PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE BACK DEVIN McCOURTY

Q: How critical is it to be playing a division rival and know that you would fall three games back with a loss?

DM: I think it's more important for us - at this point, we've just got to go out there and get a win. You know, losing the last two weeks, you just - I think anybody - you know in this league, when you lose a game and then you lose another game, you're just itching to go out there and get a win. Like you said, this has even more, we're in our division now, they're on top of the division. I think we've all kind of been locked in of we've got to find a way to win, however that is. We just need to go out there Sunday and try to find a way to come out with more points than they do.

Q: How do you make sure that you get off the field on third downs and not give up these long drives?

DM: We've got to make plays. Like guys have got to make plays. We've talked about that this week of just a guy stepping up and making a play and then it's contagious. I mean, we've talked about that and we don't have someone that's going to come in and be the answer, third down that stops - you know, it's got to be the guys in the locker room going out there and just making a play. We've been going out there I think, working hard this week in practice to try to get that done. But as always, it comes down to usually a one-on-one matchup against a guy we're not practicing against. So you've got to go out there and make that play Sunday.

Q: Are you at that point now where everybody should know where they have to be at on defense?

DM: Yeah and I think that we've had that. We haven't had busted coverages, things like that. But like right now, we can't just be on our assignment. We've got to be on our assignment and then make a play. Get a ball out, stop guys short of the sticks. Those are the things that we've got to go out there and do this week in order to change what's been happening. If we don't do that, then we'll continue to get the same thing.

Q: What does it take to turn things around starting this Sunday?

DM: I just think we've got to just keep working. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We're here because of what we performed. It's not like we came in and someone gave us a 1-2 record. This is what we went out there and what we deserve, so I think for us, it's got to just put your head down and keep working and then you'll have an opportunity - like we'll have the opportunity Sunday to change it and go out there and get a win. That'll be up to us again so I think the key is just to work. We can't sit here and try to point fingers or do any of that. We just keep working and I think that's how you get it turned around and playing better football.

Q: Were you encouraged to see Eric Reid get signed?

DM: Yeah, I think that's great for him. He's a great player, a guy that I think we've all watched over the last couple years go out there and make plays. A starter since Day One in this league so I thought that was great just because of what he stands for and what he's done to not kind of be blackballed from the league and see him out there playing. 

Q: Do you think that's a sign some of that blackballing is fading?

DM: I think so. But you never know. I think it's two guys we're talking about so one out of two signed, so we'll see what happens.

Q: Do you think Colin Kaepernick will get signed at some point?

DM: I hope so. But I don't know. I hope so though. I think he's a good player. He's lead a team, played in a Super Bowl. He's done a lot of good things in this league so hopefully he gets signed.

Q: A lot of the focus when you talk about the Miami Dolphins is that they're just going to throw it to Kenny Stills because he can just outrun anyone in the league. How do you keep him in front of you?

DM: I think the biggest thing is always having an awareness for where he is. Obviously if we're in zone or man, if a guy's on him, but I think we still want to know where he is. And they've got a couple guys like that. When [Jakeem] Grant's in the game, when [Albert] Wilson's in the game, you want to know where those guys are because those three guys have had - already in three games - have all had 70-yard touchdowns and big plays. We know we need to be aware of wherever they're at so it's not just one guy that has to make the play, that we can try to get a lot of guys around them and not allow them to really crush us with one big play.

Q: We saw the way you guys reacted when you saw Nate Solder in the preseason against the Giants. Is it a different feeling you guys have when you run into a teammate that you've won a Super Bowl with like you did with Nate Solder and now Danny Amendola?

DM: Yeah, but it's - I think what was cool with Nate was in the preseason we got to see him - I think it was a couple hours still before kick-off. I don't think it will quite be like that Sunday but it'll be good to see him. You know, obviously see him still productive, playing well but you know, we hope none of that comes Sunday. But obviously shared great memories with him, one of the toughest guys I've ever been around in this league, definitely pound-for-pound. We know what he's going to bring Sunday. He's going to be competitive, he's going to be blocking, running - so we know how 'Dola [Danny Amendola] is.

Q: Will you say anything to him if you get the chance to tackle him?

DM: Like trash? I'm not a big trash-talker. But I don't know. Probably be friendly, maybe laugh.

Q: There's a collusion lawsuit going on with Colin Kaepernick against the league. Do you have any comment on that?

DM: Not really. I don't-

Q: Do you think that teams are doing that?

DM: I think that's the hard thing. I don't know. I'm sure his lawyers are trying to get to the bottom of that.  

Transcripts are provided by the Patriots media relations department as a courtesy to the media and are edited for readability. All press conferences are posted and archived in their entirety at patriots.com.