Déjà vu: Falcons Find Way to Win Again

For the second week in a row, the Atlanta Falcons, in unconventional style, found a way to steal a game from the jaws of defeat, to improve their record to 3-1, while staying atop the NFC South. In last season’s 45-10 thumping of the 49ers, the Falcons outplayed and outclassed Mike Singletary’s crew, highlighted by a Dre Bly interception of Matt Ryan, upon which Bly entered a celebratory dance to the end zone, only to be stripped of the ball by Roddy White. Although the 49ers kept this game much closer, it was an eerily similar play that sealed the fate of San Francisco once again. With 1:31 remaining in the 4th quarter, and the Falcons down 14-13, Matt Ryan threw his second interception of the game. As Nate Clements raced down the sidelines, once again Roddy White appears in full sprint, nearing Clements as he approached the end zone. Ten yards from scoring, White managed to jar the ball loose to give the Falcons new life. From here Matt Ryan led his second game winning drive in as many weeks, completing two big third downs along the way, concluding with a Matt Bryant field goal from 43 yards out.

This contest got off to a rocky start, as the 49ers took their opening possession 88 yards on 10 plays, right through the heart of Atlanta‘s defense to take the 7-0 lead. The Falcons followed with a 3 and out, which led to an acrobatic play by safety Taylor Mays, who managed to keep both feet in bounds off a blocked punt, giving the 49ers a 14-0 lead before some even made their way to their seats. That was all San Francisco would manage to score the rest of the way, as the Falcons defense elevated their game, holding Frank gore to 77 yards on 21 carries, while intercepting Alex Smith twice. Stephen Nicholas filled in for the injured Sean Weatherspoon with 12 tackles to lead the team. Curtis Lofton, looking to make a leap to pro bowl status this season, provided the big play spark Atlanta needed, recording 8 tackles, a sack, and an interception. William Moore had what was likely his best performance in his young career, recording an interception, forced fumble, and a would be sack negated by intentional grounding. While the defense was able to keep the 49ers off the board after the 1st quarter, they lacked the tenaciousness that was displayed in the first three games. It could be said that last week’s match up with the Saints took a toll on both teams, as the Saints had a rather sluggish performance as well, beating Carolina by only 2. The loss of Weatherspoon also could have played into this, as he has provided a spark for this defense early in the season that the players seemed to feed off. Alex Smith went virtually untouched most of the game, although the 49ers passing attack was primarily screens and throws under 10 yards.

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Offensively, the Falcons certainly did not play up to par, as Matt Ryan essentially lost the game with his late interception. Ryan also was sacked three times, and hit on several other occasions, as the 49ers exposed the Falcons offensive line and their poor pass protection. Michael Turner was unable to get into a rhythm either, as he ran for only 50 yards on 16 carries as Jason Snelling also struggled with 31 yards on 7 carries. Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White each hauled in 7 catches, while Harry Douglas caught the Falcons only touchdown of the game.

Key Notes- Curtis Lofton anchored this defense in tremendous fashion, and made the big plays when necessary, a feature his game lacked all last season that he was dedicated to changing this season.

Erik Coleman in all likelihood will not be returning to his starting strong safety spot, as William Moore is truly starting to blossom into the player the Falcons saw when they drafted him. Moore stated after the game in regards to his interception, “Overall we were just baiting the quarterback.” Granted that quarterback was Alex Smith, this still speaks volumes for Moore, who as a second year player, is playing fast, aggressive, and with intelligence.

Harry Douglas showed some flashes that suggest he still has potential as a number two wide receiver in this league. However, until he shows he can catch the ball on a consistent basis, he should not be relied on as more than a number three. The imminent return of Michael Jenkins should be a nice lift for Matt Ryan and this wide receiving corps.

Props to Tony Gonzalez, who became the 1st NFL Tight End in history to eclipse the 12,000 yard mark.

What a difference special teams has been this year compared to the anguish Jason Elam put Falcons fans through last season. Since Matt Bryant missed his first attempt of the season, he has gone on to connect with his last 10 attempts; including one against the Steelers to send the game into overtime, and the previous two weeks hitting from 46 and 43 to end the game.

Final Thoughts- It is difficult to gauge the state of the Falcons right now. Their only loss came on the road to Pittsburgh, however they were still two fluke plays away from dropping their last two games. There is something to be said about making plays when they matter, and that is what this team has shown the ability to do. Good teams find a way to get the job done in the midst of adversity, and the Falcons have proven they are up to the task. Personally, I have questioned if Coach Mike Smith has the ability and the guts to take this team over the top, and it is still yet to be seen how that all will play out through his tenure as coach. One thing cannot be questioned; he gets the most of his players, as they play hard, and disciplined for 60 minutes, Roddy White serving as the perfect example.

By Kevin Sirkin
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer