What were the keys to the team’s victory this week?
This win came down to two simple things: protecting the ball and sticking to plays we felt good about. We’ve learned the hard way that you can’t gift-wrap the ball and hand it over if you actually want to win games, so we made sure to keep a tight grip this week. We weren’t out there trying to reinvent the wheel—just good, old-fashioned smart football. Call it boring if you want, but hey, boring wins games. We didn’t need a miracle or some fancy trick plays; we just played the kind of football we know works. Maybe if more teams focused on the basics like we did, there’d be fewer fourth-quarter collapses around the league. So, yeah, maybe not the flashiest approach, but it’s effective. And we’ll take effective over flashy any day of the week.
Can you summarize what it was like playing against the Buccaneers last week?
Playing against the Buccaneers was… well, let’s just say it was an experience. They came out hot, and I’ll give them that, but I think they’re out here thinking they’re the second coming of the ‘85 Bears. Look, they beat us, sure, but let’s not get carried away here. We had a few turnovers that handed them great field position, and we just couldn’t contain the big plays—things we’re going to clean up moving forward. Their coach is out here talking like they just won the Super Bowl, but, come on, it’s still early. We’re a little rusty, and they took advantage of that. We get it. But hey, if their coach wants to do a victory lap for a regular season win, more power to him. Meanwhile, we’ll be working on actually improving week to week.
They’re out there playing like they’ve got everything figured out, but let’s see how long that lasts. Football has a way of humbling you real quick, especially when you start celebrating a little too soon. So yeah, hats off to them for their 'big win,' but we’ll see where they’re standing when the season winds down.
How has Taysom Hill’s experience in the league helped the team so far?
Taysom Hill’s been a fantastic addition for us. This guy is the definition of a Swiss Army knife—he can do just about anything you ask of him. He even threw a touchdown this game, because why not? Need him to block, he’s there. Need him to catch a pass, he’s ready. Need him to throw? Just hand him the ball, and he’ll make it happen. He’s been a headache for us for years when he was in New Orleans, so to have him on our side now? That’s a welcome change.
But it’s not just his skill set. He brings a level of leadership and experience that rubs off on the whole team. The guy’s been around the league and seen it all, and you can tell. He’s not out there with some inflated sense of self, talking about how amazing he is. He just quietly does his job and makes the plays that need to be made—no fuss, no nonsense. Meanwhile, there are other teams out there patting themselves on the back for their one good game of the season, but Taysom? He’s here to work. We’re thankful to have a guy who just gets it.
