Monday Media Transcript: WR Sterling Shepard

WR Sterling Shepard -- December 17, 2018

Q: What’s it like coming into work today knowing that mathematically your playoff chances have been eliminated?
A: We’re still going to work. Guys are still upbeat in here and we’re going to work and try to win these next two games. That’s what our focus is.

Q: What did you see when you watched the film, what do you take away from yesterday?
A: We got to make plays. It comes down to that, we got to make plays and we got to get on the board. It’s hard to win games without scoring.

Q: Did you sense there were opportunities there or did they shut enough down that there was really not much there?
A: We had opportunities. We got to come up with plays. Got to be able to move the ball, get in some – we shot ourselves in the foot a few times, got in a few third and longs. There were plays there and we just got to make them.

Q: You guys have been pretty disciplined this year, but 10 penalties yesterday. What accounts for that in a game with that many mistakes?
A: We just got to stay fundamentally sound and just kind of had a lapse there. We’ll get back on the right track, have a good week of preparation this week.

Q: Did this game feel like earlier in the season when you guys were struggling?
A: No, I feel like we’ve come a long way as a squad and try not to take steps back and maybe we did in a few errors yesterday, but we’ll get back on the right track, like I said. This team is not going to stop fighting.

Q: How do you view this season? You’re not going to reach your goal of making the playoffs and competing for a championship?
A: It hasn’t gone the way that we planned it to go at the beginning, but like I said, we’ve been fighting through a lot of stuff, showed some great things and showed some things that we need to correct and this will give us good momentum going into next season if we could finish strong and win two games against two really good teams.

Q: How are you doing physically?
A: Physically, good.

Q: Do you think with no Odell (Beckham Jr.) they felt, they focused on Saquon and challenged you to beat them with the passing game in the bad weather?
A: That’s probably an approach that they took. Saquon with the ball in his hands, he’s special, so you got to shut that down and that’s going to be a primary focus. With everything that was going on yesterday, probably was their approach.

Q: Was it hard – I think one time you slipped, the footing, the grip, everything like that, the pouring rain…
A: It is hard to play in that, but that’s not an excuse. Everybody has to play in it. Both teams had to play in it, so you got to find a way to get it done.

Q: With two games left and no playoff possibilities, the idea of being a professional and having to carry yourself as a professional, does that kind of kick in and what does that mean to you?
A: Being a professional, going about your business and whatever place you’re in, we know we’re not going to make the playoffs. It’s still come to work and still grinding everyday and trying to get a W. Doesn’t matter where we are as a team, we’re going to try to go get a W and that’s about tomorrow.