EXCLUSIVE: Matt Ryan notches biggest win of young career
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes in the first quarter against the Saints. Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The victory over the Saints has to be the biggest of Matt Ryan’s young career.
In 2008, he had the big win at home over the Chicago Bears, when the team pulled it out in the final 12 seconds. There was also the big win at Green Bay his rookie season.
Last season, the Falcons beat the New York Jets on the road. They went on to reach the AFC championship game.
In an AJC exclusive, Ryan talked about some of the key plays and how he was going to sleep well, dreaming about that 19-play drive:
MATT RYAN, quarterback
WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE TEAM: “I definitely speaks to the character of the guys on our football team. We continue to fight and play hard. But that’s kind of been our M.O. for the last couple of years. We continue to battle regardless of what is going on out there. When you do that, it gives yourself a chance.”
ON GONZALEZ AND RODDY: “Just reading it out. That’s the biggest thing. Early on, the ball kind of found Tony and he was huge on the first touchdown drive. Later on, Roddy started to get some catches. We kind of spread the ball around to the backs as well. I thought we did a good job offensively of taking what they gave us all day and we were able to put some points in doing that.”
ON THE 19-PLAY DRIVE: “That was a great drive and it ate up a lot of clock in the second quarter. 10:38. With that said, I’m going to sleep pretty good tonight as a result of the 19 play drive.”
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317 comments Add your comment
tp
September 27th, 2010
8:20 am
Good point RobbE33. I thought throwing the bomb in that situation cost us the game (the Saint kicker missing a 29-yard field goal is inexcusable). If you’re going to throw it, you HAVE to complete it. Period. It’s simply the difference between winning and losing … Unless, of course, the Saints kicker accepts Arthur Blanks $1 million dollar bribe and intentionally misses a chip-shot that would have won the game!
dean
September 27th, 2010
8:27 am
Who says there is no such thing as What Goes Around Comes Around? I see the kicker’s miss as karma for some pretty sorry calls that went against the Falcons last year. Not only that, but what do you call it, when the opportunity arose, the Falcons ran the ball right down their throat to get into position for Bryant’s chance? I call it being more physical than the other team.
I like the Falcons chances this year.
truth
September 27th, 2010
8:28 am
The good thing about that long pass is that it will be in the minds of oppossing defense cordinators. They know we can get it down field. Once we get the timing right, watch out. Matt Ryan weak arm…..don’t think so.
truth
September 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Great point Dean. Also, Bryant stepping up after a timeout and false start and making the kick longer, still delivered.
Mountain Man
September 27th, 2010
8:31 am
Rollllll TIDE!
PreyDawg
September 27th, 2010
8:35 am
One thing nobody on this board has mentioned yet. I have never seen a media and league slurp fest for a single team like I see with the Saints.
This is not sour grapes because we won so I can say this freely. The Saints are chippy as all get out. The Carson Palmer rule should have been invoked in the first quarter when their D lineman took a helmet shot right at Ryan’s knee. There were at least 5 horse collars that they did to us. One FINALLY got called. And the long ball to Douglas in OT fell incomplete because he was interferred with. There were many others that they are allowed to get away with just as they did against the Vikings last year in the playoffs.
The national media cannot shut up about the missed FG like we were just lucky the whole game. We dominated the line of Scrimmage, time of possesion, and the run game. There was very little luck involved in those three. Kind of wish Douglas had gotten a clean break on that deep ball. If we stick the dagger in their vodoo hearts then, the Trent Dilfer’s of the world dont have that FG to talk about.
Golden Talons
September 27th, 2010
8:36 am
Great knockdown, drag-out slugfest from both the Saints and the Falcons yesterday. THAT WAS NFL FOOTBALL AT IT’S BEST. The pounding, 19 play drive was simply outstanding. The throw over the top to White under pressure was lovely. My only disappointment was when the Birds got the ball at the end of regulation time, they didn’t drive it in and finish it. That’s the next step. Put the stake in the heart and close it out so we don’t have to worry about whether the Saints kicker makes the 3 or not. But…I like what I see.
