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
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
welikebaseball2 – well said. i’m just going to sit back and watch giftgiver10 whine and pout like an angry child who thinks he’s making a good point by having to reference “what happened last year”
The Pope
September 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
@ who dat,
I will pray for you, and for your team to win next week.
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
giftgiver10: EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT SAINTS BEATEN BY FALCONS…CORRECTION SAINTS “GIVE GAME” TO FALCONS…IT WON’T COUNT AS A LOSS…WE HAVE A SPECIAL RECORD ARRANGEMENT FOR THE “CURRENT CHAMPS”…THEY AREN’T 2-1, THEY ARE 2-0-1 (real wins, real losses, games “given away”)
WTF
September 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. man you need to learn how to spell
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
10:10 pm
cheshire: Thanks. I think I’ll sit back watch the show now too
. It actually makes the win feel better.
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. – give up trying to reason with these morons. they’re mad they lost so they’re going to resort to “we gave it to you!” or “we have a Superbowl!”. those are the best comebacks they can muster.
gman
September 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
thanks for the funny sh!t you folks put on here,LOL
giftgiver10
September 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. HAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH
Uh yes, Saints are better than Bills because they WON the Super Bowl and are Super Bowl Champs
Saints are better than Falcons because Falcons LOST and Saints WON
What a typical loser Falcon response. Too funny
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
10:12 pm
exactly – the more they come on here and make excuses, the more painful it was for them… which means the more i enjoy it
ryan
September 26th, 2010
10:12 pm
Saints fans can’t stand it that we beat them in there house. Last year was last year stop living in the past its a new season your suppose to be champs saints fans stop wining .
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
@ saints fan,
Are the Saints fan smart enough to start a blog on their web page. I logged on to the Saints website and it is totally dead. They didn’t even post the results from their azz- kicking. What, sore losers.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
I said better team last year but not a GREAT team learn to read you DUMB AZZ NOLA POS.
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
giftgiver10 – you haven’t made a single coherent point since you got here, so let’s not be hypocritical.
you never answered my earlier question – if our win was delegitimized because you guys “gave” us turnovers, does that mean your Superbowl win was “delegitimized” because the Colts “gave” you guys turnovers last year?
Wow
September 26th, 2010
10:14 pm
ARE ALL FALCONS FANS SO STUPID
gman
September 26th, 2010
10:14 pm
heres your new distraction jstv
Idot
September 26th, 2010
10:15 pm
It was a very good football game, played by both teams.
But, I think that the better team won today.
Damn!!!!
September 26th, 2010
10:15 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. Spell Class Please
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
10:16 pm
The Saints are done. Stick a fork in them. They will not make the playoffs and will get beat next Sunday by the lowly Panthers.
cheshire
September 26th, 2010
10:16 pm
“Wow” – yeah, we’re all so stupid. If only we had the intellect to spar with someone who posts such brilliant comments as “Are all Falcons fans so stupid” in all caps.
President Barock H. Obama
September 26th, 2010
10:17 pm
Well, I’m here to report to the nation that, while I did enjoy the Falcons kicking the $hit out of the Taints today, Chewy……….errrr, ugh, ….Michelle has left me . She said that she couldn’t stand to be married to the next guy to be considered the biggest disaster since…..then I wasn’t sure if what she said, but it ended in “er.” Maybe Carter, certainly not Hitler! Anyway, now I am wide open for golf AND football. We will blog again next week.
B.H.O.
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
10:17 pm
The better team always win. Go figure.
WTF
September 26th, 2010
10:18 pm
cheshire it doesn’t matter how we post our comments this is a blog not a grammar class
Peter
September 26th, 2010
10:19 pm
Yes the Saints kicker missed the game winner…but along the way the Falcon’s play inspired ball…..
Sometime it is better to get lucky along with being good.
I would imagine on the way to the Super Bowl last year, the Saints were good and got lucky a few times that made a difference.
Today Matt Ryan looked like a big time QB in situations he needed to produce in.
The defense looks to be getting batter, more pressure on the QB, and showing speed.
They should be proud of the effort, and the win…..great job hanging tough in a very tough environment !
Who Dat
September 26th, 2010
10:19 pm
falconfan 24-7 and the falcons wasn’t the better team in the superbowl they played in, but the saints were. that’s why we won loser
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
10:20 pm
Barrack, I wish the counrty would have been as smart as Michelle and left your ass about two years ago. Oh well, 2012 isn’t that far off I guess.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
Idot
September 26th, 2010
10:20 pm
The saints caught a huge break when the NO punt hit the Falcon, late in the 3rd quarter. If not for that play, it could have led to a Falcon blowout over the saints.
Big Ben
September 26th, 2010
10:21 pm
Week eight my Steelers will blow out the Aints in a laugher. The Falcons are better than the Saints.Is there any girls here?
Big Ben
September 26th, 2010
10:23 pm
idot you are exactly right.
Big Ben
September 26th, 2010
10:24 pm
@ WTF,
What did I do? I’m sorry. I’m a changed man.
President Barock H. Obama
September 26th, 2010
10:24 pm
SuwaneeFalcon,
Maybe we could get together and play a round and watch a Falcon’s game. Lord knows, I’ve done about all the destruction to the country I can do for awhile.
B.H.O.
Idot
September 26th, 2010
10:25 pm
Actually, the better team doesn’t always win a game, 24-7.
Who Dat, the saints were not the better team in the last SB, but they won anyway.
Bishop Eddie Long
September 26th, 2010
10:26 pm
@ Barrack,
How bout yo Bears? They suck like you.Call me daddy.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:27 pm
The biggest play in the Saints Superbowl win was the onsides kick. That was a great call. Nobody saw that coming.
Idot
September 26th, 2010
10:27 pm
10:24……G. W. Bush, and D. Cheny were the biggest disaster to hit the USA since R. Reagan.
falconfan 24-7
September 26th, 2010
10:28 pm
You are correct idot. I stand corrected.
66nativefan
September 26th, 2010
10:29 pm
ESPN saves the best for last! It keeps everyone’s attention through all the lesser games…..Dilfer’s a loser anyway.
B4…your a typical loser of a fan…stay with the AINTS…they deserve you! Real Falcons fans don’t want the likes of you or hiram…..loser fans!
English Teacher
September 26th, 2010
10:29 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. I teach classes if you need help
World Champs
September 26th, 2010
10:31 pm
Congrats Dirty Birds! No excuses from me. We got our butts kicked. We couldn’t stop your offense with a .38 and a shotgun! We’ll meet again in December.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:33 pm
Teacher did you understand what I posted? If so then STFU and teach the rest of the students in GA. If you do teach in GA, you must be so proud of the states 48th ranking in education.
President Barock H. Obama
September 26th, 2010
10:33 pm
What you talkin bout Idot ?
tom
September 26th, 2010
10:33 pm
impressive win. Somebody needed to beat New Orleans. Might as well be the birds. Cut the penalties and do what you did today. Bravo!
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
10:34 pm
Props @ World Champs….see ya DEC 27
66nativefan
September 26th, 2010
10:35 pm
Yeah, the Saints should have won…but they screwed up and the FALCONS drove the ball down their throat to TAKE the victory from the lame aints!
The Aints couldn’t do anything about it!
The AINTS are back!!!
FALCONS RULE!
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
10:37 pm
How did the NOLA basketball team do last year? How is the NOLA Baseball team doing this season? Wow is NOLA has a Championship Football Team why don’t they have other pro sports teams?
66nativefan
September 26th, 2010
10:38 pm
WE DAT! that’s who.
Who Dat
September 26th, 2010
10:40 pm
the Saints needed this loss to bring them back down to earth. Drew Brees and Sean Peyton spent too much time writing books and doing interviews and commercials.
It was a short week for the Saints and they got the tough Falcons. Even with the mistakes the Saints made, it still took everything the Falcons had, plus a Saints missed FG, for the Falcons to knock off the Defending Super Bowl champs.
The funny thing about this though is that we’ve just made the Falcons season while getting our season on track.
The Saints will be fine and the Falcons will be the Falcons which is inconsistent.
Serum of truth
September 26th, 2010
10:40 pm
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — The numbers tell the story about Michael Vick’s almost overnight maturation from lethal scrambler into calm, precise pocket passer.
Vick, in his debut as the official Eagles’ starting quarterback, let loose for 291 yards and three touchdown passes in Sunday’s 28-3 dissection of the lifeless Jaguars.
It was the fourth-highest passing total of his career, and touchdown passes of 61 and 45 yards to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, respectively, marked the first time he’d ever thrown multiple touchdowns of at least 40 yards in one game.
He also compiled his third consecutive passer rating above 100.0 for the first time and still hasn’t thrown an interception since his final season in Atlanta, a streak that dates back to 2006.
Adding to the list of accolades, the Vick-led offense has now scored seven touchdowns in eight red-zone trips, including two more against the Jaguars.
“He’s been playing his heart out for the last six quarters, including this game here,” coach Andy Reid said. “It’s a tribute to what he has done and how he has handled things.”
But the real story behind Vick’s transformation into Reid’s version of pure, pass-first West Coast quarterback comes in the vignettes from his teammates and coaches. After the game, Jackson described to reporters how he implored Vick to quit the pocket-poise nonsense every once in a while to remind the worn-out Jags that the Eagles still boasted the league’s ultimate weapon at their disposal.
“A couple of times, man, I’m like, “Mike, C’mon, you gotta move a little more. You gotta use your feet and you gotta use your legs,’ ” Jackson, who went over 100 yards receiving for the second straight game, recalled. “He was like, “Man, I don’t really have no legs.’ I was like, “Man, I don’t really wanna hear that. Create. You’re Michael Vick, the fastest quarterback in the league.’ ”
Vick said Reid echoed a similar sentiment at the halftime, moments after the quarterback’s footwork helped keep alive the play that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass to Maclin with four seconds to go, the touchdown that provided plenty of cushion against a Jacksonville team that showed no interest in second-half comebacks.
D Falcons
September 26th, 2010
10:41 pm
GREAT WIN, FALCONS! Let’s build on this one. This is the first road win over a playoff team in a while, and it brings a nice finish to the football weekend.
New Orleans
September 26th, 2010
10:41 pm
The same reason why georgia sucks in everything 5150 P.O.A.D
Dick Long
September 26th, 2010
10:47 pm
Bishop Long AKA Dick Tracy LMAO…aint you got a sermon to preach…to little boys?