BALTIMORE RAVENS
Head Coach John Harbaugh
Opening Statement: "Thanks for being here. Obviously, that's a very good football team we just played. You will be hearing a lot from the Houston Texans the rest of the season without question. This was a game where we had certain things that we knew we had to get accomplished, and one of them was to control the run game on both sides of the ball, defensively and offensively. Our guys did just a tremendous job. We had a bunch of rushing yards, over 250 [yards] rushing, so that was big. Running backs, offensive line, the pass protection was just outstanding throughout the course of the game. Of course, Lamar [Jackson] played a great game. Our receivers made plays, tight ends made plays, that was great, but the blocking from those guys on the perimeter was really outstanding. And defensively, to control Deshaun Watson the way they did, and to get the sacks the way we did, and the pressures, and to force the quick throws, was just a team effort. And it's hard to rush the way we did. We weren't just running upfield. We were getting very disciplined rush lanes, and they did a great job of that. That takes a lot of effort. And our coverage takes a lot of effort because we were covered – we were mixing coverages – but we covered the extended plays. Our defensive backs did a great job with that and our linebackers as well. So, I'm proud of our guys. [It was a] great team effort, [a] great team win. The coaches did a great job, and now our focus goes to our next game."
(QB Deshaun Watson is one of the best outside of the pocket. What, schematically, did you do to keep him in the pocket the entire game?) "Like I said, we did just a great job of just disciplined rush lanes. We held our edges, we didn't vacate the inside rush lanes too much. He stopped up a couple of guys, but not too many times. And then, when he did escape out of the pocket, we were running. We were chasing him. The pursuit part of it was really impressive."
(QB Lamar Jackson had another week of looking like a better passing. What improvements have you seen from him from one season to the next?) "I just think he's definitely improving. Yes, sure, from one season to the next, but from game to game, even from practice to practice, he's so locked in. He's so focused on the details. He has a great mind for it. He sees the field really well. He understands those concepts that we're putting in, and he just continues to improve. He's not a guy that repeats mistakes. He's just not that kind of a guy, and most of these are guys that are good at what they do."
(What has been the key to your success on the offensive line?) "[Offensive line coach] Joe D'Alessandris does a great job on it. He's a great football coach. It starts with that. It starts with Joe. Joe is old school. He teaches techniques the way that they've been taught for a long time, proven stuff, and he does it the right way. And we have a bunch of guys that love to work, very talented guys, very physical guys. The last part is, accountability. Those guys have all stayed together. They've all been out there practicing, and that's how you improve."
(How did you think DT Justin Ellis and DT Domata Peko Sr. jumping in right next to everybody?) "They did well, they did pretty well. They controlled the run pretty well. They pushed the pocket inside. It's a credit to them and a credit to the coaches. It's a credit to the scouts. That was good."
(QB Lamar Jackson had one run today where he made five guys miss, and he had a couple of other runs that were almost as immaculate. On the sideline, is it almost kind of like, "There he goes again," or do you guys still have the awe?) "We do know him. We see him a lot. We know what he's capable of, all of our players do. But he made some great plays. He made that play with his legs. He had some other runs. He made some great plays with his arm. He made some great plays with his mind. He plays the position of quarterback exceptionally well, and we appreciate that. It's the most important position, probably. It's a team game, but quarterback is kind of important, and he's playing at a really high level."
(But on that particular play, I mean...) (laughter) "No, you don't expect that. It was remarkable. It was incredible. I've never seen one quite like it, except for last week. (laughter) We like it when we see that."
(But you just have to kind of marvel...) (laughter) "Yes, you do. It was a great play. I think I said last week, everybody in the country will see it by tomorrow afternoon. That holds true for this one, too. I'll also kind of go to this as a coach, there was a lot of blocking out there, too. He'll tell you that. Yes, he made five guys miss. But there are six other guys out there, and guys who got blocked once got themselves back into that play because that defense plays really hard, and I give guys a lot of credit. We're learning how to play with each other, offensively and as a team, and that's a good thing."
(Your team has played well, obviously, throughout the year. But recently, you beat the Seahawks in Seattle. You beat the Patriots here. You beat the Texans. It's all been by double digits. Do you feel this team has recently taken it to another level, and if so, why do you feel it has?) "Well, we work really hard. You have a bunch of guys that keep it simple and keep it about football. We've had steady improvement. To me, we've steadily improved. We improve a little bit every day, because these guys come out there with that mindset. They want to improve a little bit every day, and we have to keep that focus. As the stakes get bigger, your focus has to be narrower. We have to keep it nice and tight, and keep it locked in on what we have to get done one day at a time. I'm very confident that these guys will do that. They understand that. I know they understand it. So, they have a lot of faith. Faith is just a substance of things unseen. They believe in one another, and I'm excited about that."
