Rob Ryan vows New Orleans Saints defense will improve

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is adamant that his side will improve on their performance during their opening-day defeat to the Atlanta Falcons.

Ryan's defense allowed 568 yards, the second most conceded in the history of the franchise, as they succumbed to an overtime loss to Mike Smith's men at the Georgia Dome.

"Look, that was a stinker for all of us, but nobody has to hit the panic button around here," Ryan told reporters. "We are going to work hard. We are not used to losing, and we're not going to get used to it.

"You stick with what you do best. You improve it, you work on it. At the end of the day, that wasn't a real good game by us. We're going to fix it and we'll be better. You watch, I guarantee we'll be better."

The Saints' defense was ranked in the top five in the NFL in the 2013 season.