FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones barely publicly acknowledged that he was ticked off.

When the comments that Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson made about “owning” Jones were mentioned last week, he just brushed them off.

However, under the surface he was stewing and steaming hot about the comments, according to teammates Devin Hester and Harry Douglas.

Even Falcons coach Mike Smith noticed a change in Jones’ demeanor leading up to the game.

All Jones did was go out and catch 10 passes for a career-high 189 yards and one touchdown last Sunday. The Falcons are hoping to get more of that when they face the Green Bay Packers on “Monday Night Football” at Lambeau Field.

“It’s one of those things, it’s part of the game,” quarterback Matt Ryan said about the trash-talking. “(Peterson is) a very good player, but we think Julio is a really good player, too.”

Jones beat Peterson underneath. He beat him deep. If anybody “owned” anyone, it was Jones who dominated Peterson.

“He went out and competed really hard and made some really good catches for us,” Ryan said. “I thought he stepped up when we needed him to.”

Jones made a pretty catch on his 32-yard touchdown grab. While running a fade route, he hauled in Ryan’s pass at the 5-yard line and contorted his body to roll over Peterson and into the end zone for the score.

“We got the one-on-one press coverage we thought we might get, we took a chance,” Ryan said. “Julio adjusted really well to that ball. That was big.”

Jones did some talking afterwards.

“Supposedly, Pat (Peterson) said he won most of the battles between me and him,” Jones said. “I just took it upon myself to get the proper rest and make sure my timing and everything was down with Matt, and keep working, and we went out here and did a great job.”

Jones didn’t bother to speak to Peterson, who some consider one of the league’s top cornerbacks, during the game.

“I don’t talk at all,” Jones said. “The guys that have played against me know I don’t talk. I just go out there and play.”

Ryan was 3-for-3 for 98 yards on deep passes against the Cardinals. They had completed just 3 of 8 deep passes the previous week against Cleveland.

“Yeah, after last week, we took some shots,” Ryan said. “We hit the shots when they were there. That’s what you have to do.

“In order to be an explosive football team, in order to make plays when you need them, you’ve got to hit them when you get one-on-one coverage.”

Jones also had a sweet catch along the sideline for a 41-yard gain. On the replay, it appeared that he only got one foot down.

“I thought Julio did a great job at making some great plays, in traffic too,” Ryan said. “Patrick Peterson had some good coverage but Julio showcased what he can do.”

With the gauntlet laid down by Peterson, Jones spent some extra time in practice working on his routes with Ryan last week.

“You have to spend a little extra time in the meeting room or in practice and that was one of those things we felt we just needed to get a couple reps,” Ryan said. “It certainly paid off.”

SERIES HISTORY: The Packers lead 14-12. The Packers won the previous meeting 22-21 on Dec. 8, 2013 with Matt Flynn starting at quarterback. The Packers also own a 2-1 lead in meetings in the playoffs.

NOTES: WR Roddy White, who didn’t play last week against Arizona because of an ankle injury, is expected back to face the Packers. .. CB Robert Alford (wrist) has been fit for a cast and is expected to test it out at practice on Thursday. … DT Paul Soliai did not practice or play last week because of a death in the family. He’s expected to return to practice on Thursday.