Jets Postgame Quotes (Week Two)
Head Coach Robert Saleh
Video: Here
On the final minutes of the game and how the locker room felt after:
“You can hear it. We’re off the snide. I love the way this feels. [We have to] find a way to stack them up. There is a lot of stuff that we have to clean up, but I’m just proud of the guys because we didn’t quit. That’s probably the biggest thing that I’ll take away from it.”
On the offseason about waiting for guys to emerge in the fourth quarter and whether this was the vision:
“Yes, we had the benefit of getting the opportunity on that last touchdown from (Browns RB Nick) Chubb. It just gave us an op. That whole fourth quarter you have an opportunity to seize the game. This here, or a couple of dropped passes here. I’m proud of them just to resolve and to regroup. We got that opportunity to take advantage of it and make something spectacular happen.”
On whether there was a moment where the tide shifted and if it was the WR Corey Davis touchdown:
“It was the onside kick because even with that explosive play, they gave us a chance. The onside kick, with the new rules, have been so rare, so once that happened, there was no doubt that we were scoring once we got the ball.”
On whether the onside kick happened right in front of him:
“It was right in front. [I saw it] right away. It was awesome.”
On what he said to the team before the last drive:
“I was trying to stay out of their ear. There were a lot of conversations with the position coaches and (Jets OC) Mike (LaFleur) trying to regroup, so I just told Mike he’s got time. It was almost normal football. There was so much time. I told him, hey don’t give them too much time to score. Credit to those guys. (Jets QB) Joe Flacco was absolutely lights out – four touchdown passes. A really good game from those guys.”
On WR Garrett Wilson:
“Same thing. He’s got grit. He is a dynamic football player. We all know that. He is still trying to find his footing. The sky is the limit. I thought he did a really nice job today. Obviously, he has a couple things that he needs to clean up, especially there in the fourth quarter, but again he showed resolve. He got that big touchdown at the end. He’s going to be a stud for a long time.”
On the team’s maturity to come back from 13 points down with 1:55 left:
“I’m going to go to the quarterback first with Joe. [He is] just a calming force. He has been in a lot of these situations leading a bunch of young men. I thought he was cool, calm, got the ball where it needed to go, and they left the door open just a crack. Just a crack for our guys to break through was awesome.”
On the drastic change of emotions in a span of just a few clock minutes:
“I feel like that happens every game. It does. I have won on a Hail Mary. I have lost on a Hail Marys. I have won in a last-second game. At this point in my life, I’ve experienced all of it, so I’m never surprised at what the league has to offer, but that rollercoaster never changes.”
On S Ashtyn Davis being buried coming into this game and what is meant for him to make that play:
“Maybe he has been buried to others, but not here. There is a reason why he made this football team. He has been getting better every single week. He was opportunistic last year in finding the ball. He is just getting his feet wet and trying to find his footing. People take for granted how good he is on teams. To give him that opportunity, we went three down, and to try and keep the ball in front. Credit to him for just keeping his eye on the quarterback and he came away with one.”
On whether he has personal vindication after catching heat all week for his quarterback decision:
“No. We have to win a hell of a lot more than one game to cash in on those.”
On how a win like this can catch fire with a young team:
“We’ll see. We’ve got to [gain momentum]. We have no choice. We have a Super Bowl runner-up coming in town this week – a dynamic offense, a really good defense. I’m sure they remember last year, so they’re going to come in guns blazing, and we’ve got to be able to answer it.”
On whether he had conversations with QB Joe Flacco during the week about the quarterback plan:
“No. We talk regularly. Joe is 37 years old. He has been in this league a long time. He has seen the worst of times and the best of times. He knows that last week wasn’t his best game. You just trust that a guy like Joe, who has been in this league long enough, will rebound. You knew that he will take care of the football and that he would get the ball where it needed to go and give ourselves a chance. Even in that first half. That offense is freaking good. That’s an underrated offense over there in Cleveland. We just kept going punch-for-punch and we got that onside kick and gave ourselves a chance.”
On how the defense played:
“We’re going to look back, especially in that fourth quarter. A lot of missed tackles because we’re going for the ball which is unacceptable. We had plenty of time left. We didn’t need to do what we were doing. We’ll just go back and look at that learning moment again. That’s not the time, just get the ball carrier down. If you have a clean shot at it, take a clean shot at it, but credit to them. Those two backs are workhorses. That’s what they do. They just keep grinding on you. We were stuffing the run early. The defense did make that stop in the fourth quarter that knocked them out of field goal range and gave us the ball. But there is still going to be a lot of stuff to clean up when we look back at it.”
On whether it was surprising that Browns RB Nick Chubb scored instead of laying down:
“Yeah, you know what, that’s going to be one that shows up on Friday for us as teachable moments. I’m sure (Browns Head Coach Kevin) Coach Stefanski is very, very detailed. I’m sure that’s in their vocabulary and I’m sure it’s just one of those moments. They scored and the echo on the headset was that they gave us a chance, let’s see what happens.”
On whether teachable moments are easier to look at when you win the game:
“It’s a lot easier. It’s so much easier to have these conversations, but the conversation still has to be real. It still has to be hard. We still have to get a lot of stuff fixed.”
On the injury report:
“Everyone finished the game. They’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow, but everyone finished.”
On whether he felt like RB Nick Chubb scoring was the better outcome:
“Yeah, I’ve never been so happy for a missed tackle in my life. That was our only chance. Credit to the offense that stepped up and took advantage of a busted coverage on Corey’s play and left us enough time to get the onside and win.”
On the offensive line containing Browns DE Myles Garrett in the second half:
“I think we wore him out. We were chipping the heck out of him. Running. We ran the ball really well for the most part. It was hot down there. You could just see. The guy is an unbelievable talent. I’m not going to speak for him, but we were trying to bother the heck out of him all game.”
Joe Flacco
Video: Here
On if that was one the craziest endings to a game of his career:
“For sure. I do not know where it ranks, but it is up there. Look, at one point you’re sitting on the bench and they have the opportunity to run the clock out. Obviously when he scores, you are thinking, okay, that is not what he is supposed to do. But I am sure they were still thinking ‘okay, it is 30-17.’ That play to CD (Jets WR Corey Davis) obviously quieted the crowd a little bit. You have to give credit to the guys on the sideline, the guys that were in this game. The fact that they just kept believing and kept doing their job, this is what happens. Sometimes you worry about what is in front of him, all that he can control, and next thing you know, the outcome is what it is.”
On his emotions during the onside kick:
“You have to regroup. You still have to score. Just because you kick the onside kick does not mean that you are going to put the ball in the end zone. As a quarterback, you always listen to the guys and what they have always said. It goes back to that. Just worry about getting the snap, taking your drop, and going through your reads — letting the game come to you. I think you can see on that drive, we took some little completions and got out of bounds. We did not try to rush ourselves down the field and try to take a big chunk and get ourselves third and long. We meticulously went down the field and when we got an opportunity, we took it and capitalized.”
On NY Jets WR Corey Davis’ touchdown:
“We ran on both sides. We had that route on both sides. It looked like the safety went back on that side, the corner stayed low, and the safety went to the middle of the field. I don’t know if that is a miscommunication or not but, I knew that the routes were going to take a little bit of time developing. I wanted to make sure I got some good depth in my drop and could find a soft spot. I think we had a good protection on that one obviously. When I threw it, I was like, ‘oh my gosh.’ Obviously when you see him go to the sideline and turn up field, you think he is on top of the corner and you have the ball going. Then, no one is anywhere near him. It was a really weird feeling because of how quiet it got in there. You almost felt like there was a penalty or something. Obviously we are in Cleveland, so it makes sense. But, that feeling was something I have never felt before — how quiet it actually got out there. The game wasn’t over, there was actually still a minute and a half left.”
On NY Jets WR Garrett Wilson’s performance in today’s game:
“I’m really happy for him, and a lot of the guys on our team. We’ve known that the lights aren’t too big for him, that he has already grown up and is capable of playing in this league. But, you really aren’t going to have people be able to say that about you until you win football games. So, that is why winning is so big in this league. It just cures all those things, all the issues you have. No matter how the outcome or how this game turned out, those things are all true. But, nobody cares, and rightfully so, that is why winning is so big.”
On Wilson’s last touchdown:
“When Mike (OC Mike LaFleur) called the play in the huddle through my headset, I had a smile inside. Their safeties are tight but they were playing pretty soft. We were trying to call a couple things to get in that hole behind the linebacker. This just gets you there pretty fast. They were playing so soft that I was throwing that ball no matter what. If I had to manipulate that backer a little bit and come down onto the short guy, then I was going to do it. I was going to find some little window there to hit him. It obviously was a pretty big game though. Listen, there are ups and downs, all kinds of them. There is a third down where we don’t cover the third down. It is just part of the process. For him to be able to stay focused and continue to make plays, it says a lot about him.”
On his rough days while on the New York Jets in 2020 and 2021:
“I think when you build a bond between teammates and you have been through tough times, it makes doing something special that much sweeter. That is sports. That is the NFL. That is professional sports, high school sports, everything. It does make something extra special when you have been through such hard times with people. I’ve been thinking about family members and things like that. You can think back to all the hard times you’ve been through with people, and you keep growing together and fighting and eventually you turn the tide a little bit. It feels really good because of that.”
On how much he saw from the NY Jets OL and how it helped the end result of the game:
“Those guys fought really hard. You could see it in their eyes and the way they were approaching the pregame. They were ready to go today. We had a great plan to come in here and combat some of the stuff that they do. But, it is all about those guys. We were going to lean on them to run the ball and to do that when they had to. We knew we were going to have to have sustained drives against these guys and we were going to have to put all these things together. It was a typical AFC North game where you don’t have that many possessions to put points on the board. I think we got four in the first half and they had three. You have to make the most of every one. When you are running off the field on the third down, it hurts because you know that the possessions are few and far between. It is all about those guys just sustaining and that little bit longer for one extra third down, two extra third downs.”
Corey Davis
Video: Here
On what kind of move he made on the TD and what the defense did:
“It was a double move. I’m not sure, I think they busted and we scored and won.”
On the feeling when he scored and the stadium was extremely quiet:
“It was a great feeling. It was a great feeling, especially being here. Cleveland has a great fan base.”
On how NY Jets WR Garett Wilson played:
“Garett is a dog. He’s a great wideout, a real great dude, prepares really well each and every week. Today he came out and showed what he can do. I think he can do a lot more.”
On the respect level for NY Jets QB Joe Flacco and what he is doing at age 37:
“A lot of respect for Joe. To come out here and do what he does, I don’t think 37 is that old but for football it is up there. For the shots he takes, but he is a great quarterback and a great leader. We are happy to have him.”
On if he has been part of a crazy game like this before:
“No, this was a crazy game. Probably one of the craziest endings I have ever been a part of and probably one of the greatest feelings, too.”
Quinnen Williams
Video: Here
On how the Jets executed today:
“We did not execute the way we wanted to execute on defense. We did not play a perfect game on defense. We have to learn with the different things that we did. We have a team. Special teams balled out. Offense balled out. Offensive line definitely balled out. When you have a group of guys that we have, with tremendous fight and love for each other, these are the types of games that we have. To come together, especially on defense to win football games.”
On what he was thinking when RB Nick Chubb scored to make it a two-score game:
“Fight. That is our theme that we think about every week. We just have to keep fighting, keep learning – especially in the middle of the game. To see what we have to do right, to see what we are doing wrong, to see where we can make big plays to flip and change the game. That is the biggest thing. Just get to the sideline and get everybody together, especially on defense. We had a lot of moments today where we had to look each other in the face and say, ‘Yo, we need each other. We need you. We need a big play. We need to make the tackle.’ We need to be in the right alignment and doing things we need to do to stop these good running backs (Browns RB) Nick Chubb and (Browns RB) Kareem (Hunt), and this good offensive line.”
