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
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
10:54 am
BOY I TELL YA,,A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO: EVERYBODY WAS MIKE VICK THIS, MIKE VICK THAT, AND NOW ITS MATTY ICE THIS BLAH BLAH BLAH..I’M A FALCON FAN, BUT LETS BE REALISTIC HER, WE ALL WATCHED THE SAME GAME,,SO IM JUST GONNA SAY THIS,,,MATT RYAN WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE PEYTON MANNING, TOM BRADY, AARON RODGERS, OR EVEN DREW BREES..HE’S JUST NOT THAT GOOD!!!!!
I STILL SAY MALAURKEY NEEDS TO GO!!!!!
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
10:54 am
Oh yes you can Jeff..
Everybody watching the game saw the Eagles offense start to warm up and score two TD’s in like 4.5 minutes and at least two more scores were coming…
Falcons got lucky MV7 went down with a freak hit to his chin/head..
IceM look like a beaten man on the bench….lol
9-7 cause of the sorry defense and ol..
Ryan is gonna get knocked out! Keep watchin…
ramguy68
September 19th, 2011
10:54 am
but why can’t you remember that Vick was out well before the game’s end. There will always be doubt about the win.
The fact is the Falcons won…..no room for doubt there. The standings show that both the Eagles and the Falcons are 1 and 1. You won’t see an asterisk by the Falcons win column.
FACTS
September 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Brown eyed girl told the truth !!!! Finally someone who really tells what went down last night. Matt Ryan did look like a deer in headlights & he holds the ball far too long, even if Sam Baker got beat a couple of times…..he still has not proved he can connect on the deep ball yet to take advantage of Julios speed…. the Falcons would not have needed to comeback if Matt Ryan would not have made 2 dumb rookie type passes
Philly lost their momentum when their leader Vick went down….Atlanta’s defense is absolutely terrible they are averaging giving up 30.5 pts/per game……New Orleans has a 40 yr old safety & a rookie CB starting in the secondary & still looked better against Da Bears Cutler…..Van Gorder’s scheme will not elevate this team to the next level….without a little help from Maclin there, would have been another outcome.
Matt Ryan is an average QB who has still not proven anything, other than he plays on a team that is built to win on turfin a Dome….if not for 2 great leaping catches by Gonzalez & Jones on a first down catch… this would have been laughable….Matt Ryan is the 4th best QB in the NFC South
1)Brees
2)Freeman
3)Newton
4) Noodlearm Ryan
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Thanks True Falcon Fan. How’s Romo feeling in Texas?
oh brother!
September 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Vick is too petite to play in this league!
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
10:56 am
TYPO: REALISTIC HERE
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
10:56 am
Ryan is gonna get his bell rung…Question now is which game will it be? Tampa,Seattle, or Greenbay..Its coming and this season will be over…
oh brother!
September 19th, 2011
10:57 am
FACTS…rofl…lay off the cough syrup.
Tuggle58
September 19th, 2011
10:58 am
The Falcons beat a very talented team, and they did it by being the more physical team. We made some mistakes, but still came away with a “W”. Ryan is a tough SOB. He took a beating, got pissed off, and led his team from a 10 pt. 4th qtr. deficit. Ryan led the offense. He called the plays. He executed when it meant the most, at the end of the game.
The Falcons won because they made more plays, period. We made a lot of mistakes, but still found a way to win. You can make excuses, whine, and play the “what-if” game all you want. I’ll take the W anyway we can get it.
ramguy68
September 19th, 2011
10:58 am
IceM look like a beaten man on the bench….lol
He didn’t look like anything. HE WALKED OFF THE FIELD A WINNER. #7 in the green jersey walked off, no he was helped off the field spitting blood.
oh brother!
September 19th, 2011
10:58 am
Vick is too sensative to play in this league.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
10:59 am
PMC: 1) Agree on Bosher. He’ll be cut this week probably; 2) Agree on Dunta Robinson, he’s been a disappointment, but he made a couple of plays last night (while also getting beat)… But overall, I don’t know how Dimitroff can get much criticism. He’s pretty much overhauled the team into an annual playoff contender, something we’ve never seen here. There’s been some bad moves, some that haven’t panned out, but the good far outweighs the bad.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
10:59 am
Wish we could review all the comments during the week of what some said on this blog but anyway I shall keep on laughing!!!!
cccc80
September 19th, 2011
10:59 am
Did anyone else lose their mind trying to get into the Ga Dome, that was crazy, all because of some moron and his taser!!!!!! I will say Vick played last night exactly how he used to for us, running for his life with the ball unprotected followed by some amazing plays, why we used to hold our breath for him not to get hurt. Good luck philly with that!!!!
DD
September 19th, 2011
10:59 am
Same ole Vick. He must like turning the ball over in the Dome.
Fan
September 19th, 2011
11:00 am
Once Atlanta O-Line settle down with Todd return this is a dangerous team. Matt have no time too throw and set-up with the line not working right . Atlanta is a dangerous team and Matt is in for a career year once this line gets fix. I am thinking probably the sixth game of the season.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
11:00 am
Vick The Prick — You’re one comment away from getting banned. Already banned one commentor this morning.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
11:01 am
ICE MELT IS GOING TO GET HIS BELL RUNG!!
JUST HANG IN THERE
LETS SEE WHAT THIS TEAM LOOKS LIKE WHEN HE GETS KNOCKED THE FREAK OUT..
John
September 19th, 2011
11:02 am
Ryan did not beat Vick. Vick left the field up by 10 points which ended the contest between Ryan and Vick. Most of Vick’s drives didn’t have a 3rd down, which means he went up and down the field effortlessly without the need for a third down. The best team was the Eagles on that field last night, but sometimes the best team doesn’t win.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
11:03 am
Love the “you won because Vick got hurt”. No, wrong. Actually, Eagles LOST because Vick isnt strong (or man) enough to make it through the whole game after he bumped his wittle hwead.
Get a QB with some stones who is man size and can make it through a whole game.
It was not Falcons vs Mike Vick. It was Falcons vs Eagles and your backup (much like ours) SUCKS.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
11:04 am
Oops. Banning a couple of more folks. And I’m just on my first cup of coffee.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
11:05 am
The Birds will win Ballgames now, all they needed was to get that bad Philly taste out of their mouths.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
11:06 am
ICEMELT looked like a beaten man in the 3rd quarter before MV7 went down….
But dont worry Melt is next standing behind that OL. Hes going to get crushed….Which game will it be #3,#4,#5?
Greenbay is gonna bring the house…..
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:06 am
Chandler and Brown Eyed:
For one, Vick fumbled and the Falcons didn’t score, it was at the end of the half.
Chandler, after Vick got killed, the Eagles DID score. So they went up 31-21 without him on a run.
And for whomever said Vick won in GB in the playoffs , then went to Minnesota and won and then lost in the NFC game. WRONG. The Falcons and Vick won in GB and then in one of the WORST playoff QB appearances ever they lost to Philly. The second win in Vick’s career in the playoffs was against the 8-8 Rams. Then went on to lose to Philly again. His QB raiting in the two loses (2003 and 2005) against Philly 46 and 52. BTW go back to 1998 season (1999 game) was when the Falcons with Chris Chandler beat Minnesota and went to the Super Bowl.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:07 am
Chandler going deep…..One difference between Ryan and Vick. Ryan can stand behind a horrible line and get killed and GET UP. Vick on the otherhand, well….the story tells itself.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
11:07 am
Jeff, I must say, watching from the stands, it very much looked like many ont he defense were confused, didnt know their assignments, and were struggling. Is this just early season issues where the defense just needs to gel?
I hate to be on the anti-Sam Baker team, but its true (its twue, im tired, so tired) he is getting his butt kicked every week. Will the O-line gel?
Also, is it possible we can get Matt Ryan to wear a jersey that says Brady #2 so we can get some of the roughing the passer calls? Ive been watching Matt get clobbered the past two weeks and refs just like to stand there and watch. The officiatinig in this league is crap and they know it.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
11:07 am
I CANT WAIT TO READ EVERYONE’S COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE SEASON!!!….LOL////I WANT US TO WIN BUT REALLY: I JUST THINK IT WAS SHEER LUCK LAST NIGHT,,,EAGLES STILL HAD A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEATING US AT THE END,,GOING UP AGAINST THE REST OF THE SOUTH WILL NOT BE EASY IF WE CONTINUE TO PLAY LIKE THIS!!!…RYAN STILL HAS ALOT TO LEARN AND WE SIMPLY DONT HAVE THE TIME TO SUGARCOAT IT..WITH THAT ROOKIE PLAYING LIKE A VETERAN IN CAROLINA,,A YOUNG TAMPA BAY TEAM, AND THE SAINTS WITH “THE REAL EXPLOSIVES PLAYS” THEY SEEM TO ALWAYS PULL OUT OF THEIR ARSES!!..IM WORRIED!!..WE HAVE TO PLAY BETTER GUYS,,THIS WILL NOT WORK IF WE WANNA GET BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS~ANOTHER THING,,STOP SAYING “THE FALCONS ARE SUPERBOUND” BASED OF THIS ONE LOUSY WIN,,C’MON_____WE HAVE TO GET TO THE PLAYOFFS FIRST GUYS,,,IM JUST BEING REALISTIC!!!!!!!!!!
FACTS
September 19th, 2011
11:08 am
oh brother!
stat lines
Vick 19/28 for 242/yds 2/tds 1/ints 103.6 qb rating
Ryan 17/28 for 195/yds 4/tds 2/ints 91.5 qb rating
So who outplayed who? ROFL !
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
11:08 am
“Did anyone else lose their mind trying to get into the Ga Dome, that was crazy, all because of some moron and his taser!!!!!!”
No joke. The people in charge of security last night have got to be some of the dumbest people I have seen. I got in line — more like a crowd than a line actually — 45 minutes prior to kickoff and I got to my seat as the Falcons came out of the tunnel. I have never even waited in line at the airport that long. Insane.
Jonny
September 19th, 2011
11:08 am
We’re three years into the Sam Baker project… isn’t about time to call it quits?
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:09 am
Can you imagine a team with a great defense going up against Vick. Oh God, he better get a bucket for all the blood he is going to spit out from getting hit and bitting his lip.
Dawglasville
September 19th, 2011
11:09 am
Chandler going deep – MV7, “the greatest” qb of all time has one more playoff win than “dink and dunk” Matt Ryan. IceM, who “looked like a beaten man,” drove 160 yards and two touchdowns against the “Dream Team” defense. I’ll be the first to crown Ryan or Vick when they win a Superbowl. Right now you are comparing a guy whose greatest accompishment was winning a first round playoff road game against a guy who took a franchise to it’s first consecutive winning seasons. I don’t think that either one are Brady, Brees, or Rodgers. I’ll take Ryan but opinions are like…
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
11:09 am
Last night wasn’t Matt against Michael, it was Falcons against the Eagles ! Actually twice in the ballgame I thought the Eagles were going to take off away from Atlanta and blow them out but in reality Atlanta rose up to that challenge and would not have none of it .
jhughes
September 19th, 2011
11:10 am
this game really was a microcosm of these 2 QBs careers. Vick had great plays and huge lapses in judgement. His game reminded me so much of his career in atlanta great with huge game swinging mistakes. He still holds the ball carelessly and will still make silly mistakes sometimes. In a word Vicks Career and gameplay is irratic. Ryan on the otherhand i feel is much more steady. In this game he was average most of the game but when it mattered most he pulled it together and won the game. Again this is what Ryan has done time and time again. To finish up both of these QBs are great and both have weaknesses.
Oh and 2 things 1. the score was 24 21 when vick went out and 2.how can you say philly would have won if vick had stayed in when the backup went 7-9 or 7-10 and one of those passes should have been caught and the other miss was a hail mary?
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:11 am
Facts, you are correct. Ryan outplayed Vick for sure. In case you didn’t notice, look at the YAC (yards after catch) and if not for that, Vick would have had about 80 yards passing. BTW, 4 TD’s to 2 TD’s. Oh and least we forget the 2 fumbles Vick had, along with getting knock out of ANOTHER game.
