Opening Statement:
"This is nice. This is the way it should be all the time, right? There are no injuries to report. I'll just say this: what a team effort. We challenged the guys at the beginning of the week about what type of game it was going to be.
Obviously running the football, you guys have been asking about for weeks. This is how you have to play the game, especially against a team like this. Give it to the guys up front, everybody involved in the running game, the backs running the ball. I got a couple things someone gave me: most team rushing yards since 2022; career high by (Titans RB) Tony Pollard, 25 carries, 161, 6.4, two TDs. Then in the kicking game, it's the first blocked punt since 2012. That's kind of crazy. Bones (Titans Special Teams Coordinator John Fassel) had shown that at some point in time to the players and everyone was in awe and couldn't believe it's been that long. But what a great team effort. To see the way (Titans DT) Jeff(ery Simmons) was out there and getting a sack and a half. Guys making some plays. That's what it's all about. It's a long time coming. I couldn't be happier for the guys. The leadership in this group on this football team. On Thursday afternoon, they made a statement with the way we finished practice. We were going to go through a jog through type mode on a split field, and they were just so excited to be out there after special teams, that we just kept rolling. And that's on the players. That's the type of people that are here. I knew Thursday after practice we were going to find a way to win this one just because the way the leaders are and the type of players and what a great group of guys that we have in this room. Very proud of the guys. And it's not easy to win in this league. I couldn't be happier."
What was the strategy regarding Browns DE Myles Garrett and why did it work as well as it did?
"He's somebody you always have to know where he is on every snap. We needed a change. We needed to run the football. That's the best neutralizer, number one. When you run it the way we did today, there's a mindset to that, and the way you've got to do it. And then, obviously, every pass play, you've got to put someone near him. There's a guessing game at time when he's flipping sides or he goes inside, things like that, but you know, give these players on our football team, give the guys outside, and we'll also include the protection, give them credit for neutralizing him, because he's the best in the business, and a phenomenal football player. They preserved all the players, the way (Titans QB Coach) Bo (Hardegree) called the game, things like that."
Why was that mindset for running the ball so effective today? When you talk about it not being there for all these weeks, what made it be here today?
"Well, you have a series, like we've talked about last week. The flow of the game, when you don't have the three and outs and certain things like that, we talked about. We talked about it two weeks ago, and then we had the three and outs, so you don't get in that flow of the game. Just knowing what type of game we had to play against this team, like with 95 (Browns DE Myles Garrett) out there, you have to run the football against this team, and just give the guys credit. This is a lineman's dream. This is what they want to do, this is how they want to play it, and we challenged them and they answered. I'm very happy for them."
You guys scored a touchdown on the opening drive. Last team in the league to do it. How much did that kind of set the tone for the rest of the game?
"Well, it goes back to, we were very fortunate that 95 was out of the game, because that play would not have been run if 95 was in the game. He got out of there, and Bo instantly and the offensive staff instantly said, 'let's go for it, and let's make that call.' It worked out perfectly. It's just a great way to start the game for the offense."
How big was it to get the two turnovers and the blocked punt?
"It's huge. You guys have been talking about it all year. This is complementary football. All three phases making plays, feeding off of one another, the energy, the excitement that they create for everybody, but big plays in all three phases."
Then you had the two touchdowns off those turnovers. Do you sense the energy transfer from one side to the other?
"That's what you look for. It's complementary football. It's guys sticking together, feeding off the energy. It was unbelievable on the sideline today, and that's the way it should always be. We had a lot of opportunities early on that we missed too. Whether it was defensively, offensively, some big plays we gave up, some opportunities we didn't
make in the passing game. But that's all part of it. We just kept going. We kept fighting. I just can't say enough about these players, the way they've worked. They deserve this. They really do. I'm so happy for them."
I know it's about the players and the team, but it's your first win as an interim coach, too. Did you get recognized in the locker room?
"Everyone's excited. It's not about one person. It's everybody. There's plenty of comments that went around, but I can't be happier for everyone in this organization, just the way they've worked, the way they've responded. There are leaders stepping up, leading. Sometimes the truth hurts, and everyone stuck together. That's the great thing about this team and culture that's here."
What were the feelings on the sideline during those last couple of Browns drives when the comeback was sort of happening?
"That was not good. Too many penalties, giving them opportunities to go down. You can't let the team back in. We have to shut the door when we can. But this is the NFL. Give them credit. Same thing - we've had some games this year too. You just keep fighting, you keep fighting, you keep going, you make a play, and then all of a sudden, you don't think you have a chance. And all of a sudden, okay, we got a chance here. But give the defense credit when they had to get a stop, they got a stop."
Were Titans QB Cam Ward's first two touchdowns a marker for what he was able to do?
"Well, he had a great challenge ahead of him, and number one, because of the pass rush, like you mentioned earlier, with 95. So you're always alert to where he is. He's the best in the business so you've always got to understand where he is, so we have to do some things to help in the protection. Then they do a great job playing man coverage, so it was a great challenge. We knew there were going to be some opportunities for big plays, but depending on how the pressure was going to be there, we didn't make some of those plays. I think we'll watch the tape and learn from it, but this is a really good team for him to look at and kind of watch it and evaluate. I'd have to watch it tonight or tomorrow and that'll let me know more about the little details like footwork in the pocket. Unfortunately, we had one turnover. He'll learn from that knowing and understanding where that defender is and what could happen. But the big thing was protecting the ball in the pocket, because we know this tea. (Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim) Schwartz came out and said that he wanted to get the ball out of Cam's hand, not just sacks, but sack fumbles. So I'll give him credit for doing that. He responded. He responded to the turnover, so also give him credit for that."
Why do you feel like the run game was so effective after weeks of not being able to get it?
"Well, I think when you run the ball as many times as we did, and the flow of the game. Like we said, there's been plenty of games we've been behind, and when you get into the second half to a certain point in time and you get away from that. But I think the way you start the game, very similar to last week, and you keep going, but unfortunately, there's three and outs at times, but we just kept grinding it out. That was our mindset, even at the end of the half - grind it out, keep going. So give more credit for doing that."
The run game was working, but play action was working as well. On that last series, was there any thought to mixing it up and not running three straight times and giving them the ball back?
"Well, we know what the situation of the game is and what we thought was the best to take time off the clock and get our defense back out there. That's a decision you always make."
Why did Titans LB Cedric Gray stop running on the return?
"That'll be interesting when we put it on tape and see what the team thinks about it. That would have ended it. That
would have been great. That was interesting."
