JALEN HURTS: How y'all doing?
Q. There's been a notion a lot of people saying the Rams have been improving and on a good trajectory and have gotten a lot better since you guys have played them the first time. When you look at them on tape, what is it that they do well and what is it that you seem to have improved on as the season went on?
JALEN HURTS: Well, I think they've always been a great team and we caught them while they were hot and we're catching them while they're hot again and this is a young team led by a great coach, great quarterback, great players all around. They got a great defense. They've been very disruptive up front. Just got to come and execute. I think it starts in the trenches in a game like this and we've been able to run the ball effectively and so hopefully we continue to impose our will up front.
Q. When you see nine sacks, how much does that get your attention and you say, yeah, that can't happen if we're going to win this game?
JALEN HURTS: You don't think about that, you just trying to think about what you can control and keep the main thing the main thing. Trying to be the best we can be and control what we can, so that's the approach.
Q. You mentioned the guys up front, that was Saquon's biggest game of the year, the two big runs. How much can you take from that moving forward?
JALEN HURTS: From...
Q. Just as far as being able to dominate in that particular way? Can you take a lot from that or do you expect adjustments?
JALEN HURTS: I think every game is its own game so obviously we're going to look back at the tape and look at this team and like we said, this team is different from what it was. We just got to go out there and execute.
Q. ... pointed out that you were not wearing sleeves at practice last week. Same thing today. Is that intentional on your part?
JALEN HURTS: No, no message just going out there getting ready for practice. That's how I play so trying to keep it very consistent.
Q. Jalen --
Q. When you re- watch the game from the last weekend what were some of the takeaways from your play?
JALEN HURTS: I think there's some opportunities. There's always going to be something you want back, wish you could have done or taken advantage of but ultimately, I think we all made plays when we needed to the most and I think that's what matters.
Q. When you see -- it's very unusual for A.J. to have a catch. I think since you guys have been together, it's only happened one other time you won the game against the Chiefs, but when that happens is there any focus, like, hey, we got to try to get him the ball more when you get ready for the next game?
JALEN HURTS: I think just getting everybody involved is important, make an effort to be efficient in what we do is a big part of what we do. DeVonta is a big part of what we do. Dallas, Saquon, everybody has a role. When it comes down to managing everything that we have, trying to take advantage of everything and being efficient.
Q. We heard you talk about getting into a rhythm, what goes into getting you into a rhythm early in a game?
JALEN HURTS: Every game is different, like I said. I think you guys need to understand I don't play the game for anything other than just to win and my role in each game will be different and the approach in each game is different and you just want to go out there and do your job and take advantage of opportunities, obviously, and I think some things are magnified a little bit more because there's less opportunity in certain areas, but ultimately, it's about winning the game. We're talking about playoff football.
Q. This past game is one of the first times I have seen you take one from under center and not do play action. Why was that the right time and did you --
JALEN HURTS: I didn't call that play, so. I wouldn't necessarily -- I don't know if I can answer that question. I think that's a Kellen question, but there's a first time for everything and I think that's something that, I mean, I don't mind doing. I think that also, I know that I'm capable of doing all of these things, it's just a matter of the approach we take and what we do.
Q. Jordan talked a lot about leadership and with Jason Kelce retiring last year, Jordan said he wanted to step up as being a leader and Lane as well on the line. How have they helped you out on leadership?
JALEN HURTS: Everybody -- I look at everybody and I see everyone making an impact and making a difference in their own way. When you think about everything coming back to what the root is, I think the root is just winning... winning, understanding the mission of the team and I think it's very cool to see how people come together to do that and those two guys specifically, just their experience, wisdom, how they play, how they approach it and then they've been fortunate to have Jason Peters, all of these guys that have been there in the room and I've been fortunate to play with Jason Peters and see how he plays, see how he works and see how Jason Kelce knows and understands the knowledge of the game and everything that comes from the game from his position so those are all things to be respected and I know that Lane and Jordan heavily respect that out of everyone that they've been able to be around, all the teammates.
Q. When you see teams trying to take away Saquon Barkley, which obviously has happened, they've tried from time to time. How do you feel the answers as far as accounting for that, how you guys are able to adjust in-game, mid-game, everything to account for that?
JALEN HURTS: I don't think that -- kind of loaded a little bit. I don't think there's been a game where he's been taken away.
Q. Right, but they try to is what I'm saying.
JALEN HURTS: Yeah. They try. He's a great player and I think we complement each other well and he's been able to just get dirty yards, dirty yards, dirty yards and soon enough he pops one off and that's been part of our success this year as a team and that's a credit to everyone playing a role on that, blocking out wide, holding backside players off of a fake. A down block or a pull or the identification up front and everyone being on the same page. It's a collective effort.
Q. Do you expect a lot of blitz this week? They've had success this last game. Do you expect a lot? Do you welcome it?
JALEN HURTS: We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. I don't know really what they're going to do. It's a great team. I think even Green Bay did some different things that we were not expecting as an offensive unit and so it's a playoffs. It's the playoffs. Be ready for everything.
Q. What have you seen from Saquon in terms of taking care of himself and being a hundred percent late in the season after, like, 400 touches?
JALEN HURTS: It's impressive. It's impressive. You see it. It's not normal. You see he's a special player and to know he's been doing it for a while here and he's had some things he's had to battle through but he's come in very hungry, very dedicated, just the work that starts in the offseason, rushing, trying to catch, and talk and get on the same page and it's been great.
Q. What's been your assessment of the screen game this season? Yeah, what's been your assessment of the screen game?
JALEN HURTS: I have no assessment of it. I have no assessment of it. I think overall we just got to be able to use some different things that our offenses keep doing.
Q. I think it was Slaton who threw Saquon to the ground and you got up in his face. Did you kind of have the offensive linemen mentality how they protect you?
JALEN HURTS: It wasn't -- it was just a natural reaction.
Q. How much do you think A.J. -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Q. You said after the Super Bowl loss that either you win or you learn. What have you learned since that night that helped you that now in the thick of the playoffs again?
JALEN HURTS: Yeah. It's been -- it's been great, just the approach and the growth and the learning lessons along the journey of everything. You know, you have these special opportunities and you definitely want to take advantage of them which obviously we're taking it one day at a time but it comes down to keeping the main thing the main thing and improving, you know. When you win, you're winning, you're beating your opponent but improving is beating yourself and we just want to -- I always think that it comes down to how am I learning from my moments, my experiences and applying them to the next opportunity and you want to take advantage of those opportunities so I think that's why I am of an improvement mindset and take steps every day. I think this team is at that same place. There's no complacency. There's no lack of hunger. Taking it one day at a time. Taking it one day at a time and doing it.
Q. How much do you think --
Q. You mentioned before that all you care about is winning and I'm curious what it's taken from you personally this year and this offense where there may be a time where the passing game takes a back seat and there's questions about it and you talked with your coach and talked about the good conversations you have had. What has out taken personally from you this year?
JALEN HURTS: Yeah, it's been a journey. It's been a journey and it's been a great journey of just evolving. I was just talking to Tanner and telling him out fortunate I am to be able to learn as much ball as I have been able to learn with the different faces I have been with. You guys heard me talk about continuity so much, however, there's a backside to that and there's an appreciation there to be able to take in as much knowledge as I can and I think that helps me and furthers my knowledge in the game and so it truly is about winning. It truly is about winning. It doesn't matter how it looks. It doesn't matter how it looks. I think people... people kind of -- winning and losing, success and failures are relative to the person. Winning as a team is what's important to me.
MODERATOR: We got to roll. Thanks, y'all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports