HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Alright, I appreciate you being here. [That was a] tough loss. The guys fought and battled, but we didn't do enough to win the game. We didn't do the winning things that we needed to do to win the game. We made plays, but not enough and made some mistakes that cost us. What questions do you have?"
What's the severity with QB Lamar Jackson's back injury? (Jamison Hensley) "It's a bruise of some kind, I think. I don't know how serious it'll be. We'll have to find out over the next couple of days. [Lamar Jackson] got kneed in the back on the ground there."
Why wasn't RB Derrick Henry in the game on the second-to-last drive? (Jeff Zrebiec) "The second-to-last drive – yes, [Derrick Henry] was coming back in the game. I think we had Keaton [Mitchell] start the game – Derrick and Keaton had talked about that. Keaton had started the other drive, and then Derrick came in and finished it off. So, it's part of that rotation. He was going back in the game, then we got stopped. I think we had, what, two carries on that, out of the four plays, maybe, out of the six plays."
Were you happy with the play call on the first down pass there? You mentioned RB Keaton Mitchell getting a couple carries, but don't you let RB Derrick Henry in the game at that point? It's kind of who he is. (Luke Jones) "Yes. I look back and I say, yes. The play call is the play call. If it works, we're thrilled about it. If it doesn't work, we're not happy about it. We a first-down run the second part of that drive and got nothing. So, those get stopped, too, especially when they're all up there on the line of scrimmage. We had an RPO call that ended up being – that could have been thrown, actually, and it was given. And they end up stopping that. I think we got three yards on that one. So, I don't like the drive at all. Looking back, would I rather have had Derrick [Henry] starting the drive? Yes. But Derrick was kind of ready for Keaton [Mitchell] to start that drive. And then he was planning on coming in next. So, they were working that rotation. When you look back on it, I think it's pretty easy to say, 'Hey, he should have been in there or shouldn't have been in there.' But we're rotating those guys throughout the game as two backs. But yes, [on a] game-winning drive, do I want Derrick Henry on the field? Sure, I do want him on the field."
At halftime, did you see if QB Lamar Jackson could go, and did he just, at that point, did you know he couldn't or did he wanted to try to get back in? (David Ginsburg) "No, [Lamar Jackson] couldn't go. If he could have gone, he would have gone."
With WR Zay Flowers, this is his third lost fumble this year. As a coach, what can you say to him about that? (Jamison Hensley) "I just continue to coach it, that's all you really can do. It's going to be important. That's the most important thing for all the guys, and nobody knows that – I mean, Zay [Flowers] knows it. He'll be the most distraught guy about it. But with that being said, you have to protect the football. We all have to protect the football. That's a lesson that has to be understood. If you want to play winning football – it's been that way; it's been that way for a long time in football. It's been that way for a long time here [in Baltimore]. And we have not done a good enough job of that on offense this year."
To follow up on that, you guys are tied for the lead in fumbles lost in the NFL this season. You've addressed it, and you've talked about coaching it. Is there a common thread there that you feel like this is why this is continuing to be a problem for your team? (Kyle Goon) "No, you can't fumble the ball. You have to protect the football. It's different circumstances. If the ball is too loose, you don't see it coming. The ball has to be protected all the time, and that's what's coached. So as a player, you just have to do it. You just have to get it done. And if you don't get it done, then you become known as a fumbler. And that's what the defenses point to, and they come after it. We do the same thing on defense. It's just a fact of football."
Last week and the week before, you and the players were very clear that you control your destiny. If you win out, you win. That's no longer the case. So, what's your message to the team today? (Bo Smolka) "I expect our team to keep fighting and try to win two games. That's what I expect our team to do. I know they will. I know we'll come out fighting, because that's what we've done all year. We've been in tough circumstances all year. It's been a grind, for sure. And we've come out and fought every single game. We haven't played well every single game. The worst game was the Thanksgiving game; we played poorly. We've played pretty darn well every single game, but we haven't done the things you need to do to win all these games in a row. And that's, you don't turn the ball over, [we've had] too many penalties in certain situations, and we gave up a couple big plays in the passing game. Now I have to give [Drake Maye] credit, some of those passes were hotly-contested, tight throws, under pressure, so you have to give them credit for making those plays in those situations. You have to do the things that are required to win, to win a lot of games. And we haven't done that enough."
Was the play call on TE Mark Andrews' lateral a hook-and-lateral play, or was he just acting on instinct? (Jeff Zrebiec) "No. I would say [Mark Andrews] was acting on instinct, probably. You'd have to ask him."
The shortcomings today, whether it's fumbles or whatever the case is, is that just kind of a summation of problems you guys have had kind of consistently throughout the season? (Brian Wacker) "I don't know about that. I'd have to think about that, whether it's a summation of it or not, but it's a big part of it for sure."
Home field advantage is sort of built into the culture of the team and built into the culture of your tenure here. How disappointing is it to have six losses at home this year? (Kyle Goon) "You have to play winning football at home if you want to win at home. We haven't done that. We've had two or three of those games where we were behind the eight ball, so I'll acknowledge that for sure. But you have to play winning football, whether you're at home or on the road; it really doesn't matter. That's what you have to do, and we haven't done it enough."
When you talk about not doing the things that you need to do to secure these games, what was said in the locker room? Are guys angry, are they frustrated, do they feel like they're almost out of chances? (Childs Walker) "Everybody is disappointed. Everybody is hurt because you work so hard. This is a team that fights. This is a team that works, and this is a team that prepares. This team is a confident team that wants to do well. [We have] a bunch of really strong men in there that do that. And so, it's disappointing to them. They're more disappointed than anybody. All of us are, that's how it is. So, we're all disappointed, but that doesn't mean – it just means you have to come back. You don't get what you want all the time in life, even if you work for it, but you have to earn it. You have to earn it by doing the things that are required, and we have not done a good enough job of that."
Just to clarify, you labeled QB Lamar Jackson's injury as a bruise. Do you have any word on or any description if you can share? (Josh Tolentino) "I really don't have a word on it now, it's just early. I haven't got anything definitive from the trainers or doctors yet. I don't know. We will probably know more tomorrow or the next day."
TE MARK ANDREWS
On the lateral attempt: "[It was] really just a bad decision on my part. [It] shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have done it. I don't know if it was actually a lateral, but it was just a bad decision."
On the false start penalty where he thought the Patriots jumped offsides: "It was just one of those situations where the guy across from me, I felt like he was far enough over that I felt I could point at."
On the change of quarterbacks from Lamar Jackson to Tyler Huntley: "It's tough. Obviously, we love having eight [Lamar Jackson], but Snoop [Tyler Huntley] played his butt off. I feel like really all around, everyone fought their butts off. But it was just the little things, and it wasn't enough."
On how they're processing this tough loss: "Like you said, it's a tough loss. For us, it's just about taking care of what we can take care of. Every single one of us – we just didn't do a good enough job today. I think we had some control of this game, but we just didn't finish."
WR ZAY FLOWERS
On the conversations when QB Tyler Huntley came in the game: "We have confidence in all of our quarterbacks, so we believed in 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley], because he knows the gameplan. He studied it. He practiced, so we believe in him."
On his fumble on the last drive: "I tried to make a play. I [saw the defender] overrunning it, so I cut back, tried to get up field, get a first [down], but somebody behind punched it out."
On if he thought the offense was in a groove with QB Tyler Huntley: "I feel like we were in a groove the whole game. [We had] a few mistakes here and there [that] slowed us down."
On the team's playoff chances not being in their control: "We just have to play ball now, finish out the season."
On head coach John Harbaugh's message after the game: "Basically what I just said; finish out the season strong. Play our ball."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On how challenging it would be to win the next two games if QB Lamar Jackson is out with an injury: "It'd be a challenge. You're talking about losing a guy [Lamar Jackson] who's a multi-time MVP and one of the best in the league. I have said this before, but I have the utmost confidence in 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley] and 'Coop' [Cooper Rush]. We beat a Bears team with 'Snoop' at the helm, and you can see what kind of team they are now. So, we're capable of doing it no matter who's out there. But, obviously, [we would] love to have [No.] 8 out there, but whoever is out there, we're confident in them."
On if he feels like this game was a microcosm of the team's struggles with turnovers and defensive stops late in the game: "Yes, it's been a theme for the past couple years, honestly. It's frustrating at this point to keep having the same conversations with you guys, and I'm sure it's frustrating on your end to keep asking these questions. It's redundant, and [there are] no excuses at this point. You said we had six losses at home. Is that right? Yes, that's terrible. Our fans, whoever's supporting us coming out to these games – it's not like the attendance has dropped off at all – there's people still out at these games on a Sunday night. It's cold outside, the stadium's packed out, people have work tomorrow, and we're not making it worth their while at the end of the day. So, that's on us to right that wrong. But, yes, we still have a chance to get in the dance. So, we have to assess the opportunities we have going forward and do what we can to get in said dance."
On why New England Patriots QB Drake Maye was able to create successful drives late in the game: "It's a different game being played kind of when you're down like that. As an offense, they hadn't been able to run the ball at all. It's been kind of a theme for us as a defense these past few weeks, and in the latter half of the season, I think we've been a pretty stout run defense. So, teams become one-dimensional and that dimension of defending a pass is – there's so much, obviously, very talented and have talented dudes on the outside. [The] 'OC' [offensive coordinator] calls a good game, but [there are] so many different things they can do throughout a passing attack. [They can] check the ball down for four yards; that's a positive run if you just run the ball. [They could] get a seven-yard gain on second-and-9, that was third-and-2, and pretty much the whole playbook's open in plus territory. You're defending a lot more grass when it becomes a one-dimensional game like that, but now it also gives us opportunities to get the ball off [Drake Maye], pick the ball off and sack the quarterback – and shout out Ar'Darius [Washington]. He got a sack and fumble tonight. It's a double-edged sword at the end of the day, but we just have to finish games."
On if there was any miscommunications on defense on the last New England touchdown of the game: "I actually don't know. I'd have to watch the film to see exactly what happened. I think we were just communicating how we would normally, talking about who's got what and pre-snap [communication]. But, obviously, something went wrong. So, I'll just look at that on film."
On if S Ar'Darius Washington not being able to break up the Patriots' fourth-down conversion late in the game was a pivotal moment: "Probably, the pivotal play was a touchdown, but I mean, there's a lot of pivotal plays. I think there were a few third downs on that drive. I don't know. The whole drive was just, it felt like we were just taking on water, taking on water, and then finally the dam broke. That's nobody in specific's fault that I can think of right now. It's just [that we] have to play better defense. But, yes, Ar'Darius is just trying to make a play. He's a playmaker. It's just him being a football player."
On what he was going through, physically, during the game: "[It was an] ankle; [it was] good enough to play. It's Week 16 – everybody has something, so I'm not alone in that category. I think just the fact that it happened later in the week was probably a little bit more of a hurdle, but I'm alive."
On what it was like to see QB Lamar Jackson have a successful start to the game and then go down with an injury: "It's a physical game. Obviously, [Lamar Jackson] is going to put his body on the line for us, and he has done so ever since I've been here, and ever since he's been here. You don't get all the rushing accolades that he's had without taking some hits, and he's taken some hits for this organization and for some wins. We all appreciate that, because he plays to the best of his abilities and to the highest extent that he can play. He just plays really hard, and it sucks to see that happen to somebody like that. Injuries [are] part of the game. Again, 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley] went in there; I thought he did a great job. It was kind of a seamless transition from that point. I think it's rare around the league that a backup quarterback comes in and can run the offense that well."
RB DERRICK HENRY
On if he was surprised to not be in the game on their second to last drive: "No. We've been doing a rotation for I don't know how many weeks. Keaton [Mitchell] has been doing a great job in the run game, and we are both in there doing the best we can. We have a lot of good players, so everybody has to get their touches and get opportunities, and Keaton is deserving of it. It didn't work out that way, but [we have] another opportunity to look forward next week. This one definitely hurts. Like I said, at home again, [and we] come up short. It just wasn't good enough today."
If that's a situation where he would like the ball: "Any player would just like to be able to have the ball in their hands and make plays for the team just to give ourselves a chance to go win. I think any player would have that same response, if you're a competitor, and you love the game – and I definitely love the game – but this didn't go our way tonight. And they were the better team, and that's where they won. But like I said, we have two more games to look forward to. Hopefully the football Gods bless us, but that is just to see on another day and see how that plays out, but just looking forward to the next game, and I'm looking to be the best player I can to help us win the next game."
On how rotation decisions within the running backs group are made during games: "It's just something that we've been doing the last couple of weeks, and it's been a good flow. [Keaton Mitchell] goes a series, and then I'll go a series. I don't think this would be a big deal if we had won the game. There wouldn't be any questions about it, but I understand that when you lose, everybody's going to want to know or try to analyze every situation. But this is something we've been doing. We did it last week, and everything was fine, and we won."
On his first fumble in the first half: "Yes, it's just really embarrassing. I feel like some of that momentum that we had in that drive – I feel like we would have scored, and that would have given us seven [points] – so I took seven points away. And I feel like I took a little bit of momentum from the team and the defense, and they went on a long drive and scored, and it's just been disappointing. Kind of like this whole year, you kind of work hard to be the best player you can [be], be consistent and have the most success, and sometimes it doesn't go that way, which is upsetting. But like I said, I'm going to keep working and try to do my best for this team. But yes, this year has kind of been frustrating; not as a team, but like for me, for me as far as my play and just the mistakes, it costs the team."
On seeing QB Lamar Jackson battle through injuries: "You never want to see the QB, the leader of the team and the best player on the team go down like that. We want [Lamar Jackson] out there. We want him to be healthy, and we want him out there so we can have the best chance to win. It's a game of injuries, and stuff [like] that happens. But Lamar, he's a competitor, and he's a fighter, so I know he wanted to be out there, but circumstances didn't go that way today. Hopefully we can get him back this upcoming week."
On his expectations for this season after signing his extension: "I think that's self-explanatory. I think you know the expectations. We're not really trying to have expectations; we just want to put the work in and then let our work show. Last year was a fun year, and [we] did some great things. We came up short. And this year, we just had some unfortunate circumstances, and things that haven't swung our way. We have had some adversity, and it just hasn't been good enough, honestly, as a whole. I think everybody on the team would say that we just haven't been good enough, and like I said, we have two games left, and we can end it the way we want to end it. But yes, it just hasn't been good enough. It's as simple as that."
On where the team is at with two games remaining and not being able to control its destiny: "Right now, this sucks that we lost, but we'll dwell on this for a little bit, and then we have to look forward to Green Bay because we have a quick turnaround playing on Saturday going over there. And I look forward to playing. We play this game because we love it. So, I'm sure everybody's going to want to come back and be ready to go, and we'll prepare the right way and see if we can go out there and win the game."
WR DeANDRE HOPKINS
On what his emotions are after tonight's loss: "It sucks. [There are] not a lot of words [to say]. It sucks. [When] you are up like that on the team, you want to be able to finish them, and we didn't. So, it hurts."
On what his thoughts are on their playoff chances now being out of their control: "When we were 1-5, we knew that we were still a good team, and that we had a chance. We just had to correct some things, and we did that. We went on a little run, but obviously this is the NFL. You have to bring it every week. You go up against teams like the Patriots, who are well-coached and execute. You have to execute better and make more plays than them."
On what he would say to WR Zay Flowers after tonight's game: "Zay [Flowers]'s been through a lot of adversity throughout his life. So, I always tell him, 'Man, this is a game at the end of the day. So, just know that you've overcame a lot in life, and just use this as motivation.'"
On how he thinks the offense responded after QB Lamar Jackson exited the game with an injury: "We went out and made some plays. Obviously, we didn't do enough as an offense to finish, but we still thought we had a chance. 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley] has played a lot of ball. He's played a lot for this organization, so I think everybody believes in Snoop when he gets in."
On if there is anything that this team can learn in order to execute better: "I'm a player, not a coach. So, I go out and do what's called on me to do. I don't complain. I really don't ask too many questions. So, that question is something I really can't answer, but guys just have to do their job."
CB MARLON HUMPHREY
On the emotions of the game finishing the way it did: "We didn't want to give up a touchdown. So yes, it wasn't good."
On the mentality of the defense when QB Lamar Jackson went down with an injury: "I don't know if anything changed. I figured he wasn't coming back, but nothing was really said. At least I didn't hear anything said about a quarterback change. Obviously, Lamar [Jackson] is a great player, but nothing really changed for our mindset."
On what the Patriots' offense was able to do in the fourth quarter: "Honestly, I gave up an explosive [play]. They were able to get explosive throws and explosive passes. Giving up the deep ball has been an inconsistency of mine this year I would say. But yes, explosive plays are kind of what they had done all year. I think they were the No. 1 passing team in the league. And it seemed like we had them bottled up pretty decent throughout the game, but then in the fourth quarter, we had some lapses. Drake Maye made some great throws, and they were able to kind of come back."
On the message to the team these last few games: "To be honest, I have no idea what just got said. I'm still processing everything, so I can't really answer that."
QB TYLER HUNTLEY
On if he was surprised that RB Derrick Henry wasn't in the game on the last two drives: "It's so hard to just really pay attention to who all is in until you get in the huddle, and then you get the play call. Then, you just try to put all of that together. But, it's so hard to keep up with who comes in and who comes out. We just get a personnel [signal] and the play call over the helmet. So, that's how I call it in. So, it's so hard to even [know]."
On what was going right and wrong offensively: "Everything that we did, and had success – that was going right. After that, we just fell a little short and just couldn't just turn it over in the last little bit or what we needed [was] to make the plays that we needed to make."
On how he would describe QB Lamar Jackson's mood after he was ruled out with an injury: "[Lamar Jackson] was bummed. Once I saw him on the sideline after a drive or two, he was bummed and couldn't barely move. You hate to see him like that, but I know he is going to be ready to get back out there when he is ready, and we are going to do everything to get him right."
On if he had optimism that QB Lamar Jackson would return to the game or if he was just focused on executing plays: "No, I was just focused on the task at hand of trying to get us to score and just get it rolling."
On how it feels now that their playoff chances are not in their control anymore: "I don't know how you would – shoot – we have two games that we have set in stone that we have to go out and play in. That's all we can focus on. I don't know how else to answer that one."
On what the communication on the sideline was like with QB Lamar Jackson: "Well, I would just tell [Lamar Jackson] what I saw, and then [he would say] what he saw. We just talked a little ball, and I just asked him a couple times how he was feeling, and that's it."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On leaving the game early: "My legs felt great. I just got kneed in the back in the red zone. I just couldn't finish the game. I was trying. I [got] a Toradol shot and stuff like that, but it still didn't get [any] better. Yes."
On if it's been a terrible season with the injuries he's endured: "Yes, it's BS, bro. I can't control that. I'm on the ground. I'm down. I gave myself up. I got kneed in the back, but yes, for the most part, you can say that, because [I'm] getting injured, and then we're fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. I can't finish the game with my guys. It's BS."
On if he tried to throw the ball during halftime or on the sideline and it was too painful: "Yes, I was in [the locker room] trying to throw to one of our trainers. It just hurt."
On if it aggravated any pre-existing injury: "No, it didn't do anything to nothing."
On if he'll be able to play on Saturday in Green Bay: "Yes, that's the goal. We're going to do a little [MRI] scan tomorrow and then see what it shows."
On his emotions with not being able to finish the game with his teammates: "I'm mad, because I felt like the game was in our favor. Don't get me wrong, my brother [Tyler Huntly] got out there – it still was in our favor – but I can't control that. I wish I could. I can't control it."
On the frustration of injuries and losing games by missed opportunities: "The injuries at the beginning of the season, I was past that. I'm past that. Like I said, we [were] fighting for a position – we're still fighting for a position – to make the playoffs. I felt great tonight, like I said. It was unfortunate that it happened. I wish it didn't though."
On how much pain he is in right now: "Pain. It hurts. [It] hurts."
On to know the team's playoff destiny is no longer in their control: "I leave that up to God. All we can do is control what we can control, just watch film, get to practice and work, then just win out. That's it."
C TYLER LINDERBAUM
On how frustrating it is to lose a game like this: "It's very frustrating. I think just the talent we have and not being able to translate that onto the field is frustrating. But we have an opportunity with two more games left to finish how we want. Although it's out of our control whether we're in the playoffs, all we can do is go out there and play our two best football games to finish off the year."
On how the offense responded to the quarterback change: "Snoop' [Tyler Huntley]'s a dog. We can definitely win football games with Snoop. We've got to do our job as an O-line to block for him [and] run the football. We just have to look at the tape and see how we did ultimately as a team. But this one stinks. It's definitely frustrating. At the end of the day, you're up 10 points in the fourth quarter, and we have to find ways to win those games."
On what was working to allow RB Derrick Henry to have a big game: "We have the best running back in the game. If we can't move the ball with him, then we're in trouble. He's a fun back to play for. He plays the game the right way: physical [and] hard-nosed. He's the guy you want to have back there running the football."
On if he was surprised that RB Derrick Henry wasn't in there the last two drives: "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who's in there. We have to just go out there and find ways to win football games."
On the vibe of the team going into Green Bay on a short week: "[We] just lost a tough one. This one's obviously going to sting. Now we've got to turn around and find a way to beat the Packers in a tough place to play."
ILB ROQUAN SMITH
On his thoughts on how the game ended for the defense: "I think it's very simple: We didn't play winning football. I think that's what it is when it comes down to the clutch moments. We didn't play winning football. We all have to do our 1-of-11 – including myself – play-in and play-out."
