Vaughn Mcclure Articles On Falcons Win Over Panthers

[theProf]

Rapid Reaction: Atlanta Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A few thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' 19-17 win over the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

What it means: The Falcons blew a double-digit lead but held on thanks to a field goal by Matt Bryant and a missed field goal (wide left) by Carolina's Graham Gano. As a result, a Falcons team that dropped five straight games at one point just took over first place in the NFC South at 4-6, following a loss by New Orleans against the Bengals. The Falcons beat the Saints in the season opener, paving the way for them to move up in the standings.

Stock watch: Give the defense credit for coming up with a few key turnovers, including interceptions by Desmond Trufant and Kemal Ishmael. Also give Harry Douglas credit for making a few key catches on the drive that led to the go-ahead field goal. He was clutch.

Reaching a milestone: With an 11-yard catch in the fourth quarter, Roddy White surpassed 10,000 career receiving yards. White finished with eight catches for 75 yards.

Game ball: I'm giving it to Bryant for the second consecutive week. He always shows poise under pressure and delivered again with four field goals, including the game-deciding 44-yarder. I also have to give rookie Carolina Panthers -- made possible in large part by Bryant's four field goals, including the game-deciding 44-yarder -- has the 4-6 Falcons in an improbable position: tied for first in the NFC South. This is the same Falcons team that dropped five straight at one point and had the national media already declaring Mike Smith out as head coach.

Arthur Blank happy Falcons are in first place

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Atlanta Falcons' 19-17 win over the Carolina Panthers at Bank of American Stadium.

• Falcons owner Arthur Blank obviously was in a much better mood Sunday than he was after his team blew a 21-point lead against Detroit in London earlier this season. "Yes, I am happy, definitely," Blank said. "First place in our division; I'm happy." The Falcons are 4-6 and tied atop the NFC South with the Saints, but they beat New Orleans in the season opener.
• 
  Atlanta running back Antone Smith, who suffered a knee injury, was spotted on crutches as he exited the locker room. Cornerback Robert Alford had what appeared to be a soft cast protection on his left wrist. Receiver Devin Hesterdidn't have any protection on his left wrist, but it could be sprained and he's set to undergo further testing on Monday. Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux said the knee he banged up during the game is fine.
• Before exiting the locker room, Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant admitted he mistakenly celebrated what he thought was a pass breakup in the fourth quarter but ended up being a 22-yard touchdown catch by Panthers rookie wide receiverKelvin Benjamin. "I turned and looked at the crowd like, 'What? What?' And then I looked back and I saw him celebrating," Trufant said. "I was like, 'Aww, man.' I thought I broke it up. He just made a better play. I tip my hat to him on that one."

First-place Falcons not getting ahead of themselves

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Atlanta Falcons supposedly were on life support before they headed to London three games ago. Then across the pond, a blown 21-point lead and loss to the Detroit Lions had them bound for the morgue.

Guess what? The Falcons are alive, and Matt Bryant is kicking.

Sunday's 19-17 win over the Carolina Panthers -- made possible in large part by Bryant's four field goals, including the game-deciding 44-yarder -- has the 4-6 Falcons in an improbable position: tied for first in the NFC South. This is the same Falcons team that dropped five straight at one point and had the national media already declaring Mike Smith out as head coach.

Again, the Falcons are in first place.

"I think it's good," quarterback Matt Ryansaid with a chuckle. "It's been a different year, for sure. But you play to be relevant in November and December. And as quirky as this year has been, we're relevant. And we've got to keep going."

New Orleans also is 4-6 following Sunday's 27-10 loss to Cincinnati. But the Falcons already defeated the Saints in the season opener and have a 4-0 record in the NFC South right now.

Look at it this way: If the playoffs started today, the Falcons would be in as the NFC South champs, owning the tiebreaker over the Saints.

"Our backs were just against the wall," cornerback Desmond Trufant said. "Every article that talked about the Atlanta Falcons a couple of weeks ago didn't give us a chance. So, we're not going to get too happy. We like where we're at, but we still could be even better."