PMC
September 19th, 2011
11:11 am
Fair Points, Jeff and you’re right I was being too hard on TD. He’s done a great jog overall because before he got here (and hired Smith) the Falcons don’t win games like this. I just know in the game (about the 3rd quarter at some point) I am beside myself that Sam Baker is the left tackle still and Bosher is the punter, and all these guys they drafted on the OL aren’t working out, etc. etc. Until the two 80 yard fourth quarter drives I was most upset at the way the team was constructed, but that’s probably just me. You’re right anyway the QB always takes the most heat.
PMC
September 19th, 2011
11:11 am
*job
Billy
September 19th, 2011
11:12 am
In the Immortal words of Sean Connery in the movie the Rock, lossers always say they did their best or have an excuse( if Vick Hadn’t got hurt) winners do what ever it takes to win the go home and **** the prom queen Matt Ryan is a WINNER!!!!!!
Read This
September 19th, 2011
11:12 am
Vick is Sick. You are too. This is not the Tea Taliban page.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:12 am
jhughes, and don’t forget Philly did score on the possession after Vick went out to go up 31-21. Remember Vick pointing at the scoreboard. Surprise while being booed off the field he didn’t flip another bird.
tim
September 19th, 2011
11:13 am
NEXT TIME……..BREAK HIS LEG!
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
11:13 am
“Love the “you won because Vick got hurt”. No, wrong. Actually, Eagles LOST because Vick isnt strong (or man) enough to make it through the whole game after he bumped his wittle hwead.”
Was Vick’s head injury less serious than the toe injury that kept Ryan out the last time these teams played in the Dome?
One thing I will agree on — there’s no guarantee the Eagles would have won if Vick played the whole game. The Falcons may very well have pulled off the comeback with Vick in. But to me at least, it was a foregone conclusion that the Falcons would win when Vick left, even though the Eagles were up by 10 at the time. Would have been nice to see both teams finish the game at full strength and see who came out on top.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
11:15 am
Jonny – cut the race talk or you’re also out. Thanx.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
11:16 am
In fact, warning to all: No race talk, period. No more warnings.
Lesa
September 19th, 2011
11:17 am
Last week, I told the doubters we’d beat the Eagles. Where is Matt “Choke” Ryan today? Like I said then, Vick will never play 16 games in a season. He makes some dazzling plays, but he also makes boneheaded plays. I don’t wish him any ill, and was glad to see him get another chance in the NFL, but he really needs to grow up. If you think he has really changed, what do you make of his pointing to the the scoreboard when he headed to the locker room? I found it immature and totally class-less. I was very impressed with Matt Ryan’s toughness and perseverance last night. If he could call the plays all the time, we’d have a fantastic offense!! And, Cris Collinsworth stinks! After Vick pointed to the scoreboard, he made note of it, as if in appreciation of this childish gesture. Get over your man-crush on Vick, Collinsworth, and at least try to make it look like you are being impartial. Sheesh!
oh brother!
September 19th, 2011
11:19 am
FACTS…lol..you crack me up. What good is a QB rating if you can’t even make it to the end of the game? Last I looked…tests only count if you FINISH them…to bad Vick can NEVER finish any of his tests!
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
11:20 am
Ueediot — Agreed, problems on defense. Saw Falcons use 3 ends, no DT at one point. Babineaux being out hurt. Secondary also has issues, particular at safety and sometimes nickel. Not sure how much better it will get.
Jonny
September 19th, 2011
11:20 am
The Eagles and the Jets have busted their budget acquiring talent on both sides of the ball… The Eagles are a more talented team overall… but the Falcons found a way to win and I LOVE the direction Arthur Blank is taking this team: a more cerebral, disciplined and tight group. The future is bright, fellow Falcon fans. Just ignore the haters on this page who use Vick to voice their racist views and pull for our team to progress. THANKS MR. BLANK FOR MOVING THIS TEAM FORWARD!!
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
11:21 am
This win could really be important down the road. We now own the tie breaker over the Eagles.