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
Observer
September 19th, 2011
1:44 am
Bob and Lou are tools…..probably got herpes from Vick too.
David Smith
September 19th, 2011
1:45 am
Huge win tonight for our guys!! Matt Ryan proved once again that he is one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the league (and the toughest). Our offensive line will definitely be addressed after playing horribly for two games in a row (We should he kept Dahl instead of Baker) and our defense wasn’t much better but kept us in the game.
Observer
September 19th, 2011
1:47 am
It was a great game, but somehow it doesn’t seem as gratifying as if we would have won with M.Vick finishing the game. Not so sure we would have. But Smitty can game plan better the next time.
….and, why is nobody slamming Mularkey for some of those idiotic calls!!
Falcfan
September 19th, 2011
1:50 am
One more THANK YOU TEAM! Go falcons.
dommonie
September 19th, 2011
1:55 am
The only reason atlanta won was because Michael Vick was pulled out. No way the falcon would have won if he hadn’t got hurt. Also you falcon fan must came in your pants when michael got hit, you’re pathetic.
JASon
September 19th, 2011
1:56 am
Mark, why don’t you go work for nbc. Your whole story is about vick and the eagles. The story of the game was Matt Ryan, and what (we have been saying) can happen if you give him control of the offense.
Mike Jones
September 19th, 2011
2:00 am
They thoroughly redeemed themselves from last week and let’s face it, these Eagles don’t usually make it easy to beat them. Good work guys. A win is a win and sometimes, you have to win it ugly.
Bring on the Bucs.
James
September 19th, 2011
2:13 am
Glad to win. But I realize our team needs alot of work. Also, Matt Ryan is not the QB I thought he was. He is a good QB. That’s all. He will never take us to the Super Bowl. He doesn’t have the “IT” factor. He’s not like Big ben or Aaron Rodgers. Basically, Matt doesn’t make plays.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
2:14 am
I would have been a lot more satisfied with either team winning with both QBs finishing the game. This was anticlimactic. Vick left the game up by 10 and I was telling everyone around me at the time that there’s no way the Eagles win the game. Normally 10-point comebacks in the 4th quarter are exciting, but they are somewhat less so when it’s blatantly obvious that they are going to happen.
In the end, the Falcons — and Ryan in particular — showed again that they are completely different when they are indoors, and the Eagles showed again that their linebackers are going to be their downfall if they lose in the playoffs.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
2:16 am
Also, letting Michael Koenen go was a stupid move.
Redoubt
September 19th, 2011
2:20 am
I still can’t sleep. That was a bare knuckles brawl and the Falcs win.
Imagine that!!!
Gregory Moundine
September 19th, 2011
2:21 am
My sign made it on TV and Yahoosports. Vick we miss you, but we must protect Ryan’s House!
L.R.Glass, Sr.
September 19th, 2011
2:22 am
I Don’t know about the rest of you, but these four eyes were witness to not one, but TWO outstanding class acts on the Georgia Dome field tonight; Matt Ryan AND Michael Vick. Neither one of them should have to prove themselves to ANYONE,ANYMORE! Congratulations, fellas. You both have earned my respect. You’ve earned it for two completely different reasons, but neither one of you deserves any less. May you both have long, Hall Of Fame type careers. God Bless Matty And Mike.(And yes, They deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with the same breath).
kreedham
September 19th, 2011
2:23 am
Just cut Dunte Robinson….he’ll get fined for that hit to the head….but then so should the Eagle who delivered one on Ryan early in the game!
kreedham
September 19th, 2011
2:24 am
Olde Fan….if you have NFL network it will be replayed Tuesday night…6 or 8 o’clock…can’t remember!
Connections: Matt Ryan was an Eagles fan – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
September 19th, 2011
2:26 am
[...] On a wild night, the Falcons KO Vick and outslug his team [...]
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
2:27 am
Mike Vick: FACE PLANT!
Almost feel bad for those Eagles fans. Watching Vick fumble, throw picks, and not have the balls to get in there and play is what they have to look forward to for the next 6 or 7 YEARS….naaaaaaaaaah! Great win Falcons! Turner DOMINATES again with over 100 yards rushing…Matt Ryan TOUGHS it out with 2 HUGE champion level drives, but we couldn’t have WON THE GAME without 14 points directly due to Mike Vick SCREWING UP! haahahahha…Matt Ryan ABSOLUTELY OWNED Mike Vick and the Eaglets!!!!
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
2:29 am
Vick spittin’ up blood just like those dogs he tortured! Great job, Falcons. Not just winning the game but getting some real revenge and physical punishment on ConVick for those poor dogs ConVick poked, prodded, tortured and murdered!
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
2:30 am
Dunte Robinson almost got that ball out. Great hit. Worth the penalty and the fine if he gets the fumble. Look at replay, though. Legal hit. This ain’t badminton!
bigeasy830
September 19th, 2011
2:34 am
Ryan did not play well early on, hopefully this game will give him much needed confidence for the rst of the season. he has to play with confidence. I think he lost a lot of it in the play-off game last season and even more in the lost to the Bears. Matt Ryan gotta get it back on track. Next week against the Bucs in TB won’t be easy, the game against Tampa is may be an even bigger game than this one. Tampa is a division foe and both games last season was very close. It will be hard to make the paly-offs as a wild card this year, the NFC is staked with good teams. Falcons must win the South, therefore they must beat Tampa and N.O. in head to head match-ups.
Reid Adair
September 19th, 2011
2:39 am
Falcons fans shouldn’t take offense at the Eagles’ quarterback pointing to the scoreboard as he left the field with an injury. Last time he “pointed” something to us, it was his middle finger – when he was playing for Atlanta.
L.R.Glass, Sr.
September 19th, 2011
2:43 am
To all of you living room coaches out there, remember this; There was only ONE perfect football team in the history of the NFL: The 1972 Miami Dolphins! Oh, guess what: even they needed a little help on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
2:55 am
Thought prison would have toughened up #7. Nope. Guess the prison poundings just toughened up the herpes blisters on his backside.
TruthTeller
September 19th, 2011
3:09 am
I am going to be very honest. The Falcons won, period. Hooray for the Falcons, blah, blah, blah. However, Matt Ryan did not even come close to looking like a NFL quarterback until Mike Vick was knocked out of the game. Finally, half of the monkey was off of his back. I think he actually breathed a sigh of relief. I am sick of hearing about the Falcons’ winning seasons and how great Matt Ryan is. Matt Ryan has not led the Falcons to a single playoff win. I would like to remind you Falcon Fans that this is Matt Ryan’s 4th season. What good is it to have a great season, and you cannot advance in the playoff? Matt Ryan is average on his best days. The Falcons are not going to the Super Bowl any time soon. Matt Ryan is not going to get you there. If I recall correctly, Vick had led the Falcons to the playoffs not once but twice by his 4th year, and the Falcons actually advanced. People tend to forget that, and the Falcons had 3 of the worst coaches in the league running the show, and an offensive line that was horrific. Falcons’ fans love mediocrity. I am confident that this has to do with all the folks that hate Vick. As long as you keep having your back to back winning seasons, you can care less about winning playoff games. Are these the standards you hold your kids to, MEDIOCRITY?! This is CRAZY!!!!!!! I am going to say it. Clearly the Falcons would not have won if Mike Vick had not of gotten hurt, and yes, I stand behind my comment. And to all of you, who complained about Vick not being a pocket passer, guess where he was when he got hurt tonight. You guessed it……in the POCKET!!!! The Falcons have moved on. Vick has moved on. Keep enjoying your mediocre seasons with Mattie Ice Water.
