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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > December > 07
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Because of Ryan, Falcons had a chance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New Orleans — There was just over three minutes left in the game when New Orleans finally got Matt Ryan into a position they could deal with.
On the sideline.
The Falcons lost big Sunday. They lost a division game to the Saints. They lost ground in the playoff race to almost everybody that matters. They lost a game with their most important player — Ryan — not being given a chance to make something happen — again.
“We knew if we could get a [defensive] stop there that he was going to take us down and get some points,” center Todd McClure said. “It’s tough when you don’t get that opportunity.”
Even before Sunday, Ryan already had transitioned this season from a rookie with an upside to an uncommonly poised and effective NFL quarterback. But he took things to another level against the Saints. He became the player a team just wants with the ball in his hands. He became the playmaker, the difference maker.
He became, strangely enough, Michael Vick.
Ryan completed the passes that overcame penalties. He converted the third-and-longs that led to scoring drives. He made the plays when the protection broke down, scrambling to buy time so he could find an open receiver (including a Vick-esque 59-yarder to Roddy White).
And when nobody was open, he ran 12 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
“He keeps giving us a chance to win it,” Lawyer Milloy said.
But Ryan needed one more chance Sunday, and he wasn’t given it.
Coach Mike Smith put the game in the hands of his defense in the final minutes. Those were the wrong hands to be holding the Falcons’ fate on this day.
Ryan’s touchdown run with 7:51 left provided a short-lived 25-22 lead. Pierre Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to the 16. Five plays later, New Orleans had the lead back, 29-25.
With 5:47 remaining, Ryan had more than enough time to lead the Falcons back. But on second-and-3 from the 37, he was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on a quarterback draw. On third down, he threw behind Brian Finneran over the middle.
On fourth-and-5 from the 35 with 3:23 left and two timeouts, Smith opted to punt. It was a significant gamble because the Falcons’ defense had been shredded all day by the Saints’ rushing attack (184 yards). After an early punt, New Orleans scored on six out of eight possessions — the last two for touchdowns.
The decision backfired. The Saints got first downs on three of their first six snaps and ran out the clock.
It was too easy.
Smith later said he was concerned what would happen if the Falcons didn’t convert on fourth down. “You have to play the odds,” he said. “If they get one first down, they’re kicking a field goal.”
But it was a surprising call from a coach who has been aggressive much of this season, especially given the way the Saints were moving the ball.
“Our defense — you know, I felt like they hadn’t stop those guys the whole game,” White said.
He spoke not as a guy who meant to second-guess anybody, it just sort of came out that way.
“I was rooting for us to go for it,” he said. “I wanted to go for it. Give us a chance to roll one more time. Unfortunately, we didn’t get our chance. [Smith] thought we could stop them and we punted. That’s the head guy and that’s his decision.”
Ryan typically accepted all blame. “At that point,” he said, “we should’ve made plays on second and third down. Then you don’t have to worry about fourth down.”
The fact is, the Falcons were only in this game because of Ryan. The Saints exposed a defense that has been doing it with smoke-and-mirrors much of the season. Special teams flopped on coverage.
Ryan nearly won this game on his own. He bounced back from an early interception to complete 24 of 33 for 315 yards. He engineered a second-quarter touchdown drive out of the no-huddle offense. He helped overcome three penalties with a six straight completions — three on third down — during a field goal drive in the third quarter
Given one more chance, maybe he wins this. We’ll never know.
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