JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON

Postgame press conference
Sunday, October 20, 2024

(On if he feels a heightened sense of pressure playing in London)

"No, no. The only pressure was just that we needed to win a game. It didn't matter where. Obviously, we love coming over here, but it didn't matter. We just needed to feel what winning feels like again. Proud of the guys. Proud of the coaches for the way we worked this past ten days or so over here. Good way to finish this little run."

(On his message to QB Trevor Lawrence on the drive following the failed fourth-and-one conversion attempt)

"Yeah, situations like that, it's going to happen. To go back to the decision, I mean, I was riding the momentum of what we were doing leading up to that point. Our offensive line was really taking control of the game at that point and felt like just putting it in their hands one more time and getting the first drive there and potentially ice the game at that point. They went down, scored. We get the ball back, and you still got to play football, and that's just the message. You still got to continue to play. We were able to do that to go down. We ended up taking a little time off. We punted the football back to them. Defense did a great job. Then, of course, from the 10-yard line, able to punch it back in. But you just have to play for 60 minutes. These games are never over, and that's always going to be the message."

(On what he saw from RB Tank Bigsby)

"He's done a really good job for us. Going into the season behind T.J. [RB Travis Etienne Jr.], he's earned the right to be out there. He's earned an opportunity. He did a nice job today. Ran hard; ran tough. As they say, ran behind his pads. I thought the offensive line did a great job for him, tight ends, blocking and things of that nature. But he did the rest. I think he went over 100 yards again today, and just a great effort.

(On his message to the team following the win vs. New England)

"We've got to duplicate it. We have to duplicate the energy. We have to duplicate what we did over here. This week in practice has been one of our better weeks of practice, and we've got to be able to carry this all the way back and do it again.

I mean, that's what this league is. It's a short-term memory. You just try to go 1-0 each week, but I thought the guys really handled themselves professionally while we were here for the ten days."

(On if he's happy with how the younger players on offense had performed)

"Yeah, these guys have really proven their worth, obviously their draft stock and things of that nature. What [WR] Parker Washington did on that punt return, obviously he is just one guy. Ten other guys needed to do their job. They did a great job there. [WR] Brian Thomas, I think each week he keeps getting better and better. He and Trevor have had a really good connection going. This is something we have to continue and continue to find ways to scheme him open. I thought Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] did a nice job this week in doing that and getting him some balls down the field as well as Christian [WR Christian Kirk] and Evan [TE Evan Engram], and everybody had a hand. But that's what it takes to win these games. It's not just one guy. The ball has to be spread around, and it was today."

(On if he's ever had a more complete quarter with the Jaguars than the game's second quarter)

"It was pretty complete. It was 22 points, right? The way we started the game, both sides of the ball wasn't what we wanted. New England came out and obviously scored, got up ten. Then we finally answered. It was a complete quarter, but again, you're going to have those. You're going to have a quarter like that from time to time. They're not always – every game is not going to be like that, but it was good to see. It was something we hadn't had this year, and it was good to see."

(On if Washington's touchdown in the new kickoff format was schemed during film analysis)

"Yeah, this dynamic kickoff is different week-to-week. Probably not – I think a couple of weeks ago it was 30 percent or less balls were being returned. It's a hard play. It's difficult. Guys are too good, and you don't want to risk that return. Again, each week is different. There's going to be weeks where we're going to kick the ball off, and there's going to be weeks we're going to put it out of the back of the end zone. So, we take a look every week and see what's best."

(On how the team handled adversity throughout the game)

"You know, it's just what our team can do, right? I feel strongly that if we play like that, that's what we're capable of. Now, is it sustainable over the course of 60 minutes? It's not going to be sustainable. I get it.

The other team is just as good. But, again, we got in a situation where we were down ten, but nobody was, like, 'Here we go again,' or defeated or had negative thoughts. It was just one play at a time. We'll work ourselves back in it. Offense went out. We showed the
complementary aspect of the game today in all three phases. That's the spark that hopefully can get this thing going."

(On if the two-point conversion call was part of the game plan or if it occurred due to momentum)

"No, those are thought out. Situations like that where there's a penalty on the defense on an extra point, you get the ball off the one-yard line. It's a way to get an extra point, right? Two points. So, no, it wasn't something we just were trying. It's definitely planned and executed well."

