WEBVTT - Press Conference: Zach Ertz December 3

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean it's cool. I mean, obviously there have

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<v Speaker 1>been so many great players in this organization, UM, and

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<v Speaker 1>to set the record at home obviously very special. But

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<v Speaker 1>at the same time, the most important thing to me

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<v Speaker 1>tonight was to win UM five and six against the

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<v Speaker 1>good football team, against a really good run defense. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>They got good players up and down that defense. So

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<v Speaker 1>something that we needed tonight, UM, and something that allowed

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<v Speaker 1>us to continue to have the every opportunity UM in

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<v Speaker 1>terms of the postseason in front of us. That was

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<v Speaker 1>the most important thing. How your connection with Yeah, I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>I think this year's definitely taking that next step. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>I thought last year we were playing at a high level,

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<v Speaker 1>but I think this year we've kind of taken that

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<v Speaker 1>next step. UM. We see the game so similarly. We

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<v Speaker 1>talk about football all the time. We're fully invested in

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<v Speaker 1>being the best players we can be for this team,

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<v Speaker 1>in this organization, and we just love the game of football.

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<v Speaker 1>We love talking about it. We love, um the fine

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<v Speaker 1>art of route running and the timing of the quarterback

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<v Speaker 1>in the tight end, and I think you can see

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<v Speaker 1>it each and every Sunday most of the time. There's

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<v Speaker 1>been one time this year I think we've seen something

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<v Speaker 1>different and other than that, we see the game very similarly.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's a lot of fun playing with him. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>the guy is so competitive, he's so talented. Um, it's

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<v Speaker 1>really fun. Yeah, I mean, I mean putting up that

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<v Speaker 1>many yards against that defense, Um, it's very I think

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<v Speaker 1>it's very revealing about where we're at as an offense. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>we have the ball inside the five twice and don't

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<v Speaker 1>get any points. It's tough. But at the same time,

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<v Speaker 1>we didn't panic after those drives and we've got a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of good players on offense. And this isn't about

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<v Speaker 1>me at all. Um. Everyone else is doing their job

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<v Speaker 1>tonight and that was the most important thing coming out here,

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<v Speaker 1>finding a win. So happy for Darren. He's been through

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<v Speaker 1>the gam at the past eleven weeks of trying to

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<v Speaker 1>get right from the Sam strength thing, and just proud

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<v Speaker 1>of all the work he put in to get to

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<v Speaker 1>this point. He could have easily called it quits and said, man,

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<v Speaker 1>maybe this just isn't for me anymore, um, but he

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<v Speaker 1>really stuck, stuck to the process and just found a

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<v Speaker 1>way to get healthy. And we need him. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>he's a dynamic player and he's really helpful for our

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<v Speaker 1>football team clicking after a whole season struggling. Why do

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<v Speaker 1>you think that, UM, I mean, I think it just

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<v Speaker 1>takes time. We got new faces. Obviously Carson didn't start

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<v Speaker 1>the year UM bringing in new guys. UM. But we

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<v Speaker 1>work really hard in practice. I mean we're grinding for

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<v Speaker 1>three days during the week trying to get this thing right.

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<v Speaker 1>We understood that the talent level on the offense wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>matching their production, UM, and guys were not panicking by

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<v Speaker 1>any means. UM. We were just focused on being better

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<v Speaker 1>from the previous week, and I think it's finally starting

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<v Speaker 1>to click. UM. Against the defense tonight that I mean

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<v Speaker 1>that front seven is probably one of the best in

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<v Speaker 1>the league. UM. Josh Norman is one of the best corners,

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<v Speaker 1>two really good safeties. UM. So it was a really

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<v Speaker 1>good performance. We held the ball for a long time,

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<v Speaker 1>and most importantly, I mean, our team is built to

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<v Speaker 1>play with the lead, UM and coming out fast, getting

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<v Speaker 1>seven points early, something we haven't really done and been

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<v Speaker 1>successful UM in most of these games. So that's probably

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<v Speaker 1>the biggest thing that I took from tonight was we

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<v Speaker 1>finally started fast one. Yeah, express what your yeah? In

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<v Speaker 1>terms of route running. I mean just studying him for

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<v Speaker 1>so long. UM, finding the intricacies of how he ran

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<v Speaker 1>routes something that I studied from the moment I came

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<v Speaker 1>into the league. Since I had the opportunity to really

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<v Speaker 1>study tight ends and study their film. He was the

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<v Speaker 1>guy I was always watching because it seemed like third down. UM,

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<v Speaker 1>he was always getting his number called, and he was

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<v Speaker 1>always attacking leverage, and so I just really just modeled

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<v Speaker 1>my game after him. I think there's there are some differences,

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<v Speaker 1>but there's a lot of similarities. Um. And I've said

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<v Speaker 1>it since I was sixteen. He was the guy that

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<v Speaker 1>was always on TV, unfortunately back in California, and he

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<v Speaker 1>was the guy that I was forced to watch. But

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<v Speaker 1>at the same time, it was the perfect guy for

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<v Speaker 1>me to watch because I was able to see, at

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<v Speaker 1>sixteen years old, how a tight end should play. UM

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<v Speaker 1>as the ultimate respect for him, he knows that. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>we have a good relationship. I obviously we shouldn't play

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<v Speaker 1>for the Cowboys, but UM, it was fun playing against

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<v Speaker 1>him too. For a couple of years. The only jersey

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<v Speaker 1>that yeah, yeah, he just uh you know, he told

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<v Speaker 1>me in the passion Know it wasn't because that he

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<v Speaker 1>was my favorite tight end growing up. He said it

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<v Speaker 1>was because of he really respected how I played the game, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>and how how I was always trying to get better.

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<v Speaker 1>He said, he was watching my game from the moment

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<v Speaker 1>I came into the league. UM, and he was one

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<v Speaker 1>of the guys that I was one of the guys

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<v Speaker 1>he was studying the off season and having being the

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<v Speaker 1>only guy that he ever traded jersey with is honestly special. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>everyone knows how I feel about him and h I'm

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<v Speaker 1>excited for the game next weekend down problems, targets. Did

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<v Speaker 1>you hear of that? I did hear of it, obviously, UM, obviously, UM.

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<v Speaker 1>There are there are things that come out playing in

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<v Speaker 1>the NFL for six years, there are things that come

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<v Speaker 1>out sources all the time. UM. I don't feel like,

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<v Speaker 1>I hope I'm not the problem. I don't think I'm

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<v Speaker 1>the problem. I'm just trying to be the best tight

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<v Speaker 1>end I can be. UM. I said all along, it's

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<v Speaker 1>all about efficiency. UM, when it comes to targets and catches,

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<v Speaker 1>I feel like we're efficient in that regard. UM, And

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<v Speaker 1>I think I mean, I'm just focusing on trying to

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<v Speaker 1>put wins on tape. That's the only thing I try

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<v Speaker 1>and do. Um, I don't really focus on whether I

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<v Speaker 1>get the ball or not. I said it all along,

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<v Speaker 1>whether I get two catches or ten catches, the most

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<v Speaker 1>important thing to me is winning football games. And I

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<v Speaker 1>thoroughly believe each and every guy in that locker room

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<v Speaker 1>feels the same way. Um. There's never been a doubt

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<v Speaker 1>of selfishness from anyone in that locker room. And UM,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think. I don't want to give it too

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<v Speaker 1>much merit just is what it is. UM. Focused on

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<v Speaker 1>the win tonight. I felt like everyone got the ball,

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<v Speaker 1>felt like it was a it was a good team win.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what I'm focused on. Addressed the team or no,

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't care at all. Um, I don't think there

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<v Speaker 1>was anything to address. UM. I mean, it was an

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<v Speaker 1>anonymous source, so if it was one of my teammates,

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<v Speaker 1>I felt like they I mean, I'm I don't have

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<v Speaker 1>a motive by any means. I feel like we have

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<v Speaker 1>a great relationship with all my teammates and I got

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I can't give too much credit to an

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<v Speaker 1>anonymous source because I don't know who it was. But

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<v Speaker 1>for practice to a Thursday, Yeah, I guess I'll thank

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<v Speaker 1>all you for that. Yeah. I mean, typically we don't

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<v Speaker 1>start practicing until two days after a game. UM, it'd

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<v Speaker 1>be really tough to go out there on Wednesday and

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<v Speaker 1>play football game after a physical football game like we

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<v Speaker 1>just had. UM, And at this point in the year,

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<v Speaker 1>the recovery sometimes more important than the little little details.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, obviously, we played these guys a couple weeks ago. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>I played them. There's gonna be my twelfth time playing them,

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<v Speaker 1>so they know me, I know them. UM, it's gonna

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<v Speaker 1>come down to how fresh can we be for that game. UM,

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<v Speaker 1>that's gonna be the most important thing for a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of guys, just trying to get your body right. Obviously

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<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be week thirteen for us, So that's how

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<v Speaker 1>your body feels right now. And guys are gonna be

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<v Speaker 1>in the training room, living in the training room. Hopefully

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<v Speaker 1>we'll get some more with these injured guys back. Um.

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<v Speaker 1>But UM, I think that's the right schedule in terms

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<v Speaker 1>of practicing. UM. I want to be on the field

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<v Speaker 1>each and every play. But at the same time, Dallas

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<v Speaker 1>is playing really well. UM. I got a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>confidence teaching every time he's in the game. I got

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of confidence in the coaches doing what they do,

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<v Speaker 1>drawn out the game plan. Um, it's not saying that

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<v Speaker 1>fourth and one, I'm off the field. It's based on

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<v Speaker 1>the play that they already have called. UM. So each

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<v Speaker 1>and every week they personnel the plays. Um, I can't

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<v Speaker 1>every snap. Obviously, We've got in that early in the

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<v Speaker 1>year and it's just not sustainable. So that was a

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<v Speaker 1>play where Dallas was in. It was a scramble or

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<v Speaker 1>it was an automatic sprint out to the right and

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<v Speaker 1>he was backside, and it was a great play call.

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<v Speaker 1>You said a few weeks ago that you had to

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<v Speaker 1>believe despite the evidence. Yeah, two wins since then, and

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<v Speaker 1>I'm playing the first place on Sunday. Just kind of

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<v Speaker 1>what was the feeling in the locker room after this one. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, guys are obviously extremely happy. It's really tough

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<v Speaker 1>to win football games in this league. Guys, we found

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<v Speaker 1>out the first eleven games of this year. Obviously we

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<v Speaker 1>didn't start the way we thought we were going to.

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<v Speaker 1>But I think this one really speaks to the overall

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<v Speaker 1>resiliency of this football team, the character of the guys

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<v Speaker 1>in the locker room. Obviously, at four and six. When

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<v Speaker 1>we got drilled by the Saints a few weeks back,

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<v Speaker 1>everyone had the opportunity to kind of put their head,

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<v Speaker 1>heads down and sulk. But guys in that in that

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<v Speaker 1>locker room really loved the game of football. I think

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<v Speaker 1>guys really loved their craft. And I mean we went

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<v Speaker 1>to work and obviously six and six now not where

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<v Speaker 1>we wanted or thought we were going to be. But

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<v Speaker 1>at the same time, we got the whole season in

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<v Speaker 1>front of us. UM, I think we're close. I think

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<v Speaker 1>we're really close. Um. Obviously, we scored two touchdowns inside

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<v Speaker 1>the five yard line tonight, We're putting up forty against

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<v Speaker 1>a really good team, and so if we're able to

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<v Speaker 1>execute in the low red zone. UM, just finding little

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<v Speaker 1>things to be better at each and every week. But

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<v Speaker 1>I think we're close to reaching our ultimate potential as

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<v Speaker 1>an offense. Okay, thanks guys, Thank you guys.