The brand new Falcons play in prime time and find a way
Tony Gonzalez slams the Bears. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
When last the Falcons played in prime time, they lost to the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 10, 2007, the same day Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail. Twenty-four hours later, they watched on TV as their head coach demonstrated how to call hogs. Thus did a surreal season reach its nadir, and we around here were asking ourselves, “How many years before this beset team gets good again? Five? Ten? Five hundred?”
On Sunday the Atlanta Falcons welcomed a nation of TV watchers back to the Georgia Dome, and it didn’t start well. The Falcons trailed 7-0 before they made a first down and were lucky not to trail 17-0. And right about then we were thinking, “An Atlanta team plays on the big stage and lays a royal egg. Haven’t we seen this before?”
But here’s the thing: These Falcons are not the feckless Falcons of old. They can look bad, yes. But they refuse to look bad for long. They’re too resourceful, too clever, too driven. And when NBC broke for halftime analysis, the team that started so slowly was leading 14-7 and had taken control of a game going wrong.
This being the NFL, the game would wobble all over creation. But when finally the end came, the Falcons had won the thing. They got a huge kickoff return from Eric Weems. They got a go-ahead touchdown drive that had Tony Gonzalez’s fingerprints all over it — well, it would have his prints if he didn’t wear gloves — and then got a stop inside the 10 inside the final 30 seconds on a defensive sequence that had the famous cornerback Jamaal Anderson (yes!) dropping into coverage.
And here we say, not for the first time and not for the last, that the New Falcons have done more than just win enough games that they again get to splash their faces on prime time TV. They’ve become a remarkable assemblage. They’re smart and they’re tough. They can take a punch. They can deliver one, too. They can win a lot of different ways, and now they’re 4-1 and looking again like a playoff team at worst and maybe like something much better than that.
They didn’t beat the Chicago Bears because everything went right. Not much did, truth to tell. Matt Ryan threw two interceptions. The offense sustained only three drives. (Two, if you discount Roddy White’s 40-yard touchdown on a quick hitch.) The defense leaked yardage to Jay Cutler and his tight ends, but somehow you looked up after 60 minutes and saw the Bears with just 14 points. Which didn’t quite compute but sure did matter.
We’ll make much of the final few minutes, of Gonzalez’s catches and Michael Turner’s touchdown and Jamaal Anderson’s improbable coverage — Erik Coleman was assisting downfield — on Cutler’s final fling, but this was a game won in that first quarter. The Bears, coming off a bye, started fast. The Falcons were doing all they could just to hang around. But that’s the point: They hung.
Thomas DeCoud intercepted two wretched Cutler throws, and the second changed the game. White scored his touchdown and Gonzalez scored his four seconds before halftime, and from then on the Bears were chasing a game they should have been leading. And the Falcons’ defense would yield ground but not points. (Jonathan Babineaux stripped Matt Forte of the ball inside the 5 in the third quarter, Coy Wire coyly recovering.)
And if you were watching at home in, say, Bozeman, Mont., you couldn’t have watched the Falcons and said of them, “Those poor pitiful losers.” If you saw this one, you saw a team that grows with every week, that in the span of 22 months has gone from pathetic to proudly professional. You saw a team that knows how to win.
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211 comments Add your comment
U-no
October 19th, 2009
8:44 am
The Saints looked pretty good yesterday. But, it could have been the the Giants looked pretty bad, too. I think we can take Dallas, if we bring our A game. But, I am concerned about our first matchup with NO. Great game last night. It was refreshing to hear announcers talking good things about our Falcons!
Chef montuer
October 19th, 2009
8:48 am
GO SAINTS!
F-105 Thunderchief
October 19th, 2009
8:51 am
My three favorite teams, UGA, GT and Falcons all won. It makes Monday a lot more bearable.
Brad in Jasper
October 19th, 2009
8:56 am
Bozeman, MT. That was random, Mark, but I get the point.
TD’s and KO returns don’t get me excited like sacks and goal-line stands. The two pops on Forte got me off the couch, and I’m a pretty reserved guy. Holy cow. Loved it. Saved a game where the Falcons didn’t even play that well.
I agree we’re not in NO’s class yet. Realistically we’re looking at a wild card berth this year if the status quo holds, and I’ll take it. NO may be the class of the entire league, rascals just happen to be in our division.
Sherman to the sea
October 19th, 2009
8:59 am
Have to give some props to Brent Grimes. Tight coverage and sure tackling tonight. Kid played above himself all night long. Good win and next two are tough ones. Falcons usually play the Saints tight, but they are a force this year. Need lots of the same underneath passing against the Boys to slow pass rush and then strecth the field with some deep ones. Go Falcons!
collegeballfan
October 19th, 2009
9:21 am
Mark Bradley
“I don’t think the Falcons will win in New Orleans. I think they can win in Dallas.”
I completely agree, even down to the words “will ” and “can”.
JIMBOB
October 19th, 2009
9:22 am
Very solid win overall. Did not like the ‘prevent’ defense garbage near the end. Matty heated up as the game went along, and let us not forget that it may not have been so close had Jenkins caught that ball.
Cowboys are not that good. Saints will be tough. Mark my words: if the Falcons punt on every 4th and 1 or 4th and 2 in that game, it’ll be over early. They HAVE TO keep the Saints offense off the field. From your own 30 yard line and forward, Falcons MUST go for it if they are going to have any chance. Must keep Brees off the field.
Great time to be a Falcons fan. And Matty is probably 4 or 5 years away from hitting his prime…good giggly wiggly!
JeanE
October 19th, 2009
9:23 am
I watched the start of this game and thought, here we go again, laying a big egg on National TV–but we regrouped and showed we are tough mothers!! I’m so proud of this team, the offense looked horrendous to start but finally found some rhythm. Finn was all over the place, he was a blocking maniac! I can’t believe it but Jamaal A had a great game, defensive tackle & CB, who’d of thunk it? I hope Brian Williams is OK b/c we really need him back, Jerious, too but we have more depth at running back. I have to say, it was excrutiating listening to Collinsworth, he is just so annoying and seemed to me to be rooting for the Bears! Our secondary is our weakest area but we managed to rise above it and make the plays when they counted. Go Birds!!!!
Eman
October 19th, 2009
9:24 am
All of you guys are scared of the Saints? We know them better than any other team in the NFL. I know we can beat them in the NO. People think that they are going undefeated? We will beat them in The NO. Their offence is great but like we seen last night;Pressure burst pipes!!! I believe that if da Falcons beat Dallas in their new space ship , then we will come into that game with a world of confidence. Players love to come into a game with a chip on their shoulders.
PMC
October 19th, 2009
9:24 am
Sugar Bear has his group COOKING! O Pace had to hold all night long. Jamaal Anderson has found his calling and it frees up Biermann to rush from the right. This was a huge huge win. Most of it is on the defense. Nicely done Thomas Decoup! Heck of a game for Brent Grimes a couple of beautiful tackles on 3rd down. I was upset with Mularky for some of it but the bootleg setups for the Tuner TD on second down was brilliant!
Way to go team. Go Falcons!
PMC
October 19th, 2009
9:27 am
Also Jamaal Anderson looked like he was feeling it last night. Nice to see him playing with emotion. Might be a good interior tandem with Babs the rest of the year.
JeanE
October 19th, 2009
9:29 am
One week at a time, I don’t look past the next game, that is crazy. Any given Sunday in the NFL, we are capable of beating Dallas, yes, it will be a tough place to play but Tony Romo is very unimpressive & can be pick throwing, we have to keep our mistakes down & play mean and nasty, I know we can do it. Yeah!
The Real Falcon
October 19th, 2009
9:36 am
I don’t accept splits. I only accept one game won at a time.
I should have my voice back by Tuesday!
Charles
October 19th, 2009
9:37 am
The next opponent Dallas, should be another good game i think we’re what 4-1 in the series? As long as Falcons play good d and keep giving the ball to Matt Ryan, Falcons we’ll find a way to win
JASon
October 19th, 2009
9:37 am
I loved what the coaches tried to do this game. You couldn’t really call it a conservative game plan, and in the end, it worked. I was really surprised at the approach, even though I knew the D would step up at home, as they usually do. Go falcons!
TheManMike
October 19th, 2009
9:38 am
After the game last night – Mike Smith mentioned that “we will have to make some tough decidions” in the coming days. I wonder what he was refering to? – Maybe a change with Houston?? Please?…..
D.B. Cooper
October 19th, 2009
9:44 am
Say whatever you want, but the pivotal point for me was the Goal line defense and to top it off with a takeaway on third down. Demoralizing for the Bears to say the least.
Edgewood Adam
October 19th, 2009
9:44 am
Is Chris Collinsworth having an affair with Johnny Knox??
Karl
October 19th, 2009
9:47 am
What about Orlando Pace holding John Abraham all night? More like grabbing him around the neck and dragging him to the ground. I think it was called by the refs just once. Poetic justice that his offsides penalty may have cost his team the game.
Eric Amous
October 19th, 2009
9:49 am
Man, I wish the NFL wouldn’t have gift wrapped the Saints schedule this year. Their toughest game was against a mediocre Giant’s(beat 5 teams that only accumulated one total win) team in which they had an additional week to prepare. They do not have one tough road game and every game they have against decent opponents is at home. The NFL needs to stop their love fest with the Saints. I’m sick of it. Go Falcons!
jim
October 19th, 2009
9:50 am
Falcons will win a championship at some point within the next years. It’s just a matter of when and how many.
North FLA Falcon
October 19th, 2009
9:52 am
HUGE win. Ryan only threw 2 bad passes but the second one hurt. We should have capitalized on the 12-men penalty, on the punt, and then put the game away. But the “D” came up huge as did the special teams. Our coverage was fairly tight but always seemed to be one step off. We need to resolve that if possible. I think J Anderson seems comfortable and even happy? as a D-tackle. Great move there. We got pressure on Cutler all night. Ryan is fantastic, I like how he is willing to throw the ball away if nothing is there. When the running game gets stuffed, he can come through. And we have Gonzalez. Bring on the ‘pokes! GO BIRDS!!!!!!!
Eric C.
October 19th, 2009
9:55 am
I noticed Ledbetter didn’t mention Brian Williams in the injury report? What is going on with him????
j
October 19th, 2009
9:55 am
What can I say, the bears gave that game away.
Three trips to the red zone without scoring? Come on Chicago.
JT
October 19th, 2009
9:56 am
Mark, If Orlando Pace did not hold Abraham all game long maybe John could have had 3 sacks. What do you think?
eric
October 19th, 2009
9:59 am
I agree with everyone that the Saints right now are the best team in the league. Going to the Superdome on Monday night and getting a win will be very difficult. But remember this: Atlanta and New Orleans HATE each other and those games are almost always close, regardless of talent. Never underestimate the importance of a rivalry game. The Falcons will come to play and we will see what happens….
# 7 OWN THIS TOWN
October 19th, 2009
9:59 am
# 7 NEED TO BE # 1 ON THE EAGLES DEAF CHART AT QB IN TIME FOR DECEMBER 6 !!!
PMC
October 19th, 2009
10:04 am
Also, unlike a lot of QB’s… I love how Matt Ryan leaves his helmet on. It’s like he’s expecting the defnese to get a turn over and he’ll go right back on the field. It’s lunchpail. I know it’s a little thing, but I love it. He’s ready to get back to work.
PMC
October 19th, 2009
10:05 am
Big props to Jamaal Anderson who was energetic, emotional and played really hard. It seems like they found his spot. Kudos to Sugar Bear Hamilton! Well done sir. Thomas Decoup have a day!
ALB FALCON
October 19th, 2009
10:07 am
We are winners regardless. I love how we hung in there… Cb’s up next 5-1… Saints, figure how to put brees off the mark… keep him running!!
Jack G.
October 19th, 2009
10:10 am
Dont know much about Bozeman, MT, but Billings MT is a greaat place.
DandyD
October 19th, 2009
10:15 am
Hey #7 Own This Town…this blog is for Falcons fans – not for illiterate MV7 apologists stuck hopelessly in the past, and for your information it’s called a freakin’ “Depth Chart.” Geez, grab a book. Education is the best defense against ignorance.
Bride of ChuckyKnapp
October 19th, 2009
10:17 am
First Falcon’s game I’ve watched in years–I’ll be back for more, as they have won me over. This team seems to capture the city of Atlanta, just getting the job done but with the right mix of style and grit to make it fun. It is so refreshing to see the accomplished Mr. Blank as owner instead of those previous goobers.
Terrell
October 19th, 2009
10:18 am
BugKiller,
Shut up!!! Your worse than those who are all over Flacco! Vick may had said one thing about his receivers but he didn’t do that all the time for the most part he kept to himself until people like you and the media would say stuff. Anyways, great game Atlanta.
midnite
October 19th, 2009
10:33 am
Our red zone defense is great. They may “leak” yardage but they get the stops and cause other teams to make huge mistakes. Just drug into work at 10:00 am and am pouring to java down my neck, got home from the game at 1:00 am. Not Ryan or Turners best game, but this staff knows how to make in game adjustments.
PMC
October 19th, 2009
10:38 am
As disapointing as I thought Mularkey was early… Those bootleg setups to the Turner touchdown were sheer brilliance. I love this coaching staff. I hope they will stay here for a while.
soxman
October 19th, 2009
10:42 am
Did we see the same game? The Bears beat themselves!
PMC
October 19th, 2009
10:44 am
Qhatever Soxman. Your Left Tackle is 700 years old and got away with holding all night. You have two falcon castoffs in Roberto Garza and Frank Omiyale on the OL and they got obliterated in the endzone. Deal with the fact that your Bears are a soft bunch that can’t run the ball. Have a nice trip back to the second city.
Enjoy those high picks going to Denver.
Manny
October 19th, 2009
10:46 am
I loved the adjustment of running outside the box. I was upset that Jerious Norwood got hurt, because this was his kind of game. He would have lit it up. That adjustment was a play-calling adjustment that was on-the-fly, and I liked that.
Second, Matt Ryan had to step up and he did. The Bears came in trying to beat Michael Turner, and they did. They took him away. What that meant was that they didn’t respect Ryan’s ability to be as accurate and to manage a game. He did. But he did it with a little out of the playbook from the old MV7 days. If he wanted a clutch catch, he went to his TE. Matt Ryan should never allow Tony Gonzalez to pay for his vacations ever again.
Speaking of MV7, Mike Vick is gone. There shouldn’t be any vitriol. There shouldn’t be any longing for his return, either. He’s an Eagle. And he’s not really even playing much. He’s being protected by that organization for a bigger return next year. So let it go… on both sides.
On Defense, VanGorder had them on a hop. My personal favorite Falcon this season is Beirmann. If this guy came up to my house and knocked on my door, I wouldn’t know who he is- but dude can just ball. All he does is make plays. And he’s not a freak like Abraham, Beirmann is pure strength and heart. #71 is that dude.
Also, Brent Grimes looked kinda right yesterday. I would love to see him intercept a ball, but he looked impressive.
That’s all.
TechBuzz
October 19th, 2009
10:49 am
Well, this entry is hours after War Eagles, but allow me to clarify what I was saying about our CB’s…..
I NEVER said our whole defense sucks. I actually think from the LB’s IN to the D-Line are pretty good. I have watched EVERY game, and I watch Houston, ESPECIALLY!! He is ALWAYS at least five yards off his coverage, and he does NOT know how to wrap up on anyone. This is his 4th year in the league and he is STILL making stupid pass interference plays like he did last night.
Also, regarding that pass in the end zone over his head; had he not already been 5 yards off his man, then YES he could’ve turned his head and made a play on the ball. He is making rookie mistakes 4 years into the league.
In the Carolina game, Delhome threw to his side four straight times, and EVERY time, that receiver caught the ball. One was a HUGE 3rd and 15. Every team knows that Houston is NOT a coverage CB!! Once his man gets behind him, he’s toast, which happens often might I add.
