Titans 17, Texans 10
Q. ...the whole day I guess knowing you're going to get your first start, pre-game, right before kickoff? How do you think it went?
MALIK WILLIS: I think it was good; we got a W. You know, that's all you want to go out and do. Yeah, there are things you want back and it's my first start, so I can't be too critical. Yeah, you got plays you want back and that's going to be every game.
Definitely appreciative for a W.
And Derrick, you got to congrats to him. He got a new record so that's cool, too. Just cool to see our team just fight back from setbacks, whether it may be penalties, the turnover on the interception. Just bounce back regardless what was going on and come together. It was really cool.
Q. What was it like to have that security blanket knowing that you could turn to Derrick throughout the game and hand it off?
MALIK WILLIS: More than anything, I don't look at it like a security blanket. I think it's our offense. When we run ball and they can't stop it, what would you do, you know? So we just try to continue to stay within our offense and play the game, go out and try to get Ws.
Q. What was the week like as far as ride the rollercoaster of not knowing if you're going to play and finding out you are going to be the starter?
MALIK WILLIS: I feel like I've been saying all week all you can do is prepare like you're going to if think you are. Then that takes a lot of worries away from you.
Q. When did you find out you were going to be the guy?
MALIK WILLIS: Probably when ya'll found out.
Q. Sometime yesterday?
MALIK WILLIS: Yep.
Q. Who did you lean on this week for advice? Ryan, coaches?
MALIK WILLIS: I feel like it was everybody. We're a team so I can lean on O-line, receivers, Derrick, Ryan. I can lean on people in the defense.
Everybody was just telling me how they got my back and don't worry about this or that. We got your back. We're behind you. That's been really cool just to have that.
Q. How was it to adjust to that game speed coming from college to the NFL?
MALIK WILLIS: I think it's football, understanding just what comes with it. Yeah, it's a little bit different, especially because running a different offense more than anything.
But I think it was cool to get out there and have some fun and get a W.
Q. I'm sure you don't dream of throwing one pass in the second half in your first NFL start, when that is how the game is going, what's the mindset of just letting it flow the way it did and make sure you get the W?
MALIK WILLIS: I don't care, brother. We got a W, you know what I mean? We set a record today. That's selfish to not be happy for Derrick. He just set an NFL record. That's hard to do. If they can't stop the run, why would we not run it?
More than anything, we're not out here to try to throw for 300 every game or try to run for 300 every game. We're out here trying to find ways to win games. That's all.
Q. First time in the huddle with him as he got into his groove. What was that like and the momentum that was building as he was racking up yards?
MALIK WILLIS: It was cool. It was really cool to see one of our premier guys in the NFL on my team just kind of take over a football game. He's like, they can't stop me. So it's like, it's cool to see that because they weren't stopping him.
Q. Talk about the job that your defense did today stopping the Texas offense.
MALIK WILLIS: They did a great job. Ya'll was watching the game. They did a great job. Every time we'd look up we're getting the ball back. Like I said, they were just behind us the whole time, keep fighting, keep fighting, we got you, don't worry about it.
Just really, really good job by the defense today, not only on the field, but off the field as far as just being great teammates.
Q. How was the dialog back and forth? (Indiscernible) trying to make sure he kept you in good situations and those type of things.
MALIK WILLIS: I mean, it was cool; just making sure I was operating as a starting quarterback, getting us in good runs, making sure that we're doing all the motions and making sure each play runs as smoothly as possible and we execute to the best of our ability.
Q. Does that change for you going into next week now that you have this experience or keep things same as?
MALIK WILLIS: Not really. Just watch the film and try to get better, brother. That's all.
Q. To step in and to step up in the way did you, what's that mean to you?
MALIK WILLIS: It's really cool that they allowed me to go out there and be the guy for the day, help us win a game. It's really cool just that they felt like no matter who was in there we can go out and win games.
That's just kudos to them.
Q. You heard from Ryan?
MALIK WILLIS: Yeah. He text me.
Q. What did he say?
MALIK WILLIS: Why you all in my text? Golly. No I'm just playing. He was like, congrats on your first W, first NFL start, first W. Not a lot of people get to do that. I was just appreciative of him and text him back on that.
Q. Anything different making your first career start in the NFL? Any nerves last night or this morning?
MALIK WILLIS: You get butterflies the first play, and then I got hit and I'm like, oh, I'm ready. I'm good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports