Texans 23, Bills 20
SEAN McDERMOTT: Okay. Tough game, I thought our guys did a good job coming back, coaches made good adjustments just not enough in the end. That's on me. The end of game situation on offense we needed to -- tough situations, three time-outs. They were holding three time-outs, got a good field goal kicker. We needed to run the clock and move the chains and that's on me. We didn't do that there and that's my fault.
Q. Sean, were you on call with the play call calling, play passes, that situation.
SEAN McDERMOTT: I'm not going to get into that, that's not relevant right now, Sal. Overall, that's on me so we just got to do a better job, I got to do a better job in that situation.
Q. Sean, is that a situation where if you throw it once, you're going to throw it three times or if you run it once, you're going to run it three times because even if you leave them with one time-out, that's all they needed in that spot?
SEAN McDERMOTT: Yeah, when you talk about them holding three time-outs, where we were. They've got a really strong-legged field goal kicker. We knew that. There's a potential if the situation goes three straight runs, you run six seconds off potential each time you may be in a similar situation, you know? So either way, we got to do a better job and that starts with me 100%.
Q. Is there something to the idea, though, that if it's going to go one way or the other, have it go one way or another have it go one way or another with 17 with the ball in his hands?
SEAN McDERMOTT: I love Josh with the ball in his hands, I really do. Efficient offense was the right approach there and I didn't have us do that, so, again, we learned from that. Tough situation. They're holding three time-outs, like I said. They have a good field goal kicker and you go back and forth, you know? And I probably should have run it on the first play and said hey, where are we now? Either way we're probably going to have to move the chains one time to not give them a chance. But, again, those are situations and that's on me.
Q. The ten-second runoff --
SEAN McDERMOTT: We did. Yeah, we did. We talked about it after the game and, you know, you don't know where that punt's going to land. If the punt goes in the endzone, we're at the 20 and we got a chance, right? Or do that, because of their kicker, do they hang on and run the clock down and try and do something on the last play? You know, again, situational football.
So just, again, that's on me and I thought we had opportunities in the game. I really did. I thought the defense with the guys that were playing out there really battled out there and just overall, not enough production on first down as an offense, not enough third down really manageable third downs to convert and move the chains and keep the pressure on their defense and so we got to do a better job there.
Q. (Inaudible).
SEAN McDERMOTT: I don't know, I'll have to look at the film. I just feel like overall maybe we're too much down the field, you know. I thought some of the getting the ball out, I think it was some in the second quarter, maybe some in the third as well. I thought that was effective for us and it seemed like maybe we were looking down the field. I don't know, I have to look at the film. We talked about it at halftime. We knew first down wasn't good for us and when you talk about third down three of fourteen, average eight yards plus to go, that's not healthy.
Q. To Joe's point, you had 18 targets to your wide receivers, just four catches. Everyone knew with Khalil out that it was going to be an opportunity for someone to step up. How troubling is it that you didn't see any of that production?
SEAN McDERMOTT: I would have hoped for more. I'm sure those guys feel the same way.
Q. The last play, the field goal, it looked like the defense was confused. What happened there.
SEAN McDERMOTT: Yeah, we were trying to go nickel defense and Dorian was on the side. We didn't have the communication and because of that, he was late onto the field and getting the call in that situation.
Q. Is there a common thread they were able to convert a lot of third and six-plus?
SEAN McDERMOTT: On their side? Yeah, we had a mental on one of the third downs, I think it was third and five in the first quarter that led to their first score and then, you know, they did some good things, just with making some good throws and I thought we made some plays defensively when we needed to make them and the guys battled and, you know, we have to look at those third downs overall and when you get a team in the third down, you got to win those situations.
Q. Sean, back-to-back weeks offensively, first half straggles getting things going in the third quarter. Have those slow starts been more of what you've not been doing or more of what your opponents have?
SEAN McDERMOTT: I'll know more, again, when I have a better look at the film. I think overall, to your point, we've a little bit off our game from what we did, from what we executed in our first three games. When I get a chance to turn the film on, that's what I'm going to be looking for.
Q. Looking at how the game finished, it seems pretty clear after the turnover at the 15, not catching the touchdown, that would've probably changed the outcome of the game.
SEAN McDERMOTT: Opportunities, again, I think we had two takeaways. I know we got the ball I think in the first quarter we had a three-and-out, got the ball at the minus -- plus 49 for us, almost 50. You know, just opportunities overall. I thought there were some opportunities. That being said, I thought our offense came back in the second half and battled and so, again, just not enough overall as a team. The kick return -- excuse me, the punt return before half was three points. Their punt return. So all that adds up when you're in that tight of a game.
Q. The first half that catch by Dalton. Did you think about challenging that?
SEAN McDERMOTT: I did and the information I got. I can't -- it's on that side and the information I got was that the ball hit the ground, so that's what we went with.
Q. Two tough ones on the road, another one coming up. Where are your guys? Where do you think is now after the two tough ones like this?
SEAN McDERMOTT: Yeah, they're down. There's no moral victories. I did like how they battled. To battle back after getting down like we did. We have a lot of young guys particularly on the defensive side battling and giving us great effort in all three phases. The margins in the NFL are slim and we got to continue to work to improve ourselves, get some guys healthy at some point here. I think that would help and yet that's not an excuse. We have to find ways to pull these out.
Q. Josh was 9 of 30 tonight. You talked about missed opportunities, Mack a couple times early. Dalton maybe once over the middle. Do you feel like he's trusting what he's seeing right now and just how would assess his overall performance tonight?
SEAN McDERMOTT: You talking about Mack or Josh?
Q. Josh.
SEAN McDERMOTT: Yeah, I'm sure he wants that throw back that you referenced, Jay, and Josh is a great player so I'll take the ball in Josh's hand any time and the fourth and five that we went for, a great throw, great catch, great run after catch by Keon. So Josh is a warrior. Took a pretty good hit out there and came back for his team and teammates. Thanks, guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports