New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker addresses the media during his conference call on Monday, December 8, 2008.
Q: Do you know or care to know how these playoff tie breakers breakdown as you come to these last three games?
WW: No, not really. For us it is just going out there and make sure we do everything on our end to try and win games and let everything take care of itself. Basically just control what you can control.
Q: Have you been impressed with how well your teammates who have had to step in and play for injured guys have been able to do that?
WW: Absolutely. That is the way it needs to be. Anytime anybody goes down you have to have somebody there and they have to step up, play well and take advantage of the opportunity they get to play.
Q: Going back to the playoffs, I understand it is one game at a time, but a lot of you said that you felt your season was on the line. Is it frustrating to know that even if you control what you can control you could be on the outside looking in?
WW: Not really. You are just out there playing and controlling what you can control. You just take care of your end and let everything else take care of itself, however it shakes down. [We have to] go out there and give ourselves the best opportunity.
Q: Do you have to step back and sometimes marvel looking at the defense knowing there were six starters out by the end of the game from the start of the season and marvel at what they are still able to do?
WW: We have a lot of good players. A lot of good young players and older players that have stepped in, understand the game and know how to play. They've had the opportunity to go out there and show their stuff and they have done a great job of stepping up, like they did this past Sunday.
Q: How do you feel about the Dolphins being neck and neck with you at this point?
WW: There is always going to be somebody and competition within the division. For us, we just have to control what we can control and let everything else play out, however it is supposed to play out.
Q: You mentioned control what you can control, with that being said do you think you can afford a loss from here on out?
WW: Yes, probably not. That is the way it is looking. We need to make sure we are bringing it each and every week. The playoffs are almost starting a few weeks early.
Q: How about a Cotton Bowl prediction?
WW: Any win by the Red Raiders would be fine by me. Anyway we can get out there and win the game in the end would do my just fine. I am just a little upset that it isn't a BCS one.
