Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has come to grips with the reality of the team’s minute chance of making the playoffs, and he believes it “stinks.”
The Falcons, who have a 2-8 record after being projected to be Super Bowl contenders, were mathematically eliminated from repeating as NFC South champions and have a .00071 percent change to make the playoffs, according to makenflplayoffs.com.
The Falcons face the New Orleans Saints (2-8) at 8:25 p.m. Thursday at the Georgia Dome.
“It’s certainly not fun when you’re not in the mix,” said Ryan, who signed an $103.75 million contract extension over the offseason. “We’ve been fortunate in the past to kind of have been in the mix, even the year we didn’t go to the playoffs (we were) in the mix. … When you’re not (in the playoff mix), it stinks.”
The Falcons have lost seven of their past eight games and have been outscored by 74 points in the past four losses. Over that stretch, Ryan has thrown nine interceptions.
“It is what it is at this point,” Ryan said. “We have to play our best, and hopefully in the future, we are not in this position again.”
Ryan said he’s been humbled by all of the losses. Before this season, he never had lost three consecutive games.
“It’s part of (the NFL),” Ryan said. “(There are) times when it’s going to be humbling, and you’ve got to keep your head down and keep going.”
Now, the Falcons, who have six games to play, are looking for positives where they can find them.
“You learn from everything, the good, the bad and sometimes more from the bad than from the good,” Ryan said. “I think everybody is trying to learn from it, apply it to themselves and find ways to get better.
“Find ways to use it as motivation and keep going forward.”
Scheme changes: Falcons coach Mike Smith said the team has to consider scheme changes. One could be moving away from passing so much because they've have pass-protection issues.
They tried to revamp the offensive line against Tampa Bay, and during the open portion of practice Tuesday, Joe Hawley appeared to be working as the No. 1 center, and Garrett Reynolds was at right guard.
The offense has not been able to function because Ryan has been under relentless pressure. On 428 dropbacks, he was pressured on 40.4 percent, with 19 sacks, 59 quarterback hits and 95 hurries.
Running back Antone Smith is in line for more carries as the offense appears primed to shift more to the running game.
“That’s something that Mike and (offensive coordinator) Dirk (Koetter) are going to work on,” Ryan said. “I know that … when things aren’t going well, everybody looks at everything that we’re doing in order to try and find ways to get that fixed. That’s a coaching thing. Mike will handle that.
DeCoud frustrated: Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, took to social media to vent his frustrations with this season.
Earlier in the season, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said DeCoud was in a slump and Nolan hoped that he’d pull out of it.
On his verified Twitter account, @twenty28, McCoud wrote, “By no means am I sittin here acting like I’m balling’ out there… but if you don’t know those three things I state.. you really have no room talk…” He linked to what appeared to be a journal entry through Instagram that read: “I understand that someone has to be the lightning rod for everyone’s frustration … but if you don’t know the huddle call…. The rules of our defense… or our game plan…you have no clue what’s goin’ on out there… I don’t care how much football you THINK you know…it’s a lot more going on than you can fathom.”
Injury report: Tight end Tony Gonzalez (toe) and defensive end Malliciah Goodman (calf) did not practice Tuesday.
The Falcons listed seven other players on the injury report. All were limited for practice.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (tricep), quarterback Dominique Davis (knee), defensive tackle Peria Jerry (shoulder), safety Zeke Motta (hand), running back Jacquizz Rodgers (ankle), offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood (knee/hip) and linebacker Paul Worrilow (shoulder).
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