POST-GAME QUOTE SHEET Bills vs. Broncos Saturday, December 24, 2011 – 1:00 p.m.
DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH JOHN FOX
On injuries Alright, update on injuries. Brian Dawkins left the game with a pinched nerve in his neck, Quinton Carter left the game with a hamstring, and Chris Harris also left the game with a, appeared to be, a pinched nerve in his neck.
On the week leading up to the game Yeah I think, you know, our preparation has been pretty steady all season long. Reality is we’re 8-7, we’ve won one more game than we’ve lost and today wasn’t good enough. We were minus four in turnover ratio. I thought they outplayed us in all three phases, offense, defense, and the kicking game. I thought we got a bad break on our return for a touchdown and minus four in the turnover ratio, much like a week ago, that’s kind of what happens.
On expecting another second half comeback You know we had opportunities but it went the other way. They stretched their lead out with two turnovers for scores and my hats off to them, Chan Gailey and his staff, they were ready to play and they outplayed us.
On what Tim Tebow’s problems were today I think just a couple misreads, which is going to happen with a young quarterback. I don’t think he saw the pressure coming off his right side, away from his throwing side and it was good play on their part.
On losing to two AFC East teams in a row That’s a good division. You know, I think we drew the NFC North and the AFC East and I think they’re both good divisions and I think that’s why the AFC West is a pretty close race.
On thinking about pulling Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter No, no I think every rep he gets is important experience and did not consider that.
On having a young team and being in a playoff push I think, you know, it’s a new staff and a young team and reality is we’re still in a playoff hunt and we’ll see where that develops.
On Tim Tebow scrambling throughout the game Again, I think they get paid in practice too and I think it was a combination of both of those. I think usually in any game it’s going to be who executes the best and today they did.
On playing Kyle Orton and the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend I think they just did us a huge favor but again it was a great opportunity for Kyle (Orton) and you know, we got to take care of business and I don’t think there’s any blame anywhere.
DENVER BRONCOS QUARTERBACK TIM TEBOW
On what went wrong in the second half Well, first and foremost, I just want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ. Isn’t it great that no matter what, win or lose, we can still have a chance to celebrate my saviors birth tomorrow. That’s very cool. That’s something I’m really excited about is celebrating Christmas. That’s going to be a lot of fun. As far as to answer your question, I think that we weren’t able to execute on third downs well enough and we put ourselves in a bad position. And then tried to force to catch up. We just got to have a first week at practice. First of all enjoy Christmas and then have a good week at practice. Every thing’s still on the table. Then we have to go and execute and play a little better. Hopefully we can get in the tournament.
On the possibility of pulling a comeback I have a lot of confidence in my teammates and coaches. And we believe that we’re capable of pulling some pretty cool things off. We believed all the way to the end. I’m just so proud of my teammates, the character that they played with. For all 60 minutes to the very end. That was really exciting. I’m very proud of them and of my coaches. They coach very hard and very well until the very end. We have a team that plays with a lot of character until the very end, and that says so much.
On handling a tough loss It’s still frustrating, but something that my Mom taught me a long time ago, give the praise to the Lord and give your disappointments to the Lord. That’s the number one way I can deal with it. Tomorrow I still get to celebrate my savior’s birth. Ultimately, I don’t know what the future holds but I know who holds my future. That is something that gives me a lot of peace and a lot of comfort when there might be a lot of turbulence around me.
On playing Kyle Orton and the Kansas City Chiefs next week I think it’s the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s a great rivalry and it’ll be a great game. Excited we get to play at home in front of our fans. I think that as a player, as a quarterback, as someone who has dreamed of that his whole life, it’ll be exciting to have one game, one last game, one last opportunity to make the playoffs.
On specifically playing against Kyle Orton I think that it’s a little bit more for you than for us.
On his thoughts about Buffalo’s play, any surprises Not really, no sir. You got to give them a lot of credit, they played well, they executed and they came up with big plays. I just have to do a better job of not giving them opportunities. I tried to make something happen and I tried to force it. But you have to give them a lot of credit.
On the back-to-back interceptions The one down the middle to Deck, I was trying to force that in. Hopefully we’d get a 90-yard touchdown. I shouldn’t have thrown it or try to place it outside a little bit. The other one, I didn’t see the guy coming and he just hit my arm as I was throwing it and it went up. It was kind of a crazy play.
On the humbling effect of this game We understand that every game is a big game and that in the NFL every team is good. Buffalo Bills are a very good team and you have to give them a lot of credit for the way they executed and the way that they played. As far as being humble, we’re a team that believes in each other and we continue to do that. I don’t think this has changed anything. I think that it’s one loss and we have to bounce back and have a great week against Kansas City. I don’t think it’s because our team got proud about anything. We were the same team, we just didn’t execute well enough.
On his confidence My confidence is just fine. I think that I have my confidence because I believe in the people around me, I believe in the coaches, and I believe in the ability that God’s given me and I try to go out there and use it to honor and glorify him. I do the best that I can.
On his guest to the game, his inspiration That’s another reason we put so much on these games and have so much passion, win or lose. Hopefully I get to be able to inspire that kid or encourage him or just give him the opportunity to hang out with his favorite players. Ultimately, what happened to him is a lot worse than a win or a loss or anything on a football field. You know, he has one leg. I had a great opportunity to bring him up here. I think that’s something that puts everything into perspective, of how we get so flustered with one game. But ultimately, it is just a game. I’m just thankful I can just keep things in perspective of what really matters. That’s something that really matters. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to meet him and I get to go spend some time with him in a second.
DENVER BRONCOS CORNERBACK CHAMP BAILEY
On letting the Bills hang around after being down early: Yeah, absolutely, we had a chance to put it on them early and we didn’t do it. They don’t have a whole lot to play for, we do. If you let teams like that hang around they want to spoil you. We gave them the opportunity. The thing is we’re not down.
On what has been going on with the defense recently: I don’t know. Like I said, they scored in all three phases. I have no idea. We’ve just got to go back, watch the tape and figure out what the problem is and correct it.
On the making the playoffs being in the Bronco’s hands: Yeah, absolutely, we know what is at stake. We’ve got to make sure we get there this week; we’ve got to get this win.
On if this lost hurts: Yeah, it hurts but you get over it. That’s why we play sixteen, we’ve got one more left to get us in the tournament and that’s all we’ve got to worry about.
On if not coming back in the fourth quarter of the last two games has shaken his faith: No, absolutely not, I know what we’re capable of we just have to execute. The reason we came back was because we executed on offense, defense and special teams. It’s not because we’re doing it, it’s just because we execute on the calls.
On why they haven’t been as precise in the fourth quarter as they have been in the fourth quarter in recent weeks: I don’t know, I can’t really say. I just know at some point throughout the second and third quarter we always find a way to make it hard for ourselves. That’s a good football team. They lost a lot of players but they’re still a good football team. Good quarterback, you give them an opportunity to hang around and they’re going to find a way to beat you.
DENVER BRONCOS DEFENSIVE END ELVIS DUMERVIL
On how they can get this loss back: Just being consistent, no turnovers, stopping the run, getting after the quarterback, that’s been our formula and we kind of haven’t been doing that right.
On the defense not forcing big plays in recent weeks: Exactly, so I mean we’ve got to stick to the fundamentals, we’ve got to execute. We’ve got to do the things necessary to win the game. Like I said, no turnovers, stopping the run and getting after the quarterback. That’s the way you win.
On how much of today’s mistakes were mental rather than physical: We still got to watch the film. I know it’s a holiday but guys have got to make an effort. We’ve got to watch what was done wrong and we have to get better. It’s inexcusable.
On their playoff fate being in their hands: Yeah, we’ll be ready. DENVER BRONCOS RUNNINGBACK WILLIS McGAHEE
On what was different today opposed to past games: The difference is we didn’t play like we wanted. We didn’t execute as a team. I think that’s what happened and the game just got away from us.
On if their confidence is shaken with no recent fourth quarter comebacks: It doesn’t shake the faith or confidence. We know we can do it.
On if he has confidence in his quarterback, Tim Tebow, still: Yeah, no doubt about it. I have confidence in everybody, defense, and special teams regardless. It just didn’t go the way we wanted it to go.
On if he’s fired up for next week’s game: I’m always fired up about a game regardless of who it is. This is a game we need and must take, a must take game. We need to go into that game and play lights out football.