Here’s the full transcript of New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo’s press conference following their win over the Bengals on Sunday, September 8, 2024:
OPENING STATEMENT:
“All right. Well, thought the guys went out there and competed hard. We talked about establishing the run game and being able to stop their running game, make them one-dimensional. We did a good job with that. I’ll say we still left a lot of plays out there, but we’re going to enjoy this one on the flight home and get ready for next week.”
“But very proud. My message to the players, they gave me the Gatorade shower and things like that. But without them, I’m nothing. I made sure they knew that. They crossed the white lines. I always talk about empowering the players to go out there and play. I always talk about awareness really being the number one thing, and those guys taking ownership. So all the praise goes to those guys, and they did a great job.”
On the fact he’s been waiting for this day for quite a while and what his day was like and what it was like to walk off the field and go in the locker room with a win:
“Yeah, the day started off solid, just like any other day. Walking off the field, though, really getting in that victory formation, you just kind of feel a rush over yourself. I’m going to enjoy this one here for the next couple of hours. But truth be told, it’s a what have you’ve done for me lately type of business. So time to turn the page. I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, but turn the page and get ready for the next game.”
On how he would describe the experience throughout making those decisions, facing a fourth down, thinking he might be two down territory, and how he found this stuff running through his mind and being able to make the decisions:
“I’ve been playing football my entire life, and I was a great Madden player back in the day. But I understand situational football. I would also say our staff understands situational football. We talk through those things. And like I said all week, I have to make the ultimate decision. I felt good about the way it operated today.”
On the way the defense operated today
“Yeah, they came out on fire. We challenged those guys. Everyone’s talking about Cincy’s offense and how explosive they are. And they answered the call. Up front, started up front. All those defensive linemen, those guys did a good job controlling the line of scrimage. The second-level players, the LBs, they did a good job coming downhill, a couple of plays in the past game. And then really, our safeties and corners, those guys did a good job covering. So it was a total unit victory.”
On the importance of the run heading into this week:
“I challenged Ramondre [Stevenson] in the spring. I said, ‘Look, you don’t get a lot of love, a lot of hype,’ but I’ve always believed that he’s one of the best runningbacks in the league. When we signed him to the extension, there was no one more happy than me because I know what he’s capable of, and he showed that today. He can catch the ball at the backfield, he can run, break tackles, and do all those things. So he’s a great player.
On the fact they talked to him about the defense and run game since January and they hit on that formula today:
“It was great. You always come in with a plan. They say ‘God laughs at plans.’ And what Mike Tyson says, ‘Everyone has a plan until you get hit in the mouth.’ But in the first half, we’re averaging 6.1 yards of carry and able control, once again, the front. Defensively, we did a good job against their run game. Until the second half, there were a few runs, but started up there.”
On the fact at one point in the first half, he said, ‘We’ve got this:’
“I would say the way we were running the ball, I felt pretty confident about that. From the beginning to the end, really, our offensive line, they did a great job led by David Andrews and Big Mike [Onwenu]. Those guys did a great job having [Vederian] Lowe here as well. It was good to get him in the game. They were moving bodies, and that’s what it’s about. So when I talk about fundamentals, that’s part of it. Defensively, block destruction. Offensively, opening up gaps, opening up holes, and those guys did that today.”
On the fact David Andrews mentioned that Robert Kraft’s first win as an owner came here against the Bengals and the fact Kraft delivered him the game ball:
“It was special. It was special. I just want to thank the Kraft family, Robert [Kraft], Jonathan [Kraft], all of them, Danny, all those guys, Josh, just for the opportunity and really for not really getting in the middle of anything that we do football-wise. They’ve pretty much turned the keys over to Eliot [Wolf] and myself and the rest of the staff. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity, and I’m glad that we came in here today and represented the Krafts in a good light.”
On the fact he’s mentioned Jacoby Brissett’s decision-making and his ability to protect the football and what he thought of that today:
“It was great. He made plays with his legs, he made plays with his arm. He’s a tough guy, I’m telling you, he took some hits in the game. I’m just like, ‘Man, get up.’ But he did everything that we asked him to do in the week, and we came out of here with the victory.”
On if he’s going to keep anything from the game and if they gave him the game ball:
“Yeah, Mr. Kraft gave me a ball.”
On if he’s planning on keeping it:
“Absolutely. Absolutely keeping that one. And then I also gave Eliot [Wolf] a ball. So I think it’s a special moment.”
On who he thinks of when it comes to this first win:
“Yeah, a lot of people talk about how they’re self-made and things like that. But we’ve all had people that have helped us along the way. I definitely think about my family. I think about my grandparents. I think about my Pop Warner coaches and all the people who instill not only the Xs and O’s in football, but also just how to operate in life. One thing you guys will notice about me, you can write whatever you want to write. I’m pretty much stoic. I’m stoic. I try not to get too high, I try not to get too low. That’s always been my mentality from a little kid up until now.”
On if that was his first Gatorade bath:
“That was my first Gatorade bath, yeah. It was cold. I felt worse for my shoes. I was like, ‘Ugh, these are done.'”
On the fact his team was betting underdogs in all 17 games, and the fact they were a popular ‘survivor pick’ and if that was used as motivation:
“Not at all. We try not to hear anything on the outside. I told those guys all week, ‘It’s all about us in this building. There’s no one going to come in here on a white, shining horse and save the day.’ And I said, ‘Look, you guys are here for a reason.’ And it’s all we got, and it’s all we need.”
On how it feels winning as a head coach versus winning as a player and what is the difference for him:
“I’ve talked about my calling a lot, and winning as a coach is huge. And once again, not for what it does for me, but what it does for those players out there. I just can’t say enough about the players.”
On him talking about complementary football, and the fact it seemed like they got the best from his offense, defense, and special teams:
“Yeah. Those guys just playing hand in hand, and we had a plan. They knew the plan. It was articulated well throughout the week, and they executed. You can have all the mantras and things that you want, but on game day, it all comes down to execution. You can have all the ‘Rah, Rah’ speeches. It’s all about discipline. Those are the things, hopefully, that we can continue to build on going forward.”
On the last week with their conditioning:
“Yeah, it showed up. In the run game, it was just like, ‘Hey, keep going.’ I did talk about this on, was it Friday, when you looked at those other games and conditioning definitely showed up. And I would say our guys are in good condition.”
On the fact they’ve got a home opener coming up next Sunday and if he has anything to say to the fans:
“For the fans, hopefully, they see what we’re trying to build. And I talk about – it takes time – and we’re still not where we want to be, but we’re headed in the right direction.”
On the preseason decision to wear pads, tackling to the ground, playing starters, and how that showed up today for him:
“I’m not sure. I asked some friends how the Ravens and how the Chiefs practice, how their camp went, and it was total ends of the spectrum. I would say those are two teams where I was like, ‘Man, they’re getting tired here.’ That’s why I was so heavy on that with our team. I’m not sure to answer that question.”
About the decisions at the end of the game where they were able to run out the clock:
“I mean, there comes a point in time where they know we’re going to run it, we know we’re going to run it, and all the fans know that we’re going to run it, and we’re going to have to pick up four yards. And that’s the challenge that I always offer those guys. And look, it’s really man-on-man in those instances. It has nothing to do really with Xs and O’s. It’s about ‘dominating the player across from me,’ and those guys did that.”
On him admitting to being stoic and if he’s happy inside:
“I’m absolutely happy. I don’t want you to take this whole stoicism as being unhappy. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m definitely happy to get out of here with a win and happy for the players in the organization.”
On the fact they held Joue Burrow to under six yards per attempt and the fact he never really hit one down field:
“We just kept it moving. We ran a bunch of different coverages, a bunch of different fronts, and then there in the second half, there were a lot more quick passes. They were trying to get him in a rhythm. That’s how I felt. That’s how I was seeing the game. He had a couple big plays. But we said, ‘Look, if we win the turnover battle, we don’t give up big plays, we’ll be OK. Make these guys drive it, and that’s what we did.”
(Editor’s Note: This transcript is done via the available footage and is subject to typos. If you spot something, please take a moment to let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
