Patriots-Broncos Leftovers: A Confident Defense
BOSTON (CBS) - Here are a few of the quotes from the locker rooms after the Patriots 45-10 win over the Broncos to advance to the AFC Championship game next Sunday.
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski on enjoying the win:
"You can enjoy it for a little tonight, a little tomorrow. And then right after that game tomorrow, once we know who we're playing, we're right back on schedule. We've got to get a good practice week in and work hard again."
Pats guard Brian Waters on Gronk and Hernandez:
"If you decide to take away one, that opens things up for the other. You add the fact that we have receiving threats and some good guys at the running back position. It limits the things you can do defensively as far as trying to take one person out of the game. That's something that we are able to take advantage of."
Head coach Bill Belichick on his defense's effort:
"I like our whole football team. Our defense, they compete well. I thought they did a good job. We, unfortunately gave up a touchdown there on the short field, but overall, I thought they competed well. We had some better plays on third-down, got off the field and gave our offense good field position. We were able to turn the ball over, so early in the game that was big. The guys played together, they communicated well, and we've gotten better throughout the course of the year."
NE linebacker Rob Ninkovich on Playing Tebow:
"Yeah, it's difficult because when you're out there playing and you want to go one way because you see him, but you know that he's got the ability to get outside and really hurt your team. So you've just got to be disciplined in your responsibilities in the defense. Just playing good team defense all together and great communication, it starts with that."
Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork on the defense's confidence:
"All year we had confidence. I remember talking a long time ago, at the beginning of the season, about the confidence I had in this team and this defense from what I can see we can do. The main thing is guys believe. There is not a week that we come in here and guys don't believe what we are capable of doing as a defense. It can take us a long way. I think that with a performance like tonight, in the postseason, everything is elevated. We don't want to be good; we want to be great, especially at this time."
Patriots D-Lineman Gerard Warren on making it look easy:
"It was far from easy, I'll tell you that. It took a whole lot of guts and technique and discipline. But we just went out and executed tonight."
Pats corner Devin McCourty on putting up a full 60-minutes:
"It's funny because even though you played so good on the field you will find things that you could have done better, but coming out and just being ready to go [and] having energy and just playing from beginning to end I think this is probably the closest. At this time in the year it's all about having another day to come into work. That's what happened, we came out and now we get to come back and practice again next week.
Tim Tebow on playing against Tom Brady:
"It's exciting, a great honor to get a chance to play them in the second round of the playoffs. He's a great quarterback and he showed it tonight, once again. Coach [Bill] Belichick's a great coach and they have a lot of great players that team."
Broncos Corner Champ Bailey on Tom Brady's performance:
"What can you say he's Tom Brady. He's been around the block a few times and if you're not ready to punch him in the mouth, he's going to eat you up all night."
Tune in the Patriots in the AFC Championship game Sunday, January 22 at 3pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV.
