Live Blog from the Georgia
Dome By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
The national and local media has been heaping praise on this Falcons team,
for good reason. They have come out of the gate at 4-0, something only
achieved four times in franchise history. In fact, the respected Pro
Football Focus grades Atlanta's much maligned offensive as the best in the
NFL. They were 26th in 2014. It ranks fourth in pass blocking, sixth in
penalties and second in run blocking.
The Falcons attempt to become the unofficial champions of the NFC
East having already taken care of the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys needing
only a victory of Washington to achieve a clean sweep.
The Redskins come in with a 2-2 record but feeling optimistic after
a last minute win last week over rival Philadelphia as Kirk Cousins
connected with Pierre Garcon with just 26 seconds in the game.
Cousins, though, does not play well on the road, having lost five
of his six career starts away from home. In those games, he's put up nine
touchdowns but ten interceptions. He'll be missing WR DeSean Jackson
and TE Jordan Reed. Washington has been one of the best teams against
the run but have problems in the secondary with cornerbacks Chris
Culliver and DeAngelo Hall both inactive. That could give Matt
Ryan and the Atlanta offense, already among the most prolific in the
NFL, a field day.
Shanahan is another story having been the offensive coordinator for
Washington until he was fired with his father, Mike Shanahan,
following a 3-13 season in 2013.
Atlanta has a few new players who are active. Jake Long, signed
just a few weeks ago, will not start but will be available to see some time
on the O line. And, rookie Tevin Coleman, who was the original
starter at running back, will return after missing a few weeks with a rib
injury. Finding time to play either will be a nice problem for Kyle
Shanahan because of the stellar play of the offensive line and the
amazing last two games that Devonta Freeman has had with seven
rushing TDs.
Washington got the ball first at their 20. Right away, Cousins hit Garcon
for a first down only to have it called back on a holding call. They
couldn't overcome the deficit and had to punt. Atlanta took over after the
punt at their 25.
A pair of carries by Freeman picked up ten and a first down. Ryan made a
short toss to TE Jacob Tamme who got it all the way to the WR40. But
he overthrew Julio Jones and was picked off by SS Trenton Robinson
at the 25.
A short pass to RB Matt Jones got them 17 and a first down at the
42. That's all the offense could get with the 47 yard punt pinning the
Falcons at their nine. A pair of passes to Tamme for five and eleven got
them some breathing room at the 25. But a sack by WLB Ryan Kerrigan
moved them back to the 16. Tamme got ten of it back for a third and nine. It
ended there. Jamison Crowder took the 51 yard punt out to the 33.
Chris Thompson got them a quick first on a catch at the 45. An
encroachment call moved it five yards further. Jones picked up a first on a
seven yard rush into Falcons territory at the 40. Garcon was wide open and
went 21 for another first at the 19. They converted on a fourth and one at
the nine. ON a third and seven, TE Derek Carrier was open in the end
zone to give DC the first score of the game, 7-0.
Atlanta started at their 20. So far, the offense had not done much with
Ryan a little off on his passes. On a third and eight, Leonard Hankerson
picked up thirteen and a first at the 35. An illegal contact call got them
five more. Freeman got six on the ground to the 46. Tamme, the key piece of
the offense so far, was open for another 17 into Skins territory at the 37.
A pair of carries by Freeman got them a dozen and another first at the 25.
Hankerson was seen walking into the locker room with a rib injury. The
Falcons, who had been nearly perfect with getting touchdowns on the red zone
had to settle for a 42 yard Matt Bryant field goal to make it 7-3.
Rashad Ross took the punt in the end zone and brought it 26 yards
out to the 23. Crowder escaped a few sloppy tackles for a 14 yard pickup to
the 37. The Redskins called their first time out at 6:09 in to go in the
half. Then the break the Falcons had needed as Robert Alford picked
Cousins off and ran it back 17 yards to the DC40. Nick Williams made
an acrobatic catch for a first down at the 23. Freeman got seven but the
pass rush got to Ryan and jarred the ball loose. The sack and fumble gave DC
the ball back at their 13 with just 2:17 left. But the defense held with a
three and out. Atlanta got the ball back at their 40. And, an ill timed
unsportsmanlike conduct on Deshazor Everett moved it to the DS45 with
1:39 to go in the half. S short pass to Freeman got eight. He got eight more
on the ground for a first down. Tamme got seven when Ryan was sacked again.
Atlanta had to call a time out with a third and six at the 25 at 0:27.
Another Tamme catch brought up a fourth and one. The Falcons let the clock
tick down to five seconds to bring on Bryant. And, the first half ended the
way it had gone for Atlanta, with a rare miss by Bryant from 38. But, as
poorly as they had played, they were just down by four and had the ball to
start the second half.
The Falcons came out quickly with a first down completion for 11 yards to
Jones. Freeman got more on the ground. Hankerson was back in the game and
was wide open in the end zone only to have Ryan overthrow him. On a fourth
and five at the DC40, Atlanta went for it and converted on a short 7 yard
catch by Freeman at the 32. But, Ryan again missed on an attempt to hit
Jones. Bryant was brought in and again missed with both attempts hitting the
left upright and bouncing back. Score still 7-3.
The two Matts who the team has relied on so heavily were both having an
off day. Ryan missing open targets repeatedly and Bryant doing the same with
the goal posts.
It was up to the defense to keep the Washington offense at bay, this time
starting in good field position at their 38.
Thompson picked up a first down on a nine yard rush to the AF48. On a
third and six, hit Crowder for 12 to the 32. It was announced that center
Mike Person, who had done such a good job, had an ankle injury with his
return questionable. On a third and ten at the 32, Atlanta called its first
time out and held forcing a 53 yard field goal attempt. Like their own, it
also missed the target.
The Falcons took over in good position at their 43. Freeman broke a few
tackles to gain nine. Ryan escaped a rush and shoveled it to Freeman for
four to the DC40. Pressure on Ryan forced another rushed throw bringing up a
fourth and six. Again, they converted with a nine yard catch by Jones at the
31. Freeman got six and picked up a face mask call as he went out of bounds
moving the ball to the 15. Again, they couldn't get it but Bryant finally
did from 28 to pull Atlanta to within one, 7-6.
Again up to the defense to keep it close. Ross got the kickoff out 27
yards to the 30 and that's where it stayed. The Redskins punt went for 57
yards then drew a holding call on Ricardo Allen to put the ball at
the AF9.
Freeman quickly got them out of the hole rushing out to the 27 putting
the back over the hundred yard mark for the third straight week.
As the fourth quarter began, Atlanta had a second and five at their 32.
Freeman got seven for another first at the 39. Roddy White, still
with no catch, at least drew a pass interference call. Freeman got another
first at the DC44. Ryan kept it for nine to the 35. Ryan finally found Roddy
for a first at the 14 drawing a huge ovation. The excited crowd had to be
calmed down making too much noise shouting "Roddy, Roddy." Freeman
got 11 more for a first and goal at the four then fumbled into the end zone
with Jones falling on it for a unique score. Whatever works. Atlanta went
for two but failed on a pass attempt to Hankerson that was broken up.
Nonetheless, the Falcons had their first lead of the game 12-7 with 9:14 to
go in the game. The drive had taken 11 plays and gone 91 yards.
The defense's turn again with a lead but less than a touchdown to hold.
Cousins hit Crowder for a ten yard catch at the 30. Then, another one where
he broke free for 26 to the Atl44. Then, a backbreaker as he went for it all
and drew a pass interference call on Alford put the ball at the one. One
play later Jones was skipping his way for a a TD to put the Skins back in
the lead. They went for two and also couldn't pull it off to put the thin
lead at one, 13-12.
The offense needed an answer and got a start with Jones converting a
third and five with a ten yard clutch catch at the 35. But, Ryan's
inconsistency bit the team big time as he was intercepted at the 49 with
Bashaud Breeland running it back to the Atl21. With just over five
minutes to go, the defense needed another stop.
Thompson got nine on a catch and first down at the ten. The clock
was down to four minutes. A TD would probably put it out of reach. A third
and goal at the six had Paul Worilow drop Crawford for a four yard
loss. A field goal would still put the lead at less than a touchdown.
Tress Way connected from 28 to make it 16-12. Still within reach, but
just 2:38 left.
Atlanta started at their 20 needing 80 yards to stay undefeated. Freeman
caught a short pass for seven. Tammes, who had been silent since a great
start, got 15 to the 42 at the two minute warning. Ryan hit Freeman for nine
more as he ran out of bounds at 1:56. He hit an open Jones for another first
at the 37. Jones broke a tackle and got it to the 21 with just over a minute
left. Ryan kept it and delivered a blow as he went out of bounds at the 13.
On a third and two at the 18, The crowd erupted as Freeman made the
big catch and fell into the end zone. But, replay showed that the ball came
out when he hit the ground, bringing up a fourth and two with 0:51 to go.
White got a clutch catch to get the first down with 35 seconds to go.
Ryan rushed the line and handed off to Freeman, who made his way back to the
promised land again. Appropriately, 24 seconds were left, his number. Bryant
made the key extra point to give Atlanta its second lead of 19-16.
The Skins had all three time outs starting from their 20 needing just a
field goal to tie. He quickly hit Carrier for 20 with 17 seconds left. Then
Garcon for 19 to the 41. They called their first time out at the Falcons 41
with ten seconds on the clock. He completed one to Crowder at the 34. With
five seconds left, Way would try a 52 yarder to tie it up as time ran out in
regulation.
It would be Atlanta's first overtime of the season. Washington won the
toss and chose to receive and got the ball at their 20.
Crowder caught one for five and went out of bounds. On a third and five,
he hit Thompson for a first at the 31. He hit Crowder for another first at
their 48. A pair of offsetting fouls repeated first down.
A leopard doesn't change its spots. And a Cousins doesn't either. As we
mentioned earlier, the DC QB has consistently thrown interceptions. In his
six previous road game, of which he lost five, he had thrown ten. You can
make that twelve as Alford stepped in front of a pass and ran it all the way
back for the winning touchdown. Falcons 25, Redskins 19.
Atlanta had been finding different ways to win. And this one was
different. They had played their worst game by far but found a way to get
another "W." Granted, it was against a struggling team, but it doesn't
matter. A sweep of the NFC East complete, the Falcons face a short week and
a Thursday night game against another struggling team in New Orleans. But
one that always gives them fits.
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