Here’s what the Falcons had to say after the 37-36 loss to the Bengals on Sunday:
JAKE MATTHEWS, tackle
On the team moving forward: "We just need to keep working and keep getting better. We're doing a lot of good things, but at the same time, there are a lot of things we can get better at. We have a formula and just have to keep executing better."
On Matt Ryan's performance: "He's a great player. He's always going to get it done for us and we just have to find more opportunities to allow him to make plays and score a few more points. It doesn't matter if you score 100 points and you lose, it's still a loss."
On the loss: "At the end of the day we need to score more points on offense and as an offense, we didn't do that. It starts with myself and everyone on offense. It's a team game. Any time we lose, it sucks. You prepare all week to win the game obviously and we didn't get that done. We need to find a way to score more points as an offense."
VIC BEASLEY, defensive end
On the loss: "It's tough. I feel like we're always on the edge there the last couple of games, but we've just got to keep pounding."
On the pass rush: "I think we got some good pressure. It was good to see that from Takk (McKinley)."
On the loss: "It's like just taking your heart and ripping it out. It's tough but it's just part of the game. It's why we play the game. We play the game to win, but sometimes that's how it ends up."
On team getting frustrated: "We have to remain optimistic. It's tough. We've given up a lot of points on the defensive side of the ball lately, but we've just got to remain optimistic. We've to critique ourselves and get back to the practice field. We've got the Steelers next. We're going to go up there are try to get a win."
On moving forward: "It's tough. It's really tough. We've got a lot of confidence on this team, and we've got a lot of players to be successful and to win a lot of games. We're not doing that right now, but we're going to keep remaining positive and putting our best foot forward."
ISAIAH OLIVER, cornerback
On the last play: "We have our own little twist on it, but it's basically a cover-2. So I probably should've sank back a little bit more, like 3 or 4 yards. Coach Manuel said that it sucks right now, but you've just got to take it and learn something from it. It can't all be negative."
TAKK MCKINLEY, defensive end
On his play: "I don't know. I was just out there competing. At the end of the day, we didn't get the job done as a defense. It hurts. You've just to flush it and get ready for next week."
On the tough loss: "It's hard. Whenever have a chance to finish, we have to. I think all three of our (losses), the defense had a chance to get them off the field and win it for the team. We'll get it going. I'm not going to say I'm not too worried, but the team we've got here, we'll get it rolling."
On the defense: "We just needed to calm down as a defense. We were just a little too jittery in the first half. We knew we'd have to step it up in the second half."
On finishing: "We've got to finish. Regardless how many points we held them to in the second half, we lost the game. As a defense, we had a chance to win the game. This one is going to sting, but it's one loss. We've got another game next week."
ROBERT ALFORD, cornerback
On covering A.J. Green: "It was a challenge. We both were challenging each other. I love the competition. It's football."
On playing more man: "We to be in press. It's something that the coaches always liked about us. In the second half, it's something that we went toward. We were successful with it, but at the end of the day we didn't come away with the victory. There are some other things that we need to improve on."
On if their confidence is shaken: "Not at all. It's still early in the season. At the end of the day, we are down two of them. It's not time to go crazy or whatever. I know the guys in this room and the coaching staff that we have, they are not going to accept that. Like I said, it's early. We still have a lot of ball ahead of us."
On the motivation to correct mistakes with the offense scoring at a high clip: "At the end of the day, the offense put up however many points, we always want to get turnovers and stop those guys from making touchdowns."
RYAN SCHRAEDER, right tackle
On the tough loss: "You just kind of take it one day at a time. Keep grinding and keep fighting. Come together as a team."
On it being a thin line between 4-0 and 1-3. "There have been other years where we've been close in a lot of games that could have changed the outcome of the season. At this point, it was the first quarter of the season. We have to reset and going to the second quarter with a better mindset. I think we'll be better."
On making sure frustration doesn't set in. "It starts from the top. The coaches are real good about keeping us focused. A lot of our guys are experienced. They've been through tough times. You just have to keep going."
DESMOND TRUFANT, corneback
On how the team can bounce back from such a heartbreaking loss: "You just have to keep going, keep pushing. You really can't make any excuses, you just have to be detailed. Small things turn into big things in the game, so you just have to keep pushing at the end of the day. The first quarter of the season is over, it hasn't gone how we wanted it too, but we still have a lot of football left."
On if blitzing more will help solve the issues on defense:
“At the end of the day, we have to make the defense come to life. We’re being put in the right positions, but we just aren’t making the plays right now. So, like I said, we have to make it come to life at the end of the day.”
On how close he was to intercepting the ball on the final drive: "I should have gotten that one. It would have ended the game, but we still had a chance to win. I definitely want that one back."
CALVIN RIDLEY, wide receiver
On leading in the 4th quarter and losing: "It's kind of crazy actually. We just have to continue to work and come back next week."
On his touchdown catches: "On my first one, I saw two safeties rotating, so I knew I had a good chance of getting the ball. On the second one, I had a go-route, and the corner was just running to the outside hard, so I just cut and Matt [Ryan] put a good ball up."
On what Coach Dan Quinn said after the game: "Tough loss; it's going to be like that in the NFL. We just have to go back to work and get better. We've had a tough first couple of games, and its tough for us, but we just got to get better."
On the emotions of the team at this point in the season:
“We’re hurt right now. We’ve been working really hard, and we want the outcome to be W’s, but we have to keep continuously working, keep our heads up and keep moving.”
On the difference between being on a winning team in college versus now: "It's not different. I know we are going to win. I know we're putting in the work to go out there and win. We are going to get things going, it just takes time."
On speaking to the defense: "You want to encourage the guys. While we're out there we just encourage each other. They say the same thing to us, and we just want to go out there and play a complete football game."
Thoughts on turning the season around: "No doubt! I think we're one of the best teams, we're just down right now, but we're going to bring it back. We just need to go back working and come back ready next week."
Thoughts on taking a leadership role with the amount of personal success this early in rookie career:
“Naw, I’m just here to help in any way the coaches want me to help, and I just want to be there whenever they need me.”
