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DOSSIER – In this November 18, 2018 argument photo, Atlanta Falcons striker, Matt Bryant (3), attends his match for the Dallas Cowboys game in the second half of the season. 39, an NFL football game in Atlanta. The Falcons had to rely on Bryant's four goals to score their only touchdown at the end of Sunday's loss to Dallas. (Danny Karnik, File / Associated Press)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Georgia – Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons can not afford to rely on Matt Bryant's powerful right leg this week.
Goals on the pitch will not be enough to keep pace with the New Orleans Saints who score high on Thursday night.
Bryant's four goals provided all points scored in Atlanta until Julio Jones got Ryan's 34-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes to face Dallas on Sunday. That touch matched the game before the Cowboys won 22-19 with a 42-yard throw by Brett Maher at the end of the allotted time.
The Saints (9-1) have won nine straight games. They led the NFL with an average of 37.8 points per game in Sunday's games.
"Goals on the pitch are not going to reduce the number of points earned," coach Dan Quinn said Monday.
The Falcons (4-6) have already lost a shootout against the Saints, 43-37 in overtime on September 23.
"When we have our chances, we have to convert," said Ryan on Monday. "We did a good job for most of the year. … We have to be aggressive with our games when we have our chances. "
Quinn said the Falcons can win a very productive match, even against the Saints.
"We are, we are equipped," said Quinn. "Certainly, when you face another team that scores a lot, it's not a surprise to see him in the first game either."
Jones has touched the touchdown in three straight games, but the Falcons are in free fall. They rank ninth in the league with an average of 26.3 points, but have held less than 20 points in four games this season, including consecutive defeats at the Cowboys and Cleveland.
Atlanta led Dallas 6-3 at halftime, despite being 110 yards out. For the game, the Falcons racked up 354 yards, their third lowest total of the season.
The two consecutive losses have devastated Atlanta's playoff hopes after winning three straight wins to .500.
Quinn said the Falcons should not worry about their playoff hopes.
"At the moment, we do not have the luxury of looking at a big picture," Quinn said. "At the moment, there is a photo, New Orleans and Thursday."
Atlanta only managed 80 yards against Dallas. Tevin Coleman had only eight runs for 58 yards, even though he had 11 yards or more in four innings. The eight litters were his second smallest part of the season.
Quinn said "it's going to be important" to set the race. But he said that he was only looking for balance, not a greater commitment to running.
"When you are in the red zone against them, you'd better end up in the end zone because they are certainly able to score and they showed it this year," he said.
"Whether in the race or in the pass, it's about being able to find explosive games and score goals. This is the name of the game when you face a team as offensive as this one. "
NOTES: The Falcons are trying to determine if linebacker Deion Jones will play this week. Jones left the injured reserve last week after a two-month absence on the right foot, but was inactive against Dallas. Quinn said Jones did not participate in the team's formal training on Monday, but that he was scheduled for work after training. "We will have a better assessment of the current situation." Quinn said the goal was to "continue to progress seeing where he is with his level of confidence with his foot."
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