Matt Ryan earns praise from Drew Brees, Julio Jones after monster game
The Atlanta Falcons seem to be back after a disappointing 2013 season that was born out of several huge injuries, especially the ones to the superstar wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White. Matt Ryan was excellent despite the decrease in numbers, because he managed to play solid football despite taking snaps behind an incompetent offensive line and losing his weapons. When they made it to the NFC Championship game in 2012 and were one of the league’s most feared teams, the Falcons were carried by their dynamic passing attack. It was on display today as they upset the New Orleans Saints 37-34 in overtime behind clutch performances from the “Matty Ices” (Matt Ryan and Matt Bryant, who nailed a 52-yarder to win it). It was a critical “upset” over their rivals, and it’s sure to get Falcons fans riled up and hopeful for better health throughout the year.
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Ryan played out of his mind and showed why he is probably the sixth-best QB in the NFL. He impressed his surprised teammates with three carries for 15 yards, and Jones said, via ESPN NFL Nation’s Vaughn McClure, “Oh my God. … Matt’s not the most athletic quarterback out there, but he did a great job today. He scrambled around, got a first down or so for us. That’s big. Once he scrambles for a first down, that’s big for us.”
The kind of praise Ryan is getting is the kind of praise Tom Brady, who laid an egg in his opener, receives whenever he runs for a key scramble. Ryan’s passing numbers were, unsurprisingly, even more impressive in the offensive outburst, as the Saints stacked-on-paper defense looked like paper in the face of his 31-43-448-3-0 passing day. Ryan was nearly flawless, and he finished with 10.3 yards per attempt.
New Orleans Saints elite QB Drew Brees also had a great game, but he was beat by Ryan in an epic shootout. Brees said of his adversary, “He played great. Almost 75 percent completion, over 400 yards, and he took care of the football. It can’t get any better than that.”
Well said. it’s hard to have a better regular season opener than the one Ryan and the Falcons put together.