Here’s what Matt Ryan had to say before the Falcons face the Panthers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:
Q: How do you plan for the Panthers under an interim coach after Ron Rivera?
A: "You don't know what to expect. You might see a few different things here and there. … When you're in a situation where you're not quite sure what to expect, it's about knowing your own plan."
Q: Do you expect the Panthers to put Eric Reid in the box to stop the run game?
A: "Yeah, that's what they do every week. He's done a great job of playing low. I'm not sure if he's leading their team in tackles, but he's got to be up there. He's making a ton of plays in the run game." (Reid is listed as second on the team in tackles, with 96. That's seven behind Luke Kuechly.)
Q: What must happen to get run game going?
A: "We just have to keep working at it. We've done that. We've had some success at times and haven't been as consistent as we'd like in other times. We have to stick with it. Particularly against this team. They're an excellent pass-rush unit."
---
Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.
About the Author
