Linebacker Micah McFadden
Q. How hard is it at this point at 5-9 and the playoffs look like a long shot, how hard will it be, do you think, for the group to be motivated going forward? Everybody is watching your film in every game? How do you feel this group will handle being close to being out of it?
A: It's definitely difficult. I don't think anybody in this building thought we'd be where we are at this point. But as far as motivation, we're process driven here. We stick to what we do each week and that's just focusing on winning one game at a time.
Q. You have Philly twice, then the Rams. How difficult is the remaining schedule look at this point?
A: Every game is pretty difficult. Every team in the NFL brings it every week, it's always going to be a difficult challenge. No doubt, we've definitely got a tough few games down the stretch here. Just got to go find a win to win a couple of them.
Q. Obviously last year, the Eagles beat you guys three times, including the playoffs. And the talk this year is 'we've got to get better to see where we kind of match up with them.' How much does that still hold true as players? And how much do you still keep that in your memory about last year?
A: Whenever it's a division opponent, you want to beat them and obviously we play those teams twice. I think it's going to be a good challenge this week and obviously, they're a good football team. But like I said earlier, it just comes down to our process, preparing the right way, and practicing well and figuring it all out throughout the week to put it all out on gameday and perform well to get the results we want.
Q. Is that playoff game from last year something that you personally use as motivation?
A: Yeah, I mean, without a doubt. Whenever you get knocked out of the playoffs like that – obviously, we don't think about the past too much, kind of focus on what's ahead of us, but that definitely stung a little bit to get knocked out by a team in your division.
Q. When you look at the second half in particular yesterday, did you think your defense was past that kind of performance? You guys had been playing well and getting pressure, stopping the run, there was not a lot of that in the second half. What was your assessment of what went on after halftime yesterday?
A: We just didn't do the things that we needed to do to help our team win. Played a solid first half, I still think there were things to correct. Obviously, that's with every game but give credit to them, they played a more complete game than us. Just got to find a way to perform better and do more things to help the team win.
Q. We talked about – you asked a question earlier about playing in these last three games when it's not a playoff carrot sitting out there. Do you look at it as a chance to further your foot hole in where you are as a starting linebacker in this league? Playing alongside (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke), do you think you've established something that you can help establish that even more down the stretch here?
A: I just try to get better every week, work on my craft and continue to improve. I always focus on the team first and do whatever I can to help this team be great. But yeah, of course – just trying to get better and perform well next week.
Q. Do you think you and Bobby kind of have a good thing going right now together inside?
A: I think yesterday we could've done a lot of things better, kind of talked about it on the plane afterwards. But I think we're kind of finding our role in this defense. Like I said, still a lot of things to improve upon.
Q. When you guys boarded the flight, there was a lot of stormy situations in New York and New Jersey. Was that a topic of discussion at all? There was a chance maybe it would be a rocky flight. Where there nervous flyers who were talking about stuff like that?
A: I didn't even really notice until we were in the air, and I looked out the window and it was pouring rain outside. I didn't even know what the weather was like, honestly.
Q. It was just a fine descent and landing?
A: Yeah, yeah. There was probably a little applause back there, for sure.
Q. There was?
A: Yeah.
Q. But was it a little bumpy?
A: A little bit. There was some turbulence.
Q. I just have a quick question on the Eagles and their fans. Do you ever have that feeling (that) 'I just want to go down there and beat that team. I don't like them; I don't like the fans?'
A: They have a good culture down there, for sure, it's a fun place to play. Yeah, I think we want to beat every team but obviously a divisional opponent, for sure.
