CINCINNNATI -- Several Atlanta Falcons took issue with what they called a "cheap shot" by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap on Matt Ryan.
With 1 minute, 56 seconds remaining in Cincinnati's 24-10 victory, Dunlap put a low hit near Ryan's knees after the Falcons star quarterback threw an incomplete pass.
Atlanta right tackle Lamar Holmes immediately reacted by shoving Dunlap, leading to a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
"I got beyond frustrated," Holmes said. "The ref felt like it wasn't a cheap shot, and I just felt like I needed to protect my quarterback.
"I felt like it wasn't the right play, so I went to protect my quarterback. At the end of the day, he's my brother. I'm going to protect him by any means."
Falcons center Joe Hawley and wide receiver Roddy White also expressed their displeasure with Dunlap's rough play.
"I thought it was a late hit," Hawley said. "I saw the whole thing. Matt threw the ball and [Dunlap] took two steps right for his legs. And I wasn't happy about it. I thought it was [a cheap shot].
"I didn't say anything directly to the guy, but I wasn't happy with him. I wasn't happy with the refs. They didn't even call a flag on it."
White also emphasized that the referees missed a penalty on Dunlap.
"That's up to the referees to call that," White said. "We can't call that. We're not officials. We can just do what our right tackle did: Go out there and hit the guy. Yes, I'm OK with Lamar doing that. You've got to protect your quarterback at all times in this league, no matter what it is. Especially situations like that, you've got to have his back.
"We can't let stuff like that happen to Matt. He could have hurt himself really bad. [Dunlap] hit the guy in the knees. I thought that was illegal. But, it is what it is. They didn't throw a penalty flag. But I thought Lamar did the right thing right there."
Much was made of how the Falcons allowed a sliding Ryan to absorb an illegal hit from New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro in the 2013 season opener without coming to Ryan's defense. Team owner Arthur Blank emphasized the incident as the reason why the Falcons needed to get tougher up front.
Typical of his character, Ryan downplayed Sunday's incident with Dunlap.
"It's one of those things when you're out there playing, that's bang-bang," Ryan said. "You trying to complete a pass, you're trying to escape. It's not for me to decide whether those plays are legal, illegal, whatever.
"Appreciate my guys having my back, like always. But, it is what it is. We move on. We keep going."
