Eliminated from the playoffs, the Falcons’ youth movement was open for business Sunday in a frigid and snowy environment at historic Lambeau Field.
The youth and inexperience helped cost the Falcons a game. Atlanta blew a double-digit lead while going down to the Packers and weak-armed quarterback Matt Flynn, 22-21, before an well-chilled announced crowd of 77,550.
Playing in sub-freezing temperatures with a light snow dusting, Atlanta rookie right tackle Ryan Schraeder gave up a key sack-strip fumble, rookie cornerback Robert Alford was beaten on a 46-yard pass play and rookie safety Zeke Motta gave up the go-ahead touchdown.
“Our mission is to win the football games, no doubt about that,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after his team dropped to 3-10. “But we felt that those young guys had the opportunity to go out and participate in a game for an entire game or most of the game. That’s what we were looking at today.”
The Packers, fighting to stay in the race in the NFC North without All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers, improved to 6-6-1.
With the Falcons clinging on to a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter, Schraeder was beaten by Green Bay linebacker Mike Neal, who crashed into quarterback Matt Ryan and forced a fumble. Green Bay’s Johnny Jolly recovered the ball at the Falcons’ 21-yard line.
Four plays later, Flynn tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Quarless to put the Packers ahead to stay. Motta, who took over for free safety Thomas DeCoud, was in coverage. DeCoud left the game at the end of the first quarter with what was announced as a “head injury” but was most likely a concussion
“Sometimes, crazy stuff just happens and you’ve got to move past it and get back in rhythm,” said Schraeder, an undrafted rookie from Valdosta State who was in the lineup for veteran Jeremy Trueblood. “It was more of a technical issue. It was something that, looking back on it, it should have never happened. But I’ll learn from it and move on.”
The Falcons, powered by two takeaways, held a 21-10 lead at halftime.
The Packers began their comeback with their second possession of the third quarter, Flynn connecting with Jordy Nelson for a 46-yard gain. Nelson had beaten Alford, but had to wait for the pass. Alford started for veteran Asante Samuel.
“He got beat on a double cut there in the second half of the ball game,” Smith said. “Robert is a guy that is working hard. He’s played in some spot plays. He did play early in the season because of injuries and we did want to give him an opportunity to go out and play a complete game.”
The Packers’ Mason Crosby kicked a 33-yard field goal four plays later and Green Bay went on to score 10 unanswered points. But the loss wasn’t entirely due to the rookies.
The Falcons’ offense stalled throughout the day and couldn’t convert on a key fourth-and-5, trailing by a point at Green Bay’s 33-yard line with 2:00 left to play
Instead of trying a 51-yard wind-blown field goal attempt, the Falcons elected to go for the first down. Ryan’s pass intended for Tony Gonzalez was broken up by Green Bay defensive back Jarrett Bush.
“I just think I needed to make a better throw,” said Ryan, who completed 20-for-35 passes for 205 yards. “It was good coverage. They defended it well. But I feel like I need to put it in a better spot for him to be able to make a play on it.”
After a defensive stop, the Falcons got the ball back one more time at their 9-yard line with 44 seconds remaining and no timeouts left. After a dropped pass by Harry Douglas on the fringe of field goal range, a last-ditch effort was stopped by Bush’s interception at the Packers’ 37 with 4 seconds to play.
“Harry has been making plays. Again, there are lots of plays that we’d like to have back in that ball game,” Smith said.
After Quarless’ touchdown gave the Packers the lead with 12:01 remaining, the Falcons went on the move but kicker Matt Bryant’s 52-yard field goal attempt with 6:47 left was short.
“I was pretty surprised that it was short,” Bryant said.
So, when the Falcons got back into a similar situation with another kick into the wind, Smith elected to go for it on fourth down.
“We missed from the 33-yard line on the prior field-goal attempt and it was about two or three yards short,” Smith said. “So we did not think we had an opportunity to get a field goal. That’s why we went for it on fourth down.”
The Falcons, who had played nine of their previous 12 games this season indoors, said the weather wasn’t a factor.
“We don’t play in the cold often, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t play in it,” said wide receiver Drew Davis, who had a 36-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. “Everybody was pretty much ready from a mental standpoint. There were a lot of people out there with no sleeves on. I don’t think it bothered us. We were just worried about playing football.”
Over the final three games, expect the Falcons’ youth movement to continue.
“I think the guys have worked hard and they deserve the opportunity to go out there and play,” Smith said. “They need to play in games where there is something on the line. You want to see how they respond to it.”
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