Falcons OT Jake Matthews 'Proud' After Win vs. Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons (1-0) are victorious in their home opener after beating the Carolina Panthers 24-10 on Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Only two players on the current roster, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett and offensive tackle Jake Matthews, were on the last team to win a Falcons season opener.
“I think in 2017 was the last time we won a season opener," Matthews said. "Obviously, there’s a lot of room for improvement but hey, we won the first game, it’s something to be proud of. It's hard to win in the NFL, we’ll get to work, fix things, and get ready for next week.”
The win also marks the first time the Falcons are over .500 since 2017, and that can give the team a lot of momentum going into the season ... and there's a sense in the building that things are only going to get better for Atlanta.
"We're going to get better, it’s just the beginning because there's definitely some stuff where we're trying to fill each other out a little bit, and that's just part of it," Calais Campbell said. "You can do it in practice, but in the game, it's a whole different environment, but it was fun. I think that we definitely have a good group that meshes well together, we talk through things, we're smart, and you to continue to get better.”
The Falcons have a shot to go 2-0 when the Green Bay Packers come to town on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.