INTERIM HEAD COACH MIKE MCCOY

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 19, 2025

Just two injury announcements. (L'Jarius) Sneed actually had the quad and then Jeff (Simmons) with the ham (hamstring). Just a quick little summary of the game. Got out to a fast start, exactly what we wanted to do as a football team. Going out there doing a great job and got rolling through the game and did some really nice things. Cam (Ward) played a nice first half for us as we got going there, and then at the end of the half, unfortunately, we gave up the big play. That was disappointing and then, they came out and went down the field to start the second half. And then obviously we had the turnover, which was critical. We can't have that. We got to do a better job, all 11 guys on the field.

It's disappointing the way the game went after the end of the first half. So, we got to do a better job stopping the run. The quarterback got out of the pocket a little too often for us. We got to contain that, keep him in the pocket and make him do it the hard way. And then offensively, we can't get shut out in the second half and do what we did. Only, what? Eight plays in the first three series in the third quarter.

But, hey, we're going to stick together here. We're going to fight our tails off and find a way to go win the next one. That's the most important thing.

Aside from the turnover there in the third quarter, what were some of the reasons for the offensive struggles in the third?

It's going to — I'll have to obviously watch the tape tomorrow. The turnover starts and then there's some protection things that came up as the game went on and we've got to do a better job, all 11 guys doing their job better. We had some very successful drives in the first half of moving the ball, and Cam (Ward) was playing well. We got to run the ball better and more consistently, so.

How much was simplicity kind of at the core of what you guys were trying to do with all the turnover today? Was there a concerted effort to try and just do what you guys know how to do well? Or were there a lot of changes made to try and reconfigure the offense, I guess?

It's not about the simplicity of it, it's what do our players do best? That's what we're always going to look at. It doesn't — every play on that call sheet you thank you is a good play. That's why it's on there. So, I think we're going to always, every time you go into a game plan from week-to-week, you look what do you think is the best way to approach this team and what is the best way for your football team to go down and move the ball and score points offensively. You saw what Cam and the rest of the offense did. Chim (Dike) had the big play, the explosive play. It was the perfect coverage, things like that. That's what happens. Players play. Go make a play. It was great. Great to see.

How would you assess Cam's day and what do you say to him about the turnovers? It's happened in a couple of games. I know he's not trying to do it but how do get that out of him?

That's something that can't happen. We've got to avoid that, and there's going to be —listen. You're going to have some mistakes. There's going to be some things like that that come up, but it's happened too often in the last couple of weeks. It's something we harp on, we talk about it all the time and players got to go out there and play, and we got to do a better job as coaches also. So we are all in this thing together.

That last series in the first half, you had some time-outs --

Offensively or defensively?

Offensively. You had three timeouts, you had a chance maybe to get in position, Joey Slye's kicking the ball well. What happened there?

With the wind conditions, it was howling. That was the tough way to go, the tough direction, even our last series, the series before that on offense. If you could hear the conversations that were going on there, just because the way the wind was blowing, it was changing, things like that. I think Bones (John Fassel) did a great job communicating with me all game long where the start point needs to be to even attempt it. That came into consideration of where we were going. The score of the game, how we're doing it. Don't give them another opportunity. There's a number of things that come up, but the wind was definitely a consideration of it's not like — normally, if you're playing inside, there's not any issues, weather issues or anything like that. You say okay, you get the ball, you get to the 50, you can bomb it, certain things. But there was no way in today — at that point in time during the game that we would be able to do that.

Slye did hit a 50-yarder into that same wind. Did something change?

We were going what we thought was best, like we will every game. That's what we're always going to do. Situation of the game, score of the game, how we're playing on both sides of the ball. There's a number of factors. It's not just, 'Hey, okay, he's made this one.' So we're just going to always think about, okay, situationally, what's the best thing for our football team on that game day.

What are the ways that you can maintain the energy that you guys came out with in the first half? Seemed like the offense was ticking, things were moving pretty fast for you guys and you guys were getting what it looked like you guys wanted and in the second half it seemed to kind of sputter. What are some things that you guys are looking at to kind of maintain that as the game goes on?

Play complementary football. That's a big thing. I think when you look at it, playing complementary football, the offense, the defense, the kicking game. I think Chim (Dike) did a phenomenal job in the return game. If we just block one return a little better, it's going to be a house call and the whole team, it'll electrify that entire team. It's a matter of everyone going out there and all three phases playing together, help each other. We had a critical third down backed up, third-and-eight, becomes a big play and next thing you know, they go down and score. So if you get that stop, it's a field- position game with the conditions we had. And you get good field position. You go down there, get points, it's a whole different deal. But it's all three phases playing together, playing complementary football and finding a way to go out and win a game.

I don't know if you said this yet, any update on Simmons and Sneed?

Like every injury, I'm going to tell you guys this now. Every injury we come in here, we're going to come in, give you an update on what it was, and every injury is going to be a day-to-day basis because you never know until you get back to the facility how guys wake up the next day, how they're feeling. You're always trying. We'll always talk to the players about, hey, at this point in time, it's Sunday to Sunday. We got to do whatever we can to make sure we take care of our players because we're always going to look out for our players' best interest health-wise. Number one. That's always going to be taken into consideration, so they'll do whatever and as the week goes along, we'll give you guys an update if we have any information to share.

Can you identify anything that was done different or particularly specifically changed under your regime what had been happening before the change?

In what area?

Was there anything that the team did differently today that you believe was not happening?

We got off to a fast start. We got off to a better start. I think the way we played the first half as a whole until the last couple minutes, I think we did a nice job there.

On Cam's interception, it looked like a similar, I don't know if it was the same route or a similar route to him throwing behind Elic in the first quarter. Both of those misses, was that an issue with guys not getting to the landmark? Was he behind those guys or was that a miscommunication?

I have to watch the tape to tell you exactly what happened and where, see how the route was, see how the coverage was, see all those little things. We got to protect the football.

For a game like this, how do you hold guys accountable? That was something you talked about in the week leading up here. How do you, as the interim coach, hold guys accountable?

After every game. I'll say this: Our entire organization this week has been phenomenal. The entire organization. Everyone came in, we rallied around each other. We had a great week. Thank you for all your help this week. You were awesome. But I think everybody in this organization, top-down, they were unbelievable. The week of practice we had was phenomenal. So, they did a great job. So, it's just a matter of we got to find a way to play better and we're always going to — you talk about the accountability part. Regardless of the score of the game, no matter what it is, practice, games, we're going to watch the tape and we're going to be critical. We're coaches. We're going to coach. We're going to coach extremely hard and that's the way it's going to be. No one's trying to make a mistake. No player is out there trying to make a mistake, but we also have to coach them and talk about the little things, the fine little details that it takes to get over this hump. Whether it's footwork, whatever it is. As coaches, too, we've got to look at ourselves and say how do we help the players? Because it's all about the players. It's always going to be about the players. So, we got to do whatever we can to put our players in a position to succeed. And they've got to go out and execute. We're not going to make any excuses. We're going to get back to work, get back in the meetings tomorrow, watch it in all three phases tomorrow. Clean everything up. Players have Tuesday off. We'll get back in Wednesday and bust our tails to find a way to get a win this week.

Patriots hadn't run the ball really well this year coming in. What did they do well today in that department, and I guess how much did losing Jeff hurt?

I think starting the game that was one thing after the first couple of series we said we got to do. We got to stop the run. That was one of the first things we talked about. I heard the staff talking. I was doing some, doing a little bit of everything at halftime, but you could hear the defense staff saying number one, we got to stop the run. Stop the run and keep the quarterback in the pocket. They out-executed, and we got to do a better job at that.

QUARTERBACK CAMERON WARD

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 19, 2025

What happened with the quick start and what derailed the second half?

I think just with the quick start is just us having urgency. That's how we need to start every game and maintain it throughout the whole game. And the third quarter, really, fumbling the football, I think that was what really set us back. If I don't do that, the game does get out of hand that fast. So just got to continue to have ball security and get better.

Did the ball just slip on that play?

Yeah.

That's two weeks in a row. What's going on?

Got to hold on to it tighter. But really, just got to continue to emphasize it within myself. Got to be better at it. I know that's something that I can't continue to let happen. I got to cut that out next week.

Do you feel like you guys lose urgency at any point?

No, we don't lose urgency. It's just we have to continue to stack plays. And there's just— whether it's a false start and even towards the end of half, I should have checked the ball down, ended up stopping the clock again. We have to just waste the play on what we didn't have to. It's all of us have to do our job every play. And when we do that, we can be a good offense.

Do you get a chance to push at all to try to score a field goal before halftime or is there no chance for you to participate in that conversation?

That's the goal, to get points. We had enough time, we had three timeouts. But when I don't take the completion right there like I need to, it puts the coaches and the offense in a bad situation. So that's how it ended up happening So, I just got to be better. We got to be better as a whole, and then at the end of the day, we've got to win games. We have to start next week by winning a football game.

Obviously, you didn't get the result, but Mike McCoy and some of the changes that he's implemented, how do you like that went throughout the week and in the game?

I think Mike (McCoy), he's done an unbelievable job, especially within the circumstances that he's in and everything he has preached to us since he was named the interim. And then all the way to this point, it stayed true. We want to be a hard, tough, physical football team, and we were that at times, but we weren't that the entirety of the game. That's why we got the outcome. So we got to continue to pour into the coaching staff, the coaching staff continued to pour on us and we've got to flip this thing around.

He mentioned how previously working with Trevor Lawrence, he just told him all the time that, 'Hey, you're getting better, you're getting better.' Is that something you've experienced in this short time with him?

Yeah, I've experienced that every game. Not only him just telling me that I get better. I'm feeling that I'm getting better just because of the level that you have to play at consistently. And just as a whole, myself and as an offense, we haven't done that consistently. And I just think the coaching staff, they never really tell us what we have to just continue to emphasize, they more tell us just to play the next play, continue to play. Because at the end of the day, you're not going to have a perfect game. But you've got to continue to stack perfect plays to end up trying to be in a situation to win.

Is there anything you could take from Drake Maye's path? He had a somewhat rough rookie year, had a new coach his second season, and he's playing like that. That's a pretty good course he's on. You think you can follow that?

It's not really about following him, it's more of being myself. I think he's a great player, he's going to continue to make plays in this league. When it's all said and done, I think me and him, we'll have a chance to have some elite battles. So he got the best of us today, but we got to continue get better. But you know that's not really the main goal as far as us trying to be a particular person. We're trying to play together, we ain't played complementary footbal for a decent amount of time. It's only been at clicks of the day. So we just got to continue to pour into each other, do better, and try to win next week.

What allowed you and Chim (Dike) to have the success you had right out of the gate? And did they do something to try to get him away in a second?

Me and Chim (Dike), we just see it the same way, from how he sees the field to how I see the field, it's the same way. I think that's something that me and him continue to create that relationship just on the field. I think he had an unbelievable day, not only in the return game, but especially at receiver. I think the more reps me and Chim get together, the better we're going to be, but this is only the start.

With the fumbles, do you think it's more an issue with focus and concentration or is it more mechanics?

I don't think it's neither, I just got to hold on to the football.

Did the coaching staff tell you anything after that fumble?

No, they don't really be crashing out on the sidelines, it's really more, 'Next play.' But they don't need to tell me that. I know that. But I've got a great coaching staff around me in Bo (Hardegree). He continuously tells me what I need to get better at, and that's one of the opportunities I have to get better at.

Do any examples come to mind of anything that was new or done differently today versus the first six games under Brian (Callahan)?

In terms of like—

In general operation, communication, strategy, scheme. Was anything different today than what had been in the past?

Not really in terms of just how it translates to the game, our play. I think the biggest difference has only been just practice. We had a great week of practice, and I think it translated to the game, not the whole game, but we're starting to feel it click. But nothing really changed. Coach (Brian) Callahan, he did his best for us. He's a great head coach. He's a guy who took a chance on me, so I'm forever going to be grateful to him. But, we just got to continue to play complementary football. We did it for one half, we didn't do it the next half, so that's the next improvement for us.

What are maybe nights like or 24 hours like for you after a game when things don't go as well as you want them to as far as beating yourself up and how are you as far as putting stuff behind you and getting ready for the Colts next week?

I can put stuff behind me fast. I think as a quarterback, you have to be able to play the next play, got to be able flush stuff. And it's really me watching all my bad plays. How can I prevent it? What situation are we in? What down are we in? And even on some good plays, there's some stuff that I can continue to do better today, but I just got to be to build off the bad plays and make them into more good plays.

Were there more opportunities today for big chunk plays, even with Calvin (Ridley) out of the game? Looked like you have some decent success in getting the ball down field?

Yeah, I think that was more of an emphasis this week, just because of the different coverages that they can get to. It's a good defense that they have in the back end. And at the end of the day, we had to put the ball in play as well. Starting early, just taking what they give us until we're able to get the intermediate and deep throws. So we just got to continue to stack plays like that.

The interception that was behind Chig (Okonkwo), it looks similar to the miss in that same area of the field to Elic (Ayomanor) in the first quarter. Were those the same route or the same play? It looked like the same miss. Was their miscommunication there in terms of the landmark or were you just behind?

No, it wasn't the same route or the same play, completely different concept. I just threw the ball behind him, so I just need to be accurate with football.

To what extent do you think your performance so far is representative of what Cam Ward can do at the quarterback position?

I think he can do a lot. He can push the ball down the field. He can make plays with his feet. And he can motivate his teammates to continue to try and score every drive. That's the standard that we want to score the football every time we touch the field, whether it's with three or seven. I think that's just what I possess. Not a lot of people can go the route that I took to get to this point. So I'm not tripping over just a certain situation that one person is in or I'm in. I'm always trying to get better every day and meet my end goal, trying to be one of the best.

On the touchdown, Dike said that's something that you guys talked about. How long have you been waiting to have that opportunity and that exact look to be able to take advantage of what both you and he do well?

I was ready for that play. We had that play on the sheet for about three, four weeks. So whenever he called it, I got to smiling in the huddle. Almost checked out of the play, but we reloaded. And then, that's Chim (Dike) really making the play. The O-line did an unbelievable job just getting everybody out of the way. Gunnar (Helm) sealed it with the pin block, and Chim made the play. So, I got to continue to put the ball in his hands, let him make plays, because when he touches the ball, he's dangerous.

Was that the first time that was called this season?

That specific play, yeah. Not the protection scheme, everything. We just got a new play in and it worked.

ADDITIONAL TITANS PLAYERS

CENTER LLOYD CUSHENBERRY III

In the beginning, you guys got off to a good start offensively what happened?

Got some good play-actions in, got the run game going a little bit and just the flow of the game felt good until we started to hurt ourselves with penalties.

So, you think the penalties kind of started that spiral to the Pats gaining some momentum?

Yeah, I would say penalties and then eventually the turnover in the second half. But started with a penalties. Started with myself. I had a bad penalty in the second quarter, I believe, so it started with that.

How do you try and prevent, I guess, the motivation and the belief in the locker room from dipping?

I don't see it dipping. Like I said last week, we all still have a job to do. We're playing for each other. We're playing for the name on our chest, the organization. Also we're trying to represent the name on our backs. So, we all got to take pride in that and just come back to work, back to the drawing board. And like Coach McCoy told us, man, every Sunday is a dream. We all dreamed of being here growing up. So, you can't take it for granted and just got to keep going.

Cedric Gray said he thinks it'll be that much more fulfilling to come out on the other side with some progress having gone through all of this together. Do you agree with that?

Definitely, 100 percent. So much adversity has been going on. It'll feel amazing to get some good positive vibes going back in this locker room and in this building.

LINEBACKER CEDRIC GRAY

To lose a leader like Jeff (Simmons), what was it like our there?

It's definitely tough to lose a player like Jeff, the leader that he is for this team and just the energy and grit that he plays with. But it's always the 'next man' mentality. We got to move on, and just keep playing.

In the first half, to see you guys flying around out there, what do you think happened to the team in the second half?

I'm not quite sure. I thought we kind of came out, and played well in the first half, like you said. It kind of got away, with us, a play or two, here or there. Like I've said, the game can change so quickly, from just one or two plays, and I think that's kind of what happened.

(Drake) Maye, obviously a big guy, but pretty mobile, hurt you guys with a couple of runs today. How tough was that?

Yeah, definitely. Kind of had to do a little bit better job of keeping him in the pocket. He was able to get out, and make a few plays sometimes. So that definitely kind of played a factor, in him being able to extend the drives.

Anything different with the way Coach (Mike) McCoy was running the show today, as opposed to Coach Callahan, or did it feel the same?

I mean, it felt similar. There are some things, that internally we'll kind of keep, that he's changed up, or just emphasized. But nothing too crazy of a difference.

So I'm curious, is this the toughest stretch of football, in your young career?

Probably since high school. My sophomore year in high school, I think my team started off like 1-8. So that was probably like the last time, or really, any time I've kind of ever been through something like this. Obviously last year, I was a part of that last year, but was hurt most of the year, but still kind of playing. It feels a little bit different this year. But definitely, a tough stretch.

Having been through a couple of tough experiences like that before, is there something you can pull, and spin forward to this, and keep yourself going, other than what motivates you already?

I think it's just building. Just keep improving and building. It might not be our time right now, or this year. We just got to find ways to keep getting better, keep stacking and our time will come. It feels a lot better when you stay through the s---, you work through the s--- together, and then you finally come out on top at the end. It's going to feel a lot better, so we just going to keep working. We're going to keep getting better. We're going to find a way.

Along those lines, Coach (Mike) McCoy has really stressed, that you guys stay together throughout this. How important is that going to be?

Yeah, it's very important, it's very important. We start turning on each other, quitting on each other, worrying about ourselves, and different things like that, it's only going to make the season worse. So if we stick together, come together as a team, keep fighting as one, it's going to make things better and it's going to give us a better chance to get the outcome we want.

WIDE RECEIVER CHIMERE DIKE

What was going on in the first half that made everything click for you?

Just execution. We had a good week of preparation and I think offensively we were able to do some really good things in the first half. I think the second half, I made a critical error, a block that cost us and I think things like that right? To win games that we want to going forward, we need to do those things that starts with me.

You feel like you were more involved in the offense this week with Coach (Mike) McCoy taking over?

I mean, I wouldn't say that necessarily. I think that the coaches have been doing a great job of working me. And I think things just kind of clicked today. Put a lot of work in with Cam (Ward) and the rest of the guys, and it was nice to see some success. But at the same time, we want to win games.

You mentioned putting in a lot of work with Cam (Ward), that 38-yard touchdown, a deep crosser. Is that something you guys have worked on a lot in camp up to now, or how did that come about?

Yeah, I mean, I think it's just the reps we put in, right? Obviously ran it throughout camp, and the season and then also just watching film, putting in time, being able to see things the way you see them. It was really nice to connect on that.

And what do you want to do with the game ball back there? What are you going to do with that?

I'm going to take it home. I've had two called back. So, it's nice to get to keep this one.

Were you kind of looking around, like, making sure that one didn't go back for any weird reason, no flags? It feel good to finally get in there?

Yeah, a little bit, I was a little nervous about it. But O-line did a really great job protecting on that play. Cam (Ward) obviously threw a great ball, and it was nice to get in the end zone.

Cedric was telling us that he thinks it'll be that much more fulfilling to come out on the other side having gone through the difficult stuff you guys are going through now. How do you view that in the moment coming off this game?

Yeah, I mean, I think that the belief is still there within the group. And anytime you go through adversity in life, and we're facing adversity early in the season, it definitely feels good when you're able to come out the other side. So, it's important we get back to work this week, have a great week of preparation and go play a great game Sunday.

Sorry, I forgot to ask this already, but how good did it feel to contribute in several different ways today in the special teams and offensively?

Yeah, I mean, it felt great, obviously. I think there's things I got to clean up. Especially critical error in the third quarter. But that's just part of the process, continue to get better. And we'll watch the film tomorrow and learn from it.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN PETER SKORONSKI

Was that early rhythm born out of something maybe all that changed this week with all the changes or was it born out just consistency of what you'd already been working on?

I think consistency, I don't think we reinvented the wheel or anything. Just felt like those were relatively simple plays that we have been running since training camp. Just felt like the execution was really well and the play calls kind of complemented each other. So, I think nothing, no big changes, just doing what we've done and executing the plan.

Did anything feel different this week with all the changes?

Not particularly. I think we tried to just keep things a little bit simple, just given the turnover, especially with our staff. So nothing drastic, nothing wild. But honestly, just keeping things simple and trying to execute the best we could and I felt like that paid off in the beginning and then just got away from us.

Peter, obviously the frustration is there. How are you personally stomaching this one with the way things have gone?

Every game is a new game, every game's a chance to win. And for me, personally, I feel like every time you go out there against great competition, especially today, you have a chance to prove yourself and put your resume on tape. We're going to try to get as many wins as we can and try to do the best I can to play left guard for this team and so it's a new process every week and we just got to take it one week at a time.