Ron Rivera Presser: “This one’s special just because of how hard it was, how tough it was, how it’s been on the guys.”

It's just the start! pic.twitter.com/5T9KMKs0H9

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 4, 2021

Can hear the celebration in the background as Ron Rivera speaks to reporters pic.twitter.com/FnUVQiZEoT

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

Ron rocking the playoff shirt. "It just shows these guys that if they work hard, do things the right way, they give themselves a chance" pic.twitter.com/Ka7fhXAFWs

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera: "There's a great group of young men in there, and we're trying to do things the right way."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera on winning the NFC East: "This one is special because of how hard it was."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera: "Yeah, you could say rewarding, just because, again, it goes back to the hard work."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera: "It's really a cool thing to come out and get the division. But also notes the "double-edged sword" with the Bucs on deck Saturday night and a first-place schedule next season.

He'll take it.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 4, 2021

Rivera said he has a feeling for how tough his players can be. Now that they won the division, "Let's see how they handle it."

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera says 'this is cool for them' on his team but also says they now have a first place schedule for next year.

"There's room for improvement.'

— Washington Football On SI.com (@WSHFootballSI) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera on the offense: "I think Scotty [Turner] was trying to get the ball out of [Alex Smith's] hands quickly, just trying to take care of him."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Rivera thought Alex Smith started out really well. He said Scott Turner was trying to get the ball out of his hands quickly to take care of his. The opening score and the two-minute drive were "about as good as it gets."

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera, asked if he thought about replacing Alex Smith pic.twitter.com/QV5xWP0AXi

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

Rivera said he debated changing quarterbacks but obviously stayed with Alex Smith.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera gave a shutout to his coaches "because they picked up a lot of slack for me."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

Rivera said you could call this season "rewarding" because of the hard work that got put into the getting the division title. He wants to tip his hat to his assistant coaches for picking up the slack throughout his treatment.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

"You've gotta give Philadelphia credit. They could have rolled over." pic.twitter.com/3KvGtxenSS

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

Rivera was glad that the game was a grind. He has a lot of respect for Philadelphia for making the game a fight and not rolling over.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Rivera has a lot of faith in what the defense has done. The unit shuts people down in the second half, he said.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera on Terry McLaurin playing through a high-ankle sprain: "He's a tough dude. He's a heck of a young man. He put it all on the line for his guys, and that you really appreciate."

McLaurin finished with 7 receptions, 40 yards and a TD

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera on @TheTerry_25 playing with a high ankle sprain: "He's a tough dude. He is. He's a heck of a young man. He put it all on the line for his guys. He did everything he could."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

Rivera said Terry playing with a high ankle sprain shows the kind of player and teammate he is and has grown to be in the past two years.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Rivera: "I was thinking of the irony of it all." He pointed out they finally started fast, only to give up 14 quick points.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera admits he was "a little concerned" heading into the game. As Rivera was walking around during a stretch earlier in the day, he noticed the players had a lot of energy. He was nervous they were using up too much, but they came out and immediately went ahead 10-0.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Rivera said the team had a lot of energy in the hours before the game, and that carried over into the start of the game.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera said the biggest thing that stood out about the postgame celebration was the euphoria of the players.

"They know it's been hard, they know it's been tough, and they know so much has been thrown at them." They persevered, and now they're going to the playoffs.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

Ron Rivera said DC Jack Del Rio told the defense, when they had 17 points at halftime: "We've got more than enough points to win."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 4, 2021

Washington Football Team | Postgame Press Conference https://t.co/YW8iUcXcNe

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 4, 2021

S Kam Curl on the scene in the locker room postgame: "It was turnt up. It was what it should've been after we won the division."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 4, 2021

I can confirm that Washington's locker room is turnt up: https://t.co/7ESRTheKVK

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

Kam Curl said the celebration was 'turned up' if that's the right way to spell that.

Says the interception was man coverage, wanted to get a good jam (He did) and for whatever reason Ertz didn't catch it.

— Washington Football On SI.com (@WSHFootballSI) January 4, 2021

Kam Curl on Tom Brady: "It'll be pretty cool to get one off him."

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

Curl is excited to play Tom Brady. Like everyone else, he used to watch Brady growing up and it'll be crazy to be in a game with him.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Montez Sweat on winning the NFC East: "It's a testament to how much adversity we had to overcome. It just shows the character that Ron Rivera is building here."

— Logan Campbell (@loganncampbelll) January 4, 2021

Sweat said everybody is buying into the culture that Rivera has established in Washington.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

He did admit the obvious when pressed -- saying it's easier to rush a less mobile QB. #Eagles #WFT https://t.co/8ocsDV33ke

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) January 4, 2021

Montez Sweat, asked about going from facing Hurts to Sudfeld, says, "No comment." Then asked about the differences he says: "Jalen's a dynamic guy, but I feel we would have finished the job with either one."

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 4, 2021

Terry McLaurin is addressing the media. He said it was tough being out last week. It was hard looking at his teammates not knowing if he could play this week. But he got extra treatment and did everything he could to be on the field.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Terry McLaurin: "I was in a walking boot all week. ... Thursday I started to turn a corner. I knew I had a chance to play, and no one was going to tell me different after that."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 4, 2021

Terry McLaurin (high-ankle sprain) said some of his teammates did not even know he was playing until today.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

McLaurin said his only focus was being with his teammates. Sometimes you get sore and banged up, but that's football. He's just thankful to be on the field.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

McLaurin feels like scoring on the opening drive was a "tone-setter."

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

McLaurin said he and Smith were in the training room together every day.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Terry McLaurin on Alex Smith: pic.twitter.com/AAexKf0lgc

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

McLaurin said Rivera gave them a mindset that they can do whatever they set their minds to.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Terry McLaurin: -- "It's not a complete celebration party, because we gotta get ready for Tampa next week. "

— Washington Football On SI.com (@WSHFootballSI) January 4, 2021

Alex Smith said he's "feeling it a little bit" for his calf, but felt good enough to play.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 4, 2021

Alex Smith admits that he "was feeling it a little bit" (calf) in the second half.

Says he felt good at beginning. #WashingtonFootball

— Washington Football On SI.com (@WSHFootballSI) January 4, 2021

Here's division champion Alex Smith pic.twitter.com/OOB6nYn7jE

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

Smith said the way the team has been able to fight back after coming off a slow start to the season shows the character that is in the locker room.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Alex Smith on his brace: "It was a surprise. I had no idea. I was not in on that. We had talked about doing something with the fixator. ... Definitely one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever had."https://t.co/Rf4hOGHIQ3

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

Alex Smith asked about the team's T-shirts: "All I care about it is it says division champs."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

WFT happened? https://t.co/GqcTki6KOw pic.twitter.com/gJElBBAvIM

— WASHINGTON FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) January 4, 2021

Morgan Moses is addressing the media. He said after seeing all the things the team has gone through and still won the division means a lot. They believed in themselves and got it done.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Morgan Moses: "Once you get that ticket to the dance who knows how far you'll go."

— Logan Campbell (@loganncampbelll) January 4, 2021

"All you need is an opportunity to the dance," Moses said. "Once you get that, there's no telling how far you can go."

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Moses was excited for Chase Roullier's contract extension. He deserves it, he said, and he can't wait to see what the future holds for the center.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Morgan Moses: "Nobody will bet on us, but we'll bet on ourselves"#WashingtonFootball

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) January 4, 2021

We've got some gutsy guys, Moses said, with players like McLaurin and Smith playing through injuries.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Morgan Moses dedicates the win to his late father, who passed away this offseason. pic.twitter.com/tEgtWKVuCw

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 4, 2021

RT Morgan Moses said he told Coach Ron Rivera before the season he didn't know if he could play this year after the death of his father, "Big Moe," this offseason. Now that this team has won the NFC East again, he said he's at a loss for words.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 4, 2021

Morgan Moses: "The positivity of the coaching staff is the difference, man."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 4, 2021

The positivity of the coaching staff has been the different, Moses said. No one gets down on each other, and that is the type of players the team has in the locker room.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

More Moses on the bond: "We don't get down on each other when one unit isn't playing as well. Everytime [Young] comes off the field and we come up short he looks me in the eye and says, 'We got you. We'll get it back.' "

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 4, 2021

Chase Young is addressing the media now. He called the team a brotherhood. After winning the division, he said "we're not done. We're not done."

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Chase Young on facing Bucs QB Tom Brady: "Definitely a big challenge. You know, it's Tom. One of the best to do it -- they say the best to ever do it. We gotta focus up."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 4, 2021

Young said Tom Brady will be a great challenge. They have to lock back in and get ready for the playoffs.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Smith, Rivera and Ryan Kerrigan have been Young's motivation all year.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Chase Young: "The whole team knows we on 'go time.' We're still on go. We are not slowing down. That's the mentality of the locker room."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 4, 2021

Young said the only thing that changed this year has been getting back from injuries. Now he's healthy and playing better every game.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Chase Young on his thoughts when the Eagles replaced Jalen Hurts with Nate Sudfeld:

"Time to eat on 7"

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 4, 2021

When the team was 1-5, Young said the team could have stopped and given up. They didn't, and that is a testament to the brotherhood the team has.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 4, 2021

Yesssssssirrrrrrrrr!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/RGSpEyx6xX

— CY2 (@youngchase907) January 4, 2021