Interim head coach Mike Kafka

KAFKA: No major injuries from the game, so it looks like we came out pretty good.

Q: The play where (quarterback Jaxson) Dart ended up going to the tent, was that a busted play?

KAFKA: No, it was kind of a fake run, and he had a little pop pass there. Didn't like the look, so he just ate it and tried to get back to the line of scrimmage.

Q: That's not one of the options though? It's not like an option run? Where it's one of the options, it's pitch or pop?

KAFKA: No, you either throw it, I mean it's either him or nobody, he didn't like the look or like the decision there, so he just tried to get back to the line of scrimmage on the run which we've talked about too. But it's not like a design run.

Q: Did the officials make him go out? Is that kind of what happened there?

KAFKA: Yeah.

Q: And they were checking his neck?

KAFKA: I'm not sure what the official said, but the official was the one that asked him to be evaluated. But he was fine.

Q: The passing operation seemed a little off in the first half. Jaxson completed 40 some percent of his passes in the first two quarters. What was going on that Washington was disrupting things?

KAFKA: We just have to do a better job of just executing some of those things and get some of the designs. I'll go back and look at the tape. Had some opportunities downfield, just missed, whether it was just overthrown or not caught. Some things I can go back and look at and see how we can continue to work our guys and get them open. But, overall, just not clean. All 11 guys on offense, coaches included, it has to be a little bit clearer in the pass game. But we'll go back and look at it, and we'll get those things fixed.

Q: Is there any explanation or what did you see with John Michael Schmitz with the 15 yard penalty?

KAFKA: I asked for an explanation and they said that it was like a headbutt, kind of just helmet-to-helmet type thing. Just have to be smart there. Obviously can't have those penalties. Those are big penalties, particularly when you're down there in the low red zone. So, that's what they called.

Q: Ultimately, what was the difference today?

KAFKA: As a group, as a team, we just didn't put one together. I think we had some individual good performance, good drives, good plays here and there. But versus that team, you have to play for 60 minutes. You have to be executing at a high level for 60 minutes. We made some plays. They made more at the end of the day. I think our guys just gotta keep on battling, keep on fighting. That's what we're going to need. That's what it's going to take to get over the hump and get a W.

Q: What was the thought process behind sending (kicker Younghoe) Koo out for the first field goal attempt? You guys tried to be aggressive, what was the thought process behind that?

KAFKA: To get points.

Q: Did that affect, should he have been out there for that second field goal attempt for 51 yards?

KAFKA: It didn't affect it. It didn't affect it. He was inside our line that we had talked about. So, I felt confident Koo could go get it done.

Q: Can you talk about special teams and the punt return touchdown and the two missed field goals?

KAFKA: Yeah. It's a team game. And so special teams had a couple plays that I'm sure they'd like back. I'd say the same thing for offensively and defensively. We gave a big one up on defense. On offense, we turned the ball over at the end of the half. We were kind of rolling. So, again, it's a team game. We all have to get it cleaned up. We all have to do better. If we want to get a win, if we're going to get a win, then all three units have to be firing on all cylinders. And that's really the name of the game. That's really where we all have to dig down deep and work to get better so that we can go get a W. Our coaches, our players, I saw the look in their eye when we broke it down just a few minutes ago. I think our guys are hungry for that W. And they want it but we all have to put it together. Coaches, players, everyone's in it together to go do that.

Q: In all your time of football, have you ever gone through a stretch of losses like this? As a player or an assistant coach, have you gone through this yourself and if so what do you take from it?

KAFKA: I haven't personally, but we're in it right now. And I think this is an opportunity for our team to learn from these opportunities and situations and grow. And continue to grow because these situations, a lot of times they kick start something really great. So, that's what I'm looking forward to. That's what I'm looking forward to this week of practice. See how our guys respond. And I know they'll respond the right way.

Q: Jaxson had 63 yards on the ground, he left briefly for that one yard play. Going forward, what is the conversation surrounding being able to play his game, his aggressive style, and protecting yourself as well.

KAFKA: We're not going to change much in terms of how we play the game. I think just having the designed thought process for how we scheme it up. So, I thought we had a couple opportunities where he's protected, he's got someone out in front of him. That one particular play where he got out, that was a pass. I think there's not much you can really do there. But, of course, we have his health, we have everyone's health in mind when we call plays and we think about it. But it's one of his great strengths. And you saw it today in full color when he's out there scrambling and making huge plays with his feet. And he's an aggressive ball player. So, we're not going to take away his stinger on that aspect. But he knows. He knows, he's a smart football player, he knows when he needs to protect himself and when he needs to go and make a play. And I trust him to do that. And that's probably the most important thing. The guys on the field trust him to go do that. And so, as we've talked through the weeks now with Jaxson, this is a part of his game that I think makes him special. And as he continues to grow, I think he's making smart decisions. He took a couple slides today. It's part of that growth process. But that's one of the elite things he does in the National Football League.

Q: How likely is it that you'll use the other quarterbacks?

KAFKA: Instead of Jaxson? Jaxson will roll as long as he's healthy.

Q: (Wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) dealing with the concussion, the uncertainty that he was going to play, why not elevate the one of the other two return specialists you have?

KAFKA: Yeah, we definitely had those conversations just late in the week where we had some other groups, other position groups that we were talking about, the D-line where we had some sicknesses and things like that. So, we got a lot of trust in (safety Jevón) Holland to go back there and fair catch it. He actually had a couple nice returns for us. But it was certainly one of the discussion points that we had in the week.

Q: What did you see from (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) today?

KAKFA: Abdul played his tail off. It's no surprise, he prepared that way. And that's how he addressed the week. He came in, I thought he played his butt off, fumble recovery, fumble return. Had a couple plays in the backfield. He was playing with his hair on fire today. So that's one step. He's got to keep on stacking those days. But, really without watching the tape yet, I thought he played his butt off.

Q: The first time you benched him, you ended up having to bench him two games later, how much different was the response this time in your eyes?

KAFKA: Yeah, you see growth from the player. You see growth from him. He's taken accountability for it. He's learned from those things. And he's putting together a good week. He's in here early, staying late, and trying to make himself a better player. And he's helping the team. And that's really what it's all about. He's not only just helping himself be prepped and ready for the game, but he's helping the unit. He's helping his group. He's helping the team be more productive. And everyone's doing that. You see guys in there early in the morning when I'm walking around the building and I see guys in there studying, getting their body right. Like, that's important. You see a young player like Abdul doing that, he's taking that from somebody. Well, (outside linebacker) Brian Burns is in the building early. (Defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence is in the building early. Guys on offense, same thing. Young players, you see those guys in and around the building early because it means something to them. So, I think that's super important. And I think at the end of the day, that will help get us the results we want.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: What happened on the play when you had to come out? Did the officials just tell you you had to go to the sideline and what did you get checked for?
DART: I don't really – I mean, the play, I tried to put a little trick pass on it. They did a good job of covering it so didn't want to make a bad play worse by forcing the ball. Just tried to get it back to the line of scrimmage. I'm not really sure what the reason was I had to come out of the game. It was just a really – it was weird. I don't understand it.

Q: Some of the other times you've come out, they've been off of hits that were noteworthy. You got popped pretty good and you come off to the sideline and you come back in. Was this the first one that even you were kind of surprised they were asking you to come out?

DART: This definitely wasn't the first time that I've been surprised that I've had to come out. But I was definitely surprised, just didn't feel like it was that big of a hit at all. Obviously, just the situation that we were in too, first-and-goal on the two, that's a big thing that happens in the game. So, I was definitely surprised.

Q: On the interception, was the route to stay to the outside? Because your ball went inside, the receiver got cut off. Can you just walk us through what you saw on that play there?

