Cameron Wake – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins DE Cameron Wake (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: Cam the numbers might not look great for you defensively on that one, but it looked like a very aggressive game plan for you. How did you feel about the defensive performance?
A: Of course we wish we had a couple of plays that went differently but, the ultimate goal is to win the game. You had opportunities to go out there and make plays and we made them when it counted and we won. Of course we would love the stat sheet to be great but the only stat that matters is the W.
Q: What was the mentality you sensed from your guys coming into this one?
A: Leave it all on the field. Play for the guy on the left and the right. Do whatever it takes to win, no matter how long it takes; 60 minutes or a little longer like today. This one went a little longer, but like I said, we’ve been in battles- battle tested. We know how to win, so I don’t think it’s an accident. I enjoy it.
Q: You’ve never had a winning season, never been playoff bound, now you guys have done your part to be on the verge of being playoff bound, what is that feeling like?
A: I just enjoy winning. That’s the whole goal every week. Go in and win one game. That’s been our mindset from months and months ago so that’s no different. Each week go in there and do your job; that’s what feels good. I feel like all of the rest of that stuff will take care of itself as long as you do your job.
Q: You had a chase down on [Tyrod] Taylor coming from the opposite side late in the game, how much energy did you even have left at that point?
A: That’s the thing about this game: you never have energy left until the next play. The play before that didn’t have any energy, I’m sure the rest of the guys on the field felt the same way, but your brothers need you and you have to make a play and find it. That was this game. Every guy had strain, everyone had their fight. When you think you’re done, you look across the field and say “I need one more play from you” and you made that promise to go out there and get it done. It’s just the way this league us, if you don’t leave everything on the field you probably won’t win. It took every guy and I’m just myself. Every guy out there making plays and they counted for sure.
Q: You guys have played like 6 or 7 one score games and you’ve only lost like one of them this year. What is the key to winning a game that is so close that can go either way and that you come out on top most of the time?
A: It’s that one play. That’s the thing though, you never know when that play is going to be. You never know if it’s going to be that play where you chase down the Quarterback from the backside, you never know if it’s that 9 ball that you pass interfere on, you don’t know if it’s a batted ball- it might be the first play of the game, you just don’t know. So every play you have to play like this is the play and every guy has to be that way and when we’re doing that it’s going to be tough to beat us. My hats off to the guys on the other side of the ball. I’ve been getting up and talking about that for the whole season, playing complimentary football when it counted. The defense got on the field, off the field and got the ball to the offense and they went down and scored points. Every time I’ve mentioned that it’s been a formula for success. It would have obviously been great to go out there and win by 30 points but this is the NFL- the best players in the world and every time you step on the field you have to play. We went out there and knew it was going to be a battle and every guy fought and we won.
Q: This team hadn’t won here since 2011, and today you leave with a very important win. Do you shrug it off and say okay, we won or is it really meaningful for you?
A: It is meaningful, but so was last week, and the week before, and the week before that. It’s hard to win in this league, it takes everyone and it’s hard to win. Every week, every time we win, it’s important and very meaningful. Again, our whole goal is to be the one and I guarantee nobody was thinking about that stat. I didn’t even know it, but I don’t care. It’s about this play; win, put the ball down; win, win the game. So a lot of that stuff that other people make a big deal about, I guarantee it’s not about that, it’s about this play and the next play.
Q: Considering everything you’ve been through here, to see your team at a spot where there is something there to take and you do go take it, how do you feel about your teammates?
A: Like I said before, I enjoy winning. I’ll take a quote from somebody close to me that played here, “I hate losing more than I love winning,” so that’s always been the goal. I’m not a guy who is into looking ahead and the crystal ball and all that. Our goal is to go win one game and if we win this game we’re going to enjoy tonight, Merry Christmas and all that, and get back to work. That’s the entire goal. All the rest of that stuff is kind of irrelevant if you don’t do your job so your main focus should be on the task at hand.
Ndamukong Suh – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: How did it feel when you saw the ball go through the uprights for the win?
A: At then end of the day, we got the win. We definitely made it tough on ourselves, no question, especially on the defensive side of the ball in the second half. They were just running the ball on us and we had to tackle and we really weren’t playing great assignment football. But at the end of the day we got stops when we needed to get stops and get the offense the ball back to make plays.
Q: What can you grasp out of their ability to run the ball on your defense?
A: Yeah, without seeing the tapes in my opinion they have great athletes over there and they put them in great positions to make plays. It’s our job as a defensive line and a defensive front to hunt that down. Obviously we struggled with that in the second half. I think in key positions and key situations we got the ball down and the running back down enforcing the pass in certain situations and made plays.
Q: What was your thought process when (Andrew) Franks was lined up for the 55 yard field goal?
A: I watch him every Wednesday in practice and he knocks them down so, as long as he has a good clean kick he’s going to be fine.
Q: How does it feel to get to double digit wins?
A: Yeah it’s a tough situation when you start winning three but, it’s the position that we put ourselves in and we had to take it one game at a time as coach continues to preach and that’s what guys have been doing. Focusing on their task, doing their job and that’s it. And that’s all we have to do. We’ll make plays and the guys that need to make plays are going to make plays and go from there.
Q: This seems to be a real tight team, does this help you win close games?
A: Yeah I sent something last night to more specifically our defensive guys. At the end of the day, we can have fun, joke, be a tight knit group. But when it’s time to work, we got to work and we found a way to have a great combination. Definitely proud of the way that we’ve been able to do that especially as we move into the later part of the season, and that’s the right time to jet.
Dion Sims – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins TE Dion Sims (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: You know, just Jay (Ajayi)’s game today—
A: Oh man he’s a grinder, he’s a work horse. He goes a hundred miles an hour and that’s why he’s got the nickname “train” because he is just going nonstop. He balled out thanks to the guys up front.
Q: He (Ajayi) put 214 (yards) on them last time. I mean they were fired up all week that this was not going to happen again. How does it feel to, against a division rival, pound it on them?
A: It felt great. Great feeling to pound it and then everything else opens up. I think the guys up front did a great job. They battled it out. It wasn’t easy, it’s never easy, but we’re getting it done.
Q: You know Jay killed them on cutbacks the first week. It seemed like the game plan today was we’re hitting it hard, you know we’re attacking. Can you comment on that? Was that talked about during the week?
A: Just holding blocks. You know, guys just doing their job backside. Collapsed play, bring it all the way to the backside tackle. It was there. The creases were there.
Q: Did you know this was going to be a little “extra something?” You guys have had that history with the Bills and it’s been a little chippy. Did you have an idea coming into the game that it would have this kind of atmosphere?
A: Yeah. It’s always tough playing on the road – you know, the weather. The Bills are always a tough opponent to play, especially with Rex Ryan over there on the other side. We knew that they were going to throw a lot of different things at us – variations of coverages. And we just did our thing up front. We just kept pounding and we had some creases there.
Matt Moore – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins QB Matt Moore (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: Your feelings on when the field goal went in for the win?
A: Yeah, all good feelings obviously. For the run game to get us down there in a situation like that is bigtime. The guys up front and all the backs really all played huge rolls today. We just kind of kept chipping away a little bit in the run game. That was tough. It was a tough one. No doubt. Just kind of kept chipping away and Jay (Ajayi) stayed strong and kept going and really busted out that big one in a crucial situation.
Q: How much did Jay Ajayi’s big day mean for you guys?
A: Yeah, to have a guy like that … you know I think he’ll tell you also he’ll probably credit the offensive line foremost. I mean those guys, we saw a ton of different looks. A lot of guys down in the box. We knew we wanted to run the ball and we had to run the ball so for those guys to deal with Buffalo’s defense which is always tough, it’s just a great feeling.
Q: Comment on all three running backs playing huge roles in todays game.
A: They all did. They all did. And Damien (Williams) had a big catch. I’m not sure if it was third down, I think it was third down, big catch and run down the left side there which set us up for a touchdown on that drive. Then Kenyan (Drake) coming in and and providing that spark and scoring on really a broken play. His talent really showed there and that was nice.
Q: How tough was it throwing the ball against the wind?
A: Yeah, it was challenging, it was challenging. But, short throws it wasn’t bad, but it definitely played a part I think in the ballgame. Not by anything crazy but just you had to be aware of it.
Q: What is it about this team?
A: Yeah, well … I mean it’s a team. This is a true team and I said that a couple weeks ago. I think everybody in that locker room will agree. We have a great message in the week coming from coach (Adam) Gase. The mindset of these guys has been extremely focused and really eyeing just the one game that we going on that week. But yeah like you said, we won a couple close games which was big. It’s always hard to fall on the other end of a game like this so to be on the other side is good.
Q: How does it feel to be part of this team where you are right now?
A: It’s great, it’s great, and guys can see, at least these past couple of weeks, the changes. What we were and kind of what we’re trying to be or kind of morphing into. And again, it’s nothing crazy but it’s just guys playing for each other really straining out there and finish is a word that’s always used and today is a perfect example of that,
Q: Last drive of regulation, do you feel that you got far enough for that field goal?
A: Well I know Andrew (Franks) has got a big leg but, I knew it would be close. I knew he had a shot, and sure enough, he put it through which was a big hit. Credit to those guys blocking for coming through on a big play.
Head Coach Adam Gase – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: What did you tell the team after?
A: You have tomorrow off. I didn’t give them much. We have another game left so we have to take care of business.
Q: That game could’ve gone either way a few times. What do you take out of that for the team?
A: We have a lot to clean up. Our guys have a lot of fight though and they kept battling. We had some opportunities we missed, but so did they. It was just one of those games. Basically, last possession was going to win the game.
Q: Jay Ajayi’s running was obviously a big factor. He hadn’t had a big game like that in awhile. Was that just the way it played out today?
A: Yeah, a lot of it has to do with that our line has been banged up pretty good. We’ve lost a lot of guys and have really been in and out. This is probably the first game since San Diego where we’ve been pretty much healthy. And Jay’s been running hard the whole time but it makes a difference when those guys are healthy and running and feeling like we felt today and headed to the run game before the game even started.
Q: How much of today was about fighting for what you deserve and what you wanted?
A: I can’t say enough about how our guys fought through. A lot of things weren’t going the way we wanted it to go and we just kept battling. The chatter on the sideline was good even when things looked pretty bad. But, one side really was picking up the other side and that’s really how it’s been all season. Somebody has stepped up at the right time. When we need a big play for special teams and they delivered, and then offense does their part and defense comes through. It just seems like what the whole year has been.
Q: It seems like nothing comes easy for this football team, but you continue to come back and make plays and get wins.
A: It is what it is. That’s how the whole season has gone and our guys are used to it. Fortunately, we keep coming out on the right end of the results of the game. I wish they would make it a little less stressful but it’s just what it is.
Q: Were you sure about that 55-yard field goal going into it?
A: I was just glad it wasn’t 60. It was close enough. I’ve seen them make it in practice all the time. He hit it just good enough.
Q: What happened on the sideline with the commotion?
A: I just saw Jakeem [Grant] get hit and then it was just a bunch of bodies. After that I didn’t really see much. I just saw guys from the other team coming on our sideline. I mean there were a lot of bodies in there. We were just trying to make sure we kept everyone else back. We didn’t need one of our guys getting thrown out of the game because obviously we needed everybody.
Q: What about your range of emotions throughout this game? How was that train ride?
A: That’s a normal NFL game. I don’t know if I had any ups or downs. I think at the end I got a little irritated when the clock goes down to one second and they pump it back up and I had to burn a time out.
Q: Did you expect to have the same type of rushing game today that you did last time?
A: It’s a good front. When we had 200 yards earlier in the season, I don’t think we ever thought we were going to do it again. It’s tough. It’s an eight-man box most of the time. It’s not an easy thing to accomplish. I felt like our guys came in with a purpose today and we were just trying to make sure we established a solid running game and stayed ahead of the sticks. We tried to go first down, second down, first down and we played five quarters. Jay busted out a couple big ones there at the end.
Q: How did you feel about Matt Moore and the way he handled today?
A: Early, I didn’t get him in a very good rhythm. It was a little spotty when we were going into the wind. We kind of had our thought process of how we wanted to handle that. We wanted to make sure we were smart and shorten the quarter up as much as we could. He had a good run there with a couple series and we let him go a little bit and throw the ball. But, my thought going into the game was making sure Jay was in a great rhythm and stayed with it. Matt’s job today was really to fill in the pieces and be great on third down. We needed him to be accurate.
Q: Defensively, trying to stop the run: you still have another game left, what do you do here?
A: Look back, watch the tape, make the corrections. We knew they were the number one rushing team in football coming into this game and probably have the best back in football. The quarterback did a great job today. It’s a tough scheme to stop and it’s a good coaching staff. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but we did everything we could to make sure we came out on top.
Q: You have one more regular season game to play, you’re 10 and five and with the turn around, it has to be an accomplishment that you feel pretty good about.
A: We have one more game left and then we’ll see what happens after that. But, right now, it’s no time to start popping champagne or anything.
Q: Will you take some time to watch the Denver game tomorrow?
A: We’ll see.
Andrew Franks – December 24,2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins K Andrew Franks (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: What was it like in the middle of the rush, to get out there and set it (game-tying 55-yard field goal) all up and get it off in time?
A: You know there was still a decent amount of time on the clock. So, for us that was pretty much a normal situation for us. You know, we weren’t really rushing, it felt like. You know, it was get there a little earlier than usual. So, for us it was a pretty nonchalant thing.
Q: Thinking 55 (yards) in these conditions. I mean —
A: Yeah, it was a little chilly. I think about 56, 57 was the longest I hit in warmups and, you know, the wind sort of helped it, that way especially. So, for the most part that was sort of I felt like my range.
Q: Did you feel like you hit a perfect strike on it?
A: I hit a really pure ball. I thought I hit a pure ball all day long. So you know for me, it was just continuing to do what I do.
Q: What’s it feel like to kick your first game-winner?
A: It’s my second, but it feels pretty good I guess. For us, we’re just trying to go 1-0 and any way I can help, I’m trying to do that.
Q: Playoff bound for this team. It looks like you can get in if Denver loses one of the final two. What’s that like to know that you have done your part?
A: Good. Honestly I’m not paying attention to the playoff picture. You know, for us we’re just trying to win one game at a time. We’re not really looking at other teams or what they’re doing. We’re just trying to the best we can and for us that’s to try to get a win every week.
Kenyan Drake – December 24, 2016
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: Somebody said they head-butted one of your coaches, you know anything about that?
A: Hopefully the league will take care of something like that. I have no say-so in that so I hope the league will take care of that.
Q: Were they kind of dirty today?
A: We were making enough plays to where they really didn’t have anything they can say on the field. So, I guess, whatever ends they need, you know, head-butting our coaches, if that’s what they’re trying to do then by all means.
Jermon Bushrod – December 24, 2016 (Postgame)
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Saturday, December 24, 2016
Postgame – at Buffalo
Miami Dolphins OL Jermon Bushrod (as transcribed by the Buffalo Bills)
Q: What was it like in that huddle in that final minute and a half, for that field goal to force overtime at the end of regulation?
A: We have to find a way. We got to put our best foot forward and go out here and let’s have some success and that’s what happens man. Our quarterback was able to get the ball, spread the ball around, get it to whoever he needed to, and (Andrew) Franks came and hit a big kick.
Q: Jay (Ajayi) ran for 214 down there, they were gunned up all week that it wasn’t gonna happen again, how does it feel to put 200 yards on them again?
A: That’s what it’s about. We know what we’re capable of doing we just got to go out and we got to execute. We understood the situation coming in but at the end of the day, that doesn’t matter. Whatever we got to do to have success, whether we had to run it, we wanted to run it cause we wanted to be as balanced as possible, you know you don’t want to get in a throwing fest with that defense and those guys they have upfront, but play callers did a tremendous job of trusting us upfront, and when we had to dial it up and get these pass plays, Matt (Moore) came through and we fought our behinds off to give him some time.
Q: It looked very aggressive today?
A: We had to win, we understood, look this is a good team and this team took us down to the wire last time. We had a lead, they kept fighting back, they’re not going to give up. That’s just the mentality of the coach, of their team, and then when you come up here and play them in Buffalo, it was electric out there. It was fun. We knew they weren’t going to back down and we just had to put out best foot forward and that’s what we did. I’m proud of these guys.
