With 36 seconds left on the clock and the Falcons down by six, quarterback Matt Ryan looked to the back of the end zone and found the receiver he had been relying on throughout the drive when the game mattered most: Mohamed Sanu.
On a day when Julio Jones was blanketed all across the field, Ryan needed another target to step up and be a reliable pass catcher, and Sanu was that target.
With the game on the line, Ryan went to Sanu six times on the team’s go-ahead possession and Sanu snagged five of those balls for 50 yards and the game-winning score in Atlanta’s (5-3) 33-32 win over Green Bay (4-3).
“Really, Sanu was on point in a number of ways today,” coach Dan Quinn said. “He caught some screens, some crossing routes that he had and made some firsts downs. I thought it was one of Mo’s best performances here as a Falcon this year. So often a lot of attention goes over to Julio’s way, we are fortunate that we have other guys that will get involved.”
Jones was not his usual stellar self as he had just three receptions for 29 yards. Against the NFL’s top ranked rushing defense, the Falcons needed production through the air, and although the NFL’s leading receiver was unable to take advantage of an injury-riddled Packer secondary, the Falcons’ number two guy showed what he was capable of.
Sanu had season-highs in receptions and yards Sunday, but what might be the most impressive aspect of his performance was that he held onto the darts Ryan tossed his way. He said during the week he and Ryan discussed how he would need to put some “extra zip” on the ball to make sure it got there, and that strategy paid off.
“We just called everything going out, out break, and Matt just placed the ball perfectly every time,” Sanu said. “And I just put my hands up, caught it in self defense.”
He finished the game with nine grabs and 84 yards to go along with his last-minute score.
In a high-scoring affair that came down to final possession, Sanu said it was important the Falcons were able to finish strong and show their “killer instinct.”
“When my number is called upon, I’m going to just make plays,” Sanu said. “That’s what I was brought here to do and that’s what I’m going to do.”
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