Head coach Mike SmithOpening statement:
"Today we struggled the majority of the football game at getting anything going offensively. We were behind the chains throughout the entire day. We had pressure on our quarterback, and he couldn't get comfortable. It was a tough day."
On the offensive line and the pressure they received:
"We had way too much pressure. Our quarterback was hit and sacked way too much. There were times where we really didn't have a chance to get the play off, and that's very difficult for a quarterback, and we have to do better with our protection."
On whether they were getting beat with the Ravens' quickness:
"They won the line of scrimmage with both their strength and their quickness. They beat us cleanly, off the edge, a couple of times. And Matt (Ryan) was under duress with the pass rush."
On losing players to injuries:
"There are no excuses. You can talk about losing players, but everybody loses players. It's got to be the 'next man up' mentality. The next guy up has to step in and do the job. We have to step up and make those plays."
On how they can help the offensive line:
"There were times that we were helping, but you just can't help everybody. You have to do one or the other in those situations, unless you're trying to have two-man routes, and you can't do that. They physically won the line of scrimmage. There's no two ways about it."
On whether DE Jonathan Massaquoi was a positive for the defense:
"Yes he was. He put pressure on the quarterback and got a couple holding calls. It still felt like he left some sacks out there. The first drive we had the (pass interference penalty), which was an easy score for them. Defensively, I think he did some good things."
On if they are any closer to finding answers to their problems:
"Absolutely. Any time you watch the tape, and you know what's being called, and you know what guys are supposed to do, and you see improvement all week, taking what we do on the practice field into the game is not happening. We've had some good practices, and these guys are working their [butts] off, but ultimately, we're not getting the result that we want. We've got to get better, and guys have got to step up and make plays. They're in position to make plays, and they're not making plays. We have to do a better job with trying to manufacture that situation where they can use their skill set to the best of their ability."
On the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints losing today:
"This division is going to be a competitive division every single time. It's our job to stop them (the Ravens) on defense, and it's our job to score points. They scored more points than us today, and that is the bottom line. That's my only concern. I'm not concerned about the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We have to focus on the Atlanta Falcons, and together we will pull out of this."
On being 2-5:
"We have nine games left, and I know every man in that room and every coach in that room will work their (butts) off this week to get prepared to play the Detroit Lions. I have no doubt what the makeup of these football players and coaches and the organization we have in Atlanta. So I think it's a silly question." On the final Ravens touchdown:
"I don't have any objections. (Head coach) John (Harbaugh) coaches his football team. Their defense tried to stop us, and our defense tried to stop them. They called a play, we didn't stop them, and that's the end of it. That's the bottom line. Our job is to stop the opponent, and we didn't do it. It doesn't matter what the situation is or the score, that's what our job is."
Quarterback Matt RyanOn facing the Ravens pass rush:
"Coming in the game we knew they had a very good defense. Their front seven is outstanding. We just didn't do a great job making plays. We had some opportunities, but we didn't make the plays we needed to make. When you're facing defense like that you need to take advantage of your chances."
On the missed fourth down plays:
"From where we were on the field, we had good plays called. Smitty made the right calls, but it just didn't work out. Those are the plays we've got to make."
On the Ravens defensive pressure:
"That's why they are a really good defense. They put a lot of pressure on us. They do a great job playing well within their schemes."
On Atlanta's offensive struggles:
"We need to worry about this coming week. We need to prepare better, practice better and play better. We know what to do, but we haven't done it. I think everybody knows we need to play better across the board. Everybody on the offense, the lineman, the tight ends, wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks need to get better together."
On where the team goes from here:
"Right now we are behind the eight ball, and all kinds of things can happen. We have the right people in the locker room, the right leaders and the right coaches to turn this around. As ugly as it is at 2-5 we're still in the mix in our definition, we just have to get better."
On playing near his hometown of Philadelphia:
"It's just a short ride down the turnpike from Philadelphia. So I had a bunch of family and friends here routing for us."
On his conversations with Joe Flacco:
"I've known Joe for a long time, before the game we just said hello and talked about our families for a minute. After the game, I told him he played a really good game and is having a great season. I just wished him well as the season goes on."
