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James White: 'We still have a lot to improve on' after Bills win

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 23: James White #28 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Joe Thuney #62 after rushing for a 27-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

FULL TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Q: You’re a guy that hasn’t had as many carries since Rex Burkhead returned to the lineup, but it seems like you have fresh legs and you’re ready to go at the critical time, especially with that 27-yard touchdown run?
 
JW: [Patterson] was having a lot of success on the fly sweeps and stuff, so it kind of gets the defense displaced and offensive line did a great job blocking and just tried to get the ball in the end zone.CordarrelleJW: I mean, for any of us, we just try to make the most of the opportunities that we get. It was a great play call. C.P. [
 
Q: With your effort at the 2-yard line, did you know that Micah Hyde was going to go high? Were you focused on keeping your feet in bounds?
 
JW: Yeah, just kind of dive without reaching the ball out is something that I’m used to doing. Just trying to fight to get in the end zone.
 
Q: This team has for a number of years leaned on the arm of Tom Brady. How nice was it for you guys today to be able to use the running game and maybe take a little bit of the pressure off him, especially against the Bills who have the best pass defense in the NFL?
 
JW:  They have a good defense over there, and it’s always tough every time we play them. I think the offensive line, it starts with them and they did a great job today of being physical, the tight ends, receivers. It’s not easy as much as we ran the ball today to keep doing the right thing, keep being physical for that many plays, but they did it. We had a lot of rushing yards. Sony [Michel] ran hard, Rex ran hard and I tried to run hard when I got the ball. I mean, just a great team effort.
 
Q: In addition to the offensive line, we know what James Develin has meant...
 
JW: Yeah, can’t forget J.D., too. I’m sorry about that, J.D.
 
Q: But what about the return of Dwayne Allen, as well, and his role today in particular?
 
. I mean, he might not touch the ball a lot, but when he’s out there, he’s blocking, trying to block hard defensive ends. It’s tough to block defensive ends in this league, especially as a tight end, and he does a great job of it. He fights and he’s willing to work and he’s just a great team player.DevelinJW: Dwayne’s awesome. He’s also one of the guys similar to James
 
Q: We’ve heard the cliché many times that you’ve got to have a running attack come playoff time. Was there an attitude, especially in the first half, that ‘we’re going to run the ball,’ even though Buffalo has a great front?
 
JW: I think that’s always the attitude for us. When we run the ball successfully, it opens everything else up. So, you always want to get the running game established and we had a lot of success from the beginning of the game and we just kind of kept it going. You just want to be tough and physical. And, like I said, the offensive line did a great job of setting the tone.
 
Q: How big is it to know that if you win next week against the Jets, you secure a first-round bye in the playoffs?
 
JW: Yeah, we’ve just got to prepare hard and beat a tough division opponent. I mean, even whatever their record is, it’s always tough every time we play those guys. So, definitely can’t take the game for granted. Got to go out there, have a good week of practice and just play hard for four quarters. Obviously, it was still sloppy out there today for us and we know we’ve got to be better. We still have a lot to improve on, so I think that’s enough motivation for us in itself.

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