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New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers**
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 ● Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeSaints Players Postgame Quotes
Running back Mark Ingram II
On Drew Brees today:
"I've been telling you all year that you don't sleep on Drew. If you are going to stack the box, try to stop the run and take us out of the game, then he is going to hurt you. We have been telling you that he is the best quarterback in the league. He is still Drew Brees."
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.
On his 80-yard touchdown:
"On the play call, it was to myself of Michael Thomas. On their defense, I saw the curtain come down and I knew I had a chance. I just had to get to my spot. I rushed to the end zone. I'm really the clear out guy there, but I ended up scoring."
On his performance today:
"It is really a blessing. I was a blessing for us. We put a lot of hard work into this week. We just tried to come out and execute. It wasn't as easy as we wanted it to be the Saints came up on top in this situation. We will just get ready for next week."
Wide receiver Michael Thomas
On when he knew they would need to win the game through the air:
"Coach was calling the plays and they were coming in through the huddle. In the playoffs, you have to adjust on the fly and do whatever it takes."
On Carolina taking away the run today:
"They play a lot of two-high (coverage) and then they switched to one-high. You try to execute with the talent we have. We knew what we had to do. It was on the receivers. We rode on Mark (Ingram) and Alvin (Kamara)'s back (a lot this season). When the time came, we stepped up to the moment."
Linebacker Manti Te'o
On winning a playoff game:
"It feels great. There is nothing better than winning in the playoffs. It was a great game. Hats off to Carolina. That's what the playoffs are all about."
On keeping them out of the end zone early:
"That's huge. If you take those three points and turn them into seven, then it is a different story. Obviously, we'd like to hold them to zero points and not get in that situation. It's part of the game and you have to rally as a team. It wasn't perfect, but we will get the mistakes corrected and move on."
On the end of the game:
"We talked about it at halftime that this game was on us. We need to not let Carolina score and we were going to win. They scored and did their thing. Our defense responded and what a better way to end the game."
Defensive end Cameron Jordan
On the two quarterback hits at the end of the game:
"When it comes down to it, I think they did a great job. They had a guy chipping me. I want it more than just the chip. I want my guys to be free. I want all my guys to make a play. Vonn Bell came out and made the biggest play. He wrapped him up. I thought he was about to escape, so I hopped in on it. At the end of the day, we just wanted it more."
On holding them to field goals:
"It was huge. If half of those were touchdowns, then we'd be sitting in a different spot. At the end of the day, our defense dictated what we needed to do."
Safety Vonn Bell
On the final play of the game:
"They dialed it up and I went out and made a play. I stood up to the plate to help this team. This was a big game and now we have to get ready for next week."
On the Saints offense going for 4th and two in the 4th quarter unsuccessfully and then the defense having to close it out:
"We won the game. Why not us? We sealed the deal."
On the coaching staff calling pressure on the last play of Carolina's final series:
"He'll (Dennis Allen) call pressures. You have to get ready to respond. Go out there and make a play."
On bend don't break defense:
"It's ok. We'd like to get a turnover. It's better to hold them to three than six. We held them in the red zone and we won the game."
RB Mark Ingram (On Drew Brees today) "I've been telling you all year that you don't sleep on Drew. If you are going to stack the box, try to stop the run and take us out of the game, then he is going to hurt you. We have been telling you that he is the best quarterback in the league. He is still Drew Brees."
WR Ted Ginn Jr. (On his 80-yard touchdown) "On the play call, it was to myself of Michael Thomas. On their defense, I saw the curtain come down and I knew I had a chance. I just had to get to my spot. I rushed to the end zone. I'm really the clear out guy there, but I ended up scoring."
(On his performance today) "It is really a blessing. I was a blessing for us. We put a lot of hard work into this week. We just tried to come out and execute. It wasn't as easy as we wanted it to be the Saints came up on top in this situation. We will just get ready for next week."
WR Michael Thomas (On when he knew they would need to win the game through the air) "Coach was calling the plays and they were coming in through the huddle. In the playoffs, you have to adjust on the fly and do whatever it takes."
(On Carolina taking away the run today) "They play a lot of two-high (coverage) and then they switched to one-high. You try to execute with the talent we have. We knew what we had to do. It was on the receivers. We rode on Mark (Ingram) and Alvin (Kamara)'s back (a lot this season). When the time came, we stepped up to the moment."
LB Manti Te'o (On winning a playoff game) "It feels great. There is nothing better than winning in the playoffs. It was a great game. Hats off to Carolina. That's what the playoffs are all about."
(On keeping them out of the end zone early) "That's huge. If you take those three points and turn them into seven, then it is a different story. Obviously, we'd like to hold them to zero points and not get in that situation. It's part of the game and you have to rally as a team. It wasn't perfect, but we will get the mistakes corrected and move on."
(On the end of the game) "We talked about it at halftime that this game was on us. We need to not let Carolina score and we were going to win. They scored and did their thing. Our defense responded and what a better way to end the game."
DE Cameron Jordan (On the two quarterback hits at the end of the game) "When it comes down to it, I think they did a great job. They had a guy chipping me. I want it more than just the chip. I want my guys to be free. I want all my guys to make a play. Vonn Bell came out and made the biggest play. He wrapped him up. I thought he was about to escape, so I hopped in on it. At the end of the day, we just wanted it more."
(On holding them to field goals) "It was huge. If half of those were touchdowns, then we'd be sitting in a different spot. At the end of the day, our defense dictated what we needed to do."
S Vonn Bell (On the final play of the game) "They dialed it up and I went out and made a play. I stood up to the plate to help this team. This was a big game and now we have to get ready for next week."
(On the Saints offense going for 4th and two in the 4th quarter unsuccessfully and then the defense having to close it out). "We won the game. Why not us? We sealed the deal."
(On the coaching staff calling pressure on the last play of Carolina's final series) "He'll (Dennis Allen) call pressures. You have to get ready to respond. Go out there and make a play."
(On bend don't break defense) "It's ok. We'd like to get a turnover. It's better to hold them to three than six. We held them in the red zone and we won the game."
