Falcons, 43 - Raiders, 6
JON GRUDEN: Like to apologize to Raider Nation. Really compliment the Falcons. They played a hell of a football game; we did not.
The turnovers, the penalties, inexcusable. It's a reflection of me. We're a lot better team than that, and I'll answer any questions.
Q. Had you sen anything during the course of the week in terms of preparation that indicated that something was off? How are you able to put a game like this behind you and move on?
JON GRUDEN: Oh, we just did. We just put it behind us, and that's what we have to do and that's what we will do. It's a challenge right now for any team, I think, concentrating through all the adversity, up and downs, players coming and going.
There is some things you got to fight through, but when we got hit in the mouth I think with the fourth and one, the stop, then we fumble the next play, we've got to get up off the mat and fight back better as a coaching staff and as a football team, and that's something we got to take a look at.
Like I said, it's a reflection of me, and I apologize to the Raiders fans.
Q. (Indiscernible) like you said, it was an issue today. Have you noticed a trend with that at all, a particular issue to what's leading to those or is it random?
JON GRUDEN: Like I said, we been pretty good to this point. We've had a couple games where we have been penalized, roughing the passer, I mean, roughing the kicker. We had some holding calls, illegal hands to the face. You fall behind in the down to distance, you give teams free shots, it's a recipe for disaster, and that was what you saw today.
Q. During the week you pushed back pretty hard on this idea this 6-4 team felt any different than it did last season, and you were talking about finishing it. Did you have any feeling that maybe the team bought too much into that idea?
JON GRUDEN: No, no, no. It's going to be written and talked about I'm sure on some of the talk shows, and rightfully so. We didn't play well today.
The Falcons are fighting for their lives. We said that coming in here. This is one of the best 3-7 teams I have seen. They did this to Minnesota who was a playoff team last year, and I challenge anybody that's getting ready for Atlanta, this team is very good football team and well-coached.
Q. These guys got to Derek a decent amount today. What was the biggest issue in pass protection today?
JON GRUDEN: Had issues everywhere. Didn't help when Jalen was a scratch, our third down back. Not making any excuses. We're playing with some lineman that have been moving around. There is plenty of excuses we can make, but I credit Atlanta, I credit Atlanta again, and they deserve a lot of credit. They certainly do.
Q. Why do you think the offense got off to a slow start in the first quarter?
JON GRUDEN: I think we get stuffed on a fourth and one, and then I think on the very next play we have a play-action and then we get a sack strip fumble. So I think it started there. I think the turnover at the end of the first half, we're moving the ball, we're going to get some points, and it's just -- then the third quarter, I mean, it wasn't good.
It snowballed on us today, and seen it happen before; can't happen again.
Q. Jon, you mentioned snowballing and that sometimes happens in this league. But is this a game where you can burn the tape and move forward instead of looking back, and is that what you might do this week?
JON GRUDEN: Yeah, that's what we're going to do and that's what we have to do. We're got to learn from our mistakes. Got a lot of players hurt today; that doesn't help our cause. But the offices are closed tomorrow; offices are closed on Tuesday.
There is a lot of distraction right now. We got to stay focused, get players healthy, see who's available for practice on Wednesday, and we'll regroup and hopefully play much better next week.
Q. I mean, obviously you guys, you had mentioned this week you're playing Raheem Morris who's familiar with you from having coached with you. Do you think this game was more -- would you lean towards self-inflicted wounds, or was it just they were doing on defense as a matchup problem?
JON GRUDEN: I'll look at the film. We had players open. We had opportunities to make plays. I'm not going to sit here and say anything else. We had plenty of opportunities. They made more plays than we did and it snowballed on us today.
When you turn the ball over five times and have 120 yards of penalties, you got no chance.
Q. We talked about some of the positive momentum that builds on itself. The way that Derek has played so well this year, do you worry that one bad game could turn into two or three?
JON GRUDEN: No. This is the National Football League. This is a tough business. He's been through a lot and he'll be fine. We just got to regroup, get on the plane, and we got to get ready for the next one.
Q. You mentioned injuries. Any concern over Jacobs or Arnette?
JON GRUDEN: Yeah, obviously there is. You know, hope to Clelin Ferrell and Lamarcus Joyner and Trent Brown back sometime soon. Denzelle Good hurt his ankle; he came back. So we've got a litany of things to look at, and we'll update you as soon as possible.
Thanks, guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports