Head Coach DeMeco Ryans
On what he remembers about Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid from his playing days
"From being with [Chiefs Head Coach] Andy [Reid] for one year, I really respect the way he ran the show. He was a really great coach, did a really great job of looking out for his players. I learned a lot from Andy and how he ran things. Just a ton of respect for him. He has been very successful his entire career. Talk about a guy who is detailed in every single thing, not only offensive football, but defense, special teams, all across the board just really tremendous football. A coach who has had a ton of success and loves to do it with a smile."
On what it is going to be like going against Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid this Sunday
"I have gone against him before, so it is going to be the same. We are just trying to make sure our players go out and play well. It will be about them and not so much about me going up against him, it will be about them and our players playing well and executing."
On how much it helps this team going up against another team with such success and high standards
"For us, we are excited to go compete against a really good football team that has been good for a really long time. For us, just go out and play good football, we don't make it bigger than what it is. Our next game, we understand the success that they have had, and they have earned it. They have been really good no matter if it is defense, offense, special teams. Whatever it takes to win football games they find a way to win in the fourth quarter, so I am excited for this matchup and excited to see our guys go out and compete."
On how he views these last three football games having already clinched the AFC South
"For me, anytime you strap it up it is time to go compete and win. I don't know any other way, I don't see how anybody else could find any other way. Our guys put a lot of work into going out, putting their bodies on the line to go and compete so that is what it will be about. One game at a time mentality still hasn't changed just because we won the AFC South. Our approach is still the same, go out and play good football, get better in all three phases."
On how the team is approaching these next games with such shorter weeks
"The main thing is how we prepare for this game. I always so the same teams have the same amount of time that we have. So of course, we are a day sooner removed from the game, so the main focus is about our guys recovering and taking care of their bodies and just mentally being locked into the game plan and what we are doing. We will continue to enhance the game plan as we get further in the week but everything about what we do in the amount of days we had to prepare is the same as Kansas City. So we will do everything we can to make sure our guys are ready to roll."
On if he was surprised at how in shape and ready LB Christian Harris was coming back from his injury
"He didn't surprise me. I saw the work that he was doing on the side, and he looked ready a while back. So, the work that he put in, it was real. He was working towards something, it was a real goal of getting back, not only getting back to be back but to get back and be impactful. That is how he attacked the work while nobody else was watching. He attacked it the right way so when his time came, he didn't miss a beat."
On the challenges of facing Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
"[Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He has done it for a long time, done it for a really high level. Where he gains most of his success is just keeping plays alive off schedule. Their receivers and tight ends, they know how to uncover, they know how to find the open space in zone coverage, sit routes down. It is a true challenge. It is going to take everyone, especially our d-line the way they have to work together. You try to keep them contained but it is easier said than done. He still finds a way to escape, finds a way to make plays. It is just going to take a really tremendous effort from everybody. Just being where we are supposed to be, being able to play disciplined football for four quarters."
On if finding different ways to win comes with experience or something that can be proactively taught
"At the end of the day, it is guys understanding situational football. Play smart, have great awareness in those situations. Where 'KC' [Kansas City] has won a lot is that they take advantage of the miscues on the other side of the ball, whether it is offense, defense, or even special teams. You just have to be on the details longer. That is where they have a lot of people. They outlast people mentally and not so much physically, but they are mentally stronger than teams they are going against, and they find a way in the fourth quarter to win games. Quarterback makes a play, [Chiefs TE Travis] Kelce makes a play, somebody is going to make a play, and it is not something you teach, it is just guys understanding what is in front of them and they know how to make the plays."
On if teams downfall is playing uncharacteristically against Kansas City because they are intimated by a team playing on that level
"I am not sure. For me, I look at it all the same. You go and compete, and it is an opportunity to go and compete against one of the best that has done it. So, you don't do anything different. You don't try to rise up to a level, you just go out and play your game and play your game the right way. They have been in a lot of tight games, they have won a lot of game. Most games in NFL history, right, in one score games. You don't have to do anything different, you just have to go out and execute better than Kansas City."
On what he has shared with the players to expect at Arrowhead stadium
"Nothing. Go play football. Wherever they line it up, we want to go play. The environment doesn't change who we are. You go out and play football the right way, when the ball is snapped it doesn't matter. You just have to go execute."
On the challenges moving T Tytus Howard from left tackle to right guard
"For [T] Tytus [Howard] moving inside, first off, we are thankful for him making that move and transition. He has been there before, so it is not totally new to him just things happen a lot quicker on the inside than the outside. Tytus has that power and size to handle the big rushers on the inside. So, he is a really good fit for being in there. It is just understanding how quickly those things in games happen where you have a little more space, on the outside you have a little more space and time, on the inside you just have to have quicker reaction time."
