By Don Stone - Football
Atlanta
Despite a 5-6 record
following a loss on Monday night in Green Bay, the Falcons still find
themselves in first place and in the driver's seat for their postseason
chances hosting an 8-5 Steelers team in a game with playoff implications for
both.
That loss to the Packers actually assured that the winner of
the NFC South will have a losing record.
The Saints are tied with Atlanta at 5-6 but lose in a tie
breaker with the Falcons due to the season opening loss in Atlanta. But, the
two teams still play next week in New Orleans. And, the Louisiana guys
appear to have the advantage holding the NFL's easiest remaining schedule in
their last three games with a game today against the struggle Bears in
Chicago and the season finale on the road against the awful Tampa Bay Bucs.
Atlanta, in the meantime, closes the season at home against a bad Carolina
team that may not have Cam Newton at quarterback.
So, if the Saints beat the Bears and the Falcons lose to Pittsburgh a
game would separate the two NFC South teams for the lead. So, the game next
week in New Orleans could well decide the division. Obviously, what happens
in this week's games will affect that scenario a lot.
Having won three more games, the Steelers look to be a decided favorite.
But, they have shown a propensity to play down to the level of their
opponent this season and actually are the only team with a losing record
against the NFC South with losses to the Bucs and Saints and another bad one
to the Jets. But half of their wins have been against struggling teams in
the Panthers, Titans, Jaguars, and Texans.
Atlanta, after a terrible 2-6 start that included gut wrenching last
second losses to Detroit and Cleveland, have turned things around a bit with
wins against Carolina, Tampa Bay and Arizona. Fans were encouraged on Monday
night when they outscored the Packers 30-12 after falling behind early 31-7
coming up less than a touchdown short.
As usual, injuries would cut back on the Falcons' options as
William Moore and Robert Alford
would miss the game. But, of more importance, Julio Jones,
who had been on a record setting pace of effectiveness the last two weeks,
was a gametime decision on whether he would be able to play after sustaining
a hip pointer in Green Bay. The decision was to keep him out.
Pittsburgh has had their share of injuries as well losing DE Brett
Keisel for the season with Cortez
Allen on the injured reserve list. For this
game, it was announced that they would also be without the services of
veteran cornerback Ike Taylor and
veteran linebacker James Harrison. The
loss of Taylor key and possibly neutralizing the loss of Jones in the
passing game.
The Steelers began the game with a nine yard pass to Antonio Brown,
then converted the first down at the 31. The large Pittsburgh contingent in
the crowd erupted when Ben Roethlisberger
completed a pass to Le'Veon Bell
for 31 yards to midfield. But the defense held just as they were entering
the red zone. A 38 yard Shaun Suisham
field goal gave them an early 3-0 lead.
Atlanta began their opening drive at the 20. How effective would the
offense be with Harry Douglas starting
in place of the hot Jones?
Steven Jackson started things with
an eight yard carry with Devin Hester
converting at the 33. Douglas pulled one in for nine with Jackson pulling
tacklers for 12 to the Pitt46. Ryan would be slightly off on his next few
passes forcing a punt to the eight.
On a third and two Big Ben eluded a sack and hit Bell, who broke free for
44 yards to the Atl40. TE Heath Miller
picked up 8 as the crowd chanted "Heath" with Markus Wheaton
getting nine more to the 23. Paul
Soliai and Prince Shembo
combined on a 7 yard sack to the 30 resulting in another field goal from 38
yards to make it 6-0.
Hester gave his team good field position with a 43 yard return to the 38
to start the second quarter. It did them no good, though, as Ryan was picked
off by William Gay who returned it 52
yards for a touchdown making it 13-0.
Atlanta would try again, this time from their 21. Ryan hit Douglas for a
nine yard first down at the 32. But an offensive pass interference call on
Douglas made it first and 20 from the 22. Devonta Freeman
got half of it back on a nice rush to the 32.
But Ryan continued to struggle with accuracy with a listless lob that fell 8
yards downfield.
The Steelers threatened to pull away with a 31 yard Justin Brown
return to the Pitt44. Bell would be dropped
for a three yard loss by Kemal Ishmael. Antonio Brown
picked up 11 but on a fourth and 2, Pittsburgh faked going for it trying to
pull the defense off sides. Not bite. The Falcons took the punt and started
at their 15.
Jackson got them to the 28 with an 11 yard reception with White getting
his first catch for 24 more for their first trip into enemy territory at the
48. Douglas grabbed one and took it for a first to the 37. LOLB Jason
Woriids sacked Ryan but got a roughing the passer call, much to the
collective chagrin of the numerous black and gold fans in the crowd. First
down at the 20. On a third and six, Ryan found Hester in the back corner of
the end zone to get the Falcons on the board with a needed TD, now trailing
by less than a score, 13-7. It was the first offensive touchdown by either
team with just 4:19 left in the half.
Pittsburgh began their drive at their 20 with Martavis Bryant's
first catch for 14 yards. It was announced that Falcons guard Jon
Asamoah had suffered a back injury with his
return to the game questionable.
Pittsburgh took its first timeout at 1:19 on a third down after
Roethlisberger hit Wheaton for nine to the Atl47. Bell carried it to convert
the first at the 45 as the Steelers took their second time out. Still not in
field goal range. Another first got them in range with a nine yard catch by
Miller at the 29 with 37 seconds left. A catch for 28 by Brown was
originally called out of bounds at the one but was ruled complete after
replay. On the next play, Bell took it in to return the lead to 13, 20-7
with just 27 seconds remaining in the half.
IN previous seasons, with 27 seconds and three time outs, the Falcons
would manage to find a receiver deep and get to within field goal range.
This time, Ryan could only find a few short passes before getting sacked to
end the half.
The Falcons trailed like last week at the half. But, with Green Bay, that
was due to a dominant performance by the Pack QB. This was partly self
inflicted with Ryan missing passes and a defensive pick six. For the most
part, Pittsburgh had dominated the half. The Falcons had been unable to
sustain much of an attack on offense. Ryan was 11-15, but only for 114 yards
with most of the completions coming on short shots for little yardage. The
deep option was clearly missing without the presence of Jones.
Would Atlanta be able to change the tone of the game like they had in
Green Bay. They would find out as they began the second half from their 20.
Hester got things off on the right foot taking a short pass and sprinting 46
yards downfield to the Pitt34. Douglas got 16 more to the 18. But a holding
call on Justin Blalock slowed things
down with a first and 20 from the 28, settling for a 28 yard field goal to
make it a 10 point game, 20-10.
The Steelers started at their 26 as CB Josh WIlson
had to be helped off the field with a hand
injury, his return questionable. Bell moved it 11 on the ground. On a short
pass to Brown, the receiver was called for taunting bringing up and third
and 16 from the 31. A blitz stopped the drive and took over after the pun at
their 21. On a third and seven, Douglas made a 19 yard reception going out
of bounds at the 43. Jackson hurdled a defender to get 12 and another first.
Ryan scrambled for 12 and a first at the 27. The drive continued with 8 more
to Hester. White converted for a first at the 11. Hester for it to the two.
But, again, they couldn't close the deal in the red zone with Matt
Bryant putting it through for 22, bringing
the lead to 7, 20-13.
Atlanta did nothing to stop the Steelers on their next drive going 80
yards in 3:29 including a 26 yarder to Miller and 30 to Wheaton. Bell
maneuvered around the corner for the last 11 to put them up again by two
scores, 27-13.
The Falcons, it appeared, would have to score on every possession to have
a chance with a 14 point fourth quarter deficit. And not field goals. Not
helping was an ill-advised Hester return only to the 16. Ryan kept it for 12
for a first at the 35. Douglas got another with a 14 yard catch at midfield.
Douglas took one near the sidelines and broke free 41 yards downfield to the
Pitt11. Steeler FS Mike Mitchell had
to walked off the field, his return questionable. Another red zone
opportunity that had to be cashed in on. This would probably be four down
territory. Sounding like we were in Heinz Field, the crowd chanted
"defense." It didn't work as Ryan hit White in the back of the end zone to
again make it a one score game at 27-20. It was White's 62nd career TD,
setting a new franchise record, passing Michael Turner.
It was up to the "D" to keep them in the game.
It would be a long field with their drive starting at the 17. But a quick
12 yard pass to Brown got them out of the hole. On a third and seven,
Falcons fans came to life. Oddly, the Steeler fans roared as well trying to
drown them out, forcing their own QB to call a time out. Whatever they
called on the side line worked as they got 13 on Wheaton catch to the 46.
But, the defense held on a crucial stop as Hester called a fair catch at the
17.
Atlanta had their chance to tie it with just over six minutes to go. A
three and out was not what the doctor ordered with Brown taking the nice 57
yard Matt Bosher punt 30. Again, the
defense was required to make a stop or it would be over with just over four
minutes left.
Unfortunately, leaving it all up to the Falcons' defense does not usually
produce good results. At the Falcons 44, the home team took their final time
out with just over two minutes to go bringing up a third and one at the 39.
Pittsburgh let it tick to the two minute warning. All hope disappeared as
Miller all but made it official with a wide open 25 yard catch to the 14
letting Pittsburgh run out the clock to win it 27-20.
In the end, the difference turned out to be the Ryan pick six in the
game's only turnover.
The division advantage now fell to the Saints who, with a win in Chicago
later in the evening, would go up by a game with two to play.
|
