10-2: Falcons Squeak Past Seahawks

It’s October so you know what that means? No, not "31 Days of Horror"..... Time for pink football gear!!! This time of year, every year the NFL goes pink to support the fight against Breast Cancer.. So I figured I'd use pink text to promote the cause as well. Let’s get into the action!

Recap

To start the game the Falcons defense came out and shut down the Seahawks opening possession with a three and out and made way for the Falcons offense to do something they haven't done all season... SCORE on their drive of the game. Not only did they score, but they did it the way the Atlanta Falcons are supposed to score. They ran the ball and used short pass completions to move the ball down the field on a 12 play 72 yard drive which led to Tony Gonzalez catching a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN. (7-0)


The Action continues in the second quarter, with Seattle moving the ball down the field, thanks to 20 yards in defensive penalties. Third down and four Tarvaris Jackson pass is tipped and picked off by Curtis Lofton. Four plays later Turner runs off the left side for 21 yards and another FALCONS TOUCHDOWN!! (14-0) Things are starting to look as the Atlanta’s offense has returned the 2010 form that led them to a 13-3 record.

Then things start going downhill for the Falcons defense. On the ensuing possession, giving up two explosive plays, the Seahawks only need four plays to move 84 yards. Rice BURNED pro bowler Brent Grimes down the field for the easy 52 yard score, not to place all the blame on Grimes but that was horrible football from an all pro looking for a contract extension either during or after the 2011 season. (14-7)


The good thing is the offense is in a zone. Michael Turner is really becoming a receiving threat out of the backfield; on the first play of the drive Ryan dumps the ball off to Turner for a pickup of 10 yards. Three plays later Matt Ryan finds his Rookie Receiver Julio Jones for a 29 yards to the 35 yard line. A few plays later he finds his go to guy Roddy White for 16 yards down to the Seattle 2 and the Falcons are rolling down field, and two plays later Turner, stretches the ball over the goal line dragging defenders for the 1 yard score! Falcons all over the Seahawks. Atlanta also adds a field goal just before the half to take a 17 point lead into the locker room (24-7)

Third quarter, well here is where the Atlanta Falcons have struggled in every game of the season, being outscored by opponents 52 to 13 and that trend does not end in Seattle. While the Seahawks are pouring on 14 points in the quarter the Atlanta Falcons muster up the strength to add 3 points on three 3rd quarter possessions heading into the fourth with only a 6 point lead. (24-21)


With all the troubles Atlanta has in the 3rd quarter of ball games, they sure make up for it in the 4th. Atlanta outscores opponents 33-7, and yes that seven comes from this game with Seahawks, this game looked to be a blowout early but the Falcons just barely escape Seattle with the victory after kicker Steve Hauschka missed a 61 yarder that would have given the Seahawks the lead and the win. 30-28 Atlanta Falcons over the Seattle Seahawks.





Offense

FINALLY the Falcons play a game of football that everyone from the Football GODs to the unborn future Hall Of Famer expected them to play. They ran the ball and used dink and dunk passes to move the ball down the field. Who cares that it was on the Seattle Seahawks? The point is, IT HAPPENED! The Offensive line did something they haven’t done all year... PROTECT! Matt Ryan wasn’t sacked this game and I’m sure he greatly appreciates it, but I’m sure some of that protection also comes from not trying to force the ball down the field and taking what is allowed by the defense. But something is starting to concern Atlanta Falcons fans, myself included, and it’s Roddy White. Roddy White is leading the NFL in drops with 6, and has only had one 100 yard game this season while Julio Jones has had two back to back and it can’t help but be noticed that he has been listed on the team’s injury report for the past 2 weeks with a "thigh" injury. Falcon’s fans are seeing a lot of Jacquizz Rodgers, who is getting a lot of touches ass the speed back, and filling in for Jason Snelling who missed last week with a head injury. The team was 56 percent on the 3rd down and a perfect 2 for 2 in the redone.

Offensive Notables and Player of the Week


Matt Ryan and the offense were unstoppable for a large portion of this game, and I’m not just talk about the big lead they had at halftime. The Falcons held the ball for 40 minutes and they got back to the balanced football that has become a common trend in Atlanta since Mike Smith took over. Matt Ryan put the ball in the air 42 times and handed it off 36 times for 121 yards averaging 3.4 yards a carry, which by my estimation is when you combine 3 carries its 10.2 yards which is normally good for a first down. Julio Jones is really showing why he was worth a 21 spot move in the draft. He was targeted 17 times making 11 catches for 127 yards, but the young star has yet to find the end zone. Roddy had 6 catches for 78 yards and Tony Gonzalez had 7 of his own for 56 and Ryan’s only touchdown.

Not the line but this is what happens when
they do their job correctly!

Player of the Week: The Offensive line, this group has been under much pressure and after Mike Smith pondering a change in the unit they stepped up their play and keep the QB off the ground.

Defense

If anyone told you that they were completely satisfied with the way the Falcons defense played this game, they would be lying. After a great first half, the Falcons defense got whipped up and down the field by the Seattle offense. Tarvaris Jackson had his first 300 yard game of his career, and just between us he is far from a rookie QB, and 3 touchdowns. On the other hand the defense held Seattle to just 53 yards on the ground and did force 2 turnovers making this the 23rd straight game that they have taken the ball away from the other team. Although they are still having a problem with getting of the field on 3rd down allowing the Seahawks to convert 6 of 11 attempts. The revamped D-Line has not recorded a sack in 3 games and that’s not good when you have names like John Abraham, Ray Edwards, Peria Jerry or Kroy Biermann. WE NEED SACKS, but they don’t just come from the d-line it’s a such thing called coverage sacks and well the coverage in the secondary hasn’t been anything close to great and that has things buzzing around Atlanta that the Falcons should go in a different direction with the defensive coaching to match the players skill in the secondary main in the corners. Dunta Robinson is a bump and run corner who can play the ball well in the air, and Brent Grimes can do it all with help over the top and can really climb the ladder for the interception. Bottom line is the Defense as a whole needs to step up. On top of all that Ray Edwards has yet to record a sack as an Atlanta Falcon, which has a lot of critics whispering that he was a benefactor of playing alongside Allen, and the Williams wall, but the season is still young and we will see how he answer the call.

Defensive Notables and Player of the Week

For the first time someone not named Sean or Curtis led the team in tackles. William Moore led the team with 8 solo tackles and 8 total tackles, While Lofton also had 8 but he only had 4 solo placing Moore on top. Sean Weatherspoon wasn’t far behind; he added 7 of his own. Curtis however did add an interception along with Thomas Decoud, who has recorded his second straight game with an interception... I guess he had a lot of time to thing after he got bench a few weeks back.

Player of the Week: William Moore 8 tackles... I know 8 tackles doesn’t sound like much but the defense didn’t have the best game and he led the team with tackles. After battling injuries early on in his career, He is becoming the best thing in the Falcons secondary since Lawyer Milloy.

Preview

We all remember The Falcons sudden and embarrassing end to the 2010 season. This week they have a chance to get revenge against the defending Superbowl Champ Green Bay Packers. This will not be an easy task as the Packers are coming into the GA Dome smoking hot looking to steam roll the team with the best record in the NFC from a year ago. With Aaron Rodgers coming off a 6 touchdown game the defense will have to step up and make it difficult for the charging Packers. Needless to say The Falcons wanted to get more explosive and that Playoff loss is the reason why, the offense is going to need to put up points and a lot of them as the face the Packers on Sunday Night Football.