Carolina Panthers 30 - Atlanta Falcons 0
Q. How are you doing after the win?
BRYCE YOUNG: Blessed. Blessed. Feel great. I'm super proud of this team. Just complete team performance, all three phases. Defense, special teams, I mean, they played phenomenal all night. So this is great.
We have a 24-hour rule, so I'm happy. It's one week. So for now it's great, and then we'll come back tomorrow; we'll watch the film, see what we can replicate, see what we can learn from it and turn the page, but it feels good right now.
Q. How big was that to score on the first possession, to not play from behind as you had the last couple weeks?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. That was big. We wanted to make sure we started off fast. We put emphasis on just having urgency, and for us to -- first off, defense set the tone, great stop to start off. Us on offense going down getting the score, I think we were able to continue to go with that. So, yeah, I think that was big.
Q. Start off from behind for the first time this season. Obviously turnovers were part of that. How personally did you take that and how much satisfaction do you get out of the fact (inaudible)?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah, we all take accountability. I always want to do my job, just like everyone in this building does. And, again, the defense, amazing job tonight. That's how they've been. Again, just us being able to stay on track, play our brand of football on both sides, it was great to see it come to fruition. So I'm super grateful to be a part of this team.
Q. How much of jumping-off point might this be at home?
BRYCE YOUNG: I mean I think we have to earn that right. Obviously it's great to have something to build. Mondays are always more fun when you win, but it doesn't entitle us to anything next week. We have to make sure that we have a good week of practice, we execute for next week. So it can be something to build off of, for sure, but it's not guaranteed. We have to make sure we earn that. So I'm grateful to be around a group of guys that make sure they embrace that.
Q. Bryce, can you talk to the offensive line, two new members, and the job that they did today?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. They did phenomenal. Like you said, two new members, you're getting guys, you're changing things. We've had the same group for a little bit now, and when you mix things up, it's difficult. From the outside looking in, I can't imagine people can understand how tough it is. But they did a great job. Communication was great all day. Did a great job in the running-pass game. So I'm super grateful.
Q. Did the experience that Zavala had the last two years go into making him a better player this year?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. For sure. I would have had confidence with him at any point in his career, but nothing that he did surprised me at all. He played a great game, was phenomenal with sound and everything. That wasn't a shock to me. So, again, I'm super grateful for that.
Q. Brycen hit him a couple times early in the game. How is his progress from training camp to now?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. Brycen has just been a worker, someone who wants to do whatever it is for the team, works super hard. He's built so much confidence within this building, again, on the offensive end, special teams end, and I'm super grateful for him to have the role to make some plays today. And, again, he's been making plays. It's not a surprise for us. So, yeah, we have a great group.
Q. How much of a luxury is it to have Tetairoa and throw a couple of jump balls like you did with him and him come down with it?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. That's huge. Having T-Mac out there, I mean, it's huge. The stuff that he does, it's evident on the field. We all see it. So, again, for us it was a great team win. Everyone did their part. So, yeah, the group we have is definitely a luxury.
Q. Speaking of T-Mac, Bryce, you and him almost connected on an amazing play there when you were being heavily blitzed. You threw it where he had to adjust and almost made a one-handed catch in the end zone. What were you looking at there and were you just trying to give him a chance?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. He did a great job. That was 100 percent on me. It was not a miscommunication. He did exactly what I said, and I was thinking the wrong thing. And he still almost made a play. So that speaks to the player he is. That should have ended differently.
Q. Where would you have thrown it?
BRYCE YOUNG: Just a different play. But, again, that's on me. And, also, it's someone who came back and said, "man, I gotta catch that. That's on me." That's the type of person he is, that's the type of player he is. Again, I have all the confidence in the world in him.
Q. Bryce, the one you threw that he went up and got it, were you surprised?
BRYCE YOUNG: Not surprised. It was really fun to watch, but not surprised. Again, that's what he brings to the game. That's the type of player he is, and I'm super grateful he's part of our team.
Q. Can you talk about the energy of Bank of America Stadium?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. It was electric. I'm glad you brought it up. The energy at the Bank was -- everyone, all four quarters, the fans were amazing. That was great energy, great juice, and for us we're so grateful for the fans that we have. We have the best fans in the league, and for us to be able to be home, start here, start like this, it means a lot for us, and yeah, we're all grateful for that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports