Head Coach Brian Daboll

BRIAN DABOLL: Okay, so I thought we battled defensively. Had a good plan. They made a couple nice plays there in the second half.

But there was a lot of things improved defensively. Gave us a chance. Thought we did a good job in the kicking game and fell short offensively. We ran the ball much better. Passing game was not good enough, particularly on third down. We were like one of ten on third down. That's hard to sustain drives and put points on the board.

But I thought defensively we did some good things and kicking game we did as well.

Tracy has a shoulder.

Graham got hurt during the defensive introductions before the game. He was out there kicking and got a groin so he couldn't go first half. Then he said he can kick from a certain distance in the second half.

So that's about it. Not good enough.

Q. What did you see in the way that they were playing in the secondary to limit Malik and Wan'Dale?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, they played a fair amount of split safety. We got a bunch of split safety last week. Just didn't get the job done this week with it.

Q. Why do you think you couldn't get Malik the ball? Didn't have a catch going into the fourth quarter there.

BRIAN DABOLL: Got to do a better job with that. No question about it.

Q. What do you attribute that to? Game plan? Quarterback?

BRIAN DABOLL: Probably a collection of everything. Again, they were playing a lot of split safety coverage. They played it last week. Could be just a little bit different. I would say a collection of all that. We certainly got to do a better job with it.

Q. Was the plan with Andrew Thomas?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we were going to give him 25 plays and so that's what we gave him. He came out from what I understand just fine. So that was the next step for the ramp-up for him.

Hopefully we'll be able to get more this upcoming week.

Q. How would you describe Russell Wilson's game tonight?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd just say overall offensively nothing was good enough. Coaching, playing. Didn't do a good enough job. Everybody.

Q. This is the second time you've had to play game without a kicker.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah.

Q. Is it getting untenable to have that kicker when -- I mean it's...

BRIAN DABOLL: Look, that's why Jamie kicks in practice, too. I know they blocked that kick. We had a range for him as well and him and Gunner had practiced before. Literally we're getting ready to go out for the anthem and saw him pull up on one of the kicks. Then we had to decide what's the line now?

You know, the fourth downs change throughout the game considerably. So we just had to make sure we were dialed in with that.

Then the second half when he came back there was another plan. We had two kickers. One was going to kick from a certain distance and other one would kick a certain yard line in. So got to do what you got to do.

Q. First series, is it safe to say you would've gone for a field goal there?

BRIAN DABOLL: Would've.

Q. You guys spent so much time this offseason stressing you need to start fast.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah.

Q. To be 0-3, how do you describe that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, that's not the goal, certainly. So again, we got to put a complete game together, all three phases, offense, defense, special teams, coaching. We got to do all that.

Again, I thought our defense responded in a positive manner, you know, but you only score once, not good enough.

Q. Trying to understand the rhyme or reason when you put Jaxson in and then get down seemed like third and four deep in the red zone be a perfect time to put him in; you don't put him in. You put Russ in on a read zone. Trying to understand the thought process.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would say we discussed the plan going into it. Mike (Kafka) is in his flow of the game. I thought when he put him in and ran a couple of zone reads; the first play we put him in was actually a pass, not a zone read.

Then based on where we were on that particular play, where we got hit and lost a couple yards, there was a certain distance we were going to go for it.

We actually lost a yard I think. If we didn't get it -- we didn't think we would lose a yard on it, but we got a zone read on that play as well, too. They just played it well. He can run those.

Q. Dabs, were you thinking at all about getting Jaxson a series or two just to change up the tempo of the offense?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would say the plays we had him in, that's what we thought was best for him. We'll continue to work with him and get him ready.

Q. Fans were calling for Jaxson to get in the game. When you put Russell back in they were booing him. What would you say to the fan base that's calling for this rookie that you guys are excited about and they are too?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, look, Jaxson is progressing well. We'll continue to work with him. I got a lot of confidence in him, his development that he's had.

That's what we'll continue to do. Look, I would be booing, too, to be honest with you, in terms of not being good enough, not scoring, not finishing. I understand that. That's the nature of it. We got to do better.

Q. I know Russell has been through a lot. I mean, every time he steps back on the field to come back in and he's getting booed, how does he take that? Do you have to say anything to him?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I didn't have a conversation about that. I don't think the offensive coaches -- they're talking on the sideline, they're looking at the plays that we just ran, going through the adjustments, talking about things we should do the next series.

That's where our focus has to be, looking at the things we have to improve on and do it.

Q. Will he start next week, Russell?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, you guys have asked me about players after games. I'm not going answer that.

Q. Getting off to a slow start, do you have to start thinking about, okay, when do we put our -- you've invested a lot in Jaxson -- when do we put him in?

BRIAN DABOLL: Like I said, we'll continue to work with Jaxson and continue to develop him. He's done a nice job since he's been here. Again, we'll go back and watch the tape, sit down and have our discussions like we normally have and do what we think is best.

Q. He's the No. 2 quarterback. This is two games the offense has been really bad. At what point does Russ' performance dictate or is it strictly on Jaxson's timeline?

BRIAN DABOLL: Again, everybody has to be better. We're not going to put this on one person. Everybody has to be better collectively. The run game was a step in the right direction, but the pass game, particularly on third down, when you are one of ten, that's tough sledding.

Q. ...the connection between Russ and Skattebo?

BRIAN DABOLL: Had some check downs, a couple play-action passes where he'd drop back. Cam is a tough competitor. Thought he ran hard and did a good job in the passing gaming when he got the ball in his hands. He's a good young player.

Q. I understand it's collective, it's the unit, but you replace a guard it's very rare that that's going to ignite the offense. You replace a running back. A quarterback has the ability to do that. Change of quarterback can ignite and elevate everyone else. When do you have to start thinking about that or considering that if these struggles continue?

BRIAN DABOLL: Again, it's on everybody. It takes 11 people to go out there and execute a play, a good call. Everybody is involved in it. So we got to keep working to get that better.

Q. Do you think you guys had a good plan for what they did against you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, we didn't score hardly any points. There was a lot of discussions on the sideline, trying different things. I thought the running game as well, they play a bunch of split safety, you got to be able to run the ball too and make productive yards in that area.

Third down just wasn't good enough. When you're one of ten it's a combination of a lot of things.

Q. First half, the referees missed a face mask call? Did they talk to you about what they saw or didn't see on that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Obviously they didn't see it because they didn't call it.

Q. If Tracy can or can't go next week how confident do you feel in Skattebo?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we'll see where Tracy is at. I have confidence in Skatt, though.

Quarterback Russell Wilson

Q. Can you talk about your connection with Skattebo?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I thought Skattebo had great game, he's battling, some really good plays. I think he made some really good plays on some of the scrambles and plays we had to make. You know, he's got a great demeanor to him. Thought he did a really good job.

Q. And the touchdown?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, he did a good job. I thought the line did a great job run blocking on that one and him getting into the end zone. It was a good play.

Q. Russ, how frustrating is it now that two games you guys have not been able to get a touchdown through the air?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think it was obviously disappointing. You know, I thought we had -- it was a close game. It was a battle all the way. It was a tight game. I think we just needed one or two more plays.

Obviously I want to play better for us and give us a better chance to win. You know, the throw down the middle to Wan'Dale, took a shot to him, they made a good play. Right before the half trying to get one-on-one to Malik and they made a good play on it.

So just try to give them a chance at it and they did a good job.

Q. What was it about their scheme that just made it so much challenging compared to last week? Because they played some similar safeties, you know, the way they...

RUSSELL WILSON: They're a good football team and they're talented and coached well and everything else. I think we just needed one big touchdown in that moment, somewhere in there. We were hoping to get that right before the half and they made a good play.

Q. Take us through the final fourth down incomplete pass in the end zone at end of the game.

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, was trying to step up and get it to Theo. Just didn't really get to step into my throw the way I wanted to. Just tried to give him a chance and the ball just kind of sailed on me trying to get it to him. That was unfortunate.

Q. What's going through your head when you're hearing the crowd chant they want Dart and you're getting booed?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, there are highs and lows and always tough moments. You know, you got to have thick skin, you know what I mean? You got to be able to know who you are, the player that you are, know what you're capable of.

Obviously I've been able to show that throughout my career and obviously last week and everything else, too, what we're capable of as an offense. I think they made a couple more plays than us today. I think it was a 9-6 game for most of the game. Pretty tight.

We needed one or two big plays. Unfortunately didn't come our way.

Q. How confident are you that you can get back to what you guys showed a little bit last week and establish that as the consistent thing do you?

RUSSELL WILSON: I'm confident in us, confident myself, confident in the guys we have; confident in the players that we have and the coaching staff, just all that. I think a big part of it is just it was a tough game. It was a battle back and forth. You know, they made couple more plays than we did.

Q. When you lose your kicker so early in the game, like the last second there, does it adjust the way you figure out how you're going to go down field on things knowing you're somewhat limited in field goals?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think that's tricky, especially in a tight game. Score is 9-6, you lose your field goal kicker early in the game, that was tough just in the sense of you knew we were going to have to go for it a lot on fourth downs and stuff like that.

Those circumstances aren't favorable, but you know, you got to be able to respond and we still had a chance to win it.

Q. How frustrating is it that this offense hasn't been able to be that consistent force you want it to be? Two games now hasn't been what you wanted. How frustrating that it's not been a consistent offense?

RUSSELL WILSON: I think there is -- it's the National Football League. Look across the league there are tight games, close games. We've been in all the games that we've played with a chance. I think that's what you want. Obviously what we really want is to be able to win them.

Last week we had a chance to win it twice and we didn't get to do that. This week we felt like the game was tight and close throughout the game. Like I said, they made one or two more plays than us.

Q. You've been in the league for many years, seen a lot of the situations. Do you get a sense that it takes a few things for teams just to gel and get on a run, given the way you guys have started off so slow right now?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think we played three really good football teams. Obviously the Commanders, Dallas, and these guys. I think they've all been tight games. What we were able to do last week and scoring points and being aggressive. This week we tried to be aggressive, I tried to take a couple shots down the field and try to make a play there, and they made, like I said, one or two more.

I think if those plays happen, the game is a completely different game. I think we've got to keep our heads up and get back to work, focused on just, like you said, trying to be consistent throughout the game.

We know it's going to be a tough battle. We didn't think it was going to be an easy game. We knew it was going to be a battle back and forth.

I thought our defense played really well. They fought their butts off all day. Special teams did too. I was proud of how we ran the ball in certain moments. Thought Skattebo, like I said, had a great game and how he battled. It's tough when you see a guy like Tracy, one of your star running backs, go down with a shoulder on the sideline; had a good couple runs, couple of good plays.

So I think that was tough for us, but I thought we continued to battle throughout.

Q. Apologize if this was asked earlier, what were they doing that made it so difficult to get the ball to Malik?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think they did a good job covering for the most part. They have a good pass rush, they do good things. They did a good job. Give them credit.

Q. What are your conversations like with Malik postgame, on the sidelines, when you can't get him the ball?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, obviously we always want to try to find ways to get him the football. The game kind of -- like I said, I tried to take a shot in the red zone. They made a play. I tried to make a shot to him. They made a good play. Guy made a great catch on it.

So I think there is moments in the game that we're trying to find him, whatever it maybe. He's a tremendous football player and we obviously love what's he's capable of and what we're trying to do. We've got a lot of guys that can do a lot of good things.

Q. If Tracy for some reason can't go next week, how confident are you guys in Skattebo based on how well he played today?

RUSSELL WILSON: Yeah, I think Skatt has done a great job of just picking up the offense. I think Motor's (Devin Singletary) done a really good job understanding what to do and how talented he is. Obviously Tracy is as tough as nails. He's going to do everything he can to get back. I'm not sure of the circumstances.

You know, he's a great football player. If he can go, he's going to go. If he can't, he's going to do everything he can to get back soon as possible.

Outside Linebacker Brian Burns

Q: First off, how do you feel? I know you got a little banged up.

A: Nah, I'm good. On that batted pass, it just looked like I think I landed weird and my knee hyperextended, so I was just making sure I was straight. Just a little scare.

Q: Your defense battle tonight, what did you think of your overall group?

A: We did well. Not good enough. Missed some ball opportunities, a couple picks, a fumble that got away from us. Other than that, as a whole up front, I feel like we got after (Chiefs quarterback) Patrick (Mahomes), it's just, we've got to finish those plays.

Q: How frustrating is it to be right in that game at halftime and then end up on the losing end?

A: Very, but I've been in the league long enough to know how Sundays can go. It can go either way. It really comes down to about four or five plays.

Q: How does this team respond?

A: Man, my message to them is that every Sunday is its own Sunday. Watching ball earlier today, it's a bunch of upsets. Whether it's crazy plays or plays that were executed by the winning team to obviously get the dub. But every Sunday is its own Sunday, so treat it like as such.

Q: Was there any aspect of the defense that moved forward today after the first other two games?

A: I guess, I mean, you could say that, It was a high-powered offense. Mahomes is one of the best. Holding him to 16 points or whatever halfway into the fourth is a good thing, but I'm not really here for moral victories. So, it just wasn't good enough.

Q: Did you feel the rush defense was improved, though?

A: The rush was good. The rush has been good. We've just got to finish those plays and turn them into takeaways.

Q: What do you make of 0-3 after an offseason of optimism?

A: Nothing changed. Optimism doesn't go away just because of three losses. Not with me. Like I said, every Sunday is its own Sunday to me. There's a bunch of upsets that was today. It takes one game to turn this season around. You understand? So, I'm always going to be optimistic, you feel me?

Q: What makes this different, though, than last year in your mind?

A: What makes it different?

Q: Yeah. Last year, when you started losing, it kind of just spiraled, right? What makes this year different for you?

A: I feel like guys still don't bat an eye. It's like the fight is different. Like I said, I'm not here for moral victories, but the fight is different. In all three losses, we really fought our behinds off. It just didn't fold our way. The cards didn't fold our way. But last year there was a sense of like, oh, here we go again. And this year it really isn't like that. I still see guys fighting and feeling like we still can win the game. So, I would say I guess that's different.

Q: What's the confidence level that you haven't really shown what the Giants' brand of football is yet this year?

A: Say that one more time.

Q: What's your confidence level that you haven't fully shown what the Giants' brand of football is yet?

A: It's all within playing complimentary ball. I don't feel like we have yet to execute and play well on all sides, all phases of the game. I mean, every team strives for that, but I feel like we haven't seen that yet. So, we just have to find a way to put it all together.

Q: You know points are going to be at a premium against Kansas City, and I'm sure you guys were aware your kicker was nicked up. So, you knew that that was going to be a bit of a problem. Does that put more pressure on the defense?

A: Yeah, it does because that puts us in the position where we have to go for it on fourth down, and we just can't take the points because our kicker had an unfortunate injury. So, it does put a little bit of pressure on us but at the end of the day, we're paid to play defense. So, we've got to keep points off the board.

Q: As a team leader, what do you think of during the whole opener, late in the first half, fans calling for your starting quarterback to get benched?
A: I didn't hear that.

Q: They wanted (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) to play.

A: Hey, man, fans are going to be fans. I love the fans. I appreciate the fans. But it's an emotional thing. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't blame them or anything of that nature. But it's an emotional thing and the emotions can be high and low depending on what happens. Everybody loves (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) when he threw that bomb to (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) to win the game. But it's week by week. It can flip on him. But I didn't hear any of that.

Q: How do you prepare for next week if the kicker is still injured?

A: I don't know. That's a decision for somebody a lot higher than me.

Q: You mentioned the pressure.

A: Yeah, yeah, it's a bit of pressure. Just because we're going to be put in situations where we have to go for it and they're going to depend on the defense to get stopped. But, like I said, we're paid to stop the offense. So, we just got to get it done. You know what I mean?