Here’s what Falcons coach Dan Quinn said after the 34-29 win over the Bucs on Sunday:
Opening Statement: "It's good to see everybody. I thought the team this week and the focus and energy were really on point. We took them all the way through the week from Wednesday on. We talked about the moments that test us and the moments that elevate us and that's what today was about. It takes a lot of leaning and making sure that when that moment comes, you're able to nail it and handle it and then just keep building. That's what happened today. It was all-hands-on-deck and it took everybody. Offensively scoring the field goal at the half, I thought was a critical play and critical drive, when we look back on it. When we had the timeouts, we were able to use those and having that kick at the end of the half (by) Matt (Bryant) was critical. Offensively, the last two drives of the game to score 10 points after being knocked around in the third quarter. They came back and finished and fought like we thought. Defensively, to have two takeaways you probably heard me talk about that until you feel sick of hearing about it. The one in the red zone I thought was especially important. I can't say enough about Matt Bryant and the kick that he had. In that moment, that's exactly who he is and he's definitely one of the most mentally tough players that I've had the chance to coach. A lot of respect for him. Today was about everyone. It was all-hands-on-deck, and it was going to take all day, and certainly glad to see that we got a win."
On his message to the team after the win: "Heading in, we knew for this week what it was going to take. We knew all our chips were going to be in, the preparation and the mindset. We said it's pretty cool when everybody is involved in the win when you keep fighting and keep battling for it. I thought it was an excellent team win today and there were a number of different guys that stepped up and that's what happens. Injuries come down, a couple of receivers are out, and other men stepped up, defensively. I thought guys had to battle and go through. Excellent team win."
On players like Marvin Hall and Justin Hardy stepping up today: "Really, I thought it shows the depth of the group and I thought it was another excellent performance by Austin Hooper. Sometimes when certain coverage may go to one player, other opportunities are there. He is certainly nailing them. I think if you look back all the way through the off-season, I told you about the work that Matt [Ryan] and Austin [Hooper] had put in prior to Matt [Ryan] having the kids and all the time they spent together. He would keep calling him and keep going over to the high school and throwing with him. That connection, you see is very strong. I was pleased with the depth, and Russell Gage had a critical first down conversion. All of them have a role, all of them are counted on, and I think it shows the depth of the group and certainly, we're proud of that."
On the rationale behind kicking the field goal instead of going for it: "There were a couple of options there. The first one was to see if we could draw them offsides. We thought to get into a big group and see if we could use cadence here at home and that didn't work, so we went through a third down plan to see if we could get that first down. If we get that there, that game is done. We didn't get any yards on it, and I thought it was far enough away that the risk of going for another one if they did jam us up and play zero was worth the risk. We count on Matt [Bryant] in those moments, and we knew the kick would put us up by a score. It was just a difference of going for it, to win it right there or to get the kick and be ahead. We didn't want to leave ourselves only 20-some yards short just up to with the way their offense was able to throw it and the playmakers they had. That was the rationale behind it and Matt [Bryant] hit it beautifully."
On his vantage point during the last lateral play: "I don't know if it was just a play designed for a victory defense, but as they went down the field and people's backs are turned, they certainly had a shot for it. It was one I had hadn't seen before and it was an un-scouted look so there was a lot of people on the sideline and grabbing on to hold on. It just showed the strain and fight for it. Playing a division game, you know it's going to be tough. It's wrinkles like that, good call by Dirk [Koetter] and their staff to have a chance to have them win it on the final play. We've had some go the other way on the final play, so it was nice to be on the side where we were on top on the final play. I was proud of the team's effort."
On opportunities being there for the offense to win the game: "Yeah, because then sometimes you can lose your momentum, and something can happen, so to see us fight back and to answer in that moment I thought was critical. Those are those moments I was talking about, where they test you, but they also elevate you. This is the time and we're going to convert on the third downs and get the ball down the field. We started right off with Julio [Jones] on a big play to start the field position flipping already. They have a number of different guys that can attack, and that's one of the most difficult parts about defending the offense is the different players that get involved."
On the play where Matt Ryan scrambled and got hit: "I thought that stood out to me. I thought there was a number of conversions that he moved out of the pocket and went for it. His toughness, it shows all the time. It was just another example where he was going to go for it and he was not going to be denied the play and I think that speaks to who the competitor is. He cares so much for the team, he cares so much for how we perform that he's willing to lay it on the line and put out for his guys in the locker room. That was clearly a play that demonstrated that."
About the Author
