Browns Players (12.17.22)
QB Jacoby Brissett:
On how it felt getting in the game:
“Good. Just making a play. Whatever it takes.”
On being able to contribute despite not starting at QB:
“It is not like I can go anywhere (laughter). I have to stay here and do my job. Whatever the team needs. Just being there for the guys because I am still a part of this team.”
On the Browns offense with QB Deshaun Watson:
“I think today was a step in the right direction. Continuing to grow. It is his third game back and starting to see it form.”
On the conversations between him and Watson the past few weeks:
“We are going through the pictures. Obviously, asking what he sees out there. Just trying to be there and listen and give advice when I need to and shut up when I need to.”
WR Amari Cooper:
On the no-huddle play on offense and its impact on the team:
“During no-huddle, it is just plays you have practiced all week. You are just going fast. It is a deviation from the usual. One play in the game, they weren’t even ready. We kind of felt sorry for them and waited to hike the ball because there was no one there and ready.”
On where QB Deshaun Watson continues to get more comfortable on the field:
“Just rhythm really. Rhythm and timing. Dropping back and when he lets go, he is more comfortable. He is getting in the groove. He is getting more comfortable.”
DT Jordan Elliott:
On the Browns continuing to fight:
“Yeah, we have urgency from top to bottom. Things haven’t always gone our way this year, but I feel like that game was what we had tried to instill all year.”
On his mindset before blocking K Justin Tucker’s FG:
“It was more that I was able to squeeze through the gap between the long snapper and the guard and tried to flip me giving me more elevation to get my hand on it. It is cool to block him, but it’s about helping the team get the win, and that is the biggest thing. It is not about all that.”
On how big it is to help on special teams and to be able to help in different phases of the game:
“It is a big deal. Any way you can affect the game, doesn’t matter on what side of the ball to affect the game is big.”
DE Myles Garrett:
On if this game highlighted what the Browns defense can be:
“It showed who we can be. We just have to put it all together. Tonight, it came all together with (CB) Denzel Ward getting the pick, us stepping up and starting to stop the run more efficiently and JJ coming downhill and pressuring the ball. Coming down to the end of the game and the D line closing the show.”
On how encouraged he is from the fight that the Browns defense showed:
“It was never in doubt, the fight and the guys we had in this locker room. I wasn’t worried about the heart they would bring to that field because I see it every single day. I know how much this means to them. I know our record is not where we want it to be, but we still have those guys who will play 100 percent and give everything towards the game they love.”
On if this game made him think about what the Browns’ 2022 season could have been:
“You can’t think like that. You can’t think about the ifs, ands or buts. At the end of the day, we are where we are and we still have a chance. Control what we can control. We beat the Ravens, and now we just have to focus on next week. Just go 1-0.”
On how the Browns defense has been playing during the past month:
“We are taking the ball away a little bit more. I think we are sewing up some of the mistakes we were making, showing we are attached to guys. The linebackers even with injuries are still making plays through their gaps.”
On if it is encouraging that the Browns defense has gotten better as the season has progressed:
“It could be. At the end of the day, we are where we are and we have to carry that momentum through the end of the season and into next season. We can’t forget what we are doing or what we prepared and the plays that we made to get where we are. You want to keep on stacking these wins. When you are looking back, watching film and sitting down with coach in the offseason, that is really something to stack upon when you are looking to come into next season hot.”
On the satisfaction of beating the Ravens who have had a successful season:
“I embrace the spoils of the role. I’m happy to do it. I wish we could have gotten the one last week, but we are just trying to go 1-0 and they were the task at hand. We are fully behind the coaches who have been embracing the grind, no matter what happens that hard work is really going to stick with us and pay off no matter what happens. I love that we could get in here and get a W, but it is not all about trying to take away their crown or ruin their chances. We just want to put one in the win column at the end of the day.”
TE David Njoku:
On where QB Deshaun Watson continues to get more comfortable during the past few games:
“Everything. He just keeps progressing in all aspects, and that is all we can ask for from him. We have to keep progressing and keep getting better together as a unit, and we will be OK.”
On how he can help Watson:
“Just be that safety blanket. Be the player that when he is in trouble he can dunk it off to. He knows that we will take care of him no matter what and vice versa. We just have to keep doing what we are doing, work on our chemistry and great things will happen.”
On the Browns playing complementary football tonight:
“I feel like the offense can do a better job altogether. The defense helped us a lot tonight. That impacts us more because there is almost more work to be done. Once we get over that hump, we are going to be a better overall team.”
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones:
On today’s game:
“We came out here and got the dub. That is what we were focused on this week. We did what we wanted to do.”
On helping QB Deshaun Watson:
“It is very crucial. As much as we can help each other so this team can win and put our team in the best position to win. Do whatever it takes to succeed whether it be first downs, touchdowns or whatever it is.”
On his touchdown catch:
“It was a great play call. We went out there, and we executed.”
On what running no-huddle does for the Browns offense:
“It helps us anytime that we can put the pressure on the defense. We know what we are doing so we just have to execute at a high level.”
On the Browns wearing white face masks today:
“I love it. Shout out to the ‘80s. We went back to the ‘80s today. Thankful to get the W.”
G Wyatt Teller:
On today’s win:
“This team, you have to scratch and claw. Good defense and good offense. Our defense played stout and we ran the ball to finish the game so it was a good blueprint.”
On if he likes to have to grind to earn a win:
“Yeah, with snow at the end… No, I would rather win by 40 every game, but that is not the case, especially against a team like that.”
On how running no-huddle helps the Browns offense:
“That team is good upfront, good linebackers and good DBs. If we give them less time to look at us and analyze what is going on, it gives us a better opportunity. I wish we scored about four more touchdowns, but we got one and our defense played well.”
On how it felt being at home with QB Deshaun Watson starting for the first time:
“Last game, we had here was a special one, too. It was a big game coming in here and winning your first start, not a lot of quarterbacks have done that so that is pretty good.”
On the Browns continuing to play hard despite having a low chance to make the playoffs:
“We gave ourselves a chance and helped Cincinnati a little bit. Until they say you are 100 percent out, I believe in this time and I think we are going to fight. It is encouraging and it shows you what kind of guys we have on this team.”
CB Denzel Ward:
On his interception:
“There was man coverage on that one. The guys put good pressure on the quarterback. I was able to drive on it and get my hands on it.”
On the Browns defense’s four takeaways:
“That is always the emphasis to get takeaways. We did a good job at that. The guys did good up front putting pressure on the quarterback and forcing him to make those tough throws where we were able to come away with it.”
On his determination to get the takeaway:
“I was really determined to get that. Just do anything to get a team win. I couldn’t come away with the second one at the end of the game – that was terrible. The guys did a good job though.”
On the swing of emotions from week to week:
“I think the biggest thing is to take it a week at a time. That’s been our biggest focus. Seeing what we can do to come in and beat Baltimore, the guys did a good job at coming in and staying focused on the task at hand and dealing with things as they come.”
On how the Browns defense has been playing the past month:
“I think we are getting better and better each week. That’s been the main focus really. Biggest thing is trying to get takeaways to put our offense in good field position. We’ve been getting better.”
K Cade York:
On if his missed kicks had anything to do with the weather conditions:
“It really was not that bad. A little windy, the snow came in. Had nothing to do with anything that happened. Honestly, thought I was handling it really well and kicking it well until that fourth quarter.”
On what happened on the two missed kicks:
“I guess it doesn’t really matter if there is an explanation for you all because it didn’t go in. I have not seen the film yet. Obviously, it was a really bad hit so that is all I got there.”
On Ravens K Justin Tucker missing two FGs for the first time in four years:
“He hit the ball left on one that the wind blew right. He got one blocked that he hit pretty low. Again, I do not think any of our missed kicks had anything to do with weather. I just think they were bad hits.”
On if he was talking with Tucker during pregame:
“Yeah, just normal kicker talk and conversation. Nothing crazy.”
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