Seattle Seahawks 38 at Atlanta Falcons 25
September 13, 2020
Written By Allison Smith
Photos Courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons – Dakota Williams, Kyle Hess, & Rob Foldy
I could title this “Too Little, Too Late,” but feel like I will need that later as I saw no change in the play from last year to this. The score and final stats are not the true story of this game. The Seahawks were playing off late in the game, when they knew it was a wrap.
The National Anthem is played by saxophonist, Mike Phillips and the Atlanta Falcons team and coaches stood locked arm in arm. The roof is open providing sun and warmth to the field.
Atlanta won the toss and received the ball. Brandon Powell watched the ball go out of the back of the end zone and the Falcons begin the 2020 season on the 25. Todd Gurley gets the first touch of the season and goes left for 6 yards. Gurley makes a big break up the middle for a 21 yard gain. Another handoff to Gurley goes for a 1 yard loss. From the shotgun, Matt Ryan has a 5 receiver set, but cannot connect with Julio Jones in coverage. Ryan finds Calvin Ridley along the sideline, who ensures to tap and drag all of his toes for a confirmed 19 yard gain. Back to Gurley for a short gain.
After a 3 step drop, Ryan is dropped, as he tosses the ball to the ground and is called for intentional grounding. Gurley was not looking for the pitch, causing the confusion and forcing the 3rd down. On 3rd and 16, Ryan lobs the ball over the left side to Jones, who was standing short of the first down marker. Younghoe Koo comes on to successfully kick a 49-yard field goal.
At the 11:11 mark in the first quarter, the Falcons lead 3/0.
Russell Wilson brings the Seattle offense out to begin on their 23. The first play, TAKK MCKINLEY comes out and sacks Wilson for a huge loss of 9 yards. Russell then finds Tyler Lockett for a big gain, leaving a 3rd and 4 near the 30. Wilson finds former Carolina Panther and thorn in the Falcons’ side, Greg Olsen, for the first down. He is covered by Darqueze Dennard, who was covering Lockett on the previous play.
A quick run on 1st down gains 4 yards. Wilson drops back and hits Chris Carson for another first down, immediately stopped by Keanu Neal on his first hit of the year. Grady Jarrett pressures Wilson, but he scrambles out and finds Carson for 6 yards where Foye Oluokun stops him. A rushing first down moves the Seahawks to the Falcons 38. Wilson scrambles and hits Lockett near the sideline, again, covereed by 34. Isaiah Oliver has DK Metcalf covered perfectly so that Wilson can’t throw his way. A holding call is called on an offensive lineman, backing the Seahawks up.
On 2nd and 15, GRADY JARRETT comes around the left side and levels Wilson. Now it is 3rd and 23, back across the 50, Wilson lobs it near the 10 for an incompletion. Pass interference is called on Ricardo Allen, giving the Seahawks a freebie at the 10. I won’t even comment on this BS call. Wilson hits a receiver on the right, but he is stopped by Clemson rookie, AJ Terrell, before he can reach the end zone. On 2nd and goal, Wilson dumps it to Carson on the right side for the touchdown.
At the 4:43 mark in the first quarter, the Seahawks take the lead 7/3.
Ryan and the O begin again at the 25, play fake to Gurley, Ryan hits Jones for a first down……he catches at the 40, then crosses to the Seahawks 47. After another fake to Gurley, but nothing is open and Ryan passes to Gurley, who is stopped at the line. On 2nd and 10, from the shotgun, Ryan tosses to Gurley who gains 9 yards by speeding to the right side. At the line, Ryan hands off to Brian Hill behind the line and he is stopped by Bobby Wagner still, behind the line. Fourth down and going for it. Three set receivers to the right, but the line cannot hold up, the Seahawks are in Ryan’s face immediately from the right side and knocks the pass out of the air. Turnover on downs.
Seattle starts at their own 40 and Wilson passes to DJ Metcalf for 13 yards, where Oliver stops him. Then Wilson runs up the left for 28 yards, finally stopped by Deadrin Senat. First and 10 from the Falcons 19, a quick dump to Carson on the left and antother Seahawk touchdown. There was literally no one on the left side to touch Carson.
With 53 seconds left in the first quarter, the Falcons are now down 14/3.
Back on the field, Ryan hands to Hill on the left side for a quick first down. The offensive line holds up forever, Ryan finds Hayden Hurst at the Seahawks 34 for a first down. He zoomed down the field and made an awesome stretching catch.
The first quarter ends, with the Falcons driving, but down 11 points.
Hill gets the call, wide around the left side for minimal game. Second and 4, with 2 tight ends, Ryan finds Ridley at the first down marker, then he bounces back in to gain another 10+ yards. First and 10 just inside the 20, a sidepass to Ridley for a 1 yard loss. Second and 11 with a 3 receiver triangle set to the right. Behind good blocking, Ryan has time to find Russell Gage who pushes to the 4-yard line. From the 4, Gurley gets the handoff twice before the Seahawks call a time out. Following the timeout, Gurley gets the call on 3rd and goal and makes his first touchdown as an Atlanta Falcon! After a Matt Gono penalty, the extra point is moved back and Koo misses.
With 11:25 to go in the first half, the Falcons are down by 5.
Travis Homer gets the first handoff on this Seattle drive, he is stopped at the line by McKinley and Oliver. On 2nd and 10, Wilson finds Homer for a pass on the right side, he is immediately stopped by Neal for a 3-yard gain. On 3rd and 7, Wilson can’t find anyone and GRADY JARETT gets his second sack of the game. Downfield was covered well, particularly by Terrell and Oliver, providing the line time to get to Wilson. The Seahaws are forced to punt.
The Falcons’ offense takes the field at their own 25. Ryan fakes to Gurley, under pressure he tosses toward the sideline. On 2nd and 10, Ryan hands to Gurley for a 4-yard gain up the middle. Ryan finds Gage across the middle, across the 40-yard line for another first down. Another fake to Gurley, but no one is open and Ryan has to toss the ball out of bounds again. A quick short pass to Gage along the right side for limited gain. On 3rd and 6, Ryan is in the shotgun and is immediately sacked from the right side by Jamal Adams.
Sterling Hofrichter punts 55 yards to the 8, where the returner initially escapes Olamide Zaccheaus, but then is caught from behind after a 15 yard return.
Wilson begins the drive with another completion to Will Dissly for 5 yards. Carlos Hyde runs up the middle and was stopped by Allen after a first down. From the 37, Wilson fakes a handoff, cannot find a receiver, then scrambles up the middle to the line of scrimmage. On 2nd and 8, Wilson drops back and delivers to Lockett for a few yards, stopped by Oluokun. A 3rd and 2 near the 50, Wilson under pressure flings it low to Metcalf being covered perfectly by Oliver, it is incomplete. A punt to the 11 is caught by Powell.
With 4 minutes remaining in the half, the Falcons have a false start by Ridley, half the distance to the goal. First and 15 from the 5, Ryan is in the shotgun and hands to Ito Smith, who gains 4 yards up the middle. On 2nd and 11, Ryan tosses it to Hurst, who was hit as the ball arrived and could not haul in the pass. The defender was there early, but games are not called equally. Ryan throws to Jones, short of the first down. After only a minute off the clock and the Falcons have to punt back to Wilson.
Seattle start the final 2 ½ minutes on their own 40. The Seahawks gain a quick 4 yards as Jarrett and McKinely converge to make the stop.
After the 2 minute warming, Wilson tries to call the D offsides, instead backs his own team up to a 2nd and 11 at the 39. He throws a screen to the left to Carson, who is immediately stopped. The Falcons call time out to stop the clock at 1:52. On 3rd and 6, Wilson drops back and as pressure is coming close (McKinley), he passes over to #25 who was knocked out of bounds by Deion Jones. The Seahawks are forced to punt.
The Falcons take over the ball at their own 9 with a minute and a half to go. A quick pass that Luke Stocker cannot hold onto. Second and 10, Ryan hands to Gurley who gets exactly to the first down marker. Ryan drops back and finds Jones in the middle of the field just across the first down marker, but the pass is ruled incomplete. With 1:08 to go, the Falcons throw to Ridley, who has room, so does not run out of bounds and gains 22 yards. There was as defensive penalty that was declined, but stopped the clock. At the 41, Ryan dumps to Gurley, but there is another flag on the play. Ridley is called for an illegal formation. Christian Blake was the target, but Shaquille Griffin was called for PI, finally a call against the Seahawks, and an automatic first down. With 43 seconds to go, Ryan throws an incompletion. On 2nd and 10, near midfield, a blitz off the edge, Gurley saves Ryan’s life with a block and Ryan finds Gage. A quick pass toward Gage, is out of his reach, but stops the clock. On 2nd and 10 with 23 seconds, Ryan finds Gage, but the ball pops back out – no catch. Now, 3rd and 10 from the Seattle 40, Ryan lofts it to Gage over the middle for a first down, within field goal range. Gage was hit helmet to helmet, but no call. Gage had to come off the field after a medical time out.
Seattle now calls a time out. It is 1st and 10 with 12 seconds to go and the Falcons have the ball on the Seattle 30. A three tight end package comes in to move the ball to Koo’s favorite spot on the field. With 3 seconds to go, the Falcons call a time out and Koo comes on for a 49-yard field goal.
The Falcons go to half, down by 2, Seattle 14, Atlanta 12.
The Seahawks began the 2nd half on their own 25. Wilson hands off to Carson who easily gains 11 yards along the right side. Wilson drops back and throws to a wide open Metcalf, but he cannot haul in the pass. Oliver was in coverage, but not close enough. On 2nd and 10 Wilson finds Dissly near the sideline for a 3 yard gain, shoved out quickly by McKinley. From the shotfun, Wilson slings to Metcalf, who catches the ball, extends the ball over the first down marker with Oliver clinging to him. Carlos Hyde runs into Dante Fowler after a 2-yard gain. One 2nd down, Wilson drops back to Jacob Hollister for a first down, where Neal locks him up. Lockett gains 4 yards before being stopped by Allen. The Falcons had 12 men on the field, so it is now 1st and 5 from the Falcons’ 38. Wilson has allot of time, but everyone is covered. McKinley tips the ball to make it an errant throw. Hyde is wrapped up by Jarrett for a 1 yard gain. On a 3rd and 4, Wilson tosses back to Homer and is met by Jones and a slew of other Falcons. Jones saw the play develop and sped to that side to make the play. On 4th and 5 from the 38 yard line, Wilson finds Metcalf who beats Oliver for a 38 yard touchdown.
With 9:41 to go in the 3rd quarter, Seattle extends their lead to 21, Atlanta 12.
Ryan and the offense return to the 25 and a Gurley hand off goes for a 2-yard gain. On 2nd down, another Gurley handoff for another 2 yards. Hurst makes the reception for 4 yards, causing a 4th and 2. A fake punt, Sharrod Neasman goes up the middle, gains the first down, but fumbles the ball and Seattle takes over on the Atlanta 36.
Seattle rushes for a couple of yards. Wilson throws on the run to Lockett for a first down at the Falcons’ 23, where he is wrapped up by Oluokun. Terrell forces Carson out of bounds at the 19. After a Seattle timeout, Moore takes the handoff, drops it and picks it back up and still moves the ball to the 7. Oluokun was looking to snatch up the ball, while 3 other defenders missed making a tackle. The next play is a quick pass to the wide open Olsen standing in the end zone, alone.
With 5 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Seahawks extend their lead 28 to 12.
Atlanta, begins again, at the 25. Ryan, from the shotgun, throws the ball up to Jones, for a 44 yard reception. A double stop and step gives Jones the opening he needed to jet. From the Seattle 31, a shovel pass to Gurley for a minimal gain. Ryan was being hit by Adams, but Jones still makes the reception, pushing away a defender and catching the ball with his right hand and left thigh. Another first down. Gurley has a 1 yard rush. Another reception by Jones, a battle then a few yards. Gurley gains another few yards on the left side. Fourth and 2 at the 10. Ryan fakes a handoff, goes running to the right and ends up getting sacked and turning the ball over on downs. Again.
On their first play, Lockett makes a 16-yard reception, stopped by Terrell. Damontae Kazee shoves Lockett out of bounds after another 20-yard reception.
With one quarter to go, the Seahawks are driving and lead the Falcons 28/12.
Terrell makes the stop on Moore. Lockett gets past Jones for another first down. From the 31, Hyde is stopped by Oluokun aftere a minimal gain. On 2nd and 9 from the 30, there is a false start, moving them back to 3rd and 14. Then Olsen jumps. 3rd and 19. Wilson from the 40, is scrambling, runs to the sideline under durress from Jarrett. A holding penalty on the offense moves the Seahawks even farther back. Second down and 29 from midfield, Wilson completes a pass to Lockett near the 40. Now a 3rd and 19, Wilson connects with Freddy Swain, but not enough for a first down. A 46-yard field goal adds another 3 to the Seattle lead.
With 11:19 to go in the game, Seattle 31 – Atlanta 12.
Ryan starts with a big pass up the middle to Jones, then another on the sideline to Gage. Suddenly, the Falcons are at the 50, then a quick shot to Ridley along the right side for another first down. Another great foot drag by Ridley. From the 36, another successful pass to Jones in the middle to put the Falcons in the red zone. Then WIDE OPEN CALVIN RIDLEY is in the end zone. Griffin was knocked down by his own man, leaving the speeding Ridley in the end zone alone. Hurst was not able to catch the 2-point conversion as he was covered before the ball was thrown by Adams, another no call.
The Falcons trail 31-18 with 9:29 remaining in the game.
An aggressive defense stops the Seahawks for a 3 yard loss. A quick pass to Olsen leaves them with a 3rd and 9. Seattle can’t make the reception and are forced to punt.
Powell returns the punt a few yards and the Falcons’ offense will start on their own 30. Ryan steps up and throws to Ridley for a first down. Across the middle, Jones makes another first down reception. At the Seattle 42, Ryan hits Hurst who makes it out of bounds to stop the clock. Ryan throws just over Hurst at the 15, where Griffin tips the ball off target. Ryan delivers a rocket behind Ridley, nearly causing an interception. On 4th and 3 at the 32, Ryan throws outside to Ridley, who can not hold on to the pass.
Seattle takes over the ball at the Falcons’ 35. They rush up the middle for a single yard gain. The Falcons take a time out. Wilson throws 37 yards up to Metcalf, who has great separation from Terrell, Kazee tackles and takes him out of bounds. Olsen makes the next reception for 4 yards before Kazee knocks him out. Hyde gains 2 yards as the Falcons take their final timeout. After a fake handoff, Wilson is scrambling, nearly sacked by McKinley, throwing under a DB, Wilson still makes the pass. From the 3, Homer rushes for a yard. Hyde goes up the middle for another Seattle touchdown.
With still 3:45 to play in the game, Seattle is up by 20, 38 to 18.
Gage escapes a defender, then leaps over another. Hill rushes for 5 yards. On 2nd and 5, Ryan finds Ridley for another first down, inbounds. Ryan delivers to Gage again, just passed the first down marker. The clock stops for the 2 minute warning.
Ryan dumps the ball over to Smith – who is immediately blown up after gaining 1 yard. Then throws short up the middle to Smith who is nearly killed. On 3rd and 7, Ryan finds Ridley over the middle for a first down. From the 6, Ryan drops back and throws to Smith near the line of scrimmage on the left edge. From the 7, Ryan lofts the ball way into the air, over Gage and out of the side of the end zone. 3rd and goal, Ryan starts to run, then throws to Ridley, just inside the goal line. After a successful extra point, the Falcons are down 38/25 with half a minte to go.
The onsides kick is successful, Oluokun picks the ball out of the air right at the 10 yard mark. The Falcons have the ball at the 46. Ryan finds Gage on the sideline for another first down. From the Seattle 38, Ryan throws into the end zone for an interception by Quandre Diggs. Hurst is the closest Falcon to the ball.
With 19 seconds to go, Seattle takes a knee to end the game.
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