Tony Gonzalez impressed by backup players

Tony Gonzalez has said that the Atlanta Falcons' backup players were "great" against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

The NFC South side were without leading wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, as well as running back Steven Jackson, but Harry Douglas and Jacquizz Rodgers both scored touchdowns during the 31-23 victory.

The tight end told the team's website: "That was great, that's exactly what you want from backup players like that. Everybody's stepping up. That's what you need. That's exactly what you want when any type of starter goes down.

"We can't afford to lose too many more games around here. Everybody knows that, it's no secret. So if we want to get to where we want to go, we've got to put it together.

"We've got to get on a roll here. We have to take it one game at a time and try to get one win at a time because that's the only way to get to where we want to go — and that's the playoffs."

The Falcons sit third in the NFC South.