OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZAC ROBINSON

(On when he realized the offense could finish Sunday's game without a completion)
"Not until probably the third quarter. After we dropped that third-and-4 [pass], it was kind of like we were in a situation where we kept getting efficient runs on first and second down. Yeah, you were kind of like, 'Hey, let's see if we can get out of this thing and have zero passing yards and over 300 rush yards.' And that's what happened. The guys did a great job. But obviously, we had [a few] opportunities to complete some passes. I thought Baker [Mayfield] threw a great ball on the first third down to 'Trey' (Ted Hurst III) – those are plays we've got to make, which we will make. You know, we've got to do it for our pass game. Then, we mentioned that third-down one, so we could have had two there, but we ended up with none. But yeah, credit to the guys, they did an unbelievable job handling everything throughout the week. We had a big run plan with a lot of different criteria and a bunch of different specific things we were looking for. Baker [Mayfield] did a great job getting us into the right looks, and guys just played hard. I mean, there was some high-level execution across the board. There were some looks that we shouldn't have been running that [original call] into, but there was some player ownership, and they took over and did a great job. They played really hard, physical, violent all game, and that was expressed from not only the O-line, but the tight ends and the [wide] receivers. Obviously, the [running] backs ran really well. So, [it was] unique game for sure. I don't think it'll happen again, but it was definitely a cool feeling in the locker room knowing that that took place. Obviously, the offensive line was juiced all game. So yeah, pretty unique game."

(On the tight ends' contributions to the running game, particularly TE Bauer Sharp)
"You would never know he was a former quarterback, probably the toughest former QB I've been around. He's done a great job. He's really smart, really intentional, has that level of physicality. He just keeps getting better, and he's into it. He loves it. He's done a great job. We'll continue to expand his role because he is talented in the pass game as well. He can run and catch it really well. But Cade [Otton] is a Swiss Army knife – he can do everything. He can play in-line, he's in the backfield sometimes playing like a fullback. he can move block. I've always been impressed with him from afar and then just seeing it up close and how he's able to navigate some of the tight spaces and have the instincts and feel to kind of wrap block in some of those instances. Then Payne [Durham] is just a stud. I mean, he's got a saw tattoo on his arm for a reason. He loves it. He loves contact. He loves being at the point of attack. He's done a great job. So yeah, the versatility of that group has opened up some things for sure. Again, we'll see kind of where those things go from here. But yeah, really pleased with the way that those guys are playing, competing. We put a lot on their plate. They're moving almost every snap, and so they do a great job handling it. [Tight Ends] Coach [Justin] Peelle coaches them up, and it's a fun group to be around."

(On the recent success of gap-scheme, power, and counter runs, and their role in the offense)
"Yeah, we've had them up and we've run them the whole season. You know, we haven't had as many opportunities, I think, within a game to run that many. You know, I mentioned last week, you've got to earn your run opportunities. The way that the last couple of weeks have gone, we keep being so efficient on those downs that you're going to get more run opportunities to run those. But the guys have done a great job handling it, knowing that is the strength of the group up front and with our tight ends and really our [running] backs, too. They're great gap runners. We've been mixing it [up] a good amount. We just so happen to kind of lean on some of those when they've been hitting the last couple weeks. There were some in Dallas as well. It's always going to be in the inventory, and then the game and how it unfolds kind of dictates how many you can get to within the framework of first and second down a normal down-and-distance ball. But yeah, those have been great runs, high-level execution. Some of the looks that we've gotten in a game have been cleaner than practice…Like, those guys have done an unbelievable job on some of those. So, we've got to keep those rolling and obviously have our mixers off it as well."

(On his confidence in the passing game after limited opportunities over the last two weeks)
"Yeah, I think like you said, we're going to have to make plays in the pass game. You know, you got into a four-minute kind of mode at the end of that Carolina game for the second half, but I did think there were some positive things in the first half when we needed to. You know, you saw Baker [Mayfield] make a couple plays, you saw Tez Johnson show up. So, when we needed to, we showed some signs of making some plays. Last week was last week, but we've just got to throw and catch. We've got to throw and catch. That's got to be our focus. It's as simple as that. We've got to be in the right spot. We've got to just complete the balls that are there. We've got to catch it when it's thrown to us. We've got to make the plays. We're looking for that to happen, for somebody to take over and really take that over for us. We're going to need it. We're going to need somebody to step up. Baker [Mayfield's] thumb is getting better by the week, and so we anticipate him being ready to roll in whatever type of game is called. We'll be ready for it for sure."

(On how the success of the running game can create opportunities in the passing game)
"It absolutely should. There should be great looks to throw the football. Believe it or not, we did have passes on our call sheet last week that were off of some of the different run concepts that we were running. So, some of those things can carry over week to week, but it 100% should help out. Those guys are going to be hunkered down in there to stop the run, I'm sure. So, we've got to be able to execute at a high level. We've got to be able to pass protect first and foremost. If we don't pass protect in this game, we're going to have a tough time getting some of these throws off. That's got to be the focal point. But yeah, we should be able to complete some passes. Whether it's play-action pass, whether it's quick game, whether it's dropback, we're going to need everything in this game."

(On the offensive line's response to early-season struggles and outside criticism)
"They've done an unbelievable job. Obviously, we've cleaned up a lot of things from early in the year with penalties…We had false starts, we had holdings, we got ourselves into passing situations. Like I said, we didn't really earn our run [opportunities] because we were shooting ourselves in the foot with some of those things. We've cleaned up some of the negative runs that were showing up early in the year that also kind of set us back and forced us to throw the football a little bit more. But they've handled everything awesome. I mean, it's a great group of guys. Obviously, starting in the Dallas game really is when they started to come to life with the run game, and I thought they protected well in that game as well. So, we've been able to run it. We've got to be able to pass protect. We've got to be able to be a full-set offense here in order to kind of go where we want to go. But [I] can't say enough good things about the way that those guys responded from some early setbacks. I know we talked about it a handful of weeks ago, just those guys playing together again, getting Cody [Mauch], getting Tristan [Wirfs], who missed all training camp…You feel that kind of rhythm even out at practice. Then once you throw on the game tape and see collectively how they're playing together…That's all that is important with the offensive line, is meshing that group together. They've handled everything awesome, but [I] love those guys, and they've done a great job."

(On the challenges presented by Bears DL Jeffery Simmons and Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen's defense)
"Yeah, he's one of the better just players in the league, regardless – offense, defense. He's disruptive [in the] run game, pass game. When you see him in person, the physical presence alone, you see it. Obviously, there's really nothing he can't do to disrupt the game. So, you've got to account for him at all times. I know now he had the first week there, just kind of getting his feet wet with the system and getting around his players that he's playing around. So, I'm sure they've [had] another week to kind of install some new things and kind of sprinkle him in in some different ways that didn't present themselves last week. But yeah, you've got to be ready for everything with him and really with this scheme as well. You know, 'D.A.' (Dennis Allen) does an unbelievable job. He's been a veteran coach for a long time. He mixes up the looks as good as anybody. You know, he's got a talented front with these guys. They play hard. You throw on the tape, and it's a violent, physical defense. They play hard. So, we know we'll have to be at our best, whether that's blocking Simmons and really handling the rest of the group, and then also the scheme challenges that they present as well. So, it'll be a great challenge for sure. Sunday night will be a big-time atmosphere. Our guys are going to be pumped, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

PASS GAME COORDINATOR GEORGE EDWARDS

(Opening Statement)

"Chicago this week. I mean, another tough opponent. Very veteran group up front, so that'll be a challenge for us. Excellent running back in [D'Andre] Swift, who we played against when he was back in Detroit. [He] has done a good job in their run game and their pass game and their screen game, so we'll have our work cut out [for us]. The quarterback is playing exceptional right now. He's doing a good job of getting rid of the ball. He's doing a good job extending plays. He's doing a good job of locating the [wide] receivers down the field. The [wide] receivers are good matchups. [Luther] Burden [III] [has] done a good job for them. [Rome] Odunze [has] done a good job for them. I mean, they've got three [wide] receivers that'll be tough, and you add the tight end in there as far as a matchup. I mean, really good offensive unit. Where their rankings are and just looking at them through the course of the week as we keep preparing for them throughout the situations throughout the week, I mean, you can tell they're well-coached football team, and it'll be a good task for us this weekend to go out. We're looking forward to the competition."

(On what he believes has been the biggest difference in the team's ability to generate takeaways this season compared to last season)

"I think it's a combination of guys in the rush, I think it's a combination of guys in the pass, it's timing. It's the focus and emphasis our guys are putting into it during the week of preparation out on the practice field. They just believe if we're practicing it and you can see it and you can believe it, then those things usually follow up on Sunday. Credit to them for the attention to detail that they're doing. It's a credit to the rush up front and the timing of routes and a breakdown of timings of routes. That's why quarterbacks that extend past the 2.5 [seconds] as far as getting rid of the ball, which this guy does a tremendous job of it, and then finding receivers and completing makes it a tougher task. It'll be a good challenge for us this weekend, and we're excited about it."

(On how he plans to limit the effectiveness of Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams)

"Well, there's a lot of things that you've got to look at. You've got to look at the situations of certain things that are being done, you can tell certain things that have been taught, and we've just got to approach it and pay attention to the detail of those situations and what we're doing. It's more about us making sure that we handle our responsibilities from call to call and situations that come up in the game as much as it is anything."

(On what has made cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish so effective at breaking up passes this season)

"Yeah, I mean, those guys come in every day, they prepare themselves in meetings. You can tell they're doing work off the field when they're not in, and just the way that they're approaching their job, they're true pros. The attention to detail that they're putting on it from a technique, fundamental standpoint, the focus and concentration that it takes to be out there on that island and be able to perform the way they're performing. I mean, they're doing an exceptional job of it."

CORNERBACK JACOB PARRISH

(On the defense's recent success and the momentum it creates moving forward)
"It means a lot. It builds a lot of momentum going into the next week. I feel like we're playing good defense the last five weeks, man. [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles says we're a defensive team, so every single time we step out there, we've got to go make plays. I feel like we're doing a good job doing that."

(On Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams' abilities as a quarterback)
"I feel like he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league. [He has] elite arm talent, can make any play, can run the ball, can do everything. He's just an overall good quarterback."

(On Parrish's league-leading 13 passes defensed, and his ability to make plays on the ball in coverage)
"I mean, I feel like I've been in a good position the majority of times they threw the ball at me. I feel like I've got good ball skills, so just timing the ball when the receiver's about to catch it and knocking it down. I feel like I always have good ball skills and I feel like I'm doing a good job of just doing that."

(On his excitement to play in Chicago in primetime)
"I'm very excited. [It is] just an opportunity to put our platform out there, go out there and make plays. Everybody is going to be watching the game, so it's going to be a very good game playing against one of the best teams in the NFL. It's just another opportunity for us, so we've got to go out there and play like it's a regular game."

KICKER CHASE MCLAUGHLIN

(On the difficulties of kicking in the rainy conditions during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons and what it means to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October)

"[Those were] probably the toughest conditions, any sport, any age, any level that I've played in, that was definitely one of the rainiest games. I think, first and foremost, just my faith in Jesus Christ. I mean, getting to play with just true joy, true fulfillment, true peace, just not only play but to live it out and knowing that that's available for everyone is just something I can't stress enough. Secondly, it's just [the] operation, Evan [Deckers] and Riley [Dixon] have done a great job. The field goal protection has done a fantastic job, and the kickoff coverage team has done well, also. Just being able to be a part of that has been special. The Player of the Month is as much of an award for them as it is for me too."

(On what impact new Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith has had on the group)

"He's done a great job. He's very process and detail-oriented all the way around, so that's helped me in my day-to-day, but also just all the guys that bought in, and we've seen success with it, so that only helps with it, too."

(On the challenges of kicking accurately at Raymond James Stadium)

"Yeah, it is definitely not an easy stadium to kick in. I think when I first got here, the end zone opposite of the ship had like the lowest made percentage or something like that. So yeah, it's definitely a factor."

-BUCCANEERS-