A big win only in the sense it wasn’t an even bigger loss
They won this one without Matt Ryan, but they'll need him soon. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
That wasn’t mere urgency at their backs on that final drive. It was utter desperation. The Falcons can read the schedule and the standings, and they know the difference between 6-5 and 5-6 is more than one game, especially when the opponent tipping the balance arrived at 1-9.
“Going under .500,” Roddy White would say later, after he’d caught the fourth-down touchdown pass that won it, “that’s desperation.”
The Falcons escaped Sunday’s game with a season’s worth of hopes still alive, but with every week those hopes are tempered by mounting reality. They started 4-1. Then they lost four of five. They were one play from making it five of six against an overmatched opponent coached by a man seemingly determined to keep both teams in the game. And even after they’d won, this was the verdict of Todd McClure, the center: “One of the ugliest wins I’ve ever been involved with.”
Said Mike Smith, the coach who works hard to say nothing: “We tried numerous ways not to win the game.”
Eventually the Falcons overcame it all — on this given Sunday. The next two might not be so kind. Philadelphia plays here next week, and then the Saints. And there’s no guarantee the Falcons will have their starting quarterback or starting tailback for either game.
Per infuriating team policy, Smith would say nothing about the injuries to Matt Ryan’s big toe or Michael Turner’s ankle. “We’ll know more Wednesday,” he said, perhaps referring to the Wednesday before Memorial Day. But the Falcons lost players at such a dizzying rate Sunday — two offensive linemen were also hurt — that erosion has to be factored into any calculation regarding playoff chances.
The locker room was full of happy talk afterward — beat the Bugtussle Bovines on fourth-and-goal and you’re excited — but there was reality interspersed. The Falcons were outgained and largely outplayed by a Tampa Bay team working behind a rookie quarterback. Their only touchdown in the first 59 minutes and 37 seconds came on a gimmick play. Their quarterbacks were sacked six times. They missed (another!) field goal. They had a punt blocked. They lost a fumble. They were lucky as heck to win.
“That was a good football team we played today,” said Smith, lying.
Said Tony Gonzalez, who caught four Chris Redman passes on the frantic final drive: “We had so many things going against us … Winning this game is really a credit to the way we work.”
Well, yes. It was that. But it was also further evidence that these Falcons lack a separation gear. They led 10-0 but trailed 17-10. They needed six passes inside the 10 — one incompletion was overridden by defensive holding — to score the winning points. White finally made the decisive catch but only after not making the decisive catch three snaps earlier.
The Eagles and Michael Vick are up next — “The winner of this game is going to make the playoffs,” said White, thinking a bit too far ahead — and that will be taxing for all involved even though Vick’s role has been reduced to a cameo. Beyond this arduous fortnight lie three seemingly winnable games, but it took so much to win this one at home that you wonder if the Falcons, to use a Mark Richt expression, have enough juice.
Asked how the mood would have been had that fourth-down pass fallen incomplete, McClure said: “It wouldn’t have been pretty. But that’s the nature of the NFL. One play can change the mindset of a team.”
At issue isn’t so much the minds of the Falcons as their bodies. They haven’t been quite as good as advertised, and now they’re losing men. They still have a realistic chance to make the playoffs, but they might not have enough players.
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412 comments Add your comment
jay
November 29th, 2009
11:59 pm
This team has been overrated from the start of the year. The defense is garbage and the offense is not who we thought they were. it looks like the o-line is finally playing to their talent level unfortunately. I expect 8-8 hey dimitroff spend some of that 20 mil cap money we have this offseason on some solid defensive veterans! Picking nine defensive players in the draft and expecting them to contribute is stupid!
Mr Charlie
November 30th, 2009
12:01 am
Ask Scott Pioli and Matt Cassell how easy it is to do what Mike Smith and Mattie Ice did last year?
That said, last year was a start, the goal this year is to get back to back playoff bids for the first time in history.
Atl Resident
November 30th, 2009
12:01 am
Falcons is in the playoff picture but according to injuries and schedule its likely they might not make it. I’m like Vick Supporter, if anyone knows football, Ryan had good rookie season cause he was just that a rookie and no one knew he his game. But this season, he has to realize he’s no rookie and most players know his game now so he has to step it up more. Ryan has been playing just as erratic as the ATL traffic around here. And to think now he has as a toe injury, tough schedule left, the back-to-back winning season is fading away. But ATL fans should know that this has been happening for years it’s nothing new.
JSS
November 30th, 2009
12:01 am
Dude, I work 17 hours a day on the high end, and again the AJC IT division knows how little time I spend on here… Has BugKiller become an obsession for me? Man I spent 5 hours in a kayak on Catalina Channel on Thursday, I don’t think so… Have fun with your speculations… On the other hand, I despise a liar, I lost respect for Michael Vick on that point. But in the big picture, when the chips were on the table he went and served his time and some more. He could have dragged it out for 2 years. BugKiller was wrong about bankruptcy, he is wrong about the behavior of sociopaths, and he is just plain dangerous. People do not have to agree with me, I lose no sleep over it. See I’m not a Type A personality, I can leave AJC blogs alone, did it for 3 weeks last month when I had a heavy workload. I’ll do it again in February when roll out production of 10 pilot episodes. By the way, having had black roommates does not make an authority on all black people. It makes you of the behavior of those two people. So if you want to take up for him and his little Michael Vick problem, and his wacky ideas of race, go ahead…
Mr Charlie
November 30th, 2009
12:02 am
Good night, and it was good to have a good old fashion discussion about football for a change.
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
12:03 am
VS, who are the right people, in your mind? (Just picking the brain a little, not trying to start anything. You wanted to “be real,” and I invite that every day… lol)
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
12:09 am
Not taking up for (or accusing) anyone, JSS. Read between the lines of what I’ve been saying… felt like giving you something to think about, in other words.
It’s just as dangerous for your own soul to judge people whom you’ve never met on the internet as it is to judge an athlete whom you’ve never met, in my personal opinion. We’re writing behind walls here. I don’t know you any more than I know him, just as you don’t know him any more than you do me.
…and if there’s anything in the spectrum of a Type Z personality, I’m probably that guy.
I could care completely less about whether or not my words are taken and placed high by others; to me, life is all about conversation, and opinions may differ and perspectives may differ, but at the end of the day, we’re all human.
(Kayaking is a great thing. I wish I were on the river right now…)
BugKiller
November 30th, 2009
12:11 am
JSS, when did I claim to understand the behavior of all black people because I have currently a black roommate?
I just tried to use that fact as a little bit of levity when someone called me a racist.
Where am I wrong about the behavior of sociopaths? I’ve hit all the easy to understand points as Barney Style as I could.
And I’m dangerous? Wow. You project unto me far too much power, I think.
Seriously, why the projection of all of your personal paranoia on me?
Keep it Real!
November 30th, 2009
12:13 am
Mr. Charlie how about you and all the other losers quit buying into the NFL hype machine, The Falcons team went to the play-offs with a rookie quarterback who played o.k. in most games!
This is a team sport and the NFL hype machine is trying to build up the quarterbacks like they make players block better, tackle better and catch better!
The way you fans talk about M. Ryan and M. Vick you would think they played special teams and defense!
moboman
November 30th, 2009
12:16 am
So next week at this time –
The Falcons (and probably Redman) will have either gotten the job done or not, and that will be the topic of discussion. Cheers or boos at the start of the game will really be a non issue in the final result. Thats all past history.
Who made or missed kicks will be a topic.
How the D held Philly’s offensive game will be a topic.
Who stepped up or didnt on Offense will be a topic.
So will how many receivers contributed, because that will be a measure of how well Redman played.
Lets hope we have good news to talk about. Im optimistic.
BugKiller
November 30th, 2009
12:17 am
Oh, I was wrong about the bankruptcy thing.
Oh geez! Won’t be the first time, nor the last.
But Benjamin is right. You have been following me all over the blogs the last two weeks.
Simply because I was wrong about the bankruptcy thing? Such a small thing such as that?
I thought it must have been because I insulted your mother or something.
And dude, as Elijah can hopefully attest, I don’t need ANYONE to agree with me.
I just want rational, logical talk on the blog without all of the insepid crap from certain people who yes, troll the blog with the SOS about “noodle arms” and such, and who add NOTHING to the conversation.
See, over on ESPN.com and such, blogging is a privileged, and trolls are taken care of.
You can have a million disagreements. No one cares. But it’s the incessant trolling of the SAME THING, OVER AND OVER AGAIN… it doesn’t add to the discussion.
i guess THAT is what makes me dangerous, right? And thus, your paranoid obsession.
BugKiller
November 30th, 2009
12:20 am
BTW, Elijah, thanks for the response, I wrote you back.
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
12:22 am
Benjamin was right? To be fair, Benjamin wrote his piece because of a simple statement made in JSS’s blog, not because he’s observed him pursuing you through the blogosphere, BK. I don’t know either of you. My only involvement in this was tonight, seeing the occasional interaction among people whom “don’t like each other” yet wouldn’t know whether they were high-fiving the person they didn’t like at a sports bar on Peachtree St..
These internets give us a sense of security in that we’re anonymous to others, thus allowing us to say things that we wouldn’t dare say in public — much, to a degree, like the kind of anonymity Mike Vick wanted in 2005 when his world was starting to crack a little, I might add — because we’re behind computer screens. I just tend to flinch at all times when I see people on here talking about hating this person or that because they said “so-and-so” was a bad person, etc..
That’s all I was speaking to.
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
12:26 am
I’m optimistic as well, Moboman. Time will tell how it all shakes out, but a win next week goes a long way to getting the Falcons back in the national conversation… well, beyond the Vick nonsense that will put us in the national conversation to begin with.
Once "Recent" Reader
November 30th, 2009
12:29 am
Well . . . suprisingly I guess I won’t be reading Choke’s post-game monologue tonight!!! But this has been quite a bit more interesting and real discussion / debate if at times a bit heated. I did get a good laugh though from Choke’s late night multiple moniker rantings. Bugkiller I had written a response to your post about Choke’s IQ earlier but it did not get thru. Well I said I don’t know what his IQ is . . .but that guy (I assume) can definitely write pretty quickly!
BugKiller
November 30th, 2009
12:33 am
To leave whomever is going to stick around until the wee hours something to think of:
If reality is only as real as our personal perception, what colors our perception?
What philosophy strengthens a man’s view of the world?
Here are two things that have profoundly shaped my philosophy, and therefore my perception, and therefore my reality:
Judge a man not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. We seldom change who we are.
Benjamin, Mr. Charlie… you’re good people. And so are you, Vick Supporter. Hopefully, we understand each other just a little better. I think I do.
Goodnight. If anyone else besides Elijah wishes to talk about anything else:
bugkiller1980@hotmail.com
willie martin
November 30th, 2009
12:44 am
Where in the nation can we find a Kicker? We have no field-goal kicker. he’s washed up..Great career but he’s finished. There are too many kickers out there who can consistently kick a 40 to 45 yd field goal. Elam has lost or altered the score in over half our games. Kick him to the curve!
hap
November 30th, 2009
1:11 am
to the people that posted a long time ago about the falcons picking michael oher instead of peria jerry…oher went one pick ahead of the falcons to the ravens. they’re changing the draft order next year to give the teams that went out of the playoffs earlier the higher pick instead of using the regular season record.
Falcon Obit
November 30th, 2009
1:31 am
The Falcons are who we thought they were. A mediocre team that had a easy schedule last season and got crowned by a biased sports media.
Drexel Gal
November 30th, 2009
2:17 am
Beware of a falcons QB named “Chris” … as in Chris Miller, Chris Chandler, et al. The success is fleeting.
Felix the Cat
November 30th, 2009
5:52 am
Bugtussle Bovines?????????? Really????????
Philly Phil
November 30th, 2009
6:45 am
The falcons will not make the playoffs this year after Philly finishes them off next week. Philly’s on a roll and will win the NFC East—mark it down. Maybe next year falcons.
Nick
November 30th, 2009
7:02 am
Hey Mark. Has AJC done a story on why the Falcons have had to play four teams coming off their bye week? If not, seems like you should have. It might even qualify as good, old-fashioned journalism. If every team gets one bye, then simple math dictates that, on average, each team will play one game during the season in which the other team is coming off its bye week. Why are the Falcons so far above the average? It’s a serious disadvantage.
I keep hearing about how hard the NFL schedule is to build, but even so this should not be allowed to happen. I could see that maybe a team would need to play two games against rested teams, but four is simply unfair.
BRAD
November 30th, 2009
7:11 am
The Falcons are in the easiest part of their schedule. They have 3 more home games, could win all 3, but definately will win 2. Then very winnable games at the Jets and Bucs. Falcons could easily finish 11-5 or 10-6 and make the playoffs.
MV7's Pet Poodle
November 30th, 2009
7:23 am
Any Falcon fan who cheers for Vick = Abused wife who just can’t leave their POS husband. This guy crapped all over you and then says that this is his city. LOL – can you say prison rape??
oher was off the board
November 30th, 2009
7:31 am
Oher was taken before Jerry. You guys sure cry a lot.
Atl Resident
November 30th, 2009
7:47 am
I’m wondering why everyone is hating on Vick? I mean damn, so he made a mistake and lied, but is plenty of athletes that have done that and still playing today (Ricky Williams, Ray Lewis). The bottom line about the Vick discussion is that this team traded Vick rights away too quick unlike some other teams that had similar issues to deal with (Ricky Williams, Ray Lewis) and we are finding out that was dumb idea. All we have is hyped up QB for now who can’t win big games.
F-105 Thunderchief
November 30th, 2009
8:09 am
With this schedule, all the injuries and, let’s face it, a less-than-stellar draft, just breaking the curse will be enough progress on the “process” for me. With about four minutes left, I turned off the game in disgust and went outside to do chores. Pleasant surprise when I saw the score later.
Dawg Fan 74
November 30th, 2009
8:17 am
How bout them DAWGS!
The Jackets will be lucky to have 5,000 fans in Tampa…and a total of 20,000 total fans would be shocking…since GT will lose again.
Go DAWGS!
The Ghost of Norm Van Brocklin
November 30th, 2009
8:20 am
Any Vick apologist who posts a degrading or comment about a toe injury has obviously never had a toe injury.
And, now it’s time for Vick fans to go look up the word “degrading”, since they may not use big words like that in their lives.
Dennis
November 30th, 2009
8:21 am
You say the falcons look desperate i say they found a way to win or showed some winning character .
Samuel
November 30th, 2009
8:22 am
How about Chris Redman? coming off the bench after two years and leading the falcons to a last mintue victory. Iv’e watch him before and new we had a chance because he’s a precise passer. I think letting Turner play was a bonehead move. You want this guy available in case you beat Tampa Bay. Now he might not be able to play against the Eagles. Something is wrong with our defense. Other teams such as the Indianapolis Colts, seem to plug in veterans and rookies . Hence their not the best defense, but they manage to make plays. The Falcons coaches and players don’t seem to be on the same page. When it comes to the defense. You would think they would be better as the season went along,.but their not. The offense line got man handle by their defense all day long. I’m glad to see Norwood back he’s very explosive. We got a severe cornerback problem these guys just can’t cover. Let’s hope Desean Jackson can’t play this week. The Eagles will pass on you all day long, so we better fix this pass defense in a hurry.
Fear Ryan? Naw Man
November 30th, 2009
8:31 am
Redman showed that Ryan was a media-driven over-rated QB,
MARTIN
November 30th, 2009
8:34 am
The turd birds got lucky on yesterday. You guys were pathetic in your struggles against a 1-9 team. Let’s see what happens against the eagles this sunday. Get ready for a loss,against them and then the saints the following week, go philly.
The Cynical White Boy
November 30th, 2009
8:34 am
How ’bout some famous quotes from big time celebrities?
“This is still my city” – Mike Vick
“This is my house” – Deon Sanders
“I did not have sex with that woman” – Bill Clinton
“This is a private situation” – Tiger Woods
“Michael Vick is a falcon for life” – Mr. Blank
“Willie Martinez is an excellent coach” – Bob Davies
“Joe Cox gives the best chance to win” – Mark Richt
GINA
November 30th, 2009
8:44 am
MARTIN
November 30th, 2009
8:34 am
The turd birds got lucky on yesterday. You guys were pathetic in your struggles against a 1-9 team. Let’s see what happens against the eagles this sunday. Get ready for a loss,against them and then the saints the following week, go philly.
QFT
Big Al
November 30th, 2009
8:53 am
Redman did a great job off the bench and it was exciting to see him in the game. It was nice to finally see a Falcons QB throw the ball down field.
PMC
November 30th, 2009
9:17 am
Screw Philly. THey need to be dispatched with extreme prejudice. The matchups for Atlanta are horrible…. but Oakland found a way and Washington nearly found a way. Atlanta will find a way. There’s no reason to fear them even if we did play a terrible game last week. Redman is plenty capable if the toe injury is too bad for MR and hopefully the OL will play better this week. This is a scrappy team. They will find a way to get it done!
Midwest Multiproducts » Blog Archive » A big win only in the sense it wasn't an even bigger loss | Mark …
November 30th, 2009
9:25 am
[...] debacles took a lot out him. If the franchise fails to improve considerably in the … Go to Source Date November 29th, 2009 Filed in Uncategorized No Comments [...]
SwimTrunk Dawg
November 30th, 2009
9:31 am
I don’t think Matt Ryan wants to play in the NFL anymore.
JeanE
November 30th, 2009
10:10 am
I was at this game with my family, I’m so glad we stayed to the end, alot of fans had already left and they missed the heart stopping ending! I do have confidence in Chris Redman but not in Jason Elam. He should be gone next season. The offensive line was awful but Baker & Dahl were out so I guess I know why. That Snelling fumble killed us. And Roddy was his usual brilliant inconsistent self. It’s so hard to get a handle on this team. We should have killed these Bucs but we didn’t, we won on a wing and a prayer. On to next week with the Vick Circus coming to town. Don’t know which Falcons team will show up. Go Birds.
Nick
November 30th, 2009
10:13 am
I agree with Atl Resident. Vick did the crime and did his time. He has completed what society decided was an appropriate punishment. Let him live his new life now.
JeanE
November 30th, 2009
10:25 am
I was watching Ryan on the sidelines at the game, they had his shoe off & were working on him & he got up several times to try and plant on it & throw & obviously he couldn’t. You people are nuts who think he’s faking it or doesn’t want to play. He looked very frustrated that he couldn’t come back in but if he does have ligament damage, who could play on that? Ryan is very competitive and wants to WIN. But I think Redman is a very capable starter who will most likely play next week and possibly beyond. Our o-line needs to step it up & keep Redman upright otherwise it’ll be John Parker Wilson in there! I’m probably the only person who thinks this, but we need Finn back both on special teams (tackling) and as a possession receiver. At this point, we need all the veteran leadership we can get. They probably won’t dump Elam ’til the offseason, Coutu and the others must not have looked very good during tryouts. We’re stuck with the DB’s we have, but I’d take Brent Grimes over Tye Hill anyway. Grimes is short but plays tough. We can beat these Eagles, go Birds!!!
A Rod
November 30th, 2009
10:40 am
I see most of yall continue to lower your expectations week after week. What will you do when the falcons finish 8-8? lol?
jt23
November 30th, 2009
10:57 am
Let see. How many times in Vicks tenure in Atlanta did he get hurt and not return? One thing no one mentions not even the AJC is how we have had so many injuries to key players and this team is still in the playoff hunt. Let the season play out.
Choke the Joke I wonder how many times you have gone to work when you have been sick. Or are you those types that as soon as you see a cold coming on you call out and leave your co workers holding the bag.
Choke the Joke. I know your type. You blame all your faults on your skin color. No promotion, no raise no better life etc because the man has got you down. Am I right so far? I believe I am. You only see through black and white glasses. Everything bad that happenss to you is because you are the wrong skin color. Should I continue. Please no more stats. Anyone can manipulate stats to their advantage. If I see you put up any more stats I will counter with my stats that are readily available and embarrass you. Only stats that matter is wins and losses. Does not matter how you win as long as you win. An ugly win is better than a pretty loss.
North FLA Falcon
November 30th, 2009
11:24 am
Random comments: Our O-line is big nasty and fairly slow. We do well against big slow DL’s (SF). When we encounter a quick line (Dallas, Tampa) we are just pathetic. * Sam Baker has been a complete bust. * I liked the way Redman stepped in there. Unlike Ryan he lets his receivers make a play. I think Ryan is too concerned with placing the ball just so. * I really had problems with some of the play calling yesterday. Runs up the middle, gimmicky plays that went nowhere against a quick defense. Not sure what the problem is. * The guy who let the punt blocker come in, untouched, should be cut from the team, along with Elam. * Abraham needs to learn how to wrap up, he has let a few potential sacks go through his fingers. * I thought we had decent coverage yesterday on some plays. *What separates our coverage guys from Ray Buchanan or even (yes) DeAngelo is that our guys let their receivers come off the ball and do their routes with a nice cushion, then count on athleticism to make a play (such as Grimes high jump interception a few weeks ago). Ray and DeAngelo would beat you up at the line of scrimmage and disrupt the routes. We need to be more physical with our pass coverage. *Next week is make or break, GO BIRDS.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
November 30th, 2009
11:27 am
Until the AJC sports writers start monitoring these Falcons’ blogs, they are slowly becoming a waste of time. Everyone of them ends up being about Michael Vick (who by the way is no longer playing on the team). I am for freedom of speech, but let those who want to continuing talking/discussing Michael Vick go to the Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles’ blogs.
Enough Already!!!!! Schultz, Ledbetter, and Bradley…please grow some and utilize the technology available to keep these blogs for “REAL” Falcons’ fans.
LifeLongGAresident
November 30th, 2009
11:38 am
I agree these blogs do turn in to some of racist/vick/political debate. I don’t understand everyone still talking about MV7, look how much he has done for Philly. We now have a franchise quarterback, not circus show quarterback. Unfortunately people fail to realize that the role of the qb is not just that of the play maker but also to be the offensive team leader. I (if one of the only few) am proud of the falcons because simply put: great teams find a way to win.
Falcon Lifer
November 30th, 2009
11:40 am
Being a Falcons fan for the last twenty one years has by no means been easy. A great man once said about the falcons “they’ll break your heart”… So true. These falcons however, still have a shot at the playoffs and the infamous streak should be nothing but a memory by the end of the season. I am still holding out hopes that we get healthy and can make the playoffs with some outstanding football in the next five weeks, however it will be hard to impossible if we dont let our stars sit long enough to get back close to 100%. Sit Matty ice and The Burner against the feagle eagles (and maybe against the ‘Aints) and get back where we need to be health wise!! As for all you nay-sayers out there, get off this blog and go back wherever you came from!! As Elaine Bennis would say….”Here’s to those who wish us well, and those who dont can go to hell!!”
A Rod
November 30th, 2009
12:19 pm
I actually wanted Redman in there last week so I’m happy. At least he can work out of the shotgun, plus he has cojones. I’m more worried about turner but if snelling and norwood can play we should be ok on offense. Problem is defense and oline.