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.
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
685 comments Add your comment
Badbird
December 28th, 2010
8:33 am
Hey Roddy, you need to keep your trap shut and play ball on the field. Remember the “greatest” corner back that was so full of himself that he got traded and now plays in Washington? Your heading the same way!!!! Run your routes not your MOUTH and maybe we could move the ball. And where was the Gonzo??? Both seemed to disappear in this game. Sure am glad the defense showed up or it would have been a MASSACRE! Thanks DEFENSE.
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:33 am
I think Turner is wearing down
He has had more 850+ carries last 3 seasons, he does not have the burst he used to have
geauxsaints
December 28th, 2010
8:34 am
we all had to come back after we beat you. yes we were hiding when we couldn’t catch you. i know we got this one but you guys will get the next if we are lucky enough to make it back to the dome.
Doug
December 28th, 2010
8:34 am
Thank God someone probably brought a sense of reality to Atlanta. The Falcons are a mediocre outfit that holds the city and state hostage for any payout they can get. I wish they would move to Mobile. Who needs that bunch of overpaid creeps.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:35 am
And that is “The Falcons secondary receivers.”
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
8:36 am
I’m only here because i like the attention and want to rub vick in your face. even though i know vick did this to himself and the falcons had nothing to do with him fighting dogs, i’m still mad that you got rid of my role model. he’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. i guess if i had a life, i would be sniffing a grown man’s nutz constantly.
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:38 am
I’ve read some things about the bad snap from McClure and bad snap it was. However, did anyone notice that Ryan was looking down at the ball and backing up? WTF? Biggest game to the year and instead of diving for the ball he’s getting out of the way!
I was jacked about this team after beating Baltimore – Baltimore has shown themselves to be human – You win these games in your own house – I’m thinking one and done now!
BaseballBuff
December 28th, 2010
8:39 am
This extreme criticism of the Falcons, a very fine, very talented, very well coached team, is blowing my mind. You’re all idiots. I’m outta here.
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
8:39 am
i really don’t have a life. i can’t do any better than ryan, but i sure do enjoy constantly criticizing him and comparing him to much more experience players. my mommy didn’t show me a lot of attention, that’s why i need a father figure and choose brees and vick as my new daddies. my mommy say i can have two.
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
Anybody else find it odd that the Saints lovers come out the woodwork on this blog instead of celebrating over on their own site at the Times-Picayune. The few who celebrate here are just looking for a blog fight since they are home from high school with nothing better to do. Some of us are on paid vacation wasting our time doing this! (Anything to avoid taking down Christmas decorations!) TCB Falcons!
No, I can’t really blame the Saints fans for being excited about that one they eeked out last night to even up the season series. After all, it is without a doubt the biggest game the have won all year and they are still behind in the standings to us. Even though this game meant very little to the Falcons, it will be the highlight of the season on the NFL Films Saints 2010 highlight video. They must be so proud.
flagger
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
how about the people that did not do their job…. michael turner and todd mcclure and the
offensive play caller that keeps running into the same knife over and over on the goal line
play calling. the rest of the team won the game!!!! best defense of the year.
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
MV is a sociopath! Anyone, and I mean anyone, who would choke an animal with his bare hands is not a role model but a serial killer wanna be. Of course MV ain’t gut the guts to try to kill a real person so he kills defenseless animals!
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Mike Vick brought his team back from 21 points down, that is a true leader. Matty Duck can’t even lead his team to a field goal, Vick will always rule Atlanta
============
What did Vick do in his first 3 seasons? not much
I think he spent more time injured than on the field
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:41 am
“I think Turner is wearing down”
Y’all have been saying that all the time… When the line blocks and sustains those blocks, Turner gets to the 2nd level and runs fine… Turner is not the problem, the line is the problem…
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:43 am
Poor Weems, saved the season in Tampa Bay; now he is a pariah for last night…
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:43 am
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:41 am
“I think Turner is wearing down”
Y’all have been saying that all the time… When the line blocks and sustains those blocks, Turner gets to the 2nd level and runs fine… Turner is not the problem, the line is the problem
=========================
Turner has trouble against quick defenses. He is not quick enough to round the corner. His worse games this season have been against quick/aggressive defenses. THe falcons keep running up the middle because Turner is not quick enough to turn the corner, thats why the Saints were stackign the box in the middle and daring Turner to run to the edges
Harry Houdini
December 28th, 2010
8:44 am
Final NFC South Standings
—————————————
Falcons .. 13-3
Saints … 11-5
Bucs …… 10-6
Gumboz1953
December 28th, 2010
8:47 am
Ignore those other Saints fans. Here’s the real deal: QUIT WHINING. The Saints were in the same position last year, only worse. We were undefeated, then lost the last three games of the season. Everybody thought the sky was falling. (Hint: it wasn’t.)
Folks were saying before this game that these teams were evenly matched, and the team who wanted/needed it more would win. That’s what happened. No team is perfect; and it’s probably better NOW for the “Georgia dome/home field invincibility” to be cracked rather than in one of those playoff games. Now you guys can relax and just play ball, which you obviously know how to do.
Calm down, for Pete’s sake. Jeez — and this is from a Saints fan, too.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:48 am
This is to the name thieves on this blog this morning… Stop that silliness! You got a beef with a blogger, be man or woman enough to stand behind your post! Stop stealing user names and call people out the right way!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
8:48 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan:
You are obvious a Michael Vick fan, and a sure fire racist…if you can’t enjoy what Ryan has done for the Falcons this year, go to Philadelphia and pull for Vick….
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
8:50 am
Raleigh dog,
Brees made two bone-head plays that almost cost his team the game
Mid Town Joe
December 28th, 2010
8:50 am
Without establishing a running game, we can kiss this season goodbye. Turner will not get us there. He needs a hole big enough for a mack truck to drive through. He has no lateral movement. Sometimes I think the only reason he’s given the ball is to give the receivers a break from running down field.
Saints v. Patriots
December 28th, 2010
8:51 am
After last night’s game, the super bowl is set—it is clear that New Orleans and New England are the two best teams in the league and will play for the title. Saints win a close one: NO 33 NE 30–title #2!
Cajun Crap Talker
December 28th, 2010
8:51 am
Schultzie, c’mon man! Icey Matt “outdueled” Brees last time? More like Matty Bryan outdueled Garett Hartley.
Football wife
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
It looked like a well matched game on both parts–both lost the ball twice and scored; both defenses showed up to play; neither had any kind of running game. Could have gone either way.
The difference was 1) the Falcon receivers particularly Roddy White who should have played the game rather than shoot off his tweeter finger. Matt would throw them a precise pass and they acted like they’d never caught a football in their lives. So don’t blame Matty Ice–look at his receivers, and 2) our offensive coordinator has been playing conserative ball all year long; gets them ahead then its first and second down of running up the middle with a third down long ball. Got some news for you, DOESN’T WORK when your receivers aren’t doing their job.
Overall, good game on both sides of the field. The Falcons seem to go into each week with a ‘defining game; so to lose one out of the last nine is nothing to lose faith over. And losing makes a great team hungry for a win next time.
Can’t wait to see you Aints back in our dome in a few weeks, that is if you make it through the Bears or the Eagles.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
Schultzie:
You been drinking Paul Johnson koolade again…He goes for it on all 4th downs…You don’t last long in NFL as a coach or in the ACC either going for 1st downs on 4th and 6 on your end of the field….Sure, if Coach Smith had known the defense wouldn’t hold up, he would have gone for it…give credit to the Saints, they got the job done….
georgiadawgg
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
matty ice has changed his name to luke warm. turner the burner is not as good as people thinks he is.
Byron
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
I agree with Nashad and Jeff. Being a Falcon fan since age 5 and now 43, I have seen this rivalry with NO for a long time. This game was a chance to tune up for the BIG Game. Mike Smith will go back to the lab and get our team ready. We now have a winning mentality and can compete. Whether You believe it or not. THIS IS OUR YEAR TO WIN IT ALL. I WILL BE IN DALLAS WITH THE 2011 SUPERBOWL CHAMPS — THE ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruce Matthews
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
The only melt down was the O-LINE for Atlanta…no run blocking all night…bad snap…gave up sacks/pressure…that O-Line better step up or it will be 1 and done in the playoffs…Philly/NO/Chicago will all blitz/pressure Ryan….LETS GO FAT GUYS…a good O-Line is the key…ask Tom Brady/Peyton Manning…with no time, nothing else matters
Diehard Falcon
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
Two main people to blame:
1) Mike Mularkey
2) Michael Turner
Mularkey couldn’t get it through is d@mn head that the running game was not working. Turner wasn’t keeping his feet moving like the old days and turning 2 yard gains into 8 yard gains. Turner is slow and needs to go! Snelling and Gonzalez were productive, yet they hardly touched the ball all night. I don’t understand why you aquire the league’s best TE and only throw to him an avg. of 3-4 times per game. It makes no sense! Time to draft a new RB.
