Team looking to get the running game going early and often
The Falcons had little use of the running game in their 27-3 victory of the San Diego Chargers as Matt Ryan continues to be the hottest QB in the NFL with a 114.0 Rating and eight touchdowns in three games.
“When Matt is playing with confidence, I think it permeates around the locker room,” coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of guys playing with confidence right now.”
A continued confidence will be a key to going 4-0 and the Carolina Panthers are just the team to get them there as the Panthers have lost the last four meetings against the Falcons and Carolina QB Cam Newton is coming off a terrible 36-7 performance against the NY Giants.
But nobody is being harder on themselves than Newton.
“Who wants to support something that puts on a performance of embarrassment,” Newton said after his three-interception performance. “That’s what this was. If I was a fan of the Carolina Panthers I would be holding my head down in shame of the product that was out there.”
If Matt Ryan gets both the running game and the passing game going, the Falcons may be unstoppable.
“It is a divisional game, but the truth is, your biggest game is the one you are about to play,” Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera said. “I guess as far as the record goes and being in our division, yes it means a lot, it is a big game.”
Tickets are still available for this pivotal division match up.
