Raiders 19, Jaguars 14
Q. Aidan, if you could just take us inside that locker room, both as the team and for you as a player to snap that streak and just get that weight off your shoulders. You've been so close so many times, to get that win, what that moment was like, please.
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, I think guys just appreciate more than ever obviously how hard it is to win, and yeah, definitely weight off the shoulders for sure. It was just fun to see the smiles again. I think the biggest thing for me was kind of looking around and high fiving everybody and seeing how happy guys were. It's really a big part of why you play the game. So when you don't have it for 10 weeks in a row, it's tough.
Just super proud of our coaches, administration, players for just doing a great job.
Q. Aidan, you had a career long run today, extended some plays outside of the pocket. Was that something you've been working on or was it just something that came spontaneously during the game?
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, it's something I try to continue to work on. Obviously it's not the best strength of mine, but I think whatever play is called, you try to do what you can on that play. Tried to look for opportunities to obviously get the ball out of my hands but then sometimes tried to extend plays. Each play is its own, whatever each play calls for.
Q. AP didn't know if it was Wheaties or cereal or what, but on that play where you avoided pressure and moved all over the place like Randall Cunningham and got it to Ameer, what's going through your mind? That's not normally a part of your game that we see?
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, I think probably some desperation. 10 losses in a row will do that to you. Just trying at all costs to make a play, and great protection by the offensive line, and obviously Ameer making an awesome play. Yeah, Ameer has just been doing a great job and the rest of the guys, as well.
Like I said, different plays call for different things, and just trying to make a play.
Q. Aidan, obviously this was a team win, the epitome of a team win, but Brock Bowers, it just seems like whenever you dial up his number he's there and ready to put it on his shoulders. What does that say about a rookie player to be able to deliver like that?
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, I think the thing I'm most impressed about Brock is his accountability and how when he maybe messes up on a play, which he definitely doesn't do very much, but when he does, he takes the accountability and he tries to move forward. We ask a lot of him, and he answers the bell almost every time.
Obviously super lucky to have a guy like that on our team.
Q. Ameer, 10-year veteran, thrust into a bigger role than expected later in the season. He's actually ran for the most yards since 2017 in his career. You guys have talked about how he's stepped up in leadership lately. How much has he meant to this team as of late?
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, a lot. Obviously he has experience and been on a lot of different teams, so knows definitely what the ups and the downs of the NFL is like, and just a guy who's going to be steady throughout. Also a great personality, fun guy to have in the locker room, and to just talk life with. We're super lucky to have Ameer. He works so hard on his body and the game. It's not surprising that he's performing.
Q. The way the NFL is structured, draft picks become -- the fan base starts looking at things like that, especially this time of year. Do you guys hear that talk, and how do you guys deal with that?
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Yeah, I don't read anything, so I don't really hear it. I think ignorance is definitely bliss, and that's how I'm rolling.
Q. On a lighter note, Brock Purdy, still under his rookie deal, brought all of his offensive linemen trucks. I'm curious what you're going to be getting your offensive linemen for Christmas.
AIDAN O'CONNELL: Not trucks, unfortunately. We were kind of spearheading it between really all the quarterbacks, and so we're each kind of getting a different gift. But unfortunately not trucks. Maybe a Hot Wheel or something like that, but I can't do a real truck.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports