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
TXDawg
September 26th, 2010
8:59 pm
Is taken it up the rear illigal?
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
He could have, GT. He just chose an alternative path for his career before he got to that point…
Matt Ryan is going to be the first Falcons’ quarterback to have three consecutive winning seasons this year, for the record.
GTMustang
September 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
Wononegame,
As a FOOTBALL fan, you will take Brees at this point. As a FALCONS fan of course I take Ryan.
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
Vick is better at what? Killing helpless dogs.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
Won none, I chose Brees, too. In large part because he’s probably the best quarterback in the league right now. [How could you NOT choose Drew Brees? Because he's a Saint?]
Eagles2010
September 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
Didn’t Vick get to the NFC Championship game, how many years did it take him to win a playoff game, Ryan hasn’t won anything
TXDawg
September 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
………just saying.
Mr Charlie
September 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
Drew has a ring, no dissin him. Hope to Matty gets one, and I have this sneaky suspicion we will. This is the best Falcon team I have ever seen. Multiple offensive weapons, a young, fast D, and level headed coaching. I like this team.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
Truth you need to learn how to spell as well. (Led not Lead)moron. The fact that he practically cleaned up Kolb’s mess and put the Eagles in position to win against GB is the one of the reasons he was named STARTING QB. My team is the Falcons so once again, stop making FALSE statements before you get your fact accurate. Also, on the Who Dat thing, it’s no secret….just do a little research…if you’re smart enough. Judging from the way you post without thought, that’s probably too much to ask.
GTMustang
September 26th, 2010
9:02 pm
I agree, Ben.
Ryan has played really good games these last two and apparently the Steelers D is for real, like big time for real. So it’s hard to blame him for that. I would know because for the second straight week the Steeler’s D has been my points leader.
tonyt
September 26th, 2010
9:02 pm
Good victory today, everything clicked. We are ready for those 49ers. Come on to the dome we will be you and send you back home.
WONONEGAME
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
If you are a true Falcons Fan Stick with you QB, you guys are picking Drew Brees, More Falcon Bandwagon Riders
truth
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
You will soon find out what Vick brings to the table Eagles2010.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
P. Manning everyday of the Week.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
Vick brings ALPO and an electric cord with the ends striped bare.
Fat Burner
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
Turner is still fat and slow and needs to loose some weight to get thru the holes faster if we are going to win it all this year.
GTMustang
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
Eagles2010,
Matt got to the playoff’s in his first season and Vick didn’t do that. Vick also wasn’t consistent enough to win two seasons in a row. Matt Ryan has NEVER HAD A LOSING SEASON. I’ll take that over a loss in the NFC game given it’s only Matt’s 3rd year.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
Matt Ryan took them to the playoffs his rookie season — and was a key reason that they went that far, and it was the YEAR AFTER Vick’s mess [along with Bobby Petrino] — and they lost to the eventual NFC champion Cardinals by six points.
That’s just as impressive as anything Mike Vick has ever done, man.
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
@ Who dat
Kicking the Aints azzes is way sweeter than winning a Super Bowl.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
I’m not going to play childish games with punks hiding behind the internet.
truth
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
Vick has never been good against teams with .500 or better record. You’ll see.
scottc
September 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
The offense is what we always expected . . .but it is the DEEE-Fence that truly has improved as was advertised in the off season. We now have a complete football team. I cannot wait to watch the rest of the season unfold.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
Uh, Wonnone, you need to go back and read the whole thing if you’re thinking that we’re “not true Falcons fans.” lol I’m just saying, you might want to actually take it from the top.
Matt Ryan’s my dude.
CAC
September 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
What Trent said…
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
Eagles2010 So Vick is going to do what your old Black QB couldn’t do and win a SB? I think McNabb was better than Vick will ever be.
Eagles2010
September 26th, 2010
9:06 pm
All the dog fighting comments are immature, showing respect here, what year did vick beat green bay was that his second year or first year
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:06 pm
Benjamin, I beg to disagree with that comment. Vick winning a playoff game in GB against Brett Favre in freezing weather was more impressive.
New Orleans AKA Amsterdam Sam
September 26th, 2010
9:07 pm
From a lifelong Falcons fan living in N.O – Sharpen your talons and spread your wings, ‘ cause the Falcons gonna do some wonderful things, because We Dat!
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
9:07 pm
Matt started the first game of the season as a rookie, Vick didn’t. Vick turned the ball over a lot when he was in the ATL. Ryan protects the ball.
Eagles2010
September 26th, 2010
9:07 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. What does race have to do with this, I don’t care if the QB is black or white, if he can play he can play.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
Opps……I said I was a real Falcon fan but did research on the Saints and in love with Vick. I heard SeenThisB4 can get good deals on scratch-n-sniff Vick jock straps. I’ll buy that for a dollar.
Pete
September 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
Coach Smith did an outstanding job preparing the team, instilling discipline and confidence. Both lines, O & D were outstanding, Turner was relentless, and last but NOT least, Matt Ryan showed why he will be an All-Pro QB for years to come. Unbelievable poise and leadership.
And d.amn talented.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
Year 2, Eagles. [The NFC Championship game, which y'all beat us, was in year 4. He struggled for us in years 5 and 6, then got caught committing the acts that doomed his stay here after year 6.]
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VickMi00.htm
Manny
September 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
1. I saw Matt Ryan attempt a pass downfield. That was almost scary because it was the very bomb pass attempt that I’ve seen. (He might have tried one last week, but I was on vacation in the Bahamas. And it WAS the Cardinals, right?) But this was the first pass that I saw.
2. I saw Mike Smith go for it… twice… on 4th and short. Those plays changed the entire complexion of the game, IMO. The offense fed off that.
3. I saw a team with absolutely NO ANSWER for Tony Gonzalez. We all knew where the passes were going to go, but they STILL couldn’t do anything about it. That was quite amazing, as well.
4. I saw Matt Ryan tearing INTO some player that must have missed an assignment or something. That showed me that he was really vocal in his leadership. He even had a swagger. And those scrambles really showed some guts.
5. I saw Drew Brees making terrible decisions. That’s not something you see everyday. And I have always liked Brent Grimes. He’s small, but he’s tough.
I think that this game could be a signature game for the season. I just hope that the Falcons see this as a good win, but a win of only one game; because we were a chip shot away from losing that game.
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
I’m amused by the Saints fans who are saying “they let us back in the game”… they are conveniently ignoring the number of times the Falcons “let them back in the game”. Every great game has missed opportunities and requires execution. I was just as annoyed when we failed to get a touchdown after getting the ball on the 2 yard line (much easier in my opinion than hitting a 29 yard field goal), but we didn’t execute… if we’d lost because of it, that doesn’t mean the Saints wouldn’t have earned a victory.
And to the inevitable Mike Vick morons who will be showing up on these blogs until he retires or gets indicted for another crime – Mike Vick is doing exactly what he did in Atlanta. He’s carving up horrible defenses who aren’t ready for him (Detroit? JAX? really??), and he’s going to start getting drilled when he plays good teams and competent defenses start planning for him. Just give it a few weeks. He’s an exciting player, but he’s far from a great QB.
But if we decide one day that we really did want a felon on our team who kills defenseless animals and can’t lead a team, we’ll definitely regret letting that douchebag go.
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
“he went into the Superdome and played a mistake free, smart game and put his team in postion to win.”
i was greatly impressed with Matt today. i am a huge critic of his game, heck he’s our QB.. but today he managed the game well. took what the d gave him.. 3 yrds here in there by either feet or check downs. he didnt (force) what wasnt there. did not put up gaudy numbers but truthfully i dont think thats his game. he’s a guy that u can win with in a balanced system.. dont expect too much from him statistically; crowning him the next Peyton or this or that.. he has the skill to make all throws, just hope he makes the reads and makes the smart throw. after hearing so much about how smart he was at times he proves the opposite. today that wasnt the case. i loved his moxie.. his leadership.. and aggressiveness.. where at times i question his guts.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:10 pm
You’re entitled to disagree, Tex. I just know that Ryan took essentially the same team that’d been hopeless the year before to a fantastic year in his first season, and he almost beat the eventual NFC champion on the road in his first-ever playoff season to cap it all off.
Vick’s game in Green Bay was a good day, though; I won’t question that, at all.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:10 pm
Didn’t have to do research on the Saints you idiot, my parents are from New Orleans so I know the TRUTH, unlike you.
Eagles2010
September 26th, 2010
9:11 pm
falconfan 2986 just bcause Vick didn’t start game one of his rookie year that makes matt ryan better, that was weak
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
9:11 pm
Not Race Vick is a younger McNabb. Both have arms but Vick can’t hit the target McNabb can. Both Have legs but McNabb could never run as good as Vick. They both have similar skill sets just a lil different and McNabb couldn’t get it done in Philly but you think VICK can. AHHAHAHH OK. I guess you smoke the same Sh.T Vick smokes too.
Pete
September 26th, 2010
9:11 pm
Enter your comments here
truth
September 26th, 2010
9:11 pm
Eagles fans have no RIGHT coming on OUR boards telling us we should not have hard feelings against Vick. None of you were around when he took his 130 mill and then give us the bid. Screw everyone of you so called Falcon fans and “new” Eagles fan. And Tx you can take a hike also. Your true colors are howing ( green and black) Freak’n loser.
Pete
September 26th, 2010
9:12 pm
Well done Falcons.
Poise, poise, poise !!!!!!!!!!!
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:12 pm
No knocks on what Ryan did in year 1 Benjamin, I was happy and impressed as well. Actually thought he could have led them to the Super Bowl if not for that fluke turnover that the Cardinals benfitted from.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:12 pm
Vick didn’t start game one his rookie season because we still had Chris Chandler.
And many Falcons fans took a page out of Philly fan’s playbook by cheering when Chandler got hurt badly in his last game as a Falcon starting quarterback. [...sorry for the dig, Eagles2010.
]
WONONEGAME
September 26th, 2010
9:13 pm
truth Sounds like another Falcons D!ck Rider, how about you get off
truth
September 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
@ TX Were your parents some of those who were stepping over bodies stealing tv’s after a hurrican when there wasnt even any POWER! That in itself shows what kind of people live in the BIG SLEEZY. Did ya’ll end up here mooching off us?
Ueeediot
September 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
shoulda woulda coulda…
Ran the ball *50* times with an avg of 4.0yds/carry.
Time of Possession Atlanta: 45:50 no: 27:15,.
You want to talk about *luck*???? How lucky for the Aints was it that a ball ricochet off of DeCoud foot???
Face it, Aints had 7, 8, and 9 in the box all day and got run down by 33 and 44. Cmon back yall. See you Monday night in December after we already have the division wrapped up and we put you gumbo eatin mushmouths out of the playoffs.
Benjamin
September 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
lol @ all the internet tough guys in the comments sections of online articles. I’m sorry, but y’all crack me up.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
September 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
Truth – just because you root for one team doesn’t mean you can’t like a player on another team. Fantasy Football kind of enhances that line of thinking anyway. One things for sure, I’m taking Vick over Ryan in FF any day.