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Xavien Howard – January 11, 2023 Download PDF version

Wednesday, January 11, 2022

CB Xavien Howard

(How much are you looking forward to playing in another playoff game?) – “I’m looking forward. I’m ready for this week. It’s a big game. Playoffs in Buffalo.”

(What would you say about the job the defense has done in the last two weeks? It seems like you guys are holding offenses under wraps.) – “I feel like we’ve been doing okay. Buffalo is a high-powered offense. They’ve got a lot of weapons everywhere. It’s going to be a good matchup this week for us.”

(You guys have had some battles with QB Josh Allen throughout his career. What’s it going to slow that guy down?) – “He can do everything, man. This is the third time we’re facing him this year. There’s a lot of stuff on the table he can do, so we just got to stop him, try to contain him and just get some takeaways from him and stuff like that.”

(What did you learn from those experiences?) – “Every time we played them, the game has been close. I feel like we’ve been doing an okay job against them.  I’m sure they’re going to come with a different game plan and different stuff they’re going to do. We just got to try to stop and contain him.”

(You were around the last time this team made a playoff appearance. What do you remember from that?) – “We got whooped. That’s what I do remember. (laughter) It was a cold game. It was also a cold game in Pittsburgh. But it was crazy. This is our second time in six years? We’re just looking forward to trying to get the game plan together and see what we got planned.”

(It’s also been a long time coming. So it’s good to finally get back?) – “It feels great. Opportunities, you can’t take them for granted. Like I said last Sunday, it’s the second time I’m going to the playoffs in six or seven years. You can’t take the chance for granted.”

(You said turnovers. Do you become more aggressive to try to create turnovers? Or are you trying to strip a football more so than a normal situation or jump a route? What’s your approach to that?) – “Just make plays defense-wise. Being aggressive, sometimes that can hurt you so there’s not really much you can say. I’d just say just let the plays come to you.”

(What’s your thoughts on the way that that team and that community has really rallied around what’s going on with Damar Hamlin, and what can you guys expect from that atmosphere?) – “They did a great job. The NFL did a great job. Everybody did a great job. Everything played out well. The guys back in Buffalo, that’s what it’s all about, just showing the support, especially when the guy is down and stuff happens like that on the field. I know it’s going to be packed this Sunday. I know it’s going to be crazy so we got to prepare for that.”

(Head Coach Mike McDaniel told us that QB Tua Tagovailoa won’t play on Sunday. As a member of the defense, do you take more upon yourself now that you’re without your starting quarterback, that you have to win this game for this team?) – “He hasn’t played in two weeks. We’re the next-man-up mentality. We got to keep it going. We just got to play.”

(The last time you were there, the snowballs were flying and they’ve got the Bills Mafia. Now it’s going to be ratcheted up if Damar Hamlin does appear. What do you think the whole atmosphere is going to be like?) – “If he comes to the game, that’s going to be a different game. They’ve been pushing through for him and everything. It’s a great environment to play in. We’re looking forward to it. There isn’t really much the fans can do to try or do anything to us or stop us from playing because at the end of the day, a game still has to be played.”

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