Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich

(On calling nine consecutive run plays in the fourth quarter against the Giants)

"We were trying to get a touchdown running it – not just to run it. We thought [those were] the best plays to call to score a touchdown there. That's what we do every play. Every play, we try to put ourselves in the best position to score points."

(On if that is a tough decision for him to make as a former quarterback)

"No, not really. We're trying to win games. We're trying to win football games and we're trying to put ourselves in the best position to win games. We weren't predicting to run nine runs – we were having success on the ground and we've just got to find a way to score points there, if it's running or throwing – whatever it is. But we felt as though – I didn't even know it was nine straight runs – that those were the plays that were best for us to score points."

(On if he is trying to have a balanced attack on offense)

"We're just trying to call good plays, to be honest with you. We're not really trying to be 50-50 or anything. We're trying to win football games. We're trying to put ourselves in position to win football games. That's all we're thinking about every day – how can we find a way to win this next game and what do we've got to do to win that football game? That's what we're really thinking all the time."

(On if the interception in the fourth quarter influenced his play calling in the next offensive series)

"No."

(On what happened that led to the delay-of-game penalty with 13 seconds remaining)

"There's a few different scenarios and a few different decisions you could make at that point. We felt as though instead of rushing, getting us in that position – because we had spiked the ball – we just wanted to get the kick. We just wanted to find a way to get ourselves to get the kick, and that's what we did."

(On if he called for a substitution after QB Jameis Winston spiked the ball)

"No, we've just got to be better in that situation. We as a whole [have] got to be better in that situation."

(On what he takes from that game as a play caller)

"You take everything from it. It's a true understanding that it takes 60 minutes to win football games in this league. Unfortunately for us, we had to learn that way. If it would've went the other way, then we'd have learned differently from winning, but it'd have been the same different scenario. We preach to these guys all the time – [in] the National Football League, the game comes down to the last series, the last drive. If that wasn't true, the other day – that just gives them an opportunity to understand [that] no matter what's going on during that game, you've got to assume – statistics say that in the National Football League, who wins the football game is going to be determined at the last series of the [game], so we've just got to find a way. We'll be fine from this. Unfortunately for us, it didn't go our way, but we'll learn from it."

(On what the Giants' defense did in the second half that made it more difficult for the offense)

"We've just got to score when we get down there. We've got to score touchdowns when you get down there – that's what it really comes down to, because if you score a few touchdowns then maybe it's too far out of reach. That's how I see it as an offensive guy. As a whole, we understand [and] we preach to these guys that it comes down to the last series, but as an offensive guy, you've got to be thinking in that situation [that] we've got to find a way to score more than three points in the second half."

(On what the challenges are as a play caller when the offense is in the red zone)

"It's just execution, really. When you go one-for-five, you really look at everything and try to determine why you didn't score touchdowns. When you look at it, it could be a multitude of different things, so you just try to get better as a whole. It's not one specific thing, though. We will do a better job of executing in those situations and find a way to score touchdowns."

(On where he thinks the offense is at in the short passing game)

"We're fine. We're getting better every week in all phases of our game. As an offense, we're getting better really on a daily [basis] in all phases, so that's what we're trying to do. Not just the short passing game, not the run game, not the deep balls – we're trying to just get better as a whole and we're doing a good job of that."

(On what more he wants from the running game)

"I think these guys are giving us great production. I really like our running backs. I don't know how everybody else feels – I really like who we have [and] who we get an opportunity to turn around and hand the ball off to. I think Peyton [Barber] and RoJo (Ronald Jones II) are doing an excellent job, so I really like where we're at. We've just got to make more plays [and] execute in more situations so we can win football games."

(On if QB Jameis Winston is playing tight to avoid turning the ball over)

"No, I don't think so."

(On if he would consider going for it on short-distance fourth downs if K Matt Gay is not consistent)

"No, I've got full confidence in our kicker – full confidence."

(On why he thinks the running game has improved from past seasons)

"It's tough to say, not being around here in the past, but we're just trying to continue to put them in position to make plays. We're coaching these guys up, trying to win football games. It's tough to really answer that without knowing what's been said in the past [and] what they've been taught in the past. Guys, I promise you – we're just trying to do what we can to win football games. If that's running the ball [or] passing the ball, we're trying to do whatever we need to do to win."

(On making in-game adjustments during the second half)

"It's not really that – it's just really making plays. We made a lot of plays early on in the first half that we didn't make in the second half. That's really what it comes down to. I don't know if it's anything from an adjustment standpoint – we've just got to really do a better job of converting on third down, to be honest with you, and scoring points in the red zone. [If] you do those things better, all those other things are just obsolete – they really don't matter. As an offense, that's how we see it. We've got to get better in situational football and we will do that."

(On how big a challenge it is to go against Rams DT Aaron Donald)

"That is the challenge around the National Football League. He may be the best. You guys see him – this is a man of men, a man amongst men. This is a tough guy, a tough out every time you have an opportunity to play against him. I just left that division down there in Arizona, so I know what he is. You guys know what he is. 99 is difficult to deal with on Sunday's."

(On if there is an adjustment that will be needed on the offensive line with C Ryan Jensen not practicing this week)

"No, we'll be fine."

(On if he's ever seen a player be as effective as Donald)

"Not with my eyes. It's hard to find better than Aaron Donald. Really, he's one of the greatest to ever play, and we'll give him that respect."

(On what the easiest down is for a quarterback to throw)

"It really all depends on who you're playing and what you're playing against."

(On whether most teams prepare to defend the run on first down)

"It all depends on who you're playing and what moment you're in in the game and what has happened in the game. Sometimes, they'll adjust too. They'll start it off trying to stop the run, you throw a few passes and [they'll] try to stop the pass. It's an ever-moving thing in the National Football League, calling plays back-and-forth."

(On how QB Jameis Winston has progressed in being decisive)

"I love where we're at from that aspect. Jameis – I'm just telling you – he's playing good football. Unfortunately for us, we didn't get the win, but he understands that. We're trying to go out every day, and I mean this – I know you guys hear me say this so much – we're trying to go out every day and get better, and us getting better as a whole. Not just Jameis – everyone. Us getting better as a whole will give us better opportunities to win football games. That's what we believe in, that's what we preach [and] that's what we live by here, so that's our mindset week in and week out."

Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles

(On what went wrong on Giants QB Daniel Jones' game-winning touchdown run)

"Obviously, the gain didn't work right, and he scored. It's really that simple."

(On surrendering an 18-point lead in the second half)

"It's tough every game. We lost the lead and we've got to learn to close out ballgames. Again, it's Week 3 and we played well the first two weeks. We didn't play as well finishing the game last week, so we've got to get back to it this week."

(On if the second-half letdown was a matter of the players needing to have the right kind of attitude coming out of the locker room at halftime)

"It's a little bit of everything. We didn't make plays and they made plays. I'm not going to sit up here and make excuses for what we didn't do. We've just got to play better."

(On if the Giants second-half comeback was more due to the performance of QB Daniel Jones or mistakes by the defense)

"He played well – you've got to give him credit. But we didn't play as well, so it's a combination of both."

(On what the defense failed to do in the second half against the Giants)

"We didn't make plays. We've got to make plays and we didn't make them."

(On if the communication was an issue)

"No."

(On what went wrong for the defense against the Giants)

"We didn't play well. "

(On if it makes it worse that Giants RB Saquon Barkley was on the sideline during the Giants' second-half comeback)

"It didn't matter whether he played or didn't play – if you don't make plays against the team that is out there, you are going to lose the ballgame. We didn't make plays. We don't worry about [whether] their best player is hurt or if their worse player is hurt – we go out there to win the ballgame. We didn't win it. We don't make excuses. We look at the film, we correct it and we move on."

(On what challenges arise from going against a Rams team coached by Sean McVay)

"[He is] very intelligent, you know, that's why he is where he is at. Obviously, it has shown over the past year or so and it's showing again this year. They can run the ball [and] they can throw the ball. He is very innovative. He is very bright. Guys play hard for him – the team loves him and that is evident with how they play. You've got to give him a lot of credit."

(On how much of an effect it had on the game that the team didn't have a lot of film on Giants QB Daniel Jones)

"None."

(On if envisioned getting the type of production he has been getting out of OLB Shaquil Barrett through the first three weeks of the season)

"He is on a roll right now. He is playing well and we are happy to have him. I don't think I've seen anybody get eight sacks in three weeks. I'm sure it's not going to be like that every week, but we like where he's at right now. He is playing well for us."

(On the challenges of facing McVay's offense)

"They run the ball well and they throw it well. They've got great skill people, they've got a huge offensive line [and] they've got a smart quarterback. The receivers block, as well as run the ball, as well as run routes. Then they've got [Todd] Gurley back there and they've got [Malcolm] Brown back there and they've got a huge line, so it's like pick your poison with them. You've got to play a fundamentally sound overall ballgame."

(On if he would consider the Rams to be one of the more well-balanced offenses in the league)

"Yes, I would."

(On if other members of the defensive line will have increased opportunities to get in the backfield with team's having to better account for OLB Shaquil Barrett)

"Well, they get a lot of attention and that is part of the reason he is making plays. They double team inside a lot with [Ndamukong] Suh and Vita [Vea] and Shaq has taken advantage of his opportunities. It's all inclusive – if you overload one way, then someone else should take advantage of it and he has been doing that."

(On how tough it is to balance stopping Rams QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley without leaving WRs Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp in one-on-one situations on the outside)

"Tough task – it's a tough task. We understand we've got our work cut out for us and we have to play a fundamentally sound game."

(On the Buccaneers' success in stopping the run)

"It's the guys playing tough and their attention to detail. They've been making plays up front, that's the biggest thing – they've been playing together and they've been making plays."

(On if the team has responded well in practice this week)

"We've practice hard. We let it go after Monday. We have a 24-hour rule win, lose or draw so we let it go after Monday. They are working hard at practice this week. We've just got to keep putting it together and win today, win tomorrow and worry about Sunday on Sunday."

-BUCCANEERS-