Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, closer to clinching NFC South title
TAMPA – The Falcons call it their “P.Y.P. Attack.”
When it comes to covering Atlanta’s talented receiving corps, the opposition has to play a game of “Pick Your Poison.”
The Buccaneers made their pick, leaving a rookie cornerback in man-to-man coverage on wide receiver Julio Jones and the cost was critical. Jones scored on an 80-yard pass that became vital to the Falcons hard-fought 24-23 comeback victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s not often that I get man-to-man coverage,” Jones said after a busy day. “But when I do, I get excited. It just doesn’t happen that often.”
The Falcons improved to 10-1 and inched closer to wrapping up the NFC South division title. Tampa Bay, which had won four in a row and five of its last six, dropped to 6-5. The Falcons hold a four-game lead over the Bucs with five to play.
New Orleans dropped to 5-6. Carolina (2-8) plays on Monday night. The Falcons can wrap up the NFC South title with a win over the Saints on Thursday and a Denver victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Bucs, who are performing well under first-year coach Greg Schiano, twice attempted to take control of the game in the second half, posting a 13-10 lead in the third quarter and a 23-17 lead with 10:28 to play.
But the Falcons answered both times, once with a quick-strike drive — the 80-yard bomb to Jones — and another no-huddle drive — a nine-play, 64-yard march — for the 24-23 edge that held up over the final 7:55.
Jones, who’s coming back from an ankle injury, finished with six catches for 147 yards. His 80-yard scoring reception put the Falcons up 17-13 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. He might have done much more damage if he had handled two other balls thrown his way.
“Tony (Gonzalez) and Roddy (White), they have been to a lot of Pro Bowls,” Jones said of PYP’s components. “They need to be over there guarding them.”
The Bucs did pay homage to the veterans and neither scored. White caught five passes for 57 yards and Gonzalez five more for 62 yards.
But opponents have generally respected Jones’ fleet speed and have tried to keep a safety patrolling his area. For reasons unknown, the Bucs left Leonard Johnson, an undrafted rookie from Iowa State, on Jones, essentially daring quarterback Matt Ryan to throw it to him.
Breaking the huddle before the long scoring pass, Ryan told Jones that if he had man-to-man coverage, the ball was coming his way.
“That’s our pick your poison attack,” Gonzalez said. “When it comes to you, you have to make a play. I was open across the middle on that one, too. But I’m glad he threw it to Julio because he’s a lot faster.”
Down four points, the Bucs responded. Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin, who was held to 50 yards on 21 carries, scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Bucs a 20-17 lead.
The day then seemed to sway to the Bucs’ side on the Falcons ensuing possession, when blitzing cornerback E.J. Biggers slammed into Ryan, forcing a fumble that defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recovered on the Falcons’ 36-yard line.
But the Falcons defense held and the Bucs kicker Connor Barth made a 48-yard field goal to increase the Bucs’ lead to 23-17 with 10:28 to play.
The Falcons promptly went into their no-huddle attack from their 36. Ryan passed to running back Jacquizz Rodgers for a 32-yard gain. White added a 7-yard reception and Jones a 15-yarder. Three plays later, Michael Turner ran behind the left side of the line for a 3-yard touchdown run and Bryant added the extra point for the one-point lead.
“We got into our no-huddle package there in the fourth quarter and Matt Ryan did a very nice job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
The Falcons defense, which may have played its staunchest game of the season, held on the Bucs’ next possession and forced the Bucs to try a 56-yard field goal. Barth’s kick had the distance, but was wide right.
The Falcons took over with 3:32 to play, but couldn’t kill the clock. After Bryant missed a 48-yarder, his second miss of the game, the Bucs had no timeouts and 13 seconds left to make something happen.
Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman completed a short pass to Dallas Clark, who got out of bounds after a 9-yard gain. With three seconds left, Freeman launched a Hail Mary pass into the end zone that was batted down by cornerback Asante Samuel.
“This one was huge for us,” center Todd McClure said.
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89 comments Add your comment
Esquire
November 26th, 2012
6:28 am
dawgondivore
November 25th, 2012
11:39 pm
Poor Pittsburgers..well let somebody else win sometime you know..Pitts are oooooollllddd now, can get hard any longer maybe they need 3 hrs energy drinks before the game every time.
****************************************
Pittsburgers? That don’t taste like a whopper!! Lol….!!! I put my money on Cleveland!!!
Esquire
November 26th, 2012
6:45 am
Mario
November 25th, 2012
5:47 pm
On a positive note, we shut down Doug Martin to only 50 rushing yards on 21 carries.
************************************************
“UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD!”
oldmike
November 26th, 2012
7:10 am
10 – 1 not chopped liver fans. This team like every team in the “parity” NFL has flaws but it believes in its ability to make plays and get the job done. Holding Martin to 50 yds was key to the win. Bomb to Julio was right in stride and at perfect time. Where’s @matt “choke” ryan this morning? Looked like Bryant didn’t feel comfortable with the spot the kick was from on missed 22 yarder. Does anyone still question #2’s toughness and ability to get the job down?
old man
November 26th, 2012
7:25 am
Re-post from previous blog–
We need 25 rushes next week:
Jacquizz 15
MT 5
Antone 5
Jacquizz looked awful to start the season. He has really come on the past 4 weeks or so.
Look at Andre Brown with the Giants. Drafted in the 4th round in 2009. Kicked around the league for 3 years with a total of 2 carries. Now he is carrying the Giants to the playoffs. He was just never given a chance.
Is Antone Smith our Andre Brown????
MT is hurting us. After his touchdown, his team-mates showed him a lot of love, I know they want him to do well. But he’s hurting the team right now.
old man
November 26th, 2012
7:27 am
MR2’s post game interview, he had a little edge to his comments about Thursday night. Not much, but not at all characteristic for him. I wonder if he has a little extra fire in his belly about this game.
Bobby Butler
November 26th, 2012
7:51 am
Mike Smith needs to take a page out of SF’s playbook. They bench a winning QB because it made the team better. Rodgers needs to get his reps now and Turner can spell him. Right now they need to look at what gives this team the best chance to win in January.
True Falcon Fan
November 26th, 2012
7:53 am
@Esquire are you going start this off —- H-E-L-L-O
As the drummer goes tap,tap,tick,tick-5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
Go Falcons —- Ain’ts next
Bobby Butler
November 26th, 2012
7:54 am
It appears that the Birds will need to win only two games in the dome to get to the Superbowl. Smitty make some hard choices and do what is best to make that happen. I don’t care if you win by one or a thousand; I just want this team to win. I have waited 46 years for this team….Our time is now!!!!
True Falcon Fan
November 26th, 2012
7:56 am
@Bobby —- Couldn’t have stated it better.
Loyal Falcon
November 26th, 2012
7:57 am
Some of you all need to know that it’s tough just to win a game in the NFL. So for the Falcons to be 10-1 is huge! A win is a win. You’re not going to always be dominating teams. That being said, we do need to clean up some stuff. Remember that Any team can be beaten on any sunday.
D man
November 26th, 2012
8:00 am
Magic bumber is 2 for the south and 4 for home field. Looking great…
PlanB
November 26th, 2012
8:16 am
Most are in agreement that Quizz & Snelling s/b getting most of the playing time and possibly use MT in the 4th quarter a little. Don’t see why MS doesn’t see it that way. So many 2nd & 11’s are drive stoppers and take one of the 3 plays (per series) away from this very explosive offense. I think we would have a few more scores if we could start with 2nd at 6 or even 8. I also wouldn’t care if DK came up with some new running plays. Copy some of the good ones from other teams.
Otherwise, 10-1 ain’t bad. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
aint hater
November 26th, 2012
8:29 am
Where are all the trolls from New Orleans????? oh that’s right at 5-6 and stuck in no playoff land. 10-1 baby that’s what it’s like to be a Falcons Fan. Funny how you don’t see 4bsihtnees after the Falcons win and the aints lose.
