NEW ORLEANS – Falcons coach Arthur Smith wanted to discuss the team’s unsung heroes.
In the 27-25 win over the Saints, he contended that they needed plays from Falcons all over the roster on Sunday.
Yes, quarterback Matt Ryan did the heavy lifting in a spectacular 343-yard passing performance that included two touchdown passes and one touchdown run.
With the game on the line, wide receiver/running back Cordarelle Patterson busted loose for a 64-yarder gain up the sidelines to get the Falcons in position for their first win of the season over a team with a winning record. The previous wins were over the Jets, Giants and Dolphins.
“You bring in James Vaughters, right,” Smith said. “He made an enormous play today. (Defensive tackle) Mike Pennel has been pretty solid. (Defensive tackle) Anthony Rush, he made some big plays. These are guys who continue to churn the roster. They stepped up. We’ve got a team that believes. No egos. It’s a fun group to coach.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Vaughters had a big strip-sack of Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian in the third quarter. Steven Means scooped up the ball and nearly scored. Means suffered a minor knee injury after being tackled at the four-yard line.
Vaughters, who played at Tucker High and has been with the Bears the past two seasons, was added to the practice squad. He’s since been moved up to the 53-man roster.
“First of all I want to dedicate that play to both of my grandfathers,” Vaughters said. “They were both military men. This week is (Salute to) Service week. We wear the towels and the gloves to show that appreciation.
“My maternal grandfather passed (away) about three weeks ago. It was very emotional for me playing. It is always emotional for me playing in the (Salute to) Service game because they did that so I could have the opportunity to be a pro football player. I want to dedicate that to them.”
Vaughters came free on the play and swiped with his right hand to knock the ball out.
“I was glad I was able to make the strip-sack to help us get the win today,” Vaughters said.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Vaughters was a top recruit coming out of Tucker and went on to play at Stanford. He bounced around the NFL and played in the Canadian Football League before sticking with the Bears, where he played for current Falcons outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino.
“Absolutely, it could weigh me down, but I use it as an opportunity to fuel me,” Vaughters said of his journey. “I try to win each individual play. If I don’t win that one, then I’m trying to win the next one. I’m just glad that I can be around guys who can share that moment. We all play as a representation of that journey.”
Pennel and Rush have spent time with other teams and on the practice squad before making their way to the roster.
Rush, who was promoted on Saturday, made three tackles against the Saints.
Offensively, wide receivers Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus and Tajae Sharpe stepped in with wide receiver Calvin Ridley on the non-football injury list.
Gage, after not being targeted last week, finished with seven catches for 64 yards. Zaccheaus caught three passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Sharpe had a big 12-yard catch to convert a third down.
“We’re in the solution business,” Smith said. “You have injuries, that’s part of this game. It’s a long season.”
The Falcons will next face the Dallas Cowboys, who lost to Denver on Sunday to drop to 6-2.
“We are right in the middle (of the 17-game season) and we are in the mix,” Smith said. “We have a huge game going down to Dallas next week against a really good football team. That’s what it is. You’re going to need contributions from everybody.”
The Falcons have not been over .500 since the end of the 2017 season. They reached .500 in 2018 and 2019, but went on a losing streak.
A win over Dallas, who has former coach Dan Quinn as their defensive coordinator, would be a breakthrough.
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