October 13, 2019
Atlanta 33 at Arizona 34
Article by Allison Smith
Photos by Atlanta Falcons
In this week’s episode of “How can the Falcons lose?” they had a good strong start, lulling fans into a happy zone. They took the ball, went down to a score by Calvin Ridley. The defense held the Cardinals to a field goal. Then…..they allowed scores on the next 5 drives, while not scoring themselves. In the second half, they had to come out fighting for their lives…..again….and almost made it this week. Well, to a tie. Matt Bryant, very uncharacteristically misses an extra point with 1:53 left in the game.
While some want to bash Bryant, let me write out the rest of THAT game. The game is tied with 1:53. Arizona gets the ball. Works to get down field. The defense holds them, forces 3rd downs. With seconds to go in the game, the defense breaks and the Cardinals score with :08 seconds to go and crush all hopes anyway. I’ve been a fan a long time, I know how this story ends. Bryant’s miss just ended it earlier.
Sadly, it crushed him. The rest of the team could have done so much more in the other 58 minutes, that this game is not on Bryant. I don’t know the issue for sure, but he does need some consistency in his holds. The injury of punter Matt Bosher, then parade of other punters, and now Matt Schaub holding cannot be good.
Now, the referees did not help any on the day. They ruled a catch, that was not an Arizona catch. A Falcon caused fumble was ruled not a fumble. There was a no call on a fair catch interference, and near the end of the game, Kyler Murray was ruled to have a first down, when he did not actually reach the marker.
A bright spot of the day was Austin Hooper. He caught all 8 balls thrown his way, tallying 117 yards and a touchdown. Devonta Freeman had another good game, looking like his old self again. He accumulated 88 yards on 19 carries and one breakout run of 15 yards; and again, caught all 3 targets for 30 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. Running the ball worked well early and late in the game, but during the catch-up time, it was more difficult. Keith Smith had some good blocks, working hard and getting into a little fight, good fullback play.
The offense did score 33 this week, Matt Ryan had another stellar game, one so good, that of the 67 other times these stats were recorded, 66 of those quarterbacks won their games. Ryan was 30 of 36, for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions; a 144.9 quarterback rating. Ryan spread the ball around well with 8 (or 9) different receivers, even Kaleb McGary “caught” a pass. Ill-fated as it was. The offense had several big packages, and lots of tempo and mixed packages, in which Ryan thrives. Which makes one wonder where these have been all season.
Ryan admittedly made a bad decision on an overthrow to Ridley while Jones was on a sail route, Ridley came back, but Ryan missed him. Naturally, this was on a 3rd down. Ryan was heard admitting to this overthrow, but saying that they would continue to work and just needed one game under them to start. He even quoted former teammate Mud Duck (Todd McClure) “There ain’t no mentum like momentum.”
The defense gave up so many explosive plays, many on Isaiah Oliver again. Note that Oliver was only in because Desmond Trufant was out with a toe issue, as Kendall Sheffield was slated to replace Oliver until Trufant was ruled out. There were no quarterback hits at all this week, clearly no sacks. Gave up a 4th and 2, which eventually led to a touchdown. The defense has allowed an average of 34.5 points in the 4 losses.
The defense also came out strong in the 2nd half. After being down 20/10, the defense had 3 back to back stops while the offense scored 17 points. They weren’t giving up any free lanes or open looks. Even with no hits on Murray, they were starting to get good pressure on him. The defense gave up 240 yards in the first half, 100 in the second. Why can this not be the entire game?
On the glass half full view, the Falcons lead the league in forced fumbles, none recovered, but they are hitting hard and grabbing for the ball on occasion.
In the 4th quarter, Deion Jones made a big stop on David Johnson, forcing a punt, with led to the Falcons tying the game at 27. If the Falcons had won the game, this may have been the play of the game.
Once again, Grady Jarrett was the best player on defense, affecting the quarterback, causing penalties, stressing the line. Grady had 6 tackles. De’Vondre Campbell lead the team in tackles with 9, followed by Oliver, Kemal Ishmael, and Debo at 6 a-piece. Rookie Sheffield had 4 tackles, one of which was on a 3rd and 10, forcing an Arizona punt.
Penalties were down this game, only 8, but again, at costly times. On the Falcons’ 2nd possession, from the Arizona 49, Ryan scrambled for 4 yards, negated by a James Carpenter hold. 1st and 20, delay of game. Way back in Falcons territory, at 1st and 25, Julio Jones gains 3 yards, Hooper has a 6-yard reception, then Jones drops a ball, which would have been mute with a Ridley PI. And it’s 4th down and a punt. In the beginning of the 2nd half, on a 3rd and 8 by Arizona, Oliver has a penalty, on a no catch, that instead turns into a first down.
There was a block in the back on a punt, so instead of the ball at the 25, the Falcons were backed up to the 10. On a 3rd and 10, a sack/fumble leading into a punt. A horse collar on Vic Beasley that lead to the final Arizona score.
Special teams was looking better this week, trying a variety of returners. Kenjon Barner was back and returned 3 punts for 17 yards, and 1 kickoff for 24 yards. Ito Smith had 2 kickoff returns for 59 yards. Newly acquired punter Kasey Redfern punted 3 times for an average of 43 yards. Bryant had 2 successful field goals and 2 of 3 extra points made. One of his field goals was close in the right side, which is why I think he pulled the missed XP too much to the left.
Again, the young quarterback of a seemingly hapless team ends up being the offense player of the week, setting records. Chase Edmonds has his first touchdown (ended with 2) of his career.
Overall, the offense looked good, special teams was ok – between returns vs. coverage, and the defense was good in the second half. Both sides of the ball were not consistent throughout the game and led to the fourth game in a row.
Injury Report:
Jamon Brown left the game with a knee injury, but was full practice on
Wednesday.
Desmond Trufant did not practice on Wednesday, continuing with his toe injury.
Several others were limited after tweaks from the game, Blidi Wreh- Wilson is trending up and hopefully will be back this Sunday.
Golden Talon
Austin Hooper and Devonta Freeman for standing out and stepping up offensively this week, getting better each week.
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