Transcript: Quarterback Daniel Jones

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: How do you look at this opportunity this weekend?

A: I think it's a great opportunity for us. It's a good opponent coming in and we've got a chance to play our best game and do what we've got to do. We're excited for it, an opportunity to get in front of the home fans and another opportunity to go play a good game.

Q: Your coach doesn't like to talk about this thing that's out there. What about you? Do you talk about how special this could be to make the postseason?

A: Yeah, I mean I think we all realize what's at stake but at the same time we understand it's about handling business this week, focus on what we have to do to win this game and keeping our focus what we're doing day to day – making sure we're preparing as well as we can so that we play our best on Sunday.

Q: What are you expecting from the atmosphere?

A: I think it will be a fun atmosphere. Our fans have come out all year. We've felt a lot of support, a lot of energy from them all year. We certainly expect that on Sunday. We appreciate the support so far and we're excited to get out there.

Q: How much do you believe in these kinds of games that there's pressure? Is it just a matter of being able to deal with it? Do you not feel it? How do you look at that?

A: Playing at this level, there's always pressure, there's always expectations. Week to week, I think it's about how you prepare and get yourself ready to play as well as you can. If you're prepared and ready to go, you're ready to put your best foot forward and put the team in a position to win. That's what I'm focused on, is just preparing every day as well as I can.

Q: Did you watch the game Monday night, sitting on the couch watching the game, like you normally do?

A: I watched the first half then I went to sleep. But came in and watched it the next morning.

Q: Can you watch it like two other teams that you aren't playing, or do you watch it a little differently knowing you're playing them in six days?

A: I think you watch it a little differently and try to see a little bit of what they're doing, how the game goes out, get a feel for the momentum of the game. Yeah, I think all those things. You can't see everything on the TV copy, so you want to go in the next morning and look at exactly what happened. You watch it a little differently.

Q: How proud are you of what this team has accomplished to this point in time?

A: I'm very proud of this team. We've played a lot of good games. I think we've improved week to week, and we've fought hard. I think we're a tough group, we compete hard week in and week out. We've been successful. At times, we've had some tough times too. It's a tough, competitive group and I'm certainly proud to be a part of it.

Q: In every sport, I think of basketball right away, you think of players that elevate their teammates. Do you believe a quarterback needs to elevate his teammates within an offense?

A: A quarterback's job is to distribute the ball where it's supposed to go and give guys a chance to make plays. We've got a lot of playmakers on our team, people who have stepped up throughout the year and done that for us. I think when a quarterback is doing his job, he's able to put guys in a position to make plays.

Q: You don't have any of the original playmakers – other than (running back) Saquon (Barkley) – out of the receivers, the top four guys you were supposed to have you don't have. Elevating guys, does it take on more importance when you're dealing with guys who you weren't necessarily going into the season working with?

A: I think all of those guys who have come in have done a really good job. They're all guys who work really hard, who understand what we're trying to do and can do it and are willing to put in the work to get on the same page to build the chemistry and do what we need them to do. Whoever it is that's stepped up I think has done a great job and they deserve a lot of credit.

Q: What's the process of building that chemistry with so many guys this season?

A: Yeah, I mean I think it happens in the meeting room. It's constant communication and watching film, talking about the game plan, and then on the practice field – getting the reps, throwing after practice. Whatever it takes. You've got to be willing to put in the work.

Q: The Colts have their record, but they have the 11th-ranked defense. What are you seeing from it?

A: They're a good group on defense. They're consistent, they do what they're supposed to do, they're in the right spots. Don't blow assignments much or give you a lot of that. I think they try to prevent the big plays and they do a good job with that. They've got a lot of good players, a lot of talented players, some veterans in some key spots. We'll have to be ready. We've got a good game plan and we'll need to be prepared on Sunday.

Q: You've put a lot of work in all parts of your game. The one that stands out to me this year is the ability to make those plays when you get out of the pocket – you're not just running, you're finding guys who are open. How much work have you put into that aspect of being able to make plays out of the pocket and knowing where guys are going to be? You made a touchdown in Minnesota to (wide receiver Isaiah) Hodgins, you had one here at home a couple of weeks ago. That kind of element – what do you have to work on in that situation to grow in that game?

A: I think a lot of the pocket movement stuff and movement out of the pocket, throwing on the run and having a sense for what those throws are going to be like, how they are going to come up in the game and practicing them. I think that's part of it. A lot of it I think is just feel and instinct. I think I've gotten better at some of those things through the years.

Q: Do you think your group of receivers has a chip on their shoulder to show people outside here that they're better than they probably are getting credit for?

A: I don't know, I think you'd have to ask them about that. I certainly believe they deserve a lot of credit. I think each one of them has played really well this year, made a lot of key plays for us in big-time moments against good DBs time and time again, winning and making plays. I think they deserve a lot of credit and I think all those guys have played really well.

Q: Do you believe that if you guys get into the playoffs that you can win with this group? That they're good enough to get the job done?

A: 100 percent, yeah. 100 percent. Like I said, they've stepped up time and time again against good defenses, good DBs and made plays. I've got a ton of confidence and those guys deserve a lot of credit.

Q: Do you remember a time this season, or maybe even before the season, where you said, 'This team can be a playoff team. We can get there this year'?

A: I think we've always been confident. I think even back to training camp, I think we were confident and knew what we were capable of. I don't think that's changed throughout the year. I don't think there's been a point where we said all of the sudden we're that team. I think we've always kind of thought it and I think we've improved week to week to become what we are now, and we've still got a lot of work to do.

Q: How much more rewarding, if at all – I assume there is more of a reward in a season where you still have the possibility of being a playoff team versus some other seasons where by now you knew that wasn't a possibility?

A: Yeah, it's a lot more rewarding. It's why you play, you put in a lot of time and effort and energy into getting the opportunity to do that and we haven't had that opportunity in years past. It's certainly much more rewarding.

Q: How much more important is it to you to take care of this now and at home to clinch that playoff berth to be able to do it here, rather than potentially a week later or resting on how other teams fare?

A: Our goal is always to go 1-0 that week and to win the game. The implications of it and how that plays out down the road, I don't think we're worried about that or thinking about that too much. We're focused on winning this game, playing as well as we can on Sunday and that's what we're focused on.

Q: Would it add something to it, which is what I'm getting at, to be able to do it at home now?

A: Yeah, I mean – home fans, the support we've gotten all year has been great. We really appreciate it. To do it in front of the home fans would be a great opportunity for us. We know we've got to take care of business and play as well as we can. That's what we're focused on.

Q: Did you watch, on TV like some of us did, the Colts game the other night? Did you do that?

A: I did, yeah. I watched the first half and then I went to sleep.