(We know how good QB Lamar Jackson is as a runner, but what problems does he create when he's throwing as well out of the pocket as he did, where he can just take two or three steps and boom, hit the ball?) "The same problems that a Deshaun Watson causes or a Ben Rothlisberger when he's moving around. He extends the play. And when the play gets extended, then coverage tends to break down, and you have to really be disciplined and continue to cover guys. And that's what scramble drills are. Scramble drills are plays. And so that extended play has to be defended, and that's the problem that it causes."
(Did you feel like that was one of the best games that you've seen OLB Matthew Judon play?) "Yes. Yes, I just saw him in the locker room after, and he was incredible. The energy he brought to the table, the speed of the power rush, he was pretty explosive. Yes, I thought it was one of his best games. I can't wait to see the tape. It might have been his best game."
(On a broad scale, I think they crossed midfield four or five times without being able to score. What was that common thread? Why were you guys able to do that?) "We'll have to look at that. We made some plays, really, in the end. We just found a way to get off the field. We had the good pressure. I have to look at the plays. We had some stops, but it's important, as the field gets shorter, you have to tighten up and you have to play tighter. Our guys have a good sense of situational football, and they're doing a good job of it."
(How have you seen OLB Jaylon Ferguson coming on in the last three or four weeks?) "Jaylon [Ferguson] has been coming on. He's another guy [who] steadily improves. His physicality on the edge, we put him inside and rush him in there sometimes. We had a couple of inside gains that were really effective. One of our young coaches, Drew Wilkins [assistant defensive line & outside linebackers coach], came up with that in the gameplan. The guys that make that happen, the looper is the guy that gets the play, but the guys that make that happen are the penetrators. And Jaylon was one of those guys, along with Matt [Judon] and some other guys. Those guys did a great job of that, physicality-wise."
(OLB Tyus Bowser also had two sacks today. He's been steadily improving also.) "Yes, Tyus [Bowser] is doing a great job. He was one of the loopers on that, and that paid off. That was the scheme a little bit, and Tyus coming off the edge, his explosiveness is really … And also, his discipline. He's not just running around the tackle. He's setting the tackle up and he's kind of refining his moves a little bit."
(Several of those sacks that looked like they were … QB Deshaun Watson had time. There was great coverage. Is it a function of getting all of your secondary healthy again, or was this specifically a particularly strong day for the coverage unit?) "Yes, the coverage is what made those things happen, because he had to hold the ball initially, and that gave us a chance to get there, certainly. And that's why it's such a team operation. Those things work hand in hand. I would say our coverage has been getting steadily better. Of course, it's some of the additions. We got healthy. We have all of our corners out there. We added Marcus [Peters]. Jimmy [Smith] is out there now. Marlon [Humphrey] is still doing … Marlon keeps getting better. Earl [Thomas III] has a great sense. He's moving around back there and forcing the quarterback to hold the ball sometimes, because you never know where he's going to show up as a quarterback. So, all of those things, certainly."
(I know you expect maximum effort every game regardless of opponent, but when you have a schedule this tough and you see how your guys are responding against these top teams in the league, is there an intangible thing in high-leverage games that's bringing more out of your guys?) "I don't know. That's kind of a deep question. But our guys keep it simple, like I said. They lock in [on] the task at hand. They don't get caught up in all of the … If there are going to be any bouquets that are going to be thrown, they're not going to be accepting them. We have too much in front of us. We have jobs to do. We have a mission each and every week, and that's what we're thinking about."
RB Mark Ingram II
(on his thoughts on QB Lamar Jackson's long run) "He keeps just one-upping himself each week. It should have been a loss, and he made one guy miss, cuts back on another, trucks another. I'm telling him after the play, 'Look, this one, I'm good with everything, but that last one, I got to have you get down. You know what I mean?' But he's just a special player. He's going to only to improve, only continue to get better. He's learning every week, getting better. We're all just trying to do the best job we can do to make [his] job as easy as possible."
(on if this team's starting to feel like it's something special) "Anytime you're 8-2, you've got a special group of guys, and I think we really have a special group of guys. Guys who understand each other. Guys who believe in each other. Guys who want to fight for each other. Guys who understand the value of preparation one day at a time. We have a goal of being champions, so we don't have time to rest. So, we only have time to improve and get better each and every week, and today was a great team week."
(on the offense not starting quickly at first) "Our defense was doing a great job getting us the ball. They're a good defense – a Top 10 defense in most categories. So, we knew we had a challenge cut out for us, but they were stopping us, kind of. We just stayed down, stayed grinding; the defense did a great job. We were able to get two good drives at the end of the half, score 14 points. The defense [was] able to give up no points on that drive before the half. We came in the second half, get the ball, score again. So, I think those were huge for us."
(on how different he's being used in the passing game compared to his days with the Saints) "We have certain plays that have certain numbers on it, and they're just sometimes they're giving me a space, and I'm just trying to make a play. I think sometimes in years past, I didn't have the opportunity to be used like that. Our coaches are just doing a great job of getting everybody in position to have success."
(on his celebration after his early TD) "I was happy, and so I just slid. I was just lounging at the crib in the bank. I was at the crib."
QB Lamar Jackson
(on being the first Raven to throw multiple four touchdown games) "That's a good stat. I like that stat. I'd rather throw them than run them. Like I said before, since I'm a running back … We're just going to keep doing [it] each and every week, keep building. It's a brotherhood going on here. We're just feeling great right now."
(on how dangerous the Ravens can be) "Only Lord knows. The Lord, that's our leader right now. We're just praying. It's God, man. Our guys, you know, each and every day in practice, we're working. We're trying to get better, talking trash to each other on the field, because we know it's going to happen [there]. We're prepared for it and just got to keep going."
(on if he feels he doesn't have to defend himself less as a passer) "I never tried to defend myself before. I really don't care what they say. My guys know, week in, week out, we're practicing [and] we see it. I know if I wasn't doing my job [outside linebacker Matthew] Judon would tell me. He's on the edge. I don't really care what the doubters say."
(on how amused he is that many doubters of his believe in him) "Like I said before, that's their opinion. Those guys have their own opinion. Some of them just listen to other people. I really don't care what they say, like I said before. The Ravens trusted me to come in here and [be] their quarterback. I appreciate that from [owner] Mr. Steve [Bisciotti], coach [John] Harbaugh, and I've just got to own up to it."
(on his 14-3 record as a starter and how much Harbaugh has helped) "I wouldn't just say it's coach Harbaugh coaching me with that. Our quarterbacks coach, James Urban, does a great job. Talk to him each and every day. If I miss a pass in practice which I know I can make, he's always on me."
(on if there's unity between the offense and defense) "Definitely. It's a brotherhood here in Baltimore. We see each other every day. We're with each other each and every day. We're with each other [in] OTAs, camp, and we've just got to build. We see that everyone wants the same thing. We're chasing something right now, and we're trying to get it."
(on what it means to beat Texans QB Deshaun Watson after losing to him in college) "It's not about Deshaun. It's not a rivalry between me and him. He played a great game [in 2016 against Louisville]. Our team played a great game, but he came out on top. He ended up winning [in college]. It is what it is, but I'm trying to win now."
(on the conversation with Watson when they exchanged jerseys after game) "He was just saying [he was] proud of me and to keep going. I said the same thing to him. He's a quarterback. I [already] called him the GOAT. He proved himself each and every week. Our defense, they did a great job today. He's a great quarterback; he's going to prove it each and every week."
(on if he felt in a zone when he completed 13 in a row) "No, I've just got to get the ball into my guys' hands and let them perform. That's why they're here. That's why the receivers, running backs, tight ends are here. I'm not looking to run, like they say. I don't do that. Never did that in my life."
(on RB Mark Ingram II telling him to get down faster after his long run) "Yeah, he was talking to me about two plays about that. He [said], 'You've got to get down.' But I couldn't. I was [being chased]. I looked over, [S Justin Reid] did a great job. He cut me off. I couldn't do nothing, but I was good."
(on if he can feel when the offense is coming together during a game) "Everyone is dialed down, focused. That's what you want in your offense. We don't look at the last play and dwell on it. We move on even if we make a mistake. We all know we're going to turn it on [at] some point in the game. We've just got to turn it on fast enough, and that's what we did."
TE Mark Andrews
(on the offensive performance today) "They were a really good team, but we were clicking on all phases – run game, pass game, great play calls … Just everyone doing their job to the best of their ability. Obviously, you saw we were able to move the ball and be efficient – it turned out well for us."
(on rushing for over 200 yards) "It was big. It wasn't easy. In the first quarter, we weren't able to run the ball that well. We just kept grinding. The big guys were getting their pads low and getting dirty. They did a great job. Gus [Edwards] and Mark [Ingram II] did a phenomenal job of breaking through tackles."
(on improving as a run blocker) "Personally, I feel really confident. Obviously, we have big Nick Boyle, who's probably the best blocker in the league. I don't get a ton of opportunities, but I feel like I've really grown in that area."
(on his 50-yard reception after his first catch was nullified) "It's trust in all phases. Coach 'G-Ro' [Greg Roman], [John] Harbaugh, all those guys … They trust in the play calls, and it's us trusting in them. Lamar [Jackson] makes great reads and great plays, and us receivers and tight ends help him."
(on his touchdown) "It's one of those plays that we worked on all week. We kind of knew what they were going to be in. I just found a way to get open. Lamar [Jackson] threw a great ball, and I got into the end zone."
G/T Marshal Yanda
(on getting the run game going) "After the first quarter, it was 0-0. We thought we were going to be in for a dog fight, but we just kept grinding one play at a time. We started stacking good plays and then scoring points. Overall, our whole team, all three phases, played really well. They were shutting them out on defense. We were scoring on our drives. Sam [Koch] said he didn't punt. When your punter doesn't punt, it's a good day."
(on playing the No. 3 run defense) "Obviously, with Lamar [Jackson], we create mismatches. It puts a lot of stress on their defense. I felt like as the game went on, we kind of wore them down a little bit. I just felt like we wore them down in the third and fourth quarter. It's just a credit to our team – credit to Lamar and to our offensive line, our tight ends and running backs. Everybody is playing well and complementing each other. That was the No. 3 run defense, so it's pretty crazy."
