Patriots - 23
Dolphins - 21
Q. Everyone has been focused on it. From your perspective, how good is Kyle Dugger at these type of things? How big of a boost was that for you guys?
MJ: I think you're going to have to write Kyle a blank check, that's how good he is right there. Just for him to get that interception and then turn it into offense, that's a one-man band. It just seemed like every week we come up with one. We got to keep doing it, keep focused on it. That's the goal.
For Kyle to do that, it was a really unbelievable play.
Q. What does it say about the character of this group to do what you did today?
MJ: I say it every week, that we put more pressure on us than anybody else do. We need this. We came out, we executed I believe in all three phases. It was some stuff that went on, but that's how you play. That's how you play.
That's a good team. You know you got to fight till the end. That's what we did. It came down to an on-side kick. We just executed a couple more plays than they did. That's how you get a win against good teams.
Q. Did you get a look at Christian's post-game celebration?
MJ: No. That kind of did it to us. Imitation, just flattery. I guess.
Chris Barmore went out there and kind of gave one back to them.
Q. Speaking of the imitation, we saw Christian. Did he steal your celebration?
MJ: No, man. That's for anybody.
Q. Can you speak on the level of seven touchdowns defensively this season for that group. That's a franchise record.
MJ: Like I said, we work on it. Scoop and scores, interceptions to offense. Honestly, it's more incredible plays by people with the ball in they hands by some DBs. Marcus, Dug, 'Quan. It's more just better plays by really good players.
Q. Matthew, given your history with the Bills over the past couple seasons, how do you feel they are the team standing in between you guys and the Playoffs?
MJ: What's my history with them?
Q. What is your history with them?
MJ: You asked the question (smiling).
Q. The Patriots' history.
MJ: I mean, we won there before, so we can do it. It's a good team. We know 'em inside and out. They know us inside and out.
We just got to come, be focused and execute.
Q. Bill Belichick spoke at length about Devin and Matthew Slater. Was there talk amongst the group to go out and get one for them to let them end on a high note?
MJ: Obviously Slate and McCourty are the ones that do the talking before the game. They didn't mention that. They mentioned going out there and have a complete team win, which it was.
I think those guys over their career, they so unselfish, they so team-oriented that they don't talk about they-self. They don't focus on the me, me. It's all about the we, how can we win, how can we execute.
I think hindsight after the game, they kind of think about that stuff. They spend a little extra time on the field. But before the game, they don't really talk about that stuff. They don't talk about the me, they talk about the Patriots and the team.
Q. When Bill talked about Devin, one of the things he said is that a lot of times the great things he does go unnoticed. When you play with somebody like him, what have you learned that you didn't know?
MJ: I believe just with all the bullets flying, with all the emotions out there, everything hectic, Dev is very stoic. He always calm. He always communicates. He always get us in the right call.
I don't know how long he been wearing a green dot, but since I been here he been wearing a green dot. He's been a play-caller. That's how you know a person is a staple to offense and defense, right?
Dev has been a staple. Even though he dropped that today, I think the consistency over years, over a time frame, has been kind of unbelievable. That's why I think he's a first ballot, but he'll definitely go down in Patriots' history for everything he did for this defense and this team.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports