HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the run defense and Maurice Jones-Drew) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"He's a tough guy to handle. I think our guys did a very nice job of keeping him contained. Didn't let him have any big runs, made him work for everything he got. I think our guys on the secondary tackled well also. They're a good running team, very tough running team. They're tough to deal with."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the magnitude of the this victory) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We knew our backs have been against the wall for a couple of weeks now. It's just one of those things where you have to play well or else you're not going to have an opportunity to do anything further. So we're still just giving ourselves another opportunity here. We have another game just like this game, the same thing at stake. So it's not like anything changed for us. We still have to band together. I'm certainly proud of the way the guys fought and hung in there. We ran the ball well, which for us is big. And we stopped the run, which made a huge difference. The only thing we didn't control very well was the return kick."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (Did you think Mike Thomas motioned for a fair catch?) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I did. I thought so, but they call it like they see it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on what the official explained to him on the Mike Thomas play) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I am not at liberty to discuss that."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on Austin Collie) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"The only update I can give you is that he's doing okay right now. He got a concussion and he'll be evaluated."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on going with two tight ends when Austin Collie is out) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We have to change a few things from time to time depending on who our personnel is. But we also have Blair White, who has been giving us some flexibility, as well as, Taj Smith. He [Taj Smith] does a good job in that area as well, so we do have some flexibility."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on penalty against Jacksonville resulting in a touchdown) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"No, they ruled it correctly. He [Taj Smith] was pushed into him; he [Mike Thomas] fumbled the ball, we recovered the ball, so it is our ball. I think what they had to get sorted out was the spot because the block, or rather push in the back penalty from what I saw it was not initially called. But, they got it figured out and made the right call."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on changes made on the running game from the Tennessee's game to today's game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think we have been able to build upon what we did against Tennessee. I thought we ran the ball a little bit better then we had previously against them [Tennessee] and obviously this week we took it a step further. It's something that teams play upon that should be conducive to us running the ball. Primarily because they play more pass defense which gives us a few more opportunities. It was something that we had not been doing well previously and the guys here these past couple weeks have made some strides and now we have another challenge to do it again."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the time out called on the onside kick) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It's something that we try to do because we want to take a look at what they are doing. Often times it gives us a sneak peak or makes them change, which they did, to a different type of configuration. We were able to take advantage of it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on losing Austin Collie and the set back it brings) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Well, its obviously tough on him. I feel bad for him. He worked so hard to get back and we had a little bit of a set back. Lord willing he will be able to come through and come back, but we will see what happens after the doctor's prognosis."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on having control of own destiny) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We have been in control of our own destiny for quite some time. When you look at it and start to back track, it didn't just happened in these past couple weeks. We were still in the position to control our own destiny. We are going to keep it that way. Now we are walking on a tightrope, so every week is going to be the same kind of test for our guys. We have to practice hard and get ourselves ready."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the running game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It was good. We had good balance all night. The first half we had 10 carries for almost 100 yards. It was good, it was something a little different. We did a good job in the run game and need to try to keep that going from here on out."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how a solid running game helps him out) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It just gives you good balance where your play action, probably gives you a little more 'pop'. On (Austin) Collie's touchdown, his second touchdown was on play action. It keeps the backs involved and of course the lineman feel good. It just gives you good balance."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the importance of today's game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think everybody keeps it in perspective. We realize it is a good win. Since that Cowboys game, we really knew we had four games, four must win games, and we have won two of them. I thought we had a good week of practice this week and that carried over to the playing field. So we would really like to do that again. We are playing a very unfamiliar opponent on the road Sunday in Oakland, so we have to grind hard this week to get prepared for these guys and that really is where it starts on the practice field. It is a good win, but certainly it is just one game and we have to be able to do it again next week."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on being in the playoff race despite the hurdles the team has faced) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think most of our players have probably not been in this situation. The guys that were here in 2000, which probably was just me and Jeff (Saturday) and (Justin) Snow, we have been in this situation before. We had to win three in a row that year at the end. I like the Jets had to lose three in a row and that happened. I feel like I have been in that situation before. It probably is newer for a lot of our other guys. It is part of football. It is usually what most teams have to deal with year in and year out. I don't think winning twelve games in the past years, however many years we have done it, is the least bit normal. It is not. It is very special. I have never taken that for granted. This is kind of a more normal football season, you win some and we lost a couple in a row, which hopefully we can get back on a win streak toward the end of the season. It is different than what most guys are use to, but I think it is very normal football and we are just going to try to take it week to week down the stretch."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on being able to stop the run on defense and run the ball on offense) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It is a combination of both. Those were our two challenges. Coach Caldwell made that challenge to us on Monday. He challenged both the interior fronts on both sides of the ball, for us to run the ball and for our defense to stop the run. Both answered the bell. Both answered the challenge. I thought our guys took that to heart and it really started on the practice field and carried over to Sunday. It was encouraging to see. When you run the ball and you stop the run it certainly gives you a good chance to win. It doesn't guarantee you, but it gives you a good chance."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the Colts controlling their playoff destiny) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"This is one win. It is all about Oakland this week. You can take a step back and you feel like these last two wins don't mean as much. Hopefully we can feed off of a little momentum of two wins in a row and play well on the road. But we know we will have our hands full going out there. At Oakland is a tough place to play against a good football team."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having early offensive success) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I thought we came out real fast. We came out very up-tempo. We got a lot of plays run quickly. Zero time on the play clock was coming off. That is what we wanted to do. It is always nice to take that opening drive and get points on that first series. I thought it set a good tone for the game. The second half, we didn't score as many touchdowns as we would have liked, but I thought we definitely got off to a good start today."
RB-DONALD BROWN (on the running game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"The offensive line did a phenomenal job. When you are getting to the second level and that is the first time you are getting touched, that makes my job a lot easier. We just want to complement the passing game any way we can."
RB-DONALD BROWN (on Reggie Wayne's block on his touchdown) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Phenomenal all across the board. From the line, to the wide receivers, to the tight ends, they just did a phenomenal job blocking. When you are in the secondary and it is the first time you are getting touched that makes for a great day."
RB-DONALD BROWN (on his first 100 yard rushing game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Yes, but it feels better to win. This was a must win game and we just have to keep working hard and Monday just focus on Oakland."
RB-DONALD BROWN (on improving the running game today compared to recent games) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We need to complement the passing game. That is what our job is and when teams are putting six DBs out there, we need to be able to run the ball and run the ball effectively and take some pressure off those guys."
RB-DONALD BROWN (on if today was a playoff type game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We knew what was on the line. We still know what is on the line and like coach said, we are walking a tight rope. We are going to prepare everyday like we always do and that is hard and very diligent. We will go out there and play hard."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on the Colts out-running the Jaguars and the Jaguars out-passing the Colts) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"That's just the way it goes. We knew to get something accomplished this game we were going to have to run the ball. We were able to do that, so why stop? We just kept running the ball, and once we got up by a couple points, it's not really playing against them, it's playing against time."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on the true character of the Colts showing through today) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Right now everything is like a playoff game. The way I look at it, starting last week it was like an eight game playoff. We have enough leaders on this team to show the young guys what needed to be done. Our main objective is to make sure we win this game and keep pushing on. There was no way we wanted them to celebrate on our field. Everybody did a good job. We still have a lot of mistakes we need to correct, and hopefully we can go into Oakland next week with the same momentum."
WR-REGGIE WAYNE (on if it was difficult to see WR-Austin Collie injured again) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It was tough. Whenever you see anybody go down it's tough and then with Austin, it happening again, we hope he bounces back with a speedy recovery. I talked to him, and he said it wasn't as bad as the last one, so that's good news. But they are all bad. Whenever you see anybody go down, you just hope everything is alright and they have a speedy recovery."
WR-PIERRE GARCON (on what today's win says about the Colts) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It's a great win. We needed this win, especially here, to keep our playoff hopes alive and for the morale of the team, to keep us feeling good. It's a great feeling, and we're all excited about it."
WR-PIERRE GARCON (on the Colts now controlling their own destiny) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"That's our goal to have the destiny in our hands. We don't want to lean on anybody to help us get into the playoffs, that's what we play for, that's one of our goals."
WR-PIERRE GARCON (on how important was the first drive of the game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It gave us a lot of confidence. We score a touchdown on the first drive and it sets up things for the next drive. It helps out a lot, and we really needed that."
WR-PIERRE GARCON (on how difficult was it watch WR-Austin Collie get injured again) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It's always sad to see anybody get hurt. For it to be the second time to happen to him, it's tough to see. We just hope and pray that he'll be okay."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on what was the team's mentality going into the game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Basically it was win or go home. We kind of put ourselves behind the eight-ball earlier this year. Every game from here on out is a must-win for us."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on the team being unfamiliar with the situation they were in today; having to play for the division lead this late in the season) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It is a little bit of a different situation because usually we are resting guys this time of year. It is a bit different, but I think the fact that we've been in the playoffs and we know the feeling of win or go home, it's been a great experience for us. Like I said, the rest of our games are that situation."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on poise had a lot to do with the Colts success today) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"For sure. It's one of those deals where we hit a skid and dropped three in a row and you just can't get too down on yourselves. This team always knew what it was capable of. Today, we got an opportunity to go out and run the ball, and we had a lot of fun with that."
OT-RYAN DIEM (on the Colts outrushing the Jaguars) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Hats off to our defense for stopping their run game, for the most part and creating some turnovers and giving us some opportunities to score."
DT-DAN MUIR (on what did today's game showed about this team) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It showed that we are going to fight. We are never going to quit. Everybody that was talking about how terrible we were against the run, you all saw it today. We just got to keep it going the rest of the year."
DT-DAN MUIR (on what the Colts defense did against Maurice Jones Drew) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We came out all week and practiced hard, like we do every week. The chips fell our way today and we came out and played extremely well today."
DT-DAN MUIR (on looking ahead to the final two regular season games) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We only look at it as two to go. We got one next week. We take it a game at a time. We are going to enjoy this one tonight and came back out next week ready to go. That's all we can do."
DT-DAN MUIR (on letting Jacksonville clinch the AFC South at Indianapolis) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"No, not on this field. This is our home turf and we are going to fight on it. We are going to fight on every field but we showed what we are about today. We got a great locker room. We got a really, really, really good locker room here. Everybody here just fights. Our backs are against the wall and we fought and that is what we are going to continue to do."
LB-GRAY BRACKETT (on the Colts 'small' defense going up against the Jaguars running game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I don't care personally. We have said it all year; we are going to define ourselves. No one is going to tell me that they are going to come in here and run the ball in our house. It is just pride and you have to love what you're doing out there. Someone is going to tell you that they are going to run it down your throat, I mean I like to see it. We did a good job today standing up, getting off blocks and making plays."
LB-GRAY BRACKETT (on stopping the play on 1st and goal and holding them to a field goal) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"That was huge. Obviously, anytime you get down in the red zone and hold those guys to field goals when they have the ball 1st and goal at the one and hold them to a field goal is a big play in the game."
LB-GRAY BRACKETT (on the job the entire defense did against Maurice Jones Drew) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think our defensive line did a great job being physical and letting our linebackers run free. The linebackers did a great job of reading their keys and making some solid tackles."
LB-GRAY BRACKETT (on the attitude of having to win your last four games) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think you saw it last week. We have been in playoff mode. We lose and we are home. With that being said, every week is a playoff week for us. It is no different this week going up against Oakland. We have to continue to win in order to get to the playoffs and that's what we plan on doing."
LB-TYJUAN HAGLER (on seeing the onside kick bouncing right at him) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I felt like it was an early Christmas. It was just right there for me to get it. We have to put points on the broad on special teams and we gave up a punt return so we had to put one on them on kickoff return."
LB-TYJUAN HALGER (on the last time he scored a touchdown) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"In college, when I returned an interception for a touchdown."
LB-TYJUAN HAGLER (on his assignment on the onside kick) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I was supposed to block the number five guy to that side but then I saw the ball right in front of me and I knew I had to go and get it. If it was a big crowd I would have fallen on it but since it was wide open I had to take it."
LB-TYJUAN HAGLER (on how it felt to put the nail in the coffin on Sunday's game) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It felt good. Everybody has to do their part. Offense played great. Defense played great. Then, special teams had to step up and make their play as well."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on not letting Jacksonville clinch the AFC South on the Colts home field) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We have a lot of fight on this team. We have a lot of pride. We went out today and executed the game plan. We started fast and finished the game. It's just one game and now we have two more to go."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on the character of this team with their backs against the wall) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We have a lot of pride and we have a lot of veteran leadership. We have been here before with our backs against the wall."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on seeing Austin Collie go down again) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Yeah, that is definitely a shame. We never want to see anybody, our team or there team, go down. Austin has had some problems and that's unfortunate. We will be praying for him."
