Jaguars - 26, Panthers - 0
Q. Assess in your opinion how you felt out there today.
C.J. BEATHARD: I felt great. It was great to get back out there and start a game. It's been three years. But doesn't feel like three years. I think when you're rolling throughout seasons, they just fly by. Doesn't feel like my seventh year in the league either.
I look back at some of these rookies and stuff and I'm not that much older than you guys, but in reality, in football terms, I am. It's kind of weird.
I felt young again out there, and felt like a kid out there running around and play football, it was fun.
Q. One of the toughest challenges for you is the receiving corps, keep losing guys out there. And you lost Agnew on that big play. How were you able to adjust with what you had at this point?
C.J. BEATHARD: I mean, it's just the guys, they work hard all week getting reps, Tim and Elijah, those guys, that had to step up in the situation when Ag went down.
Just the work ethic they put in each week. And I trust those guys, a lot of those guys I got a lot of reps with on the scout teams over the last several weeks. Got a lot of reps with those guys.
But having Calvin and Evan in there and Travis and those starters that have been in there for a while, you kind of lean on those guys. Evan, shout-out to him, congratulations -- eighth tight end all time to go over 100 receptions. That's huge. And just having him in there as I guess a crutch to lean on sometimes is nice.
Q. I know any win obviously feels good but under the circumstances of this one, what was at stake, snapping a four-game win streak, what did it feel like to get this one?
C.J. BEATHARD: It was huge. We were in a slump the weeks before, losing four straight. But all week we went into this week knowing -- with a lot of energy knowing what this game meant and what the next week means, knowing that we needed to get this one.
I thought the guys played great. It started on Monday or Tuesday in practice when we came out there with a ton of energy, enthusiasm. One of the better weeks of practice we had, just from an energy standpoint. So guys are locked in from early in the week and it showed out there on the field today.
Q. You got the majority of the practice reps the last two weeks, three of the last four weeks. How much did that play into your efficiency today and your comfort level with the players on the offense?
C.J. BEATHARD: A lot. It definitely helped a lot having banked those reps with guys like Calvin and Evan because they move so differently than some other guys just in the league. And it was nice having practice with them for really the last several weeks, getting reps and routes on (indiscernible), one-on-ones and all that kind of stuff. I think it was definitely beneficial.
Q. Along those lines, it's win and in next week in Nashville. How much today do you think would help you if you have to start next week because Trevor's shoulder doesn't allow him to play?
C.J. BEATHARD: I think from a confidence standpoint, not only for myself but as a team, I think winning this game in the fashion we did, the defense playing well, offense playing efficient, moving the ball, running the ball, I think that will hopefully give us momentum going into next week.
We know we've been here before, been there last year, same kind of situation. If I have to go next week I'll be ready to go.
Q. Did you get any coaching after you had that little brief spell in the blue tent about, hey, your backup is a guy who has been here for three days? Please don't put yourself in harm's way anymore because we'll be scrambling after that.
C.J. BEATHARD: Definitely, they were telling me not to take any more hits, get down, all that kind of stuff. I think we actually had a zone read on the next third down, and Press said in the headset, he said, hey, do not keep the ball. Hand the ball off no matter what.
That's what I did. But overall I thought the guys protected great and did what they needed to do to get the win.
Q. How important was it for you coming into this game watching the defense and seeing the kind of performance they put on today just making it so much easy for you guys on the offense, taking the pressure off?
C.J. BEATHARD: When the defense is playing like that it takes so much pressure off the offense and off the quarterback to feel like you have to press and do this or that.
Obviously we want to be better in the red zone, but when your defense is playing like that it's not the worst thing, kicking field goals and taking care of the football.
We wanted to protect the ball and just move the ball and put up points. And that's what we did. And the defense played great, so hats off to those guys. And hats off to Josh for getting three sacks today and getting that record. It's a big deal and that's awesome.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports