Falcons vs Saints: Who was the offensive player of the game?

It was another big week for the Falcons offense, putting up an impressive 37 points against the Saints even if it was in a losing effort. In an effort like this, there are several strong candidates to choose from. Here are my picks and the reasons each of them deserves consideration.

Calvin Ridley

With 7 catches for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns, Ridley absolutely gashed the Saints secondary. He saw lots of one-on-one match ups and he absolutely took advantage of them. It was an amazing breakout game for the first round draft pick and encouraging sign for what this offense can be in the coming years.

Matt Ryan

The franchise QB finished with a passer rating of 148.1, 374 yards passing and 5 passing touchdowns (with no interceptions). It was another fantastic performance that was only undermined by the 1-2 record the team dropped to on the season. Though Ridley clearly dominated, Ryan found 8 different targets during the game, showing that he can orchestrate a deadly offense where shutting down one weapon just won’t cut it.

Julio Jones

It’s amazing that 5 catches for 96 yards is a ho-hum day for the star receiver. Aside from the numbers, Julio’s presence was felt throughout the entire game as the Saints defense sold out to shut him down - thus opening opportunities for Ridley all afternoon. Even when he’s not dominating the catches and yards, Julio is still a major factor.

Vote in our poll and let us know your pick: