Head Coach Brian Daboll

Brian, what do you think the key was to this win?
"Just a normal NFL game. Competitive. Showed a lot of resiliency on the road, particularly how the game started. This is the third anniversary of my grandmother's death, which is today, the 22nd. She raised me and I was kind of giving her the business after the first two plays – like what do you have in store for me? But the guys competed, I was proud of the way they competed. That's a good football team. Defensively they are a good football team and I thought we got into a rhythm and made some plays early in the game. Stalled out a few in the second half, but at the end of the day, made a play there at the end to seal it. Mota??? did a great job. There are a lot of ebbs and flows to the game, some fumbles. A fumble again coming out in the second half, a fumble we have to take care of, but a lot of resiliency from the guys in uniform in the room. Proud of those guys."

Can you speak to WR Malik Nabers and what he was accomplishing in the first half?
"I'd say the biggest play Malik made – we had a little throwback to (WR) Theo (Johnson), which we had – I think, big play possibility backed up and (QB) Daniel's (Jones) arm got hit. So it's up in the air, and for him to make that play in that situation, you know, risk-reward call. I think we were getting man-to-man and he scoots out the back there and I thought, 'this might go.' For him to have the awareness to knock the ball down, that play says more to me about Malik that some of the other things. Everyone can see the touchdowns, but the unselfish play, the smart play he made was a huge play in the game. Huge."

How do you make sure that after those first 11 seconds, the team doesn't sink its head?
"That's what we talk about since OTA's. We talk about resilience and commitment to one another, teamwork and discipline, attitude. There are going to be ebbs and flows to every game, there's ebbs and flows to every season. That's something we preach internally. You know, our guys have internal confidence, but it's good to get the result. The process has been right, I believe in our process and I've said that before. So their commitment to one-another, their next-play mentality – the things we preach for a long time. They have it come to fruition. Everyone wants to see the results and this is a results business. I believe in what we do and how we do things. That showed I think in terms of being on the road, it's cranking there, a touchdown right after the fumble, just to stay locked in and committed to the next-play mentality doesn't always turn out your way and today it did. I give our guys a lot of credit."

What did you see from QB Daniel Jones?
"Another good week. He's had two good weeks in a row. I don't know, another hundred-plus quarterback rating, two touchdowns, no interceptions, handled the noise well. Did a great job of not turning the football over. Executing, I think we were 100% but took the knee at the end. He was locked in and he's been that way. We're going to need it from him this week – a short week. A lot of work to do."

What was your vantage point of that pass to Malik on the sideline right before the touchdown?
"It was one hell of a catch. I'm going to go back and watch it on tape. I saw it and said, 'Oh', but then he came down with it. Again, when you have a guy like that, it doesn't really matter the matchup. Throw the ball up to him and trust he's going to get it. It takes a lot of trust between and a quarterback and a receiver to be able to do that. Particularly with the leverage of the defender, how is he playing? You always talk to the receiver – it's your ball or it's nobody's ball. That's how you develop trust. My seven-year old made a play like that the other day, so working on that. Again, he's a good football player. You've all seen it. Still a lot to work on and I've said this numerous times, glad we have him."

You talk a lot about process. How important was it for the guys to see that the benefit is the results?
"That's the key, right? We like to have a good process, which leads to good results. That's the ideal box. Sometimes you have a good process that leads to bad results, but still a box you want to be in although the results are not good. Then you can have bad processes and bad results, which is what we don't want to do. So the commitment to one another, how we do things, or bad process but good results which is a slippery slope too. Again, the way our guys work, their commitment, their practice habits, their study habits, it's not always going to lead to a win. You'd love for it to, but I know every week they go in and give everything the've got. In the classroom, work hard on the practice field. The coaches are together, there is chemistry, they work their tails off, unfortunately sometimes you don't get the results you want. It's good to get the results for this – it's one game and a lot to clean up on. We have a short week to do it against a great team."

Can you talk about your decision to go for it early on 4th down?
"I liked the play we had. A jet sweep to (Giants WR) Malik (Nabers) and put it in his hands. Carried some momentum, confidence in the players. We've been doing it in practice. When you get to a point where you feel that, those decisions really aren't too difficult to make."

The pass rush was particularly effective - is that what you imagined when you put this together?
"Yeah, it was great. I don't know if we had eight sacks or something like that. It was pressure too. I think again when you look at it, how is the game being played? So their team is down 21-7 you get to a certain point where there's more passes or things like that, so that helps too. It's not just the pass rush, it's how you play the game complementary style. We can get up 21-3 and that's a whole different game. Conversely when you get down, it's hard, so there's going to be more pressure on a quarterback. That's the hardest thing to do is protect the quarterback when you know they have to throw it. So I thought so far one of our better games of complimentary football."

There was a real shift in approach with the way you blitzed in this game. It was about 50% of the dropbacks brought more than four rushers. What went into that?
"I didn't have my calculator. Again, game plan. Each week we go into the staff on Monday and Tuesday – we think this is what needs to be done. Played a little bit more man than we probably have in the past couple games. It can change each week - that's what I like about (Giants DC) Shane (Bowen) and the defensive staff and the offensive staff, and (Giants Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial) Goby, to be honest with you.. They exhaust all their resources, they spend a lot of time together, they work late, they're committed to one another, and then they come up with a plan that we think is best for our football team. Sometimes you have to adjust to that, it's not working the best. Sometimes it's working good
and that's why you spend all those hours there at work. But again it's one game, and it certainly beats the alternative of the result that we've had the first 2 weeks. We have a lot of work to do, but I'm proud of the players and the coaches."

Did they players indicate to you or to the defensive coordinators that they wanted to be more aggressive?
"No, look, Shane does a great job. Goby, (Giants OC Mike Kafka) Kaf, we all work together and we come up with a plan. The players have been great. Do you take players' input on certain things, sure. There's days I'm asking what do you like. But that's what makes the teams I've been a part of, when you can have that type of communication, that's being a team."

As a play caller, in the first half did you feel that you had the right plan to attack Browns DC Jim Schwartz's defense?
"I mean I felt I had the right plan all game, but we didn't score in the second half. That's how you have to feel as a play caller. That's why you spend all that time putting it in. They did a good job of spinning it. They got into much more man type stuff. They were spinning it early on and doing things. We were screening and we were doing a lot of different things too. It comes down ultimately to the execution of it, but we were in a little bit of a rhythm. The quarterback was seeing things good. We were changing up styles of play. The running game, we were throwing enough in there, but he's a really good defensive coordinator. They did a really good job in the second half. We thought we missed some opportunities and ultimately when you don't score, you look at yourself and say what could I have done a little bit differently. Turnovers – huge on both sides. I thought collectively we did enough. There's still stuff to clean up – there's a call here or there like you hit that play to (Giants TE) Theo (Johnson) – that's a huge one that's split seconds away. But you have to be willing to do that particularly when you get up. I don't think you can close up. You have to be able to throw the ball down field and mix things up when they're playing a certain style."

There were three possessions from the defense when they were put back on the field with the Browns having the chance to go down the field and either tie or score and they stood on their head all three times. What does that say about the staff and the players out there?
"I would just say again you can talk about resiliency until you're blue in the face. When you're in the midst of it as a leader, you have to stand up and you have to own it, and you have to keep things as positive as you can, and look onto the next game and the next play. Those guys buy in. We have a good group of young men. You have to put everything you've got into it. You can see how close the game was today. We got off to a fast start and it was still nip and tuck all the way to the end. That's usually the way these games are. But it's one game. Again, I'm happy for the players. I'm happy for the coaches. The amount of effort and time they spent in it, but certainly a lot of things we can clean up."

Quarterback Daniel Jones

How did you feel the game plan figured to go against an aggressive defense?

"I thought we had a good game plan going in. It's a good defense– aggressive, fast, pass rush is certainly something we had planned for and you need to prepare for. A lot of respect to this defense. I thought we had a good plan and for the most part I thought we executed it well."

How much was part of that plan to use that aggression against the defense?

"I think there were certainly pieces of the game plan where you're trying misdirection or fakes, or moving the pocket–d certain different things that you try to play on that aggressive style. Like I said, they're a good defense."

Can you talk about the start that Giants WR Malik Nabers is off to?

"He's played really well to start and it hasn't surprised us with watching him in training camp and all the plays he's made. He's made a lot of big plays for us and I have a lot of trust in him going up and getting the ball. We need to continue to take advantage of his ability to make plays."

How much confidence do you get in your guys when you see you're going to get a steady diet of man coverage across the board?

"I think in situations where we get a lot of man, we really like our matchups across the board. I think we've got- we talked about Malik– but all the guys we put out there, I think we're confident in those matchups and in our guys. They've got some good cover guys over there and some good defense, but in man coverage we like our matchups."

It seemed like Giants HC Brian Daboll went deep in the playbook in the first half and had them off balance- is that how you saw it?

"Like I said, I thought the game plan was really good and taking advantage of some of the things they did, and mixing it up. I think changing the pace, keeping them off balance with a lot of those calls– I thought Dab did a really good job with that. Some misdirection stuff, some screens, some downhill runs, drop back, all that kind of stuff I think keeps them on their heels."

How jarring is it when it's 11 seconds into the game and you're down 7-0?

"Obviously not the way we wanted to start. But huge credit to our defense and the way they played. Obviously you know the fumble on the kick return and then they score on the first play. Then after that, the defense buckled down and played an unbelievable game. Hats off to them. They were big time."

How nice is it for you as a quarterback to have some of these quick hitter passes that turn into big gains?

"For sure. I think that's helpful for a quarterback for sure. We have lots of guys who are dangerous with the ball in their hands and making guys miss catch and run. I just try to get it to them and let them go."

Brian Daboll referenced one of the balls that Malik Nabers didn't catch that was kind of knocked down. What can you say about the wherewithal to make that play?

"He's an incredibly smart player. He's aware and he has great instincts. I'll go back and look at that. I didn't really see what happened. Yeah I'm sure he made a good play."

How much does it help you dissect the picture when you throw out of heavier offensive formations and it maybe forces them to put more big bodies on the field?

"Yeah, I think that's part of the game plan of Dab and the whole offensive staff does a really good job of that kind of stuff mixing up personnel, getting different looks, defense plays differently. I guess it's just another way to keep them on their heels."

What kept you guys off the board in the second half?

"I think we just struggled to really get started. In the first half, we did a good job driving the ball, converting third downs, a couple big plays here and there. We just couldn't find that rhythm and get started. I think it just comes down to execution and doing what we do."

There's always pressure but is there a sense of relief when you get that first win under your belt? "Yeah, I mean I think it always feels good to get a win, however it comes. First one is important, so we have to look at what wedid well and build on it, and clean up the things we didn't do well."

Was today ideal for the team with not just the win but the way it happened?

"I think we had a lot going in the first half and had a good rhythm. We executed well and converted on some third downs. We felt like we had a lot of momentum. Then in the second half, just couldn't really find that rhythm and couldn't get that start we needed on some of those drives. But we fought and played resilient football. Hats off to the defense, they did a great job the whole game really, especially that second half."

When the defense picks you up, doesn't that turn into an even better win?

"No doubt. Everyone's involved. A win's a win and we're happy with it. We'll certainly look to build off what we did well and clean up what we didn't do well."

Where is your confidence level in Malik and his ability to make a play?

'"I have a ton of confidence in him. He's done it all training camp, all summer, and had a good start to the season. I'll continue to trust him to go out there and get the ball and win his matchups. He's done a really good job."

Wide Receiver Malik Nabers

You scored two touchdowns today. Both being incredible, but talk us through the first touchdown catch on the sideline.

"We called a play, and I was kinda confused on where to line up. But after that it was just a chance. [Daniel] Jones gave me a shot on it. When I saw the defender turn around, and I saw the arc of the ball dropping down, I felt like it was gonna be a pick. I just tried to put my hands in front of his and I was thankful to make great play on the ball."

How did it feel to put a strong and effective first half under your belt with strong efforts on both sides of the ball?

"It was great to put up that performance in the first half, but we got to be able to do that in the second half as well. We cleaned up a lot of mistakes we made in previous games. We did not have the best performance in the second half, but we were able to stay clean and take home the win in the second half."

Can you talk about the difference in your emotions from this week to last week?

"I mean I have a lot of great teammates behind my back pushing me for greatness. This last week they kept pushing and pushing, and I am thankful to those guys who kept pushing me to try and be great, and hopefully we can keep the momentum into the next game and have another strong performance for these guys."

Outside Linebacker Azeez Ojulari

About seven and a half minutes to go you recover a fumble. Take me through the play because at first I think the Browns fan thought the Browns had recovered the ball?

"It was crazy man, the ball was on the ground, I ran to it quick as I can. He tried to take it away from me, I fell on it, tried to pull it in space – I had it and held it tight. Tight as I could and made sure it was our ball to get the turnover for us."

The two fourth down stops that come on the next two possessions to close out the game. You get Dexter Lawrence stuffing a fourth and one, and then forcing the incompletion there at the end. "Yeah you know big time play, Dex (Dexter), all of us, eleven men out there trying to play our balls off man. Just play hard for each other. Just try to go all out, got off the field, on to the next."

Running Back Devin Singletary

I felt like you guys did a great job once again of sustaining long drives. Was that a part of the game plan to tire out that Browns defense?

"Nah man it's just, of course if you're in that situation you want to execute. We were able to execute that and execute it enough to get a win. You don't really gameplan to be like, 'oh we're gonna have them on the field all day', you know that's something that just kind of happens throughout the game."

Specifically can you just talk about the strides you guys are taking offensively? What exactly are you seeing from this offensive group?

"Man, just guys sticking together. No matter what happens we have each other's backs and just going out and executing when we have to."

What was your mindset after the fumble?

"Yeah man I was sick. But my brothers, they had my back. They didn't let me put my head down, they told me to stay locked in. They said they were gonna need me, and I was glad I was able to help us get the win today."

Tight end Chris Manhertz

How were you guys able to stay so composed and make the right plays at the right time?

"I think just having the next play mentality. I mean we obviously know that throughout the game there's gonna be ebbs and flows. Things are gonna happen, but more importantly it's really how we respond to it and I feel like we responded pretty well today."

Having so much success throughout the air against such a formidable defense with what Cleveland has to offer on that side of the ball what does that do for you guys' confidence offensively?

"It definitely gives us confidence. I honestly think it reaffirms what we already know that we're capable of. Um, obviously it's a good defense and we knew that it was gonna be a good test for us. So going toe to toe with them gave us a good challenge to you know kind pay it forward for next week as well."

What are seeing from him (Nabers) and the strides he's taken so early in the season?

"Dude's a baller man, he's a playmaker and you know obviously when he has the ball in his hands nine times out of ten good things happen. So us as an offense we kind of feed off of that, all while kind of you know using complimentary pieces in the run game as well to open things up for him as well. So, it's been pretty good."