Slimdog
September 19th, 2011
3:20 am
Not taking anything away from the Falcons. Great win! But I will repeat myself just as I did when they beat Green Bay during the regular season last year….”Falcons, you WILL see this team again this year!” Fill in the BLANKS! No pun intended!
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
3:23 am
We may see the Eaglets again. We won’t see Vick again. No way this p/ussy lasts an entire NFL season.
TruthTeller
September 19th, 2011
3:25 am
Where are my comments????
Mike Vick The Convick
September 19th, 2011
3:26 am
Once again again you show the world classless piece of trash you are.You pointed to the score board,and after the game, you were spineless, gutless to face the media.just like a coward you are and always will be.what a shame you were not carted off the feild. Priceless watching all the vick huggers wearing his jersey mouths dropped left the game.KARMA! GO FALCONS!
TruthTeller
September 19th, 2011
3:33 am
There are some very sad people on this blog. Some of the comments that are being said about Mike Vick are despicable. What God do you all pray to???? To be exceited about someone getting hurt is just plain sick. Mike Vick got a concussion, and some of you act as if he asked for it. It saddens me to know I live in a world with people that have such hate in their hearts. WIth that being said, I would like to leave you all with this.
I am going to be very honest. The Falcons won, period. Hooray for the Falcons, blah, blah, blah. However, Matt Ryan did not even come close to looking like a NFL quarterback until Mike Vick was knocked out of the game. Finally, half of the monkey was off of his back. I think he actually breathed a sigh of relief. I am sick of hearing about the Falcons’ winning seasons and how great Matt Ryan is. Matt Ryan has not led the Falcons to a single playoff win. I would like to remind you Falcon Fans that this is Matt Ryan’s 4th season. What good is it to have a great season, and you cannot advance in the playoff? Matt Ryan is average on his best days. The Falcons are not going to the Super Bowl any time soon. Matt Ryan is not going to get you there. If I recall correctly, Vick had led the Falcons to the playoffs not once but twice by his 4th year, and the Falcons actually advanced. People tend to forget that, and the Falcons had 3 of the worst coaches in the league running the show, and an offensive line that was horrific. Falcons’ fans love mediocrity. I am confident that this has to do with all the folks that hate Vick. As long as you keep having your back to back winning seasons, you can care less about winning playoff games. Are these the standards you hold your kids to, MEDIOCRITY?! This is CRAZY!!!!!!! I am going to say it. Clearly the Falcons would not have won if Mike Vick had not of gotten hurt, and yes, I stand behind my comment. And to all of you, who complained about Vick not being a pocket passer, guess where he was when he got hurt tonight. You guessed it……in the POCKET!!!! The Falcons have moved on. Vick has moved on. Keep enjoying your mediocre seasons with Mattie Ice Water.
Ron Mexico
September 19th, 2011
3:36 am
You all did miss me in Atlanta didn’t yall?
VickCHOKED
September 19th, 2011
3:37 am
Ole Con Vick forgot that the ONLY time to point at the scoreboard is at THE END when THE MEN who STAY ON THE FIELD FINISH THE GAME! Falcons owned and KICKED VICK’S AZZ to boot. A GREAT DAY for ALL of Atlanta!
ScottBravesFan
September 19th, 2011
3:38 am
Sam Baker is horrible
Mike Vick
September 19th, 2011
3:42 am
remember the whole world loves me!
falconfan 24/7
September 19th, 2011
3:42 am
Biggest win in franchise history.Go Falcons!
TruthTeller
September 19th, 2011
3:47 am
Some of the folks on this blog are very sad people. Some of the things being said about Mike Vick are dispecable. What God do you all pray to? To be excited about someone getting hurt is sick. He got a concussion. Some of you all act as if he pulled a “Jay Cutler”. I will pray for those of you with such hatred in your heart.
The Falcons won the game, but they did it against the Eagles’ third string quarterback. The Falcons currently have with 3 straight winning seasons with 0 playoff wins. What mediocrity? You all are proud of that???? Give me 0 back to back winning seasons and multiple playoff wins. If I recall, isn’t that what the Falcons did when Mike Vick was here. Matt Ryan is “overrated”, and for the last 3 games (this includes the playoff game against Green Bay), yes, I said 3, we have seen Mattie Ice Water. Do you some of you actually listen to the words that come out of your mouths?
SCFalcon
September 19th, 2011
4:04 am
Sam Baker is an embarassment! If he is the best left OT on the roster, we are in trouble! There’s no way he deserves to start! Tampa’s licking their chops right now!
jwdavis 88
September 19th, 2011
4:07 am
for all of you so called falcons fans that doubt how good matt ryan is just remember this.all great QBS in the NFL play there best football when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter when most games are won and lost.ryan has done it time and time again with the game on the line.he does what all great players do and that is win.all vick does is let his team down when they need him most
retired broke and .......
September 19th, 2011
4:12 am
truth …….. and all the other sickVick apologists LOL LOL LOL and follow your god outta town and into the hell hole you came from. you idolize a real sicko and a loser. Falcons will get their playoff wins soon and yes Matt Ryan will lead this team to them. I don’t wish Vick any injury but did find it interesting it came at the hand (head) of his own team mate. Go hang out on a Philly.com blog your neither wanted or respected here. Bye
Great Falconi
September 19th, 2011
4:16 am
Last I checked, a defense is allowed to knock a QB out of the game. There are very few defenses in the league that wouldn’t take pride in having taken out a starting QB. The Eagles certainly tried to take Ryan out. It didn’t work. We took Vick out and reaped the benefits from it. It’s just a game; it’s just entertainment, but try telling that to the men on the field who are paid great sums of money to beat the holy hell out of the opposition. Great win for the Falcons, and more power to ‘em for putting Vick on the ground and making him tap out.
MB
September 19th, 2011
4:17 am
GLAD WE WON, PLAY CALLING IS STILL A PROBLEM IN RED ZONE, 3 TIMES UP THE MIDDLE WITH TURNER, CMON MAN. GO FALCONS!!!!
Diggitydawg
September 19th, 2011
4:44 am
If u buy a tkt wear whatever u want
Diggitydawg
September 19th, 2011
4:47 am
Vick has won a playoff game. How about ryan?
Bobby
September 19th, 2011
5:00 am
I assume the Falcons won. But I don’t see a score anywhere in the article.
AAllinFlynn
September 19th, 2011
5:07 am
1-1 against two division winners from last year. The biggest concern for this offense is pass protection. Other teams don’t even have to blitz to get pressure on Ryan. Geez, no wonder why it seems the receivers are always covered. If my math serves me correctly, this leaves (usually) a 7 v. 5 matchup.
Ron Mexico
September 19th, 2011
5:10 am
Where is the free clinic at?
Ron Mexico
September 19th, 2011
5:12 am
Love you DiggityDawg, you may want to get tested though!
Ron Mexico
September 19th, 2011
5:19 am
Hey TruthTeller, thanks for the support. Would love to have you fly back on the plane with me and the team. Only thing I ask is that you carry my water bottle through airport security.
xemployee
September 19th, 2011
5:54 am
it wasn’t all that pretty, but it’s a w and they will not be easy to come by. the scheduling by the nfl to achieve parity is inevitable, and the falcons will have to play at their top potential just about every week to get in the playoffs and, hopefully, the super bowl
go falcons and mike vick go to the dogs!
DC Dirty Bird
September 19th, 2011
6:11 am
Ron Mexico and all the Vick haters should keep your ignorant comments to yourself. This was a great win for the Falcons. It doesn’t need to be diluted by whatever prevents you from getting over yourself and getting over Vick’s rise, fall, and return to celebrity.
Tyrone
September 19th, 2011
6:15 am
Vick was a thug. I’m glad the Falcons’ KO him. Go Falcons!