Bengals 45, Dolphins 21
Q. Quinn, how would you describe your emotions last night and today before the game?
QUINN EWERS: Man, I was calm and I was ready for the opportunity at hand. Felt like I had a great grasp of the game plan and I felt like I had the confidence of the guys around me.
I was just fired up to get back out there on the field.
Q. How did you feel once the game started? First half seem pretty comfortable, poised, and just where did it unravel for the team as a whole the second half?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, no, to your point, I think we came out and played well in the first half. Kind of got into a good flow there for a little while.
And then coming out the second half I thought we came out well and then we had that big play get called back and then we had the turnover. It's hard to win ball games when you have three turnovers. I wish I had a couple of those throws back, but I think it's a good learning moment and experience for all those guys in the locker room, myself included.
Not the result that we wanted. It's unfortunate.
Q. What was Tua like out there on the sideline for you?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, no, he was good. Super encouraging to me and all the guys. Again, he's in a tough position, you know, in that spot. Like I've said earlier this week, I've been there and I know how he feels. I thought he did a really good job of helping me out on the sideline and continuing to talk to those guys and continuing to encourage those guys.
Q. What was his job on there with the board?
QUINN EWERS: It's pretty much what I've been doing all year. He'll just write the number of the wristband in case I don't hear it from Mike.
Q. How difficult is it putting in a week of preparation in and not getting the result that you ultimately want?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, no, it's tough. Coming out here, like you said, after a good week's work and an NFL preparation week, for it to go the way that it did, it's tough, especially when you see the amount of work that these guys put in week in and week out, coaches included. It's tough to come out here and lose the way we did for sure.
But you got to find the good sometimes in all that. And, again, like I said earlier, there is a lot of learning to do, so continue on. Life continues.
Q. ... throwing to guys -- I mean, obviously your chemistry with Theo has been there since preseason.
QUINN EWERS: Right.
Q. How did it feel throwing to Darren and Jaylen and Greg?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, no, it felt good to be out there. It's always nice to be back out there on the field. It's been a little while. But I thought our rapport was pretty good. I thought we did a pretty good job during the week getting extra throws after practice, getting the timing down with these guys, but felt good.
Q. First full game as a starter since college. The mechanics of getting the playcall, the speed of the game, everything for 60 minutes. Did it feel fast to you or did you feel like you settled in pretty quickly?
QUINN EWERS: It didn't feel fast to me. I thought during the week I thought we did a good job of keeping our eyes on the play clock and not getting in the rhythm of practice. Like, hey, it's just practice. We're going to continue on to just go through the motions or whatnot.
But we had a play clock on me during the week, which I think helped a lot. Felt good to be out there. Didn't feel fast, so...
Q. Are there one or two things that you learned today or this week that will help you next week?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, totally. I think that in football adversity is going to strike, and it did tonight a few times. I thought we learned kind of who we are when adversity strikes and I thought we did a good job of putting series together when we went down there to score to make it 21 points.
So just staying in the game. You know, I feel like the college game is obviously very different than the NFL game. You don't get as many opportunities in drives, so it's really important to make those count.
Q. The 97-yard drive give you some confidence?
QUINN EWERS: Totally. Totally. Again, it's always nice for me whenever the guys around you are doing their jobs. When we put drives together like that I think it's very important for the offense's confidence as well.
Q. Coach McDaniel said that he has it in mind to start you next week. What do you think of that?
QUINN EWERS: Man, I'm ready for the opportunity, ready to come back out here. I think we're all going to have a bad taste in our mouth from tonight, so hopefully we come out there with a better result next week.
I just love challenges, so I'm going continue to strive forward, continue to put the work in, continue to grind, build relationships with these guys. And, you know, it's football at the end of the day. We played it our entire lives. Now we just do it on a little bit bigger stage.
Just try not to make it bigger than it is and continue to grow as a quarterback and as a person.
Q. I know you and Theo had a good connection during training camp. Did it help having him active today? And if so, how?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, totally. I felt like I wasn't out there alone if that makes sense. But, man, I was super fired up that Theo was going to get his opportunity this week. He did a great job in practice with the plays that he had up. He's a fellow Dallas guy, so little connection there. It always helps for sure when you're not in it alone.
Q. Didn't take a sack today. I thought that was pretty impressive. What was working from that standpoint?
QUINN EWERS: Yeah, I went into it -- I mean, there is a stat out there, I'm not sure what it is, but your chances of scoring a touchdown after a sack significantly drop. I thought it was important, especially in the first start, for me to go through the progressions, but obviously the speed of the game is a little bit faster, so get the ball out and throw it away if necessary.
Q. How different was the playbook for you in this start than what Tua normally has?
QUINN EWERS: I thought it was pretty similar to be honest with you. Like I've hit on in earlier meetings of ours, it's our job as -- whether we're the two or three during the year is to be ready for whenever your opportunity is.
But I'm glad that they had the faith in me and the trust in me to continue on this game plan.
Q. I'm sure you learned a lot of things that you'll think about. Anything in particular jump out to you in minutes right after the game?
QUINN EWERS: To be honest with you, I thought that we played well as an offense. It's one of those games where you thought you did a good job, but it just doesn't translate over to the scoreboard. Like I said, the turnovers are going to do that to you.
But, man, it's just what an opportunity to get out there on the field with those guys that we're just going build on.
Q. How is Waller as a target?
QUINN EWERS: Oh, he's great. He's great. Big body. I feel like if I just put it over there in his vicinity he's going to end up coming down with it. It's always nice to have a guy like that on third down and in the red zone.
Q. How many people did you have show up to watch your first start?
QUINN EWERS: Quite a few I believe. I just gave tickets to my parents and girlfriend and I let them handle all the rest. I know there is quite a few of them though.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports