CHRISTIAN WILKINS: I apologize if that was inappropriate. I just wanted to show off my -- every game day, Power Rangers, power up, morphin' time. I don't watch them when we go on win streaks either. Let's not tell too many people about that.
Q. I've got to gain my composure here for a second. Christian, talk to me a little bit about just what it means to see your head coach go out there and defend his team like that.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: It's good to see that kind of just because you know he has our back and we're a family. So that's the biggest thing. We've all got each other's back. So we'll just keep that in the family.
Q. Christian, I actually have the same pair of underwear. I wanted to ask you about the defense today with the multiple sacks by Shaq Lawson. You guys were able to bear down there and keep the Bengals off the scoreboard for most of the game. How did it feel to turn in a performance like that?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: It was good. It felt really good, especially since in the first half we started off real sluggish. We didn't do a great job of coming out and starting fast. So it was just good to kind of get things going and take over. It's good to see teammates succeed. Everybody -- we had a full team effort by the defense. To perform like that today, really all three phases of the game, we did some good stuff.
We still can improve, especially in December. So it's an important time right now during the season. So we can still improve, but I just thought it was a good overall effort.
Q. Two quick ones. One, how upset were you to get that TD called back? And two, you guys got four key games coming on in the playoff stretch. How important is it for this defense to sort of --
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Wow, they some haters is all I've got to say. I don't know who I've got to talk to, but I'm a little upset. I done did every dance in the book, every celebration, I was tired, all of that, and it didn't even count. I might have even took a fine, but hey, it was worth it, I had fun out there. Too bad it just didn't count. It is what it is. I'm glad we got the win.
What was your second question? I'm still just hot about the no touchdowns. I apologize.
Q. I figured you were going to be hot about the no touchdowns. The second question is you guys have four games left for the playoff push. What does sort of your defense got to show for you guys to get in towards the end?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Really it's just improving each week, locking in during the week in meetings, practicing -- not just practicing, just going out there and practice and getting it done, but locking in and honing your craft. I really think it's going to be important ball the rest of the way out. Every game matters. So we've just got to keep -- you know, just keep taking care of business really.
Q. Christian, why do you think the Bengals were playing as dirty as they were today? It wasn't just one thing. It was the entire afternoon, they were doing things that were outside the rules.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: I mean, I'm going to stay away from that. I don't know what they were doing or what they were thinking or what's going on over on their sideline. So I'm just going to stay away from that question. It's just what it is. It's competitive. It's heated out there. That's all I can say.
Q. Christian, you talked about being a family and knowing that Flores has your back. At the same time, you guys have done great this year as far as avoiding penalties. So how do you balance keeping those emotions in check versus not letting teams take advantage of you? How do you find that right balance?
CHRISTIAN WILKINS: Well, like you said, we're one of the least penalized teams in the league, so I feel like we've done a good job of that kind of stuff all year even when things get chippy. So it's just focusing on that. Sometimes, you know, things happen. Like I said, it's really competitive out there. We care for each other. Guys compete each week, and you get close with guys, so things happen. That's all I can say.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports