FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The season looked all but lost for the Atlanta Falcons after they dropped their fifth straight game by blowing a 21-point lead while losing to Detroit.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, however, refused to hang his head despite a 2-6 start. Now, he finds his 3-6 Falcons right back in the NFC South hunt behind New Orleans (4-5) and Carolina (3-6-1) going into Sunday's game against the Panthers.
"It's kind of different how this season has shaken out, specifically within our division," Ryan said. "I think at this point, it's exciting. We're in November. We're right in the mix. Obviously, we would have liked to have played better up to this point, but it is what it is. We're right in the mix. We've got everything we want right in front of us. And now, we've got to play the football that we're capable of playing moving forward. And I think everybody is excited about that."
Carolina is the defending NFC South champion, but the division has never had a repeat champ since it was formed in 2002. The Falcons last won in 2012 and have three NFC South titles.
"That's probably one of the more strange phenomenons," Ryan said. "We'd like to be on the right end of that here at some point. ... We're excited about competing and trying to knock one off at a time and hopefully have a chance to keep playing in January."
Running back Steven Jackson said he feels the sense of urgency in Ryan's tone now more than ever, which is the type of leadership the Falcons expect from their quarterback.
Ryan -- named a permanent captain for the rest of the season along with Roddy White, Jonathan Babineaux, Paul Worrilow, Antone Smith, and Eric Weems -- downplayed any change in his demeanor.
"I think it changes with the people that are around," Ryan said. "Each team, each locker room is different from year to year. And I think leadership needs to be flexible. And you need to be able to adapt to the guys that are in your locker room. ... I've needed to be different at different times.
"I think at the right opportunity, sometimes you have to speak up. And sometimes, at the right opportunity, you need to keep your mouth shut."
Although Carolina is 25th in the league in total defense (376.8 yards per game), 29th in scoring defense (28.1 points per game), and is playing without defensive standouts Greg Hardy (suspension) and Star Lotulelei (ankle), Ryan still sees a pretty potent defense.
"I still think it's a really, really talented defense," Ryan said. "I think there are some difference in personnel -- obviously two new safeties for them; two guys we're really familiar with in Roman Harper and (ex-Falcon) Thomas DeCoud. They've got some different personnel in the front four but, again, I think two of the better linebackers in league in Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly.
"Sometimes stats can kind of tell any story that you want to make them tell. To me, when you turn on the tape, I think it's still a very good, physical defense."