Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and saftey William Moore, neither whom practiced this week, were inactive for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Both Jones (hip) and Moore (foot) were listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Jones arrived at the Georgia Dome at 10:25 a.m. and never came onto the field to warm up. Both Jones and Moore were left the Falcons’ 43-37 loss at the Packers Monday and did not return.
Jones leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,428) after setting career highs in yards in consecutive games. Jones also leads the league with 27 receptions of 20 yards or longer.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said that Jones warmed up inside the locker room area before the game. It was after that work out that a final determination was made. Smith also said no weight was given to holding Jones out ahead of the final two key divisional games.
“We want Julio Jones out there on the field anytime he can be out there,” Smith said. “This game was just as important in our minds than any other game.
“The medical staff felt like it was not in his best interest to go out there and play the game. They are going to be the ones who make that decision. Mike Smith is not going to make the decision about Julio Jones nor is Julio Jones. The doctors are going to do that. We are not going to play the what if game, play this week, play that week.”
In addition, cornerback Robert Alford, who was declared out on Friday with a wrist injury, quarterback Sean Renfree, linebacker Tyler Starr, tackle Jonathan Scott and linebacker James Anderson were inactive.
Right guard Jon Asamoah (back) was on the injury report as probable. He started the game but left in the second quarter due to his back and did not return. Cornerback Josh Wilson left the game in the third quarter with a hand injury.
Ryan hit hard
Matt Ryan has been hit plenty in this NFL career – but perhaps none harder than a shot he took Sunday from the Steelers’ Jason Worilds.
The Steelers’ left outside linebacker came untouched, running right by Falcons tight end Bear Pascoe, to drill Ryan for an apparent 11-yard loss. The Falcons were looking at a third-and-19 situation.
But wait … flag on the play.
Worilds was called for a roughing the passer penalty on what appeared to be a clean hit. The Falcons went on to score a touchdown on the drive kept alive by the penalty.
“It just took me a second to catch my breath and get back up,” Ryan said. “I feel fine.”
Did he watch a replay of the vicious hit?
“I didn’t see it, I felt it,” Ryan said. “That’s part of the game. It’s a physical game. There are going to be plays where you have to get yourself back up. That was one of them.”
Wide receiver Roddy White said he watched the play on the scoreboard. Despite the lick, he said Ryan was unfazed.
“Actually, he’s a tough guy,” White said. “He’s played with a lot of injuries. He’s been hit a lot and got back up. You can look at him and tell if he is out of it. He was fully aware. He knew what he was doing. … It was a hard hit. I saw it on the Jumbotron. We’ve got to do better staying in and blocking their people so they don’t tee off on our quarterback like that.”
Penalty shaky
With the Steelers leading 27-20 and the Falcons needing the ball back, Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant was called for questionable illegal contact play in the fourth quarter.
On third-and-4 on the 36-yard line, the Steelers tossed an incomplete pass. They would likely have tried a 53-yard field goal attempt, but the penalty gave them a first down and they were able to run out the clock.
“I just have to see it on film,” Trufant said. “I didn’t think it was nothing. But I guess the ref saw it differently. I wish it didn’t happen. But I’m going to get it back next week.”
Home field advantage?
There were Terrible Towels in Atlanta. A lot of them.
The yellow towel, waved by Steelers fans for many years, were on full display as Pittsburgh fans invaded the Georgia Dome and easily outnumbered Falcons fans Sunday.
Steelers fans were loud and several times the home team blared music to drown them out, including after scores and at halftime. Each time tight end Heath Miller caught a pass, the cheer of “Heath!” echoed throughout the Dome.
Slow starts on offense
For the second consecutive week in a row, the Falcons dug themselves a massive hole and couldn’t dig out of it.
They went down 31-7 against the Packers last Monday and fell behind 20-7 to the Steelers. They rallied each week, could never overtake the opponent.
“It’s certainly is tough to kind of dig yourself out of ditches,” left guard Justin Blalock said. “We are not trying to go out there and start slowly, but whatever we are doing to get ourselves behind the chains and off the field quickly, it’s just a recipe for disaster.”
The Falcons could have helped themselves in the third quarter, but had to settle for 28 and 22 yard fields goals after the offense stalled in the redzone.
“It’s tough enough to put up points in this league and do it when you get behind by that much,” Blalock said. “We hung in there and fought our butts off today. We keep our heads held high and played as hard as we could. Obviously, we didn’t quite do enough in the end to get the outcome we wanted. We have to find a better way to start games and avoid lulls.”
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