Read the full transcript from Tua Tagovailoa's press conference on November 24, 2024.
Q. You were able to get the ball to WR Jaylen Waddle early and often today. How much of that was a concerted effort and how much was just a matter of how the game and flow of the game went?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think it was just a matter of how the flow of the game went today with what they wanted to do. We got to see early on and Jaylen (Waddle) had his opportunities and he made use of those opportunities.
Q. For you the way the offense is moving right now, what do you feel different these last few weeks that's worked that it just seems like everything is there for you in front…?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It's just going through the progressions. I think that's where we've taken a step forward in this offense in retrospect to last year, is one and two aren't there; we're able to flip our feet, work through the progression and what that entails for us, if he's open. If not, knowing where our checkdowns are. I think that's the biggest difference.
Q. Your confidence has to be through the roof right now. What's it like when you're on the kind of heater that you're on right now?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I would say it's always great to win. It's always great to enjoy the win. But there were some things second half-wise that we knew we could have capitalized on that we didn't, things we said we wanted to do coming out in the second half that we didn't and those can be frustrating. But I would say we're still below the .500 threshold and it's a long way to where we want to get to. We'll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us, and we're excited to go down to Green Bay and show everybody on primetime what we can do.
Q. Did you expect to see this much single safety high looks?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You know, honestly, going into the game, having my mind with what they put on film this year, what they do, and then you go back and look at the rest of the years where they were successful in stopping some of our in-routes and whatnot, so you kind of have in mind, okay, these are the ways they could potentially play us, but then I also still have in the back of my mind, be ready for two (high safety), be ready for two-man, variations of four, whatever that looks like. And so preparing-wise, that's sort of how we – that's sort of how I go about my process so that I don't get stuck on what the progression is and I can progress faster knowing what the coverage is.
Q. Did you think you were done when you came out at 31-7?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Not necessarily. Mike (McDaniel) came up and told me that he doesn't like doing that, taking a guy out and then having to put him back in, but I told him at any point, I was ready, whether I had to sit out the rest of the game or not.
Q. When you talk through your progressions, like with Jonnu Smith on the first touchdown, where was he on your (progressions)?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: He was probably four if you're counting the numbers on the progression. But that's what I'm saying; like with what the defense presents us, it helps speed up the process with getting through the progression and getting to guys.
Q. You said a few weeks ago that you see what happens one by one, see if you guys can get on a streak. This is three in a row. Now that you're in that mode, would you want it to be get that streak, get that going?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It feels good to win any way. But yes, getting into a rhythm of stacking wins up in the win column, I definitely think that's a big morale booster for the guys in the locker room, and this is something that they can take into this upcoming week. Guys are feeling good. Everything feels better when you win.
Q. This will probably be remembered as the Jaylen Waddle game, bust out game for him. Had you had to counsel he will him during the last month and a half or so when he hasn't been getting the ball as much as he had in the past?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: No, I didn't have to do any of that with 'J. Dub' (Jaylen Waddle).
Q. How meaningful is it to you to know that you're 7-0 against a divisional opponent in New England?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It's great. It's great any time you can find a win against a divisional opponent. It's not my win, it's the team win so I'll leave that at that.
Q. You mentioned the significance of the coming game, but what do you think about maybe playing in some cold in Green Bay?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, I mean I'm excited to kill narratives, so let's go. Bring it on.
Q. Talk a bit about avoiding interceptions these past couple of games. Obviously today and last week against the Raiders, just talk a bit about not giving New England's offense any opportunities off of those?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, ending of the half, in the first half, definitely didn't like how we ended there, too many hands on the ball off of decisions and off of placement of the ball. That needs to be better. You just never want to put the team in a situation where we already have points to not get points.
