AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 04
Monday, December 4, 2006
Contenders or pretenders?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons finally got off the mat and rallied to win, running off 24 unanswered points to defeat the Redskins 24-14 Sunday. There was little celebrating after snapping a four-game losing streak, mainly because players knew this is what they had to do and should have done to a weak-sister opponent that had it on the ropes but failed to deliver a knockout punch after scoring 14 points out of the box.
It was interesting to note why it took so long for things to register for the Falcons, other than falling back to the old cliché that sometimes things have to bottom out before people finally do something about it.
There probably would have been little talk of Lawyer Milloy’s call for a players’ only meeting Saturday night had the Falcons lost. The fact that they won and Milloy was nothing short of a monster, brought to light to subject and its contents - mainly that players were playing for pride, playoffs and coach Jim Mora.
Players said the Mora has kept control of the team and earned their trust by sticking with them and keeping matters in-house. One player said that most players have never played for a coach so loyal and that if he were to be fired because of their failures, there would be widespread regret in the locker room.
On Monday, Mora clearly was energized by his players’ support, which any pro coach would have to wonder about with a four-game losing streak and a quasi-ultimatum with won-loss totals by the team owner hanging over your head.
Now back in the mix of the playoff hunt, the Falcons have to decide if they are real contenders. Everything points to Atlanta going to Tampa and pulling out a victory that rarely comes easy against the Bucs. The running game might be back on track and the defense might have steadied itself, but the Falcons have fooled a lot of people this season with a flashy performance or two.
In a sidenote, rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams, who has missed the past month with a high ankle sprain, is expected to return against the Bucs but Allen Rossum will start at right cornerback.
