Featuring postgame quotes from the following:

Head Coach Mike McCoy

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Just injury update. Dan (Moore Jr.) is getting further evaluation on his knee. (Shy) Tuttle is getting evaluated for a concussion. Lloyd (Cushenberry III) is getting further evaluation on his foot. So those are the three injuries. I'll just say that once again, Chim (Dike) just takes this team to another level with a big play like that, what he did to energize the sideline, the stadium, it's great to see him do what he does on a weekly basis. That's the plays you need to turn. That's what it did in that game. It energized everybody, and you saw what we did after that. It's an individual performance and the blocking, too, with that group. It's unbelievable. It's great to see it. There's just too many things during the game that we didn't do enough, plays, the second series of the game with the penalties, things like that, a couple stops on defense where we've each got to be more consistent because these guys fought their tails off once again up until the very end. But got to be more consistent throughout a game.

Seemed like just looking at it at face value that Cam Ward was pretty poised back there for the duress he was under in the drop-back game down 20 most of the time.

I love the way Cam (Ward) played today. You see the competitor, the ability to make plays. You guys have asked since day one about him making plays with his feet and the way he moved in the pocket at certain times during the game and just competed his tail off. Some of the plays he made, the wow plays, the scrambles—I'm sitting there saying one thing and next thing you know here's a big play that he makes. But it's taking that next step, and that's what he's done. We've been saying it from day one, the way he competes, the way he works every day. When we first came in in the off-season program, the early mornings, staying late, things like that, it's starting to pay off. We've said it all along, as a young quarterback in this league, it takes some time, and it's great to see the improvements that he's making week in and week out. There's the ups and downs, definitely. We're going to turn the film on tomorrow and look at some things. We'll clean it up and say, 'Hey, you've got to do these things better.' But just the command of the offense and some checks that he made during the game, I really liked the way he played today.

Titans lost a lot of games this year by fairly significant point spreads. Last three games, all one score. Do you take any encouragement at all from...

I just love the way the guys compete. They just keep going. They fight their tails off. It's been that way the entire time, the way they work, the week of preparation, the little details, the fine focus they had in practice this week. We've got to find a way to make more plays consistently and not hurt ourselves at certain times of the game like the second series. The first drive of the game, that's a phenomenal way to start against a really good defense, the plays that we're making, the efficiency, going down there and getting points to start the game, that's awesome, but then you come around to the next series and you have a number of penalties. Those are the things against a good football team you have to avoid.

It seemed like you guys converted a couple of really key third and fourth downs today, a lot of that going to the tight ends and coming out of the slot. Was that something that you guys saw on tape or something you were working on in practice and decided to implement today?

As we talked about coming out of the bye week, that was one of the things we said was a big focus was third down, and it's players making plays. I don't know the numbers. I haven't looked at a stat sheet so I don't know what exactly we were, but I think there was a number of big plays with guys just going out there and making plays, and that's what the game is all about. I think a lot of that has to do with Cam, with his feet, making plays, and then guys creating separation against a good defense. Happy with those guys making the plays and the conversions.

You had seven fourth downs and you converted five of those...

What do you think? That's pretty good, right?

It's been a hot topic...

You think so? It's been hot, with who? With who? I could name a couple of those plays calls, too. We named them special.

All jokes aside, were you guys making that decision to go for it a lot earlier in the process as opposed to...

We've answered this question a number of times. You get in the flow of a game, you do certain things, there's a certain aggression you take at times, and you go for it. You do certain—the flow of the game and there's certain times. And when I don't do it sometimes or it doesn't work or it turns the other way, I kick myself in the ass at times. You lose sleep over it. But we went in there with the approach we were going to take, the aggressive approach that we wanted to have, and the players executed it for the most part. Not the entire time. There was the one that we did not get in there that was critical. But give them all the credit in the world for executing it.

That early fourth-and-1 that got stuffed, did that give you any doubt or hesitation?

I knew it was coming. I knew I was going to come in here and you guys were going to ask a bunch of questions on it. We've got to execute better. We were aggressive on the third-and-1. We had a good match-up with Gunnar (Helm) that we thought could be a big play in that situation, they made a good play on it, and then we went back. But those are the things that I'm telling you earlier that we've got to convert those things. That's how you win games. In critical times—you don't know when it's going to be. You don't know first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, sometimes the fourth quarter, you've got to make those plays. You've got to somehow dig down deeper and just convert, or we've got to just find a way to get done.

Did it feel liberating to finally go on some of those and get some results?

Oh, I've done it plenty of times in my career. But it was great. I knew it was going to put a smile on your face; I knew that for a fact. I knew it. You were the first person I thought of when we converted. I was like, 'Oh, I can't wait to see him. I don't have to listen to him on Monday anymore. It's not that question all week long.' But it's great. Hey, I love it. These guys played their tails off. They really did. I love this football team.

Talk about how Restrepo did in his first opportunity.

There's some plays—I asked Cam last night what the over/under was—I shouldn't say that that way. But I said how many balls is he going to catch. He made his comment, and I'm like, 'Okay.' Wish every receiver caught that many. But I'll watch the tape and really look at it and see. I know there was a couple ad libs in there. But I'd say this, all those guys, (Xavier) Strep (Restrepo), Pro (James Proche II) and Mason (Kinsey), to where they were at the beginning of the season and you see how hard they worked every single day to help our defense, and then when they would fill in offensively because they never knew, obviously Mason and Pro had been up before and this and that, but that's what this game is all about, making the most of your opportunities, especially a young player like him, that he got an opportunity to finally dress today and goes out there and makes some plays. You feel—that's what it's—I'm so happy for those guys because you get rewarded for all the hard work, and that doesn't always happen in this business. Depending on what team you're on and the injuries and all those things come into play. And then you see some of the linemen come in today. We had two guys go down and next thing you know here comes two other guys that step up, and that's the way it's been the last couple weeks. We just keep going up and down the field at certain times. That's the reward and that's what I keep telling you guys. I love this football team. I love the way they work. They're unselfish. They love playing together. But it's about winning, and we've got to find a way to make more plays to one win of these games.

The ad lib stuff, there's clearly something with Cam (Ward) and (Xavier) Restrepo there. Can that be a benefit to you guys moving forward?

They probably have something in their helmets communicating with each other, talking back and forth. I think it's just Cam has probably thrown more balls to him than anybody else. So, I think that there's the—if you looked at the sideline a couple times, I looked back there one time and it was like, Strep was there like right in his ear sitting on the corner of the bench and just talking to him, and I'm like, okay, this is interesting. But that's the relationship they have. They've had a lot of success playing together. I think it's just great to see them playing at this level together, just pleased with the two of them and the way they work. Really what you love about them, too, is the love for the game. Strep really loves the game of football. You guys deal with him all the time, but just the way he approaches it. He's unselfish, and he was told what he needed to do to continue his development with the kicking game and things like that. Once we told him that, he was in there, living in there to try to figure out a way because he has a burning desire to get out there like he did today.

The challenge defensively of trying to defend a guy like Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He had a season high today.

He's going to make plays. He's one of the best in the business. Look at the numbers week in and week out. I'm good friends with Klint Kubiak. We worked together in Denver, and his dad coached me way back in '95 in Denver. So, I've known the family for a long time, so Klint and I were talking, what a special player he is. Some of the things you watch, you watch the third down conversion they've had this year, some of the throws that Sam (Darnold) makes to him, he's a special player. You don't see many guys like that make some of those conversions in tight great coverage. It's like, where else do you want the defender to be? And here he is making those plays. But a very explosive player, and you've got to try to minimize—they're going to make their plays, but you've just got to try to minimize the number.

If you looked at the two explosives they had, getting matched up with a safety, is that something you guys expected or is that something new or different?

Well, that's the game of football. You're always going to try to get a match-up. You're always going to say 'Where can you go? Who can you attack? How are you going to do it? 'But that's every week. I think that's always going to be match-ups, and I think Klint does a great job of that, having obviously watched all the defensive cut-ups and things like that, that's what they do. They're going to try to get the match-ups formationally, shifts, motions, and try to create those opportunities for you.

Cam obviously supplemented the run game, but what's going on with the running backs?

We've got to be more efficient. I've got to watch the tape, to be honest with you, because I don't have—in my role now, I don't always communicate as much every single play with the offense. I'm talking to the defense, I'm talking with Bones (John Fassel), things like that. I'll have a better answer for you tomorrow after I watch the film and really evaluate to see it. I'm not looking at the iPads as much anymore, things like that.

We talked about Chim Dike's return. How did that play out from your vantage point?

Well, I love it. It's explosive play. We talked about it all week long, the way he just went and ran all the way across the field, down the sideline, and just the awareness of players to keep the blocks legal knowing the opportunity that we had. And then there was one guy left, and it was just a young player energizing the franchise and the fans. So happy for him. But just great execution. Bones (John Fassel) and Stew (Rayna Stewart) do an outstanding job putting the plans together, and the players did an outstanding job of executing. I think the one thing, too, give the players or the other 10 guys all the credit in the world. But when you have a special returner like that, it makes you want to do your job that much better because you don't want to come in an Monday morning and look at the tape and say, I was the one that missed that one little—it doesn't take a lot because he makes the first guy miss often and then he does what he does.

Two young defensive backs that have stepped into big roles so far for you in Marcus (Harris) and Kevin (Winston Jr.) made some pretty key plays today. Seemed like they stepped into those roles and kind of solidified them for you. Can you speak to them and how they played today?

They've done an outstanding job. There's going to be, with all young players, rookies, there's going to be a developmental part, a growth part, some growing pains, things like that, that you're going to go through. I've heard the coaches a number of times say don't make the same mistake twice. You're going to make some mistakes. You're going to get beat. Like the question about 11 (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), a special player, he's going to make some plays. It's just, you learn from it. I think the great thing with Kevin (Winston Jr.) is (Amani) Hook(er) is back there with him to help him and to lead. So that's the big thing is the more they play together on the back end, the communication part of it is a lot better. I think both the players, they're starting to recognize things a lot quicker. It's not, you learn not just playing part of it but the week of preparation, how are you watching film, looking for keys, all those little things. That's just being a young player. But they've got very, very bright futures. You love the way they work. You see the way they work in practice. Give the coaches credit for the success those two have had. They've done a phenomenal job of helping these guys get to where they are. And there's a lot of football left, so I just look for them to get better as time goes on.

Quarterback Cam Ward

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How do you feel you progressed today as a passer or play overall because you ran too?

I mean the only thing that matters the win or loss, so that sums it up. But it's just really the biggest thing with us offensively we got to be better in the middle of the games. Continue to have penalties from us as a group. So that's the biggest thing that we got to harp on, we got to focus on.

What was going right when you guys were productive and scoring and what went wrong to keep you from being able to be consistent on offense?

I think what was going right was just everybody playing on time. Myself getting the ball out, receivers winning in man coverage and zone, knowing where to sit. O-line did a fantastic job, just in the run game and in pass protection. I just think what went wrong was just the penalties. Self-inflicted wounds and that's unfortunately what just continues to happen.

How much did Chim's (Dike) 90-yard punt return provide a spark for you guys in the second half?

It helped us a lot. That's a that's All-Pro right there, Chim (Dike). So, it's special to have him as a teammate, but just know him off the field, the way he takes care of himself, his everyday routine, what he does to be a pro. So, everything that's going right for Chim, he deserves it. And I'm glad he's able to get two touchdowns today.

Last week you made it seem like your running lanes and stuff were created largely from the way the Texans rushed. I don't imagine you got exactly the same looks today and stuff, but you still found room to run. It seems like a trend now. What helped you find that stuff again today?

Just feeling the pocket. Getting better at it and just knowing where I need to set up every play. And then also being able to play on time and have a clock in my head to get the ball to my playmakers or whether I need to scramble around. But I just got to continue to do what I need to do to help the offense be successful.

Peter (Skoronski) said that your touchdown run was actually designed to be a flip to somebody and then you just took it upon yourself to see the opening and go. Is that right?

Yep.

Can you take us through it?

I really had my mind made up on what I wanted to do. That's really give the ball to Chig (Okonkwo), but the end crashed out—crashed down. And really, I just had to make a play to make up for what I did wrong and we ended up scoring.

When you talk about that clock in your head getting stronger and getting better in the pocket, how do you think you've been able to do that? Why do you think you've been able to do that? What do you owe the success in the pocket and timing to?

Just really all the work we do in the facility. Coach Bo (Hardegree), Payton (McCollum) over there helped me out, Nick (Holz). So, all the guys, we all do a part in trying to do as best for myself to help put the team in a good situation. And I'll just say just continue watching the pocket on film, working with my quarterback coach just on days I can and just trying to be better every day I can.

When you talk about the timing and trying to have the clock and all of that stuff, how long this season have you started to focus on that in your running ability?

I focus on it every game. I think the biggest part about watching the rush, how—whether it's a D-tackle or defensive end rush is how much width they can get. But also, not putting my tackles in a bad situation to where they give up an easy sack that'll end up being on me. So, I just think you just got to—it just takes countless hours of watching just how you think it ends up in the game, but also watching about how it could end up. So, you just got to watch different situations.

The play where you rolled to the sideline and threw it back to your left to find Xavier (Restrepo), is that something you guys have done many times in the past and what was it like having him back out there with you?

Yeah, we've done that before. We work it and it was great to have him on the field with me. Someone who I have a good bond with on and off the field. And he made a couple of plays for us. I know some plays that he wished he wants back. But every time he steps on the field he always comes with the same mindset as he does practice. And I think that's—having him on the field is going to help our receiving core. And then along with the other guys who play well today.

He (Xavier Restrepo) mentioned the work you guys do after practice. He says sometimes you'll have him run it over and over and over again. What are some of the things where you tell him that it is a reason why you got to have that repetition? Whereas there's times where he feels that it's right but you don't.

Because from a quarterback sense, whether a receiver's tired or not, I'm a quarterback who I want at full speed. That's how I just go about my business. Especially at the end of practice, I just think the more you can do outside of just mandatory practice stuff, that's the things that's going to end up helping you each and every week.

You've been pushing for maybe some more fourth down attempts. What did you think of the number that you guys went for today and how you converted? I think it was five for seven.

It's just the situation that we put ourselves in. We had to go for those fourth downs just because we were trailing. But I mean I'm a competitor. If we're backed up fourth down, fourth-and-inches, I want to go for it. I want to always have the ball in my hands and offensive line's hands up front. And they going to continue to lead the way. So, just us being successful on fourth down today is just something that we got to continue to trend upwards in.

Cam (Ward), the number of rookies that are contributing on this team is kind of—the role keeps going up for both you and other guys. Even in spite of the record, how much hope does that give for where this is all headed?

Well that gives a lot of hope. Because we know the problems, and we're fixing the problems, but at the end of the day a lot of stuff is only one person can control. Whether that's myself in my position or a defensive guy at their position, every person has that right to control it and that's the biggest thing is trying to flip the switch now. Trying to get a couple wins to get us a little jump start. But I just think the rookies, the draft class we made was a pretty good draft class and we've got to continue try to get better.

Was that a no-look pass you hit to Gunnar (Helm) when you were going left back to right?

Yep. And Gunnar (Helm), he did a good job not running, just sitting in the zone. But, I'm glad he caught it.

How much trust do you have to have for a no-look pass? How much confidence do you have to have to try that in the NFL and have it pay off?

I mean, you just got to prepare the right way every week to attempt stuff like that. Watch a certain amount of film. Even before the game you got to watch film just to—you know that you know it, and when it happens in the game, you can kind of control stuff. And Gunnar (Helm), he's one of those guys who's real savvy in space. He knows where to get to, he knows what I'm thinking all the time, and he made a great catch.

Obviously, some positive moments in this game that you mentioned, you didn't win. What's the balance or the lines where you want to take some pride in improvements and good things happening but acknowledging that it's just not good enough?

The only thing I would say is just it's a loss. And we have to continue to try and win games but dig ourself out of the hole that we're in. But at the end of the day, we get better every week, and we got to emphasize getting better now. Getting better faster. And that starts tomorrow, so we just got to continue to get back to work and try to win next week.

The offense was on the field for almost a quarter longer than Seattle. So, in talking about those types of improvement, what does that say about how you guys are figuring out how to sustain drives and stay out there?

I just think it means we didn't do enough. We didn't score enough points to win the game. And having the ball for a long period of time really means nothing if you don't score points. So, we just got to finish drives with kicks, finish drives with six points, put Joey Slye out there a couple more times and find ways to help the defense out and win some games.

Chim's (Dike) the only guy outside of you who has more than two touchdowns this year for the offense, what is the fix to that to get more guys to kind of involve in that scoring?

I think the fix would be just everyone taking accountability. Everyone in the facility, myself. And we know we got a lot of things that we got to fix, but I just think the more we continue to play team football like we have been and continue to push each other every day and make plays in practice so it shows up in the game, I think by next week we'll be able to score a couple more points.

WR Xavier Restrepo

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Although it was tough loss, how was it to see your first game action today?

It's always fun playing football again. It's a game that we all love and that we can't live without. But again, like you said, loss is a loss. Not satisfied with anything that we did today. I left a play out there and we just gotta get better. We just got to get better. We're very close, we're very close. We just got to finish and get that extra edge.

What's does it say about you guys just fighting until the end today?

I think it says that when there's time on the clock there's never a final result with us because we're going to fight, man. We're going to fight to the end and no matter what's in front of us, we're going to keep on fighting and we just have to we just have to find that edge. Just get over that hump.

That one play where Cam Ward was going to the sidelines and threw back across to the field, that's got to be something you're used to having played with him?

Yeah, I mean every single day after practice we get one scramble drill in. So that's just repetitions. It's not the first we have done it.

The comeback that you guys were able to try to almost pull off in the fourth quarter, what was working so well for you guys in that fourth?

Yeah, I mean I think we're just paying more attention to detail and not shooting ourselves in the foot and just executing at a better level. Not the highest that we're capable of doing, but just at a better level in order to keep on moving the ball.

I apologize if you were asked this, but first time out there today, had several nice catches. Despite the loss, how would you evaluate your performance and what it was like to be out there today?

I mean the ball came to me, I caught it. The one drop I had, I want that back more than ever. But again, like you said, a loss is a loss. So, no matter if I had two hundred yards today or a thousand yards today, a loss is a loss. It wasn't enough. So, we just got to find out how to get over that hump and finish better.

WR Chimere Dike

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What about the progress being made, especially the connection with you and Cam (Ward)?

I think just the work we put in and just the competitive abilities to keep going. Obviously, we fell short, but I'm proud of the guys for continuing to fight all the way through.

Can you walk us through the 90-yard punt return, just how it kind of played out in your eyes?

Yeah, I mean punter got all of it. Kind of sent me back. He's a really good punter. He hides his direction really well. I saw that Wo (Samuel Womack III) had a great initial jam on him. I knew I was going to have space, and made a guy miss, and then I just saw the edge. And as soon as I seen the boys, I knew we were going to score. They did a great job on the kicker too, sealing off the edge.

Your teammates say you should be a Pro Bowler without a doubt. When you hear that, how does that make you feel?

It feels great. Those guys battle for me. They make me go. Without those guys fighting, we watch the all-22 on all those big plays, and I'm making people miss but they're also making huge blocks and springing it. So, I'm super thankful for them and thankful for Coach Bones (John Fassel) and just this whole team.

Coach McCoy was just talking about the boost that gave the team. Did you feel that yourself?

Yeah, I mean I think that we kind of fed off that. That's something that we got to continue to do. When somebody makes a big play, just take the momentum and keep building. That definitely felt good that to kind of help flip it.

Chim, what's the key to being a successful punt returner? What have you been able to find that works so well?

Yeah, I mean I think tracking it first, right? Making sure you have good security. I mean I returned one on the ground today, got to be better in that aspect, right? That's the accountability stuff. But tracking it and then having the vision and the speed obviously. But also, just amazing teammates, like I said. Without those guys, like they say I'm a pro bowl returner, they're a pro bowl return unit.

You feel like the offense is making progress?

Yeah, I mean I think that we show signs but that's just a consistency level that we need to reach, right? Be able to continue throughout. You have times like in the fourth quarter moving the ball, times in the first half where we're having success but kind of shooting ourselves in the foot and just clean up those details and keep getting better.

S Kevin Winston Jr.

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On several plays, the way they were able get Jaxon Smith-Njigba isolated. How tough was that today?

One of those was on me. I have to be cleaner and stay more inside on those. And then another one, just in general, we have to be better in the post on those two plays. I put that on me. I'll get that fixed and work on that. But credit to them, they put him in a good position to make a play. I've got to get that fixed, and go back, and look at film, and get that right.

What does it say about you guys, that you kept fighting?

That's who we've tried to become. That's who we are. No matter the circumstance, no matter the situation, we're going to go out there and fight. We have a certain pride for ourselves, a certain way we go about things, no matter what the score is or how we feel. We go out there and compete.

Is that something you guys will try to carry out until the end of the season?

There's no doubt. There's no other option. Everybody who suits up and goes out there on defense for us has no other option but to go out there to compete to win.

Chimere Dike returned a punt for a touchdown. When he goes out there and you guys are watching, do you expect that can happen every time?

Every time he touches the ball, there's a chance he's going to score. I get ready to put my helmet back on, when I see him get the ball, because I know we're probably going to go back out there on defense. It's great to see Chim (Dike) do his thing. He's been really good for us.

What does that do when he does that to energize the team? Like when you guys are down, and he does that, and gets you right back up?

Well like today, he just gave us a spark. In that moment, as soon as he did that, we were right back in the game. And he gave us another chance to fight back, and possibly win this game. It's great to have Chim (Dike) be able to do that for the team.

He's got to be a Pro Bowler, right?

I'm a big vote for that. He should be.

LB Arden Key

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It was a game that early on, it looked like it may get away from you guys. But you fought back into it. Do you take solace from that? You never gave up. You always had a shot.

I mean it's every week. We never give up. We keep fighting to the end. We never was out. I've been in the league for eight years, and being up that much early, the teams tend to come back.

To what do you attribute the continuous fight of this team, despite the struggles?

It's just in us. It's not talked about, keep fighting, keep fighting. No. I think, it's just in us. We all understand where we at, record-wise. I think we all understand, that what you put on film, is you. And every individual has to put on good, good tape.

DT Jefferey Simmons

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Jeff, you mentioned last week you didn't want to sugarcoat anything. Despite the loss, how would you assess the response of this team? Was it a better response this week?

Like I said earlier this week, it's never an attack, it was a challenge. It's always a challenge for me to go and challenge my teammate. Each and every day I come into work, I push myself to be the best player I can be every day. I hold myself to a high standard, and that's where it starts at. You look in the mirror first and then, that's when you can lead the team. So I think we had a hell of a week of practice. Everybody responded and today, just the fight that we had, the finish that guys were trying to finish with and the way we tried to finish that game, that's what we're talking about as a team.

Chim's (Dike) got to be a Pro Bowler right?

I would hope so. I hope that's—we all know how that stuff works. Chim (Dike) just keep doing what he's doing, everything will take care of itself. I've been this, what, this is year seven. Sometimes, when you're 1-10 now, I think, sometimes it's hard for guys to look at our team and be like those guys are still balling. But, I hope the guys around this league and everyone else is —especially when it comes down to All-Pros — he deserves that. I haven't seen nobody doing that, what he's doing this year. So like I said, he's special and I'm looking forward to continuing to see that. Especially when — he's still learning. He's doing this on the fly right now as a rookie and just imagine how it's going to be the next couple of years, too. But continue to just — he needs to take it day by day. But he's a guy that wants to learn, too. He came up to me and just was like, when things get hard, what motivates you? Just to hear a rookie saying that and come up to me to ask that type of question, he's a guy that wants to be great. And he has his head on his shoulders the right way. So I'm looking forward to continuing to see him return kicks and make plays.

Do you think you guys are close to breaking through? You said one play away and kind of been that way the past few weeks. Do you think you're close to getting there?

Man, we continue to just look at the games. I mean, a lot of the games that we had is one possession. One possession here, one possession there. Just like I said, I hate to keep saying it, there's no such thing as moral victories. And just like I said, Chim (Dike) gave us a good hell of a play when we needed a play. We talk about somebody making that play and he made the play. Just didn't have no more time and there wasn't no more time on the clock to eventually make another play. So just got to continue to find a way throughout the game, especially early in the game, to make those plays. So we won't have to fight and scratch with two minutes left on the clock to try to make a play.