NFL INTERNATIONAL SERIES FALCONS VS COLTS

November 9, 2025

Zaire Franklin

Colts 31, Falcons 25

Q. What does it mean to play like this at home?

BERNHARD RAIMANN: (Chuckling) It's an unbelievable feeling. The atmosphere was crazy again. Frankfurt two years ago was insane, and now in the Olympic stadium here in Berlin, what a historic stadium, what a great place to play football, and yeah, I have all the emotions right now. I can't even put it into words right now.

Q. Zaire, what came together for the defense?

ZAIRE FRANKLIN: I think it was just a combination of us settling in as a unit and making a decision to make a stand. I feel like watching our offense come and get us another opportunity, obviously we didn't finish it the way we wanted to in regulation. I think we just made the decision that we were going to be the reason that we helped win this game and we were able to come through as a unit and make plays to help our team.

Q. Zaire, (indiscernible) the rest of the group?

ZAIRE FRANKLIN: Yeah, been playing with DeFo for a long time, and obviously his play means a lot, but for me personally, it's his leadership. I feel like we're a great yin and yang. He's like the over-watching big brother on the defense.

If I crash out and he doesn't say nothing, that means I was probably right; if I'm too hyped, he's, hey, Z. So he has my back.

Knowing that DeFo wasn't going to be out there, we all had to step up. Obviously I think myself and Pratt made more plays. The D-line did a great job stepping up Neville, and JTT and Tommy. Tommy started the game off hot. He made a lot of great plays. Definitely missed DeFo, but the boys made the plays.

Q. (On the atmosphere).

ZAIRE FRANKLIN: Man, when you're in situations like that, man, it's just like where would you rather be. They turn the lights off, everybody got their lights going. The scene was amazing. Playing here in Germany, man, I couldn't speak more highly of the country and the hospitality or the fans or the environment. Playing in a historic venue -- we all know what Jesse Owens did here years ago, so that's fantastic.

We're in that huddle with the game on the line, you're looking around that huddle, it's like, look, where would you rather be? Let's make these plays. Let's win this game.

Q. When I asked JT about breaking records, he said it's all about team. When he's so willing to deflect, as an offensive lineman, what does that say about him, and how appreciative of that are you?

BERNHARD RAIMANN: I mean, that's him. He's the best running back in the NFL and he still doesn't take the credit for it. That's just the kind of human he is, the kind of competitor he is, and he's still one of the hardest workers on the team. He's leading us. As an offensive line, it just makes it fun blocking for him. You never know what happens you give it your all because you know the guy behind you is doing the same thing, and it just helps us rally behind him.

Q. (Indiscernible).

ZAIRE FRANKLIN: Man, like you said, JT is the best in the league, man. As a defense, we just know we've got to keep giving him shots on goal. Shots on goal, you could see it little by little, body shots, body shots, body shots, knowing that that home run is going to come sooner or later.

Those type of runs, we've come to respect. We've just got to keep our eye out for when they come. But I think he made the clutch run in the tough situation in the game. Man, he's just taken his game to a whole 'nother level.

Like Bern said, he's the most humble dude in that locker room. No matter what, he's going to give it to his teammates, give it to God. That's the type of man he is. But I'm telling -- look, I'll scream it from the mountaintops: He's the MVP in my book.

Q. (Indiscernible) what does that say about what your defense did?

ZAIRE FRANKLIN: Yeah, no question. Going into overtime, we gave up that touchdown drive at the end, that was a sour taste in our mouth. We know what our offense is capable of, we know who they are. Had some shenanigans at the coin toss, but yeah, look, that wasn't my business, respectfully. Shout-out to the league and the officials. I don't want no problems.

At the end of the day, it didn't matter. Once our offense got the ball, we knew they was going to score a touchdown and we knew regardless of what happened we wasn't going to let them score. Thankful for my teammates. Thankful for the D-line and for the coaches to put me in position. But at the end of the day, we came out here to get a win, and that's what we did.