NEWS
The Atlanta Falcons used a strong defensive performance to pick up a 10-7 road win over the New York Jets.
Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for just 152 yards but did toss a touchdown pass and had no interceptions. Not turning the ball over was a huge key to the win for Atlanta.
On the other side of the ball, the defense made quarterback Mark Sanchez look like the rookie that he is. They forced him into three interceptions, which was ultimately the difference in the game.
Running back Michael Turner saw some game action, but was eased back into things. He carried the ball just once for seven yards and Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood saw more of the playing time.
The playoffs are out of the question for the Falcons, but it was a good sign to see the team travel up to New York and play so hard and so well in the poor weather conditions.
Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 9:51 am by steve
The Atlanta Falcons put up a good fight but it wasn’t enough in a 26-23 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons had to try and spring the upset without quarterback Matt Ryan or running back Michael Turner.
They almost did just that, coming very close to ending the Saints’ bid for an undefeated regular season.
Quarterback Chris Redman played much better this week, but he could not match the production from Drew Brees.
The Falcons are quickly slipping out of the playoff picture and will need a late push to have any chance at postseason play.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 7:50 am by steve
With three games left in the regular season, the New Orleans Saints now have their sights set on history.
The Saints managed to escape on Sunday with yet another close win, as they squeaked out a 26-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, despite the Falcons missing their starting QB and running back.
Despite opening up a 23-9 lead, the Falcons stormed back with 14 unanswered points after halftime. For a team that’s undefeated, the Saints have seemed like a team with divine intervention on its side in the past two weeks – the Redskins had the Saints nearly beaten before missing a chip shot field goal and allowing the Saints to rally in overtime.
“Why would we be concerned? We’re 13-0,” linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. “You’re not going to get many blowout wins in the NFL.” Vilma, for his part, picked off Redman in the fourth quarter, and stopped Falcons running back Jason Snelling on a fourth-and-2 to preserve the win for the Saints.
The New Orleans offense was its usual dominating self, led by QB Drew Brees’ three TD passes. Brees finished the game completing 31-of-40 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s only going to get harder from here on out,” Brees said. But “no matter what the situation, we always feel like we have an opportunity to win. Whether it’s our offense, defense or special teams, somehow we’re going to find a way to win the game.”
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 12:16 pm by bryan
The Atlanta Falcons were embarassed in more ways than one in a 34-7 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Without Matt Ryan at quarterback, veteran Chris Redman got the call after leading the team to a come-from-behind win last week.
It was a different story facing the Eagles defense as compared to last week’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Falcons struggled to move the ball at all and did not score until just seconds remained in the game.
The team also had to deal with Michael Vick’s return to Atlanta, and the quarterback ran and threw for a touchdown to add insult to injury.
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 4:15 pm by steve
By Bud L. Ellis
Their once-smooth path to the playoffs now uphill and rocky, facing a 12-0 team this week, there wasn’t a whole lot of good news for the Atlanta Falcons during and after their Thursday practice.
About the only thing longer than Atlanta’s shot at the postseason is the team’s injury list, and there isn’t any indication the ranks of the walking wounded are shrinking.
Quarterback Matt Ryan still is hobbled by turf toe, and while Ryan did take part in some activities during the team’s walk-through Thursday morning, he’s listed as questionable.
Running back Michael Turner, nursing a high ankle sprain, did not practice. Neither did cornerback Chris Houston, who will miss Sunday’s game against undefeated New Orleans at the Georgia Doem with a hamstring injury.
Center Todd McClure, who injured a knee in last week’s loss against Philadelphia, returned to practice but didn’t take part in all activities.
Not exactly the type of thing a struggling team needs entering a must-win game against one of the NFL’s elite. The Falcons, after starting the season 4-1, now sit at 6-6 and are two games out of the final NFC playoff spot.
—30—
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 10:42 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Chris Houston, Georgia Dome, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, NFC, Philadelphia Eagles, Todd McClure
In Michael Vick’s first return to the Georgia Dome since being convicted on federal dogfighting charges, Vick picked up right where he left off.
Vick ran for a score and threw for another – his first rushing and passing touchdowns since the 2006 season – as the Eagles took advantage of a depleted Falcons squad in a 34-7 victory.
Vick was the story in this game, as the Eagles selected him as a team captain before the game, and he lead the team out onto the field. The crowd showered him with boos the first time he stepped into the game, but by the fourth quarter, the remaining fans were chanting, “We want Vick!”
“It was as loud as it gets in the Dome,” said Vick. “I heard the chants all through the stadium and it sent chills down my spine. They were just letting me know that people still appreciate what I’ve done.”
“You knew when Vick came back to Atlanta,” running back Jerious Norwood said, “he was going to be on fire.”
The injured Falcons couldn’t keep up with the Eagles, with QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, and WR Michael Jenkins all sidelined by injuries on Sunday.
Chris Redman, who filled in for Ryan last week and engineered a last-minute win, couldn’t repeat the magic as the Eagles’ defense harassed him into a miserable day. Redman completed only 23 of 44 passes for 234 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Falcons dropped to 6-6 on the year, two games behind the Eagles and the Packers for one of the two Wild Card spots available in the NFC.
“It’s not over yet,” said tight end Tony Gonzalez. “We’ve still got four games left.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:05 am by bryan
By Bud L. Ellis
When Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this preseason, most everybody immediately circled Dec. 6 on the calendar.
On that date, the Eagles would travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons, the team Vick led to within one win of the Super Bowl five years ago, the team Vick helped transform into a power.
We all know what happened since then, but as Dec. 6 dawns, it’s not Vick’s return to the ATL that makes this game meaningful. Truth be told, Vick only touches the ball a few times a game and really doesn’t make an impact on the Philly offense.
But when you look at the Falcons and their flickering playoff hopes, you see the meaning in this game.
Atlanta, after a fast start, has stumbled the past month. And the injuries have mounted. It’s quite possible the Falcons will take the field for this ultra-critical game without five … let me say it again, FIVE … offensive starters.
And, already with losses to the Cowboys and Giants, the Falcons can ill-afford another loss to an NFC East team with which Atlanta is jockeying for playoff position. Yes, the game is at the Georgia Dome, where Atlanta has not lost yet this season. But yes, the Falcons are in trouble, and look to be undermanned going into this critical contest.
Michael Vick? Yes, he’ll probably take the field at some point. Yes, the pain of what happened will be brought back to the surface. Yes, there will be some who remain loyal to Vick and they will cheer. Yes, there will be some who crucified Vick for what he did and they will boo.
But at the end of the day, Vick’s return is but a footnote to this game. The Falcons’ hopes for playing into January will be the focus.
—30—
Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11:12 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Georgia Dome, Michael Vick, National Football League, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles
The Atlanta Falcons will be without quarterback Matt Ryan for at least one game because of turf toe.
The quarterback was injured early in the first quarter in the team’s come-from-behind win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Chris Redman, who just a few years ago was out of football entirely, will be the starter next week.
The Falcons are in the thick of the wild card hunt and cannot afford to lose more than another game, maybe two.
Redman played well last week in rallying the Falcons to a critical win over a inferior opponent.
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:14 pm by steve
The Atlanta Falcons have released struggling veteran kicker Jason Elam. The team will replace him with veteran Matt Bryant.
The team had lost confidence in Elam and elected to go for it on fourth down rather than have him attempt a field goal several times this year.
He was just 8-15 on field goals beyond 30 yards this season, an ugly statistic from such a good kicker.
The kicker said that when he walked off the field after each of the last three games, he thought he was done.
Elam’s best years were spent with the Denver Broncos, where he kicked the third-longest field goal in NFL history.
at 3:02 pm by steve
By Bud L. Ellis
On the surface, there is plenty of reason for the Atlanta Falcons to feel just fine about Chris Redman playing quarterback.
He threw for 1,079 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games back in 2007. After the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan and handed the reins of the franchise to the rookie, Redman bided his time, prepared as if he would be the starter every week, and did his part to help Ryan transition from Boston College to the NFL.
Last week, when Ryan suffered a toe injury early in the first quarter against Tampa Bay, Redman jumped in and performed admirably. He completed 29-of-41 passes, fired two touchdowns and led the Falcons downfield for the game-winning score with the seconds dwindling.
But for all the benefits of having an experienced, poised backup, there is this problem:
The Falcons really need to beat the Eagles Sunday night. And Ryan likely won’t be the only missing starter for an offensive unit that may be missing two-fifths of its offensive line (Harvey Dahl and Sam Baker) and its top running back (Michael Turner).
Redman, three years removed from selling insurance in Louisville, holds the Falcons’ flickering playoff hopes in his hands. At 6-5 on the season, and with NFC South leader and unbeaten New Orleans coming to town next week, it would behoove the Falcons to knock off the Eagles.
It won’t be easy, especially with an undermanned offense. For all the good that Redman can do when he takes the snap, he can’t play on the line and he can’t carry the ball 25 times.
—30—
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:49 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Chris Redman, Harvey Dahl, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Sam Baker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
