Julio Jones caught a 8-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter Sunday, bringing the Falcons back from a 17-point deficit and force overtime against the Buccaneers.
Jones racked up 162 yards on 12 receptions and one touchdown in the Falcons’ 23-20 loss. Jones said despite his high numbers, he’s focused on improving for next week.
“We just have to continue to try to get better,” Jones said. “It’s the NFL. (Losing) happens. It’s about what you do to (get better).”
Jones is averaging 104.3 yards per game this season and 12.6 yards per catch.
Jones said the Falcons’ need to improve on consistency and in taking care of the ball. One of the Falcons’ four turnovers Sunday came when Jones, after picking up a first down, had the ball stripped by Kwon Alexander, who returned the ball 20 yards to the Falcons’ 21-yard line.
Jones grave credit to the Buccaneers in the first half for keeping the Falcons’ offense from finishing their drives.
“We just couldn’t get (anything) finished in the first half,” Jones said. “We were moving the ball really well and we’d get down there and we just weren’t taking care of the ball.”
Early on, Jones exhibited great speed when he ran down and tackled Alexander who ran 93 yards with an interception to the Falcons’ 11-yard line. Officials called back the play on an offsides penalty on the Buccaneers.
He said he ran down the field on the chance there wasn’t a penalty on the play.
— JuliaKate E. Culpepper
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