Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
On what it means for the team to clinch the AFC South for the second season in a row
"Yeah, clinching the AFC South is huge for us. Great accomplishment by all of our guys. It's always our goal. You want to make it in the postseason, you have to win your division, it starts there. And so, we're just thankful for everyone who played a part in us reaching a first step of our goal and that's getting in. Credit to all of our guys and the work that they've put in, the way they played yesterday was just outstanding to see them play that way, play complementary football and find a way to win games. And so, very proud of our guys and proud to win the AFC South."
On how they will approach the remainder of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs
"For us, we'll still take it one week at a time. Even though we've clinched the AFC South, it still doesn't change our approach. When we line up and play, we're still trying to improve as a football team in all areas and try to play our best ball when playoffs time hits. So, we're trying to still improve, still do our best."
On how he thinks the offensive line looked against Miami with the changes made to the line
"Really pleased with the offensive line and what they did yesterday. Really liked the lineup that we had. And first, I'd like to thank [T] Tytus [Howard] just – he should get some love for being unselfishly moving over inside to the left guard position and [T] Blake [Fisher] coming in playing the most snaps that he's played. I think he had a good start there and he still has room to grow and improve. But I think for his first time, his first outing there, I think he did a really good job. And just collectively, the group held up pretty well in protection, always things to clean up. But I was pleased with the O-line play and we'll see where we can grow from there."
On how he thinks the bye week helped QB C.J. Stroud reset
"The bye week definitely helped, not only C.J., helped everyone. I think just the – just being refreshed, energized. I think the energy was really good yesterday from our entire team. I think that's where the bye week helped us. We were still rolling there in the fourth quarter. Felt like we had the mental and physical stamina to finish the game the right way. So, I think it helped everyone."
On how RB Joe Mixon is doing injury-wise
"Yeah, Joe came out fine. He missed some time there, but he'll be fine."
On how pleased he was with S Jimmie Ward's performance against Miami
"Jimmie, he hasn't blinked. Jimmie's been a great playmaker for us and he's stepped in wherever we've needed him to play, move him around a lot. He's thrived in whatever role we've given him. The thing about Jimmie, he loves to play football. You watch the tape, you watch him play, he's all over the field, flying around because he just loves to play football. Wherever he lines up, it really doesn't matter to him. He just wants to be out there and do anything he can to help the team win."
On what he liked about DT Tim Settle Jr. that encouraged the team to sign him in the offseason
"What I saw from Tim, I saw – first off, Tim's a young player. Even though he's been in the league for a while, he's still a young player whose ascending. I saw a bigger defensive lineman who had some explosive traits that I really liked on film and just felt like getting him in our scheme would accentuate those traits even more. We'd allow him to play an attack style of defense more and thought he would be really good at it and Tim is – man, he's taken it and he's ran with it. He's been a really great addition to our defense, great player to have, just great energy. He keeps it light on the team and you need that. Tim knows how to have a good time and he puts a smile on everyone's – just how everyone here is smiling, it's like as you guys know as well. But just love the energy that he brings to our entire team."
On how impressive CB Derek Stingley Jr.'s performance was in the fourth quarter against Miami
"That's – I mean it's very impressive. Like I said, it's a player I haven't – it's very rare you see a player make a play that way to end the game. That was an All=Pro type plays. That's what it looks like when you're one of the top guys at your position in the league going up, matching it up against one of the best wideouts in the league, as well. And to make the plays that he made, can't say enough about how impactful Stingley has been throughout not only those plays yesterday, but Stingley has been impactful throughout the entire year. I think for the past three wins, he's been our defensive player of the game. So, when he's making impact plays, it's putting us in position to win football games."
On how he has reflected on what he and QB C.J. Stroud have accomplished being the first quarterback and head coach duo to clinch consecutive division titles their first two years together
"As we reflect on winning the division and back-to-back, it's – we're grateful, we're thankful to be at a position we are. Thankful to work – I'm thankful to work with the guys I get to work with on a day-to-day basis. That's what makes it special, the people that I work with and the way the guys show up every day to work with the right mindset, the right attitude. It makes it fun to work with these guys and also, we're always trying to do our best, trying to compete, win games. But if you can do it with good people, that's when it means more."
On if he will submit the hip-drop tackle to the league that caused RB Joe Mixon to go down in the game
"The play with Joe on the sideline. We see that as a hip-drop tackle that didn't get flagged there, but see it as a hip-drop tackle. Unfortunate – again it's something we're trying to clean up and get out of the game from a defensive perspective. Guys just have to do a better job of getting their bodies in front and wrapping up and running your feet."
On how big it is to have a quarterback and receiver duo in QB C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins that is on the same page in the red zone and able to make off-schedule plays
"In the red zone is where we needed to improve offensively and when you see things happen, plays broke down yesterday in the red zone, but seeing the off-schedule where C.J. and Nico truly find that connection, whether it's in the back of the end zone or Nico making a move to come towards the front pylon and C.J. just keeping his eyes downfield and finding Nico. And those are the types of plays you have to make, sometimes, in the red zone because once you hit your back foot, the coverage, no matter what coverage it is, probably – guys are in windows. And it's not there as soon as you hit your back foot. So, you have to be able to move around and make plays like that. And C.J. and Nico are doing an outstanding job of that and I'd like to see it even more."
On how unique CB Derek Stingley Jr.'s personality and talent are at his position and what he has learned about who he is in the two years he has coached him
"Stingley is very quiet. It doesn't change no matter how many plays he makes. Impactful plays, game-changing plays. It's one thing about Sting, he's always the same. So, he's not going to give you much, but one thing for everyone to know, Sting – he cares a lot. It means a lot to him to not only – it means a lot to him to play well. He's confident, he wants to be in those tough matchups. But he cares a lot about playing well. He cares a lot about helping the team win. So, that's Stingley. He has a big heart and it shows. He doesn't always say it, but you can tell – for me, I can tell by his actions that he truly cares a lot for his teammates."
On what he saw out of LB Christian Harris in his first game back
"Christian was – he was flying around. He's playing fast. He's sideline-to-sideline, made nice tackles like he hadn't missed a beat. He'll have a few things to continue to clean up, but I was impressed with the amount of snaps he was able to play and the plays he was able to make with him coming back after being away for such a long time. So, I'm really, really impressed with his outing yesterday. It was cool to see. He's missed a lot of time, worked hard to get back and he did not want to come off the field. Even when I tried to get him off the field, he did not want to come off the field."
On what he made of LB Henry To'oTo'o's performance against Miami with the bigger role he played
"I was pleased with Henry. I think one thing having the communication, when guys get that sometimes it throws you off of your game because you're having to do a little bit more when it comes to getting everyone else the call, getting everyone else lined up. But I thought Henry was very calm in the moment and he handled himself really well. He played well, a ton of tackles, flying around, forced a fumble. But overall, he led the unit in a very, very nice manner. Productive outing by him and just the communication piece, it was off the charts. We had a lot going on with what Miami's offense presents to us and Henry was steady throughout the entire game."
On if he would say they leaned on their strengths against Miami and what he would say their strengths are
"At this moment of the season, strengths and weaknesses, every week. It may be the offense needing to pick the defense up or defense need to pick the offense up, special teams needing to make an impact play. At this point in the season, for me, it's about finding a way to win games and playing – I mentioned it yesterday, it's playing complementary football. Each side isn't always going to be on. Each side isn't always going to have it all together, but it's about picking each other up. It's about team football at this moment. And that just speaks to the team that we're playing this week, Kansas City. No matter what position they find themselves in, in games, they find a way to win. Whether it's offense, defense, special teams, they find a way to win games and that's what good teams do. You can't – even though you want it to be one strength here or there, it doesn't matter. How do you win games? And that's all we're concerned about right now."
On what has impressed him most about S Calen Bullock and his growth throughout the season
"Proud of Calen and I always talk about him taking the football away, but I'm proud of him yesterday for just his angles to the football, his effort and his tackling. I thought he improved. He took a step there in tackling. And so, it's a young player who has continued to ascend for us and he's making a ton of plays for us. Back there patrolling the middle of the field and teams keep trying him and he keeps going up and getting the football. So, have a young player who is as confident as he is, plays with great instincts, great hands, great eyes. He's making a ton of plays for us."
On how he thinks the offense played as a whole against Miami
"As a whole, I think our offense – we did some good things. We got points. We put the ball in the end zone, we got points. Moved the ball downfield, put ourselves up to kick field goals and we want to definitely, overall, there are always things to improve upon, eliminating the negative plays. Don't like to see the negative plays there for us where we're going backwards. Just want to see more positive plays, gaining positive yardage. But get the ball in the end zone, play complementary football, it was enough for us to win."
On if he expects Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to play this weekend and if his injury changes their preparation for the Chiefs
"I have no idea on if he's playing or not, so I really can't focus on it or be concerned about it. We're preparing for the Chiefs and a lot of – the light shines on Patrick a lot, but if you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an outstanding unit. They do a really good job defensively, Coach Beckno has done a great job. Coach Reid and the offense, they're going to find a way no matter who is there, they'll find a way to move the football. And so, we just have to be on it in all areas of the game whether Patrick is there or not."
On if being able to stop Miami's offense and grinding out a win is what he means when he talks about December football
"That's it. That's what it looks like right there. I mean, it's not always pretty. It's never going to be perfect, but you have to grind. You have to grind to the end of the game right when the clock says 0:00. It doesn't matter how pretty or ugly it looks, you walk away with the W. That's the only thing that matters at this point in the season. And that's all our focus will be, that's what we did versus a really good Dolphins team. We grinded it out, we found a way to win. Special teams, I can't say enough about our special teams unit. Everybody talks about the fake and the execution of it, which was outstanding. But for me, the way our guys covered on the punt team, our kickoff team, the way they covered, the way they flew around and swarmed the ball carrier, I couldn't be more proud of our unit and them taking our game plan, taking it and executing it. I mean, I want to show those guys a lot of love. They did a really great job. [K Ka'imi Fairbairn] 'Imi, great job of knocking down the field goals as well."
On how nice it was to have the fake punt work in their favor and how important the play was to get the win
"Yeah, it was huge, a huge momentum shift for us and one we needed at the time. I felt like it was the right moment for us to call it and make it happen. But credit to our guys for executing. It's one thing to call it, but you've got to have the people who execute it the right way. So, [DE] Dylan Horton, [LB] Jake Hansen, [CB] Jeff Okudah, of course, [S] M.J. [Stewart] handling the football, getting it to – there's a lot of things that have to go right by a lot of people on that play. And it was well executed."
