Banged-up Falcons making no excuses ahead of Bengals visit

That Matt Ryan's 148.1 passer rating last week was the best in the Super Bowl era for a losing NFL quarterback tells you all you need to know about the state of the Atlanta Falcons' injury-depleted defense going into Sunday's home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Andy Dalton certainly can't be compared with New Orleans' Drew Brees, but the Falcons (1-2) will likely have to put up plenty of points against the Bengals (2-1) to cover the team's struggles on the other side of the ball.

"It's tough. You never want to see anyone go down, but it's been that kind of start for us this year," said Ryan, who had a career-best five touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 43-37 overtime loss to the Saints. "As an offense, we have to find a way to get it done and that's going to be our mindset moving on."

The Falcons have three defensive stalwarts on injured reserve after losing safety Ricardo Allen in overtime of the New Orleans game. Already on IR were linebacker Deion Jones and safety Keanu Neal, both Pro Bowl picks.

"I know the story line is the injuries, and that as an excuse," head coach Dan Quinn said. "We will not play the role of the victim with injuries. We have a locker room full of tough-ass competitive guys, and I expect us to play well, and we will."

Whether or not it is well enough to beat the Bengals, though, figures to hinge on Ryan & Co. taking advantage of a Cincinnati defense that struggled in a 31-21 loss at Carolina last week, including giving up 184 yards rushing to Christian McCaffrey.

At least Cincinnati will have A.J. Green "ready to go," according to coach Marvin Lewis. The Pro Bowl wide receiver missed nearly all of the second half at Carolina.

The Bengals need Dalton, who threw four interceptions against the Panthers, click to take advantage of the Falcons' defensive absences and cover for their own issues. Playing without suspended linebacker Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati has given up 1,182 yards and allowed opponents to convert 52.2 percent of their third downs.

"If you win third downs you usually win the game, and if you don't you lose," linebacker Nick Vigil said. "It's something we've got to get better at. It's been something we've been poor at all season long even in our wins."

Cincinnati lost nose tackle Ryan Glasgow in the Carolina game and now faces a team that has converted all eight of its trips to the red zone into touchdowns the past two weeks.

The Bengals have an 8-5 edge over Atlanta all time, winning their most recent game 24-10 at Cincinnati in 2014. Their last meeting at Atlanta was in 2010, a 39-32 victory by the Falcons.