Falcons just turned into team we expected last season
The Falcons' sideline erupts after Matt Bryant's 46-yard field goal clinches a win over New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS – The calendar screams that it’s too early for grand proclamations. Week three games in the NFL don’t decide division titles or playoff berths. They merely give us some sense of direction.
But we just learned something about the Falcons.
They won a game against the defending Super Bowl champions. They won a game on the road and in the Superdome, where they hadn’t won since 2002. They had a 19-play touchdown drive that tested their resilience. They had a field goal drive in overtime when the offensive line assumed control of the game.
More? They had a kicker, Matt Bryant, who had to try three times for a winning field goal because his first two attempts were negated by penalties. They had a defensive end, John Abraham, who came back into the game late despite being relatively blinded in one eye.
Is that a strong enough indication of direction?
The Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints in overtime Sunday, 27-24. Had they lost, they still would have been publicly embraced for their performance. Instead, they won, and their stature grew.
“No moral victories. No more of those for us. We’re done with that,” Roddy White said.
“We could have easily flinched or been talking about what-ifs,” linebacker Mike Peterson said.
There were enough of those last season. The Falcons fell short too many times in a season that had high expectations. They lost two close games to the Saints, and in overtime to New York, and were body slammed in Dallas.
On Sunday, we saw the team we expected last year. It felt more like 2008. So it wasn’t surprising when owner Arthur Blank was asked if he remembered the last Falcons’ victory of such significance and he responded: “When we beat the Vikings two years ago to go to the playoffs.”
The Falcons were only average in their opening loss at Pittsburgh. They were far better last week, blowing out Arizona. But New Orleans was a bigger test on a bigger stage. They responded. They looked committed.
Start with Abraham. With the Falcons leading 24-21 and the Saints driving in the final three minutes, the defensive end was poked in the right eye, suffering a scratched pupil. He suffered from double-vision. But he came out for only a few plays.
“They were like, ‘Are you done?’” Abraham said. “But you can’t come out of a game like this. I had one good eye. All I had to do was get around the end.”
This is how you tell something about a football team. The Falcons trailed 7-0 after only three minutes. But the defense intercepted Drew Brees twice in the first half, and the second one turned into that 19-play touchdown drive (including two fourth-down conversions) that tied the game at 14-14.
Trailing again at 21-17, Matt Ryan hit White for a 22-yard score. Then the Saints tied it. They looked like they would win it, only to have kicker Garrett Hartley miss a 29-yard field goal try.
The Falcons had one more chance to will themselves to a victory, and they did. They ran the ball eight straight plays from their own 41 with Michael Turner and Jason Snelling, setting up Bryant for a 41-yard attempt.
His first attempt was blocked. But the Saints had just called timeout. His second attempt was good. But the Falcons were flagged for false start. His third attempt was perfect.
The Falcons celebrated but tried to keep the party in check. It was just one win in the third week of a long season. As Peterson said, “There’s no reason to start printing T-shirts and organizing a parade.”
But if this season turns into something special, remember when they started building the floats.
♦
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809 comments Add your comment
Just Me
September 26th, 2010
10:48 pm
This was a great game! Today’s victory was a lucky one, however, sometimes it is better to be lucky than to be good in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons will not go as far as they think without addressing the issues of:
1) Mularkey’s predicatable and conservative play-calling
2) Sam Baker and his limitations playing the LT position
3) Untimely penalties at crucial times in the game
These have been the “constants” present with this team in all three games so far. Not that big of a concern last week since we waxing the Cardinals. Unless these items are resolved, they WILL lead the this teams first lost, and the ones to follow. The Defense is actually pretty good, but still a work in progress. They should be very good by season’s end.
FALCONS MANAGEMENT – do your fans a favor and resolve these issues immediately so we can truly enjoy this season!
President Barock H. Obama
September 26th, 2010
10:48 pm
I want to apologize to the Taint’s fans for screwing their economy. Shutting down off-shore drilling was presented by Al Gore. What else could I do? After all, you HAVE to take advantage of a good catastrophe to advance your objectives, such as destroying the oil business, heck, all of energy, or really heck, all of America ! ! !
B.H.O.
Tommy Maddox
September 26th, 2010
10:49 pm
There’s nothing like joy!
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:50 pm
Vick carved up the 0-3 Lions and the 1-2 Jaguars. I hope he didn’t work too hard.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:50 pm
Hey matt ryan, you know you are upstaged when your own team still sells michael vick falcon jerseys.
LMFAO!!
http://www.footballfanatics.com/NFL_Atlanta_Falcons_Jerseys/Reebok_NFL_Equipment_Atlanta_Falcons__Number_7_Michael_Vick_White_Authentic_Football_Jersey
playmeortrademe
September 26th, 2010
10:50 pm
wow, happy the falcons won but let’s get some perspective on the win.
1) Luckiest win since 1998 NFC championship. NFL kickers miss that kick maybe twice out of 100 times. But sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
2) The defense could not stop the Saints passing. Brees had 365 yards passing and was not pressured often. Only the Saints stopped the Saints with turnovers.
3) The O-line is still having problems protecting Ryan.
Said that, the Falcons now have their two toughest road games out of the way and sit 2-1, where most everyone thought they would be. The schedule lines up very well and the Falcons SHOULD go 5-2 at home at worst and go at least 4-2 on the road, if not 5-1, with Philly being the only real road test left. The home sked is much tougher with BAL, NO, and GB left. 12-4 is achievable and 10 wins is probable barring any catastrophic injuries to Ryan.
Division title? Probably not, Saint’s schedule is weak too, only potential losses are PIT, at DAL, at BAL, and at ATL, but with some help the division could be for the taking when Saints come to the dome.
Dat truth
September 26th, 2010
10:51 pm
@5150
We are ranked 48th because of the New Orleans people moved here.They also caused our crime rate to increase by 30%. They also caused our inmate population to increase by 40%.The HIV cases here in Atlanta also icreased because of the Katrina refugess migrating to Atlanta.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:51 pm
LOIN were 1-1 we vick came calling. Lions were trying to defend their house. Vick is winning on the road!!
Fred
September 26th, 2010
10:52 pm
Great game Falcons!! only weakness on Defense is the Million Dollar man we sighned that was suppose too be a shutdown corner. Dunta will not take a lick and will not give a lick. Got beat long and when the Saints ran his way he ran and hide. replace him with someone that wants to play and the Defense is solid. reminds me of Meangelo Hall ,All talk and no Walk.
DD795
September 26th, 2010
10:52 pm
Love Von Ryans Express
Professor Terguson
September 26th, 2010
10:52 pm
Saints should have won, but didn’t finish the drill. The result of this is a loss for them and a win for the Falcons. Deal with it. Maybe next time your quarterback shouldn’t make such poor throws for INT’s and your running backs should hold onto the ball a little better. Of course, the kicking game maybe should be shored up a little too. See you in December!
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:52 pm
lions
The Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:52 pm
Saints 12-4 and Falcons 9-7
Dat truth
September 26th, 2010
10:53 pm
The Falcons will be undefeated in the Dome this season.
Idot
September 26th, 2010
10:54 pm
Serum@10;40……..Maybe Vick has started doing the homework by watching the films and studying the oppositions defense during the week.
In other words giving 100%, like he almost never did while he was a Falcon.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:54 pm
Von Ryans Express? does he wear a Vick Jersey?
http://www.footballfanatics.com/NFL_Atlanta_Falcons_Jerseys/Reebok_NFL_Equipment_Atlanta_Falcons__Number_7_Michael_Vick_White_Authentic_Football_Jersey
Damn the falcons still sell VICKS JERSEY.
The Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:54 pm
Dat truth maybe you can help P.O.A.D 5150 WITH HIS SPEECH CLASSES LMAO
falconholic sec 111/rw 4
September 26th, 2010
10:55 pm
@ the truth
Two of those four Aint losses will be by the Dirty Birds. Go figure.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
10:55 pm
O.K. Great game Falcons. Lucky and Good. Matt Ryan never backed down from the challenge. Who woulda thought that the D is doing this good ? I have to say, I’ve been watching the NFL Network , ESPN and NBC and no love for Atlanta. It’s all about the Cowboys, Vikings getting there 1st wins . WTF , this was the game of the week and once again Atlanta is getting treated like 4th rate citizens. If you see Chris Collinsworth and he’s on fire , don’t waste your piss on him. PACK THE DOME AND GIVE SINGLETARY HIS 4TH LOSS. GO FALCONS. I’LL BE THERE.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:56 pm
New Orleans: Toilet Flushing Katrina forced all the CRAP out of NOLA or that town would still be mostly a cesspool of b-o-b crime. You that is true.
Author Blank
September 26th, 2010
10:56 pm
We still make money off vick
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:57 pm
Idot The article says hes matured. One thing is for sure, after all hes been though he is composed and not the young raw talent of a college kid. One thing is clear, he is not just a super star but now a polished super star!
Not to dis yo boy ryan i do recall seeing a quarterback better suited to make hand offs.
falconholic sec 111/rw 4
September 26th, 2010
10:57 pm
I burned my Vick jersey when they locked him up.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
10:58 pm
Serum@10;40……..Maybe Vick has started doing the homework by watching the films and studying the oppositions defense during the week.
In other words giving 100%, like he almost never did while he was a Falcon.
Be Real
September 26th, 2010
10:58 pm
All Matt Ryan can do is hand off the ball, he is so slow
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
10:59 pm
I dont recall seeing a quarterback better suited to hand offs than mike ryan. Who said he can carry Vicks Jock Straps?
They dont know Mattie Lice!
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
10:59 pm
8-0 at home and 4-4 on the road; that is always the formula.
One down, 3 to go. But up next an angry 0-3 49ers team. Danger Danger Will Robinson.
Wanna help? GET UR TAILS IN YOUR SEAT B4 KICKOFF SUNDAY!
DJ Pit Bull
September 26th, 2010
11:01 pm
How has” Sick Vick” matured, when he allowed the thug that sent him to prison to attend his birthday party?
Be Real
September 26th, 2010
11:02 pm
All Matt Ryan Does is ride Vicks jock strap, he can’t do nuthin else
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:02 pm
Pit bytch you just made cuz he didnt invite yo sorry azz
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
11:03 pm
All Matt Ryan does is kick the aints azzes.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:03 pm
pit bytch you just mad cuz he did not invite yo sorry azz
Idot
September 26th, 2010
11:03 pm
That was a pretty good handoff he made to Roddy White in the end zone for a TD.
GHunt
September 26th, 2010
11:04 pm
Great win! Our defense is for real. Matty Ice best game since 08 season.
We must not get too high because we can’t win this Sunday looking back at Saints.
Jerry, Spoon & Moore are the missing X factors from last year. If we stay healthy, we can win big this year. I am excited about our possibilities.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:04 pm
Falcons selling Vick falcons jerseys got mattie lice worried about his job.
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
11:05 pm
@ Semen truth,
I was there and we did it doggie style.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:05 pm
Idot
Hell even a broke clock is right twice a day!
Be Real
September 26th, 2010
11:05 pm
Michael Vick=NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, MATT RYAN=FIRST ROUND LOSS
The Pope
September 26th, 2010
11:06 pm
I will probably buy four Vick jerseys to wipe my azz.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
Ok Fanconfan24-7, michael did you doggy style…thanks for sharing…
now back to football!
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
So vick will help Philly win a NFC CHAMPIONSHIP? Are you BE REAL enough to actually place a bet on that in Vegas?
Idot
September 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
Serum….@11;05…….don’t have any idea as to what you mean by that comment.
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
The Pope yea, its that big. thats why people say you keep making an azzz out of yourself.
Falcon Fan 2986
September 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
@ Be Real,
Vick = felon / loser Ryan= leader/ winner
Be Real
September 26th, 2010
11:10 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. I will place that bet quick and in a hurry, Ryan can take a sack cause he is SLOW, Vick doesn’t take many, and he has playoff experience also
Serum of Truth
September 26th, 2010
11:10 pm
“That was a pretty good handoff he made to Roddy White in the end zone for a TD”.
Hell even a broke clock is right twice a day!
Idot
September 26th, 2010
11:10 pm
Be real@11;08…….the jersey will burn better, if it is dry.
AJ
September 26th, 2010
11:11 pm
Best NFL game I watched in at least a year. Way to go, Falcons!
Be Real
September 26th, 2010
11:11 pm
Falcon Fan 2986 The Truth: Matt Ryan= 0 playoff wins, Vick= more than ryan thats all that matters, regular season doesn’t matter
poad hater
September 26th, 2010
11:12 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. didnt the eagles go to the championship game a couple seasons back?