Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > October > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFalcons’ fortunes change in 11 seconds
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Eleven seconds changed everything. Eleven seconds took us from seeing the Falcons as we thought they’d be to assessing them for what they’ve become, and what they’ve become is a team with:
• The leading candidate for offensive rookie of the year;
• A strong candidate for coach of the year;
• A should-be lock for executive of the year.
What they’ve become is a franchise that, in the course of 11 seconds, distanced itself from an inglorious past and took real strides into the future. In those 11 seconds these Falcons began to validate everything that has happened these past 10 months, and the key thing was that one smallish rookie general manager made one humongous choice.
Said Thomas Dimitroff: “It’s funny, but I was just thinking: ‘Can you imagine if we’d been watching Matt throw one of these games for somebody else?’ “
Today we can’t, but there was a time when the loudest voices insisted the Falcons had to draft Glenn Dorsey or be relegated to that special circle of oblivion occupied by the Trail Blazers, who took Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, or our own Hawks, who didn’t grab Chris Paul. What those voices never grasped was that this is the NFL, where everything starts with the quarterback.
As Jimmy Johnson once said of Troy Aikman, “He’s the guy who can sink the 8-ball on the break.” The Falcons have been favored in only one game but have won four times because they have a quarterback who has that game-changing capacity.
As well as the Falcons played Sunday, they’d have lost if the rookie hadn’t made the one throw he had to make. Had Ryan taken four steps (as opposed to five) in dropping back, Michael Jenkins wouldn’t have gained the requisite yardage. Had Ryan flinched, time would have expired. Instead he delivered on cue in the face of a rush and loosed as pretty a ball as any quarterback has ever thrown at such a pressurized moment.
“As a former defensive coordinator,” Smith said, “I know how it is to have to defense a quarterback. I know how many sleepless nights you have.”
Ryan gives the Falcons a chance in every game now, a chance they wouldn’t have had if they’d opted for a defensive tackle. This much-lampooned offensive line didn’t yield a sack against the ravenous Bears, and who could have imagined that? Said Dimitroff: “There’s a nice unity between the offensive line and Matt.”
It all starts with Ryan, but it’s not just Ryan. Dimitroff again: “Any successful team I’ve ever been around and any successful team Mike Smith has ever been around has been built around the team concept. It’s not just big plays being made by one player.”
On the day of the most dramatic escape of Arthur Blank’s ownership, the reference was pointed. Before Sunday, the most exhilarating victory under Blank was the overtime game against Minnesota, in which Michael Vick gained 173 yards rushing and 173 passing. But that was one player making all the plays. Now it’s Ryan throwing and Roddy White catching and Michael Turner rumbling and even Jamaal Anderson sacking.
This isn’t to say Dimitroff’s team is fully formed. But these Falcons have already won more than many outlets projected, and they’re getting better as they go. “In any process, you don’t know how long it’s going to take,” Smith said. And then: “We have accelerated some of our milestones.”
Sunday was the biggest yet, bigger even than winning at Lambeau Field. Eleven seconds to show what coaching means and what a quarterback can do. Eleven seconds to turn 3-3 into 4-2 and to have a team whose watchword is “process” begin to ponder another powerful word, one that also begins with a “p.”
Playoffs.
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Comments
By Jon
October 13, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
HUGE, HUGE Win! I think Dimitroff may have drafted the next Manning.
By Steve
October 13, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Nice article.
By T Caldwell
October 13, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Great win, great article. Looking at the rest of the schedule there’s every reason to believe the Falcons could finish at 10-6 and sweep ROTY, HC-OTY, and Exec-OTY.
By Mark
October 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Nice win, and nice article, Mark.
By Peadawg
October 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Amazing game. My wife kept getting onto me for screaming and being loud(we live in an apartment complex). But she just said “go ahead, whatever” during those last 11 seconds. She understood :)
By Bill from Dublin
October 13, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
WOW!
Mark Bradley with a positive column on the Falcons! Do not pinch me! Go Birds!
By lakerat
October 13, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Playoff, PLAYOFFS - don’t talk to me about PLAYoffs!
And, will all the haters give Jamaal Anderson a break - he is only what, 20 - 21 years old, and should be playing his SR. year in college - remember we drafted him when he was only 19!
By SlimG
October 13, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Home sick today (hungover) after that W. Don’t get excited, it’s only week 6, Matt will still make some rookie mistakes and be over matched (see Bucs game).
But……….. For the first time since Dan Reeves, we have a coaching staff that outsmarts others instead of being the one outsmarted. Also give props to Ryan, we have a QB that can get us into the right play and adjust. Something MV7 could never do. And I don’t want to hear the bs about Mora not allowing the play to be changed.
Big ups to the defense for all the early stops. Can we please find a DB to help out Grimes. He’s the only cover guy we have. Notice where the ball was thrown when the Bears needed a catch. It was left, right at Houston, and to think we drafted this kid early.
By Excited Fanatic
October 13, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Awesome, Awesome win for the Falcons organization! Here’s to continued success!
By SKP
October 13, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
I just want to laugh at all the fans who started to leave after the Bears scored the go ahead TD. You missed one heck of an ending!!
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Thanks, folks.
I should mention that I thought I was being optimistic when I picked this team to go 5-11. Now I feel I’ve grossly underclubbed, as we say on the links.
By Rick
October 13, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
This team is for real, they function as a single unit. Also, did anyone else notice that a shot of the owners booth showed Mr. Blank with the new GM, Dimittroff sitting next to him and not McKay,the guy he made the mistake of listening to for the last few years? I also read that Dimittroff said it was Himself, who had the final call on drafting Matt Ryan, not Blank or the coach. Mr Blank put a lot of faith in McKay and his ability to evaluate talent. That is something he cannot do. I have been a fan for many years and for the first time ever I feel like we have a winning formula in place.
By SKP
October 13, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I just want to laugh at all the fans who started to leave after the Bears scored the go ahead TD. You missed one heck of an ending!!
By TEX
October 13, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
let’s not get too crazy. There will definitely be more rookie ‘lumps’, but wow are things looking good.
Mazel tov to Art, Thom, Mike and the gang.
By gil
October 13, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
This team never gave up on themselves, and we fans owe it to them to never give up on them, either. Those 11 seconds have defined this coach and this team, and have made me a believer.
By Damage Inc.
October 13, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
I’m a seven year season ticket holder and I was surrounded by Bears fans. Through past experiences I have been thoroughly trained not to talk smack, even with a considerable lead. Here once again with a lead blown and that all to familiar feeling creeping in. I was resigned to watching them lose instead of hearing it while leaving the dome. That’s when they did something none of us expected. They executed a perfect kick off return, an incredible pass, and an amazing redemption field goal. Even after the ref’s raised their arms I couldn’t believe it.. I’m beginning to wonder, are the playoffs that big of a stretch??
By mike
October 13, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
I think the guy next to me left after the Bears scored that last touchdown….I didn’t think Ryan was ready to win a game with his arm; but he did. …. It was nice to see our guy sit back there, scan the field, and toss it to his receivers… Now I know what it’s like to have a real quarterback instead of someone with happy feet who can only throw the ball at 110 mph…
By SlimG
October 13, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark, Any news of us picking up Gonzalez at TE?
This is our year. Let’s steal away Tony G. to run up the seams.
By Falcon4Life
October 13, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
It took me back to last season when Harrington kept getting 3 points and we were up until the last few minutes off of some mistake; hence, missed field goal. Then he would drive the team into the ground and we would lose. Not this time! This time we had the Brady-esque Matty Ice lead us, not with the 11 seconds, but there were only 6 seconds when he actually got the ball and nailed Jenkins with 1 second to go. Wow, why just ROY, if he even gets Atlanta into the Playoffs does he not deserve the MVP. This team was projected by many publications to finish 1-15. He is the soul reason we are where we are. Turner is great, but w/o a QB we are just 1-7. And that one win would have been Detroit. Instead it is Detroit, KC, Green Bay and Chicago. Not too bad. Let me hear some ICE, ICE, Baby!
By Falcon4Life
October 13, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
It took me back to last season when Harrington kept getting 3 points and we were up until the last few minutes off of some mistake; hence, missed field goal. Then he would drive the team into the ground and we would lose. Not this time! This time we had the Brady-esque Matty Ice lead us, not with the 11 seconds, but there were only 6 seconds when he actually got the ball and nailed Jenkins with 1 second to go. Wow, why just ROY, if he even gets Atlanta into the Playoffs does he not deserve the MVP. This team was projected by many publications to finish 1-15. He is the soul reason we are where we are. Turner is great, but w/o a QB we are just 1-7. And that one win would have been Detroit. Instead it is Detroit, KC, Green Bay and Chicago. Not too bad. Let me hear some ICE, ICE, Baby!
By Falcon4Life
October 13, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
It took me back to last season when Harrington kept getting 3 points and we were up until the last few minutes off of some mistake; hence, missed field goal. Then he would drive the team into the ground and we would lose. Not this time! This time we had the Brady-esque Matty Ice lead us, not with the 11 seconds, but there were only 6 seconds when he actually got the ball and nailed Jenkins with 1 second to go. Wow, why just ROY, if he even gets Atlanta into the Playoffs does he not deserve the MVP. This team was projected by many publications to finish 1-15. He is the soul reason we are where we are. Turner is great, but w/o a QB we are just 1-7. And that one win would have been Detroit. Instead it is Detroit, KC, Green Bay and Chicago. Not too bad. Let me hear some ICE, ICE, Baby!
By DJA55
October 13, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Crazy game. I called my Dad after the game and asked him if saw the end. He said yes, but you could tell by his disappointed response that he did not see the real end. He saw the Bears score with seconds left on the clock and switched the TV off. Just like the thousands of fans streaming out of the Dome, he could not believe they could actually pull it out with 11 seconds left. Believe the unbelievable - this game is a perfect example that it ain’t over till it’s over. This version of the Falcons is definitely looking more like a cohesive team rather than the hodgepodge of characters and me-first individuals from the past few years.
By Michael
October 13, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
In “suck it!” news, Bobby Petrino’s Arkansas Razorbacks are 3-3. The Falcons are 4-2.
In the “who’s he?” department, Mark mentioned Michael Vick once in the 10th paragraph. Ryan has allowed this team and city to pretty much forget Scrappy Doo and let him wallow in whatever AFL city he wants to.
I claim victory in saying “let’s wait to see how Ryan does,” but I never thought he would do this well as a rookie. As long as he doesn’t pull a Vick or Pacman, this franchise may do OK.
By crackbaby
October 13, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Matty Ice does it again. He, Harry Douglas (K.O. return) and Jason Elam picked up Ruben Houston BIG TIME.
Game balls to: 1) Coaches - Bears were clearly outcoached 2) Matty Ice 3) Jamal Anderson - Sack, two batted passes on the same set of downs, and at least a couple of good run stops 4) Receivers - They dropped some balls but made enough big catches to win the game. Finn is coming around. Hopefully the last catch will get Michael Jenkins rolling. Roddy had a great TD catch nullified by penalty. and finally, 5) Jason Elam. Although he shanked a chip shot, he converted every other attempt and put points on the board when the offense couldn’t get in the end zone.
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Can we borrow the Georgia Dome time keeper for games at Soldier Field. Watch the replay on the squib kick. At least 1 second slow with the clock starting. Falcons were given a gift yesterday, hopefully last one you’ll get this season.
By GiddeonBrubaker
October 13, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Its amazing that BLOGS are STILL being written about Mike Vick altough Vick is thousands of miles away from the game when it is played on Sunday. People should learn to admit that the Falcons have moved on from the Vick era and we are now in the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan (Matty Ice) era, with Vick having a career which will just be a footnote in the annuls of NFL history. Matt Ryan is of course the real deal and his passing skills are for real and totally unquestioned. I have been watching NFL football for over 40 years and I dare say I have never ever seen a more cluth throw than the throw Matt Ryan made to Jenkins after the Bears went ahead 20-19 with only 11 seconds left in the Falcons ball game yesterday. By the time the kickoff unwinded there was only a mere 6 seconds left in the game with Matty Ice at the helm for the Falcons. All Ice did was drill an improbable pass to sure-handed Mike Jenkins on the Bears 31 yard line. I knew right then that the Falcons were going to win this game and that this was going to be a different Falcons team than in years past. The reason for saying that is that in years passed, Jenkins would have probably DROPPED that pass and the Falcons hopes would have been dashed because Ryan would have had to throw up a BIG BEN LEFT or a BIG BEN RIGHT PLAY (ala Steve Bartkowski) on the ensuing play and the likelihood of that play connecting was almost nil. In fact the only player Ive ever seen in NFL history had complete control over BIG BEN is the guy who invented BIG BEN (Steve Bartkowski). Okay, well now you are down to 6 seconds left on the game clock and what can you draw up in 6 seconds to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. I am still pumped from yesterday and I just couldnt believe how Matt Ryan described the finishing plays of the game in the post-game press conference as well as recapping his brilliant play from yesterday. Ryan sounded like a hall of fame quarterback instead of just a rookie just six games into his career. Wow! what a difference a year makes. Hopefully this game will help us ALL forget about Mike Who? Oh yeah, Mike Dogfighter.
By mave2124
October 13, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
BTW, McKay was right next to Tom and Art in that Owner’s box shot…a PC Flat Screen blocked McKay out of the picture, LOL. As much as I am happy with the season, I really want Art in the owner’s box and not on the field at the end of games. He can hang in the locker room, but not the sideline….PLEASE. Enjoy the win, it was awesome, next stop, Matt Ryan’s homecoming at the Linc!
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
Can we borrow the Georgia Dome time keeper for games at Soldier Field. Watch the replay on the squib kick. At least 1 second slow with the clock starting. Falcons were given a gift yesterday, hopefully last one you’ll get this season.
By mojo
October 13, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
I hope D Hall is enjoying his stint wuth the raiders!!
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Can we borrow the Georgia Dome time keeper for games at Soldier Field. Watch the replay on the squib kick. At least 1 second slow with the clock starting. Falcons were given a gift yesterday, hopefully last one you’ll get this season.
By TEX
October 13, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
let’s not get too crazy. There will definitely be more rookie ‘lumps’, but wow are things looking good.
Mazel tov to Art, Thom, Mike and the gang.
By Da Falcon
October 13, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
BEARS deserved to lose… Meet MR. RYAN——— WINDY BOYS!!
By bc
October 13, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Not the next Manning, the next Montana!
By TURTSNAP
October 13, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
WOW, what a game. I slapped myself for falling into that trap of waking up the ghosts of the past when Da Bears took the lead. I started saying things like “same old Falcons”. My wife even chastised me for giving up! When Jenkins caught that ball, and there was still one second left, I could feel the turning point of this organization.
Matty is something else, thats for sure, and is going to be a great franchise QB. The Falcons did one helluva job drafting this year, with Ryan, Baker, Lofton and the one hidden gem in the draft Harry Douglas. That kid made a couple of huge catches on Sunday.
By Zerevan
October 13, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Bear, we are not in Soldier Field we are not even in nasty a$$ Chicago…! Bears lost…this is not college football you don’t have to score trillion points to impress anybody to be ranked. Falcons beat da Bears,the time clock and Lovie Smith. Our coach is just better than yours and that is the fact.Sore losers are always from Chicago.. remember the Cubbies..boooo hoooo….
By southern hope
October 13, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, great article.
I was literally shaking after watching the game on TVyesterday….my kids thought I was a nut….but I could not believe…if that game had been a movie, I would have paid to see it 5 times!
By RA
October 13, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
Make no mistake, there’s a lot of hard work ahead, and a little heartbreak too, but it’s nice to know that this TEAM is headed in the right direction.
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Thanks again, folks.
I must confess I kept looking at the clock at 0:11 and trying to think of a way the Falcons could make that work. And I couldn’t. But the squib kick and Harry Douglas’ exceedingly clever return changed the computations.
By GA Dome Timekeeper
October 13, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
I disliked the Bears celebrating on the sideline after the last touchdown, high fiving everybody, thinking it was over, full of pride and B.S.———I had to do something to nip it in the bud.
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
Zerevan, you can thank all the Bear fans for buying tickets to the game yesterday, which included me, so the game could be shown locally. This city and the support for their professional teams is a complete joke. Were you at the game? Did you see the amount of empty seats in the upper levels?
By Taylor Isenberg
October 13, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bradley,
This might be the best article of any kind that I’ve ever read.
Go Falcons!
By Bucs Fan
October 13, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
24-9…that was the score against the divisional foes BOTH TIMES…I guess the Saints can mark that one down too! By the way, is it true that BOTH STARTING CORNERBACKS FOR THE BEARS WERE NOT PLAYING SUNDAY???
By BirdLuva
October 13, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Great win yesterday, but I really would have liked to see our coaching staff play to score touchdowns. I think they played too conservative in the posession right before the Bears went up 20-19. That being said, a win is a win. Lets just score more touchdowns than field goals.
By RA
October 13, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
No Atlanta Bear, the clock keeper stays home, but I’d encourage you to rent some pass defense whenever you can see your way clear to. I mean gee wiz, you knew where we were trying to go, you knew how we had to get there, but you still couldn’t stop us. How sorry is that? Now, you can say whatever it is that losers say about why you lost, but here’s the bottomline, there were a million different things that led up to your team losing yesterday, from their chronic inability to stop the Falcons on third down to that mind boggling fumble of a fumble recovery to the fact that your ravenous defensive front (how many did ya’ll have in the box anyway, a hundred?) couldn’t muster one sack against an Atlanta O-line that had been rated by some of the best minds in football as one of the game’s worst. Oh, there’s also the fact that Atlanta showed up to play. But no, it was the fact that you said that the clock started a second later than it should have. Oh yea, that’s it. Listen, grow up and get over it. You’ve got a good team in a sorry division, they’ll still make the playoffs. I will say this for you Atlanta Bear if indeed that is your real name, at least you had the gumption to show your face on this blog. A lot of your buddies, like Chicago, haven’t been heard from since the sum of your team’s mistakes added up to a loss.
By Brian
October 13, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
It’s funny seeing all these fans of the foes showing up here whining. The clock….. waaahhhh Bears were injured…. waaaahhhh Your team had a chance to win and your team got beat. Well, excuses are nothing more than crutches for the unproductive.
By atlanta bear is a crybaby
October 13, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Hey atlanta bear, stop whining. Your bears got beat fair and square! Stop looking for excuses to cover up 11 seconds of greatness.
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
RA, you were given a gift. Christmas came early for the Falcons in ‘08 so gladly accept it and move on. We lost without Tillman and Vasher and a time keeper who has a slow finger. Take your 6-7 wins in ‘08 and be happy!!!
By Boo Boo
October 13, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Hey, Bears don’t only eat berries, they eat sour grapes too! Soon they will be hiberating, because everyone knows Bears sleep during the playoffs. I guess we’ll just have to put the Bears in with the Detroit Lions, as NFC North deadbeat teams, who everyone in the NCF South beats like a drum. What the matter little crybaby, one second got you down? It’s okay, cry like a Cubbie and get it all out of your system.
By RA
October 13, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
So that’s what that smell was in the Dome yesterday. Tell you what Atlanta Bear, I don’t think that the Falcons will have trouble selling out their next home game, but I’ll tell you this, next time they play Chicago, you guys can feel free to stay home. Those of us that can’t get there will watch it on Dirct TV or we’ll see the highlights on Sportscenter. Can’t speak for everyone else, but I’d rather see the dome filled with tumbleweed that smell you and your buddies there.
One last quick thing, Bradley, I’m a man with a lot of faults. Over the course of many hours my wife could list them all, but an inability to acknowledge a job well done isn’t always one of them. Good article. I guess it’s true that the sun can even shine on a dog’s backside every now and then. (Sorry Bradley but like you, I like giving backhanded complements until I’m truly impressed:)
By atlanta bear is a crybaby
October 13, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
You can take that finger and shove it up your a$$.
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Weird, isn’t it? Falcons fans wanted more touchdowns, but the Bears are the ones who went for it on fourth-and-goal rather than kick a field goal. And they lost by two points.
By Soldier Field TimeKeeper
October 13, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
By Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
October 13, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
People often preface the following statement with the words “I hate to say it, but…”
However, don’t hate to say it. I revel in the glory of those words. I am not ashamed of the, no, I am proud to utter those words and do so with a reckless abandon that can only be rivaled by the reckless abandoned demonstrated by my favorite football team as time expired and they ran onto the field for a well deserved celebration.
And now, without further ado, the statement:
I Told You So!!!
GO FALCONS
By Atlanta Bear
October 13, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Boo Boo, can you add? The Bears lost by 3 to CAR, 3 to TB & 2 to ATL. Is that your version of getting beat like a drum by the NFC South. Let me see, ATL lost to CAR & TB by 15 points each game. Where did you go to college, Georgia??
By Red Dawg
October 13, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Hey Atlanta Bear…you need to quit acting like a biznatch and take your loss. Why are you bashing on people that went to Georgia?? Do you not like the SEC?? You sound like a Big Ten fan aka Big Eleven…you were talking about not being able to count, you guys can’t even get the number of teams in your conference correct.
By athensfalconfan
October 13, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Matt Ryan is completing passes that MV never could. What a football player! The Falcons are once again an exciting TEAM that plays hard on offense, defense, and special teams. Amazing what can be accomplished with a professional staff that can teach, coach, and motivate players. Also good to have a top rate GM. Good job all concerned…GO FALCONS.
By da FALCON
October 13, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Chicago Junior College for cry-babies.— PITIFUL NFC NORTH
By NS from Kennesaw
October 13, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
To Mr. Bradley,
Certainly it was such a performance yesterday by the team.
You have a great article here, but personally, I would prefer that the notion of “Rookie of the Year” be discussed later in the season. Because:
1) There are 10 more games to be played. We need to see a “comsistent performance through out the season” to talk about this title.
2) Let give our young QB time to focus, this is to avoid him turning in to a Frenchy like performance with the Braves (I hope he won’t but … Frenchy lost focus in part because AJC got in to his head about this local boy and the hype things).
Go Falcons !!!
By Jimmy P.
October 13, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
I see someone thinks Ryan is the next Manning. I dont think so. I think he is a mix of Steve Bartkowski and Joe Montana. Falcon fans, I think we finally have team in Atlanta that will be a consistant winner. Not a team that has a winning season one year followed by several losing ones. This team has the chance to do what no other Falcon team has ever done….have back to back winning seasons.
Coach Smith, and ALL Falcon players. Good job, and give the Eagles hell!
