HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On how pleased he is with the team's third-down defense)

"Right now, we've been doing a good job staying out of third-and-short, so it plays to our advantage. The guys have been doing a good job executing on tape and they carry it to the field."

(On WR Chris Godwin Jr.'s status for this week)

"He did a lot more things this week and practiced a lot better. It's just going to be a matter of him healing up and seeing what he can do in the ball game if he plays. He had a good day today."

(On if Godwin Jr. would be on a "pitch count" if he plays on Sunday)

"[That] hasn't been discussed yet, but if it's warm, we've got to see how he goes. That kind of plays along with it if he gets out there."

(On T Tristan Wirfs' status for this week)

"He did some things today, as well. We've got to ramp him up a little more, and I think both of them will be end-of-the-week evaluations."

(On how much Wirfs and Godwin Jr.'s level of soreness on Saturday will determine whether they play on Sunday)

"Saturday and Sunday play a big role. We've got to see how they react toward the end of the week. That's why everything is on hold right now."

(On how NT Desmond Watson looked in practice)

"He was good. He was out there. He gives us a heck of a look. I was trying to imitate Jordan Davis, but he was good."

(On if Watson could be elevated from the practice squad this week)

"No."

(On Tampa Bay's success against the Philadelphia Eagles as of late, and how this year's team looks different)

"I mean, they won the Super Bowl. They've got a lot of talent. Last year, I think they had a couple guys out – we did too – but they weren't at full strength [and] we weren't at full strength. They play with a lot of confidence, they're skilled at every position on both sides of the football, and they understand how to win. That's huge in this league – if you understand how to win and you expect to win. They do a very good job at that. [Philadelphia Head Coach Nick] Sirianni has done a very good job getting those guys prepared every week."

(On facing Philadelphia WR A.J. Brown)

"[He is a] big-play receiver. He's big, he's strong, he's fast, and he's smart. He has very strong hands and you can be draped all over him and he can still make the catch. So, we've got our work cut out for us."

(On if the coaches and players feel like the team needs to play better despite being one of the last remaining unbeaten teams in the league)

"You always have to play better, and you want to play better as the season goes along. You never apologize for winning ball games, so we don't do that at all, but we know we've got things to clean up. It's the start of the season, [we're] supposed to. We give ourselves about four or five weeks where we need to clean up the things we need to clean up, and we've got to play better."

(On what his concerns are on special teams right now)

"We just can't have any negative plays and we can't have any mishaps. That'll be the biggest thing."

(On his reaction to WR Mike Evans getting injured in Week 3

"I mean, it hurts. Anytime your stars go out, it's going to hurt – it's no different than Tristan [Wirfs] and Chris [Godwin Jr.] when they were out, and they're just coming back. He's a big part of our offense and, actually, everything goes through him. So, we've got to adjust, and we've been adjusting all year, and we'll adjust this week."

(On how the Buccaneers can avoid a midseason slump this year compared to the last two years)

"That remains to be seen, but most of it is just maturity level. Again, the injuries and everything else play a part, and it's tough to win in this league. Everybody is going to get better as the weeks go on and kind of pin down what they do best and what they can do best, and they get more film on you and get to see you a little bit more. Our focus has got to be there each and every week. The healthier we are, the better we are – as with everybody else."

(On if he feels like it takes a month into the season for teams to figure out their identity)

"That's how we see it all the time."

(On the decision to take a delay of game penalty instead of calling a timeout prior to the blocked field goal in Week 3)

"Chase [McLaughlin] is better between the 40 and the 50[-yard line] than he is between the 30s."

(On how teams can practice against the tush push)

"You can't. You just have to execute it. You can line it up and try to get guys low and do everything you can possibly do, but you can't replicate their line, their quarterback, and how they do it. So, you've got to line up, and it's got to be a group effort, and you've got to time it and get off the ball at the right time, and you've got to be stronger and better – and that doesn't guarantee you anything, either. Saying we had more success at it than everybody else, we're probably talking about three percent – you're not saying it's 50, 60, 70, 80%. They do a good job at it, and we just have to find a way, if it comes to that, to try to make a play."

(On whether the decision to take the delay of game penalty instead of calling a timeout prior to the blocked field goal was a decision based off of analytics, and when that decision was made)

"I kind of knew that."

(On what WR Chris Godwin Jr. brings to the team beyond his ability on the field)

"He's one of our mentally toughest players. When you see him out there doing all the little things – from blocking, to route running, to catching and running with the football, his competitive level is so high and his mental intelligence is so high, it just keeps everybody up even if other people are down. It's good to see him out there."

