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
Bil
September 19th, 2011
8:07 am
To all those with #7 on a Falcons jersey….get a life. Get real and put on your #7 Eagles jersey because your not really a fan of our team. Your not helping our team or our city, get over it. Get onboard or jump off the train, otherwise stay at home and root for your team, the Eagles and their QB, your not really for the Falcons just admit it.
JeromeMJ
September 19th, 2011
8:11 am
Michael “Where’s the ball” Vick has played like this all of his life… a couple of fast ‘wow’ plays and then a zillion turnovers and always getting hurt. He is really just a weak guy with no fortitude. Any other QB would have finished the game but I guess anyone who would kill a dog would have to be really weak minded.
Antonio Gramsci
September 19th, 2011
8:17 am
Did you really just say “by any means necessary.” Oh lord.
BA
September 19th, 2011
8:18 am
Tell me again why Harvey Dahl was let go? In last night’s game all the big name hyped up receivers in the world didnt mean as much as simple, old school running,blocking and tackling. I agree with benny,an OG is traditionally a stout mauler,not a gangly finesse blocking technician.Baker got killed,due to the laws of physics more than any individual failings on his part.William Moore did more to save this season than any other player on the team last night
What in the world is up with John Abraham?
atlnative
September 19th, 2011
8:18 am
Congrads to the Atlanta Falcons,beating the Philadelphia Eagles last night.Matt Ryan survived an awful beating by Philadelphia’s D-line,and Sam Baker.Trent Cole made Baker his personal whipping boy last night.
rudy
September 19th, 2011
8:19 am
good game fo sho but defense still needs a fix…..
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
8:21 am
Stan
September 19th, 2011
12:03 am
Vick was hurt and taken out of game early in 3rd quarter and winning.
And while he was in on the sideline Matty brought his team back to win. What position does Vick play on defense Stan? Didn’t think so slapnut.
Bill
September 19th, 2011
8:21 am
Enter your comments here
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
8:22 am
REAL TALK
September 19th, 2011
8:20 am
Matt Ryan didn’t beat MV7! Philly was up by 10 in the 3rd quarter. MV7 DIN’T PLAY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER! RYAN DIDN’T BEAT SH!T!!!
MORON, thy name is Real Talk. Get a grip, like around your throat so you don’t speak stupid shit!
how2fish
September 19th, 2011
8:23 am
Great game, Falcons showed they have the toughness to finish strong and get a win. Lots of work to be done to improve, sorry Vick got knocked out hope he has really made the strides he seems to have. Glad he got a big contract he is good for the NFL, but I’m even gladder we won !
REAL TALK
September 19th, 2011
8:23 am
@ TOO BAD! YOU CAN BURN IN HELL!!!
Doglover
September 19th, 2011
8:24 am
Makes me sick those years I cheered for Vick.
Looks like he has not changed
Just pretending but still deranged.
Unprofessional pointing at the score
Get him help still rotten at the core.
If they fall for this act we can tell
He will end up back in the cell.
Funny
September 19th, 2011
8:25 am
No huddle. Been saying to do this for years.
REAL TALK
September 19th, 2011
8:26 am
@ KRAMER THE TRUTH HURTS! MATTY ICYYY DID’NT BEAT SH!T!
how2fish
September 19th, 2011
8:26 am
@REAL TALK I think Ryan was the QB on the winning team last night. So he did beat the Eagles….game is not Ryan vs Vick it the Falcons vs the Eagles
…Falcons won…take a deep breath and repeat after me the Falcons won !
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
8:28 am
Real talk, you wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you on your arse. You are a Vick idiot!!! Today you are just a loser, then again you probably are a loser everyday.
chris
September 19th, 2011
8:29 am
nkramer has the required education level to be one of the many red vick jersey morons. do those of you that wear these jerseys even have checking accounts?
matty ice
September 19th, 2011
8:29 am
This is my House!!!!
chris
September 19th, 2011
8:30 am
sorry nkramer, meant realtalk. meant to give you props for sticking up for matty.
Justin
September 19th, 2011
8:30 am
@ Too Bad Too Bad
September 19th, 2011
8:05 am
You make a punk thug comment calling someone else a thug? Its people like you that make Vick look good.
EXACTLY! People like “Too Bad” are the very reason he’s excelled. Keep throwing Vick the hate, because you haven’t seen
Justin
September 19th, 2011
8:31 am
…..continued
EXACTLY! People like “Too Bad” are the very reason he’s excelled. Keep throwing Vick the hate, because you haven’t seen the best of Mike Vick yet.
john
September 19th, 2011
8:32 am
find it funny that vick kills dogs, then spends every sunday getting his little b*itchazz beat around like one of the lifeless pits he’s so fond of. little dog got no bite. his supporters got no teef, got no car, got no job, got plenty of government money though.
Ted M
September 19th, 2011
8:34 am
The Falcons have a long way to go if they want to win in the playoffs. Right now I think they have a fair chance of making it as wildcard. Unless they get better tho they’ll lose the opening PO game.
Joey
September 19th, 2011
8:35 am
A team from Atlanta CAN beat a team from Philly.
I wondered if it were possible . . .
dawg4life
September 19th, 2011
8:47 am
An appropriate end to this one… Falcons win, Vick taunts crowd with mouth full of blood from biting his tongue. Any of you who say that man is changed have seriously been dupped… That is the same person that flicked off his own crowd a few years ago. Now, all of you so called “fans” that wear that $%^$’s jersey can keep your tails at home! Matt Ryan stood in there under extreme pressure all night, and rose to the occasion when the game was on the line. Vick’s butt was in the locker room crying like a b%&$%!!! Take notes MV7, on how a REAL QB handles himself…
Bill in VA
September 19th, 2011
8:49 am
Uhh, Mike Vick lost the “fight.” Does that mean…uhh…does that mean we’ll “never see” him again….like one of his dogs??
southeast dawg
September 19th, 2011
8:50 am
ATL, full of haters!
vick got hurt in the 3rd with the lead…..
the 3rd string qb came in and almost beat you…..
hopeless, Vick did his time, what-else does he have to do….
jesus forgives, but not southerners……
southeast dawg
September 19th, 2011
8:52 am
so does that mean atl will go to the super bowl?……..
nope…..
the eagles will
Dr. Sanjay
September 19th, 2011
8:53 am
Mark,
Did your visit to the Eagles post-game locker room last night reveal that Vick might have been in the middle of an itching, distracting herpes outbreak that attributed to his multiple fumbles?
dawg4life
September 19th, 2011
8:53 am
HAHAHAHAHAHA, Justin/Real Talk…. Vick sux…. Ryan stood in there and took a beating, got up, and led his team to a win. Vick left the field crying like a baby. Ryan is 10 times the QB that Vick ever will be, and it showed tonight.
TD has no clue!
September 19th, 2011
8:56 am
Same old Vick.
dawg4life
September 19th, 2011
8:56 am
You have lost it Southeast Dawg!!! The Eagles have no fight… we saw the proof on national tv. Vick sucks, he is a criminal. Forget forgiveness. If you have a problem with it, move your ass to Philly… You will fit right in.
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
8:58 am
Matt “Lil Dink” Ryan sucks, Falcons win but by a fluke, but I guess a win is a win.
Mighty Righty
September 19th, 2011
8:59 am
Same ol Vick. Game on line, fumble.
dawg4life
September 19th, 2011
9:00 am
35-31 Ryan over Vick!!!!!! How does that blood taste Vick???? What was that you were pointing at buddy???? The game is 4 qtrs. I know you have a problem counting that high, but c’mon man… Come on back if you ever want to try again. Ryan will be waiting… Nice to finally have a real QB, rather than some washed up chump!
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
9:03 am
@ dawg4life
Vick 19-28 242 yds, 2 td’s QB rating 103.6 through 3 quarters and an interception that wasn’t, does not sound sucky to me.
Matty Melt 17-28 195 4 td’s, 2 int QB rating 91.5
So who had the better game?
Fred-D
September 19th, 2011
9:03 am
“Southeast Dawg” Jesus does forgive, but southerners will forgive also, unless they are southern football fans scorned by their pro or college team.
PMC
September 19th, 2011
9:05 am
It’s just like watching sausage being made witnessing the Falcons get through a game.
Don’t care how it happened at this point Falcons win. Awesome.
StungByAYellowJacket
September 19th, 2011
9:07 am
Chris Collingsworth(less) and Rodney Harrison are both tools… they are so biased towards vick and the eagles… got sick of them waiting for vick to do something and sick of them bashing or making excuses everytime the Falcons did something well…..
Strange Murphy
September 19th, 2011
9:13 am
Vick lost! La de Da!!!!
how2fish
September 19th, 2011
9:14 am
@Sonofadog your kidding right? The QB on the winning team Always had the better team…stats are for losers.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 19th, 2011
9:14 am
Mark Bradley sucks as a writer. Please leave the AJC and take Schultz with you. Go Falcons, Jackets and Dream!!!!
Strange Murphy
September 19th, 2011
9:16 am
southeast dawg
If Vick where a white dude, you’d hate him. Nuff said!
LOL
September 19th, 2011
9:17 am
All the 7 jersey wearers are scum bags, plain and simple. They’d be fighting dogs too if they could afford it.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 19th, 2011
9:17 am
dawg4life your an idiot……….. Judging by your posts.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 19th, 2011
9:21 am
I’m a huge Vick fan and feel that his punishment was too harsh for what he was convicted of. That being said. I wanted him to do well, but I still wanted my Falcons to win. All the negative comments about Vick’s injury are uncalled for. Remember what goes around comes around……… Let’s hope our Falcons can stay healthy.
Thurston
September 19th, 2011
9:23 am
I just drove through southwest Atlanta and it was dead quiet. I guess mourning the KO of superman. Or perhaps they just don’t have a job to go to and are still sleeping.
Dawglasville
September 19th, 2011
9:23 am
I guess since the only two players who played last night were Ryan and Vick here are my two cents… both had some great moments and there was some stupid moments. I believe that Ryan was having to compete against a much, much better defense. Mike is electric but I don’t know that his style of play will allow him to stay healthy for 16 – 19 games. Bottom line is that the Birds won and now on to Tampa.
IceFALCONcold11
September 19th, 2011
9:23 am
Sam Baker got his butt put in a bag an KICKED all over the stadium including the nose bleed seats. He must be prayed up because i didn’t think he was going to make it past the half………….
Byron Mehaffey
September 19th, 2011
9:25 am
As usual, you can’t say how wrong your prediction was,Mr. Bradley!!!