Buffalo - 33, New England - 21
Q. Let's start with Isaiah McKenzie. Obviously, we talked about his story and things like that, but for him to come out the way he did today, did you expect him to have a big game?
SM: I absolutely did. I know he was excited for the opportunity. He gives us great energy. I could tell during the week he was focused and ready to go.
Q. He was talking about the weeks he was inactive and he was really hard on himself. How did you see him take that and respond in practice?
SM: It's important to him. That's good to know. That's -- you know, it's important to him. He's passionate about what he does and how he does things. So it's a great testament to him the way he's worked to get himself back to get in this position to have this opportunity. When given the opportunity, he stepped up. I think that's a lesson for our entire team.
Q. Sean, there were so many big fourth down plays on both sides, both sidelines. Was there an idea coming into this game that you guys were going to be a little aggressive and maybe take some shots?
SM: We just felt like we had a good plan overall. I would just say that. Those aren't always easy decisions. I thought the offense did a great job of executing.
Q. The one reason in the first quarter where he scored the touchdown, ^ halfway out there. You ran out the numbers just to say let's go to the offense. What was the thinking there? Why did you change stream kind of mid-play there?
SM: Just it felt like again I wanted to be aggressive there. I liked how the offense had moved the ball up to that point in time. So I think it was, what, fourth and long two or three or so. Kind of in that gray area a little bit. Wanted to be aggressive.
Q. Sean, you had multiple guys down with COVID on the offensive line, then you lose Ike. So you've got guys playing different positions. Dion, who maybe wasn't planning to play. What does it say Josh Allen and Zack? It seemed you had ample time in the pocket. What does it say about the guys up front today?
SM: I just think a resilient group. Never good to see a guy go down, on the field or off the field. And losing guys due to COVID and losing some coaches due to COVID, I thought it was a very resilient approach by the guys, coaches included.
Q. I understand you have two games left, but come in here and get this win, given where your team has been and what it's been through this year, to see them kind of come together and respond on a number of levels today, what does that mean?
SM: I think we continue to learn lessons with this, in some ways, a young football team and young leadership group. It's hard to follow up a season like last year with a similar season the next year. That's part of the challenge.
So I'm just very proud of the way the guys have persevered and the leadership group has stepped up, and I felt them. Not only off the field, but on the field in their play as well. I thought 17 had an incredible game today. That's good to see, obviously.
Q. Sean, we were talking about the O-line and Isaiah and everybody and Josh made so many plays today. What does that say about him that he's there for you guys where, if he comes -- I don't want to say expected, but he's done this before, and he did it again today.
SM: Yeah, I thought his approach during the week was -- it gave him a chance to do that today, and that's where the process comes in. Not just Josh, but really the entire football team. When you do things right during the week and you get yourself ready to go. It's a tough place to play against a very good football team, a well coached team, as you guys know. I thought we played good football today.
Q. How badly did you want this win today given the way the game unfolded a few weeks ago?
SM: Well, they're all important. Like I just mentioned, it's a very good football team here that they have. We have a lot of respect for them and how they do things, how they're coached. We just knew we were going to be in for a battle today, and that's what it was.
Q. Sean, you just kind of touched on it there, but he's working with a different offensive line, different wide receivers. Did you see something different in Josh this week in practice that gave you an idea something like this was coming?
SM: Just he continues to grow every week really. That's what it comes down to.
Q. Sean, the last offensive possession you guys had they just scored to get it back to five points, that's a big point in the game. Can you take us through how good your offense was on that last possession?
SM: I thought it was, honestly, more of the same that we had done up to that point. We moved the ball. I don't think we ended up punting in the game. But just playing smart, doing things right that sets up the result and just moving the ball, moving the ball, not having to go over the top all the time, but just taking what the defense was giving us. I thought Coach called a great game and Josh and the offense executed.
So I thought we played smart football and disciplined at times, especially before the half with the situation that got a little bit -- I guess some pushing and shoving going on there or whatever. I thought keeping our composure was a big piece of it as well.
Q. Kyle Van Noy said that the energy you guys had was epic. What's the balance going into this? Your message to the team, let's have some energy, but let's be composed.
SM: Just we talked last go around with us hurting ourselves with penalties. There's a discipline component that comes with that, whether they're during the play or after the play or before the play. If you want to play winning football, you can't beat yourselves with penalties.
It was a physical game out there, so guys are going to get a little bit emotional, but we have to keep our emotions in check.
Q. Was there a catalyst at all to go for it on fourth down as many times as you did, two-point conversions, everything like that throughout the week or maybe from previous games?
SM: I just felt it was the right thing for this game. We just take them one week at a time, one game at a time.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports