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ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones: Falcons getting 'swagger' back after beating Seahawks

SEATTLE — By winning consecutive games for the first time since September, the Atlanta Falcons got a much-needed confidence boost.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (11) hauls in a pass Monday night in Seattle.

After Monday night’s 34-31 win against the Seahawks, the Falcons moved to 6-4 and right back into the NFC playoff race. They are two games behind the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints and trail the Carolina Panthers by a game, but currently occupy the conference's second wild-card slot.

“We're getting our swagger,” receiver Julio Jones said.

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Jones refused to compare the current Falcons to last year’s NFC champions. But by beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 and now Seattle, the Falcons finally are showing signs they could be a contender again.

Jones led the Falcons with 71 receiving yards, including a 29-yarder along the sideline to convert a third down midway through the fourth quarter. It was an example of the explosive plays he and quarterback Matt Ryan are capable of that too often had been missing from the  offense this year.

“You have to be able at times to take your shots,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said. “When the moments come up, we have such regard and respect for Julio.”

For Jones, the ability to stack wins for the first time since a 3-0 start gives the Falcons a reminder that their way of doing things still works.

“It takes a real man to trust the process. When you work your butt off and things don't go the right way, you tend to blame this person or that person, or you start changing things,” Jones said of a team that's had to adapt to new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian after Kyle Shanahan left for San Francisco in the offseason.

“You've got to stick to what you do ... and obviously it's paying off now.”

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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones

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