On his message to the locker room as a leader of the team: "You just have to control what you can control, and that's just how you go about things as a man and as a football player. So, I think it's just that simple and it's just going to be a reflection of who you are, day-in and day-out. When adversity hits, how do you respond? So, I think that was the main message."
On what the New England Patriots were able to do to make a comeback in the fourth quarter: "I think it's simple: They made plays and we didn't play winning football. We didn't do our 1-of-11. Each and every one of us, play-in and play-out. That's what didn't happen. So, when that doesn't happen, you don't win in these types of games."
On if he felt like there was a momentum shift in the fourth quarter: "I just take it one play at a time. That's all I focus on, and that's all you can focus on. Flush it. If something bad happens, flush it and move onto the next play. So, that's what it is."
On if there was anything on defense that changed after QB Lamar Jackson came out of the game: "No, not at all. That's the offensive side of the ball, and I play defense. I'm all the about defense and what we do, and we didn't do a good enough job to get the job done. And yes, prayers for Lamar [Jackson], whatever's going on – I'm not even sure – but he's a warrior, so I know he'll do whatever it takes [to get back]."
S AR'DARIUS WASHINGTON
On his emotions at the end of the game: "We just didn't do enough to close out the game. Having an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter [and losing], that's just not what we wanted to do. That's not Ravens football, and we know that, and I look at myself first for that fourth-down play. That's a play I should have made, so I'm not looking at anybody else but me."
On what the defense could have done better in the fourth quarter: "Really just make plays. They were able to drive it down on us twice, long drives with big plays. We've got to stop that, and we know that."
On his personal journey back from the injury: "It was a great accomplishment to come back early, but it really doesn't mean anything after a loss like this. [It's] so tough to go day in and day out and work so hard to get back and then have this disappointment. We know the season is not over, but we know it's going to be tough. We'll just pick back up, get back to work and hope for the best."
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
On how it was getting in to the playoffs with a win like this: "I think it was good to be in a game like this where we battled, and it was tied, and we got down, and momentum kind of shifted the other way, then our guys battled back. We got stops. Offense continued to attack. Our quarterback battled. Our receivers came through and the runners. I felt like it was a big team win. It's a huge team win. Andy [Borregales] kicked the ball well. It was just that we lost a lot of guys. A lot of guys went down, and a lot of guys stepped up. They have to get healthy. I think this was a great win for us."
On the winning touchdown drive after being in the same position as last week: "I think that you learn from that and again, you still have opportunities. They pressured us, and we were able to hit a play against the pressure. So, I think if you learn from those things, and hopefully, we learned from whatever happened last week and our ability to execute in critical situations. Then we talked about all week, just the ball security and our ability to hammer it out. I thought we tried at times and we got a couple. So, I think we talked about being able to get turnovers."
On living by the Next Man Up mentality: "Well, that's a group effort. One, it's on the players that go in there. Two, it's on the training staff to work hard to evaluate guys. And then on the coaching side, just being able to figure out what packages we could still get into, and what we are able to do and some of the things that we weren't able to do. We lost a lot of defensive linemen. To have a guy like Anfernee Jennings – [I give him] a lot of credit going in there and playing defensive line and helping us out. I appreciate what he did and everybody else that was able to step in."
On WR Stefon Diggs' performance in tonight's game: "We talk about opportunities this whole year, and you know somebody, that receiving room, and I get the nature of the receivers in this league. I understand. I've been around this league for a while, and they all want the ball. That's what they are supposed to do. When they don't get it, they have to understand that they will get it. He took advantage of his opportunities, came through with contested catches, third-down conversions. It was great to see. Mack [Hollins] made plays for us, Kyle [Williams], Kayshon [Boutte]. Unfortunate for Kayshon [Boutte], the penalty or whatever they called over there is completely whatever they called it over there. Then his ability to go down, which I thought he was competing for that ball, and I thought we were going to have that one. But Kayshon [Boutte] is going [to] help us out. All the receivers are going to play roles."
On if they received an explanation on the WR Kayshon Boutte incompletion: "No. Here's the explanation I got. You have to survive the ground. I'm very aware of the catch rule, but that's all I got."
On QB Drake Maye's performance: "I just thought gritty. I mean he got hit. He got hit. They pressured him, or they got home when they didn't. He just kept getting up and battling. He didn't flinch. I think it was important for all of us to have that game, the entire team."
On the two forced fumble punch outs: "We just addressed that. That was something that we've been practicing and focused on. Even just looking at [Christian Gonzalez]'s tackle, when it got on the edge and the stiff arm and breaking it down. Something that we talked about and practiced and tried to get it, and [he] held him to four yards. I thought there was a switch there especially from 'Gonzo' in a sequence where he stabs the ball out. We blitzed him. He blitzed with a demeanor. Then I look out there, because we need him, and he's out there as the corner on the punt return. I told him this isn't going to be a shock but those are the efforts that we need to have from him. Our best players have to play good each and every week to win."
On whether QB Drake Maye played as well tonight after lessons learned last week: "I don't know. Again, this is the league that we operate in. It's a tough every week. Hopefully he can learn from those things. A lot of confidence in everybody out there. It was great for him to have success. I'm happy for him, especially executing at the end of the game, pulling it and being able to get the first down and get down."
On how big of a week this was in the team playing to the identity he wants: "We talked about bringing a belief in our identity. Believing that under any circumstances we were going to win a football game – that's what we talked about before we left. We said we needed to pack two things. We needed to pack our belief and our identity. I feel like we did."
On where his philosophy of play demeanor showed up the most tonight: "I think as the snaps increased, and again it was a resiliency not to fold and panic. They hit some plays on us. They made guys miss. They had some 'x' plays, and we got stops when we needed to. Offensively, we hit a little bit of a wall. But then I felt like, those last few drives in the second half, we were clicking. Again, just to have the resiliency to battle here on the road in a tough environment on Sunday night."
On how it feels to make the playoffs in his first season as head coach: "We are going to try to win the division. We are going to focus on that. We just take it one day at a time, and whatever happens, we figure out what is the best thing for the team. I'm excited. All the credit goes to the players. When we win, it is because of them."
On whether they changed defending the Ravens' offense after losing QB Lamar Jackson: "They are talented. They still have good players. The offense never really changed. We were trying to get stops. We lost guys, too. We didn't lose an MVP, but we lost plenty of guys. We know how good Lamar [Jackson] is. But still they were able to hit some plays on us. Give Tyler [Huntley] a lot of credit. He's a great kid. He's a great quarterback, having spent some time with him in Cleveland. It was obviously a challenge the entire game."
LB K'LAVON CHAISSON
On his punch out in the fourth quarter: "Yeah, we were working on it all week. Something we emphasized heavily was getting the ball out. We know they had a couple of speed skaters on their side, but the ball getting loose from the side of their body. So, obviously, that's time for us to make a play."
On what he meant by "speed skaters": "The ball just gets very loose from their body, so if you ever watch a speed skater and how they move and their body, it's how a couple of their ball carriers move with the ball. So, we already knew going into the game that was going to be a possibility."
On if they focused on punch outs in practice this week: "We emphasized turnovers and it was in our gameplan throughout the week, was finding a way to get turnovers. Like I said, a couple of their ball carriers, the ball can get loose from their body, and we were able to get some balls out today."
On winning in comeback fashion: "I think it says everything about this team. Last week, we missed an opportunity to prove that. It was a quick turnaround to make sure that we capitalized and finished this game. It's all about the will and the want to as a defense, and it was all about making a play when it was your turn to make a play. It's always exciting for these opportunities to show up big in the big moments."
WR STEFON DIGGS
On if he could imagine being in the playoffs when he signed in New England: "No, not at all. Obviously, we felt good about the year because we had a great group of guys. In OTAs and training camp, you saw how many guys make plays. I was excited to be around the guys and spend time with them in OTAs. We started meshing really well and building a bond and a brotherhood early in training camp and you could tell it was going to be special. I always try to take it one game at a time and never look too far in the future, but as far as this game, it teaches you to stay patient, stay consistent, and it will always work out how it's supposed to."
On the concussion diagnosis: "They said I had a concussion, but I never even touched my head, never even laid on the ground. They monitored me for a concussion, and I said I never had a concussion. I was touching my shoulder, so how did they think it was my head? I was fighting with them to get back out there. It was the first drive, and I wanted to get out there and make plays for my team."
On his fourth down catch in the fourth quarter: "It was a great ball. You know, I ran a route to try and put speed on the DB. Drake [Maye] put it where only I could get it and nobody else. The DB tried to undercut it. I thought he was going to play through the man, so I tried to put my hands out, and that's exactly what happened. Just a great ball by Drake."
On his performance tonight: "I worked for it. You know, people get distracted by off the field stuff, but I'm always locked in, and when it's football, I'm all football. I work for it, I prepare for it, I expect success, and I look at it as in I want the biggest for my team to want to lean on me. I'm a leader on this team and leadership just doesn't come from chatting or talking the part, it's about making plays. In the biggest moment, you know, lean on me. I can usually figure it out."
On playing in primetime: "My time, primetime. You know, the world is watching, and I always look at it as another opportunity to show the world who I am and how I'm coming. I know my teammates have my back and being a positive influence, a positive force on this team, keeping my energy high, and just letting them know I won't let them down."
On how confident they were getting the ball back with five minutes to go: "We were confident even when stuff wasn't looking as good. That's a great football team. You know, it's a four-quarter game, and that's a really good defense out there. But I don't care who we were playing, I feel like we grind hard and we'll get the win. We've got a great head coach and we're all meshing at the right time."
CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ
On forcing turnovers and playing complementary football: "It was huge. We talked about it all week: Trying to hammer out the ball and take the ball off those guys. They're a very good offensive team and just a very good team, and we knew we had to get the turnovers, and that feeds the team. Getting the turnover feeds the team, so [it's] something we harped on all week, and it was [Jaylinn] Hawkins and 'KC' [K'Lavon Chaisson] that both got the punch out, so glad they got those out, and they came at really big moments."
On making plays in the fourth quarter: "I feel like, as a DB, you kind of always feel like that. You always feel like you have to make a play. You want to make a play, because life as a DB, as you know, if you make a play, everybody sees it. If you don't make a play, everybody sees it. Just the team and the guys trusting us to go out there and make plays, and whoever's in the DB room that makes the play, and it happened to be me on that play. But, there's plenty of other plays that all of us have made, and we love making those plays."
On how good it feels to make the playoffs: "It's pretty cool. It's cool. I feel like it's been some time coming. We put the work in. We bought in, and it's nice to clinch, but we're far from done. We'll worry about the playoffs when they come, but we have the Jets next week and another division game, and everybody knows how division games get. So, we'll enjoy this on the plane ride back like every other week, and tomorrow, we're onto the Jets."
