With the season having reached a low point – and we’ll let you determine whether that was the humiliation of a 38-0 loss to Carolina last week or the self-esteem crusher of being cast as underdogs to the 5-8 Jacksonville Jaguars – the Falcons weren’t looking for art Sunday.
When a team loses six in a row and seven of eight and has buried all hope and logical scenarios for a playoff spot, the objective isn’t to paint a picture but rather to avoid tripping over a chair, which knocks over the easel, which hits a candle, which ignites a table cloth and a couch and a wall and ultimately burns down the house. Or the season. Or PSL sales, depending on your viewpoint or pay grade.
“My goal this week? Just to have more points than the other team,” Roddy White said.
“I just want to finish .500. Since we went on this downfall, we’re just trying to get the guys together to finish this season as strong as possible. Especially after last week.”
One Sunday after black Sunday in Charlotte, the Falcons defeated Jacksonville 23-17. They won. For the first time since Oct. 25, they actually won.
Before you ask – yes, it’s too late to catch Carolina. They’ll have to be content this week with having as many wins as losses (7-7).
The Falcons did a lot wrong Sunday, but for the first time in a while they did a little more right. The offense converted three third-down situations and chewed up 6:44 on a 14-play drive late in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, they had to settle for a field goal in another red zone possession but the three points put Jacksonville in a 23-17 hole with only 1:42 left (and one timeout). The defense held the Jaguars without a third-down conversion (0-for-8), got a key red zone interception from Kemal Ishmael and stuffed the Jaguars on their final three possessions, holding them to zero points, one first down and 31 yards.
“It’s awesome to get a win,” coach Dan Quinn said.
He was sitting on that quote for a while.
“It’s been a while,” owner Arthur Blank said.
He was pleased but his tone did not scream,“Awesome.”
Every day in Flowery Branch remains Keep Your Head Down Day.
What does one win mean? Not much in the big picture. The Falcons are still mathematically alive to get in the playoffs, like you and I are mathematically alive to win Mega Millions. But enough players looked as if they’re not on direct deposit with their minds elsewhere.
The offense drove to a touchdown on the opening possession. The Falcons hadn’t done that all season.
White: “Wow. Really? That use to be our m.o.” (True that.)
Quinn, having reached the what-the-hell point of the season, called for a fake punt in the first quarter on fourth-and-7 from the Falcons’ 44. It actually worked, with Eric Weems taking a direct snap and running eight yards. Problem: Ishmael was called for holding, nullifying the play and forcing a punt.
Still, the Falcons built a 17-3 lead, only to blow it when the Jaguars scored twice in the third quarter. You half-expected Atlanta players to start tipping over like dominoes again. But they drove to two field goals, and White made a big 17-yard catch on third-13 to extend a drive. So for one day people weren’t saying, “There goes the worst team in the NFL right now.”
“Guys didn’t blink,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “You’re up 17-3 and they come back and score 14 points right away and there could be a little, ‘Is this going to happen again?’ But guys weren’t like that today. It’s very difficult to (not feel doubt) when we haven’t had success the last two months. But I didn’t feel that from anybody today, and I feel that’s why we won.”
Also, Jacksonville kind of stinks, too.
This game didn’t have to be close. Linebacker Philip Wheeler had a nice sack and strip of Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles but Grady Jarrett overran a potential fumble recovery in the red zone. (Certain loss: Field goal or touchdown.) Denard Robinson fumbled at the Jaguars 29 but Desmond Trufant tried to do the scoop-and-run, bobbled the ball and ultimately lost it back at the Jacksonville 15. (Certain loss: Field goal or touchdown.)
Ishmael had a terrific interception at the Falcons’ goal line and seemingly had clear sailing down the right sideline for a pick-six. But Bortles, his former Central Florida teammates, hustled back and shook off a weak block attempt by Falcons linebacker Justin Durant – actually stiff-arming Durant away – and then tripped up Ishmael at the 18, forcing a field goal just before the half. (Lost point differential: four.)
Asked if he was giving Durant grief for the missed block, Ishmael said, smiling, “I just told him, ‘Man, I thought you were gonna knock him out,’ But Blake’s a big boy and he’s built like Ben Roethlisberger.”
They would’ve been major issues in a loss. But in a win, they’re suddenly trivial.
About the Author