(On if the run game was a point of emphasis this week and if Thomas Jr. will get the ball on the ground more)

"As far as Brian goes, we try to find ways to put the ball in his hands. To answer your question, yeah, we'll try to find unique ways to get him the football where he can run it. Obviously, he's better down the field. Then the run game was just something that, look, it's a mindset to run the football in the National Football League. It takes a lot of people, not just the offensive line. It's the quarterback getting us in the right run, the five O-linemen being on the right page, targeted right, the tight ends are involved. Even the receivers going in and digging out safeties. Just thought today was a complete game. Obviously, we'll take a look at the tape on the way back and make corrections and learn."

(On the distribution of reps going more to Bigsby when Etienne Jr. returns from injury)

"I don't think so. I'm not a believer where – I should say I'm a believer where injury doesn't replace your position, right? I think you have to have a fair competition. For us, we're blessed to have two really good running backs right now. When Etienne comes back, he's just as explosive, just as good, just as powerful, and it's still his job. But Tank has done some really good things. Obviously, we're going to continue to find ways to put the ball in his hands too because he's a little different runner than Etienne is."

(On his advice to international players wanting to play in the NFL)

"Don't let people say that you can't do anything, right? You've got to believe in yourself. Give yourself an opportunity. Be seen. Your work ethic is going to go a long way. A lot of these players in this locker room, that's how they grew up. They grew up with an opportunity to play this game as a young player, but obviously now with the international pathway there's more opportunities for players to find themselves on NFL rosters. We have to continue to develop the sport globally because it makes us a stronger league overall."

QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE

Postgame press conference
Sunday, October 20, 2024

(On if the team responded how he wanted after being down 10-0 early)

"I thought it was a great job today in dealing with the adversity. Every game you're going to have some momentum swings every week. They scored early, and then we ended up punting on our first possession. Then they went and got a field goal. Offensively we knew we had to settle in and just get some points, get some positive plays going, and we were able to do that. We scored, and then I felt like after that our defense really settled in. That's how you play complementary football is settle in early like we did in the second possession, and then our defense was able to really pin their ears back. Once we got control of the game, I thought we did a nice job of offensively of keeping those possessions really long. I don't know what the stats were, but it felt like we had some really long possessions that chewed up a lot of clock. We can do better on scoring on all those possessions. I know that one turnover on downs down there inside the 15 was disappointing to us, but I thought we did a nice job of using the clock. We ran the ball great today, so that always helps."

(On what changed from last week to this week)

"Yeah, this sport is kind of crazy. I don't know. We had a great week of prep. This season, though, we've had good weeks of practice and not played well on Sunday, though, so I won't say that that's always -- that doesn't always mean that you're going to play really well. It makes it easier. It's hard to if you don't have a good week of preparation in practice. So, I thought we had a good week of preparation. I thought that just the energy of practice was good. Guys were having fun. Obviously, it sucks kind of where we were at and haven't won as many games as we wanted to win, but we had a lot of fun. We competed, and I think just being around our teammates, that helps. We picked each other up. Obviously, the real fix is being able to go play well on Sunday, which we were able to do today and get a win. That makes us feel a lot better."

(On the deep ball to WR Brian Thomas Jr.)

"They were in basically cover four quarters look, and safeties were low. That was honestly the look we were wanting for that play. We had another option if that wasn't the coverage and the situation, but Brian did a great job of just running up the corner, keeping outside leverage, and just running with it. I put it out there and let him go make a play. It was a great catch. He's good at that. He's been making a lot of plays for us, so it's fun to watch him. It's fun to play with him. Just to see him get better every week, we got to keep using him."

(On becoming the all-time passing yards leader in London)

"It feels great. This is my fourth year being over here. It's better when you win, that's for sure. I've done both. It's a lot more fun when we win over here, and we get to go on the flight home and enjoy it. That flight back is not very fun after you lose. I'm excited for that today and to just be able to enjoy it and soak it up for a few hours. Being here in London, you guys are awesome. You welcome us. The fans are amazing. What a crowd today. Every year it's like that. We appreciate it, and you guys treat us well, and we enjoy being over here. Obviously, it's pretty unique when I first got here. It was something that it's just an interesting deal. Something I never really thought about doing. Then being over here every year it really does feel like almost like a second home and a place where we really do feel more at home here than a lot of other teams do for sure. So we appreciate you guys."