On if playing Kansas City is considered the closest thing to playing a playoff game
"For me, playoffs are playoffs so we aren't there yet. It will be a good atmosphere, they have a good crowd, it's a good place to play, they support their team really well so it will be a fun environment."
On how aware the team has to be with Chiefs DT Chris Jones
"Make sure you know where '95' [Chiefs DT Chris Jones] is at all times. Chris is an outstanding player, size, strength, pass rusher ability. Not only inside, he lines up outside, can get in on the edge as well, does a great job of batting passes down. He just totally impacts the game for them, and you see why he has been a dominant defensive tackle in this league. His pure will-strength everything about him he is just a great player. For us, you have to have awareness where '95' is. No one can fall asleep on '95. You have to make sure you are aware. You have to go challenge him and you have to go compete. That is what this game is about and that is what I am most excited about, they have really good players, they have good players. Let's put the ball down, compete and see what happens."
On if they are preparing differently for Kansas City because of how dominant of a team they are
"No because our guys don't need to feel like they need to step up to Kansas City, they are a great team, and everybody understands that. In the NFL, they understand 'KC' has been dominant in the league for the past however many years. I don't need to make it more of an awareness factor for our guys. Everybody knows 'KC' has been great for a long time."
On if they are focused on mentality of physicality this week
"We are full pads, and we are going. We are ready rocking and rolling, short week. We put the pads on and try to see how physical we can practice. Nah, we take care of our guys and make sure their bodies are taken care of to recover because you are so soon removed from a game and it takes a while to recover, especially on a short week. It is a heightened sense of focus on rest and recovery as best as we can, while also understanding the game plan and being able to get those mental reps in."
On what went into getting players like S Calen Bullock and CB Kamari Lassiter in the Draft
"Starting with [CB] Kamari [Lassiter], we didn't know he would be there at that time. What allowed me to know Kamari would fit was just watching his tape, seeing how physical of a player he was, talking to his teammates and how every teammate raved about Kamari and how locked in he was. Practice, games, walk throughs, he is one of the most locked in, intense players. That just said to me that is just a SWARM mentality. Talking to Kamari, it was just an easy fit. [S] Calen [Bullock], just watching him play and watching his skill set it just jumped off the tape how he would fit into our scheme and how he can change things for us when you have a post safety that can play football that way when he has elite range. It just jumped off the page, kind of those luxury type picks. If we could get Calen, my vision for how I saw him and what he can do for our defense. You don't know how the draft is going to fall, you have guys you want but to get both of those guys and to see them have impact so soon, you didn't know what would happen, but I am happy to have both of them. Just see the success they have, and it is translating. Exactly who they were at Georgia and USC are the same type of players here today for us."
QB C.J. Stroud
On if the game against the Chiefs is a 'measuring stick' game
"Yeah, I mean, I think every game is that to learn where you match up against guys and I thought, on film, they have a lot of great players. They play well together. They've been playing well together for a long time and just add new pieces that fit their system well. So, I think they do a great job and excited to match up against them."
On if thinks S Calen Bullock and CB Kamari Lassiter have a similar relationship as he and DE Will Anderson Jr. had when they were rookies
"Yeah, I do. Those dudes are like twins, man. They literally wear the same clothes. They come wearing the same shoes to games. Like it's funny. They're definitely two guys with just a lot of confidence. They have more confidence, I think, than me and Will had. At least I think they had more confidence than I did last year. And it shows on the field. So, I'm just super happy for them, super proud of them and just how they approach the game and how they've been able to take off running and just really excited to see what they do in their careers and hopefully be a part of it for a long time."
On if he has seen the growth of CB Kamari Lassiter and S Calen Bullock from training camp through now
"Yeah. I definitely felt it then and even in college, playing against Kamari and then seeing Calen growing up in high school in the seven-on-seven tournaments and stuff. And you see him at USC. I believe ball players are ball players. They just figure it out once they get here and that's what they've been able to do and since camp they've been playing really well."
On what separates QB Patrick Mahomes from other quarterbacks
"Just his ability to win. He's just a winner. At the end of the day, finds a way to get it done and makes some of those critical situations happen. He's somebody who really, really, really knows how to get it done. And it's really cool just to see how creative he gets and I think [Chiefs Head Coach] Andy Reid does a great job using him the right way and putting him in positions to be creative. And their defense holds up a lot as well to give them opportunities to take shots down the field and have all these crazy plays and motions. So, I mean, they play really good complementary football and I think that's what sets him apart is his ability to win when it counts."
On how he feels teams approach practices when preparing for games on back-to-back short weeks
"I can only speak for ourselves. But we're still trying to get our bodies back right and it's a quick turnaround. Getting your mental back is just as important. So, you probably do less active things and more walkthroughs and more mental than physical. SO, I feel like that's the way you can save your body. But at the same time, get those good practices in and those good habits throughout the week, so you can play on Saturday."
On the things about Chiefs DT Chris Jones that jump out
"His ability to get off the ball. They use their silent cadence really well, able to hide it. And he does a good job of using his hands. And I'm a big fan of his. He does a great job and has been doing it at a high level for a long time. And just pops out on film and makes a lot of plays for them. Even when he doesn't make the play, he's taking on double teams, giving other guys one-on-ones and things like that. So, yeah, he does things like that."
On if there is anything about this part of the season that refuels him to stay sharp
"I would say just having the opportunity to know postseason is available. And this is going to set us up for our seeding and who we play, if we play home or not multiple times. So, our destiny is really in front of us. And we're able to do what we want to do to be really great. But at the end of the day, it's all about getting in. And we're able to do that, but that's just the start. That's one of our goals. Now, we're trying to go get more. And I think this team is special enough to do that. So, we've got to just be hard on ourselves to strain mentally, to strain physically to push over that hump because I think, we're still a young team. We're still building around each other. A lot of guys haven't played with each other for a long time and you look at the Chiefs and the Ravens and a couple guys on the Steelers and you know these good teams have been good for a long time. They keep guys around and you just add on pieces, or they've been able to just to build that chemistry coaching and players-wise. And I think that kind of shows in December and January. So, I think we'll be able to build on what we did last year, having a second year and be able to build that chemistry some more."
On how prepared he thinks they are to play at Arrowhead Stadium with the loud environment
"Yeah, we're preparing for it. Definitely, I've heard a lot of great things. It's an exciting place to play and loud, so got to be ready for all that and doing our preparations for that throughout the week."
On if he has had time to reflect on the success he has had and winning the division his first two years in the league
"Not really. It's cool. It's a blessing. I was talking to [T Laremy Tunsil] LT about it earlier. I think this is his first time doing that and I don't want it to ever become a, 'Oh yeah,' just, 'We won it.' It's important and it's huge to win the division and win it this early and to put ourselves in positions to make the postseason is definitely dope. So, I haven't had time to really reflect. Just having one day off. But, yeah, I'm very, very happy and blessed and just very grateful for the opportunity to play for this organization and hopefully put another banner up and try to do even more than that. You just don't want t-shirts and hats. We want to get some hardware. So, that's always the goal. And now we've got to go out there and do it."
On if he thinks the Texans are setting a foundation similar to the Chiefs to have success for years to come
"Yeah, that's the goal. For sure, build a dynasty type of thing. And to see [Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes and [Chiefs Head Coach] Andy Reid do that and be the face of their franchise and I definitely – that's a inspiration there and I think they do a great job of doing it humbly. And every week, showing up and not taking the game for granted, playing it the right way. And it's something that I look up to. But also, want that for this team and this organization. So, working for that and I think they've set a good blueprint for it. But that's for them and we've got to do what we have to do for the Texans and our team. And I think that hopefully we'll be able to do that."
On how much playing at Ohio State helped prepare him for the pressure that comes with playing big games and how big games there differ from big games in the league as a quarterback
"I mean, playing in big games is – I would say, it has become second nature. Just, every game is the same kind of mentality is big or small, you treat everything the same. It's what I learned at Ohio State and those bright lights are when you have to focus more. And that's what I really focus on is just whenever everything is amped up to the outside, what are you doing on the inside to hone in and lock in on every single play? But, yeah, playing there isn't easy and it's a lot of pressure and having a really big fanbase and the best fanbase in the land, as we say. But it's not easy. It's honestly preparing me for this position. And I'm super grateful for [Ohio State Head] Coach [Ryan] Day and [former Ohio State Offensive Coordinator] Coach [Kevin] Wilson, [Ohio State Quarterbacks] Coach [Corey] Dennis and [Ohio State Offensive Analyst] Coach [Todd] Fitch and [former Ohio State Co-Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Brian] Heartline and I can go on and on and on. Just, of some of the people who've helped me along the way, especially at Ohio State. And I'm rooting them boys on. Hopefully we get this dub playing Tennessee and I think I love the new playoff. I think it's super cool to be able to have some SEC teams come play the Big Ten. Play in the cold and I think that's some good experience for Tennessee to play because that's what they'll have to do in the league. And I'm excited for that and really hoping that the things that we went through at Ohio State the last couple of years prepares us to, hopefully, win the Natty this year."
On what he is seeing on film of the Chiefs' defensive backs
"They play well together. They play this kind of coverage where they don't ever really show the quarterback. They always rotate and they always switch their coverage really late. They do a good job of it. And I think [Chiefs CB Trent] McDuffie is a top-five defensive player in this league. I think he's very underrated and he's been proving it week in and week out. And I've really seen him at nickel mostly. But on film, since I've been able to watch, he's playing corner a lot too and base. So, he does a good job there and they play really well. They play as one and that's something that pops out to me."
