Falcons punch out Lions, then rip Suh for taunting Ryan
Roddy White celebrates with Tony Gonzalez after an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Then he had some choice words for Detroit after Sunday's win. (AP photo)
DETROIT – It was less than an hour before the game when the Falcons emerged from a tunnel at Ford Field and found the entire Detroit Lions team standing there in the corner of the end zone. Mike Peterson, self-appointed drill sergeant in matters such as these, announced his team’s arrival.
“We had somewhere to go and they were in our way,” the Falcons linebacker said. “I said, ‘We’re not going around them — we’re going this way [straight ahead].’ I said, ‘Get the bleepity bleep out of the way.’”
Some pre-rumble-like jawing ensued. There were no punches but it got uncomfortable enough that pipsqueak game officials were forced to step in and separate a thousand pounds of humanity.
This was a good sign for the Falcons.
There hasn’t been a game this season when they didn’t slip a gear at some point. Sunday’s game was no exception. But what they gave us after the pregame stare down was easily their most impressive victory of the season and one of their edgiest.
They beat a 5-1 Detroit team, 23-16. They won on the road, where they hadn’t been impressive. They saw Matt Ryan leave the game with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, only to see him return and immediately fire a 49-yard completion to Harry Douglas. They saw Michael Turner leave the game with a dislocated finger, only to have someone on the sideline pop it back into place, after which Turner came back and broke off a 50-yarder.
Ndamukong Suh grabs the facemask of Matt Ryan in the first quarter, drawing a penalty. (AP photo)
They were smack-talked, taunted and treated to cheap shots by the Lions, and they won anyway. Ryan threw two interceptions but he made plays to win the game. The defense, maligned for much of this season, held the Lions without a third-down conversion until late in the third quarter. Calvin Johnson was relatively held in check (one touchdown).
After a loss to Green Bay had them reeling at 2-3, the Falcons have responded with consecutive wins over Carolina and Detroit, and have reason to feel good about things going into the bye week.
“This changes a lot,” said center Todd McClure. “We knew the type of team we had, we just hadn’t put it together. We weren’t perfect today. I know we had some penalties, but we overcame them. This win I think could catapult us for the rest of the season.”
The game started with some ill feelings. It ended that way, too.
When Ryan tripped over tackle Will Svitek with 10:13 left in the third quarter, he fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed his left knee. Tight end Tony Gonzalez said later, “I thought it was something bad. Anytime they come get you off the field, you think it’s something serious, especially when you have to go back to the locker room.”
As it turned out, Ryan missed only the first two plays of the Falcons’ ensuing possession, returning to throw a 49-yarder to Douglas on third-and-8 to set up a field goal that increased the lead to 20-9. (Coach Mike Smith on Ryan: “It just shows you the resolve and resiliency of this guy.”)
But when Ryan was down, writhing in pain, Lions defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril taunted him, according to the Falcons.
“I had respect for Suh before the game,” McClure said. “But when Matt was on the ground, the things he was saying and the trash he was talking was definitely uncalled for. There are certain things you don’t do. [He said], ‘Get the cart’ and several other things that I can’t repeat.”
Roddy White said, “I lost a whole lot of respect for 90 [Suh] today, and also 92 [Cliff Avril], the [bleep] they were doing when Matt got hurt. That was unacceptable. … Like 92 was kicking [Ryan’s] feet, saying, ‘Get him off the field.’ We don’t do stuff like that. We don’t rally over guys when they get hurt. It was just inappropriate behavior. I mean, ‘Get the cart’? Are you serious? Come on. When you compete, you never want to see a guy get hurt.”
Suh and Avril were not around to respond to the comments afterward. But it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing somebody would make up after a win.
Detroit has lost two straight since a 5-0 start. The Falcons have won two straight since 2-3. This could be a market correction. Certainly, the Falcons feel like it is for them.
“They were 5-1 and they were absolutely drinking the Kool-Aid over here,” White said. “We just wanted to get a win. We didn’t want to fuss and fight and argue with those guys, like, ‘Who’s the better team?’ We got the W. That’s all that matters.”
By Jeff Schultz
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369 comments Add your comment
Hurt Kurbstreit
October 23rd, 2011
7:36 pm
Looks like Suh and Avril have been taking lessons from Fairly.
5150 UOAD
October 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
where do these punks come from?
Most come from the College Football Factories that could careless about how Smart the STUDENT athlete is.
phil
October 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
As for Suh and the other idiot, to heck with anyone that taunts an injured player….pathetic, cowardly. But typical of any team with a Nick Fairly on it!
mtnfalconfan
October 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
i see Indy getting their first win to night.
Greg
October 23rd, 2011
7:38 pm
UGABugKiller is right…I would add that when Mike Smith says, for the umpteenth time, that “we have a lot of mistakes to get fixed,” he never mentions the main mistake: having MM as the OC. I ask you, Falcons fans, have you ever seen such terrible, predictable, weird, self-destructive play calling? The Lions, and esp. Stafford, were way off their game today (in ways not attributable to the Falcons), so they deserved to lose. But we hardly deserved to win.
slobberknocker
October 23rd, 2011
7:39 pm
@ george, go play in North Ave., you are obviously are a closet tech fan….. the loosing is not over yet! Go Falcons………… oh and yes Go Dawgs!
Jeff
October 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
Hopefully there is some video of Suh taunting an injured player. I’d love for his fat ass to get fined. I see offenses chop blocking Suh and eventually Fairly going forward.
mtnfalconfan
October 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
Come on dude, Are you really a fan?
WE dat
October 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
5150- let’s save the cheap shots for football, shall we? Especially if you’re trying to convince the blog that the falcons have class unlike the lions. Bottom line: We own your turf, Matt Ryan and co WILL GET SMACKED. Nov.13.
WHO DAT?!
Dawglasville
October 23rd, 2011
7:41 pm
The schedule sets up really nice from here. I definitely thnk that 12-4 (split with the Saints) or 11-5 (the Texans on the road) is in our future. Figure out a way to work Julio into the offense. Snelling looked really good at fullback. It’s not ideal but he did look good.
BJ
October 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
How is Ovie “Try and Slow Me” Mughelli doing?
falconsrus
October 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
WE dat WE dat if you dat you beat yourself so WE DAT DA BIRDS Gonna beat them saints we dat
BMC
October 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
What is the injury report on OH-BE- ONE Mugeili? My spell check went crazy on the full-backs last name, so I bet I got that one wrong. That looked like more than a bey week injury.
jeff
October 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
I had kinda been rooting for the Lions the last year or so, but not anymore… I hope they lose every game they play (sorry, Matt Stafford). I can respect anybody who plays the game the right way and respectfully, even if they are an arch-rival and I DESPISE the uniform (i.e., Tim Tebow at Florida, Drew Brees at New Orleans, Derek Dooley at Tennessee, Warrick Dunn when he was with the Buccaneers, etc.). But when you start acting thug, I immediately hate you, no matter if the rest of the world thinks you are cool — if you are a despicable human being (Roethlisberger, Kobe, LeBron, Clay Matthews, and now Suh), then I hope you shatter your leg in 100 places and can never play sports again. There is NO place for taunting an injured player in ANY sports league or ANY game situation…. PERIOD!!!
Glad we shut Suh’s gorilla thug mouth by winning… have fun getting your a*ses beat the rest of the year, boys… your 5-0 facade is crumbling.
ROD
October 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
All, please go back and read Schultz and Bradley blogs about two weeks ago. I wrote it then and I’m going to say it again, the Falcons will probably lose one more game. They will either finish 13-3 or 12-4. I told you all when they lost to the Packers was not that bad at people thought. I saw some good things in that game. I’m still little skeptical about Matt Ryan and those int’s/ and that horrible play calling. But they have enough to win the remaining games. Can someone tell them to use Rodgers more, Please!!! As I stated two weeks ago, they will still end up in the Superbowl. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. You all remember my comments!!!! GO FALCONS!!!!
5150 UOAD
October 23rd, 2011
7:45 pm
WE dat what cheap shot? that is the truth. We all saw it on the news for weeks. We were lucky enough here in Atlanta to receive some Lovely Katrina transplants. We know what type of people lived in NOLA that is not a cheap shot it is a Fact.
kerryb
October 23rd, 2011
7:46 pm
I was starting to become a little bit of a Lions fan because of Stafford but now I hope those Bas**rds lose every game form now on and I hope those 2 tear up a knee at sometime during the year. If I see it happen I’ll just laugh my behind off
Michael M.
October 23rd, 2011
7:48 pm
I hope somehow the Colts have a big Game tonight and walk over the Caints so I can laugh at all the Trolls who come on our Sports Blogs trying to aggrivate us but anyway you see Stafford have a bad day, you saw Cam Newton have a bad day………………Trolls, Do you honestly think Dree Brees is going to have a good day against the front line of the Birds….heyyyyyyyyyyy….I am already laughin here !
karl
October 23rd, 2011
7:49 pm
Jaquizz Rogers needs to play more…that kid is dynamite.
Shabba Ranks
October 23rd, 2011
7:49 pm
ribbit rib it
BirdDawg24
October 23rd, 2011
7:51 pm
that game was awaste of time…. seriously i have seen highschool players do a better job..wasted talent !
OK MATTY ICE?
October 23rd, 2011
7:52 pm
JULIO
katherine
October 23rd, 2011
7:53 pm
george
October 23rd, 2011
7:13 pm
sounds as if they are trying to challenge the dawgs for being the most classless organization is sports.
what is your problem? this is a falcons blog and you have to bring your negativity to it….get over yourself and the dawgs…..seriously no one cares about your opinion.
Michael M.
October 23rd, 2011
7:53 pm
Ha ! HA ! Ha ! HA ! Ha! Laughin at the Caints Troll Patrol…….Dree is gonna wish he had the Tummy Flu when they play Atlanta !
WE dat
October 23rd, 2011
7:54 pm
Hi Michael, the word is “aggravate”, and the QB is named “Drew Brees” not Dree.
ROD- the falcons will actually lose 2 more games pal. One on 11/13 and another on 12/26 in Louisiana
Perhaps those making cheap shots regarding Hurricane Katrina can teach the Detroit Lions a lesson in class?
WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?!
"Bare" Bryant
October 23rd, 2011
7:57 pm
SUH IS A NIGERIAN SCAMMER’S SON AND A THUG FROM NIGERIA. HE IS A GOOD FIT TO BE THE NEXT NIGERIAN DELTA REGION THUGSTER.
Michael M.
October 23rd, 2011
7:58 pm
lmao its Dree to me and the Caints and you got your dates wrong because on those two dates the Caints are goin to be called the Canned Caints …………Cheers !
Arthur M. Blank
October 23rd, 2011
7:59 pm
So glad I don’t have any classless thugs on my team.
This is Mularkey
October 23rd, 2011
8:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Michael M.
October 23rd, 2011
8:00 pm
Your ballgeam is on yah better got watch Dree …they might have his number !
Samuel
October 23rd, 2011
8:01 pm
Suh is immature, hopefully one day he’ll grow as a man. I’m liking what I see in the defense minus the penalties. The last two games Corey Peters has stepped up. Brent Grimes and Witherspoon are playing at a high level. The defense carried this team today. Matty Ice did some good things, but he’s too up and down in the course of a game. His accuracy needs to improve as the Falcons go forward. There were some big plays left on the field. The offensive line is playing with improvement- hopefully they can develope into a respectable line. Right now Turner and Gonzales are the Falcons bread and butter. If Mike Smith can convince the players to play mistake free football, the Falcons could be onto something.
Steak and Potatoes
October 23rd, 2011
8:02 pm
Falcons going to the Superbowl is about as likely as Obama being elected another term.
By the way: dawgs suck, falcons suck, braves suck, hawks suck.
Fred Macmurray
October 23rd, 2011
8:03 pm
GO COLTS!
This is Mularkey
October 23rd, 2011
8:04 pm
It looks like the Falcons are finally getting their sea legs under them. I think we were dealing with some post-lockout rustiness early on. Those games against the Bears and Seahawks were just not what we’ve seen from Mike Smith-coached teams. We’re still committing too many penalties, but things are coming together. I’m pretty optimistic about the rest of the season.
Fred Macmurray
October 23rd, 2011
8:04 pm
Detroit has no class,, and I really thought they were such nice young men.
Steak and Potatoes
October 23rd, 2011
8:05 pm
ballgeam?
Clearly Michael M. is an alum of a “fine” institution like UGA.
rooster
October 23rd, 2011
8:05 pm
Jeff, I think you meant to say Ryan was writhing in pain, not wreathing.
Shane
October 23rd, 2011
8:05 pm
I hate the whole state of Michigan!!! Classless Fans and Players!!! Stafford and Johnson need to get out of that state. 2 good of players to be on a classless organization!!!
straitroad
October 23rd, 2011
8:06 pm
Nice piece on the game, Mr. Schultz.
katherine
October 23rd, 2011
8:07 pm
come on what are you people. the spelling police lol geez
Karma
October 23rd, 2011
8:10 pm
They taunt Ryan when he hurt his knee and then Stafford gets hurt with an MRI scheduled for tomorrow! Hmm!
There's
October 23rd, 2011
8:10 pm
always one piss-A(i)nt in the crowd like We Dat:
Piss-A(i)nt:
Piss-a(i)nt is an epithet for an inconsequential, irrelevant, or worthless person, especially one who is irritating or contemptible out of proportion to his or her significance.
tiger7_88
October 23rd, 2011
8:13 pm
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww… the Falcons and their headhunters had their feelings hurt by the bad words?
Poor, poor little Falcons and their cheap-shotting headhunters.
Dawglasville
October 23rd, 2011
8:13 pm
katherine Why bring the Dawgs in to it? Can’t we just enjoy this win together?
katherine
October 23rd, 2011
8:14 pm
Dawglasville
October 23rd, 2011
8:13 pm
katherine Why bring the Dawgs in to it? Can’t we just enjoy this win together?
I didnt…I was responding so someone elses post
stendek
October 23rd, 2011
8:15 pm
Cannot make a housewife out of a whore. Also cannot make quality NFL professional out of a thug. Any doubts? Refer to Detroit Lions roster.
Hurricane Katrina
October 23rd, 2011
8:16 pm
I thought I washed all those classless Aints fans away. Why did Atlantans allow you turds into their beautiful city?
Injury Bug
October 23rd, 2011
8:16 pm
special thanks should go to arty blank for his generous donation to the refs vacation fund right before the game.
katherine
October 23rd, 2011
8:18 pm
Injury Bug
October 23rd, 2011
8:16 pm
special thanks should go to arty blank for his generous donation to the refs vacation fund right before the game
pathetic……
Michael M.
October 23rd, 2011
8:18 pm
Spellin hadnt got nuthin to do when Dree comes into the Dome ! Its all about him running for his life! crackin up out here ! Just wait n see The Aints are the Caints in the Birdhouse !