Bill Cowher Played Quotations

We are going to have to play much better than we played the last time we played them. We are going to have to play much better than we played last week. It is going to take a flawless effort on our part.

Max played some last year. I am not too concerned about Max at all, to be honest with you.

We're playing the No. 1 seed in the AFC and in many people's eyes the No. 1 team in the National Football League. We're going to have to play so much better than we played the last time we played them, and we're going to have to play better than we played last week. It's going to take a flawless effort on our part. We're going to have to bring everything we have and more.

We've got to run the ball better, there's no question about that. We've played two pretty good defenses and this one's no different, they're ranked fifth against the rush. We have to be able to run the ball more efficiently than we have the last couple weeks. We can't sit there and rely on throwing the football all the time. Not that we don't want to have balance, we do.

I think their defensive line played a lot harder than our offensive line did. I don't think (Ben) had a whole lot of time in that game, and at times when he did, he wasn't able to connect.

I thought he did a lot of good things. He tackled very well. He was in position when needed to be in position. I thought he played a solid game.

Maybe our focus has been better on the road. Maybe we've played with more urgency. I'm just extremely proud.

We played our tails off defensively. We made the plays on offense when we had to. The sign of a good football team is when you (don't) play your best football and still win the game.

You know what? It was what it was. We all played the same scenario. The bottom line is, we didn't get it done and they did. And I don't think the clock was an issue at all. ... I don't think it had any bearing whatsoever on the game, I truly believe that.

We have not played against him a lot. But I have tremendous respect for the guy. He's one of those guys who can literally will a team to victory.

This will be a good barometer for us because this is by far the best team we've played and maybe will play. They are a football team that is not used to losing at all. For them to come off a tough loss against Carolina has really probably compounded the challenge that we have.

This will be our third time playing them. They're explosive. They played well defensively down the stretch. There will be a lot of excitement in that stadium. It's a big challenge for us. We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them and better defensively than how we played today.

We've played at a high level for a lot of years, and now they should have the same high expectations as we've always had. I think it should be a motivating factor to not let our performance slide.

We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them. It's going to be a challenge for us.

And when we've played well on offense, we haven't played well on defense. We haven't been able to put together a complete game.

Defensively we played a pretty good game. We gave up only three points. We didn't give up a touchdown. But we've got to play better than we did.

They're playing at a high level. They're explosive. ... We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them, and better defensively than how we played today.

The consensus was this was something that if we let it go he probably could have played this week, but the longer we went the risk of injury would increase and there is a chance he would be out for an extended period of time.

Ike has played well. We started putting him on some of the premier guys (at wide receiver) because of his ability to match up size-wise and athletic ability-wise, and he's taken on the challenge. He's learning and growing tremendously.

Ike has played well enough to this point that I feel comfortable with him being out there.

I'm not sure we were the best team last year. I think we played the best at the right time of year.

I put a lot of thought into it. What exactly I'll say, I'm not exactly sure right now. It's kind of a last-minute thing. The biggest thing right now is not to make this game out bigger than it is. ... There's been a sense of urgency and a desperate state we've played in the last seven weeks and I don't think Sunday will be any different.

He's really played at a high level all year.

The last time we played here, I think we were probably too determined to run the ball. We're at our best when we have balance.