Read the full transcript from Head Coach Mike McDaniel's Postgame press conference on November 9, 2025.
Q: Tua, you mentioned this week how important this game was for you guys, given how the series has gone against Buffalo. How satisfying is it, given that, to come out here and have such a complete game today?
"It's very satisfying. We beat a great team today, and I'm proud of the guys in the locker room. The defense did what they needed to do. The offense did what we needed to do to some extent. Then special teams, they did what they needed to do to help us collectively win this football game. So I'm proud of the team, proud of those guys in that locker room. This is one of those where I want to say I'm very proud because I see the work that they put in day in and day out, and this is one that I think they deserve, the team deserves."
Q: How did RB De'Von Achane affect the game today?
"He had two touchdowns. I think that affects the game. Every time you can get someone like that, a playmaker, on your team, you get him the ball in his hands and you know what he's capable of doing. But it's not just that. It's also in the pass game where he helps us thrive as well. Having someone like that who can align at running back, who can align at slot or at receiver, I think that tells you a lot about the playmaker he is."
Q: I imagine you have to feel good that you still have WR Jaylen Waddle alongside you when you threw that deep touchdown to him. What's that like after all those rumors swirling around, to still have him and connect like that in a big way?
"That's me and Dub (Jaylen Waddle). That's our connection that we've had even being at Alabama. 'Von (De'von Achane) even called it. 'Von was talking about that play, too. When we talked about it, he called, 'that's y'all.' We had to make that play, and Waddle made that play."
Q: There was so much swirling around and especially with you, 'should they start looking at other people, are you going to be here next year,' and all that stuff. I know you and I know how you guys handle that – you don't look at it. But during the week, does it make you more focused? Do you make that a direct attempt to just not even look for it? How do you handle it all?
"I think for me, the more I try to focus or overly focus or overly try to do something, I tend to get worse at what I'm doing, because that's not how I operate with how I do things. With me watching film, with me doing my own walkthroughs after watching film, what those might look like, I don't think doing more for myself or trying to overly cook that is going to better myself. I've understood that throughout just the past month by myself. When I just go do what I need to do, understand reasons as to why we're doing it, play calm, play together, that's what this sport is about. That's why it's a team sport. It's not about one individual."
Q: That outside stuff isn't even…
"Yeah, it helps that I don't have social media. That's why. So none of that, unless one of my teammates have something to say, and they're, like, 'Hey, you didn't see this or that?'"
Q: Every win counts for one, but is Buffalo a little bit more special because they've had such success in the division and success against your team?
"Yeah, I would say both could be true, right? Every time you can get a win in the NFL, that's special. But given the times we've played Buffalo in the past and have gotten close and then have gotten blown out, I think that this one definitely makes it that much more special that it was against Buffalo, a division rival. They've had our number for years. So to be able to, the last time that we play them this year, beating them, that's a special feeling."
Q: The team that won today and won in Atlanta were decisive wins. What clicked in those weeks that hasn't clicked the rest of the year?
"I think everyone's motives are pure. I think some of us take it more upon ourselves to try to do other people's jobs when that's not our job. So you hear Mike (McDaniel) talk a lot about conviction in what you're doing and trusting that everyone has conviction in what they're doing, where they're going to be in the pass game, for the running backs, the space that they're going to have to find, where those holes are going to be for them in the run game. It's just having conviction for ourselves individually, trusting that the entirety of everyone is going to do what they need to do and what they're supposed to do."
Q: Head Coach Mike McDaniel said he's ok with you taking those deep shots, third-and-longs, because if they get picked off, it's just like a long punt. Was that like a mindset that had to shift to go ahead and take those shots anyway, and not be worried about throwing an interception on those?
"Yeah, I wouldn't say it was a mindset shift. It was more so when we got a certain look, when we got one-on-one with Jaylen (Waddle) and it was single-high safety, that no matter what, we wanted to take that shot. We want to give one of our best guys on offense an opportunity to go one-on-one with whoever their DBs are. We've got to make a better play, both me and 'Skee' (Jaylen Waddle), but outside of that, that's what we were told to do."
