In order for the Falcons to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, they had to start fast and make sure they limit the possessions for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packer offense.
The Falcons were able to do that and jumped out the gate with a 14-6 lead. However, the second half was a different story, as the Packers scored 19 unanswered points which resulted in a 25-14 win.
“Obviously, that’s not the way we want to start the second quarter of our season,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said after the game. “We made way too many mistakes, uncharacteristic penalties at inopportune times.”
The Falcons lead as much as 14 points in the first half. They started the game with a 13-play, 80-yard drive which led to a Matt Ryan 5-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White. They got the ball back later in the first quarter after Brent Grimes forced a Ryan Grant fumble and that led to a Michael Turner 1-yard touchdown run.
“We started off fast,” Ryan said who ended with a 55.1 quarterback rating with 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions which came in the fourth quarter. “Those first two drives were what we wanted to do all night. But we weren’t able to do that. We put ourselves in some positions we could not overcome.”
After the Falcons score their 14 points, Packers kicker Mason Crosby kicked two field goals in the second quarter and one in the third. After forcing the Falcons to go three-and-out early in the third, Rodgers threw a 70-yard touchdown strike in to James Jones to give the Packers the lead for the first time.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Rodgers threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings to give the Packers the 22-14 lead.
“In this league, you got to play four quarters,” Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said who led the team with 11 tackles and two tackles for loss. “We’ll practice that way and we’ll make strides in order to do that.”
The reason the Falcons offense had a hard time scoring after the first two drives was not the Green Bay defense. It was the Falcons making mistakes on offense, which is something that has haunt this team the early stages of this season. After the Crosby scored the Packers first points of the game, the Falcons were driving into Packers territory thanks to a Ryan 47-yard strike to Harry Douglass. But Tyson Clabo was called for a holding penalty and the drive stalled.
Clabo was called for another penalty early in the third quarter. This time it was illegal use of the hands which put the Falcons out of field goal range.
Then there was a personal foul penalty on Roddy White later in the third which pined the Falcons deep in their own territory which led to points for the Packers.
“Nothing we tried in the second half worked,” Smith said. “We weren’t efficient at all.”
When asked if the offense needs an overhaul because of the lack of execution, Smith was quick to say not at all.
“When we call the plays, we got to go out there and execute,” Smith added. “It’s my responsibility and no one else’s that the plays that are going in are giving the players the best opportunity to succeed. And I’ll take full responsibility for that. No one else.”
So here’s what the Falcons are looking at now. They are currently 2-3 and two games behind the New Orleans Saints for the NFC South lead. Next Sunday they are back at the Georgia Dome to face the Carolina Panthers who are 1-4 but have been in every game that they played.
The Falcons have already matched their loss total from last year in just five games. Does it mean they are not as good as they were last year?
“It’s early in the season,” Ryan said. “We’re certainly not where would have like to have been, but we are where we are.” “What we did last year doesn’t make a difference as to what we’re going to do this year.”
Loading ...
