Head Coach John Fox
On QB Peyton Manning’s touchdown drives
“It was helpful that he only had it for about 36 seconds but we scored so that was the good news. I think that’s something that we’ll get better at. Part of that issue is we let them possess the ball, in particular on third down conversions, defensively. In a first game like that, [Steelers QB] Ben Roethlisberger’s a tough guy to play against because he does extend plays and he did and we had about three explosives there in that second quarter, the touchdown before half. Like I said, it’s a good football team that we played tonight and we were fortunate to come out with a nice win.”
On how QB Peyton Manning looked in his first real game this season
“He’s a great player. A lot’s been made of the injury and those types of things but we’re just glad he’s on our team.”
On the defensive effort, particularly with CB Tracy Porter
“He’s a guy that we acquired from New Orleans in the offseason. Guy’s had an excellent training camp for us. That was definitely a huge play. Probably the play of the game, being up only six, for him to make that play then was huge.”
QB Peyton Manning
On the 71-yard touchdown play
“Well, it was a little different play—it was a screen pass. We were running the ball on a similar formation in the first half, and [Pittsburgh] kept blitzing off the back side—so it was a kind of half-time adjustment. We thought we could fake that run to the strong side and throw him a screen, but it showed up for a big play. We weren’t thinking an 80-yard touchdown—maybe a 9-yard gain is kind of what I was thinking—so it sure was a nice surprise. Some really good blocking on that play; [G] Zane [Beadles] had a good block and [T] [Ryan] Clady … [WR] Matt Willis came all the way from the back side to get the safety, and, of course, [WR] Demaryius [Thomas] did a majority of the work and really turned it on with great speed. Just a huge play. This was just an interesting game only having the ball for a couple plays in the third quarter.”
On joining tonight the 400-career touchdowns club (only third ever)
“There are a lot of people that participated in that process—a lot of receivers on different teams throughout the years—and I’m grateful for their help. I guess you would call it an individual record, but I kind of accept it on behalf of many great teammates and coaches.
“[QBs] Dan Marino, Brett Favre are two of my favorite players of all time—two of the best quarterbacks of all time—I don’t really feel comfortable being in that company, but to be mentioned amongst them is truly humbling and quite an honor. It’s not one I take lightly.”
On his overall thoughts on the win
“It felt good to get the win. I’m still feeling my way out; I still have some limitations; I think this team is still forming its identity [and] as your feeling yourself out, feeling the team out, when you can get a win in that process, that’s a nice thing. Like I said: we’ve got an extremely tough schedule, going on the road [next week] to Atlanta, but it’ll be nice to go in there 1-0 as opposed to 0-1. It’s going to be a serious test next Monday.”
CB Tracy Porter
On his interception return for a touchdown
“It always feels great when a defensive back gets his hands on the ball. The opportunity came up, and I got my hands on the ball. I didn’t securely catch it, but I made the play, and I just thank the Lord for giving me that chance.”
On whether he played more aggressively tonight
“Not really. It was just a matter of making corrections and making the plays we needed to. Our offense was scoring points, scoring touchdowns, and we got a few key stops. That’s how we won the game.”
WR Demaryius Thomas
On making another long touchdown catch against Pittsburgh
“It’s kind of similar, but not quite the same.”
On catching QB Peyton Manning’s 400th career TD pass
“I talked to him about it before the game. I was, like, ‘You’re going to give me the ball, right?’ He said he would think about it, but he got the game ball. It was great to be able to catch his 400th [touchdown]. It’s big.”
CB Champ Bailey
On starting the season with a win
“They’re hard to come by. [The Steelers] are a good football team. They gave us everything they had.”
LB Von Miller
On the Pittsburgh Steelers’ last drive
“We had great coverage. It was a long game and they had been doing well on third downs. We just wanted to go out there and close the deal.”
On QB Peyton Manning’s performance
“It was great. I have said all along, he looks like Peyton Manning. He went out there and he had a great game today. We just want to keep it one game at a time.”
On RCB Tracy Porter’s interception
“It wasn’t a surprise to me. I have seen [RCB] Tracy [Porter] do it time in and time out at practice. We came out here and it was great to do it here in front of this Bronco Nation crowd.”
Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Quotables, Week 1
Who is gonna tell Von we are Broncos County?!!!!? Skillz!? LOL I heard another from Tracy for another source… someone asked him about Champ not getting thrown to and he said “Of course no one is going to throw it to Champ… hes been doing this for 100 years! ” LOL oh they are throwing it to Champ now and its been a very long time since we have had two shut down corners like this. Pay Tracy Porter Pat Bowlen… we need him around for awhile!
Cat! What a game! Von did get it right on his blog though, we have to give him a pass based on how pumped he would have been after that game! This season is going to be amazing.