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
atlnative
December 28th, 2010
9:37 am
To all the so called Atlanta Falcons’ fans who are still loyal to Michael Vick:Do you remember Vick flipping “birds” to the Georgia Dome crowd during a loss to the New Orleans Saints?Why are you still mourning Mr.Vick’s demise?Arthur Blank took a substantial financial risk and drafted a guy with questionable character and made him a multimillionaire.Vick lied to the man who made him rich about his involvement with dogfighting,and you people think Blank should be loyal to Vick?
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:38 am
you fear THE BIRDS ! admit it reemy . aint no amount of voodoo can get rid of that feeling you re getting in the bottom of your stomach that says THEY will get us next time !!!! i hope you enjoy the FALCONS- Patriots superbowl.Who DAT SAY THEY WONT Be There ????? your saints lol lol lol.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:39 am
Poor Falcons fans….last unoriginal idea. Hey I’ll take someone’s username and post in the blog something stupid. That will make the Falcons look Good.
Stupid
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Why was it when Vick was with the Falcons(Ron Mexico, Weed in the bottle at airport) every time the Falcons were on TV we would see music intros with jungle beat, crotch grabbing, blue gummed fools singing trash music. But with the eagles, we don’t get that?
wareagle0904
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Our offensive line got whipped and Turner’s fumble and poor running were what cost us this game. If you watch many of the other backs in the NFL, they would make most of Turner’s runs much better than he does. Props to the defense though. Even thought they got whipped in the 4th, I was truly impressed with them overall on the night.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Matt Ryan and Kevin Knob Have one thing in common, they are “MY HERO ZERO”
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:41 am
atlnative, do you know what forgive means?
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:41 am
@Tony- do you have a mancrush on Glenn Dorsey?
@ atlnative- couldn’t have said it better.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
Good game. Wrong team won. There is no dominant team in the NFC, but a number of flawed, but good teams. We saw two fight it out last night.
If I was an impartial observer (which I’m not) I’d rank it up there among the best MNF games of the 2010 season.
Bottom line is Michael Turner reverted, as other posters have already mentioned, to “Twinkle Toes” Turner last night. There’s no excuse for the indecisive, hesitant manner in which he minced up to the line of scrimmage on his fumble play from the one yard line. He also spent way too much time running east and west instead of north and south.
From the side, Mike makes a chubby, slow and inviting target to defenders. Head on, and IF he’s got his game face on, he’s a formidable runner who dishes out punishment to defenders.
Like other posters already mentioned (hey, after six pages, what’s new to say?) the Birds defense ran out of steam.
Kudos to the Saints. We may meet again before it’s all over. Somebody in Flowery Branch be sure Turner is in a surly mood next time.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
A chance to do what? go three and out? gut check. back to life back to reality.
I just see this loss lingering into the next game and the panthers winning. Seen this b4.
‘cons rise up to get beat down, step up step up and get your arses whipped.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
@ Tony- a mancrush on Vick too?
kimmer
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Woulda, shoulda, coulda. The reality is if smith had gone for it on 4th down and not made it, most of the go for it crowd, including you too shultz would likely have pilloried him for that decision too. You defend the logic of going for it based on the birds 85% success on 4th down but that is misleading. How many of those 4th down tries were less than a yard? What is their percentage on 4th and 5+ yards?
Smith did the right thing. He was banking on the saints doing what every other team would have done in that situation & that’s run the football with both arms around the ball three times then punt it back with a minute plus and a fresh set of downs. You gotta give peyton credit for having the guts to throw the ball down there to get those first downs. It almost cost him with that near fumble that required a replay to correct.
Ultimately, this might work in the falcons favor. They have a very good chance to clinch anyway at home vs the hapless panthers and they now have the pressure relieved from the unlikely prospect of having to beat the saints three times in one season should they meet them again in the playoffs. I say this and I am a saints fan myself.
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
wareagle0904
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Our offensive line got whipped and Turner’s fumble and poor running were what cost us this game.
Agreed. On the play Turner fumbled if he had run off the end, it was him versus a corner, I don’t know what he was thinking running into a wall of butts.
Ed
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Rajun Cajun… you say that Matt Ryan looked like a rookie, well Drew Brees didn’t exactly look like Joe Montana when he threw that interception that was ran back for a touchdown by Chauncey Davis.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Making 6 yards should have and in fact would have been easier then stopping the Saints a first down.
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
No job.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
oops…stopping the Saints “from making” a first down.
Falconsin
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
Here is exactly why the Falcons should have went for it. Give the offense one more attempt and then if it fails let the defense get a stop.
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/the-falcons-shouldnt-have-punted/
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:45 am
mike, do you know what forgive means? just the meaning plz.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:47 am
God I love my name.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
Smith did the right thing. This game was never in doubt except brees got greedy and would not settle for the short game and attempted to be superman at the wrong time.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
@Tony I told them to go get Tim Tebow they did not listen!!!!!!!
juice sourcer
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
Pro coaches do this all the time and I just can’t for the life of me understand why. Take the offence off the field and let New Orleans run out the clock. It just makes no sense. It’s playing to lose.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:50 am
brees looked like he was holding a hot potato, he saw the falcons coming and he just tossed it to get rid of it. the game did have its comical moments. matt was looking at that ball on the ground after the botched snap like whats that ? i dont want it .. both teams played sloppy and both will be lucky to make it to the superbowl.
Russ555
December 28th, 2010
9:50 am
It’s not just a game between quarterbacks. Saints coverage was too good on the last Falcon drive, and the pass rush to good for Ryan to make his magic. Agree that the punt was the best option, between two very bad choices. Failure to make a first down would have ended the game.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:51 am
Our biggest need when we drafted Ryan was a defensive tackle but we took a qb instead. Had Mr.Blank forgiven Vick which is the right thing to do we would have Glenn Dorsey and M.Vick.
Kem
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
Smoothie- Don’t blame Roddy. He can’t throw the ball to himself. Give the Saints “D” some credit, although the “O” line left a lot to be desired.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
Tony- yes, I know what forgive means. I also know what forget means also. Do you forgive a murderer who takes someones life, or has something to do with it? I don’t.
Maybe you should take a ride to Petsmart on a Saturday, and look at all the dogs waiting to be adopted, and all the proud dog owners who bring their dogs to the store. What do the dogs and us human beings have in common? Life, and Vick took that away from defenseless dogs. It may not have been a human, but it was murder of life!
SteveW
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
And if Smith goes for it on 4th down and misses with 3 minutes left, we say what an idiot of an HC when he could have punted, look at the Defense etc. Really, you have to have confidence in your defense to stop them from the 14. And if that fumble would have been ruled the other way, Smith looks like a genius.
And I like the Rear Naked Choke the Falcons OL has on the Saints player in the picture! Glad to know that’s legal now in the NFL. Protect Matty Ice any way necessary!
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:55 am
Mr.Blank was more concern about pleasing the world than pleasing God.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:55 am
Tony: I keep reading your crap, and I have to ask you, if I killed one of your family members, would you forgive me? Doubt it.
Red&Black
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Bottom line. I like Mcclure, but that snap cost us the game. Here’s a scary thought: Last nights defensive with this years offense in the post season. Umm champagne popping next year, and i’m not talking about New Year’s celebrations.
GURU
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Come on Man: If Mike Smith would have gone for it and not got it, he would still be his fault for not believing in the “D”. Truth of the matter its: Matt Ryan and the Falcons had a chance to win the game and didn’t get it done. They scored one touchdown on the Saints “D” all night………….So to sit here and question Mike Smith judgment in quite ridiculous! This is a very fine coach, who has gained a lot of respect throughout this league with his ability to lead an organization. (Jeff Schultz) Don’t throw Mike under the Bus after he did what 30 other coaches’ would have done in the same situation……….
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Its all CPJ’s fault. His special teams are a flat out embarrassment. Scott Blair is a good placekicker even still it appears as though the Jackets have the worst special teams in college football.
Does he not even have the backup return men practice? I’m staring to wonder if he thinks his “genius” triple option status precludes him from even caring about special teams.
Its all CPJ’s fault.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
saints reak. your boys will have trouble getting to the superbowl too . they got lucky this time like we did last time, they are not playing like the same saints that won the superbowl. falcons pretty much beat themselves last night. i didnt see anything special out of saints either.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
Tell us mike, what does forgive means?
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
9:58 am
Falcons weren’t only out coached, their players were out played as well.
What you saw last night folks was the Falcons A game. There was nothing conservative about it…they did not hold back.
That was it…you saw exactly what kind of team you have.
One and Done in your Garbage Dome!
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:58 am
@Underground Atlanta: nobody care about the NFC South the Falcons can have it the Falcons will be one and done in the Playoff for sure!!!!!!!
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
Glenn Dorsey is a bust. 3.5 sacks in 2 years.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
Tony: Mr. Blank can please whoever he wants to, it’s his business.
Rambo
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
I thank that the Falcons played a very vanilla offense on purpose and did not want to show too much to the Saints since they may see them again. There were no reverses, screens, fakes etc. Still, we almost won and should have won with the botched snap(terrible) and the fumble at the goal line. I think if they come into the dome for the playoffs, you will see a different Falcons offense. Good to get this wake up call in a meaningless game than the playoffs.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
yes I would forgive you mike because its the right thing to do.It won’t be easy but I will do it.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
10:00 am
oops again “I’m starting”
That’s it I’m brewing another pot of coffee.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 28th, 2010
10:00 am
Hey tony,
Keep Mike Vick? We’ll wait for you like a faithful girlfriend who’s beau marched off to war.
Please. What do the Birds do for two years while MV7 is cooling his heels in Leavenworth? Stay the course with Joey Harrington?
You won’t find a bigger Mike Vick fan than me. I’m tickled as heck with his success in Philly. But let go of MV7 as a Falcon. He caused his demise here in Atlanta. The Falcons moved on, Vick moved on.
Both stories have happy endings.
tony
December 28th, 2010
10:02 am
Thats true mike but lets hope his disobedience to God doesn’t hurt his business.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Rambo
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
I thank that the Falcons played a very vanilla offense on purpose and did not want to show too much to the Saints since they may see them again. There were no reverses, screens, fakes etc. Still, we almost won and should have won with the botched snap(terrible) and the fumble at the goal line. I think if they come into the dome for the playoffs, you will see a different Falcons offense. Good to get this wake up call in a meaningless game than the playoffs.
—–
you ‘cons are so gullible and will believe and say anything to justify this loss.
Unknown Hinson
December 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Whoa, just calm down everyone. We still will clinch homefield and the South next week. If anything we needed to be humbled before the playoffs start to ensure we are not too complacent. This team has played awesome the entire year, still leads the entire NFC with the best record and everyone wants to fire Mike Smith, trade Matt Ryan, kill Mike Turner??? Am I the only one that is still 100% confident in this team? That game could have gone either way, it came down to the last 2 minutes and we were in it til the end.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
10:04 am
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
saints reak. your boys will have trouble getting to the superbowl too . they got lucky this time like we did last time, they are not playing like the same saints that won the superbowl. falcons pretty much beat themselves last night. i didnt see anything special out of saints either.
—–
how did you beat yourself when you were ahead 3 points and had the ball? You showed your true chumpionship colors yesterday.
mike
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
Tony: this is not 8th grade english vocabulary, and it is not a Bible Blog, it is football, something you know absolutely nothing about, as Ted M pointed out to us with the Glenn Dorsey sacks stat.
I know what forgive means, I am not a big believer in forgiving people who take lives in any form away. I can’t say, oh Mike, you ran a dogfighting ring, killed dogs, had people illegally bet lots of money on these fights, but you went to jail, did your time, all’s forgotten. No way.
Tony: you should go into prison ministry, on death row. ” That’s OK Mr. Manson, I forgive you for killing Sharon Tate and her friends, and cutting the fetus of her unborn child out of her pocket.”
Falcon 316
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
Drew Brees and Mike Vick are playmakers. Matt Ryan is a game manager. I like Ryan and I think he is a good QB. However, he still has not proven that he can carry this team when the running game is not working. How many 1000 yard backs has Tom Brady played with? Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton etc…