FULL TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Q: How important is it to clinch your 10th win of the season and the AFC East title?
TB: Yeah, it was a great win all the way around. I thought defense played great and gave us a bunch of chances. Just happy we won. It’s a tough team. They play hard and glad we won.
Q: You guys are obviously still trying to develop whatever identity your offense might be as you go towards the postseason. Do you feel as if today was maybe an indication of where you’re headed with the amount of production on the ground?
TB: That was huge for us. Obviously, when we can do that, it’s going to make things a lot easier on everyone. The line really took the physical challenge to heart and we outgained them by a bunch of yards in the run game. You know, whatever it takes on a week-to-week basis, I think that’s what we’ve got to do.
Q: So maybe the notion of identity is overused and it’s just whatever it takes is closer to the identity?
TB: You know, this time of year, I think whatever it takes to win, that’s what you’ve got to do. We did a great job in the run game, and that was great to dominate all the way around. We stopped them in the run game too and made it tough on them.
Q: Is it safe to say that the passing game was struggling to find its rhythm in the first half?
TB: Yeah, we didn’t have our best game in the pass game, but we won. So, I think everyone’s feeling pretty good about winning.
Q: You just won your 10th-straight AFC East title. What was the struggle like for this one in comparison to the last nine, and where does it rank in your career?
TB: I think they’re all pretty tough. I think we just have grinded it out. I think part of playing in the NFL is over the course of 16 weeks, you see how things shake out – not after September, October, November. It’s really after the end of December. We’ve still got one hugely important game left and we need to finish strong.
Q: Were your surprised when you were taken out of the game with more than 6:39 remaining?
TB: No.
Q: How are you feeling physically at this point in the season?
TB: I feel great. I feel 100 percent.
Q: With the two interceptions, as frustrating as they were, how big was it for the defense to hold Buffalo to three points?
TB: Yeah, the defense played so great. Held them – they moved the ball pretty well at times, too, this year – and I thought our defense played great, played great on third down, stopped them in the run game and got us a bunch of turnovers, too.
Q: So, you did not have an injury when you were taken out with 6:39 to go?
TB: No, I’m not injured.
Q: When Julian Edelman scored his touchdown, and then on the ensuing possession when Malcom Brown ran down and recovered that forced fumble, are those the kind of plays that can trigger you guys and maybe provide a spark?
TB: Those were big plays, and I think we’re going to need those – you know, a fourth-down play for a touchdown and played well there in the fourth quarter. I thought our defense did a great job really keeping their offense from scoring up until the very end. So, you know, it’s a lot of critical plays, a lot of timely plays and it was good to get the win.
Q: With the Texans’ loss today, you have a first-round bye in your control now. How big is it knowing you go into next week’s game with a chance to clinch that first-round bye?
TB: It’s just hugely important to finish strong. We’ve got a great opportunity. We’re playing against a team we know pretty well, but they played really well today and it’s going to be a tough game. So, get our minds right for a very important game that’s huge for us and I’m sure they’re going to play hard. We’ve got to grind it out and figure out how to win.
Q: At your age, how much do you have to remember not to take these division titles for granted? How special does it feel?
TB: Yeah, I certainly don’t take it for granted. I mean, I know how hard it is. I just have a great deal of appreciation for my teammates and coaches that work extremely hard to put us in a position to do a great job. I think when you have a lot of perspective, like I certainly do, I realize that it’s an incredibly difficult thing to do, and I’m just very grateful.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
