Here's what the Falcons had to say about the 29-3 win Sunday over the Panthers:
KENJON BARNER, returner/running back
On his punt return for touchdown: "I had a 'motorcade,' as I like to say. Once I caught the ball and came through the middle, I just saw a motorcade ahead of me and they guided me on down. Our guys did a great job of blocking. They always do. They strain for me, and my job is to strain for them."
On getting the touchdown against his former team: "It doesn't matter who it was against. I have nothing but respect for the Carolina Panthers, coach (Ron) Rivera and (owner) Mr. (David) Tepper, even going back before him (former owner) Mr. (Jerry) Richardson, (former general manager David) Gettleman, these guys open the door for me. They gave me a foot in the door. So, it didn't matter who it was against. It just happen to be here."
» MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM: Falcons' defense is making plays
On seeing things come together: "Sometimes you have to walk through to dark to get to the light. I've been saying that and I'll continue to say that. Everything is not going to go your way. Every day is not going to be sunshine and blue skies. Sometimes it's going to be dark and cloudy and that's what it was for us earlier in the season. That bye week came at a good time. We got a chance to get away from football. Forget about football. Refresh our minds. Coming back collectively as a group, we had a decision to make. One thing that's special about his team, at the time at the bye week, you don't see a lot of 1-7 teams with the fight that this team has. I think that speaks volumes for coach (Dan) Quinn, the coaching staff and then the players. I think a lot other places you see guys quit at 1-7, but that is not the case with this team. ... There is not quit in this team. It's all fight with this team. It's a bunch of dogs and that's what you've got to love about this team."
On the momentum swing following the punt return for touchdown: "That's what is special about special teams. Special teams are momentum changers. Kickoff return, punt return, kickoff, punt. All of those units are momentum changers. Anytime you can have an impact on a game positively, you want to do that. That's what we were able to do today."
» MORE: Dan Quinn's expectations for defense
JULIO JONES, wide receiver
Where the team's performance today came from: "We've always been this team. At the end of the day, it's us. We just had to figure it out for us. A lot of people have been doubting us and saying 'you're this' and 'you're that,' but you can't read the newspaper or listen to the media. It's all about what's in-house and we've just got to stay true to who we are and keep battling for one another."
Carolina using double or single coverage today: "I got some double, they were doubling me some. But we had some options there when they did single me up. They singled Cal (Calvin Ridley) up as well. It was like pick your poison today. Matt (Ryan) found Cal down the field and he did a tremendous job for us."
Embracing the mentality that this is a new season in the second half of the season: "It's just one game at a time. But Q (Dan Quinn) challenged us early on when we came off the bye week that it's about throwing the punch and what are we going to do. We can either listen to everybody and what everybody is saying about us or we can do something about it. At the end of the day, it's on us. We control all of this, so that's what we're doing right now."
» ALSO: What Matt Ryan said after win at Carolina
CALVIN RIDLEY, wide receiver
On his performance: "It felt good. It's something I can always do I feel like. I can make plays, so it feels good."
On getting off to a good start: "Whenever we go down and score points it's good. If it's three, if it's six, as long as we are up I'm happy with it. We want touchdowns, but as long as we are moving the ball and getting points on the board, I'm good."
ON connecting on explosive plays with Matt Ryan: "The coverage was kind of tilted. The safety played a little bit over, so I just ran a good route and made a great play. Matt (Ryan) threw a great ball, and gave me a chance."
DESMOND TRUFANT, cornerback
On the defense's execution: "We are just doing it at all levels. The defensive line is rushing. The linebackers are hitting and covering. The backend, we're covering and tackling in space. We are just doing what we practice. What the game plan is, we just execute. Playing with energy, and having fun. You can see it out there. It's starting to come together for us."
On the improved defense: "We've just been executing. Before we weren't executing. Mentally and physically. Now, it's just coming all together. We just went back to the basics. Having fun, running, and hitting. It's showing."
On the Falcons' defense going 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown: "That's good ball. That's the kind of ball we want to play. That's not easy to do in this league. At the same time, we still can get even better. That's what is crazy about it. We are still in a position where we control our own destiny. We just have to take it one week at a time and keep stacking (wins)."
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