Here’s what Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris, who passed up a field goal from the 13-yard line, had to say after the 23-22 loss Sunday to the Lions:
On the decision to go for it on 4th-and-5 rather than kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter: “Yeah, just being aggressive. Same mentality we had last week, wanted to go for these 4th-and-medium situations. Obviously looking back you wish you took the three, but we didn’t. We were trying to be aggressive. We were trying to score with our offense. Obviously we need the points, and we’ve got to get these guys with the have-to-score mentality and force our will on our opponent, and right there we failed it up and didn’t get it done.”
On whether QB Matt Ryan was pushing him to go for it on fourth down and whether he was influenced by Ryan in his decision: “Yeah, we talk about these things well ahead of time. We talk about these things well ahead of time in our game management meetings. We want to be aggressive in those situations, and when you get that close coming off that 3rd and extra long, you know that’s going to be the mentality, and he’s ready to go. So he was just kind of fired up.”
On whether they had discussed not scoring too fast prior to RB Todd Gurley’s final touchdown: “Yes. You know, it was talked about right at that moment. We knew that was kind of going to be their ideal choice for us to get in the end zone so they could have a chance to go down there and score. So we wanted to take the knee on the one and he obviously tried and he fell in the end zone at the last second there, getting tripped up a little bit.”
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
On whether players were instructed not to score: “Yeah, we were trying to get to the one. We were trying to get down to the one and stop, get down right there.”
On a pass interference call on CB A.J. Terrell: “You know, I don’t recall that one. I didn’t see that one. I just was talking about that right now. I didn’t see that pass interference call.”
On adjustments that need to be made in the fourth quarter when closing games: “We’ve got to be better finishers. Our rushers got to get home. You’ve got to hit the quarterback in those moments. You’ve got to have the ability to pick up the ball when a guy is scrambling around, throwing it up in the air. We’ve got to find ways to finish the game better, and we did not do that today.”
On whether there was a substitution mix-up on the play where the Falcons were called for too-many men: “I don’t know if it was a substitution mix-up, it was just a personnel deal. Deion is running off, had too many out there and we thought he got off but he didn’t. Obviously they went back and reviewed it and said he wasn’t off, so they gave him the 12 men on the field.”
On whether there was an explanation from the referees as to why the flag was picked up prior to the last play of the game: “It was not. The call was made. They had it that way, no excuses. We’ve got to stop them on the next play.”
On DE Dante Fowler’s impact on the team’s run defense recently: “He made some big splash plays today. We needed one more from somebody, and we didn’t get it.”
On whether there’s a common thread between the Falcons fourth-quarter losses: “You know, it’s just that two-minute defense, just in general. Right there before the half they got three, and right there at the end of the game they just scored six. So we’ve got to find a way to get better, we’ve got to find a way to tighten up, be more stout. We’ve got to find a way to play better defense in the second half and at halftime.”
On his message to the team: “No excuses. Short week. Turn around, let’s go back there and get ready to go play a common opponent in our division and let’s go to work.”
On whether the best way to move past a loss is to get back out and play immediately: “You know, in this league you’d prepared to get over losses and when they happen you’d better move on quickly and not let somebody beat you twice.”
On whether he talked to RB Todd Gurley postgame: “No, I did not. I came right into the presser right after the game and been in here talking to you. We’ll talk and we’ll speak on some things, we’ll go back and obviously review the film like we always do and be ready to deal.”
On whether this loss will reflect on him as an interim head coach: “You know, we had the 1-0 mentality, so we’re right back at that mode, right back in that mentality. Short week, let’s go to work.”
Falcons' next four games
Lions at Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Falcons at Panthers at 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29
Broncos at Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Falcons at Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22
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