Head coach Mike Smith
On having trouble getting pressure in the last drive of the Miami game:
"Generally, it is a little tougher, but we have to get the ball out quicker as well. There are ways to put pressure or get into throwing lanes. There are ways to do it, and we didn't do a good job of it in the ballgame on Sunday, in that situation there at the end of the game."
On the responsibility falling on Matt Ryan as the quarterback:
"Matt is one of the mentors and leaders on our team, but we have a group of guys. We like to think we have a leader in every room. When you have that, you have a solid locker room, and I believe we have a very good locker room. Undoubtedly, Matt as a quarterback is going to be the one that everybody looks to first. I think he does an outstanding job in every way."
On preparing the same for the Patriots as this time last year to play the Broncos:
"It is two different schemes, what the Patriots run and what the Denver Broncos run, completely different schemes. I know our guys are excited about playing on Sunday night. We are also excited about being at home, with our home crowd with us. We want to get the taste of last week out of our mouths as quickly as possible."
On preventing losing streaks:
"I think when we first got here, I said this before, there is a formula for being successful in the NFL, and the first step is to win at home. The second is to take care of business on the road. If you can split and go .500 and six and two at home, don't lose back to back games, you are going to be where you want to be come November and December. That has kind of been the model for us to be a successful football team. We've been able to execute it. We know you don't want to lose back to back games. You know you want to control your home field and I think the guys have a very good understanding of that."
On Coach Belichick saying you should make adjustments after every series, not halftime:
"Without a doubt, you make adjustments every play. The play caller that is upstairs or the play caller that is on the sideline is going to make an adjustment every play. If there are 140 plays, there are 140 adjustments. The only difference at halftime is, your guys are all together, and your staff has gotten the opportunity to come together. I think halftime adjustments are way overrated."
On this game meaning more to Asante:
"No, I don't think so. I think we all have the same mindset; this is the most important game, because this is the next game. That is how you have to approach this. You get 16 opportunities that you are guaranteed in an NFL season to play. You have to make the most of those 16 opportunities."
On Asante playing Tom Brady helping him out on Sunday:
"I'm sure having practiced and having been on the same team with Tom will help Asante. I'm sure Asante can gleam some knowledge on the rest of the guys as well."
On being worried that the Saints are up a couple of games in divisions:
"It is very early in the season. Again, our sense of urgency is the same each and every week. You have to put the previous game behind you and move on to the next one. We want to finish this first quarter out strong; you know we talk about breaking the season down into quarters. We want to get to .500 in this quarter and move onto the next one."
On changing the media policy:
"Well, I don't want to get into the details, but any decision we make is a football decision. Any decision we make is in the best interest of our football team and we simply made an organizational decision and we would go to the NFL guidelines of having practice open."
