**
New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers**
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 ● Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeSaints Quarterback Drew Brees
On Josh Hill's impact during the game:
"Yeah. Josh played great. He came up with some big catches. Obviously, he came up with the touchdown at the touchdown catch as well. Just trying to keep the momentum going in the first half."
On Josh Hill having one of his most effective games of the year:
"Josh Hill is one of those guys who is just as steady as can be and he just does such a great job with his role. There are some games where we are asking him to block a D-gap or be really effective in the pass game, there might not. You just have to wait and see how it plays out. He's a very good receiver. He came up with a big catch in that two-minute drive as well. Josh and I have had a lot of time together so there's a great rapport there, there's a great understanding. That was a pass play where it was kind of tight window to put that ball in and yet he knows exactly where it's coming and he's able to come up with a big catch that keeps that drive going and we get seven points on that one as well."
On how the momentum changed after the 80-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. :
"That was huge. They stopped us on the first two drives and then for us to come up with that big play, I think it blew the whole thing wide open. I think it broke the seal for us offensively and, obviously, got the crowd rolling."
On what went through his mind as Carolina started stacking the box:
"Find your matchups and let's go make some plays and that's what we were able to do."
On Sean Payton's decision to go for it on fourth and two late in fourth quarter:
"He said, 'do you want to go for it or punt?' I said, 'do you have a play you like?' and he said 'Yeah.' So, I said, 'let's go for it.' End of discussion."
On Carolina trying to contain the running game whether he enjoys the challenge of having the game in his hands in a game of this magnitude:
"Sure. If a team is going to do that then I feel like with the matchups we have outside that there should be opportunities. You still have to have a level of patience to take advantage of them when they do come around. I think we've shown offensively is that we have a lot of ways to be effective, a lot of weapons to spread the ball around. Really all the receivers did a great job today. Brandon Coleman made some critical catches, Obviously, Mike (Thomas) and Teddy (Ginn Jr.), really that whole group. Willie (Snead IV) came up with a big one. The ball was spread out quite a bit, but guys were making plays when they had the chances."
On how special it was to have his Super Bowl XLIV teammates back for the game:
"It was awesome. All those guys were former teammates of mine. The list gets fewer and fewer of the guys on this team that played with that group. Joe Vitt probably had one of the best sayings way back when he said, 'when you win a Super Bowl, you walk together forever.' and we accomplished that. You feel like there's a brotherhood that will always be there. Guys live in different parts of the country, they have their families, they have all this stuff going on, you may not talk to them for a while, and yet when you get back together it's as if no time has passed. That's the way it was yesterday seeing all of those guys and seeing them later tonight, but that's the way it is. There's a brotherhood there, a kinship that will never be broken."
On what is was like in the locker room after the game:
"It was great. If you cannot enjoy the good times in this league than you might need to get out. Obviously, there are plenty of struggles and plenty of adversity. We have a fun-loving group and that's why I love coming to work every day because I get to be in the locker room with those guys."
(On Josh Hill's impact during the game) "Yeah. Josh played great. He came up with some big catches. Obviously, he came up with the touchdown at the touchdown catch as well. Just trying to keep the momentum going in the first half."
(On Josh Hill having one of his most effective games of the year) "Josh Hill is one of those guys who is just as steady as can be and he just does such a great job with his role. There are some games where we are asking him to block a D-gap or be really effective in the pass game, there might not. You just have to wait and see how it plays out. He's a very good receiver. He came up with a big catch in that two-minute drive as well. Josh and I have had a lot of time together so there's a great rapport there, there's a great understanding. That was a pass play where it was kind of tight window to put that ball in and yet he knows exactly where it's coming and he's able to come up with a big catch that keeps that drive going and we get seven points on that one as well."
(On how the momentum changed after the 80-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr.) "That was huge. They stopped us on the first two drives and then for us to come up with that big play, I think it blew the whole thing wide open. I think it broke the seal for us offensively and, obviously, got the crowd rolling."
(On what went through his mind as Carolina started stacking the box) "Find your matchups and let's go make some plays and that's what we were able to do."
(On Sean Payton's decision to go for it on fourth and two late in fourth quarter) "He said, 'do you want to go for it or punt?' I said, 'do you have a play you like?' and he said 'Yeah.' So, I said, 'let's go for it.' End of discussion."
(On Carolina trying to contain the running game whether he enjoys the challenge of having the game in his hands in a game of this magnitude) "Sure. If a team is going to do that then I feel like with the matchups we have outside that there should be opportunities. You still have to have a level of patience to take advantage of them when they do come around. I think we've shown offensively is that we have a lot of ways to be effective, a lot of weapons to spread the ball around. Really all the receivers did a great job today. Brandon Coleman made some critical catches, Obviously, Mike (Thomas) and Teddy (Ginn Jr.), really that whole group. Willie (Snead IV) came up with a big one. The ball was spread out quite a bit, but guys were making plays when they had the chances."
(On how special it was to have his Super Bowl XLIV teammates back for the game) "It was awesome. All those guys were former teammates of mine. The list gets fewer and fewer of the guys on this team that played with that group. Joe Vitt probably had one of the best sayings way back when he said, 'when you win a Super Bowl, you walk together forever.' and we accomplished that. You feel like there's a brotherhood that will always be there. Guys live in different parts of the country, they have their families, they have all this stuff going on, you may not talk to them for a while, and yet when you get back together it's as if no time has passed. That's the way it was yesterday seeing all of those guys and seeing them later tonight, but that's the way it is. There's a brotherhood there, a kinship that will never be broken."
(On what is was like in the locker room after the game) "It was great. If you cannot enjoy the good times in this league than you might need to get out. Obviously, there are plenty of struggles and plenty of adversity. We have a fun-loving group and that's why I love coming to work every day because I get to be in the locker room with those guys."
