BROOKS REED, defensive end
On the defense:
“It’s all about the preparation during the week that gets us right for Sundays.”
On the play against the Packers: "We added a lot of depth over the off season. When other guys get tired, one of the things we do well is provide a lot of depth. We can get lots of pressure with fresh legs."
On face the Packers backup tackles: "We didn't know who we were going to play. But the game didn't change."
On the pass rush against the Packers: "We have plenty of guys that can rush the passer. That's the way we want to be, just relentless. We have a set of fresh legs in there and we had the depth to do that."
DEVONTA FREEMAN, running back
On his play: "I think I got one percent better. That's my goal, to get one percent better."
On the offense different against the Packers as compared to the Chicago game: "I don't think it was so different. We were just executing. Everybody was settling in and getting comfortable."
On getting Julio Jones involved early: "I just feel like that teams coming in, the threats that we have on our team, they have to respect everybody. Julio opens a lot of things up. The running game opens a lot of things up. (Mohamed) Sanu, (Taylor) Gabriel, (Justin) Hardy, the offensive line, our tight ends (Austin) Hooper and Tree (Levin Toilolo), everybody plays a major role on this team. I always say it's about what you can defend."
On Ty Sambralio's play: "He did a good job stepping up. We all have a lot of work to do, but that was major for him to step up against Clay Matthews one of the best defensive ends in the world. He held his own."
On short yardage runs: "The offensive line was just creating lanes and making it happen. They were getting us the extra space that we needed to move."
DESMOND TRUFANT, cornerback
On his touchdown: "It just felt good to get my hands on the ball and get in the end zone because it's been so long. I was just happy and definitely blessed. I just have to keep pushing. I just have to take my game higher each week."
On his play: "That's just the life of a corner sometimes. You just have to keep pushing. I feel good. I feel like I'm just tapping into what I can do with my potential. I've got a great supporting cast around me. I'm just trying to be one of the best."
On knocking off the rust: "Definitely because I missed a lot of time and there is nothing like real game reps. I feel good. I pushed myself hard in the offseason to get back to this point. I'm just going to continue to take my game higher. You always can get better. There were some things we weren't happy with. We got the win. We got some turnovers. The offense did a great job. We've got a good thing going here."
On watching the team while he was out last season: "It was hard. I'm not going to sit here and say it wasn't hard for me. I did what I could. It just brought me back down to earth because I had to start all over again. Just grinding. Its paying off. It's still early in the year and I'll continue to get better. I'm excited about what the future holds."
What does game like today do for your confidence: "It was a comeback game. That's my theme for this year. I just want to comeback, do my thing and get back to the old me. Be even better than I ever was. That's my whole goal."
On the interception and touchdown: "I knew that they were backed up and they will take shots. They hadn't took one on my yet so I knew it was coming. I turned around and I was in great position and he threw me the ball. That's how it happened. I've been working on my hands constantly and it's paying off. On the fumble, Vic just made a great play and I scooped and scored. It was just exciting."
On the game ball: "They gave me the Sunday Night player of the game. It was a big moment for me. That was great. I have to keep pushing though."
On the Packers: "They are a great team. They bring it no matter if they are up or down they are attacking. It was a great challenge for us early in the year. We showed a lot of grit. We showed what we are about. We showed what we can do."
JULIO JONES, wide receiver
On the offense's rhythm tonight:
"It was good. Sark [Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian] did a great job tonight just being aggressive and making plays down the field all across the board. From the offensive line to the quarterbacks, to the wide outs and running backs. We did a great job of getting out there and getting after it."
On how being targeted early in the game helps his rhythm:
"We just took what they gave us. They came out in single high, so we made them pay. When we get those opportunities where I'm in single coverage we just try to get me the ball and make the best of it because a lot of teams use two men on me."
On whether or not this was a statement win:
"No, it's just a great win since it's the next game. We prepared well for this game. Everybody outside is looking at expectations but that doesn't mean anything. We have to play our style of football and we have to prepare each and every week the same way."
On whether the Falcons expected early success this season:
"Yeah, but we still have a lot to clean up. We know where we can go to as a team, but we still have things that we can do a lot better. It looked like we were getting after those guys, which we were, but we can still do better."
On whether this win can quiet some of the talk about last season:
"No. Like I said, last year was last year. This is a whole new team, this is the 2017 Atlanta Falcons and what you see is what you get. We're going out here and finishing games, that was last year."
MOHAMED SANU, wide receiver
On whether tonight was a statement win:
"No, we're just going out there and playing football. We got things going, we played well, we have some things to clean up but we felt good about it."
On what felt good about tonight's win:
"The flow of the offense, guys making plays and flying around out there. Everybody doing their job."
On the mood of the team when Green Bay began to come back:
"People always talk about panic, we're not the same team as last year. We went out and we finished the game."
On playing with the roof open:
"It felt pretty cool. It was kind of hot but we're in good shape so it didn't affect us. It looks different because of the lighting at the top, it's pretty cool."
ALEX MACK, center
On whether the offense feels the pressure to pick up where things left off last year:
“The important thing to look at is we want to win games. That’s the most important thing in this business. If the offense can do what we need it to do to win games, that’s what we want to do. Coming away with a win is all we ever hope for.”
On how he felt the offensive line performed with a new face and Wes Schweitzer's second start:
"I think that everyone on the offensive line did a really good job. To come in the game right off the bench is tough, so Ty Sambrailo did an awesome job. He came in and dealt with one of the best in the business all game long. That shows a lot of heart."
On the kind of curve balls the Packers defense threw:
"They had a good defense, showed a lot of pressure with some really stacked guys up front. Towards the end of the game, when we got in four minute mode, they really started pressuring us hard. Devonta Freeman made some really good cuts to make some good things happen with not so good blocking. He made us look good a couple of times."
On whether the run game early helped open up the passing game:
"We really went into this week to work on making a jump from week one. After the first game, we didn't think we were at where we wanted to be, so this week at practice we focused on the running game. Just trying to really make sure we were as crisp as we could be and I could really see an improvement today. I think we did a really good job and it's encouraging to see the progress we've made."
About the Author