APR REWIND: Washington Football Team vs. Los Angeles Rams

Washington Football Team [30]

VS.

Los Angeles Rams [10]

QB: Kyle Allen:

9 for 13, 74 yards | 0 tds | 0 int | 1 rush td

Alex Smith:

9 for 13, 37 yards | 0 tds | 1 int

RB: Antonio Gibson:

11 carries | 27 yds | 5 catches | 24 rec yds

WR: Terry McLaurin:

3 rec yds | 26 yds

DL: Montez Sweat:

8 tackles | 1 sack | 1 forced fumble

DB: Landon Collins:

10 tackles | 1.5 tackle for loss

DB: Kendall Fuller:

4 tackles | 1 interception

FULL GAME ALBUM

POSTGAME QUOTES

HC Ron Rivera

On QB Alex Smith: “I thought he was pretty good. I thought he came out and did some of the things we needed him to do. He came in the second quarter, moved us, got us into field goal position and we kicked a field goal. It’s difficult when you’re behind. It was difficult and it was almost unfair. I thought he stood tall. I thought he did some good things. There are some things we’ll work at and he’ll improve at and we’ll continue to get better.” On the starting quarterback moving forward: “If [QB] Kyle’s [Allen] ready to go, Kyle will be our starter.” On if he considered putting Allen back in the game after injury: “I did, but with an abundance of caution. He took a pretty big shot. He was still sore, but he was cleared to play. I just thought: why risk putting him out there and taking another big shot that might have caused a little bit of damage? Yes, he was cleared. I took it as I was going to use him only if we needed to put him back out there because I didn’t want to risk taking another shot.” On Smith returning to play: “I realized the gravity of it, but at the same time I realized he’s a football player who’s been waiting for his opportunity. He got his opportunity and he did a good job. I was very pleased with what I saw. Again, he was put in a very difficult position. I thought he handled himself very well.” On the protection today: “Well, we were in a tough position. We didn’t play as well as I would’ve liked us to play on defense. That to me is a little more concerning than the protection. Anytime a team can pin their ears back, it’s tough to protect. Let’s be honest about that. That’s probably one of the things that you can look at more so than anything else. We’ll get a chance to look at the tape and how things went on out there. To me, again, you’re down two scores—people pin their ears back and go. This is a defense that handled it their way.” On the problems on defense: “Third downs. We’ve got to be better on third downs. We had some opportunities to get off the field on third downs and we didn’t do it. Part of our problem, too, is we let them get into medium, medium third-and-short too many times. Those are things that we’ve got to work out and get better at.” On big plays against the secondary: “Part of it is—it’s two-fold. A lot of it’s got to do with you’ve got to have the rush work at the same time as well. You’ve got to be able to stay in coverage. You’ve got to play your leverage in terms of the coverage that was called.” On the free safety position: “I think we’re still trying to find out who’s going to be the free safety. We’ve got some young guys who are trying to grow and figure out and grow at the position, guys that haven’t played a lot of football for us. We’re trying to see if they can do it.” On evaluating Allen’s performance before injury:

