Read the full transcript from Tua Tagovailoa's postgame press conference on September 18, 2025.
Q: I just wanted to start with the late interception. What'd you see and what happened on that one?) – "I thought I was in rhythm and timing of the play, seeing the flat defender go over the top of Jaylen (Waddle), Jaylen is turning around. I think that was a really good play by the defender, had some color in my face trying to maneuver the throw as well. Ten out of ten times, if we're looking at that same thing, I think I'd still try to work that timing of hitting that spot, and I think that the linebacker made a great play on that."
Q: What is the overall feeling of this team now being 0-3? Do you come away at large with some aspects of this game? I know you don't want any moral victories.) – "Yeah, no moral victories, that's for sure. There's definitely some things that we can take away that is good, that's up to par within our standard of how we within the offense, and then with how the defense wants to operate as well, getting the stops, when they get those stops, we've got to capitalize on that and allow ourselves to get points when we get those opportunities. Never good to lose regardless of how a certain individual may have felt they performed. This is a team sport; we win together, we lose together."
Q: What was going on that – so many plays were checkdowns to RB De'Von Achane. What were you seeing, what were the looks kind of that led to that being consistent?
"Playing their coverages, trying to get deep, trying to force us to take those checkdowns and then seeing if we are going to stay consistent with taking those checkdowns. Can they sustain taking that with what we're giving them the entire game or are they going to try to force a shot down field?"
Q: What was the opening drive success? RB Ollie Gordon II got involved a little bit, ends up scoring the touchdown in the running game. How did that work in unison along with the big kick return to start the game?
"I would say it started with the kick return. Started with the kick return, we got good field position and from there just going to work, really focusing on the operation. On a short week, I think our guys locked in and did really well offensively. That's sort of how we want to start every time, but then it's how can we sustain those kind of drives throughout the game."
Q: All week, just coming from everywhere, it's hot seat this, team's quitting that. Is there an emphasis this week to prove something from this team?
"I wouldn't say there was an emphasis to prove anything to anyone. I would say there was an emotion of wanting to get this thing right for each other – offensively, defensively and special teams. I think the biggest thing as we kind of looked at this game is when the defense gives us those opportunities to go and score, we got to go and put points on the board and vice versa - when we get it going, defense help us out with a stop so that we continue to keep this momentum and then special teams as well. That's kind of what you said with special teams, kind of alluding to our flow on that first drive offensively."
Q: Not many people gave you much of a chance coming into this game, you went toe to toe with this football team, a couple mistakes. Do you feel better about the direction your team is going in as you're moving forward?
"I would say we don't feel any moral victories. There are no moral victories, but we can say that there have been some plays made but how can we stay consistent with those plays being made defensively and then transitioning to that momentum offensively as well. We've got to look at the film. We've got a lot of time to look at ourselves in the mirror as individuals and then collectively as we're watching film, what do we need to do to stop the losses from going into the wrong column."
Q: You kind of leaned on the running game a lot today. You ran ball a lot, you had a lot of success. As far as that played with your passing game, if you can continue to do that, it's going to be a pretty good situation for you.
"Yes sir, and I think (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) did a really good job in how he called the game tonight. I think it's also one of those where as you're running the ball, you're kind of playing that game with the defensive coordinator where, 'All right, we're going to go Cover 2, give them eight yards, give them six yards. We're going to go Cover 2 again, give them five yards. We're going to go Cover 2 again, they can't sustain to run the ball the entire time. They're going to want to pass.' Maybe '10' (Tyreek Hill) is going to be in Coach's ear, maybe '17' (Jaylen Waddle) is going to be in Coach's ear. I think Mike did a really good job, and I think '10', '17', 'Von' (De'Von Achane), I think all those guys did a great job in how we wanted to operate tonight in the run game and in our turbos and all of that, so big credit to those guys tonight."
Q: I know you said that there were no moral victories but there were some positives. You got WR Tyreek Hill going, the connection with WR Jaylen Waddle. What in your mind, I know you haven't seen the film, but what were the positives that you can build on for next week?
"I think guys being in the spots they need to be. There's some things that we were talking about on the sideline that we need to continue to work on is guys just getting their depth. When they get their depth then we can distinguish the high-low and how we want to go about that in the reads. But then it's not just within the passing game; now I'm very proud of those guys in the run game, when those two are on the field, most likely we're getting two-high, so it helps when those guys are getting their shoulder in there to block a secondary for us."
Q: What is it like just facing QB Josh Allen on the other side, going stride for stride a little bit? You just get into a lot of these games with him, especially here in Buffalo?
"Again, I would say there no moral victories. Josh (Allen) is a heck of a player, we all know that. He's going to go out there and do what everyone expects him to do. I would say for us, it's worrying about what we got to do against their defense to stay ahead of the chains, third-and-manageable and be able to stay on the field in those situations."
Q: Was it particularly deflating, the roughing the punter penalty? You think you're about to go back on offense and then obviously the Bills are still on the field and scoring?
"Yeah, that's always going to be deflating. But then again, it's not like our guys go out there and they're like, 'Hey we want to go and hit the punter after he punts the ball.' It's not one of those where you're like, 'Man, what is this guy doing?' For sure you're like, 'Dude, what are we doing,' but it's not like they're going out there trying to do that. They're trying to do the right thing and unfortunately, that's what happened."
