Lions 23, Falcons 22.
Q. Why did you decide to go for it on 4th and 5 and not kick a field goal when you were only up by one point?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Yeah, just being aggressive. Same mentality we had last week, wanted to go for these 4th-and-medium situations. Obviously looking back you wish you took the three, but we didn't. We were trying to be aggressive, we were trying to score with our offense. Obviously we need the points, and we've got to get these guys with the have-to-score mentality and force our will on our opponent, and right there we failed it up and didn't get it done.
Q. It looked like Matt Ryan was really wanting to go for it there on 4th and 5. Was that you going with the quarterback or was that your decision to go for it? Whose decision was it?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Yeah, we talk about these things well ahead of time. I didn't mean to cut you off. We talk about these things well ahead of time in our game management meetings. We want to be aggressive in those situations, and when you get that close coming off that 3rd and extra long, you know that's going to be the mentality, and he's ready to go. So he was just kind of fired up.
Q. It looked like at the very end there Gurley tried to go down right before he crossed into the goal line, but he couldn't stop himself from scoring. Is that something you guys had talked about in a time-out to make sure not to score?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Yes. You know, it was talked about right at that moment. We knew that was kind of going to be their ideal choice for us to get in the end zone so they could have a chance to go down there and score. So we wanted to take the knee on the 1 and he obviously tried and he fell in the end zone at the last second there, getting tripped up a little bit.
Q. So he was told not to score, just wasn't at exactly before that play?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Yeah, we were trying to get to the 1. We were trying to get down to the 1 and stop, get down right there.
Q. Did you look pass interference call on AJ Terrell, and was it the correct call? What was the explanation on that?
RAHEEM MORRIS: You know, I don't recall that one. I didn't see that one. I just was talking about that right now. I didn't see that pass interference call.
Q. Given the way the past couple games, last three games really have ended, what adjustments need to be made on defense to make sure that you guys can maintain and hold on to a lead in the fourth quarter?
RAHEEM MORRIS: We've got to be better finishers. Our rushers got to get home. You've got to hit the quarterback in those moments. You've got to have the ability to pick up the ball when a guy is scrambling around, throwing it up in the air. We've got to find ways to finish the game better, and we did not do that today.
Q. Was there a substitution mixup on the play where Deion Jones was penalized for being the 12th man on the field?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I don't know if it was a substitution mixup, it was just a personnel deal. Deion is running off, had too many out there and we thought he got off but he didn't. Obviously they went back and reviewed it and said he wasn't off, so they gave him the 12 men on the field.
Q. Was there an explanation from the officials on the picked up flag before the Lions' final play on offense and was it Johnson set while down on his knees?
RAHEEM MORRIS: It was not. The call was made. They had it that way, no excuses. We've got to stop them on the next play.
Q. How much has Dante Fowler's play in the run game really impacted the defense recently?
RAHEEM MORRIS: He made some big splash plays today. We needed one more from somebody, and we didn't get it.
Q. Have you noticed a common thread in the late-game collapses when it comes to the losses and especially on defense? Is there one thing that you're really noticing?
RAHEEM MORRIS: You know, it's just that two-minute defense, just in general. Right there before the half they got three, and right there at the end of the game they just scored six. So we've got to find a way to get better, we've got to find a way to tighten up, be more stout. We've got to find a way to play better defense in the second half and at halftime.
Q. What was your message to the team after today's loss?
RAHEEM MORRIS: No excuses. Short week. Turn around, let's go back there and get ready to go play a common opponent in our division and let's go to work.
Q. Is it kind of in your opinion the best way to get over a loss like this just to get back out and turn around and be ready for Thursday?
RAHEEM MORRIS: You know, in this league you'd prepared to get over losses and when they happen you'd better move on quickly and not let somebody beat you twice.
Q. Have you had a chance to Todd Gurley after the game?
RAHEEM MORRIS: No, I did not. I came right into the presser right after the game and been in here talking to you. We'll talk and we'll speak on some things, we'll go back and obviously review the film like we always do and be ready to deal.
Q. Do you think a finish like this will reflect on you as an interim head coach?
RAHEEM MORRIS: You know, we had the 1-0 mentality, so we're right back at that mode, right back in that mentality. Short week, let's go to work.
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