After one preseason game, it’s hard to answer questions about certain aspects of a team because there is little to zero game planning. But if there are two things that can be answered about the 2010 Atlanta Falcons, it’s this; they can still run the ball and are fast on defense. Because of this they were able to take care of the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10 at the Georgia Dome on Friday night.
“I felt like we did some really good things,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “I liked their effort and I liked their intensity. I like the way the guys played.”
The Falcons got the ball first and it was an opportunity for fans to see a healthy Michael Turner who is coming off an ankle injury. He looked like a guy on a mission, carrying the ball four times for 29 yards which led to a Matt Bryant 30-yard field goal.
“It felt good,” Turner said who has not played in a NFL game since November. “It seems like it’d been forever since I’d been out there.”
After that drive the defense took over, forcing Kansas City to a three-and out on their first drive and later in the quarter Kroy Biermann forced a Matt Cassel fumble, which led to a recovery by John Abraham.
“Kroy has really stepped his game up,” Abraham said during the game. “As a defense we seem to be playing a lot better. I think it’s just coming to maturity of the defense.”
The theme of the second quarter was special team miscues for both teams, as Ryan Succop missed two 53-yard field goals while Matt Bryant missed a 50-yard field goal.
“We rotated our kickers,” Smith said as Steve Hauschka also missed a 53 yarder in the first quarter. “We wanted to make sure when there was an opportunity for a long field goal we wanted to what those guys could handle.”
Succop was able to nail a 20-yard field goal at the end of the half to tie the game at three. But that would be the only scoring the Chiefs would do until the end of the game.
The third quarter was dominated by Atlanta, holding onto the ball for nearly 12 minutes. Their first drive lasted only two minutes and 27 seconds, but credit has to go to the defense as Shan Schillinger intercepted a Brodie Croyle pass which led to a Dimitri Nance two yard touchdown run. The rookie from Arizona State would score again early in the fourth quarter, this time for 1-yard which ended a drive that lasted 10 minutes.
“He runs the ball with power,” Smith said talking about Nance who is a rookie out of Arizona State. “He’s a compact back and I think he did a really nice job.”
Kansas City was able to score at the end of the contest with a 1-yard touchdown run by third-string quarterback Tyler Palko which ended a 15-play 84-yard drive.
STATS AND OTHER NOTES…
Ryan played in two series in the first quarter and went 3-for-6 with 34 yards. Two of his passes went to Tony Gonzalez and one went to Turner on a broken play in the first series. Wilson was the Falcons leading passer, throwing 16 times, completing eight passes for 80 yards. Chris who saw action in the first and second quarter went 4-for-7 and 30 yards.
Defensively, Spencer Adkins led the team in tackles with six, while Curtis Lofton added five tackles and one sack. Kroy Bierrman had the other. Chevis Jackson has two passed defended and one interception. First round pick Sean Weatherspoon had four tackles but he did not ease into the game like the other rookies.
“Sean got a little baptism under fire,” Smith said. “He started as a WILL linebacker in this ball game, but I thought that he did some good things.”
As far as injuries go, Lofton and Jamaal Anderson left the game cramps, but other than that, the team came out healthy.
“Curtis had an IV there at halftime and he was back to his old self,” Smith said. “If it was a regular season game both of those guys would have continued on playing.”
The Falcons next game will be Thursday against the New England Patriots at the Georgia Dome which will be nationally televised. They will get an opportunity to see the Pats up close and personal earlier in the week, as New England comes to Flowery Branch on Tuesday for two combined practices.
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