Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has spent his time in front of the self-affirmation mirror.
After throwing three interceptions against the Saints, the league’s reigning most valuable player was happy to post a 20-17 win.
With a big game looming against Tampa Bay, Ryan is done reflecting on the past.
“You can’t beat yourself up,” Ryan said. “It’s hard enough in this league to go out there. You know every week that you are a week away from being humbled.”
Ryan finished with a 55.2 passer rating, the 10th lowest in his career.
Back in 2008, Ryan won his first start against Detroit. The next week, the Falcons lost to Tampa Bay and he had a 29.6 passer rating against Monte Kiffin’s defense.
The game still stands as his lowest passer-rated game over 155 career starts.
“I learned that early on,” Ryan said about being humbled. “I have great belief in myself. It’s a tough league. There are going to be weeks like that from time to time.”
Ryan completed 15 of 27 passes for 221 yards and had one touchdown against the Saints.
“One of the things that stands out about Matt and a number of guys on our team is that they own it,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “(If) they don’t have a play that they don’t like or a moment that they don’t like, they own it. There were definitely some things that went well, but for the moments that didn’t go well, that interception in the end zone or the one right before the half, those are ones that he acknowledges.”
Quinn believes that straight forward approach during the team’s “tell the truth” film reviews helps the players move on.
“We do that as a group,” Quinn said. “I think it’s the accountability that he has not only to himself, but to his teammates. We’ve (got) his back 1,000 (percent).”
In the previous meeting with Tampa Bay, Ryan was spectacular. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 317 yards and a touchdown. He had a passer rating of 111.2 in the 34-20 victory on Nov. 26.
Wide receiver Julio Jones was unstoppable as he caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns. One from Ryan and one from wide receiver/quarterback Mohamed Sanu.
The Bucs will have a new play for Jones.
“We’re going to put 10 guys on him and then just leave one guy over the center,” Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter quipped. “You think Atlanta would do anything if we did that?”
When Jones was told that Bucs joked about using 10 players on him, he said, “Is that all?”
Koetter was the Falcons offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014 and unleashed Jones for some mega-performances during his tenure.
So, the “Cover 10” may not be a bad plan.
“That’s about what it would take,” Koetter said.
Ryan doesn’t expect the Bucs will leave Jones in single coverage again.
“We’ll see what they do,” Ryan said. “They’ve been consistent throughout the year. They have a system that they believe in, we’ll see.
“Julio put up some big numbers the last time that we played them. Maybe there is some cloud coverage or double-teams for him, but as far as fronts and blitzes… what they’ve shown throughout the years is going to show up Monday night.”
The Falcons may not have to face Tampa Bay defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who has a biceps injury. He leads the Bucs with five sacks.
“We are going to prepare like he’s going to go,” Ryan said. “That’s the mindset that we have to have. He’s a great player. When he’s out there, we certainly have to account for where he’s at.”
Ryan is expecting the MVP Matt Ryan to show up against the Bucs.
“I feel like I’ve got a good process, a good routine to get into that helps me prepare week-in and week-out,” Ryan said. “I felt like in the game this past Thursday I made a couple of mistakes, but those things happen from time to time. I feel like my process is really good. I feel l like I do everything I need to do every week to give me the best chance to play the best I can.”
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