QB Deshaun Watson (12.24.22)
On having an opportunity to level the game down the stretch and if the team believed it could do so:
“Most definitely. Anytime we have the opportunity to finish out or score points down there, we always feel like we can make those opportunities and take advantage of them. Today we just kind of missed out on some of them.”
On TE David Njoku sharing an apology for the dropped pass late in the game:
“Yeah, he came by the locker. It was just a missed opportunity, but stuff like that happens. Next time, we will be sure to capitalize on it. You have respect for Dave and everything he brings to this team and this organization. That just shows how much he really cares about it, too. We will just continue to grow from it and learn from these missed opportunities to take advantage of it.”
On why the Browns offense was struggling in the second half of the game:
“You have to factor in the conditions. We didn’t want to throw it too much downfield so we tried to run. They did that, too. You have to call the plays and try to execute those.”
On how he personally handled the weather conditions today:
“It was good. It was decent. Sometimes, depending on which way we were going on the field, you have to try to catch the wind. Deeper balls that you throw, you have to put a little bit more velocity on it. You can’t really lead it up. I think it was the fourth down throw, I tried to throw it to DPJ (WR Donovan Peoples-Jones) and it kind of sailed over his head. A couple of deep throws, another one to Coop (WR Amari Cooper), he split the safety and the corner, and that one caught the wind and it kind of sailed on us. You have to factor those. You can’t really control that. You just try to make sure you take advantage of those opportunities.”
On the decision to attempt a long pass on fourth-and-2:
“That was the play call. They took away Coop and double-teamed him. The other factor was going to the field. DPJ came open, and we just missed out.”
On if he was surprised that the field had some snow on it pregame and during the game despite being covered by a tarp up until a few hours before the game:
“That is new for me. When I came out pregame and I saw that, it was different. That was another thing that we couldn’t really control. We just have to factor in everything that we can and just play through it.”
On Cooper slipping on a potential TD catch and the weather conditions playing a factor:
“He slipped. It did. Again, the opportunity was there. We just didn’t capitalize on it.”
On the weather conditions affecting throws, including shorter attempts:
“It is tough, especially the wind. Like we said, we can’t control it. Then different air pockets throughout the stadium, you really don’t know where it is going to go. For both teams, if you look at the game, every time we went towards the opposite end of where we entered the stadium [going east into the Dawg Pound], no one really threw the ball because of that wind. You were pretty much going against the wind. Then when you are going the opposite direction like we were the last drive, you were going with the wind. It is tough because when you can go with the wind, you can’t really throw and leave it up in the air because it goes with it; the opposite, it is going against us. Just a lot of opportunities that we just didn’t capitalize. We just have to make sure that we learn from those.”
On if his rushing TD occurred on a play that he also ran with the Texans:
“I am not sure. I am not sure if they ran it before. I think they ran it before, at least what I saw on film. I think it was like two years ago when I think (former Browns and LA Rams QB) Baker (Mayfield) did it against Pittsburgh to clinch to go to the playoffs or something like that.”
On his touchdown run not looking like Mayfield’s run:
“(Laughter), yeah. The guys did a great job of blocking and sealing the hole. I saw it, just accelerated and got into the endzone so I appreciate all of those guys.”
On if he ran similar plays with Houston:
“We had a couple here and there for sure.”
On how important it is to finish the season strong despite being eliminated from the postseason:
“We have to finish strong, not just for ourselves because we have to have pride in what we do. We have to come to work each and every day and give everything that we have. We can’t just go out there and lollygag. These are two opportunities for not just us as individuals but as a team and as this organization to try to get a boost for next year. Most definitely. Just for guys who have opportunities if they are going to be here next year or are they going to be on another organization, these are the opportunities for people to go out there and show what you have and show the future of this organization. We have to go in and come in like we have something to prove.”
On the disappointment of being eliminated from the postseason despite the talent on the roster:
“It is tough. It is very tough. You just have to, like I said, finish these two weeks strong and then look back and review the season and what we could have did better and try to improve. Come back next season and try to do what we need to do.”
On celebrating with Browns fans on the field after scoring his TD:
“It was cool. It was good to just go up there. I know they enjoyed it. I gave them the football, too. I was just going in, just kind of hopped up and just enjoyed it. It was fun to get in the end zone and celebrate with the fans.”
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