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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
369 comments Add your comment
jerry
October 23rd, 2011
9:09 pm
Falcons were the beneficiary of 7 first downs by penalty and Ryan had a passer rating of 63.1. Not exactly an omen of a Super Bowl win.
James
October 23rd, 2011
9:11 pm
There was a time when thugs like Suh weren’t allowed to play the game. But that was also when the game was the game. There were no long haired pretty boys with their dreds, platts or locks flying out from under and behind their helmets. The game was played on grass so there weren’t all these ridiculous knee and ankle injuries. If you got injured, you were hurt. The game had a flow to it. There was no strategizing when to use a penalty, or instant replay or challenges. Full backs may not have been fast but, they could carry 3 or 4 of these little stick legged defensive backs in the game now, all the way to the back of the end zone. Now, we have to watch some simian like dance in the end zone from some showboat who gets paid a s__t load of ducats to get to the end zone. Oh yeah…you’re bad!! What a way to KILL a once very respected sport. Friggin homos. I’ll NEVER watch (Pro) Football again.
5150 UOAD
October 23rd, 2011
9:14 pm
Jerry not sure about that. Lions had 10 penalties right?
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 23rd, 2011
9:21 pm
Falcons put up 23 on one of the , if not the, toughest defense in the league. I will take it and I’m not worried about the overthrows, it will be corrected. They often look bad on tv, but more than a few were timing routes and the receiver just got checked or bumped and missed being in position by a hair. The one thing We never have to worry about with Matty ICE is him melting down over a few bad passes. Stafford has a great arm, but when he got flustered today you could see him, and Coach Billick even noted, he starts to force things too much..thinking arm strength will just make up for it..it doesn’t most times..exempli gratia, Brett Favre
Injury Bug
October 23rd, 2011
9:23 pm
7 1st downs by penalty! tell me arty didn’t pay for that before the game. how ’bout dem saints 28-zzzzzip. the failcans are taking note i garontee
kerryb
October 23rd, 2011
9:25 pm
Now that we have the running game working again things will open up more when Julio gets back. We can really do some play action to Julio and Roddy when the running game is working. The pass protection has gotten a lot better the last few weeks. I guess the new line had to gel with no off season to get ready without Dahl.
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams
October 23rd, 2011
9:26 pm
I have been as big a critic as anyone regarding Ryan…..but he is tough as nails and a competitor. That said, he is still not an accurate passer…..and I don’t think he can lead us to a Super Bowl win
…..as for “we dat”….could you and your other Katrina refugees leave our fair city and take that stench with you back to the Bayou???
duronimo
October 23rd, 2011
9:28 pm
Nick Fairly (the Auburn thug) is apparently a big influence on his team mates.
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm
damn ,if we had that nasty oline we had last year it would have been a war with Suh,hes dirty,and someone needs to blindside him a few times..great win falcons…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm
CHOKE’s qb rating is sinking faster than the Titantic.
Without Turner this team is toast.
CHOKE couldn’t blow his nose without leaning on the running game.
Whenever the team tries to lean on the weak NOODLE ARM they do the same thing over and over………….
They lean back on Turner.
CHOKE is not elite, He is Meek
Never going to win a playoff game.
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:31 pm
where is Dahl playing these days?
5150 UOAD
October 23rd, 2011
9:32 pm
@2-10 There isn’t enough stuff in NOLA for them to steal yet. They haven’t picked the Bones of Atlanta clean yet.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 23rd, 2011
9:32 pm
Choke is Mike Vicks 3rd baby momma’s 1st cousin once removed for parole violation
falconsfans
October 23rd, 2011
9:35 pm
when you say,Wow, the Lions are vastly over rated and were exposed today. I guess that means you did not beat much,right? Never have understood why teams say this and then beat their chest about it?? Guess I am missing something.
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:38 pm
why do people come on a falcons blog and complain about falcons fans happy about a win? Its a sport…why ask?+++++++++++++++++
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 23rd, 2011
9:42 pm
Indy Falcon..If that means Indianapolis, I am wondering if you have the same feeling i do..They are going all in for Andrew Luck at this point, and want nothing like a pesky accidental win to mess that up..just my theory
FalconBart
October 23rd, 2011
9:43 pm
I think I would say,We just beat a really good football team.Kinda makes you look better then,don’t ya think?
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:43 pm
I remember not too long ago when the falcons and saints had bunch of 4-12 years,and they were each others rival and fought each other for the nfc west cellar. Remember this a-i-n-t-s..MR is a little younger than DB so we’ll see real soon whos gonna bring more doom!
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:45 pm
TRish,you should see these fans up here cheering for Luck..its sick..in no way will i ever root for the colts..unless they play georgia(which aint gonna happen)
Mr Charlie
October 23rd, 2011
9:47 pm
Choke, you just HATED it when Ryan showed his gut and came off the deck and led the team to victory.
You SOOO wanted him to be out so could say he quit, but he ain’t no quitter like MV7.
Don’t care what you say, even week your argument is becoming less and less relevant, but you cannot see past your hate.
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:48 pm
Im a tech fan also,i know iknow,were terrible…but the dawgs are a team i was raised to hate…even though i loved to watch Hershel play…shhhhhh.did i just say that?
JASon
October 23rd, 2011
9:49 pm
Stand up to cancer. Why is it that I can’t just watch a baseball game without having to feel bad about something? Can’t we just enjoy something without being beaten over the head with negativity.
Huh?
October 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
James – are you an idiot? The NFL players used to be tougher and dirtier than Suh. He would have fit right in 40 years ago.
66Falcon Fan
October 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
falcons fans and bart must be school teachers.Go grade some papers girls.
Dollarbills
October 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
If Suh and Avril are talking like this article says, they better have eyes front, back, and sideways protecting their own knees.
Get real
October 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
Hey JASon, so you’re FOR cancer? Jerkwad
Indy FALCON
October 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
GO Braves!!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 23rd, 2011
9:51 pm
I feel like that for the Saints, (unless they played UGA)..
Actually I would probably just hope the super dome collapsed during pre game ceremonies if that matchup ever came about.Oddly enough, it’s not even the teams themselves that make me hate the Aint’s and the Bulldogs..it’s large segments of their fanbases
jloofatl
October 23rd, 2011
9:53 pm
mularkey has to go NOW..NOW…NOW
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 23rd, 2011
9:54 pm
THIS WIN WAS NOTHING WE STILL HAVE TO IMPROVE IN MANY AREAS!!!! HOWEVER, GOOD JOB FALCONS, NOW WE CAN GO INTO THE BYE AND HEAL SOME PLAYERS AND GET READY FOR THE COLTS!!!! PLUS A 3-GAME HOME-STAND SO THE SCHEDULE DOESN’T LOOK TO FORMIDABLE.
LIKE I SAID AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO STILL THINK MATT RYAN IS A GREAT QUARTERBACK THINK AGAIN!!! HE IS A ABOVE AVERAGE SUB-PAR QUARTERBACK, THAT WILL MANAGE THE GAME WITH A FEW GREAT PASSES, NOTHING COMPARED TO AARON RODGERS OR TOM BRADY!!!!
LOVE HOW THIS DEFENSE IS PLAYING!!!!! WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF FORCING 3 AND OUTS!!!! NICE 4-MAN PASS RUSH!!!! EVEN THOUGH BRENT GRIMES MISSED ONE OF THE EASIEST INTERCEPTIONS KNOWN TO MAN, BUT HE REDEEM HIMSELF BY HIS NICE PLAY ON CALVIN JOHNSON!!! WE ARE LUCK CALVIN ONLY SCORED 1 TOUCHDOWN, HE IS AND ABSOLUTE BEAST AND HE AVERAGES 2 TD’S A GAME!!!
OVERALL, WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON OUR PENALTY DISCIPLINE AND MIKE MULARKEY NEEDS TO CALL BETTER HIGH PERCENTAGE PLAYS FOR RYAN OR JUST LET HIM DO NO-HUDDLE FOR THE WHOLE GAME!!!!!
5150 UOAD
October 23rd, 2011
9:55 pm
Great another fan that has to Yell to get their point across. TURN OFF THE CAPS.
bucket
October 23rd, 2011
9:56 pm
Wow, Jeff. you could have written this same article after the UGA vs. Vanderbilt game and chose not to. Wonder why?
richie
October 23rd, 2011
10:04 pm
lost all respect for the lions. turns out the nfl cant have a good story without it getting ruined by punks like Suh
Jordan
October 23rd, 2011
10:07 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/10/23/atl-beats-det/
D-Man
October 23rd, 2011
10:08 pm
Karma is @#$% Suh, this will be the beginning of the Detroit Kitty Kats coming back down to earth and good riddance too. IBefore this game I had admiration for the season this oft-maligned franchise was having, now I hop they never win another game. Classless clowns.
Nativebird
October 23rd, 2011
10:09 pm
Love the win. Our defense came up BIG. Great D win on the road. But, it is clear that this offense has serious, serious problems that if not fixed, will simply not be able to put this team at the playoff calibur level. Mularkey playcalling is not as good as Ryan’s no huddle playcalling. O-line, particularly right guard is a joke, Reynolds, Hauley, Johnson, whoever, doesnt matter. they’re all not NFL ready. Baker appears to have lost the will to be a football player. Mclure cant stay healthy. Sviteck almost cracks our franchise QB’s ankle in half. Sad. we dont fix that? 9 and 7 at best and Ryan doesnt last week 10. Thanks Thomas….lot of holes unfilled in exchange for a rookie receiver who’s not playing.
Loserville USA
October 23rd, 2011
10:11 pm
It took injuries for the Falcons to return to their identity.
Screw explosiveness. And screw Ndamukong as well.
Schwartz is trying to get his team on the map. Wrong road.
Lifelong Lions Fan
October 23rd, 2011
10:13 pm
Sure, Suh did some stupid and unnecessary things out there. He needs to grow up. But if you are naive enough to think the Falcons (and every other NFL team) don’t do that sort of trash-talking, then keep on living in your dream world.
ddog
October 23rd, 2011
10:13 pm
Still trying to run up the middle on first down with a 99% failure rate. What a waste of a down every time. Look at the saints getting all kind of first downs on second down. Mularky makes it so hard on the offense.
richie
October 23rd, 2011
10:14 pm
Ovie just tweeted that the injury looked worse than it was and that he is ok! that looked gruesome
Lifelong Lions Fan
October 23rd, 2011
10:16 pm
…and, by the way, the Falcons were given 7 points by the officials…that pass interference call from that errant Ryan pass was pretty pathetic… that pass was closer to the upper deck of Ford Field than the endzone.
Knucksie
October 23rd, 2011
10:17 pm
Dunta Robinson = Charles Dimry
BUST!
Respect
October 23rd, 2011
10:17 pm
Choke, you are the biggest d-bag on the planet! If you are not a falcons fan why do do constantly post on our boards. Yes your team won a Superbowl but close the scrapbook already. Quit harassing us falcon fans who just want to talk about their team. I don’t understand it. You must be a virgin bc this is all you do you douche! Please tell me where you want to meet so I can put you in your place. I am serious! If you want my address instead let me know. I would love to whip your ass. Let’s see if you are all talk beau! Bring it fag!
Terrell
October 23rd, 2011
10:18 pm
@UGABugKiller and all those that are blaming MM for the stagnant offense you need to look at the 2nd offensive series when it was 3rd and inches. MM had a play called and Mike Smith called timeout because he wanted to pound the ball and it ended up in a fg. MM is calling the plays based on what Mike Smith wants. I bet if Coach Smith took the reigns off and let MM coach like he wanted to then we might see a lot of the different things everybody is demanding we need, but in defense of what we do. If it’s bringing wins then ride it as long as you can right?
Kevin from Columbus GA
October 23rd, 2011
10:19 pm
The falcons will win alot of games as long as they stick to what they do best. Trying to change to that high powered offense set us back 3 losses. I believe we understand now what we must do in order to win football games. We went 13-3 last season playing our own style. We just had a major panic attack in the off season because of the Green Bay loss. We can win a super bowl playing our style of football. We have to play smart, execute and not turn the ball over. Julio Jones can play be effective playing in our run and play action style offense. We don’t have to chunk it 60 yds to him every time. I think when he comes back you will see us getting really better having Julio Jones playing our style of football that took us to 13-3 last season.
Knucksie
October 23rd, 2011
10:19 pm
People who write in all caps and end every sentence with not one, but three, exclamation points are unstable and should be medicated.
Injury Bug
October 23rd, 2011
10:20 pm
hey trisha the war eagle- dem bayou bengals sure whipped up on auburn didn’t they? embarassing is what it was!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 23rd, 2011
10:20 pm
Good news on Ovie!! Thanks richie.
Can a player who didn’t play a snap all season win MVP? It’s painfully obvious from this N.O. INDY game that Peyton Manning is the most valuable player to his team, in the league.
Hard to believe this game was a super bowl 2 years ago..
Terrell
October 23rd, 2011
10:20 pm
Lifelong Lions Fan
I agree that the pass wasn’t catchable, but it should’ve been at least defensive holding so your made a mute point.
take it from me.
October 23rd, 2011
10:20 pm
two bad teams played today,and the falcons won! the saints still the best of the south.