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"That's something that we are always striving for from the get-go. Last week, we got off to a really good start and would like to keep that going all the way through. We felt like the drives that we've been stopped on, certainly the defense has done their part, but we've also had some self-inflicted wounds. So, we're trying to eliminate those, whether it's penalties or mistakes or missed assignments, those are all drive stoppers, as we call them, and we'd like to eliminate those."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the mindset being 'do what you do, but do it better')
"I think so. Some things are just going to be the same year-in and year-out. To execute on offense, you have to eliminate penalties. We had no penalties against Jacksonville, which was a step in the right direction, but we had two turnovers. Those are part of football. Like I said, on Sunday, you have to be able to overcome them, but you'd like for them not to happen at all."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he recognizes this Kansas City team from the last team he played them)
"No, it's a lot of different players. They have a lot of new guys. They have some rookies playing, they've got some guys that are in their second and third years, but they are all playing well. They are all talented guys. They've had some high picks in the draft the past few years, and they've used them well and drafted good players. It's kind of what you'd expect. They're playing well. Obviously, have a lot of momentum coming off a bye week, which is never easy for the opponent. They've had two weeks to prepare. It is going to be a challenge."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on not a lot of guys were on the 2007 Kansas City team that the Colts last played)
"I mean it's a different coaching staff, a different general manager, it's really a totally different deal. Like I said, all of those things kind of go together. You get a new coach, a new general manager, you're going to get some high draft choices, and they've done all that. They are playing well right now."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he ever talked to his dad about what it was like when the NFL went from a 14-game schedule to a 16-game schedule)
"No, I really haven't. I remember he used to talk about having six preseason games back when he played. I don't know if that was when they had 14- or 16-game seasons, but he said preseason was just so long. I never heard about the switch from 14 to 16. I haven't asked him about that. I think the thing of it is, like I said, is what happens in the offseason. Are they going to try to adjust the offseason to make the 18-game season work? Now, you're really messing with some important things. It's one thing to add something, but if you're taking things away, I'm not real thrilled about that. Taking things away that we've always used in the past to, I think, make us a better team."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if that is his primary complaint about the 18-game schedule)
"I mean it sounds like this 18 (game schedule), there is not much discussion on it, it sounds like they are so locked in on it. The injury factors and all that, those are all issues. I'm not thrilled about it, but if they are going to do it, to me, you take away the offseason program and you are asking for some bad football, I think. You're asking for guys that aren't going to be ready to play. If you don't have offseason and OTAs, I think you're asking for bad football."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if there are any concessions that the owners can make to the players that might change his mind about that)
"I think you're going to have to do that anyway. Maybe I'm old-school or old-fashion, but offseason is still where it is at, to me. It's how you become a better player, how you improve your craft. It's kind of insulting to the profession that you can just show up and just be able to play, especially at a high level. That's what I have a real concern about. If they are taking away off-the-field offseason workouts (and) organized team activities, I think that is a bad thing."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if things change for the offense when they are backed up near their own goal line)
"Not really. We've always had an aggressive mindset, and I think sometimes when you get backed up and get too, too tentative then that kind of plays into the defense's hands. Now, there are certain throws and certain plays that you like a little more when you're backed up because you obviously, at all costs, you have to protect the ball. We still try to kind of keep it in phases, 'Hey, let's try to get the ball past the 20(-yard line). Let's get it out where we have a little breathing room.' But the other night, we were down seven, so at that point we were thinking, 'Hey, we've got to go score a touchdown.' I think the timing of the game has a lot to do it, if you have a lead or something that can change. I think it's tough to execute your offense, but everybody just knowing where you are on the field, everybody needs to factor that in."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the further you are backed up, the more the odds are against you)
"It's been good execution on the two drives, the one against Jacksonville and the one against the Giants. It still comes down to execution. If you're backed up, you're usually not calling any trick plays at that point, right? Usually you're calling plays that you know well. I think we do kind of think about that, being sound and executing these plays. You're first goal is to keep your defense out of a bad situation, not punting the ball right back to them or turning it over. I think sometimes you have to be aggressive in order to get that breathing room."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on him never going out in that situation just trying to get room for the punter)
"No. We always talked about first downs, then touchdowns. The main goal when backed up is, like I said, to just get it out, but, of course, once you get it out, you stay determined until you finally found the end zone."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he can notice a different feeling in the locker room with the team 2-2 instead of 4-0)
"I think guys are disappointed, frustrated, all normal reactions. I think those can be healthy reactions and moods. I think determined is the main thing, to have a really good week of practice this week. That's where it has to start. We're playing a good football team that is playing well. They don't care what our record is. They don't care that we've lost two division games. It's really about what we do. I think it's important to have a good week of practice this week. We've got some injuries that we're dealing with like all teams are. Once again, you get no sympathy there. I think we need to carry a little bit of that frustration onto the practice field and be a little sharper in the way we practice."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if the Chiefs being the last team in the NFL undefeated shows the amount of parity in the league)
"I can't really use the Chiefs to describe the rest of the league. I've studied them so far this week. They are a good football team. They've played well in the three games they've played. As far as getting a summary of the pulse of the league, that is kind of hard to say. They are, obviously, a much improved team from the past couple of years."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how the Chiefs have improved)
"Their defense, from what I have seen, is very active. They are very sound in what they do. They are not giving up any points. That usually helps in being a good defense. They are stout against the run, completely dominated San Francisco's running game. You kind of see that combination of veteran leadership that they have, guys like LB-Mike Vrabel, with some of these young guys, like S-Eric Berry, their first-round draft choice. You see that showing up out on the field."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on what Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel adds to that team)
"A lot of experience, there's no question about it. But you still have to have players, though, to execute a defense, and I think they have a good mix. Like I said, they've got some veteran leaders, guys who have seen it all and been around, as well as some really young, athletic, high-energy guys. It's a good mix right now."
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