off return all the way back to the Bears 15 yard line just after Chicago’s last field goal to put them within a TD. Then Elam’s completely unexpected stunner with the badly missed chip shot field goal, his first official miss of the season, after kicking four straight in this particular game. Then the agonizing ensuing last drive by Chicago, and the knife plunged straight into the heart with the Bear’s TD pass with 11 seconds left to put them up by a point.
And then with all hope completely drained out, Matt Ryan and the Falcons work some magic. A perfect pass and catch from Ryan to Jenkins on the side line to get out of bounds with all of one second remaining. Finally the ecstasy over Elam’s redeeming 48 yard field goal. Just an unbelievable and unforgettable Falcons game! What a great game and what a wonderful feeling.
Against a very good NFL defense, rookie QB’s are not suppose to pass for over 300 yards, have no interceptions or sacks, manage the game expertly, and throw the perfect pass with 6 seconds left in the game. Rookie QBs are not supposed to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Perhaps Ryan is really not a rookie after all. Perhaps he has spent the last six seasons playing pro football in the Twilight Zone, or in some other dimension or world that we don’t know about, and has now returned to our current world where we just think he's a rookie. Either that or the kid’s not really human, with ice water running through his veins instead of blood.
This year's Falcons is not about one person though, no matter how much above expectations that one person may be playing. It is about the TEAM. It is about “we” instead of “me”. Notice how much the others congratulated Jamaal Anderson after his first sack.
Immediately the monkey jinx went off of Jamaal’s back, and he was transformed into a real football player Sunday. He got after people, he made tackles for losses, he knocked down passes, and he pressured the QB. Hopefully the real Jamaal Anderson finally emerged at last, and Sunday’s miracle game marks his coming-out game as a prelude to many more impressive games by him. Fans would much rather praise his play than criticize his play. I know I would.
The offensive line played extremely well in pass protection against a good pressuring team, not allowing a sack for the second game in a row. I would have liked to see the OL get a better push and open better seams in the running game, but it is difficult to do that against a top-notch front 7 like the Bears. Still the Falcons were able to run well enough to keep the Bears defense honest and to open up Atlanta’s passing game.
Atlanta’s WRs played very well as a group. Roddy had another 100 yard game and a TD. Rookie Harry Douglas had a break-out game with almost 100 yards receiving, and a great lay-out catch for a long gain. Jenkins had “the catch” at the end, as well as a couple of other ones, to redeem himself from the dropped TD catch. Finn had a few catches too. Robinson may have some trouble getting back into the lineup when his knee heals.
Atlanta’s defense played a good first half, but not nearly as well in the second half. They have to get better stopping third down conversions, especially at critical junctions. However, they did make a goal line stand in the fourth quarter, which kept the Bears from getting points on that particular series. Hopefully they can use that series to build up their confidence some. Only Jamaal Anderson had an impressive game on defense, although Lofton appears to be gradually improving each game as he gains more experience.
The Falcons special teams had another good game, and certainly contributed to the win. Elam made 5 of 6 field goals, including the 48 yard game winner. Norwood had the 85 yard kick-off return that should have sealed the game, had Elam not missed the chip shot field goal attempt.
Punt coverage and kick-off coverage was very good against Hester, probably the most dangerous returner in the NFL. Snelling in particular made several nice ST tackles. Putting the on-side kick team on the field for Chicago’s last squib kick-off was very smart. Harry Douglas fielded the kick-off cleanly, and was able to advance it enough to give the Falcons excellent field position for the final miracle pass play. What a game. Words are just not adequate enough to properly describe this particular game.
Thought this topic thread would have received at least one response by now.
I really think JA98 may have turned the corner. I was wondering if he had the physical tools to play at this level after seeing him get pushed around in the first few games, but after this week that is obviously not a question. Can he put it all together and be consistent, week in and week out? We shall see, but I will certainly be rooting for him. We are a much better defense when he is pressuring the non-Abe side of the line.
yep - good review... every time I read another review I again get chills down my spine.
That 11 seconds stands out better than any other for the Falcons team in years. That kick made me feel like we won the super bowl.
TD, Coach Smith and his staff have done a great job at changing the culture and the work environment. That makes a huge difference.
With quarterback Matt Ryan playing like a veteran and left tackle Sam Baker proving some critics wrong, the Falcons already are collecting dividends on their 2008 draft. They also, finally, got something out of their 2007 top pick.
Defensive end Jamaal Anderson got his first career sack (and also batted down two passes) Sunday. Anderson had taken plenty of criticism from Atlanta fans early this season. But writing Anderson off as a bust so early would have been a mistake.
What he did against the Bears is just a preview of what Anderson can do. He has tremendous physical talent. He struggled last year, but everyone in Atlanta struggled last year. Just forget his rookie season. In fact, consider this his rookie season.
The arrival of coach Mike Smith, who has a strong defensive background, truly marked the start of Anderson's NFL career. Smith and his staff have believed all along that Anderson had potential. Now, they're just starting to draw it out of him."
I agree with the way the Recivers are playing, Robinson is going to have to fight to get on the feild.
Not only has the coaching staff changed the environment, but they also get the players ready to play. Atlanta currently has 6 rookies who are receiving significant playing time (Ryan, Baker, Lofton, Douglas, Jackson, and Biermann). It takes special coaching efforts and talents to get so many rookies to the point where they can play and contribute in NFL games so soon.
Nice post, good review! its virtual monday here at work after the long weekend... and I am loving the fact that I can make fun of all the Dallas fans here and talk about the extrodinary win the Falcons had Sunday.
"Q: When you look at the kickoff that Chicago obviously did not want to kick to Jerious (Norwood), Harry (Douglas) got a hold of it and got great field position in a short amount of time. Harry’s play seems to get overlooked in my mind. Do you feel that way?
The Twilight Zone. I love it.
"The Falcons needed some of their other receivers to step forward Sunday and take some pressure off of Roddy White.
The unit, considered a longtime weakness, actually had three players step forward in the 22-20 last-second victory over the Chicago Bears.
White woke up Sunday morning not certain if he was going to be allowed to play after suffering a head injury in a collision with Lawyer Milloy at practice on Wednesday. He was cleared to play on Saturday, but the final call went down to one of those "game time decisions."
"I meet with the doctors and everything," White said. "They were just checking on me Sunday morning, making sure that I was all right. I came in and I didn't have any headaches. No nausea or anything."
So White started and did some of the heavy lifting.
"It was big for Roddy to get out there," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "We worked him out yesterday after our workout to just see how he would be able handle the strain of running."
White finished with nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. He had another touchdown catch nullified by penalty. He has 35 catches for 566 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
It was White's second consecutive 100-yard receiving game, his third of the season and 10th overall.
He got some major support from rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas, who had his best day in the NFL, catching five passes for 96 yards, including a 47-yarder in the third quarter.
"H.D. was out there in High Definition," White said. "He was making plays out there and everything."
Veteran wide receiver Brian Finneran set up White's key fourth quarter touchdown.
On third down-and-11 from Chicago's 18, Finneran got inside of Corey Graham on a slant route and picked up 13 yards. Graham was called for defensive holding, but the Falcons declined the penalty.
"Fin is consistent," Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. "He made a couple of key third down catches. He seems to always get open. He's crafty."
The biggest catch came from Michael Jenkins,