Houston Texans Media Conference

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Houston, Texas, USA

Davis Mills

Postgame Press Conference


Chargers 34, Texans 24

Q. -- you had two successful drives and the differences between those?

DAVIS MILLS: Just have to find ways to continue executing our jobs. I mean, I just overheard Brandin a little bit. We can't turn it on and turn it off when we want to.

When we need to go down and score like we did at the start of the second half, we have to do that the whole game. Continue to find ways to get the ball to the guys out in space and let them make plays.

Q. Davis, when the passing game was going well in the second half, how much of a boost does that give you? I know it's a whole team. How much does that help you with confidence?

DAVIS MILLS: That's what we expect. We expect to go out there and perform and do our jobs at a high level. I don't think it's surprising or does anything to my confidence. I always play out there confident like I can make every play and can make every throw.

I think it's a result of everyone doing their jobs and executing at a high level, and that's what we're trying to do for a full game.

Q. These are four games, all four of them came down to the plays in the fourth quarter. Certainly you guys could be 4-0. You're 0-3-1. Lovie was talking about it's a league defined by winning, and you guys aren't good enough yet, but you are getting closer. You're kind of getting there. What's your perspective on all this and where the team is at right now?

DAVIS MILLS: First four games are close. Good teams have to find a way to win late in the game, and we haven't done that yet. Just have to keep fighting for it.

We still have a long season ahead of us. All it takes is one. I said it last week or the week before. All it takes is one. Just have to get that one win and start building some momentum, and it will carry on through the rest of the season.

Q. We talked about the offensive identity before. I asked you that before. You mentioned it was a ground and pound opens up some passing game. How did that kind of go with the fourth and one there? You tried to pass through that play. How does that kind of fall in line with what y'all are trying to do as an offense?

DAVIS MILLS: I mean, if you think the identity of somebody's offense is a ground and pound team, you expect them to run the play. We were trying do catch them often guard and make a play on the edge. It will be good to see what happened on that.

I think the end came unblocked when we should have had him accounted for. Just have to go correct the mistakes and execute at a higher level next week.

Q. You had a couple of deep passes to open up the touchdowns. One to Nico and one to Jordan Akins. What was working for you this week particularly on those deep passes?

DAVIS MILLS: Just trusting those guys to make plays. Had really good protection on both of those drives and really throughout the game. It was great that my offensive line was giving me time to throw, and those guys were making plays.

It's funny because we've repped that play to Nico so many times in practice, and I think we've only really thrown it one or two times, so it's awesome to come out and see him make a huge play, and we know what he is capable of.

Same thing with Akins. They brought cover zero. I think that was a fringe play for us. Brought cover zero. We actually called that play three times on that same drive, and that was the only look where we had where I didn't have to kill out of it and get to something else. He ended up making a play and putting us in good position to score.

Q. Obviously, through the first four weeks the game has come down to plays in the fourth quarter. How much of a mental battle is it for you guys to get over that hump? Week 1, 2, 3, 4, it's always been there in the fourth quarter that you guys can't pull through.

DAVIS MILLS: I think it's just part of our jobs. Everybody has to put their head down and get to work and know if we do what we're supposed to do, the results will come. We just have to find a way. Like I said, all it takes is one.

Q. You mentioned about those drives and being able to get the ball down field and cover zero there. Did they change at all towards the end once they got that chance there near the end zone and have teams kind of played you all differently when you're not you were able to push down towards the end of the game?

DAVIS MILLS: They were doing a really good job on defense just mixing up what they were showing throughout whole game. They did a lot.

I mean, we just have to find ways in those situations to execute at our jobs. One little slip-up can end a drive, so we just have to make sure all 11 people out there on the field are doing their jobs every play.

Q. Davis, obviously, and we've already talked about you have been very close in all four of these games. What in your mind do you have to do differently maybe in order to be able to close out?

DAVIS MILLS: Biggest thing is start fast and then finish faster.

Q. What's it like hearing the fans booing in the stadium, and what's your message, and do you understand the frustration of where they're coming from?

DAVIS MILLS: Yeah. I mean, as all fans are, you want to love your team as much as possible when they're doing well, and then it's tough for you to like them when they're not doing well.

Just urge them to come in here and keep this place rocking. I mean, when the energy was -- when everyone was loud and we had energy I think late in the game, the players feed off that. That's helping us play well, and we have to use that every ounce of it when we're at home.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
125402-1-1878 2022-10-02 21:21:00 GMT

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