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By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
The
Falcons finally made their way back home after spending two weeks on the
west coast and splitting the games at Denver and Seattle.
Going into this season and looking at one of the toughest schedules in
the NFL, I would have never thought Atlanta would be 4-2, especially after
losing the opener to Tampa Bay. And to beat last seasons' two Super Bowl
teams back to back is really stunning. Even the loss last week at Seattle
could have been won if not for a questionable ref non call on the last play
of the game.
All of that has Falcons fans feeling that this year's team won't tank
like 20-15's did going 8-8 after a 5-0 start.
Charger fans also have some reason for optimism after also beating the
Broncos in their last game. But, that is about all they have felt positive
about with a bad 2-4 start, most lost in fourth quarter meltdowns.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that each of the four losses were
by six points or less. But, they are coming in with a couple of advantages.
They last played ten days earlier on a Thursday night and the late start
matches their normal west coast starting time.
I was hoping to get a chance to see former Georgia Tech star,
Jeremiah Attaochu, who plays linebacker for San Diego. He is listed as
out with an ankle injury. Another player who may not be available is Rivers'
target, Travis Benjamin. The wide receiver is not on the inactive list but
has been struggling in practice with a knee injury. He was, however,
catching passes from WRs coach Nick Siranni pre-game and showed no
visible sign of limitation. So, that's a wait and see situation. Turns out
he did play. A crowd of 69,832 saw San Diego get the ball first and striking
quick with a 49 yard completion
to Tyrell Williams who took it 49 to the Atl10. Melvin Gordon bounced
off the pile and walked in for the game's first points, 7-0.
Atlanta started at their 25 and converted when Julio Jones pulled
one in for eight at the 35. On a third and nine, Ryan hit Jones again, who
fought off a pass interference call to come down for a 16 yard gain. Jones
was covered by three defenders and still made a 19 yard reception at the
SD29. DT Caraun Reid had to be taken off the field on a
cart. Mohamed Sanu looked to be interfered with but got no call so Matt
Bryant was brought in to make it 7-3.
The Chargers began their second drive at their 25. Melvin Gordon
got a first with a catch at the 36. Benjamin caught one for 11 yards and ran
out of bounds. But progress ended abruptly when Deion Jones picked
off a deflected pass at midfield and ran it back 42 yards to the SD10. But,
again, Atlanta couldn't get in in the red zone and had to settle for another
Bryant field goal from 27 to pull to within a point, 7-6.
San Diego took over after the punt at their 17. So far, barring the
interception, the defense had done nothing to stop Rivers. That continued
with a pass that went to the 37 with the help of some sloppy tackling. On a
third and two at the 45, A short catch and dive by Antonio Gates got
the first down as the first quarter came to an end. Then some trickeration
as a reverse toss to Benjamin had the WR complete a 20 yard pass Williams.
But Dan Quinn threw a flag and got reversed for being out of bounds.
They got it anyway when Rivers hit Dontrelle Inman in the same spot
at the 25. They failed to convert a third and seven but got back three as
Josh Lambo hit from 40. 10-6.
So far, the Atlanta running game had been limited to four yards. Of
course, San Diego only had 8. But, three handoffs to Tevin Coleman
got a first down at the 36. Then Ryan threw a 50 yard bomb downfield with
Jones pulling it in at the 10. In the red zone for the third time with just
six points to show for it so far. Down by just four, but the way Rivers was
moving the ball, Atlanta needed to start putting up seen instead of three.
False start and holding calls didn't help but on a third and thirteen, Ryan
zipped a bullet into the end zone to Jacob Tamme to give them the
lead 13-10. The drive went 75 yards in 7 plays and just 4:23.
A great Matt Bosher punt went out of bounds at the 8. But the
tight quarters made it hard to maneuver and the Chargers were held to their
first three and out. Eric Weems fair caught it in great field
position at midfield.
Coleman lost two his first try up the middle but Jones again slid across
the middle for 14 to the SD38. Coleman took it outside for 8 as ILB
Denzel Perryman was hurt on the play but jogged off the field. On the
next play, Coleman found an opening up the middle, then sprinted 30 yards to
the right corner of the end zone for an Atlanta 20-10 lead. Credit Bosher
with a big assist on that score.
From their 25, Rivers was sacked for the first time by Brooks Reed.
Then Vic Beasley stripped the ball loose with Adrian Clayborn
scooping it up for a touchdown. Atlanta 27, San Diego 10. Since the opening
score, the Falcons had outscored the Chargers 27-3.
The Bolts tried again at their 25. And on a second and 16, Rivers hit an
open Williams who took it 38 yards into Falcons territory at the 43. After
the two minute warning, San Diego had a first and ten at the 19. Gordon took
it in to get his team back in the game 27-17.
Atlanta started the second half at their 25. After a few plays for a
loss, Jones made an 11 yard catch but not enough. The booming 58 yard Bosher
punt was fair caught at the 11.
Rivers had been at least effective when backed up near his own end zone.
Once going three and out, the other time getting sacked and the ball
returned for a score. This time, another three and out.
Atlanta got the ball at their 24 after a penalty. A false start made it
first and 15 at the 19. They got it all and more on a Coleman run up the
middle to the 36. Devonta Freeman got it to the 42 then caught a shot
from Ryan for six to the 48 for another first down. But another Ryan sack
ended the drive at the 44. Then another nice Bosher punt of 43 yards would
have been downed at the 15 but Robinson Therezie mowed down the kick
returner for a 15 yard penalty moving it up to the 30.
Coleman went out with a hamstring. It was also announced that Chargers'
LCB Craig Mager was out for the game with a concussion.
The lead was just ten with plenty of tie left and Rivers started
off with the improved field position by connecting for 17 to the 48. Gordon
caught one up the middle for 12 to the Atl40. Kenneth Farrow got a
pair of carries for another first at the 27. Farrow got eight more but
Rivers couldn't convert a third and two. Lambo put it through from 37 to
make it a one score game, 27-20.
Momentum had switched. Where Atlanta had outscored San Diego 27-3
earlier, the Chargers had tacked on the last ten points to make it a game.
Atlanta needed some points to expand the lead.
With Coleman out, it was up to Freeman to pick up the ground game and he
did so with a 10 yard carry to the 35. Ryan hustled for nine then dove for a
first down at the 45. Finally, they threw to a running back and Freeman got
15 to the SD40. The back was heating up taking it up the middle for 14 more
to the 26. Perryman was hurt again on the play. Freeman again straight ahead
for 15 to the 11 as the game moved into the final quarter. It would be
interesting to see if the Chargers could avoid another fourth quarter
collapse.
Another Ryan sack brought up a third and 12 at the 13. Bryant came in for
a 31 yarder to make it a two score game 30-20 with 13:23 left. The Chargers
started at their 25.
Gordon caught one for nine but a false start made it third and six. The
crowd got loud but Rivers wasn't bothered connecting with Benjamin for 13 at
the 43. Gordon caught one and ran out of bounds after picking up four.
Clayborn sacked Rivers for a five yard loss. But on a third and 11, Rivers
hit Gates up the middle for a first down at the Falcons 45. Williams got
them 8 more. Griff Whalen got his first catch for another first at
the 25. Beasley got his second sack for a six yard loss. But no one covered
Gordon who caught one for a 14 yard gain up the middle. Another first down
at the 15.A catch by Williams made it first and goal from the five. Gordon
went in untouched. The lead was down to three, 30-27.
Atlanta began at their 25 with 5:59 remaining. They had been held to
three points the whole second half. They clearly needed to eat up clock and
get some points. Pink Falcons banners that had been given out were waving
everywhere. Jones got open for 21 to the 46, amazingly his first reception
of the half. The pass put Ryan over the 200 yard passing mark, the 46th
straight game he has done so, setting a new NFL record, appropriately
passing former Chargers' great Dan Fouts.
A pair of Freeman carries got the ball to the SD40. A pair of false
starts made it first and 20 from the 50. But Ryan picked a terrible time to
throw his first interception with Perryman grabbing it at the SD35.
Rivers only needed about 30 yards to get within field goal range to tie
it and 65 for a go ahead TD. He had all three tie outs and 3:32 to do it in.
They saw a chance to turn their fortunes around. He hit Williams for nine to
the 44. But a pair of hand offs to Gordon couldn't get the first. The two
minute warning stopped the clock as Mike McCoy weighed his options.
He chose to go for it on a do or die fourth and two at the 43. They bought
some life on a three yard catch. Inman got a first at the AF37 with 0:53
left. A pass to Benjamin got them within field goal range at the 29. But
they didn't want overtime. Gordon appeared to be stopped at the line of
scrimmage. Everyone thought the play was over, except Gordon, who then broke
free for 14. San Diego took their first time out at 0:36. A third and ten
was broken up at the goal line. Lambo came in and tied it up at 30.
Atlanta had been outscored 13-3 in the second half and only had 18
seconds to avoid OT with the ball at their 25. Ryan gave Falcons fans hope
by hitting Jones for a 25 yarder. They were at the 50 with 11 seconds to go,
needing about 15 to be within range. Again, like last week, Jones appeared
to be interfered with with no call. The clock was at six seconds. Jones
caught a quick one at the 40 and Quinn took a time out with one second left.
Bryant came in looking for a 58 yarder. Of course, McCoy took a time out.
Bryant never misses but he never kicks from that distance. He had the
distance but missed by a few inches wide left sending the game into
overtime.
Atlanta won the toss. A touchdown would win it. A field goal or no points
and San Diego would get a shot.
They got the ball at their 25. A short toss to Freeman and the back got
seven before running out of bounds. A huge third and three was converted
with a four yard catch by Justin Hardy at the 41. A short pass to the
right to Sunu, who took it 11 for a third and one. A quarterback keeper got
no gain. Quinn took his first time out to decide if they should go for it or
hope the defense could keep Rivers fro making it into field goal range. If
they went for it and failed, the game would pretty much be over. Quinn
showed enormous confidence in his offense and went for it. McCoy took his
first time out to get the right players on the field. I would have passed.
But, they handed it to Freeman and got nothing. A play with a lot of second
guessing ahead.
The Chargers took over at the 43 almost in field goal range already.
Gordon was stopped for a two yard loss. Quinn took his last time out. Then,
the killer as Gates gained 11 for a third and one at the 34. Gordon dove for
a fresh set of downs at the 32. Only a mistake by the offense would keep the
Chargers from the win column. The mistake was by Atlanta with a holding call
pushing it to the 22. Rivers ran to the middle of the field to set up the
field goal attempt at the 24. A 42 yard chip shot for Lambo.
A surprising number of fans cheered the outcome, given how far San Diego
is from Atlanta.
It would be
hard to not say that the Falcons blew it. But, to have a 27-17 lead at the
half and lose 33-30 would offer no other realistic analysis. The call to go
for it on fourth and one might have lost the game. I think it was a good
call. I question the choice of running it into the pile instead of hitting a
receiver with a short pass. "It was just a gut feeling I went with," Quinn
said of the decision. "It was just a half a yard that we needed and when we
didn't, that was a costly mistake for us."
It truly was a tale of two halves. Just as the Falcons had outscored the
Chargers 27-3 after the opening drive, San Diego then outscored Atlanta 26-3
from that point forward.
Oh well, Atlanta loses two in a row and the Chargers win two in a row for
the first time in almost two years. Next up, it gets much more difficult as
Green Bay comes to town for another late start next Sunday at 4:30pm.
