Another playoff failure for Atlanta Falcons – NFL Season Review (Part II)
Continued from part I...
At Tampa Bay
The Atlanta Falcons had defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, but they had still some work to do to improve their defence.
Falcons did managed to bring improvement in their defensive game, but were still unable to win their first away game of the season when they travelled to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In a low-scoring game, Falcons were once again unable to finish their playing drives by scoring a touchdown. Instead, they once again relied on field goals.
On the other hand, the defence was good, but not that good.
The Bucs scored a field goal in the first quarter of the game and the Falcons responded to level the score in the second quarter in which Tama Bay scored a touchdown and another field goal to take the lead.
In the third quarter, the Bucs scored another field goal to increase their lead.
Falcons finally got hold of the game in the final quarter in which they scored a touchdown and a field goal, but still fell three points behind and lost the game. The final score settled at 16-13.
Falcons’ coach, Mike Smith, said after the game:
"It was a freeze play. They were going to use a hard count. We talked about it on the sideline. We didn't execute as an entire defence. Not one person (should be singled out). That one play didn't determine the game. There were lots of plays. We just didn't
get it done."
At Seattle
Falcons had lost two of their first three games and were yet to win an away game, but the curse lifted when they travelled to play the Seattle Seahawks.
Falcons were aggressive right from the start and took a strong lead, but they lost their way rhythm in the final half of the game and allowed Seahawks to come back. However, Falcons managed to stay in control of the game and eventually won it.
In the first quarter, Falcons scored a touchdown to get their first scoring move. They scored another touchdown in the second to increase the lead.
Seahawks managed a touchdown in the second quarter to reduce the deficit to seven points, but Falcons added a touchdown and a field goal and entered the halftime carrying the lead, 24-7.
Most part of the final half of the game belonged to the Seahawks as they restricted Falcons from scoring any touchdown.
Falcons got a field goal in the third quarter in which Seahawks scored two touchdowns. In the final quarter, Falcons got another field goal while Seahawks got one more touchdown, but could not provide more scoring moves and lost. The final score settled
at 30-28.
Against Green Bay Packers
After playing four games, Falcons were 2-2. They needed more victories, but their next encounter was scheduled against the defending Super Bowl champions, Green Bay Packers, who had defeated them in the previous year’s playoff game.
Packers had not lost any game in the season and they further stretched their winning streak by beating Falcons.
Falcons scored a touchdown in the first quarter of the game and increased their lead in the second quarter. Packers were yet to score and Falcons had a 14-point lead.
Despite a good start, Falcons faced some serious troubles later and eventually lost the game.
Packers gave away 14 points early, but they did not allow even a single scoring move later and scored two field goals in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, they got another field goal and managed a touchdown to take the lead, which was increased in the final quarter in which Packers got a touchdown and a field goal to win the game.
The final score settled at 25-14.
Falcons’ coach, Mike Smith, said after the game:
"The way we played the first quarter is the way we want to play football. After that, it was not what we wanted. We made way too many mistakes."
To be continued...
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