Matt Ryan struggled against the Redskins Sunday, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in the Falcons’ 25-19 overtime win.
Despite the turnovers, his team came back from four points down with 2:38 left in regulation to win a tight, competitive game.
“Obviously, we didn’t play as well as we would like to offensively,” Ryan said. “I didn’t play my best football today, but we still found a way to get it done.”
Ryan threw a game altering-interception with 5:50 remaining to Bashaud Breeland who returned the pass for 28 yards to the Falcons’ 21-yard line. The turnover resulted in a field goal and the Redskins extended their lead 16-12 with 2:38 left in regulation.
Ryan finished 24-of-42 for 254 yards.
“That’s another guy that you never count out,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said. “He demonstrates (he’s a competitor) for our team game after game.”
Ryan’s first interception came on a pass intended for Julio Jones that was picked off intercepted by Redskins safety Trenton Robinson in the Falcons’ first possession of the game. Ryan had thrown 116 pass attempts without an interception.
“When you turn the ball over three times, you put (the defense) in a really tough spot, but they played great,” Ryan said. “I can’t say enough about what our defense did the entire game.”
Rarely a scrambler, Ryan took off on the Falcons last scoring drive in regulation and picked up eight yards to the Redskins 13-yard line, slamming into safety Kyshoen Jarrett at the boundary instead of ducking out of bounds upfield. Four plays later, the Falcons scored for a 19-16 lead.
Ryan said running the ball himself was the best option to get into the red zone.
“Yards are most important at that time and time is most important,” Ryan said. “I felt like I was in a position to get as much as I could get.”
— JULIAKATE CULPEPPER
About the Author
