Random Thoughts On a Frustrating Playoff Loss
By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
* I blame one
person first for the Falcons devastating loss...Philadelphia Eagles' kicker
David Akers. He missed two key field goals
from 41 and 34 yards during his team's 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Count it. That's six points not on the board for the Eagles. That's a five
point win for the Pack.. If he makes those two easy field goals, then its
the Seattle Seahawks at the Dome on Saturday night. Not Green Bay.
Atlanta would have likely moved on to the NFC
Championship Game against Philly or Chicago.
* The Falcons had
everything going for them entering the game. No major injuries. Home field
advantage with a 20-2 record at the Dome with Matt Ryan.
Two weeks rest with a Green Bay team coming in on six days rest after a
tough road game. Many key Packers players on injured reserve. Green Bay
coming in with a 4-6 season record on the road (7-1 at home).
And an amped up crowd doing their best to set new
decibel levels. The one thing they didn't have was a clue on how to stop
Aaron Rodgers.
* That crowd had the
sound lever meter pushing 115 as the game began, which was the goal of the
Project 115 promotion. But, they had difficulty sustaining it. After
Eric Weems ran the kickoff back for a
record 102 yards, the noise level began to diminish. The most they could
muster was in the high 90s. And this was before the Packers took charge.
* Not mentioned a lot,
but a key ingredient in the outcome, was the injury Falcons cornerback
Brian Williams sustained in the Saints
loss. It forced Atlanta to put little used replacement Chris Owens
in as starter...a fact not unnoticed by Rodgers, who exploited him all game.
The two most noticeable times were early turning points in the game. With
Atlanta up 14-7 and Green Bay deep in Atlanta's red zone, the Falcons'
defense rose up and sacked the Pack QB on third down, forcing an apparent
field goal. But, wait, Owens was called for holding. Result, new life and a
Green Bay first down. Two plays later, he drew another penalty putting them
at the one with a touchdown in the books soon after.
* The Falcons
seemed to abandon all of the things that got them to the playoffs. Or, they
were unable to do them. Long sustained drives and time clock management. You
could look at one stat at the end of the game apart from the score to reveal
the probable result. TOP. Green Bay held the ball 38:19 to Atlanta's 21:41.
The more Rodgers had the ball in his hand, the more he scored. Atlanta was
only 33% on third down conversions, something they've dominated this season.
Michael Turner was taken out of the
game when the team fell behind. Ten carries for 39 yards will usually
translate to a loss.
Turnovers is another area where the Falcons have
prospered in 2010. Two key interceptions of Ryan were huge. One at the end
of the first half was at least a 10 point swing as the Pack took it all the
way back for a touchdown that changed a likely score of 21-17 to 28-14 as
teams entered the locker rooms.
* I, and I'm sure
most of the crowd, was stunned throughout the game at the score. First, that
the Falcons were down 28-14 at the half. More so when the scoreboard read
35-14, then 42-14. It seemed unbelievable each time I looked. With the
exception of the 17-31 Philly loss, the Falcons have been in every game,
winning most. But the other two losses to the Saints (17-14) and Steelers
(15-9 in OT) were very close matches. After the shocking end of the first
half, it appeared obvious that Atlanta had no answers. Pittsburgh had come
back from a 14 point deficit a few hours earlier, but that scenario didn't
seem possible here. Not that the Falcons couldn't score more points, but
that Green Bay scored every time they got the ball. They didn't have to punt
once all game.
* Virtually all
of the experts were picking the Packers, much to the consternation of
Falcons fans, who felt the team was being disrespected. Every panel on ESPN,
the NFL Network and FOX Sports, were about 90% for Green Bay. That was a
primary subject on local sports talk radio shows before the game. Atlanta
Fans didn't think the experts knew what they were talking about. Apparently,
they did.
* Was this the
last time we'll see Tony Gonzalez in a
Falcons uniform? Couldn't help thinking that as he limped off in the third
quarter with a right knee injury.
* Not sure what
was more taxing...watching the season go down the drain drive by drive, or
having to maneuver through the masses to make my way back to the Lindbergh
Marta station. The first train was packed to the gills. Hundreds of us had
to let it go and wait ten minutes for the next one, which was equally packed
like sardines. Finally,. a few spots were open on the third train. But, it
just took us one stop to Five Points and the transfer to the Northbound.
Another shoehorn squeeze and claustrophobic ride eventually ended. But not
without a plethora of loudmouth fans who were feeling the combination of too
much booze and disappointment. Nearly an hour in the process.
* Two fans on the
train summed it up well, though. One pessimistic, the other looking on the
bright side. The first. "The Falcons always tank it in the big game," he
complained. "In 1980, Danny White and
the Cowboys broke our hearts at Fulton County Stadium. We finally get to the
Super Bowl, then get embarrassed by the Eugene Robinson
scandal and John Elway.
"Six years ago, we killed the Rams at home, then got
killed in the NFC Championship in Philly."
The other fan had the glass half full view, one that
will probably be held by most after the pain of this loss softens. "Even
though it didn't end the way we wanted, it was still a great season," he
said. "I had a ton of fun this year. A lot of great moments. And, I think
there are more to come next year."
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