Matt Ryan, Cordarrelle Patterson and especially rookie Kyle Pitts virtually dismantle the New York Jets in the first London Game of the current NFL season. Jets coach Robert Saleh had already feared this.

London – No Ridley? No Problem. Robert Saleh, the head coach of the New York Jets had almost feared it in advance.

Two days before his Jets’ first London game of the 2021 NFL season against the Atlanta Falcons at Tottenham Stadium, Saleh answered the question of whether it was not a clear advantage for New York that the Falcons would travel without their supposed best wide receiver Calvin Ridley: “They still have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Matt Ryan, an outstanding running back in Cordarrelle Patterson and an incredible talent in rookie Kyle Pitts.”

Then with Pitts, there was even the term that he was “a heck of a player” in Saleh’s view.

Ryan, Patterson and Pitts beat Jets

And it was those three Falcons players, that “magic triangle,” that became kryptonite for Saleh and the Jets in England. Ryan, Patterson and Pitts all played outstanding games in Atlanta’s 27-20 win, none of them able to be stopped by the Jets defence, which has been so strong so far.

The Falcons quarterback even completed his 5,000th successful pass in the regular season of his long career against New York – making him only the seventh NFL professional to achieve this feat.

Apart from that, he threw for 342 yards, completed 33 of his 45 pass attempts and thus enabled two touchdowns. He didn’t even have to take a sack. A squeaky clean evening for “Matty Ice”.

“I can’t say enough good things about Matt,” Falcons head coach Arthur Smith enthused after the game in London. “He’s an incredible leader of our team and he always leads the way with his experience.” And how did Smith view the performance of Pitts – who scored his first NFL touchdown in London after all – and Patterson? “They both stepped up big time.” Smith’s eyes really seem to glaze over at that sentence.

Pitts impresses Falcons coach Smith

“Kyle had some sensational plays and catches, got himself in a lot of one-on-ones and is continuing to move in the right direction. To me, he’s definitely on a really good path,” said Smith, who is getting support from fellow running back Cordarelle Patterson: “Kyle has everything to be an outstanding player in this league: good hands, great speed and he’s got a knack for finding the right routes on the field, too.”

And Ryan says of the rookie hopeful, “I went up to Kyle right after the game and told him I was very proud of him. “

And continued the “old driving man”: “Kyle can have the big moments he had today against the Jets in the future. He just has to keep working hard on himself – and I see a clear willingness from him to do that. But it’s not easy because there’s a lot of talk around him, which can definitely be distracting. But we will support him as a team so that he becomes the player he wants to be. “

“Matty Ice” praises running back Patterson

Pitts himself doesn’t want to put too much stock in his performance against New York – 119 receiving yards with one touchdown. “I’m just proud to be a part of this team and thankful to have scored my first touchdown today,” said the tight end, who revealed that he will put the ball he scored his touchdown with in the basement with his other football collection.

He also shared that his entire family – parents and siblings – flew to London especially for this game. “They are my ‘support system’, they give me strength,” Pitts said. A family trip that was well worth it.

Last but not least, Patterson got his personal accolade. “We have to look at giving Cordarrelle the ball more in the future – because he is a true playmaker,” said Ryan. “His advantage is that he’s variable. He was actually drafted into the NFL as a wide receiver back in the day and now he’s also playing the running back position with a physicality and toughness that it’s a joy to watch him make plays. “

Dolphins next Falcons opponent

The Falcons – who are now 2-3 – next game is then at the Miami Dolphins after the upcoming bye week on Game 7. “The week off is definitely coming at the right time now after the London trip. The win did us good, now we just need to get the right mindset and take the momentum with us,” Ryan said.

With a Patterson, Pitts and then maybe Ridley back in the squad, these Falcons should not be scared of the Dolphins at the moment though.

Reporting from London: Dominik Hechler