By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
Going into the season, very few would have thought that this would be a must
win. But, in many ways, it is. Already, at 1-3, the Falcons must go 9-3 the
rest of the way just to get to a 10 win season. Most view that as the
minimum that it takes to make it into the postseason. There are some nine
win exceptions. And, there are even some ten win teams that have not made
it, like last year's 10-6 Chicago Bears.
So, if you lose on this Monday Night Football game to the Jets, you go
1-4 and needing go on a 9-2 tear to make the mark. Not likely, especially
with the rough final month of the season awaiting matchups with San
Francisco, Seattle, Green Bay, New Orleans and Washington. All but the
Saints made the playoffs in 2012 and they're 5-0 so far this season.
So, every "W" you can pack away as cushion for the winter months to come
gives you a shot. And, the Jets certainly should be on that list. A lot of
young talent and a stout defense lead by defensive tackles
Damon Harrison
and rookie Sheldon Richardson
has given
Rex Ryan's
2-2 team a fighting chance.
Atlanta is 34-8 at home since 2008 but this is not your typical
Mike Smith
team, mostly due to key injuries. A bye week will help heal some of them
followed by a soft schedule when they resume against a Tampa Bay team in
disarray, Carolina and and Arizona.
The Falcons quickly started off with a few short passes taking them to
midfield, including one by
Tony Gonzalez
making his only the second player in NFL history with Jerry Rice
to make a catch in 200 straight games.
Jacquizz Rodgers
would get them into NY territory with a 7 yard rush but the drive would
stall as the Jets turned in a couple of nice defensive plays nearly picking
off
Matt Ryan, then blocking the punt,
giving the Jets great field position at the Falcons 44. It could have been
much worse.
New York converted on a nine yard catch by RB Mike Goodson.
Things were going the Jets way when, on a third and 8 at the 25 when TE
Jeff Cumberland grabbed his own
deflected pass to pick up 12. But, the Atlanta defense held at the four yard
line forcing a punt to only come out of the mess down by 3.
From the 20, Ryan would try to have a better drive and started by hitting
Roddy White for nine. Another strange
play as Ryan found found White 18 yards down field, only to have the ball
knocked loose. As it was rolling, Julio Jones
scooped it up and ran it another 18 yards all the way to the 19 yard
line. They must have practiced that one a lot at Flowery Branch. Replay made
it legit.
Red Zone time, which has caused a few sleepless nights in recent games
for the coaching staff.
Jones scooped one out of the air this time for a first and goal at the
seven.
As the second quarter began, Ryan would miss a few passes before
shoveling a pass to Jason Snelling for
a much needed touchdown to make it 7-3. It would be Atlanta's eighth TD
drive of 80 yards+ this season.
The Jets would get a 36 yard kickoff return to their 33 to try to get the
lead back.
A few missed tackles helped Goodson, who took the direct snap, gain 26 to
the Atlanta 41. On a third and nine, Rookie QB Geno Smith
had plenty of time before finding for 21 yards to the 19. On still another
third down with 11 to go, Smith made it look easy with a 20 yard strike to
Cumberland to change leads 10-7.
Ryan completed two short passes before losing 8 on the first sack of the
game. After the punt, NY had good field position again at their 34. Smith
hit a wide open Cumberland for 47 yards to the Falcons 16. More sloppy
tackling when Robert McClain had WR
Jeremy Kerley for a loss on the next
play but let him slip away into the end zone to put the Jets up by 10. The
drive only took 1:57 seconds to go 66 yards.
The Falcons were in desperate need of a score to keep this one from
getting out of hand. If nothing else, it would help them keep up with the
Jets offense, which seemed to be able to move the ball at will. To date,
their play had been defined by bad tackling, a muffed punt and losing the
ball. Except for the scoring drive, nothing much had gone right. And, even
that drive was moved along with a fumble that bounced the right way.
This drive started at the 25. Gonzalez got things going with a 14 yard
catch at the 41. White was open for 10 to the NY 45. It was Jones' turn and
he delivered with 20 more to the 25. He brought another one in for eight
more with the clock approaching the two minute warning. How would they do
with their second trip into the red zone?
With a defender draped all over him, Gonzalez made a grab for a first
down at the 12. A pass interference call put the ball at the five with a new
set of downs and 33 seconds left. Even with another penalty, time ran out on
the drive as Atlanta felt forced to go for it rather than take a sure three
points. The result, another frustrating failed red zone drive and a 10 point
deficit at half time.
A "Get Loud" sign flashed urging the crowd as the Jets started the second
half. A half hearted semi roar was the result. Fans were clearly feeling
apprehensive trying to figure out what was wrong with the Falcons.
New York called a time out on a third and four and finally they didn't
convert one as Osi Umenyiora crashed
in on Smith. Harry Douglas took the punt back to midfield. Ryan to Gonzalez
took it to the 35. At this point, it was almost a waste of time to hand the
ball off as Atlanta had been held to just 25 yards on the ground.
TE Levine Toilolo got another first
down with his first catch. A holding call made it first and 2- at the 35.
Gonzalez got nine to bring up a third and 12 from the 26 then picked up the
rest for a first at the 11. He was open again at the four. Then, something
odd happened. Not only a touchdown in the red zone, but doing it on a run as
Rodgers squirted in to bring the game to within 3.
The Jets got the ball at the 20 and for one of the few times, converted
without having to make a third down on an 8 yard pass to Kerley. They were
back to third down again and failed trying to reach Kerley again downfield.
Douglas took the fair catch at the 18.
A change of momentum had swung Atlanta's way. Now they had to capitalize
on it. Snelling bullied his way forward for 8, then caught a short one to
get the first at the 41. So much for momentum as Ryan fumbled the snap. New
York had it going their way again at the 27.
RB Bilal Powell weaved his through
several defenders for a first at the 17. Corey Peters
swung in untouched for a 10 yard sack for a
second and 20 at the 25. Another third down and long. The crowd found its
previous decibel level as the Jets settled for a 36 yard field goal to make
it 20-14.
Atlanta wasn't desperate yet still down by one score with the fourth
quarter under way. But, a score would be much appreciated, especially with
no big mistakes. But, it wasn't to be with an offensive pass interference
call on White quickly ended the drive. They weren't done with a horse collar
penalty by Matt Bosher on the kick
giving New York the ball deep in Falcons' territory at their 23.
RB Chris Ivory quickly burst free
for 19 to the 4. The Jets were knocking on the door again threatening to
make it a two score game and that's what they did as TE Kellen
Winslow brought it down hiding in the back
corner of the end zone.
It was announced that White was questionable to return with a hamstring
injury. A segment of the crowd hit the exits and more would soon follow
unless the home team did a dramatic turnaround on both sides of the ball.
They would need another 80 yard drive to do it. And it was done starting
with 12 yards to Gonzalez. Jones got 10 more. The crowd was down to 60
percent. Would the Falcons penalize them for leaving early?
One less weapon for Ryan as Snelling was out with a head injury. But, to
be honest, there wasn't going to be many yards on the ground from here on as
Atlanta had a lot of catching up to do with 9 minutes remaining.
Jones almost made a circus catch in the end zone but couldn't come up
with it. A new receiver in Georgia Tech's Kevin Cone converted a needed
first down at the 26. Gonzalez got seven more followed by a spectacular
weaving 19 yard touchdown run by Rodgers to again make it a six point game.
The offense did its part. Now, it was up to the defense to keep them in
the game. Plenty of time remained with just under 8 minutes and the Jets
starting at their 19. Apparently, those who left early were not making much
noise anyway because those that remained sounded just as loud.
Umenyiora got his second sack of the game moving the ball back eight for
a big third and twelve at the 12. The Dome crowd was at its optimistic
loudest as New York was forced to kick it away with Douglas stopped at the
37.
Did Ryan have another last minute comeback win in his holster? What would
have been a 30 yard catch by Jones was turned into a first and 20 after a
holding penalty. Ryan went right back to the same play with Jones making an
incredible one handed play in spite of a pass interference call at the 27.
Another desperation call by Smith came on fourth and one on the 18 and
Gonzalez made it happen.
Four minutes remaining with a new set of downs at the 14. A hand off to
Rodgers got them 8 at the six. It was typical Falcons nail biting time with
a go ahead score just yards away and another fourth down and three. The Jets
gave them a first at the three with a dumb holding call at the two minute
warning.
If you're going to be good, you have to pull out these wins when you have
the go ahead score just yards away at the end of the game. They did it
routinely last year and have failed at it in recent games. This time they
did it with Gonzalez getting to dunk the ball over the bars. 28-27 with 1:54
to go.
But did they leave the Jets too much time. We would soon find out as the
final drive started on their 20. Could the rookie QB move the ball under
pressure. Apparently so as he quickly made two passes to bring the ball to
the Atlanta 45. They only needed 10 more yards as the clock ticked to 37
seconds. Probably in range, the Jets handed off trying to get a few yards
closer. The Jets called a time out with 31 ticks to go. Would the forsaken
field goal attempt at the end of the first half come back to haunt Atlanta?
The ball moved to the 31.
They converted a huge third and three taking it six more to the 25. The
New Yorkers called their final time out. The ball sailed through the
uprights and the dramatic come from behind win was thwarted. Jets 30-28. The
decision to go for it on fourth down at the end of the first half cost
Atlanta the game and maybe the season. Unlikely to go 9-2 after this.
These types of games just don't happen in this building. They do, but
normally for the home team. It appears, though, that a lot of things that
this team did well in recent seasons are not being done this year. And a 1-4
record is the result. At least they'll have a week off to get better
physically and maybe will improve with a month of average teams. But, even
that may not be enough to overcome this start. |
