Journey will be tougher for Falcons after OT loss at the Dome
By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
This was one of those games where you felt honored to be in
attendance...even if the final result was not what you wanted. In this great
rivalry that is underappreciated outside of Georgia and Louisiana, add
another classic to the many over the years going back to Steve
Bartkowski's Big Ben finishes thirty years
ago.
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for a great story putting it in perspective.
But all you had to hear an all too familiar chorus of
"Who Dats" echoing through the corridors and rampways of the Georgia Dome in
the game's final minute to know how this one went.
It was a see-saw battle too many missed opportunities
by Atlanta. A handful of 15 yard penalties kept Saints' drives alive, not to
mention Matt Bryant
uncharacteristically missing a 41-yard field goal at the end of the first
half. That would prove costly later on. The Falcons found themselves down by
10 with five minutes to go and came storming back to tie it as regulation
time ran out on a Bryant 21-yarder. But, Atlanta could muster nothing on
offense in two drives in overtime, punctuated by a failed fourth and one on
their own 30, giving New Orleans an easy field goal to go home with a 26-23
win and a controlling lead in the NFC South...especially with the other two
teams in the division losing as well.
Now, the Falcons have to hope the Saints stumble
somewhere and then get revenge in New Orleans for a big day after Christmas
game. But, there's a lot more that they have to hope for. Two games behind
the Saints in the division race, the Falcons must also root for other teams
to lose just to stay in the Wild Card race. San Francisco has the NFC West
locked up. A Wild Card team could come from the Central. Green Bay appears
to be a lock for that title. But, Detroit and Chicago are both right with
the Falcons with the Bears owning the head to head tie breaker on Atlanta.
Still some teams to watch in the East as well. Either
the Giants or Cowboys will win the division leaving the other to fight with
the Falcons for the Wild Card.
Even within the NFC South, the fading Bucs are still
just a game behind the Falcons.
Fortunately, there are seven games remaining and
anything can happen. Their three game home stand continues with visits by
5-4 Tennessee and 2-6 Minnesota. Both are winnable. A road trip to 7-3
Houston will be tough, They just dismantled the Panthers 30-3. Another road
game follows at 2-7 Carolina should give the Falcons another win as well as
a home game against 3-6 Jacksonville.
Then comes the December 26 trip to New Orleans and the
season closing home game on New Year's Day against Tampa Bay.
So, its all still there for the taking. But, the taking
is a bit more difficult due to three points Sunday at the Dome.
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