(On Head Coach Todd Bowles being a "hero" in Philadelphia due to his opinion that the tush push should not be banned, and rather that teams should execute better against it)

"I think the only place I might be a hero at is Ishkabibble's down on South Street, getting the cheesesteak. Other than that…It's a good play, it's a creative play for them, and we've got to get better as defensive coaches trying to be creative to stop it."

(On how WR Chris Godwin Jr. looks in terms of his route running)

"Oh, he's doing all that. He looks good. It's just a matter of getting tangled up and those types of things – guys cutting him or tackling his legs. You can't simulate those things, so those will be things we're looking at."

(On how defenses will defend WR Emeka Egbuka with WR Mike Evans out)

"I think [Egbuka] started worrying about that after the first game, but we can't tell how people are going to play us. We're going to have to adjust on the run and anticipate some things, see them for the first time, and have plays to counter that."

(On the Philadelphia Eagles arriving early to get acclimated to the heat, and whether the Tampa climate is an advantage for the Buccaneers)

"I don't know if it's an advantage. You get mentally tougher – no different than playing in the cold. If you're playing in 10-degree weather, you've got to mentally prepare yourself for three or four hours. When you're playing in the heat, you've got to mentally prepare yourself for three or four hours. I don't know if it's an advantage or disadvantage, and whoever holds the ball longer, the other team is probably going to struggle."

(On if he wants to see more targets for the tight ends and if he wants to see more carries for RB Rachaad White)

"I would like to see us continue to hit the open guy. If that's a tight end, great. If not, I'm happy with the results there. Obviously, Rachaad did a good job the first time around, and sometimes the game dictates the carries and the situations. You always want to see him splitting carries if you can afford to, but it's not etched in stone that it'll go that way."

(On Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard's ability to create a game plan despite the team's numerous injuries)

"I think he's done a great job his first time out signing up for it. I think he's dealt with more injuries than Liam [Coen] and Dave [Canales] dealt with when they were here. So, just adjusting things and making sure we can run efficiently with all the guys out and still trying to create ways to score…I think he's done a very good job."

(On the severity of TE Ko Kieft's injury, and what he provided to the team)

"Ko is on [Injured Reserve] – he broke his leg. He was probably our toughest player [or] one of our toughest three players on the team because he was our tone-setter, offensively. He did a lot of things in the room from a blocking standpoint. So, we have to try and run the ball different ways without him. That was a huge loss for us."

(On whether Kieft's injury is season-ending)

"Yes."

(On if anybody will replace Kieft, or if the team will have to do things differently)

"[We've] got to do things differently."

(On what has contributed to the team allowing touchdowns towards the end of the game]

"I don't think it was a letdown at all. I thought we gave up two first downs that we could have gotten off the field on. The longer you're on the field with the heat, with that temperature the way it was, and still not [being] used to playing a bunch of plays yet, I thought a couple guys got a little bit tired and, I thought, wore down, and [they] kind of went down the field. That can't happen."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On losing WR Mike Evans due to injury and how WR Sterling Shepard and WR Emeka Egbuka can step up)

"Obviously, Mike [Evans] is a guy that completely changes how teams play us. He draws a lot of attention, so in the midst of a game, [I] did not see them adjust and adapt that much when it came to Emeka [Egbuka], but we will see. Everybody [has] to step up -- one person is not going to fill Mike's shoes, so everybody has to step up and do their role at a very high level and execute against a good ball club."

(On how helpful WR Sterling Shepard has been stepping up due to injuries in the wide receiver room the last couple of seasons)

"He stepped up in a big way. A guy that I have said he is able to win in man[-to-man] coverage…He has been there in clutch moments and made some really big-time plays in those moments for us. [He is] a guy that continues to bring the juice for us -- a morale guy that everybody gets a kick out of. We are lucky to have him, just trying to keep him contained."

(On the potential of WR Chris Godwin Jr. playing on Sunday and what it would mean to the team to have him in the huddle)

"You know when he is in there, good things are going to happen. He just gets everybody on the same page, whether he is really communicating it or not, he is going to correct someone if they mess up. He is always great to have in there -- we will see -- hopefully he can, that is what we are hoping for, but yeah, it would be great to have him out there."

(On how WR Chris Godwin Jr. looked like running routes in practice)

"I thought he has looked great. Obviously, I am not in his body, but he looks great. I think with just some of the scout team stuff and the practices he has been able to do -- today again -- [he] just continues to get better. There is a difference between being able to run some routes during the week and then game-shape, just getting a lot more reps. We will see, hopefully [he has] no setbacks and he keeps progressing."

(On if he is proud of the team's execution during the late drives and if that will fuel confidence going forward)

"Having those experiences -- whether good or bad -- you have mental reps, but as it goes well, you build confidence. There have been different guys that have stepped up and made plays in those moments in the first three weeks. Last week, with a different offensive line in there, having some protection checks and them executing it really well, that is huge. That builds confidence -- now we have true tape in two-minute stuff we can teach off of and continue to build in that regard."