On what changed for the Patriots defense when Ravens QB Lamar Jackson went out: "Everybody knows what Lamar [Jackson] brings, but [Tyler] Huntley coming in, he's not just no slap quarterback. He's in the NFL, and he's played for a while and done it. A couple of guys, we got to see him last year, so we kind of knew him a little bit, but it didn't really change our game plan or mindset or anything when Lamar went out. It was whoever steps out there as quarterback, as a defense, we want to disrupt them and get off the field."
S JAYLINN HAWKINS
On what they learned from last week's loss: "You're going to learn from the good and from the bad. Just like this game, we're going to learn from it because there was a lot of stuff that we could've cleaned up. There was a lot of stuff we could've done better, and even though it's better with a win, we'll always learn from the good and bad."
On his forced fumble on RB Derrick Henry: "It started early in the week. We started practicing punch-outs every day at practice. The biggest thing Coach [Mike Vrabel] was focusing on was takeaways. So, we went out there to go get takeaways. Punching was one of the ways we could get those takeaways. I saw the opportunity, I spun off a block, and I swung like Mike [Tyson] and blessed that the ball came out."
On what it means to clinch the playoffs: "It's big, but there's a lot more work to do. There's more work we have to do. We have to put more focus on our jobs, and we've got to keep going. We need to focus on next week. We've still got the Jets and it's the NFL, everybody is good."
On how confident they are in QB Drake Maye with five minutes to go: "Really confident. I'm confident in everybody on this team. Confident in '8' [Stefon Diggs], '85' [Hunter Henry], Drake, Rhamondre [Stevenson], the defense, and everyone else on the team."
On the punch out drills in practice: "We did a lot more of those this week, because if you take the ball away in this game, it changes the game. We want to try to get the ball to '10' [Drake Maye] as much as possible because we believe in him."
On the Ravens fumbling issues: "It was an emphasis on their players all week. We felt like they were pretty loose with the ball, so we saw that as opportunities. They're a very talented team, but that was one of the emphases we had saw and thought the takeaways would be key in this game."
TE HUNTER HENRY
On reports of all the guys out: "We just battled. We have a lot of toughness, and a lot of guys stepped up. That's the name of this game is guys being able to step up once their name is called. A lot of guys did that tonight. It's pretty cool to have the same exact situation as last week. To be able to come through in that aspect was pretty cool."
On RB Rhamondre Stevenson's performance tonight and this year: "That's what we expect of Rhamondre [Stevenson] every time. Obviously, 'Tre' [TreVeyon Henderson] going down and him having to step up and almost play every down. Just the toughness he showed, continuing to battle, run hard and obviously come up with the big play at the end. But I think the pass protection, some of the stuff in the pass game was huge. It's just a lot of fun to have him on our team."
On tonight being similar to last week's game and the attitude in the huddle: "It's what we wanted, honestly. To not come through last week was disappointing for all of us. We felt like we left a lot of plays out there, and it was disappointing to come out that week like we were last week. But, to be able to put ourselves right back in that situation again was pretty cool. And on the road, it's loud and everybody is against us. It was just us out there, and it was pretty cool to come through [with a win]."
On why they play so well on the road: "I don't know. There's a lot of underdogs in there. There's a lot of guys who play with a chip on their shoulder on this team, and we just kind of feed off that. Everybody was against us. It's a lot of fun to come in and quiet a crowd, and I think everybody feeds off of that."
On WR Stefon Diggs on the sideline: "[Stefon Diggs] does it every week. He's very consistent with his energy and his juice. Obviously, [he's] making plays. He just brings a high level to the field and off the field also. He just calls everybody up."
On clinching the playoff spot with two games left: "It's always good being in the tournament. You clinch a bid in the tournament, and anything can happen. It's a blessing to be back. It's hard to get into the playoffs. Obviously, we haven't been there in a while, but it's cool to be back."
On changes he's seen in QB Drake Maye from last year until this season: "I saw a lot of it last year, to be honest with you. We weren't winning games, but I saw the talent, I saw the poise and how [Drake Maye] handled everything last year, I think, translated in a big way. I just commend him in a big aspect. He just stayed consistent, and he never rides the ups and downs. He's very consistent."
On how nice it was to see everything come together: "It's huge. We just worry about the next play ahead of you. That's all we can do. I think defensively, offensively and [on] special teams, that's all we can do. We put ourselves in a hole in the fourth quarter, but to be able to come back and respond in that aspect was huge for this team, and we're excited to kind of build off of that."
QB DRAKE MAYE
On the game-winning drive: "I'm so proud of this team. It took everybody. That's what we knew coming into it. Our goal this week was to win together, and it was together. It felt good to get that one. Just props to these guys. [We] keep fighting. We had guys going down, guys coming in taking more plays than they probably have ever had, and guys getting tired from pushing through and defense stepping up making big plays and forcing fumbles. We talked about things all week, and we hit some of them. Obviously, there are some things that I'd like to have back, but right now, it feels good to get a win."
On clinching a playoff spot: "Yes, that was one of the goals. We wanted to win the division, and that's what we're still fighting for. It was awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division."
On clinching the way that they did: "I just think how the game went, there's plays and times I feel I put the team in a bad spot. I took points away in the red zone and past the 50 [-yard line]. It's just what it is and bouncing back and the next man up going out the next drive and trusting the guys around you and another away environment with a loud crowd and a good defense. I felt the guys had a lot of trust and belief in the huddle, and I was just confident in trying to let it rip, and those guys were make some plays."
