Tom Brady, Brian Tyms, Rob Gronkowski React To New England Patriots’ Win

Oct 12, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) looks to make a tackle on New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. New England beats Buffalo 37 to 22. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Vince Wilfork

Q: Obviously we don’t know what the details are on Jerod’s (Mayo) injury but being a captain you guys have been playing together for a long time, you’ve been through this last year when you went down and the team rallied, how big is it for the team for the next guy up to stand up and rally?

A: I mean it’s always tough when you lose a guy like him we don’t know exactly what it is but I just talked to him for a little bit at halftime and we had to make adjustments and stuff so I haven’t really spoken to him, but you know he means so much to this team on the field and off the field he has character and that’s what it’s all about, who he is as a person first and foremost and he is a great leader and contributor to the team so we lose some value, so you know I’m sure I’ll talk to him on the way home and see how he’s feeling and stuff like that but you know we all have to rally around one another. This was a big win for us just coming in and understanding that up front offensively and defensively we knew coming into this game how good they were defensively, they’re fine and we knew how big the offensive line was, the way they run the ball, so we knew what we had to do and I think this game said a lot especially on the character of this team, who we want to be how we want to attack teams, that’s two weeks in a row so just want the team to build. But it’s a great team win, special teams, defense, and offense we really put it together on the road and in the division, and for the lead in the division. I think we really stepped up to the challenge so it’s going to be another challenge for us this week on a short, short, short, week making return plays basically on the plane ride back home so we can get a jump on the Jets and hopefully we can continue to be successful.

Q: Someone like Jerod (Mayo) and how close you got over the off season and you have a friendship like you guys do, must cut a little deeper than just a teammate going out with an injury.

A: I mean it does because we are so close it’s almost like we’re brothers. Our wives, our kids, we are always spending time off the field together. You know watching film, just doing little things so it kind of means something a little different for me just because of the personal relationship I have with the main leader on my defense, being the one guy I can turn to if I want to make a certain check and you have to go over some things and coach is not around, I can always turn to him on leading the team in and out of the game so it’s tough to lose somebody like that but I’m pretty sure this team will rally around, one thing he said when he was leaving the field was “finish the job for us” so at the end of the day I think we did a good job at threatening them one on one…we played this game for him in the second half. It means a lot to us what he brings to this team, not only on the field but off the field also, so it’s a tough one but at the same time he understands, we’re going to have to rally and he’s going to be with us so we just have to continue to play some good football.

Q: Did he say any additional words of wisdom at halftime when he spoke?

A: No I mean he just said hey, how you doing, whatever, just finish the job for us and that’s the one thing we took on the field. We need to be able to move forward, it’s tough; it’s tough, this is more than football dealing with a guy like that. For me it’s more than football, but you have to move forward, you have to be able to move forward, and like I said with it being a short week, short isn’t even the word its more than a short week, but we need to be ready to play another division game Thursday night so we have our plans for it once again but as a team the progress we’ve been doing in the past, just moving forward, make the corrections, add some things, get rid of some things and everyone’s level of focus needs to be at the highest, we’ll be the team to do that and we’ll be okay around here but we’ll have to keep coming out.

Q: You guys have faced a lot of adversity in the last couple of weeks and you’ve shown a lot of character while handling that. Do you think that this two week stretch could bring something better for you guys?

A: It is what it is, I mean every team gets a chance to be on a stretch but it’s a short stretch from a Thursday night to a Sunday night we just happen to get it this week so we’ve done it before, we’ve been successful doing it before. We know what it takes to get our bodies and get our mind frames back to the level that it needs to be for a football game, not just a short week, but for a football game. We want to take it personally, each one of us is taking care of our bodies, getting treatment, hydration, game plans, so it’s a lot of stuff bundled in at once but we are professionals, we’ve done it before. We have great a great bunch of guys here, we have great leaders, the captains, the coaches, so it’s not going to be hard for us to get everybody to rally around and do what we need to do to be successful this week.

Julian Edelman

Q: Tom got popped again pretty good today but he hung in there and he hung in there and he kept finding you guys out there. Does he kind of lead that toughness that way?

A: Definitely. He’s our leader. Everyone’s looking at 12 and he knows that and he always puts on the right face and you kind of look at him and know he’s ready and it all starts from there and you know that our guy’s tough and he’s going to be banged up and play and all that stuff and guys just try to follow that lead.

Q: I’d thought they’d get more pressure on you than they did today. The offensive line in particular, guys mixing and matching in and out did a really good job.

A: Yeah, we overcame a couple things and that’s what’s this game’s about; battling adversity, going out there and doing your job, doing your individual assignment and guys were able to do that today and it was a good coming here on the road and getting the division win and we’re on a short week now against the Jets.

Q: That seems as much as a test of character as talent. Bill Parcells used to say, “Never give players an excuse to lose.” In theory, you guys had an excuse to lose today and you just wouldn’t. To fill those guys and just keep going including that last drive; they’re back in the game….30-22.

A: Yeah, everyone out here….everyone gets paid so you have to do your job. If something happens to someone, that’s why we have other guys. That’s why they made this team. That’s why you play the game. You never know what’s going to happen. You’re always an injury away. I’ve played in that situation for a lot….three, four years. Guys around here, when you’re on this team, you really know that if someone comes down, you’re going to have an opportunity to play and they’re going to keep guys that can play when people go down so that’s the depth of our team.

Rob Gronkowski

Q: How does it feel in front of the home town fans to come out with a performance like that?

A: It’s great. We had a great team win, a team victory. Everyone was clicking on all cylinders and we were playing together as a team. It’s great to come home to the home town in front of my friends and family and get that victory.

Q: Rob, last week you were very passionate about wanting that victory for Tom. You were emotional about that. Was there some sort of similar rallying cry?

A: Yes, we just wanted this game as a team. We wanted to get ahead in the division and get a road win, a solid road win. We came out and worked hard and played hard. That was our goal to get the victory and we came in and got a passionate win.

Q: What happened on that play when you went down and had to be helped off?

A: I just got my wind knocked out of me. You can’t breathe for like two minutes when that happens but that’s all that happened so I’m all good.

Q: Did you mess up your brace to?

A: I don’t know, I think my brace broke on the play before. They have backups though.

Q: Can you tell us about the way you played in the first half and the second half in terms of energy, enthusiasm and execution?

A: The first half the defense played unbelievable. They had three turnovers and they kept us in the game. They were great. In the second half, we came out as an offense and started clicking. We started playing together as a team and we were putting up points. The defense was still making plays and stops. That’s a great formula for getting a victory.

Q: If there were any questions about this team, and there were after four games, can you put all that to rest now?

Q: We are clicking as a team right now. We are clicking on offense and clicking on defense. We just have to keep it going and keep working hard. We can’t put our heads down no matter what it is or what situation it is. We just have to keep looking forward to the next week and keep working hard.

Q: Does it seem right again though? I mean you have been in this offense when things were great.

A: Yes, definitely. It’s not fun losing and it seems more right now. We just have to keep working hard.

Q: Rob, they took some shots at you but you got right up and seemed empowered by the fact that you handled those so well.

A: Yes, definitely. It’s the game of football. I’m not stepping out on that field thinking that I’m just going to be able to go out there and not get hit. No way. Those guys are getting paid and they are all big and fast. They were giving me so lickings. All you can do is get right back up and get right back in the huddle and go on to the next play. It’s part of the game and sometimes I like getting lit up.

Q: Rob, one of your trademarks has been getting open on big downs and there were a couple today. What goes into that?

A: Focus and concentration. You got to make a play to keep it going on third down. Converting on third downs is always huge. We did a great job today of converting a lot of our third downs. We didn’t get them all obviously, but we got enough. We can always improve in that area.