DE-DWIGHT FREENEY (on how long of a week this would have been had the Colts lost) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Absolutely, thank God we don't have to talk about that. We can prepare for the Raiders and take a little time to celebrate this one."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on in year's past the Colts usually have their playoff bid taken care of) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It is what it is. We can't do that anymore. We have to play and that's the bottom line."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on the defense creating some turnovers) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We harp on that all the time; get takeaways, get the offense back on the field, and we were able to do that today."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on if he was getting tired of everybody talking about how good the Jacksonville running backs are) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Respect to them, they are good players. That's part of the game. You earn respect. At the end of the day, we all have to buckle up and play."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on not wanting to see Jacksonville celebrate an AFC South Division title on the Colts home-field) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"You never want to see anybody celebrate on your home-field. We told everybody that we had to protect home-field, protect home-base, and we did that today."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on what its like to hear all week about how RB-Maurice Jones-Drew is going to run all over the Colts) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"You get tired of it, but we haven't been stopping the ball. They've been running the ball (well), so you expect to hear it. I think we talked with our pads today. We stopped the run. We just have to continue to do that next week."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on how the defense stopped the run today) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Running to the ball, tackling, we tackled well. Flying around 100 miles-per-hour, I'm pretty sure when we watch film, there will be a lot of guys flying, running fast. We just have to continue to keep that up-tempo the next few weeks, and hopefully all through the playoffs."
DB-ANTOINE BETHEA (on what does he think the Colts defense proved) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I think we proved that we can step up to the challenge. We did that today. We created turnovers. Just like all year, we can't go up and down. We played good one week, and the next week kind of leveled off. I think down the stretch, if we want to be the type of team to go deep in the playoffs, we've got to ride this wave going to Oakland, to the last game against Tennessee and to the playoffs and show everybody what kind of team we are."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on the Colts displaying poise and pride today) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Year-in and year-out, you've got to fight to get what you want. To get to where we want to go we have to run the gauntlet. Things just fell our way today."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on the defense stopping RB-Maurice Jones-Drew) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"You had to stop him or you were going to lose the game. We took it as a personal challenge upfront. You couldn't let him get off because he'll make you pay."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on the defense needing to gang tackle RB-Maurice Jones-Drew) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"That's exactly it. He'll make you miss, so the first guy has to miss him or hold him up until the rest of us get there. But if you don't tackle, you're going to lose."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on if the Colts experience in these types of pressure games helped them) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It helps a lot. Experience helps a lot. You just can't fold. When things don't go your way, you just can't tuck tail and run. You have to stand there in the corner and fight, fight your way out."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on his sack on the Jaguars first possession making a statement) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"I feel like it was a momentum shift early in the game. If you can get there early in the game and not give it back, it goes a long way."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on if he knew he was going to get the sack when he jumped) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Actually, he pumped it one time, so I was just, 'Hold the ball,' that was all I was thinking, just hold the ball. Luckily, I was able to get to him."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on the Colts being the only team that is going to do any celebrating on their home-field) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"You don't want anybody to come into your yard, your house, and take your cookies. As funny as it may be, you just can't let that happen. You just have to take it as a personal challenge and not let it happen."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on what it feels like to have new life in the playoff race) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Every game is a playoff game. Seven game playoff, one down, six to go. Hey, one-and-done, you can't lose."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on if the defenses performance today is a stepping stone for the Oakland game next week) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"It's a big morale boost. We can't go out and lay an egg. We just faced, I'll say, the best back in the league, Maurice Jones-Drew. Despite his stature and what not, he's the best back in the league, in my opinion. If you can stop him, you can stop anybody."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on what today's win says about this team) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"We're in it together. That's just the bottom line. There's no 'I' in team. It's a team sport. We're all in it together, win or lose."
DE-ROBERT MATHIS (on if he is motivated by doubters in the media) Sunday, December 19, 2010
"To be honest with you, we don't care what they say. They've been saying that since 2002, 2003. Two Super Bowls, (six) AFC South banners, we're still here fighting. All the talk is just talking unless you put action behind it."
