DB Mike Sainristil | October 5, 2025 | Press Pass | Washington Commanders | NFL

DB Mike Sainristil  speaks to the media after the Washington Commanders victory over the Los Angeles Chargers 27-10.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Y'all, what was you know?

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Early on, I was I won't even say I was
frustrated with myself. It was just one of those like
that can't happen in that situation. I knew early on
that the snapper he did fidget with the ball.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
That was something we talked about during the week.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
So that's just one of those moments where I just
gotta make sure my focus is what it has to
be so I can make sure listen, they get three
points because they score it after that and that's a
big swing, and so play like that could determine the game,
uh later on in the in the game. So just
to making sure that I'm always focused.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
What what what did you ever? Players? I think that's
just the life of a defensive back.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Whatever happens, Like you could give up a catch, you
could miss a tackle, uh like whatever, Like it's always
the next play. Mentally, I was never even after that
play happened early on, I didn't think about it again
til you just ask me, you know what I'm.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
Saying, like, yeah, yeah, what did you do? Well?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
So we were, uh in one of our calls, just
I was in my zone, just playing off of Herbert's
eyes of seeing where he was, and I honestly, without
the tip or now, I think he was gonna throw
it right to me just based off of where he
was looking. We made a check that put me in
the right spot, and I knew I had help over
top from Bobby. I had Kwan behind me, and then

(01:25):
we had tray in the flat, so everybody was where
were supposed to be communicating, and you know, tips and
overthrows gotta get those. Johnny made a good play, he
tipped it, and I was where I was supposed to
be was able to come up with interception.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, it gave us.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
I think it gave us a lot of momentum, cause
you know, offense was able to go down and score
after that, and then they were driving, you know they
were they were getting down the field right there.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
So just it gave us.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
It gave us a a a breath of fresh air,
you know what I mean. And then from that point forward,
I think we were just where we needed to be
all the time. What you're off.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
What they do is what do you do one of
the way you want?

Speaker 2 (02:07):
What comes to all? Yeah, I think just as a defense,
our mindset is uh as as great as our offense
is Uh, we just wanna make sure we're going out
there and and playing our best game, and that's how
can we get the ball back to them? How can
we be the best we could be? How can we
get create turnovers? How can we stop them running? How
can we stop the past game? How dominant can we

(02:30):
be as a defense because regardless of what the offense does,
we have to play our best game as a defense
against anybody.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
It is so but tenser to your question.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, it's great as a defense knowing we have those
weapons of offense and you know they're gonna go out
there and create big players like they did today, and
just making sure that we could get them the ball
to allow that to happen as many times in the
game as possible.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, I think it was great to have him back.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
But you know, this team, our mindset is our mindset,
so it doesn't matter who's back there, and it could
be any one of our quarterbacks. Our mindset is we're
gonna attack, We're gonna play aggressive, We're gonna pl you know,
play fast, play physical.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
That's that's what we do.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
We're gonna run a hit, Uh, That's that's just who
we are as a team. But you know him being
back here today, back home for him, like a home
game for him. It was good to see the stuff
that he was able to do with you know what
he's been dealing with with his knees. So I'm I'm
happy he he he played how he played.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Today, A little diget out what a little sits. I
think just the preparation during the week.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Not that we didn't prepare well for the Falcons, but
we just knew what we needed to clean up, and
I think we did a great job of correct the
mistakes during the week. Uh, and our walkthroughs and the
meetings coaches did a great job. And as players, we met,
so we knew what we were gonna go out there
and do today.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, just we have meetings on Fridays and uh Saturdays
as players just to go over things from the week
where we like, what we don't like. Uh. Just extra communication,
cause the preparation doesn't stop till the game starts. So
just how how much prop how prepared can you be up.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
Until that point? And that's just what we do.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
What do you act your fat like? Yeah, I'll say
like we did a good job communicating and just as
a defense it's easier to play fast. It's uh when
you're settled in, when you're communicating, everybody knows what everyone's
doing on the field.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
You're talking pre snap.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
It limits the post snap mistakes, UH, and you're able
to just play on one accord. Everyone's gonna be in position,
everyone got their checks. It just allows you to focus
in on what your job is for to play. And
I think when we do that, we could be a
really good defense. It's just how consistent can we be
in doing that.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
For sure? Word ye, the US like