Texans - 41, Chargers - 29
Q. Can you talk about what it was like to be able to come in here today with missing so many players and be able to beat a playoff contender like you did today?
DAVIS MILLS: It was fun. I feel like it was a great team win. We were kind of firing on all three cylinders, offense, defense and special teams.
We had a lot of guys who just recently got signed or just, like, had the opportunity to get their name called and come in step up and play well. A lot of guys did that. The team showed a lot of fight.
Q. Rex was saying whenever he came off the sideline, staffer came up handed him a ball and said that you wanted it to get to him. What did you say, the lead up to that, why give him the ball there?
DAVIS MILLS: That was right after the last play of the game. When we took a knee, somebody ran on the field I threw them that game ball and made sure Rex got it, because I mean he played extremely well today. Ran hard all day. A few touchdowns, almost 150 yards. Love to see it. I felt kind of goes to show, though, that the offensive line played extremely well today as well protecting me back there when I was throwing but also protected Rex and the other backs. And I felt like we played really well on offense, and Rex especially.
Q. Has it kind of hit you yet, the kind of game you had personally, and the game your team had collectively that you all were like nearly two touchdown underdogs and you did something that nobody expected you except you guys in the locker room, has that all hit you? What do you think about that?
DAVIS MILLS: I mean, it's cool. Like you said, it's kind of -- in the locker room we don't try to listen to outside noise. I think Conley just said it and Coach Culley said it earlier, any given Sunday. We come out here every week with the same mission and the same goal in mind, and that's to win football games.
We have the guys in the locker room to do it. If we play well as a full team, I think I mean we have a chance to win every week.
Q. Without Brandon was the idea to spread it around going in and how do you think the receivers stepped up without Brandon?
DAVIS MILLS: I mean, the goal every week is to spread it around. And really just get the ball in the hands of open play-makers. And I felt like a lot of guys stepped up this week. Really when their numbers were called were in the right spots and were winning on their routes.
So I felt -- I mean, when you can spread the ball around on offense like that, it makes it easier for everybody.
Q. On that final touchdown throw to Nico, was that always the design, or did you check into that? And just generally how did you feel about being aggressive on that final drive rather than just focusing on burning clock?
DAVIS MILLS: So we were in four-minute mode there. Two plays previously we called the same play. It was a run play by design with kind of tagged route on the backside where if I see Nico can win on his route, I can trust him and get him the ball. And we ended up coming back to that same play on Nico's touchdown. And I saw the safety was kind of in the middle of the field. He had some space out there. And I don't get yelled at because it wasn't an incompletion, but we were trying to burn some clock on the four-minute there, and I trusted Nico to win on his route and he was able to get his first touchdown. So it was pretty cool.
Q. Did this feel like a step in the right direction, just to win two in a row to beat a team that is a contender like you said and to doing it in the fashion you did where complementary football all three phases?
DAVIS MILLS: Definitely. I think it continues to build the momentum we kind of brought from last week. It's kind of just a stepping stone for guys in the locker room and really shows the guys and proves to ourselves that we're capable of winning big games like this and versus capable opponents. And I think it's good for the team as a whole.
Q. The touchdown pass to Chris, if you could take us through that. Chris was saying you had a couple of options on that play. And they kind of gave you a look that made it clear you should take that shot.
DAVIS MILLS: I mean, at that point just based on the study during the week, I knew kind of what defenses they were primarily running in that two-minute drill.
And when we called that play, it's not fully intended to get the ball out to Chris, but like I've kind of been talking about the past couple of weeks and earlier in the season, we were just trying to find ways organically within the offense to make some big plays, and I was able to see that safety, and safety into the boundary kind of flat-footed, rolled down, and Chris was able to run by his guy and I was able to throw it up and gave him a chance. And he made a really good play.
Q. We talked all year about what a difference the running game being productive would help you, how specifically today did Rex's performance help you and make it easier for you?
DAVIS MILLS: I mean, tremendously. I think when you're able to balance the play calls and really be effective in both the run and pass game it opens a lot up. It keeps the defense guessing. And it keeps you out of third and longs. I felt like we were fishing on first and second down and able to control the ball a lot better, move the sticks that way. When you have a run game like we did this week, it helps a lot.
Q. You protected the ball again. Are you beginning to feel more confident about that because you talked to us all season about that was your foremost goal. How do you feel about no turnovers and being able to move the ball as well as you did under dire circumstances because of COVID-19?
DAVIS MILLS: I mean, that's the mission every week, protect the ball, get the ball in the end zone. I felt like we did that today. And just the way I've grown in this, I feel like I'm able to make smart per decisions and not force footballs into tight windows and tight coverage. And our guys also -- first off -- protected me up front I was able to have time see guys get open and credit to the receivers for winning their one-on-ones and winning their matchups and getting open and allowing me to deliver the ball to them.
Q. Going back to a couple of those plays that you were talking about where you made the read at the line and did it based off some of your study earlier in the week. Earlier in the season, when you first started getting your, first started getting your reps, were those the type of decisions and plays you felt confident making or is that just part of your progression and growth since you've had some experience now?
DAVIS MILLS: I'd like to say I was doing some of the same stuff earlier in the season. But I feel like I've progressed a lot with stuff like that. And how we've been playing recently. I'm able to kind of anticipate pre-snap based on what we're getting and based on what we're expecting on certain down and distances situations in the game. So I'm able to go out there and really just take what the defense has given us.
Q. Just the starts you've had in the last, including today, the last couple of weeks as well, really good in Seattle, Jacksonville, and again today, can you address the starts you've had and what that means to kind of jump-start things for the offense and the couple you have out there to start games?
DAVIS MILLS: It's great when we go out there and start fast, scoring touchdowns on the first drive. And really just start the momentum from the start of the game. I think it's big for the team and really just sets the tone on how we want to come out and play football games. We've just got to keep going.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports