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."
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
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