Another unnecessary nail biter
By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
The Falcons had been "underachieving" in recent weeks
according to tight end Tony Gonzalez.
An apt description when they had allowed an outmatched Tennessee team to
score touchdowns last week after going down 20-3 only to come up short
23-17.
As 790
The Zone's Nick Cellini had said, they
need to use the game Sunday against Minnesota to put a clearly inferior team
away, to show some "killer instinct."
Halfway through the fourth quarter, he was tweeting, "No
killer instinct what so ever!"
It seemed that the Falcons needed to adjust their theme to
"Wake Up, Atlanta!" Someone call Samuel L. Jackson.
The nervous crowd must have been thinking the same thing when the
Vikings came from a 17-0 first half deficit to pull to within three as the
fourth quarter began.
But, the Falcons put them at ease with an impressive 7:53 minute
drive, going 80 yards to make it 24-14 with 6:40 on the clock.
Nails were not safe, though, as the biting resumed on the ensuing
kickoff as the dangerous Percy Harvin
returned it 104 yards to the Atlanta three yard line. Chris Owens
caught him down from behind with a touchdown saving tackle, something you
never see with the fleet footed return man, who was playing with a sore
ribs. The play was the longest in NFL history that didn't result in points.
It was looking like the Vikings were about to pull to within a
field goal again. But, the Falcons offense had a great goal line stand and
stopped Minnesota from scoring on four downs. They took over in a precarious
spot on the same three yard line with four minutes to go.
Still
time for some chewing. But, this time, the gnawing came on the clock. Like
the defense had just done, the Atlanta offense rose up to the occasion and
did what they're good at, extend drives and eat up clock. A pair of key
third down conversions and the Falcons were able to take a knee to put the
pesky Minnesotans away. Vikings fans might wonder how much closer it might
have been if injured pro bowler Adrian Peterson
was in the game. But, wonder is all they can do.
A loss here would have been devastating to the Falcons' playoff
changes. They still have a shot at catching the division leading Saints with
a Christmas weekend head to head matchup in New Orleans. But, in lieu of
that, they have to concern themselves with wild card scenarios. The Cowboys,
Lions, Bears and Giants are the teams also in the hunt. Dallas took care of
business on Thanksgiving Day but Detroit gave themselves a major shot in the
foot when they lost to Green Bay earlier in the day. On top of that, their
star defender, Ndamukong Suh facing a
two game suspension.
Next up, its on the road again to Houston for a Matt Schaub-less
Texan team. To add to their frustrations, the other Matt at quarterback,
Leinart, was filling in Sunday and
suffered a collarbone injury Sunday. "I think there's probably a pretty
strong possibility I won't be coming back this season," the frustrated
backup admitted after the game.
That that leaves 8-3 Houston
with T.J. Yates
and new signee Kellen Clemens at the
quarterback position. Look for a free agent signing in the next couple of
days. In the meantime, look for Atlanta to work on getting a killer instinct
that will be sorely needed in the waning weeks of this NFL season.
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