Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance
Matt Ryan lost for only the second time in 21 home starts.
This season has been about comebacks.
This season has been about the Falcons making plays at the end of games to win.
This season has been about Matt Ryan engineering winning drives against New Orleans, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Green Bay and Tampa Bay.
Whether that magic carries over into the playoffs remains to be seen. But it ran out Monday night. One reason: a bad decision by coach Mike Smith.
With the Saints leading the Falcons 17-14 at the Georgia Dome and less than three minutes remaining, Smith pulled Ryan and the offense off the field. The team faced a fourth-and-6 from the Falcons’ 43 and the head coach went the conservative route.
Smith’s mindset: A good punt could pin New Orleans deep in its zone, the defense looked strong most of the evening and the Falcons could get the ball back in good position.
But that same defense had just allowed Drew Brees and the Saints a go-ahead, 90-yard touchdown drive.
Strategy: Epic fail.
The Saints got the ball back with 2:44 left. They made two first downs and ran out the clock.
Smith has made a lot of good decisions over the past three seasons. This was a bad one.
How do you pull Ryan off the field? The quarterback has been nothing but clutch. He excels in the two-minute offense. He excels in no-huddle. Actually, a case could be made that Ryan often is better in pressure situations and in the fourth quarter than in other situations.
Also worth noting: The Falcons went into the game with the NFL’s best fourth-down percentage (84.6 percent, 11 for 13).
Granted, Ryan wasn’t necessarily at his best Monday night. He completed only 15 of 29 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
But do you know what he didn’t do? He didn’t melt down. Even his counterpart, Brees, did that early in the fourth quarter.
With the Saints leading 10-7, it was Brees who threw a foolish shovel pass as he was being sacked by Jonathan Babineaux in the fourth quarter. The pass was intercepted by Chauncey Davis and returned 26 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 lead Falcons lead. It was Brees who, on the ensuing New Orleans drive, was pressured and ultimately intercepted by John Abraham.
But in the end, it also was Brees who led the Saints to a 13-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, capped by a six-yard pass to Jimmy Graham.
The Falcons trailed 10-0. But that wasn’t all about Ryan. The Saints’ touchdown was set up by a bad snap by center Todd McClure — the ball never making it to Ryan’s hands. To open the second half, Ryan drove the offense down the field to the New Orleans’ one-yard-line, completing four of five attempts and throwing two passes that led to a pass interference penalty. But Michael Turner was stopped on first down and fumbled on second down.
Two turnovers — a 14-point swing.
Ryan’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White in the second quarter had closed the score to 10-7. Then came the Turner fumble drive in the third.
In September, Ryan led a comeback win at New Orleans. With the Falcons trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Ryan took them on a nine-play, 85-yard touchdown drive, finishing with a 22-yard score to Roddy White to give Atlanta a 24-21 lead. The Saints rallied for a game-tying field goal, but the Falcons won the game with a field goal in overtime. It was a run-dominated, field goal drive but it was Ryan who set the tone with his calmness.
He wasn’t given that chance Monday night.
If the Falcons win next week over Carolina, their regular season goals will be achieved. They can clinch the NFC South Division, a first-round bye and the top seed in the conference. The memory of this loss will fade quickly.
The Falcons have proven themselves this season. They’re 12-3, still the best record in the NFC. But we know teams and quarterbacks are defined by the playoffs, not regular seasons. That’s not meant at a knock on Ryan. Fact is, everything about him — from his talent to his makeup and his leadership — suggests he will succeed in the playoffs. But consider it the unchecked box on his resume.
Thus far, Ryan has had only one chance. Two years ago as a rookie, he led the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record but looked average in a playoff loss at Arizona, losing 30-24. Ryan threw two touchdown passes but was intercepted twice, sacked three times and fumbled once during an attempted handoff (leading to a 27-yard return for a touchdown by the Cardinals’ Antrel Rolle).
I remember thinking during and after the game that Ryan didn’t look the same and something must be wrong with him physically. I asked a couple of team officials about him, but the response I got was: Ryan was healthy. It’s just that the playoffs are a step up and the rookie quarterback wasn’t ready for that moment.
This season, Ryan has outdueled four of the league’s top quarterbacks: Brees (New Orleans), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Joe Flacco (Baltimore) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay). He has the best touchdown-interception ratio (26-9) of his career. He looks ready for the postseason.
It just would’ve been nice to see him get one more chance Monday.
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685 comments Add your comment
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
which 7 games did we almost lose for that matter..i recall the 3 games we actually lost but not the 7 we shouldn’t have one..I also don’t recall losing to a team with a sub 500 record or getting blown out by them at home
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Alpha….Pittsburgh, Philly, Greenbay, Baltimore, New Orleans (twice)…Tampa bay…should i go on?
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
so lets see we got 6 come from behind wins we scored and the defense didn’t stop us we had more points at the end of the game than the other team…Hartley missed a field go and we didn’t more points at the end of the game we win…Whats the end game here…Oh let me guess the Baltimore game where the Birds were already in position for the go ahead field go just looking to get a little closer and it turned into a touchdown..that one
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
Niners.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
The most impressive part about Drew Brees’ comeback win against the Falcons and the Cowboys is the fact that he was down by 4 points. He couldn’t just move them into field goal range and hope to tie it, or play for overtime. He had to go down and win it. Matty Ryan hasn’t been in that position at all, and if he was put in that position, he would crumble. Its one thing to move 20-30 yards for a field goal, its another to move 90 for a TD. That’s what separates elite from good.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
Alpha…you said the Saints had 6…..If that’s the case the Falcons had 7!!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
lost to PItt Lost to Philly beat Tampa Bay Twice second game with a goal line stand on 4th and 1 to end the game..Explained the Ravens and Saints..Went ahead on green Bay with like 9 minutes left in the 4th and held the lead…I don’ understand the logic here.Saints defense got torched by Bengals and Cowboys in Second half of both those games and squeaked it out..Falcons play close games..Don’t need to be sexy
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
Niners Ryan Threw a pick and Roddy White outhustled the defense and got the ball back..not a fluke because he has done that to the niners twice….
ls1z28chris
December 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
From IlliniDawg: “The most annoying thing about losing to the Aints is having to hear all of the media types fawn all over the city of New Orleans. I’m so sick and tired of hearing the sob story of Katrina – an event that would have been irrelevant if they had not built a city 20 feet below sea level.
“N.O. is a stinking s***hole of a city – the most disgusting place I’ve ever visited in America. If you like the smell of a porta-potty, litter-filled streets with vomit running down the gutters, and more abject poverty than a Third-World country, then N.O. is your place. Take away their beignets, the Preservation Hall, and the world-class WWII museum, and New Orleans is a cesspool. Can’t believe our govt spent billions of dollars rebuilding a city that never should have been built in the first place. And now we get to revisit all of the schmaltz of Drew Brees and the “who dat nation” (what a f-ed-upped name!) and the “feel good” story of New Orleans. Aaaarrrggghhhhh! Makes we want to go down there and puke in their gutters along with the rest of the drunken idiots in the French Quarter!”
New Orleans has more soul and culture in those vomit filled gutters than the entire Atlanta metropolitan statistical area. When the place we now call Atlanta was just the confluence of indian trails, Creoles, pirates, militia, and free men of color were fighting under the command of Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. That victory, made possible by the unique and eccentric people of New Orleans, is recognized by historians as a turning point in American history. Our republic came into prominence on the world stage after a group of citizen soldiers routed what was up until that point the most powerful army in the world.
Today the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana combine to make the busiest port in the world. America needs New Orleans more than New Orleans needs America. If we had control over our own tax revenue, we wouldn’t have to rely on the criminals in the Army Corps of Engineers.
You need to read a history book and venture outside of Bourbon Street next time you’re in New Orleans. Be careful, as you might learn something.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
In addition, many of your precious Matty Ice comebacks are Ref assisted. You’ve been Fortunate Falcons all year & you know it. When the Ref is calling bs you have a chance. Last night the Saints had almost 100 yards in penalties vs. your 10 yds worth of penalties…..some of it was valid…some was really questionable.
Watch the whistle stop blowing for you and thats yo azz…bitch.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:40 pm
Still doesn’t excuse the fact Saints lost to 2 inferior teams.Also Bengals and Dallas were definately considered lucky wins because of the circumstances..Penalty fluke fumble..I’ll give you Hartley but Saints should have blown out Falcons and didn’t
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
What is ref assisted
BELIEVER
December 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
Why are all saints fans such ghetto trash??? And why in the hell did Katrina have to blow em all this way?
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
what wins did the refs assist in the falcons play close games which normally goes down to the final 2 minutes which is booth review so how is it ref assisted
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:43 pm
oSo false starts and offside penalties blcks in the back on punt returns are ref assisted
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Hands to the face penalty is a rulebook call..Can’t lead with your helmet when a qb is on the ground..ticky tack call but it was the right call
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
1:45 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=lc-vickdevelopment122810
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:46 pm
double pass interference WTF..saints got away with a clean shot on Ryan that didn’t get called..If you are gonna make argument bring some facts and not a fans opinion
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
Alpha….count the “non-catch” breaks the Falcons have gotten….C’mon. Teams have had to challenge so many calls they have no challenges left to combat the bad Reffing.
But let’s talk about what the Falcons do. they play a basic, make few mistakes brand of football which is effective for regular season success…but theyre gonna have to do more on the big stage. Cause throwing to 2 receivers and handing off to Turner aint gonna cut it.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
Also the Falcons have been the least penalized team in the NFL in the past 3 years..were 9-7 last year because of injury..whats different this year other than a healthy squad oh yeah the record..Ref Assistance is just lame and ignorant
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
Shot on Ryan was legal. Double pass interference – don’t see it often but does it make sense that i could foul you…and then you could foul me….i guess so. The shot on Ryan’s slide…was called. Roughing the passer was a bad call…bottom line.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
@ Ryan Supporter you say ” Fort Leavenworth is not the promised land.” That’s what they said in the NFL but ANDY REED did not listen. DAMN HE’S SMART!!!!!!!!
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Did I see a Falcon fan post that the Saints win was lucky? I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Is this the same fan base who swore up and down that they won the game in New Orleans because they were just better. The Saints turned the ball over 3 times in the first game and missed a field goal, for a total of 4 turnovers. You didn’t turn it over at all.
Yesterday, the turnover margin was 2-2, which is even and you got your lunch handed to you with the Saints running a very conservative game plan. If the Saints had two takeways and no giveaways, you are blown out the Dome. Yet, you get 4 takeaways and have no giveaways and you are still staring an L in the face.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:52 pm
I agree in the playoffs it needs to be changed up a little…which non catch..gotta remember what the challenge is.Thats just like saying that The Siants O line doesn’t hold if it’s reviewed and stands it’s not a bad call.Non catch i thought the ball couldn’t touch the ground at all which would have nullifed shockey’s catch before the half but was reviewed from a million different angles and stood..It’s not assistance…Come on dude no bad call effected your games against the Falcons so why get so hyped up about it
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Conservative game plan…NO Tried go deep and couldn’t…..must be nice to have such low expectations..since when is a 3 point loss that goes down to the wire getting your lunch handed to you…
Shut the Fu-k Up Matt choke Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:56 pm
Hey choke are you queer or something,you must like black men in thongs all oiled down.I think you have a man crush on Vick the convicted felon.No I just figured it out you was his bitch in his cell while he was in prison,might as well come out of the closet.YOU ARE SO JEALOUS OF MATT RYAN !!!!!!!!!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
ticky tack call but a rulebook call..I don’t think it should have been called but i know why it was called..let em play..if 25 had done that to 9 though we would be talking about that today
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
Alpha..you got sidetracked. You said Saints should’ve come into the game with 6 losses. . I say if thats the case Falcons had 7 losses…..based on the bogus calls that have extended key drives at the end of your games. I only said that because of your initial comment about the 6 losses.
I really don’t like talking about the officials this much. However, last night early in the game Mike Smith lost his mind over a blown call. He got more hyped than i’ve seen most coaches….I knew they were in trouble early.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
Saints played there best game of the Season with a comeback win 2 boot beat the Falcons at their own game with late running and ball and clock control Falcons offense was never in gear..sloppy..Still only got by with a 3 point win..lat year no Matty Ice no Turner still got by with 3 point win..and you guys were way more dominant last year..good divisional games give some credit
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
this why i think there is a difference..Saints weren’t coming from behind they were getting caught.Double edged Sword.Defending champs shouldn’t be giving up 30 + to anybody
mac
December 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
I’m with you Jeff..Smitty had been gambling all year on 4th down..what, 49% success..all of a sudden, with the game on the line..he punts?? I’ve said all along that Ryan is the man i want with the ball inside 3 minutes.
There again if you don’t execute..you don’t win!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
All in all NFC south is quickly becoming the best division in football..Carolina will get back on track soon maybe with Bill Cowher and Andrew Luck…Bucs are gonna be scary next year and the Falcons and Saints are gonna trade Superbowls for a while
who dat65
December 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
Saints won falcons lost. Is this really a surprise for everyone?
Two Dat Saints!
December 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
What do you call a Falcon with a Superbowl Ring???? A THIEF!!!! ha ha
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
why do i need to read a book when you just gave us a free history lesson..This is Saints Falcons it’s supposed to be like this..It’s how we like it.nobody on here means a word they are saying when it comes to saying something derogatory..it’s fun to feel like we are on seperate sides of something even if is as irrelevant as sports rivalry…We all love it..National media outside of the South has no idea what real southern culture is about..They think it’s a nice place to visit but wouldn’t wanna live there..It’s all LOve Trust me
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
what do you call a letter sent to Vikings home office with Saints letterhead on it…A Thank you Note To Brett Favre..That reads thanks for the ring couldn’t have done it without you
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
Doesn’t every place have it’s own history..Or is only special when discussing someone elses to demean or downplay relevance
Brendan
December 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
Over 12 Pages of posts, Jeff Schultz. Someone is getting a raise!
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
Great game last night, too bad we lost. Defense played great. Offense didnt show up but hats off to the saints defense. They had the game of their life last night. We are still the best team in the NFC. 12 & 3 baby. Splitting with the world champs is all I can ask for. We are headed in the right direction. We will wrap up the South next week. Vegas has us as a 14.5 point favorite. No worries.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
Matt Ryan a chicken on Zoloff I would not spent not another dime on him!!!!! Author Blank
if you don’t like Cam Newton, go get that Luck guy at Stanford the Falcons need a real QB now lets get real!!!!!!! this team needs a total package when you can’t run plan B the bomb!!!!!!!! find somebody anybody that can throw the ball PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to cheer for my home team!!!!!!
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
All I can do is CHEER for the EAGLES pure EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
TCCB Really?
PAF and The blitz !
December 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
All I could think of while watching the last night’s game was “PAF” – Play action Fake. The Falcons running game was not working at all. I couldn’t stop wondering, why aren’t the Falcons during more PAF plays. Nevertheless, Hats off to the Falcons defense. They looked real good. If the Falcons play New England, the blitz will come in handy. Falcons need to look at the Giants play book during their Superbowl win against New England to see the results of keeping Brady out of sync. Let’s be real, Brady will rip a defense apart if he is not touched by the defensive. You give Brady enough time and he will pick you apart like a vulture picks at a carcass. After watching last night’s game, Falcons defense seems to be firing on all cylinders. A little tweek, here and a fine tune there .. and the Falcons look like they are ready for a Super Bowl Championship.
Finally
December 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
The most impressive part about Drew Brees’ comeback win against the Falcons and the Cowboys is the fact that he was down by 4 points. He couldn’t just move them into field goal range and hope to tie it, or play for overtime. He had to go down and win it. Matty Ryan hasn’t been in that position at all, and if he was put in that position, he would crumble. Its one thing to move 20-30 yards for a field goal, its another to move 90 for a TD. That’s what separates elite from good.
_____________________________________________
wow….good point….sorta puts that whole 3 TDs in 7 minutes by Vick last week into a very clear perspective.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
2:30 pm
Vick Rules:
Even if he wins a Super Bowl for the Eagles, we are satisfied with our QB and would not swap back….Move the Philadelphia if you want to support Vick….
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
2:32 pm
Alpha:
Watch the game again. The Pick-6 made the game more interesting, and referee assistance for ya’ll. You had a total of about 215 yards of offense. The Saints were about 370. Your offense was 3 out of 12 on 3rd down. The Saints were 8 of 17.
On your 1st touchdown, you had 3 penalties extend your drive. On Turner’s fumble, you had 2 penalties put you on the 1 yard line. Without those, you don’t even move up the field.
I know you saw the game. Watch it again.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 28th, 2010
2:34 pm
Wel well well…..Mr Tess was write all along.
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
Hello, this is a Falcons blog. The phillidelphia blog is at the phillidelphia daily news.com site. Check it out. Please… There are a bunch of eagle fans talking about the dog murderer over there. What a thug…
Perrier Jerry is a bust
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
Drafted in the fist round!
Good job Mr Blanks.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
TCCB:
He has played lights out all year, and is still just learning…He is the franchise QB…Falcon fans on here remind me of some of the stupid Georgia fans…You never just get your A$$ beat, it is always some coaches fault or some other BS…Bive credit to the Saints….Everybody has the right answers after it plays out….If Smitty new the defense wasn’t going to stop them the last time, he would have gone for it on 4th down….He played the percentages, and that is what 95% of the NFL coaches would have done…After the defense didn’t stop them, Schultzie had the answer….Always got to play the blame game….