You know, whatever people talk about the best defenses in the league, there is always talking about Seattle first. Pretty much. Statistically, you guys are right up there. You're ahead of him in some categories, right with him and others. Do you think you guys are now at the point where you should be in that conversation about the best defensive units in the league. Yeah, I mean, I think they say that because they've consistently been over the years, been that
type of defense. But you know, this year we've shown National Football League who we are, what we can do, and yeah, I mean, we believe we're the best defense in the in the National Football League. So in our opinion, of course, we believe we should be in that conversation. You know, that's that's on us though. I mean, we
know this, this is going to be a battle of defense. Um. You know, one of our things going into it is not only do we have to be better than their offense, but we also have to be better in their defense on Sunday. So it's gonna be big for us. It was he used a lot of empty sets against England. The kind of difficulties does that pose, especially for the back set. Yeah, I mean, it just gives them. First off,
Russell was able to create so well with his feet. Um, putting all five options out um allows him more opportunity to create in more more ability, more space. Um, you know. So so that's number one. But then also you know they've got they've got people who can who can beat you downfield if you're not if you're not playing right. So you know we've got to be on point on the back seven and uh, you know, hopefully get some pressure up front contain Russell and that's that's probably a
game plan right there. Russell was battling some injuries earlier in the season. Looking at the film, has he looked less to run maybe than in the past. I mean he looks to run. Um, that's his game. He likes to be on the move. He likes to extend plays with his feet. We know he'll he'll move with the ball and look down the pass first, but but ultimately, if you give him a lane, he's gonna run the ball. So he's athletic enough, um, you know, mobile enough to
uh to extend those plays and make people miss. It's one of his things that makes them so special. So um, yeah, again, we gotta kee him in the pocket and contain him. How much you guys need to win a big road game, you know, kind of a defeat at home, you know, you know the deal. Yes, it'll be big for us every game from here on out. Um, it's huge for us. So you know it's a one game mentality. You know you've probably heard that a lot, but it's the truth.
And especially on the road, you know, this is them for us must win. You know, we've got to we have to win win these games. UM, So you know it'll be big for us. It's gonna be a dog fight. We expect that. Every game has been a dog fight on the road. UM. You know, we don't expect anything less. What's the channel, What's what's going to see you back? It's holding us back? No, I think it's ourselves. Um. At the end of the day, we're not making enough
plays at the end. You know, we've we've been up, you know, we've had the ball at the end to win the game. UM, been in a lot of different situations where the outcome could have been different. UM, and we haven't made those plays. So hopefully we can build on what we did last week, being able to make those plays, being able to make those stops and convert those those first downs and score the way our offense did and you know, build on that to continue us.
Can you continue this? Uh this you know momentum going forward. Um, we've got to be able to finish games out. Yeah, it's been able to identify any anything between home and road. That the point differential that you guys have given up home versus road is pretty sharp contrast. It's just execution. You know, if you execute, it doesn't matter where you're at, you're gonna be playing better. Um, and you're gonna you're
gonna have the type of outcome that you're looking for. Um. You know, it seems like our energy level is it's up a little bit when we when we're at home. So you know, we've got to get that changed. And um, you know we expect it to this. We're going into a hostile environment. UM, nope, nope, no, no, uh nothing. We have no other option but to come out with with a whole lot of energy because if we don't, you know, it's gonna be rough. Today. I don't even
know if the word is swagger or confidence cocky. This same attitude on the road as you do at all We do I think we do. Um, you know there's been I know the Detroit ganno, um, even the Washington game. It felt good going out there. Um. At the end of the day, it's just execution. You know, you gotta for us, you gotta stop the run. You've gotta gotta take the momentum out of their offensive hands and and and let our offense go to work. So UM, you know, I think I think it's just goes comes back to
the basics, speak about the run. The obviously more there anymore. Yeah, russellside solid. You know if I know they just released, um they're running back. Yeah. Um, but you know they've gotten They've been a team that sticks to the run. Um, and is is uh, you know, trying to establish the run first. So you know, just like every every week, that's the that's the number one goal is to stop the run. I think big difference for this week, Um, you know that you don't see every week is Russells
his ability to to extend play. So back in we got to be able to to plaster um on our coverage and then you know front we got to try and try and contain him. Played against some good tight ends, what sort of the challenge just Jimmy Graham presenting. Yeah, I mean they use him like a wide receiver. You're watch him, you know, and rightfully so he's got he's a he's a big guy. UM can go get any ball throw up at him. So um, and Russell likes
to target him a lot. So you know, we've got to be able to contain him as well, and uh, you know, be able to make him, make him stop his feet, you know, challenge challenge the throws and um, yeah, challenges throws. One of the biggest differences between in this defense between last year and this year, Jordan's your ability to get off the field and third down. Um, is there any one thing you can point to that's been more responsible than other things for why that's happening this year?
I don't know, man, mentality. You know, we harp on third down a lot. Um, you could, you could, you could look at a bunch of different things. I think at the end of the day, and I've said this this whole time is just execution, man, We just were just executing. Um. Guys are holding each other accountable? Guys are you know when it gets to that third down,
we know how how crucial it is um. You see, you look at the games we've lost, they these teams have been able to convert on third down or we've given up penalties to let them, you know, convert on third down and put them in a in a position to um pick up that third down easier. Right. So you know, obviously you have to play play well on first and second down, but once you get to that money down on third you know you've got to be be able to to to be stout, host out, and
uh to get them off the field. Orgast h