faltered down the stretch and missed the playoffs.With Melvin Gordon now one of the top running backs in the league and standout defensive end Joey Bosa expected back in early November from a left foot injury, Rivers do

FLOWERY BRANCH Khari Willis Jersey , Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff received a text from Matt Ryan during the NFL draft.The Falcons’ quarterback obviously approved of the team’s first-round selections of two offensive linemen.Dimitroff said the message from Ryan was brief: “Thanks. Just thanks and wow.”For Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn, the top priority of the offseason was to build a better line after Ryan was sacked 42 times last season, the second-highest total of his career. He was hit 113 times, the third-most in the league.Dimitroff’s first pick was guard Chris Lindstrom of Boston College. He then traded away the Falcons’ second- and third-round picks to add tackle Kaleb McGary of Washington late in the first round.An improved line also would be key to the team’s hopes of boosting the running game, which sagged last season.“Make no mistake about it, we knew what we needed to do in this offseason and that was to continue to fortify Matt and the offensive line,” Dimitroff saidWHO THEY GOTLindstrom and McGary could form a new starting tandem on the right side of the Falcons’ line. Clearly, they are the key to how this draft will be remembered.“It may not have been shiny but I don’t think grit is real shiny,” Quinn said taking two offensive linemen in the first round. “I’m real thrilled they’ll be part of this group for a long time.”Dimitroff went to work on addressing other needs on Saturday’s final day of the draft. Cornerbacks Kendall Sheffield of Ohio State and Jordan Miller of Washington, defensive end John Cominsky of Charleston and running back Qadree Ollison of Pittsburgh each were picked to bolster areas of pressing concern.The team’s last pick, running back Marcus Green of Louisiana-Monroe, may make an immediate contribution as a return specialist. The versatile Green (5-8, 190) was primarily a wide receiver in college Josh Allen Jersey , but the Falcons are intrigued by his big-play potential at running back and on returns.Cominsky or Green could develop into long-term surprises of the draft class.SURPRISE MOVEAfter continuing his streak of making at least one trade in each of his 12 drafts as Atlanta’s general manager by adding a second first-round pick, Dimitroff remained inactive on the second day of the draft. Dimitroff traded away his second- and third-round picks but was widely expected to pull off a trade back into the second day. The surprise was he couldn’t deal two or more of his Saturday picks to move back into the second or third rounds.HOW THEY DIDAtlanta had ample picks to allow Dimitroff the luxury of overhauling the offensive line with two first-round picks. He knew taking a guard so high in the first round would generate some negative reviews, but he and coach Dan Quinn agreed Lindstrom was the right pick. Adding McGary at No. 31 overall meant the Falcons could have two rookies starting on the right side of the line.Dimitroff may have gambled on some high-upside picks, including Cominsky, who was an option quarterback in high school before gaining 70 pounds in college. Ollison, a power runner, had inconsistent production at Pittsburgh.It will be judged as a successful draft if Lindstrom and McGary win starting jobs, Ollison can be a complementary running back with Devonta Freeman and Sheffield and Cominsky win roster spots and contribute on special teams.WHAT’S NEXT?Dimitroff was successful in filling needs, though there may be room for more help on the defensive line, at linebacker and perhaps at running back from undrafted free agents. The Los Angeles Chargers are on a roll with a three-game winning streak.Philip Rivers is determined to keep the momentum going, even with an overseas trip and a game in London looming.“The guys have been great and we know we’re in kind of a groove right now,” the 36-year-old quarterback said. “This is a different week, but our mindset is whatever you normally do Jawaan Taylor Jersey , just do it. We want to keep this going.”The Chargers returned to the practice field Wednesday, brimming with confidence after their 38-14 victory over the Browns three days earlier. The decisive win raised their record to 4-2 and kept them one game behind AFC-leading Kansas City.The team remains in Cleveland and is training at suburban Baldwin Wallace University, hoping to maintain some normalcy before its Sunday game against the Tennessee Titans at Wembley Stadium in England.“We practiced today at the same time that we’ll play (6:30 a.m. Pacific time), so that should help our bodies get accustomed to the time change,” said Rivers, who has thrown 15 touchdowns and has the second-best passer rating in the NFL at 115.1.“As a player, Wednesday always feels like the start of the workweek �? and we were all ready for it today. The challenge will be Thursday night to Friday morning with us flying all night to get to London.”Los Angeles linebacker Denzel Perryman joked that avoiding jetlag will be easy, saying, “If you get some sleep medicine, you’ll be all right.”The fourth-year pro turned serious when asked if the Chargers’ focus was where it should be, namely stopping Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and running backs Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis.“It’s a different environment and different weather here, but we got some good work done today,” Perryman said. “We know Tennessee has got a lot of nice weapons and an explosive offense with a nice duo back there. And Mariota Josh Oliver Jersey , he can run and pass, so he’s a difficult matchup. But we’ll be ready for them, no doubt.”The extended road trip has taken on special significance for Rivers, who has only played in London once in 15 pro seasons. He threw a costly late interception in the Chargers’ 37-32 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 26, 2008.Rivers noted this will likely be his last game in England, given his age and the league’s rotation of all 32 franchises for international games.“It’s been 10 years, but shoot, I remember everything about it,” he said. “Staying right next to the stadium before the game, and every time the ball went in the air, there were oohs and aahs.“That was one of the first times the NFL had been to Wembley, so it’s a little more common now, but I’m sure we’ll see a lot of Chargers and Titans fans there supporting their favorite teams.”Making this trip even more important Deandre Baker Jersey , a win would make Los Angeles 5-2 on the season, which Rivers has only experienced twice before in 2006 and 2014. The latter team faltered down the stretch and missed the playoffs.With Melvin Gordon now one of the top running backs in the league and standout defensive end Joey Bosa expected back in early November from a left foot injury, Rivers doesn’t want to let this opportunity slip away.“We’ve got a chance to get to 5-2 and we’ve got to do whatever it takes to get there,” he said. “If you had told us back in August we’d be in this position, we’d have taken it. We feel pretty good about ourselves right now.”NOTES: Chargers coach Anthony Lynn expects linebacker Jatavis Brown (groin) and kicker Caleb Sturgis (right quadriceps) to be game-time decisions. Michael Badgley made his NFL debut filling in for Sturgis against the Browns, making all five of his extra points and his lone field-goal attempt. … C Mike Pouncey (knee), WR Travis Benjamin (foot), TE Virgil Green (ribs), NT Damion Square (shoulder) were limited in practice, while Bosa and LB Kyzir White (knee) remain out.