HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, December 15, 2024

Opening statement:

"I kind of sound like a broken record standing up here being disappointed after a performance like that. We have to do better. You look at the stats, they had 389 yards, we had 311. The running game, once again, we give up a big run play that really hurts us and really skews the rest of the stats. I would say third down just in general we were 0-6 on third down and they were probably around 70 percent on third down. When you talk about extending plays, that's what it is. Then defensively, not showing up in the red area. Those guys were 3-4 in the red area. We've spent a lot of time on it. It is definitely an important part of the field and we just didn't do it well enough. Again, turnovers. There were a couple balls on the ground, they got one. It's what we put on film. At the end of the day, we are what we put on film. We are what our record is. Penalties set us back on some of these drives where we're really making headway during the series. I will say today we won the coin toss and I thought the best thing to do for us was to put the offense out there. I thought it was an opportunity for us to go out there and start fast, which it was. Unfortunately, we walked away with no points on a missed field goal but that was my thinking on that. What I told the guys in there is kind of the same thing I'm telling you, we all have to take accountability and what does that look like? Accountability is not really the 'my bads.' The accountability isn't coming in saying things like 'oh, if we would've just done X, Y, and Z.' We've been talking about that all year, accountability is going out and correcting it. It's about action. It's not about just sitting here saying that's my fault. You have enough of those and that's what you had out there on the field today."

On how frustrating it is to see the same mistakes repeated:

"It's very frustrating. We're not a good enough football team to be able to go backwards and overcome those long-yardage situations as we've seen all season."

On if he considered going for it on 4th-and-6 on the first drive:

"There were definitely thoughts on going for it on (that) fourth down."

On the referee's explanation of the roughing the passer call on Cardinals QB Kyler Murray:

"They just told me that even though he is a runner at that (time), they still have some of that protection as far as hits to the head. They said (Patriots LB Anfernee) Jennings hit him in the head and they called it. We have to live with it."

On offensive play calling being conservative to start and if it was part of the game plan:

"Not at all. I thought we were able to run the ball. I told these guys going into the game that we have to be able to run the ball for four quarters. At the same time, we have to get open, we have to catch the ball and we have to make the throws. We have to block the guys up front and we have to run the ball. Those are fundamental things and this is why I always go back to the X's and O's are one thing, and we're all pretty competent as far as X's and O's are concerned. Going out there and executing a play, it takes a lot and we just weren't able to do that on a consistent basis. "

On what he saw today in short-yardage situations:

"It was disappointing. I said this the first week of the season, there comes a point in time as a football team where everyone in the stadium knows what the play is and we just have to move bodies. We weren't able to do that. "

On if he thinks this can be a team that successfully runs the football:

"We have some guys in there that are physically tough, mentally tough and my expectation for them is that we always can move bodies. Unfortunately, we didn't do that today. "

On considering running Patriots QB Drake Maye in short-yardage situations:

"You said it. I didn't."

On the lack of run defense today:

"The big run was the big run. We had people there to make the play. I don't know if you guys saw it that way, we had guys there to make the tackle. We just didn't come up with it and this is why I continue to go back to this game is about fundamentals with tackling being the major one there."

On if it was offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's decision not to run on 4th-and-1:

"It's always my decision. The quarterback obviously has a good pair of legs and does a good job running the ball. We just chose not to do it there."

On offensive line played the way it did early in the game:

"I have to watch the film. I would say just from (being) on the sideline and seeing the clips on the jumbotron, we had a hard time, especially inside. The one sack, I think it was on (Patriots OL Vederian) Lowe, the defensive end got a good jump on that and ran the hump. I thought inside - once again not watching the film - we definitely let some leakage come through."

On the defense giving up a lot of yardage:

"Again, (we were) just not good enough. "

QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, December 15, 2024

On what was going through his mind trying to get the offense going:

"Yeah, frustrating. I think kind of the same thing, showing up. That's probably the most frustrating part. I think we are hurting ourselves, getting in long distances, first and second down and then not capitalizing when we get down in the red zone and the goal line. Kind of make it a one-score game. Those things just keep showing up over and over. We were addressing them and the guys I feel like we're focusing on during the week and practice. We are practicing well I feel like. It's just not translating to the game, so we have to do something extra or do something different. I think it's just frustrating because we're in these games and I think we can win these games but the ball's not rolling our way."

On getting the ball out quick:

"Yeah, we wanted to get the ball out, get the guys in our hands and make them tackle us. I think that was our big game plan and it was also tough for us because we really didn't get into rhythm. I think it's easier when you get into rhythm to call some deeper stuff and kind of get that going, but we never had a rhythm. Come out the second half, we were down to the goal line and couldn't punch it in. Basically that, we're in comeback mode. That's when we could open it up and they're playing simple coverages and kind of playing keep it in front so it's a little easier to pick them apart. Really in the beginning of the game, I think we just have to get in the flow and find ways to move the ball and get points on that first drive. I feel like it's two or three games where we get down there and we don't get points on the first drive and then we're moving the ball. It's tough."

On how important it is to push the ball down the field in the next three games:

"I think that's one of the best things I do is see the ball downfield and throw it intermediate. I think we're doing that more and more, but like I said, we have to get in the flow of the game and let those things open But we have good players that are making plays and another intermediate pass to Boutte (Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte). I try to kind of lean him away from the safety and just stuff like that happens. It really didn't go our way but I think we have some promising stuff to build on. I think we were efficient in the passing game, we have some big time runs and I think people can see it. Just have to stop having the same repeat errors."

On what changed in the fourth quarter:

"Just going tempo and I think they can't get in their stuff. They're playing simple stuff because they have to, because they have to get the call in fast. I think we practice that all the time in practice. I think that's the creature of habit of going and moving the ball whether it's two minutes at the end of practice, or even just on the ball period we call it. I think it's easy for me because I know the plays we're going to run. I know them throughout the week and I feel good. I feel good about our guys and where they're going to be."

On if he would like to see more of a tempo offense:

"Yeah, definitely. There's a place for it. I think AP (Patriots Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt) talks about getting in a tempo drive every game. I think there's time and place for it and he knows that and he likes us in tempo. I think it's just finding the right time for it, but I think our guys do a nice job and it's a testament to them for what we do in practice and how well we are when we move the ball in tempo."

On the screenplay to Patriots WR DeMario Douglas:

"Yeah, just trying to get it out to 'Pop' and have him make a play. I think we probably would've liked to have that one back, but we are in field goal range, we want to stay in field goal range. That's the big thing, kind of a learning experience in the Titans game. I took a sack outside of field goal range and was trying to pick up some yards and kind of give Joey (Patriots Kicker Joey Slye) a shot to make the kick. I am going to look back at the film and see what I think."

On how deflating it is when drives stall out to open the game:

"Yeah, that's what I was talking to Jacoby (Patriots Quarterback Jacoby Brissett) about. Yes, it is definitely deflating. You want to get down there and put the defense in a good spot, get some points on the board and get down there and stall out. Getting a holding call, which you have to look back. I think it was a holding, I'm not sure what penalty it was, but some unfortunate things happened the whole game really. They had a basically a video game, Madden like touchdown in the corner of the end zone, the lineman falling on it. They had the interception that was a questionable call, but the refs called it. We have to live with it on the interception that we had. At the end of the day, I don't think really any of that matters. I think we just have to execute better. Not let those things kind of just decide the game."

On whether he feels comfortable sneaking the ball:

"Yeah, that's a good point. I was a good quarterback sneaker in college. I'm a big dude. I'm heavier than people think, so I think there may be a conversation for that. I think it's tough to stop a 6'5" dude for one yard, but also at the same time, Rhamondre (Patriots Running Back Rhamondre Stevenson) is pretty good at getting one yard as well. It is just unfortunate that it happened, but definitely there's a time and place for it."

On if losing wears on him:

"Yeah, it wears on you for sure. I think it's just frustrating. A long flight back and you can't do anything else but just think about the game. Watch the game on your iPad and think about ways I could maybe throughout the week talk to a guy that can make a difference in the game. Maybe hit the lineman here on one thing or maybe the receivers here or the running back, Rhamondre. Maybe tell them something extra throughout the week to maybe help shift things or make that play different. Really just think it's a collective effort and those guys are keeping a good attitude. Really just hard on myself on things and that's probably the attitude."

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

RB Rhamondre Stevenson

On how frustrating it is to make repeated mistakes as an offense:

"It's very frustrating, especially at this point in the season. We think we're going to practice ironing things out, but we aren't. So, we just have to go back to the drawing boards and just hammer it harder."

On how much he's been working on pass protection this year:

"I've been working on it a lot. You guys probably hear me say this all of the time, but I watched a lot of (former Patriots RB) James White's film. So, just watching his film and having him around me as a younger guy helping me out a lot and I think it's showing on tape this year."

On little things he'll continue to work on over the next three games:

"Just sharpening everything up. You're never going to see me holding my head or not give it a 100 percent. I'll be working on everything, all of the little stuff I need to work on will be displayed in these last couple of games."

On the importance of exemplifying resilience to the rookie class:

"It's huge, I think it's huge not just in football but in life. So, just keep going and put your best foot forward always."

On RB Antonio Gibson's run game keeping the running back rotation fresh:

"He's been running that thing lately, so just getting him going. We already know what we can do, so just put it on tape and it helps me out a lot."

WR DeMario Douglas

On how frustrating it can be for the offense to move the ball and then deal with penalties and sacks:

"It's just like a repeat thing. Every game, we'll move the ball and then find some how to go backwards. I feel like that's what's been hurting us this whole year. We'll have a good drive and then we'll have something to take it back."

On how he feels he can impact his younger fellow wide receivers with only a few games remaining:

"For me, I'd say (to) stay on them more in practice, push them just so they can see their potential. They haven't been seeing the field as much, so their spirits could be down and things like that. I feel like it's our job to lift them up and give them that confidence. When anybody on the field has confidence, they play well.

On his TD reception:

"(Patriots QB) Drake (Maye) is a ball player. That was a play. I thought he was going to keep running. Then, I just moved into the spot and I made a little space that was open. He just tossed it and that was a good ball play by Drake."

On whether he was ready for the TD pass from Maye:

"When I moved into the space, I don't know if he saw me. When I saw the ball, I was like, 'OK.' I was ready for it."

CB Christian Gonzalez

On the frustration of today's loss:

"It hurts. We put in so much work, it's obviously not enough. It hurts and it's the same thing I've said every week. We just need to get back to Boston and get to work again."

On his successful individual performance in today's game:

"I'm not really worried about it. I want to win, so whatever the personal stats are, it is what it is. I want to win."

On whether he was surprised by the Cardinals offense continuously targeting WR Marvin Harrison Jr. in his matchup:

"No, (I was) not surprised. He's a great receiver and that's their guy so they are going to go to him. I told him after the game he's the truth. He has all the tools to be really good. It was a fun matchup. I had fun and maybe we'll see each other again."

On the challenge of being targeted against in the endzone:

"I invite it. That's what it is as a corner. You want them to throw your way. You want to be able to make plays for the team. When they throw it, you try to make the plays that come your way."