Rams 38, Texans 22
SEAN McVAY: Guys, injury-wise 22 is the only one that went out of the game. I'm not sure what it is with his shoulder, so I'll have further updates for you tomorrow when we connect.
Overall, really like the way we came out from the jump. I thought really to be able to come out in the opening drive to score and get the stop and then to go right back down the field, that didn't really put us in a good situation on the fourth down, but I still think it's a play that we can execute. I think it starts with me there.
Then defense getting the stop, and we ended converting that to get to 10-0, and then turns into 17-0 after Ernest Jones ends up getting the interception. It was a really good complimentary football to be at a point where you are up 38-0. It was really a tough thing to do in this league. Obviously, we would like to be able to finish the game better than what we did, but a great job by Johnny Hekker and that punt situation then Skowronek being able to down it there, that's a real positive.
A lot of things that we can build on, and we have a great challenge coming up ahead of us, so to get to 7-1 is a real credit to our players. There's a lot of work to do and a lot of things we need to get done, and I was also really pleased with what a great play by Van Jefferson on the long 68-plus yard throw and catch by Ian Matthew. That was big for us, and we punch it in a couple of plays later.
Q. (Off mic).
SEAN McVAY: He kind of just banged it and kind of when you get a little bit of swelling in your knee like a bursa sac. He is going to be okay.
Q. (Off mic).
SEAN McVAY: He was up as an emergency. He was feeling good enough to potentially go in if we did lose a couple of bodies. We kind of had an extra spot. It was like you're giving the 48th jersey, and because he felt good enough if he had to, that's why we had him up. It was more -- he was kind of right on that fringe, and we left him up, but we knew he wasn't going to play unless an emergency situation came up.
Q. (Off mic).
SEAN McVAY: I thought he did read well, Jordan. I thought our defense as a whole were really smothering. I know we see those points on the board at the end, but when you look at the guys, you know, that are starters in our first groups, I thought they did a great job applying pressure. I thought Raheem and the coaching staff had an outstanding plan, but was really pleased with Ernest. I thought he flew around and was able to learn from a couple of things early on in the game where he could be a little more decisive, a little better with some of the constant trigger recognition, but once he settled in, you could see he is a football player, and I was really pleased with Ernest. He just got a game ball, and it was cool for him.
Q. (Off mic).
SEAN McVAY: No. No. My patience was a little thin, but I think when you get to those situations and scenarios, usually I think our coaches would all tell you it's a champagne problem to be in those spots, but that's usually when I'm the biggest basket case, because it's how do you really manage it? You can only get 48 guys up on game day. You want to be smart with your starters. You've got a lot of guys if you get injured, and then when it gets to a two-session game, you are thinking, all right, let's close it out, and to the guys' credit, they did that.
Q. As a head coach, do you often know the point spread going into a game?
SEAN McVAY: I would say sometimes I know about it, but -- what was it today?
Q. 16.5.
SEAN McVAY: Vegas is good.
Q. Lions played you tough, but three teams that have been struggling -- now Tennessee -- (Off mic).
SEAN McVAY: They were a really strong team. I know from some of the crossover we've had with them. Every game in this league is difficult, and every single week it's about playing really well in that period of time that you're allotted, and I think consistently we've done a fairly good job of that this year, Gary, which is why we're 7-1. But this is going to be a great challenge, and when you look at what they have to provide and players, the schemes, it's going to be a great challenge. I know just from seeing them, haven't really dove into the preparation, obviously, but watching the prolific players they have both on offense and defense, it's going to be a great challenge for us, and certainly is something that can't wait to get started on that, but we'll enjoy this for a couple of hours.
Q. You don't have much time before it gets to the trade deadline. Do you want to talk about DeSean Jackson?
SEAN McVAY: I don't think there's any updates on that. I know there's been some dialogue with some teams, but, again, I'll be able to have some further clarity tomorrow or when we talk.
Q. Is there anything that as you look at your roster and say -- (off mic)
SEAN McVAY: I think there are always things that you are looking at. As you guys know, you know, we're always going to look into different avenues and ways that we can potentially improve our roster, whether that's out there based on the landscape of the rest of the league. It's something that we'll kind of put our heads together and figure that out over the next 24 hours.
Q. It's been a pretty focused effort in terms of coming off a gratifying win. By your standards, there was some turmoil today.
SEAN McVAY: I think Sharp's start is what we always want, and I was pleased with that. I would have liked us to score on that second drive, and that's where I kick myself because there's different ways that I think we could have accomplished converting on that first down as opposed to the play that I called right there, but overall, yeah, I was pleased with our team. I thought they did a good job being able to handle it.
Everybody makes a big deal about traveling a couple of time zones. We've had three games this year where we've traveled the day before and kick off at 10:00 a.m. in our players' heads. With this being a noon kickoff on Central Time, you look at New York and also Indianapolis. I think that's a real credit to the maturity, the leadership of our team to be able to say business trip, get up, ready to go, and I think they've been ready to go in all three of those games from the jump. I think that's a real credit to our guys, and really pleased with the leadership of this team.
Q. Coach, you have a really good defense. Coming into the game, was there anything that you had to add or do differently for a young quarterback like this?
SEAN McVAY: I think you want to be able to make them make post-snap decisions and never give him the look that he has pre-snap, and it's always about how muddy can you make it and how much can you delay that decision-making process based on whatever concept the offense is running? Specifically, the pass game. I thought we did a great job in some of the pressure situations where you are in known pass downs and be able to protect the possessions and matchups we wanted, and I think that was reflected in a lot of the sack production we had.
Q. You mentioned Ernest Jones and some of the ability he has and that flexibility. Is that what you were talking about in terms of -- (Off mic) and lend to that versatility?
SEAN McVAY: Absolutely, Jordan. That's what we'll do every week. Part of that is a reflection of, okay, what are they doing? How do they want to protect with five- and six-man protections and then also everybody is going to have a plan for 99 and how can we utilize that to our advantage, and so the more matchups that we can create, the better off it is going to be for us and those choker type players that you are alluding to. Ernest is certainly one of those guys, and that's something that we can build on for sure. Okay? Thank you, guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports