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Brian Flores – December 26, 2020 (Postgame) Download PDF version

Saturday, December 26, 2020
Postgame – Las Vegas

Head Coach Brian Flores

(Could you explain the decision there in the fourth quarter to go to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and just his will to be able to lead your team to victory, including that long pass to WR Mack Hollins there at the end of the game?) – “We felt like we needed a spark, trying to win the game. If we’ve got to go to our relief pitcher in the ninth, that’s what we’ll do. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick), he’s always ready to go. He went in and moved the ball for us, but we had contributions from a lot of guys. Myles Gaskin played well. Mack Hollins, good catch at the end. We were able to make enough plays to win the game.”

(What was the feeling like in the locker room there obviously after a big win? What was the mood of your team like after such a big swing like that?) – “Obviously, everyone was really excited playing a game like that. A meaningful game for us and them. Look, there’s ups and downs and ebbs and flows within the game. It was a lot of excitement in the locker room. Guys are fired up. It’s a good group. They want to perform for one another and we were able to pull this one out and make enough plays to win.”

(With the way the game ended, give you any reconsideration about who will start for you guys next week?) – “No.”

(I’m sorry, I wasn’t quite clear on that. Who’s your starting quarterback against Buffalo?) – “Tua’s (Tagovailoa) the starter.”

(Can you maybe take me through your emotions on that heave that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw to WR Mack Hollins? What was going on through your mind when you saw it before and after?) – “We were just trying to make a throw far enough down the field that we can get into field goal range. You see the face mask, you see Mack (Hollins) with the catch and getting out of bounds. We just start looking at field position and seeing where a potential kick might be. There was 12 seconds there, so we were able to work our air ball to knock some more time off the clock. Kicked it with six seconds and we were able to execute the first-level bunt on the kickoff to expire it at the last second. We needed a big play, we got it. Again, we made a few more plays than they did. I thought the Raiders played well. They were short-handed with some guys out defensively. I think (Derek) Carr really played well and moved the ball. (Darren) Waller made some plays. They’ve got some talented players over there. It was a tough game, but that’s the National Football League, especially in December when teams have a lot at stake.”

(Regarding QB Tua Tagovailoa, how would you describe how he played?) – “I think it was up and down. I have a lot of confidence in Tua. He has made a lot of plays for us. He made plays today. But we just felt like we needed a spark the way the game was going, and ‘Fitzy’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) gave us that, but we have a lot of confidence in Tua. He’s a young player, he’s developing, he’s improving on a daily basis. He’s learning from these experiences and he’ll be better next week.”

(I think I understand the thinking behind the going back and forth with the quarterbacks – win-at-all-costs mentality, but do you think going back and forth is – Is there long-term sustainability to doing that whether you guys make the playoffs or not?) – “There’s a lot of people in that locker room who are trying to win. That’s at the forefront of the decisions that I’m going to make here today and moving forward as long as I am here. That’s just kind of how I see the situation. Tua is a resilient kid. He’s a tough-minded kid. He’s happy that ‘Fitzy’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) went in there and we won the game because he is a selfless, team-first guy. That’s why he is here. We’re always going to do what’s best for the team and try to help the team win.”

(Outside of the obvious that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was making plays, what did “Fitz” have tonight that Tua did not? Was it just that veteran poise and leadership? What was it that “Fitz” was able to do that sparked the team the way he did?) – “I mean, I’ve got to watch the tape. It looks like he stepped up in the pocket and made some good throws, but I got to watch the film before I can really make a true assessment there. We made enough plays to help us win the game, and that’s good enough for me.”

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