Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
What a fun one. First off, like to just start off by just giving all praise, honor, and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for continuously blessing us. It's a huge honor to get to do what we do. Prayers go out to [Dolphins WR] Grant DuBose. Really seeing a guy down on the field like that is very hard to see, and we are just praying that all is well with him and that he recovers quickly as possible. Just overall for this game, just defensively our guys stepped up and did a really good job closing out the game the way we needed to. [CB Derek] Stingley [Jr.] is playing just unbelievable football right now. Ask him to cover, man coverage, to go and get two picks versus a really good offense, that was huge for us. [S] Calen [Bullock] stepped up with a picking for us as wall. Our D-line, the way they rushed. [DE] Will [Anderson Jr.], [DE] Danielle [Hunter], they continue to wreak havoc on the opposing offenses, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage. Just overall to our entire defensively secondary. Thought the guys did a great job in coverage versus an explosive offense just executing the right way and everybody playing together, swarming. Really proud of [LB] Christian Harris for stepping up. Long battle back from injury, but he stepped up and was able to go out and play quality football for us.
[LB] Henry [To'oTo'o] stepping in for [LB] Azeez [Al-Shaair]. Did a really great job running the show, communicating. Really proud of the effort. Offensively, [QB] C.J. [Stroud], [WR] Nico [Collins], that connection is outstanding. Again, for those guys to connect, get two touchdowns, and for our offense to get points off the turnovers. That was a huge thing for us. So excited for our guys. Proud of the way they finished the game. It's been a big emphasis for us, is finishing games no matter how it looks, and proud they finished the right way.
On thoughts on CB Derek Stingely Jr.'s performance
"Yeah, Stingley was just moving around pretty much however they lined up. We have game plan adjustments. Of course, we made some adjustments there when [Dolphins WR Jaylen] Waddle went out knowing that [Dolphins WR] Tyreek [Hill] was their most explosive guy. It would be in our best interest to make sure our best cover guy was on their best receiver."
On how nice it was to get control of the game early on
"Yeah, the mindset for us is always like control what we can control. For us today, it's just how can we go out and play good football, complementary football, is versus the Dolphins and that's what won the game for us, complementary football. Like I talked about earlier, getting the points off the takeaways, also probably the biggest play in the game is the execution of our fake punt. Thought, [LB] Jake Hansen, [RB] Dare [Ogunbowale], the entire punt unit did a nice job executing that the right way. We got the look we wanted, and guys were on it. [Special Teams Coordinator] Frank [Ross] did a great job having those guys ready to go in that moment, and they made a huge play for us. I thought our punt return unit did a really great job handling their speed on the outside to give [WR] Tank [Dell] and [WR] 'Rob' [Robert Woods] time to get started with some of the returns. So just collectively as a team, that's what it looks like, especially in the month of December, playing complementary football.
On if the defense played less aggressive after the Dolphins WR Grant DuBose's injury
"Yeah, when that happens, when you see a player go down the way he did and how long he was on the field, I think everybody -- just the NFL brotherhood, like it's instant respect and prayers are up making sure he's okay and he gets up and he has a speedy recovery. I think all of our guys, you felt that energy leave the entire stadium. It left our sideline, and theirs as well. Rightfully so. I never want to see anybody go down on the field, especially in that manner. Our guys, of course the energy was low for everyone there and our guys were able to pick it up towards the end there."
On if the fake punt return was part of the scheme to lull the Dolphins to sleep and make them think or if it just turned out that way
"It wasn't to lull them to sleep, not at all. I think it was just a well-executed play. Like when you have plays like that, it's about how trustworthy are the guys who you're asking, right, to execute those plays. Dare is one of our most trustworthy players on our team, and putting ball in his hands right there came through big for us. And the blocking. I don't want to lose sight of that. The way the guys blocked to create such a huge lane for him, it's excellent execution."
On if the team was playing with a desperation this week
"I felt our team throughout this week, getting back from the bye and just throughout this game, I felt like our team was calm and confident. That's what we have to be. We don't panic or we don't lose our minds in the chaos that is in front of us. For us, if we remain calm and play together and focus on what we can control we'll be at a good spot. That desperation is every week in the NFL. Everyone is desperate to win. Even though you're in desperation mode, you still have to go out and execute and remain calm."
On if CB Derek Stingley Jr. is the player of the game
"Stingley, thank you for the question, again, he's definitely to me, that play he makes there to end the game in two minute, that is a big time play. Not a lot of players can do that. So, I know all the games aren't over, but I think he's very deserving of player of the week, player of the month. He's done an outstanding job of when teams even try to challenge him, like he's going to go get the football, right?
Can't be more proud of 'Sting' [CB Derek Stingley] just for what we ask him to do. He steps up every week. No matter with we ask him to do he steps up and continues to grow as a player and pro and make the plays we need to make. There is not a better play I've seen that that play he made today."
QB C.J. Stroud
On the playmakers on defense
"Yeah, first want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity to play on this great Sunday after a bye week against a really good Miami team. 'Sting' is one of a kind, bro. His ball skills and how he can play the ball in the air is the best I've ever seen in my life. You know, like I'll compare him to [Jets WR] Garrett Wilson who I played with in college and can track the ball in any way and twerk his body to catch it. So, he reminds me of him catching the ball and, honestly, trying to get him to play offense one of these days. I think he's that good with the ball in his hands, so I'm really happy for him and just proud of him and everything he's doing."
On if he has lobbied to play receiver
"He doesn't really talk much, so, I always joke with him, but he doesn't really say. He just like mmm-mm. He doesn't say nothing. Not too many words out of Sting, but yeah."
On how good he feels about where this team is sitting right now
"Yeah, I think we're at where we're at. I think we worked really hard to get to this point. You know, one thing that I'm learning is not to dwell on the past and to -- of course we wish that we won some closer games that we were in, but at the same time, those are the adversities that will take us over the hump. I feel like today we took another step. To play for the division this early in December is kind of cool, and not have to wait until the very back end. Yeah, man, of course want to win the division today, but if not, we go back next week and chop some more wood and carry some more water."
On how important this game was and making improvements
"Yeah, that was a focus of mine, that we have to learn how to score touchdowns off turnovers. But more importantly, just points in general. Just getting points. We were able to do that on every turnover, I think even the fake that we ran on fourth down, which I thought was a great call by Frank. Shoutout to Frank and them boys and [LS Jon] Weeks on the great snap. It's complementary football. Our defense getting turnovers like that and be able to reward them, and I feel like we definitely could have been better in a lot of ways, but happy with the win and got to just move on."
On reflecting back, what were the biggest challenges faced without WR Stefon Diggs
"Really just his energy is the main thing that pops out to me. Just who he is as a person, how much he loves the game, his preparation. You know, those are things that we all miss of him. I talk to him every week and try to just encourage him. That's not an easy thing to go through. But he's in good spirits. He's rooting us on. I have so much love for that dude, and hopefully I can play with him again. I think we were just getting started. I'm just really, really, really proud of him and how he's growing just in his faith and just who he is, maturing just as a man. You know, sometimes those valleys do that to you, and I'm just proud of him to be able to respond like he is."
On if the guys have a really good feeling about the possibility of going up to Kansas City and getting a win
"Yeah, a lot of respect for those guy, back-to-back champs. [Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes is definitely the best in the league doing it at a very, very high level every year; somebody that I look up to. Just excited to go and line up against him and have an opportunity to play in an environment like that. I heard it's crazy. I'm excited for it, but it's not ever going to be a cake walk. That dude is really good.
[TE Travis] Kelce, somebody I really respect. Defense is very I would say underrated. Kept them in a lot of games and won a lot of games for them and helped them get turnovers and keep the offense to I think like under 20 points I believe. A lot of respect for them and excited to have that challenge."
On how they felt they handled the switch with T Tytus Howard at left guard and elevated T Blake Fisher to right tackle as far as communication
"Yeah, I thought it went great. I thought with [T] Tytus [Howard] not really practicing there all week, he stepped in and did the best he could. I thought he did really great. You know, I thought that was one of the best interior D-lines that we played this year. I think '92' [DT Zach Sieler] is veryunderrated. [Dolphins T] Calais [Campbell] is like the Terminator. He's huge. He's like 6'7" and he's putting his hands up. He's really good. So that interior does a really good job and their D-line coach, hats off to him. They do a good job of pick stunting and things like that. When the time was there, I felt like they did a great job picking those up and I was able to deliver in those instances. But definitely think they did a great job. For Blake to step in as a young guy is amazing."
Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
On WR Grant Dubose injury
"So far there has been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging. He will stay here overnight, and we will find out more tomorrow."
On the turnovers committed in Today's game
"I think it's easy to just attribute it to the last person that touched the ball. I think there was a compounding situation. Everybody had a hand in it, whether it was protection, or there were a couple times that we've been better as of late being exactly where we need to be. That was the biggest thing is to play the style we do and play with some anticipation. We have to have total connectivity from the unit. It's just not good enough. Outside of a 3 percent chance, you're not going to win games with four turnovers. It was very disappointing in that regard. We did a good job of not turning it over since LA, and as a result, we've been in position to win football games. I thought the defensive effort was tremendous, which is a reason it was a one-score game. Yeah, it's unfortunate for a lot of guys. It was a hard-fought loss by our team."
On his message to the team with three games remaining in the regular season
"I think that's something that will be the tonality that will capture tomorrow. My message to the team was not to run from how this feels. It's terrible. It was a game that we thought we were ready to go win, and we weren't, and so we'll approach that tomorrow. What I do know is we had a team that fought tooth and nail until the very end. We have a team that loves football, that's very prideful, and so there's three games left with paid attendance, and we'll turn to that page tomorrow. Right now, I think guys are still trying to absorb the outcome."
On performance of WR Tyreek Hill and how he was being covered against CB Derek Stingley Jr.
"I think there are times that next gen stat doesn't account for an outside release runoff versus cover two, and overall I thought he was winning at the line of scrimmage, and that's a really good corner. Hats off to him. That was important down to the wire, where I thought that Tyreek [Hill] won at the line of scrimmage on that 1st down, that last pick, and we didn't connect the way it usually goes down. He was competing. I think he had the big 3rd down reception in a tight window, took some hits, but I'll have to look at the tape to get more expansive. But he was winning on the line of scrimmage, and we'll take a look at the tape and see how we can get our production better."
On the final interception in the game
"You know, live, you have a vision of how it's completed. I was looking at the line of scrimmage to watch his feet because we caught man, and I'll have to take a closer look whether or not either party could have done a better job because generally that's the way those things work. When we have down-the-field throws and they're versus man coverage, you need the receiver to win at the right time and then you need the right ball placement. I'll take a look at that. I just know they didn't connect, and that's something if you would have said before the game that the game was going to come down to, our expectation is to make that play. A lot of tape to go through as we put this game to bed."
On the route ran by WR Tyreek Hill on the final interception in the game
"You know, I think the way I handled those type of situations, specifically that one where it's a floating zone player, is I'm just over the top making sure that everything is connected and we're doing what we know to do because for me to see that without watching the tape, I can't take the words back. We'll take a look. I just know it wasn't our expected result specifically in that coverage. Who should have seen it, should have Tyreek adjusted his route, I'll take a look at that tonight on that plane."
On getting the team refocused after WR Grant Dubose's injury
"There's no real formula. It's always difficult. I think it's difficult for both teams in those scenarios. There's nothing I can say. You have a lot of prideful guys that are trying to go back to work, and I think that motivated by just knowing Grant [Dubose] and how he'd want us to finish the game. I think it's unfortunately something that you have to go through once in a while in the game. It's not easy. Our hearts, our thoughts and prayers are with him."
On what goes through his mind when players get injured
"I'm in the moment with the player, and then when the game starts I've got a lot of people counting on me to make sound decisions, so I don't really have a choice in the matter. As I look at it, that's one for me specifically that has never or will never be easy, but it's not hard for me to recognize how many people are depending on me to do my job, as well. I don't really give myself the option."
On performance of OL Patrick Paul and OL Jackson Carman
"I think they competed. There were some good plays for sure. I thought overall there was a lot of good snaps in the pass game from a protection standpoint and then a lot of snaps that guys were trying to be too perfect. We had situations where we put ourselves behind the 8-ball and the Texans had a really good game plan off our 2nd and long, and it was hard for us to overcome those penalties which cost us points, as well. The biggest thing is the learning curve from the whole O-line to when you're getting a bunch of three-man rushes at times, that they have to know when to let go and not hold and hurt the team. It wasn't too big for them, but I'll have to check the tape to see exactly how I felt about their performance overall. They were pros and knew exactly what to do and how to do it, and we'll see how they executed it on tape."
On the fake punt and how it changed the game
"It was a huge game changer. We were anticipating that situation, so we had the appropriate call, and I'll have to take a look at the execution of it because I was surprised it was the punt return scheme that we want in that situation to defend against that specific play. I'll have to see how that unfolded because we were very aware pre-snap, and that was frustrating, when you're bringing awareness to a possibility, and you lose on that possibility."
On WR Jaylen Waddle injury update
"He was super frustrated. I don't really have much after that. He was on the sidelines cheering his teammates on, so that was good for me to see. But we'll get some more information tomorrow for that."
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
On WR Grant DuBose injury that he suffered during the game
"That's very unfortunate, very tough to have seen live. I'm my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement, when it comes to knowing where to go with the ball and all of that. I just feel bad that I even put him in that situation to have gotten hit. It was tough to move on after that happened. I heard some good news that he's doing well, he's recovering, but we all know I've gone through something very similar, and that's no fun. You never want to be put in any of those situations. But you also understand that this is a physical sport, it's a contact sport, and again, I just think of what I could have done to have not put Grant in that situation."
On the 4 turnovers on offense that occurred during the game
"Plain and simple, just my fault. I've got to protect the ball. I've got to play better ball for our guys, especially in a situation where the team is counting on me to go and drive our offense down to potentially tie the game up, and that's not what I did. That's not how you win games in this league. Very disappointed with how I played today and with how I conducted myself on the field, with our guys, with our team. I just need to be better in all aspects with that."
On the final interception to end the game
"It was just not a good ball. Just got to throw it further down for Tyreek. [WR Tyreek Hill]. That's all it was."
On the team's hopes to make the playoffs this season
"Well, I can tell you this team loves football. This team loves to play the game. We don't take this game for granted. This is something that we all dreamed of playing when we were super, super young, and we'd watch primetime games on TV. We'd watch our favorite teams play on TV. For us to say let's go plan our trip to Cabo or let's go plan a trip to Mexico, you really start to see the guys that want to be in the locker room, the guys that want to play for each other. I think that's the guys we have in our locker room."
On how injured offensive lineman going into the game altered the game plan
"Yeah, I would say in a way, it altered it a little. But I would also say their defense had a good game plan for what we've been saying we wanted to do with the short game if we're not able to get the run game going, with the short game being an extension of the run game. I thought they did a really good job getting into tricky twos, starting in one high, getting into tricky two, starting in two high, getting into tricky two, that way, and then also getting into some different three looks and then throwing and mixing man in there. I thought they did a good job, and they had a good plan against us."
On how the injury to WR Jaylen Waddle impacted the rest of the game
"Yeah, it's tough when you lose any of your top receivers in a game like this, when the stakes are high and you know a lot of the calls are pressure and they're just running man. That's when you count on your best guys to win their match-ups. I would say it was tough because when we have one guy on one side and another guy on the other side, it's more so pick your poison on who you want to cover, if you want to go into cover one and you want to pressure."
On what was effective for the offense when all starting receivers we're healthy
"Yeah, well, I think for those guys and a lot of our guys collectively on the offense, it's really in big games and really all the games, we just need to hone in on what we said we wanted to do, what our footwork is, what our alignments are. We need to focus in on the little details before we start dealing this was the route, this was this -- it just stems deeper than going out there and playing catch with those guys."
On what should have happened during the first interception
"I saw the defender. It was more so trusting that Tyreek was going to cross his face, and if you look at a lot of the throws that we throw in breaks, safeties are there. We throw it to the safety, trusting that our guys are going to cross face, but that's not just on Tyreek, that's on me, as well."
Dolphins DT Zach Sieler
On the injury to WR Grant DuBose that stopped play
"Yeah, it's tough, praying for him and his family. It was his first game back, super excited to see him out there and make some plays. To have that happen, it's gut wrenching. But I think you've got to rally around that and do what we can do to keep playing. I hope he's all right. We'll keep praying."
On how the defense performed today
"I think as a team we did good. We definitely left some things out there, and I think obviously there were some things we need to clean up. It wasn't good on all three phases. But all in all, I think we had a good plan. We've just got to execute."
On how the season has played out for them
"Yeah, I'm not here to speculate. Obviously maybe some more things are out of our control, but we can control what we can control from here on. That's all we can do. We're in this position now, and now we've got to play out and win the rest of these games."
