NYG Postgame (vs. Broncos) Transcripts: LB Blake Martinez
September 12, 2021
Q: Blake, obviously you make 150 tackles a season. What happened on that one there that allowed the touchdown?
A: Basically, it was kind of a scramble play, the guy came loose, and I was like, ‘I'm going to go get him” and then I went for his legs and obviously he made a play and stayed up and made it in [into the end zone].
Q: Overall as a defense, they [the Broncos offense) were 10 of 18 against you guys on third and fourth downs. I mean, how backbreaking is it not being able to get off the field?
A: No, extremely backbreaking. I think we had a lot of chances. It came down to us just executing the play call, and we didn't do that. Obviously, they made us pay for it.
Q: At one point, I think they ran 31 or 34 snaps. It’s kind of the same question, but just the inability to get them off the field on third downs and fourth downs, what were they doing that was allowing them to do that?
A: I mean, I'm going to have to look at the tape to see what actually happened, but I think overall it's going to come down to just execution on our part. Obviously, they made plays to keep it extended (the offensive drives). We just have to be better on those downs and get off of the field.
Q: Not that the offense gave you guys as much help. The time of possession was obviously very much in their favor, but as a defense, you guys expect to be much better than that, no excuses, right?
A: No, a hundred percent. I mean, it's three phases. We have to do our part when we go out there, we have to make the plays that we need to make and get off the field.
Q: Especially the excitement of it being the Home Opener and the opening of the season and everything, what does it feel like to see all of the [Giants] fans leaving the stadium midway through the fourth quarter?
A: I mean, at the end of the day, we're a team. It's us going out there. Obviously, the fans are part of it. We have to play better and keep it a game going through, but for us, it's us inside the locker room. We're going to go out there and do what we need to do, no matter who's there. Obviously, we played last year with no fans. It's just one of the things and you just have to keep fighting through.
Q: One of the repeat things that kept happening last year, even as you guys were a really good defense was scores right before the half. Was that kind of like deja vu?
A: No, a hundred percent. I mean, for us, we talked about it. We needed to make those plays. We have to be able to stand up, especially in the two-minute because that's a big momentum boost either way. Obviously, they came through and had the momentum boost going into halftime.
