Story of the season: Falcons mess around but win anyway
The fourth-and-goal stop that finally restored sanity. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
These are the 2011 Atlanta Falcons: Ahead 17-0 at the half, they turn a punt into an off-the-hip turnover and a fourth-and-13 into a galling Minnesota touchdown and, quicker than you can say “Percy Harvin is really fast,” a game that should have been locked away is in danger of becoming the worst loss of Mike Smith’s four seasons.
These are also the 2011 Atlanta Falcons: Needing to catch the really fast Percy Harvin to stave off a 107-yard touchdown on a kickoff return, Christopher Owens somehow does. The Minnesota touchdown goes forever unscored, and the Falcons win by 10 and slide into the sixth spot in the NFC playoff grid, which means this team would qualify if the postseason began today.
In sum, these are the 2011 Atlanta Falcons: Shaky enough to make you think they’ll never go anywhere but stout enough to make you reconsider.
Is this team as good as I thought it would be? Through 11 games, no. But parts of those 11 games have been promising enough to make me think — and I’ll concede I might be in the minority — that these Falcons could get hot enough to win a few games in January. Which means I’m going more on faith than on evidence, which is a risky proposition. That said, the Falcons don’t blanch at the concept of risk.
“We played through some ebbs and flows,” said coach Mike Smith, understating hugely. “We showed our composure.”
Well, no and yes. The Falcons turned a mismatch — going with a rookie quarterback and without Adrian Peterson, Minnesota entered 2-8 and managed 93 yards and zero points in the first 33 minutes — into a hairbreadth thing. They do this often. (See the halting victories over Seattle, Carolina and Tennessee for further proof.) And what, linebacker Curtis Lofton was asked, does that say about this team?
“We win,” Lofton said. “We don’t blow teams out, but we win.”
The NFL isn’t the BCS. There are no voters or computers to sway. You play a season and you tote up wins and losses, and if you’ve got enough of the former you keep playing. As long as you keep playing, you’ve got a shot. The 2008 Arizona Cardinals were 9-7 but came within one Pittsburgh drive of being Super Bowl champs. The 2010 Green Bay Packers were 10-6 and the NFC’s sixth seed, and they won it all. (For the record, the Smith-coached Falcons were eliminated by both.)
Said linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, whose fourth-and-goal stop of Toby Gerhart subdued the Vikings at last: “We’ve got to work on [putting opponents away]. But it’s tough on Sundays.”
Said Lofton: “We’re not playing consecutive football — the whole team playing a complete game. We haven’t hit our peak yet.”
In those frantic moments when Harvin appeared bound for the touchdown that would bring the Vikings within three points again, it was possible to wonder if, far from scaling a peak, the Falcons were about to plunge into an abyss. But the moment passed. Owens kept chugging — “I just didn’t give up on the play,” he said — and hauled down the guy who might be the NFL’s fastest.
Said Smith: “You can overcome some of your mistakes by hustling.”
Yes, it’s a maddening team to watch, but which would you rather be: A maddening 7-4 or a dead-in-the-water 4-7? (Like Tampa Bay, say.) And lost in that 7-4 is that these Falcons were 2-3 after being outclassed at home by Green Bay; they’ve since won five of six. They’ve cinched up the chinstraps and given themselves a chance.
Said center Todd McClure: “We have gotten better the last five or six weeks. But we still haven’t played a complete game.”
And maybe they never will. Maybe that will be the epitaph of the 2011 Atlanta Falcons: “They were good enough but not consistent enough.” But you know what the 2010 Packers were through 11 games? After a loss on the final Sunday of November in the Georgia Dome, they were 7-4.
If we fault the Falcons for even letting Minnesota have a sniff at victory — and we can and should — we must also ask this: Can we dismiss the result in a result-oriented business? They mightn’t be the prettiest winners, but they do win.
By Mark Bradley
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147 comments Add your comment
P B Orr
November 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
LDawg, the 65 Packers “took their foot off the gas” also against the Tom Matte quarterbacked Colts – hint, Tom Matte had not taken a snap at QB since high school and did not even know how to drop back into the pocket. But they very nearly defeated the Packers who were by any measure the class of the league. The Pack won with a disputed FG to tie in regulation and another in OT to advance to their third championship. It was ugly, the better team that day lost, but the better team that season did not.
Eddie Ray
November 27th, 2011
8:23 pm
It was GREAT that the won. However, Philly was up 10-0 against the Pats and lost by a bunch. We know they can’t score on every series. Clearly, any Falcon fan that has followed them thru the years is haunted by the collapse of talented teams and want them to relax after the game, not during it. Football can change on a dime. Play with the same urgency as if you are behind. The Pittsburghs and New England’s don’t hesitate to give the opposition a complete beat down and as a result win consistently. We just want our team to be in the conversation of great, not just good.
achybreakyheart
November 27th, 2011
8:25 pm
You win a few ..you lose a few..look at the Quality of the teams that the birds have beaten..anybody can beat the “dregs” of the league..Against a quality team they will struggle..Hell, they struggle against a 2-8 team today..What does that say about their chances should they make the play offs?
What..eliminated in round 1? Yeah!!
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
Acnybreak….since we let the Vikes get with’in a TD means we lose in the 1st round. What does it mean for the Saints since they LOST to the Rams?
DJ Sniper
November 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
Brian Billick mentioned something earlier in the game. He said that Mike Smith, not Matt Ryan or Mike Mularkey, makes the decision to switch to the no huddle. If that’s the case, then Smitty deserves a lot of the blame for letting the Vikings back into this one. We completely dominated the Vikes in the first half, then took our foot off the gas, went back to the conservative play calling, and they mounted a comeback. Smitty has GOT to realize that when you get a big lead on a team, you keep your foot on their necks and you don’t let up. That’s how you win.
And for one night only, tomorrow night, I will be a Giants fan!
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:34 pm
Julio caught nothing today because of racism….obvious, right?
And bernie fine HAS been fired. Good!
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:36 pm
Well, Eddie…
We can keep wanting to be considered great. Ain’t happening in our lifetimes apparently!
doomed
November 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Yes lets all shout to the heavens owens can run,I cant believe Bradley is actually mentioning this no tallent Football nucklehead.What About the Coverage on the Touchdown,When he let a pick go threw his arms,or the busted coverage on the 4th and 4ever.Every time their is score through the air I see the back of his number,Shades of bobby butthead and charles dimwitt.We used to yell peter on shank punts to let the up guys know to get their ass out of the way.Somebody needs to relay that to Mr. Franks.Can U Lay all the 2nd Half Defence ineptness at V.G.s feet.I Say no.If they played that bad in the 1st half,it would b different.These high Character Guys that T.D. And A.B.Wanted, cant keep their focus and owens should never been Drafted that high.No Football I.Q.
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Release doomed!
Eddie Ray
November 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
I strongly disagree Phil. The winning seasons thing is already by the wayside. True supporters are looking for them to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Atlanta. Braves did it, now the Falcons will too! I believe it. I am on the Bird energy bus to the glorious end!
P B Orr
November 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
“Nucklehead”? That reminds me of a Missouri joke. What does the N on Nebraska’s helmet stand for?
“Nowledge”.
Jimmy Crack
November 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
Maddening is a good word to describe this team. As maddening as David Caruso’s popularity.
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
I’m all for a Lombardi. Period.
Ain’t happening.
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Lawrence Sidbury had 2 sacks today meanwhile Ray Edwards saved a lot of money on car insurance by switching to Geico….might be time for a lineup change.
No Shock
November 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
Tonyb- you’re right, I won’t be missed among the other 20k empty seats in the stadium. Oh wait, you weren’t there to see…….
stendek
November 27th, 2011
9:07 pm
I changed my mind about Chris Owens. The young man singlehandedly pulled the Falcon tailfeathers out of the fire against a vastly inferior team from the Twin Cities. Thanks Chris. The defensive coordinator should have been given his walking papers when the Vikings converted that fourth and forever into a TD. Indefensible. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and company proceeded to claim a 17-0 lead then went into hibernation. The conservative approach is sort of like the prevent defense – it more often than not prevents a win. MR had some decent throws but was way off on many others. Too many. MT started out with 40 or so quick yards then finished with well under 100. So much for controlling the game tempo and clock. The fourth down TD pass infuriated me but I also give kudos to the Falcon D for the game preserving goal line stand. Who cares if it came against a group without its top RB or QB? Not me. The FG kicker was fine as was the punter. Now that KO unit is another story. Which brings me back to Chris Owens…
Ryan throws 3 TDs as Falcons hold off Vikings – USA Today | Football News and Topics
November 27th, 2011
9:07 pm
[...] planned. …NFL Picks Week 12: Teams That Will Defend Their Home Turf with EaseBleacher ReportStory of the season: Falcons mess around but win anywayAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Minnesota Vikings @ Atlanta Falcons – NFL Week 12 [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
November 27th, 2011
9:08 pm
I told y’all after that Saints loss they wouldn’t lose until they play the Saints again. Their schedule over this second half of the season is incredibly easy. They have the same issues they had last year, though, along with the new issue of not being able to convert on 3rd down as consistently. But the good news is their schedule gives them an inside track to a wild card spot. If they don’t finish 11-5 I’ll be very surprised.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
9:32 pm
It was a great play by Owens, just goes to show what us fans really know nothing. Guy made as good a play as I have ever seen on sheer determination and showed more heart that I ever thought he had. Pearcy Harvin is not an easy guy to run down. Even though we could not see it, Smitty knew.
JustWinBaby
November 27th, 2011
9:42 pm
Different era but the 1972 Dolphins went 17-0 playing games like this. Not tremendously impressive. Not many blowouts. Just made the plays when they needed them. True we would beat the elite teams (Green Bay and the Saints are the only ones left in NFC) if we play thiis way, but i have to believe our best football is ahead of us. We are capable of putting it together and going on a run.
JustWinBaby
November 27th, 2011
9:46 pm
Omitted the word “not” when referring to the elite teams…but the Saints are beatable. The Packers, well they are on another universe right now. A lot can happen in 5 games. We will play Houston with their 3rd string QB. Stop the run and take care of business and we head to the Superdome for another shot vs the Saints with the division possibly on the line.
brandon
November 27th, 2011
9:48 pm
This team really is reminding me of Green Bay from last year. The Packers, then, were inconsistent (mostly due to injuries). They did, however, eventually find their stride, and they took that momentum into the playoffs. I think that the Falcons can do the same thing; it’s just a matter of if they will do the same thing.
Truth Be Toldt
November 27th, 2011
9:52 pm
Mark, the Falcons play the same whether its against the Vikings or the Packers. They (offense & defense) take complete series off. Its just that the Vikings & Panthers can’t quite finish off the Falcons quitting in the 4th quarters. But the Saints and Packers (that play every down all 4 qtrs.) put the Falcons away. There’s no jekyll & hyde team here. Its just that against good teams the lacksidaisical play gets noticed.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
9:55 pm
I remember the Pats when they were on their undefeated streak things started getting a lot tougher at the end. They did play tough D’s near end of reg season such as Ravens and Giants – whom they beat in a close game . .. unlike the last game of that season
The Pack are looking quite the same right now with one exception. The Pats D was better I believe. The Pack have let teams score some points on them . ..and if or when they come up against that D and Rogers is not in the zone . . . .well anything can happen. Remember this team did lose 6 games last year. Yes it is a year later, but there will come a game . . . ….or so I think. (Outside of Kansas City, they do have 4 pretty good teams on their remaining schedule.)
Truth Be Toldt
November 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
Harry Douglas dropped passes. Missed sacks by Babineaux & Abraham. Missed tackles by DeCoud & Lofton. Turner running up linemen’s backs for no gain. You don’t see this with the Packers players…
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
Truth Be Told . . . I don’t know. Rogers is just having such an amazing year that if the Pack makes any mistakes he simply erases them from our minds with a great play or three, or four, or fifteen. The man is on fire. We’ll see though. That D is giving up the MOST yards per game going into this week. Granted, the passing numbers may be a bit skewered as you have to throw the ball so much being down because of their Offense. But they are also 16th against the run. (30th against the pass). Will it come back to haunt them??? A not so strong D usually does in the playoffs. We’ll see.
Truth Be Toldt
November 27th, 2011
10:06 pm
“We win,” Lofton said. “We don’t blow teams out, but we win.”
Is that right Lofton ? It seems like this type of playing to barely win against the Saints,Patriots,Bucs, & Packers meant losses not wins.
John D
November 27th, 2011
10:10 pm
10-6 is all it will take for 6th spot – especially with tiebreaker on Detroit. 11-5 wins the division (assuming they beat the Saints).
Houston suddenly looks winnable; Should beat Jax/Carolina/TB; If they beat the Saints – 11-5 or 12-4 is no worse than a 5 seed – possibly the 3 seed if they win the division. Might want the wild-card instead to play NFC East champ.
John D
November 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
Mark – on other thing not mentioned. By the 2nd half – Falcons missing 4 starters on defense from last week. (Hayden as nickel; Nicholas; William Moore; Grimes; It seems Ray Edwards also dinged up). That’s not an excuse – but to be depleted on defense and still only give up 14 points – isn’t bad.
What is inexplicable is why Ryan isn’t allowed to run strictly no-huddle. The offensive flow and play calling is so much better when using no huddle.
Truth Be Toldt
November 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
Bears will likely be one wild card. That leaves Atlanta,Detroit,N.Y. Giants fighting for last wild card.
falconfan4ever
November 27th, 2011
10:23 pm
A win is a win no matter what, if you have to cheat, steal, or robbed to get the job done. I don’t care how they do it. As long as we get the win. Thats what boils down to in this league a big “W”!!!! GO FALCONS!!!!!
Spearmint Gumby
November 27th, 2011
10:33 pm
A win is a win against a good team. But against a team that is 2-8 missing 75% of their offense (Adrian Peterson) then margin of victory matters. Good teams never play down to the level of sorrier teams. Good teams bury the weak teams. Just look at Green Bay,New England,and New Orleans for proof.
Michael M.
November 27th, 2011
11:27 pm
Falcons have the talent and the edge to go 12-4 the rest of this regular Season. An 11-5 Season just might win the NFC South Title. Some of you need to stop whining and start believing in the Team. Heck, its a football game man…………..anything can happen during a game.
Food for thought; ” Remember where the Birds started off from and look at how its going now ”
Keep some faith and stop doubting and just maybe we will see something to be proud of this year.
Just Me Again
November 27th, 2011
11:57 pm
The biggest problems this season has been 1) Sam Baker, 2) Mike Malarkey, and 3) Brian Van Gorder. Since Baker has been out, the O-line has been much improved and our QB more upright. Unfortunately, it took an injury to get him out of the lineup. Mike Malarkey and Brian Van Gorder lack the creativity and know-how to take advantage of the talent on this team. Does this team have weaknesses? Yes…every team in the MFL does. However, the great teams know how to mitigate those weaknesses with effecgtive game planning and play calling that caters to the talent of its team. It gets old week after week for our coach to acknowledge repeated mistakes (same mistakes made each week). How long will it take for them to play a complete game? When will the consistency show up? This all falls on the shoulders of Mike Smith. I like the guy alot, but it appears he is heading for the status of only being able to get you so far…NOT CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER. These Falcons have the talent to compete favorably with any team in the league, but with the current group of coaches (excepty perhaps Special Teams) we will never even sniff a super bowl.
P Rose
November 28th, 2011
12:02 am
UGABugKiller @ 6:36 PM said it all.
Chris
November 28th, 2011
12:19 am
I think the most telling thing about 7-4 is the Falcons are maintaining the winning. The ship is still headed in the right direction. Would have been easy to see, especially given this team’s history, a tanked season after that humiliating loss to GB in last year’s playoffs. I’m just extremely happy we have a real owner who is dedicated to winning.
Joe
November 28th, 2011
1:33 am
Did they cut #24 yet? Ran into a punt causing a turnover leading to a Vike TD and blowing several covers……did anybody really watch the game?
Bunch of morons on this blog!!!!!
Go Falcons
menlobrave
November 28th, 2011
1:43 am
Falcons are 7-4. I’ve been a fan since 1970, and there are many, many years I would have been thrilled with 7-4. Beat the Vikings by 10; beat the Lions; beat the Eagles (not as impressive now as it was then). Ryan had a strong day-no interceptions and some clutch plays down the stretch. Good defense-the goal line stand was impressive. Some strong individual efforts. Yep, they may not win the Super Bowl, but this is a good football team. It is well coached and plays hard. And, sometimes, you catch lightening in a bottle and go all the way. It is not out of reach for these guys. As for the owner, GM, and coach, I wish we had had these guys for the last 40 years instead of the Clampetts, Henning, and the other bozos who ran this team. Go Falcons. Kick some butt.
SawThat1nce
November 28th, 2011
2:37 am
The Falcons won.
dean
November 28th, 2011
4:39 am
MN had how many TOTAL yards? 226. I’ll take that every time.
Ted M
November 28th, 2011
6:53 am
@stendekYour quote….”√MR had some decent throws but was way off on many others. Too many.”
REALITY CHECK:
“Matt Ryan completed 27-of-34 passes in the Falcons win over the Vikings. His completion pct of 79.4% is the highest in a single game by a Falcons QB with at least 30 attempts. Previous high was 78.4 pct (29-37) by Jeff George in Week 1 of 1994 at Detroit.”
And you wonder why Atlanta fans get a bad rep as being uniformed and well…just plain dumb.
Another Falcon passing record bites the dust….Period. End of Story. TTFN
Ted M
November 28th, 2011
6:54 am
REALITY CHECK:
“Matt Ryan completed 27-of-34 passes in the Falcons win over the Vikings. His completion pct of 79.4% is the highest in a single game by a Falcons QB with at least 30 attempts. Previous high was 78.4 pct (29-37) by Jeff George in Week 1 of 1994 at Detroit.”
And you wonder why Atlanta fans get a bad rep as being uniformed…
Another Falcon passing record bites the dust….Period. End of Story. TTFN
trademark
November 28th, 2011
6:54 am
Quit blocking me Bradley…geez
trademark
November 28th, 2011
6:56 am
Just wanted to say…Ryan broke ANOTHER Falcons passing record with his completion percentage against Minnesota. stendek’s comment of him missing too many passes confirms exactly why Atlanta fans are labelled as uniformed. Go home Troll.
trademark
November 28th, 2011
6:56 am
stendek
trademark
November 28th, 2011
6:56 am
is wrong
trademark
November 28th, 2011
6:57 am
Ryan breaks Falcons’ completion percentage record in this game (over 30 passes thrown)
D-Man
November 28th, 2011
7:35 am
Playing this way is going to catch up with these Falcons like it did last year. You goof around against some team that is focused and end up on the wrong end of a foot to arse massage. WAKE UP BIRDS and stop messing around!
GTT
November 28th, 2011
7:56 am
And the 2008 Cardinals trip to the Super Bowl gave Ken Whisenhunt and Todd Haley reputations that now seem overly inflated.
rainman
November 28th, 2011
8:00 am
The Falcons have a decent chance next week since the Texans suddenly don’t have a QB. However, unless Grimes, Hayden & Robinson can get healthy at CB — and Moore at safety – the Falcons will get torched by most NFL OB’s. Anytime Owens and Franks are in the game at the same time, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.