QUARTERBACK MATTHEW STAFFORD
Matthew, Davante (Adams) said it felt like you were trying to get the ball to him there in the end zone, especially there in the first half. How'd it feel to connect there on the last one?
Oh, it was great. Missed him once to my left, the second one dropped the snap like an amateur. But yeah, it was great to get that one done. They brought us zero pressure, all-out blitz, felt it. So just tried to hang in there as long as I could. He obviously ran a great route. I didn't get to see the finish of the play but seemed like it was in decent spot and then he kind of curled in on the inside and made the play, is what I've been told. He's a hell of a player, made some unbelievable catches today. Connected on some big ones and I think there's still more out there, so it was great.
22 of 32 targets were up to Davante (Adams) and Puka (Nacua). What's it like having the pair of them out there?
Oh, it's great. Puka obviously had a great game as well with the rushing touchdown early kind of set the tone for us. Made some big plays in the second half on one of those first couple drives which was great for us. They complement each other really well, they both, the cool thing is they cheer for each other. Nobody's more excited when Te scores a touchdown than Puka and vice versa. So it's just awesome to have two talented guys that complement each other so well out there.
I'd imagine when Davante first signs you start thinking about what that pairing of Davante and Puka can look like. How have those first two weeks kind of lived up to what you thought this might be?
Yeah, I mean I think it's a good start. I go back after every game and there's throws that I want back or plays that I want back and things, chances that we've missed. But that's going to happen, and you got to continue to get better and better as we do every single week. That's the goal, but for the first two games, especially with the limited time I had with those two guys in training camp, I feel good. I just know that they're motivated, and I'm motivated to be as good as we can possibly be for our team. I mean that's what it's all about. So many guys have a hand in us winning ball games especially one like today where, you kind of had it there in the second half. So, just proud of our team, proud of our defense, really all the guys up front as well.
How are you feeling headed back to Philadelphia where you guys had a tough loss in the playoffs last year?
Should be better weather I hope. No, I mean they're a good football team. They've retooled and brought back a lot of the same people in a lot of instances as well so. They got us at our place pretty handedly the first time and then we gave them a run for their money in the playoffs there. But really have a ton of respect for their coach, for their players and the way they go about their business, it'll be a huge challenge for us. I'm sure we'll be rocking and rolling.
When we were just talking to Davante (Adams) he said the thing he was most impressed by you was your even keeled demeanor you had after the interception. Why was that important for you to show and display that to your teammates especially as you guys were trying to get back on track in the second half?
Yeah, he must have missed me slam my helmet. But we'll act like it didn't happen. No, I was pissed at myself because I mean that's just the one thing you can't do. Go three-and-out, punt it back, give them the long field. But it was a heck of a play by Cody Barton, guys in the B gap on the snap of the ball and did a hell of a job escaping out underneath it. I didn't think he was going to get all the way there and made a great play. Got to give him credit, but yeah only thing to do is keep playing. I can't just sit there and be pissed about it all day. Got to get mad about it, figure it out. I knew exactly right when it left my hand what the deal was. Okay well, move on and what's the one thing I can do? I touch it every play, let me go make up for it right now and play smart, but aggressive in the second half. I feel like coach called it that way, I played it that way and it wasn't perfect but ended up with some points which was good.
In the third quarter you put together that drive, four plays all the way down the field, you make it look effortless, what clicked there? Because before that, not that you guys were doing poorly, but it was not the same execution.
Yeah, 100 percent it's execution, right? That's what it boils down to. Obviously got us into a premier play on the first one with man coverage. Was able to, Puka did a great job winning his route and then the next play coach called a play-action pass and they had a couple of backers that were in a deep spot was able to kind of wiggle one in there to Puka as well. But it just comes down to execution and when we execute with the players that we have and the scheme that we have, we got a high probability of being successful. It's hard to go execute and that's defense has a say in it, everybody's got a say in it. But those four plays were nice and it was nice to punch it in. I mean first half, drove the ball well a couple times and came away with less than a touchdown which is frustrating. So, it was nice to score.
Each of the past two weeks, one of the first things that Sean (McVay) will say about you is just how in command out there you were. How would you describe, on a basic level, your comfort level with what you guys are trying to do and also the players you have around you.
Yeah, I feel pretty good about it. Put a lot of time and a lot of effort into it to try to make sure that when we come out here on Sunday that I'm doing everything I can to make sure that we're running good football plays into good looks. And those guys communicate and understand my communication and we go play. It's not perfect, never is, but I definitely put time and effort into making sure that we break the huddle, everybody's locked and loaded and ready to go and understanding my plan if we end up changing something. I appreciate that, but it's not—just hard work and frankly a lot of great conversations with Sean (McVay) and our coaching staff and what we're trying to accomplish on certain plays when we get certain looks and 'Hey can we make this adjustment here? Can we make this a little bit better here? And what do you think?' And we're just constantly talking about it and that's the fun part of the game for me.
