Power Shift in Division’s Across NFL

The Falcons hardly had a perfect performance Sunday, but thanks to a Garrett Hartley missed Field Goal from 29 yards away in Overtime, they were just good enough to earn the win at the Superdome. Before stating anything else, let it be clear; The Falcons kept this game close for 60 minutes and then some, in a tough road atmosphere, against the reigning super bowl champions. In no way am I taking away from what was accomplished by Atlanta, however the Falcons gave many reasons to be skeptical about this win. It is difficult to judge this game for a number of reasons and there certainly were a wide range of emotions to access when figuring out where the Falcons stand three weeks into the season.

The biggest positive remains the ability of Matt Ryan and company to stay on the field, converting 9 of 18 third downs and holding the ball for 45 minutes and 50 seconds compared to 27 minutes and 15 seconds for the Saints. An even more telling statistic as pointed out by ESPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas is that over the past two games Matt Ryan is 18 of 22 on 3rd downs. Similarly, against the Saints, Ryan was 15 of 18 when the Falcons were trailing, and 4 of 12 when they were in front. This has been a significant problem for Atlanta under offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey in that he lacks the killer instincts to call an aggressive game plan to put a team away. Matt Ryan is no longer a rookie and should be trusted at this point in his career to make big plays when needed while avoiding costly mistakes. This game really showed the maturity of the 3rd year Quarterback who looked poised and determined to beat the Saints after falling short in both games last year. While the offense was very predictable on first down, they remained productive on 2nd and 3rd downs. Michael Turner and Jason Snelling combined to run for 178 yards on 44 carries. Many describe the assassination of JFK as “a mystery wrapped in an enigma.” Well I think that same phrase can be used to describe the Falcons offensive line because they are difficult to figure out. 1st round pick of 2008 Sam Baker has struggled early in his career with injuries, and his performance this year has been disappointing. He is consistently getting beat and has been prone to costly penalties. He committed three penalties against the Saints and has four holding calls on this season. While Baker may have the most potential on the entire line, he has yet to put it together at the level he is capable of. Guards Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock have both been improving on their weaknesses. Dahl plays mean, aggressive, and right to the whistle, but throughout his career has struggled in pass blocking with poor technique. At 6’4 330, Blalock also possesses great power and has been a valuable asset to the Falcons run game, but slow feet have led to struggles in pass protection as well. With this offensive line healthy, the Falcons have returned to their 2008 form where they were 2nd in the league in rushing at over 152.5 yards per game. In order for this run game to be effective, they must continuing staying on the field on third downs to wear down the opponents’ defense. Rarely will we witness the Falcons break runs for 30 plus yards, however they have the ability to grind you out and where you down 4 to 5 yards at a time. Tony Gonzalez had his first big game of the season, compiling 8 catches for 110 yards. With WR Michael Jenkins still out due to injury, it has to be of concern that Harry Douglas has yet to solidify the #2 WR spot, with only 6 catches so far on the season. Douglas had an impressive rookie year in 2008 but was injured in the preseason of 2009, missing the entire season. He showed lots of promise in training camp, but has yet to display it early in the season.

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On the defensive side of the ball and special teams the Falcons had their struggles. Thomas DeCoud had a costly fumble on a punt return that helped setup a Saints touchdown and Lance Moore took the first punt of the game 72 yards to the Falcons 6 yard line to set up the Saints first touchdown of the game. Considering that poor special teams setup 14 of the Saints 24 points, the only major knock on the Falcons defense was the ease at which Drew Brees was able to move the football, but then again, it is Drew Brees. The big play hurt Atlanta once again this week, as Thomas DeCoud was beaten by Lance Moore for an 80 yard touchdown. Although Brees was 30 for 38 with 365 yards, the Falcons were able to force three turnovers, including interceptions by Brent Grimes and Thomas DeCoud, as well as a forced fumble by Mike Peterson. Saints running backs combined to run for only 43 yards on 16 carries as the run defense played above expectations.

All things considered, it is difficult to take anything away from what the Falcons accomplished this Sunday. Throughout the NFL, we are witnessing a shift in many of the divisions. The Chiefs sit atop the AFC West at 3-0 including a defeat of the Chargers, the Seahawks under Pete Carroll have risen to the top of the NFC West which featured a week 1 massacre of the 49ers, the Texans finally held on late to beat the Colts in week 1, the Jets are not kissing Bill Bellichek’s rings, and Favre may very well be coming of age as Aaron Rodgers appears poised to take over the NFC North. The Falcons played the Saints tough in both contests last year and fell short, but Sunday was a different story. They got help on both ends of the ball and made the necessary plays when they needed to. Still, I am pessimistic to say they are now the favorites of the NFC South for two reasons. As good as they played, it took a missed 29 yard field goal in overtime to take them off the respirator and give them life again. Secondly, this win came without the presence of Darren Sharper or Reggie Bush. Through the positives and negatives, this is still the National Football League, where all that matters are wins, period. This one was huge for the Falcons who have the talent and heart of a team that will be playing meaningful games in December, and possibly beyond.

Game Ball – Has to go to Matt Ryan for one of the best games in his short career. In a raucous atmosphere, he delivered enough to pull the upset.

By Kevin Sirkin
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer