Transcripts of news conferences and interviews in the Jets' locker room area following their 28-24 comeback win over the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon:
HEAD COACH REX RYAN
We'll take it. Wow. You have to give our guys a lot of credit. That wasn't an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. Both teams knew they would get the other's best shot. I absolutely love the way our guys responded. We really have to credit our offensive line. The protection was tremendous, especially when we had to have it in the second half. Mark [Sanchez] was so poised back there and made some huge plays. When you look at his numbers in the second half — 9-of-15 for 114 yards and two TDs, a 123.0 quarterback rating — that was big-time. We always say that he's at his best in big moments, and you certainly can't get a bigger moment than the one we had today. Tone [Santonio Holmes] showed up on "Tone Time," but I really couldn't be happier about the way the offensive line performed. They did a tremendous job.
Obviously, the way we were able to run the football. Shonn [Greene] averaged close to 6 yards a carry, which was tremendous. Defensively, the one thing we can say is that we finished. It might not have been the prettiest way, but we did finish. I'll take that every day of the week. We get a lead, and we had to close it out, and we did. At the end, we gave up some things, but Buffalo is a tough, scrappy team. They're well-coached. Chan Gailey does a tremendous job with that group. He had a nice game plan and has some good players over there. They have a nice system. We knew it was going to be a dog fight, and it certainly was.
On Antonio Cromartie returning a punt...
Jimmy [Leonhard] got the wind knocked out of him. He tackled a guy, got hit in the ribs and had the wind knocked out of him, so that's why he wasn't back there returning.
On Plaxico Burress' third-down catch on the game-winning drive and WR Stevie Johnson's dropped touchdown on the Bills' final drive...
I don't know if it is going for a touchdown, but in that area you're giving up some things, you're giving up the slants, but obviously you want to make some tackles there. The middle of the field is something that you give up, but I don't think he's going in for a touchdown there. I don't agree with that.
As far as the catch Plax made, I don't know how many receivers in the league are going to make that catch now that [former Philadelphia WR Harold] Carmichael isn't playing for the Eagles anymore. He was about 6'9", but the way he went up and made a ridiculous one-handed catch and got both feet in bounds, that was a tremendous effort. Both of those receivers [Burress and Holmes] kept going and kept playing hard. I'm really proud of both of those receivers.
On the poise shown by Sanchez...
That's who he is. He's a stud. "Sanchize." The first half wasn't the best half, but we knew if we just hung in there...we have complete faith in Mark. He's done it before. I think he's had more fourth-quarter comebacks over the last two years than any other quarterback in the league. That speaks enough about Mark.
On if today's game had a playoff feel to it...
There's no doubt. You have to win. You have to beat those AFC teams. We understand that. They understood that, and that's why we got their best shot. That's why we gave them our best shot. We're fortunate. That's a good football team. They're well-coached. That was a huge victory for us, and now we have two wins over Buffalo, a team that we could see at the end right there with us in the playoff run.
On the yards allowed on first down by the Jets defense...
I'm not going to get into specifics and things, but it wasn't necessarily a surprise that they were able to complete some of those passes for short yardage. They were in front of the sticks, so we'll accept some of those things.
On if he saw Bills WR Stevie Johnson's touchdown celebration and if it motivated the team…
I never saw it, but I'm glad he did it.
On if today's win was a pivotal point in the season…
We just need to win. It doesn't matter if it's pivotal, pretty, ugly or whatever. We'll take it. This part of the season, you have to win. We wanted to win those games we lost previously, but it never happened. We have to look forward. Any time that we spend dwelling on what's happened in the past is not productive. It's straight ahead, no fair dodging.
On if he thought Burress was aware of Johnson's touchdown celebration…
I don't know what he did on the sidelines. You'll have to ask Plax because I have no idea.
On being told what Johnson did...
Oh, did he really? [long pause] Well, I have no comment.
On competition between Jets Darrelle Revis and Johnson…
I don't necessarily know that he got the best of Revis. Revis gave up a touchdown. It's the first time that's happened all season. He's human. He's still way better than any corner in football – head and shoulders better. I'm not going to say that the kid got the best of him. He had 75 yards receiving. I don't want to say anything that we did or whatever, but I'll give the young man credit. He made some great catches. I think the guy is a great talent, but he never got the better of Revis.
On the significance of Burress catch on the Jets final drive…
It was huge. We were going to have to kick. We were going to have to launch that field goal from 50-something yards, which I think our guy [Nick Folk] is going to make. While I think Folk could make it, now it allows you to go for the win. Your big-time players make big plays in big moments and look at that play. Like I said before, there are very few guys in this league who are going to make that catch. We're fortunate to have Plax and it was a great effort. Then to follow it up, such poise from Mark, who found room and made a huge throw to Santonio in the end for a touchdown. I'm sitting back going, "Run it, run it, run it...or throw it for a touchdown!" [laughter] So we'll take it.
On if Sanchez still makes him nervous…
The only time I get nervous is when he doesn't get up. That's what makes me nervous.
On Jets Mike DeVito's knee injury…
I'm not real sure. I don't know about that right now.
On how important it was to tie the game at the end of the first half…
You know it's going to be a dogfight, so everything you can get is critical. Obviously, that was big.
QB MARK SANCHEZ
On the third-down catch that Plaxico Burress made…
I don't know if words do it justice. It was a big-time catch in a crucial situation and it really gave us a chance to take the lead there and either have a gimme field goal or go for the lead like we ended up doing. So if that doesn't happen we have a real long field goal ahead of us, and he just made it a lot easier on our kick team and gave us an extra chance to win.
On the touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes...
I felt the right side of the line collapse, and they did a good job of keeping them inside. They collapsed the defense, I want to make sure I phrase that right, and just left a wide open hole to the right. So I started running, [and] I'm ready to throw it away or get a couple yards and get out of bounds and save some time. Coach [Matt] Cavanaugh just reminds us to remain a passer and keep your eyes up. Tone [Santonio] freed up, gave me his hand and let me know where he was going, and that was it.
On the offense's mentality on the last drive…
Completions, get completions, be ready to stop the clock. If you go down in between the hashes, get up and hand the ball to the official, don't leave it on the ground. Be ready for hurry up offense, be ready for the next call, anticipate the next call, understand the down and distance, and that's what we did.
On how he felt going into the last drive…
I felt good, we've been in that situation before, we rep it all the time in practice. The game's on the line, we have to win and we made plays to do it.
On if he felt this game was more difficult than the first matchup against the Bills…
I think we made it tougher on ourselves. Credit to them for taking advantage of the turnovers we gave them, but [there were] some miscues and poor execution on our part on offense and we'll fix those. And we have to do better at that to win these games so we're not in that position at the end where we have to grind it out.
On the reaction on the sideline to Stevie Johnson's touchdown celebration…
I didn't see it, I have no idea.
On if he was happy with his decision making in the first half…
There were a couple times where I could have checked it down. I thought there were some things that we need to clean up in the passing game and whether it's the read or a landmark or discipline in the passing game, [it] just needs to be sharper and those numbers will skyrocket. So, I should have gotten more completions early in the game.
On if there was miscommunication on the third-down incompletion to Holmes…
He adjusted his route when I didn't think he would.
On if head coach Rex Ryan will give him a break from the motivational tactics after the win…
No, this is a lot bigger than that. That's a motivational tool that Rex used, and we take it all in stride. But this game, and this season are a lot bigger than that.
On if coach Ryan thinks his motivational tactic worked…
I have no idea, you'll have to ask him.
On what happened on the interception that he threw…
I'm expecting Tone [Santonio] to sit down. He said he got pushed in, so when I don't see him clear enough like that, you have to anticipate the throw, so I don't really take back the decision, but I just need to be aware of that when the DB [defensive back] undercuts him like that. He's getting pushed a little bit, he has contact, maybe get it down to your [running] back or eat the ball and throw it away or whatever. But, I have to look at it on film.
On why the team plays better when their backs are against the wall…
That's a very good question. I have no idea.
On if the quarterback sneak after Burress' catch was meant to prevent a replay review…
Yes, we were just being careful, making sure they didn't get a chance to replay it. It looked like an awesome catch to me, but I'm also 20-plus yards away, so we wanted to be sure and not lose that opportunity.
On what Burress has meant to the offense this season…
He's done a great job making big plays in big situations, using his body, using his athletic ability. He did a good job of staying positive through the entire game and building guys up. I don't think it was our best game, passing-wise. The numbers show that. He did a great job of just staying in it, keeping guys positive, motivating players. It was a short week for him, so he came back and played pretty well.
On if Brian Schottenheimer had a message for him at halftime…
Just to be smart, don't give them anything cheap, and keep fighting. Be sharper on third down. That was pretty much it.
On what frustrated him the most in the first half…
I think just the discipline in our passing game. It just wasn't where we need to be. We'll get it corrected.
On what he means by discipline in the passing game…
All of us. We all had our hand in it. There was no pointing fingers. We just need to get better and we'll address it.
On how big the touchdown before halftime was for the team's momentum…
It was huge. We always seem to do a good job right before halftime, putting points on the board when we can, whether it's a field goal or touchdown. That's big.
On if he is oblivious to the fans who were booing the team…
That's the last thing on my mind. Just like, talking about Rex taking reps, there's bigger things on our plate than that.
On if Burress' fourth-quarter touchdown was a season-saving play…
We'll see.
On if he heard the boos at all…
Well, of course you hear them. You hear a lot of stuff.
On the team thriving with its back against the wall…
We just don't need to put ourselves in that position. And we can't give them 14 points off of turnovers. Can't do it to a good team. Did it to the Patriots and got beat. Can't do that.
On what the game-winning drive will do for his confidence…
Any of those drives, as a quarterback, if you're playing at this level, I hope you have the confidence that you're going to go down and score and win, or kick a field goal and tie it and beat them in overtime. Either way, that's got to be your mentality. That's never changed. We'll just keep rolling.
On if he expected to score on the final drive…
Every time you do.
On this game not being a satisfying victory…
It's very satisfying. We just don't need to put ourselves in that position the way we did. It's a great job winning the game. It's huge. Any time you win in this league, it's huge, especially when you need to win six in a row. So, I'm thrilled about the win. Don't get me wrong. It's just that I know we can play better than that. We don't need to fight it at the end and grind it out and bite our nails at the end of the game. That's not the way we need to play. We won't win every game like that is what I'm saying.
On if the come-from-behind victory will vindicate the Jets for the last two losses…
No, they're all separate. All of these are separate. We squandered opportunities to win those games, so this helps our playoff picture where we stand now, but it doesn't change anything about those last few losses.
On if he is thinking about playing the Redskins already…
We have a lot of corrections to make here first and we'll start on Washington tomorrow.
WR PLAXICO BURRESS
On his third-down catch on the final offensive drive…
It was an all-out blitz by Buffalo. He [Mark Sanchez] just looked at me and gave me the signal. I didn't think Sanchez was going to throw it.
On the difficulty of his third-down grab…
It was just a regular catch to me. The goal is to haul them all in and just try to find a way to get to them.
On winning today and helping the Jets playoff chances…
As a team, we are mentally prepared. We just need to focus on the team we are playing every week. You can't afford to look forward or past any teams. We just have to go out and focus on winning each game each week.
WR SANTONIO HOLMES
On what he saw on his game-winning touchdown catch…
The quarterback got flushed out of the pocket. We know what we're taught in practice is to just keep the play alive until it's completed, thrown away [or] whatever. The guy had his back turned to the quarterback and I was watching his every move. [I stayed] relaxed until I knew it was my turn to turn around and do what I'm supposed to do for Mark [Sanchez].
On if he sensed a confidence in Mark Sanchez on that last drive…
I sense confidence in him throughout the whole game. No matter what he goes through, he continues to play until the last second of the game and it showed today again.
On Plaxico Burress' third-down catch…
It was a big play. I actually turned my head around and saw that Mark went his direction and threw it on the comeback to him. I knew that he was going to throw it up right then and there and it was a big play made by a big-time receiver.
TE DUSTIN KELLER
On how important their last offensive drive was…
It was huge. Obviously, you don't play for overtime and we wanted to get a touchdown. Santonio [Holmes] came up with a big catch.
On the importance of defeating the Buffalo Bills…
This was huge. If we let this game slip, who knows what the situation would have been. It's just a matter of taking it one game at a time. We may have to win out.
On his connection with Mark Sanchez…
I think we did some good things and there were a couple of things I could have done better. There were some balls that were tough catches, but those are things I can come up with so I can make it easier on him. It just things we need to go through and get some repetitions in practice. You have to tip your hat off to Mark because he found mismatches.
LB AARON MAYBIN
On if this performance means more than any of his other ones this season…
So much more, because we're in the position that we're in right now trying to fight for our playoff lives. At the end of the day, you want to go out and perform well, but when the team is put in a position where you have some must-win games ahead of you, especially in your division, it feels good to be able to go out there and have a good game in a situation like that.
On if his two sacks sent a message to his old team…
Ask them, we'll see. I wouldn't know. God is awesome. The position I was in a year ago and the things people were saying, how far He has brought me and how far I've come, it just feels good to be in this locker room with these guys right now enjoying ourselves.
On having to stop Buffalo on that final drive…
For this, we knew that had to be one of those do-or-die moments for us because we've been in those situations and not finished before [this] in the season. Coming down the home stretch, when you're looking to make a playoff push and looking to show everyone that this is a team that has shown growth and is continuing to make strides in the right direction, being able to go out there and close on a team in the fourth quarter definitely helps to send that message.
On what the defense has learned from their previous mistakes…
Honestly, we just have to do a better job of finishing. That's the big thing. When it comes down to it, we have a lot of pieces [on this] team that play well in certain areas, but when it came down to [when] we have two minutes left in the game [and] we have to either make a play or stop a team from making a play, we weren't able to get out of those situations before. With us being able to come out on the other end of that and being able to show some improvement, it's definitely looking good for us during this final stretch.
CB DARRELLE REVIS
On if his heart skipped a beat on the last drive when he saw the ball going to Stevie Johnson with some space…
No, because when the ball was thrown I saw Jimmy Leonhard coming down. It looked like it was going to be a tough collision there if he caught the ball, but it was right there by the goal line. If he would've caught it, it might have been decided in that last second. Jimmy broke down real fast and tried to make a play.
On if the game plan was to play off the receivers a little bit and not give up the big play…
We mixed it up this game. We know [Ryan] Fitzpatrick likes to throw the quick, underneath throws, so we knew at the end of the day that was going to beat us. They caught a couple of underneath balls, but we knew at the end it wasn't going to be enough.
On if he is surprised at how much he was targeted today…
No, I'm not surprised. Like I said, they threw the ball and he caught some balls. You have to give a little respect to what they did today. That's what it was. Did it beat us, no it didn't.