By smarter than atlanta bear
October 13, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Bear, are you serious? The amount of points you lose bye to common opponents is how you measure how good a team is? OMG! Go learn what football is before you make such childish comments. A few posts ago, some of us weren’t sure if you had anythiing intelligent to say or not - thankfully, in your last post, we dont’t have to wonder anymore.
We will savor the win even more knowing it eaets away at people like you.
Thanks for the WIN, bears. LOL
By falcondawg
October 13, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
Mark, I think we all were “underclubbed. I told my wife after the last preseason game that I thought the Falcons seemed to play with a purpose. Now I know I was right. They don’t quit as they have in the past, even when they are down. I absolutely love it!!! Thanks for the great article.
By non BUCS fan
October 13, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
4-2 ..JUST LIKE YOU ,CHUCKIE
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
I liked that the Falcons seemed to play hard and play together in preseason. What I didn’t know was whether they had enough talent to make that effort pay off.
By OriginalFalcon
October 13, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
This was a great win and the Falcons remind me of 1978 when they won so many 20-17 games at the end. Leeman came in taught the Falcosn not to give up just as Mike Smith is doing. Winning can be habit forming!
By AL B
October 13, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
Great game on both sides of the ball! I’ve been a season ticket holder for 5 yrs now & been telling all my friends not to abandon ship! We have put together football minds on this staff (FOOTBALL GUYS) & let’s not forget Mularkey…he’s always call great games where ever he’s been! So…where all them haters at now especially those only giving us 2 wins???
On the defense note…why did they trade for the CB Foxworth from Denver if they ain’t gonna use him? He’s pretty decent & should have some added value! We need to mix up some things with Grimes & Houston & not just with Jackson!!! How bout that #3 pick of Manning oh I mean Ryan! Get him a few more tools/weapons over the years & he’s gonna be DANGEROUS!!!
By Paddy
October 13, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Bear…you lost, it was a great game. Start rooting for your team for next week. Real guys don’t whine.
By Joe
October 13, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
How about this GREAT draft pick?
The Atlanta Hawks choose John Koncak!
Of course the mailman was still available. Got to be the stupidest draft pick of all time.
And the story of Karl Malone is well known.
Joe
By Dawg hatin' Jacket
October 13, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
Don’t get onto MB too much. Just watched Wilbon and Tony K. BOTH talking about Matty ICE and Micky Smith for ROTY and COTY on PTI. They say it is locked up. I won’t go that far yet, but certainly it is not too early to start the conversation.
By Bill4Denn
October 13, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark,
If you want to see something funny go read the Chicago newspapers and it is like a flash back to earlier days here.
Great win, Great Team, and great future!
Not a bad article either! GO BIRDS!
By BirdLuva
October 13, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Mark don’t patronize when we wish for touchdowns over field goals. We love the fact that this team won, but when we so clearly beat a team in every facet of the game it would be nice to put them away and have it reflected in the score. We are definitely seeing this team grow up before our eyes and they are doing it as a team. Each player seems to realize there is no “I” in Team but there is certainly a “ME” and each is accepting of doing his best to support the efforts of the team. So Mark don’t hate when we want to encourage maturity and growth in our team….and let’s not go back and pull some of your very own articles when you’ve been less than complimentary to this team. Let celebrate as Falcons fans, but lets not be complacent and satisfied when we believe we have a team that has even more to offer. Great job birds!
By BirdLuva
October 13, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Mark don’t patronize when we wish for touchdowns over field goals. We love the fact that this team won, but when we so clearly beat a team in every facet of the game it would be nice to put them away and have it reflected in the score. We are definitely seeing this team grow up before our eyes and they are doing it as a team. Each player seems to realize there is no “I” in Team but there is certainly a “ME” and each is accepting of doing his best to support the efforts of the team. So Mark don’t hate when we want to encourage maturity and growth in our team….and let’s not go back and pull some of your very own articles when you’ve been less than complimentary to this team. Lets celebrate as Falcons fans, but lets not be complacent and satisfied when we believe we have a team that has even more to offer. Great job birds!
By BirdLuva
October 13, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Mark don’t patronize when we wish for touchdowns over field goals. We love the fact that this team won, but when we so clearly beat a team in every facet of the game it would be nice to put them away and have it reflected in the score. We are definitely seeing this team grow up before our eyes and they are doing it as a team. Each player seems to realize there is no “I” in Team but there is certainly a “ME” and each is accepting of doing his best to support the efforts of the team. So Mark don’t hate when we want to encourage maturity and growth in our team….and let’s not go back and pull some of your very own articles when you’ve been less than complimentary to this team. Lets celebrate as Falcons fans, but lets not be complacent and satisfied when we believe we have a team that has even more to offer. Great job birds!
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Actually, I have read the Chicago newspapers. At the risk of gross self-promotion, check out Bradley’s Buzz.
