It’s always tough for the Atlanta Falcons go to New Orleans and play against the Saints in the Superdome. From the 2006 game when the Saints returned to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, to the game in 2007 when Byron Leftwich got hurt and Joey Harrington tried to rally the troops to no avail, the Birds have struggled to get a win at New Orleans. On Sunday, Matt Ryan tried to break the losing streak and did everything he could to get the Falcons their ninth win of the season. But it wasn’t enough, and the Saints won 29-25 in an exciting game.
When I say Ryan did everything he could to get the Falcons a victory, I mean it. It started off slow for him, as he threw an interception to Jason David which led to a Saints score, but he was able to end the day with 315 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing. He was able to make big-time throws to Roddy White, who ended the day with 10 receptions for 164 yards, and Michael Jenkins, who also had a strong game with five catches and 69 yards. It was also another game where Ryan wasn’t sacked, and he was only touched once as he tried a quarterback draw on the last series of the game for the Falcons. As good as the Falcons offense was in the game, the Saints offense was a little better. The Saints outrushed the Falcons by almost 100 yards and they committed no turnovers. Like the game over a month ago at the Georgia Dome, you saw two of the best quarterbacks in the conference duke it out, but Drew Brees ended up winning Round 2.
So the next game on the schedule is Tampa Bay. This one is absolutely a must-win. Ryan didn’t have the best outing in these teams’ first matchup, as he threw for two interceptions in the Falcons first loss of the season. It is clear that the Falcons are an improved team from what they were in September, but the Buccaneer defense has been outstanding all season. The one thing that the Falcons have going for them is that they are playing at home and they have lost only one game at the Georgia Dome. The pressure is on the Falcons to win and make it to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Can Ryan handle it? I think after all he has been through to get this team to 8-5 and in the thick in the playoff race, there is no reason to doubt Ryan or the Falcons to take it to the Bucs and win their last three regular season games.
Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.
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