HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On playing on Monday Night Football for the Wild Card matchup)

"Well, either way, it's the playoffs. It's going to be tough. We can use the extra day right now. Next week we're probably [going to] need a couple extra days, but you don't get to work it that way. We play who we play, we play when we play, and we line up and go."

(On if he prefers playing a team for the first time in the playoffs as opposed to playing a team they've already faced in the regular season)

"I don't think it compares at all. It's about the same for the most part. It doesn't compare because we played [the Philadelphia Eagles] so early in the year. We were still growing, [and] I'm sure they were still growing. You know, playoff time is different, it's one and done, everybody is nicked up, everybody is hurt, it's just a matter of who makes the most mistakes."

(On why the offense has slowed down over the last two weeks)

"I mean, we played some decent defenses, but when you execute, it goes well. When people get enough film on you, and you keep doing the same thing, you have to change something. We have to switch some things up on both sides of the ball, not just talking offensively, [but] defensively too. But you win a game, however you need to win it. You're not going to be clicking on all cylinders all the time."

(On if he's encouraged that the offense is better now than when they played the Eagles in Week 3)

"We'll do whatever we have to do to win a ballgame. As long as we have one more point than they have, that's what we are looking for right now. We want to have consistency all the way around, but the object is to win the game by any means necessary."

(On the progression of OLB Yaya Diaby)

"He came into his own. You know, he's a physical specimen. Obviously, once he got the system down, he started playing loose and playing free. He really got back there, wreaked some havoc, and made some plays. I'm proud of him."

(On where the ceiling is for Diaby)

"The ceiling is high. Obviously, you [have] to put in your years, you [have] to stay healthy, you [have] to take care of your body, you have to do all that. I don't think that discussion should be made until he's way down further in his career. We love the talent, we love the potential he has, but there is a lot that goes into it that has nothing to do with production, that has a lot to do with health."

(On the defense stepping up against the Carolina Panthers)

"It was big. We needed it. We needed it. We [had] a lot of guys back at the same time. They're starting to gel, play together, and it was big for us yesterday. We just have to continue it."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's performances varying statistically but him still finding ways to put the team in a position to win)

"Don't put it all on him. It's an offense as a whole. It's not one guy that's going to win or lose a game. You [have] to operate as a unit. [There are] 11 guys over there, as well as the coaches, so it's not just Baker being up and down – it's the offense clicking and then not clicking. We just [have] to be consistent."

(On if he is proud to see LT Tristan Wirfs make strides as a leader in the locker room)

"I am. That's huge. It's hard for a young guy to step up and talk in front of a group – especially, when a lot of guys are older than him. For him to take that step and speak from the heart – nothing he says comes out fake – everybody listens when Tristan talks. He [has] everybody's full attention, so that's big for him to come up this year."

(On RB Chase Edmonds creating a spark on offense)

"Chase is quick in the hole. He has very good vision, he plays very fast, he's a good one-cut runner, he goes downhill, he can see things at full speed to make cuts one way or the other and gives us a spark."

(On if P Jake Camarda is playing through an injury)

"No, he just [has] to punt it better."

(On the difference between the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 compared to now)

"Well, I haven't [delved] deep into them yet, but obviously they're a talented team. They've had some injuries over the past few weeks, as well. [I] can't really put a finger on it until I watch more film, but again they still won double digit games. They're a very talented team. They went to the Super Bowl last year. They're going to be a tough team to beat."

(On getting the rookies to understand that playoff games are different from regular season games)

"I think it helps them because they don't know, and they haven't been there. I think it's exciting for them. You can only get there by getting experience, and everybody that's been there has to have been a rookie, second-, or third-year guy at some point. Some guys go through eight [or] nine years and don't get there. I know it took Lavonte [David] a while to get there, but these guys don't have to change anything they're doing. They matured at the right time, they're playing fast, they're playing hard, and they should it should be exciting for them, and I want them to enjoy it."

(On Philadelphia's QB sneak)

"It's a big advantage for them. I think it's a very good play. The only way you can counter that is to try not to get in it. You want to keep them at five or more [yards] if you can. But, they do a very good job at getting in it."

(On if there's a way to counter the sneak)

"If I had the answer right now, I would be upstairs diagramming, calling it, and writing books on it. I don't have it right now."

-BUCCANEERS-