(On WR Parker Washington setting the international punt return record)

"I heard. Just so happy for him. We've seen him make those plays, whether it's preseason or even sometimes in the season he's been close to breaking some of those, but for him to do it in a big moment when he really needed it, gets some more points on the board for us, really flipped the game, gave us all the momentum, it's huge. It's a huge play. When your special teams can make plays like that that change the game, it's critical. Just for him that's a guy that, he's a great player and receiver. We have a lot of great players. It's been tough for him. Not speaking for him, but just from -- he maybe hasn't gotten some of the opportunities that -- he is a great player, and he can make a lot of plays. So, to see him get the opportunity on special teams and to take advantage of it, that just makes me happy because I know how hard he has worked. Obviously, we have a lot of great receivers. The camp he had and all those things, he maybe hasn't gotten to have the impact maybe that you expect going into the season, but for him to be able to make that impact on special teams just happy for him. He deserves it. He's a really hard worker, and I'm really excited for him."

(On how important it was to get a win today)

"I mean, maybe it sounds bad, but just stop the bleeding for us. Just get on track. We have to find some momentum, and we have to start rattling off some wins. That's just where we're at. That's always the mindset, but especially where we're at now. We don't have any more time to waste. Put ourselves in a little bit of a hole. It is what it is. We've been in this situation before. We know what we have to do, and we know we have some tough teams coming up on our schedule. Also saying that, it's the NFL. Every week even if it's a team that isn't looked at as a Super Bowl contender, anybody can beat you any week. I've experienced that, been on both sides of it. My rookie year we didn't have a great year, and we beat the Bills, who were a Super Bowl contender. We beat them like 9-6 at home. We beat Indy the last week of the year. We were 2-14, and they had to beat us to go to the playoffs. We beat them. This league it's week-to-week. It doesn't matter who you are playing. You have to play well to win. That's what we -- we understand that, and we have to just go do it."

(On having long offensive drives)

"Yeah, I think when you can run the ball like we did today, those drives are longer because it's, like, four or six, eight at a time. It's not necessarily all the explosives down the field. We had a couple, but it's really keeping our offense, their defense on the field, which is what you want. For him to be able to -- he ran tough. Him and D'Ernest [RB D'Ernest Johnson] broke some that were great runs, but just some of the two, three, four, five-yard runs that those make a difference. Running hard, running through some arm tackles, keeping his head down. I thought he did a really nice job. Obviously when he got his opportunities to score, he did that. Just proud of that guy. He's just worked hard, and it's cool to see him get the benefit from it. He's having a great year, and we need him to keep playing like that."

(On how important this win was)

"Yeah, I think this was big for our team. We needed to win this game, and we did. So, for us to understand the situation, our backs are kind of against the wall and to respond the right way and get a win, I think that's great for our confidence moving forward. Like I said, we have another opponent next week, Green Bay, and we have to go put everything we can into that one to go win it. It's short-lived. The wins and the losses are really short-lived in this league. You have to be able to move on. Same thing like I said to you guys last week after a loss. You've got to be able to turn the page and go win the next one. That's what our minds are on. Obviously, we are going to enjoy this for a few hours. You have to. It's too hard to win in this league, but we're going to move on pretty quick."

(On what advice he gave to QB Drake Maye)

"Yeah, I just told him after the game, he's a great player, and just to keep his head down, keep working. Just try to learn something every week. Don't be too hard on yourself. You've got to keep your confidence. He's the leader of that team, that organization when he's on the field playing. Everybody looks to the quarterback, and he's a high pick, high drafted guy. Just keep his confidence. I think that's one thing. I didn't say all of this to him in the short conversation I had, but that's what I would say is there's going to be times you're going to be tested. Sometimes it's hard. I've been there. It's hard to keep your confidence when there's things going on around you or the team is in a tougher spot and maybe you're not playing your best as a player. You just have to keep going to work every day and keep your head up and lead your teammates. That's the biggest thing."

(On what message he gave to the offense after the turnover on downs in the redzone)

"Just to go score. I mean, take the game back into our hands. Like you said, they stopped us there. They had a big turnover on downs and went and scored. We felt like we had to put together a good drive again. We still were in control. I think they went for two and didn't get us. We were still up two possessions. Obviously, you're thinking to go score a touchdown, but the biggest thing is put together a good drive, get into field goal range, and try to at least get three or go score obviously if you can. Either way, you're just extending your lead and you're using the clock. That was in the fourth quarter. For us that's what we were able to do today. I don't know if we had any three and outs. We were able to keep the clock running. Sometimes that can be a bit boring, but you want to be in control of games like that and be able to do that. So, I thought it was really good for us."

(On if the offense reached its maximum potential today)

"I don't think so. I still think that there's some things out there for us. I think offensively you look at the final score, and it looks like we scored a lot of points. We did some great things. We had some great possessions and played clean football for the most part. I am happy with it. I'm never going to be upset with a win, but I thought the turnover on downs was disappointing for us as an offense. You want to be able to really put the game away and go score a touchdown there and get a yard on fourth and one. We weren't able to do that, so that's one play. Then I think just some of the other possessions there was a couple little things. It's never going to be perfect. There's always going to be something every game. Just looking at it for what it is, we have to take the good and the bad. There were some things we did great, but there were also some plays, some communication stuff, might have missed a throw or two, or whatever it is. You still have to look at that and get better from it. You can't just think just because you won, you don't look at all the bad stuff. You have to really use that. So, no, I wouldn't say that's our best football, but it was good enough to win today, and that's what matters. So we've got to keep finding ways to do it on Sundays."

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN THOMAS JR.

(On what he saw on the big catch)

"I had a deep post and I seen that they were playing quarters, and the safeties were playing kind of low. So I knew that I was able to get by my man and run out on my break, I would be open."

(On him QB Trevor Lawrence's chemistry)

"I'm very pleased with how our chemistry has grown and how we continue to grow each and every game. I mean, we just want to come out each and every game and just continue to get better. Keep pushing just to be the best that we can be as a team."

(On how pleased he is with his NFL development so far)

"I still got a lot of development. Still in my first year. I'm really just coming out there practicing hard and just trying to go out there in the game and do the best that I can do, be the best that I can be and just take everything step by step. Putting my best foot forward each and every day and get better."

(On how comfortable he feels running the ball as well)

"I feel super comfortable running the ball. I was able to play running back a little bit growing up and in high school and stuff like that. I mean, it feels kind of normal to me just being able to play that. Just getting the ball in my hands I feel I'm a playmaker. Once I get the ball in miss hands, I feel like I can make a play."

(On if he believes LSU set him up for success in the league)

"Yeah, for sure. LSU is a great school, great football. Great coaches there. I mean, just the way that we work there at LSU, I mean, that's what we pride ourselves on. Just going out there and being the best we can be each and every day and just putting the work in. We push each other just to be the best that we can be."

(On the mindset of the team going forward)

"That's been the emphasis, sticking together and playing together. Just playing for one another. Just coming out there even though we didn't did have the start that we maybe wanted, just sticking together and keep playing. It will all fall together."

(On WR Parker Washington's punt return)

"It was great to be able to see Parker do that. I mean, we were getting ready to go on offense and just all of a sudden he just is going for, what was it, 95, 96-yard touchdown. It was amazing. Everybody on the sidelines celebrating for him, just happy for me, so it was amazing to be able to see that."

RUNNING BACK TANK BIGSBY

(On how he gets into a rhythm on the field)

"Staying patient, staying calm. Not getting too anxious and waiting for opportunities to come. When they come, you have to take full advantage of them."

(On if he saw this game as an opportunity with RB Travis Etienne out)

"I just do whatever I have to do for this team to win. My job, whatever my role is, whatever I have to do at my best ability. I take advantage of the opportunities, of course, but just come out and help this team win. That's what I try to do to the best of my ability."

(On what was going through his mind when the team was down 10-0)

"Just staying patient. You know, being positive to the team. The guys being positive to me. Everybody spreading great energy and being patient. Then, like I said, once that opportunity come, be ready to execute at a high level. I feel like that's what we did when those ops came. We took advantage of them, and we have to keep doing it."

(On how he feels all the running backs complement each other)

"All us are good backs. Coach put us at different positions, and we just have to execute at our jobs when we get opportunities. So keep growing as a player, keep growing as a team, and keep doing what we have to do to help the Jags win."

(On what this win does for the team)

"It do a lot. We work hard this week after we lost the first game down. We did a lot of work this week and leaned on each other and said, We have to go out and have fun. I feel like we got back to having fun. Offense started picking it up, and I felt like defense fed off the energy. Then we felt the energy, and it kept going. That's the contagious thing about this game. When one side click, the other side will get going. That's the best thing about it. I feel like we all clicked, and we just have to keep doing it."

(On what it means to have a great game at Wembley)

"First, I just want to thank God for giving me this opportunity honestly. This is amazing. It feels like you don't get too many opportunities in the National Football League, so when you get one, you have to take full advantage of it and do it at your best ability. I felt like as we kept running the ball that the Patriots would get tired, and we just have to keep going and keep going and keep going and keep going. I just took advantage of those opportunities because on film it showed, like, fourth quarter come, third quarter come, those guys will start arm tackling, and they'll start loafing. So we just did what we had to do when those ops came."

(On he ensures that this style of play keeps going)

"Just getting going. Just going out there and keep improving every week and trying to be the best player I can be out there for my teammates and myself and for my family. Just keep doing what I can do at my best ability."

(On how the team responded to the loss last week)

"I feel like this is a time of adversity, and adversity shows real character. It shows who you can be and who you are. I feel like today showed what this team can be when our backs are against the wall and when we're going through something. Let's keep going."

WIDE RECEIVER PARKER WASHINGTON

(On how he saw his punt return on the field)

"Yeah, definitely. Just going into that play, I mean, I'm knowing that that punter was about to -- he was booming them. So, I knew he could outkick the coverage. I saw the opportunity, and I was, like, let's be aggressive. It paid off, and I was glad to get that play."

(On his return being the longest punt return in Jaguars history)

"It's a special moment. It's crazy because all week talking with teammates, we were, like, 'It's going to happen, You're going to get one, You're going to score and get a punt return.' I was telling some of the players, some of the coaches, I was, like, I just want one. I just want one career punt return touchdown or just any return touchdown, and it's just a special moment. Even before the game I watched a little bit of WR DeSean Jackson. He's one of my favorite players. So it just inspired me. Just being able to go out there and make a play like that, it was fun."

(On his celebration)

"Yeah, it was pretty much planned a little bit. It was funny. I was out with my family yesterday joking around. I said, 'If I score tomorrow, this is what we're going to do.' My auntie was, like, 'I'm going to do it with you, I'm going to do it with you.' It was a special moment to see it happen in real time and speaking it into existence. It was just a special moment."

(On resetting his mind to look forward)

"I feel like it just goes back to, like you say, your mentality. Chop wood, carry water, keep going. Before this day I wasn't starting. I had to step up. Dev went down. So, it's just being ready for the moment and seizing that moment. So going back so the sidelines it's, like, Reset, let's get another one. Don't get satisfied, chop wood, carry water, keep going no matter what."

(On if he felt the punter getting his hands on him at the end of the punt return)

"Just in that play, that's my first time ever getting that close to the snapper or even a punter. So, I just knew from my mindset when I think about it, I'm going to run through them because they don't want to tackle. Just in that moment I just was, like, let's just trust my speed and if he
tackles me, I hope he wouldn't, but I'm just going to try and run through him or just right around him."

(On what his celebration is)

"I always do my little whatever, and I was telling one of my teammates again, If I get a chance and if I have room -- if I get a chance, I was, like, Okay, I'm just going to turn around right before the end zone and kind of do it and then get up and start doing it for real. It was just a fun time just being able to have fun. I feel like that's what it's all about. Bring juice to the team the best way you can, and that momentum carried into the rest of the game, and I felt like that helped us get a win today."

(On his punt return being the international record)

"It's special. Being overseas. Even just being here for the last nine, ten days, I was out golfing on our day off. I was, like, 'Who would have ever thought I'm golfing overseas (laughing)?' It's just surreal, just special. I just want to embrace it and just have fun with it."

(On if he is sick of London yet or if he wants to stay)

"You definitely want to stay. I will say I do miss my bed. I'm a home body. I'm a home body, but I enjoyed it. I love it. It's a blessing to be able to come over here each year with the Jaguars. It's my second time, and way better experience this time for me being able to get in the end zone and with a win going back. It's special. I'm ready to go home, but I wouldn't mind staying if it means winning."

(On his punt return setting the record)

"Oh, that's special. Like I said, it's just a special night just for the team getting us back on track. We have to keep going, though, you know. It don't stop here. We have to go back to United States and continue to do what we do and handle business, go 1-0."

(On what the team has to do to continue momentum)

"It starts in practice. It starts with the preparation. We had a great week of practice, great competition. The energy was there. Like I said, I felt like our issue was translating that to the game, having that same energy, having our teammates' back, picking everybody up who needs to be picked up, and just playing together. I feel like that made tonight special, and we just have to keep building on that. I feel like that will take us a long way for the rest of the year."

(On what his favorite part of the trip was)

"It's special because my mom, she plans the trip every year. So as long as I'm with the Jags, she's here. Just being able to see her smile and have a great time overseas, it makes me smile and keeps me going. I'm excited for her to be able to have that special moment, and it makes me smile too."