When these two teams meet again at the end of the season it should be one helluva barn burner.
Chop Buster
September 27th, 2010
8:36 am
This is the second week in a row Harry slowed down and was overthrown. I said it last week that he and Ryan need to spend extra time after practice getting their timing down. The offense is really starting to come together–but the defense is still giving up big plays. Smitty needs to get that fixed.
NeverSeenAgain
September 27th, 2010
8:39 am
Sorry I’m late but mommie wouldn’t bring my crow dinner down to the basement.
I yelled at her and she kicked me out. What’s a 35 Y.O. boy gonna do without his Xbox?
NeverSeenAgain
September 27th, 2010
8:40 am
So the Douglas overthrow becomes a statement. I like the way the team went straight for the throat.
lanier
September 27th, 2010
8:41 am
You guys act like the Falcons won the Superbowl. They won a football game because a kicker missed a chipshot that any kicker hits 98% of the time.
A good team would have never let the kicker get close enough to even try it
Come on this just means they are 2-1 little else
Samuel
September 27th, 2010
8:41 am
Matt Ryan plain and simple has matured as the Falcons leader and quarterback. Sam Baker is a liability. Vangorder has to do a better job of coaching these guys up. We were out of position sometimes on defense in the secondary. Special teams has to get better at covering punts and kickoffs. That responsibility has to be on Keith Armstrong the coach. Mike Mularky did a good job of calling plays. Especially staying with the run, when at times wasn’t very successful. I like the fact that Mike Smith got out of his confort zone and went for the fourth down plays. Now being that said- the Falcons win against the Saints will not mean much, if we don’t go out and beat the lowly fortyniners.
PreyDawg
September 27th, 2010
8:41 am
Also, we as fans have to dedicate ourselves this year. THE TIME IS NOW!!! Lets fill up the dome. Dont sell your tickets to visiting fans. This is what we have wanted for 30 years. A winning team. We have our back to back winning seasons and now we are tied for the division with SF coming to town. I DO NOT Want to look around the dome and see tons of the opposition fans cheering for their team. WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!!
All this BS about too many transient citizens of Atlanta is bogus. I know there are plenty of hard core Falcons fans out there. This is the South. We live, eat, and breathe football. You telling me we cant fill up the dome??!! Time for the doubts to fade. We may not have the NFL next year. Lets ride this wagon while we have the chance. Lets have fun with this and come together as a community behind this team!!!
Circle the Monday night matchup against these Aints in our place. We need to be louder than they were yesterday. Sean Peyton and Co. gave us no respect post game yesterday. It was all about what they didnt do. No props for the fact that we ran all over them when the game was on the line. They need to hear about it when they come here.
Golden Talons
September 27th, 2010
8:43 am
@ PreyDawg
I hear what you’re saying, but the Saints are the Super Bowl Champs and that’s how the media will play it until they are knocked out – and that’s how it should be – they earned it. In addition, when the media brought that up to Drew Brees, his response was that a lot of things went wrong in the game before the kick, any one of which if executed properly might have changed the outcome of the game.
That’s a leader talkin’ right there.
Todd - Dacula
September 27th, 2010
8:43 am
Matt Ryan???? or the TEAM. Somehow, I did not see MAtt Ryan go to battle all by himslef.
PreyDawg
September 27th, 2010
8:45 am
Hey lanier…A good team would have run the ball down the throats of the aints to the tune of over 200 yards. A good team would have answered on the road score for score. Sort of like two things Atlanta did. A good team would have made critical big defensive plays at critical times…oh yeah….that would be us too.
The game included a little more than just one missed kick. Just so ya know they play 60 mins in regulation too.
Samuel
September 27th, 2010
8:46 am
Lanier a win is a win….
PreyDawg
September 27th, 2010
8:49 am
Golden Talons. Appreciate your post but I aint lettin Brees (who I actually admire as a player and a person) off the hook for that. If we had executed a couple more things we would have won by two scores in regulation…big whoop. If Brees doesnt get the ball on the 10 after a special teams breakdown on our part we win going away. That aint Exactly respect.
And I have been watching this game a long time. This is alot more than the normal post Super Bowl champ love fest. I think there is more to it but I aint going there today. Too busy being happy.
I would rather just agree with you that this was a heck of a win for our team. Love your screen name too.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
8:50 am
A good team would tackle Turner and Snelling instead of trying to strip the ball.
PreyDawg
September 27th, 2010
8:50 am
Come on Todd. Nobody is even saying that. Look how much we have talked about the run game. We finally have a good quarterback. It is a quarterback league. Always has been. Ever here lots of talk about Manning, Brady, and Brees?? Let us enjoy a good game from our QB for pete’s sake.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
8:51 am
Superbowl champs is last years news and yesterday’s (before 1:00 EDT) rallying cry.
Today it’s “what went wrong”?
Chop Buster
September 27th, 2010
8:53 am
PreyDawg…thank you for clarifying for the whiners. If it wasn’t for miscues in the secondary they wouldn’t have even made it to OT. How many times have our kicker choked and cost us the game. Did we give those games away or did the other team win it? I remember many Saints fans stating that a win is a win…no matter how it was accomplished. So stop your crying!!!
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
8:55 am
Colsten, Henderson, Meachum, Thomas all non-factors.
Where was all that great depth? Without Lance Moore the Saints are BLOWN OUT.
Looks like Drew “where’s the interference call” Brees finally learned not to pick on Grimes
Dan
September 27th, 2010
8:56 am
GO FALCONS
OUR TIME !!!!!
truth
September 27th, 2010
8:58 am
The Falcons are a balanced offense. We have the fortune of a run and pass attack.
PMC
September 27th, 2010
9:01 am
What we learned this week. Mike Lombardi has about as much “insight” and “access” into the Falcons organization as any of us.
Lombardi just said this morning… the truth hurts.
Let’s examine that “truth” He “heard” from a “source” in the Falcons organization that the Falcons were losing confidence in Matt Ryan.
He explained this morning that meant that the Falcons just weren’t sure what they had in him yet. They don’t know if he’s going to be a great Franchise QB or not yet.
Well… thanks for that brilliant reporting Sherlock. Wow. You told us a lot about a player playing in the 3rd game of his 3rd year.
He just beat the freaking Saints on the road. That’s a big time positive.
NO one knows if he’s going to turn into one of the 5 or 6 best QB’s in the league.
I guess we found out that National Football Post and Showtime’s NFL whatever it is provide us with absolutely no insight we couldn’t gleam ourselves.
Thanks for Nothing Lombardi. Go back to conjecture and have a great day.
SeenThisB4
September 27th, 2010
9:02 am
I’m here Kenneth: Have you figured out the frequency yet?
This isn’t over, not yet, not even close.
It was a bitter pill to swallow to watch my Saints go down in defeat yesterday, but I take quiet solace in the fact that the Saints beat themselves more, than by the hands of the falcants. (Nasty? YOU CALL THAT NASTY?) The falcants got lucky, pure and simple. They got lucky that Hartley shanked that field goal, they got lucky when the referee threw that bogus interference flag on Grier after the shank, and they got lucky when Payton called timeout on the kick the Saints blocked after that. LUCKY.
So, to say that the falcants and Ryan have notched their biggest win in years, must certainly be discounted by several orders of magnitude, for the stroke of luck they received. The were in fact, lucky just to still be in the game, much more to have won it. And at least the nation was spared the viewing, since it was only a locally broadcasted game! Today, it’s pretty much just an afterthought, a score in a list of scores, while other games take the bulk of the limelight. Quite fitting.
The travesty that happened in the dome yesterday, will be little remember and soon forgotten by most, and no one, save the teethless falcant fans, will glorify it.
At least the Saints no longer have the burden and the distraction of attempting another undefeat run; that sports media frenzy has been diverted. We’ll let the packers to take up that energy draining torch.
The Saints will refocus and make their run at winning the division out right and in style.
And the reigning World Champions will be back in Atlanta, after Christmas, to exact our revenge on Monday night. The only thing the nation will remember about the 2010 falcants was them being mercifulessly pummelled into submission by the Saints on a National Broadcast during the holiday season.
AND YOU KNOW IT”S GOING TO HAPPEN!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
PMC
September 27th, 2010
9:04 am
We killed him over coming up short in the Pittsburg game.
We have to give the man credit for getting it done in this one. That last drive was clutch. Especially the run on 1st and 20.
19 play drive.
Of COURSE this is a TEAM win. Roddy is right no more moral victories.
Tony G’s was well…the Hall of Famer that Tony Gonzalez is.
Abraham was great. Mike P.
Of course this is a team win. But if we get on Matt hard for a road loss. We have to give him a lot of credit for a well played road win.
Good Job Matt.
PMC
September 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Losers always whine about the refs….and what might have been….
PMC
September 27th, 2010
9:07 am
Get your drug addict kicker some more ritalin and maybe he can focus on the goal posts.
alanfalcon
September 27th, 2010
9:11 am
VICTORY, what a sweet word and what a great way to kick off the rest of the season. Great team victory, the end result -CONFIDENCE, congrats. The next two weeks will take extra effort and show the team for what it is, a WINNER over two losers. Don’t let up, go for the GOAL.
GO FALCONS AND GO SOUTHERN RUSH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Golden Talons
September 27th, 2010
9:11 am
@ PreyDawg – Thanks I like my name too, I think I will get it trademarked.
I think Brees’ postgame comments were directed more at the guys in his locker room. They know they would have been lucky to take the W with the kick, and they know they weren’t gettin’ it done. They know they got physically pounded. We can’t worry about the Media/Saints love-in and/or underlying motives. The only thing that changes the “respect” situation is that we take care of our own business at our house and on the road – week in and week out.
I think this Falcons team can do that, but they’ve got to prove they can bring it every week.
Steve762
September 27th, 2010
9:13 am
I loved that scene late where Ryan is in the other player’s faces, red-faced, yelling at them to get it done!
Wish he could play for the Braves….
SirReal
September 27th, 2010
9:16 am
Ok…so I’ve been one of the biggest and most critical of Ryan since he got here. Not b/c I dont think he can get it done but rather I wanted to see him grow up and do the things he’s acclaimed to be able to do. Now I got on him at the PIT game but honestly over these last 2 weeks, I’m starting to see a QB. I’m starting to see a leader. I hadnt ever seen that much passion coming from him. His decision making is getting better. He’s actually standing in and taking hits. Basically I’m starting to see the growth. If we can get him a legitimate LT instead of Sam “I couldnt block a lego” Baker, he’d be really dangerous. I’m just gonna sit back over the next few games and observe his evolution….he’s finally growing…and that bodes well for the entire team.
alanfalcon
September 27th, 2010
9:17 am
SeenThisB4- I’m afraid that your Saints have been exposed for what they are, luck is made, it just doesn’t just happend, just look at last year when your Saints were creating all the turnovers, (luck) and then look at what is going on this year. SEE YOU AGAIN IN THE LAST GAME THIS YEAR IN OUR DOME.
Sid
September 27th, 2010
9:20 am
Sack heads been talkin some kinda smack
Falcons took it to them with a ground attack
“We didn’t have Bush”, they’ll be whining
they’re place in the standings we are redefining
to all you Saints fans still talking trash
the final score was 27-24, we kicked your ass
Told you aint’s fans your heads would be spinning
the chink in your armor is just the beginning
You’ll keep on talkin’, LIVING LIKE IT’S STILL LAST YEAR
Cry me a river I am so sorry for your tears
We’ve given you a shot to the to the solar plexus
So sorry we won’t see you in Arlington, Texas
Sid
September 27th, 2010
9:20 am
L.U.C.K.
