Ryan leads Falcons and finally takes center stage over Vick
Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes and led the Falcons to one of their biggest wins with him as their starting quarterback -- over Michael Vick and the Eagles. (Jason Getz/AJC)
When Matt Ryan became a Falcon on draft day in 2008, Michael Vick was sitting in a prison cell at Leavenworth. So there was no ceremonial passing of the torch. Maybe just an easing of Arthur Blank’s headache.
To Ryan, Vick has been only a shadow, a ghost, a name he hears in press conferences. But the reminders have been constant, particularly with Vick’s remarkable rebirth in Philadelphia, and the biggest question going into Sunday night was how Ryan would handle his predecessor’s return.
“To me, having not been here and having not played with him and understanding how difficult it is to play regardless of what the circumstances are in this league, I wouldn’t allow myself to get caught up in it,” Ryan said late Sunday night.
Was it really that easy? Or is this just one of those things where we’ll never really know how much it has bothered him? No matter. Even if Vick’s first start against the Falcons — and against Ryan — stirred fans and maybe some members of the organization (Blank?) into a far greater frenzy than Ryan, this much is certain: The exorcism is complete. The Falcons didn’t just beat Philadelphia, 35-31. They beat Vick.
Ryan beat Vick.
Yes, we are reminded constantly it’s all about team. Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and so many others certainly played key roles in this game. But Ryan is the face of this team. A team that used to be Vick’s, in a city that used to be Vick’s, in a league that used to Vick’s 24/7 — and recently it seems like it is all over again.
If the Falcons had lost, Ryan’s face would’ve been targeted for most of the pies. That’s just the way it works in football, and certainly in Atlanta, given the backdrop.
It wasn’t nearly the best game of Ryan’s career. But in some ways, it might’ve been the most impressive. The Falcons had flat-lined. Ryan had two interceptions. The air had gone out of the offense and the building. Ryan was getting hammered behind an ever-collapsing offensive line. Philadelphia had turned a 21-10 deficit into a 31-21 lead. Even with Vick now on the sideline and looking woozy, the game appeared over late in the third quarter. Vick would win again, just as he did as a backup in the Georgia Dome in 2009, when he ran for a touchdown and threw another in a 34-7 Philly win
Ryan was injured that night. But he watched. He saw. He knew what it meant.
On Sunday night, with the Falcons losing by 10 points, Ryan showed his greatest strength. He didn’t change.
“In the huddle, he just said ‘Let’s go down and score. We’ve got this,’” wide receiver Harry Douglas recalled.
And the Falcons did. Twice.
Through nearly three quarters, Ryan completed only 8 of 17 passes for 102 yards. But he came out firing in a no-huddle offense. On first down, he completed a 17-yarder to Roddy White (”You want to get that first big play to get you moving,” he said.) Then came a 13-yarder to Gonzalez, a 14-yarder to Julio Jones, a 15-yarder to Douglas. He went 7 for 9 on the drive, the last being a one-yard touchdown flip to fullback Ovie Mughelli to close to 31-28.
It was like Ryan suddenly plugged the team into a light socket. He even called his own plays in the no-huddle.
“He was going up to the line, calling the plays that he likes to call, and he was getting the ball in good positions for us,” White said.
The winning touchdown drive was mostly about Turner, who broke off a 61-yard run on first-and-17 from the Falcons’ 13. But Ryan hit Douglas and Gonzalez on consecutive passes, the latter coming on third down to set up Turner’s go-ahead touchdown.
“I thought our quarterback really showed his toughness,” coach Mike Smith said. “He took a number of shots and he kept going. When you’ve got guys like that, you’ve got a chance to be successful. He’s a tough Irishman.”
In the end, it was Ryan who brought his team back, rebounding from a poor opener in Chicago. It was Ryan who threw a career-high four touchdown passes and won the game, while Vick was sitting in the locker room with a concussion, a sore neck and three turnovers (two led to Falcons’ touchdowns).
Ryan downplayed the significance of this night.
“We have a big game against Tampa Bay next week,” he said, as if reading from a cue card.
Something tells me it means more than he will ever admit. It certainly did for others.
By Jeff Schultz
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766 comments Add your comment
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
2:33 pm
phillies are going down next!
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
2:33 pm
Drew is 2x> ICE= zero playoff wins
his numbers speak truth
Stat Man
September 19th, 2011
2:36 pm
Comparing Drew and Ryan is not fair, Drew has been in the years 10 years. 4 years in, he was not as accomplished as Ryan….A better comparison is Vick and Drew, since they were both from the class of 2001. One has a ring, the other has a felony record. Boy, did we draft the wrong guy.
Stat Man
September 19th, 2011
2:38 pm
Just think, we could had Drew Brees, but NOOOO, we get snookered into trading up and drafting some ignorant guy with all the potential in the world, but lacked the necessities to be a SB QB. Now here we are, 10 years later.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
2:38 pm
Yea Genius TD and his Side kick CEO Mckay screwed up and took the turnover machine, 21 in his senior year @ BC over Joe Flaco..Yep they screwed up alright….
WHODAT???!!!
September 19th, 2011
2:41 pm
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
2:33 pm
Drew is 2x> ICE= zero playoff wins
his numbers speak truth
RIGHT ON CHANDLER!!
WHODAT????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHODAT???!!!
September 19th, 2011
2:43 pm
You guys are definitely worried about the Saints huh????LOL!!!!!!!
AS YOU SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
2:44 pm
Stat Man, …. Love Drew-Sicko V comparison…how true….but we now have a qb that’s gonna be in the league long after previous mentioned are gone….present and future is pretty good.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
Im not worried about or sacred of the Falcons playing ANY other team..we can beat anyone if we play to our talent..I only worry about us playing incomplete games..
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 19th, 2011
2:47 pm
Scared, rather…
Gatorzone
September 19th, 2011
2:48 pm
bigstack, i agree… Kudos to Falcons fans last night
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
2:50 pm
Hey WhoDat???!!!!
Sorry to disappoint you, but we are not worried about the Saints. We are worried about our team getting better. The Saints are good, but they are not the 2009 Saints, SO PLEASE GET OVER IT!
And I’m giving respect where respect is due,,I wont call your team the “AINTS” anymore because, honestly you guys earned it, BUT dont think that makes you an ELITE TEAM,,You guys maybe better than us offensively but yall are not the greatest team right now,,,Green Bay is!!!
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
2:52 pm
Alice:
I can definitely respect what ReallyBandwagon is saying though..
We do have to get better as a team, not just Matt Ryan
:::::U cant do nothing but respect it cause its the truth
yo Vince
September 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
Jeff, my take on the game was the play calling was as predictable as the sun rise. Run on 1st down, wow, who woulda thunk? M M makes me nuts. I will be surprised if the helmet hit on Matty won’t be fined. I think Dunta’s hit was close to a head shot, but the receiver had 3 steps after the catch to defend himself. My 15 yr old still has his Vick fathead up in his room, but we are Falcon fans. Vick played real sloppy with the rock, and turned it over, which is as much the reason we won as anything. Gonzo was incredible, Burner got the Shetland pony legs crankin, J J went up and got him a couple of nice ones, and Abes got called for the most bogus ruffin the passer call in history. It’s easy to see Baker was outmatched, but Matty survived their best shots and continues to win.
Atlanta has never had a QB win as much as often… period. He’s not the best, but he’s WAY better than this fan, for 35 years, has EVER seen. Remember haters… NEVER had back to back winning seasons!!!! Now, I feel like we have a chance every game. He’s a real fighter that has brought us back in the 4th qtr more than any other QB in our history. He is a total class act as the face for the team, and has an incredible work ethic.
That being said, all Ryan critics can eat crap and die. I’m a fan of the Falcons. They are winning. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect them to be. Go back to your sad life, and get off this blog. Really
True Atlantan
September 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
Kane337 he was actually pointing at your mama… LMAO
Gatorzone
September 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Yo Vince… Good perspective…
Been a fan for my 41 years and sometimes we forget how SH!TTY it can get…
pb
September 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
To the Vick/ Philly fans who “know” Eagles would have won if Vick had stayed in:
How do you know tha for certain ? Maybe they would have won, maybe not… But point is, they did not. Maybe next time. These teams will probably meet again this year in playoffs.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
YoVince: That being said, all Ryan critics can eat crap and die. I’m a fan of the Falcons. They are winning. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect them to be. Go back to your sad life, and get off this blog. Really
I HOPE YOU WASN’T ONE OF THE FANS LAST WEEK THAT SAID “RYAN NOT READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES” OR “RYAN NOT READY FOR THE BIG STAGE”OR “RYAN SUCKS”etc,,IF SO THAT WOULD BE A SHAME,,YOUR’E ONE OF THE BANDWAGONS
Rodster
September 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
Ryan’s the man. All the haters need to shut up. Vick is over in teh ATL and he’s never coming back. Good riddance.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
PB: How do you know tha for certain ? Maybe they would have won, maybe not… But point is, they did not. Maybe next time. These teams will probably meet again this year in playoffs.
(((WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS FIRST)))
Frank the Tank
September 19th, 2011
3:04 pm
There is nothing more absurd than the CLOWNS who wear the Dual Eagles/Falcons Vick Jerseys. Clearly that must be official merchandise of the NFL… Just go live in the past and please give your ticket to a real Falcon Fan.
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:04 pm
Hey Jeff, …Send out an APB for Tim Mazzetti at a bar….maybe he can try punting for the Falcons!
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
@ Really Bandwagon:
I like you my brother/sister: At least you keep it real!!!!! Not like your fellow falcon fans that were on here last week after the Chicago Bears defeat wanting Ryan/Mularkey fired and now their back on the Ryan/Mularkey bandwagon.
Of course I’m not a falcon fan, but I can tell that you are really passionate about your team succeeding. But at least you are being realistic about it and not sugar coating anything when it comes to Matt Ryan/the defense…
joewhite
September 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
Bottom line falcons out played the eagles, and won. Ryan had a good game and the backup secondary proved they was worth us picking them up
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
Rodster
September 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
Ryan’s the man
HES THE MAN ALRIGHT>>>>>THE MAN WITHOUT A RING!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ivan
September 19th, 2011
3:09 pm
Eagles Coming To ATL!!
September 19th, 2011
2:05 pm
What was up with the classless Falcons fans cheering when Vick got hurt and had to leave the game? And they call us Philly fans classless? Not a good look, ATL…”
—-
Eagles fans can instruct other fans on “class” after they stop throwing batteries at Santa Claus.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:12 pm
MV7 is not the reason the FAILCANTS have never won a SB in 45 years..
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:13 pm
MV, Pointing at the scoreboard this morning? or flipping birds at fans again?hehehehehe
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:15 pm
joewhite
September 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
Bottom line falcons out played the eagles, and won. Ryan had a good game and the backup secondary proved they was worth us picking them up
Surely you dont believe that..The falcons did not outplay the eagles..It came down to the very last second of the game>>>The eagles could have very well won if DeSean Jackson did what he did a couple of times last year…
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:16 pm
“WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
Rodster
September 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
Ryan’s the man
“HES THE MAN ALRIGHT>>>>>THE MAN WITHOUT A RING!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!”
..
How bout win one playoff game like Flaco has done already?
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:16 pm
Chandler, you sure do a lot of MV male genital sucking for an ‘aints fan. then again all aints fans are like that.
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:16 pm
And the secondary was getting slaughtered by Vick&co. prior to his freak injury……..
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:17 pm
Andy blew it…
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:17 pm
@Chandler…LOL
I know right
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
3:18 pm
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:16 pm
Chandler, you sure do a lot of MV male genital sucking for an ‘aints fan. then again all aints fans are like that.
DUDE WHAT? HUH?
WOW!!!!
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
3:24 pm
WHODAT7556
September 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
@ Really Bandwagon:
I like you my brother/sister: At least you keep it real!!!!! Not like your fellow falcon fans that were on here last week after the Chicago Bears defeat wanting Ryan/Mularkey fired and now their back on the Ryan/Mularkey bandwagon.
Of course I’m not a falcon fan, but I can tell that you are really passionate about your team succeeding. But at least you are being realistic about it and not sugar coating anything when it comes to Matt Ryan/the defense
HEY DUDE: I’M JUST #KEEPINGIT100..
WE SIMPLY CANNOT THINK THIS STYLE OF PLAY WILL GET US TO THE PLAYOFFS AND POTENTIALLY TO THE SB!!!
~AS FAR AS THE BANDWAGON FANS: MY USERNAME SAID IT ALL!…I WAS JUST SHOCKED WHEN I LOGGED ON THIS MORNING AND SAW ALL OF THE “MATTYICE IS THE MAN COMMENTS” THIS FROM SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANTED HIM GONE LAST WEEK..IT JUST SHOCKED ME!!!!…I LOVE MY TEAM,,,BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET BETTER,, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT I SAW YESTERDAY AND WE WILL NOT LAST IF WE CONTINUE TO PLAY THIS WAY!
yo Vince
September 19th, 2011
3:25 pm
Philly fan and Aint fan. You live in, or are from cities that smell as bad as your insight is. No one cares about your takes on our team, because we all know you guys are classless idiots. Go back to your nasty ghettos and get off our blog.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
3:26 pm
C’MON FELLOW FALCON FANS,,,YALL GOTTA FEEL ME ON THIS>>>>DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND WHERE I’M COMING FROM?????
Child Please
September 19th, 2011
3:28 pm
The Falcons got lucky plain and simple. And if Vick had stayed in the game yes the Eagles would have won. While Kafka did not play that bad — the Eagles offensive play calling was clearly timid with him in the game. Anyone who will be HONEST will clearly say that Vick outplayed Matt Ryan last night by a wide margin. The Eagles controlled the time of possession, gained more yards and Vick had more passing yards. He was picking the Falcons’ defense a part.
And his so-called 3 turnovers are being over hyped. The first fumble was caused by a good defensive play by a Falcons player in which he got his hand on the ball as the snap was released. That’s on the safety for not protecting the QB and the ball. The interception should have been challenged by Andy Reid (but like usual Fat Man doesn’t know when to challenge a call) because the replay clearly shows the Falcons defensive player trapped the ball on the ground. The only “real” turnover Vick had that was solely on him was when the ball was stripped as he was running. But overall he was clearly doing a better job in leading his team down the field and scoring.
The Falcons had the same voodoo luck in the regular season against the Packers last year in which the QB fumbled the ball in the red zone. But when it came to the playoffs the true colors of this team shined through. They lost and lost bad. And if they so happen to luck their way into the playoffs this year — you can expect the same result one and done.
As far as folks coming to the game with MV7 Falcons or Eagles jerseys on — what’s it any of you? I recall when the Brett Favre returned to GB as a Vike that there was a swarm of Favre jerseys. But only yahoos down south make a big, freaking deal about what someone chooses to wear to the game.
And finally, the Falcons treated this game as if it was a playoff with all the flags and hoopla. Yeah they needed to win but when you place so much emphasis on winning one game it usually comes to back to bite you in the butt. Just like last year when they did the Gatorade shower on the coach –an indication that having the best record in the NFC was their crown achievement instead of winning the NFC championship. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons don’t make the playoffs but I suspect Vick and the Eagles will be.
Truth Teller
September 19th, 2011
3:30 pm
Did Falcon Fans watch the game? I am not saying that the Falcons played terrible, but my goodness, give me a break. THERE IS NO WAY THE FALCONS WOULD HAVE RUN IF VICK HAD NOT GOTTEN KNOCKED OUT OF THE GAME! Not to mention the interception by Hayden was not an inception, and the Falcons scored off of that. And for those of you who always complained that VIck never stayed in the pocket when he was with Atlanta, he got hurt in the pocket last night. A win is a win, the Falcons got it, but I guess I would have been more inclined to give the Falcons their just do if Mike Vick had of played the entire game. I blame the loss on the Eagles defense. The Eagles had a 10 point lead, and did nothing on defense after Vick’s departure. This situation is reminiscent of the Falcons – Green Bay game. They beat Green Bay in the regular season, and was dismantled by Green Bay in the playoffs when it counted the most. If the Falcons have to face the Eagles again this year, trust me, I think the outcome will not be the same as it was last night. Falcon Fans – please stop living in fantasy land.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:32 pm
Hey Vinny you CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH!! lol
Reality will set in real soon.. Rodgers is coming to lite it up for real….
Vinny the Cheerleading Male Bonding Delusional Fanatics are over there on the x3D Blog! Enjoy!
——————————————————————>
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
3:32 pm
Child Please: And finally, the Falcons treated this game as if it was a playoff with all the flags and hoopla. Yeah they needed to win but when you place so much emphasis on winning one game it usually comes to back to bite you in the butt. Just like last year when they did the Gatorade shower on the coach –an indication that having the best record in the NFC was their crown achievement instead of winning the NFC championship. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons don’t make the playoffs but I suspect Vick and the Eagles will be.
___I agree,,Child Please..ONLY IF WE CONTINUE TO PLAY LIKE THIS!
That was distasteful last year,,It felt like the closest we will ever get to a SB or the NCF Championship for that matter….However it is something to be proud of, BUT i know we can do better!
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:33 pm
Falcons won, tough luck haters!!!! ————-> pointing at scoreboard!!!hehehehehehehehehehhehhehe
Grobinson
September 19th, 2011
3:33 pm
please if you know anything about Football the falcons won only because vick got hurt.fans you are only setting your self up for a big let down.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
FYI Vinny they it all on that Blog too……lol
Ivan
September 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
I’m seeing a lot of “IFs” from the Vick fans today. Ayone else notice this?
Truth Teller
September 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
I would like to remind all Falcons Fans. Matt Ryan as won 0 palyoff games. Falcons Fans stop settling for mediocrity.
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
Too bad for Eagles if it’s a tie for playoff spot with Falcons……—————->pointing at scoreboard again!!!!! Love it!!
Instant Dawgma
September 19th, 2011
3:37 pm
Ivan, …ever hear the one “IF my aunt had a ____, she’d be my uncle”!!!!
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
Andy is by far probably the worst HC in the NFL at Challenges..
It cost him last night! He knows it….
Detroit > Fal-cons? Maybe? 48-3 over the Chiefs….Wow…