Dec 10, 2007 8:03 am US/Eastern
Tom Brady: Post-Game Transcript
New England Patriots Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Patriots 34 - Steelers 13
Transcript Provided by New England Patriots
Q: What did you think of that lateral play for the touchdown?
TB: That's the first time that's worked in weeks. It doesn't work against the scout team—they've seen it, but we've been practicing it. I told Randy [Moss] that I guess he expected me to throw it on the ground. That was not the intention, but he made a great play to pick it up and get it back to me. I just barely got enough on it and it was a big turnaround in the game for us.
Q: How much does it help when Wes Welker produces like he did tonight?
TB: It always does. It always does. He's always a big part of the plan. I thought he played really well, made a bunch of huge catches. He made that huge third and one on our first scoring drive. He played well all night, caught the last touchdown on the post. He really played well.
Q: It seems like defenses are jamming Randy Moss at the line more. Does that affect how much of a factor he is?
TB: Sometimes they get good jams, that's part of being a good defensive back. I think if you ask our defensive backs, 'What's the best way to play receivers?' [It's] to be physical. Sometimes you're physical and it looks great. Other times, you miss and he was able to create space for himself. He's got great quickness for a guy his size, but sometimes they make pretty good plays, too. When he gets off clean, he's usually into his route, up on those safeties and makes it tough on them. He works extremely hard and we'll continue to find way to get him the ball and, obviously, he had a huge impact on the game tonight.
Q: Was that touchdown [to Jabar Gaffney] to start the second half a shot across the bow at the Steelers?
TB: No, we just try to execute on offense. That's what it comes down to. Good execution overcomes a lot of things. I think the last few weeks, we haven't necessarily executed as well as I thought we were capable of. Tonight was better, but I still think we let some plays out there. But, you know you're going against the first-ranked defense in the league and that's what it takes.
Q: Was it intentional that Gaffney's touchdown went in Anthony Smith's direction.
TB: No, he just ended up being in the right place at the right time.
Q: It looked like Randy Moss returned a pretty tight spiral to you. Do you have to wait before you set and threw downfield?
TB: Nah, I've got good hands… You know, as a quarterback you catch the ball quite a lot while you play catch so I'm lucky I didn't drop that. He made a better throw to me than I did to him.
Q: It looked like you got into it a little bit with their players in the first half. Do you care to elaborate on what you said?
TB: There's always just a little jawing. I don't care to repeat what I said.
Q: Can you give us a hint of what it was?
TB: I don't care to repeat it, especially if my mother reads it. She wouldn't be very happy with what I said.
Q: What do you put into players guaranteeing victory?
TB: It comes down to execution. You've got to come out and as soon as the ball is kicked off you've got to execute your plays.
Q: Are you at all surprised to see a player doing that?
TB: Yeah, he's a good player. I think he was trying to motivate his guys and I think him saying, 'We've seen the best receivers in the league.' Maybe that's their opinion, but hopefully we can go out and execute our offense. No matter what you say during the week, it comes down to execution.
Q: After you've wrapped up the division and home-field advantage, does going undefeated at all enter the picture in your minds of things to accomplish this season?
TB: 14-0 means something to me. I think that's about as far as I would go.
Q: Did it mean anything extra to have those plays on Anthony Smith?
TB: I think the receivers get more motivated than the quarterback. I think I'm kind of aware of that whole defense and just happened to be… Like I said, we happened to have those plays on him. He's the one that's got to go back to his team. Other than that, we're just going to move on and try to go out there and play great against the Jets.
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