Cardinals 38, Titans 13
Q. Got to be fairly happy with that performance.
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, we talk about starting fast. I think more than anything as a team, when they play from ahead they can pound you and really put you in a tough situation.
So we did exactly what we wanted to, particularly defensively, starting thing fast, getting them off the field, and putting pressure on them.
Q. Did the first series kind of disturb you a little bit because of the penalties?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: I wouldn't say disturbed me, but yea, obviously we don't want the penalties. To have six in the opening drive of the season when that's been an emphasis, not ideal.
But I thought we overcame some later, which was huge. But that can't happen. Can't be a repeat of last year.
Q. (No microphone.)
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Definitely. I mean, the leadership we brought in from different places, you know, guys are ambitious and hungry and believe we can win out here, and they brought that attitude and mental toughness.
It's contagious.
Q. (Regarding Chandler Jones' five sacks.) Training camp on did you see something like this coming?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Definitely, yeah, he was unblockable most of training camp to the point where it's like, Hey, we can only pass when he's out of game type deal. He was awesome.
So I didn't know if he would have five, but I knew he would impact the game. There was no doubt.
Q. How important is it and was it I guess starting on the second series when you got the turnover and cashed it in for a touchdown. Did that several times during the game. Is that a key characteristic...
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, I would say so. We've talked about being one of the better teams in the league in turnover margin. We haven't been in this our first two years here, and you look into the year, the Top 5 teams are always the ones that go deep in the playoffs and win the Super Bowl, and so that was a huge for us.
Q. (No microphone.)
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Great play call, wasn't it? Fantastic.
Q. I mean, it was a huge play of the game because you did score right after they scored, and without that play maybe you don't score.
KLIFF KINGSBURY: No, no question. I thought he did a great job of extending plays today, and he had some big time checks on two touchdown throws, one to Hopkins, cover zero, he checked into him, one to Christian Kirk, he checked him, but the corner route that he caught over his shoulder. He was locked in, understood the game plan, and really executed well.
Q. Done a lot of that in the past?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: You know, this is year three in the system and we give them freedom at the line to get into what he sees, and I just think he's getting more and more confident with that. We got weapons out there that he trusts, and he took advantage of some things.
Q. (Regarding Jordan Hicks.)
KLIFF KINGSBURY: No, Zaven was playing, too. Isaiah was playing. All three of those guys played a lot, played at a high level.
Q. How about your new full backs?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Oh, yeah, yeah, that was just some trickeration, some decoration, but I'm sure they were excited to be in there.
Q. It worked.
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, it worked. It worked.
Q. (No microphone.)...run game, and then you got the lead in the play-action.
KLIFF KINGSBURY: No doubt. That was the plan, and we knew if we could stop the run we could shut down the play-action stuff and get them in third and long and make them try to block Chandler. BJ had a tremendous plan and executed it perfectly early.
Q. How important was it when they did score a touchdown both times you guys responded with one of your own?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: That was big, that was big. The crowd was getting into it, you could feel momentum shift a little bit, and I thought our guys responded well.
Had a couple clean drives that went down and kind of sealed the game for us.
Q. (No microphone.)
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, it was fun to watch. Been seeing flashes in practice, no question, but like I said, I thought BJ had a tremendous plan. They stuck to it, and a guys were dominant up front.
Q. (No microphone.)
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, he played well. Dogbe had a sack. That D-line group that Coach Buck works with bringing JJ in, it's really on the rise.
Q. (Regarding Tyler.) What do you remember about that play?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: I mean, it was a lot of no, no, no, yes. That's one, having coaches like Johnny and Patrick, you just high five them on the way off and say, Nice job, and keep going.
Q. Any update on Beachum?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: I don't. Waiting to hear back on that.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports