During his weekly radio show, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was asked about scoring 21 straight third-quarter points against one of the league's best defenses Sunday in a 26-24 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

"Obviously, we didn't get the job done," Ryan said. "But at the same time, we also know when we're playing the way we're capable of, we can go down the field on anybody. And that's kind of the mindset that we have to have."

Matt Ryan has completed 14 of 24 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns -- with no interceptions -- on balls thrown 20-plus yards in the air this season. Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Ryan was speaking more in general terms about sustaining drives, such as a six-play, 97-yard march against the Seahawks culminating in his 46-yard touchdown hook-up with tight end Levine Toilolo. That play, with Ryan throwing the ball 22 yards in the air, was an example of how Ryan is going down the field more often this season.

Ryan, who has a league-high 2,075 passing yards, has completed 14 of 24 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns (no interceptions) on balls thrown 20-plus yards in the air this season. Included in the total is 6-of-12 for 259 yards and two touchdowns on passes thrown 30-plus yards in the air.

All of last season, Ryan was 19-of-44 for 612 yards and three touchdowns and four interceptions on passes thrown 20-plus yards in the air, including 4-of-13 for 197 yards with a touchdown and interception on passes throw 30-plus yards down the field.

Ryan entered this season vowing to take more chances with deep balls. He improved his arm strength and footwork by changing up his offseason workouts.

The organization helped his cause by signing three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack to help give Ryan more time to throw such passes. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has come up with masterfully designed plays to get players wide open. The additions of receivers Mohamed Sanu and Aldrick Robinson and rookie tight end Austin Hooper have supplemented Julio Jones. That, along with the emergence of Justin Hardy as a sure-handed target, has given Ryan more options to go deeper.

As the Falcons prepare to face the San Diego Chargers and their depleted secondary Sunday, Ryan has completed passes of 20-plus yards in the air to seven targets. Jones, of course, leads the way with five, and Hooper is next with three.

We'll see if that down-the-field success continues against the Chargers and beyond.