Falcons stumble about, beat lowly Raiders 23-20 on Bryant field goal
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and head coach Mike Smith look on in apparent dismay. (Curtis Compton/Ccompton@ajc.com)
The Falcons have a nickname for kicker Matt Bryant.
“He’s ‘Mister Automatic,’” safety William Moore said. “I didn’t have one doubt in my mind. He’s been coming through for us all season.”
With the Falcons’ high-octane offense running on fumes, and Mister Automatic having already misfired on a 43-yard first quarter attempt, Bryant hit from 55 yards with one second left to lift the Falcons to a 23-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
It was the Falcons’ third straight dramatic win in the fourth quarter and the 19th time that quarterback Matt Ryan has pulled out a win in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The Falcons needed a late touchdown run from running back Michael Turner with under three minutes to play to beat Washington 24-17 on Oct. 7.
Bryant made a 40-yarder to beat Carolina 30-28 with five seconds left on Sept. 30.
All of this late-game drama is taking its toll on the team.
“We have to cut it out with these nail bitters,” Moore said. “Overall, we’re going to have to finish ball games. I felt like we played down (to the Raiders’ level) a little bit.”
With the victory, the Falcons improved to 6-0 heading into their bye week. The Raiders dropped to 1-4.
Also, Falcons head coach Mike Smith joined Dan Reeves in team annals for most victories with 49. He could set the new mark with the Falcons face the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 28.
“Everybody is happy for Coach Smith,” Ryan said. “He’s done a great job since he’s been here and certainly everything that comes his way is deserved. We all love playing for him.”
With the passing game struggling and the power running game in moth balls somewhere, Ryan pulled things together in the final 40 seconds from the Falcon’s 20.
He started by completing a screen pass to Jacquizz Rodgers for 7 yards. He followed with a 4-yard completion to Harry Douglas, who scooted out of bounds.
After an incompletion, Ryan found tight end Tony Gonzalez for gains of 10 and 13 yards down to Oakland’s 37. With five seconds on the clock Bryant was summoned.
“It’s about handling the moment, whatever that is, managing it,” Bryant said.
The Raiders tried to ice Bryant with a timeout. He used that to get in a practice kick.
“In my opinion there are more good things that can come out of calling a timeout,” Bryant said. “I mean if you make the kick, you just conjure up that feeling of repeating that. If you miss it, then you know how to make the adjustments.”
Ryan had his worst game of the season. He completed 24 of 37 passes for 249 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His passer rating of 59.4 was his lowest since he posted a 50.6 in a 17-10 loss at Houston on Dec. 4, 2011.
With the offense sputtering, the defense tried to drag the team to victory.
With the score tied 13-13 and the Raiders within field goal range, cornerback Asante Samuel stepped in front of a Carson Palmer pass intended for wide receiver Denarius Moore and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown with 2:40 to play.
“Making that mistake I made is crucial, it’s on me,” Palmer said. “It’s on me. It’s my fault.”
The Raiders didn’t fade. They promptly scored on a touchdown run by Darren McFadden to make it 20-20 with 40 seconds to left setting the stage for the latest dramatic drive.
Ryan, who had thrown three interceptions over the first five games, tossed three in the first half against the Raiders. The Raiders turned those three picks into 10 points en route to a 13-7 halftime lead.
On the fourth play of the game during the Falcons’ opening drive, Ryan tried to connect with Douglas on a crossing route, but Oakland cornerback Joselio Hanson cut underneath to pick off the pass.
The Falcons forced the Raiders to punt, but Ryan tossed his second interception on a deep pass intended for Julio Jones. Mike Huff intercepted the ball at Oakland’s 2-yard line.
The Raiders quickly got from the shadows of their goal posts when Palmer connected with Moore on a 49-yard pass play. The drive stalled and Sebastian Janikowski made a 52-yard field goal.
On the Falcons ensuing possession, Ryan got hot. He completed 7 of 7 passes on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. He capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White to make it 7-3.
Former Georgia Tech standout Philip Wheeler forced Ryan’s third interception. Wheeler blitzed untouched up the middle. When he slammed into the Ryan, the pass fluttered out and Oakland safety Tyvon Branch came down with it at Atlanta’s 28. The Raiders would score on a 25 yard pass two plays later.
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255 comments Add your comment
Long Time Team Fan
October 14th, 2012
8:15 pm
WHEW!!!!!
Undefeated
October 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
Tony Dungey just said Falcons are a great team that finds a way to win without their “A” game. Looks like home field for the NFC belongs to them……
bigbobbles
October 14th, 2012
8:28 pm
Hey theight!!!! The 49’s got rolled so what are you sayin?
Posts about The Falcons From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
October 14th, 2012
8:30 pm
[...] best case scenario. Thank Vishnu for Matt Bryant’s bionic freak leg. But we more… Falcons stumble about, beat lowly Raiders 23-20 on Bryant field goal – blogs.ajc.com 10/14/2012 CMGd Single Player – [...]
Shawdaddy
October 14th, 2012
8:31 pm
Whay Not Us: I was thinking the same math. Our schefue is littered with Losses cause we are littered with wins. Haters gonna hate. Haha. 6-0.
hit a single
October 14th, 2012
8:34 pm
I just hope this Falcon team isn’t like this years Braves team. We were all excited to get to post season, but we didn’t have the offense to win. Pitching carried them and no offense caught up with them. There is a fine line in winning or losing in the NFL and I just hope this Falcon team can quit being on the ropes every week. Don’t get me wrong, I love winning but that fine line may go against us one day. But Good luck Falcons and let win it all.
78dawg
October 14th, 2012
8:34 pm
O-line and Turner looked weak and overmatched. It’s an ugly W.
Charleston Jacket
October 14th, 2012
8:35 pm
Great win – but man we look really shakey. D bailed us out on some big plays but gave up too many as well. Matty had a bad day but pulled it together when we had to have it. Will be interesting to see how we play in Philly. Should be a slobber knocker.
THWG
Quicherbichin
October 14th, 2012
8:43 pm
I need to make some money… think I’ll go and sell brown paper bags with eyeholes cut in them down near the Superdome… should make myself a good deal of money from the ‘Aints fans!
reality check
October 14th, 2012
8:45 pm
We’ve got major trouble ahead unless we can get an offensive line that can push ahead a dang FOOT! That 3rd and goal on the 6 inch line shouldve been an easy QB sneak. I mean, come ON.
But they found a way to win and I’ll take it.
AtlJack
October 14th, 2012
8:48 pm
Thank goodness the Raiders got so many penalties- it saved the game… Along with a catch off a Raiders helmet…
The Falcons are barely beating mediocre teams… Not a good sign… elite teams blow out mediocre teams
1st and goal on the 2 and can’t get the ball in? Very bad sign.
Ray
October 14th, 2012
8:54 pm
Being a realist here from what I saw on the game.
Of the 3 ints 1 was on Matt Ryan which was the very first one that was suppose to be to Harry Douglas, but those other two I’m saying that was on the offensive line.
The O-line didn’t do us any favors this week at all in fact most of the time M.Turner was trying to rush I could swear it wasn’t the Raiders he’d run into it was the O-line.
As for the defense that first half was pure garbage, but after half time I could tell Mike Nolan laid into them as for the offense not so much. I’ll be real not happy with Matt Ryan’s today, but games like this happened. It happened to Peyton so it can happen to anyone.
Plus I say this now and I mean it as long as we’re undefeated just like the Texans EVERYONE WILL COME IN LOOKING TO UPSET US EVEN PHILLY. So in some ways these games will be frequent, but you got to have the mental toughness to pull these type of games out, and the falcons did.
Now it’s the bye week it’s time for Falcons to refocus and also the O-line to do a little soul searching. The way MR2 got hit on that third INT has anyone shaking in their boots.
Still though WE 6-0 CAN’T BE MAD!!!!! OH YEAH!
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
8:59 pm
Ray
October 14th, 2012
8:54 pm
Being a realist here from what I saw on the game.
_____________________
Being a realist puts your life in jeopardy on these blogs. Many will roast you and declare you a “hater” because they’re too stupid to know the difference.
Willydoit?
October 14th, 2012
9:01 pm
I sure miss ole #7….NOT!!!
North Fulton Falcon fan
October 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
Hey Guys….. Let’s all relax a minute and try to enjoy an amazing 6-0 record for the Falcons. I’m going to celebrate today’s win. I’m glad we are 6-0
Goliath
October 14th, 2012
9:16 pm
When the Falcons play a good team, the problems will become obvious. Look at it this way, we have BARELY beat teams that are UNDER 500. What do expect will happen when they play WINNING teams?
As a longtime Falcons fan, I try to be realistic. The poor play of the O-line, D-line will expose this team.
hit a single
October 14th, 2012
9:17 pm
Listen enjoy these days, I remember too well the Pat Peppler days!
jaz
October 14th, 2012
9:30 pm
A bunch of the team took the day off, but thanks Abe and Spoon for showing up for work. Thought the play-calling had taken a step backward, but Matt did his thing with the clock running out. Tx Matt!
Falcon James
October 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
I tell you what. When a team as great as the Falcon show the world what 6-0 looks like, nobody really cares what the scores were or how the they got there during the game. All that matters is the 6 and O.
Great game Falcons. Thank you for the most enjoyable season in years. I hope the guys enjoy the well deserved and earned time off.
dado
October 14th, 2012
9:38 pm
It seems we always find a way to win, at the end. But, without a strong running game, how do we handle the elite teams?
Falcon James
October 14th, 2012
9:42 pm
In a lesser cared about story…..the Saint also won today. Although they were playing a Offense vs. Defense scrimmage. The Saint Fans lead by STDB4 are flying high and celebrating their second victory. STDB4 stated “This is a greatest victory since winning the Super Bowl, anybody want to hang around and hear the story?” At that point, the crowd went mystery silent as if someone had clicked the mute button and STDB4 was confined to his mothers basement for 7 days of solitary confinement and was banned from using his mothers computer.
TONYT203
October 14th, 2012
9:43 pm
Mr Saint. I would rather be a bad 6-0 team, than a good 1-4 team
charles
October 14th, 2012
9:50 pm
I’m proud of the falcons-the raiders were coming off their bye week well rested and gave us their best shot but it wasnt good enough!
Birdwatcher
October 14th, 2012
9:52 pm
Enter your comments here
falcPhil
October 14th, 2012
10:00 pm
san francisco isn’t that good—ATL will beat them in the nfl champ game. In the super bowl, atl will play either houston or new england—they can’t match up with the falcons. ATl — super bowl champs!!!
RA
October 14th, 2012
10:00 pm
Manning, Griffin, Rivers, Newton. I don’t care what the record of those teams are. Those are some great quarterbacks that the Falcons have been up against, and they beat them all. And if Oakland had played against everyone else that they faced this season, the way that they competed against Atlanta, I can promise you that they wouldn’t be 1-4 right now. (If you have any doubts about what the teams that Atlanta has beaten are capable of, look over at what Washington did to Minnesota today…) And yea, the road gets tougher after the bye week, but there’s no reason to think that this team i going to tank. They’ve got as much talent as anyone, and more than most. I’m excited about the rest of the year.
JK
October 14th, 2012
10:04 pm
Birds have another head-scratching win. 6-0, I’ll happily take it. As Parcells said, you’re as good as your record says you are.
That being said, the schedule is tougher after the bye. Games at Eagles and against Giants and Cowboys aren’t going to be easy. Still, I’m not sure that any team in the NFL is better than the Falcons. Giants, 49ers, Packers, Pats, Ravens have all have bad losses. Falcons have zero losses. Go back to playing/coaching like we did in the first three games and we’ll be just fine.
johnny
October 14th, 2012
10:06 pm
hey let me say now and you can qoute me now too… we will lose to philly and the rest of the year…why you ask??? same as the last 40 years…no “D” ; no “O” LINE…same as the “choker’s” aka the useless brave’s…choke every sept. oct…we had 3 lucky wins our “LUCK IS OVER”!!! WE ARE NOT A PLAYOFF CALIBAR TEAM!!!!! WE WILL BE LUCKY TO BE 7-9!!! WE STINK!!! AS ALWAYS!!! OUR LUCK HAS RAN OUT!!! WHY IS MIKE T. HERE STILL??? TOTALLY USELESS!!! I FALL DOWN AN GET A YARD!!! SORRY BUT SEEN THIS BEFORE FOR 40+ YEARS!!! PROVE ME WRONG!!!
Birdwatcher
October 14th, 2012
10:08 pm
Enter your comments here
This is at least the second time this year that we have had first and goal inside the two yard line and have called a pass play that went incomplete and then failed to score because we ended up forth and goal from the one. Either The OC is convinced our running game is ineffective or he is making calls that violate all fundamental laws of football. Something is bad wrong when you are calling pas plays on first and goal from inside the two. I have watched opposing running backs hit the pile and push it forward for two or three more yards. Michael Turner hits the pile and goes down or gets pushed back. Either our offensive line stinks or Turner is not the back we need. Either way, I don’t see what can be done about it at this point, but improving the running game should be a big priority in the off season.
RexDogma
October 14th, 2012
10:22 pm
Better lucky than good 6-0!!!
Oscar
October 14th, 2012
10:32 pm
Guys and gals, this isn’t college football, where they factor in style points and how badly you beat your opponents. This is the NFL, where all that matters, repeat, ALL THAT MATTERS, is WINS!!! Whether you win by 1 or 41, as long as your team has more points than the other team when the final gun sounds, that’s all that matters. Granted, the Falcons haven’t played their best football the past 3 weeks, but they’ve FOUND WAYS TO WIN!! Call it luck, call it karma, call it whatever you want, but you have to call it what it is too: The Falcons are UNDEFEATED!!! And i don’t know about you guys, but i’ll take an ugly WIN over a pretty LOSS any day of the week!!
Championship teams find ways to win even when they’re not at their best, and the Falcons have done that!! So don’t hate, congratulate!! 6-0!!
Al
October 14th, 2012
10:39 pm
The title of this article sucks. Why can it just be celebrated that we’re the only 6-0 team in the league…for the fist time lo less.
Don’t the Falcons get hated on enough by the national media to not get piled on at home?
johnny
October 14th, 2012
10:48 pm
are we cross?? why won’t ya’ll print my post???
ricocarty21
October 14th, 2012
11:00 pm
this kinda game would have been lost last year and the year before. O-Line looked tired and it looked like the falcs were getting ready for philly. A couple of 3rd down play calls were suspect like using Rogers instead of Turner to get a yard.
Matty Ice did not have time to throw most of the day and the raiders d was pumped. Dang I hope Smitty can get the run game straightened out during the bye!!
Matt Bryant has got some ice too!! Big Time kick to pull out an overall lackluster effort!! The whole team should buy him dinner every night until the philly game!! Mike Smith stayed cool and did not panic especially on raiders last drive!!
Falcon James
October 14th, 2012
11:03 pm
Johnny,
Sometime when posts aren’t worth reading, the moderator won’t post it. Its nothing about freedom of speech. If you want to be heard, get your soapbox and stand on the corner at the next the home game. I am sure you will have plenty of people there who will want to hear you preach.
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
11:09 pm
Let the nay sayers say Nay,, 6 and 0,, thats all that matters,, finding a way to get it done, we were the better team,, Tip your cap to the Raiders,, they brought their A game today,, the better team won,, thats the way its supposed to work,, Go Birds….
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
11:09 pm
sorry JSS, We are,, LOL
mike smither
October 14th, 2012
11:19 pm
still second tier.
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
11:20 pm
The Giants are the best team,, thats only because the last time we played them we got our A$$ handed to us,
Frank
October 14th, 2012
11:40 pm
Good teams find a way to win, even when they ‘play down’ to the lesser teams. Kudos to the Falcons to be resilient enough to find a way. Adjustments need to be made. We can’t stop the running game. And, the current Falcons tandem isn’t getting it done consistently, either. Though, we did run into a defense that conceded their poor pass defense, which ended up having a banner game with three intercepts. Game planning?
Mat Bryant for President
October 14th, 2012
11:51 pm
But nothing! There are no buts when you’re 6-0 in the NFL. Championship teams find a way to win through adversity, through up weeks, down weeks, etc. (hear that Mark Richt?!?!) When your team is 6-0 you say GO BIRDS!!!!! And leave the buts to the…………….butts.
Joe Falcon
October 15th, 2012
12:16 am
Falcons have a full FIVE GAME LEAD on the Aints…YEAH BABY!
LOL at the Aints
October 15th, 2012
12:20 am
There is no “But”,, WE ARE 6 AND 0, and thats all that matters, imagine if we put it all together,, havent even played well in three weeks,, and still 6 and 0,,
biscuteater
October 15th, 2012
12:58 am
Where is the much “ballyhood” screen pass that was talked about all pre season?????? The heckly&jeckyl coons have NO run game,No tackling game,No coverage game..How in hell are they 6-0????
In the past 3 games we have been out played and out coached..I blame the coaching staff for lackluster game planing..how in the hell Nolan and Kotter are rand as “top notch” in their field is beyond me! Ryan throws 3 picks in the 1st half..how disgusting is that?
The birds will be LUCKY to win another 6 games the rest of the year if they continue to play the way they have for the past 3 games…Smith keeps saying “we have lots of things to correct & work on” When will the “process” start??
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Mejdy Jabr
October 15th, 2012
2:03 am
If anybody wants some actual post-game analysis, click the link below. The Raiders actually matched up fairly well with the Falcons today. It was all about ball control and bending but not breaking on defense. Oakland has the offensive ground attack and the secondary to do both well against the Falcons. If the link doesn’t post, just search “spinitreacts falcons”
http://spinitreacts.blogspot.com/2012/10/quickyreacts-nfl-sunday-week-6-falcons.html
HIVPositive
October 15th, 2012
2:33 am
It doesn’t matter if you win by 30 points or 3 points, a win is a win. I don’t see the Raiders happy that they barley lost.
6-0!!!