you know it all ties together - ball protection and security. It's not just one person on that play right there. In terms of taking Daniel out, we checked with him health wise. We kept getting status updates from him to make sure he can keep playing. The feedback was all positive from him and the medical team. On a side note, did we have conversations about getting Colt (McCoy) in the game? We had some brief conversations about it, but that was not based on health. That was based on was there anything that we needed to do to change how we're playing game plan wise and change up some of the play calling and change up some of what we're doing. Those were all things we practiced. We made the decision that it was best to stick to what we're doing to try to make some things work and make subtle adjustments right there. But, as far as the conversation with Daniel, as long as his health stayed up, we were committed to putting him in the game today.

Q: It seemed like the offensive line really took a step back today after playing well for the last month. What was the biggest difference there? What went wrong?

A: Well, I need to look at the tape and break some things down before I start making some bold statement right now. Those guys have been working really hard. I think they made a lot of gains throughout the season. We'll take a look at what happened today. These guys did a really good job in terms of their packages and movement. There were some good matchups. We have to finish better. We have to play better. We'll take a look at that tape and adjust what we have to.

Q: In retrospect, how much does it change your offense and limit Daniel when he can't run? I don't think he attempted a rush today. That's been a big part of his game this year.

A: Something that has been very positive for our offense this year is Daniel being able to run the ball and extend some plays right there. He had a few today. He got outside of the pocket. He had some passes down the sideline. He had a throw away and a completion down there at one point. Obviously, you take away part of the offense in any regard, it's going to affect how everything else complements itself right there. Look, we'll work this week. We'll see where he's at physically and we'll make decisions on how to structure the game plan.

Q: You're scoring under 20 points per game. I know you guys have been able to win that way, but do you need your offense at some point to put some points on the board? Significant points?

A: Yes. We're playing complementary football is the goal right there - all three phases playing together there. We're trying to finish drives and work as hard as we can to stay on the field. We didn't do a good enough job of that today. We have to do a better job next week.

Q: This seemed like the third straight week that special teams were making some mistakes. There was the dropped kick return, some directional punting issues and coverage tackling issues. How concerned are you with that group? I know you were talking about the three phases needed to complement each other. How do you feel about that phase where you guys stand right now?

A: Well, this has been a phase that has been a strength for us for a large part of the year. We have to make sure that we just keep on moving forward. We're going to get back to fundamentals this week and work as a team collectively to make sure we make gains this week on it. Cleveland is going to be a very good team in the kicking game. It's going to take all week to prepare for them right there. So, we have to make sure schematically and fundamentally that we make improvements this week.

Q: I can tell you're not pleased with the execution in many facets today. I'm just curious from the approach and an attitude situation coming into this game, were you pleased with what you saw from your team this week? Were there any effects from your big win last week?

A: No, I don't think we had any kind of a hangover from going out to Seattle last week. I don't think that's the cause of it. Again, this game is completely independent of anything that has happened before. We simply didn't come out today and we didn't coach well enough and we didn't play well enough. That's the hard truth of it. We have to do a much better job. One thing about our guys is I know they're going to show up tomorrow, watch the tape. I know they're going to show up on Wednesday ready to practice, locked in and ready to roll. We have a mindset around here and everyone is committed to it. We're going to go back to work. Regardless of what the result was today, that's going to be the same approach and same mindset as well. Look, it's going to take everything we have this week to prepare for Cleveland. They're a really good team. We have to make sure we adjust and correct what happened today and we have to move forward as a team. Regardless of the result today, we have to get better as a team and that starts with getting back to work this week and going hard.

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: How much did you feel hampered by your hamstring injury out there? You weren't able to run like you usually do, how much did that affect your approach today?

A: I think I wasn't able to run like I normally do, but I felt good during the game. I'm not sure it hampered too much, I was able to move around the pocket and do what I needed to do throwing the ball. I think I got to do better with that still.

Q: How did you feel by the end of the game? It seemed like you were limping around more than you were at the start of the game?

A: Yeah, it wore on me a bit during the game. Just got to do a good job staying on top of it and making sure it's healing up like it should.

Q: There were a couple of plays where it seemed like you normally would have pulled the ball and run, or extended the play on some of those sacks. Was that something that you physically couldn't do, or was that a rule that you weren't allowed to do so?

A: I think, like I said, I wasn't running like I'm used to. So that may have played into certain situations like that, but I think I need to do a better job getting the ball out of my hand and finding the open guy. I was holding the ball a little bit and that put a lot of pressure on those guys up front.

Q: Did you feel like you did anything today that would jeopardize your ability to play next week against the Browns?

A: No, I don't think so. 

Q: How disappointing is it to have a game like this after all the hard work it took to get back?

A: It's extremely disappointing for all of us. I think to play like that, and not execute throughout the whole game, not move the ball well on offense, was certainly disappointing for all of us. We had a good week of practice and felt like we were prepared, but it's about what you do on Sundays and we didn't get it done, so I'm certainly disappointed for all of us. 

Q: Looked like Arizona got to you with the four-man pass rush. Wayne (Gallman) said earlier that it looked like they did some things that you hadn't seen before, is that correct?

A: They had a good game plan going in, a few different things, but every team does every week. We got to do a better job identifying, I have to do a better job with that and getting the ball out on time.

Q: Do you think you not being able to run changed their defensive approach since you weren't a threat to get out of the pocket?

A: I think it could have, yes. I want to look at the tape and see a couple plays and see how exactly they played a few of them, but yes, it could have.

Q: When you were hobbling pretty bad on that last drive, was it the hamstring or something else?

A: Just dealing with a hamstring, and the general bumps and bruises from playing the game. Got to make sure I stay on top of it and heal up this week.

Q: As an athlete, you always want to push to play. Do you regret pushing to play early enough that you weren't 100%?

A: No, I don't regret it. I felt good enough to play, I felt like I could do everything I needed to do throughout the game. So no, I don't have any regrets about that.

Q: On the 3rd & 1 where you went deep down the right to (Sterling) Shep(ard), did you change the play at the line there? What did you see?

A: No, I didn't change the play. We went through a couple of cadences and got the play in. Saw a matchup there, and I need to give him a better chance to make that play.

Q: Until the last drive there, the only reception that (Sterling) Shepard, (Evan) Engram and (Golden) Tate had was the one to set up the touchdown. Were your receivers getting enough separation? Did they not do a good enough job? Why did your playmakers come up empty today?

A: I certainly have to look at the tape and see what exactly they were doing, but I know there were some opportunities; guys were getting separation and winning, and I have to do a better job of finding them and getting the ball to them in those situations. Arizona deserves a lot of credit, they played well, and like I said, we'll look at the tape and learn from it and go from here.

Q: When one guy is having as much success as Hassan Redick was to get five sacks and three forced fumbles, are you looking for him before each snap, identifying him like you would a regular pass rusher?

A: They got good guys up front, guys who can affect a passer and cause disruption in the backfield, so we certainly had to account for all of them. And like I said, I have to do a better job of getting the ball out on time and taking some of the pressure off the guys up front.

Q: Was there anything you had to get checked out after the game?

A: Just general bumps and bruises and staying on top of the hamstring. Just trying to get in front of it as we look forward to next week.

Q: You had been pretty good the last three games with no turnovers and fumbles lost, you put the ball on the ground three different times today. Was there anything to it that you can put your finger on in that regard?

A: Just got to do a better job with it. Just got to protect the ball.

Linebacker Blake Martinez

Q: How worried were you about not being able to play this game? How do you think you did? How do you feel now?

A: I just focused on getting better each and every day and show the coaches that I had the ability to go out there and perform at the level I know I could. I trusted myself to go out there, and I felt good for the majority of the game. Just need to make sure I keep working on it today and tomorrow to make sure I'm ready for this week and the coming practices.

Q: You guys obviously won a bunch in a row, coming off a big win in Seattle, this was a huge missed opportunity for you guys. What are your thoughts on that and what was the feeling in the locker room after the game?

A: We didn't perform the way we needed to today. It's one of those things where you can't be too high or too low on yourself. Just got to keep going each and every day trying to get better. That's our plan, just focus on this next week and making sure we make the improvements we have been throughout the season.

Q: He didn't have any really big runs, but how much of a challenge was (Kyler) Murray that he was able to keep the chains moving for them?

A: (Kyler) Murray is a special player, we knew he was going to make certain plays here and there. We needed to do better keeping him in there and making sure we had our game plan set, we just didn't play as well as we wanted to.

Q: How difficult was that first half where they started three drives on your side of the 50-yard line? Seemed like you guys were on the field every play and must've been gassed.

A: We work on it every single week- making sure we're conditioned for any situation that comes up, any sudden changes, all of those types of things. It's one of those things where we have to stand up as a defense and help the offense out, and play complementary football throughout the game, and once again, we didn't play well enough as a team to make those situations go in our favor.

Q: Obviously you're trying to win the division, what do you think this does to your chances to do that?

A: I'm going to be honest, I'm not focused on that. For us, I think it's about focusing on tomorrow, fixing the mistakes from this game, and going about it like we have the whole season, working at it, making sure we improve going into next Sunday and starting with that next game.

Q: Why do you think they had so much success running the ball, especially in the second half?

A: I need to go check the tape, but it's probably going to come down to what we've been through this whole season: just little mistakes here and there, one guy here, one guy there not making the play and getting those stops.

Q: Do you think there was any issue of overconfidence coming into today's game? Do you feel like this will be a wakeup call even though it's so late in the season?

A: No, I don't think it was overconfidence. I think we didn't play collectively as a team, and when you don't do that, it's hard to win. I think for us, it's just going back and fixing those things that we messed up on and getting back to playing that complementary football that we played for the last four weeks.

Q: What about the idea of a potential wakeup call based on how poorly this game went?

A: Anytime you lose, it's always a wakeup call. I think really good teams focus on how they can get better whether they won or lost. If you're able to do that each and every week and correct those mistakes that come up, you'll be that much better the following week, and that much better as a team.

Running Back Wayne Gallman

Q: Did you feel like the defense played you any differently with the run threat of Daniel (Jones) not being a factor?

A: They definitely did some things that we didn't expect, but we did what we could. Of course, there are things that we have to get better at ourselves. They played good today, but I think there are things that we could have done better in terms of our identity and stuff as our own unit. That's just something that we have to go back and fix during our practice.

Q: What did you see from Daniel? Obviously, he was dealing with the hamstring injury that he came back from. We didn't see him run as much so I'm curious as to what you may have seen differently from him and the offense?

A: Daniel being Daniel. Daniel is a tough guy. If he says he's going to play, I trust him. There are no setbacks about that. I think Daniel did his thing today. He did it to the best of his ability. Of course, he has to get back healthy and do what he has to do. He's out there, I trust him. 

Q: Coming off of last week's game, huge upset, team is on a roll with four games in a row and only a month left in the season now. How disappointing is this to see the team just not perform well in a big spot here?

A: It is what it is. Sometimes you just have to control what you can control. You can't worry about all the stuff that you can't. Arizona won today. We give it to them. We're already moved on to the next game. We're worried about Cleveland and just have to have a great week of practice. 

Q: Do you think that maybe over confidence was a factor coming into today?

A: We're never overconfident. We come in confident as a team and what we do in practice of course throughout the week. They just had some things we hadn't seen. We just have to play better, that's it.

Cornerback James Bradberry

Q: This team performed so well last week against a better opponent record-wise in Seattle on the road. With so much on the line, how do you explain this kind of performance at home and off a four-game winning streak?

A: I think it just came down to they performed better than us. We didn't execute when we needed to and that's usually the name of the game. You've got to execute and make plays, and we didn't do enough today.

Q: When the defense is playing well, especially early, and the offense is struggling like that, does it get frustrating as the game goes along? What's the general feeling of the players that are out there?

A: I mean, we always say, 'If they don't score, they don't win.' That's our goal as a defense, we don't worry about special teams or what the offense is doing, we just worry about what we can control.

Q: How do you think you guys did today against [Cardinals Wide Receiver] DeAndre Hopkins? What was it like to take on [Seahawks Wide Receiver] DK Metcalf and DeAndre, two of the top receivers in the league?

A: We didn't do as good as last week containing DeAndre Hopkins today, but I still think he didn't really wreck the game for us. We just had a few mistakes on him.

Q: How much pressure does it put on you guys as a defense when your offense isn't scoring 30 points a game? Do you guys sense that at all, do you guys notice that? Do you feel like you almost have to play differently? I know you said your goal is to not give up any points, but does that change your mindset?

A: No pressure at all, that's why they got us here on this defense, so that we can stop any offense that we go against. But we didn't do that today, so we've got to correct our mistakes and try to do that next week.

Q: I know you guys have played this zone defense and it's worked for the most part this season, but when you see Hopkins kind of get loose against other guys, is it frustrating at all that you can't just man up and cover the other team's number one receiver like you probably want to?

A: So, we're going to see what we did tomorrow on film and then we're going to correct those mistakes on those plays where he got loose and then we're going to go from there.

Q: But personally, would you want to take that matchup more than maybe you've been able to because of the way the scheme has been?

A: I thought the call was good, whatever call we were in that play. Specifically, the over-up, it was a good call I felt like. He just made a a play, you know.

Q: What do you think [Cardinals Quarterback] Kyler Murray does especially well as a quarterback? And as a pass rush, when you kind of prioritize containing a guy who can run, does that give him more time to look downfield and force you to cover longer?

A: I think his strength is his mobility, being able to make plays when there's no play there, being able to scramble around and draw time for the receivers to get open. I think that's what he did well today. It's definitely tough on our defensive line because he's a fast, athletic guy. We've just got to figure out a way to contain him.

Q: You guys were kind of forced to defend a lot of short fields today. How did that affect the way you guys schemed that within the game?

A: As far as the scheme, that's a defensive coordinator question. But, like I said, us as a defense, the leaders try to rally the troops together to make the play. Anytime you take the field, that's our whole mindset, make plays and stop them from scoring.