Labor Under Correct Knowledge
Chop Buster
September 27th, 2010
9:24 am
SeenThisB4 are you the same guy that is saying a win is a win? You guys are such sore losers. I know you hate that we beat you, but the reality of it is we shouldn’t have even been playing in OT. If Decoud doesn’t get caught looking in the backfield he would have been there to pound Moore. Our defense still has issues giving up the big play, but for the most part Brees couldn’t get in a groove today. We’ll fix our defense and you all should look forward to a major beat down when you come to the ATL. Stop blaming, crying, complaining and accept your crow pie son.
Sid
September 27th, 2010
9:25 am
hiramsaint
September 26th, 2010
10:47 pm
you can’t claim to be the best till you beat the rest . lot of season yet to go . congrats on the win , it’s going to be one of the classics in our rivalry and series.
***************************************************************************************
now you back up a little bit there buddy…………..you said we would lose……………but this statement confirms that you now know………….the Saints ain’t the best………………..we just sat the defending Superbowl Champs on their ass…………..sure, we’ll play the rest of the season and revisit this………….and we will beat you in Atlanta……………….again………….!!!
27-24…………….eat it moron
SeenThisB4
September 27th, 2010
9:26 am
alanfalcon: LOL!
I discount yesterday’s Saints setback, because your team got lucky. That’s a fact that even the broadcast team pointed out. LOL!
OH, and by the way, do you think you can generate enough bandwagon falcant fans to fill your cheap paltry stadium this time? Last year, there were more Saints fans there than falcant fans. I bet that will still be the case this year.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
SeenThisB4
September 27th, 2010
9:31 am
Chop Buster: What’s amatter fool? You can’t handle the same justification you all were using all year long?
BANDWAGON FALCANT FANS.
The Saints are still in the Division hunt, and in my opinion, better situated to win it, than the falcants. Because the falcant luck, won’t hold up.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
truth
September 27th, 2010
9:39 am
Seen…..you’re a sad little man. Still trying to talk smack. LOL!! Go ahead I’ll let you. LOL!!!
FalconUGAFan
September 27th, 2010
9:40 am
@hiramsaint and SeenThisB4….Pay attention. Here is how you act like a classy fan when you’ve been talking smack all year on. Feel free to cut and paste….Hiram was close. SeenThisB4 confirmed he has no stones…Here goes: Congrats Falcons fans on the hard fought-win..see you next game!
Chop Buster
September 27th, 2010
9:43 am
Seen I only speak for myself…not other Falcon fans. A win is a win is a win…no matter how it is attained. Hard to swallow your lost pill? Do you really think the Saints are undefeatable? Just hilarious. LMAO
truth
September 27th, 2010
9:44 am
GEAUX FALCONS!!!
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR TIME!
Chop Buster
September 27th, 2010
9:44 am
meant “loss pill” for the grammar/spelling police. LOL
truth
September 27th, 2010
9:45 am
My my my……how the tables have turned. The aints are back in the place where they belong…..looking up at the Falcons in the standings.
GEAUX FALCONS!!!
Gamer
September 27th, 2010
9:46 am
Ryan played like an elite quarterback against the Saints. He matched Brees point for point, a tough task for any quarterback to do.
The running game was stupendous at crunch time.
Tony and Roddy made tough plays.
The Falcons’ defense play outstanding again. Take away the foul up plays by DeCoud, the Falcons probably hold Saints to 14 points. All game, except for one INT, DeCoud was a sore spot. Several times he took bad angles on pass plays.
Next week game is a trap-game. Falcons deserves plenty of rest after a spectacular performance at SuperDome. But don’t sleep on 49ers.
If Falcons’ defense continue its play then the Falcons should defeat 49ers.
SeenThisB4
September 27th, 2010
9:48 am
FalconUGAFan: You are correct, I have neglected to offer the requisite acknowledgement of the games’ results to you and your falcant bretheren. Allow me to make that obligatory acknowledge:
CONGRATULATIONS,…………., ON GETTING LUCKY.
But, you must admit, the result of that game will go down in the history books as a FLUKE!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
SeenThisB4
September 27th, 2010
9:49 am
GAMER: I don’t know what game you saw, but Ryan didn’t perform like an elite QB. He just got lucky.