‘We’re not perfect…but we fought like crazy today’: Kevin Stefanski transcript after Browns’ win over the 49ers

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters after the 19-17 win over the 49ers on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt carried the offense in the Browns' win over the 49ers - cleveland.com

Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:

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Opening Statement:

“Well. Just proud of that team. Just proud of the fight. We knew what we were in for. We knew the challenge. I told you guys all week. We knew how good that team is. I have a ton of respect for Coach Shanahan, all his coaches, that team, that’s a good football team. And the truth is, we’re a good football team. We’re not perfect, we know that, but we fought like crazy today and I’m just proud of so many guys. I thought the coaches put together a great game plan. Obviously, the guys out there battling their butts off, but awesome to do it in front of our fans. They were incredible today. We get such a shot in the arm from their energy and I felt them when were on defense, obviously. I think that made life hard on their offense, but really, just proud of this football team. With that, I’ll take any questions.”

How did you think P.J. (Walker) played?

“I felt proud of him. He battled. He’s going to tell you he wishes he had a couple of plays back like all quarterbacks do. That’s kind of what we talk about. We’re striving for perfection, but it’s hard to attain it. But he made some throws, he made some plays, he ran the show. So that’s what he does. He’s a battler. He’s a tough kid.”

What was the key, Kevin, to the way you guys ran the ball so successfully?

“Yeah, I thought, you know, I give credit to Coach (Bill) Callahan. I thought he put together a great game plan and then the guys executed. We had guys up front, Michael Dunn comes to mind – talk about battler. He’s hobbled, he’s given us everything he has, and that’s indicative of the football team. But really, the plan was put together well by the coaches and then executed.”

The defense, Kevin, obviously, San Francisco came in scoring a ton of points. What did you see out of them that you were able to keep that in control?

“Yeah. I mean, Coach (Jim) Schwartz and the defensive staff were outstanding all week, really. I go back to our Wednesday practice. I told the team after practice, I said, if you measure a practice by how it sounds, we had the best practice of our season because the energy was off the charts and it was led by the defense. It’s led by Ogbo (Okoronkwo) and Z (Za’Darius Smith) and Dalvin (Tomlinson) and Juan (Thornhill) and all those guys – JOK (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) you name them, they brought the energy all week. They were so excited for this challenge and I thought Coach [Schwartz] put those guys in position to go make plays.”

Can you just talk about the way you kind of mentioned but, I mean, you guys were the underdogs at home. You call up your practice squad quarterback to come in and play the game. It just seemed like everything was against you – Joel Bitonio doesn’t play.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s football, Mary Kay (Cabot). I don’t pay much attention to what the outside feels about a game. You know I’m aware of the lines. I’m aware of whether we’re a favorite or an underdog, those type of things. But I know the team we have. I felt good about this one. I’m pessimistic by nature, excuse me, I’m optimistic by nature, but I felt good about this one. And again, like I told the team all week, we’re not perfect but we’re going to fight like crazy. And I thought they did today.”

We're not perfect...but we fought like crazy today': Kevin Stefanski transcript after Browns' win over the 49ers - cleveland.com

You talked about fighting. What about the pregame?

“Yeah, I didn’t mean that, Tony (Grossi) [laughing].”

It seemed like they had a chip on their shoulder the whole game.

“We had it going into the game. It wasn’t bad. I mean, we don’t want that. That’s not something that we’re looking to do, try to get in the middle of it, get the guys out of there. But it’s football. Emotions run high.”

Was there any worry that there was going to be a penalty or anything from that?

“Yes, of course, you’re thinking about that. But maybe I’ll get a phone call tomorrow.”

Kevin, because you won, you can laugh about it but the pass in the end zone just before the field goal. What were you thinking? What was he thinking?

“Well, again, P.J. (Walker), he played great today. He ran around like crazy. He was running the show. He knew he was not supposed to throw that ball. He knew it right away, but that kid, he’s a fighter. And I don’t know if you guys know this, but Kevin Rogers on our staff, K. Roger, recruited P.J. coming out of high school and was part of the staff that got him to go to Temple. K. Rogers sat in that kid’s living room. He’s been with his family, he knows what that kid’s about and he’s told me about him. So, I knew what P.J. was about coming into this, when he came onto our team. And then I just figured that kid’s been fighting for everything his whole life, his whole career and that’s kind of what we needed this week.”