Brees: ''We understand the sense of urgency''

Saints quarterback Drew Brees talked to the media following his team's loss to San Francisco on Sunday. 
 

“Offensively, I felt like we moved the ball well at times,"  Brees said.  "Third down wasn’t good enough. Obviously, what was glaring was the two turnovers that resulted in touchdowns for them. That can’t happen, especially the first one, the one right there at the end of the first half where you’re trying to go down and get something for your team. You certainly can’t give it to them inside of 30 seconds and let them get an easy one. Obviously, that was a big momentum swing. Despite all that, and them coming out and going on a quick-strike drive and taking the leadand it’s 28-14 all of a sudden, we go right down the field and score, we get it back to a one-possession game and then had really what I felt were a lot of opportunities offensively. We did not take advantage of them."
 

(on Ahmad Brooks’ interception) “From what I saw, he did a great job. He caught that thing on his fingertips. He dropped out (into coverage) and we were trying to fit it in there to Jimmy (Graham). He just made an extremely athletic play."
 

(on the pressure from the 49ers defense) “I felt like a lot of that pressure started to come in the fourth quarter, when we were in a down-the-field pass mode. I felt like prior to that, our guys really did a great job, balancing it all out with the run game and protection. We were able to get some balls downfield and some big plays and helped with those scoring drives."
 

(on making adjustments when Bryce Harris was injured) “It’s not a good thing when your third right tackle goes down in the first quarter, but I felt like Will Robinson stepped in and did a great job. I felt like our guys, our protection scheme, Pete Carmichael as a play-caller having to work that into your thought process, Aaron Kromer having to make those adjustments, I felt like we handled that well, all things considered.”
 

(on the offensive pass interference call) “I couldn’t see it from my vantage point. I just felt like we had a chance at a big play there. I’m not sure about who was grabbing who."
 

(on chance to move into second Wild Card spot) “We had to win. It’s all right there in front of us. I firmly believe that if we take care of our business and worry about ourselves, things will happen in a way in a way we envision and we’re going to have a chance at the end to get in (the playoffs). If we get in because we’ve rattled off a bunch of wins in a row and we’re playing like that, look out. We can be a great job. We understand the sense of urgency and the small margin for error at this point. "

(on 49ers’ 21-point run)  “Obviously, that can’t happen. Otherwise, you feel like the defense played great and they only gave up 17 points, we got a big turnover that gave us a two-minute opportunity at the end of the first half, special teams got a big turnover for us. A lot of things went the way that winning a big game like this would go, and then all of a sudden you give them two free ones. That’s what they thrive on. The first one (was) completely my fault. Within 30 seconds, obviously we’re trying to get down and get some points – a field goal, what have you. I tried to squeeze it in there to Jimmy, and the guy (Donte Whitner) makes an unbelievable (play). The second one, you’re throwing into a tight window, there’s a tipped ball and unfortunately, sometimes those things happen. You just don’t want them to result in an interception and then returned for a touchdown, especially back-to-back situations. All of a sudden, they rattle off 21 points in a short amount of time when we really felt like we had the game under control.” 

“In spite of everything, we closed the margin to 28-21 and had at least two opportunities to go down there and tie it up. We put together some good drives at times and then we would just stall out with no chance for points. Then all of a sudden, you get in a situation in the fourth quarter where it’s a two-possession game. You’ve got to start taking some chances. That’s when protection becomes even tougher and getting the ball down the field becomes tougher. That’s what they thrive on as well.”
 

(on it being a physical game) “We knew coming into this how physical of a team the San Francisco 49ers are on both sides of the ball. I felt like we matched that physicality today. Unfortunately, it’s the turnovers in the end that did us in.”
 

(on the 49ers) “I think they’re one of the best that’s out there, one of the most complete when you look at all three phases. Certainly, they’ve got a great formula for winning. I feel like we do too. We just weren’t able to put all that together today."
 

(on Marques Colston’s 56th career touchdown) “I’m extremely happy for him, because I’ve been lucky enough to throw him every one of those. He’s a model teammate in the way he prepares, the way he plays and the way he practices. He’s a quiet guy, but his actions speak so loudly, you wouldn’t be able to hear what he was saying anyway. He’s a great example for the young receivers, guys like Joe Morgan, others on our team. For those of us who have been with him going on seven years, he’s in big standing, passing Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister and some of the greats that have been here that we have had a chance to play with as well. (It’s a) pretty special honor for him.”
 

(on the Falcons game) “It’s a quick turnaround for us. It’s a quick turnaround for them. They’re coming off a physical division battle at Tampa today. I know they won. Obviously, we’re pretty fresh off playing these guys not too long ago. We’ve got to get to their place, we’ve got to get prepared, we’ve got to put it all together and hopefully every can wake up tomorrow, not feel as sore as maybe they do now. No rest for the weary and we certainly can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got a huge game on the road against the leader of our division right now in Atlanta. This is how you feel better, go on and get a win like this.”
 

(on managing quick turnaround)  “I think they schedule those Thursday night games by design – divisional opponents, a little more familiarity so there’s not a loss of preparation time. It’s tough on your body for guys to turn around and do it that quick. We’re professionals. That’s what we’ve got to do, that’s what we’ll do. We understand the importance of this game, and we’ll be ready to roll."