Q: With this being the last game in the Dome are you looking to go out on top?
A: "We're looking to go out there and get us a win. I don't think we can lose anymore games at the Dome. We're not making Coach Smith's Dome record real good right now, losing two this year. We've got to go out there and get a win, it being the last home game of this year and go out on a good note."
Q: Talk about you being the big receiver and the other big receiver that's coming to town.
A: "I don't know what he's got going on, but I know that I'm going to go out there and help my team win. That's what I'm going to do. Whatever plays we've got drawn up in the game plan we're going to run them and try to hit some big ones. Hopefully we hit them this week and score some long touchdowns."
Q: Is he a guy who you have watched as you've tried to shape your career?
A: "Yeah, he's a Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame guy. You've got to watch that guy and see what he's done. I kind of do my evaluations after the season watching everybody on tape and he does a good job at what he does. He's scored over 140 touchdowns in this league, so you've got to be doing something good."
Q: What about him makes him such a special talent?
A: "He's big, strong and fast. It's hard when you can run by people and they can't bump and run you. He gets away from jam pretty easy. He gets downfield and he catches deep ball and he turns them into touchdowns. He's hard to tackle too."
Q: With no playoffs in the future, what are you playing for?
A: "We've got to play for a winning record and we've got to find a way to get that done. It will be the first time in the history of the Falcons. We've got two more to go and we need to end up on a winning streak. That will help us going into next year if we win three in a row. It will just lead us to good things. We need to go out there and win."
Mike Peterson
Q: Are you pleased with the way you guys performed against the Jets?
A: "Oh yeah. The night before with the Saints and Dallas game it could've gone the other way, guys could've easily cashed in and not came out to play football, but you've seen what happened. Guys knew we had a job to do, regardless of the weather or the circumstances, and we went out and took care of our job."
Q: What are you thoughts about facing Buffalo's number 81?
A: "We're facing Buffalo we're not really facing number 81. Number 81 is facing the Falcons. That's how I look at it."
Q: What do you think about Terrell Owens?
A: "A great player. He's been doing it a long time. What is it fourteen, fifteen years? He's been doing it a long time, a veteran guy in the league. When you're playing against a veteran you've got to expect him to come out and play a good football game. He knows what it takes and we're expecting the best from him."
Q: The defense looked like it returned to form last week forcing three turnovers.
A: "It's known in this league that if you get turnovers and limit your turnovers, nine times out of ten you're going to come out with the win. That's been the key from week one and we're going to try to continue that all the way to week sixteen."
Tony Gonzalez
Q: Talk about this week and the Buffalo team.
A: "I think it's huge. I think we're talking about history here. Since this organization has been around they haven't had back to back winning seasons and I think that it's real important that we go out there and try to get that done. We've got a tough opponent in Buffalo, don't let the record fool you. They're a lot better than that and they've played some close games this year, kind of like us. It's going to be tough for us, but at least we're back at home and hopefully we can pick this last one up at home."
Q: Defensively they've had some injuries, but who doesn't have injuries?
A: "Everybody has injuries. You look at what it kind of did to us this year. Who knows? But, you can always play that game and I think that every team can really say that. But, that's how it goes and the guy who steps in, I've always said it before; he's got to step up and make plays. He's in the NFL as well, so it's an opportunity as far as I'm concerned. You know those guys are going to be ready and they're going to come in here ready to play."
Q: A win, a winning season, is that momentum for next year?
A: "Definitely momentum. We kind of want to focus. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We've still got these two games. I think right now it's important that hopefully we can end this thing on a positive note and get those nine wins, get that winning record."
Q: How good was it getting Matt back last week?
A: "The thing that Matt, just my opinion, the best thing for him is that experience. He's such a good player and everybody knows that, but I think that the more he plays the more confidence that he's going to get. The more type of drives that he orchestrates at the end of the game like that, the more it's going to start adding to that confidence where he knows that in any situation he steps out on the field he knows that he can make those plays. The best thing about that whole drive is that how many players were involved in that drive, it wasn't just one player. It was just a great way to win the game against a tough football team."
Matt Ryan
Q: Coach said he hasn't talk much on not making the playoffs, but there's still a lot to play for right?
A: "One of the big things is going 9-7. Trying to be a part of back to back teams or the two teams that can put together back to back winning seasons for the first time in the franchises organization. I think it would be a milestone for the Atlanta Falcons and we're excited to have that opportunity."
Q: Are you guys glad to get back to the Dome? It's been very "unSmitty" like to lose back to back games in the Dome.
A: "We feel like we have a great home field advantage. You love to win in the Dome. I feel like our fans have done such a great job during the past two years of being passionate at those games. It's important for us to try and get wins at home."
Q: What do you think about this Buffalo team?
A: "I think Buffalo is a solid, solid team. They've been in a number of close games. Although their record is at 5-9, I think that they're a pretty good football team. On defense they've got some physical players in the front four. The linebackers are tough, they've had some injuries no question about it, but that's the NFL at this time of the year. You've got to deal with those types of things. I think it's a good physical defense that we're going against and we're going to have to play well."
Q: What issues do the Bills secondary present? They've got 27 interceptions.
A: "They've got some ball hawks in guys that can make plays in different situations and it's not only the corners, it the safeties, different guys chipping in to make interceptions. You've got to be careful with it. You definitely don't want to turn it over. That's one of our goals every week. You don't want to turn the football over. I think that it's just they're in the right position a lot of the time and when you're in the right spot they've got some guys that can make some plays."
Q: How are you feeling now 72 hours after your last game?
A: "I'm feeling pretty good. I'm getting a little better everyday, which is a good thing. I'm just doing everything that I can at this point to get it back to where I can go back out there and play well."
Q: Coach said that you were sore on Monday, was it a different soreness?
A: "Well, when you miss a couple, your body isn't used to getting hit like it usually is. You kind of get into a routine through the year and you're not as bad after you've played four, five, six games you kind of get used to it. So I was a little bit sore on Monday, but not bad. I felt good, feel good today, and hopefully can get out and knock some of that rust off again when we get out working in the walk through and practicing."
Q: How much of a help was your return and the win last week?
A: "I think that it speaks a lot about the character of our locker room and the coaching staff. We obviously understand where we're at in the season and all the things that go along with it, but with that said it didn't make a difference to anyone. That says a lot about the guys that we have. We've got guys who come out and battle for sixty minutes regardless of score, down and distance, anything like that. Guys that just play hard and play the right way and when you do that you've got a chance every week."
Q: Roddy said that he's asking for a pricey car from Santa. What are you asking for?
A: "Just health right, good health? That's the biggest thing. I will take a pricey car too, that's not a bad thing to get."
Q: What are you Christmas plans?
A: "I've got some family coming down Christmas day. Hopefully I'll have Christmas dinner with my mom, dad and younger brother and get on I-Chat on my Mac and see my niece and nephew Christmas morning."
Q: Have you finished all your Christmas shopping?
A: "Have I started? Hopefully the online shopping stuff gets in on time."
MORE FALCONS-BILLS COVERAGE:
FALCONCAST:J. Mike and Matt break down Sunday's game * GAME CENTER:Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center * MULTIMEDIA:Video interviews and more to get you ready for Sunday * QUOTABLE:Locker Room | Smith Monday | Smith Wednesday * INJURY REPORT:Falcons injury news presented by Piedmont Healthcare * J. MIKE'S MISSIVES:Falcons news and commentary from the AF.com editor * TIME MACHINE:Falcons have provided share of holiday memories * NOTES AND NUMBERS:Some key figures and notes for Falcons-Bills * EXPERT'S TAKE:Ira Kaufman talks about the Falcons, NFL standings * WHAT TO WATCH:Some key factors for Sunday's game to keep an eye on * GAME INFORMATION:Important fan information for the final home game of 2009 * PREVIEW PACK:Stats and other preview information from the communications staff (PDF)