David Puddy
November 26th, 2012
8:30 am
I was one of the nitwits who thought we probably gave up too much for Jones, but looking good now. Ryan looks as if he’s developing his game. I walked into Dillard’s when the Falcons were down by 6 with half a quarter left and fully expected that when I returned to the car that I’d hear that they pulled it out. Who knows it they’ve developed to the point where they can do damage in the playoff, but a solid team to follow. That’s all I’m going to say abut that.
David Puddy
November 26th, 2012
8:31 am
“Where are all the trolls from New Orleans?????”
We still have to figure out a way to beat these guys……………..
Whadda Ya Know?
November 26th, 2012
8:34 am
DLed,you need to ask the tough questions to Smitty. Why does he insist on handcuffing the offense with Turner and the conservative style of play? We should have blasted TB yesterday with a rookie CB and weak secondary as a whole. Instead, Smitty wastes play even giving the ball to Turner and not go after Tampa’s secondarylike we should have. I’m afraid that his conservative philosphy will catch up with this team when they get to the playoffs. It’s time to turn up the attack on both sides of the ball on our remaining opponents starting with the Breeses that come to town Thursday night. Let’s put them further in our rearview mirror.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 26th, 2012
8:38 am
Speaking of the Taints, let’s have a special welcoming party for Lance Moore and Marques Colston when they get to town. SF showed you how to lay the wood on these two chumps that run all through our secondary. Dunta, Willie Mo, and Decoud (sorry azz) better not let them catch a thing. If they do, make em pay!!
Fan since 66
November 26th, 2012
8:40 am
I for one am eagerly awaiting the national “Pundits” take on this win. A few days ago, the Bucs were a force to be reckoned with, with a young phenom QB, and a super duper rookie RB. Now, I expect they will be magically transformed into just another bad team that the Falcons should have beaten by a larger margin.
As stated by several above, 10-1 in today’s NFL is huge. I don’t give a hoot in a holler that the wins aren’t “pretty”. Kinda reminds me of my old pick-um up truck. She’s ugly as sin, but she gets me where I want to go. These ‘Birds are the best, most complete team I’ve ever seen as a Falcon fan. I for one, don’t care how we win…Just win Baby!
Go Falcons!
Jst Askn
November 26th, 2012
9:15 am
DLed: Any word on Matt Bryant’s hip injury? Is it worse than the team is letting on?!
SirReal
November 26th, 2012
9:19 am
You are what your record says you are. I agree with an NFL analyst on the NFL site when he commented after our win that we’re like the early days of Belichick with the Pats. Teams always leave thinking they should have won yet they didnt.LOL Thats definitely us this year and I hope it translates in the playoffs. We’re pretty much there if we can get some revenge against the Aints. I’m looking forward to the showdown thursday night. Their D is still garbage
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:28 am
Enter your comments here
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:31 am
Stand up Falcons. Shot out to Bob Christian…..10 wins are good but Im talkn playoff wins doe.
Jst Askn
November 26th, 2012
9:31 am
Sorry, I meant Bryant’s “back” injury not hip. Any word on his injury status? How serious is this back injury?!?
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:33 am
Wuz up wit Asante and that shoulder. I dont think he looked good on that last play. Get some info Dled!!!
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:36 am
Shot out to allthe real falcons fans who still remember the old fulton co stadium.
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:40 am
All u aints fans!! Yeah i see da stupid car flags. How bout yall go back to ur own wretched city.
Cleveland Ave.Turk
November 26th, 2012
9:42 am
Oh I forgot. Even yall dont wanna be there. One word for nola. CESSPOOL!!…And I am out.
DR. FALCON
November 26th, 2012
10:03 am
GO ‘DAWGS!!! F@#K ‘BAMA!!! SIC ‘EM!!! WOOF! WOOF!!! OOPS! SORRY, WRONG WEBSITE! MY BAD! LOL!
Fan since 66
November 26th, 2012
10:08 am
Turk…I remember the old FulCo stadium well. I vaguely remember a Monday night game against the Vikings, I believe it was either raining or sleeting, but we beat the undefeated Vikings. It was tough to be a fan during so many of those years, but most of us stuck with the team. The tailgating in the south lot before games was the bomb. The original “Gritz Bliltz” guys knew how to party! I like the Dome, but it just ain’t the same! However, I’ll take the Dome with these Falcons. Best shot we’ve ever had at a Ring!
Go Falcons!
Brothas Hunt 2
November 26th, 2012
10:12 am
Great win against a tough team that had a lot of momentum and confidence coming into the game. Peria Jerry is officially a bust. He did not dresss for the game due to an injury but when is the last time his name was called for making a tackle. Corey Peters and Babs are the best DTs on the team. I also think it is time for Mike Nolan to bench Decoud and play Chris Hope backup FS. Decoud is a starting FS and he is playing like a rookie. He takes bad angles to the ball and he often leaves his feet attempting to make diving tackles always coming up with nothing but air. If you watched the 49ers game against the Aints you saw the best SS and FS tandem in the NFL. They make plays on the ball in the air and they tackle extremely well.
Finally, I believe the Falcons secondary would be better served moving Robert McClain to Right Corner and move Duanta Robinson to Nickle. R. McClain has better technique than D. Robinson at the corner position. McClain is better in his back peddle, he change direction by turning and flipping his hips, and he is the best pure tackler (Not Hitter) in the Falcons secondary.
BH2
Reality talks...
November 26th, 2012
10:13 am
GREAT WIN ON THE ROAD AGAINST TOUGH DIVISION FOE. THE HOME GAME AGAINST NYG WILL BE THE GAME TO REALLY MEASURE FALCONS POSTSEASON CHANCES. THIS TEAM IS WINNING BY SUCH SLIM MARGINS THAT THEY COULD JUST AS EASILY BE A 7-4 OR 6-5 TEAM AND SCRAPPING TO GET INTO POSTSEASON. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF MOST OF THOSE TIGHT VICTORIES CAME AGAINST GOOD TEAMS, BUT THEY DIDN’T! THEY ARE ALSO A THIN TEAM AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ASSANTE SAMUELS AND SEAN WITHERSOONS DOWN THE STRETCH. GO FALCONS!!
Atlanta Falcons Tell Defenses to “Pick Your Poison,” and More NFC South News | Football Betting
November 26th, 2012
10:29 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Falcons call their three-pronged attack on offense their “P.Y.P. [...]
Atlanta Falcons Tell Defenses to "Pick Your Poison," and More NFC South News | Scripting4You Blog
November 26th, 2012
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[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Falcons call their three-pronged attack on offense their "P.Y.P. Attack." It stands [...]
Atlanta Falcons Tell Defenses to "Pick Your Poison," and More NFC South News | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
November 26th, 2012
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[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Falcons call their three-pronged attack on offense their “P.Y.P. [...]
JoFo
November 26th, 2012
5:45 pm
Will the Falcons coaches make better calls in this Thursday’s upcoming “Game for Pride” or will the Falcons’ fans be forced once again (like last year) to eat crow, swallow their pride and see their team lose still one more time to a team of the shadows?
shesoleo
November 26th, 2012
6:56 pm
I just don’t believe that DK & MN forgot how to draw up plays the way they did in the Bronco’s game. Don’t ask me why? but. I feel they are holding a lot of things back so the other teams don’t have film on a lot of the things their planning to unleash! Just wait and see come playoff time.
Leon "Lee" Golembiewski
November 27th, 2012
5:29 am
Remember the Ugly girl you took to the dance because you knew you would score.
Welome to the dance Guys. Were going to get lucky Thursday night
eLLIott
November 29th, 2012
2:09 pm
We will be dancing in the aisles of the GA Dome TONIGHT doing “The Dirty Biiiird Rock!”
http://www.dirtybirdrock.blogspot.com
Still Gritz Blitz'n
December 1st, 2012
11:43 am
@eLLIott; they did do the dirtybird rock, on top of breezy’s, & Loftons head. Where’s one n’ done, where’s fojo? geez.