“I think Kyle did pretty well. He took us down, we scored a touchdown, we moved the ball, he made some good decisions. It’s unfortunate he took the shot that he did. I would’ve loved to see him finish the game. I really would’ve. But, like I said, a little bit of caution as far as I was concerned. I talked with [Head Athletic Trainer Ryan Vermillion] RV as we were coming out of halftime, and I decided I didn’t want him to take another big shot. Like I said, as long as he’s OK and ready to go, he’ll be our starter Wednesday.” On his health this week: “As we get further and further away from my chemo cycle, I started to get my energy back. I had some pretty good energy here today. I worked the sidelines. It was pretty good. I took an IV treatment before we went out onto the field before the game. On the sideline I was drinking a lot of Gatorade, trying to stay hydrated.” On issues with the secondary: “Again, it’s about leverages and understanding how to play the leverages. That’s what we’re working on with these young guys. Part of it is understanding where their help is, they stay in position and, again, go through your reads as a safety and as a linebacker. That’s all part of it.” On Smith taking hits today: “That was good to see to be honest because now you see that he can handle it. That’s one thing we didn’t see through training camp, whether or not he was able to take a hit. He handled it very well. Again, he’s done a great job and it’s a hell of a story.” On second-half offensive struggles: “We didn’t run the ball as effectively as we did in the first half. That’s kind of a tough deal. If you can’t keep them off balance and you get into second-and-long and third-and-long—that’s tough. That’s one of the things that we’ve got to be able to do is run the ball successfully to give ourselves a chance. We’ve got to make sure that we’re doing that because then your play action means a little bit more.” On QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.’s sickness today: “This morning he got up, he wasn’t feeling very well, he notified the trainer, the doctor checked in on him. They just felt that they would send him home.” On second half struggles: “The biggest difference was they got a bigger lead. Again, that’s always tough. When you’re behind, they’re going to get after you and that was probably the biggest that was evident.” On considering putting Allen back in: “I was, but again, he took a pretty good shot. There was concern on my part. Again, if I put him back in and he takes another big shot, now we don’t have him moving forward. Like I said, this is an interesting stretch for us and if he’s ready to go he’ll be our starter on Wednesday.” On DE Chase Young: “It was good to see Chase out there. I thought he did pretty well considering we limited him and tried to be smart with him. There were some good things in the pass rush. There were some disappointments. We got caught going sideways. They run that outside zone, and with that outside zone if they start getting you running sideways instead of running vertical, it’s tough to get your pass rush going because the quarterback gets the ball out on time. That’s one of the things that’s tough against a team like that. You’ve got to be able to set edges, not allow the ball to go outside and that way you don’t run sideways. Unfortunately, we were going sideways instead of going vertical.” On if Smith will continue to be the backup: “Yes.”

On his conversation with Allen after injury: “We just told him, listen: ‘We’re going to stick with Alex. You’ll be the backup. If anything happens, we’ll get you back in.’ He was OK with it. Again, my decision really is just based on the caution.”

QB Alex Smith On being back on the field and when he realized it was time: “Obviously, surreal. I knew it once Kyle [Allen] took that shot there was a chance of it. Obviously, run over and grab my helmet to get ready to roll. So, it was nice in that sense not having to think about it. Just go out there and do it. Then, in that situation kind of there, just trying to get the ball moving and obviously getting into a two-minute tempo was good as well in the same sense. No thinking just going and playing.” On what the first hit felt like: “That was it. For me I have been waiting for a long time. It was hard this year with no pre-season. We wear the jerseys in practice, so you don’t get touched much. The first one felt good. It was nice to know you are fine going out there. It was nice to knock the cobwebs off so to speak.” On the play where DT Aaron Donald jumps on his back: “For me, obviously the second half was tough. You know, frustrating in a lot of ways, especially once you’re down and then once it got real wet. It was hard with the grip and tough sledding and trying to find a way to get it done. They are good up front, certainly their whole D-line. 99 [DE Aaron Donald] is a good player. Trying to go out there and get it done. It was frustrating to say the least. Certainly, that second half. So we will look at it and go from there.” On if he took a moment even in pre-game to appreciate being back in uniform: “Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, certainly even though it isn’t the same. Certainly, even the little things obviously putting on the uniform, pre-game warm ups, running out of the tunnel. All of those things are certainly you take for granted sometimes. Certainly being back I wasn’t going to do that this time. Taking it all in. I was prepped all week and prepared knowing I was only a play away. Obviously, I wish it would have gone better especially that second half.” On if there’s a moment today where he went through everything that has happened the past two years: “No, today happened so fast. You know, just trying to fight and get through it and make a play out there and get something going. So, for me you know, frustrated there. The second half, I’d say that is probably lingering more than any. As far as sentiment as the last couple years, we will see obviously as I step away from it. Now for me, just trying to be better, trying to play better. I was trying to get something going in the second half. It was obviously though sledding. Never fun to go out like that.” On his family giving him a standing ovation where we came in to play: “I did get to see my family. It was nice working out in the sense they let family in for this game. I appreciate them being there. My wife felt better about things being here. Certainly, obviously very cool to have my kids out there. Yeah, fun. In that sense great. But like I said you are out there to play a game and play it well and certainly it was tough for most of the second half getting things going.” On what he thinks is the biggest thing missing to get the offense going: “I mean, today was tough. They are a good defense. The second half was hard. The ball has to come out. The d-line was playing obviously really well. But you are pretty limited once it got real wet as far as pushing the ball down the field anyway. So that was certainly hard. I felt a tough sliding handcuff from that. We will see, look at it and learn from it, get better. I think it is unique situation playing in weather. It is not an excuse. You got to go out there and get it done. Tough once we were behind and one dimensional. In that sense I felt like they were kind of off keeping everything in front of them trying to drive on everything and certainly not letting you hold on to the ball back there.” On if playing football feels different: “No, not different. I mean, I think you’re always adapting. I mean, injuries aside, I think you’re always trying to change and get better certainly as you get older. That’s something that throughout my career, you continue to adapt and kind of fine tune. So, in a lot of ways it is still the same. You are still going back there and playing quick and reacting. That feeling of being back there with the ball in your hands. Certainly why I came back. Like I said it is hard not being able to look at the film yet. So, we will see what it looks like and get better. It will be good for me to look at in the sense I haven’t had tape to look at in a couple years.” On if he has talked to Dwayne [Haskins Jr.] about what he is going through and the best way for him to handle it: “Yeah, I mean, I have talked to Dwayne. I feel for him for sure. You know, as someone that went through a lot of different things as a young quarterback, and being a young quarterback in this league is hard enough. Going out there and just playing, but obviously deal with the ups and downs of it. I have talked to him a lot about the importance of certainly just focusing on himself and his trajectory and reaching his potential. All the things that go on around, all the distractions, not letting him be that. Not letting himself be a distraction. Just focusing on what he has to do to continue to get better. Just like, I am focused on what I need to do to be the best I can be for this team. So as frustrated as I know he is obviously important to try to put that aside and continue down his path.” On if he thought playing again was possible: “I mean, certainly it was there and I continued to reach for it and put it out there and strive for it but I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a lot of days when I didn’t think it was going to happen. You just keep pushing through. I always felt like when I had my darkest moments there was always something around the corner that happened that I just kept plugging along, then all of a sudden I made a big gain or a big step or something clicked and I just kept marching. I felt like it would repeat itself, then all of a sudden, I’d make another jump and for me, obviously the biggest ones have been in the last six to eight weeks. Getting out on the field and really doing all that I can and doing it consistently. It was nice this week to get bumped up, as far as reps go and getting more work in in a simulated sense, then obviously going out there today, getting those reps.” On seeing Kyle Allen go down: “I felt like I had a good look at it right there on the sideline. Obviously, following the play, on that third and one, and him on the run. I knew it was a big hit just from the sound of it and obviously the side of it, kind of trying to see his reaction, getting up and I knew immediately that, obviously, game ready to roll, ran over to get my helmet and ready to go. That’s the name of this league and you have to try and be ready for your opportunities and that one came quick. But I knew immediately there was a chance.” On his desire to start next week: “First off, I thought when Kyle [Allen] was out there, he played great. I thought he played decisive, quick, and obviously leading us down there on that touchdown drive. I was bummed for him, I was excited for his opportunity. He’s a good kid, works really hard and obviously this is out of our control, so whatever coach decides he goes with. That’s his job. For me, it’s doing what I need to do. These are reps that obviously I’ll learn from and get better at. Whatever this team needs me to do, I’ll do. If Kyle is healthy and gets the role, then I’ll support him every way I can and be ready to go again and better next time. Today was tough and not how I saw things going that second half, like I said. Obviously, it was tough, but whatever coach wants, I’ll be ready to go.” On his evening with his family postgame: “Oh God, the list of people that have helped me, if you’re asking that, as far as getting back. The list of people is so long, the amount of people that I’ve relied on over the last two years, but certainly there are obviously some really important ones. So thankful for them and that’s something I try to let them know as often as possible, not just today, how thankful I am for all of them and what they've done for me and continue to do for me and my family. So we’ll see, I still have a pretty bitter taste in my mouth now from that. I feel like you never want to go out and play like that. It was tough and frustrating. Maybe down the line there will be a more positive spin on it, but right now I have a pretty bitter taste in my mouth.” On how today compared to what he was envisioning when he came back: “Not necessarily envisioning coming off the bench and rolling and certainly not envisioning the downpour. Like the quarterback’s worst nightmare, but whatever. It was great. It was great to be out there. I’ve worked the feeling, the range of motions, the good and the bad, is why I’ve fought so hard to come back. I think sometimes you can take it for granted and certainly being away from it for a couple of years, I’ve missed it. So to be back in it, rolling and like I said, we’ll look at the film and get better and keep moving forward.” CB Kendall Fuller On the defense: “We’ve just got to be locked in. When you start playing zone coverage, everybody’s got to be on the same page. If one person sees it this way and plays it that way and the next person doesn’t see it that way, you’re going to give up plays. Just coming together, watching film together, and seeing it the way others see it to just limit explosive plays.” On the communication in the secondary: “I think our communication has been good so far. We just have to execute every play, every quarter. We go through good stretches, and then have some stretches that are not so good. The main thing with communication is just to execute.” On the touchdown pass to Rams WR Robert Woods: “Like I said, just me and [S] Landon [Collins] being in zone and just kind of seeing it two different ways. Every time a corner and a safety see it a different way, you’re going to give up explosive plays. We’ve got to go into the film room, learn from it and make sure that throughout the course of the game we see everything the same way to limit explosive plays.” On what has gone well for him so far in this season: “Just playing football, just going out there, laying it out on the field every play, just watching film, studying and things like that and making plays to help us win football games.” On QB Alex Smith: “It was good. Even before the game, just seeing him out there adjusting the uniform, it was definitely special for all of us to see. We’re definitely excited for him and happy for him. We’re going to continue working hard.” On if this team can make a run: “It definitely feels like it. Even after the loss, it still feels like it because we know there are a couple series here or there that we give up that we know that if we just put it all together and play consistently, we can go out there and make a run. We’ve got three divisional games coming up. The key to getting into the playoffs is winning the division, so we’ve got to lock in these next three weeks.” RB J.D. McKissic On the offense’s performance today: “I was very frustrated. We just have to come out and be better. We are going into the division now and we look forward to bouncing back.” On QB Alex Smith: “I have always said this, I have appreciated Alex from day one. The injury he went through and the work he had to put in wasn't easy at all, but I'm not surprised. That's the guy that is going to put the work in. For him to come back in the game, in a rainy game was amazing. And for me to be the guy to catch his first pass, I'm very excited and very appreciative for that guy.” On the first sack of QB Alex Smith: “It's football. He's ready for that, he's been running around. He hasn’t taken a hit to the leg, but it's nothing to worry about. He's out there, he's a grown man. He's ready to play football. We know what comes with the game, it’s not an issue, nothing to worry about.” On the offensive struggles: “You have to give credit to those guys [Rams], they were prepared. They just played better football today, that’s basically it. I feel confident in us going forward. I'm so excited and ready to get back to it right now. Our guys came out healthy and Wednesday we'll be right back with.” On opposing teams getting ahead: “They got the lead, and it was raining pretty good. We couldn't pass how we wanted to. It was a lot of things that played a role. A rainy game, trying to throw the ball the way we wanted to with wet balls was difficult.” On the Rams pass rush: “Pretty disruptive. When you don’t send a lot of blitzes and still get a lot of pressure. You have to give that credit to Aaron Donald.” On QB Kyle Allen: “Kyle and Alex are both dogs. I have nothing but positivize things to say about those guys. He came in, put a drive together, and scored a touchdown. The future is bright.” On if the offense was different with QB Kyle Allen in the game: “I will let you decide that.” b “Just staying on pace and staying on schedule. Not hurting ourselves. Doing things like that you give yourself a chance and that's something to be excited about.” DE Montez Sweat On the defense: “We’ve got to get it together.” On the Rams offense today: “They game planned well. They closed well. They played well. We’ve got to be better.” On QB Alex Smith: “It was definitely fun for the whole team. It was definitely a good thing to see.” On QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.: “He keeps himself connected. We back him up as a teammate, as a brother. We’ve just got to stick together, especially in times like this.” On continuing to put forth energy: “It means everything. We want to defend every blade of grass like [defensive coordinator] Jack [Del Rio] said. We don’t want to give them anything. As long as I’m out there and me and my brothers are out there, we’re going to give it all we got and go after it for four quarters.” On if the defense’s performances so far: “Very disappointing. As a group, we’ve just got to stay together and fix the things that are not working. We’ve got to do more and find a way to be a savior.” RAMS HC SEAN McVAY On the game today: “Unbelievable job by our defense today for [DT Aaron Donald] AD and [LB] Troy Reeder to both have three sacks a piece and then just the consistency that they played with and, you know, you could see it but you can’t always feel the weather and how much it affected it. But, our defense I thought capitalized on that all day. There really wasn't much that you could get going and there were definitely phases offensively where even just getting a handle on the ball was difficult for either side. Love the way that we came out offensively, kind of petered out a little bit. A lot of that stuff was altered by some of the weather. Say an excuse or not, that is a real thing that you could feel when you were out there. I thought [P] Johnny Hekker was outstanding today and, you know, we'll look at the tape and we'll get better and get ready for San Fran next week.” On Donald’s first sack of QB Kyle Allen: “Yeah, I mean that's an igniter type play but that's how Aaron is all the time, so you know you don't you definitely don't take it for granted but that's kind of par for the course. You're so appreciative of him but that's what he does. He changes the game week in and week out and you know today was no different than the norm for him.” On sacking QB Alex Smith: “I mean, I think there's a mutual respect the players have, but also you know because of some of the rules they had just stopped for progress they had blown the whistle dead there. I know the kind of character Aaron has. He's going to compete hard and smart, but within the you know the rules and everything and I think the respect that these players have for each other mutually is demonstrated by stuff like that. But, that was also one of those where forward momentum was stopped and they kind of blew it that and a smart by Aaron there.”

On watching Smith on the field: “Even just watching him warm up—I mean it's just incredible what he's overcome and to be in a situation where he's competing and being able to move in the pocket and make some plays off schedule. You almost wish for him as a football fan that it was in a little bit better conditions as far as being able to play where you can throw and catch a little bit more easily than what some of those elements entailed. But, weird saying that when it was our defense that made it very difficult. So, just impressed by him.” On RB Darrell Henderson Jr.’s first-career receiving touchdown: “Yeah, it'll be interesting to go back and look at this film because it was really an interesting dynamic just based on the way we came out, scored on our first three drives, went into a little bit of a low at the end of the half, and then you know some of the weather and different things like that made us a little bit more limited with the play selection. But, I did think that once it started to slow down rain-wise that was the drive that Darrell had a couple tough runs ended up being able to finish it to get us to 30 to 10. It was a great little option route that he ran where are you broke somebody off inside and it was the big-time play. I thought Darrell was the star that drive for sure that, we needed it. Just to be able to, you know—a little bit different in terms of calling it and getting the rhythm and routine. It’s always about winning the football game, but that was a sequence there that I thought was important we capitalize on. Some good field position—we hit [WR] Josh Reynolds on the big play there and it was good to be able to end the day all offensively like that after there was a lot of positives and a lot of things that we can get cleaned up.” On QB Jared Goff’s downfield passing: “Yeah, we did that because of Gary [Klein]'s question earlier in the week so that I don't have to listen to that anymore. We’ve been calling some of those, but now Gary can’t ask me that and say we're not throwing it down the field anymore. But, I thought Jared made some big time throws you know the one to [WR] Robert Woods was huge. And then, you know, to his credit, here's the thing that I would say because of the expectation standards: He played really well, and we can't have those ends of the half sequences. He's better than that. He knows what I love most is the way he's able to respond from that but being able to miss a couple of those opportunities and then turn it over. He’s playing too good to have those things come in, and that's where you start saying hey the expectations that we have for you. You see what a fine line, it is between playing an outstanding game and then having a sequence that we can have in some of these types of games.” On Goff’s fumble: “Oh yeah, I saw it. It slipped right out of his hand. That'll definitely be on the highlights that, we'll get after him pretty good. I did see that. I was just so excited that we ran it in and scored that those things kind of just erased. But when you bring it up, I do remember watching the terrible spike attempt.” On Goff’s long pass to Woods: “[It was for] a guy that's watching us hard and said we didn't throw it down the field. So, I said you have to put this play in for Gary Klein. No, it was a it was a situation that you know we've been running a lot of actions off of that same deal and Robert ended up doing a great job get down the field and for Jared be able to make that throw off of emotion where Roberts the vertical element. It was a big time play and ended up coming back to that same play and hit Josh on the second level of that three-level throw on that last scoring drive. So, it was a big-time throwing catch. A lot of positive things are basically just some of the coverage contours that they had played made us feel like we could get over the top on that one.”

On preparing for the challenging schedule ahead: “We ended up—we're at 4-1, and we got to get ready for what we know is an outstanding football team in the 49ers next week. It truly is the cliché, but it's the truth you got to take it one game at a time. So many things change week by week, certain guys get injured, you start looking ahead at your schedule that's when you start not taking care of business and being where your feet are planted. And for us, it's really about getting ready for our sixth football game next week. We know, the reigning NFC champs, reigning division champs are going to be ready to go. We're going enjoy this ride home and then get ready for a great football game next weekend.” On what he learned playing East Coast teams: “Yeah, I think just what we've already kind of known this is a mature team they can handle a lot of things. I think it's really just whatever our rhythm and routine that we're comfortable with and I think the guys have gotten comfortable in a short amount of time making these three trips in a very, you know, in the last month if you will and coming in the day before getting up getting ready to go. I know for me personally I've liked it because it allows the guys to be able to stay in their bed one more night. When you get there there's not a lot of dead time you know sometimes when you get in on a Friday night you're sitting around all day Saturday, you're like what do you do? You just end up kind of almost getting a little bit more tired lackadaisical. Whereas you get in Saturday night you have some quick meetings they get their dinner they get a snack, they get to bed and then you get up and you get ready to roll. And our guys have been ready to go early. I'm up so early in the morning it feels like normal time to me. So, I haven't really noticed much of a difference, but I've been very pleased with our guys. I thought we came out ready to go today better than we did in the Buffalo game and that was reflected by just the start in general.” On Reeder and the upcoming schedule: “Troy Reeder was outstanding. You know, you could really see it. I think we'll stick with this schedule to answer your first question. It was a lot in a lot of instances, you kind of are just saying alright because of the COVID, the protocols, and some of the limitations. We're kind of forced to do this, but I think it's worked out well for us. Regardless, I definitely think that's something that we'll explore. We're always going to do what we think is best for our players. They're the most important thing. It's always about them, and getting their feedback is very important to me and I think they've enjoyed this up to this point as far as how we've traveled even when you're going, a couple time zone changes. As far as Troy Reeder, he was outstanding and did a great job stepping in and running the show. He's a guy that's played a lot of football, and so I thought it was so seamless for him last week against the Giants, then they come up with three sacks. A lot, a lot of production. Outstanding. Very happy for Troy and [linebackers coach] Joe Barry does such a great job of those inside linebackers.” On RB Cam Akers and returning to coach in Washington: “Yeah, I mean, I think the only thing that's weird is you know you get to the stadium—I’ve never been in the visiting locker room and you're on the opposite sideline. But, it just doesn't feel the same without the fans and so many people that I don't know. I mean there's still some really special people to me that are here, but it's a very—I mean we got more people that were with me, that we were together in Washington in our coaches’ locker room that are still left. It was great to get a win. Even the players that know such a small amount of these guys and really happy to be able to just get that done. Cam Akers was great. I thought he had a couple of tough runs and then he got hawked by [DE] Montez Sweat. I'm not going let him live that one down. That was a great run be able to get that going. And then you see a four-D and that was like a big freakin impressive guy chasing him. But, he was good. I think it was good to get him going again. You see the athleticism, you see the dynamic runnability and I thought he created his on his own a little bit. He had some good tough runs and it's a good way to get Cam going. So, with that I think you can expect his workload to increase next week against the 49ers.”

Rams QB Jared Goff

On seeing Washington QB Alex Smith play in a game for the first time since injuring his leg: “Yeah, I'm glad you asked. That is really one of the most amazing things, I think not only that we've ever seen, but one of the most amazing things in football history is him getting back from that injury and coming back. I think the respect I have for him and just the way he goes about his business, my interactions with him have always been awesome. He's a great guy and deserves everything. You look at a guy that's made however much money he's made in his career and wants to come back from an injury like that, to want to come back from potentially almost losing his leg and come back out and play today. And I said in that postgame, but I'll be able to tell people forever that I watched that and saw that happened. So I'm extremely happy for him and I'm hoping for the best for him.” On his spike in the end zone: “It wasn't great. I have the excuse of it was wet on my side, so I'll be OK. I went for like a super spike. I was trying to like really get one. If I would’ve done like a medium spike, it would have been fine. But if you guys remember last year in Atlanta, I had a pretty good one after I scored. So, I was going for that kind of same thing and it just slipped out of my hand. I didn't even have a grip on it. And it was just pretty funny. I'm sure I'll hear a lot about that for a long time.” On RB Darrell Henderson catching his first receiving touchdown: “That last play there? Yeah, it was great. It was a great play call, something we've had up for a long time that we've wanted to get off and it was the perfect situation for it. Darrell’s so versatile not only in the pass game, but in the run game. When I heard that play coming out, I was excited about it. He ran a great route, made a great catch. I think all those running backs, but him in particular the last three or four weeks stepping up when Cam [Akers] went down and him and Malcolm [Brown] sharing that load. It's been really good to see it. It's exciting. Those guys are young. Him and Cam are both young and even Malcolm is still in the beginning of his career. Having those guys and having them play at the level they’re playing at is really good.” On the confidence building with this team: “Yeah, no doubt. It's a lot of confidence. I mean right off the bat in five weeks we’re 4-0 versus one division, and that gives you a little boost of confidence and obviously there’s a long ways to go. And we're still five games in and we have some more to do. It feels good to come out here three times. You know, obviously the Buffalo ones when we dropped otherwise, we'd be really happy about it. But come out here three times and get two out of three and really have a great chance to win that third one. It’s a testament to what we've done throughout the week – our training staff, our strength staff getting us ready. A lot of the good communication from them and these travels to the East Coast are not easy. We've won these games, but they're not easy and it's good that we are winning them now and get them out of the way.” On the deep ball to WR Robert Woods: “Yeah. I think we're just waiting for opportunities and we've had shot plays called this year. Either I didn't throw it or it wasn't there for whatever reason, but this one where it was there and mid throw, made a catch and it was good. They played exactly what we expected them to play and kinda got a good ball on the side line and it worked out great. We had a few more, the one to Gerald [Everett] was awesome. He was really just wide open. Then Josh [Reynolds], but then there was another one off that play action where he kind of pulled himself out of that break really well and I put it on him and he made a play. I think we've always known what our offense is capable of down the field, and today we're able to show it a little bit.” On finding different ways to win games: “Um, I don't know. I think we battled some elements today, for sure. I mean there was a little bit of that where mainly that third quarter where it was tough to throw the ball. That was for both sides, but we had to battle through that. Our defense kept playing well. And I think that, again, can't be understated how well they're playing right now. I mean, 10 points. I believe they had, I don't know what, 120 yards of offense. When the defense does that, it makes it easy for us. We're feeding off each other right now and they're bringing a lot of energy and it's exciting.”

On the teams agree not to shaking hands after the game:

“Yeah, I believe it's the NFL. I don't know if they want us to do that as much anymore, just based on everything spread around. One of the new protocols – don’t quote me on that. I don't know if that's true, but we had talked about as a team and I think they had talked about it too. Just not doing it and being safe.”

On being successful with opening drives:

“Just taking completions. I think the number one thing I’ve always talked about with you guys is just trying to get the ball to our receivers in some space and let them make a play. Just staying discipline and taking the underneath stuff from the center, taking the shots when they're there and just taking care of the football. I think a lot of times, getting the ball to the running back can't hurt. Just taking care of the ball.”

On why the offense has been so successful on the opening drives:

“I think usually on those drives, we're just running some of our best stuff. I don't think, well I know we don't script anything, so it's not like we're running set plays. It's really just kind of what we've liked throughout the week and what [Head Coach] Sean [McVay] has a good feel with and what we have a good feel with on offense – our best runs, our best passes, usually balls that we'd like to get out and throw completions with.

Like you guys are seeing, when we get the ball in these guys' hands, they make things happen and it's exciting. Our O-line is playing their balls off. I'm sorry. Excuse me. Playing their butts off, I guess. But they're playing great. Yeah, it's been good on those opening drives, just getting out fast.”

On winning the coin tosses:

“Dude you’re jinxing me now. I mean what is it, Week 5? I think we’ve won them all. Maybe we didn't win in Dallas. I think it was Dallas. We won four in a row, but, yeah, I usually consult with Cooper [Kupp] pregame, and we figured out what we're going to call. If I'm on the road, if I'm at home, obviously can't call it. So, I’d be unlucky there.”

On what he will call next week:

“I don't know. We'll see. You might've flipped the juju now. So I don't know what we're going to have to do.”