Written By Allison Smith
Photos by Atlanta Falcons
October 6, 2019
Atlanta 32 at Houston 53
Once again, the Falcons put together one good half of football. Today it was in the first half and you thought it was going to be a shootout the entire day, but alas, it was not and the Texans ate them alive in the second half.
Kendall Sheffield receives the opening kickoff and gets up to the 16-yard line. Mohamed Sanu, Calvin Ridley, and Julio Jones are in with Devonta Freeman to begin the game. Freeman runs left and is met behind the line by Whitney Merciless. Austin Hooper hauls in the next short pass for a gain of 5 yards. A ball intended for Jones is batted down. Another, 3 -0 to start the game.
Matt Wile is in to punt, gets a good one off and DeAndre Carter is stopped quickly by Sheffield in the open field. Carlos Hyde takes the first hand off of the day from Deshaun Watson and is stopped by Grady Jarrett. Hyde meets Jarrett again, this time, Grady knocks the ball out and it rolls back for a 15-yard loss. Their 3rd run attempt is stopped for a 1-yard gain by Adrian Clayborn.
Sanu is back to receive the short punt, but the punt does not reach him. The Falcons take the ball at their own 34. Matt Ryan drops back and completes a beautiful pass to Jones for the first down. In I-formation, Freeman gains a single yard. Ryan in the shotgun, quick pass to the left side intended for Ridley, but he slips and cannot get back up in time. Then, Ryan hits Jones again for a first down. JJ Watt is called for roughing the passer, adding an additional 15-yards on the play. Another handoff to Freeman, who is immediately stopped again. Ridley has 1-on-1 coverage, Sanu is in the slot, Ryan looks to Julio, then Sanu catches his first touchdown of the season. Sanu made the catch at the 3, then forced his way the rest of the way in.
Early in Q1, the Falcons lead 7/0. Watson tosses a 5-yard pass to Will Fuller. Hyde bounces off several defenders with Allen Bailey knifing inside, and Hyde is finally stopped after the first down by Deion Jones. Hyde is now off and running, gains 14-yards, running by Jones and is stopped at midfield by Ricardo Allen. Another short run is stopped by Jarrett. Watson attempts a pass to Deandra Hopkins and is broken up by Desmond Trufant. Three wide outs in for Watson, from the shotgun, he bounces to the right and Vic Beasley chases him, along with Claybo who knocks the ball out, but it bounces back to Watson for 9-yard gain and first down. Duke Johnson gets the handoff and is stopped quickly. Watson has another successful pass to Fuller for a near first down. Damontae Kazee is too far outside in coverage vs. the inside. Watson in the shotgun and finds Jordan Akins wide open for a 21-yard reception, everyone is playing zone, Isaiah Oliver is man to man and the only one there. Hyde is in the backfield, Watson throws the touchdown pass to Fuller between Allen and Trufant.
Sheffield, with no blocking, made his own way up to the 25 on the kickoff. Facing zone coverage, Ryan pitches to Freeman on the left for a yard. An incompletion to Jones on 2nd down. On 3rd and 8, Ryan lobs one up to Sanu who leaps up among many defenders and makes the reception for the first down. It appeared this was intended for Ridley, who was sliding on the ground again. Ito Smith is in at running back with all the tight ends, he gets a couple of yards. Three wide tight end package and Smith gets 11 yards, behind the block of Wes Schweitzer. Ryan throws a 24-yard pass to Ridley on a deep out route. Justin Hardy is in motion, Ryan changes the play, shoots the ball out to Hardy who makes the 5-yard reception. Smith runs into the Houston wall, gains 1 yard and the first quarter is at an end.
JJ Watt shoves Kaleb McGary out of the way and sacks Ryan. Matt Bryant on for a successful 35-yard field goal.
Wile kicks the kickoff out of bounds at the 40. Hyde gets the call and Bailey wrestled him down after a 2-yard gain. On 2nd down, Watson to Hopkins and a 14-yard gain, stopped by Kazee and the newly acquired Johnathan Cyprien. Watson to Fuller with a quick stop by Tru, forces a 3rd and 1. Hyde gets the call, looks to be stopped, is not and gets the first down, finally stopped by Tyeler Davison. The next play, Watson eyes the field and tosses it to Fuller in a deep crossing route for a touchdown, while the Falcons are knocking each other out of the play. The Texans miss their extra point, but lead the Falcons 13/10 with only 3 minutes gone in the second quarter.
Sheffield to ATL 15 for 13 yards. Ryan throws incomplete to Jones, then finds Ridley for 7 yards. Smith up the middle for 4 yards. Freeman is hit in the backfield on the next play, then doesn’t make the reception on the short pass. Smith is back in, makes the short reception for a 4-yard gain, on a 3rd and 12. Wile on to punt from inside his 15-yard line to the Texans 12. The returner is hit by Luke Stocker, but there is a block in the back by the Texans, so they start their next drive at their own 7.
Hyde gets the first call for 4 yards and is met by De’Vondre Campbell and Jack Crawford. Watson passes short to Fuller, Kemal Ishmael going for the strip. On 3rd and 3, Watson in the shotgun, up to Keke Coutee for 4 yards and the first down, stopped by Ish. On first down Hyde gets 7 yards and is hardly met by Devo and Ish, who is making himself known today. Hyde is met by….you guessed it, the spinning Jarrett and has a 1-yard loss. At their own 26, Watson is in the gun and tosses up to Fuller, again and he gains 36 yards. Oliver slipped as Fuller goes by, Oliver and Ish finally get enough jersey to pull him down. At the Falcons 38, Johnson gains 3 yards on the right side. Then the Texans are called for a false start to make it 2nd and 12. Watson is in the shot gun, throws over the middle, is tipped and incomplete. 3rd and 12, Fuller catches the 8-yard pass and stopped by Claybo, forcing a 50-yard field goal. The field goal is good, the Texans lead 16/10 with 4 minutes left to go in the half.
Sheffield runs into traffic on the return and gives the Falcons the ball on their own 18. Ryan in the shot gun, quick pass to Jones for 8 yards across the 26. Hand off to Freeman, gains the first down by starting left and cutting right. Three receivers on the field, Ryan is under pressure, Ridley makes the 16-yard reception at the 44. Free another couple of yards as they go to the 2-minute warning.
To begin the final 2 minutes of the half, Ryan has 3 receivers to the left, pocket collapses, he runs and is tackled by Watt just before the first down. Sanu is behind center, takes the snap, Freeman gets the handoff, goes to the right for 21 yards. With just over a minute to go in the half, Falcons are at the 26. Ryan is in the shotgun, under pressure, Ryan scrambles for 4 yards, but Smith is called for holding. Falcons back at the Houston 36, it is 1st and 20. Ryan fires downfield, ball is tipped over the outstretched hands of Ridley, with Sanu trailing the ball and almost hauling it in. Ryan quick throws to Smith, who is forced out by the facemask, so the Falcons are 1st and 10 at the 14. Ryan incomplete to Ridley. Smith was called for holding, but the refs saw the replay and wipe out the penalty. Texans coach calls a time out.
From the Houston 15 and 37 seconds to go, Ryan takes the snap and hands off to Smith for 5 yards and call their first time out. On 3rd down, Freeman is back on the field, Ryan off a screen to Freeman who forces his way in for a TOUCHDOWN.
With 22 seconds left in the half, the Falcons take the lead at 17/16.
Wile kicks into the end zone. Johnson takes the ball up the middle for 9 yards where he is stopped by Takk McKinley and Kazee. After another Houston time out, Watson has on incomplete pass to Fuller, defended by Takk. Another Johnson run up the middle, stopped by Jones and Ish. The final time out with 5 seconds left, Watson finds Coutee for 17 yards and he runs out of bounds at time expired.
The Texans received the ball in the 2nd half. Hyde again takes the ball first, a 2-yard run stuffed by Davison. Watson then has a 4-yard pass to Hopkins. On 3rd down, Watson goes deep to Coutee for 51 yards, where he is finally stopped by Rico. Johnson goes to the right side for 6 yards and is stopped by Debo. Hyde tries up the middle again, where Jarrett and Ish are waiting. First and goal at the 7, Watson to Fuller at the 1, Oliver makes the big stop. From the 1, Hyde gets the call, up the middle and in for the touchdown. The extra point is good and the Texans take the lead 23/17.
Next Falcons series, Ryan throws a screen to Freeman who is swarmed again. Then a receiver screen to Sanu – flags everywhere – personal foul, clipping by Alex Mack. Falcons on their own 15, with a 2nd and 20, Ryan throws out of bounds over Ridley. 3rd and 20 and big completion to Smith, who only makes it to the 25, forcing a Wile punt.
First and 10 from their own 34, Watson runs for 30 yards. From the Falcons 36-yard line, Johnson spins for 7 yards, stopped by Jones. Fuller makes the reception, fumbles, recovers and still gets 14 yards. At the Falcons 13, first down, Watson in the shotgun, Jones wraps up Johnson quickly. Watson scrambles right after 5 yards and is pushed out by Sheffield. After an incompletion to Fuller, Houston is forced to kick a field goal, 26/17 Texans.
First play is a pass for loss to Hooper, who then collapses on the field, apparently leg/ankle twist. He eventually jogged off under own power. A big pass over the middle to Freeman gains 7 yards. On 3rd and 2, Ryan is pressured up in the pocket by Watt then sacked by DJ Reader. Watt easily gets by the right tackle and Freeman. Wile on to punt again, out of bounds. A flag is called on Houston and they will begin their own 12.
Watson is chased back into the endzone by Jarrett, after the ball is thrown, Bailey knocks Watson and is called for the penalty. Meanwhile the ball is a bomb up to the 50 that is nearly intercepted. With the ball at the 27, Hyde goes for 7 yards and is stopped by Trufant, there is a penalty on Darren Fells, and for the 3rd time, it is first down, now and 20 from the 17. Watson, never shaken, finds Fuller 32 yards up the field, who is stopped by Sheffield, for a big first down. Hyde gains 7 yards and is stopped by Jarrett. Second and 3, Watson rushes to the right for the first down. At the Falcons 41, Watson fakes to Hyde, throws over the middle to DeAndre Hopkins for a 36-yard gain…..knocking Jones down and tackled yards later by Rico. Fuller makes the reception and is stopped at the 1-yard line by Oliver and Campbell. On the next play, the offense is called for a false start and moves the Texans back to the 6. From the shot gun, Watson drops back and lobs it out of the reach of Akins. Sheffield is called for the hold, providing a first down at the 3. Another false start on the Texans, then from the 8, Watson easily throws over all the Falcons defense to Fells over Campbell for the touchdown. With less than 2 to go in the third quarter, the Texans lead 33/17.
Ryan comes out throwing, a successful 14-yard pass to Ridley. Then a rushed incompletion to Hooper with Watt all over Ryan. 2nd and 10 at the 39, in the wild cat set, Sanu runs left side for 1 yard. On 3rd and 9, McGary gets the false start and it is 3rd and 14. Ryan out of the pocket, throws to Hooper at the 44, and is hit as he throws. The third quarter ends as the Falcons prepare to punt.
On the Wile punt, Carter fumbles the ball and Jordan Miller pounces on it for the recovery. Now starting at the Texans 16, Freeman gets the ball for 3 yards. A shovel pass to Freeman gets to the 6, but there is an illegal shift prior to the snap and it is 2nd and 12. Ryan’s pass is batted down by Watt. Empty backfield, Ryan makes the completion to Smith at the 8, 1 yard short of the first down. Fourth and 2, Ryan runs way back, makes the completion to Sanu, who is at the edge of the goal line and fumbles the ball. His knee was down before the ball came out – in a reach – so, no loss. First and goal at the 1. Smith gets the handoff to no avail. Second and goal, Jones is split out, doubled on the left. Freeman gets the call up the middle, even with the push of McGary – he is short. Third and goal from the half line, Ridley is wide out to the left, Ryan on the sneak, fumbles the ball and the Texans recover and Freeman makes the stop on the defender.
After the touchdown evaluation during the commercial break, the ball broke the goal line before Ryan fumbled it, so the touchdown is good, and the Falcons go for two. The ever-reliable Hooper catches the ball and gets the 2. Now, the Falcons are down 25/33 with over 11 minutes to go in the game.
Another Wile touchback, but this time, Carter runs it out to the 19. Watson is in the shotgun and hands off to Hyde who easily runs up the middle for the first down. Another Hyde run up the middle for only a 4-yard gain. Watson finds Hopkins for 20 yards over Oliver as Rico and Debo bring him down. In Falcon territory, Hyde tries another run, but is met by Jarrett again for no gain. A big pass over the middle to Hopkins with Oliver in chase, for 10 yards. Playing man to man, but the defense still cannot get a stop. Johnson takes the ball left, fast. After 24 yards, Rico is able to bring him down. At the Falcons 13, Johnson gets the ball again, but only a yard gain, Bailey and Jarrett. 2nd and 9, Watson under center, chased by Grady, circles way back in the backfield and finally throws out of the end zone. 3rd and 9, Hopkins in the shotgun, lobs one to Fells in the end zone stretched out over Ish.
With 6 minutes left in the game, the Texans lead 40/25.
On 1st and 10 from the 25, Ryan throws over the top to Freeman for a gain of 9. From the shotgun, Ryan throws way down field to Sanu, the ball is tipped incomplete. Watt is called for roughing the passer and gives the Falcons 15 yards and a first down. From the 50, Ryan scrambles and is sacked by Watts, getting by McGary again. Ryan completes a 3-yard pass to Sanu, the 18 yards to Hooper. Another successful pass to Hooper for 11 yards. With 4:20 to go, at the Houston 27, Ryan is being chased and throws the ball out of bounds. Another incompletion out of bounds, while Schweitzer is called for the holding (on Watt). 2nd and 20, Ryan in the shotgun, flips the ball to Freeman who gains 8 yards. 3rd and 12, Ryan steps to the right, scrambling, Ridley for the 29-yard touchdown. The Falcons are down 40/32 and there is hope again.
Another bad kick off by Wile and the Texans start at their own 40. Johnson gains one yard stopped by Bailey and Davison. The Falcons take their first time out. Watson gets the snap and passes to Fuller on the left side for 7 yards, stopped by Takk and Tru. Falcons take their 2nd time out. On 3rd and 2, Watson hits Hopkins who is stopped by Oliver in bounds and take their final time out. 3 minutes left with no time outs, only the 2-minute warning and the Texans at midfield.
Takk makes a tackle for a 3-yard loss, ripping at the ball as well. On 2nd and 13, Watson fires left for Hopkins for 8 yards, stopped by Sheffield and Rico as the 2-minute warning stops the clock. 3rd and 5, Hyde in motion, Watson dancing and throwing to Fuller for another touchdown – Trufant in busted coverage.
After the kickoff, Ryan throws to Russell Gage at the 46. Ryan is hit as he throws another incompletion. Freeman gains another 5 yards, then a 14-yard pass to Hooper. Ryan steps to the right, on the run, and throws a pick six, as every falcon fan throws something through their tv and calls it a year. A 79-yard interception for a touchdown.
With 24 seconds to go, the Falcons actually put the offense back on the field. Ryan takes a knee and all of Houston celebrates.
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