Team Effort Fuels Falcons to Week 2 Win

By no means were the Atlanta Falcons facing the same Arizona Cardinals that many have been accustomed to watching over the past several seasons. Anquan Boldin has been shipped out, Kurt Warner has retired, and key players on defense such as Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle have found new destinations. Still, the Falcons came out and did what they were supposed to do against lower-echelon team, winning their home opener 41-7 to improve their record to 1-1. To say the Falcons outplayed the Cardinals would be an understatement; this was pure domination in all three aspects of the game.

For the second straight week the Falcons defense has shown major improvements from last year, as well as constant development from their younger players. After allowing only 9 points in regulation to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta held Arizona to a single touchdown on an 80 yard touchdown run by RB Tim Hightower. If the Falcons defense has a fault early in the season, it is the propensity to allow the big play, something that could mean trouble when facing a high-powered offense. Last week the Steelers capped off their 15-9 win in OT with a 50 yard TD run by RB Rashard Mendenhall. Aside from those 2 big plays, it is difficult to knock anything this defense has done through the first two games.

Arizona could not get their offense in any kind of rhythm Sunday, going 0 for 8 on third downs and only holding the ball for only 20 minutes and 47 seconds. While the Cardinals did run for 118 yards, 80 of them came on one play, with very few other productive runs. The Falcons defense performed even better against the pass, limiting All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald to 7 catches for 83 yards, while also forcing 3 interceptions.

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On offense, Matt Ryan and company bounced back well after a poor performance in week 1. The falcons ran the ball for 221 yards despite losing Michael Turner early in the game to a groan injury. Coach Mike Smith said that he did not believe the injury was sufficient and that Turner was cleared to go back in if needed. The performance of 4th year RB Jason Snelling put to bed any hope of Turner re-entering the game as he put on a show; rushing for 129 yards and receiving for an additional 57 with a combined 3 TD. Unlike the Cardinals, the Falcons were able to keep their offense on the field by converting 11 of 17 3rd downs, as they sustained long drives to wear down the Arizona defense.

Key Notes- Tony Gonzalez has just 4 catches for 54 yards in the first two games of the season. While he still possesses great blocking ability, his quickness and receiving skills are clearly diminishing at age 34. Despite the lack of numbers his presence was still felt against Arizona, who made a concerted effort to stop him, thus allowing Matt Ryan to spread the ball around to his WR’s in favorable matchups. Rookie OLB Sean Weatherspoon led the team with 9 tackles and recorded his first career NFL sack. In just 2 games, Weatherspoon appears to have a good grasp on the defense and a nose for the football. Brent Grimes was moved down the depth chart at CB in favor of Chris Owens after missing the tackle that sprung Mendenhall’s game winning touchdown last week against the Steelers. Owens responded with a 1st quarter interception of Derek Anderson, leading to a Matt Bryant field goal. In my previous article I stated William Moore would have the opportunity to steal the starting strong safety job from Erik Coleman at some point this season. Coleman, battling a knee injury, was questionable heading into the game and ultimately was ruled out come game time. Moore, making his first start, showed the flashes that have Falcon fans excited about his potential, picking off Derek Anderson for his first career interception and nearly taking it the distance. Consistency is what will get Moore the starting job, as he was also unable to escape the block that sprung Tim Hightower’s 80 yard TD run. The offensive line performed well against a weak front seven for Arizona, but still appears to be the biggest weakness on this team. Matt Bryant nailed both of his field goal attempts, and is now 5 of 6 on field goals for the season, an area that gave Atlanta problems throughout the 2009 season.

All around this was a terrific game for the Falcons who will need a similar effort next week if they play on pulling the upset at New Orleans.

By Kevin Sirkin
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer