HEAD COACH BRUCE ARIANS
(On the status of injured players heading into Sunday's game)
"The only [players] out for the game are Cyril Grayson and Ronald Jones. There are about four game-time decisions for the guys that are coming off IR or have been out that we'll have to see on the field Sunday before the game."
(On how optimistic he is for OLB Shaq Barrett, OLB Jason Pierre-Paul and LB Lavonte David to return)
"I feel pretty good about Shaq and JPP. Lavonte will be the most questionable [along] with 'Lenny' (Leonard Fournette)."
(On if RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn and RB Le'Veon Bell will handle the running back snaps if Leonard Fournette is unable to play)
"'Gio' (Giovani Bernard) is pretty close too, so we'll be working him out. We should have three or maybe four backs dressed and ready to roll."
(On the importance of having homefield advantage during the postseason)
"I think it's huge when the fans are there. Last year was so different. To be able to communicate offensively [and] defensively feeding off the crowd noise – the crowds have been so great. To me, it's huge."
(On OLB Shaquil Barrett practicing with a knee brace)
"He looked fine. He looked fine and those things are so light, it's amazing with the technology anymore."
(On the progress LB Lavonte David has made this week)
"He did a little bit today. We'll still wait and see how sore he gets tomorrow and see how he feels on Sunday."
(On if RB Leonard Fournette will be on a snap count if he is able to play Sunday)
"If he's cleared, he's playing as much as he can. We'll still sub, but he'll carry most of the load."
(On how rookie OL Robert Hainsey is developing)
"I think he's made great, great progress all season long. We've got a lot of trust in him. [He's] a smart player, tough player. Overall strength, like most linemen – they can always use more natural strength."
(On if Hainsey will be playing more guard or center moving forward)
"Either one – he can play all three spots. That's the nice thing about him."
(On who determines the uniform combination for the playoffs)
"Pretty much management."
(On the mindset of the offense being able to overcome losses to key players and still perform well)
"I think that's been our motto since we got here. We're going to score points. [We] don't know who's going to do it or how we're going to do it, but we're going to get points on the board. That next man up philosophy is ingrained in this team and guys down the stretch here have made some great opportunities and made the most of them. I think Tom [Brady] has a much better feel this year than last [year] and once he figures you out, you're in trouble."
(On how the run defense can improve)
"It's been a little bit different attack. Everything is wide, trying to get away from those interior guys, stretching us and trying to hit it. We just have to do a better job at tackling. That's the main thing, especially on the perimeter. Steve McLendon probably had the best game since he's been here last week. All of those guys just keep rotating, so I trust all five of them. Whoever is in the ballgame is going to stop the run and I think we'll do a better job this week."
(On the status of WR Breshad Perriman)
"He's full speed."
(On how WR John Brown is progressing with the offense)
"He had a lot of recall and it's good to have him out there. Hopefully, we won't have to use him for a week or two."
(On if OLB Jason Pierre-Paul was able to rest by sitting out the last few weeks)
"He looks good. It isn't going to go away, but I think the rest really helped him."
(On if it's easier to be the underdogs in a playoff situation)
"It should make it easier for the home team, but they have been playing extremely well and they have the style of running game that travels well. It's just going to be a matter of us playing at our best for four quarters."
(On if there any concerns regarding C Ryan Jensen's shoulder)
"No, he went full in practice all week."
(On what TE Rob Gronkowski brings to the sideline and how valuable he is to the team)
"It's huge. He just brings that different kind of energy and he's a clutch player. I think the guys feed off of it for sure."
(On how physicality plays a factor in the postseason)
"It's huge. That's pretty much every week – the most physical and smartest team wins. It won't change this week for sure."
(On what it would mean to win back-to-back Super Bowls)
"It would be huge. It hasn't been done very often. It's a little bit of history and you always want to make history. Our players have a great opportunity to win this week and to continue that journey."
(On if there is any update regarding CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB Jamel Dean and OLB Anthony Nelson and the strategy of potentially resting a player for recovery for a week during postseason)
"I think if you can play, you play. There is no next week guaranteed. If you can't play, you don't play. I think all of those guys you mentioned, they're dealing with injuries. Nobody is healthy this time of year. You have some nagging something and you have to play with it, and you have to play really well with it too."
TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS
(On being the first offensive lineman in Buccaneers history to be named to AP first-team All-Pro and how he found out)
"I just found out when we were walking into our meeting with Tom [Brady]. I went in there and [Ryan] Jensen was saying congrats and he told me that as well. Yeah, that's really cool."
(On if he set a goal to earn All-Pro recognition)
"I guess I haven't really thought about it as much as a goal. I remember earlier in the season I said that the Pro Bowl would be cool. When I got out of camp and everything, you get out there and you're practicing and you just want to do the best for your teammates. You go out there and you're grinding every week and you just want to showcase what you can do on Sundays and not let your teammates down. That's just kind of my mindset going into games and going into the season."
(On the consistency and cohesion of the offensive line)
"Yeah, these are my boys. I love them to death and all of them getting the recognition that they deserve is really cool. I'm really glad that they all took me under their wing when I got here and helped me develop and be the best that I can be. I wouldn't be here without 'Cap' (Alex Cappa) – that's 100 percent true. I lean on him quite a bit. It's cool how our relationship is developing. We're getting very comfortable with each other out on the field. It's super cool. I love all of those guys."
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