CHARLOTTE -- The Falcons had a hard time completing one of their bread and butter plays: the bubble screen to wide receiver Julio Jones.

On one play, the Panthers appeared to just tackle Jones before the ball was thrown. That caught Jones off guard.

"I found out something that I didn't know," Jones said. "I thought when the ball was in the air, you can't touch a receiver. If the ball is in there air… I don't mind him trying to be physical and putting his hands on me, but if the ball is in the air I have rights to the ball.+

“I can’t compete for the ball because you’re holding me down. I really didn’t get that today. But now, knowing that going forward, I’m just going to be a little bit more aggressive.”

Another bubble screen was nearly intercepted after it popped up in the air.

"They did a good job,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Obviously, that’s a play that we’ve had success with. They did a good job of defending it today."

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones with the ball as Panthers cornerback Josh Norman defends. (Bob Donnan/USA Today Sports)

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

icon to expand image

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

About the Author

Keep Reading

Kirby Smart (left) and Georgia beat Brent Key and Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes last November in Athens. The Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets bring Clean Old-Fashioned Hate off campus for 2025, playing at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2024)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller