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Falcons Take Defending SuperBowl Champions to the End

Atlanta Falcons 14 at Kansas City Chiefs 17

December 27, 2020

Article by Allison Smith

Photos courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

Key inactives on offense are Julio Jones and Alex Mack. Rookie Matt Hennessey will get his first start today. Darqueze Dennard, Marlon Davidson, and Deadrin Senat are key defenders out.

Starting at the 25, Matt Ryan is under pressure and finally finds Todd Gurley for a 25-yard reception along the sideline. The second play is a hand off for 2 yards. Ryan drops back and hits Russell Gage behind the line of scrimmage. On 3^rd and 10, under pressure, Ryan’s throw is tipped and falls incomplete. Sterling Hofrichter punts to the 13.

From their own 13, Le’Veon Bell goes along the left side for a first down. Patrick Mahomes pitches up to Tyreek Hill who taken out by Isaiah Oliver who crossed the field to knock him out. Bell gets the next call, Grady Jarrett makes the stop for a 3-yard loss. A flag on the next play, Jarrett jumps and pops Mahomes, giving the Chiefs 5 yards. On 2^nd and 8, Hill makes a short reception for a 6-yard gain. On 3^rd down, Travis Kelce makes the reception and behind a Sammy Watkins’ block moves up for the first down, taking Kendall Sheffield and Keanu Neal with them. Mahomes throws incomplete into the end zone, Hill was still at the 10. Blitz is coming, Mahomes throws incomplete over the hands of his receiver with Foye Oluokun in tight coverage. Still at midfield, the blitz coming again, Mahomes steps up and is tripped up by Deion Jones while releasing the ball, Sheffield knocks the ball down before it can reach Kelce.

Ito Smith Finding Holes and Yards Today-Photo Courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons

From the 13, Ito Smith gets the pitch for an 8-yard run. Smith gets another 13 yards on a run by finding a huge hole created by Luke Stocker and makes a defender miss. Smith goes up the middle for another 4 yards. Smith comes out and Gurley returns. Gage in motion and makes the reception at the first down marker. Ryan finds Hayden Hurst for another first down along the sideline. There is a flag on Calvin Ridley for an illegal shift. First and 15 from the 40, Ryan finds Hurst over the middle, taking a big hit, right at the first down marker. From the Chiefs’ 45, Ryan hands to Smith who pauses a second, then goes for 4 yards. Ridley gets the ball around the left side and loses yards, now a 3^rd and 13. Then Kaleb McGary has a false start and backs them up even more. On 3^rd and 18, under a 4-man rush, Ryan scrambles, then is sacked. He lost the ball, but got it back.

After the punt, Tyler Hall immediately hits the punt returner and KC will begin on their own 10. Hill makes the reception, then goes for 31 yards, causing AJ Terrell and Oluokun to miss, finally stopped at the 41 by Ricardo Allen. Hill gets the ball again for no gain. Bell gains 3 yards up the middle. Mahomes drops back, misses Kelce and Sheffield almost comes up with the interception. After a punt, the Falcons will begin on their own 4.

With the jumbo formation, Gurley gets the call up the middle for a gain of 6 yards to the 10.

End of Q1 – No score.

From their own 9, it’s 2^nd and 5, Ryan finds Keith Smith for a first down along the sideline. A fresh set of downs at the 16, Hill in at tailback, get the ball back to the line of scrimmage. On 2^nd down, Ryan throws too long and out of bounds over Ridley. Hill had a great block to give Ryan the time to get the throw away. On 3^rd and 10, Ryan is sacked by an unblocked defender. Hofrichter kicks from his end zone. Hill hits the punt returner immediately and the Chiefs begin at the 45.

Mahomes fakes then throws to Darryl Williams for a 5-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Mahomes fakes to Williams then throws incomplete to Mecole Hardman, covered by Terrell. On 3^rd and 5 at the 50, Mahomes completes to Harman who is rolled up by Jarrett crossing the field and stops the Chiefs 1 yard short. Williams gets the call on the 4^th and 1 and goes up the middle for 11 yards, dragging Jones part of the way. Kelce has a false start and is 1^st and 15 from the Falcons’ 40, Oluokun chasing Mahomes into an errant throw. On 2^nd down, a short pass to Williams goes for 13 yards, stopped by Jones and Sheffield. 3^rd and 2, Williams goes up the middle for a yard, Jarrett on the stop to force the 4^th down. Mahomes passes back to Watkins, Watkins tries to throw to Mahomes and Neal gets the interception. Neal stayed with Mahomes as soon as he left the line of scrimmage.

From their own 2, Gurley gets the ball and provides some breathing space for the Falcons, out to the 8. Ryan finds Keith Smith at the first down marker, then Smith goes for several more yards out to the 15. On first down, Ryan finds Ito Smith for a 5-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Hill gets the call for 3 yards. on 3^rd and 2 at the 23, Ran fakes to Gurley, as he is being tackled, Ryan throws the ball up and Gurley catches it and gets the first down. At the 31, Hill goes for 4 yards up the middle.

Calvin Ridley Goes for 54 Yards – Photo Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

In the shotgun, Ryan fakes to Hill, then finds Ridley who goes 54 yards down to the 11. Ridley was cutting and speeding up trying to get into the end zone. A first down at the 11, Ryan gives to Hill for a few yards. Ryan hits Hurst with a shovel pass and he shoves his way through the line for a touchdown.

With 3:55 to go in the half, the Falcons lead 7/0.

Mahomes begins at the 22 with a pass to Bell who gains 8 yards. Watkins makes the first down reception. From the 40, Mahomes finds Watkins who is immediately stopped by Oliver at the 44. Kelce makes the reception for another first down. Under a 4-man rush, Mahomes escapes John Cominsky around the sideline and gains 14 yards and a first down. From the Falcons’ 31, Mahomes throws behind Hardman. Mahomes has to scramble again, up the middle for a 9-yard gain. The coverage downfield was tight and a 3-man rush flushed Mahomes out of the pocket for his run. Jones was able to finally bring him down. On 3^rd and 1, Mahomes finds Kelce right at the first down line and his dropped by Jones and Neal. Jarrett nearly tipped the pass at the line. The Chiefs take a time out. Mahomes under pressure by Jacob Tuioti-Mariner throws the ball away. Mahomes then finds Williams for a 9-yard gain, shoved out short of the first down by Neal. Williams easily gets the first down up the middle, but the entire Falcons’ defense converges to stop the touchdown at the 4. Oluokun was the first man in to slow Williams up. Mahomes pass to Kelce is just inside the endzone for a touchdown.

With 30 seconds remaining in the half, the game is tied at 7.

The Chiefs begin the second half at their own 25. Bell gains 3 yards up the middle. A penalty on Oluokun for a neutral zone infraction gives the Chiefs a 2^nd and 2. From the 33, Mahomes hands to Bell again for a first down. From the 39, Mahomes scrambles, no one open, pressure coming and Mahomes throws out of bounds. Terrell, Oliver, and Jones had tight coverage on the receivers and tight end. On 2^nd down, Mahomes finds Hardman for a first down, shoved out by Sheffield, a quick timing route with lose coverage. Deion Yelder makes the reception for another first down. From the Falcons 38, Mahomes to Hardman on the jet sweep for a 20-yard gain. Bell takes the offense and defense up the middle for 10 yards. Bell literally refused to go down, kept his legs moving and spinning with almost 20 people in a moving pile. Mahomes throws out of bounds over Kelce. On 2^nd down from the 7, Mahomes is pressured back 10 yards, has to throw across the field toward Bell, but the ball falls incomplete. On 3^rd and goal, Mahomes throws directly to Oluokun at the goal line. Oluokun returns the ball 52 yards, finally having the ball knocked out by Hill, but goes out of bounds.

Foye Oluokun Returning his Interception – Photo Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons begin on the 45, Ryan is sacked on first down. On 2^nd and 19, under pressure, Ryan is sacked again. On 3^rd and 22, Ryan gets to Hurst for a short gain and punt.

Mahomes finds Hill for a quick first down. From the 34, 4-man rush, Mahomes out of the pocket and throws an incompletion. On 2^nd down, blitz coming, Mahomes trying to escape Jarrett, throws the ball incomplete. Downfield coverage is tight again, Mahomes is flushed deep in the pocked with Tuoiti-Mariner and Jarrett coming again, forcing another incompletion and punt.

The Falcons begin on their own 8 with an Ito Smith run of 5 yards. A 4-yard pass to Smith. On 3^rd and 1, Gurley gets the call and the first down and a couple more, behind the lead block of Keith Smith. Ito Smith is back in for a short gain. After a snap infraction by the center, the Falcons have a 2^nd and 12 at the 17, Smith gains no yards. Now, a 3^rd and 11, Ryan drops back and throws toward Hurst who is already tackled and on the ground. A first down fake, then successful pass to Hurst for 3 yards. Smith up the left side for 3 yards, with another flag on Hennessy for holding. On 2^nd and 17 from the 22, Ryan is pressured and throws the ball into the ground. Chris Lindstrom gives up the near sack. On 3^rd and 17, under pressure, Ryan throws another short errant pass that Gurley hauls in for a loss and another forced punt.

From their own 37, Williams goes for 4 yards. On 2^nd down, Mahomes is under pressure from Cominsky and throws incomplete. Before the snap of the ball on 3^rd down, false start on the offense and it is 3^rd and 6. A 3-man rush, flag on the play, Mahomes cannot find anyone open, goes toward the sideline, then finds Kelce coming back for a big first down to the Falcons’ 38, 25-yard reception. Williams goes up the middle for 3 yards.

End of Q3, tied at 7.

From the 35, Mahomes drops back and is nearly intercepted by Tuoiti-Mariner in front of Watkins. On 3^rd and 7, Mahomes drops back, up to Williams who is stopped behind the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs kick a 53-yard field goal and take the lead.

14:08 to go in the game, Chiefs 10/Falcons 7.

From their own 25, the Falcons begin with a pass to Ridley for 15 yards. Hurst is open in the middle of the field for a 17-yard gain. Hill goes up the middle for 2 yards. From the Chiefs’ 41, Ryan throws to Laquon Treadwell for 6 yards. Gurley is on the field, Ryan rolls out, finds an open Stocker for 9 yards and the first down. Stocker escaped coverage and came back to Ryan. Ryan throws to Hill for 6 yards. Ryan finds Powell near the first down marker, but the ball is knocked out and called a fumble, Kansas City recovered.

Williams goes 11 yards for a first down. Oluokun is injured on the play, Mykal Walker comes in to replace him. Williams with another short run as Kelce limps off the field. Another quick pass for a 4-yard gain, stopped by Sheffield. Kelce returns to the field. On 3^rd and 4, Mahomes pitches to Williams and Neal – from the middle of the field, comes to the sideline to ensure Williams does not gain the first down. A punt to the 25.

Ito Smith reverses course and gains 9 yards, but is negated by the third penalty on Hennessy. 1^st and 20, Ryan fakes to Smith and finds a wide-open Ridley for 31 yards. Hill goes up the right side behind Matt Gono for 17 yards, then 4 yards and 2 yards. From the Chiefs’ 31 on a 3^rd and 4, Ryan finds Gage for another first down. From the 22, Ryan sees Hill wide open, he gains the first down and is shoved out of bounds at the 5. First and goal, throws out of bounds over Ridley in the end zone. On 2^nd and goal, Ryan changes the play at the line and finds Treadwell in the front of the endzone for a touchdown.

With 4:33 to go in the game, the Falcons lead 14/10.

Mahomes rolls out and throws the ball out of bounds. On 2^nd down, Mahomes rolls out under pressure again, Hardman cannot hold onto the ball. On 3^rd down, Mahomes finds Kelce wide open in the middle of the field who goes for a 36-yard gain, but is backed up by a Hill block in the back on Oliver. A 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, giving Kelce extra yards. Steven Means nearly blocked the pass at the line. From the 45, Williams goes for 3 yards. On 2^nd down, Mahomes finds Kelce again for a 16-yard gain with Sheffield in coverage. Mahomes quick to Hardman, a yard short of the marker. On 2^nd and 1, Mahomes hands to Williams who easily gets the first down. With 2:40 to pay, from the Falcons’ 25, Mahomes flings the ball into the end zone….to AJ Terrell, but he loses the ball as he hits the ground. The Falcons challenge the call that he dropped the ball. The ruling stands, incomplete pass and Falcons lose a time out. Mahomes throws a touchdown to Demarcus Robinson over Sheffield.

2 minute warning. Chiefs 17/Falcons 14

Ryan rolls away from pressure, finds Hurst, but ruled incomplete and a penalty in the secondary. Prior to the pass, holding on the defense, 5 yards and a first down. From the 30, 1^st and 10 with 1:49 to go in the game, Ryan drops back, finds Gage who literally leaps over a defender to get past the first down marker. From the 42, Ryan finds Ridley at the 42 along the sideline. First and 10 from the Chiefs’ 42, Ryan finds Ridley for 9 yards. On 2^nd and 1, Ryan goes to the end zone, Ridley was 5+ yards out. On 3^rd and 1, jumbo formation, Gurley gets 2 yards for the first down. From the 26, Ryan throws to Ridley, but out of bounds outside the endzone, but there is a penalty on the defense for 12 men on the field and offsides. First and 5 from the 21 with 27 seconds to go. Blitz coming, Ryan throws incomplete toward Gage. With 23 seconds to go, Hurst in motion, Ryan is sacked and ball is fumbled and recovered by Kansas City. The referees rule it is an incompletion that bounced off a defender and bounced back to look like a fumble. On 3^rd and 5 with 19 seconds, Ryan back peddles and releases an almost interception that Ridley knocks out of the defender’s hands.

Younghoe Koo comes out to attempt the field goal and misses.

The game ends Chiefs 17 – Falcons 14

Falcons Still Can’t Put a Game Together

October 27, 2019

Article and Photos by Allison Smith

Seattle 27/Atlanta 20

It is a beautiful pre-Halloween weekend in Atlanta. The roof to Mercedes Benz Stadium is open, there is a slight breeze. Lots of Falcons and Seahawks fans outside, tailgating, enjoying Falcons Landing activities, and meeting each other. After all, there is no real animosity towards each other, and Atlanta does have the Seattle former Defensive Coordinator.

Seattle takes the field on offense. On the first play, Vic Beasley, Jr. makes a great spin move, GradyJarrett almost has Russell Wilson in his grasp, but instead, Wilson scrambles for 15+ yards and has a first down near the 50. Hear the life already leave Mercedes Benz Stadium. On a 2nd and 9 at the 24, Wilson has a deep pass to the end zone which is perfectly defended and broken up by Isaiah Oliver. On the 3rd and 9, Wilson throws the ball out of bounds. The Falcons’ defense has held up ad forces a field goal. With 11 minutes to go in the first quarter, the Seahawks lead 3/0.

With 38-year old Matt Schaub at the helm, his first couple of plays are hand-offs to Devonta Freeman, which go for nothing behind no blocking. Then Schaub finds Austin Hooper for a big first down. Freeman has a short run and then a short catch to keep the ball moving. Calvin Ridley can’t make the 1st down reception and the Falcons, with their 3rd punter of the season, Kasey Redfern, are forced to punt.

After a couple of run attempts, on 3rd and 11, Russell has another incompletion with Oliver in coverage. The Falcons take over on their own 10-yard line.

Schaub has a quick 25-yard pass to Julio Jones on the right side, then finds Freeman for a 2-yard, then 11-yard gain. Spreading the ball around, Schaub finds Ridley down the left side line for another first down. The offensive line give Schaub time to view all of his options and he then finds Justin Hardy for an 8-yard gain. Freeman runs to the left for the necessary 2 yards for the first down. Another big Hooper catch, Freeman up the middle for no yards, then the Falcons get backed up by a Wes Schweitzer false start. Another pass to Freeman leaves the Falcons 2 yards short of the first down and force a 51-yard field goal attempt. Gasp. Matt Bryant’s first miss on the day.

Wilson takes the field again, at their own 41. Deion Jones has his first tackle of the game, waiting on the ball carrier to come to him, but makes the stop. De’Vondre Campbell and Damontae Kazee combine for a tackle. At the 33, Beasley steps up for the sack, but instead, Wilson finds Tyler Locketfor a first down. Several plays later, on a 2nd and 4, DK Metcalf is wide open in the end zone and with 11 minutes to go in the half, the Seahawks lead 10/0.

With the ball back in the Falcons’ offense’s hands, Freeman gains 3 yards up the middle. Schaub overthrows Julio downfield, then hits Julio for a short gain on the left sideline. With a 4th and 1 on their own 34, the Falcons go for it. Schaub finds TE Jaeden Graham, wide open, for 11 yards and the first down. Now rolling, the next pass is a 20-yarder to Jones along the sideline. He is called for an OPI. The Falcons call a time out. There is no challenge. Now, the Falcons are 1st and 20 at the 35 instead of 1st and 10 at the Seahawks 35. Schaub drops back and finds Seattle’s Mychal Kendricks for the interception.

Foye Oluokon trips up the Seattle rusher so Campbell can tackle him. Grady gets off the blocker and away from a hold for the next tackle. Wilson fakes a handoff, then carries down the right side himself, bypassing Jones, then Oliver finally knocks him out of bounds. A few plays later, another touchdown. With 4 minutes to go in the half, Seattle leads 17/0.

The Falcons’ offense takes the field. Again moving quickly with a pass to Julio at the 44, a pass up the middle to Freeman. Then a lob back to Freeman for another big gain. A quick pass to Hardy while on the run was knocked out of his hands, as he rolled the ball, still trying to bring it in. An errant throw by Schaub toward Ridley was a near interception by Akeem King. King had the ball and an open field, but dropped it before he could run. Fourth down, Bryant on to attempt a 53 yard field goal. The score remains 17/0.

With less than 2 minutes to go in the half and driving, Seattle is near midfield, Wilson throws a 20-yard pass to Locket, that was perfectly covered by rookie CB Kendall Sheffield. Carson goes up the middle for 5 yards where he meets Jarrett. The FALCONS call a time out. Wilson has an incomplete pass to Metcalf, then another 20 yards to Lockett, again, covered well by Sheffield. Then the FALCONS call their final time out. With a minute to go, Chris Carson gets to the 2, then as Wilson scrambles away from Campbell, he finds Metcalf in the end zone. With 27 seconds to go, the Seahawks lead 24/0.

Somehow, the Falcons get off 4 quick plays. Two passes of 18 and 15 yards to Luke Stocker and Jones, respectively, then at the 42, Schaub spikes the ball with 4 seconds left. No clue what the plan is at this point, but likely it was not to get sacked by Jadaveon Clowney, lose 11 yards, and fumble the ball. Thankfully, the half is over.

The Falcons get the ball to start the second half. Hooper has a reception, then stiff arms defenders to turn it into a 35-yard gain. Freeman finds a hole and gains 15 yards, which is called back on an Alex Mack hold. After a couple of quick passes and a neutral zone infraction, the Falcons are 3 and 1 at the 31 and lose a yard to Clowney. With over 11 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter, the Falcons use a time out and determine to go for the 4th down. Luck has it that Clowney is super active suddenly and has his second neutral zone infraction and provides an automatic first down. Freeman goes around the right end for 4 yards, then Brian Hill comes in to relieve him and runs 23 yards for his first NFL touchdown. The Falcons line up for a 2-point conversion, where Schaub finds Ridley in the back of the end zone for a miraculous catch, both feet down and the score is 24/8.

The defense comes out as hyped as the offense. Seattle manages -11 yards in a 3 and out effort, including tackles for loss by Ricardo Allen and Jarrett and a quick stop by Beasley. GRADY JARRETT gets the Sack on Wilson – the first Falcon sack since week 3 against the Colts. On 4th and 20, Seattle punts.

Schaub has a short pass to Freeman that goes for 7 yards. Mack has another holding penalty backing the Falcons up. On 2nd and 13, Schaub hits Julio for 17 yards. Hooper and Hardy are running the same route as Schaub releases and Hardy speeds up and nearly makes the catch. Freeman gains 13 yards on another pass. Then Freeman bounces right for a 9-yard run. Hill has back to back runs for a total of 6 yards. Schaub is sacked, but holds onto the ball this time. His next pass is behind Russell Gage. Bryant comes on for a successful 47-yard field goal. With just over 3 minutes in the 3rd quarter, Seattle still leads 24/11.

The defense forces another 3 and out, including forcing offensive penalties and a net gain of 2 yards on the series.

When you think it is all turning around, it does not. Traveling 85 yards down the field with successful runs by Freeman, and receptions by Jones, the Falcons are at the 27 when Schaub throws a 19-yard pass to Ridley, who makes another great catch, takes the hit and holds onto the ball. He was taken off and evaluated for a concussion from taking a big hit and nearly landing on his head. Then…..Freeman gets the pass, runs 7 yards to the 1, while twisting and stretching for the end zone, he fumbles the ball which was recovered by Seattle.

Seattle has a quick run for 3 yards for breathing room. Then Wilson finds Lockett for 19 yards, where Rico brings him down. The offense has a holding penalty to back them up, but Wilson finds Lockett wide open for a 12 yard gain, Sheffield tackles out of bounds, then David Moore for 23 yards wide open by Blidi Wreh-Wilson who trips Campbell and Kazee finally makes the stop at the 47. Several short rushes, stopped by the line, then Tyeler Davison gets off his block and turns around for the sack on Wilson for a loss of 2 yards. On 2nd and 12, the scrambling Wilson is watching Jarrett in the backfield, runs to escape, but is quickly stopped by Beasley, an OPI on Lockett, then short pass to Jacob Hollister, and the Seahawks successfully kick a 54-yard field goal, to lead 27/11.

With under 6 minutes left to go in the game, the offense takes the field again. Back to back receptions by Gage for 10 and 17 yards. Then Kaleb McGary has a false start. Schaub finds Hardy for 15 yards, misses Gage, then back to Hooper for 14 yards, mostly after the catch. On the 1^st down, Schaub finds Gage on the sideline for 5 yards, then under pressure, he throws towards Jones, he is knocked down with no penalty called. 3^rd and 5, Schaub lobs it into the end zone, toward Ridley, but hits the helmet of the Seattle defender. The defense was off sides, and Schaub smartly knew he had a free play there. Moved up to the 14, Schaub finds Gage for 6 yards, then way over Hooper in the end zone, with the defender draping him and hitting him in the head – again – no call. Julio gets the call and shoves his way to the 1 yard line. Seattle calls a time out. Stocker is in motion, Hooper gets another touchdown reception. Going for 2 points again, with the exact same play to Hooper and the defense was not fooled, so the score is now 27/17.

With just under 3 minutes to go, the Falcons D forces another 3 and out with Jarrett and Campbell leading the way in stops. The Falcons get the ball back, a quick 21-yard pass to Julio, then to Ridley for 30 yards. In the no huddle, short pass to Hooper who smartly runs out of bounds, then another 8-yard reception to Ridley. The two minute warning stops the clock.

After the 2-minute warning, Schaub hits Gage over the middle then near the sideline and another first down. At the 19 with a minute and a half to go, Schaub spikes the ball and the Falcons send Bryant on for the 37-yard field goal. The score is 27/20 and after the unsuccessful onsides kick, Seattle runs out the clock.

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