Ryan directed second-half fireworks show
ARLINGTON, Tex. – While the defense was working out its woes at halftime, Matt Ryan attempted to rally the offense.
He knew he could take Dallas backup quarterback Brandon Weeden in what had turned into a shootout.
Ryan, with the help of running back Devonta Freeman and wide receiver Julio Jones, directed the offense to 25 unanswered second-half point to rally to a 39-28 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
“We started slow across the board,” Ryan said. “Offensively, defensively and got into a little bit of a hole. But nobody panicked. Nobody kind of pressed or anything like that.”
Ryan, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns, told the offense to stick to their plan at halftime.
“I felt like, while we didn’t start the way that we wanted to, we were moving the ball,” said Ryan, who finished with a passer rating of 109.2. “I thought the score right before halftime, to be able to put up three points was critical for us.
“Especially with us getting the ball to start the second half. While we didn’t score on that drive, the defense got it back and we were able to get that 10-point swing pretty quickly.”Ryan was proud of this win.
“I love that everybody just kind of kept their heads down and kept working and it felt like we were going to find a way to get it done,” Ryan said.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
