Vaughn McClure, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Julio Jones 'stud' in return from injury

NEW ORLEANS -- If Julio Jones was in pain, he surely didn't show it.

The Atlanta Falcons receiver appeared to be his same old self in Sunday's 30-14 win over the rival New Orleans Saints. Jones played through a strained oblique muscle and finished with a team-leading 107 receiving yards on seven catches. He was targeted eight times.

"I felt OK," Jones said. "I know I needed to be out there with my teammates. I missed last week. Before the game, I went out and ran around. I felt pretty good: Not 100 percent, but it was good enough to go out there and get the `W.'"

Jones actually leaped high in the air to catch his first pass for a 23-yard pickup.

"When the ball is in the air, I've got to get it," Jones said. "I don't hear nothing. I don't feel nothing. I just catch the ball."

Jones also had a key, 24-yard reception right before halftime that set up Matt Ryan's 3-yard shovel pass to Eric Weems for a touchdown.

"They played us a lot of man to man, and we kind of exposed them," Jones said of the Saints. "We've got a lot of great playmakers over here, and we made plays."

Ryan was 3 for 3 for 63 yards on balls thrown at least 15 yards downfield to Jones, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Ryan surely appreciated having Jones back after missing him against the Pittsburgh Steeelers.

"You can't say enough about what Julio did today," Ryan said. "Obviously, he's been hurting the last couple of weeks and for him to gut it out and play the way he did today, I think that speaks volumes about his great toughness but also showcases what a stud he is. When he's out there, he's making plays that a lot of other people aren't capable of making, So, obviously when he's on the field, that's a big deal for us."

The Falcons just need Jones to be his same dynamic self next week against the Carolina Panthers, even if he's not 100 percent.

"Yeah, I'll be OK," Jones said. "Just keep getting treatment. They've been doing a great job here with me. And I've got to keep going."

Jones talked about the challenge ahead for the Falcons, who can cap a roller-coaster like season by defeating the Panthers next Sunday for the NFC South title.

"It's a big game because it's the next game," Jones said. "We can add any more pressure to ourselves. We've just got to continue to do what we do.

"It's so many people out there that doubt you; say you can do this, you can't do that: You guys are 5-8 or whatever that was. We control what we do in this locker room. We just got to keep fighting. People are going to jump on the bandwagon, they're going to jump off the bandwagon. But when you get to that postseason, the season is 0-0."

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