Wide Receiver Roger Lewis Jr.
Postgame vs. Kansas City, November 19, 2017
Q: How good did it feel to get this?
A: It feels great, it feels great. Nobody believed in us. Nobody believed in us to win this game and it feels great. It’s a team win.
Q: Did you think you scored?
A: I thought I did, I thought I did. But all I want to do is have 10 (Eli Manning) trust me and I can do some things.
Q: So he put the ball up and you went and got it?
A: That’s what I do, that’s what I want to do. I want to make plays, I want to be able to have 10 trust me. Everybody was down. 13 (Odell Beckham), 15 (Brandon Marshall), 17 (Dwayne Harris), 87 (Sterling Shepard), nobody believed in us, but it’s that time.
Q: Number 18 stepped up though.
A: Yeah, I try. Everybody stepped up though. It’s not just me, everybody. TK (Tavarres King), (Travis) Rudolph, all of those guys stepped up.
Q: Can you talk about the overtime drive?
A: When we got in the huddle, 10 was like, ‘we’re going to hit a slant,’ we hit a slant, and 10 was like, ‘you ready?’ And I said, ‘yeah, you believe in me,’ so I want 10 to believe in me and that’s what I got to do. I’ve got to make that play.
Q: Do you believe you guys are rallying around your coach?
A: I’m behind Coach (Ben) McAdoo. Coach McAdoo taught me and a lot of our guys things not just about football, but about life and I believe in McAdoo a lot. I’m not against him.
Q: Have you guys been wondering why you haven’t been able to perform like this the last couple of weeks?
A: Nah, we just focus on the next opponent. Our coach Adam Henry preaches next man up mentality and it’s not a fall off or anything, just make plays.
Q: Did the defender touch you at all after you made the catch?
A: I thought he didn’t. I don’t know, I don’t know. It is what it is. We got the win, that’s all I care about.
Q: Did he grab a hold of your arm?
A: I don’t know. When I see the ball, everything slows down and I go get it.
Q: Did he just grab you by the shirt and throw you?
A: I don’t know. Everything slows down. I just got to make that play. That’s it.
Q: Take me through the play again.
A: Eli gave me a go and I just wanted to do that and make that play. That’s it.
Q: Was that your best catch in the NFL?
A: Oh yeah, I would rate that as one of my best catches.
Q: How big was this effort?
A: It was huge. It’s huge, it’s huge. We want to win, we want to win. Everybody on the team wants to win and it’s huge. It’s a huge win and after this we’re going to focus on our next opponent on Thursday.
Q: With Sterling Shepard out, did you feel like this could be an opportunity for you to step up?
A: Yeah, I feel like every game is a huge opportunity I get to play in. Not just offense, but special teams. I’m a big special teams guy with (Tom) Quinn believing in me at gunner and just having that opportunity, that’s it and that’s what coach preaches every day, opportunity.
Q: How did it feel to make the game winning play?
A: It felt great. It feels great. But one thing nobody can take away from me is my big play mentality and my ability to go make a play and that’s what I got to do every time.
Q: Were you surprised at all?
A: I’m not surprised at all. I’ve made those catches in practice before and it’s just playing football at the end of the day.
Q: How does it feel to finally get a home win, especially against Kansas City?
A: It feels great. We want to win. That’s what everybody wants to do. We preach about winning every day. Every day we preach about winning. It’s a huge win and after this, we are going to focus on Thursday and go try and get another one.
Q: Did that meeting that you guys had spark what you brought out here today?
A: We meet every day. Every day, we preach on winning. It’s just having the next man up mentality and going out there to make a play. That’s what Coach Henry preaches every day. That’s what we’re going out there to do.
Q: What was the difference? What do you feel like was the difference?
A: I don’t feel like there was any difference. We are all brothers. Every week we are all close. No matter what the record is, we all stick together. We will not fall apart or anything like that. We’re all brothers.
Q: Was there any adjustment on your part on that last play you made?
A: Yes, it was a blitz. A cover zero blitz. Eli just threw it up to me. I have to come down with that ball every time.
Q: Did you have to make any read on the alignment offensively?
A: I knew the ball was going to come out quick. I saw the blitz and I have to come up with that. I’m an undrafted guy and I have to make that play.
Q: That was your route whether they blitzed or not?
A: Yes. That’s my route.
Q: You mentioned you’re an undrafted guy. Does that make today even better because you have this golden opportunity to make plays and show what you can do?
A: Yes. Me being undrafted, I play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what I’m doing. Blocking, I want to have a chip on my shoulder every game and practice. I practice hard and put in the work. Everyone in our room put in the work. Just having a chip on our shoulder, that’s what I come here to do, to make plays.
Q: When did you find out Sterling [Shepard] wasn’t going to play?
A: I found out this morning. Sterling, that’s like my brother. He said he was going to be out and I told him that I got him. That we were going to go out and get this win.
Q: How does that change things for you that you are basically elevated to the number one receiver?
A: It doesn’t change anything. I just come out and play. It doesn’t change anything. I come out and play and do what coach tells me. That’s it.
Q: Did you feel like you were down on that last play?
A: I didn’t think I was down. It is what it is. We have to win, that’s all I care about.
Q: What does it mean to you to have the opportunity to make the play that really results in a win?
A: It’s a huge blessing. I just want to be able to make plays for the team to win. That’s it. It’s a blessing.
Q: Was the wind at all a factor for you guys today?
A: No. We just went out and played football. That’s all it is.
