No quibbling: The Falcons bear the look of a special team
Here we see the expressive cornerback Asante Samuel, exultant in sweet victory. (AP photo)
Philadelphia – For three games they’d won without dazzling. This time they dazzled. The Falcons came to a city where they hadn’t won since Reagan was in office and won laughing. They overwhelmed the Philadelphia Eagles, whom the former Falcon Michael Vick once held to possess dynastic capabilities, and in so doing they moved to 7-0. In sum, they had a lovely Sunday afternoon in a place that was expecting nasty weather.
“We went on that field to play a game and dominate on all sides of the ball,” said free safety Thomas DeCoud, and they came pretty darn close.
The final score was 30-17, and that flattered the flattened losers. The Falcons scored on their first six possessions against a defense that had just dumped one coordinator for another. The Falcons’ relatively new offensive coordinator drew up a diverse and dizzying scheme. (Moral of story: Sometimes coordinators matter, and sometimes not.) And the players charged with implementing Dirk Koetter’s design had a banner day.
Matt Ryan returned to the city of his youth and had one of his finest games. (It was, he allowed, the first time his team had won in Philly since Boston College beat Temple in November 2004.) He completed 17 of 20 first-half passes and spread the ball so efficiently that the Eagles’ famous secondary couldn’t cover everybody, which explains, sort of, how slot receiver Drew Davis shook laughably free for the game’s first touchdown.
“Our receivers are pretty good,” said Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel, still chafed over having been traded by the Eagles last spring. “No question they could have used me.”
For its part, the Falcons’ D kept Vick so off-balance that the sleek Eagles did next to nothing until the game was gone. Vick didn’t turn the ball over, which was out of character, but he looked antsy and was sacked three times and booed throughout. (Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but Philly folks don’t take well to losing.)
By halftime, a goodly portion of the non-capacity Lincoln Financial Field had departed, and midway through the fourth quarter the place was half-empty. These fans were headed home to batten down hatches before Hurricane Sandy hit, and they left in a rotten mood. In what was supposed to be a key game for both teams, only one bothered to show up.
The Eagles’ first mistake was the coin toss. They won it, and Andy Reid chose to defer to the second half. The Falcons took the kickoff and rolled 80 yards in 8:44 to the Davis touchdown. Soon it would be 14-0, then 24-7 by the half, then 30-10 on the first snap of the fourth quarter, by which time Reid’s exemplary post-bye streak — under this coach, the Eagles had been 13-0 after off-weeks — was well and truly broken.
Said Mike Smith, who became the winningest coach in Falcons annals: “That (was) a fast, fast start. We moved in and out of (offensive) tempo the whole ballgame. We controlled it.”
Said center Todd McClure: “It’s tough to beat a team that doesn’t bring its punter on the field.” (Actually, the Falcons punted twice, both in the game’s final six minutes.)
After three victories achieved via fourth-quarter rallies, it was possible to wonder if the Falcons were unbeaten because of the level of opposition or the brilliance of their play. This game matched a team that had middling numbers (Falcons were 13th in total offense, 22nd in total defense) and a great record against an opponent that looked better on paper (Eagles were seventh in total offense, 12th in total defense) than in the standings (3-3). So much for truth in numbers, huh?
Better than winning, better even than being 7-0, was this: The Falcons looked like the more talented side by far, and it wasn’t so long ago that Philly dubbed itself a Dream Team. The jaw-dropping moment came in the second quarter, when Julio Jones dashed past the All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and outfought the safety Nate Allen for what was a stunning 63-yard touchdown.
“Julio’s a special talent,” said Ryan, who delivered a mighty pretty pass himself. “He ran a great route.”
If you can come here and thrash the Eagles, there’s no reason not to keep winning deep into January. After what transpired here beneath an ominous sky, we now know the Falcons aren’t 7-0 just because the other team keeps messing up. We now know that this has the makings of a special team, perhaps a championship team.
“We’re determined to come out and put our name on everything we do,” DeCoud said. “And we’re starting to hit our stride.”
If that stride gets much more elegant, the NFL might soon be engraving a new name on the Lombardi Trophy. The first three letters: A-T-L.
Further reading: The Falcons’ offense, their receivers and that Philly crowd.
By Mark Bradley
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217 comments Add your comment
Pete
October 29th, 2012
12:08 am
Great game. I was pleased they seemed stronger in the o-line protecting Ryan and the run defense. The game against the Cowboys should be interesting. They are a much better road team and will certainly be mad after the way they lost today.
TooBad
October 29th, 2012
12:11 am
I actually feel sorry for Vick. He totally sucks and Reid made a horrible move signing him. Good thing Vick had 30 million guaranteed to pay off his debt. He is probably benched before the year is over .
TooBad
October 29th, 2012
12:16 am
Reid in his press conference, then Vick said he supported a change at QB. What a loser!
Bob from Cobb
October 29th, 2012
12:35 am
I for one am worried about next Sunday Night’s game with the Cowboys. I was hoping they would come in having beaten the Giants. THOUGHT they had scored the winning touchdown,but the call was overturned. Giants. Win in Big D. Dallas is a good team. I am worried like Larry Munson about the Dallas Offense and Defense.
Mitchell
October 29th, 2012
1:03 am
So Mark Bradley is ready to carve the Falcons name in the championship trophy and yet when it comes to the Braves during the regular season he feels the need to ask “Is just getting to the playoffs enough?”
Way to be a homer, MB.
Falcony
October 29th, 2012
3:53 am
Please don’t refer to us as the “Dirty Birds”, that is so old news! we are now the Atlanta Angry Birds! Way to go Angry Birds!
stendek
October 29th, 2012
4:20 am
Nice job Mark. I totally agree. As a Falcon sufferer from day one I sense the special aura around this group. I remember not too long ago when the Eagles faced the Falcons following a bye. It was not pleasant for bird watchers. My uneasy feelings were soothed after that magnificent opening drive. Let the rest of the NFL scoff at 7-0. I promise you the overrated Giants are winning just as ugly as the Falcons. On a more personal note. I am so pleased to see Mike Vick quit on the Eagles the same way he quit on the Falcons. Anyone watching could tell the convicted dog killer just was not interested in being on the field. Weather was bad plus he got a little wet near the end. How Atlanta ever embraced this heartless cancer is still a mystery to me. A hex on City Of Brotherly Hate. Oh well. GO FALCONS!
Stinger 2
October 29th, 2012
5:46 am
phil and Dr. Phil. One and the same? Any answers?
GregKennesaw
October 29th, 2012
6:22 am
and the aint’s lose as well! bring on the cowgirls
Honey boy
October 29th, 2012
6:55 am
Phil, thanks for being the village idiot for the week…. Now go shave your back, crawl back under the slimy rock you inhabit and put your thumb back in your mouth for a while… And listen to me when I tell you the unmutable truth…
“it ain’t how, it’s how many!” Got that Twinkie?????
FALCON FLYER
October 29th, 2012
7:15 am
Falcon’s look like, a team with HARMONY. FINE, TUNED, UNSTOPPABLE MACHINE. Matt Ryan, for league MVP.Mike Smith, coach, of the year. TAKE THAT YOU AINT’S. WHO DATS ARE WHO DONT’S
" ICE "
October 29th, 2012
7:18 am
Seven and O !
M.V.HATER
October 29th, 2012
7:20 am
I DON’T feel sorry, for Vick, AT ALL. Should have banned him from the N.F.L.,FOR LIFE. Know that LOW DOWN SCUM BAG, did his time in jail. NEVER, gotten, a 2nd shot, at the N.F.L.
GFJacket
October 29th, 2012
7:24 am
Ok..Luckovich needs to do a cartoon of the remaining 72 Dolphins re-addressing the fruit basket/champagne each week to the Falcons opponents….
Nativebird
October 29th, 2012
7:30 am
All is good for this team, turns out, the coordinators WERE indeed the problem! So all of us idiot fans that for years were brutalized by you so called experts about our “over-reaction” to the abject INEPT Mularkey were just uninformed fans that don’t know anything about football right? Okay, I accept your apology. NOW, if someone could just tell Smitty, that if you don’t get a killer attitude and put teams like this away by 40, it WILL come back to bite you. Getting up by 20 at half and then trying to run out a half of clock will not work against good teams. Be a jerk Smitty…..it is what gets you to the superbowl in this league.
Ivan
October 29th, 2012
7:35 am
Anyone seen MCR?
Carz
October 29th, 2012
7:45 am
Smitty almost never blows a halftime lead and people are complaining about him “not putting teams away”? The guy is a good game manager and a damn good season manager and that’s why we keep having winning seasons in Atlanta. He’s our best head coach ever. I can be as negative as the next guy, but even I can see that plainly.
Jimmy Crack
October 29th, 2012
7:49 am
The Falcons were the “dream team’s” nightmare. Boo!
A big salute to the Philly fans living here in Atlanta!!! Boo! HAHAHAHAHA
GT
October 29th, 2012
7:52 am
How does the press question the Falcons schedule yet turn a blind eye to Georgia? The NFL has a challenge every week these teams are pro teams with lots of parity, the college game is where the questions should be asked, not for bragging rights but to make a team a real contender. The money lost by a school that plays a tougher schedule is a better team but doesn’t have the political pull. No Super Bowl winner will get there unchallenged but a college team quiet often because of bias spin gums the works up for a more talented team. This is the weak scheduling that should be corrected not the Falcons who are very good. Who cares what the press thinks of the Falcons, they have a just system to ratify any bad or misleading press.
Jimmy Crack
October 29th, 2012
7:53 am
So the IT department at the ajc sucks? Still using dial up?
Carz
October 29th, 2012
7:57 am
Georgia is ranked 6th. That sounds about right.
Hollis D
October 29th, 2012
8:12 am
Phil, you need a hug. Glass half full. Stop trying to NOT celebrate. It’s one win. Be happy.
We will handle Dallas next week just like we handled Philly. It will be a track meet.
Ed
October 29th, 2012
8:14 am
The offense and defense was clicking on all cylinders yesterday and soundly defeated the Eagles. This team plays with a lot of confidence and tenacity. I think they are much better prepared for success in the playoffs this year. There is nothing Ryan and Smith and the team for that matter can do to win a playoff game right now in the regular season, all they can do is take this team to the postseason and go from there.
Hollis D
October 29th, 2012
8:20 am
FALCONY!!! I like it……Angry Birds from now ON!!!!!!!!
Ted M
October 29th, 2012
8:41 am
Ryan really is starting to look great, which is the most important thing.
To pick some nits though, the Falcons can’t run the ball and Turner looks slow and terrible.
dc74
October 29th, 2012
8:46 am
death..taxes..and Bradley predicting the Falcons will win the Super Bowl…
tfalcon69
October 29th, 2012
9:05 am
@Mark Bradly what color bow tie was DOL wearing last night?
MG3
October 29th, 2012
9:12 am
Atlanta fans need to realize we have a great team and stop thinking the “NEXT” game will be the big test. Philly was supposed to be that test and we crushed them, it was no contest. Dallas next week? Who’s afraid of Dallas? Romo threw four interceptions last night. Any team can win on a given day but the Falcons appear to have the tools to compete with anyone this year. Dallas fans should be on their blogs right now fearing the ATL next week! Not the other way around.
phil
October 29th, 2012
9:43 am
I am most definitely not Dr. Phil….
I am the same on these blogs each and every day. Easy to find, not a blind homer and always expecting, and accepting nothing less than, greatness from my teams.
Period. The constant disappointment of one choke after another when the playoffs role around will not keep me down.
We all know, deep down, that we will fail at some point because it’s what we do, what we’re about. The Packers, Bears, Niners or Giants stand in our way. We will not be getting past these formidible foes come January. You know it, I know it. The Texans or Broncos will be waiting in the wings come Super Bowl time anyway.
Give up now and just enjoy another fine but ultimately meaningless regular season. It is our destiny.
warfalcon
October 29th, 2012
9:53 am
phil and you other nay sayers get the H??? on somewhere,we are positive on this blog.LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ONE GAME AT A TIME.
phil
October 29th, 2012
9:57 am
I’m positive, too, moronfalcon…..
Positive that we will ultimately be dismissed from the postseason.
It is our destiny…..
Ted Striker
October 29th, 2012
10:06 am
1) Julio Jones. Amazing.
2) Gonzales. Amazing.
3) Matt Ryan. Career year thus far.
4) Entire Team. Getting it done. Nit pick here, nit pick there, just put the up the W.
