Friday, September 26, 2008

The Falcons Blog: A Second Big Win





Falcons 38, Chiefs 14

A second happy day at the Dome


Doing something once is nice but there’s always a thought that it might be a complete fluke until you do it a second time. Sure, the Falcons looked like a very capable team in their week 1 blowout of the Lions, but that might easily have been just one random good game against a bad team in the opening week of the season. On Sunday, the Falcons gave credibility to that first impressive win by throttling another bad team, crushing the Chiefs, 38-14 inside the Georgia Dome.

Yes, this win also came against one of the worst teams in the NFL. Yes, this win also came at home. And yes, the Falcons might not win another game until November. But it was still a win; it was still a blowout; and it still was further proof that the Falcons might be on the right path.

This was an important game for the Falcons. They were expected to win, favored by 5.5 at home over a team that had lost by 15 at home to the Raiders the week before. But the Falcons needed to prove again that they could not only win against lesser competition, but could thoroughly beat weak teams. Winning the games that you’re supposed to win is very important, and something Falcons teams have often struggled to do. The Falcons needed to win this game to regain some confidence after being manhandled in Tampa. And they needed to win to get back the momentum they had following their win over the Lions in week 1. They needed to validate that win with a similar performance on Sunday.

Game Recap

As you would expect, the Chiefs came into the game intent on stopping the Falcons rushing attack and forcing Matt Ryan to beat them with his arm. When the Chiefs had the ball, they were going to protect inexperienced QB Tyler Thigpen and try and wear down the Falcons defense with the run. They hoped to play it safe and keep it close and wait for Ryan and the Falcons to make mistakes and get themselves in trouble. Early on, the Chiefs looked to be on their way to executing their plan. The Falcons got the ball first to start the game, ran twice for a yard, threw incomplete on 3rd down, and punted. The Chiefs defense would have success like this against the Falcons early. But on the other side of the ball, the Falcons defense set the tone right away. On KC’s first play from scrimmage, they tried to catch the Falcons off guard with a passing play, but big John Abraham came around and sacked Thigpen for a 7 yard loss. The Atlanta defense forced a 3 and out and a punt on KC’s first possession. Adam Jennings took the punt from the 10 to the 28 to save the Falcons from being pinned near their own end zone, but the Falcons’ second possession didn’t go any better. A short completion, a 2 yard run, and an incompletion on 3rd down meant another 3 and out and a punt. The Falcons defense again matched KC, forcing the Chiefs to go 3 and out. But Atlanta got just a 1 yard run, 5 yards on an offsides penalty on KC, a run for no gain, and an incompletion for another 3 and out and a punt. KC tried 3 straight passes and threw 3 straight incompletions on their 3rd possession, going 3 and out again, and punting back to the Birds. This time the Falcons put themselves in awful field position due to a personal foul penalty. Drive number four would start at the Atlanta 8.

So far the Falcons had run 9 plays and gained a total of 8 yards, rushing 5 times for 4 yards, and completing 1 of 4 passes for 4 yards. But on 1st and 10 from their own 8, the Falcons rushing attack finally broke through on the first play of their fourth possession. Michael Turner busted off left tackle and down the sideline for 38 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the Atlanta 46 with the first 1st down of the game for either team. On the next 3 plays, Jerious Norwood ran for 11, ran for 4, and then took a pass 30 yards to the KC 9 for a 1st and goal. Turner finished the drive off, banging for 5 and then up the middle and into the end zone from 4 yards out for a Falcons touchdown and the opening score of the game. The Falcons’ 6 play, 92 yard drive took just 3:24 and put them ahead 7-0.

While the Falcons 4th possession was drastically different from their first 3, the Chiefs 4th possession was just like their first 3. They went 3 and out and punted. The Falcons took over at their own 31, but this drive started very poorly, as a direct snap to Harry Douglas resulted in an 8 yard loss on first down. On 2nd and 18, Ryan threw to Laurent Robinson for 7 yards to bring up a 3rd and 11 from the Atlanta 30. Ryan dropped back on 3rd and long and went deep down the middle of the field for Roddy White, who made the catch and beat the defense to the end zone for a 70 yard TD strike. The first quarter ended with the Falcons up 14-0.



The Chiefs 5th possession resulted in their 5th straight 3 and out and punt. The Falcons offense went 3 and out this time but they were able to turn the field position over, pinning the Chiefs at their own 13. On 3rd and 5 from the KC 18, Thigpen threw a pass downfield to his left and Erik Coleman intercepted it at the 34 and returned it 18 yards to the 16. The Falcons advanced the ball on their next 3 plays but came up with a 4th and 1 at the 9. Mike Smith wisely chose to kick the FG, and Jason Elam hit the 27 yard chip shot to give the Falcons a 17-0 advantage.




On the first play of the Chiefs 6th possession, Jamaal Charles took a handoff and ran left for 11 yards to the KC 33 to give the Chiefs their first 1st down of the game with 9 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. Moments later the Chiefs had a 1st and 10 inside Atlanta territory when Thigpen dropped back and fired a pass to his right that was intercepted by Brent Grimes at the 35. Grimes returned it 25 yards all the way to the KC 40. The Falcons then trudged 40 yards on 10 plays, converting 3 different 3rd downs, and taking 5 minutes and 44 seconds off the clock, with Turner finishing it off by banging right up the middle into the end zone from the 1 for his second TD of the game. That gave the Falcons a 24-0 lead with just over 2 minutes to go in the half.




In week 1, the Falcons got off to a roaring start, then saw the Lions make a bit of a comeback to get back in the game before the Falcons took the game back over and put it away. A similar thing occurred in this game. One of the only truly discouraging points of the game for the Falcons came next, as they had a major letup defensively just before halftime. The Chiefs took over at their own 26, down 24-0 with just 2:03 to go in the half, and Thigpen threw incomplete on 1st down to bring the two minute warning. To this point, the Chiefs had a total of 35 yards of offense, but on 2nd down, Thigpen completed a pass for 11 yards and a first down. Then after an incompletion, Thigpen scrambled for 18 yards to the Atlanta 45 for another first down. After an incompletion, Thigpen completed a pass for 8 yards, and then on 3rd and 2 from the Atlanta 37, Kolby Smith ran up the middle for 7 yards and a first down at the 30. With 59 seconds left in the half, the Chiefs had only 1 timeout left. Thigpen threw incomplete on the next two plays but on 3rd and 10 from the 30, Thigpen connected with Tony Gonzalez on a 12 yard pass for a first down at the 18. Thigpen went for the end zone on the next play and missed, and then Gonzalez caught a pass for 3 yards and was tackled in bounds at the 15 and the Chiefs called their final timeout with 8 seconds remaining. It was 3rd and 7 from the Atlanta 15. The Chiefs had one more shot at a TD and if they didn’t get in the end zone on this next play they would have to settle for a FG. But Thigpen found Dwayne Bowe for a 15 yard TD pass to get the Chiefs on the board with just 3 seconds left in the half. The Falcons would go to halftime up 24-7, but with a sour taste in their mouths, after allowing the Chiefs to go 74 yards on 13 plays in just 2 minutes and 8 seconds, converting three 3rd downs along the way.

The Chiefs got the ball first in the second half and their comeback continued. On the first play from scrimmage in the 3rd quarter, Larry Johnson finally got loose, busting off right tackle for 48 yards, before fumbling the ball out of bounds, and the Chiefs had a 1st down at the Falcons 34. KC converted a pair of 3rd downs and then Johnson got in the end zone from a yard out to cap off a 9 play, 82 yard drive to open the second half and cut the Atlanta lead to 10 points, at 24-14.

The pressure was now on the Falcons offense to answer KC’s drive, if not with a score of their own, at least with a few first downs to take time off the clock. Norwood gave the team a big boost with a nice return on the ensuing kickoff, taking the ball out to the Atlanta 40 with a 36 yard return. On 3rd and 4 from the 46, Matty Ryan took off and scrambled up the middle for a first down and more, making it all the way to the KC 39 for a 15 yard run. Ryan hooked up with White on a 17 yard completion and then on a 12 yarder. Turner ran for 7 yards down to the 2 and then busted up the middle and into the end zone for his 3rd TD of the game to put the Falcons back up by 17 points, 31-14.

With their TD to open the second half negated, the Chiefs were now down by 3 scores again, but they got an immediate lift on the ensuing kickoff, when BJ Sams went 36 yards to bring the ball all the way out to the 42. KC marched into Atlanta territory and had a 1st and 10 at the 17. Two plays later they were 3rd and 3 at the 10 with time winding down in the 3rd quarter. Thigpen dropped back to pass and Abraham got to him for a sack that jarred the ball lose. KC fell on it at the 14 but they would now have to settle for a FG try. This was huge. Nick Novak had a 32 yard try to bring the Chiefs within 14 on the first play of the 4th quarter but he missed wide right. The Chiefs had come away with no points and the Falcons were up 3 scores and essentially had the game in the bag.

The Falcons then took 4 minutes off the clock and moved into KC territory before the drive stalled but Michael Koenen pinned the Chiefs at the 7 with a nice punt. The Falcons held the Chiefs and forced a 4th and 3 from the 14 and KC decided to punt the ball away, down 17, with less than 9 minutes remaining. The Chiefs appeared to be conceding the game but Adam Jennings kept the door open, muffing the punt at the 43, and KC recovered at the Atlanta 41. The Chiefs advanced the ball towards the end zone and had a 1st and goal at the 8 but the Falcons defense bowed up and forced a 4th down at the 2. The Chiefs gave it to Johnson, running to the right, but the Falcons stopped him a yard short of the goal line to end the drive and clinch the victory.

The Falcons took over and on 3rd and 6 from the 5, Norwood took the ball to the right and got free for a 44 yard ramble all the way to midfield. The Falcons moved into KC territory before punting to give the Chiefs the ball deep in their own territory with just over a minute to go. KC kept trying to move the ball and Chris Houston put the finishing touches on the win for the Falcons, intercepting a pass from Thigpen at the KC 10 and taking it into the end zone for a TD to make it 38-14. That would be the final score of the day.

The Numbers

The Falcons outgained the Chiefs by 77 yards, 378-301, although they had 1 less first down than KC (17-16). The Falcons running game got off like it did in week 1, as Atlanta rushed for 186 yards, averaging 5.2 yards a carry. On the negative side, the defense allowed KC to rush for 184 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. The Falcons lost a fumble for their only TO of the game, while intercepting Thigpen 3 times, returning 1 for a TD. The Falcons went 6 for 13 on 3rd down conversions, but unfortunately they allowed the Chiefs to convert 8 of 18 third downs, and 1 of 2 4th downs. Matt Ryan had another steady game like he had in week 1, going 12 for 18 for 192 yards, 1 TD, and no interceptions. He was never sacked and he scrambled once for 15 yards. Turner ran 23 times for 104 yards and 3 TD, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. Norwood ran 11 times for 75 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry; caught 1 pass for 30 yards; and had a 36 yard kick return. Roddy White hauled in 5 passes for 119 yards and a TD. Abraham had a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. Elam converted on his only field goal attempt and Michael Koenen had an excellent day, averaging 43.2 yards a punt over 6 kicks, and putting 3 inside the 20. The Falcons scored the first 24 points of the game, led 14-0 after the 1st quarter, 24-7 at the half, and outscored KC 14-7 in the second half.




Positive Signs

Matt Ryan recovered from his rough and tough outing in Tampa to have a solid game. The Falcons running game got going again and the OL protected Ryan well. Defensively, Abraham continues to look as good as he has at any time for the Falcons and Atlanta intercepted 3 passes and scored its first defensive TD of the season. Roddy White had another nice game. It’s important to play well and win at home in order to keep spirits up in Atlanta and begin to establish a real homefield advantage.

This Sunday’s Game

We’ve learned a lot about the Falcons each week and I believe we will know much more about them following this Sunday’s game in Charlotte. In the Falcons 2 home games against bad teams they have had blowout wins, but in their one road game against a solid opponent they were beaten soundly. Perhaps they will take the next step this week and at least be competitive for 60 minutes on the road against a good team. I think they are very capable of staying in the game on Sunday but I’m not sure it’s realistic to think that they will come away with a win.

I will say that I don’t think playing the Panthers in Charlotte is anything like playing the Bucs in Tampa. The Panthers really don’t have that great of a homefield advantage and the Falcons have played Carolina tough over the years, regardless of the location. The Falcons have gone 5-5 against the Panthers over the last 5 years and they’ve won the last 2 games in Carolina and 3 of the last 4 there. Carolina is just 30-35 at home this decade.

The Panthers are favored by 6.5. Carolina is 2-1 so far this year. They pulled out wins in extremely tight games in each of the first two weeks of the season, stunning the Chargers on the road in week 1, and then outlasting the Bears at home in week 2. Last week they went up to Minnesota and got stopped, 20-10. It will be interesting to see how well Matt Ryan plays in his second road game.




A win next week would be huge, not just because it would be this team’s first win on the road and their first win over a good team, but also because if the Falcons lose it could be the start of an extended losing skid. Following this Sunday’s game in Carolina, the Falcons must go to Green Bay to play a good Packers team at Lambeau Field. They then come home to play a Bears team that looks to be pretty solid and is always tough on the Birds. After a bye week, the Falcons travel to Philly to play the Eagles in what would seem to be an almost unwinnable game. The next game the Falcons figure to have a good chance of winning is not until November 2nd when they go to Oakland. And even that will not be easy, as the Raiders are not nearly as bad as they looked in week one, and Oakland is far from an easy place to play. After that, the schedule gets tougher again. So it would be pretty big for the Falcons to win this game, to get their first win on the road and first win over a good team, to get to 2-2, and get another win under their belts before things get tougher in October.

No comments: