How Did The New England Patriots React To Clinching A First Round Bye?
By Cyrus Geller
Dec 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs against New York Jets cornerback Marcus Williams (22) in the second half during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Danny Amendola
On whether it was important for him to get off to a hot start…
Yeah. Anytime you get into a rhythm early it’s great. But you have to play four quarters.
On he believed that he got the first down on the 3-and-7 at the end of the game…
I don’t know, it was close. I thought the spot was going to be close. It came down to a review. It was enough to get us the first down. So we will take it.
On if he was looking forward to today with the possibility of more catches with Julian Edelman out…
Absolutely. It’s a rough game. Some guys go in, some guys go out. Everyone has a job to do. Just trying to do my job.
On if he struggles with confidence not playing much each week…
You have a job to do every week. You have a role on the team if you’re suited up. You have something to do within the game plan. You have to do your job. Whatever it is. Never doubt yourself.
On the play of the defense…
Huge play by Jamie Collins. Huge interception. We have a great defense. Those guys play so hard. I’m really excited to watch them play.
On importance of getting the ball in plus territory to start a drive…
It’s huge. It’s a huge momentum shift. It’s a huge switch of field position. It’s huge for our offense.
On the challenges of playing a team like the Jets at this part of the season…
This is the NFL. Every team in the NFL is really good. Really good players and really good coaches. They all work really hard. To come out with a victory is great. We are excited to go back to Foxborough and get ready for next week.
On having a first round bye means at this time of year…
Right now were focused on our last game. We have to go to work. We kind of access the situation as we go and go from there. We are going to work hard and try to get ourselves in the right position to win games. That’s really all.
Brandon Browner
On the play of the defense…
They brought us all together in the offseason and we are starting to step up. The guys up front are getting pressure on the quarterback and making our job in the secondary easy. We been able to mix things up with both man and zone and it’s been difficult on the quarterback.
On playing the Jets…
It’s the Jets and the Patriots. The Jets based on their record, from the outside looking in, we should have rolled those guys. But we knew going in it was going to be a tough battle. It played out exactly the way we thought it would be, a tight football game.
On the lateral from Jamie Collins…
We are trying to make a play out there, but I’m only getting one yard every time we do it. Hopefully I can break one.
On making big plays in key moments…
Hats off to the guys I’m playing with. We are well coached. We play situational football. Coaches put us in situations throughout the week, and then we see it in games.
Rob Gronkowski
On if there is a concern regarding the slow starts…
Yeah, we just have to come out and execute. We have to play better from the start of the game. No doubt about that. Personally, I need come out faster and play better. As an offense as a whole we have to start off better.
On if the Jets defense covered well…
Yeah. You have to give them credit. They are a tough football team. They have a really good defense. Our defense played super well and kept us in the game. Which ultimately lead us to victory. The Jets have a really good defense. We have to go out and be ready. Be prepared and be ready for anything.
On what to do to get their offensive rhythm back…
We just have to stick together. Like always. Win or lose. We just have to go out next week and practice hard. Execute hard and get all the timing down in practice. That’s where it all starts. Just like any other week. We have to move on. Enjoy this victory tonight and work hard this week coming up.
On executing against teams like this late in the season…
The win is huge. It’s what we came here to do. It was definitely a good team win. But overall the defense played super well. No doubt about that. Shout out to them. They had an excellent game. We just have to go out as an offense and execute the whole game.
On continuing to make big plays late in games…
Just going out to practice every week. Listening to our coaches. They know a lot about football. That is why they are our coaches. Just have to go out, listen to them. Practice hard. Work hard. And execute as a team.
On not caring about style points…
Anyway to get that victory. You can’t ask for anything else. We came here to get the W, and we did. They are a very good team. It was a dog fight the whole time.
On the important of Vince Wilfork’s blocked field goal…
It was huge. That is why we call football the game of inches. He tipped it with his finger. It was a huge play by Vince. You have to give him props. He’s a great player. Our defense played really well.