Texans - 41, Chargers - 29
Q. Jonathan, take us through the interception and the feelings with the defense playing and the way it did today?
JONATHAN OWENS: So pretty much it was just a tight stack formation and we were in cover 2. Number one on the outside he did something low and the inside piece he kind of just ran over slash post. So I was just kind of following Herbert's eyes and I didn't think he was going to throw it. When he did it surprised me undercut it and made the play.
I'm glad I could provide that spark for us and we scored a touchdown right after that, right before the half. So just playing complementary football.
Q. Whenever you got in the end zone after Tavierre's pick-6, what was that like and the feeling after that?
JONATHAN OWENS: Amazing, man. Just me and Tavierre both come from D-II schools. It's something we always talk about. Just small school guys and playing in the big leagues. And it's just crazy, man.
We couldn't have written it any better. So just a great experience.
Q. Just sort of building off of that idea of being a D-II guy, practicing squad guy, just working your way up, what is this moment like for you? What does it mean to you have a game like this given how much work you put in to kind of get here?
JONATHAN OWENS: It's unreal. I can't describe it, honestly. Didn't feel real when it happened on the field. Just because I've been cut multiple times. I tore my ACL my first year in the NFL. And you kind of doubt yourself but you just have to keep working. Keep stacking those days. And we want it to happen when we want it, you know what I mean? And it just takes being patient. And that's all, just stay patient, keep working hard and hard work pays off.
Q. Earlier Coach Culley had mentioned that a lot of the guys that were getting an opportunity to play were guys that felt like they should have been playing anyway or like kind of all y'all operate with that sort of confidence, are you one of those guys that feel like you've sort of just been waiting?
JONATHAN OWENS: Absolutely. I always felt that. You always feel like you're good enough to be out there, you know what I mean? It's just you have to play a role, whatever your role is on the team. At the time my role was to get the starters better.
So I would take that and go hard every day in practice to make sure they know I'm giving you this look and just so I would keep myself ready, keep myself in shape, whatever the coaches asked me to do. Never once complained, just worked hard. Just waited for that opportunity. And I'm glad I could come out here and help us get the W today.
Q. As you said, you've been waiting for a while for this. Is it more satisfying that it's now happening at the end of the year just kind of after a tough year with the record of the team? Is it particularly satisfying just to kind of finish a little bit on a good note?
JONATHAN OWENS: I feel like it's satisfying because we're showing that we have fight. Today we beat one of the better teams in the AFC. Great quarterback. So it's always a good feeling when you go out there and play that well against a top-caliber quarterback. But like I said, man, it's a great feeling.
Q. Role reversal with you and Simone, how special was it for you to have her in the stands cheering for you on your best day as a pro? The TV showed her a couple times. How cool was that?
JONATHAN OWENS: It was amazing. They probably didn't see, my mom was sitting right there next to her and my mom got to see me in my second start. And that I could get those two turnovers, that was just amazing. My mom, she's been with me every step of the way, and just having those two in the stands supporting me, I can't describe the feeling. I wouldn't have -- I never would have thought it would happen like this. But I'm glad it did. I'm glad it sparked our team and we got the W at the end of the day.
Q. Justin Reid was saying that because you guys added so many people because of COVID and stuff that there were some guys on the team he didn't even know their names today or still trying to learn everybody's names. Did you have a moment in the game or anything like that where you were kind of forgetting who somebody was, who you were playing next to?
JONATHAN OWENS: I tried to make it a point that know your name. Especially like kind of the new guys we have. Because I remember being that new guy in the locker room and not knowing anybody and people just kind of walk past you and everything and I try to introduce myself and you're not going to remember everyone's name because a lot of moving parts and you just try to say what's up to everybody. But I treat everybody the same. We're out there, I'm telling them, I expect the best out of you. Even the guys that we had that were in practice squad got a chance to play for the first time this year. I'm giving them that look like, man, this is what you've been working for. This is what you've been asking for. Like it's time to go.
And like I said, I'm just glad everyone who got a chance to play, man, came up and made the most of their opportunities today. It's exciting. I'm excited for them.
Q. You spoke about your challenges that you went through throughout your career. But what was it that actually kept you going through those challenging moments to get you to where you are today?
JONATHAN OWENS: Just kept faith, man. I just kept faith. I knew I could play, even when I was cut, I was cut for three weeks, I just knew I could play. I kept faith. I kept praying. Just any team that brings me in for a tryout. And it just so happened to be the Texans. September the 28th, 2019. And like I said, I've been here ever since just working.
And my motto is just always -- like I didn't want to go back to St. Louis and just kind of be back at the crib. I just never really wanted to go back and then feel like what if, you know what I mean, I kept pushing, whatever role I was in, practice squad, whatever, you're still on the team, keep working, keep your head down, keep playing your role.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports