Here’s what Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had to say after Saturday’s Wild Card playoff win over the Rams:
On how he thought the offensive line performed: "I thought our offensive line played really well. That's one of the better front seven, one of the better front fours, that you're going to see in this league. Their interior guys are about as good as it gets. For us to run the football the way that we did, and for four quarters, is huge. That's a big reason we won the football game tonight, and I'm just proud of the way they competed and the effort they gave the entire game."
On staying with the run: "Well we felt like the advantage was there for us. I'm not quite sure about yardage. I think we ran for over 100 yards, I'm not positive what it was. But it was about trying to keep with it and keep them disciplined. Having to defend both the run and the pass, because when they can pin their ears back and rush the passer they're very difficult to go against. That was kind of the key for us, to stay balanced. We had a couple of long drives in the second half that we just ran the ball, that we pretty much just run the ball. We came out that way in the second half and I thought it was a good plan by (offensive coordinator) Steve (Sarkisian) and our staff."
On long drive to start the second half: "I thought that was huge. You're right, they did have some momentum going in at halftime, and that's a tough way to go into a halftime. But knowing we were getting the football, and as an offense had the opportunity to change that momentum. I thought that was really important. I think the time of possession too was a factor in that. That's an important part in winning a football game, and we did a nice job with that tonight."
On watching the defense from the sideline this year: "It's awesome. It's fun to watch. Our defense has played really well this year, specifically the second half of this season in the last six to eight weeks. They've been one of the tougher defenses to go against, and that's been fun to watch. Particularly tonight, the Rams offense is very good. I think they led the league in scoring this year, and so for our defense to play that way tonight was really special to watch."
On the touchdown to Julio Jones and the conditions of the field: "The conditions were slick for sure. I slipped a couple of times, but on the touchdown to Julio (Jones), we were kind of running a keeper coming out the backside of that. Connor Barwin was up the field so I had to stop, didn't stop probably as gracefully as I liked. Kept my feet, which was good, tried to give Julio an opportunity toward the front pylon. He made a great adjustment, usually we try to drive those throws in there, but to adjust and go over the top is nice. It was a huge play for us."
On what a playoff win means right now versus just getting to the playoffs: "We're not here just to get here. We want to make noise while we're here, so this is what it's all about, it's about giving yourself the opportunity this time of the year to compete and play in games like this and win games like this. We're excited about that and we know we've got a tough challenge and a good test for us going up to Philadelphia next week."
On what is different about playoff football: "Well, the finality. I think being able to keep yourself in a mental space where you're not worried about the finality of the game, whether you're going home or you keep playing. I think the challenge is to stay locked in and to keep your mindset on execution and going out there and playing your best football and not worrying about the other things. For me, I know I've learned that throughout my career and that's a message that I try to share with our young guys."
What were some of the adjustments that they made at halftime: "I think the adjustment was to stick with the run, for sure. I thought our execution was better and that was one of the things we talked about was, we're going to stick it with it throughout the game and we feel like our offensive line will continue to lean on those guys and the runs will come -- that was kind of our game plan coming into it tonight and I thought it shook out that way. But, I think one of the key adjustments was sticking to that at halftime. Although we didn't have a ton of success in the first half, we kept to it and we executed much better in the second half."
On the screen pass to Mohammed Sanu: "Well, I thought it was a great call by (Sarkisian), the timing of the call against a pressure for them and spitting it out to 'Mo' (Sanu) on the right side and then having blockers out in front of him to go, that was a perfect timed call and really good execution. I'll get on Mo for not scoring when we get into the film room tomorrow, but that was a great play call. Great job by Mohammed too of kind of negotiating his release, getting through there and then creating a big, explosive play."
On when Sarkisian told the offense to stick with running the ball: "We talked about that through the week. Our plan was to come out, we felt like we could crease them in the run game a little bit. It's tough sledding for sure, but we felt like that was our best plan for success and the guys bought into that, we all had that belief and we were very clear about our plan coming into this game and it shook out the way that we wanted it to."
On thoughts on playing back in his hometown of Philadelphia: "Yeah, it's always good to go back and play there for sure. Obviously, family and friends, it's great to see them, but it doesn't matter where we go this time of the year. We're just excited to be going and to still have the opportunity to keep playing."
On how many times Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said the motto about it not mattering where and who they are playing: "How many times? Like a thousand maybe. I don't know. A lot. So much so that everybody knows that, everybody can remember that one. To go on a tangent, Dan does such a great job of messaging and getting buy in and belief from the guys and that's one of those things, he's gotten buy in and belief from that."
On if playoff experience is a major part of how they got the win tonight: "I don't know. I don't think it hurts. I think having gone through these situations, understanding what it's like, the atmosphere, those kind of things, knowing that it's going to be tough. All those things kind of prepare you for it, but at the end of the day, experience or no experience, you have to go out there and execute and I thought we did a good job of executing today."
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