Bills 35, Patriots 31.
Q. It did not look good in the first half. What changed the second half?
JA: We stayed the course. Stayed together. Didn't ride the highs. Didn't ride the lows. Just told ourselves at halftime, we really felt like we were hurting ourselves in the first half. Going out there and just trying to execute each and every given play.
Q. It always comes off like hollow words, one play at a time, playing together. What is it about that that holds true? Able dig down in the surface as to how you guys were able to do that.
JA: I think it's the love each man in that locker room has for each other. The willingness to put their body on the line in order to not let their teammates down. That driving force. It's the relationships in that room.
And whether we are playing really good, whether we're playing really bad, this team is going to stick together and continue to fight and continue to find ways to win football games. I think we saw that tonight.
Q. Now that it's over, can you say that during the week, there was a little bit of motivation to prevent that team from taking your title at least this week?
JA: Absolutely. It's the most important one because it's the next one. I say that a lot. It's no different. We understood what was at stake. But at the same time, that wasn't really in the back of our heads. We were just, hey, we've got to find a way to win the football game. And that's what we did tonight.
Q. A team that just won ten games in a row, I know you talked about rebounding at halftime. What sparked you guys? It felt like there was no hope for a while there.
JA: Yeah. Score, stop, score. That's what we did coming out. I think we've been pretty dang good at that over the course of the season. Now, obviously, we want to start faster and don't want to continue to put ourselves in the holes we're finding ourselves in.
But being able to dig ourselves out and be battle tested coming down the stretch here, yeah, would love to find ways earlier on in the game to get things going so we don't have to put ourselves in that situation.
Q. You said score, stop, score. You said after the Steelers game, I think you were on defense, stop, score, stop whatever it was. Are those words said at halftime? Does somebody get up and say this is what we need to do?
JA: Yeah. If it's not said, it's known within the locker room. But, yeah, it's said by a lot of guys. That's the belief that we have in each other of this is what we're going to do. It's one thing to say it. It's another thing to go out and do it.
Q. What have you seen with Dawson Knox the last couple weeks?
JA: He continues to find himself in good situations. He's been making plays. On the year, maybe not a whole lot of hay coming his way, but he's never once complained. He's worked his butt off. He's blocked his tail off in the run game. He's finding himself with these opportunities come the last few weeks, and he's taken advantage of them, and I love the guy.
Q. Josh, you were seeking out contact today, second downs, running into linebackers. Is that AFC East title on the line, or what goes into your decision with those?
JA: I wish I could tell you, to be honest. Sometimes it's just that's what the play calls for. I don't -- yeah, I don't know. Just trying to make plays for the football team.
Q. What was yesterday like for you guys? You were in Providence, fairly close to the shooting. And the shelter-in-place and all that, what was the day like for you?
JA: Yeah, very, very scary situation. Obviously, condolences to the families and prayers are out to everyone that was involved and affected by it. It's a terrible thing.
But, yeah, obviously, we're out. Some guys are eating dinner blocks away from where it was going on. And making sure that we were getting updates from our team. I thought we did a great job of communicating with everybody and adding some extra security at the hotel.
But, yeah, very scary situation.
Q. You guys were already in town, and you were able to get out of the hotel before it happened?
JA: Correct.
Q. So there were guys out and about?
JA: Correct.
Q. I was told you guys got in right as it was happening and went right to the hotel. That was not true? You were in?
JA: I don't know the timeline exactly, but I know there were guys at dinner when the text was being sent out.
Q. Josh, how are you physically? The broadcast showed you (no audio).
JA: That's, I mean, if they don't catch it every game, I don't know. Basically happens every game. If I don't get enough out pregame, usually happens at halftime. If I don't get enough at halftime, it usually happens in the third or fourth quarter. I don't know why I do it. It just happens. It's due to nothing else other than just like a weird feeling. Just got to get it out.
Q. You were a little slow to get up after one play too. Any issues health-wise?
JA: No. All good.
Q. Josh, after a lot of comebacks, we ask you if there's a play or moment that stands out. Is there in this game?
JA: I think, you know, coming out of that second half may have been the Ray Davis return putting us in good field position, giving us confidence of hey, like, let's just go play football now. We don't have to worry about the score. We're going to take it one play at a time.
But he did a great job. He's done the great job the entire season in the kickoff return spot. He set us up for some really good field position.
Q. The Patriots haven't been in games like this. Could you see them starting to get tighter and starting to maybe lose confidence a little bit as you guys were wearing them down?
JA: I wouldn't say that. That's a fantastic team. I think you said they won ten straight. You don't win ten straight by not being a really, really fantastic football team. So, again, it just kind of sometimes comes down to who makes more plays. Tonight, that was us.
Q. At one point on the sideline on a play, Matt Milano looked like he got punched in the face. He responded with probably one of the best halves he's played all season. How much did it mean to the defense? I know you were on the tablet.
JA: He had a couple sacks tonight, big-time plays for our defense. It's the Matt Milano we all know and love.
Q. With a third down, game on the line, you call it for Ty Johnson. You've been complimentary of him, what he provides to the team. To see him gut out the tough yards and ice the game, what's it mean to you?
JA: He's always ready. He stays ready. Whenever his number is called, he's primarily the third down back. When he has the ball in his hands, typically good things happen. He's a thicker little guy, like just built, and he's hard to bring down. So in that situation, just give him the ball and letting him push the pile.
Q. What was the thought after you did all that work to finally get ahead and, one play later, they're back in the lead. You've got to do it again. What was the feeling there?
JA: Get up and get out there and play football. One play at a time.
Q. Do you want to talk about the Brady-era Patriots being the standard of the AFC as they were for so long. You keep the season alive or the AFC alive. What's your pride in being the standard bearer for this division?
JA: Honestly, we're not in first place right now so I can't say we're the standard bearer. Obviously, the last five-ish years, we've found sustained success. But never been able to punch our ticket to the Super Bowl. At the end of the goal, that's every team's dream. And our goal is not just to win AFC Easts. You've got to get into the playoffs to give yourself a chance to win a Super Bowl. So that's what we're trying to do.
Q. Over the last 48 hours, has this weekend been a whirlwind for you?
JA: I've known for a long time, right? So it's not that crazy to me. But, yeah, I mean, obviously, the love I've received from teammates and friends, it's really cool, special moment in my life and my wife's life. Yeah.
Q. Josh, this team, your team and you don't lack for confidence. When you're able to win a game like this, down 21-0, what does it do? Anything? Because you guys do play at such a high confidence level. To be able to do that, there has to be some sort of growth or realization.
JA: I think it's maybe over the course of the season what we've done. You saw it today of what makes this team the team of we're not out of it. We're going to continue to fight one play at a time. No matter what the score is, if it's in the third quarter, in the fourth quarter, whatever it is, if we've got a chance and we've got the ball, we feel like we like our chances. That's that. Thanks, guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports