Q. A bunch of guys were saying in the locker room that the increased intensity of practice from training camp on kind of brought the team together in a lot of ways, made everyone closer, kind of bonded. Did you sense that as training camp practices were longer and you guys have been coming in Monday and that kind of thing?
JALEN HURTS: I think the more time you're able to -- I know the more time you're able to put in, work together with the guys next to you, usually the better the outcome because there's been time spent, time on task, a lot of communicating, a lot of ups and downs that you go through together. Those things always pay off in the end.
Q. Was there any point or time during the season or a win even when you thought, we can get back to the Super Bowl?
JALEN HURTS: From the beginning.
Q. Coming off a performance like you are offensively as a team, the old adage I want to play your best football late in the season, do you feel you guys are doing that as an offense?
JALEN HURTS: I think it's about efficiency. It's about winning at this point. It's always been about winning.
When you're able to win in a number of different ways, it's just about mastering whatever the plan is in that particular game and in that particular moment and just making sure everyone is on the same page when we go out there and execute.
Q. What's your most vivid memory of that last Super Bowl?
JALEN HURTS: Next question.
Q. What did you learn from that that you can apply to returning?
JALEN HURTS: There we go.
I think hindsight from the perspective that everyone has not really experienced that before, everything that comes with the week, I think it's something that's big, just being a good influence on the guys that haven't been there before, being able to answer questions and open that door so everyone is that much closer when we go out there and experience, because in the end it's a business trip and it's an opportunity that we've worked to have, and we want to take advantage of it.
Q. How long did it take for you to let that loss go?
JALEN HURTS: I moved on, moved on to the next season and prepared for that. Obviously you still have different motivations, and you're motivated by -- anytime you come up short in anything, having that perspective of just trying to learn from all of your lessons. I think no shortcoming is bigger than the other; you just want to learn from them all.
Q. You've played in a lot of big games in college and the NFL. How much does all that experience in huge games help you when you're in the biggest moments?
JALEN HURTS: My approach is just to take it a day at a time. It starts with the progression throughout the week and being diligent with the work, putting the time in, putting forth the effort so when it's time to go out there and go, you feel prepared.
Q. What's your best advice for your teammates who haven't been in this game?
JALEN HURTS: Exactly what I just said, go take it a day at a time, be diligent, put forth the effort, and just work throughout the week.
Q. What does it take to kind of buy in to what's going on this season? Guys have had to sacrifice certain things, stats, whatever --
JALEN HURTS: Buy into what?
Q. Buy into all the different ways you guys approach winning, whether it's Saquon one week, AJ, you. How does that buy-in work?
JALEN HURTS: I think that's the nature of it. Don't get lost in what the nature of a team sport is. It takes a team to go out there and have success. It's looked a ton of different ways, but any team that has success, it looks a ton of different ways. We just put our focus on winning.
Q. You've alluded a couple times to Georgia guys and how they've -- maybe not inspiration but they've inspired you a little bit. How has that happened, and what do you see from them that you think is kind of special?
JALEN HURTS: I just think they have a tight-knit group. Everything that they've gone through in college, all the success they've had in college, the rigorous process they go through, as well. I know it's very similar to what I experienced at Alabama, and that creates a tight-knit -- tightly knitted group. I think they've been able to carry over some of those things and some of those experiences and some of that mentality into Philadelphia, and I think it's paid dividends for our success, especially on defense.
Q. When you had the team meeting the other day when Nick asked you guys to close your eyes and envision your best game, what came to your mind?
JALEN HURTS: Nothing.
Q. You've had to deal with a few things late in the season, the concussion, the knee, and you mentioned an illness last week. How are you feeling heading into Super Bowl week?
JALEN HURTS: I've got a little cough, but I'm fine.
Q. The knee is good and --
JALEN HURTS: I'm fine.
Q. Dallas Goedert is having a great Playoffs, and I think you've connected with him more than anybody else in the Playoffs over these last four years. Where did that trust start with him?
JALEN HURTS: It began every off-season. Every off-season we spend a lot of time together. Opportunities come and they look different, and he's always been diligent, always been patient, and I think specifically him coming out to Houston and we usually always get together in Cali. All those things pay off. That's exactly kind of our MO coming into this game, coming into all of these games, just all the work and time we put in, it pays off when it's supposed to.
Q. AJ was talking yesterday about not loving some of the stuff that goes on during Super Bowl week, wishes it could be more about football, when you get pulled in all those different directions. How do you take that personally? Is there something that's enjoyable about it? Do you not like it?
JALEN HURTS: It comes with the profession and it comes as a part of our duties and responsibilities. It comes with the job.
Q. What do you think makes Kansas City's defense challenging in the way Steve Spagnuolo schemes that defense?
JALEN HURTS: He's been great. He's been great. Very high success rate in what they do, great players, great defensive back group, obviously Chris Jones up front. So it'll be a great challenge. It'll be another great challenge for us.
Q. He's famous for coming out with some unscouted looks. Last year he famously did it with that seven-defensive-back thing that got San Francisco to throw incomplete on a key 3rd down. How do you go into a game like that knowing specifically that maybe what could come hasn't been scouted?
JALEN HURTS: Yeah, you want to try and prepare yourself for all the different things and just go out there and execute and play clean.
Q. (Indiscernible) had a pretty busy couple weeks with stuff outside of this building. How have you noticed him kind of keeping on task with you guys and what's his mindset been like?
JALEN HURTS: Yeah, I really don't pay attention to it. Obviously I get prepped before I come up here, but I wouldn't have known a thing. I think he's handled it great. I don't know what's going to happen after that. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But in terms of his focus, our focus and all of our intensity being towards this, I feel like he's been doing a great job.
Q. When you look at this season, has it been more challenging for you maybe than some of the other seasons you've been here?
JALEN HURTS: Challenging in what way?
Q. Just things you've had to overcome.
JALEN HURTS: Like what?
Q. Like every season there's always obstacles. Does it seem like there have been more in your path this time?
JALEN HURTS: It's per usual. It comes with it. It's been played along my journey and it comes in an abundance, but I find a thrill in it. It's forced me to have this opportunity again, so keep it coming.
Q. The other day Nick said that you were joking or he perceived it as a joke with the straitjacket comment. Was it a joke?
JALEN HURTS: Just joking around after the game.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports