ATLANTA -- Matt Ryan surpassing John Elway for ninth on the all-time passing list sounded nice. So did the Falcons boasting three 100-yard receivers in one game for the first time in team history with Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage.
But it's safe to say Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons would have traded those statistical accomplishments for more touchdowns in a 38-25 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Ryan’s 450 passing yards and the 401 combined receiving yards between Jones, Ridley and Gage on 27 catches (nine apiece) were meaningless in defeat, particularly with a lot of those yards coming as the Seahawks softened their coverage while leading.