HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On what the team has learned from the last game against Carolina and last week's defeat as they prepare for this week)

"We know it's going to be a tough ball game – it went overtime last time. They're coached very well; they play very hard. We know what's at stake for us. It doesn't need to be talked about. Everybody understands that. We've got to clean up our own mistakes, and we've got to play an error-free football game."

(On designating S Jordan Whitehead for return and his performance before the injury)

"Mentally, yes. Physically, there are some things he could have done better. Physically, there are some things he's done well. I won't know really until Thursday where he progresses to. [They were] just walking through the day after the game, so I'll see him move around a little more on Thursday."

(On if there are updates on WR Sterling Shepard or TE Cade Otton)

"Not at this time, no. I mean, Sterling is sore – everybody's sore after the game. It's only Tuesday, so we'll see how they are on Thursday."

(On the team's attitude and effort this week)

"Attitude and effort have been good all year. We never have a problem with that."

(On the importance of fast starts in the NFL and the team's ability to come from behind)

"Fast starts are a huge part, especially for us. We've got to get off to a fast start. I think we can come from behind, but when you get out and get a lead early and you're able to pad that lead, it helps you play a little better."

(On the defense only having seven interceptions this season and if that's surprising)

"I don't know if it's surprising. It's not great. Obviously, we want more turnovers every ball game. If we get our hands on some balls, and we've got to catch them. J.J. [Russell] missed one in the game which was a chip shot. We could have had a lot more. We should have a lot more, but we don't. We've just got to keep harping on it, and we've got to get them to come."

(On NT Vita Vea's performance this season and his third-down stop against the Cowboys)

"I think it's probably the best year I've seen him have since I've been here, and this is my sixth year having him. From coming back in shape to playing hard every week to using his hands more and becoming more of an unstoppable force. He used to just use brute strength without using technique, and then he'd get stuck a few times, but right now, he's got the whole gamut working. He drops [into coverage] once or twice when we ask him to, he rushes the passer well when they single him, he plays the run, he causes havoc inside. Between all the records and everything, he's having a heck of a year."

(On if Vea accepts that he's going to get double-teamed frequently)

"All the time. He makes it look easy. He plays like he's got one guy on him, but it's two guys on him. He's good enough to do that."

(On WR Ryan Miller's contributions this year)

"Ryan is a great story because he was a free agent, obviously being a tight end coming out of a small school and coming in here and being on the practice squad…He's earned his keep. Obviously, there are faster guys, more athletic guys, guys that stand out more from a talent standpoint. But from a consistency standpoint and a toughness standpoint, Ryan puts his nose down and works. He's always in the right spot. He always studies. You never have to worry about him when he goes in the ballgame, and he can make plays. It's a real credit to him and the work ethic he puts in."

(On if Miller has earned more opportunities this season)

"Injuries always play a role, but he's earned the right that we trust him, that we can put him out there and not have to worry about it."

(On if he will be wearing a Washington Commanders jersey on Sunday night when they face the Atlanta Falcons)

"No. No, I don't think I can fit that jersey anymore…It's in a glass and hung up in the basement, but it's not for wear. No, it's not for wear."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how the team gets past the feeling of no longer controlling their own playoff destiny)

"From here on out, [it's] obviously not the scenario we want to be in but [we] still have to take care of business. Obviously, some things have to happen but if we don't take care of business – that's the mentality. It has to start there, and [we have] got to do our job, the little details and everything included in that to try and find a way to win."

(On if there is a silver lining to the offense being able to stay in close games even if they lose)

"Yeah, I mean we'd like to be on the other side of it. The positive from the game is that we're giving ourselves a chance and an opportunity late in the games. [If] the team didn't have any fight, like I mentioned postgame… We're always going to keep fighting, keep swinging and see what happens."

(On the contributions WR Ryan Miller has made with his opportunities)

"Ryan is a guy that – he has to be able to know all the receiver spots. [He's a] plug-and-play guy that just continues to make plays for us, continues to do a lot of the dirty work which is extremely important, and he takes pride in that. Ryan prepares his tail off and that's why he has success."

(On what he saw from TE Payne Durham on Sunday)
"I thought Payne did a great job filling in for Cade [Otton]. I think he was able to show that some of his route running and just catching the ball – that ability – he's got great hands. He's a bigger guy. He's not as twitchy as Cade but [he has] a little bit bigger frame so we trust him, and he obviously does a lot for us in the run game when Cade is playing too."

(On if games against the Panthers are close games because they're division rivals)

"Yeah, I think division opponent – anything like that… We know them well. They know us well. It goes to that and just scheme wise. Their [defensive coordinator] is somebody that was in [Los Angeles] and knows Liam [Coen] – just knowing each other, there's a lot of stuff that you can… You try and do a little bit of scheme tendency breakers a little bit. They get a good sense for what we're trying to do."

(On if playing the Panthers only three weeks ago makes any difference)

"Schematically, yeah. Sometimes when you play a team early in the year compared to – like our Saints game this year, we [played] them early, we play them [the] last game. Sometimes you can change schematically. When it's this quick of a turnaround in between games with division opponents, you really don't see that much – I mean there might be some personnel changes that could change some things but really, it's about the little details. It's kind of like a Thursday night week of who's going to execute better."

(On what he learned about the Panthers red zone defense the last time they played them)

"This defensive structure, they make it really hard to run the ball in the end zone. That's always been how they want to do it. They want to make you earn it. It's about physicality and being able to break some tackles down there."

(On WR Jalen McMillan's confidence growing and their relationship getting stronger throughout the season)

"I think a lot of it is communication but majority of it is just him continuing to progress. The progression he's had this year is what you want to see out of your rookies. The game kind of slows down for him, he's understanding what we're trying to get done, his head is not spinning anymore. That's why you see him executing. When you compare the mental aspect of it with the physical ability that he already has, that's why you see the success."

(On how important it is to score first and start fast in the last two games)

"Extremely important. It allows for our defense to pin their ears back as well and play aggressive how they want to do. For us, it's a mentality offensively that we want to start fast, get down there and see how they're playing us but have explosive plays and get in the end zone. It allows for our team to play complementary football right off the bat."

(On the team's turnovers against the Cowboys)

"It's overemphasis of protecting the football. When you think you have it, you can never be too careful. Obviously, Jalen [McMillan]'s play was [a] crazy deal there – talk about pluck it and tucking it but Jourdan Lewis made a crazy play on it and same with Rachaad [White]'s play later and same with the strip in the back field. Even when you think you have two hands on it, you have to be overprotective of it because that's the most important thing."

(On the disconnect on the deep pass attempt to WR Trey Palmer in the third quarter)

"I talked about it after the game. It was a different look than what we were expecting. It [was a] cover-2 shell so he – originally we wanted a single-high [safety], he was going to take it a little bit thinner in the cover-2, he started to set his angle there and I think he thought I was scrambling out so he adjusted back the other way – just milliseconds of a difference there and it ended up being not a big touchdown and an incomplete pass."

(On this team playing their best when their backs are against the wall and having to overcome adversity with this loss)

"I keep saying it, this team has the mental makeup of a great team. We just have to continue to fight and find ways to win. It's one thing to have your back against the wall, everybody knows what's at stake here. There's no secret, so yeah, we're going to do everything we can to win. On the other side of it, you have to stay at the top. You have to do everything you can to do that so obviously [we have our] backs against the wall though."

(On celebrating his first Christmas as a parent)

"It's awesome. She is obviously young and doesn't exactly know what's going on. She doesn't know Santa is coming to visit her. We have family in town so it's special. It makes you really appreciate the holidays that much more and just to try and do that and surprise her and make sure she's happy."

(On if Sunday was the kind of loss that makes him wish they were playing again sooner)

"If you take the physical part out of it, yeah you wish you could get backout there and get the taste out of your mouth quickly, especially against a division opponent where you know it's going to be a physical game. You want to get back out there as soon as you can."

(On how he is feeling after having to go in the injury tent during the game to get tested for a concussion)

"I think you're mentioning the play where I hit my head on the ground and then played two more plays and then the call came down. That [was] not ideal but obviously it was better than it happening during the middle of a drive."

(On what he got the offensive linemen for Christmas)

"[There is] some delays on shipping so it's still a surprise. I can't give that secret out yet. [I'm] not really happy with big parcel right now. The timing is off."

-BUCCANEERS-