The 2014 NFL season didn't go as planned for the Atlanta Falcons, including quarterback Matt Ryan, who wrapped up his seventh year in the league. Serving as a guest analyst recently on ESPN's NFL Countdown, Ryan offered the biggest explanation for the Falcons 6-10 record.
"We didn't do a good enough job winning the close games," Ryan said. "In this league, you know games are going to be close; you've got to find ways to get it done, and hopefully we'll be better at that moving forward."
When Ryan and the Falcons do move forward, it will be under the direction of a new head coach. Since being selected by the team with the third-overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Ryan has played for one head coach, Mike Smith, who was released from his contract after the season.
As soon as a decision is made about who will be the Falcons' 16th head coach in club history, the team's franchise quarterback will be ready to get right to work.
"I'll be excited to get to meet him and get a feel for how we're going to move forward and to have to learn a little bit of a new offense," Ryan said. "I think it'll be interesting to see how that shakes out."