(On if this week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles is a "litmus test")

"Every single week in this league is competitive, do not get me wrong on that, but when you are playing the Super Bowl champions from last year -- a team that is really, really good -- you always try and elevate your game a little bit. We are trying to set the tone on our end. This year is not just about winning the division, but the goal after that we [have] to take it one game at a time and this week we have a great opponent in the [Philadelphia] Eagles."

(On having recent success against the Philadelphia Eagles and what the key is winning this week)
"Starting fast [and] executing. As cliche as it is, doing all the little things right. It is a team that lines up and they do what they do, and they do it really well. We have to do the same thing -- match that energy -- and between their offensive line and defensive line, obviously this game is going to be won in the trenches. That is the way we like it; we trust our big boys, we trust our defensive line and it is a great matchup for those guys as well."

(On his comfort level when OT Tristan Wirfs is in the lineup)
"It is a little different when he is in there. Obviously, having a full year under our belt with Graham [Barton] at center, Ben [Bredeson] at left guard, Tristan [Wirfs] at left tackle, just the communications [and] understanding what is getting done on that left side when he is in there, you can kind of cross that off the mind. You do not really worry about it as much. Hopefully, it happens, it is definitely a luxury when No. 78 is back there and you can leave him on an island knowing that he is going to shut it down. We will see what happens -- adjust and adapt and that is what we have had to do so far."

(On if WR Chris Godwin Jr. has a calming effect on him and the rest of the team when he is on the field)

"I would say him and Emeka [Egbuka] are really similar in that regard. [They are] even-keeled, really never get too high. The only time they get low is when they beat themselves up if they do not make a play. They are just that competitive. They understand what they are able to do, and if they do not do it right, they are really hard on themselves -- not that they outwardly express it, but you can tell. Chris [Godwin Jr.] is a guy that has so much experience, he has played a lot of ball at a high level, so when he is in there guys just trust him, we all do."

(On the playmakers in the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary)

"I think it starts with Reed [Blankenship]. He is just able to get those guys lined up. He is a veteran player, [he] recognizes patterns and concepts really quickly. He is able to take advantage of that and play aggressively. Quinyon [Mitchell], a young player -- young corner -- who is coming into his own and obviously with Cooper [DeJean] in there, [he is a] versatile guy. A guy they can put at corner, safety, nickel, kind of line him up wherever. They have done a really good job picking up great talent and just also how they play together. You can tell they understand their scheme; they are playing on the same wavelength."

(On how critical having zero turnovers through Week 3 have been to a successful start to the season)

"It has been huge. Obviously, [in] these tight ball games turnovers really matter. Our defense last week, getting two of them was huge -- that was the difference in the game. We have to continue to take care of the ball. [I had] a couple fumbles from me, really have to tighten that up, obviously we have been lucky [the defense] has not gotten them. [We have to] continue to take care of the ball in the air and [have] our runners protect the ball as well."

(On what his conversations are like with the referees and if he pays attention to who will be refereeing their games on Sundays)

"We always know the ref crews early in the week. You understand what they call if there are heavy-handed on certain things. Conversations... not always very pleasant... what are you going to do?"

(On if he likes the back and forth between the refs or if he talks with them in order to build a relationship)
"If they are on our side, yeah, but if they are not, no, I do not enjoy it."

(On how he handles playing a football game in the Tampa heat and if he spots defensive backs struggling because of it and attack them in the game plan)

"It is for sure an advantage for us. Not that we are able to just withstand all the heat, but we have to tell ourselves we have been in it for a long time, and we have been dealing with it for longer than the other team has. We look at it, they did a good job of rotating their defensive line quite a bit -- getting fresh legs involved once in a while. It was not as big of a difference on the front that it has been in the past just because they did a good job of it. You could tell in the secondary though, those guys were tired. Especially with what we were doing last week, putting the ball on the perimeter making them chase and tackle. We can feel it and that is when you have to tell yourself -- and guys in the huddle will say, 'Hey, we are not as tired as they are' -- we have to push and finish this [drive] in the end zone. It is always good to have somebody remind you of that."

(On if he has a favorite official)

"I love them all."

(On what TE Ko Kieft meant to the team)
"Really, really stinks. A guy that [on] special teams, does a ton for us. A guy that does not get a lot of credit in that regard. Offensively, a tone setter, he is always the a**hole. [He is] touching you until the whistle is blown and somebody is pulling you off. When you have a guy like that -- and Cody [Mauch] was like that too for us -- we are going to have guys step up and do that, because we want to have our identity as being smart and tough, but also physical ball. We lost two guys for the year that have done that for us. We are going to have to have guys step up and set that tone for us."

(On if winning three consecutive one-score games shows maturity compared to losing tight games in the past)

"I do. I felt different about this team, this year for a while now. With some of the new additions that we have had -- the potential -- but it is also you do not know what it is going to be until it happens. The way that this group has handled it, the way guys have been able to execute, that is huge. That is maturity, that is growth, that is guys taking what we have talked about and being able to transfer it into a critical moment. I do not know if I can put it into words how difficult that is in the heat of the moment to calmly think and execute and do the little details right. It is not like we are doing these crazy schemes in these moments; guys are just doing the little things right and executing it."

(On what he says to his teammates after penalties to get everybody settled down)

"One of those drives was so long, and we only ended up with three points -- I think it was 16 plays, three points -- I do not know how many third downs we had, almost ran through our whole third-down call sheet. In those moments, you tell those guys, 'Hey, if that is how they are going to call it, [have] to let go earlier on some of them.' In the moment on it, you cannot change it, you cannot go back and fix it, so really, dwelling on it is not going to do anything for you, but we can learn from it. We can say, 'Hey, if they are going to call it that close, let go earlier and just move on.'"

(On if injuries in the wide receiver room put an emphasis on involving TE Cade Otton more in the passing game)

"A lot. It is tough to say until we know if Tristan [Wirfs] is going or not. We have asked those tight ends to help on the edges, chipping and doing some of the dirty work which they have done a great job of. It is tough to say until then, but we would love to get Cade [Otton] more involved just because of how reliable he is -- always in the right spot at the right time."

(On if he has heard from RB Bucky Irving or WR Tez Johnson about his juke to avoid a sack during Sunday's contest against the New York Jets)

"I have not, did they say something?"

(On not getting any love from RB Bucky Irving or WR Tez Johnson for his juke)

"No... it is crazy, isn't it... it is a cold world."

RUNNING BACK BUCKY IRVING

(On how WR Mike Evans makes his job running the ball a lot easier with all of the attention Evans draws from opposing defenses)

"We have great receivers on the outside that make plays, so they always open it up for the run game. But, being able to lean on those guys in the passing game and also being able to lean on those guys to make key blocks in the run game [matters] too."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's juke to avoid a sack in Sunday's contest against the New York Jets)

"I do not know where he pulled that out of the bag from, but like I always say, that guy is a competitor, man. He definitely pulled something crazy out [of] the bag when I [saw] that I was like, 'Woah, he [is] doing something, for sure.'"

(On going up against the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and seeing how well they match up against them)

"We treat every game the same. Going into each and every week, [we] approach it the same. [We] do not really care what opponent we have, but being able to treat every game like it is your last game and putting it all out there on the line."

(On what has been the key to the successful two-minute drives the offense has sparked)
"[Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles puts us through those situations a lot. Last year, we did not capitalize on that, finishing out games. So, just being able to go into a different mindset -- different mode -- when it is time to go into that two-minute drill knowing that we have to go down there, knowing the situation, and players [have] to make plays."

(On what kind of challenge DT Jalen Carter presents at the forefront of the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line)

"Their whole defense is a problem. We know we have a great opponent coming in. Their guys fly around on defense, but just being able to trust our coaching staff to put together a great game plan and we go out there and execute at a high level and see what happens."

CORNERBACK BENJAMIN MORRISON

(On rotating in at outside cornerback throughout the game)

"It is just a blessing to learn from two good vets in front of me with 'Z' (Zyon McCollum) and [Jamel] Dean. To just be able to get wisdom from them throughout practice and throughout the week…We are just doing whatever we are told and when my name is called, go out there."

(On what challenge QB Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' receivers present for the defense)

"They [have] two All-Pro [caliber] receivers. So, right there that is very uncommon. You have to respect them; they are two well-talented guys in the NFL -- well respected. We have to be on top of our P's and Q's and execute the game plan."

(On QB Jalen Hurts' ability to extend plays and how that makes it difficult for defenses)

"That is why they won the Super Bowl last year. We are going to have to be on top of it, it is going to be a good matchup -- 3-0 versus 3-0 -- so, it is going to be fun."

(On how he approaches going against the Eagles' receivers who have very different body types and abilities)

"Film [and] having an idea pre-snap. Going out there and understanding what could threaten me when they are out on the field and figuring out who they are. I am going to dive more into them to figure out their release points and how I can put myself in the best position to make a play."

(On having the opportunity to play against the Super Bowl champions to see how they match up with them)

"It is cool. It is a big game. I think that is why we play football, for the games like this. They are a [very] talented team, so I am just excited to see how we measure up -- it is a good test. [Head Coach Todd] Bowles keeps talking about how it is not about them, it is about us, and this game will not win or lose a Super Bowl, but it will put us in a good position."

-BUCCANEERS-