By monty
October 13, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
A team that believes it can win is dangerous! I think Atlanta has”it.” I saw maximum effort in all of our players. In the past it looked as if a couple of players would always mail it in. Not this team. I’m sure we will lose again, maybe next week, but at this point I don’t see any reason why we would just have to.
By keefer
October 13, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
Hey Atlanta Bear:
Go back and watch the replay of the Bears last TD reception. The game clock ran for at LEAST :01 full second after the receiver came down and slid out of bounds. So if we’re going to play it YOUR way, we should have had :12 seconds for the last drive.
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
At the risk of sounding like an apologist for ol’ Jon, let me note that Malone was taken with the 13th pick of the 1985 draft — eight picks after Koncak. A lot of people whiffed on the Mailman.
By harv
October 13, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
I watched through the day of Tommy Nobis and Steve Bartkowski and I must say, I have never seen the Falcons so strong as a TEAM! I am proud of the way the Falcons played Sunday. I honestly believe we have something special, one can almost feel it in the cool air of Autumn…ain’t it great?
By Joe
October 13, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
AWESOME!! That was the first Falcon’s game that I can remember that had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to see who they draft next year. They obviously have some work to do but boy and I proud of this team.
By Chris G.
October 13, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
I was there at the game(I’m a season ticket holder) and the game was amazing! I stayed all the way to the end, although a lot of the doubters left when Chicago scored at the end. Boy did they miss a finish! I’m very excited about the season.
By Chris G.
October 13, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
I was there at the game(I’m a season ticket holder) and the game was amazing! I stayed all the way to the end, although a lot of the doubters left when Chicago scored at the end. Boy did they miss a finish! I’m very excited about the season.
By Chris G.
October 13, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
I was there at the game(I’m a season ticket holder) and the game was amazing! I stayed all the way to the end, although a lot of the doubters left when Chicago scored at the end. Boy did they miss a finish! I’m very excited about the season.
By Dalton
October 13, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Bear….you guys lost. It doesn’t matter how. Just deal with it. You lost. Falcons won. Period. Now look forward to the Bears’ next game, and the Birds look forward to their next game. Learn how to lose, Atlanta Bear.
By joenyc
October 13, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
this team may end up 6 - 10, but it doesn’t matter to me. i am so proud to be falcon’s fan. they play 60 minutes no matter what, and i love the track we are on. matt ryan will have difficult games, but he keeps fighting. you know what else? so does the rest of the team. that is refreshing.
By forgottenfan
October 13, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
Glenn Dorsey who? Was that who Terrence Moore wanted us to pick?
By jon
October 13, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Bear,
Get a stopwatch and watch the play. Actually, there should have been 2 seconds on the clock when Elam kicked.
Maybe if the Bears had played a little D, you wouldn’t be whining about the clock.
By ATL fan in VA
October 13, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Great win for the Falcons. For all you McKay haters, remember who pulled the trigger on Roddy White?
By question
October 13, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
mark, do you think that the game against the eagles will be the biggest test of the season? to me it seems a big test of coaching strategy and planning and player preparation and execution, considering both teams will have a bye this week.
By Birdlover 2800
October 13, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Make no mistake, yesterdays win was huge!!! But Matty Ice still has a ways to go. From 20 to 20 we are fine. Red zone offense was terrible. We cannot win playoff games or SB with 5 FGs & 1 TD. Judgement is still out on Matty Ice( Rookie of the year). Remember Tampa??? We did not give up, that was the most important thing about yesterday. 22-30 for 300 yards 1 TD is good. But look at D. Brees 320 yards 3 TDs. Speak to me then about a great QB. Our schedule has helped us more than anything. Just wait until after the the bye!!! Thing will get interesting.
By Mark Bradley
October 13, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
The Eagles game is big, yes, but I think the Bears’ game was the test.
By Andy
October 13, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
People talking about how few points the Bears losses to the NFC South teams have been by are ignorant. There are only two real outcomes in the NFL, W or L! (Occasionally a 34-34 Falcons-Steelers tie!) You are what you are in the NFL, no talk! The highly touted Dallas Cowboys are equal to our supposed “lowly” Atlanta Falcons, and the only thing that can change that is the performance on the filed from here on out! You cannot hide behind hype in the NFL. GO FALCONS, and let’s keep making our statement on the field!
By Andy
October 13, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
People talking about how few points the Bears losses to the NFC South teams have been by are ignorant. There are only two real outcomes in the NFL, W or L! (Occasionally a 34-34 Falcons-Steelers tie!) You are what you are in the NFL, no talk! The highly touted Dallas Cowboys are equal to our supposed “lowly” Atlanta Falcons, and the only thing that can change that is the performance on the filed from here on out! You cannot hide behind hype in the NFL. GO FALCONS, and let’s keep making our statement on the field!
By panic
October 13, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
thats what happens to good teams they keep there heads up play hard and go win in the end cuz u know how to do it . takes most teams a while to learn how to win, this year is special to us here in atl we now have a team that can go win in the end even with less than 10 seconds on the clock and 60 yds to go sounds ok to me still early yet so stay close fans dont leave early just might miss another great come back win or playoff run like the elite teams do GO D- BIRDS
By PopEye
October 13, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
No Matter how well the Falcons are coached, no matter how well the offense, defense or special teams play, if we don’t find a way to get Brent Grimes (#20) off the field we will loose games because of his inability to tackle, cover, or understand how to play his position. He lined up in the neutral zone for a penalty, next play he was flagged for holding, the next play he got beat on a pass play. After getting beat twice more Chicago scored their final touchdown leaving 11 seconds on the clock. Grimes is a one man wrecking crew and is a serious liability to the team. Every week this guy gives up big play after big play. To his credit I cheered for him when he managed to break up a pass play in the end zone. Shortly after that he got beat again. Let all pray he can turn his game around. Keith Brookings once again was not a factor in the game. Matty Ice great game, Jamal Anderson great game, Lofton keeps improving, John Abraham still a beast, Big Grady aint no joke, and big ups to the O line. Nice job all the way round Birds. Go Falcons.
By Falcon Fan
October 13, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
This win was definitely huge. I believe this team learned a lot about itself Sunday - and we can see a team beginning to come together.
Ryan was the real surprise for me. I knew he was good but he really did an outstanding job - even for a veteran quarterback.
There are still rough days ahead but they are heading in the right direction. I am looking forward to seeing if they will open up more of the playbook.
By michaelgee
October 13, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
This city needs this team!
By Getaway
October 13, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Mark, I’ve been waiting 10 years to read an article like that. When we drafted MV I was hoping read a bunch of them. There was some success and a lot of excitement. But we always seemed to be a one-man team. He was expected to win the games. All the talk was about what he didn’t have around him.
This is different. You can talk about our franchise QB, but you also have to mention that OL, what a difference one man makes! How about them receivers? The Head Coach? That defense that seems to be getting better every week? I am not going to mention MM, I don’t want his name getting out there for fear of losing him to some team looking for a head coach. Has this not been the Falcons most successful draft ever?
What we’re seeing here is the formation of a team lead by a QB that has the “it” factor. I don’t know of a time in this franchise’s history, that they could have pulled off what they did against the Bears. Whether it’s this year or not, there seems to be a bright future in store for this team.
I don’t know who the poster was, but he kept saying ONE HEARTBEAT. As much as I hate to admit it, I kept seeing it when I watched that game yesterday.
By Adam Y
October 13, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Playoffs? Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs!
I’m happy to see this team improving week-in and week-out, but part of their success is keeping Matt Ryan out of a pressure cooker.
Start throwing in playoff expectations, and you might jinx the whole thing. We’ve already beaten the expectations. Let’s just enjoy watching the team grow, win or loss, for the rest of the season. If it ends in December, so be it. We’ll know it won’t next year.
By TheAntiMe
October 13, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Congrats to the Falcons on their most entertaning win which is a lock to be immortalized for postierity by NFL Films. (Wah-num Wah-num, Wah-num Wah-num Wah-num!)
It was great to see Jamaal Anderson get his first sack. Who knows what good things could be in store for him this season after finally getting that 900 lb. gorilla off of his back?
By TheAntiMe
October 14, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this
“Can we borrow the Georgia Dome time keeper for games at Soldier Field. Watch the replay on the squib kick. At least 1 second slow with the clock starting. Falcons were given a gift yesterday, hopefully last one you’ll get this season.” - Atlanta Bear
Gee, Atlanta Bear. Although I totally disagree with your lame, whiney post - let’s just say for the sake of argument that your above claim is correct.
Do you really feel that a team that can’t stop an opponent from scoring for 12 whole seconds deserves to win? I think not.
By robi10
October 14, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this
Hey Atlanta Bear!!! u are nothing but another HATER!!!! Your Bears were absolutely DOMINATED for all but 2 offensive drives 2!!!!! U should have considered yourself lucky to have even been in position to win much less wine and moan and BI@TCH about losing!!!! u and your Bears did not deserve to win and it would have been a GREEK TRAGEDY had the Falcons lost that game anyway! So go back to HATE town, i mean CHI TOWN and get yourself somemore diapers and pasafires because were 4-2 and your not!!!!!!!