Matt Ryan was better than you think even before remembering 9-11 victims

For all the grumbling among Falcons fans Monday in the wake of Sunday’s less-than-sizzling 23-17 win over the Bears, reigning NFL MVP Matt Ryan put together a pretty good afternoon aside Lake Michigan.

His 88-yard touchdown pass to tight end Austin Hooper was just about the only big downfield play in the passing game, and a lot of that was about Hooper's stiff arm and his running. However, all the Falcons' quarterback did while facing a considerable pass rush was execute the plays that new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian sent over his radio headphones.

Ryan completed 21 of 30 passes for 321 yards without an interception. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the NFL’s third-most efficient passer while under duress in Week 1.

The former Boston College star also added a pretty nifty 13-yard run.

The Falcons were off Monday other than receiving injury treatment. Yet the Falcons’ quarterback made a rare appearance on social media when he took to Twitter on the 16th anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy in which New York City’s World Trade Center towers were destroyed by terrorists.