5) Overlooked and no longer wearing goat horns: Dunta Robinson, who has stepped it up.
Booker T
October 29th, 2012
10:31 am
Matt Ryan > Mike Vick! Can you DIG IT….. SUUUCKAAAAAAA!
Enkinan
October 29th, 2012
10:34 am
If this team stays healthy they can compete with any team in the NFL post season or not.
gritz-blitz
October 29th, 2012
10:37 am
Great game today. Everybody played great. Now its time to focus on Dallas. Set them up and we will knock them down. OH WHAT A RUSH!!!!! RISE UP!! AND GO FALCONS
Keep it up.
October 29th, 2012
10:40 am
‘ Bounty Boys’ OK…thats funny….LOL
Matty and his ariel armada definitely firing on all cylinders.. Great Game.
GO Angry Birds..!!!
Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr. (A Great American)
October 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Heat Check:
Falcons: Ice Hot
Dawgs: Moving up on up!
Jackets: Toast.
shannyeight
October 29th, 2012
11:48 am
Seriously, some of you people need to quit with the “they havent played the Giants, Steelers, 49ers” BS- the Falcons didnt make the schedule for this year. By chance, if one of those teams is on the schedule, or they meet in the playoffs then we will see what happens when they play them- I wont make any excuses for whoever wins, or whoever loses. The Falcons as of now are 7-0, not because they played teams that weren’t “hot” when the season started, or because they played teams that they shouldve beaten in their sleep(coz everybody knows the general rule-”any given Sunday”…), but because they have found ways to win when it looked like they may lose, and jumped out to take a lead on teams. In other words, they want to win above everything else, and sometimes that enough.
BK
October 29th, 2012
12:01 pm
Great game way to go ATLANTA FALCONS…….RISE UP ATL…
Tumbledown
October 29th, 2012
12:52 pm
With Atlanta teams, here is always something. The Braves are the poster team for post-season failure. The Hawks have never been to the Easten Conference Finals. Two Allanta hockey teams were a disaster and bolted the city.
And, the Falcons first suffer for many years from the curse where they could not have consecutive winning seasons. Once getting that monkey off their back, now they are saddled with not being able to win a playoff game in the Matt Ryan era.
I am happy for the 7-0 start but want to see the Falcons get rid of that playoff monkey. I share Phil’s pessimism to some extent given what I outline above. Yet, there is that hopeful part of me that believes in this Falcon team. I believed that the Braves could get by the Cardinals, though. Whether my hopes for the Falcons are shattered, I still think it is important to have some faith. After all, this is only sports we are talking about.
Tumbledown
October 29th, 2012
12:52 pm
there not here
phil's kid
October 29th, 2012
1:29 pm
I wish dad wore a rubber
Answer This
October 29th, 2012
1:47 pm
Poor kid! Your dad is a failure and loser and expects the worse!
Answer This
October 29th, 2012
1:48 pm
Hey Tumbledown can you tumble off a 50 foot building? You negative nancys need to beat it!
phil's last date
October 29th, 2012
2:23 pm
C’mon boy, squeel!
crowmeat
October 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
EVERY week we have things to “fix” according to Smith..When will they be fixed, pray tell!?
WHY are we no using that receiver more..the one that replaced Douglas!? He has shown way more than Douglas ever did!?
Go birds, Dallas on Sunday night..Looks like 8-0!!
A.Samuel..it’s all about the TEAM..not your big mouth!!
Ivan
October 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
Eagles just benched Vick!! They’re starting the rookie QB!!
LOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Skeptic
October 29th, 2012
3:45 pm
Tick, tock, tick tock
Just a matter of time; countdown to CHOKE; the later it is the bigger the gag reflex
a recap:
Braves ‘96(actually that wasn’t a choke, the bribe check simply cleared the bank shortly after game2), ‘98, ‘99(!!!!)
Falcons ‘80 (I don’t list ‘98 because their sole reason for existence that year was to take down the Vikings, nothing more)
Falcons have a lot of catching up to do. Don’t worry, they will. Quality choke over quantity choke.
hey now......
October 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
Crow, NO team plays a perfect game. What Smith is doing is called coaching. Please, are you people really this dumb?
Answer This
October 29th, 2012
4:27 pm
@hey now……..
Yes they are dumb