Selected quotes from the Jets' and Dolphins' locker rooms at MetLife Stadium today following the Jets' 20-6 victory over their AFC East rivals in their home opener:
Head coach Todd Bowles on the atmosphere for the home opener...
"The atmosphere was great. You have to give them something to cheer about. It's our home opener. We ironed some kinks out the first two weeks. We just have to keep getting better."
Bowles on the victory coming after the "dire predictions" that were made outside the team coming into the season...
"We're trying to win any way. We block all that stuff out. That has nothing to do with our motivation to win. We're trying to win ballgames because we want to get to the Super Bowl, not because we want to prove people wrong. It's extra motivation, but we're competitive and we're going to compete every week."
QB Josh McCown on throwing a TD pass to Robby Anderson one play after a holding penalty wiped out a long Bilal Powell run...
"I had five guys madder than all get-out. It's hard because when they're so mad, your mind is everywhere and it wasn't just one. Usually if it's just one you can calm him down. Carp [James Carpenter] was mad, Wes [Johnson] is mad, Beach [Kelvin Beachum] — they're all mad. I'm like, 'Guys, c'mon, let's come back. We're going to get them the next play.' That's the mentality you have to have. ... So we got right back in the huddle and then went right back at it and Robby made a heck of a catch and score. I think that's good for us as we build."
S Jamal Adams on the pride he takes in bringing energy to the defense and the team...
"I definitely want to keep that energy when I'm on the field, set the tone. The fans feed off of us as much as we feed off of them. When we got excited, we started making plays."
LB Demario Davis on the Jets' unity...
"Yeah, it's unique to see what we're working on in the locker room and on the field is directly what's needed in our country off the field. Our motto is 'one team, one goal.' It's all of us in the good times and the bad times working together to accomplish one goal. We look around our country and we're having so many problems. ... Whether you know the answer to the problem or you don't know the answer to the problem, whatever the solution is, it's going to take everybody as a whole together."
Bowles on Davis' overall game, which included a game-leading 12 tackles and a pass defense...
"It was great to see him command the defense and still make plays. He was thinking a little bit too much earlier in the year, but now he's thinking faster and it's coming easier for him. He did a good job today."
Lawrence Thomas on playing fullback, especially when he caught the 15-yard pass that converted third-and-1 and led to the Jets' third-quarter TD...
"I'm versatile. I can do it all, you know what I'm saying? I was happy and excited at the same time. ... I was familiar with the position because I played it in college and high school. I was just waiting to hear my number called so I could go out there and handle my business."
Austin Seferian-Jenkins on if he felt he could contribute as he did in his first game this season...
"I thought I could do a little bit. Whatever my stats were, they were really irrelevant just based on the fact that we won. But the next game I'll be in better wind shape and my blocking will be better and my route-running will be better. There were some lapses because of fatigue. Those will get picked up by next week."
ASJ on making five receptions in his debut...
"Yeah, nice. And five times 14, that's 70."
Miami head coach Adam Gase on what he said to his team after the loss...
"There's nothing to say. Look at the scoreboard."
Gase on RB Jay Ajayi being held to 16 yards on 11 rushes...
"You watched the game. He couldn't get through anything. Guys were in the backfield so fast."
