Atlanta - 17, Tampa Bay - 30
Q. Not getting in the end zone after that first drive, how did that kind of shake the way this game went for you guys?
MATT RYAN: Yeah, that's tough. Obviously, had an opportunity there on the goal line and not to come away with seven points is one of those things we got to do a better job of, you know, as we move forward.
When you're playing against a good football team, a really good defense, really good offense that can score, you know you have to come away with touchdowns.
That part was disappointing for sure. But we kept battling and gave ourselves more chances. Which is what you have to do. You can't blink. But if we're look looking for areas of improvement, that's definitely one of them.
Q. Arthur has kind of talked about staying on schedule. And I was just curious, from your perspective, how that has improved in the last two weeks?
MATT RYAN: I do think we ran the ball well. The first drive of the game was really well. And we continue to hammer away at it. And, you know, I thought our offensive line, running backs did a nice job with that.
And it helps. You know, it opens other things up and it helps in that area. So I do think we made strides. We're getting better. Now, we've got other things that we got to clean up along the way. But that was productive for us.
Q. Some of your teammates expressed confidence today about where you are. Do you share that confidence?
MATT RYAN: I think you have to. You know, I think we're in a spot -- you know, obviously, disappointed with the outcome of today's game.
This is a really good football team. And I think -- you know, I really think there were chances for us to kind of change the outcome of that game.
We got to be opportunistic as we move forward. But we have everything we want right in front of us.
And ultimately, you know, this time of the year, that's really all you can ask for. Now it's about, you know, figuring out how to play our best football in the next five weeks.
And I don't think you can get too far down the road. You really have to focus on the next week and find a way to get a good divisional win on the road.
Q. (No microphone.)
MATT RYAN: I think that's -- you know, you always want to have self-belief. And at the same time, you got to strive for daily improvement. That's one of those things Art talked about in the first half. We got to get back to work, we got to seek that growth this week and really work on that during practice.
And at the same time, you know, know that there are plays that are being made. There are things that we are doing well. And we got to build on those.
You know, we have to make more of those types of plays throughout the game and I think we're capable of doing that.
Q. (No microphone.) Punt, punt, punt, punt, and into the end zone. What were y'all not able to sustain?
MATT RYAN: Yeah, we had spurts, you know? But the consistency wasn't there. I think we were very consistent the first couple of drives of the game, you know, take away what we did not scoring a touchdown at -- you know, on the goal line. But I think there was better consistency there early.
And we just got to find ways to keep drives going and then finish drives, you know, when we get our chances, when we have our chances. Can't give them anything.
And, you know, I think there were a few plays today, a few opportunities that we all have to find a way to make those plays when we get those chances.
Q. (No microphone.) And I know you want to come out and score there, but the fumble, you know, what happened there? How tough is it dealing with that situation and trying to move on from that?
MATT RYAN: Well, I thought our defense did a nice job after that and then getting another stop and then giving us another opportunity to still go down there and take the lead.
And so, you know, it's hard. You know, those kind of things happen at different times. Are they inopportune? For sure.
And I thought Russ bounced back and did some really good things for us and coming in late and toughed it out there at the end and I appreciate him for that.
There are things we got to clean up for sure. And we got to -- you know, we really -- when we have our explosives and we make our plays, we got to capitalize on those drives. And I think if we're going to be successful moving forward, those are going to be the things we have to do.
Q. What happened at the botched play?
MATT RYAN: That's just an execution thing we both have to be better at. And, you know, across the board, there's just no excuse for it. And so, we both got to do a better job of that.
Q. Did you check out or anything there or is that what Arthur called?
MATT RYAN: No, those were the calls. So, you know, again, we got to find a way to make those plays. You know, got to find a way for something to come open.
But, really, I mean it's, you know, first and second down, you still have opportunities on your second and third down.
I mean, we had a penalty there, as well. So we really had four chances and we got to find a way to make a play. And even with it not being ideal, we still had a chance on third down.
And, you know, regardless much whether it's first down, second down, or third down, we got to find a way to punch it in.
Q. (Question concerning finishing drives with touchdowns.)
MATT RYAN: I don't know. You know, I think we've done some good things, for sure. But we got to get back to work.
We got to find the answer to that so that -- you know, in our stretch of the last five games of the year of the regular season, we got to find a way to be better. And if we had the answer, we'd change it, you know, immediately. But we got to find a way to do it.
Q. (No microphone.) How does your confidence go with what the production has been on this?
MATT RYAN: There's been good. You know, I really think, you know, I always view confidence probably differently than you guys.
You know, I think that it comes down to how you work during the week, you know, how well you are prepared going into a game, what's your practice week look like, your film study look like, what's your preparation with the plan.
In professional sports, it's tough. Because, you know, if you're only deriving confidence from results, it's not going to go your way.
Does our production need to be better? Absolutely. But the belief has to remain the same as we prepare during the week, we're going to make those plays when we move forward with chances.
Q. (No microphone.)
MATT RYAN: Yeah, I think, you know, we're going against a good defense, a good, you know, front seven. And we knew going into it, it was going to be tough sledding.
And it's important you try to protect the ball as best you can, stay on schedule to eliminate some of those opportunities. But I thought our guys battled upfront. I really did. I thought they played hard.
Q. (Question about playing against Tom Brady.)
MATT RYAN: (Laughing.) We'd like to win. Yeah, we'd like to win. That's for sure. You know, but -- you know, we've got to find a way, you know, in the division to win football games.
Whether it be against Tom, the Carolina Panthers coming up this week, we got to find the way to get the job done in the division.
And those games are always critical and they count basically one and a half as you're going. You know, I'd certainly like to beat him. There's no doubt about that.
But, you know, I just think, you know, we've got to focus on what's in front of us and then we'll figure out that whole deal the next time we play them.
Q. I'm just curious. As Arthur's first year as a head coach, you guys have been going through frustrating moments. How has he handled those things? Has his messaging been consistent?
MATT RYAN: I think his messaging has been consistent, you know, from the start of what he expects from us.
You know, I think the guys have bought in and done a great job of that, of trying to do what they're asking us to do.
We all need to play better. We all need to find more ways to win games than we have up to this point. But, you know, as far as from a leadership standpoint and, you know, being consistent with the guys and keeping the messaging the same and every day, you know, trying to get better and trying to get the best out of guys, he's been very good at that.
Q. (No microphone.)
MATT RYAN: Well, I think it's all year. I mean, it's about kind of not riding that roller coaster of, you know, being consistent, not getting too high, you know, in -- in some of the wins that we've had, we've had some really good comeback wins, some stuff that, you know, you should be proud of. For sure.
And I think he's done a great job of kind of navigating that roller coaster that can be the NFL season of staying consistent, you know, focusing objectives next, getting back in, making corrections, you know, whether we win or lose, you know, being objective and being honest on Mondays.
And then coming in with great energy on Wednesdays for what the plan is for us moving forward, I think he's done a great job of that.
Q. It has been pretty consistent these last couple of games of running the ball with Cordarrelle Patterson. I'm just curious as to how do you find -- it seems like he ended up with 13 touches. How do you find the balance between, Okay, I'm going to get this guy a certain amount of carries versus saying, Okay, this guy is hot, we need to ride this hot hand?
MATT RYAN: I mean, that's -- yeah, for the staff, I think they work really hard to getting guys going, getting guys involved.
You know, I think an explosive run for us that was basically the next play, I think it was Mike that came in for the next run.
You know, we got complete trust in both those guys to go out there and execute what we're asking them to do. But I think it falls on the coaches to find a balance of keeping guys fresh.
You know, which is what you want for the fourth quarter, keeping their juice flowing and making sure, you know, that they're not overworked. But I think they've struck a good balance of that. Because CP's production has been great.
Q. As far as Kyle Pitts, you know, he started off with some top production in the first half. And it seemed like he had two targets in the second half. Is that just a matter of the flow of the game or do you think that he may or may not be doing something that, you know, may not get him the football?
MATT RYAN: No, I think Kyle is doing a great job. It's just how the game shakes out sometimes and the coverages that are called.
They see that, too. And they make adjustments to try and take away some of what he's doing.
And I think, you know, he's got to stay the course. Kyle's done a great job in his rookie season of hammering away week in, week out, trying to get better.
And I thought his route running was really good today. And I tell our guys all the time, The ball is going to find you at different times. But when it's your time, you know, when your number is called, you got to make that play. And he's done a good job of that this year.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports