Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase Press Conference – November 27

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase Press Conference – November 27

to come back the way that you did. How did it feel for you to have your first game go the way that it did? Yeah, it felt great. You know, obviously had to knock some rust off there in the first half. Um, so I expect myself to play better, but uh it was great to be back out there. I was, you know, a lot of emotions running through it at the end of the game. So, uh, it’s just good to be back with the guys. You’re going to grade yourself. What would you give your grades today? You know, I thought second half I started to to put it more where I wanted and settled in a little bit. Uh, certainly missed some throws early that I typically make. Um, but, you know, after that, I felt felt pretty comfortable back there. I thought the O line did great. We ran it well. Obviously, defense played great. So, um, I’m just going to keep getting better. You guys focus race. Can you feel the boost that you’ve been able to give your team with your performance tonight and leading them to this win? I don’t know any I don’t know about that. I think um you know anytime you can get a big win like this, it’s uh it’s exciting and um guys work really hard for this. you know, we are where we’re at with our record, but um guys work really hard to to go out and put put on good performances on Sunday. So, when you’re able to to do that, it feels good. You mentioned, you know, you had to knock off a little bit of rust early. When did you start to feel? Um, the whole first half I was you know, my feet were a little antsy back there, missing some throws. Um, but like I said, in the second half, I felt felt a lot more comfortable. Started putting where I wanted to and uh, you know, getting out and running and making making a couple plays with my feet, getting out of the pocket a little bit. Um certainly don’t want to make a living that way, but um was able to to pick my spots. I know there’s a lot going on out there tonight, but did you have any moment where you felt like you had a chance to reflect on the journey back to this moment to get back and and how hard it’s been to be able to enjoy a night like this? Yeah, it was you certainly have those moments after the game. um certainly hasn’t been easy on me through through six years. Um from a lot of different angles, but you know, I’ve worked really hard to put myself in position to be back out there and a lot of people around me have done the same and there’s been a lot of discussions and a lot of time in the training room and just a lot a lot that has gone into this and you know, I’m I’m proud to be back. Is this any throw that was there any throw that get you back into it where you know in the first half trying is there any throw that got you going that touchdown to to Yoshi um I felt pretty good about it was uh put it right where I wanted it didn’t exactly spin it the way I wanted it but that’s all right I put it put in a good spot and you know he was ready for the look that one was that one felt good is this what you came back kind of why he went through all that work to get back on the field. Yeah, there’s there’s no there’s no better feeling than that, you know, putting in putting in work for for a long time and going out and and it paying off. It’s uh there’s just just there’s just no feeling like going out in front of the world with a group of guys that work really hard to go try to win games and and going out and putting on a good performance and and winning that game. Um, you know, obviously we got a lot of games left, but we’re going to enjoy this one on this on this little mini by weekend and everybody’s going to go and have Thanksgiving with their families and smile and eat and feel good about it. What were the issues in the red zone that you saw? Well, trying to think there was, you know, I think for the most part, you just got to give credit to them. Um they mixed up their their looks down there. They would they zero pressured us. They doubled Jamar. They singled Jamar. They did a lot of different things down there. You know, at at the end of the day, we got to make plays and and put put more in the end zone. We can’t kick six six field goals. But, uh that’s the kind of game that it was. Uh with our defense playing the way that it was and the way we were running the ball, it was take your points kind of game. Obviously, the one that really the one that really hurt was when we got the turnover down there and came out with no points. Um, you know, typically something like that happens, it’s going to be tough to win the game, but we were able to pull it out. Yeah. And then that was really the the only drive that they did that. And then um the next couple times they they were still playing some man and like I said doubling Jamar sometimes not doubling him sometimes. Uh but we needed somebody to make a play and Tanner made that play on in my opinion one the best safety in the league who just continuously makes play after play. Um and that one really opened the floodgates. So credit to Tanner for that one. Zack said you got Zack and well the two touchdowns you said you guys have been working on all year right? Yeah, I I’m not I don’t know about all year because I haven’t been out there, but um yeah, we were hunting that look uh on the on the Tanner touchdown and really, you know, Kyle played a great but um I threw a good ball and Tanner made a great play and then um the one to Yoshi, we we they were kind of bringing that pressure. They brought it before in games in the past and so we were ready for it. But they played some different coverages behind that pressure today. Um but great job by Yoshi recognizing the coverage and he was ready for it. How was the play? Yeah, it was good. I was a little more mobile than I expected to be to be honest. Um so that felt good. Uh we got a good system on the sideline of you know changing shoes out and and doing what I need to do to stay fresh. Uh so we’ll continue to do that. Was there a certain play early game? I think the first time I really left the pocket was in the red zone. I threw it to Yoshi. Was incomplete. But after that one, I felt pretty good and so I felt a little more comfortable doing some more of that stuff. Sorry about that. They didn’t change anything. I mean, I went out the first half 37 passes. I mean, they didn’t they didn’t blink an eye for the ball. Yeah, it certainly Like I said earlier, I had to knock some rust off. Missed some throws that I typically make. Um but I didn’t panic. Thought I settled in better in the second half, but um going for it, I got to hit some of those. Just one game, Joe. Obviously one win, but given the competition where it was this national, does this kind of give you a glimpse of what this teamap? We know the guys we have in the locker room, we know what we have in front of us is certainly not going to be easy. Um, but you know, the way our defense has played the last several weeks, I think, has been extremely positive. Obviously, they were great, great, great, great today. Um, but that’s been building. That’s been building all year. You see them putting in putting in the work. Um, you see Al talking about a lot of different things that end up showing up tonight and in the last couple games as well. And so credit to those guys for working so hard the way that they do and and putting on that performance. Was it like to eat turkey on Thanksgiving? I didn’t touch it. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t I don’t know who made it. I don’t know where they made it. I’m good. I’m good. I had a little pepper that I was good. I was good with the pepper. You would say you kind of I guess it showed you your faith in Tanner. He’s going against the best safety in the league. I mean that wouldn’t seem to be particularly great. 20. Yeah. From the moment Tanner got here, all he did was make plays in practice. You know, when we first got here in was that 22, I think. Um, when we signed him, I was like, who’s this guy making all these catches on scouts? You know, I didn’t didn’t know his name. And then he just continuously kept doing it. And, uh, I’ve been his biggest fan since he got here. You just, you know, it’s it’s not easy being in that spot when you’re the third or fourth tight end that you got, you might get a couple snaps uh in certain spots in the game and it’s cold outside, you’re on the sideline, you got to stay warm, and then you got to come in and and catch a back pylon throw against Kyle Hamilton. That’s not easy. And he’s just always been ready for his number to be called. So, credit to him for that. You talked about some of the challenges that you faced in this journey back. Is there something that you’re particularly thankful for since it is Thanksgiving this year? I’m just thankful for the opportunity to play this game. We got great guys in there. I’m I love playing with and we got a great coaching staff. I’m thankful for all my loved ones being there for me during this tough time. They know who they are. Not going to go name them, but they know who they are. Um they’ve been there for me a lot through the years. Uh, so that makes me feel good. And then, you know, obviously the training staff that, you know, gets creative, pushes me, I push them. We got a great relationship. Certainly, I’ve been in there enough, we better. Um, but, you know, if anything ever happens again, we’ll get right back to it. I know you said for us, but did you wake up thinking you were going to throw the ball more times? I don’t think I I don’t think I really thought about it. Um, you know, I knew what kind of game it it could be with Lamar over there. I’ve thrown a lot against these guys in the past. Uh, it didn’t quite turn out that way as far as the shootout wise, but we we threw it and we ran it well, too. So, we got to keep building on it. Sound a little horse. Haven’t yelled like that in a while, Hobs. It’s loud out there. Thanks, guys. We’ll be bringing Jamar right. Um, it was good being back out there. Um, first series I was a little winded though, but other than that it felt good. What was it like seeing Joe? Seemed like you found his rhythm that game. How did you see him play in his first game back? Um, overall I feel like we could have capitalized on a lot more. U, I’m pretty sure he could say the same. Um, but I still think he did a good job of just keeping the momentum going when he had the opportunities to keep it going. Um, and capitalizing on those situations for the offense. He ended up withund for what the number was, but you won over 100 against them and then you seem to continually do that every time you playing. What you know what’s the reason they look like they left you oneonone a couple times? Uh I was pretty much it was pretty much man the whole game if I’m being honest. It was just man man combo. Um safety was just cheating over pretty much the whole time. But um today was just about making the contested catches really what it was about. Um, I got to do better on, you know, those other two that I had opportunities on and and that’s the only way that, you know, I could I could get big plays and down the field. What’s the mentality like on third downs when you know Joe’s your quarterback, you know, how does that change change the way you know routes know back there? Um, it’s it’s it’s it’s a little different than Flaco cuz when Joe’s there, I know where the ball going. When Flaco is there, I don’t for real. So it’s it’s like when Flaco’s back there, I got to win every route. You know what I’m saying? When Burrow’s back there, I know where the ball’s going off the coverage with Burrows in there. Is that something where you got so many years in the bank that like it just you know it you’ve done it for so many years? I I could say, yeah, repetition helped. Tomorrow all season you guys talked about complimentary football and the need the offense and the defense. Well, in the first half the defense, I think it’s safe to say kind of carried you at turnovers second half to get those two touchdowns. How good was it to see guys play complimentary football? Um, first off, I think our defense has been doing good the past three two three weeks. Um, just giving us opportunities after opportunities to make a play for for each drive and just put a point on the board. Um, they’ve been doing a good job. But, um, as far as today though, we we got to capitalize more off those turnovers. They giving us the ball multiple times. We got to capitalize over those. What do you think the feeling is like in general with the team when Burrow’s out there? Is there is there just a different feeling for for the guys as a team that you could sense tonight just because he was the quarterback again? Um yeah, I would say yeah just because everybody loves Burrow, you know what I’m saying? So um it’s a little more urgency when he’s there, you know? I want to say urgency urgency is more up when he’s there. Is that just by how intense he is? I would say so. Yeah, we know how he is. So, we know what he likes and how he likes it. So, you know what I’m saying? It’s pretty much we know. Is it a little bit sweet having this kind of win knowing the opport? Um, yeah. I mean, we know those games that, you know, we didn’t we didn’t finish off strong on. We know we supposed to have those, but we can’t worry about it. We just got to finish what’s in front of us right now to put ourselves in the best position for the future. Was there any throw you thought got him going that you know said he had the rest? Um I’m not even sure. I’m not even sure. I can’t even tell you off the top of my head. I know first straight out the gate we was just trying to get him doing um movements, getting him movements and just getting like easy easy catches going for him. Look like training camp with Cheeto. I love Cheeto, man. I love Cheeto, bro. Me and Cheeto go way back. He’s been working with me since my rookie year. So, um it’s always nothing but but but love and and competitiveness when I’m going against Cheeto. Yeah. You guys are going at it pretty good. We weren’t going at it. He just held me on one of the plays. I didn’t get the flag and I’m like Cheeto, you know, you held me, but he like how how? So, you know, that’s my guy though. It’s pretty cool to see him come back. He’s had a lot of injuries, you know, last couple years playing. How cool was it to see him kind of come back and be in that top one? Uh, it’s good just seeing anybody go through adversity from an injury, man, cuz we as an athlete, it’s not easy going through injuries and coming off it and feeling a difference and your mental all over the place. So, I I salute to him and everybody else that just came back from injury. That being said, it seems like Joe is probably more reflective. Say it again. Joe was probably a little more reflective about tonight and him coming back from this injury than he has been in previous months. Does that seem fair to say to you? I don’t know. You think he was emotional potential? Seemed like he was thinking a little more. What you think? He was hiding it from me then cuz I ain’t see that. Yeah, I ain’t see that. He said he didn’t want to eat any turkey. He didn’t trust it. Did you eat any? I I It was not that bad if I’m being It was not that bad. All of my life watching the game on Thanksgiving, I would see players make the crazy face after they bite it because it was not good. So, but that was it wasn’t that bad. Maybe I’m hungry, so who knows? Is that a bucket list moment for you? You ate turkey after a win on It was a bucket list. Yes. Yes. What does it say about you? I mean, everyone like a lot of people said wide show coming back three. What does it say about y’all that you were able to come out and throw all that behind you and have that kind of performance against? Uh we’ve been in these positions before like trying to fight ourselves out of adversity to get ourselves in a in a in a um in the playoffs just to get ourselves a better pitcher for the future. Um so you know we at the end of the day we need Joe. Joe needs us. Um and we got to make it work somehow some way and just get ourselves set for the future. couple times.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase speak to the media.

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