Seahawks, 37 - 49ers, 27
RUSSELL WILSON: Listen, I told Dee Jay Dallas he's going to go last. He's sitting right here. Finish it off for you guys.
Q. Since you mentioned the rook, both sides of the ball you guys guy were missing a lot of guys. How impressive was the way he stepped up?
RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, he was unbelievable tonight. I think it was the first or second or third practice when we had got back from the COVID-19 stuff and everything else and I really noticed him, Dee Jay, really noticed him during the whole spring Zoom calls and all that. He was such a leader. He was on his stuff. He was very detailed. He was always early for the meetings, the rookie meetings we would do early before everything started.
He was just such a great leader and just how he showed his leadership. He's a ball player. I think that maybe that's a quarterback in him or whatever, but fast forward to the second practice we really saw him, I really thought he was going to be really special for us. Obviously today got to talk to him before the game. I said, Great players always have to start somewhere. They always have to start somewhere; doesn't matter who you are.
So greatness starts somewhere. It's going to be today. And sure enough, he played an unbelievable game. I thought he was lights out. He was very calm in the huddle. He was on top of his protections. He was very efficient in the run game, caught the ball well.
Just a special player, and I'm glad he's on our team and stepped up. A lot guys stepped up in a big way.
Q. You have I think your three and 8 now following games in which the team has lost. Is it always just business as usual for you after the team loses or after a game like last week? Was that any tougher to take and the approach any different?
RUSSELL WILSON: You know, I think for me, I've always tried to remain neutral, like I always tell you guys. The reality is you figure out, okay, what's going really well, what was great about the game, and then what could we have done better. Those two simple questions.
From there you get to figure out, three plays, that's it. If I can eliminate those three plays how much better can we be. I think we have been unbelievable all year. We've been able to make a lot of special plays. I just keep swinging, just keep swinging. Don't change your mind, don't doubt now.
We been fortunate to win a lot of football games in the past nine years and it's been special. Just got to keep going. I think that to be able to remain neutral and process the good times and also process the tough times and understand that the next opportunity, next play, this one right here, and just remaining neutral in the midst of it all is the part that I think allows me internally to be successful, but also us as a team. You don't change for anything for that.
Q. The first two drives didn't go well. What changed for the third drive and subsequent after that?
RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I thought we stayed on schedule. No penalties, just stayed on schedule. We capitalized on opportunities. We caught and ran the ball well when we did. You know, I thought it was an unbelievable game by the offensive line. The offensive line gave me great time to make some plays and throws.
DK had a special, special game. I think he had 12 catches and just did some really, really good things in the passing game.
So I think we were on it. I'm not sure how many drives we had, but I know we scored quite a bit throughout the game. We capitalized on our opportunities.
Q. How much of a luxury is it to have two guys in Tyler and DK who can completely take over a game at a moment's notice?
RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think having great ball players, we have so many guys that can step up and step in, so many great players. But those two guys, arguably two of the best receivers in the game, in my opinion, just how they play. So much talent, so much ability, and they're so -- Tyler is older, but both of them are still very young and continue to grow.
I'm glad that they're on our team. It's a blessing to be able to throw the football to them.
Q. Do you ever have anybody come to you and be like, Hey, Russ, look my way, or is it nice for you never to have to deal with egos and massage egos?
RUSSELL WILSON: You know, I think that you just want to win. I think everybody wants to win. We're focused on winning. That's the only thing we're focused on.
Q. Couple months ago you were throwing passes to Stephen Sullivan in training camp. How crazy is it to you that he's only been playing this position a couple weeks and he was able to come in and make a tackle in this game?
RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think that Sully did a great job. He's such a great athlete. Obviously a champion from LSU. He knows how to play the game and he's a great tight end, too. He can play that position. I'm looking forward to seeing his growth as an overall player, what he can do.
Obviously him stepping up and learning the defensive end position and just being a great athlete and being so intelligent on his stuff, it was great to see him make a play or two today.
Q. You talk a lot about staying neutral regardless of what happened the play before. So in a game, I'm curious if you actually notice the score ir take note of it, or if it's just every drive is almost like 0-0?
RUSSELL WILSON: That's a great question. I think that I always notice the score. You know, if we're up I'm processing what it's going to take for us to win this game. When we are down, I'm always processing what's it going to take for us to win this game.
That's what I keep very simple, simple mind in that sense. For me, what I've really understood just playing multiple sports and all that and the idea around the neutral mindset is just that you understand what you have to do to get to game one and what you have to do there, but not letting the emotions of the game affect you.
Just being able to still be passionate about the game. I think you're definitely passionate, but the balance of passion and understanding and process and clarity all coming together as one, and understanding that there is a mission to come back or to finish the game and close the game out, I think that's something that we do better than, in my opinion, anybody else in the world.
That is just because of the mindset that we have, and I think the neutral mindset that I try to bring to the table as a collective group.
Q. What are your feelings on the defense? Relieved? Renewed confidence that these guys can keep pace? What did today do for you?
RUSSELL WILSON: I think our defense played amazing tonight. They did a great job. Bobby was all over the field, one of the best players in the game. He's the best linebacker in the game and just nothing he can't do. I just love being his teammate. K.J. has had an incredible year. What a special player he is. He's been special for ten years now. So consistent.
You know, with all the things that have happened with some of our guys, too, injuries, I know Bruce going down, that was tough for us, other guys going down and guys have stepped up and just what we're focused on, like I said earlier, is just winning and the process of it all and just understanding that there will be tough games, battles.
We're in the toughest division this football hands down. So there is always a match up every week. So we look forward to those matchups. I have all the confidence in the world in our defense because how many times they've shown up to be able to stop certain moments in crucial situations and all that.
I think to be able to play situational football is key. I think we can all get better across the board, offense, defense, special teams, and that's the magic. Continue to search, continue to study, continue to learn, continue to process. The younger guys continue to grow and build and continue to have a strategy every single day, that focus every day, that obsession with winning, with the process more than anything else.
If we do that as a team there is nothing we can't do and that's what I'm looking forward to.
Q. We know how much you worked with DK, whether in practice or during the off-season. From the play he had last week with that tackle on Budda Baker to the first touchdown catch today, are you ever just wowed by his ability to do things on the field?
RUSSELL WILSON: You know, I think I'm amazed every day by him, just by his consistency, by his mentality, by his want to -- he's a special player, a special person, special teammate as well.
He really cares, and when you see guys make amazing plays like the ones he's made, I don't think there is anybody better. He's only in his second year, he's only 22, so I'm look forward to playing a lot of years with him. He's really special, and I feel like we're just getting started.
It's a good thing. Just got to stay the course. There is no magic pill. Just the work ethic and the attitude and the mentality every day. If we can keep that and do that together, the rest of the guys as well, it's been a lot of fun. That play he made where he caught the ball today and ran it across the field and ran into the end zone, there is nobody faster in the world than him on the field. He's just pretty special in that sense.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports