On a wild night, the Falcons KO Vick and outslug his team
Michael Vick made three turnovers and left early. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Traffic congealed on Northside Drive 2 1/2 hours before kickoff Sunday night. Ninety minutes later, the line to enter the Georgia Dome was 10-deep and 10-wide. From the crush of humanity, you’d have thought somebody famous was in town.
Actually, somebody famous was. Michael Vick was once the only compelling reason to watch the Falcons, and now he’s a both ex-Falcon and ex-con. In Philadelphia he has become the polished player he never was here, and on this night Vick would oppose a quarterback who’s the pride of Old Penn Charter School, a quarterback some Atlantans insist will never be as good as No. 7.
The vagaries of professional football had kept Matt Ryan and Vick from gracing the same NFL field. When Vick played here as a reserve in December 2009, Ryan was hurt. When Ryan played in Philly last October, Vick was hurt. But now the moment was at hand, and you could have game-planned a full summer and not concocted a more loaded Week 2 collision.
The Falcons, who some have cast as Super Bowl champs-to-be, entered on a six-game losing streak. Granted, four of those were exhibitions, but the first and last of the six were troubling.
The Falcons had been embarrassed by a hot quarterback wearing green back in January, and on Opening Day in Chicago they’d been bulldozed by Brian Urlacher. They needed this game not just to prove that, almost five years after Vick had last taken a snap as a Falcon, they’d emerged from his considerable shadow; in more pragmatic terms, they needed it to remind themselves they know how to win.
Three minutes into the third quarter, the Falcons were on track to doing both. They led 21-10 largely because Vick kept giving them the ball. (With a former Atlantan working for Philly and a native Philadelphian playing for Atlanta, sometimes it gets confusing.) Perhaps trying to earn his way into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor, Vick fumbled twice near the end of the first half and threw an interception to open the second.
Down 11, the Eagles responded with a quick touchdown — the Eagles are nothing if not quick — and then Ryan threw an interception and then Matt Bosher, who punts for the Falcons, dropped one out-of-bounds at the 20. This, if you’re a punter, is usually a good thing. Trouble was, this punt plopped down on the Falcons’ 20. Soon the visitors led by 10, and that might have been that. Except for one thing.
Vick was gone. He’d been hit on a pass and driven into one of his blockers. He left for the locker room with what was described as a neck injury — as he exited, he responded to boos by pointing to the scoreboard — and suddenly a game gone wrong was winnable again. The Falcons were 10 points in arrears, but they had more than a quarter left and they were facing a quarterback named, appropriately, Kafka.
“A lot of ebbs and flows,” Mike Smith, the Falcons’ coach, would say afterward.
With 4:48 to play, the Falcons were again in front. Ryan had been having an odd game — he had thrown three touchdown passes but had dealt two interceptions and been hurried and harried — but reverted to precise form with his team under duress. His fourth touchdown pass brought the Falcons close, and then Michael Turner galvanized the go-back-ahead surge with a 61-yard burst and a scoring sweep.
A four-point lead with 4:48 remaining wouldn’t have seemed a cushion against Vick, but against Mike Kafka the dynamics were rather different. On such a bizarre night, though, it somehow made sense that we’d be handed a Kafkaesque finish. The Philly sub led his team upfield, and was it possible the fancied Falcons would slip to 0-2 having been beaten by the namesake of a famed existentialist?
Er, no. Jeremy Maclin dropped a fourth-down pass that would have given the Eagles a first down at the Falcons’ 15, and the home side had done the job. It had beaten Michael Vick’s team while battering Michael Vick, and it had won a game that filled an immense need.
“It was perseverance,” Smith said. “You can’t overstate that.”
No, you can’t. Sometimes it matters less how well you play than how hard. This was such a night. The Falcons didn’t look nearly their best, but there’ll be time enough for fine-turning. This was one of those games that had to be won by any means necessary, and it was.
By Mark Bradley
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430 comments Add your comment
superiorblogman
September 19th, 2011
12:58 am
I will be back next week and I will never post again on any ajc blog if the Falcons win next week. The Falcons are not a playoff team people. 8-8 Will not get you in. You people can be as happy as you like that Vick got hurt and you lucked up on a win, but at the end of the season its going to be the Eagles and the Patriots playing in the SuperBowl and the Falcons will not even make the playoffs.
Not worried
September 19th, 2011
12:58 am
Vick,Ryan, Ryan, Vick , it was in reality the Tony Gonzo show. Gonzalez was sensational not just on touchdowns but big first down grabs.
Truth and logic
September 19th, 2011
12:58 am
Let’s be real…The Falcons barely won.. they did not KO Vick, his own player did. Lucky for the Falcons he did not come back. If dude catches the pass, Falcons lose….Truth and Logic never hurt anyone…well except republicans..
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:59 am
yeah, he talked about how the Eagles were going to destroy Atlanta .
Casa loma dr
September 19th, 2011
1:00 am
If Vick did not get hurt, Falcons would have lost that game!!!! For all you Vick haters
wild'n
September 19th, 2011
1:00 am
Michael vick is a thug and a terrible human being.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:00 am
not Vick but a blogger on here
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:03 am
I hope MV is okay myself because he got beat up pretty good but Matt did too but he kept on getting back up and playing
superiorblogman
September 19th, 2011
1:04 am
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
12:59 am
yeah, he talked about how the Eagles were going to destroy Atlanta .
21 unanswered points before Vick got hurt to take a 10 pt lead. Yeah, he does not play D but he does keep the offense on the field so the D isn’t needed as much. The Falcons would have lost by 2 or more scores if Vick doesn’t get hurt. Good the Falcons won, because A, they aren’t going to win too many more, and B, yes they need to move on from Vick even though Matt Ryan is a very shaky QB. Finally, don’t fool yourself, this team was about to get ran out of there own building before Vick got hurt. If you are really a fan and not a hater you need to look at this for what it was. A very shaky and maybe even lucky win
P Rose
September 19th, 2011
1:04 am
But Vick did get hurt, and the Falcons won that game. For all you Vick lovers
Philly Eagle
September 19th, 2011
1:05 am
Bet you losers were pretty impressed by the number of Eagles fans at the game. Would love to see even 5% of that turn out at an away game. Oh and you’re welcome for selling out your sorry ass dome.
P Rose
September 19th, 2011
1:06 am
@ superiorblogman: Promises, promises.
superiorblogman
September 19th, 2011
1:07 am
Falcons ceiling this year is 8-8.
Eagles ceiling is 13-3 and a Super Bowl appearance.
Goodnight
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:07 am
Matt is a pretty tough guy to win that ballgame way the line is letting guys get through, if he stays in the pocket hes getting killed but if he rolls out he seems to make plays more.
Vick burns in tailgate effigy at Dome – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
September 19th, 2011
1:08 am
[...] On a wild night, the Falcons KO Vick and outslug his team [...]
P Rose
September 19th, 2011
1:08 am
@Philly Eagle, people in Philadelphia move here because Atlanta is a nice place to live. People from Atlanta do not move to Philadelphia because it’s a cesspool.
Tripp Bowden
September 19th, 2011
1:08 am
Why in the hell did we get rid of Matt Koenen (sp)????? Our new kicker has a week leg and no clue. But, I do love my Falcons. As Bob Marley sang–everting gonna be aright. Night y’all.
Mr. Mustard
September 19th, 2011
1:08 am
The Moment?
In all great franchises there are moments you can point to that seem to be a turning point, or even the turning point. Steelers’ immaculate reception, Patriots’ tuck rule game to name a couple of examples.
I told my wife during this game that the Falcons have to eventually learn how to play with physical talented teams, when things are going poorly and still win the game.
Admittedly, I was getting angry because Matty “Ice” was anything but cool (for awhile) by stamping his feet in the pocket, and Turner was a bumbler, not the burner and after last week, I said “this is it, this is the game where they live or die this season”.
I thought they were going to choke and I was doubting Matt Ryan’s abilities in a big game.
Obviously, my doubts were premature and how appropriate that we jumped out of the malaise with a high rocket to rookie Julio Jones, our expensive wide out, drafted to stretch the field and give us a quick strike threat.
Darn, if they didn’t just chuck the ball to him because you have to once in a while and the rookie leaped up and caught the darn thing and suddenly, the Falcons took off!
I say this is the game, and the Julio Jones catch is the moment that our Falcons grew up.
Congratulations to the Falcons for a smash-mouth win, that we had to have. Now that is how you win championships. Maybe this is the moment? I say it is.
Stat Man
September 19th, 2011
1:09 am
Casa, but he did and his team lost. Ryan1, Vick 0. Also, Ryan got smacked all night, he just has more heart than Vick. My guess is, had VIck stayed in, we win 42 to 31, I am sure he would have turned it over one more time.
Mr Charlie
September 19th, 2011
1:10 am
Test
Chuck
September 19th, 2011
1:10 am
Mark – the NFL’s refusal to enforce the roughing rules for Matt Ryan needs to be addressed – he tok a running head butt from a DLineman and in the fourth quarter one of those guys grabbed him aroung the neck and tried to split him in half.
Neither play drew a penalty.
But 55 got flagged for some reason I have yet to understand, pulled up, barely laid a hand on the Philly backup QB, and drew a flag to turn a 3rd-and-long into 1st and goal, half the distance to the goal line.
And it’s not just this game – this has happened throughout Matt’s career; I know the Falcons are not one of the “Golden” franchises that get the benefit of every doubt, but disparities such as those we saw last night are so blatant as to boggle a reasonable mind.
I know we’re never supposed to complain about it – but at what point should such extreme differences of standard not be called out?
Darth Hater
September 19th, 2011
1:10 am
It is only a matter of time before Vick returns himself to prison & rekindles some passion with his old boyfriends there.
The Falcons, Eagles and the greedy NFL itself will all go on without him, but Vick will still have Herpes of the rest of his worthless life.
Incidentally, so will many of his blind followers.
SaintDK10
September 19th, 2011
1:11 am
Not sure who’s hurting more right now: Michael Vick or all those Falcon “fans” wearing Vick jerseys after watching Matt Ryan torch the Eagles for a career-high 4 TDs?
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:13 am
Amen Brother that was a in your face win for Atlanta cause it seem two times Philly was going to do the Blowout on em and we know how that goes but the Birds hung in there and got the big win. An Vick leaving hurt and pointing at score was kinda like in your face Atlanta look at whos winning.
Darth Hater
September 19th, 2011
1:13 am
Football aside, as an intelligent human being and humanitarian, Michael Vick is as worthless as a TSA Airport Screener.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:14 am
No seriously we should wish Vick good health and career but not against us !
theight
September 19th, 2011
1:18 am
@ Wild’n: that “Vick is a Thug” thing is old and lame now. Let it go. Even if he is a Thug why does that matter and what does it mean. If you didn’t know, a lot of people like to be called Thugs. remember “Thug Life”. If you don’t, don’t mention anybody being a thug again.
brokeback jacket
September 19th, 2011
1:19 am
Oh! My! God!
Shocker!!!!!!!!!
Voice of Reason
September 19th, 2011
1:19 am
William Moore spun Vick around and caused the concussion. Moore is a stud! This was a team effort. Thank you Michael Turner, Gonzo, Roddy and Matty Ice!
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
1:19 am
Hey Coach,
Did you not watch the Eagles/Giants game from last year? Scared the hell out of us punting to Jackson with 15 seconds left on the clock.
Loyal Falcon
September 19th, 2011
1:19 am
That was a good win! Take that all you Ryan haters! Go falcons!
Rod
September 19th, 2011
1:19 am
Come on guys. Matt Ryan had a horrible game. We know you all want to make this a Mike Vick and Matt Ryan thing, but u need to look at it from a football standpoint. When Mike was in the game, the FALCONS could not contain the Eagles. The reason Matt Ryan made a couple plays, because Samuel was hurt. Matt Ryan has a lot to learn, and I’m still disappointed in the defense, and lack of offense execution. If you watch the game, Matt Ryan started to get those happy feet, similar to an old Falcons QB, Chris Miller. He’s fortunate Michael Turner had that big run, other than that, we would be talking about those two picks. We all know what Vick did, but you all need to get over it. I watch the game on tv, it’s a shame the DOME can’t be louder. These are fair weather fans in ATLANTA. I didn’t see the Eagles jump outside not one time. We need better fans in ATLANTA. We still have people hating this man, get over it. Matt Ryan needs to prove himself. I don’t trust him. They need fire the defensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator. Superbowl team, please, not with that defense, and QB. I like VICK, but I like the FALCONS. Matt need to be smarter with the ball, he’s been in the league long enough. They were lucky tonight, but I don’t see a SUPERBOWL TEAM. Remove the hate, and just enjoy the game of football. He’s moved on, and it’s time for all of us to move on. Thank GOD you all are not my judge.
atlpaddy
September 19th, 2011
1:20 am
I don’t know about all the Vick vs. Ryan stuff, but one thing I do know is that the Facons and Mike Smith need to
FIRE MIKE MULARKY NOW!!!!!
It was night and day with our offense with Ryan audibiling from the line. With Ryan running the show, our offense was actually explosive! Mularky’s playcalling is some of the most vanilla, unoriginal garbage I’ve seen as a football fan. It was nothing but three and out!
LET RYAN RUN THE OFFENSE AND SEE WHAT THIS FALCONS TEAM CAN REALLY DO!!!!
jwdavis 88
September 19th, 2011
1:21 am
hey theight vick has never put together 3 straight winning seasons.the guy has no heart and is a loser.the falcons are much better off with ryan than they ever were with vick.
theight
September 19th, 2011
1:21 am
I was at the game and listening in closely because i was sitting so high up but Vick wasn’t pointing at the Scoreboard. He was pointing at a few fans that was waving his falcon jersey.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
1:21 am
Coach,
What the hell was your thought process punting to D Jackson with 15 seconds left?
Got lucky he didnt break one on you.
Is it possible to get a new punter before next week? Prefer a punter who can do better than a 35 yd avg.
ueeediot
September 19th, 2011
1:22 am
I sure hope everyone felt safer knowing they were confiscating lighters tonight. Couldve had a fire otherwise.
ejj
September 19th, 2011
1:23 am
First congrads to the falcons , for the hard win. It was a tough game, it was a stroke of luck thtat Vick hit his lineman’s arm, so we should not take credit for it. Last offensive drive ,key, and last defensive stand good. Got a lot of work to do, though. Defense is soft.
theight
September 19th, 2011
1:24 am
@JWDavis: If you go back and look at the teams the falcons have played since Ryan has been here, they have a very favorable schedule over that time and not that I don’t like Matt Ryan but he still hasn’t won a playoff game. Ryan has more help now than Vick every had when he was here and a much better head coach.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:24 am
I hope Mike is okay and able to play next week just not on the Falcon team, I like em better on the other team ! ha ha
florida falcon
September 19th, 2011
1:24 am
Bring back Morten Anderson for punting duties.
Lou
September 19th, 2011
1:25 am
Commenting on an earlier post…. What Michael Vick brought to Atlanta was disgrace and shame. Matt Ryan as the face of the Falcons and by extension the face of Atlanta is great for Atlanta. A dog killer, ex-con, STD infected quarterback like Vick was good for Atlanta?? You must be kidding or have quite low expectations. Congratulations, Matt, on a job well done.
Keith
September 19th, 2011
1:25 am
Mark, let me put this gentley….. WHAT THE HELL is wrong with Baker, he got beat so much tonight you could have put him in the oven and baked him damn! he did not get beat that bad the 1st year when he hurt his back. They have got to get this fixed OMG please explain
Olde Fan
September 19th, 2011
1:26 am
What a game! A great win on all sides of the ball! Every time I thought the game was “over”, it revved up again and changed the score. Does anyone realize that for every Eagles score the Defense gave up, —the Defense came back and kept us in this game! They Kept getting the ball back! I wish I had recorded this one – I’d like to watch it over again and again. All you Vick lovers – stick a fork in you – you are done. Keep it going, Falcons!!!
theight
September 19th, 2011
1:28 am
LOL @ florida falcon but give the man a chance. He is only a Rookie. If you can give other rookies a chance to grow why not kickers and punters.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:32 am
we got the Bucs, Seahawks and the Pack coming up, I think we sweep all 3 if the Birds play like they did tonight, moments of thunder and lightening and moments of a gentle breeze and whisper in your ear type plays. What a football game ! I didn,t know from 5 mins here to mins there whether we could win hold a lead lose or get blowed away ! Atlanta is a Mysterious football team !
bob
September 19th, 2011
1:32 am
LOL screw vick and all of you morons who defended him and his disgusting dog killing ways.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2011
1:35 am
Going to bed doing the dirtybird dance all over the Dream Team lovers……..what a joke…..ha ha ha
Falcfan
September 19th, 2011
1:38 am
To Philly eagle first of all you are the big loser hence the score of the game. We were not happy to have your loudmouth fans there. And we are happy because we won and you can leave and zip it. Poor sports that you are.
Observer
September 19th, 2011
1:43 am
Me thinks that Darth Hater got herpes from Mike Vick. So very bitter.