defend the Dome Archives | WE SPEAK MEDIA

Falcons’ players react to clinching playoff berth

Michael Walker — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 13:10:59 +0000

The Falcons are the only team in the NFC that made the playoffs last season to return to the dance a year later.

Atlanta will take on the Los Angeles Rams, who clinched the No. 3 seed on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Here’s what several Falcons players had to say about making the playoffs in the locker room full of excitement following the victory:

Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu

ROSTER

2017-12-31 9:16 PM | Kelsey ConwayFalcons’ players react to clinching playoff berth

Game highlights: Falcons 22, Panthers 10

ATLANTA – The Falcons knew going into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers their chance at clinching a playoff spot was on the line. And they took care of their business to make that happen by defeating the Panthers 22-10 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.The Falcons are the only team in the NFC that made the playoffs last season to return to the dance a year later.

Atlanta will take on the Los Angeles Rams, who clinched the No. 3 seed on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Here’s what several Falcons players had to say about making the playoffs in the locker room full of excitement following the victory:

Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu:

“It’s awesome. Every [year] I’ve been in the NFL I’ve been to the playoffs.”

“You have stay focused on this game and this game only. You can’t look too far ahead. You have to worry about each day, each meeting, each walk-through, each rep at practice. Do your best and keep stacking.”

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett:

“It felt good to take matters into our hands and clinch a playoff spot. Everything we want is still ahead of us. As far as myself, I feel like I played pretty well today. I’m excited I had a good performance, the defense had a good performance – [we] stepped up and made some stops.”

Cornerback Desmond Trufant:

“It feels good. A lot of hard work to get to this point. We put ourselves in a position to where we controlled our own destiny and we took advantage [of it]. We just have to keep pushing now, take it one game at a time.”

Cornerback Robert Alford:

“It feels good. Our playoffs started early – it was either win or go home.”

Defensive end Takk McKinley:

“We’re not satisfied with making the playoffs, we want more. We know we have to take one game at a time.”

The overarching theme?

Yes, the Falcons are excited about making the playoffs, but this team isn’t satisfied with just getting in.

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Saints clinch playoff berth with big win vs. Falcons

Michael Walker — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 22:13:21 +0000

NEW ORLEANS — Blame it on the officiating. Blame it on the penalties. Blame it on the pair of missed touchdown opportunities near the goal line. Blame it the dropped passes.

No matter how you dissect what happened to the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s matchup with the rival New Orleans Saints, it all added up to one thing: a 23-13 loss.

Falcons still in hunt but looking nothing like playoff team

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Saints earn big goal-line stop (0:32)

4:29 PM ET

Vaughn McClureESPN Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS — Blame it on the officiating. Blame it on the penalties. Blame it on the pair of missed touchdown opportunities near the goal line. Blame it the dropped passes.

No matter how you dissect what happened to the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s matchup with the rival New Orleans Saints, it all added up to one thing: a 23-13 loss.

And a crucial loss it was for the Falcons, who had hopes of capturing the NFC South title by winning their last two games against New Orleans and Carolina. Now at 9-6, they have to focus on simply securing a wild-card berth after not playing with the overall sense of urgency one would have expected in such a critical game. Carolina (11-4) defeated Tampa Bay and still hopes New Orleans (11-4) slips up for the division title.The playoffs aren’t out the picture, but the offense needs a facelift before the postseason begins. It hasn’t been the ideal season for the reigning MVP Ryan, but it’s hard to blame him when a ball bounces off receiver Marvin Hall‘s hands and rolls atop the butt of Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, leading to Ryan’s fourth interception in two games against the Saints this season.[tps_footer][/tps_footer]

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