HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there are any injury updates for S Mike Edwards or anyone else)

"Mike has a chance. Everybody else, we'll see if they run tomorrow."

(On how DL Calijah Kancey was used on Sunday and how willing he is to play anywhere on the defensive line and drop back)

"He's more than willing. He's so athletic that he drops as good if not better than some of our linebackers. Obviously, we don't want him to make a living off that. We want him to rush the passer, but in a few instances and circumstances when we know they're keying on him, that we can get him out of there and get somebody else free."

(On third-year players like TE Cade Otton, RB Rachaad White, and T Luke Goedeke's ability to grow and conform to different offensive systems and staffs)

"Those guys are doing a very good job adapting. Three coordinators in three years is a lot for anybody but those guys are good football players and they're smart football players. The coaches we bring in, we try to bring in teachers and intelligent coaches that work non-stop. We understand that injuries are going to happen but that shouldn't stop us from trying to do what we have to do to win the ballgame because there are no excuses in this league. We work diligently and hard but they're very intelligent ball players and it makes it easier to coach them."

(On what the win over the Chargers does for the team's confidence)

"It was big because we put together a good second half – not so much as just beating the Chargers – that we finished the game offensively and ran it out and we finished the game defensively and got a turnover. That shows some growth from the first half of the season so that part gives us confidence going forward, that we can play with anybody as long as we don't make the mistakes."

(On how important it is having a successful running game in December heading into playoffs)

"It's huge. Everybody is beat up this time of year. If you can grind it out and get some runs in there and kind of wear people down, it helps out a lot."

(On how he keeps the team in a next-game mentality after getting national recognition)

"We didn't listen when we were losing. We're not listening now that we're winning, so that's not going to be a big deal. We have enough sarcastic coaches and sarcastic players to insult people to keep everybody grounded so that we're all ready to work so that's not a problem at all. We get shots in all the time [laughs]."

(On how important the Bye Week was to self-scouting and coming up with creative ways to use the defense because of the injuries)

"It was huge for us. The first thing we look at during the Bye Week is, 'Are we doing our jobs putting them in the right position?' And, 'How can we get better and make them better?' And going from there. Then we just try to get them to do fundamentals and technique, and we put it together, week by week depending on who's hurt and who's not, at this point, who knows [the defense]. We kind of come up with things that try to stop… It was a '6-1' [front] but like I said, they had a 290-pound tight end and they had another 290-pound full back so they were in goal line so we were kind of in goal line."

(On what he thinks Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen does best)

"It's really attention to detail. I think it all starts with the run game – how can we run it off of this? How can we throw it off of this? What did we do last week? What do we see? What do they see? And kind of putting it together that way so with the coaches collaborating upstairs and then giving it to the players and feeding it downstairs and Baker [Mayfield] executing it all on the field – the camaraderie and the coordination with those guys, the chemistry of seeing it the same way has been very good."

(On how Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen handles being mentioned in conversation for head coaching roles)

"You don't worry about it. You try to do your job, get to the playoffs, and win the Super Bowl and everything else comes after that."

(On if there are any injury updates on WR Kameron Johnson)

"He's come along [well]. We just have to try to find a spot for him to play."

(On if OLB Markees Watts will return from Injured Reserve)

"I don't think we have enough room right now. We might have to [keep] him on IR."

(On what QB Baker Mayfield did to correct his mistakes from previous games and perform the way he did against the Chargers)

"[He was] just focused and locked in. As a group we locked in, tried to do the things that he does well, and he locked in and just read the defense and took what they gave him."

(On multiple players receiving national recognition and how they celebrate those accomplishments without letting them distract from the main goal)

"We [brought] Baker [Mayfield] winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week up after practice. We clap, we move on. That's all you get [laughs]. There's no cakes or anything like that. You move on. It's like 'Huh, that was nice.' Move on."

(On what he likes about using a six-man front package on defense)

"It takes away cut-back lanes, so to speak, inside. They're an inside running team so if you pack more people inside, the less chance they have of running inside. Ryan [Neal] is a very good box player; he was a very good scrape guy when he was here so that was right up his alley and something he could do and we just try to maximize what we could do."

(On if he feels like the style of offense following the Bye Week wears on opponents as the game goes on)

"It's been a combination of things. I think it helps to get off the field defensively and give us more chances on offense. As we go, we try to take what they give us. If it's the run, it's the run. If it's the pass, it's the pass, but we kind of figured out who we are and they're executing. Everybody kind of fits into their roles now and there's not enough people that [are] just running around, looking around, trying to see what to do. Everybody is just doing their job."

(On what Cowboys QB Cooper Rush can do with their offense)

"They do a great job running the ball and different type of runs as well. They have an all-star player in CeeDee Lamb, and their running back is playing great football. He can break a lot of tackles right now and Cooper is putting it in the right place. He's very smart, he can see the game well and it's going to be a tough game."

(On if Cowboys LB Micah Parsons can compare to anyone he played in the past)

"No, he's a pain in the ass [laughs]. That's what he is, and I mean that [as] the most sincere compliment. He gives you a lot of problems and that's what he reminds me of."

(On what he attributes the improvement in the run game to)

"It's all of the above. Obviously, we have a new scheme, we have new coaches, the running backs are taught differently how to get downhill, the [offensive] line is playing with more chemistry, the receivers are blocking downfield. We had it before, we just couldn't execute it properly. Right now, we're executing it properly and they're playing good football."

(On what RB Bucky Irving does during the week to stay successful even when he can't practice due to injury)

"He's taking care of his body, and he watches a lot of film. He's a film junky. He gets in early, and he watches a lot of tape. He's taking mental reps even if he isn't practicing so that helps out, especially for a young guy."

(On if there's any update on S Jordan Whitehead and if he'll return next week)

"I could not tell you if he's coming back next week but he is progressing."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On the challenges of facing the Dallas defense this week)

"Obviously, with Mike Zimmer calling plays, they present a lot of different fronts that make you communicate and make you have a plan for whatever they're going to bring. A lot of it, obviously, is to try and get Micah [Parsons] in some one-on-one situations, so you've got to be on the same page with that. [Jourdan] Lewis at nickel, he's an experienced player – he's played a lot of good ball. They're a little banged up and have some different guys playing, but in the middle, [Eric] Kendricks is a veteran linebacker that you can tell understands what he's trying to get done and gets those guys lined up as well."

(On not letting the four-game winning streak affect their mentality and effort, and Head Coach Todd Bowles saying that the team does a good job of playfully keeping people grounded)

"You've got to have thick skin to be around our group. Anybody can get it anytime, anywhere. It doesn't matter who it is. That's the best part about the group. You have a good game? Move on. Got to do it again."

(On the importance of focusing on one game at a time)

"Absolutely. I think [Head] Coach [Todd Bowles] hit on it. When we started fast early in the year, Denver came in and took it to us. So, it's one-game-at a-time mentality, and this is the next one. We've got to be focused on that."

(On the excitement of playing a prime-time game)

"I don't really care. If anything, I don't like waiting around all day. I'd rather play earlier. But it's the next opportunity. I get juiced up for that no matter what. It's another opportunity with this group that we have to continue to build and try to get better."

(On what it's like waiting around for a late game)

"You get a little extra meeting time, a few more hours to walk through. There's always a balance of not trying to do too much, not trying to overthink things that you already have in the game plan and locked up. But, just reminders for guys to stay locked in throughout the day…When it's a later game, you've just got to get ready on time."

(On the performance of the offensive line this season, specifically against the Chargers)

"They're playing extremely well right now. You hit on it…Those guys on the edge, the Chargers had some really good edge rushers and guys that have a lot of stats. But our guys are great, and we trust them. The interior guys – Ben [Bredeson], Graham [Barton], and Cody [Mauch] – continue to improve as the weeks have gone on. We just continue to lean on those guys. We followed their lead in the second half there when we just kept running the ball."

(On how meaningful it is to hit the 30-touchdown mark this season)

"We got a win. That's meaningful."

(On balancing team success with personal milestones like WR Mike Evans' 1,000-yard season streak)

"I'm thinking about it more than Mike is. He helped himself out, though, put a little chunk into it. But yeah, all in all, winning is the most important part. He's a huge part of this offense, and he makes a huge difference in the explosive aspect of this offense. We're trying to get him the ball some way, somehow, but not forcing it. That's not what this offense is all about. We still need to let the defense dictate where the ball is going to go based on coverage and what they're doing. Still, moving Mike around – he's still our number one guy. If it happens, it happens. If not, we'll see."

(On not wanting to be the quarterback that ends Evans' streak)

"No. Not at all."

(On what Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen has brought to the team to allow them to have the offensive success that they've had this season)

"Great offensive coordinators always dial things up to the strengths of their players, and that's what Liam has done. He's had to adjust on the fly. We were looking at this thing being in a lot of '11' personnel early in the year and then adjusting and seeing how this run game is growing…That package has just continued to grow. The great ones adjust, and Liam has done just that. But, like I said earlier, you've got to have thick skin to be around this building, so we'll bring him back down to earth [laughs]."

(On WR Jalen McMillan's growth this season)

"Consistency. That's the biggest thing. He's always had the potential to be a really, really good player. It's just about putting it all together, being consistent. That's not just in the pass game concepts of where he's supposed to be at and when, but in the run game, as well. You see him taking true pride in the run game and what he's supposed to be doing."

(On RB Bucky Irving's success as a rookie)

"Bucky is definitely taking advantage of his opportunities. He's another guy that we try to get the ball in his hands as quickly as possible because he's done a great job. Obviously, the guys up front, everybody involved in the blocking scheme, have opened holes up for him. But there's a different level with some of these explosive plays that he's created on his own. That's a special player that we have."

(On returning to his home state of Texas for this weekend's game)

"There's a lot of memories that I have...The first NFL game I ever watched wasn't in this current Cowboys stadium, but it was in Dallas. I played a state championship game in high school there, Big 12 championship there, I played [there] once in the NFL. There are a lot of memories there. It's obviously back home in Texas, and it's always fun. It's close enough to Oklahoma that you always see a lot of Sooner jerseys in there. For me, it's special. I have a lot of people there supporting me, but it really doesn't matter unless we win."

(On the team's second-quarter struggles offensively)

"We've done an exceptional job of starting fast. Now it's about not taking your foot off the gas and still being consistent. Why have we started fast? Guys are executing the plan. Whatever is being called, we're executing at a high level. It's just got to stay that way. There needs to be no drop-off. You have to hit the reset button. It goes back to good or bad, the next play is the most important one."

(On the chemistry within the locker room)

"Football is the greatest team sport – I've said that a bunch. When guys truly want to play for each other and lay it out on the line for each other, that's when it really counts, especially this late in the year when nobody's feeling 100%. I don't care who you are. You're going to want to do it. You're going to want to make this push. Obviously, our circumstances help that as well, knowing that we have to control our own destiny one week at a time. It's a special group. It has been since the day I got here."

(On Atlanta QB Michael Penix being thrust into the starting role mid-season)

"It's always a tough deal. From experience, I learned a lot behind Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton, just trying to take in as much information as possible. That's the most important part. You have to support each other in that room, and that's what it's all about. A different look this late in the year for him to be thrown into it with a lot on the line for them. Just take it all in, trust yourself…Don't trust yourself too much because we're still trying to make the playoffs in front of each other [laughs]. It's a tricky deal, but the whole locker room has to support it, and you just have to be all in for it to have success."

(On his reaction when he heard that Penix would start for Atlanta)

"It doesn't bother me. I'm still playing ball for the Bucs."

WIDE RECEIVER JALEN MCMILLAN

(On how to maintain the consistency and success that the team has had over the last four weeks this Sunday against the Cowboys)

"Just staying consistent, harping on the details always, and just trusting each other and having a great week of practice."

(On QB Baker Mayfield being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week)

"His intensity and just the way he leads us…Just him as a person carries over to the field, and I love being around him."

(On being 5-2 on the road this year with only two overtime losses, and what makes the team so effective on the road)

"Honestly, just the way we practice. Practice gets intensified during the week, and we've been doing a really good job of that, so it's been carrying over to the game."

(On his recent success and what he's learned about himself during his rookie season)

"Just practicing better, being more [intentional] with how I practice. It's cool – touchdowns are cool – but I want to win, so I'm just focused on winning right now."

(On what he means by being more intentional in practice)

"Catching the football [laughs]. It's just putting yourself in game-like situations. If I've got a first play of practice, you've got to block like it's the real game. Just putting yourself in game-like situations."

(On how the coaching staff keeps players grounded)

"They're going to keep you humble at the end of the day, but that's how it should be. You shouldn't get a big head over just one good game. So, we're working on being consistent and just winning out."

(On the funniest thing he's heard from the coaches)

"They've been talking about my mustache a lot, but it's all good. It's all good. I can take it with a grain of salt."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CALIJAH KANCEY

(On dropping into coverage against the Chargers last week, and his versatility on defense)

"It was fun. It's something that we've been repping in practice, so as soon as the situation came, we knew what was going to happen. I'm kind of pissed at myself because it should have been an interception. I just understand from the DB's perspective how hard it is to turn around and locate the ball, and I had to find out myself."

(On the sword celebration after the stop)

"Oh, it was fun. I knew that it was a big stop right there. That stop right there took away the momentum they were trying to get off of that drive. It was a big stop."

(On what the defense needs to do better down the stretch)

"Just doing all the little things right. I think when we do the little things right, we come out with a big win. Right now, we're on the road, and we want to keep it going."

(On Head Coach Todd Bowles saying sarcastic coaches helps keep the team grounded)

"Yeah, that's the way it is around here. It's just tough love, keeping us grounded, not listening to the [noise] outside, and going off what we know in here and what we believe in between each other."

(On the funniest sarcastic comment from a coach)

"I wouldn't repeat it [laughs]."

(On if he enjoys playing in prime-time games)

"I think it's fun with everyone watching now that you're the last game on. But I understand where Baker [Mayfield] is coming from, just waiting around all day, ready to play some football. But I'm cool with it – Sunday Night Football."

(On if there is a friendly rivalry within the team for the sack lead)

"On the plane ride back after the game. Me, Vita [Vea], and Lavonte [David] were talking, trying to see if we could get a [challenge] going between us three. But Lavonte said we have more chances than him, but he's been shooting [the gaps]…He's been on a hot streak, and we've been cold, so we were trying to get a [challenge] going."

(On the team's chemistry translating to on-field performance)

"It helps a lot. Coming from college, where guys hang around all day, and then getting into the NFL where guys have families and the locker room is pretty much empty after meetings…Here, it's not like that – it's like college. We hang around, we talk, we go out and hang with each other outside of football. I think it's a good brotherhood here, and that just brings us closer on the field."

-BUCCANEERS-