Falcons struggle to find killer instinct, manage to beat back late Vikings assault – NFL Recap
For a team considered a Super Bowl contender before the seasons start Atlanta Falcons (7-4) still struggle to find the killer instinct required for playoff success. In a repeat of their close call against Tennessee Titans in last
week’s game, Falcons just about managed to beat a lowly Minnesota Vikings (2-9) side 24-14 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
"We make it exciting enough for you?" Atlanta coach Mike Smith said, managing a smile.
Sure enough they do. With quarterback Matt Ryan having one of his better games Falcons built up a 17-0 lead in the first half of the game against a Vikings side ravaged by injuries and missing their best player this season Adrian
Peterson. Vikings further lost another three players in the first half to injuries.
Seems easy but since its Atlanta Falcons nothing is easy. Vikings got back into the game in the second quarter to make it 17-14. As Matt Ryan sent his third touchdown pass to Michael Palmer from 3 yards to make it 24-14, Vikings
still refused to give up on the game. Wide Receiver Percy Harvin collected Falcons kick off and went on a brilliant 104 yard run six minutes from the end of regular time but was brought down just a yard from the end-zone by a brilliant tackle by Chris Owen.
Vikings tried to go for the touchdown on fourth down instead of a field goal that would have brought the game to a single score; Toby Gerhart took the handoff and was immediately stuffed by Falcons defenders preventing an amazing
comeback as Falcons managed to hold on to win the game.
"At the end of the day, we had more points than they did," Smith said. "That's the most important stat."
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had a brilliant game throwing three touchdown passes as he covered 262 yards. Ryan also had his highest pass completion rate this season with 27 passes from 34 attempts for a 79.4% completion rate.
Atlanta Falcons took the lead in the first quarter through Harry Douglas catching a 27 yard pass from Ryan in the end-zone. Falcons went on to increase their lead to 17-0 in the second quarter with Ryan throwing his second touchdown
pass of the game to Roddy White from 6 yards and Matt Bryant scored a 37 yard field goal with just 37 seconds left in the second quarter.
Vikings however were not ready to give Falcons an easy victory and in a better second half performance gave Falcons a big scare. They scored their first points in the third quarter with a 1 yard touchdown from Toby Gerhart who
filled in for the injured running back Adrian Peterson.
Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder who had a subdued performance threw his only touchdown pass of the game early in the fourth to Percy Harvin with a 39 yard pass into the end-zone. With the score 17-14 and Vikings looking dangerous
Matt Ryan gave his team some respite with his third touchdown pass from 3 yards to Michael Palmer to increase his teams lead to 24-14.
This however did not subdue Vikings as Percy Harvin’s brilliant run after the kickoff brought his team to within a yard from the end-zone but Atlanta managed to hold back the assault and won the game.
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