By Don Stone - Football
Atlanta
A few weeks ago, no one
would have thought this regular season finale would have the importance that
it clearly has. On Thanksgiving, Carolina was reeling from a seven game
losing streak and a 3-9 overall record. That was compounded a week later
when Cam Newton
suffered two transverse process fractures in
his lower back
in a car accident.
The Falcons were 4 and 7 themselves with a six game losing streak
of their own and seemingly going nowhere. Some would argue that neither team
still is with records of 6-8-1 and 6-9 respectively. But, things have
improved with both teams since. The Panthers have won their last three games
outscoring opponents by a combined 77-40. Much of that due to the return of
running back Jonathan Stewart, who has
rushed for 437 yards in his last four games since combing back from the
injured list.
Atlanta has only won two of their last five, but have looked impressive
in the process. After getting blown out in the first half at Green Bay, they
outscored the Packers 30-12 and came within an on sides kick of pulling off
an upset. They went to New Orleans, where they rarely play well, and
dominated and eliminated the Saints last week sacking Drew Brees
an unexpected five times.
All setting up this winner take all game at the Georgia Dome. The winner
moves into the playoffs and hosts the first game against a probable wounded
Arizona Cardinal team, the only non-NFC South opponent the Falcons have
beaten. The loser watches on TV.
Carolina started the game at their 20 with a 13 yard completion to
Greg Olsen. Then another to the tight end for
nine. Stewart escaped several defenders to pick up a first down at the AF46.
Newton broke free from several more for another first at the 34, then
scrambled for nine to the 25. He hit Stewart for another first with an 11
yard pass to the 11. But the drive only made it to the three with
Grantham Gano putting the Panthers up first
3-0 from 21 yards.
Atlanta also began their first drive from their 20. On a third and seven,
Matt Ryan found Roddy White
for 15 to the 38, and again for 14 to the CP45. But that's all they could
get with the punt giving the Panthers a longer field at their 13.
Stewart got them 16 yards and a first down on a pair of runs to the 29
then caught a pass for nine more. Then a big gain on a reverse on a third
and one to WR Philly Brown going for
28 yards to the AF34. Newton kept it for nine for a first down at the 22.
Stewart got another first 11 yards closer. TE Ed Dickson
got them all they needed on a TD catch to put Carolina up 10-0.
Falcons fans could not like what they had seen so far.
Pro Bowler Devin Hester gave his
team a spark doing what he does best taking the kickoff 66 yards to the 38.
On a third down and six, Ryan escaped and hit RB DeVonta Freeman
for a first down at the 27. Six more with a short pass to Jacquizz
Rodgers. Julio Jones
finally caught his first catch, and a big one on a 14 yard third down catch
to the seven yard line. Harry Douglas got his first catch to the three. FB
Patrick Demarco was wide open in the end zone
and had it pop off his hands, costing his team four points. Matt
Bryant at least got them on the board from
21, 10-3.
Carolina began their third drive at the 22. Newton again escaped a near
sack for a nine yard gain to the 31. But the defense held on a
Desmond Trufant pass break up. The ensuing
kickoff went out of bounds at the 30. But Atlanta went three and out when
Ryan was sacked for a six yard loss. Carolina took a 56 yard fair catch at
the 15 yard line.
The Falcons were finding that this was
a different defense than they had faced last week.
Dwight Lowry was sustained a
knee injury on first play of the next drive, his return questionable. Newton
had plenty of time in the backfield until he found Brown wide open for a 28
yarder at the 46. But, again the offense was stopped. Now, Atlanta needed to
find theirs starting at the 19.
Everything went wrong on the next drive starting with another Ryan sack
followed by a false start. Then, on a second and 20, the QB did something he
has been doing all too frequently in recent weeks, tossing another pick six,
this time to Roman Harper making it
17-3 with 4:18 left in the half.
A nice Hester return was nullified by a holding call on Prince
Shembo giving Atlanta the ball deep in their
own territory at the six.
Except for the one catch, Jones presence had been non-existent, cheers
replaced them with a 12 yard catch by Hester to the 22. But, good news was
in short supply for Atlanta as White had what appeared to be another first
down on a catch that was fumbled and run back to the four. With 1:54 to go,
the Panthers were threatening to put it almost out of reach. Newton did his
part with a rushing touchdown to make it a three score lead, 24-3.
The crowd became surly as hopes of a home playoff game looked unlikely as
did any chance of Mike Smith retaining
his job.
Jones brought down a 14 yard catch at the 41 as time clicked down just
over a minute. That would be all the team could manage as more boos were
heard.
Atlanta's offense had been held to just 118 yards in the first half, just
17 on the ground, half that of the Panthers. Jones, so dominating in the
three previous games, was almost invisible with just two catches for 28
yards.
But the two turnovers accounting for 14 of the Carolina 24 points was the
difference.
The second half started where the first left off with Ryan getting sacked
for a third time at the 7 and the Panthers getting the ball in great field
position at their 42.
Kelvin Benjamin got his first catch
of the game after two drops with a nine yard first down catch at midfield.
Next it was WR Jerricho Cotchery's
turn to get his first pulling it in at the 30. The reverse that worked
earlier did so again as Brown picked up 13 to the 22 as another casualty on
the D side with S Kemal Ishmael
having to be helped off the field with a hamstring.
The drive was stopped by the three points added with a field goal was
just salt in the wound extending the lead to 24.
The anemic offense would only muster four yards on the next possession
with Carolina getting the ball back after the punt on their ten. The defense
did their job forcing a punt with no gain. But, typical of the way things
had gone for the Falcons, the average kickoff went 55 in the air, then
bounded all the way to the six giving Brad Nortman
a great stat of a 72 yard punt. And giving Atlanta a 94 yard field ahead of
them just to pull to within three scores if they could produce some
uncharacteristic points.
Jones got them out of the hole with a ten yard first down catch at the
18. Julio saved them again on a third and ten with another catch of 20 to
the 38. The
Falcons were bailed out of what would have been a fatal pick six when an
interception was called back on an illegal contact call on the Panthers.
Instead Atlanta had a first and ten from the 43. Their bacon was momentarily
saved.
White's turn to save the drive with a 14 yard catch into Panther's
territory. But, a pair of false starts brought up a second and 20. White got
twelve back to the 39 in obvious four down territory. But, they should have
left the fourth down alone as Ryan threw still another pick six. The nail in
the coffin sent fans to the exits as Tre Boston
took it back 84 yards for a commanding 35-3
lead as the game stumbled into the final quarter.
The coaching staff's wives were probably putting up for sale signs at
home and Arthur Blank was probably on the phone with his coach search
consultant to see what he had come up with. But this didn't appear to be a
situation where Smith's team had given up on him as much as an average
Falcons team had its flaws exposed by a Panthers team that was hot and
clearly on a roll on its way into the postseason.
Atlanta began to move the ball in a meaningless drive as the defense was
clearly in cruise mode.
Jon Asamoah came out with cramping,
his return questionable as Ryan was put down again for the fourth sack. More
injuries as Jake Mathews frustratingly
walked off the field favoring his left ankle. And, another desperate fourth
down and 18 attempt from the 23 yielded another sack. Carolina would try to
run out the clock on the game and the Falcons' season with 11:00 remaining
in both.
A quarter of the stadium was left to view the post mortem, most of them
getting ready for a pleasant three hour ride back home up I-85.
Carolina methodically ate up clock and yardage to the 2:41 mark as Newton
joyfully skipped around the field in celebration. And, shortly, so did the
rest of the team as a second straight season finished in failure. They
limped into the locker room having gone 10-22 since their close but no cigar
finish in the NFC Championship Game. What a long time ago that success
seems.
Many changes were about to take place, undoubtedly starting with the
coaching staff and maybe more. Arthur Blank would clearly be busy in the
coming weeks. |
