It may only be preseason in the NFL, but the Atlanta Falcons are making a statement that they'll be a factor in the NFC. The Falcons starters behind QB Matt Ryan were almost flawless, and left the reserves with a 14-0 lead before eventually beating the St. Louis Rams 20-13 at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday night. Both teams are now 1-1 in NFL preseason action.
Running back Michael Turner was unstoppable in his limited playing time, churning out 65 yards in the Falcons opening drive. After the game, he confirmed that the Falcons offense had placed a priority on sound execution:
"We wanted to come out and execute. They were preaching that all week and we wanted to show that on game day. We're way better than we were last year at this time."
Tony Gonzalez caught QB Matt Ryans TD pass and after the game praised the young team leader:
"He's a great quarterback. It's obvious he's figuring things out. He has a great arm, talent, and knows how to play with poise."
It was a disappointing home debut for new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who tried to frame the loss as a learning experience:
"Just like I said to the team, we'd have liked to have started out a little better. You've got to come out and take it to them."
Rams safety O.J. Atogwe sounded a similar tone:
"This was a fabulous game for us. That's the reason you play the preseason. Going against a team like Atlanta, a top-caliber team, it allows us to reassess what we've been doing."
Falcons coach Mike Smith was most excited about the improved play of his rushing defense:
"We were much improved against the run. It's something we have to continue to get better at. We still had some missteps."
Atlanta will get the NFL regular season underway on Sunday, September 13th as they host the Miami Dolphins while the Rams will head to the Pacific Northwest for a game against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Running back Michael Turner was unstoppable in his limited playing time, churning out 65 yards in the Falcons opening drive. After the game, he confirmed that the Falcons offense had placed a priority on sound execution:
"We wanted to come out and execute. They were preaching that all week and we wanted to show that on game day. We're way better than we were last year at this time."
Tony Gonzalez caught QB Matt Ryans TD pass and after the game praised the young team leader:
"He's a great quarterback. It's obvious he's figuring things out. He has a great arm, talent, and knows how to play with poise."
It was a disappointing home debut for new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who tried to frame the loss as a learning experience:
"Just like I said to the team, we'd have liked to have started out a little better. You've got to come out and take it to them."
Rams safety O.J. Atogwe sounded a similar tone:
"This was a fabulous game for us. That's the reason you play the preseason. Going against a team like Atlanta, a top-caliber team, it allows us to reassess what we've been doing."
Falcons coach Mike Smith was most excited about the improved play of his rushing defense:
"We were much improved against the run. It's something we have to continue to get better at. We still had some missteps."
Atlanta will get the NFL regular season underway on Sunday, September 13th as they host the Miami Dolphins while the Rams will head to the Pacific Northwest for a game against the Seahawks in Seattle.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
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