Backup quarterback Matt Simms and running back Terron Ward led the Falcons’ reserves to a 17-15 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday at the Georgia Dome.
Tickets distributed for the game were announced at 67,385, but about half of those folks stayed at home.
Simms completed 16 of 23 passes for 217 yards and tossed two interceptions. Ward, who was coming off an ankle injury, rushed 22 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
“The good thing was that we showed good resilience,” Simms said. “We fought through it. The defense made a lot of big stops to get us back out there. Hey, we were able to finish and capitalize at the end.”
The Falcons improved to 3-1 in exhibitions, while the Jaguars, who sat 28 players, dropped to 1-3.
Here are the five things we learned:
1. Goldson can still hit. Former All-Pro strong safety Dashon Goldson, who was signed on Sunday, saw plenty of action with the reserves.
“It was good to go out there and run around a little bit and get my legs underneath me,” Goldson said. “I still have a lot to clean up. I’ve been on the streets for a little while.”
He laid a big hit on Jacksonville wide receiver Aurrelious Benn along the sideline in the second quarter.
Free safety Robenson Therezie helped Goldson get lined up in the middle of the field on that play.
On another third-down play, Goldson covered the tight end on a short check-down route over the middle and appeared comfortable.
“He’s still got work to do in terms of learning the system, but we were pleased with the physicality,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “There was a very nice tackle with him on the sideline. I said ‘welcome back’ and he kind of smiled. That’s definitely a part of his game.”
2. Injury update. Rookie fullback Will Ratelle left the game with a left ankle injury. He walked off the field with the trainers but did not return to the game.
Therezie, who had a spectacular interception and made a thunderous hit along the sideline on Jacksonville running back Corey Grant, left the game with a hand injury in the third quarter.
Therezie was called for taunting after standing over Grant after his big hit.
Also, defensive tackle Joey Mbu left the game with a hand injury.
Therezie didn’t bait the quarterback on his interception.
“I was in a good position when he tried to line-drive the throw,” Therezie said. “I just got up there and made the play. I didn’t have to bait him or anything like that. I was just in good position for where he threw it at.”
3. Kicker battle. In the battle of kickers, Matt Bryant appeared to be the winner.
Bryant made a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter. Shayne Graham missed a 32-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.
Bryant spent the past two weeks recovering from a minor injury.
Bryant has been the kicker for the past six full seasons, but he’s missed two of three exhibition games with muscle tightness after missing six games in 2015 because of injury. A week ago the Falcons re-signed veteran Graham, who served as their kicker while Bryant was injured last season.
Bryant, 42, made 14 of 18 field-goal attempts (77.8 percent) in 2015, all from less than 50 yards, with one attempt blocked. That was Bryant’s lowest percentage of kicks made in his six full seasons with the Falcons and second-worst of his 14 NFL seasons.
Graham, 38, made 11 of 13 attempts in 2015 (84.6), including 3-for-3 from 50 yards or longer and 2-for-4 from 40-49 yards.
It looks like Bryant is the keeper if he’s recovered from his injury. The Falcons can keep Graham’s number on speed dial.
4. The Upshaw project. Defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw had a sack and a tackle for a loss from his new position. The veteran is on the bubble and needed a big game.
Upshaw played strong-side linebacker for Baltimore the past four years. Great things had been projected for him after a fine career at Alabama where he played on two national championship teams, made the second-team AP All-American team and was voted the most valuable defensive player of the 2012 BCS national championship game.
The Falcons signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million make-good contract and converted him to defensive tackle.
5. Starters mostly watch. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan played one snap. He left the game after handing the ball off to running back Devonta Freeman.
Matt Schaub replaced Ryan to finish out the first possession. Simms took over from the second possession and finished the game.
The starting defense, which featured strong-side linebacker Vic Beasley, middle linebacker Deion Jones and weak-side linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, played a series.
After Freeman and Tevin Coleman each carried the ball one time, Ward took over.
The Falcons’ formations were limited after Ratelle left the game. Wide receiver J.D. McKissic played two snaps at running back to give Ward a rest.
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