Dolphins - 19, Bengals - 7
Q. Real physical football game. You were extremely physical yourself in the first half. The game obviously degenerated, though, into something that you don't want it to degenerate into. What's your reaction to all of it?
JESSIE BATES: I don't know. It's hard. Obviously when you're losing. The thing I like about what we're doing we were continuing to fight. I just continued to challenge the guys in the huddle.
We'd give up a big play -- they're down there on the goal line -- I just continued to preach, we cannot give up a touchdown; we cannot give up a touchdown. And we held our own, I felt like. I think we held the team to 19 points back to back weeks. Doesn't happen a lot in the NFL. Not moral victories or anything like that. But I like the energy we played with on defense today.
Q. In the first half, it seemed like you really had -- I don't know about befuddled -- but it wasn't real comfortable. Did they do anything differently in terms of the way they attacked in the second half as opposed to the first half?
JESSIE BATES: Yeah, I think they sped it up a little bit more in the second half. That's exactly what they did, actually. In the first half, I think we stopped the run. We eliminated the explosive plays. And then in the second half, I think they got us on our heels when they were going hurry up and that empty formation that they continually go into, they kind I of got us backed up. And they were moving the ball pretty well. But like I say, we were continuing to fight, and giving up three points, I'll live with that at any day.
Q. Did the play at the end of the half with Tyler, did that change everything? You guys are --
JESSIE BATES: No.
Q. Looking at going 10-3?
JESSIE BATES: No, I think on defense you kind of like that stuff. It gets you going even more throughout the game. So Tyler doesn't play on defense. So I mean, it didn't really affect us on defense. I think we continued to play with the energy. Like I said, I'm just proud of the guys continuing to fight.
Q. I think they went 0-for-8 or 0-for-9 on third down before they converted. You guys did a hell of a job on third down. What was the key to success there?
JESSIE BATES: I think we had a good idea. Coach Lou had a really good idea what they wanted to do. Tua, like I said, at the beginning of the week he doesn't check a lot at the line as far as how Fitz does it.
So we had a really good feel for that. But in the second half I don't think -- I don't think they got any third down situations and they were just moving the ball really well. So something I continue to preach about; we've got to be more consistent. And that's something we've got to continue to work on.
Q. Obviously the team keeps on losing, but you, individually, are having a good season. I know you're not a selfish player, but can you take solace in the fact that you know you're getting a lot of recognition from outside the locker room with your individual play on the field?
JESSIE BATES: Yeah, I mean that only means so much. I play this game to win football games. And I'm here, I feel like I'm a leader of this team on the defensive side. And my main goal is to win football games.
Like I said, like I continue to say, as long as I continue to do what I gotta do, live right, make sure my family's good, God will take care of the rest of that. I only look at national media when I need to, but right now I'm focusing on building the right environment around here.
Q. You mentioned you might look Coach Flores up give him a what's-up after he gave you such effusive praise (indiscernible). Did you get a chance to acknowledge it?
JESSIE BATES: Yeah, pregame I was able to go over and dap him up. It's just a "what's up, man, I appreciate you," stuff like that. I just like what he stands for and I support everything he does.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports