Miami 11, Jets 6
Q. You went through a progression in Baltimore as a young player, do you think this team, the next step is just learning how to win these December games?
JOE FLACCO: I mean, I was talking on the radio about it. I think we have the pieces in place to be one of those teams. It didn't show this year, but you know, you build a team to win in December, January, February, that's how -- and I think when you build a team like that, it's not always going to be pretty and I think the first step in that is usually getting your defense to turn the corner and become an elite defense and I think you can see a lot of that from our defense this year.
I think when we start to make a couple little adjustments on offense and do a couple little things to kind of turn the corner ourselves, I think you'll start to see a team that, you know, it still might not look pretty every week but it's about winning games later in the year. I think we have the foundation to kind of get that done. I know it's tough to feel -- to try to look for positives when another season is coming to an end without a playoff spot.
But that's the reality of it. Only one team went to the Super Bowl every year. It's more disappointing the later you lose in the season. I think the fortunate thing for the guys here is that they have the opportunity to build something and be a part of something that's going to be special when they get it done. In Baltimore we had a core group of veterans when I got there that this team didn't quite have until this year a little bit. Different circumstances and different teams. Yeah, I think there's a lot of good guys in that locker room that know how to play football.
Q. What's next in your football future?
JOE FLACCO: I went out there today, and I honestly felt as good as I've ever felt. I know there's probably a lot of people out there that don't look at it that way and don't want to see it that way but -- listen, when you're sitting on the bench and you're not playing football, it's not a lot of fun. It isn't. And it pulls your mind in a bunch of different directions but every time you get back out -- every time you get back out on the practice field, and obviously on Sunday on the game field, I mean, it's just so much fun and so much fun to be out there with all those young guys and still do anything I love. That's what I plan on doing until, you know, I've said it before, I'm going to do it as long as I can and that's my plan and we'll see what happens this off-season and what kind of opportunities there are wherever that is.
Q. You said on the broadcast your son had a Tyreek Hill jersey --
JOE FLACCO: I told him, like a couple months ago, my dad kind of made this promise to them that if I happened to be playing in Miami at the end of the year -- my second son happens to be -- they are all Tyreek Hill fans obviously, I mean, who isn't, what kid isn't.
But my dad promised them, hey, if your dad is playing that last week, I'll take you to Miami and we'll go see the game. And all of a sudden on Thursday, like, hey man, I'm playing. I know you're picking them up from wrestling practice, when they get in the car, just a warning, they are going to give you hell about going to this Miami game.
So I'm just giving you heads-up, like whether you actually meant it or not -- and he's like, "Oh, man, no," he was all excited about it. He recruited my mom obviously to help him out or he wouldn't have been successful in his journey, I don't think.
But I think that's awesome. How cool that, like to have that opportunity as a little kid to be on an NFL football field and watch your dad go against one of your favorite players. I think it's awesome, too. I felt very fortunate today to be able to like introduce them and just see how happy they were. It made me happy. I was excited to go play today and that was part of the reason that I was so excited.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports