Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones carried the offense against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Jones broke loose for nine catches for 178 yards, including an acrobatic grab over two Carolina defenders on a Matt Ryan heave that he ran into the end zone with for a 70-yard touchdown play.
“It was a great play by Julio,” Ryan said. “To be able to escape the pocket and realize he’s down there with a safety and a linebacker, I feel like that’s a good chance for us to throw up a ball and give him an opportunity to make a play.”
Jones certainly did make the play and it gave the Falcons a 14-10 lead they would not relinquish and provided a spark to the defense to hold up down the stretch.
“I know that the team depends on me as far as going out there and making a play,” Jones said. “All of us together. When my number is called, I try to go out there out there and deliver.”
Jones works with wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie, wide receiver Devin Hester and linebacker coach Bryan Cox after practice on making catches while jumping.
Jones, a former high school basketball player, looked like he was clearing a basketball off the glass on the catch.
“I just had to go get the ball at the highest point,” Jones said.
There was much made about Jones’ matchup with Carolina cornerback Josh Norman, but Jones was the clear winner on Sunday.
“He just doesn’t say anything to me,” Jones said. “He’s a good cornerback. He doesn’t trash talk or anything like that. We kind of got him on an island a few times and made a few plays.”
“We’re back on course. It started last week. Just playing to our style and finishing games. We’ll see next week.”
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