10-09: Falcons Get Lambeau Leaped

Welcome back Falcon faithfuls, week 5 in the NFL was a world wind of action. The Detroit Lions are still unbeaten and the "Dream Team" is still trying to wake up from their nightmarish start to the season and the Atlanta Falcons host the Super Bowl Champions in a Rematch of the NFC Divisional Playoff game. 

Recap


The game starts off with the Atlanta Falcons receiving the ball and the drive starts on the 20 yard line. Atlanta starts the game off true to form with two runs by Turner for a gain of 8 yards and a short pass to Tony Gonzalez to pick up the first down. Two plays later its Turner again for a 15 yard run, where he was pushed out of bounds, later in the drive Matt Ryan connects with Harry Douglass for a pickup of 13 yards another first down as the Falcons march deeper into Packers territory. On the next play Julio Jones takes the reverse hand off and picks up 17 more yards for the Falcons first trip inside the red zone. Four plays later Matt Ryan finds a wide open Roddy White in the end zone. TOUCHDOWN ATLANTA (7-0)

The Falcons defense forced a Packers punt and the Atlanta offense comes marching back onto the field. During the week of practice the Falcons must have discovered a new play, called a screen pass because on the second play of the drive Matt Ryan floats the ball out to Jason Snelling with blockers in front and he rumbles for a pickup of 17 yards. Two plays later Ryan hooks up with the rookie phenom Julio Jones for 16 yards. A few plays later Turner was plowing his way off the right guard into the end zone for another FALCONS TOUCHDOWN!!!! (14-0) At this point Atlanta is all over Green Bay. 

On Green Bay’s next possession they added their first points of the game by way of a 32 yard Crosby field goal. Atlanta came out passing on its next touch and had a 47 yard completion to Harry Douglass called back due to a holding call on Tyson Clabo and two plays later the Falcons are forced to punt the ball and Green Bay adds another field taking the score to (14-6).

After Halftime the Falcons Defense forces a 3 and out for the highly taunted Green Bay offense. The Falcons offense come back onto the field looking to add to their lead is stop dead in their tracks after another penalty is called on Tyson Clabo for illegal use of hands and pushes Atlanta in a 3 and 12 which they do not convert.

The Falcons Defense held their own most of this game because they again forced another Crosby field goal and got the ball back for the Offense. (14-9) But now it seems the Falcons on offense has began to unravel. On first down Matt Ryan finds Tony Gonzalez for 15 yards but is waived off for an illegal formation penalty on Julio Jones and 3 plays later they are forced to punt. Then the defense has a break down. The Green Bay Packers use one play to go 70 yards to score a touchdown to take the lead (14-15) after a failed two point attempt. 



The Falcons offense hasn't done much since the first two drives of the game, and apparently had no intentions of doing anything else. Green Bay however went on to add another touchdown on a 29 yard reception by Greg Jennings and another field goal by Crosby before eventually taking a knee to end the game. Packers score 25 unanswered points to win the game 25-14.





Offense

Similar to last week The Falcons offense started out fast and slowed down to screeching halt after half time, but differently from last week they were not able to hold on for the victory. This game could have been different if not for self inflicted wounds that ended what could have been assumed to be promising drives. We as Falcons fans are still waiting to see a full 60 minute games from the team, one week it’s the offense and the next it's defense and this week it was offense. On 10 offensive possessions 2 were touchdowns, 1 was a kneel down to end the half, 5 were punts, and the last 2 were interceptions. That alone does not scream being a consistent offense, nor does 3 drives that didn’t have one run in it. Many fans are looking for a change with the offensive coordinator, Mike Smith has gone on record saying that all offensive calls go through him but as I learned recently on ESPN, it’s never good for anyone to receive reassurance because that means your job is up for discussion.


Offensive Notables and Player of the Week


Matt Ryan did throw for a touchdown and complete just about half of his passes. Julio Jones pulled his hamstring and did not return. From what I saw during the game Roddy had no drops this week, and had a productive game for the Falcons 6 catches 50 yards and a score. The Falcons still are struggling in the 3rd quarter of ball games and this week their struggles over flowed into the 4th as well. Turner had 16 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Tony Gonzalez led the team in receiving yards with 60.

Player of the Week: Michael Turner 16 Carries 56 yards 1 Touchdown


Defense

The Falcons defense had the Packers offense looking for answers during the half, but like the Falcons offense, the defense came out flat. However, the defense has forced a turnover in 24 straight games and they held that Green Bay offense to just 25 points and Aaron Rodgers to only 2 touchdowns. The Falcons have not registered a sack since Jonathan Babineaux was in the starting lineup. Sunday night Bab was back in the lineup and the Falcons sacked A-Rod four times, and none of them where from John Abraham. Not because he wasn’t productive but because he was held out with a groin injury, new comer Ray Edwards got his first sack as an Atlanta Falcon. The Falcons couldn’t get off the field, allowing Green Bay to convert on 9 of 15 third downs. Sean Weatherspoon was all over the field with 11 tackles, and Curtis Lofton wasn't far behind with 10. Both are among Tops in the NFL in tackles Sean Weatherspoon is ranked second with 49 and Curtis Lofton is fifth with 47. After the Falcons defense melt down in the second half many fans are hoping for a change on the defensive side of the ball as well, hoping that Mike Smith would take over the play calling in hopes of rejuvenating a defense that has been revamped from the past years

Defensive Notables and Player of the Week

Brent Grimes forced a fumble early in the game, which a recovered by Vance Walker. The Falcons had 5 pass deflections and four sacks. Lofton had 10 tackles and 4 solo. Thomas Decoud was third on the team with 8 tackles and nickel back Chris Owens left the game with after suffering a concussion while covering a punt. Babineaux returned to action and recorded one tackle but it’s always good to see Big Bab on the field.

Player of the Week: Sean Weatherspoon 11 Tackles 6 Solo 1 Sack 2 Tackles for loss and 1 QB hit

Preview

After suffering a loss over the NFL Champs, Atlanta faces the team who had the number one draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Carolina Panthers. Carolina isn’t the same team they were last year and I’m sure many Panthers fan are happy about it. With the first overall pick the Panthers selected Georgia's very own Cam Newton and in the first couple of games his young career he broke the NFL record for most passing yards for a rookie QB in the first two games. The Atlanta Falcons have already dropped one divisional game to Tampa Bay and losing this one, to of all people the Panthers, could mean disaster for a team that had Super Bowl expectations just a short while ago.