The only reason our secondary is ANY good, is b/c of DeCoud and Coleman. I will NEVER have any faith in Houston, and as a matter of fact, when an opposing QB throws to his side, I hold my breath on the play, b/c it will either be complete, Houston will get MAJORLY burned, or he’ll get a pass interference call. He can’t cover anybody.
Like I said, the last 2 SOLID CB’s we had were 16 years ago in Deion Sanders and Scott Case. Deion would just shut you down or INT the ball, and Scott Case would lay your a** out–PERIOD!!! For some reason, in this day and age, CB’s want to run with the receiver for 15 yards while trying to strip the ball, there by giving the receiver a first down. DeAngelo Hall did that ALL the time and drove me crazy. If you hit the receiver hard enough and knock him on his a**, then the ball will more than likely come out on it’s own. There are just no physical, shut down CB’s in the league anymore it seems like.
Tech Tony
October 19th, 2009
10:51 am
Here’s what I think is impressive, now that’s it’s over:
To date 7 teams have played coming off a bye (San Diego plays tonight).
Those 7 teams at this point are 6-1 in the game that followed.
Chicago is that one team that lost and that was last night at the Dome.
It probably doesn’t mean much but it is gritty and grit wins in the NFL when everything else is equal.
Bill
October 19th, 2009
10:54 am
Great job Mark>>>>The Falcons have improved every game and they’re playing as a TEAM. The Coaching has been great. Just take one game at a time, please.
The flying Falcons will ride that bucking Cowboys and Win. Have a little faith.
Yes Mark , Ryan does remind me of Big Ben, too.
Bill
October 19th, 2009
10:58 am
Oh, the Falcons play 4 teams coming off open dates. Whats up with that CRAP?
Flappin' Falcon
October 19th, 2009
11:00 am
Bye Week Battles
As we have all heard 1000 times, Falcons have 4 bye week opponents this year…that’s more than any other team. The following list is ranked by number of opponents coming off a Bye-Week per team.
ATL – 4
Bal, Ten – 3 each
Hou, Det, Den, StL, NO, Jax – 2 each
SF, Was, TB, NYG, Dal, Mia, GB, KC – 1 each
(Bye week games where both teams are coming off a bye week do not count)
Smitty tows the NFL company line when he says Bye Week games have not statistically given too much of an edge to the rested team since 2000. But I know it must “P” him off inside because it DOES give a huge advantage to the other team.
Well enough crying about what we can’t change. Let’s go kick some “Bye-Week rested” Cowboy butt in Dallas!
But 4 games? Holy Cow that is brutal
MATT RYAN>>THE FUTURE OF ATL!!
October 19th, 2009
11:05 am
Great article Mark…. That game was great. Had alot of moments and came out with a win.
A FAN
October 19th, 2009
11:05 am
Did anyone notice the Bob Costas factual errors? “Petrino left at the end of the year” and “Mike Smith is from Delray Beach in South Florida”…not even close on either count.
DaculaJones
October 19th, 2009
11:13 am
I understand that the Falcons made the playoffs last year and New Orleans didn’t.
I also understand that because of that, the Falcons earn a harder 2009 schedule.
But just to remind everyone, lets compare:
Falcons @ NE @ Dallas @ NYG @ NYJ
New Orleans @ Phil
Falcons home for Phil
New Orleans home for NYJ & NYG & NE & Dallas
As well as New Orleans is playing, I’m not sure playing on the roads makes much difference.
But we all know New Orleans at home is unbeatable.
MWC
October 19th, 2009
11:24 am
Not worried about Dallas, Romo is WAY overrated. I know the Saints game is 2 weeks away, but their OL looks really good right now. Brees could have had coffee ,he had so much time. If the Falcons secondary plays like last night, Drew will eat thier lunch…IMO…
william
October 19th, 2009
11:29 am
we gave u guys the game….like last yr we shouldve won….
midnite
October 19th, 2009
11:38 am
@William we gave u guys the game….like last yr we shouldve won….
Well you lost both games and you did not give us anything, good teams take the victory. Our D scared the he!! out of your fat, whiney QB.