HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 3, 2024

Obviously disappointed by the outcome of the game. We had our chances. We always talk about it, it's not just one play, it's not the interception, it's not going for two, there are multiple plays that happen within a game that can change the tide of it. And at the time, I felt like that was the right thing to do. It's easy to make a judgement one way or the other. But I thought that was the right thing to do at the time. I will say this, I thought the team went out there and they fought. Being on the road in this environment, I will say, just a shout out to the fans that traveled. I felt like we had a lot of fans that traveled. You could hear them supporting us and too bad we let them down. We've got to do better. I have to do better. Coaches have to do better. We go back to the drawing board. Have to be able to run the football, obviously that was disappointing. I think Drake (Maye) was probably our leading rusher today. You never really want your quarterback to be your leading rusher, and that's in all facets. We've got to be able to move guys off the line. I thought their defensive line did a good job. They were hard to handle inside, especially 98 (Jeffery Simmons), and we knew that coming into the game. Just got to be able to stand up. Every team that we play, they're going to have either good edge rushers or good interior rushers, we've just got to do a better job of getting those guys off the ball. Defensively, again, leaky run defense. There were times where it goes back to fundamentals. We spend a lot of time talking about the X's and O's, but I thought the tackling still needs to improve. That's part of it. We went into the game also saying special teams was going to make a play, had to make plays, and we had big returns by Marcus (Jones) and those guys out there were blocking for them and too bad we let this one slip away.

Jerod, I think obviously the disappointing loss, but I think the entire NFL is talking about the 12 seconds that Drake (Maye) had running around and threw the game tying touchdown. Just your thoughts on what you saw from him?

Yeah, just mental toughness and the ability to make plays with his legs, which he has shown before. Gave us a chance to win the game. Obviously, just didn't pull through.

Jerod, did his running around and kind of tiredness, it looked like after, factor into not going for two there.

I'm not going to get in. I don't want to get into that. It's a good question. I just don't want to get into it now.

Two weeks ago, you said the production in the running game was sort of a mentality thing. Do you still feel that way or what do you think is preventing that run game from finding consistency?

I've always felt that stopping the run and running the ball starts with your attitude. It starts with your attitude. It starts with your mentality. And we just have to do better on both sides of the ball.

Jerod, what did you think of the decision by Drake on the last play of the game?

Look, he's a guy out there trying to make a play, just trying to make a play. I think sometimes, as well as he has played, sometimes you forget how young he is. And he's going to continue to develop, and he'll be a good quarterback in this league. We'll all learn from this, myself included.

Jerod, what did you learn about him today?

We already knew it, but I think the obvious thing is just his mental toughness and ability to really change the page and being a resilient player, and that's a great quality to have in a quarterback. And he's a good competitor.

The defense obviously held them to 17 points, obviously in regulation, but it's just a sense of, after that game tying touchdown having them come right down the field, how tough was that to watch there?

It was very tough. We'll watch the film and see what happened, but it was tough. Those long drives have hurt us at times this year.

What did you see from your offensive line today? It looked like (Layden Robinson) was being replaced by (Mike Onwenu) at one point.

Well, Mike (Onwenu) ended up kicking in to guard. We felt like we needed to match up with one of their best players. Again, when you watch the film, you're going to see the interior of the pocket at times was soft. And I thought putting our best player in there was the best thing to do for the team.

(Drake) Maye has two interceptions and the fumble, what is the balance there between letting a young quarterback to get his feet under him versus win now?

Look, we never want to go out there and turn the ball over. We came into the game saying we need to get turnovers and not turn the ball over. That's the recipe for us to win football games. And we just didn't do that today. He'll learn from his mistakes. That's one thing if you want to go back to a characteristic, he learns from his mistakes, and he'll be better for it.

You feel like you're seeing some progress in certain facets of the game, complementary football, the interception by (Jahlani) Tavai, you go down and get points, things like that where you're trying to—you mentioned Marcus Jones with a punt return and then the drive.

Yeah, I think so. At the same time, we never want to lose games, and I feel like crap right now. So, it's hard to really pull a positive out of this one, for me, at least.

How did you feel about the way Drake protected himself, obviously has to leave last week's game, took a few hard shots today. What did you think of how he handled himself in the open field?

I thought he did well. I thought he did well. I'm sure we'll watch the film and say things and second guess whether to slide r not to slide. But he's healthy and I think that's the most important thing.

What would you like to see the football team do now going forward here? After what happened in London, where they've come and where you'd like to see it go from here?

I want these guys just to, as we always say, change the page on Wednesday and get ready for a big game coming up.

QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 3, 2024

Drake, what was your day like, that seemed to be quite the effort. What was it like for you out there in that offense today?

Yeah, I was proud of the guys for fighting, I think that's the biggest thing. At this point, the loss, we made some bad decisions, especially that one at the end there. We got a chance to go down there and at least tie it up, we're on our own 40 and I think it was first down, so just got to be better. Some decisions that I made throughout the game that would have impacted the outcome. I take that upon myself, those guys battled up front, especially those guys up front. The receivers were battling. Thought I found a way at the end of the fourth and just came up short. I got to go back and learn from it, especially me, I got to take these and take advantage of these reps that I'm getting in the game, and I got to play better.

Take us through that final touchdown at the end there to tie the game up.

Yeah so, we're just on the five (yard line) and they dropped out the guys on the five and you got to chance to tie it up, so doing whatever I can. I think they zoned it off, and they're doubling the inside guys. We had a bunch concept and that back line, and I think Hunter (Henry) ended up getting run out of bounds and just trying to keep the play alive and make a play. Rhamondre (Stevenson), good for a running back out there to kind of play like a receiver and make a good play. But ended up coming up short so that play, it really doesn't matter at this point.

Did you feel like you had that much- I think it was 11.82 seconds, the amount of time you had running around, did it feel like it in your mind?

Credit to the guys up front you know, those five up front were blocking their butts off for 12 seconds. That's impressive and I could find a way to be in there.

Drake, that last throw. What was going through your mind why'd you take that big shot there?

Yeah, first down and I see the safety, and I think throwing into the wind I got to put some more on it and just a dumb decision. Something you'd like to have back and especially in that situation where we could go at least tie it up. We're, like I said, on our own 40 and you know sometimes the best play is to throw it away and that was a bad decision on my part.

I think you officially ran for 95 yards, coming off of what you came off last week, what kind of things were you thinking of as you were running the football today?

Yeah, I tried to slide headfirst a little bit. Sometimes I think that's just as dangerous diving into people's legs, but I'm not going to change the player that I am. I'm past the protocol and cleared and I'm going to be the player. They're dropping out guys and you know there's some rush lanes up front, I'm going to make them pay and that's my mindset. Maybe I'll make some better throws and might miss some guys but at the same time, I'm going to play how I'm going to play.

Fair to say that you didn't feel any hesitation running despite the concussion?

Yeah never. I should have probably broke that first one, the one with the safety. Got to make somebody miss man, so that's on me.

Where are you confident this past week that you were going to be able to clear protocol in time? What was that process like for you?

Yeah, you know, it's tough. You want to be out there, and you want to be out there last week. Spider up top, they do imprint us quarterbacks now and you can't blame them with what's going on with some of the quarterback hits. So maybe the process, I watched the last game on the sideline in my pads and you know my cleats and there's metal on the ground inside the tent and I'm doing the balance test so there's some gray area there. I don't know if anybody could have passed that, but really coming into this week just trusting it and took some tests and felt good.

Drake, lots of footwork this offseason you talk about the reps going back to this summer, who's worked with you the most as far as seat and ball, thought you had great movement in the pocket, your eyes going up forward, but just your overall comfort in the pocket as you're coming along here. Who helped you the most?

Yeah, I think seat and ball, T.C.'s (McCartney) on me. T.C. and AVP (Alex Van Pelt) they're on me about seat and ball, little quarterback things and carrying my fakes. You know, I remember a couple of days I didn't. Little things like that, go a long way, as you know playing quarterback. Buying an extra second from defensive end if I'm carrying out a fake on a wide zone or play action stuff, I think I see the field well down the field it can only help me with my play action and I'm kind of getting little things and little things going. So credit all three of them and B-Mac (Ben McAdoo) too. All three of those guys have harped on it and they do a good job throughout the week of staying on me.

Do you feel more and more comfortable as you play more?

Yeah, no doubt. I think, sometimes I get a little hoppy back there in the pocket. But I've always kind of felt pressure well and moved well, that's not really something that—I felt I did that well in college. So just trying to keep on doing the same.

Drake, when you scored a touchdown at the end of regulation, is there any part of you do you talk to coach or do you make a case, go for two here or go for the win?

Yeah, I was just trying to catch my breath. I couldn't even think about it. I think just looking back on it, it's easy to say. We're out there that long on such a high intensity drive I think it's hard to go for two. I don't think it's easy to look back and say that now. But our defense is fresh and you're coming out in overtime and trying to get a stop and they do a good job of running the football today.

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

WIDE RECEIVER KENDRICK BOURNE

Kendrick, obviously not the result you guys wanted, but take us through that last drive for you guys where you tied the game and just your thoughts on the Drake touchdown and the entire NFL kind of had a "wow" moment when we all watched it.

Yeah, long, sustained drives, tough drives. I think that's how we play, so I respect the guys and how we went out there and fought. Drake (Maye) making that impressive, long, sustained play was just impressive. So just proud of the guys, man. Like you said, we got to finish better. That's what we want. But a good drive, encouraging drive. Shows us who's playing hard and where we need to keep growing.

KB, tough week for you last week. You were very accountable. See it got you going here today after some of the catches you were getting excited. First time I've seen that in a year. Do you feel like "I'm over the hump now"? You know, past the injury and ready to get going?

Yeah, just playing. Just playing, playing free and trying to get that feel, but just trying to do best for the team that I can, you know what I mean? Where I can be better. A lot of places I can be better. Those catches were good, but I look at things that probably go unseen that I can be a lot better. But it feels good to get going and try to help the team be the best I can.

What kind of lift does it give the whole offense, Kendrick, when you have a quarterback who can make the kind of plays that Drake (Maye) was making today?

It's huge. Drake is just phenomenal. He keeps showing it week in, week out. I'm just very proud of him. We got to keep being behind him, help blocking for him, catching the ball, running good routes, so that we can get the full potential out of him. But when you got somebody like that, it encourages you to go harder. And that's what we want as a unit, for everybody to give their best foot because clearly, he is.

What'd you learn about Drake (Maye) today, Kendrick?

Just, he's resilient. He's always shown that, but that was different. That was different. I don't know how many people he made miss, but as a wideout on that play, I can run more. It was tough. That might have been the longest play I've ever been a part of, which was impressive, but we got to just keep working for him, you know, he's looking for help. So, Drake obviously made a great play, O-Line kept playing, guys kept playing. But just personally, we got to keep running around. It was tough. It shows who we have back there, and it shows that we've got to be better for him. We got to just be better for everybody as a group.

I mean, he ran for 95 yards on the day, and it just seemed, like you said, had that scrambling ability. Tough to lose, yes, but how much does that excite you and, obviously, people back home about what this kid might have?

Yeah, we got to just build. We have to build. He gives us a lot of potential to grow. I think that's what's the greatest thing about Drake. He's doing things that you don't really see at a young age. So, I'm very excited and I want to be better for him. I think everybody understands in our offensive room that we have something in him that can make everybody better. He, like I talked about, he has the aura to him. You just know that he's going to go out there and do his thing. He's going to play. He's not scared, and that's somebody you want to follow.

What can you guys do as a receiver room, as a group? Just a couple of penalties for you guys. What do you need to do moving forward to make sure that you have everything cleaned up the way you need to?

It's just taking advantage of the opportunities. Personally, I can play a lot better and there's plays that I want back, for sure. So, watching the film, that's what I'm going to evaluate on my own, is the fade on the sideline. I'm getting washed to the sideline. These little things, I can have a better release. Drake's counting on me, you know what I'm saying? I almost put him in a position to have a pick. Those plays can't happen. I have to be better with knowing what the defender's going to do, knowing how he wants to play, switching things up. As a group, we got to understand those things. When we go to practice, watching tape, knowing what the teams are trying to do at corner, at safety, and just giving ourselves the best chance to get open for everyone.

How much do you hate to lose?

Man, it's rough, it's rough. But today, you have to just keep your head up, and that's what I've been working on personally, just keeping my head up. It's tough. But we learn a lot about ourselves. That's what losing does. It teaches us what we need to work on, where we're struggling. It's all easy when you're winning and you run off into the sunset, but when it's getting dark and we in the valley, we see who's really—all those drives were, 'We're going to see who's really fighting and who wants to quit.' I think we learned a lot about ourselves today as a group. So, we just got to self-evaluate and know who we want to be individually so we can be better as a group.

CORNERBACK CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 3, 2024

Did it trip you guys up a little bit with the heat to start the game?

I can't speak for them. For me, though, I'm from Dallas so that was nothing. I mean, I don't know about anybody else, but yeah.

How much of a challenge was Calvin Ridley for you?

Yeah, (Calvin) Ridley is a great receiver, a great competitor, smart, knows the game really well. It's fun. It's always fun to go up with those matchups, especially receivers that's done it for a long time. It's fun and only gets me better.

They were able to make some yards on some of those in breaking routes over the middle of the field. What was it that they were doing that allowed them to have some success with those?

Yeah, I mean, they obviously had that game plan coming in and they were able to execute. You know, they made some plays, we made some plays, but they came out with the win.

On a different note, what'd you think of the Drake Maye final play to get you guys to overtime?

Yeah, that's Drake (Maye). I mean, nobody was surprised. Honestly, Drake does stuff like that all the time. He fought and did all he could. I'm proud of him, happy for him. I know he's hurting, we're all hurting, but it's nice to see it. And I know he's hurting, but he's so hungry to get back to Foxborough and get to work get better for himself.

What's it do for you guys as a defense with Drake Maye and the plays he can make? Does it just allow you to feel like you're always in the game no matter what it might say on the scoreboard?

Yeah, I mean, of course. But yeah we believe it, but at the same time, we don't look at the scoreboard. We worry about going out there as a defense, trying to give the ball back to Drake (Maye) and the offense. So regardless of the score, we have the same goal: get off the field as fast as we can and get the ball back to him.

What do you think it's going to take for you guys to get over that hump and get the consistency that you're looking for? Especially like you talked about, you go to overtime and then they come down the field on you, things like that. The little parts of the game that you guys need to get better at in order to come out, start getting a winning streak.

Yeah, it kind of goes back to the first drive of the game. In overtime we look at it as a whole new game, basically. We didn't start too fast in overtime, and they drove down. We always want to bend but don't break. But we, as a defense, shouldn't have even let them get down there. So, we got to be better at that.

TIGHT END HUNTER HENRY

How do you balance some of the good, but coming up short as far as getting the win and getting out of here is concerned?

I think everybody will look at just what happened in overtime and all that. But there's a lot of plays before that we need to be better on. Try not to even put ourselves in that situation. So, we just got to look at ourselves. I feel like we keep saying it every week. I am proud of the way guys competed all the way to the very end. We just got to be better early on in the game, so we don't put ourselves in that situation.

Saw you come out there after that catch attempt. Are you okay?

Yeah, I am good. Something minor, but I am good.

What did you think of Drake's (Maye) ability to keep the play alive on the final play of regulation?

That guy is special. Just the way he competes, the way he plays, the way he continues to fight. I'm excited to continue to go out there and play with him. He's very special. Got a lot of talent and will only continue to get better. Learn from those situations and learn from those experiences. Proud of him, proud of his fight. There's a lot to learn and we are going to continue to build.

What were you thinking as Drake was running around? I think it was nearly 12 seconds of running around in the backfield.

Unfortunately, I got to be better in that situation. I got knocked out early, so I was dead on the play. I honestly got a front row seat to it and it was pretty special.

What does it do for the rest of the offense, Hunter, when you know the quarterback is capable of making plays like that?

It's a threat. It's a huge threat when you have a big-time running threat back there like that. He was able to make a lot of plays out there with his legs today. And just tough. Getting some of those gritty yards too. Just big time plays when we needed them.

Running game, I know that's probably not the standard that you guys want walking out of the locker room. What's your takeaway on that aspect?

I got to give a lot of credit to the Titans, too. They got a really good front. Some really, really stout players there in the middle. I couldn't tell you the details to it yet, but I have to give credit to them. They have some really good football players over there, so it's always tough to go against them.

RUNNING BACK RHAMONDRE STEVENSON

Obviously not the result you guys were looking for, but I think the whole league's talking about the 12-second play where Drake Maye found you for the touchdown. What's going through your mind as you're looking to stay open, get open and everything that came with that play?

Yeah, it was a super long play on the field. But yeah, we needed to score. There was no more time on the on the clock, so I just kept working. I think there was a DB on me. I kept just trying to work him and get open and he threw me the ball.

What's going through your mind as you watch Drake Maye do what he does out there in those situations?

He's athletic, a very athletic guy. He wants to win. I wanted to win, the whole team wanted to win, but we didn't do that today.

You ever had a play like that? It felt like a bit of a Hail Mary, but it was only like six yards.

No, personally I've never had a play like that.

The running game, what's your, sort of, thought coming in here out of the game like how you guys can get that up to the standard that you want to see it?

I don't know. I think that's above my pay grade in a way. I'll just let the coaching staff handle that.

And I guess how frustrating is it?

It can get frustrating, especially when we're losing. If we were winning, I wouldn't be that frustrated but, adding the two together is very frustrating.

Obviously, the efforts there. You guys showed that. What do you think it's going to take to get the consistency that you guys need in all three phases here? And do you feel close?

Yeah. I feel like, we all go out there and play hard. I don't think that's an issue. I respect everybody on the team for that. Going out there, just playing their heart out in a way. So, I don't know, just more relentless. I don't know.

Drake and the promise that he brings the team. Do you feel that with him there is possibilities for a higher upside?

I'll say that. He's a super hard worker, very competitive, and he wants to win football games. So yeah, I'll say that.

When you have a young quarterback like that seemingly has a promising future, what message does that send not only to guys here, but do you think, to other players from the league about the potential for Drake Maye and the Patriots down the road?

I don't know, bro. I really don't know. Great player, though. I love Drake (Maye). He's doing his thing. Appreciate y'all.

LINEBACKER JAHLANI TAVAI

Jahlani, let's just begin with how you guys battled but coming up a little bit short there.

It is what it is. That's a tough one. We're going to fight until the end. I'm proud of the guys for their effort. I got nothing but faith in them. I got nothing but trust within the team. We are going to get it rolling.

Jahlani, what do you think of Drake (Maye) and that effort he had at the end of regulation to get the game into overtime?

Like I just said, I trust Drake (Maye) with any decision that he makes. I ain't a quarterback. But one of the things I always preach is that we're always going to have your back. We're going to have the offenses back. If they're struggling, it's on us as the defense and the special teams unit to create a spark. We had moments, but it didn't turn out our way.

Is it a prove defense when you need to stop the run? It seems like when you coached that a couple of weeks ago guys certainly went out there and fought and kept fighting the entire game. What do you think it is that needs to get some stops when you need them?

We just have to continue to do our jobs. Our jobs aren't just our assignments. It's tackling, it's getting all eleven hats to the ball. It's a scary thing when you put on a film, and you see eleven guys at the ball. I don't know if you guys saw the plays on special teams, whether it's punt or kickoff, the moments we are in that returners face, it's a scary thing. That's something we have to build and have play-to-play on the defensive side. Like I said, I got nothing but trust and faith in these guys. We're going to make sure we get it right.

What did they (Titans) do running the ball to make it so effective?

They just did their jobs. We are all professionals here. We got to make sure we are consistent. On defense, we secure everything. Can't let those extended plays where quarterbacks are stepping up and running around, myself included. We have to run to the ball, secure our tackles, and then punish them. We got to get the ball out.

The tipped ball INT (interception)..

That was a team effort. Great communications by the safeties to get us right. Just got to be around the ball.

Same thing with the signs complementary football what you guys are trying to do. That interception led to points, field goal. Marcus (Jones) with the punt return leads to the touchdown. Are you seeing those signs as a thing where you need to be at?

Yeah. It's just stuff that we got to build. You felt it in the game when the momentum was shifting both back and forth between us and the Titans. They were the better team today.