The script has flipped for the Falcons.
They were built as a high-scoring team with a defense good enough to keep them in games. The Falcons have transformed into a team with a defense good enough to win but weighed down by their misfiring, high-priced offense.
It happened again during the 20-10 loss to the Vikings Sunday at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons limited the Vikings to 10 points through three quarters in spite of the offense putting them in bad positions.
“On that side of the ball, they’ve been playing really well the last couple of weeks,” Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said. “They are getting us turnovers. We are not making it happen. In a lot of ways, I feel like we are just letting those guys down on that side of the ball.”
The Falcons forced three turnovers in a defeat against the Colts in Week 10. They limited the Vikings to 365 yards and allowed just three plays longer than 15 yards over the final three quarters.
Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 158 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns against the league’s No. 1 run defense. But the Falcons limited his big plays until he finally broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run with 4:15 left.
Peterson also had runs for 17 and 16 yards but got most of his production in fits and starts until his second TD.
“I think we did a good job wrap tackling,” Falcons linebacker O’Brien Schofield said. “There was a couple times where he was able to break through and get some yards after contact. Those are the type of things we’ve got to clean up but, for the most part, we didn’t really let him get any real home run balls like we’ve been seeing on film.”
The Falcons limited Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater 174 yards on 20 of 28 passing. Safety Ricardo Allen intercepted Bridgewater’s pass in the end zone to erase a scoring chance in the second quarter.
The Falcons didn’t sack Bridgewater but frequently chased him out of the pocket and forced him to throw the ball away or settle for short passes.
“They weren’t really able to throw the ball down field,” Schofield said. “We had good pressure. There was a lot of check downs and us rallying and tackling.”