DART: Yeah, me and (wide receiver) Jalin (Hyatt) just weren't on the same page, so we've got to get that corrected by reps and we will.

Q: When you're taken out of the game on some of those, does it feel like they're almost watching you extra close for whatever reason?

DART: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you don't just see people getting taken out of the game like that. I definitely feel like there's a sensitivity for some reason.

Q: Do you think it might be related to the fact that they let you go back in in Chicago and they're overcorrecting?

DART: I'm not sure for the reason. I think that would just be something that hopefully can get communicated. I'm not really sure, to be honest, why that happened.

Q: What can you do about that? Is there anything…?

DART: I mean, I don't know.

Q: Are there any steps you can do to change that narrative or change that perception?

DART: Maybe just run the other way. I have no idea. I'm not sure.

Q: Could you talk about the last possession where you could have tied the game?

DART: Yeah, I take accountability for this one. I didn't play well enough today for this team to win, so I've got to be better, especially in that situation. I didn't play good enough for our team today.

Q: On that pass to (wide receiver Darius) Slayton, was it intended for you to loft it? When you think about it in hindsight, should you have thrown the ball a little differently on that route?

DART: Yeah, definitely just didn't put a good enough throw on it. That wasn't the play that was designed, it was a communication that me and him had in the huddle, just to a route off of an adjustment that we ran a few times during the game. So, yeah, that's definitely one you want back.

Q: It seems like the empty possessions when they start mounting, it looks like it creates a little bit more frustration, more pressure for you guys to actually get things done. Do you feel that when you guys go as a unit to the sideline? Are you trying to work through that? Or is it a clean slate every time you get out there on the field?

DART: I think you're definitely frustrated when you come up empty-handed, especially how we started off the game. You can't play like that as an offense. There were definitely guys who were trying to be positive, but there was also frustration too. I felt like we played better in the second half, but for us to be the team that we want to, we can't play like that in the first half.

Q: What do you think changed in the second half? Obviously, that first half just ended almost as bad as it could have gone. What changed, do you think, during the second half?

DART: I felt like there were just some weird things that happened in the first half where it could have gone a completely different way on some of the conversions and whatnot. But that's just football, so you kind of have to battle through those things. I just felt like we executed better in the second half, played faster, everybody was just a little bit more decisive on decisions. I feel like that was kind of the reason for why we played better in the second half.

Q: On the play on the goal line, was you running an option on the play, or you did that yourself because the designed play didn't work?

DART: Yeah, like I said, we had a play that has been working all week, and they did a good job of defending it. I'm not going to, like I said earlier, make a bad play worse. I'm just going to try to get back to the line of scrimmage or make something happen and put ourselves in a good situation for second down. So, that was kind of my mentality.

Q: It's been two months since you guys last won at this point. How difficult is it for you guys - every loss is it's own game, but how tough is it for you guys to see these keep adding up and try to not let it sink on you a little bit?

DART: It's definitely tough. I'm not going to talk around it. It's definitely tough, but the only thing that we can do is come back into the facility for the next week and prepare even harder and just continue to try to learn. I know that this isn't going to be the case for the future and things are going to eventually turn around. I definitely have that in my mind, but obviously as a team, we want to get that switched immediately.

Q: When you scored that touchdown against the Broncos and gave you guys the lead, I imagine that you didn't think that everything that has followed since then has been what's followed since then. How do you keep your head above water? How do you keep the positivity flowing when this thing is just spiraling?

DART: You just have frustrations that mound up. For me, I try to work harder every day. I try to turn those feelings and these results into motivation. I love this game, I love coming to work every day, I love my teammates. So, I'm never going to be somebody that's just discouraged completely and have it have anything to do with my daily habits. I'm just trying to continue to work harder.

Q: Are there things that you've learned throughout your career to prevent you from getting as discouraged as maybe from the outside it would seem to be? What do you work on now? You go home, then tomorrow, how do you make sure that you're not as discouraged as maybe people expect you to be?

DART: I think I'm still learning that. I haven't gone this long without a win in my career. You definitely try to obviously learn from the things that you didn't play well enough from. I'm trying to just live week to week and trying to get a little bit of motivation, be a little bit of a spark, just trying to communicate as positively as I can. These hurt, so you've got to try to take it for what it is and try to rally the troops to get better for the next week.

Q: Aside from family and teammates, are there others that you try to reach out to to get their perspective, particularly coming off the bye-week, just to help you frame some of what you're experiencing right now?

DART: There wasn't really anybody that I reached out to. I think that our losses have been pretty simple for the most part of just us not being a team that finishes consistently in the fourth quarter. I think that that's just the reason. That's what we have to fix. I think that when you watch back the tape, you understand why we're not winning games and it's little plays that you have to make, and the other team is making, and we're not. And we're not making enough of those, so we have to correct that.

Q: You've run the ball, at least on designed runs, less since you came back from the concussion. What's your input on that and what are your thoughts on that in general?

DART: I'm a competitor. I want the ball in my hand. I definitely feel comfortable and confident running the ball. But at the same time, there are a lot of other really good guys on the team. We've got mouths to feed. So, you just try to do your best of doing the right thing for each and every play, trying to just stay disciplined, execute what's called, and I have confidence in all the guys around me.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns

Q: What's your takeaway from that game overall, Brian? It seemed like you guys were outplayed in the first half on all sides, and then somehow at the end of the game you guys are right there.

BURNS: Just another Sunday. Yeah, they were executing well in the first half, and we got behind, got behind the eight ball. But it was good to see the defense come up with some great plays and turnovers and put the offense in the position to capitalize, so that was a good fight.

Q: In that last six minutes, you guys forced two fumbles. People want to know if a team's going to, for lack of a better word, quit when they're 2-11. To you, did that tell you that there's still fight in this team?

BURNS: For sure.

Q: What did you make of (linebacker) Abdul's (Carter) game?

BURNS: It was his coming out party. He had a good game. I feel like he, for the most part, just a feeling, cause we didn't watch the film yet, I feel like he executed his assignments. For the most part, yeah, I feel like he executed his assignments most plays. Then he came up with some big plays that we needed, so yeah. I'm proud of him right now.

Q: Does that feel like an opportunity – they're in a similar spot to you guys, they had a long losing streak, they've been eliminated, does that feel like an opportunity that slipped away for you guys to end your streak? Like I know you expect a win every game, but do you feel like that was a game that you guys could've had?

BURNS: Yeah, if you go down the season, there are a ton of games we could've had. Yeah, that's another one that, like I said, they got ahead early, and I'm just glad the team didn't give up and was fighting back.

Outside linebacker Abdul Carter

Q: A terrific game for you today. I believe if I'm hearing correctly the quote from Mike Kafka (New York Giants Head Coach) right now was, "He played his butt off like his pants were on fire". What does that mean when your head coach says something like that to you in light of the lessons you've had to learn over the last few weeks?

CARTER: Yeah, obviously I appreciate the message, but you know, if we just got the win, it would make it a lot better. So, that's what I'm thinking about, I wish we got the win.

Q: What was going right for you today?

CARTER: Just doing my job. Playing fast, playing hard. Simple as that, nothing too much.

Q: We had heard that during the week you had done a lot of extra study, film work. How much did some of that stuff apply to today's effort?

CARTER: It definitely helped a lot. Watching film with the coaches, me coming in early, talking to them, getting a headstart on the week. It definitely helped me a lot.

Q: And how much did some of the other guys on the defense help keep you focused and motivated this week to put forth the kind of game you did?

CARTER: Yeah, they helped me you. Obviously, some guys called me out. I had to step up, I feel like I did that, but like I said at the end of the day I wish we got the win.