Here's what Falcons coach Dan Quinn had to say after the 24-12 win over the Jaguars:
Opening statement: "First [I] want to start off congratulating Matt (Ryan) on the ninth year of throwing for 4,000 yards and to Julio (Jones) on 12,000 yards. These are two really special players, but they're also remarkable teammates. That stands out for our whole team. What an opportunity for any young player on the team to look after and model. We talked about our identity, how we wanted to play. I thought today really illustrated that right off the bat, having a touchdown drive on the opening drive, and then coming out and Keith Smith forcing a fumble, being able to convert that to go up 14-0. We wanted to close out our home season for our fans and represent certainly in a way that we could. We were able to do that today."
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On the opening scoring drive: "I thought, number one, we were going to make sure [using the] run game, play pass, screens, we were going to try to attack them in a number of different ways. It just kept flowing. When you kept earning first downs to get moving, it was a good opening drive. Matt [Ryan] started off, I thought, hot as well."
On Vic Beasley's play since the bye week: "I think overall the pass rush has been more consistent as an overall group, and I think his use of the hands has certainly improved. Those are the type of plays we need to make, and I thought he and Grady (Jarrett) were especially active today."
On Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary's progression over the course of the season: "I think, number one, it was good to get the run game going today, and that's always a factor because now all the play pass that goes along with that, you see some of the shots that went down the field to Julio, to (Austin Hooper), who had a few of those. But the two of them with their urgency to go, they're gaining confidence as we're going. There's some on the job training for both of them, but it's valuable time for them for sure. So to see their identity start to come through, the urgency, the toughness, it's only going to improve from here."
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On John Cominsky's return to play this week: "I think just the size and length and speed, he was really pumped and ready to get going and contribute in all ways that he could, including on special teams. You could see it this week in the preparation and practice. He was definitely ready to get rocking, and it was good to have him back out."
On the three running backs contributions today: "We can work from Qadree (Ollison) first, and as it gets closer to the goal line, I see that helmet go on the sideline, he's starting to feel it like it's his time. He does have a knack for sure, the size and the physicality. Then Brian (Hill), you see the plays he's able to make. He was an excellent complement to (Devonta Freeman) today, and Free as well, having some plays ripped back. We'll have to go back and see, but it seemed like a couple of good runs came back on fouls today. That's one part of the game — plenty of stuff to work on, but that will certainly be one for us this weekend."
On the importance of Ryan Allen's strong performance today: "Big. To put two punts inside the 2-yard line, that's a big deal. Brian Hill as the gunner, to go down and make those. We did those in practice. One of them got it in the end zone, we did it again, and he got it. To see that work from practice, carry it out in the field, but I think that's one of Ryan's strengths. He's able to place the ball down inside. We knew field position against this team was going to be critical. They've got an excellent punter, excellent kicker, a good returner, so to have some drives where they start inside their own two-yard line, that was big."
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