Head Coach Pete Carroll:
Opening statement:
"It was a character builder today. A challenging football game obviously right from the very start. We had trouble on the kickoff return unfortunately, but I'm not worried about that because of what happened on our coverage. It gave them a chance to jumpstart this football game, and they got it done. They looked great early in the game. We were reeling a little bit on defense. Offensively, we felt like we were moving the ball the whole time. We just needed a couple more conversions, a little bit better red zone early in the game. Eventually, when it was 20-6, we just hung in there. Our guys were real clear that you can't win a game early like that, and you just have to keep battling and doing stuff right as long as you can. Then before you know it, we are trying to tie it up at halftime. Going for two there was really just because we were going to be behind if we didn't or if we kick it either way so I just said screw it, let's go for it and see if we get it. There was a lot of football left. I just love the way we hung tough and stayed in this game. There were so many opportunities to let this game go away from us and our guys would just not do it.
"The goal line stand down there, all that time and all the back and forth with all the things that happened down there, that was an extraordinary sequence, but our guys wound up stopping them. I was so fired up about that. That is when football is at its very best. It is the height of intensity. It is the most intense moments that you can find in the game when you are right down there, and our guys figured out a way to get off the field, which is great. We didn't handle it very well. I messed it up. We should have taken the safety when we were backed up down there. I was signaling to Mike (Seahawks P Michael Dickson) and Mike didn't see me. I should have called timeout and I didn't. I messed that up. We should have taken the safety back there. It was the perfect time to do that, and then kick the ball out. I just couldn't get Mike's attention, and I should've done better.
"The second half, I thought it just showed. We put a lot of yards up in the first half, and then we just kept going. I thought the offense did a beautiful job today. (Seahawks QB) Russell (Wilson) was exquisite again. He found us ways to make plays – two touchdowns, and ran one in as well. He is just making stuff happen, and it has to be hard for the other side to try and figure out how you are going to stop the guy. He just keeps making plays. The receivers came through across the board. I loved the day for (Seahawks WR) Jaron Brown – a couple touchdowns and some really beautiful plays. I thought (Seahawks WR) DK (Metcalf) played really well. (Seahakws WR Tyler) Lock(ett) came up with some crucial plays working with Russ – that chemistry is just unbelievable. It gave us a chance to get all the turnovers today. Finally we get bunches.
"We have been talking about it all the time and we come up with four balls today. All across the board, everybody had a shot at it. That was a beautiful thing on defense to get the football back. It is so important. We needed the blocked kick from (Seahawks WR) David Moore, as well, just to hang in there. There is a lot about this game that I thought was really fun, and I'm also thrilled to see us finish the game on offense and run the clock out and take a knee at the end of the game. It was a great job by the coaches calling the sequence and the guys executing to get that done."
On the Seahawks OL playing well while being without two starters:
"We love those guys. We wish they were with us, but it didn't really faze us. We didn't do anything different at all. We counted on (Seahawks T) George (Fant) to come through at left tackle. We counted on (Seahawks T) Jamarco (Jones) to play like he did. We just went through the game plan and did exactly what we wanted to do. No restrictions at all. It was a fantastic job by those guys. George at left tackle, [DE Myles Garrett] is a really good rusher a lot of the time over there. It was a terrific job by those guys. I think we rushed for 170 or something like that. That's beautiful. That's right where we should be."
On Seahawks TE Will Dissly's injury:
"He did hurt his Achilles. We don't have the final on it, but it is a serious one. He has to get some tests and some MRIs and all that, but it's a big loss. He's been playing great football. You saw him. He was running in the open field and it just happened like Achilles do. They come out of nowhere. It's a devastating injury for him for this season. Will has done everything he can. He's an unbelievable Seahawk. Every play that he's been in for us, last year and this year, is just topflight. He is a first class competitor in all ways, and it's just unfortunate that he's going to have miss the rest of the year, if the tests come through like we think they will."
On Seahawks RB Chris Carson's performance:
"Another great day for Chris. He worked so hard and so well. He hasn't missed a trip. It was a few weeks ago we got him rolling. The last few weeks, he's just been on fire. He's just so tough. I love the way he plays."
On Wilson hanging tough after taking some big shots:
"Russ got banged up a couple times. We are so lucky he's on our team. He just keeps finding a way to compete, battle, and do great stuff, getting up and contributing in so many ways."
On getting three interceptions:
"It was a huge day. You guys don't know how much we emphasize the football. It's the source of our philosophy. It's all about the ball. We are +3 going in and we take pride in that, but we hadn't had a big day yet. To come out +3 today was really important because we know everything follows the success from getting the football. Our guys are committed to that and we basically do an incredible job of taking care of the football. We're doing it again this season. We are on a good track. We can do better, but we're on it again. I was talking about bunches, and they come in bunches, and today was the day for that."
On practicing forcing turnovers in practice this week:
"We had a big week. We were talking about it. There was Turnover Thursday – that was a day that was all about bunches, as well. There were three in a row on Thursday I think, so it was in everybody's mind to see if we could pull that off today."
On the Seahawks' pass rush:
"It wasn't effective enough to get him down. I don't know what his numbers were today. He had a pretty big day. I think the quarterback did well for them. We have to keep working. We're trying. We just have to get it done."
On the safeties rotating through:
"We wanted to see (Seahawks S) Lano (Hill) get some playing time. He wasn't in the dime package. We wanted to get (Seahawks S Marquise) Blair some work. He deserved it. He has been working hard and otherwise, he is just sitting there forever and doesn't have a chance to get in the game. We just wanted to see what they're doing and how they fit into the scheme, and if there's things that we can do. We're still searching to get it right. I'm not impatient about that. I keep telling you guys we're still working at it. We'll figure it out. We're not even halfway through this thing yet so we have a long way to go."
On being 5-1 and the reason for the resiliency:
"I'm going to go right back to what I've been saying. We have really good leadership from the guys that have been around here, Russ and Bobby, in particular and then there are a number of other guys that keep things on track. The messaging that I am trying to get across to players, they are helping with all the time. They know who we are and what we are all about. They are teaching and leading by example and doing a wonderful job there. The overall attitude and the mentality that our whole group has in this locker room is that these guys are all together. They are connected. They care. They are playing for one another and they get it. They understand how valuable that is and they keep showing up. That is why you make it through the tough stuff. That is why you can hang and have everybody firing in the same direction. When we make an error, somebody pulls that guy up and fixes it and helps him. That is why we have been so positive for months and months about this team and feeling and sensing that this makeup is part of it. Every game has been hard. We have only had one game where we won by more than a touchdown. These are character-builders and they're going to make us better. The tougher, the better for us. We need all of these challenges. We need all of the situations that happened today. A million things happened today and we'll learn from all of them. We'll just keep on chopping wood."
On making adjustments after Cleveland's first couple of drives:
"Yes we did. Nothing that I will share with you, but we did. I thought (Seahawks defensive coordinator) Kenny (Norton, Jr.) did a nice job of redirecting stuff that we were doing at halftime and kind of kept a lid on it. That running back is a great player. (RB) Nick (Chubb) is a great player. We made a terrible mistake on that one, but he is a fantastic competitor and we have great respect for him."
On Seahawks T Germain Ifedi:
"I think Germain is doing a really good job. He has been steady and playing good football for us. He's tough. I was leaning on him this week that we're losing a couple guys, and he needs to send a message and stand for the message of what we're about this week. He was excited to do that. I think he's done really well."
On rotating Carson and Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise:
"We were subbing for a number of reasons. Some of it was just because we wanted C.J. to take it. It was unfortunate when the guy got his shoulder pad right on the football and knocked it out. I didn't see it as clear as maybe you guys did. I don't know if it was punched out or what. That's a great aspect of football though. Guys are doing it. We've seen it happen."
QB Russell Wilson:
On the win:
"It was a crazy game. It was a battle for sure. We were down 20-6 against a great football team with a lot of great players. We found a way. We just kept going and kept going. We kept believing that something great was going to happen and sure enough it did. In the fourth quarter, we found a way again."
On what he told the Seahawks on the sidelines when they were down:
"We're made for this. We're built for it. I think the biggest thing was just to stay the course. I felt like we were moving the ball pretty well. Then something would happen, maybe it was a long play or something like that. I think for us, we just had to stay the course and keep believing. Our defense was amazing, especially in the second half. They made some huge turnovers. With the turnovers alone – I think we had four turnovers – they just found a way to make great plays to get the ball back. That fourth-and-1 stop was incredible."
On his level of trust with Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett:
"I trust everyone. Obviously, I trust Tyler. He is one on the best wide receivers in the game. If you look at it, everyone kind of got the ball there during different spots and moments within the game. JB (Seahawks WR Jaron Brown) made some great plays. He had two touchdowns catching the ball on third-and-1 or second-and-long. Tyler just does a great job of getting open. He came in and made a huge catch on the third down. That was special. Everybody works together. That's why you practice every day. We had a great week at practice. We kept staying the course. I thought our offensive line played tremendously. To go against big (DE) Myles (Garrett) on the edge, he a pretty big player and I think (Seahawks T) George (Fant) did a tremendous job stepping in for Duane. Duane is one of the best left tackles in the game and losing him is tough. George was prepared. He was ready. He's been working hard. He's experienced, and it was great having him out there. I think (Seahawks T) Jamarco (Jones) for his first start. He played tremendous too. We saw that last week, and it transferred over to this week. I thought we had a tremendous effort there. I thought (Seahawks RB) Chris Carson ran the ball extremely well. It was a great day."
On play calling in the first half:
"My helmet wasn't working for a series or two so we were running no huddles and calling the plays. The helmet went off at the beginning of the drive. I lost communication. I couldn't hear anything so I just kept calling plays. When you study the game plan, you know what you want to do. You know how you want to get the balls to different guys. We ran it up and down the field and ended up scoring a touchdown on the drive. We changed helmets and played the rest of the game like that. When the helmet shuts off, you go to the gameplan. You go to what you know. I think for me it's about keeping the tempo and getting the ball to the right players at the right time. Like I said, we study so much of the game plan so we have a full understanding of all the calls and plays. We memorize everything so we know what we want to do. There is no fear in those moments. You have to have confidence. There's no panic. Why panic? You have to stay focused."
On Carson's contribution:
"Chris Carson has been tremendous. He's one of the best running backs in the league. He's physical. He can catch. He protects you extremely well. He had some great catches, explosive catches and runs. He's been tremendous for us. He's been crucial. For where we want to go, we have to have him play great and he's definitely doing that."
On bringing back his role as play caller from the preseason:
"I think it helped a little bit. I have done it before, maybe on a couple drives and stuff. Like I said, it's about all of us being on the same page, knowing what we want to do and studying like crazy. Preparation is everything."
On running tempo in the game:
"You want to keep the pressure on the defense no matter how you're moving the ball. We had our guys in. Some guys are coming in and some are coming it. I always reference basketball. It's about controlling the tempo, and when you're on offense, you want to control the pace of everything. I think we can definitely do that."
On taking a hit on the TD pass:
"I did not see the catch. I got crushed on that one. Yeah, it was a good play. We checked through the play and changed it a bit. I thought we had a chance to isolate JB (Brown), and sure enough, it worked out the way we wanted it too."
On why he feels the team is built for games like this:
"I think we have a lot of experience. With (Seahawks LB) Bobby (Wright), myself and (Seahawks LB) KJ (Wright), we have been through all the highs. There were a lot of highs. We have been through some lows, too. We stay the course. We stay even keel. We keep focus on the mission. We have tremendous leadership across the board – (Seahawks DT) Al Woods, who I call Uncle Al. More than anything, for us, you have to look forward to these moments. If we want to be championship team, you have to look forward to these moments and we were able to do that today."
On Seahawks TE Will Dissly's injury
"That was a tough one on us. I have developed such a great relationship with Will, and I just want him to keep the faith. He's had a tremendous year. It's tough because it's been back to back years. I think that he's still young. If anybody is a tough as nails, it's him. There's nobody tougher that I know. He'll come back stronger. That's just a tough part of the game. More than anything else, I just want him to stay encouraged, keep the faith and keep believing. Great things are in store for him. We'll make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that's the case."
On the second TD of the game:
"I was about to scramble and create some time. I thought the line did a tremendous job on that play. JB ran a hook route to the left and came back inside. I kind of saw him flash in front of my eyes and hit him. We needed it. That was a huge touchdown. He had a great game today. It was us just battling and finding a way. They have been great on third downs. It was a great game for us especially on the road. This is my first time playing here and it was a tough environment. It was as loud as it can be. The Dawg Pound down there was tough, but we found a way."
WR Jaron Brown:
On his ability to get both feet down in the end zones:
"That's something we practice every day. (Seahawks WR) DK (Metcalf) had a nice one today. It's something we work on a lot. I actually didn't realize I was that close to the sideline."
On how he stays open during the play:
"I just try to follow [Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's] eyes, even though it's hard sometimes. I know he is always going to find me and I need to be ready.
On recovering from the hole they dug early in the game:
"Playing smart football, eliminating penalties and not shooting ourselves in the foot. With the turnovers, that's big. The defense, they played lights out."
On WR's making special teams plays:
"Man, that was big. I didn't even realize that (Seahawks WR) David (Moore) blocked it until we got to the sideline. That's something that we always talk about who is going to be first in the group to get a punt block so is that kudos to him."
RB Chris Carson:
On the team's patience when trailing:
"We don't like to feed into all that. When you are down, you just have to stay the course and we tried to make that happen."
On the difference in the Seahawks offensive line with roster changes:
"No, it wasn't different at all. We have a next man up mentality and (Seahawks T) Jamarco (Jones) and (Seahawks T) George (Fant) are great players so we know that with the other two being down, we knew they would fill in and do a great job."
On how difficult it is to be patient on runs to open up:
"It is in the beginning, but once you see better results, it's easier to be patient and let the offensive line work."
On how he would describe the Seahawks offense's play:
"Great. We know that there will be some games where the offense is not working and the defense will have to pick us up. When the offense is clicking, we might have to pick up the defense this was a game that was back and forth. We are glad we got this win and put up some points."
On being able to run the ball at the end of the game:
"It's a will. We always want to finish with the ball in our hand. Last week, we didn't really do that. It was good that we were able to finish with the ball in our hands this week."
T George Fant:
On coming away with a victory on the road:
"It was a great game. We had to do a lot of fighting to come back. We have been here before. We have been down early, but we know what it takes to come back and we showed that today.
On how they were able to manage against The Browns' strong front:
"We held up pretty well from our point. It's a fight. They have some great players across the board. We had a few guys down, and luckily for us, we are deep in our Oline room. We have some great vets in there who keep everyone prepared and ready. It was perfect for us, a great opportunity and we are happy to get the win.
On Seahawks RB Chris Carson 100-yard day:
"It feels great to go out there and play again. Chris is a great player. He is always going to get his. Happy he played well tonight.
On playing LT today:
"Left tackle for me is home. It was a little easier for me to transition back to it. I am happy with the win. There are some things I want to go back and correct and get them out of the way, but I'm happy with the win."
CB Tre Flowers:
On how the Browns offense started the game:
"They came out firing. It is the NFL. They came out with a new week and it showed. They came out hot, but we got the win."
On the big chunk plays earlier in the game:
"Really just people trying to do too much. Just trying to do too much in general. Everybody just had to slow down and trust each other like we normally do. It showed in the second half."
On what Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner said to the defense:
"That is what Bobby said. To slow down and trust your brother and we will win the game. That is what happened."
On what point in the game did the momentum shift:
"I never doubted. We have (Seahawks QB) Russell Wilson at quarterback. I never doubt, even when we are down. You cannot win the game in the first, second or third quarter. You have to win it in the fourth."
G/T Germain Ifedi:
On going up against DE Myles Garrett:
"It was good. He was on both sides. When he was over here, we had a good battle, …He is a hell of a player. It was fun playing against a really good player. We just have to do our job."
CB Shaquill Griffin:
On if the big defensive plays rank top of the list for the Seahawks:
"Oh yeah. Going through the week, we go to Turnover Thursday and we got four turnovers in practice. You come here and get four turnovers. It is something that we practice. We preach it every day. We knew we needed a big play. We just had to stay true. We did not want to change anything up. We knew we had to go back out there and make another big defensive stop. Everybody stayed true to themselves. We did not do anything different or extra. We played our game, stayed aggressive, and the big plays happened. It was huge for (Seahawks LB) K.J. (Wright) to have that pick late in the game. We needed that.
On if the four turnovers were the most he remembers the Seahawks having in a practice:
"Yeah, four is a lot to have in practice. To have four in the game is even better."
On feelings after Seahawks LB K.J. Wright's interception:
"It felt good. It was on the whole game. We started out kind of flat, but we found a way to bring it back. We believed the whole way. It felt even better saying goodbye to the fans. I think that is a new tradition to me. Once we win a big game like that on the road, I will make sure I say my goodbyes. I do not want to be rude (laughter)."
On Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's consistency:
"I think the best way to put it is that No. 3 is in his bag right now. Top of his game. That is the person we look up to and believe in. He believes in us. We are going to keep on doing that. We are going to keep doing what we have to do to win these games."
WR Dave Moore:
On blocking the punt:
"Just trusting everything that coach was telling us all week. The preparation we had going into this game, he said it was 100 percent that we were going to get a block. That is what it was."
On what the Seahawks saw on tape that led him to say that it was 100 percent that the Seahawks were going to get a block:
"[The Browns] do not really protect that well. They will leave somebody out there and leave them free. I was the one who went free."
On when he realized the Seahawks recovered the blocked punt:
"I honestly did not know. I did not know where the ball was. I felt it hit my hand and then I was like 'wherever it is it is, but hopefully we got it.'"
On turning it around after the initial kickoff return:
"We always hope for the best, and sometimes we do not get that. We just have to fight to the finish. It is not how you start. It is how you finish. We showed that we wanted to finish and get a win today."
On Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's performance:
"We call him the magician. He is always somewhere where nobody thinks he is, making a big play, throwing the ball somewhere where it needs to be. That is just Russ. He does his job well."
FS Tedric Thompson:
On the team's interceptions:
"Everyone got one. It was good to see. My mom is here. This ball is going to Mom. My mom comes to a lot of games."
On the turnovers and Seahawks secondary:
"I told them every week we need to get better and better. I think the biggest thing is we are going to keep creating turnovers to give the ball back to (Seahawks QB) Russell (Wilson).
On the halftime message that lowered the Browns offensive yards from 300-100:
"I don't remember what (Seahawks Head Coach) Pete (Carroll) said at halftime, but I know we were really beating ourselves. That is a great team, just like any other team in the NFL, but a lot of plays we needed to settle down. Once we did, I thought it was good."
On the similarity between this comeback and the Saints game earlier this season:
"We are going to learn from our mistakes every week and try to correct them. Communicate, tackle and get the ball from them, and we will be straight."
On his interception:
"(Seahawks CB) Shaq (Griffin), I was in the right spot at the right time and I just dove for it. He should really get the stat for it, he took it for me. I'll give it to him, on God I will."
On who had the biggest turnover:
"Everybody. Every turnover we got was at a crucial part of the game so I feel like everyone contributed to our win."
LB Bobby Wagner:
On his postgame thoughts:
"It was crazy. They came out with a bunch of energy as we expected. They punched us in the mouth the moment they stepped on the field but I felt like we weathered the storm. We had to calm down, settle down and start making some plays. The offense made some plays. They made some key plays towards the end I just feel like it shows our grit. No matter what, we do not give up and we have a lot of gutsy players on this team."
On what adjustments the defense made after the first couple of drives:
"I do not think we really made that many adjustments. I think it is just guys doing their job. I think we were trying to do too much in the beginning and I feel like it showed and it hurt us. Once we kind of settled down and everybody started playing with a cause, we felt like we started to stop people."
On creating four turnovers to help win the game:
"We had been waiting for a game like that and we always say to count our blessings. We sure did this game. I think we had four and a blocked punt so we were able to create a lot of turnovers and I felt that is what helped us win this game."
On getting his teammates together to talk during the first quarter:
"Yeah, I just felt like we were not playing how we needed to be playing and I felt like that is not the defense we want to be. I felt it was important to get the guys together and basically just say do your job and do not try to do too much. Do not worry about the score. It will be fine. If we keep playing our game, it will fine. We have a lot of young guys. Myself, (Seahawks QB) Russell (Wilson), (Seahawks LB) K.J.(Wright), we have been in games like this where it has not gone our way and we came back so it was just kind of letting them know that it was the first quarter and it will be fine."
