Tale of two halves; really a tale of two possessions. The Falcons completely dominated Green Bay during their first two possessions, shortening the game by controlling the clock, keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field, and in the process racing out to a 14-0 lead.
Then things started falling apart. Instead of staying with what was working, the Falcons gradually pissed away the game, making a mess of the season, and raising into doubt that this team is actually on par with last year’s team.
What happened? To me (and plenty of others sitting in the peanut gallery), It’s all about the play calling. Falcons Head Coach looks to be taking the heat for Mike Mularkey (and the players poor execuition), but let’s be honest. Mularkey’s play calling is lackluster at best and entirely uncreative. Why move away from the run with 5 minutes and change to go in the second quarter, up by 14? Instead three quick incompletions lead to a punt, and before the Falcons knew what hit them, Rodgers was finally on a role.
It is really a shame because the Falcons flipped what should have been a victory, taking them to a respectable 3-2, into a 24-14 home loss, and a potentially unrecoverable 2-3 start. Ouch. This one was painful.
Where to next? A home date with the Panthers, which should not be considered an automatic victory; followed by what I expect to be a road loss to the Lions, a much needed bye week, and then a winnable visit to Indianapolis. The Falcons will be lucky indeed to be 4-4 at the halfway point; that will not be enough to overtake Tampa Bay and New Orleans.
Unless something truly remarkable happens, I’m afraid we may be looking at a lost season. Shame of it all is that my tickets cost so damn bunch money. Of well, easy come, easy go.
this was the first falcons game i seen all year – and they looked really good on those first few possesions, and agree with you about the clock managment thing – IN the NFL it used to be when you get the lead —-kill the clock —seems the whole nfl has stopped doing this. being a lions fan i watched as my team came back twice to overcome 20 point differntials in the second half —one of them against the vikes and adrian peterson. he ran the ball 5 times in the second half????? with them leading by 20??i mean im glad they did that — but if i was a vikes fan – i would have tarred an feathered the offensive cordinator. ok sorry for going off topic – but this pass attack whileyour leading, what the hell are teams thinking
Scouting, are we? Not to fear … this is not (yet) the same team as last year. By the time they figure out that they still have Turner and should use Julio to open up the middle part of the field (instead of all those short range passes), it will be far too late for the Falcons to have much of an impact.
On ATL’s third possession, I could see it coming. A little over 5 mins before the half. What do we do? Pass … incomplete. Pass … incomplete. Pass … incomplete. Punt. GB scores to make the game much more manageable, 14-6 at the half.
In the second half, GB goes three and out. While ATL does try to run the ball, and with some success, dumb penalties kill the drive, and knock ATL out of FG position.
GB manages a FG, to take the game to 14-9. With 5 mins and change to go in the 3rd, for some inexplicable reason, ATL goes with almost a repeat of the drive I bitched and complained about at the end of the half. Incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, punt.
GB goes up 15-14. Game. Set. Match. I think Turner touched the ball 3 times after that … of course GB went up to 22 on their next possession, but anyone watching the game could see that the play calling was piss poor at best.
Bitter? You bet. The Falcons should have won that game, and protected home field.
Of well. This week I get to watch all the AU Cam N. fans invade the dome.
UMMM lets bet forum avatars on tommorows game
falcans win ill sport there logo for a week
lions win you get the detroit logo?
You giving me 3.5? Or are you talking straight up?
heck ill give ya 3.5
If Turner puts up 100 yards, then ATL wins straight up. The question is going to be, which ATL team shows up. So far this year they have a nasty pattern: L-W-L-W-L-W … so hopefully the o-line can hold back the Lion’s rush and give Turner and Ryan time to attack on the ground and in the air.
As a fan, of course I want ATL to win. The reality is that ATL just does not see to be clicking last last year.