HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL

Opening:

We had a really difficult day, obviously. Boy, nothing worked out the way we wanted it to, other than the first couple of drives. After that, we just weren't able to do enough to have a chance to win the game. It didn't matter, kind of, what phase we were in.  We just weren't good enough today. We were ready to play, and jacked up and all that, and it turns out like that. It's just really a surprise.  We could talk about this, and you guys are going to ask your questions and stuff, but really, our focus is gone on that game, because it wasn't going to be on this game after we got in this locker room anyway, with the game coming up next week.   Everything comes down to the final week of the season.  We're fortunate that we have a chance to play for the Division [title] this late in the year.  What's important for us is to be disciplined about this so that we can turn our focus to that week, and not be affected by what just happened. We do that really well. It's already started, and the mentality has to go to getting on; there's nothing we can do about this thing.  There were so many things that just weren't right for us today.   That's kind of what it is. You can ask about guys, and about the game and stuff like that, but I don't have much for you.  We did get both of our running backs banged up today. Chris [Carson] and C.J. [Prosise] both got hurt. They're out. We have to get to scrambling; Johnny's [Schneider] got to get to work and figure out what we're doing next. That's a lot of game for Homer to have to play by himself. So, obviously, we will make some moves here, and figure some stuff out.     

On whether Carson and Prosise are both out next week:

Yes.

On the injury situation with Duane Brown:

 He needs to get his knee fixed. He tried like crazy to get through it this week and just couldn't. He did everything he could during the week and couldn't get it to quiet down.  He just needs to get his knee cleaned up. It's not a major surgery, but the discomfort is that he just can't play. So, he's going to get operated on tomorrow.

On whether he expects both Carson and Prosise to be out beyond just next week:

Yes.

On whether Jamarco Jones playing left tackle is the long-term plan to fill in for Brown:

Well, that was the plan this week. We were kind of holding out hope that Duane might be able to shake it and be ready to come back at the end of the week, and he didn't make it. So, that just turned us to the next circumstances. He just needs to get fixed up. We declared that on Saturday or Friday or something like that, that Jamarco would be the next guy up so that we can keep George in his role and do that. We'll figure it out next week. I can't tell you what's going to happen. 

On Chris Carson's injury:

He did something to his hip. It's a similar injury to what Lano Hill had. 

On a Prosise's injury:

C.J. broke his arm.

On whether Carson's injury is a fracture:

 I don't know. I don't know what to call it. He's getting his tests right now.

On how they will rally with all of the attrition:

We are going to figure out a way. We are going to use all of the same tools that we use all the time, mentally, to make sure we can be disciplined about it and turn our focus on the challenge. Our guys do a remarkable job of doing that. So, people who question their ability to do it can't believe when we do it. We'll try to show you and prove it. The 49ers look awesome. They're playing great football, they had a great win last week. It will be as great a test as we could play. I'm disappointed that we didn't go into [the 49ers game] with momentum, but we're going to recreate it here during the week.

On whether Wilson was limited physically:

He was fine.

On calling a time out when Arizona had the ball late in the first half:

 It was just to see if we would have enough time to do something with it if we got the ball back. That's what it amounted to. We wanted to make sure we made the right call, also, in that situation to get out and not let them score a touchdown.

On the discussion with Jason Myers prior the possible field goal attempt in the first half:

Yeah. They got messed up up front, and he just felt it would be better to take the delay than to take the time out, and I couldn't tell what was going on. We were supposed to kick the ball there, but we didn't. They were messed up up there.     

On whether the plan was to kick a field goal, and a decision was made to not kick:

Yeah. We were out of whack with what was going on. I think I will leave it at that.

On Travis Homer's play today:

Travis, he worked his tail off today. He had to carry the whole load, as well as special teams. He's a focal point guy on Teams as well; still the personal protector on the punt team and all that, so he did a great job just to get through the game and finish for us. 

On the pass protection:

 We had a terrible time today. Chandler Jones, we went into the game knowing, and we tried chipping him and all kind of different things, and we weren't able to keep him out of there. It was a really hard day. I can't tell you exactly—because you would like to know what was the one thing, but there was not one thing, because we did a number of things to try to keep him from getting there, and he just had a huge day.

On the play of Ziggy Ansah and Mychal Kendricks:

  I can't tell you how good; they did fine. Mychal made it through the game, that was great. Ziggy played a lot of football today, so that was good for us. We just need him on the field.

On whether Carson is out for the season:

I don't have that definitively, but my guys are telling me that, yes, it looks like that. We'll get the final tests back tomorrow.

On whether Duane Brown can return to play later in the playoffs:

Yes. It's a couple week deal, we think, if we're lucky. So, that's why we went ahead and rushed to it, and try to get him back, because it was not showing signs of improving.

On how close Jadeveon Clowney and Shaquill Griffin are to playing:

Both those guys were not right. They couldn't make it back. They both tried, and they weren't right and they couldn't pass the tests with the trainers. So, it wasn't even a tough call when we got down to it. We held out hope that maybe they could turn a corner, but neither one of them did. It's interesting that a few of our guys; sometimes earlier in the season you get to the end of the week and they can make it back. Here, these guys didn't in this case. So, we'll just see how that goes next week.

On the third-and-three after the blocked field goal, whether it would have been four down territory:

It would have been, but we got knocked for a loss. Yeah, we had a couple plays there. But when we got knocked back we said let's take the points and give us a chance to be within one [score] and all that, but that was not what we wanted to do. It was a fantastic block [of the field goal]. I don't know who got the block, but it was a great play. Rasheem got it? Boy, he continues to do good stuff. Good for him.

On the challenge of losing Carson and Brown at this point of the season:

 We do kind of like running the football, you know. It's a challenge. John has to get working. He has a plan, and he was already preparing for every position that has a fallout wherever we go. So, we'll let you know when we get to it.

On the injury to Mike Iupati:

 He had a stinger. A stinger, and he just sucked it up and he was able to play. They checked him out and said that he was OK. He really did suck it up, though.

On just three receptions by wide receivers today:

It was really protection related. We weren't able to get the ball off. We couldn't get the ball out to them. We thought that Patrick [Peterson] did a good job on DK for the most part, we didn't get the ball to him at all. Tyler got one ball, I think. We just couldn't get the ball out. Russ couldn't do anything about it. It was a really hard day, protection-wise.

On whether there was thought of going for it on fourth down in the first half, prior to the delay of game penalty:

Yes, we were thinking all through that, yes. After the 5 yard delay, there was no chance.

QB RUSSELL WILSON

What kind of loss was this? You're missing Carson and C.J. now.

Well, obviously. Losing Chris Carson, who has had an amazing year, haven't heard exactly what it is fully and the extent of it. But I know it's pretty tough on him. Tough on us. He's been a great player for us. He's been the epitome of toughness. He's been the epitome of a workhorse and just all the things that he's been able to do. He's been really, really special. He's had great confidence, great ability all year. We have believed in him, and he's had, he's one of the best running backs in the National Football League, hands down. He'll come back stronger and just praying for him and that's a tough part about this game.

And then in terms of C.J., it was good to see him in there in the past, really, two weeks, he's gotten in there some. And just to, I think he hurt his arm, broke his arm or whatever. So just to think about that, and I know that's got to be tough on him, too. So it's just disappointing and we'll figure out what we can do.

How does this offense function properly without the top three running backs?

Well, I thought Homer did a good job stepping in, to be honest with you. He's a great running back, he's been taking all the, all the necessary steps to be on his protection. He did a good job on that. He, on the run game, he had a couple nice runs. He did a good job catching the ball out of the back field. So he'll be ready to roll. And then I think more than anything else, is that we just got to respond. There's so much to figure out. I can't answer all those questions that you're -- but I think that ultimately the good thing is we have a chance to win the NFC West. That's the reality. That's the truth. And the truth is we got to play better, too, as well. So both of those things are real. And so there's, I don't think there's anybody better than us to be able to figure out how to answer back.

What was your view of what happened offensively after that first touchdown drive?

Well, I think we got kind of stagnant. I don't think we did enough. I think there's some more opportunities there we can take advantage of and do some things. And we just got to be -- go for it and just have no doubt and just be cleaner. And I think that's the reality. I think Chandler Jones had a great game today. He's a star player. He's been special for years. And he's one of the best to do it. He had a good game, too. So give them credit, they did a good job.

So speaking of Chandler, he hit you pretty hard a couple times. Are you okay physically?

Yeah, I feel great. I feel a hundred percent. They got my ankle a little bit, landed on me early, but that was really small, I -- they just kind of landed on me funny. But other than that I feel a hundred percent. I feel great. So ready for this last game here at home and the playoff push. And I feel a hundred percent.

Duane Brown, also, we were told he's going to have surgery and be out for a couple weeks. What's it like playing without him and how does the line function without him?

Duane's been special for us ever since he's gotten here. Not sure his circumstances and situation. But he's one of the best left tackles in the game. So, but we'll have to be able to respond. That's just part of this game. Everybody gets dinged up, every team, and everything else. And so everybody has things and everything else on every team. So what we have to do is figure out how to answer and figure out how to come back and go get a win. That's really what it it's about.

Bobby's mentioned the adversity you and KJ have faced here. Where -- what do you draw from that for a situation like this and how much up against it are you now compared to before?

Before this game everybody was talking about how we were one of the best teams in the NFC. Now things are probably going to change. It's part of just the media process, right? You can't go with the waves. We didn't play great. It's like going to the gym, sometimes you go up to bat and sometimes you go 0-4, sometimes you go to the gym and try to shoot and the ball is not going in. But if you believe in yourself and you believe in who we are and what we have been able to do all year and to even get to this point where we are to be fighting for the NFC West, there's a reason why we have been there all year. And we do have to get some guys healthier and everything else. That's a factor. But I think that ultimately we play a little cleaner, play a little sharper, get rid of it, and in terms of this game, it's one of those things that you have to move on. That's the only option. That's what we have always done and nothing else is going to change. So we'll make sure of that. And I think that adversity is temporary. That's the reality. Adversity is temporary and you just have to answer back and respond.

How do you avoid being stagnant moving forward?

I think just got to study the film and figure out what we can do more of. And I think just continue to try to get the ball to Tyler, try to get the ball to DK, do different things, change it up a little bit. They seemed like they were on a couple things and ultimately I think that -- obviously we lost not having Duane, Mike got injured, everything else, and Chandler played great, we got to figure it out and we'll make sure we do.

You're so good at staying neutral, but now that this happened twice in three weeks does it give you any pause, like, all right, what's going wrong here that this does not happen again as we get into the biggest games of the season?

I think you process it and try to learn from it, for sure. I think -- that's why you study. I think you study what we're doing really well and what we can do better of and more of and then I think from there you hopefully respond the right direction. I think we had a tough game a couple weeks ago on the road, at the Rams, we didn't play our best football, we were trying to catch up from behind, we had some opportunities in the game early, we didn't make those plays, unfortunately.

Fast forward, they had the lead, to try to come back, we weren't able to do that.

We fly across country and we respond the right way. We score three touchdowns in the first three drives. I think it's just about response, just about staying composed, staying neutral, not wavering on what we, who we are and what we believe.

There's a third and one pass to Hollister I think on the second drive. Just, I don't know, a throw you wish you had back?

They kind of felt like it was coming and so I was thinking it's four down territory, we may go for it, and I think we end up kicking the field goal there -- we end up punting it actually -- so I thought we were going to go for it, so it's not there right away, the guy came off the edge pretty good too, he was right there, so it's kind of one of those all or nothing kind of plays.

How did you feel about the team's preparation this week?

I think we prepared great. I think we just didn't play great. I think that there's never a question of preparation, I think we study like crazy, I think we do all the necessary things, we didn't play great tonight, that's the bottom line.

LB BOBBY WAGNER

On what caused the difficulties on defense:

I think execution and tackling. I feel like there was a couple times where we could've made a play and got off the field, but it didn't happen. We just have to put ourselves in positions to make those plays.

On what switched after the offense and defense had great first drives:

I feel like we started off the game really well like you said. [The] offense had a really good drive and we had a three and out. When they got that whatever-yard touchdown run, it kind of swung the momentum in their favor. It kind of felt like it was hard to get the momentum back on our side. We have to do a better job as a defense to make sure that doesn't happen. It's unfortunate.

On the defense in the final three quarters of the game:

It was very disappointing. We didn't come out with the energy that we needed to. We didn't make the plays that we needed to. It's a game where if you want to learn from it, we can. Which I think we will. We just have to learn from it. And don't dwell on it too much because we have a big game next weekend. The last thing that we need to be doing is thinking about what happened today, a week from now. We'll watch the film, clean up the mistakes that we've made and get ready for a championship ballgame.

DE RASHEEM GREEN

On what Coach Pete Carroll said following today's loss:

Pete was telling us not to keep this on our minds. He was just saying make sure we come back. We bounce back. We do a good job of preparing for next week because we still have a lot to win. We're playing for a lot.

On if he thinks they were focusing on next week's game instead:

No. That doesn't come to mind. I thought guys were really focused this week. They came in and practiced. I thought we prepared the same way we did every week. When it came down to actually doing the calls right, I felt like the Cardinals were just a bit better.

On how they approach the last game of the regular season:

I feel like we just do the same thing we always do because I think we always do a good job of preparing for a championship game. We do the same thing we always do. Just come in Monday, watch film. We like to make sure we look at what we did wrong and fix that. We come in on Tuesday and Wednesday to watch film of the 49ers and make sure we do a good job of preparing and making sure we don't make the same mistakes that we did this week.

CB TRE FLOWERS

On what the biggest thing is to do in order to try and bounce back next week against San Francisco:

It's not 'trying,' we've just got to do it. It's all or nothing right now. It's go time.

On what the mindset was for the defense as Arizona tried to ice the game:

Just get the ball. Pull it, strip it, whatever it takes. Just try to get the ball.

OT GERMAIN IFEDI

On why they weren't as ready to play as they wanted to be:

We were ready to play, but we just had to match the intensity. We didn't get up for the fight. We got knocked down in the ring a couple times and we didn't get up at the same tenacity. It's going to happen, but it's how you respond to it. We just weren't able to get going. I wouldn't rather go to war with any other group of guys. Coming back from this, I know everyone else feels the same way. This team is going to come back and fight. This one doesn't feel good. We're not happy with it, we're not making excuses, we're not talking about who didn't play. We had who we had out there and we were more than capable to get the game and we weren't able to match them. It will be important for us, just coming back from this one, learning from it, and moving ahead.

On if it was surprising how the game took a turn after the opening touchdown drive:

It was surprising, yes. But they didn't show us anything that surprised us. We just weren't able to come back and once they responded, we weren't able to continue how we were on that [first] drive. Maybe we kind of expected them to lay down after that. But they're a team full of guys that want to win no matter their record. We were surprised when they came back from it, but we're excited to see how we respond to it.

On what Pete Carroll told the team afterwards:

Same type of message. Just learn from this one and understand what happened but also understand the opportunity we have ahead. We'll learn from this one and grow from this one. We know the feeling going into this week, it'll be a great week of preparation for us.

TE JACOB HOLLISTER

On still having the opportunity to win the division next week:

That's exactly it. Like I said, tomorrow we'll flush it and get ready to go. We know we have a chance to win the division this next Sunday, so that's really all you can ask for.

On if they were looking forward to next week before this game with so many players out this week:

I wouldn't say that at all. During the game, we were 100% locked. At the same time, we obviously didn't play the way that we wanted to. That's what it comes down to.

On the chance to beat the 49ers at home:

It just means winning the division. I'm excited that we can do it at home and that we can have this game at home. We'll be ready for it.

TE LUKE WILLSON

On how the many injuries affected the chemistry of the team:

 I mean, obviously those guys are tremendous players, but that's no excuse for us to have the performance we had today. The bright silver lining is that it's all on the line next week. Every year, we set our goal for the NFC West. I'm sure CenturyLink Field will be rocking for sure next Sunday.

On if there was something he thought that flipped after the first offensive drive:

Not really. That obviously was the case when you come out on your first drive. I don't know how many plays we had there, but we pretty fluidly marched down the field. I don't really know exactly what flipped, like you said, after that. But, I did get kind of the sense that we're going to be- and credit to the Cardinals. I'm not trying to take anything away from them, but I think there was a lot of stuff that was in our control where we made a lot of mistakes as a unit.

On if it matters looking forward to meetings tomorrow to move on:

Oh, for sure. I mean, we'll correct what we need to correct and then it's on to San Fran. Especially this time of the year with our record, we're going to learn from it and we're not going to dwell on it, and get going.

FB NICK BELLORE

On when he knew the ball was coming to him on the TD:

 When the play was called, I got a pretty good idea that it was coming my way. It's just a matter of getting open there. It's always a little nerve racking when the ball is in the air like that. I got lucky and caught it.

On why they couldn't recreate the momentum they had in the first drive:

It was tough. The Cardinals played great and I don't think we played well in all three phases of the ball. We didn't come up with stops on defense. We didn't move the ball on offense. We didn't do anything to affect the game on special teams.

On losing Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise around the same time and how that affected the game:

 It's huge. We love Travis Homer and everything he does. Chris and C.J. bring so much to this team and to see them go down… But that's the stuff that happens in the NFL. We have to adapt and overcome. I'm not sure how long those guys are going to be out or whatever. We just have to rally together and do the best we can.

On why he thinks they couldn't execute in the game:

No. I think it was just one of those nights where things just weren't clicking. We just didn't execute how we're capable of and how we're coached to do. When you do that against a team that was really clicking tonight, you're not going to have a good night.

S BRADLEY MCDOUGALD

On how things changed when Brett Hundley took over at quarterback for Kyler Murray:

 It didn't really change too much. I feel like his main focus was just to come in and manage the game. He didn't come in taking crazy shots down the field. He did a great job managing the game. He didn't turn the ball over, and he just gave them a chance. He moved the ball effectively; he ran the ball. We didn't really see him as a runner, and he made a couple runs for first downs. He's a hell of an athlete still. I would say his main job was just to come in and manage.

On what happened on the pass to the tight end Maxx Williams down the sideline:

I just had a brain fart. I didn't see it was a tight end. I thought it was a pulling guard, so I didn't even think to get my eyes back to him because linemen can't go downfield. But it was a tight end instead of a lineman. I've just got to have better eyes and make that play.

On how he feels right now about this game:

I just feel like we let one go. We've been in this situation before. Last year we had an opportunity to go down to San Fran and beat them to go to the playoffs and we didn't do that. Then, we came back the next week and beat the Chiefs and earned our way into the playoffs. I feel like this is no different. We definitely dropped the ball today. But, we've still got everything in front of us, which is a blessing. The only thing we can do is bounce back and get ready to beat the 49ers.

T JAMARCO JONES

On if he had to do things differently without Duane Brown in the game:

You just got to try to find ways to play your game. For like, the second half, it settled down a little bit better than the first half. Just got to get in there and watch film and try to figure out how I can get better and help the team.

On how losing Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise changed things:

It's a tough sport we play. Guys go down. You just want to keep it moving sometimes when the guys come in or not. You got to be able to change it up. Like I said, everybody just has to get back to the basics. We have a big game this upcoming weekend. We'll be fine.

On if it ever felt like they had momentum in their corner after the first drive:

Yeah. Even in the second half, the field goal block, there were opportunities there. We just got to take advantage of them. They don't come that often in this game. We just got to make sure we are in a position to take advantage of those opportunities when they come.

RB TRAVIS HOMER

On how play calling changed after losing Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise:

 It really is different to see both of them go down like that. I don't really know how things are going to change. You probably are just going to have to go ask the coaches that. I'm just going to try my hardest to do whatever I can.

On what he thinks of the offensive vibe on the sideline:

We had energy going on. Things didn't go our way. We just have to overcome that in the future. I know we're going to.

On what he learned about the team and Russell Wilson after the adversity today:

 We always stay strong. We never had negative thoughts or anything like that. Always positivity. I like that.

On if he was calm when both running backs went down as quickly as they did:

 I was definitely a little bit more tensed up, but as the game went on, I chilled out.

G D.J. FLUKER

On how to flip things around after this loss and prepare for next week's game against the 49ers:

We're going to watch the film for an hour or two, and then flush it. You've got to learn and take notes from that. Learn what does work for us, and what doesn't work for us. I think that's what it is for us. More attention to detail and being more prepared. We were prepared for this game, but things just didn't go our way. We had a little hiccup. Like Pete [Carroll] always says, 'It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish.' We have a lot of ball left ahead of us and we have to look forward to that. There's always a positive to every negative.

On not having Duane Brown for the near future:

 Guys have to step up. Jamarco [Jones] did a great job. He's been everywhere. He played right guard, and went from right guard to left tackle. That guy does everything. He's going to be alright. I think we are going to make strides with him and just keep on pushing.