Head Coach Sean McDermott
Became the second Bills head coach to win his debut on Kickoff Weekend
Q: How do you feel?
A: I feel good. I feel good. Very thankful, very thankful. Thank God for the win. Praise God. That was a great team victory. Thank Terry and Kim [Pegula for] giving us the resources that they give us. Just like I said, it was an entire building win. Good to win as a team and extremely proud of the players the way they played. It's never easy to win in this league and they played hard for four quarters. I certainly appreciate that. I also appreciate the fans. Four quarters, hanging in there with us. The intensity, the energy in this building was outstanding. Outstanding. To carry that for four quarters, I can't thank them enough. It's great to play at home, and we look forward to seeing them in a couple weeks here.
Q: There were plenty of positives to take away from this game, but what do you think needs improvement heading into Carolina?
A: Oh, man. I've got a long list. I was making a list during the game. I've got a long list. This is one win. Let's keep things in perspective. This is one win. It was a team win and I'm extremely proud of that. That said, we've got a lot of work to do. Fundamentally, we've got a lot of work to do [along with] getting some other things corrected. I'll know more tomorrow after I maybe take a look at the film tomorrow morning.
RB LeSean McCoy
Led the team with 159 scrimmage yards and passed the 12,000-scrimmage yards mark for his career
Recorded his 34th career 100-yard game and 11th with the Buffalo Bills
Q: What was the reaction in the locker room like with Coach Sean McDermott picking up his first win as a head coach?
A: Well, of course he deserved the game ball. Sean McDermott is a leader. A lot of coaches can be great coaches, but some of them lack leadership. I think that's something he brings. The best thing about him I think is his leadership. You know we follow him so it's cool to see him get his first win. It's big for the team, its big for him. I think many more in the future.
Q: 12,000 total yards of scrimmage in your career and you're starting to recognize your place in the game, not just in this league right now.
A: Just got to keep pushing man, keep pushing. Get more wins. With wins, numbers come with it. And that's the mindset man. Just trying to lead this team in the right direction. We have all the right pieces. I think we have good teams, mostly good teams. They have a good defense and that defense over there is solid. For a while the Seahawks, in that era with the Niners and (Jim) Harbaugh. You know, they ran the ball well, had big plays here and there. And the defense was solid, you know, 10 to 14 points that's it. I felt the same way with our team. It was built on having a solid, aggressive defense from the front end to the back. And then with the offense, you want to put points up, move the ball in the running game, make big plays here and there. You know that's our game, we're going to fight till the end.
Q: LeSean, you've been with Tyrod for quite a while now and where do you think this game, how did he do this game compared to what we've known from him?
A: Just today, his leadership. Naturally Tyrod is a quiet guy and today he was very vocal. Times where we needed him to speak up, "Hey, quit the turnovers, quit the penalties, let's make plays. Tell the guys, look for me come to you on different jobs." So his leadership has really, I think, jumped you know from when I first met him, to trying to just make the team to making this team behind him. So I think the biggest jump is his leadership.
QB Tyrod Taylor
Set the franchise record for most rushing yards by a quarterback 1,186 passing Joe Ferguson
Threw two touchdown passes to raise his career total to 39
Finished with a 92.0 passer rating
Q: Tyrod, I believe the total count was 10 plays, 15 more yards, explosive plays by the offense. What does that do for an offense when you start hitting on big plays like that time after time after time?
A: Definitely, it allows us to continue to keep building off of that momentum. We definitely have the playmakers on our side of the ball to go out there and create those big plays. We were able to get some of those today. That is something we talk about as an offensive group and as a team, creating big plays. We were able to go out there and do that today.
Q: 3 for 4 start in the red zone today coming into week 1, how good does it feel to have that level of success right off the bat?
A: That was definitely key for us. Definitely would like to have that pick [back] that I had in the end zone especially on the first drive. You have to be able to capitalize on that. It could have been a better ball to Charles but definitely overall three out of four is a good number. We strive for perfection, we want to be four out of four.
Q: Charles Clay has five touchdowns in the last four games with you. Have you made a concerted effort to target him more in the red zone?
A: We talked a bunch. A couple times throughout the past couple years I missed him. He is going to win most of those battles. He is stronger, more physical than most of the guys that he is going to face in one-on-one battles. So, I just got to keep giving him the ball and looking for him because he is out there creating space and making plays.
RB Mike Tolbert
Rushed for 42 yards and one touchdown in his Bills debut
Now has 34 career rushing touchdowns
Q: You came here, you were with Sean before that back down in Carolina. What does it mean to be with him for his first win?
A: I mean it's big. He's a guy that has always believed in me since day one. I've talked with him thousands of times since the first day I signed in Carolina. For him to continue to believe in me from year five to year ten now is something special.
Q: You got to dance in your first Bills game?
A: You like that? I loved it man. The fans were amazing. You really don't have the appreciation for it until you're in the game. Until you feel the energy. So major shout out to Bills Mafia man.
Q: How different was the vibe here? Whatever the playoff drought is you're a part of it and as silly as it is you're a part of a first place team.
A: Yeah I mean you look at us we're trying to change the narrative. It has been a bad stigma here for a long time and you know Coach McDermott is trying to change the narrative, the way people see us and think about us. We're just trying to do it one play at a time, one game at a time.
S Jordan Poyer
Became the first Bill to record and sack and an interception on Kickoff Weekend since 2009.
Totaled three tackles and two passes defensed
Q: A sack, an interception and a team win, can you envision a much better start to your Bills' career?
A: You know, it was a great team win, all 11 guys on defense, all three phases really. It was fun, it was fun to play in front of that crowd, [the atmosphere] was fun. We have a lot of work to do though, it's week one. Yeah, we're excited to get that first win out, under our belt, but we have a lot of work to do.
Q: Coach [Sean McDermott] talks about the process a lot, this really started back when you joined the club, and he was new, you were new, to see the fruits of that labor week one after all that work you put in, how gratifying is that for you guys?
A: It's huge, you work so hard in the offseason, in training camp and OTAs, and just come out here and perform in front of our fans, give them something to watch and get that first win under our belt. It's huge, and like I said, you put in so much work, you want to come out here and want to perform well, and you want to win. We did that, but like I said, we have a lot of work to do.
S Micah Hyde
Recorded his ninth career interception
Q: What do you think of the job Jordan [Poyer] did next to you?
A: Poyer showed out today, he did a great job. Especially on that sack, add him on that, made a play, had a pass breakup, had that pick. He has to get in the weight room because the guy took it from him. I was telling the ref he obviously caught the ball, he was laying on his back, I was like that's our ball. The ref was like chill out, chill out, I know, I know, it's your guys' ball. I'm excited for Poyer, a lot of hard work he's put in throughout this offseason. A lot of people have counted him out, counted myself out, so we made a promise to each other, to this whole secondary and to this team, we're going to give it our all this whole season, and that guy is doing it for sure.
Q: You guys came in together, and you've been starters since the moment you got here, it's got to feel pretty good that you both contributed like that in a season opening win?
A: The whole started thing since we've been here, it is what it is. Nothing was set and stone, so obviously he went out there today and made plays, and I think we did that [as well]. Like you said, came in together, we're pushing each other, and that's all that we ask of each other.
DT Kyle Williams
Defense held the Jets to 38 rushing yards
Q: Speak on LeSean's [McCoy] performance, do you think he was the reason on offense?
A: There's a lot of guys out there that are helping him do what does, and I think he'd be the first one to tell you. As being an observer, somebody on the sideline, and somebody that's played against him, I'm glad he's on our football team.
Q: Is there a difference in this locker room from previous teams?
A: Yeah, I think we've got a really good narrow focus. We're continuing trying to get better every day, and that's what we'll do. We'll enjoy today, then tomorrow get started on a whole new opponent.
