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
Ron
September 19th, 2011
9:27 am
Sam Baker somehow looks surprised every time the DE knocks the crap out of him. If he doesn’t learn now to block that bull rush, it’s going to be a long season for his chin strap and an even longer season for Matt Ryan, if he lives through it. Suggestion: lose that stupid looking goat-tee.
Fan of the Game
September 19th, 2011
9:28 am
The NFL is off to a good start or is it? Too many blowouts, but one thing is for sure the league is unpredictable. The Ravens beat the starch out of the Steelers and then let the Titans, a team that Jacksonville beat last week with no offense, beat them. Man it is as much a mind game as anything else. You come to play and you have a chance, you don’t and you will get emabarrassed.
True Confessions
September 19th, 2011
9:29 am
So, Vick left with a sore neck, well, … guess he knows how some of those dogs of his felt.
Mr. G
September 19th, 2011
9:33 am
A couple of observations…Noticed when game got tough Vick went out hurt..how many times did we see that when he played for Falcons? Also did anyone notice love fest by NBC’s Collinsworth…think he was ready to have the eagles baby..Eagles O-line got away with holding all night..OT was hugging Abraham all night…good hard fought win..oh and Sam Baker is going to get Ryan killed before season is over..
J
September 19th, 2011
9:33 am
Thank Andy Reid for the falcons victory.
That fumble in the red zone should have never happened if he wasn’t trying to be cute and the int by Mike Vick never happened, Ansy failed to challenge.
Mike Vick totally outclassed Matt Ryan in every facet except TD passes.
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
9:34 am
Keep fishing how2fish, Ryan was horrible, got the win but Vick outplayed him
JT
September 19th, 2011
9:36 am
I was at the game, and although i’m ALWAYS pulling fo rthe Falcons, I always want Mike to do well…even with those turnovers, in MY humble opinion, we would have lost that game if he’d have played for 4 qtrs…simple as that. Matty Ice, I love him, but he holds on to the ball for too dayum long and our O Line isn’t built for that. Phily was disguising that defense and he wasn’t anticipating his throws very well. I wouldn’t quite call it Matt’s House yet! Thanks GOD for Michael Turner!
Read This
September 19th, 2011
9:37 am
LET RYAN CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Our OC is clueless. Completely clueless. You all agree.
Read This
September 19th, 2011
9:38 am
2nd time. LET RYAN CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Our OC is clueless. Completely clueless. You all agree.
Read This
September 19th, 2011
9:38 am
3rd time. LET RYAN CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Our OC is clueless. Completely clueless. You all agree.
Read This
September 19th, 2011
9:38 am
Last time. LET RYAN CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Our OC is clueless. Completely clueless. You all agree.
Reality Check
September 19th, 2011
9:39 am
@Real Talk, actually Matt Ryan and the Falcons scored two fourth quarter touchdowns against the “Dream Team” Defense that has three pro bowl corners. I like MV allright but to spin it like the Falcons did nothing in the fourth quarter is wrong. The last time I checked MV does not play defense. You will probably respond to this with hateful comments like anyone else who disagrees with you.
c'mon guys
September 19th, 2011
9:40 am
falcons paid a lot of money for dunta robinson?? i’d ask for some of that back. what a classless, undisciplined hack he is. figured blank would have learned his lesson about throwing money at guys like that in the past…oh well…brees and saints can’t get to the atl games quick enough. matty ice, call cutler for details on behind-thumping…
Ted M
September 19th, 2011
9:40 am
The Braves might be in trouble. The Phillies could sweep them to close out the season and knock the Braves out of the playoffs.
valyboy32
September 19th, 2011
9:41 am
i’m glad we won but all my ga teams on all levels falcons, uga,fortvalley state and peach county all have offensive line problems none of them will make it far if we dont get better play from them all
Fan of the Game
September 19th, 2011
9:43 am
J – I would rather be a winner than an outclasser! You don’t know what class is!
mark
September 19th, 2011
9:43 am
Has Mike Mularkey never heard about the value of a screen pass to help offset the intense pass rushers?
Fan of the Game
September 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Ted M – That is why we need to clinch before the last series.
The anti-Vick
September 19th, 2011
9:45 am
Vick needs a new contract, Vick plays like a champ. Vick signs huge money contract, Vick gets hang nail and sits on bench.
Sound familiar?
And to JT@ we would have lost that game if he’d have played for 4 qtrs…simple as that.
Better to say “we would have lost that game if he’d have played for 4 qtrs” than “we would have won that game if he’d have played for 4 qtrs.”!!!!
Mike Vick has as much natural talent as nearly anyone in the NFL. His work ethic, though, is suspect.
Ted M
September 19th, 2011
9:46 am
yep and Halladay should beat Cards tonight. That’ll help.
bigcrimson75
September 19th, 2011
9:46 am
I’ll take Matt Ryan as my qb over Vick anyday. Thats now 22 – 2 at home!!!!
Baker needs to step it up—————-big time
Sam Bakers Arms
September 19th, 2011
9:47 am
We are too short,, and same old Vick,, Carry the ball like a loaf of bread and cant stay on the field cause he takes too many hits.
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
9:49 am
Bottomline, Vick made some Vick plays out there that helped his team. Vick made some Vick plays out there that hurt his team. I will take Ryan any day over Vick because of his mental toughness and his ability to call a game when given the opportunity. Oh yeah, Real Talk it is an hour later since you posted and you are still a MORON! Wear your Vick jersey proud today.
how2fish
September 19th, 2011
9:51 am
@Sonofadog riddle me this, how can Matt Ryan be horrible and beat the Eagles with Vick at the helm..hmmmm if he is so good how did we get up by 10? And I hope he is not badly damaged but sonny knocking the QB out of a game is what a D should do every chance they get. Funny how Ryan can be smacked and get up and continue while Vick continues to go down and stay down…face it Ryan is just a tougher hombre…
Sid
September 19th, 2011
9:52 am
Holy Cow I was worried…………we needed this win. If we don’t get some O line help, especially on the left, Ryan won’t be around for a full season. Finally, the special teams showed up, don’t know why Weems let us get trapped at the 1/2 yard line. Obviously, Turner’s Burner is flaming out and hesitating at the line again. Still had a good game with 60+ yards on that one carry around the right side…..anyone notice he didn’t stutter step on that one. Why can’t our Pro Bowl recievers get some separation…….not meaning to dis Gonz, he didn’t need separation, he just dug the ball out wherever it was thrown, a helluva catch in the back of the end zone. Truly, the defense didn’t play that good, just good enough.
EGM
September 19th, 2011
9:52 am
Vick should send Chris Collinswoth a ring or at least some flowers for all the butt kissing he send his way. Way over the top in Vick praise. What has Vick won as a starting QB?
Von
September 19th, 2011
9:54 am
Congrats Falcon fans. It was a tough win although the Falcons were definitely outplayed by the Eagles. Down 31-21 in the fourth shows this team is has what it takes to win. The only problem is that although they won, they didn’t dominate as the Eagles did. It’s more of the Eagles not executing and making mistakes rather that the Falcons making the plays. That I believe will show more as the season goes. But a win is a win as in the end that’s really all that counts.
captguitarman
September 19th, 2011
9:55 am
Kudos to the Falcons for hanging in there for the win, even though they were getting soundly whupped in the second half until Vick got hurt and left the game. You can’t take that away from them. But this year’s Falcons seem to be struggling for whatever reason. Based on the game I was watching, if Vick had not been injured, the Eagles would have won. I know that is shoulda, woulda, coulda talk, and anything can happen. But, the Eagles were closing in for the kill when Vick left the game. Not sure what is wrong, but I am confident that the coaches are not in the same denial mode as many fans who have commented, and they will work hard to fix the problem. Way too many penalties and mistakes — and the defensive front line just evaporated way too many times.
captguitarman
September 19th, 2011
9:57 am
Test.
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
10:05 am
@Sonofadog riddle me this, how can Matt Ryan be horrible and beat the Eagles with Vick at the helm..hmmmm if he is so good how did we get up by 10? And I hope he is not badly damaged but sonny knocking the QB out of a game is what a D should do every chance they get. Funny how Ryan can be smacked and get up and continue while Vick continues to go down and stay down…face it Ryan is just a tougher hombre…———-
Uh, Vick did not finishe the game. If you look at the numbers, Vick’s are better. Eagles lost more than Atlanta won. Let me show you the numbers:
Vick: 19-28 242 yds, 2 td’s, 1 int(that really was not an int), QB rating 103.6 through 3 qtrs
Ryan: 17-28 195 yds 4 td’s (all 5 yds or less) 2 int, QB rating 91.5
Numbers don’t lie sonny!
Read This
September 19th, 2011
10:07 am
Except for me, everyone on here is an idiot. This is all you need to know:
LET RYAN CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Our OC is clueless. Completely clueless. You all agree.
Phil Phan
September 19th, 2011
10:10 am
The loss to the falcons was a fluke! If Vick doesn’t get hurt by that dirty hit, the Eagles win that game easy. Mark this down: Philly’s going to the superbowl and atlanta will be lucky to get a wild card.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:11 am
The dirty hit by Vick’s own lineman, you mean?
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
10:12 am
Phil Phan mark this down. You are in need of a pee test.
how2fish
September 19th, 2011
10:12 am
@Sonofadog sonny if your relying on either STATS or Mike Vick finishing games your in for a LOT of disappointment..all the STATS in the world can’t keep Mike in a game….face it he kept getting smacked so he took a seat, you should be used to that by now…And sonny when you look at the scoreboard all that matters of all those numbers is that your team has the most points scored…here endth the lesson.
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
10:14 am
sonofadog, if those numbers make you feel beteer then by all means keep repeating them this week. By Friday it will still read as a loss in the standings. You will feel better but, your team still lost. Typical Eagles fan.
Just John
September 19th, 2011
10:19 am
Sonofadog, Too bad fumbles do not count in the QB ratings. The would put Vick’s numbers in the 80’s That was not much of a hit that put him out, Ryan took a full face to face head shot and did not go down.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred
September 19th, 2011
10:19 am
Why or Why is Sam Baker still a starter on this team????? The O-Line better get rectified soon or Ryan is going to get hurt. How can he throw the ball effectively down the field for long gains when he’s constantly running for his life back there????
The offense is better when Ryan is allowed to call the plays instead of Mularkey. What an appropriate last name for his ability as an OC. : -)
Ted M
September 19th, 2011
10:20 am
Anybody watch the Mayweather / Ortiz fight? Pretty dang bush league if you ask me.
Dawglasville
September 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Let’s be real about Mike.
When he was here he won one playoff game. That is one more playoff game than Matt Ryan who has been in the league 3 years and two games. Vick lost in the playoffs last year to the same Packers who beat the Falcons. When he was here those who loved Mike blamed the line, receivers, coaches when he failed. Some of you same guys would never apologize for Ryan using those excuses. There really is no need to bring up Mike’s name again until we face them again. The bottom line is some guys are just going to love or hate Mike or Matt no matter what they do. It is like the blog has been taken over by Sean Hannity and Jesse Jackson.
tmitch
September 19th, 2011
10:24 am
I see Mr. Bradley must be a VICK fan, he gets to pick and choose what comments get posted, good job lame ass.
tmitch
September 19th, 2011
10:28 am
Sonofadog is a damn idiot. must be on Vick’s payroll, wait a minute, he’s in debt and has to pay creditors(FALCONS) first, bahahahahahahahah!!!!
Dogtown
September 19th, 2011
10:34 am
It was really nice seeing the “Vick fans” waste their money to see some Katka guy. Vick was back to his childish ways pointing at the score board and crying. I guess he has grown up a little cause he didn’t flip little kids off this time.
Congrats Ryan. You are one tough QB! GO FALCONS!
Dirty Dozen
September 19th, 2011
10:50 am
Said this last night, gonna say it again….
The NFL has made this once wonderful game booooooorrrrrrrinnnnnngggggggg. The silliness of the “protection” rules, the abhorrent officiating, instant replay stopping the game even ten minutes……..
Bring back the days when Matuszak and Lambert and Dobler struck fear in the hearts of even strong men.
This is game of sissy’s now. About as exciting as watching paint dry.
Fan of the Game
September 19th, 2011
11:00 am
Phil Phan – The first dirty blow was on the first pass when Ryan was hit helmt to helmet and no call was made.
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
11:02 am
Oh, now I’m an idiot tmitch? I bet you won’t come to southwest Atlanta talking that
sam
September 19th, 2011
11:07 am
Is Matt Bosher still on the team this morning? I’m worried about the Bucs this Sunday. Not an easy game in TB
Kramer
September 19th, 2011
11:08 am
Sonofadog
September 19th, 2011
11:02 am
Oh, now I’m an idiot tmitch? I bet you won’t come to southwest Atlanta talking that
I’m in southwest Atlanta and you are an idiot.
Pat
September 19th, 2011
11:11 am
It is vile to continue to hassle Mr. Vick over those dogs when hundreds are killed every day by their owners. The Falcons played a dirty game, and they are truly the dirty birds. The Falcons won’t make it into the playoffs. If Vick stayed in the game, the Falcons would have lost! They should have won against a QB in his first professional game. That is what it took for them to win.
joe schmoe
September 19th, 2011
11:18 am
If vick stayed in the game, he would of given up two more fumbles… is that better : ) instead he got a taste of the Falcons hurt locker, and is still trying to argue with fans, as classes as ever.