On what it means to have a win like this:
“Tremendous. It is one of the first times I have ever won in the first four weeks of my NFL career. To see the team that we have and to see the guys that we have, especially in this organization. Especially on this team. To see (QB) Joe (Flacco). To see these guys step up. To see the defense step up and look at each other and say, ‘Look, we are not going down without a fight.’ We are going to keep doing our scheme. Keep doing what we have to do to make plays and make big plays.”
Garrett Wilson
Video: Here
On the last touchdown:
“It is just executing the same plays we would hit on earlier in the game. We got the same end of the field, and they ended up giving us the same look right there. Just taking advantage, if they give something up on the field, you have to take advantage. Especially that time of the game.”
On coming down on his back and if it was an issue to get back in the game:
“No. Never that. It is always how fast I can get back in the game. It is never, ‘I’m out.”
On the moment he realized that the comeback was possible:
“As soon as Chubb scored. Coach said, ‘they just gave us our only chance.’ We go down 30-17 and then (Jets WR Corey Davis) CD has a quick touchdown. At that point, we are all believing. Now we are going to get this onside kick. As soon as they scored, we were like ‘Oh, that is kind of quick, we still have shot at this.”
On this type of game at Cleveland and helping his team win:
‘Winning is number one. We come in here and this is a great environment, great team we just played against, great defense. On offense, we wanted to make a statement. We didn’t feel like we played well last week and we wanted to make a statement. To be out here and to be playing in front of a lot of people that I have played in front of for the last three or four years was definitely special to go along with it.”
On what was going through his head during the onside kick was recovered:
“I went crazy. I’m sure there will be a TV clip. I went absolutely crazy on the sideline. I didn’t want my drop to be the reason why we lost the game. Defense kept coming through, making plays, and that was huge.”
On the swing of emotions and if he has ever experienced anything like that during a game:
“I haven’t. I didn’t really think about that. I don’t want to say we thought we were going to lose, but when we looked at the score, we were down 13 with a 1:30 and your chances are not too hot. Luckily, they had some miscues. They messed up and we have to take advantage when they do.”
On if the coaches came to him during the week to get him more involved:
“No. I just wanted to take my mindset in practice and they know how I go about preparation. Throughout the week, it kind of just happened. You get a little bit more balls, you kind of start to realize. No, they never came up to me. They did not need to. I’m a team player, I want to win, and I trust my coaches to do whatever it takes to get to that point.”
On how it feels for QB Joe Flacco to have that much confidence in Wilson:
“I mean that is awesome. Someone like that, a vet who is always going to put it in the right spot. He played great today. It kind of goes back to your preparation. You do it all throughout the week and you connect at practice. I try to make sure that every rep that I get with (Jets QB Joe) Flacco is put on a pedestal. That is just the reality of it and that is our QB right now and it is awesome. It is awesome to have that trust in Flacco.”
On the matchup with Browns CB Denzel Ward:
“You know I did not get matched up on him too often but that is a great player though. Someone I have watched since he has been at Ohio State. We got to exchange some words – nothing bad, all love. It is a really special experience for me and a lot of players on the (Browns) sideline were players that I have been watching since I was a young kid. So, it was a great experience out there.”
On why he thinks he was getting so wide open:
“Just great looks from my scout team throughout the week and great preparation by our coaches. Then just going about it the right way throughout the week. Making sure that I take advantage of those reps and try to make it as game-like as possible.”
On his impression of QB Joe Flacco and how he plays:
“I love Joe. The way he goes about his business is that he understands the way the NFL is and you can tell by looking at him. When everyone is trying to figure it out we can be a little bit frantic sometimes running around the facility, Joe is just kind of walking through there. It translates to the game too and it translates to how he goes about preparation. He is in control and he really wants to be on the same page as all of us, especially with these younger dudes.”
Michael Carter
On how the first win of 2022 felt:
“God is great. God is so good. It feels great. We were talking about giving the Jets fans something to be proud of and happy about. We did that today.”
On if the Jets felt down and out:
“We never felt down. Even when we got down two touchdowns. It was a really good day. I am proud of everyone. We have to give a lot of love for moving the ball down the field. We could not have done it without the guys up front. I want to give a lot love to our guys up front. (C) Connor McGovern, AVT (RG Alijah Vera-Tucker), (LG) Laken (Tomlinson), (RT) Max (Mitchell), (LT) George (Fant). They fought their asses off over there.”
On how the Jets build off today’s win:
“We are a confident group already. It is just a matter of showing ourselves that we can put a win together. No matter what, we did not quit. We did not quit last week. We know that we are a confident group. We were moving the ball last week, but could not score. Today, we decided to finish on both sides. We played complimentary football. If the defense gave up a touchdown, we said, ‘We got your back.” If the offense went three-and-out, the defense had our back. We forget about special teams, they do not get any love. They are so important. A lot of love to (Special Teams Coordinator) coach (Brant) Boyer. Shout out to (P) Braden Mann. Big Z (K Greg Zuerlein) bounced back.”
Ashtyn Davis
On what it was like putting the exclamation point on the NY Jets’ win:
“It felt good. These guys out there did their job for four quarters. I just came in for one play and tried to do my job.”
On if they had worked on that defensive play before:
“No, we actually had not really worked on that one. That is my first time playing that position that I was in. I was ready for it I guess.”
On what the win says about the team:
“No quit in us. We are going to keep fighting regardless of the circumstances. Yeah, I love this team.”
On the message from NY Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh being down 13 on the road in the fourth quarter:
“Just do not quit. Be resilient. Put our style on tape. Fortunately, we came out with the win. There was no doubt in my mind.”
On all three phases of the team contributing to the win:
“Offense did their thing today, defense did their thing and special teams, we all did our thing when we needed to and stepped up when we needed to. I think the craziest part is we still have not really played complementary football yet. I think it is going to be real scary when we put that together.”
On what statement they made with the win, given the NY Jets’ lack of previous success in September:
“Regardless of what month it is, we are just trying to win every week. Go 1-0 every week.”
Breece Hall
On the vibe of the Jets sideline, being down 13, less than two minutes to go:
“Just keep going. The game is not over until the clock hits zero, so we just kept going”
On how it felt getting to the endzone:
“It was a blessing for sure. Coach Embry (Jets RB Coach) always says that sometimes the defense will leave you open, and you won’t believe that you are that wide open. So, I got out there and I was open.
On the Jets having a lot of young talent and how they will build off this win as a team:
“Like Coach Saleh says, “Just give that 60%”. I feel like he is definitely going to humble us in the meeting tomorrow and I feel like he is going to tell us that we left a lot out there. We’re going to definitely enjoy this tonight.”
Carl Lawson
On what the defense’s mentality was after NY Jets WR Corey Davis had the TD and got within six points:
“We fell back on our training. We have been consistent, we grind each day so that’s all we did. We just fought and didn’t make the moment too big.”
On how long the NY Jets can celebrate this victory:
“I really don’t know. I will celebrate a little today and I will go back tonight and get ready for the next game. Just keep working and trust me we really do appreciate the win and celebrate all the glory to god.”
On if they have looked to their next opponent yet and how important was this win was for next week:
“I hadn’t looked ahead but now I know we take on the Bengals next week. No different. We will have to look at the film, prepare and fix our mistakes from today.”
Braden Mann
On how frequently he practices his onside kicks throughout the week:
“We will work on a bunch of different punts, just in case a certain situation calls for it. So, we’ll hit on it at least every Wednesday or Friday.”
On the difference between his performance this week vs last week:
“It feels good, but I give all the credit to our gunners. (Jets LS) Thomas Hennessy did a great job snapping and covering all day. Our interior kept us feeling nice and safe. They all did a really good job today, all the credit goes to them.
On how he is currently feeling about the win right now:
“It’s awesome. That was the coolest game that I have ever been a part of. I mean I have been a part of some crazy games but that was the coolest.”