Head coach Mike Smith's evaluation of the Week 3 matchup against the Titans: "I really liked the way we started the ball game. I felt that we got off to a fast start in all three phases. The energy level was very good in terms of playing offense, defense and special teams. We controlled the line of scrimmage, moved down the field, took about seven-and-a-half minutes off the clock and scored. We got a three and out on defense and in between that, I thought our special teams played well. We did not execute at all in the second half of the ball game. We had way too many penalties. I think we had 10 accepted penalties and there were probably four or five where there were penalties called and the ball was completed and they were not accepted. That's an area of concern; it has been all preseason, not only for the Atlanta Falcons, but for the entire National Football League. Hopefully, we will all get this figured out, before the start of the regular season."
QB Matt Ryan on having a good start in the game with the offensive line: "One of the things we talked about during the week is that we wanted to start fast. I thought we did a great job of that offensively. Second drive, I would have liked for us to have gotten some points out of that. We are in a second-and-one situation and on the plus side of the 50 and to walk away with nothing there, that was tough. Penalties kind of hurt us there. So, that's one area we can clean some things up, before we get to the regular season. All in all, I thought, a pretty good start for us."
WR Devin Hester on the Falcons offense during the first half: "We were very explosive. I tip my hat off to the offensive linemen. They gave Matt (Ryan) a lot of time to deliver the ball and put it in the right place. As receivers, we came up and made some big plays. Last week, we didn't play up to our part, so we wanted to make sure that we solved some of those problems that we had."
WR Roddy White on the many options Matt Ryan has to choose from on each play: "We have a lot of playmakers on this team. It is going to be tough to cover, when we are all on the field at the same time. We want to make it tough for defensive coordinators to match up with us on the outside."
WR Geraldo Boldewijn on the looming roster cuts: "I just keep telling myself that I can only control the things that I can control. The only thing I can control is what I do on the field; it's just about giving it my all, every time I step on the field."
T Jake Matthews on switching to left tackle: "It's definitely an adjustment. The biggest thing is just getting comfortable and as the game went on, I got more comfortable and it's just going to take more and more reps. I'm excited to get to work and check on this film and see how I can get better."
C Joe Hawley on how Jake Matthews played: "I think he played well. I need to watch the film obviously, but I think we as an offensive line played with a lot of energy and sustained our blocks. We had a few mistakes we need to correct, but we'll get back in the film room and improve as we head into the season."
S William Moore on rebounding from last week: "We've talked about it numerous times. We had a couple of guys stand up and say what we're trying to get done here in Atlanta and how we're going to get it done and that came out in the game. We got a chance to study film and it was very important that we came out with some intensity."
The Falcons faced the Titans in the third week of preseason at the Georgia Dome. Check out these photos of gameday.
HBO's 'Hard Knocks' crew films DE Osi Umenyiora arriving at the Georgia Dome
RB Devonta Freeman arrives at the Georgia Dome
The Falcons arrive at the Georgia Dome
CB Josh Wilson arrives at the Georgia Dome
LB Brenden Daley arrives at the Georgia Dome
S William Moore runs out onto the field during player introductions.
S William Moore runs through the tunnel.
CB Desmond Trufant runs onto the field.
CB Robert Alford runs through the tunnel onto the field during player introductions.
LB Paul Worrilow runs through the tunnel.
LB Joplo Bartu enters the field during player introductions.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi runs onto the field.
S Kemal Ishmael enters the field.
Atlanta Falcons players prepare to run out of the tunnel before the start of the game.
WR Julian Jones
S William Moore warms up before the start of the game.
LB Joplo Bartu makes his entrance onto the field.
QB T.J. Yates warms up during pregame.
WR Harry Douglas warms up during pregame.
QB Sean Renfree warms up during pregame.
WR Harry Douglas points to a fan during pregame.
WR Julio Jones makes a move past S Bernard Pollard during the first half of play.
RB Jaquizz Rodgers runs the ball during the first half of play.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball during the first half of play.
WR Julio Jones makes a move past CB Coty Sensabaugh after completing a catch during the first half of play.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Joe Hawley during the first half of play.
CB Josh Wilson blocks Titans' LB Derrick Morgan.
WR Devin Hester runs after making a reception.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers attempts to run past Titans' LB Zach Brown.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers and LB Joplo Bartu make a tackle on Titans' WR Dexter McCluster.
Teammates congratulate LB Paul Worrilow after a play.
WR Devin Hester prepares to run the ball out of the endzone.
WR Julio Jones runs the ball after making a reception.
WR Harry Douglas celebrates a play.
DE Kroy Biermann fights past Titan's T Michael Ohr.
WR Eric Weems attempts to fight past a Titans' player.
TE Levine Toilolo on the line before a play.
DE Osi Umenyiora and LB Paul Worrilow
DE Tyson Jackson
Head Coach Mike Smith
WR Eric Weems plays catch on the sideline.
S Kemal Ishmael
WR Devin Hester
WR Julio Jones
DT Paul Soliai goes up against G Chance Warmack
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball during the first half of play.
T Jakes Matthews
RB Devonta Freeman
DE Jonathan Massaquoi brings down Titans QB Jake Locker
Titans S Bernard Pollard grabs onto WR Roddy White as he makes a catch
WR Julio Jones slides past Titans S Michael Griffin for a touchdown
Head coach Mike Smith
WR Julio Jones makes a break for the endzone in the first half
T Jake Matthews goes up against Titans LB Akeem Ayers
FS Dwight Lowery in coverage during a play.
S Tyrell Johnson
T Terren Jones blocks Titans' LB Akeem Ayers.
RB Devonta Freeman attempts to shake off a tackle during a run.
LB Pat Angerer makes a tackle on Titans' TE Taylor Thompson.
LB Tyler Starr on the line before the play starts.
DE Stansly Maponga and CB Robert McClain team up to tackle Titans' RB Bishop Sankey
LB Prince Shembo defends against Titans' TE Taylor Thompson
Offensive Line Coach Mike Tice
G Jon Asamoah
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
DT Paul Soliai
RB Devonta Freeman makes a catch and runs as Titans LB Moise Fokou grabs on
T Jake Matthews blocks Titans DT Jurrell Casey
CB Javier Arenas defends against Titans WR Brian Robiskie
QB Matt Ryan and Titans QB Jake Locker
CB Robert Alford on his QB sack against Jake Locker: "Coach called a blitz and their back was offset so, pretty much the only person I had to get by was the running back and he took one step forward, didn't see me, and I had a clear path to the QB."
CB Desmond Trufant on his personal play and expectations in the next few weeks: "I have to play better; I have to be more consistent and can't give up explosive plays, but it's still preseason, so I have two more weeks to get ready, until the opener. We're just going to keep grinding; a lot can get done in two weeks and when the games start counting, we're going to be ready."
DE Ra'Shede Hageman on his first NFL sack: "At the end of the day, it's just football. A stat is a stat, but I'm more concerned about improving my weaknesses, but if I can get a sack each game, that's always a good thing, but I definitely have to improve my weaknesses."
LB Paul Worrilow on getting sacks, coming off of blitzes: "That was good and that was something we want to do, especially in the linebacker room, when our number is called to go in there. We want to eat; that is what we say in the linebacker room. We keep calling our numbers to get some pressure on the quarterback."
LB Prince Shembo on which plays stood out to him the most: "The plays that stand out to me are the plays where I messed up; those are the ones that you wish you could have back, but besides that, I think we grew as a unit and we need to keep on going from there."
