Patriots - 32, Browns - 13
Q. Other than Myles Garrett, how was your day, and how was the offense? What did you like about what you guys did?
DM: I think we left some out in the red zone. I think we moved the ball well. Defense helped us out. They played a great game. I think, when they did force turnovers, we scored off them, which was good to see. I think we left some out there in the red zone.
We ran the ball, we threw it some. We had the one turnover with me and the one with TreVeyon at the end. So we have to learn from that.
They're a good defense. They're good up front. They get after the passer. I've got to do a better job of getting the ball out and knowing kind of what mode I'm in to get it out.
Q. Did it feel like Josh was kind of, the way he called plays at the beginning of the second half, kind of some cleverness, some creativity that kind of opened things up for you guys? Was that something that was a little bit of a conversation in the locker room at halftime?
DM: He was -- his demeanor at halftime, he could tell that he was calming us down. He knew that we were good. Just classic Coach McDaniels drive. He's just dialing it up multiple times and getting guys open and really making it easy for me.
He's done it his whole life, and I feel like he was put on this earth to be an offensive coordinator. It was fun to be in the headset with him.
Q. After your long run, the crowd started chanting MVP, MVP. Next play, you throw the 39-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon, more of the same. Did you hear it? What's your reaction to it?
DM: No, I didn't hear it. The guys were making fun of me about my slide back in the huddle on the long run, so I didn't hear it. But the fans have been awesome all season. It's been really cool really to see the difference from last year to this year.
Man, it's been a journey. They've been through it, and the fans have been through it the last couple years. So it's just credit to them. We did the intros today for the first time, so we didn't know how that would go. That was pretty cool. I know the fans have been awesome. Like I said, I think they're the best fans in the league, and they continue to show out every week.
Q. I'm curious, with the two touchdowns today, one to Hunter and one to Stefon Diggs. First with the Hunter one, getting him the ball on National Tight Ends Day, what did that mean? Then with the second one to Stefon Diggs, finally getting him the ball in the end zone as a Patriot, just on those two.
DM: They mentioned something to me this week, Hunter and Hoop did, about National Tight End Day. Glad Hoop had a couple of big catches, and Hunt had one at the end. I missed him a couple times. I've been missing him a lot throughout the year. It was good to see him get in there.
Stef, we've been joking about him the other day that KC, K'Lavon Chaisson had more touchdowns than Stef did. So finally Stef got in there and got one. So that was cool.
Q. Can you walk us through your touchdown to Kayshon Boutte and whether there was any advantage you guys gained by going formation to boundary on that play?
DM: Yeah, really we were just trying to -- we worked into the boundary, and Kayshon liked it on that side. We worked on that side during the week. So we just kept it to that side. He made a great, great move on them and just trying to give him a chance. Thought I overthrew it again, but he made a nice adjustment to it and a great catch.
Q. Drake, obviously the No. 1 ranked defense in the league. What did you learn about kind of yourself and how you had to adapt through the course of this game and make plays, end up with a stat line that you would like despite some adversity in the game?
DM: Yeah, just bouncing back. I threw an early interception. We talked about it all week, kind of what they strived on their defense, putting their offense in good positions. I was looking downfield and forgot the guy in front of me could jump. So he picked it. Nice play by him.
But just bouncing back from adversity. This is that league. One of the best players on the edge, maybe one of the best players in the league on the edge. So just battling back and continuing to run it in play action and boot and just trying to keep the defense off its -- trying to be unpredictable on offense.
I think Coach called a great game. Good to handle adversity and come out of halftime, and to score three touchdowns in the third quarter was big.
Q. You had mentioned about the pregame introductions. Coach Vrabel mentioned a chance to create more energy in the stadium and sort of get the fans maybe engaged in that moment. I'm curious, did you feel that? Like a difference with those introductions? What was your thought being the last guy out there?
DM: Yeah, I was a little bit nervous for it. You always see other teams do it. I got literally no swag, so I just go out there and run.
I think the guys enjoyed it. I think it was cool kind of hanging back there in the back being the last one. I think the first like ten guys, they had the wrong name and ran out too fast. I think we'll work on it.
I think the fans, maybe it was new for them too, so they'll have to adjust. Maybe next time they'll be ready for it. I think it was loud. They're loud every time we do the call outs. So that's it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports