Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan learned from 2016, ready to push forward

After a devastating Super Bowl loss, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan believes the team has learned plenty as is ready to move the team forward

He’s entering his tenth season as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, but don’t think for one second Matt Ryan is becoming complacent. After winning the 2016 NFL MVP and guiding his team to the Super Bowl, some might think he has it all figure out.

As for Ryan, he believes this team is only scratching the surface of what they can do as they have some unfinished business following the team’s devastating loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51. The good news is the Falcons signal-caller expects the team to be able to move forward without dwelling on the loss, but instead using it as inspiration.

"“We’re already back at it,” Ryan said per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitutional. “When we started as a team in April, we got together before that as players down in Miami. It was time to move on. It was time to look forward.”"

In that same piece from Ledbetter, Ryan said what helps them move forward is how much they learned from the ups and downs of the 2016 season.

"“Our focus is what is front of us. We learned a lot from last year. We’ll take those learning lessons with us, but we have to find a way to make this group the best group that we can be.”"

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For fans it has to be refreshing to see the team using the heartbreak as motivation. They aren’t looking for excuses, or walking away from reporters asking questions — sorry Panthers fans. Instead, Ryan and company are facing it head on and saying they believe they will only become a stronger team after what they believe was just the start of a special run.