What the Falcons had to say after the 33-30 overtime loss

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

Here’s what the Falcons had to say after the 33-30 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday;

VIC BEASLEY, defensive end

(What were you and Dabo Swinney talking about before the game with Grady Jarrett)

“We were just talking about our obligations and the game of football.”

(On the direction of the defense)

“We are moving in the right direction. We are going after the ball and being ball-hawks. We are definitely going in the right direction.

(On adjustments before the Green Bay game)

“We just have to go back to the film room. That’s a different team. They bring in diferent threats. We’ll go to work on Green Bay and see wha they have to offer.”

(On what was working for him)

“We were just switching it up. We were running different stunts up front and that’s how we got the pressure.”

JAKE MATTHEWS, left tackle
(slipped on fourth down?)

“Yeah, a little bit. I just wish we could have executed it and done a better job. But we had other opportunities and we didn’t finish the game.”

(like decision to go for it)

“Of course. No doubt.”

(On blowing leads)

“We were up big and we let it go. We’ve just got to learn from it. We did it to ourselves. No excuses. We’ve got to get better.”

KEMAL ISHMAEL, safety/linebacker

(defense lost aggressiveness?)

“We are going to stay aggressive. On fourth down, we went for it and no one is saying anything about it. That’s what we do. We are going to be aggressive.”

(offense failed on fourth down, what thinking)

“We are a brotherhood. We are not going to turn our backs on anybody.”

ALEX MACK, center

(On fourth down gamble)

“They made a good play. We took a gamble and they called something good against it and it worked out better for them.”

De’VONDRE CAMPBELL, outside linebacker

(What was the thinking on decision to go for it)

“We are an aggressive team. We want to be the best attacking team in ball. If we could go back and do it again I’m sure Coach would make the same call and I’m behind him 100 percent.”

DESMOND TRUFANT, cornerback

(On the blown leads)

“We definitely had them. We definitely felt like we should have won. But you’ve got to give them the credit. They kept fighting and kept chipping the lead down. You’ve got to give them the credit but we definitely. should have put this team away.”

(On Vic Beasley’s play)

“He’s been looking great. He’s been getting off on the ball, getting the ball out, looking like a Pro Bowl player. He can do that every play. I’m happy for him and we’ve got to get more guys so step it up.”

(OT fourth down call)

We are an aggressive team. IT wasn’t surprising at all that we did that. We still could have stopped them. I think on the first play they lost (two) yards so we still were in a good spot. When we have opportunities to put the team away we’ve got to do it.

(Wished they’d punted?)

“We’re all in in together. Whatever Coach Quinn decides to do it I’m behind him. It didn’t surprise me that we did that. Either way we still had a chance to stop them regardless. And we had multiple chances before that.”