The Jets get pumped up for the game
The Jets weren't the only team Sunday at the Meadowlands with playoff hopes. The Bills knew how bad the Green and White both wanted and perhaps needed this win, and the visiting AFC East foes made a statement.
"They wanted this game bad," said Bills quarterback J.P. Losman. "We knew that they wanted it bad; we knew they were going to come after us with all that they had. But the season is not over; we have a long way to go. As long as we keep winning, you never know what's going to happen at the end. With the group of guys here, there's no quit in these guys."
*Read below for the complete transcripts from inside the Bills' locker room
*Buffalo Bills' QB J.P. Losman
On how he felt about RB Willis McGahee briefly leaving the game because of sickness…
I wasn't concerned because I asked him if he was all right. I went up to him and I checked up on him. I thought it was his ribs, an actual problem, but no, he was sick. He played through it, and he still wanted to be in there. He's played well against this team over the years, and it is just continuing for him right now.
On the three big plays for Buffalo…
We popped one there early, running the ball. That definitely gave us a lot of confidence. Even if they went back down the field and scored, we knew – even with the previous two drives – that we were just stopping ourselves. And that was frustrating. On the other play, Lee (Evans) made a great catch, great adjustment on the ball. I threw it to him a little outside, more than I'd like. And then we just had to run the clock down there at the end.
On the long TD pass to Lee Evans…
We knew on third and short, third and medium, they were going to blitz on third down. They faked us out one time and played cover-two, faked the blitz. But we knew for the most part that they were going to give us that pressure. So we had that play locked, it was a slant-go. We were able to get him to bite and get the safety to bite at the same time. So he actually didn't even have to run his route, they knew we were going to do a three-step drop so it was all good for us.
On that being a relatively easy pass for him…
That was more of an easy one, yeah. It's also not easy when you have a guy that open. The first thing on your mind is "don't miss" because it's so open. But you also don't want to overthrow it for just a big gain. You need a touchdown on those plays. Good teams are able to get touchdowns on these plays, as opposed to long gains. So it was good for us.
On the TD pass to Robert Royal being misdirection…
Yeah, misdirection. The guy kind of played it a little bit. I tried to get him with my eyes, got him a little bit, threw over his head there. Great play – I got yelled at on that play by (inaudible), tell me he beat the corner on a fade. Josh came over, said he was wide open on the over. But Robert got it, so it was good for Robert.
On whether the game plan was to run the ball right over the Jets…
Actually, that wasn't the plan. The plan was to come out firing, come out throwing – like the Houston game, betting back to it. That's what we talked about, but the way the game went, got on top kind of early and took the crowd out of it. We were running the ball well; you kind of just have to go with it. You can't sit there and say "well this is what we wanted to do, and this is what we're goingto do." Games change, so we kind of just ran with it and just ran it out there at the end.
On this game being one of the better "execution" games for the Bills…
Yeah, definitely. I think it was probably the most well-rounded game. Yes, of course. But speaking for the offense, there are still some plays that we left out there. Especially those two drives in a row, where there were some sacks that were my fault. I should have gotten the ball out. I should have thrown the ball away one time, but the other time I think we had someone open and so it is frustrating from that point. That we can even be better. This is what we played, but we can be better than this and we're not happy by any means, or satisfied. I think that's good, that everyone is not over-excited. At the same time, like I've talked about before, we still know that there are plays out there to be made. We are trying to do something extra special, not just be a good team – but we are trying to do something extra special here.
On beating a good team like the Jets…
That is good and solid. They wanted this game bad. We knew that they wanted it bad; we knew they were going to come after us with all that they had. But the season is not over; we have a long way to go. As long as we keep winning, you never know what's going to happen at the end. With the group of guys here, there's no quit in these guys. Just come out every day and do it that way.
On the difference in his play from the last time he faced the Jets…
No turnovers. That was probably the biggest thing. We knew coming into the game that that was the only way that we gave them a shot to win last time we played them. And they got us. So that was probably the biggest focus on my mind. "Let's not give it to them, let's make them earn it this time." We knew that we could go up and down the field on these guys from the last time we played them – especially the way the game started out – so we just had to be smart. No turnovers. Don't be extra conservative, just be smart. That's what we tried to do all day and it worked out good for us.
Buffalo LB London Fletcher-Baker
On the defense holding up…
That's a credit to the guys who had to step up filling up those linebacker positions. Also the coaching staff, getting those guys ready to play. In practice, those guys were getting reps. We had a lot of guys banged up, so they knew they were going to be getting reps.
On inexperienced LB crew…
We did a little bit more communicating pre-snap. Once I got a feel for what they were trying to do, they were fine. Keith (Ellison) and Coy (Wire) are both smart guys. They know how to line up and they both have played enough where they would know what to do.
On INT for TD…
It was a situation where Pennington overthrew his receiver. The ball was tipped, and Nate (Clements) caught the deflection. From there on, it was just a matter of getting bodies in front of the Jets' guys, trying to make the tackle. It was a game-changing play for us.
On the defense…
I think the back seven in general did a great job taking away the shallow, underneath routes. That's so much of a big part of the Jets' quick passing game. I think we did a good job of taking away those initial reads. By that time, Chad's O-line is used to him already have released the ball.
On being spoilers…
We are still trying to make the play-offs ourselves. We haven't been eliminated, so we are just trying to win. Obviously we need some help along the way, but it wasn't a situation where we spoiled the Jets' season. We were just trying to win a ball game and prove our position to try and make the play-offs.
On the big win…
To win on the road in the NFL is a very difficult thing. To win against a good team, and a division rival, is even tougher. The Jets have play-off aspirations, so it was a big game for them and we knew they were going to come out and play. It was huge that we started the game well and didn't wait until the second half to come out.
On Willis McGahee's TD…
That was a big run. Anytime you get a big play on offense, it energizes and excites the team. It adds to the momentum you already have.
Buffalo Bills' RB Willis McGahee, 12.10
On not feeling well…
My stomach got upset. I didn't really get to eat anything because I had come out a little earlier then I usually do to workout my ankle.
On being out…
I was going to come in before the half ended but there was only about two minutes left in the half. Anthony (Thomas) was working the position so I just left it and figured I would come out fully ready to go in the second half.
On his touchdown run…
I surprised myself. The offensive line did a great job blocking. It was just there if I hit it, regardless of the path. I just had to suck it up.
On trash talking with Jonathan Vilma…
It's the competitive spirit. Me and Vilma, we were always like that in college, I didn't mean anything by it; calling him out. That's just how we are. We bring out the best in each other.
On his ankle…
It was throbbing, but once you get in the game you really don't pay attention to it much. I'm going to feel it tomorrow, I already know it.
On people questioning his desire…
People are going to think what they want to think. Just like you guys are going to write what you want to write. I can only control what I can control.
