Falcons pull out 24-14 win over Vikings
For the second consecutive game, the Falcons built a nice lead only to let it whittle away before pulling out the win.
They had a chance to rout the Minnesota Vikings, but eventually had to settle for a 24-14 victory Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Cornerback Christopher Owens helped to save the game with a tackle on Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, who had broken free on a kickoff return. Also, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had a key stop on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
The Falcons, who have won five of their last six games, improved to 7-4. The Vikings, who were playing without their star running back Adrian Peterson, dropped to 2-9.
Behind the hot passing of Matt Ryan, the Falcons held a 17-0 lead at halftime.
Ryan completed 14 of 18 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help the Falcons take control of the game in the first half.
After an exchange of punts, the Falcons got into gear.
The offense relied heavily on running backs Michael Turner and Jason Snelling to march deep into Minnesota territory. After reaching the 18-yard line, right guard Joe Hawley was called for holding. Falcons coach Mike Smith said penalties and dropped passes were the reasons why the red-zone offense had stalled while going 3 of 10 over the two previous games.
But this time, they were able to overcome Hawley’s penalty. On second-and-19 from the 27, Harry Douglas caught a pass over the middle and ran through attempted tackles by E.J. Henderson and Asher Allen on his way to the end zone.
While Minnesota’s offense was sputtering about the Falcons added two more scores.
In the second quarter, Ryan found Roddy White in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.
Bryant added a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-0.
Things started to turn in the third quarter. On their first possession of the second half, the Falcons elected to punt on fourth-and-1.
Minnesota finally started to move the ball.
Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder converted on 3 of 3 third down situations during the 80-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Toby Gerhart.
The Vikings were able keep a vital fourth quarter drive alive with two bizarre plays.
A rolling punt, after an apparent stop, hit Falcons cornerback Dominique Franks and the Vikings recovered.
The Falcons had them stopped again after a pass was ruled incomplete on third-and-13 after the play was challenged. On fourth down, Ponder tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Harvin to make it 17-14.
After an exchange of punts, the Falcons went on a nine-play 73-yard drive. Ryan tossed his third touchdown pass, a 3-yarder, to tight end Michael Palmer to make it 24-14.
The Vikings were not done. Harvin broke loose for a 104 yard return down to the Falcons’ 3 with 6:28 to play. He brought the ball out from 8-yards deep in the end zone. Owens chased him down and made the tackle.
The Falcons defense, which has been stingy in the red zone all season, held the Vikings out of the end zone. On fourth-and-goal from the one, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was the first player to hit Gerhart and stack him up short of the end zone.
Last week against Tennessee, the Falcons built a 23-3 lead before giving up two late touchdowns before pulling out the 23-17 win.
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116 comments Add your comment
Michael
November 27th, 2011
5:45 pm
Falcons lose for second straight week on internet after winning the game in real life.
Sherman to the sea
November 27th, 2011
5:46 pm
Great to win, but dominate then die has to stop sometime. Get your hobnail boot on their throat and grind harder.
Rickaroo
November 27th, 2011
5:48 pm
Once again a let-down in the second half by the defense and offense…the Falcon’s intensity really drops off when they’re in the lead. Again, the secondary was a joke…receivers wide open that Viking’s touchdown pass…a linebacker that far down field covering a receiver…give me a break.
phil
November 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
Julio Jones is simply Jason Wayward with dreds….
Overrated, injured constantly, whiny, sissyfied, anything but dependable…
phil
November 27th, 2011
5:53 pm
Fire Someone…
DirtyBird87
November 27th, 2011
5:53 pm
How exciting would our offense be if we decided to grind it out with Jaquizz at back! I know he is a rookie but hypothetically. Just think about it! You think he could be somethink special like a Forte or more like a Sproles?
Turner… the burner (lol)…hits those holes with the speed of the elderly riding their Rascals to the door on Wed night bingo!
CGD..
November 27th, 2011
5:57 pm
Mr Blank shooting Blanks!
In 6 weeks it will be a must win road playoff game… not!
This staff will be shown the door….
skip
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
4th and 13 and somehow we don’t account for Harvin??? BVG must go!!! He has got to be the worst DC this side of Al Groh.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
Time to root for the Giants now boys, Aints need to lose one tomorrow night !
falcon
November 27th, 2011
6:17 pm
Chris Owens gets burned on 2 passes for 2 scores. Glad he chased down Harvin to save another one. Terrible play calling once again by our offensive coordinator. 17-0 lead, he goes into a shell on offense. Stupid play by Franks after the defense forced a punt, which handed the ball right back to the Vikings in Falcon’s territory. Roddy dropped another long one. Harry Douglas had 2 drops which would have given us first downs. Our defense saved the day again. The Falcons once again can not put anyone away.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
@DirtyBird87…on the broadcast Billick said that Mike Smith determines when the Falcons go into their no-huddle offense; he doesn’t actually call the plays in that offense. I’m guessing it is MM doing the base calling, with Ryan given wide latitude to check in and out of certain plays given the defensive look.
phil
November 27th, 2011
6:31 pm
Vince Young is the answer!
ls1z28chris
November 27th, 2011
6:31 pm
The Falcons will lose 26 December and y’all can all go back to looking forward to baseball, watching basketball, and watching hockey. Oh wait…
Frank Wilson
November 27th, 2011
6:32 pm
Well, well, well………….. the Chris Owens haters will
have to eat dirt for a few days. The guy doesn’t deserve all the negative “press” he receives on here.
His play saved the game and possibly our season. He is sorta fast.
Yeah, Mike Mularkay and Van Gorder seem to be very highly
rated by the play by play announcers and national TV guys.
Guess they aren’t as smart as the negative types on this blog.
Let’s see………. get rid of Old/slow Turner (who is second in the league), Matt Ryan (best young quarterback in the league) and change our scheme completely (even though we have won 5 of the last 6).
What we need to change are the negative bloggers on here
and get some that really know football.
There……. I said it.
DirtyBird87
November 27th, 2011
6:32 pm
@ ijonathon
Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
phil
November 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
Frank Wilson = negativity!
lon
November 27th, 2011
6:36 pm
Julio couldn’t catch the ball because it was only really thrown to him once today. Several times he was wide open and never got a glance. He’s got what it takes to be a star but they need to go to him more often.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
Season by Season { Stats past 4 years } Updated……………
Matt Ryan
(2008) Wins 11 – Loss 5
265 of 434 attempts = 61.1 comp
3440 Total Yards
16 TDs
(2009) Wins 9 – Loss 7
263 of 451 attempts = 58.3 comp
2916 Total Yards
22 TDs
(2010) Wins 13 – Loss 3
357 of 571 attempts = 62.5 comp
3705 Total Yards
28 TDs
(2011) Wins 7 – Loss 4
246 of 394 attempts = 60.1 comp
2887 Total Yards
18 TDs
Michael Turner
2008——-1699 yards rush—–17 TDs
2009——-871 yards rush——10 TDs
2010——-1371 yards rush—-12 TDs
2011——-948 yards rush——8 TDs
phil
November 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
JJ = Jason Wayward…
Both pitiful.
Fire Mike Shanahan!
Frank Wilson
November 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
P.S. Chris Owens was not responsible for the Harvey score.
Percy Harvey was NOT his man on that play.
phil
November 27th, 2011
6:40 pm
Chris owens obviously stinks…
Why try to defend his ineptitude….
Yes, he saved us today, and that matters a lot but special teams play ain’t CB play….
phil
November 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
Release Ryan and Turner!
bart
November 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
This slacking off to just beat your competition is going to bite us in the @ss again. Does anyone not recall the GB game earlier – come out mashing then back off and next thing you know Rogers is strutting across the Dome. Depressing that the players & coaching staff just don’t seem to get it.
DC Dirty Bird
November 27th, 2011
6:42 pm
Swap Turner for Forte and we get two additional wins. Turner isn’t a bad RB just not versatile enough to be the game changer we need. MM has to go because our offense is better when he isn’t calling the plays.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
6:42 pm
Huge play by Owens today’s game may just have helped put Atlanta in the drivers seat the rest of the way…..was a game changer if Vikings had of scored that touchdown !
DC Dirty Bird
November 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Chris Owens saved a touchdown while we were up 10. Not exactly a game/season saving play.
Rollo Lawson
November 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
Different week, same predictable unbalanced performance by the Falcons. I saw a couple of plays were Matt Ryan had Julio deep and refused to pull the trigger. The guy needs to have more faith in his arm and let Julio make a play. He is too quick to checkdown at times.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
6:50 pm
Ryan put a deep ball in Jones bread basket and he dropped it when he was falling down………….I still wish they had Jenkins and Finneran and the draft picks
DC Dirty Bird
November 27th, 2011
6:55 pm
Michael M- How would that help us this year? Is Finneran even on an active roster?
Ron Mexico
November 27th, 2011
6:58 pm
Playing “Not to lose” after they get up a little. I hate the way this team plays/is coached.
zorro
November 27th, 2011
7:00 pm
Has any one notice that each week, the next team that the falcon play,one of their KEY players are hurt. Just food for thought . And yes B Van G needs to put a great amount of pressure on these rookie QB’s but for some reason that I don’t understand, they the staff of Mike Smith will not do it. My question to anyone out their that can show reasoning for this. I would gladly appreciated,Ok but first, this is my take on it. I think that Smitty is trying to be football nice to the other teams coaches instead of batting them in the mouth. I think he don’t want have a legacy of throttling his opponents. just my conclusion or evaluation.
BigJake
November 27th, 2011
7:00 pm
I am actually OK with the Saints staying in first place in our division, until we get there in December to show them what we are made of. If we stay behind them, and keep winning, then at least we will not play them in the first round of the playoffs – let the Packers beat them up a little before we have to see them in the second round, steeling us up for the ultimate match-up against the Packers for the NFC title. I don’t see Dallas, NY, Chicago or the Lions providing any evidence that they will still be around come January. A face-off against the 49ers would be great for a first round. Just keep playing the way you are Falcons, and we’ll get that match-up against the Packers for the title.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
7:01 pm
Atlanta doesn’t need any help if they catch those dropped balls, Harry Douglas can catch just about anything throwed his way and Roddy started catching the ball majority of today’s game………Harry Douglas is better than white and Jones combined ! Just oes to show how poorly the other two have been at catching the ball !
Ted
November 27th, 2011
7:02 pm
A win against a weak team, that’s now 2-9. So what…YAWN
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
7:04 pm
Like to see another game with the Pac and the Birds too…………for the NFC Title….talk about some television viewing ratings . It could go down, anything can happen in Football.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
7:13 pm
That 2-9 team played a whole lot better than the record they have shows. They shut Atlanta out for awhile in the second half and made a game out of it.Really the rest of the Teams on Atlanat’s schedule are dangerous to play because some of them have nothing to lose and can try anything to get a first down let alone a touchdown to try to win the game and knock Atlanta out of the playoff spot potential.
Falcons will have to be very careful in every play on the football field from now down the stretch because all the Teams left will be out to beat them……winning records or not it is still a fight to the end every week and no game is a easy one !
Later all have a good week !
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
MrsBanks . . ..you said you’d love to have the average Sunday where you could chill like a Packer fan. Well they were losing to Vikings 17-13 at half and ended up winning 33-27 which was the score with over 7 minutes left in the game. The Pack gave up over 400 yards offense to Vikings with even less experienced Ponder. (OK . .. I will have to concede the Pack did beat them 45-7 in their second meeting . . .but heck this first one was close:) ) For the Pack it will be just another win of many, just as for the Falcs this was another win of 7.
yeahsure
November 27th, 2011
7:18 pm
Yall complain when we beat teams with losing records and complain when we beat teams with winning records. Yall moan and whine if we run the ball too much or if we throw the ball too much. Its really pathetic.
Matt Ryan is hitting his stride and making all the necessary throws. We are making the playoffs.
Enjoy the win folks.
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
7:32 pm
Frank go back to bed. It’s time for us negative folk on the blog. The “Everything is Right with the Falcons” time is over.
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
7:34 pm
DC Dirty Bird, I’ve been saying it all year…Turner is not starter in this league. His footwork is horrible and he doesn’t have COMMON SENSE to not run into a pile.
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
7:38 pm
yeahsure, we complain because of this trifling coaching staff that doesn’t know when to call a blitz on a rookie QB, or you HC wants to get conservative in the second half and that’s a loser mentality. That’s why we complain…because this team is running out of luck. We all know the little things matter and if they don’t do them now, it will be one and done AGAIN!!!
Clay
November 27th, 2011
7:45 pm
Outside of a couple of bonehead plays by special teams, the Falcons played pretty good.
Yellow Lot Marriage Saver
November 27th, 2011
7:48 pm
@Mr.Panic Button. Hate to say it but you are right. We must be realistic. Packer, Saints and Pats receivers DO NOT drop first downs. They also put pathetic teams AWAY!!! We have got to punish bad teams if we think we are elite.
john
November 27th, 2011
7:48 pm
We could have so many big plays if we had a running back with speed. Turner gets to the second level of the defense and gets caught from behind. He is not a power runner anymore. Let’s get a back that can run. Tip Toe Turner
12 men in the huddle
November 27th, 2011
7:51 pm
“can someone tell me what happened on 4th and 13? im still pissed about it, and want some answers to whose fault it was.”
…..I’ll tell you exactly what happen! I use to think our defensive backs and safeties were just plain stupid. But after watching that play where EVERYONE in the stadium knew you had to keep the Vikings fasted and best offensive player IN FRONT of you…..they end up letting him go untouched deep with a LINEBACKER chasing after him…..I FIRMLY believe our defensive backs and safeties are in the defensive huddle smoking a joint before breaking the huddle!!!
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
7:53 pm
12 men in the huddle . .. . .I agree. What the heck happened on that play. The D was having a very solid game too . . ..still did overall . …but that was just absolutely dumbfounding Harvin was so open on 4th and very long!
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
7:57 pm
12 men/Once Recent, Owens and Franks still look as lost as they day we drafted them. I have to wonder if this so-called defensive system is too complicated for them. They guys looked good in college and how can they look so bad and lost in the pros? That are we are STILL drafting the wrong players.
CarolinaJacket
November 27th, 2011
7:58 pm
They didn’t squander anything. So they had a 17-0 lead at half time, and won 24- 14. That’s still a two score win. I would celebrate the win rather than worry about the fact that we were outscored in the second half, even though we won handily.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
8:00 pm
OK I stopped being lazy and looked. Montana 4 SB starts and wins.
L. R. Glass, Sr.
November 27th, 2011
8:01 pm
Mirror image of the 2010 Packers, eh! Much to much of a resemblance. Quarterback starting to hit stride… Defense beginning to step up, special teams becoming, well, special! Now if we can just cut down on allowing those long pass plays…. What Say You? Agree or disagree?
By the way, in my humble opinion, Chris Owens is this game’s MVP. He doesn’t make that tackle on Harvin, the game changes drastically.