Report card: Falcons’ grades for win over Cowboys
Here are the Falcons’ grades for the 19-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
A — Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan passed for 342 yards and had a passer rating of 102.8. It marked the sixth time this season that he’s had a rating over 100. The Falcons are now 29-0 when he has a passer rating of 100 or more. Ryan also improved to 30-4 at home as a starter which is the best home record by a starting quarterback since 1970 (minimum 20 starts). Over the last five seasons, Ryan’s .882 winning percentage is the second-best in the NFL behind New England quarterback Tom Brady (.929). With his 342-yard performance, Ryan broke Steve Bartkowski’s franchise record for career 300-yard games, surpassing the milestone for the 13th time in his career.
B- plus — Running backs: Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers kept plugging away until they came up with some big plays in the second half. Turner, who finished with 102 yards on 20 carries, had the big 43-yard run and the 3-yard touchdown run to help the Falcons take control. On the Falcons’ final drive, Rodgers made two big catches to help convert third downs. He finished with four catches for 53 yards. He had 31-yard reception on third-and-6 from the Falcon’s 24 to kick start the key drive. Overall, the Falcons rushed for 123 yards on 26 carries for a 4.7 average per carry.
A — Receivers: Roddy White became the team’s all-team receptions leader. He finished with seven catches for 118 yards. Julio Jones was spectacular. He had five catches for a season-high129 yards. Tony Gonzalez made two big grabs on the key drive right before the half that helped the Falcons tie the game 6-6. With a 26-yard catch on Atlanta’s first possession of the second half, White broke wide receiver Terance Mathis’ franchise record for career receptions with his 574th career catch. Gonzalez finished the game with four catches for 36 yards. He joined Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history to record 50-or-more receptions for 15 straight seasons.
B-minus — Offensive line: Ryan was under duress by Dallas’ athletic defensive front. He took the blame for sliding his protection the wrong way on the big hit he took from Dallas outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Ryan was sacked three times and hit six times. The line continued to bang away in the run game and finally were able to pop some big runs. Rookie Peter Konz made his second NFL start at right guard for Garrett Reynolds (balky back injury) and held his own.
A — Defensive line: The Falcons used their “Big Tackle Three” alignment again and Jonathan Babineaux is starting to look real comfortable at defensive end. He led the Falcons with seven tackles, had a sack, a quarterback hit and tipped pass. Peria Jerry left the game and Vance Walker and Corey Peters had to close it out at tackle. The defense held the Cowboys to 65 yards on 18 carries. It marked the second straight game that they’ve held the opponent under 100 yards.
B — Linebackers: The Falcons opened in their base defense with Mike Peterson filling in for the injured Sean Weatherspoon (ankle). Akeem Dent took over Weatherspoon’s snaps in the nickel package. Dent tied Babineaux for the team lead with seven tackles and Nicholas was strong in the passing game against Dallas tight end Jason Witten. Peterson had a touchdown-saving tackle on Dallas punt returner Dwayne Harris in the first quarter.
C — Defensive backs: Asante Samuel lost Kevin Oglethorpe on a 20-yard touchdown when Dallas quarterback Tony Romo made a nice throw while scrambling. Dunta Robinson had a rough start. He gave up a deep ball on a third-and-20, but he bounced back and continued to play. Robert McClain and Christopher Owens were solid. Owens got some action while Samuel was getting treated for a neck injury on the sideline. He returned to the game.
D — Special teams: Matt Bryant missed two field goals of 37 and 43 yards. Both were wide right. The punt coverage unit allowed a 37-yard return.
A — Coaching: Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan dialed up some pressure on Dallas quarterback Tony Romo late in the second half and during the third quarter. The Falcons were able to force four straight punts and that allowed the offense a chance to forge a 10-point lead. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has to get credit for sticking with the run.
NEXT UP: The Falcons (8-0) face the New Orleans Saints (2-5) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome
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78 comments Add your comment
have the division wrapped up in less than 5 weeks
November 5th, 2012
7:53 pm
8-0!!!!!!! How do ya like them apples Aints fans? Katrina’s been over. Time for all of you to go back to you’re garbage dump, known as New Orleans. Payton might be gone as your coach. Give your dufus college coach, Les (less in the head) Miles the job (great job saturday night…. NOT!)
LOL at the Aints
November 5th, 2012
8:06 pm
Agreed okeetee. Someone should have seen that comming,, Probably MR.
LOL at the Aints
November 5th, 2012
8:08 pm
Aints fans,, looks like you lost you’re head coach,, he’s going to get offers he cant turn down…LOL
Macon Fan
November 5th, 2012
8:56 pm
At least the Falcons are getting a little respect from the boys on PTI.
When the Falcons beat Payton Manning’s Broncos early in the season, they only talked about Manning. I don’t think they ever even said “Falcons” and I know they never mentioned Ryan. Late in the discussion, Kornheiser mentioned “the other quarterback” like he didn’t even know his name.
phil
November 5th, 2012
9:27 pm
Fire someone!!
Yo Vince
November 5th, 2012
10:25 pm
Dr Falcon… Love my Falcons too, but I bet you 10 billion dollars that Bama will humiliate the Dwags, wanna bet?
Yo Vince
November 5th, 2012
10:27 pm
And its not easy to humiliate a team that always stinks it up when it counts…. Dwags, what a joke
DawgNole
November 5th, 2012
11:12 pm
phil
November 5th, 2012
9:27 pm
Fire someone!!
__________________
Could be Reid, the way his Eagles are getting crushed by the Aints tonight. MV’s getting pummeled again, too.
Herpes Butter
November 5th, 2012
11:39 pm
Enter your comments here
Michael M.
November 6th, 2012
12:17 am
D-Led………………..you couldn”t grade em for the first half because they never woke up until the third quarter got under way………………….hehehe. They better start playing 4 quarters of football or they going to get their butts handed to them by somebody…………………………………..
Mora less Petrino
November 6th, 2012
12:45 am
The Eagles are terrible! How does a team only get 13 against the Aints D?
The Aints win tonight may have helped facilitate Sean Payton leaving NO and going to Philly. Reid is likely gone.
Falcons should be able to get 600 or more yards against NO on Sunday.
Herpes Butter
November 6th, 2012
8:54 am
DOL – F
Too many misspelled words as well as grammatical and syntax errors.
Falcon Since 1966
November 6th, 2012
8:56 am
Wow ! Did you see how the Saint spanked the unbeatable Eagles last night? We will never beat them it’s gonna be a bad day come sunday between 1 and 4. NOT!!!!!
Falcons win with last second drive! Boo Yaaaa!
Check Please
November 6th, 2012
10:26 am
S Peyton will definitly be in Dallas soon……and my oh my, lets go back to Brees’ contract, he had an “op-out” clause put in every year, he can basically leave at the end of any year he chooses, smart man. So its just a matter of time before te Aint’s whole world comes crashing down. I freakin’ love it !!! Peyton goes to Dallas and takes Brees with him !!!!!!…….but then again Jerry Jones probably won’t pay for an aging has been QB…..
SawThat1nce
November 6th, 2012
10:37 am
Jerry Jones “won’t pay”? That is all he knows how to do.
St Simons
November 6th, 2012
12:57 pm
still.can’t.put.teams.away.
that said, need to uttlerly destroy the aints sunday
Collinsworth is the biggest d’bag in the history of sports.
SirReal
November 6th, 2012
1:11 pm
Is it just me or did anyone see Ray Edwards on the back of a milk carton this morning?
Yeahsure
November 6th, 2012
1:21 pm
Asante is due for another pick6. Too bad grimes isnt here to haunt Mr. Statpadder. The 3 DT set will be important for the run and also because Brees likes to step into the pocket. Quizz and julio will have big days if Spags tries that junk with MR2.
Dirty Rocky Mtn Bird
November 6th, 2012
1:44 pm
Could we please find someone to return punts? It annoys me to see him Fair catch everything and then field punts inside the 5yd line and make other stupid mistakes. Mark my words that will cost us a game I only hope it isn’t the SB.
ctfalconsfan
November 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
Going to the Big Easy for the game this weekend..
ATL will roll all over the lowly aints..
Nothing better in the world than walking out of the Superdome as victors!! I want that feeling again come Sunday at 4:15 pm EST..
ctfalconsfan
November 6th, 2012
2:15 pm
DOL the AJC needs to set your clock back 1 hour…
JosephDaKoolest a.k.a No Answer For Julio
November 6th, 2012
2:16 pm
I agree with all of th grades execpt the running backs and the D Line. The running backs maybe played their best game of the season up until this point. I would liked to have seen a A- and the minus for Polites wide open drop. Other than that I think they played very well. And a A fo the D line. I think a B plus would be appropriate for them. Although they played well against the run, I would have liked to see a little bit more pressure on Tony Romo. Especially that touchdown drive he had too much time to throw. However, they palyed well overall. I could care less about Chris collinsworth rooting for the Cow-little-girls. it has gotten to that point where we are the only undefeated team in the league and people are just going to want us to lose just to see us lose. But we are winning and thats all that matters. Matt bryant played well enough for us to win so maybe special teams could have got a C. But I guess we are spoiled because he has been so automatic since he has been here. And I did not like the punt return we had two players thaat were in position and should have made the tackle. However great tackle by uncle Peterson and Great Defense to hold them to a feild goal and keep them out of the endzone. I Love It. Great Game Falcons Keep up the good work and remember the Real A Town Got Your Back!!!!!!
ctfalconsfan
November 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
Has everyone seen, or pay attention to, Sagarin ratings???
This crazy poll has us ranked 6th?
Behind HOU/CHI/SAN FRAN/PATS and the real kicker DENVER?!?!?!?
- Denver is 5-3 AND we beat them!! Their scheule can’t be that tough as they play in the AFC WEST which we have already swept..
Worthles poll!
crybaby
November 6th, 2012
3:36 pm
Why is D.Robinson playing in front of R.Mclain?? Robinson gets burned Evey week in coverage and commits at least 2 costly penalities!
Why do the defensive backs Not kick the crap out of the receivers at the line of scrimage??
We still have one of the worst tackling teams in the league..usually 3 missed tacklers on any given play..but hey we can work on that!
NO q.b. pressure or hits to speak of..Yet we still won the game!
WOW, way to go Birds! M.Bryan..I could see you lined up Wrong for the kick in my living room..whats up with that?
Some how you guys figure out how to W the game and I guess that’s all that really matters!
Ueeediot
November 6th, 2012
4:06 pm
You gave the Special Teams a D?????
Kudos to noticing the two missed FGs.
Did you not notice how inept Dominique Franks is at returning punts? Fair catch a ball at the 20 with no one anywhere near him and 2 blockers, but then catches a ball at the 3.
Did you also miss the pathetic tackling on the 1st punt of the game and on the kickoff late in the game that was brought out to the 30ish?
When will we get to see Antoine Smith return kicks like he did at FSU?
If youre not going to use this guy, why is he on the team??
Ueeediot
November 6th, 2012
4:12 pm
Is there any debate whatsoever that the Aints window has closed?
How do we know Payton and Brees dont have a prepaid cell phone and chat about football at 3am?
Paddy
November 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
coleski…….don’t worry about ESPN and thier coverage of the Falcons. Nobody watches them any more, haven’t for years. And if some do watch them, nothing sticks because they are so bias. They have managed to become a non-factor in the commentary department.
Paddy
November 6th, 2012
4:59 pm
Ueeediot……someone must be last on the depth chart on every team. Antoine Smith is our guy filling that last spot.