Matt Ryan talked about learning from the ‘scars’ of the Falcons’ 28-3 Super Bowl collapse
"It’s one of those scars that you accumulate throughout your life that’s wasted if you don’t learn from it."
The Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays on Wednesday, 7-1. Boston and Toronto play in the series finale today at 3:07 p.m.
The Bruins face the Sabres tonight at 7 p.m.
Also tonight, the NFL Draft begins with the first round, starting at 8 p.m.
Looking ahead, the Bucks are officially the Celtics’ next playoff opponent, with Game 1 of the second-round series beginning on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Matt Ryan’s thoughts on Super Bowl LI: For former Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, the leftover memories from Super Bowl LI in 2017 undoubtedly remain difficult.
After leading the Patriots 28-3 late in the third quarter, the Falcons famously collapsed. New England emerged with the first overtime win in Super Bowl history, 34-28.
Looking back on such a painful moment, Ryan was asked about how he grapples with it during a recent interview on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“I think it’s always somewhere in there, right?” Ryan acknowledged. “I think it’s always somewhere in there and I don’t see that as a bad thing. Obviously, we would’ve loved for that game to have gone differently, there’s no doubt about it. But, it didn’t and there’s not s*** we can do about it now. And so if you don’t use that as a learning opportunity, as an opportunity to be better and to be better the next time you’re in it, then it’s wasted.
“It’s one of those scars that you accumulate throughout your life that’s wasted if you don’t learn from it,” Ryan continued. “I do think it makes you harder, calloused. I think that’s good because I think that in order to win playoff games, in order to win championships, it takes a hard mindset, it takes a calloused team. And I think that as a result of going through that the last time, whenever hopefully we can get that opportunity, I think you have that calloused mindset of going in there and saying ‘No, no, it’s never over either way, and we’ve got to find a way to get the job done.’ And I’m thankful in a small way for that.”
Trivia: Who was the last Patriots player picked 21st overall?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Syracuse.
More from Boston.com:
- Jayson Tatum now needs to surpass his peers: 9 things to watch as Celtics face Bucks
- Tougher challenge awaits defending champ Bucks in 2nd round
- Reports: Bucks’ Khris Middleton expected to miss Celtics series
- Xander Bogaerts has 4 hits, Alex Cora returns as Red Sox beat Jays 7-1
- 10 things we learned from Episode 10 of the Tom Brady documentary, ‘Man in the Arena’
- An AFC executive compared Nakobe Dean to the Patriots’ Jerod Mayo
- 9 thoughts on the slow-starting Red Sox, beginning with their feeble bats
- Amid NFL draft uncertainty, prospects display confidence
- Kyrie Irving says he has ‘nothing but love’ for former Celtics teammates
- Vince Wilfork’s son pleaded guilty to stealing his father’s Super Bowl rings, other sports memorabilia
- One underrated receiver prospect the Patriots are targeting ahead of the draft
Draft like it’s 1999: Damien Woody posted a throwback to his draft day, when the Patriots picked him 17th overall. New England, in Pete Carroll’s last year as the coach, also drafted linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer in the first round, 28th overall.
The Inside the NBA crew predictd the Celtics-Bucks series:
On this day: In 1990, the Celtics set an NBA record for points scored by a team in a playoff game, defeating the Knicks 157-128.

Daily highlight: Jacob Wetzel of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans dove to make a tremendous catch in a 3-1 win.
Trivia answer: Chandler Jones
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com