(on whether they wear other teams down) "No, because things can change so fast. They can just all of the sudden be stout on one series. You take it one play at a time, you're not really trying to assess what's going on. You just want to run the play to the best of your ability, and the next play, keep grinding. Grind, grind, grind. And then, at the end of the day, you see where you're at. Today, we were very happy with the result. We were getting after them."
(on the rhythm of the offensive line) "Guys are playing well. Guys are complementing each other – working hard with each other. We have a good group of guys, hard-working guys who take it one day at a time. It's been fun."
(on QB Lamar Jackson) "He's maturing more and more every game. He's a beast to deal with. Between running the ball and passing the ball – he's just playing at a really high level."
FB/DL Patrick Ricard
(on the offense) "When you can execute at a high level like this, in a game like this, against a good opponent, I think it's just a statement. It just shows that we can play against anybody. It's hats off to our coaching staff with just great scheme and putting us in the right spots. We just go out there and execute."
(on his game-week preparation) "It almost dictates what the offense is and depending how much they need me. My role is bigger on offense. We have so many great players on defense to where we can just rotate guys and plug in guys that way, and then they know if I'm involved in the offense that much, you won't be playing on the defense as much, so I'll only be in certain packages. But, I make sure I'm doing everything on defense, because you never know if someone goes down, and they would need me."
(on consistently hitting linebackers) "It depends on the game. If we're up by a lot, we're going to start running the ball all the time. At that point, I just have to make sure my technique is good – I'm hitting the guys right and driving my feet – just executing the play."
(on being a pass-catcher) "The biggest thing for me is getting the catch. Securing the catch and then looking downfield to see if I can get yards. And if I can, I just play ball. It's all instinctive for me. I'm just happy those plays are being called, I'm open, and Lamar [Jackson] trusted me."
(on beating the Texans 41-7) "It's humbling. I think it's a statement. We're just stacking wins right now. We're going to enjoy this for a little while, but then we're going to move on and focus on next week."
WR Seth Roberts
(on his first touchdown) "Very thankful, thankful I got in the box. Great that Lamar [Jackson] found me. It feels great to contribute."
(on QB Lamar Jackson) "I call him 'Freaky-L.' That's what I call him. You know he can do anything out there. He's just freaky, and we're on the ship with him. Never, never, never – I've never seen anything like 'Freaky-L.' I texted 'Freaky-L' on Instagram before he got drafted. I told him, 'You're legit, man.' He can do anything on the field. He's a freak."
RB Gus Edwards
(on his touchdown run) "It was a great block initially by the offensive line, great read by 'RGIII' [Robert Griffin III] and then Miles Boykin on the perimeter. He held that block really long. He made that possible."
(on the offense in general) "We've got great chemistry. Great leaders on the offensive side. Guys that have a lot of heart. Whatever the play call is, we've got to make it work. That's the belief we have in each other."
(on being 8-2) "I think we're rolling, and we need to keep building off of this. Anything is possible for this team at this point."
OLB Jaylon Ferguson
(on his sack) "Obviously, it felt great to get it, but I really have to give my teammates the credit. They're helping me a whole lot, even on the field during the game. Always talking, constantly talking. That's one of the things I love about this defense. Our communication is the key. We're all in for each other."
(on his confidence level) "My confidence comes from our communication. All week long, we talk and talk. Dress rehearsal all week, and then when it comes time for the game, we put on the big show. And we put on a big show today – a really big show."
(on what's been the difference for him) "My confidence. I'm feeling better every week, building it up. Guys I admire, NFL players, my defense around me – they're building me up, telling me I'm doing good. For me, everything is a whole lot slower now. In the beginning, it was hard to adjust to the speed of everything, but now it's just slowing down. I'm understanding more."
P Sam Koch
(on punting the least of any punter in the league) "I've noticed, and I've heard that, and it feels great. So, I went out there, and held for field goals and got a chance to watch Lamar Jackson and the offense do their thing, and the defense stepped up and had their sacks and pressure on Deshaun Watson. I'll help where I can, but today they didn't need me too much, except to throw a pass for minus yardage."
(on being the longest-tenured Raven and seeing the transformation of this team) "Being here for so long, you see a lot of things. I saw what Joe Flacco did that Super Bowl year, and when you get to see a young guy like Lamar [Jackson] come in and do what he's doing, it's a tribute to him and his work ethic and maturity. He's really matured, even in the last two years. It's exciting to see how he just steps up there and handles his business the way he does. The way our team chemistry is this year – it's one of those things where it's just so special, and I know [John] Harbaugh has mentioned that, and we've talked about it amongst ourselves. It's just something to be so proud of."
CB Jimmy Smith
(on if the team expected this result today) "We expect to win every week. You never know what's going to happen, but momentum was on our side. It seemed like Deshaun [Watson] wasn't making some of the plays he usually makes, and the momentum really carried us. You never really come into this thinking that you're going to blow out a team that's that good."
(on if they can play much better than this) "Yes, absolutely."
(on the difference today in creating consistent pressure) "I don't know, we've got to watch the film. I felt like we covered well today. We had some different mixes and blitzes and things that [defensive coordinator] 'Wink' [Don Martindale] put together this week. It was really just effort; our front line, our front seven this week knew it was going to take a lot of effort to get this guy [Deshaun Watson] down knowing how much he scrambles, and seven sacks, I believe. The second play, it was all them. They tackled well and sacked him."
(on more new players jumping into the lineup this week and having impact) "Yeah, they added a couple of run stuffers and it helps. We need all the help we can get, and that's what our coaches and [general manager], they see that and help on that."
DT Brandon Williams
(on the difference over the last six games for the defense) "From that moment on, we knew we had to refocus. It's about us. We needed to stop worrying about everything else and just concentrate on what we do well. And that's what we've done."
(on what has clicked for the defense) "Even though we've got new people in, our coaches have done a great job of coaching us up. Us, as players, everything is just gelling for us, and things seem to be coming together nicely."
(on if this feels different) "It feels like Raven football. This is the way we've wanted to play since the beginning."
(on moving around in the defensive scheme) "I told you I had juice. I had to do a little wiggle to get that, but we're good. But seriously, I just had to get on my high horse and start making plays – getting more active. I've been stopping the run, but now with the pass rush, I just need to get out there and get the quarterback."
(on the seven sacks for the defense) "The biggest thing for us is that guys are giving great effort. We're keeping the rushes going, staying after the quarterback. It's all about effort and we preach that every day in practice, staying focused, getting to the ball and just flying to the ball."
(on answering the questions of if they could beat the best quarterbacks in the game – Russell Wilson, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson) "We're just going to keep balling. Whoever we play, whatever anybody says, it doesn't matter. We're just going to keep playing our game, doing our things, and that's all we can do."
(on if Lamar Jackson's efforts allow the defense to play looser) "He brings so much energy to the team – we just play off of his energy. He makes big plays, we make big plays, and that's just the way the Ravens do it."
(on the success of the defense despite all of the personnel changes) "It's just what we do. It's what we hang our hats on – next man up. We've said it from the very beginning. Look, people get hurt, you've seen it. But, other people are coming in and balling out. We love to see that."
(on how he felt about having his picture on the cover of the game program) "It was awesome, so good, especially with my kids being here today. I got my first sack of the season today, and it was awesome. I had to do it for my baby girl. My brand-new baby girl was here today up in the stands, so I had to do it for her."
(on why he didn't do too much of a dance after the sack) "Man, I was tired. I just had to get back to the play. It was second down coming up."
(on being a veteran on this team and seeing what's happened over the last four weeks) "It's the NFL, it's hard to win any Sunday. We just have to keep on practicing well and going out and doing what we do best. Coaches will have us prepared for next week. It's a long trip to LA."
OLB Matthew Judon
(on his strong performance today) "[I] just had to come out and get a good start. It's not like I've been rushing bad. I just feel like some of the quarterbacks we've been facing got the ball out of their hands quicker, and I just stayed in pursuit today like I've been doing the whole year. And we all know, we all know, man, you can go on a drought, and then you can catch fire in an instant. You know how this league goes. So, we just came out in pursuit, and I really just want to shout out to the new guys. We got two new guys: [Domata] Peko and 'Jelly' [Justin Ellis], and they came out there, and they executed the gameplan. And 'Baby' [Brandon Williams] was dominant in the middle. So, it's not always me. It's not only me. 'Ty Bo' [Tyus Bowser] came out there. [Jihad] Ward was out there balling. It's a collective group, and I just had the first one [sack] and then I think like the fourth one. 'Peanut' [Patrick Onwuasor] had one, too, so it's everybody. It's the whole defense."
(on how good this team can be) "We're going to let y'all write that. We just have to continue to click, and we have to continue to get the ball to our offense, man. We know what they can do, and I feel like they came out, [and] they didn't get the opening touchdown on their first drive. They didn't do that, and then they got some yards on their second drive. And then, unfortunately, 'Tuck' [Justin Tucker] missed the field goal. But that's not our job. We play defense, and the defense was locked in all day. I think we had one terrible drive. We missed some tackles, missed alignments, but they're on scholarship, too. They made their plays as well. When the offense is clicking, that's on them. When the defense is clicking, we have to have the offense's back, and that's what we did today. When the season's over, and we continue to play like that, we're going to let y'all write about it."
(on the transition and the growth of this defense from last year to this year) "Not only was it the guys that left from last year, but guys coming in every week. Every week [they are] buying into the system quick like that and going out there and playing their butts off, man. We just have a bunch of guys, and – I always say it – but it starts with 8 [Lamar Jackson]. We just have a bunch of guys that just want to win, and that's all we care about is winning. And that's all the coaches care about is winning, and we focus on winning. And we have to do our jobs in order for us to win. So, when I set the edge, and 'Baby' [Brandon Williams] hits the guard, and Josh Bynes comes and makes the tackle, or L.J. [Fort] or 'Peanut' [Onwuasor], whoever it is – we're just out there doing our jobs. That's what we have to do. That's what we have to focus on right now."
(on if practicing against QB Lamar Jackson and QB Robert Griffin III helped the defense prepare for QB Deshaun Watson) "Yes, R.G. [Robert Griffin III] and Trace [McSorley] – huge shouts out to them. They are the scout team quarterbacks, and they do a great look of everybody. It's hard to get that repetition and who that person is, but R.G. did a great job of playing [Tom] Brady. He did a great job of playing [Deshaun] Watson. He's doing a great job. Whoever the quarterback is, he's just mirroring where they set up in the pocket, how deep, how far. So, he's doing a great job. He's not QB1, but he's definitely helping our football team."
(on what has changed the most with this defense since the 2-2 start early this season) "Nothing. Y'all were questioning us. We just focused and locked in, and we knew what we had in the room. It's not like we were going to war inside our defensive rooms. We knew what we had. We know what we have, and since then, we brought in four or five new defensive players. We got 'Pete' [Marcus Peters]. We got [Domata] Peko. We got Josh Bynes, L.J. [Fort], [Jihad] Ward. I think I missed one." (Reporter: "Justin Ellis.") "Yes, there you go." (Reporter: "Marcus Peters.") "Yes, I call him 'Pete.' My bad, my bad – Peters. And we just focused, and we strapped in, man. We know what '8' [Lamar Jackson] can do, and we know how explosive our offense can be because of the different looks and the different formations they throw at people. And it's hard to ... those guys [the Texans] had two weeks. Those guys had two weeks to look at that, and you look at the yards that L.J. [Lamar Jackson] put up, you look at the yards our offense put up, it's difficult to defend. And we know because we had to go through it during training camp, OTAs, all that, and we had to try to defend it. So, we know what we have. We just have to do our job."
(on QB Lamar Jackson's 39-yard run) "Every time I see him run, I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised. We've seen it since he was [in] Pee Wee [football]. (laughter) Like he said, he's been posting Pee Wee stuff, and it's the same Lamar [Jackson]. And you can tell he just wants to win, and he loves the game of football. And he loves having fun out there. So, y'all have seen it since he started playing football."
(on if the defense proved today that it is championship-caliber) "Y'all write. Y'all write. Y'all report. Y'all do whatever you have to do. We're just going to play football. We're going to continue to come out here and try to stop opposing offenses. Doesn't matter if they're 8-0, 0-8, the leader of the AFC, the leader of the NFC; we're going to try to stop opposing offenses, and that's our job."
(on the successful pass rush on QB Deshaun Watson today) "I think we just created some looks that they weren't used to seeing. And we hit our pressures, and we hit them fast. [We] kept the blitzers blitzing and the coverage covering. I think the back end did a great job. My first sack, it was definitely not because I just won on my first move. It was definitely a coverage sack, and shouts out to those guys. They're doing a great job."
HOUSTON TEXANS
Head Coach Bill O'Brien
(on describing today) "Tough day. We didn't do a good job. Baltimore did a good job. I give the O-line credit. We have to turn the page and move on."
(on having a Thursday night game and if it helps) "It probably does. We have to turn the page quickly. We have to correct the mistakes and move forward very quickly. It didn't start well. We didn't get off to a good rhythm. I just need to do a better job with this team."
(on QB Lamar Jackson) "He's a great player. They have a lot of good players. Like I said, give Baltimore credit. They did a really good job."
(on Ravens' defensive pressure) "They did some good things. Give them credit, they did some really good things. We had some issues, and we have to try to correct those and move on quickly."
(on missed tackles today) "I don't know, I have to watch the tape."
(on the early pass interference call) "I have no idea. I have no idea what pass interference is anymore. No idea."
(on if it will be tough to get the team past this) "No, not at all. I think you made a good point earlier about moving on to Thursday night. It is an important game, obviously, a divisional game. So yeah, sure, that helps. We've got a good bunch of guys. It was terrible. I'm sure you're going to obviously report it that way. And that's what it was. It wasn't very good. If you watch our guys closely, guys are playing their [butts] off at the end of the game. [They're] fighting hard. We've got a good bunch of guys that I totally believe in, in there. We just need to turn the page and move forward."
(on how shocked he is about this game) "It's the NFL. If you don't play well, if you don't coach well, and you make mistakes, you're going to get beat."
(on this being a different week than what they have been having) "They did a better job than us. I have to watch the tape and see exactly what happened. They obviously did a better job, and we have to correct some mistakes, and we've got to move forward quickly."
(on what he saw from QB Deshaun Watson today) "A competitor. He made a lot of tough plays out there. I think that I need to do a better job for Deshaun [Watson]."
(on if he thought about pulling QB Deshaun Watson sooner) "No. After they scored to get to 41, that's when it was time to pull him."
(on if there is anything Baltimore's defense showed differently) "No, they just did a good job. They executed better than we did, and they did a really good job. Not too much that they showed, that they hadn't showed. They just executed their plans better than what we coached and executed ours."
(on QB Lamar Jackson starting off slow) "We didn't start off well offensively, and it gave him time to get adjusted. We tried to adjust; we just didn't do enough. We have to do a better job, but he did a great job. Once he got going, he got going."
(on despite not getting points in the first half, still being in the game going into the 3rd quarter) "We came out in the third quarter, and they drove down and scored on the first drive. We got the ball, and we moved the ball at times. Don't get me wrong, we didn't move the ball well, but we moved it at times. We stubbed our foot and just poor plays and poor play calling. We just have to do a better job at that."
(on if he is disappointed with the showing) "Yeah, anytime you lose, it's not a good job. It's tough, but you have to turn the page and move on."
(on how they have been running the ball well all season) "We got behind, and it was 14-0. We tried to stick with the run, but eventually we had to try to throw the football to gain positive yards. We just couldn't do much of anything today."
QB Deshaun Watson
(on thoughts about the game, and if he was shocked or disappointed) "Yeah, we just didn't execute today. The ball didn't go our way. Baltimore [Ravens] did a good job of controlling what they could control and building momentum. We didn't do that, and we didn't overturn that. I turned the ball over twice, but you know, it happens. It's the NFL. It's one of those games. The ball didn't go our way. The game didn't go our way. We just have to turn the page."
(on the game getting away from them) "Keep fighting, that's the only mindset. Keep trying to make drives, score points and play 60 minutes. You have to do it for the love of the game. Go out there and try to have fun, regardless. That's what you try to do. Carlos [Hyde] had a big run and got on the board."
(on the Ravens pressure and sacks today) "Nothing really to it. They just played hard. They had a scheme up front, and that was pretty much it."
(on swapping jerseys with QB Lamar Jackson) "I just wrote, 'Always love, keep grinding and MVP.' He's like a brother to me. Keep going and stay healthy."
(on signing the jersey with "MVP") "I mean, it's all love. It's all respect. He played well today. It's a lot of season left. Who knows what can happen? You know Russell [Wilson], me, Christian [McCaffrey], Aaron [Rodgers], who knows? It's all showing love and respect. This game is about brotherhood. I have a lot of peace in my heart and mind. Today didn't go our way, so we will have to hear some criticism. At the end of the day that's not going to stop what I'm doing. I'm going to do what I love to do at a high level."
(on staying in the game and going down hard a few times) "I'm fine. Healthy and ready to go Thursday."
(on getting ready for the Indianapolis Colts) "I mean, it's good. Another opportunity Thursday night. Back at home against a divisional team. It's another opportunity to go out there to show what we got and play some Texan football. We didn't do that today, so it is another opportunity. Regardless of if you play Thursday or Sunday, you flush it."
(on not getting the pass interference call early in the game) "What did I think? Yeah, everyone saw it. The guy wrapped him around, but they made that call. You have to live with it. You can't really dwell on it. It definitely could have been a changing point in the game. It's just one of those calls that didn't go our way. You have to continue to push forward."
(on starting slow and getting adjusted in the past, but not doing so today) "It didn't go our way. We just didn't execute. They [Baltimore Ravens] executed."
(on being mentally strong and bouncing back with confidence on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts) "It's a good opportunity. It's the NFL. If you play in the NFL, you know that every week is different and the game is different. You can't just dwell on the losses or even the wins. We are just going to flush it and move forward."
(on this being something he hadn't seen in his professional or college career, and how that affects him) "It don't. I'm fine."
(on criticism of his play and if he feels like he has to defend his play) "Not at all. You can look at the stats and games. Watch the games. I can show you how to be a professional quarterback. The good and the bad. It's as simple as that. I've had a lot of success and I've had a lot of failures. Every great quarterback has; Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers. They're going to have their days and they will continue to. The criticism will still come. I can go out there Thursday and light it up and everyone's back talking highly about me. So, just as a media driven league, I'll continue to focus on us, the Texans, and trying to get where we want to. There are still five or six games left. There is still a lot of football."
(on if there is a difference between losing a close game or getting blown out) "For me, a loss is a loss. We could have gone back and forth in both halves and it could have been 41-42. It would still be disappointing. There are still opportunities out there that we didn't capitalize on. This one is definitely tough. We just have to live with it and correct mistakes. We have to move on and go out there Thursday and flush it down and have a new opportunity."
WR DeAndre Hopkins
(on the loss) "We came out, but today was [the Ravens'] day. [The Ravens] played a better game than us today."
(on when the game got away from the team) "Momentum. It is a game of momentum. They [Ravens] beat us fair and square."
(on not scoring early in the game when driving the score) "Sometimes things go our way. It is a game of football. We have to bounce back and recover. The Ravens beat us fair and square today."
(on turning their attention to Thursday night's game) "It is a must-win Thursday. Everyone knows that. We have to move forward. What we want is still ahead of us. So, that means focusing on the Colts now."
(on when they noticed a shift in the momentum) "It is a game of momentum. We just have to play better football. Put this behind us and move on to the Colts."
T Laremy Tunsil
(on whether the lopsided score was a surprise) "It is just part of the NFL. You win some, and you lose some. On to the next one - Thursday Night. We have to worry about the Colts now."
(on whether it is good to have a Thursday night game soon after this loss) "Yes, so we do not have to think about this game. It is on to the next one, where we have to execute. Time to correct our mistakes and play the next game. We cannot dwell on this one."
RB Duke Johnson
(on making adjustments at halftime to establish some momentum) "It was the same game plan as the first half. We needed to do our job and make plays when we have the opportunity. Overall, it is just something we did not do today."
(on if losing a big game like this is frustrating) "No. This was not the big game we had circled. We have bigger games. Do we want to win them all? Of course we do. But you do not win them all. Everything we want is still sitting in front of us. We just need to go out and play better."
(on whether he was shocked at losing 41-7) "No. I am not shocked, because we did not do our job. It is as simple as that. We did not do it, and that is what happens when you do not do your job."
RB Carlos Hyde
(on the loss) "The Ravens played better than us today. They were the better team. It is that simple."
(on whether it was shocking the way the game played out) "No. It was going to be about who could sustain drives, who can protect the ball, who can run the get their run game going. We did not have a good run game. So, we have to do a better job. We have a short week. We have to put this game behind us and get ready for Indianapolis. We are all here playing to win. It just was not our day today."
(on starting slow especially after the bye week) "We had a chance to put points on the board. We just have to do better."
(on his touchdown) "I was just trying to help my team win."
WR Kenny Stills
(on the lack of offensive production) "It is tough, but we are all professionals. At the end of the day, we have to continue to go out and do our job. Keep trying to execute. We have to put this one behind us and get ready for Thursday night."
LB Zach Cunningham
(on Lamar Jackson) "He's a good player. He's probably about the same as I saw on tape. He has speed as a quarterback and the ability to run."
(on the defense) "We've got to get some things corrected. We did some things good. We have to go in and see the film to see the things we have to do better on."
(on his play) "I think I did some good things. I've got some plays that I could have made out there. It's just taking it week to week, watching film, and seeing things I could have done better."
(on playing this Thursday) "A quick turnaround. We've got another team coming up. So, you really can't linger on it too long. I think it's definitely a plus for us."
LB Brennan Scarlett
(on the defense) "We didn't do enough. We came in with a gameplan, and we didn't execute it. The Ravens were a better team today. We'll get back to the drawing board and do better for Thursday night."
(on Lamar Jackson's play) "Obviously, we didn't want that to happen. He got loose more than we would have liked. He's a talented guy. We understood that he had the potential to do that, and we just weren't able to stop him today."
(on the group of linebackers' play) "Obviously, it wasn't good enough. From the linebackers, we expect excellence, and, from the defense as a whole, because we move as a unit. We expect excellence, and today was not that."
(on whether there were any positives to take away from this game) "We'll see. We'll review film. From the outlook, it doesn't look great. So, we just have to get back to the drawing board, watch the film at what we did well and what we can build on, and get to Thursday night."
(on playing soon on Thursday night) "It's huge. We've got to turn the page as soon as possible, review the film and, tomorrow, move on to the Colts."
NT D.J. Reader
(on the defense) "We didn't compete the way we wanted to."
(on Lamar Jackson) "He was the same player we saw on film. He's a good football player. Plays break down; he gets outside of the pocket. He's tough to tackle. Most quarterbacks don't have the speed he does. So, it wasn't surprising."
(on whether he was shocked by the outcome) "Things happen. It's football. It is what it is. When you've been playing this game long enough, nothing is surprising. You wish you could put your finger on it, but you couldn't."
(on coming back Thursday night) "It gets that taste out of your mouth quick. It's a divisional game. We can't come out against [the Colts] and do the same thing that we did today."
LB Benardrick McKinney
(on the defense) "We've got a lot of improvement to do. We'll get back in the workshop and correct all the things that need correcting."
(on his play) "I can always get better. Everybody can always get better."
CB Johnathan Joseph
(on the defense) "We just didn't execute the defense as a team. When you come on the road in a tough environment, you know it's going to be tough, but, at the end of the day, we didn't do enough. We got off to a hard start on defense. We got two fourth-down stops if I remember correctly and then, I wouldn't say things spiraled out. But third downs, we had them a couple of times and let them get out. There were several second-and-longs, and they made a couple catch and runs and moved the chains. There were a lot of things throughout the game, but it wasn't any one thing in particular other than Lamar Jackson at quarterback."
(on Lamar Jackson) "He's as good as advertised. Obviously, he made a lot of plays with his legs. He made a couple of throws. He did what he was supposed to do. He went out and played winning football. I tip my hat to the kid."
