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
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
11:56 am
Drew Brees has lost 7 games in the Super Dome over the same amount of time.
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
11:58 am
Didn’t Baltimore get beat by Tenn yesterday 26-13 and Flacco was getting the crap kicked out of him all day. I don’t know if he is glad or not.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
11:58 am
I think Baltimore lost yesterday to the Titans 26-13. Hasselbeck threw for 356 yards. Great defense for Baltimore too huh.
Dawglasville
September 19th, 2011
11:58 am
To quote Jerry Seinfeld, “Look to the cookie.”
drmaryb .(*_*).
September 19th, 2011
11:59 am
* ….. AND side shows.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
#25 Leshawn McCoy is one special dude. He makes instant cuts in 1 meter boxes like nobody else. His vision is surreal…
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
One question. WHY? WHY? is Trent Dilfer a TV analyst. He was one of the WORST QB’s to EVER Win a Super Bowl. And if it had not been for the great defense of the Ravins that year, they would have been toast. He sits there and trys to analyze QB play and tell them what and what they shouldn’t be doing. Isn’t that like the Captain of the Titanic giving speeches (of course if he had survived) on how to avoid icebergs?
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
Baltimore win playoff games!
How bout that Ice Melt dude and his tough Fal-cons..0 for?
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
Remember from last year. We owe Josh Freeman a nice early punch in the face for the cheap shot he took on Brent Grimes at the end of last season.
I will not mind the 15yd penalty, because paybacks are necessary.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
12:03 pm
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
11:56 am
Drew Brees has lost 7 games in the Super Dome over the same amount of time.
***It doesn’t take away the fact that Drew Brees has a SuperBowl ring and Ryan doesn’t…
_#im just saying!
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:04 pm
Go Pack Go !
yeah right, hurry on down here in 3 weeks to the Georgia Dome with Mathews and Friends, and see what the Birds give you . Some in your Face Smashmouth football for a butt kickin payback for last years playoff loss that cost The Birds maybe a trip to the NFC title Game !
Revenge will be sweet !
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:04 pm
Correction, I have wondered that for awhile. Trent Dilfer was probably about the 20th best QB when he played and you’re right, the Ravens got to the Super Bowl because of their defense and he just happened to be their QB that year. There was nothing special about him but ESPN likes to act like he’s some kind of expert.
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:06 pm
What has he done lately? The league has moved on. Once you win they have forgotten after 2 years. The flavor of the month now is Aaron Rogers. Forget Drew Brees.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
12:06 pm
Coach Smith should personally thank Andy for BLOWING THAT NON-CHALLANGE BIG TIME!!!!
A Game changer indeed……..
Thats okay Greenbay is gonna dismantle the dirty broke birds in 3 weeks…Defense should give up @ least 50 points…
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
Yea, and the Refs got that wrong on Samuel’s INT. The tip of the ball touched the ground. They scored off that so I guess that evens it out.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
I think they just try to keep alot of them experts a job, heck we got more experience and expert analysis on whats to go down than they do.
GACheesehead
September 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
MM……..yawn….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, you are boring
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
you said that during the week about how Philly was gonna run up the points too Chandler haaaaaaa!
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
kerryb, without a doubt though, Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady are the two best QB’s playing today. They are just smart, tough, on the money QB’s that make good decisions and win. Brees on the other hand has great stats, but makes as many mistakes as he does good plays. Although he makes so many good plays, they outweigh the bad. ie: 20+ ints last year. He is a good one though for sure. He would have never flurished in San Diego like he has in New Orleans. Peyton and Brees work together well.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
12:11 pm
MM= Cheerleader, sniffer,He should go hangout on the other Blog(3xD) with the other Cheerleading sniffers..YAWN…lol
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
Correction, I agree with you. I wish Ryan had more of a West Coast type OC. I think he would do better in that type of offense. I was hoping that Musgrave would have stayed because that’s what he is and someone would have taken Mularky as a head coach.
Chandler going Deep..
September 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
Yes the Eagles were running up the score with more to come when MV7 got injured…
The Falcons defense is horrific…..A trend now @ 30+ per game…..
Playoffs?
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
you right I need to get to work to pay the bills here enough of this with the same ole same ole with you two cause you can’t stand it when the Birds pluck your feathers so tah tahhhhhh and still laughing here!
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
kerryb, They need to use Ryan for his skills, going across the middle, medium to short passes, etc. That’s basically the offense the Saints run week in and week out.
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
Chandler, a lot of teams are giving up a lot of points and are still winning. Look at the scores the last 2 weeks. The Packers who are suppose to have a good defense gave up 475 yards and 23 points to Carolina yesterday. Defenses have no chance in the offensive league right now.
Nativebird
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
Well, as I had expected, so far haven’t seen ANY of last week’s Vick Love Fest Sports-press retract their statements on how Atlanta was going to “cheer” for Vick and welcome him back “home”. I was there: Atlanta Falcon Fans BOOOOED Michael Vick so MERCILESSLY like I’ve never heard in the Dome. This franchise-wrecker is Persona Non-Grata in this town WITH OUT A DOUBT. Period. And you will never hear this from the Press….ever. It doesn’t fit their “Narrative” of Race, hate, culture, tragedy and “redemption”. Atlanta didn’t quit Vick….Vick quit Atlanta. And that is the ugly truth.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
Chandler….I know you hope against hope that MV would have been the savior of the game, but truth be told, the Falcons probably would have won BIGGER with him in. He is sporadic, inconsistent and injury prone. Mistake oriented in how he manages the ball is a long ago problem. The Eagles better get ready, he isn’t playing for a big pay day any longer. We saw this type Vick in 2005 and 2006. It’s going to get worse, believe me.
Kane337
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
Vick was pointing to his parole officer.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
“Andy blew it! Should have challenged that MV7 pick that was not a pick. Ball touched the ground..That turnover would have been reversed! Shoot!. The TD that followed turned into a Fal-cons win rather than a loss…”
According to Andy Reid, they were debating whether or not to challenge but NBC didn’t provide them with a replay. NBC later apologized. So blame Al Michaels.
J.J.M.
September 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
anyone know the tv ratings views for this game?
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
Correction, I agree. That’s a west coast type offense. What you described is what Ryan would excel at. Instead he is tied down in Mularkey’s boring old Steelers offense from the late 90’s.
Kane337
September 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
EAGLES-FALCONS ON Sunday Night Football POWERS NBC TO ANOTHER SUNDAY NIGHT WIN
15.7 Overnight Rating Up 3% From Last Year’s Week 2 “Manning Bowl II”
SNF Game 67% Higher than Closest Competition
NEW YORK – Sept. 19, 2011 – Last night’s Eagles-Falcons Sunday Night Football game on NBC registered a 15.7 overnight rating and a 25 share, a gain of three percent over last year’s Week 2 game, according to overnight ratings data released today by The Nielsen Company. The game also led NBC to another Sunday night win while going head-to-head against the Emmy Awards on Fox.
The 15.7/25 overnight rating for last night’s game, in which Matt Ryan and the Falcons defeated Michael Vick and the Eagles, 35-31, is up three percent from last year’s Sunday Night Football Week 2 contest, which featured the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, competing against each other for the second time (Giants-Colts, 15.2/24). The overnight rating peaked from 9:30-10 p.m. ET at a 17.0/26.
SNF IS NO. 1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT, TOPS EMMYS: For the fourth straight time that Sunday Night Football went head-to-head with the Emmy Awards (NBC aired the Emmys last year), SNF delivered a convincing victory defeating the awards program by a margin of 67 percent (15.7 vs.9.4).
Sunday Night Football again powered NBC to a Sunday night win in primetime, averaging 12.2/19 from 7-11 p.m. in metered-market households, 44 percent ahead of second place Fox (8.5/13).
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/19/eagles-falcons-on-sunday-night-football-powers-nbc-to-another-sunday-night-win/104085/
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
JJM, here ya go…..
SNF Game 67% Higher than Closest Competition
NEW YORK – Sept. 19, 2011 – Last night’s Eagles-Falcons Sunday Night Football game on NBC registered a 15.7 overnight rating and a 25 share, a gain of three percent over last year’s Week 2 game, according to overnight ratings data released today by The Nielsen Company. The game also led NBC to another Sunday night win while going head-to-head against the Emmy Awards on Fox.
The 15.7/25 overnight rating for last night’s game, in which Matt Ryan and the Falcons defeated Michael Vick and the Eagles, 35-31, is up three percent from last year’s Sunday Night Football Week 2 contest, which featured the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, competing against each other for the second time (Giants-Colts, 15.2/24). The overnight rating peaked from 9:30-10 p.m. ET at a 17.0/26.
SNF IS NO. 1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT, TOPS EMMYS: For the fourth straight time that Sunday Night Football went head-to-head with the Emmy Awards (NBC aired the Emmys last year), SNF delivered a convincing victory defeating the awards program by a margin of 67 percent (15.7 vs.9.4).
kerryb
September 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
Najeh, Samuel’s INT was not an INT either. The refs blew it the point of the ball touched the ground so it evens out.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
OOPS, sorry for the duplicate information.
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:24 pm
kerryb, You are correct. Did you hear the Ref say the play on the field stands, meaning they did have enough evidence to overturn the call, otherwise they would have said confirmed. The ball clearly hit the ground and kept it in Samuels hand.
ramguy68
September 19th, 2011
12:24 pm
For the Vick lovers here’s the bottom line. Ryan won and YOU lost!!!!
ramguy68
September 19th, 2011
12:26 pm
Najeh, Samuel’s INT was not an INT either. The refs blew it the point of the ball touched the ground so it evens out.
I thought the tip of the ball hit the ground and bounced into his arms….I thought it was an incomplete pass.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
Really? Bandwagons? — “DO YOU KNOW WHAT TEAM OR TEAMS IT WAS THAT RYAN LOSS TO IN DA DOME????
JUST CURIOUS………………..
<<< Ryan lost to Denver 24-20 in 2008 and New Orleans 17-14 in 2010.
Really?Bandwagons?
September 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
Correction
September 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
kerryb, without a doubt though, Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady are the two best QB’s playing today. They are just smart, tough, on the money QB’s that make good decisions and win. Brees on the other hand has great stats, but makes as many mistakes as he does good plays. Although he makes so many good plays, they outweigh the bad. ie: 20+ ints last year. He is a good one though for sure. He would have never flurished in San Diego like he has in New Orleans. Peyton and Brees work together well
THATS ALL I WAS TRYING TO SAY!))))I WANT THE FALCONS TO SUCCEED, BUT WITH THEIR STYLE OF PLAY AND MATT RYAN/MULARKEY..IDK!!!..
I STILL SAY BREES IS A BETTER QB THAN RYAN!
AND KERRYB:
What has he done lately? The league has moved on. Once you win they have forgotten after 2 years. The flavor of the month now is Aaron Rogers. Forget Drew Brees.
-I AGREE, BUT WE ARE STILL ON THAT NON-SUPERBOWL LIST,,UNTIL THAT CHANGES: RODGERS, BRADY, MANNING, BREES WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSHADOW RYAN!
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
Read This — I’m not sure if I want Ryan calling plays in whole game but I wouldn’t mind seeing him doing more than he does now, particularly in no-huddle.
CaptainKirk
September 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
In 40 yrs of watching these Birds, Sunday after Sunday and pulling my hair out one strand at a time, never but never have I watched as big a GIFT as last night. The Birds were totally irrevocably DOMINATED in every phase of the game..but the score. Once again:
stupid penalties,
dropped interceptions
woefully inadequate pass blocking
abysmal punting game….did we really let Koenan go for this high school kicker from Florida?
I could go on & on…
Asa far as personell are concerned Dimitroff has passed over enough ALL pros to fill a wing in the Smithsonian:
Clay Matthews, BJ Raji in the draft
Julius Peppers in free agency
and in favor of.. ( drum roll) Peria Jerry? Daunting Dunta Robinson….who’s becoming legendary for resembling a deer in the headlites when toasted by yet another receiver.
All this makes this win perhaps the most surprising GIFT in those 40 yrs…. GIFTs have a way of evening out over time though and this latest Falcon version aint talented enough or coached well enough to prevail on many of these occasions
just my take
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
12:30 pm
FalconsSuck — Ryan hasn’t lost “4 or 5″ games in Georgia Dome. He’s 20-2, with the two losses to Denver and New Orleans.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
12:30 pm
Matt Ryan’s .702 winning percentage means he is one of the best QBs in the league. Not the NFC South, not the NFC, the LEAGUE.
I remember the days of prime time being a death knell for the Falcons, the league, the fans (remember 41-3? I do) and the networks. Now, not only do the networks love us, we WIN prime time games, and we COME FROM BEHIND, to WIN prime time games.
the only stat that matters is Wins and Losses.
Still on track to win 12 games. Must go, at worst 4-2 in the division so this Tampa game is HUGE. Go knock Freeman in the mouth and run it up on them.
(Why wasnt Talib suspended from the league after being arrested for a felony involving physical violence and a gun charger over the offseason?)
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2011
12:31 pm
KerryB — That’s true about home loss to Packers but playoff games are not official NFL stats in players career. So when you see “starting record”, you’re not seeing playoffs.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
12:31 pm
And yes, we do need a punter. A 35yd avg is bottom of the hill in the NFL.
Gloria Ledbetter
September 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
I thought at halftime they would talk about how Micheal Vick did a crime and served his time in prison. Then bring up how Casey Anthony did her crime but served NO time !
Falcon's Cuss in WR
September 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
I had to repent after this one. Kept us all up too late with too much drama. Please get help on the O line or our young QB will be injured soon! Defense has got to tighten up the coverage down field. How many times did an Eagle get open with spacing to catch and run? How many horrible routes did we run and how many miraculous catches did we have to make to even stay alive. This team needs to get better in a hurry. GO FALCONS!
GregKennesaw
September 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
Vick down for the count…………………So that’s what they meant by “dream team”
sam
September 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
Two things I haven’t seen mentioned yet. Did anyone else hear Al Micheals say Vick is big hero in atlanta, comparable to Hank Aaron? REALLY? Also haven’t heard any one mention Mike Vick’s finger to the crowd as he went to the locker room. Not the middle one this time, he was pointing to the scoreboard, but it still brought back some memories.