Atlanta Falcons 15, Las Vegas Raiders 9
Q. Desmond, obviously a tough way to end the game on the hail Mary, what are the emotions of the team just coming off the field and in the locker room after?
DESMOND RIDDER: I mean, you know, it's tough being in the position we are. I mean, you know, we're just searching... searching for a win, searching for positive energy. We fight every single week, but we just keep saying we fight, you know, but just nothing's happening to where we can go push over the edge and get a win. At the end of the day, we all got to be better. I got to be better. O-line, D-line, offense, defense, I mean, special teams. We just got to be better.
Q. It was kind of a sluggish start (inaudible) as to why it felt like -- (inaudible).
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, you know, obviously it's negative plays, whether it's the first play of the game or midway through the third quarter are. It doesn't matter who is making them, we all were making them and it was just negative plays. That first drive, you know, we were starting off first play, false start. That's rough but we were able to bounce back. We were able to get in a little bit of a rhythm, have the ball come out, and obviously that's something we can't have and we were just never really able to find a rhythm again there obviously until late in the game. By then, it's too little too late but we just got to find a way to get in rhythm and get in the rhythm fast.
Q. There were obviously emotions involved with you having played for the Falcons. Were you able to put that off to the side and just kind of focus on (inaudible).
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, for me going out there was just playing a game. It didn't matter whether it was Monday night, Sunday, didn't matter who it's against. Like I've said every week, I'm blessed to have the opportunity to go out there and play along with those other ten guys on the field so it doesn't matter who it's against. I'm always going joyful and grateful to be out there.
Q. Desmond, what'd you find in the fourth quarter that worked for you?
DESMOND RIDDER: Um, we just moved the ball.
Q. Desmond, no one has really been able to stop Brock or slow him down. What did Atlanta do especially the first three quarters, but what did Atlanta do differently than other teams to keep Brock at bay?
DESMOND RIDDER: Yeah, we had taken one or two shots to him. They played off coverage, which makes it harder. You're looking for a man-to-man match-up, press coverage so when you start playing off, makes it a little bit harder. We got him a few quick short underneath where he's gaining 8, 12 yards. Our emphasis was try to come in and run the ball. We wanted to try to come in and be better than them. Coach AP preached to us all week from offense, defense, special teams. Everyone be better than the position across from you. You know, me be better than Kirk. O-line be better than D-line, you know, everyone just be better than the group that's across from you. You know, we didn't get that done.
MODERATOR: Anything else?
DESMOND RIDDER: Thank y'all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports