clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Falcons' Mike Smith says bad blood with Lions from last year won't affect Saturday's game

The Atlanta Falcons aren't thinking about the alleged taunting of Matt Ryan's injury by Detroit Lions players from last year's game.

By James Brady
Scott Cunningham

Last season, the Atlanta Falcons accused Detroit Lions players Cliff Avril and Ndamukong Suh of taunting quarterback Matt Ryan when he went down with a knee injury during the game. According to the Detroit News though, the Falcons are keeping the past behind them.

Atlanta coach Mike Smith said the incident "wasn't a big deal," and that what happened last year is not going to have a bearing on the outcome of the game on Saturday.

Ryan also said he's not even thinking about it, and that he didn't know what it was that the Lions players even allegedly said. He also said that both teams are different football teams this year, which is very true, given that the Falcons are 12-2 and the Lions are 4-10.

Detroit has been accused of taunting previously, and some of its players have been called dirty multiple times. But if they happened to make any enemies on the Falcons, they'll feel it on Saturday, not through the media.