A Tale of Two Halves
By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
First of all, let's not forget that the team on the other
sidelines won the Super Bowl last year. And, they are one of the most likely
teams to be there again in February. Second, the Falcons were playing on
defense without key players like John Abraham
and Todd McClure. No easy task when
you're facing possibly the best quarterback in the game in Aaron
Rodgers. A little preemptive excuse making
comes in handy when describing what took place Sunday night.
At its core, this was basically a story about one team that has learned how
to win the big games and showing why it's a champion and another with the
talent to be there but still trying to convince itself that it belongs.
That being said, there were good things and bad to be taken
from the Sunday Night Football event at the Georgia Dome.
So, starting with the good.
The crowd was rocking and into every play. As the game began,
things looked promising. The Falcons got the ball and moved it methodically
down the field on thirteen plays, eating up 6:45 on the clock. It culminated
in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Roddy
White. They passed
six times and rushed seven times for 50 yards.
Falcons 7, Pack 0.
As Green Bay got their turn on offense, Atlanta kept the
momentum as Brent Grimes
forced a fumble with Georgia Tech's
Vance Walker grabbing
the ball.
Good things continued as the second quarter kicked in. Another long ten play
drive at up another six minutes with
Michael Turner
scoring on a one yard run.
Falcons 14, Pack 0.
A pair of back-to-back sacks of Aaron Rodgers forced Green
Bay to settle for a field goal.
Another stop of the 17-yard line and the first half ended
with the Falcons up 14-6.
Walking through the corridors of the Dome, fans were
jubilant. They remembered the playoff game last January where the Falcons
played well through most of the first half only to have Green Bay pick
Matt Ryan
off and get 14 quick points. It was pretty much over from there.
But, this time, the half ended on a positive note.
WSB-TV's Zach Klein
commented from the press box through his Twitter account, "It's scary to me
that the Falcons have dominated, yet it's a 1-possession ballgame." Was that
on others minds in the crowd as well? It was on mine. A friend from New
Orleans texted me, "The Falcons are really playing well." I responded, "Yes,
but a 9 point lead is a bit too close for comfort. We need some points."
From that point on, 25 more points were scored in the
game, all of them, unfortunately, by the world champs. Possession after
possession, Atlanta was either three and out or ineffective on offense. The
Packers took the lead on two scores in the third quarter, a place that has
not been pretty for the Falcons this season.
A few drives looked like they might turn the momentum around in the fourth
quarter only to end in interceptions.
Five penalties for 44 yards held Atlanta back with many of them bringing
back big plays on offense.
Tony Gonzalez
commented after the game on the frustrating miscues. "I think our defense
played outstanding. If they play like that every game, there's no reason why
we shouldn't win a lot of games. Even though we didn't come out on top
today, the way the defense played, I know the offense can play better.
Obviously we were moving the ball down the field. When you have penalties
like that, especially in the second half, it kills you. That's what showed
today."
The defense held its on with the 25 points being the
lowest total for Green Bay in their 5-0 start. They had four sacks and kept
the Pack to 0% in the red zone with one forced fumble and eight QB hits.
It was an important game for the Falcons with the
Saints winning again. At 4-1, Atlanta is now two games behind them in the
NFC South. A 2-3 start is not what fans expected, but still able to be
overcome. A lot of that will be determined this Sunday when the yards
machine, Cam Newton, makes his way into the Georgia Dome. They've come close
almost every game but are still trying to learn how to close things out.
They came within a field goal of New Orleans Sunday and jumped out on top of
the Packers a few weeks earlier. Their problem has been turnovers nullifying
great performances by the Heisman winning rookie. The game this weekend with
Carolina is looking like a must win. They've already lost to one team in the
Division at Tampa Bay. Two games in the Division still remain with the
Saints as well. They can't afford another.
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