The Falcons’ improbable playoff run is over as well as a confounding season along with it.
With the NFC South title on the line, the Falcons’ house of cards collapsed at the Georgia Dome on Sunday before a booing crowd that headed for the parking lot early.
The Carolina Panthers, playing an old-school brand of power football, pummeled the Falcons into submission 34-3, while Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan played perhaps the worst game of his career. He had two interceptions returned for touchdowns and couldn’t generate much offense while under heavy pressure.
“We didn’t show up,” Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “We just got punched in the mouth and didn’t respond pretty much. “
The Falcons, aware of a pregame television report about a search firm being hired to seek a replacement for head coach Mike Smith, were stunned by the news and seemed zapped of any energy before this game even started.
The smack-down was quick and decisive. The Panthers, led by quarterback Cam Newton, jumped out to a 10-0 lead that grew to 24-3 by halftime.
The Falcons aided and abetted the Panthers as three turnovers were turned into 21 points. Ryan, without the benefit of a rushing attack, completed 29 of 47 passes for 260 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked a head-spinning six times and finished with a passer rating of 58.8.
Running back Steven Jackson, who had a quadriceps injury, didn’t play. Backups Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman were repeatedly stuffed, the ground game accounting for only 63 yards.
“Across the board, we didn’t do a very good job today,” Ryan said. “They came out and executed at a high level across the board.”
The franchise can now get ready for a long offseason of change, both on the field and off.
“Everybody is very disappointed,” Ryan said. “You come into this game understanding the consequences, negative and positive. As a player and as an athlete, you never allow yourself to think about it going in the wrong direction. You have to have a positive mindset. When it doesn’t happen, its tough.
“When you don’t play well, you have to live with the consequences.”
Smith, with owner Arthur Blank sitting in the media gallery, gave his stock response when asked about his future in his postgame news briefing.
“I’m here as the head football coach until Arthur Blank tells me anything different,” Smith said.
Blank declined to speak with reporters but will likely be calling Smith early Monday morning. A modest two-game improvement is not likely enough to save Smith’s job.
Things began to unravel in the second quarter after Ryan threw an interception that Carolina safety Roman Harper returned 31-yards for a touchdown. On the Falcons’ next possession, Roddy White fumbled and Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis returned it 33 yards to the Falcons’ 9, setting up a Newton touchdown.
In the third quarter, Carolina safety Tre Boston intercepted Ryan and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown. Wide receiver Harry Douglas didn’t gave chase on the play and Ryan dove in front of Boston on a meek tackle attempt.
The loss gave the Falcons their second consecutive double-digit losing season after going 4-12 last season. Since reaching the NFC championship game after the 2012 season, the Falcons are 10-22, with one victory over a team with a winning record.
Perhaps the only thing positive to come of the evening was that the Falcons may now likely draft as high as eighth overall next spring. If they’d gone to the playoffs, they could have drafted 21st or 22nd. They will need some help for the worst defense in the league.
The Panthers jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind two early powerful drives. Carolina Kicker Graham Gano kicked a 21-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 77-yard opening drive.
Newton kept the drive alive by escaping from Tyson Jackson on a second-and-10. It would have been third-and-long if the Falcons could have put Newton on the ground.
After the Falcon’s opening drive stalled, the Panthers opened a drive on their 13-yard line, moving on the ground and catching the Falcons over-pursing. Wide receiver Philly Brown took a flip from Newton and rushed behind a convoy of blockers for 28 yards. Five plays later, Newton tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson for the 10-0 lead.
Returner Devin Hester ignited the crowd when he broke loose for a 66-yard gain on the ensuing kickoff. Ryan and the offense was in business with a short-field from Carolina’s 38, but couldn’t punch it in, settling for a 21-yard Matt Bryant field goal.
That capped the Falcons’ offensive output as the sacks and interceptions started to mount. The Falcons were outgained just 306 yards to 288 but could never make up for the three turnovers that led to touchdowns.
In some ways, the Falcons sounded relieved.
“It was a difficult season for us,” said wide receiver Julio Jones, who played through a hip injury. “We had a lot of injuries early on in the season. A lot of guys have been hurt and banged up the whole season. We just have to take this offseason and get back healthy and get guys back in the rotation.”