Not the playoffs
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
I am disappointed in the analysis by Schltlz and Bradley. A close loss in a less than critical game is little more than a bump in the road for the Falcons. We are not a dominant team, and will need to hold on to our trump cards as long as possible to be successful in the playoffs. Why turn this game into “the game of the franchise’s history”? The Falcons were in the position to play conservatively and prepare for the playoffs. It would have been nice to win, but the season’s big prize should not be chest thumping because we swept the season series from the Saints. We’ll see how good the Falcons are in a few weeks.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
“THe falcons keep running up the middle because Turner is not quick enough to turn the corner, thats why the Saints were stackign the box in the middle and daring Turner to run to the edges”
Man, that is the “STRENGTH of the TEAM! Blalock, Dahl, and McClure. Guess what? Snelling ain’t getting outside either last night. Your STRENGTH is being neutralized! That is not Turner’s fault, that is your lines fault… Barry Sanders and Maurice Jones-Drew don’t wear the red and black… By the way, that is what having a All-Pro wideout and Tight end is supposed to take care of… Maybe your offense has lost its mojo in one short week? Didn’t seem to be a problem in Seattle…
Slim Pickens
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
I am sick of watching Michael Turner fall down at the first contact by a defensive player. Also I just had a feeling something bad was going to happen when it was first and goal. Turner got stuffed and they turned around and handed it go him again…..and he coughed it up right on cue. If you took all the running he did “east & west” he surely had over 120 yards for the game. To make it worse, we had to look at King Arthur trolling the sidelines to get his mug on TV…as usual. Overall grade for the game C-.
Deb Lilly
December 28th, 2010
8:59 am
Well, I thought we played exceptionally well and should have won, but you can’t win them all. Good try Falcons — and yes, the Saints won but it wasn’t an easy win for them. The Atlanta defense was outstanding and proved it to the nation — unfortunately, the rolled snap from the center basically gave the game to New Orleans, but as with any sport, you have to have some luck as well. Let’s forget last night and look forward to Carolina and hopefully cinching our division and home field advantage.
richard
December 28th, 2010
8:59 am
second half – offense went – 3 and out – 3 and out – 3 and out and that my friend is the story line
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
who cares about mike vick, really we dont want him here as our QB. he didnt do anything while he was here ! during his time off he finally learned how to almost be a QB.notice i said ALMOST. ryan is a very good QB . vick is a almost! dont get confused chokey.u and maybe 3 other people are the only fans he has.matt didnt lose this game by himself.the defense played very well for the most part, falcons didnt score early and often, there were turnovers, running game never developed.bad calls by officials on both teams.nethier yeam looked like a superbowl team last night.
Hit A Single
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
The Falcons got whipped on the line of scrimmage all night. That is the bottom lilne! I thought Coach Smith made the right call. 4th and 6, if you couldn’t get it done all night why do you think you can get it done on one play. Punt the ball and play defense, it just didn’t work out. Falcons didn’t deserve to win and maybe in 3 weeks we will be glad we lost this one. It would be tough to beat that bunch three times in one year. Alot of football left.
BobbyDawg
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
The Saints played some awesome defense. They gave our offense 7 points. Give ‘em credit! They shut down Michael Turner, and they shut down Matt Ryan. The Falcons still had a chance to win this one except for two critical fumbles one by Turner and one by the center which led to a N.O. TD. It’s the way football is. I hope that Mike Smith learned his lesson about punting the ball away with less than 3 minutes. I don’t care if you’re backed up on your own 10 yard line, the offense is the only way to go. This tells me that Smitty is one of those people who doesn’t pay attention to time. I’d bet he doesn’t even wear a watch. It’s not over yet. Put this game behind you and “ROLL ON FALCONS”
Dan Lance
December 28th, 2010
9:01 am
Out dueled Aaron Rodgers? Are you kidding me? Did you see that game? The Falcons were lucky as hell to win that game and Rodgers “smoked” Ryan in that game. The Packers special teams and mistakes blew that game – it had nothing to do with quarterbacks.
Gumboz1953
December 28th, 2010
9:01 am
To “Saints v. Patriots” — whatever you’re smoking, I hope you brought enough for everybody. I am a Saints fan, and I think it’s remotely possible for the Saints to make it to the Superbowl. But they would get their hats handed to them by this year’s Patriots; Brees is doing too many screwy things lately. Frankly, I don’t think they’ll make it that far, especially if they have to play any playoff games in the snow. They don’t like snow.
The Falcons, who play all their games at home, do have a chance to take it all, assuming Ryan is playing well and the defense can stop Brady.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
RISE UP!!! Panthers RISE UP!!!!
Roger
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
Totally agree with an earlier comment about the “fair weather fans”…if I must, fans are SUPPOSED to be 100% fans…not 99%. We had our chances to win; didn’t do it!! Give our opponents some credit; they came through when they needed to make some plays. Our defense was on the field way too long…period. May have been some let down team wide; knowing that we can still win the division and home field advantage by winning next Sunday. A lost can sometime force the entire team to re-focus. WE GOT THIS…lookout EVERYBODY…”RISE UP”!!!
Gwinnett Fred
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
Disappointing loss for sure, but just like they gave us the first one with a missed 27 yard FG, we gave this one to them with 14 points worth of turnovers.
But let’s put it this way – if we play them in the playoffs with the EXACT same intensity and the game comes down to the Falcons scoring vs. coming away empty on a 1st & Goal from the 1, I’ll take those chances any day of the week.
Nothing lost here but a game. Beat the Panthers and the #1 seed remains in tact.
Great effort boys!
lombardi
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
The guy who stubbornly clutches onto his Pop (friggin) Warner playbook is this team’s Achilles Heel.
Lewis Buzzard
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
The 2 fumbles were killer but I thought the officiating as usual was pathetic. How do you have off setting PI called. Either you keep the flag in your pocket or have the balls to make the proper call. Brees intentional grounding in the end zone would have gained the Falcons a safety and another possession. Finally how about the spot Pierre Thomas got on that last drive when his knee clearly touched the ground while the ball was a yard short of where it was spotted. I thought the replay officail in the booth looks at all the plays inside of 2:00 even without a challenge flag being thrown. Methinks
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
Falcons aren’t guaranteed to play their playoff games at home. Keep assuming….. Just as Roddy assumed that the Falcons can’t be beaten at home.
Michael Turner
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
Going forward, I will be known as “Turner the Bummer”.
SAVANNAHDAWG
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
You people are a bunch of negative, crying SOB’s! The damn team is12-3!!!! Yeah they lost a tough game…..Could the Falcons have played better? Sure they could have but I’ll take a loss right now. Keep them from getting over confident heading into the playoffs. A tough loss in a game against the Saints, who are just as good as anyone right now, isn’t a bad thing.
Schultz and Bradley………..both of you are idiots who don’t have a clue! The rest of you band-wagon bitches need to get a real clue!!!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:06 am
Lewis Buzzard…..on NFL.COM they have the rule book. You need to read it and you would feel better about the officiating.
John
December 28th, 2010
9:06 am
Reality check – Falcons lost to a team with just as much to play for – with just as much (if not a little more) talent. They lost to a team that has been in the situation before, and consolidated to put together one drive when they had to. It’s really comical to see the doomsayers and naysayers come out against any team – any time they lose. Seem to recall several posts at beginning of the year after the loss to the Steelers predicting a sub-500 season. Get a grip folks..
Falcons should beat Carolina next week – if not – don’t deserve a home game. If they do – some team still has to come here and beat this bunch at home who gets an extra week of rest. White’s knee is bothering him; Ryan wasn’t sharp at all; But I’d suggest the defense played much better than anyone expected. Name the last team to win their last 7-8 games of the season – including the Super Bowl. It’s a fantasy to think that teams roll into the playoffs.