OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR LIAM COEN

(On how Tampa Bay's offense has changed the most since the Week 1 meeting with the Commanders)

"If you look at that game, we ran it okay, but we struggled at times. Their front is pretty solid. They've got a good defense in general, especially in that front seven, right? I think we ran it okay…We sprung a few late, which were good. We had a couple four, five, six, yard runs. We'd probably run it a little bit better at this point than we did at that point in the season. It's a tough group. I have a ton of respect for Bobby Wagner and what they're doing over there on defense and how they play the game. They run to the football, they do a lot of really good things – they're tackling at a high level. I know that was something he had mentioned in the first game that they didn't do as well – tackling. You see them tackle a lot better. Don't expect it to be like it was in the first game. It's going to be a playoff game – we all know what this is going to be like."

(On QB Baker Mayfield establishing a new career high with 41 passing touchdowns)

"I think you look at some of those games where we got hurt in the red zone – you look at the Baltimore's, the [second game in] Atlanta…We were maybe forcing the ball a little bit in the red zone, trying to make a play. Has it been 100% perfect since those games? No, but I do think he made a conscious effort as we kind of went through the season to really take care of the ball in the red zone, especially, and check the ball down and use his outlets as well as using his legs to his advantage. I can't really say what the big jump was from last year to this year, I just think that he did, this season, start to try and take care of the ball, especially more in the red zone. I think that led to some easier touchdowns when he would say, 'Okay, it's not there. I've got this. Let me keep playing.' We did end up having some touchdowns because of that."

(On Mayfield saying Coen would have to play him one-versus-one in golf to decide whether he can take an interview for a head coaching job)

"He doesn't want to see me [laughs]. That's not really part of the mindset right now. That'll be next week after this stuff is done. The No. 1 mindset is to go win this game and then I'll beat him in golf at some point."

(On quarterbacks being judged by their playoff success)

"It's because it's truly win-or-go-home. There isn't anything going next week unless you truly leave it out there and do everything you're supposed to do. Like you mentioned, they do get judged a lot of time based on how you perform in the postseason when it's crunch time, when it really matters. Not to say that the regular season doesn't [matter], but yeah, the intensity and the stakes are a little bit higher at this time. I think that any quarterback wants those moments. He wants to have the ball in these types of situations and games, to go lead his team to a win. As you mentioned, the competitive nature that he has on the day-to-day, I'm sure we're going to see that on full display Sunday night."

(On how to control Mayfield's intensity level)

"He was pretty intense the last few days. That's a good thing, I think, when he's truly like he is in terms of asking questions quickly, [being] on it. You can feel it, just the way he was throwing the ball in a walk-through where we're not supposed to be throwing the ball, or just when we're doing some jog-through stuff out here. He wants to go full speed. That's a good thing – to get him going. His mindset is in the right place. How do we kind of hold that in a little bit as we get towards Sunday night?"

(On whether Mayfield's third down scrambles for first downs ignite the team)

"I definitely think that had something to do with us maybe waking up a little bit and getting things going. We were maybe going through the motions a little bit sometimes in the first half. Not taking anything away from New Orleans – they had a great plan and did some good things against us, but we weren't really playing at our highest level, if you just put it that way. I think when we came in at halftime, we had some conversations about, 'Hey, how do we finish and strain and play the game how we know we're supposed to play it?' When that came out and happened, it helped the guys out, I think, getting a little bit of juices going. You ended up seeing some good things after that."

(On if the Buccaneers will try to run the ball against Washington)

"I think, in general, our front and their front is going to be a matchup. Not just their front five, but their two linebackers, as well, with [Frankie] Luvu and Bobby [Wagner] there. They're rushing, right? A lot of the times, whether it's in the dropback pass game, the play-action, they add fifth rushers often. Obviously, you've got that front in general in terms of versus the run and the pass. Our guards, our interior line has got to do a great job, as well as the tackles, but this is a huge challenge for us inside and the tight ends and the run game – everybody that's involved in this thing understands that they've got some guys inside that we're going to have to move and displace and not let wreck the game in ways in terms of the penetration. But, we also feel confident that we'll be able to go out there and do what we're supposed to do on our end, as well."

(On if this is the time of year that teams want to run the ball)

"That's right. That's right. You look at how we've adapted – we've gotten better in the run game. When it really, truly matters is now: in [January], when we've got to run the football, when you've got to stop the run and all of those things. Can you do it versus meaningful opponents in a playoff atmosphere? Can you go run the ball the way you're supposed to and the way we want to? That's got to be a key to success for us in this game, for sure."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's success against the blitz this season)

"I think maybe just some of the understanding of the protection schemes a little bit better for him, and having a great understanding of everything that's going on around him. Knowing, maybe, where his quick element throws are, where we can just spot up completions, versus maybe fire zones, or, okay, we're talking about man pressure, man dog, as you saw versus [Cover-]Zero blitz the other day…When we were driving down, he hit Mike Evans on a quick slant from the slot – that was versus a [Cover-]Zero blitz. He did a great job of getting the ball out and beating the blitz. He plays fast most of the time. When that ball is coming out and he's spitting and dealing, that naturally happens a lot of times. Especially versus blitz, that ball can come out fast. That's obviously been a recipe for success for us in general this year."

(On Coen referring to QB Baker Mayfield as a modern-day Brett Favre)

"There is so much of him you can see in the way that they play – their passion for the game, the way they get their teammates to compete at a high level with them. That's part of it. You have to lean into that, in a way, if you're part of the process with him. Some of those things are going to go bad, some are going to be unbelievable. The throw that he makes to 'J-Mac' (Jalen McMillan) in the corner of the end zone off schedule on a play that they had to make in a critical moment…There's not a ton of guys making that throw. The scrambling, gaining 68 yards rushing…He played his tail off for us. You have to lean into that, because that's really part of what makes him great – that attitude, that mentality, and a little bit of that gunslinger mentality."

(On Mayfield's touchdown pass to WR Jalen McMillan looking like backyard football)

"That is. That is backyard. We had a quarters beater on, and they ended up playing a Cover-2 defense [where] the look wasn't perfect. He really had to go to the other side, and probably check it down to Bucky [Irving] but he moves off his spot, gets to his right, finds a little window in that end zone, and those guys made a great play. You live with those plays."

(On Mayfield's relationship with the offensive line)

"They vacation together, they go out, they hang out together, after every game they're together…Tuesday mornings when everyone is out of the building, they're in here together watching tape and doing the protections and understanding what we're trying to get done. You do see a different level of camaraderie there where it's truly not just quarterback-line, they are equals. They're friends now. I'm sure that there's a little bit of busting going on between them, in terms of they get on him a little bit – which is good, he needs it. But, they're really good friends. They really are. They care about each other and that's what really means the most. They look at him, the way that he competes, the way that he goes after it, and they want to protect him and they want to play hard for him."

(On RB Bucky Irving's success this season)

"He's been as detail oriented as he has been, honestly. The guy has battled through some nicks all throughout the season, hasn't been 100% healthy as many of these guys are not this time of the year, but he's still in at 5:00 a.m. and he's still coming to see Coach [Tom] Moore first thing in the morning and he's still been detail oriented, understanding what we're trying to do with the plan…He's been a great teammate for these guys and he's been a joy to coach."

(On his head coaching job prospects)

"I just have the one request – that's all I'm aware of at this moment. That's all I've got going on right now."

(On interviewing for head coaching jobs)

"It's an honor to even be in that category, but that hasn't been something I've worked on much over the last few days. It's an honor, but not something we're thinking about at the moment."

(On what he's most proud of in terms of this year's offense)

"I think like I mentioned maybe a couple of weeks ago about what I find most interesting or fun about this job is the improvement. Seeing guys that were already playing at a high level, that already had success, dive into being coached hard and being challenged by all their coaches each and every day and trying to take this thing to the next level. In a lot of ways, we did that. We did that in a lot of ways. The job is not done, by any means, at all, but these guys have dove into the process – they've dove into the scheme and what we're trying to get done, the culture of what we're trying to build. They've run with it. That's really the cool part – to see them kind of take ownership of this thing and drive the car."

(On if the team has the Super Bowl on their mind)

"I think so. You keep going each and every week and see what happens, but I do believe that these guys know. We're not surprised to be in the position we're in. Some things had to go our way in some ways to get here, but we've earned the right to be here. We've played some darn good football a lot of times this year, but we still haven't put it all together for four quarters as a team. We've shown signs of it, but I'm sure they're excited to kind of keep going with this thing and play some more football, especially maybe getting a little bit healthier in some positions, maybe get some guys back and get back to as close as full strength as we can possibly be at this point in the season and see what that looks like. I think the guys are excited for that."

DEFENSIVE LINE/RUN GAME COORDINATOR KACY RODGERS

(On what's different about the Commanders and QB Jayden Daniels compared to Week 1)

"The first time we played him, he was a true rookie starting his first NFL game. Now he has a lot of games under his belt and a lot of games that they won under his belt. Just watching, you can see his confidence is growing, the confidence they have in him, and he keeps the ball moving for them. [He's] a tremendous player."

(On how to balance playing a mobile quarterback from a pass rush standpoint)

"Sometimes it's like a chess match. Any time you have four guys up there, you're still defending six gaps. You're outnumbered to start with. Then if you bring more than four, now you could have some bad matchups on the back end and he can still get out of that too. It's just a chess match. Sometimes you have do this, sometimes you have to do [that]. Sometimes you have to have a spot for him, sometimes you have to try to overload him and you just have to mix it up."

(On what having DL Calijah Kancey fully healthy does for the defense)

"It helps in the rush. You're talking about a guy that really does a good job of winning one-on-ones and try to create certain matchups and has some versatility. We put him outside, we put him inside, we drop him. That helps us create some versatility."

(On the advantages and disadvantages of using a spy against a QB like Jayden Daniels)

"What you're going to have to do [is] pick your poison. You're saying right now with the spy, hopefully we can keep him in the pocket but I've seen a lot of people spy and he made them miss so that didn't exactly work out. But if you're staying here, now you're putting a lot of pressure on the back end because the spy really isn't rushing so you're in three man rush and the routes have more time to develop and get down field. So it still goes back to that chess match. You're kind of like, 'Hey, maybe this time will be a good [time] to spy. Maybe not so much the next time.'"

(On if LB Lavonte David might play spy against the Commanders)

"We have a lot of guys and the thing is you have to mix it in because this guy is fast. It's funny, you watch them, and in a lot of ways we felt like they play option football. You know, their coordinator did a great job. They got a quarterback player waiting on him, then he (Jayden Daniels) outruns the quarterback player so it didn't exactly work out. It's the same way with the spy – who are you going to spy on him? And you might need two, because the first one is missing sometimes so he creates a lot of problems."

(On how much S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s presence brings playmaking if he's available on Sunday)

"We've talked about it before – last year, if you sit here, he's clearly probably our No. 1 ranked player on defense from our perspective. The things he just brings to the table on the backend, blitzing in the run game. I think we won two games where he made plays we might not ever see again. From that standpoint, he just brings so much in and more confidence. Those guys, core guys, have been together for a while and having him back in the mix, it just makes everybody have much more confidence."

(On OLB Yaya Diaby's confidence and winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week)

The thing with Yaya [is] he's just kind of been treading all along. He's been close several times, this and that, and we've talked before like, 'Sacks come in bunches. Just keep working and just keep working. They'll come.' A lot of times guys have great rushes but not the results, then you see guys stuck on the line of scrimmage and the quarterback runs right into their arms. Sometimes it's just not an exact science but as long as you keep working, good things are going to happen. I couldn't be more happy for him because the guy works his butt of and I'm glad to see the plays finally coming for him."

(On Yaya Diaby saying he focused less on just getting sacks and just started playing as a pass rusher)

"Everybody wants to see the sack numbers. That's the first question they're going to ask you so of course it forces him to press a little bit sometimes. Sometimes you just have to let the game come to you. I'll give you a perfect example – a couple weeks ago in Dallas, he had a wide open shot at the quarterback and he would make that a hundred times – just let the plays come to you, don't press – and he just froze up at the wrong [time]. He was right here, unblocked. You know, those guys in our defense – in most three-four defenses – those guys are pressure positions. You expect big plays, sack fumbles, this and that, and when they aren't coming, guys tend to press a little bit. We say it every day in practice, 'Just keep doing what you're doing and plays will come.'"

WIDE RECEIVER MIKE EVANS

(On how it feels to be playing in the playoffs)

"It feels great to be playing in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Early on in my career, it was hard to be in playoff contention and to be there for the fifth straight season, it's pretty cool."

(On what he is most proud of this team for this season)

"The way we overcame adversity. [There were] a lot of injuries, comes with the game but the way we bounced back week in and week out. Guys stepping up, everybody making plays and contributing and punching our ticket to the dance is what I'm most proud of."

(On the team being focused bigger goals and being unsatisfied just making the playoffs)

"Yeah, we have to take it one week at a time. Obviously, our goal was to get into the playoffs, and we're here. We need to work extremely hard to make sure we're still playing next week. That's our goal, that's our mindset week in and week out."

(On what's key to winning in the playoffs)

"I feel like the best teams do win. What you said is right, but most of the time the best teams win. I feel like in 2021, I feel like we were the best team. We did get hot at the right time, but I feel like [this year], we're definitely getting hot at the right time. What are we, 6-1? We wish we were 7-0 but we're in the playoffs. We just have to continue to play good ball, keep competing and being physical."

(On what the most improved part of the offense is)

"Everybody making plays. Everybody has just been making plays. When their number is called, they make plays. [There's] a lot of selfless guys in this locker room. The run game has been good. The O-line [is] very selfless, and the receivers and pass catchers are making plays."

-BUCCANEERS-