"Big time players make big time plays in big time games and I can't say enough about him."
That praise from Joey Bosa is all one needs to know about Denzel Perryman's performance in the team's 33-30 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons.
Although suffering from a lingering shoulder injury, Perryman played through the pain and gave Sunday's game his all.
"I just stuck it out," Perryman said. "I told coach I was going to give it everything I've got. I told these guys I was going to give it everything I've got. They did a good job making sure I was staying positive and wasn't too down on myself because of the injury. I thank these guys for helping me out."
"He knows what he means to this football team and we told him that throughout the game," added Head Coach Mike McCoy. "He just didn't want to come off the field, and he took off a couple plays until his shoulder felt better. (But) he went back out there."
In true warrior-fashion, Perryman had seven total tackles, one pass defensed, one tackle for loss and recorded his first career interception in the win. The latter two plays were two of the biggest game changers on the day.
"Those are the type of players you need," McCoy added. "When the game is on the line and a play needs to be made and he gets an interception and a turnover and then stopped them on the run when they came back."
On 1st-and-20, Matt Ryan threw a pass in the direction of Julio Jones; however, Perryman cut in front of number 11 to pick the short pass off.
"I was glad I caught the ball! I was (standing) there (thinking), 'Oh, the ball is coming right to me. Don't drop it, don't drop it.' I finally caught it. I'm just happy I caught the ball and made a game-changing play."
"(It's) disappointing in that situation, but a good play by them on the defensive side," said Matt Ryan. "Their linebacker peeled off the inside route and went outside, and I saw it too late."
The Bolts ended up earning points off the interception as it ultimately led to a game-tying field goal from Josh Lambo that sent the game to overtime.
Once the Chargers got there, Perryman once again made his presence felt. After the defense stopped the Falcons on a 3rd-and-1, Atlanta elected to go for it on fourth down from their own 45. As Devonta Freeman took the handoff, it was Perryman who met him in the backfield for a loss of one to give San Diego's offense the ball. The turnover on downs was exactly what the Chargers needed as six plays later, they kicked a field goal to win the game.
"I was a nervous wreck watching but it was an unbelievable play," Joey Bosa said. "(Perryman) blew his man off the line and stuffed him. But that's why we play defense, for moments like that. It was awesome."
