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.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
809 comments Add your comment
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
Yeah and Drew Brees didn’t learn from last year’s mistake. I glad the went straight after Grimes.
Guess if figured out not to try again.
falconfan 2986
September 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Matt Ryan 0 interceptions
Dree Brees 2 interceptions
falconfan 24-7
September 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Brent Grimes owns Dree Brees.
falconfan 24-7
September 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
Aint fans, I hope you did not get rid of your bags to cover your faces. It looks like you are going to need them.
Maybe, now I want have to see so more cars here in Atlanta dispalying Aints flags and stickers. Go Falcons.
falconfan3411
September 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
Who dat, ripped off the government?
Kane337
September 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
I can’t wait for this game to be replayed on NFL Networks show called NFL replay. It should be on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
falconholic 2
September 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
The Aints are in mourning. Their website is dead and so are the Aints.
Obviously, their first loss since the Super Bowl is very painful for them. Go Falcons.
Nique
September 27th, 2010
12:28 pm
Everyone talking about the luck on the missed FG, true that was lucky but the Saints aren’t even in a position to tie the game b4 regulation without the LUCK OF THE PUNT THAT GOES OFF DeCoud’s leg & gets saved in bounds by inches! You wanna talk about luck, how many times does a ball bounce off a players leg while they are inches away from being out of bounds & they are not involved directly in the action, only to have the ball barely stay in bounds & be passed from one defender to another? Statistically i bet you that even rarer than a missed 29 yard fg, so if you wanna focus on the luck, lets take some time to focus our attention there!!!! Because that set them up for a a TD & without it, the Falcons retain possession & run the clock down & the Saints are down 10 instead of 3 which means the last second fg at the end of regulation doesn’t suffice!!! Come on get real ppl!
& All ya’ll saying Turner is a bum, to slow & needs to be replaced by Snelling are you serious? The man is top ten in the league in rushing & your crying to replace him? What sense does it make to bench the 8th rated rusher in the league…….? & he would have been higher than that had he not set out the entire 2cnd half last week. The man gained 114 yards yesterday, what do you want from him?
This M. Vick hate kills me, I mean the man served his time, get over it! & this whole he’s only doing well against sorry teams thing will answer itself, just watch as it plays out. I just hope it doesn’t kill us in week 6 bc despite what any of ya’ll want to say, that man is a player & the last time I checked, the Packers weren’t a weak/sorry defense or team……but yet in 1 half he throw for 175 a TD with a passer rating of 101 & rushed for over 100 yards in just 11 attempts bringing them back from being blown out essentially. But I know I know, they didn’t game plan for him, so we can’t count that game really……get real ppl!
& finally all ya’ll bashing D. Robinson in the preseason calling him & loser & saying he was a stupid pick up, WHERE R YA’LL NOW???
Falcon- licious
September 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
Other team s from the NFL will study yesterday’ game. They learned as we did, the Aints cant stop the run. Jam the ball down their throats and win.
idot
September 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Yeah, teams that can run the ball like the Falcons.
Mayor Nagan
September 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
Today flag is flying at half-staff in New Orleans, because of the Azz Kicking we recieved by the hands of the Atlanta Falcons.
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
Cry, Whine all you want Saints fans but remember when your kicker missed the kick the Falcons ran it down your stinking throats to make the WINNING KICK
War Eagle!!!!!!
September 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
Jeff, you Saturday pics were way off buddy.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
DAWGS SUCK!
idot
September 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Game summary. Falcons Win.
saints Lose.
NFC South.
Falcons 1st
saints 2nd
Mayor Nagan
September 27th, 2010
12:38 pm
The Dirty Birds ran the ball right at Vilma and all he could do was watch.We need to cut him.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
Still no HiramSaint? Guess he is out of Katrina money to pay his internet bill.
Mayor Nagan
September 27th, 2010
12:43 pm
I warnedthe New Orleans resident that a flock of dirty birds were en route to destroy the Aints. But, as usaul they didn’t listen. They all thought that the Super Dome would be a safe haven. We learned from Katrina that the Super Dome is just a over-sized toliet.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
12:48 pm
On to the 49ers….they fired their OC today.
falconfan 2986
September 27th, 2010
12:49 pm
@ BG
Like I said earlier, Coach has guts and nuts.
falconfan 2986
September 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
@ Frontrow,
They fired the wrong guy. They should had fired Singletary.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
Whatever…..we need to mow them down with some NOISE!!!!!
GO NASTYBIRDS!
falconholic 14
September 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
The two best NFL games of all time are the Falcons- Vikings NFC Championship game in 98 and yesterdays Saints- Falcons game. Both Falcons wins of course.
Deez Nutz
September 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
Let’s not forget about the super lucky ball bounce off of Decoud’s heel that went back into the field of play, that is just as lucky as the Aint’s missing a chip shot field goal to win the game. If that hadn’t of happened, I don’t think that game would have even gone to overtime at all. Both teams had their chance in that game, but the better team won. >>>TEAM<<< means all players,,, including the kicker.
Breesus
September 27th, 2010
12:58 pm
Where was I at for this azz whooping you guys are talking about? Because the game I saw was a close, back & forth highly contested game that wasn’t decided until 2 minutes left in OT
Breesus
September 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
Oh and Front Row…
You are no longer allowed to piss and moan about “homey calls” and the refs… that isn’t why the games were won and lost before and yesterday is no exception
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
1:02 pm
@Breesus…..I detect pissing and moaning over homey ref calls.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
1:06 pm
And yes that was a NFC South beatdown. We wiped alot of NASTY on the Saints but don’t take my word for it watch the injury list.
First bit of NASTY – Saints kicker will be unemployed next week.
Deez Nutz
September 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
Saints are a classy organization and they played like world champs yesterday, but my Birds were opportunistic and made the most out of the breaks they got and played like giant killers. Should be an interesting rematch in the Ga. dome at the end of the season with maybe everything on the line. Is it also possible that the Saints and Falcons could play 3 times this year?
Kevlar
September 27th, 2010
1:08 pm
Hey Jeff, one of you guys shouold write about the fact that there are NO Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Hall of Fame. Falcons have been around for almost 50 years! None! The 2 listed on the HOF site were Falcons very briefly (neither of them bolded as being their main team).
Check out http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/teams.aspx
What about top 10 all time tackles leader Jessie Tuggle, or perenial All-Pro center Jeff Van Note or amazing QB surrounded by bad teams, Steve Bartkowski? Even returner Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, 17 year player Mike Kenn or All-Decade Team for the 1960s, Tommy Nobis. This is a travesty to me. For crying out loud, Rickey Jackson, linebacker for the Saints and Russ Grimm of the Redskins were just put in. Decent players, but look at the Falcons list above!
Petro1989
September 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
Trent Dilfer – SHOULD they have? How can you say that when your kicker misses a 29 yarder?
falconholic 14
September 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
Pivotal Play: The game’s final possession was huge. The game’s final kick is a no-brainer. But perhaps the pivotal play was a series of eight plays leading up to the game-ender.
Sensing a swing in momentum after Hartley’s missed field goal and a gassed New Orleans defense, Atlanta ripped off eight straight run plays that burned clock and yards.
Running back Jason Snelling and Michael Turner rushed for 36 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry.
Dis Just In
September 27th, 2010
1:32 pm
The Falcons upcoming game against the 49ers will be throw back day. The Falcons will wear their old unies.
Remember, when the 49ers had Montana and Rice. They blew us out most games. Well, this game will be another chance to return the favor like we did last year in San Fran. Go Falcons.
F Troop
September 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
That was Brent Grimes 2nd INT of Drew Brees in two straight games vs Saints. Made a huge difference in Brees’ normally aggressive deep passing attack.
falconfan 24-7
September 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
The kicker is a Saint . I dare you distant yourself from him. You loved him last Monday when he kicked the winning field goal against the 49ers, you loved him when he kicked you to the Super Bowl againstVikes in the NFC Championshp game.You loved him last year when he won several games in the last second.Now, you no longer love him.All he need is practice. Shame on you Aints fans.
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
1:45 pm
Am I the only one who thinks we should have punted on that last 4th down of regulation and given Bres a longer field. We gave it to him at the 40.
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
1:46 pm
F Troop make that 3 games in a row. Grimes made a sick INT in the first game.
darryl
September 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
Mularkey’s lack of creative play calling(1st down run up the middle) rarely works. He is throttling an offense that is more talented than his playcalling. Second down and ten to go way too much!
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
darryl – agreed. ESPN has a piece about it on the NFC South blog….asking the Falcons to take the handcuff off Matt Ryan.
Paddy
September 27th, 2010
2:04 pm
Why is MV being mentioned in this blog? He is the enemy and we hate every team that is not Falcons!
cheap seats
September 27th, 2010
2:08 pm
Agreed papadawg, should have punted! Strange call also!
Roddy White
September 27th, 2010
2:16 pm
I didn’t like Lance Moore doing the dirty bird dance. He is not that good of a player any way.
What do you Falcons fans think?
Tony Gonzales
September 27th, 2010
2:18 pm
I went after Harper because he took a cheap shot at my knee. I would be ok, if he went after a thigh, but my knee. I am hurting right now because of the hit to my knee.
falconfan 24-7
September 27th, 2010
2:24 pm
I agree with you Paddy,
Mike Vick aint no Saint.
Mike Vick aint no Falcon.
Mike Vick aint no quarterback.
Mike Vick is a FELON.
Breesus
September 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
F Troop… hmmm were you watching when Brees thew an 80 yard TD pass after the Grimes interception? And are you also aware Brees threw for 365 yards and 3 TD’s? What are you talking about Grimes INT ” Made a huge difference in Brees’ normally aggressive deep passing attack.”
Henderson was open on the play that Grimes made the interception, Brees under threw the pass or it’s a long gain at worst if not a TD.
ATLbirds#13
September 27th, 2010
3:13 pm
You need to earn respect. The networks will give ATL the love when we do something to deserve it. We beat the Saints in week 3. It’s a long season. The Superbowl Champs lost the last 3 games of the season and never lost focus. We can learn from this win and continue to build on it. The last game of the season should be fun with the Saints and Reggie Bush coming here.
cj
September 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
WHO DAT?! dats dem falcons how about all of you saints fagots go home and watch your team get raped for 500 yards a game… drew brees sucks and they got lucky winning the superbowl last year
truth
September 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
Breesus…….you are AWARE the aints lost……right? Just thought I’d ask seeing how you are aware of everything else.
truth
September 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
Ok so Brees threw for 365 yards and 3 tds but STILL couldn’t lead his team to a victory.
truth
September 27th, 2010
3:20 pm
Man alot of pissed off aints fans on the board today. And I love it!!!!
ATLbirds#13
September 27th, 2010
3:21 pm
CJ, 16-3 and Superbowl Champions. Luck? Really? If Brees and the Saints suck than that win wasn’t that big.