On WR Stefon Diggs: "You have no idea what [Stefon Diggs] means to this team. He's a leader. He's been great in the locker room. He wants the football in his hand, and deservingly so. He just keeps showing up and making plays. He's doing it at a really high level. He's just bouncing back and vocal, and he's awesome to play with."
On his first-career fourth-quarter comeback: "I care about winning. If that's what it takes, then hopefully I'll try to do whatever it takes. That's what I'm trying to do for this team. I won't change that, no matter if it's 500 yards or 40 yards. Whatever it [is] to win the game."
On how last week's loss impacted today: "It was kind of a wakeup call last week. We had a chance to win the game with a game-winning drive, and this week it was like, 'Let's not have that same feeling two weeks in a row.' It was kind of an elephant in the room going out there once the defense got the ball back. Like I said, just trust and belief. I like our chances when we're in those scenarios. I like our chances."
On new and different experiences for him tonight: "Just being down. I felt like we've been up a lot and playing with a lead a lot this whole season. Just being down in the fourth quarter and having a must-need touchdown drive, that feeling is good. Seeing guys left and right and new faces in the huddle. I'm not sure how many different people we had in the huddle out of 11. We probably had 100 combinations. I wasn't even blinking an eye with whoever came in the huddle. They practice hard, and I believe in them and trust [them]. I put the ball in the fullback's hip and fumbled it. There are just things in this game that make you want to punch a wall. I'm just glad we got a win."
On how much this was a mental battle: "It's mental. That's what this league is. It's mental, especially at my position. It's physical, but it's a lot of mental, as well. We talk about offense all the time. It's all 11 of us. All 11 of us on every play for a touchdown run or the guys blocking upfront to hit a route down the field and guys breaking tackles. I felt like a lot of different players had a reception and trying to spread to ball around. They were blitzing us from different angles and bringing cover zero some, dropping out and doing some good stuff on defense, but props to them for a great match, a great team and a great game."
On support of Patriot fans on the road: "I credit Baltimore for a great home environment, but it felt like a lot of Pat's fans were in the stadium. Props to us. [Our fans] travel great. I say that time and time again. We travel great, and we're giving them something to travel for, and that's what we try to do. They were huge for us. Sometimes I'm sitting on the sideline sometimes when the defense is up; we make a play, and the crowd cheers, and you're not sure if it's the offense or the defense. It's New England Patriots. It's the New England area. It's Boston's sports, so I don't expect anything less from our fans, and they show out every week."
On the significance of winning against man coverage tonight: "It's the guys winning route in man coverage, being physical at the top, getting good releases. It's me making good throws and ball placement, and they showed up time and time again. Those guys really took it to heart. It's disrespectful when you try to play us in man, and that's the approach you need. There are some great guys that are going to win sometimes. You saw them win sometimes with some incompletes, but more times than not, I like our guys."
On how important tonight was in his role development: "It's just another game for great experiences for me. To experience times where I wasn't probably seeing it great. I wasn't making great throws, threw a couple in the dirt, and from there, just battling back and having the confidence in myself and the confidence in the guys around me. The guys support me all game. The sideline and the huddle felt like it never got down. There was still belief over here. I hope we continue that, and we're going to need a game like this again down the road."
On the turnaround of four wins last year to 12 this year: "I think it's top down. It's [Head] Coach [Mike] Vrabel coming in here. It's the coaching staff we hired. It's the guys buying in and believing in what we do, and that's the biggest thing in the locker room; it's believing what the coach is saying, believing in our identity [and] traveling with us. He always says, 'Pack our identity'. That's another big win on the road, and it starts top down. We have a lot of guys in that locker room. I'll talk to a lot of those guys for a long time in my life."
On how much fun tonight was: "You take it for granted. What a beautiful sport. It's the best sport out there. This game is brutal. There's time where injuries and losses weigh on you, but this winning feeling, there's nothing like it, and [head] Coach [Mike Vrabel] reminded us of that pregame. He said, 'You can't buy that back, winning in that locker room.' At his age, he always says, 'I wish I could suit up again. You just can't buy that.' He said, 'You can buy anything else in life. You just can't buy this time we're in right now.' And what a time it is. I'm looking forward to celebrating with these guys. Just props to them. I just thank the good lord for the position I'm in, in my life. I'm going to stay strong in my faith and good things happen."
RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON
On how he felt running, especially his run at the end of the game to run out the clock: "I played that one close though. I got a little too close to the sideline, but yes, it felt good. I felt really good just to go down the field, get that last touchdown [and] get the win for our team. So yes, it feels great."
On being a contact runner: "I pride myself on that. Don't let the first guy get me down. Three yards is a good run at the end of the day."
On what clicked for the offense in the fourth quarter: "We just all came together. We knew what we had to do. We made a few mistakes a couple drives before that, so we knew what we had to do. Just tighten up, limit the mistakes and go down and score some points."
On clinching a playoff spot on the road: "I didn't know we did that, so yes, that's awesome. The playoffs are fun. That's what we play for, so yes, we're a competitive team, so I think we're ready for it."
On what it means for the team to be back in the playoffs: "It means a lot. Our work is finally getting put on the forefront. Getting some [wins] under our belt, it feels great, like we're all competitors in that room, so just to be in the spot we're in is great for all of us."
On the two-point conversion play: "It was a play we've been working on in practice for weeks on end, so I think everybody just did their job. No blitz came, so I got to get out, and I just got open for Drake [Maye], and he found me and threw me the ball."
On if the Ravens were in zone on the two-point play: "Yes, they sure were."
