Chargers Players
Derwin James Jr., S
(On the gameplan going into the game)
“Be disruptive. Coach wanted me around the ball and he just wanted me to cause havoc and be disruptive. My teammates did a great job covering in the secondary so I could get the sacks. And the other guys holding the edge. Feel like there was a lot of team ball out there.”
(On Ladd McConkey)
“I told him before the game I wanted him to get to a thousand yards because he was close. I’ve been keeping track for him all year. I think he got there today, yeah he got there today. I’m proud of him. He was happy man, he’s a baller. I love Ladd.”
(On how he feels right now to be back in the playoffs)
“This one feels different, it feels special. I always have to say the group of guys I am going into it with, it just feels right. I feel like we have been doing it the right way all year long and we are starting to see the results that we want, that we have been putting in. We know a new season is just beginning, we’re not settled just being in the playoffs. We know what type of team we want to be, so we just want to keep going.”
(On if there is a ‘Harbaugh Effect’)
“Yeah for sure, everybody sees it. I feel like we were becoming a different team, we are starting to get an identity. We are just going to keep getting better with Coach Harbaugh.”
Quentin Johnston, WR
(On what it means to be going into the playoffs with this team)
“It’s a great feeling because obviously given where we were at last year, kind of just being able to move forward from that and transition with this team this year. Get to ten wins and stuff like that is amazing, happy for myself and everybody on the team, coaches included.”
(On the ‘TCU connection’ 19-yard reception and if it felt like college)
“One hundred percent. One hundred percent. I got started, D. Davis [Derius Davis] had it from me and stuff like that. D. Davis scored and I was just as happy for him. If you go back and look, I was the first dude in the endzone with him, dancing and that type of stuff. Just all around, a good feeling for us.”
(On Ladd McConkey and his rookie record)
“We’re going to be here all day if I talk about Ladd, that’s my guy, I’m real proud of him and what he’s doing in his first season. Like I said before, he’s a guy who comes in a room and just lights the room up, he gets everybody going. We all feed off each other and stuff like that, we all feed off each other’s positive energy. So any time he’s up or someone else in the room is up, we all kind of just gravitate towards the highest level. Just to be sitting there playing with him is just good. I’m always hyped for him.”
(On the energy in the locker room and how the team appears to be at their best coming into January)
“Yeah, one hundred percent. I feel like we’re right where we’re supposed to be. We don’t want to peak too early as far as going into the playoffs but I feel like we’re doing what we’re doing best as long as we keep elevating each week, I feel like we’ll be alright.”
Derius Davis, WR
(On his touchdown)
“Justin [Herbert] threw a dime and all I did was make a good play. I knew when we had man coverage that I had a chance to get the ball. I just did what I do, what I prepared to do all week, which is to run away from my man.”
(On the play of the offense)
“Tremendous. With J.K. [Dobbins] coming back I think that really helped us out a lot. Just putting two halves together was one of our goals coming into the game. We put two halves together, and that’s what we did, we are on the right path.”
(On making the playoffs)
“It’s a great feeling, especially coming off how we did last year. To clinch that playoff berth is a great feeling. We put a lot of work in, from OTAs and training camp right up to this moment, so it’s a great feeling.”
(On what Coach Harbaugh said after the game)
“Go win another one. Enjoy this, but we still have one more game left. Eleven is better than ten.”
Scott Matlock, FB/DL
(On having J. K. Dobbins back in the lineup)
“He’s obviously a great running back and you saw what he was able to do earlier in the year. It’s exciting to have that spark back. We believe in all our running backs, they are all very capable and all very talented. Any one of them can break a run and take it.”
(On the offense)
“I think as the season is progressing, we are getting better. We are harping on the details and making sure we have our assignments down. At this point in the year, it just comes down to fundamentals. When the weather gets cold and it’s this deep in the year, it all comes down to fundamentals. We have those mastered and that’s what is going to win you these games.”
(On his determination and style of play)
“That’s who I am and what got me into this league. If I play one play or 40 plays, I’m going to execute my job the best way I can to help this team win.”
(On qualifying for the postseason)
“Great, great feeling. This is my first time in the playoffs, so I’m just really excited to have this opportunity.”
Kristian Fulton, CB
(On how it feels to make the playoffs)
“It feels great. I went to the playoffs my first year and have not been back since, so it feels great to be back. For us, last week felt like a playoff game, we treated it as a playoff game. It’s just a mentality that we’re going to ride with and we just need to keep it going.”
(On the defense limiting the Patriots offensively)
“All just being on the same page, how we communicate. Guys talking pre-snap. It allows us to be able to play fast and play physical. We wanted to set the tone early and I feel like we did that throughout the game.”
(On the gameplan going into the game)
“They had a rookie quarterback, so we just wanted to make it difficult for him. Last week we let a rookie kind of get off on us in the first half. We were like, ‘we cannot let that happen again.’ We just wanted to set the tone early, fly around and make plays.”
Bud Dupree, OLB
(On clinching a playoff spot)
“It’s smooth! It’ great to be in the playoffs. It’s an opportunity where you get a chance to go to the big game that everyone wants to go to. It’s a great opportunity for this team and this coaching staff and we’re going to make sure we make the best of it. It’s great. It’s an exciting time to be on this team. It’s an exciting time for the coaching staff.”
Nick Niemann, LB
(On making the playoffs)
“It’s a good feeling. At the beginning of the year you say ‘this is a big goal,’ for most teams just to come here, but especially in Coach Harbaugh’s first year. After how we ended last year, this is a big motivation starter for us as an organization. It is definitely big for us but it’s not our only goal to just make the playoffs. We’ll try to use this game as momentum going into the playoffs.”
(On the play of the defense)
“We just wanted to come in here and play well. It felt like over the whole season we hadn’t played four full, complete quarters together. We had a goal of doing that today. We’re trying to dominate people going into the playoffs.”