Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback
(31) runs back an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Rashean Mathis
On his 40-yard interception return for a touchdown: “Just reading my keys, a defense was called and just executing the defense, reading three-step (drop) and I was able to make a play.”
On keeping the Bills under control until late in the fourth quarter: “Yeah, you can’t stop a team the entire game. To allow not too many drives but just one drive for a touchdown, that’s not bad. There are some areas we definitely can tighten up a little more, but as a defense we played pretty good, but not good enough to win the ball game.”
On if losing WR Calvin Johnson and RB Reggie Bush affected the team’s psyche during the game: “Well, it’s the next man up. Was their presence missed? Definitely, this is the NFL. We’re professionals, it’s the next man up and we expect the next man to be able to do that role just as good or even better.”
On how disappointing of a loss this was considering the play of the defense: “It’s disappointing, it’s very disappointing. It’s nothing to hang our heads about. This is what the NFL is about, it’s going to be about close games. Sometimes the offense is going to be out there to win the game for you and sometimes the defense is going to be out there to win the game for you. Sometimes it’s going to be the special teams, so you’ve got to be able to execute. It’s all about execution at the last minute because the majority of the games won in the NFL are won in the last two minutes of the ball game. This proves so.”