The last part of Trufant's statement somewhat summed up Sunday's game. The Falcons left a lot of opportunities on the field yet were able to squeak out a physical road win against the reeling Panthers (3-7-1). The offense was 1-for-3 in the red zone and 5-for-15 on third down. The Falcons scored just three points after Trufant intercepted Cam Newton in the third quarter and put the offense at the Panthers' 14-yard line with a with a 19-yard return. There were questionable play calls, including a couple of wide receiver screens that failed. The Falcons seemed to play too conservatively on offense, in spurts, as result of the Panthers' zone defense.

And Devin Hester's unnecessary roughness penalty following a third-quarter melee pushed the Falcons out of field-goal range while leading 16-3. Hester then fumbled the ball over to Carolina the next play following his 15-yard penalty.

The Falcons eventually surrendered momentum and what was a 13-point third-quarter lead when Newton found Philly Brown for a 47-yard touchdown on poor one-on-one coverage byRobert McClain, who replaced an injured Robert Alford (wrist).

Through all those hiccups, the Falcons showed more resilience than they have all season. Give Ryan credit for engineering a 12-play, 54-yard scoring drive right after Newton's touchdown to Brown gave the Panthers a 17-16 lead. Three Ryan connections to Harry Douglas for 29 yards, including a critical 8-yard pickup on third-and-5 from Carolina's 35-yard line, were key in setting up Bryant's decisive 44-yarder.

"I thought it was guys making plays under pressure," Smith said of the go-ahead drive. "I thought Matt did a very good job running our no-huddle offense throughout the ballgame. We were a little bit more in an up-tempo situation on that sequence, but it was great to see Matt and Harry connect. We've missed some games with Harry throughout the season and it was good to have him back out there."

The game wasn't truly decided until the final play, when Graham Gano's 63-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Falcons rookie We haven't won anything. We've just won one game. And that's all we can control right now."

Roddy White sets milestone with 10,000 receiving yards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Before Matt Ryan took questions about Sunday's 19-17 win over theCarolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback took a moment to acknowledged an accomplishment by one of his favorite targets.

"Before we get started, I just want to say how proud I am of Roddy [White] for passing the milestone that he has," Ryan said of White reaching 10,000 career receiving yards. "Certainly he's shown great longevity throughout his career and has made a huge impact on my own career, so I couldn't be happier of him. Now he's got to go get to 11,000."

Coming into the game, White needed 73 yards to reach 10,000. He got 75 on eight receptions while be targeted a team-high 12 times.

White surpassed 10,000 with an 11-yard catch with 4 minutes, 53 seconds left in regulation. It was part of a 12-play, 54-yard drive that set up Matt Bryant's game-deciding, 44-yard field goal.

White is the 42nd player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards, joining the likes of other actives players such as Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Steve Smith, to name a few.

"It's a great achievement," White said. "Some of the guys, you know, came over and gave me a nice hug. So, it was good. But the win was more gratifying. I'd rather win the division and go to the playoffs, do things like that, then these individual achievements. But it's a good achievement. It speaks volumes of just going out there and playing consistent football for the last 10 years."

[theProf]

Another McClure article:

Devin Hester sorry for flag; not sorry for defending Harry Douglas

CHARLOTTE -- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester, who picked up what could have been a costly unnecessary roughness penalty for going after a Carolina player with his helmet, said he actions were all about defending teammate Harry Douglas.

During a series of fights in the third quarter of Sunday's 19-17 win against the Panthers, Hester was flagged for diving in with the crown of his helmet to knock Panthers cornerback Josh Norman off Douglas after Norman and Douglas wrestled each other to the ground. Panthers safety Colin Jones then went after Hester. Eventually, three different Carolina players -- includingMario Addison, Hester's former teammate in Chicago -- pulled Hester to the ground.

"Once the play was over, I turned and Harry was about 10, 15 yards in front of me and the guy was on top of him just pushing him in the face," Hester said. "I was walking toward them and nobody was breaking it up. So I started speeding up.

"When you're around these guys every day, you build that brotherly relationship. When you see somebody doing that ... that's Harry, man. I thought they were trying to take some cheap shots. I was a tough game with two division teams. When it came down to it, stuff got heated."

Hester's 15-yard penalty came after a Steven Jackson run put the Falcons' at the Panthers' 27-yard line, so it essentially backed the team out of field goal range. Hester then fumbled the ball over to Carolina on the next play as linebacker Thomas Davis put a ball-jarring hit on him.

Hester admitted coach Mike Smith scolded him about the penalty.

"He was just like 'you have to be smart, with the situation that we're in right now,'" Hester said. "At the end of the day, about 95 percent of people would agree that it was a silly mistake, but it was right to defend your teammate. You can't let anybody do that to your teammate.

"Could I have handled it in a better way? Yeah. But I do I regret it? No."

Smith obviously was discouraged about Hester's penalty, but wondered why Hester was the only one to draw a flag following the melee.

"It was very costly again, I don't know how through all of that that transpired -- there was a lot, from where I was standing, going on," Smith said. "I don't know how it's a one-sided flag. I don't know. I've never seen that.

"I'm sure that when it all gets said and done that the league office will take a look at it, and if there were other guys involved in it, even though it wasn't a 15-yard penalty. That's what the league does. But I thought it was very unusual to have all that take place and only one player is penalized."

Douglas talked about Hester defending him.

"One thing I know about our team is that we're going to have each others' backs," Douglas said. "That's every group on this team. I know one thing: Our group, the receiver group, we're not backing down to nobody, we don't care who it is. And no matter who is in the situation, we're going to come protect one another. That's just who we are in our group. That's what we do."

It was a physical game all-around. Falcons defensive linemen Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai each got 15-yard penalties for roughing Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Carolina safety Roman Harper picked up a 15-yard flag for hitting Roddy White, which led to Antone Smith retaliating with a shove of Harper. Smith wasn't penalized.

White also took a two-hand shove to the face from Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy right in front of the official, although no penalty was called.

"You've got to love the aggression," White said, referring to his teammates. "I love the aggression by my guys and just going out there and fighting.
"

[RING OF HONOR]

Nice read....I'm hoping that block field goal by Hageman lights a fire in him...sometimes all it takes is one good play to give a player confidence and to feel like he's contributing. ...with Carolina on a bye and the Saints playing the Ravens. ..we have a chance to put a little distance between us..

[theProf]

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 1h1 hour ago

It's not looking good for Antone Smith (knee), and you would guess from him leaving the locker room on crutches. Expected to have MRI today

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 1h1 hour ago

Devonta Freeman played 13 snaps on Sunday. Should see his playing time increase with injury to Antone Smith.

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 1h1 hour ago

Jonathan Massaquoi played just 7 snaps Sunday, which would indicate his foot continues to bother him.

[Guest Negatorris]

Now Desmond Trufant is tipping hats? ****.

[raysnill1]

Now Desmond Trufant is tipping hats? ****.

I literally wanted to throw up after reading that.

[Door Gunner]

Wow!!!! Something that was actually informative. Thanks.

[TheFatboi]

Now Desmond Trufant is tipping hats? ****.

Lol. We're taking the identity of Smitty all the way. We're the Atlanta Hat Tippers

[Eight Track]

Now Desmond Trufant is tipping hats? ****.

Edited November 17, 2014 by The Great American

[freefall]

Now Desmond Trufant is tipping hats? ****.

I couldn't stop laughing. That was awesome! Lol

[Orange Julio]

"I turned and looked at the crowd like, 'What? What?' And then I looked back and I saw him celebrating," Trufant said. "I was like, 'Aww, man.' I thought I broke it up. He just made a better play. I tip my hat to him on that one."

[theProf]

Lol. We're taking the identity of Smitty all the way. We're the Atlanta Hat Tippers

Now that's funny but disturbing at the same time.

[kiwifalcon]

Like it.I can deal with those penalties for me its all the procedural ones that do my head in.

IE Holding on returns on ST's and the same by O-lineman,false starts neutral zone infractions anything that stalls out drives kills me.

[The Martyr]

Thanks for posting.

[theProf]

Thanks for posting.

You're welcome, and bump for the night crowd.

[sandtrap]

"I turned and looked at the crowd like, 'What? What?' And then I looked back and I saw him celebrating," Trufant said. "I was like, 'Aww, man.' I thought I broke it up. He just made a better play. I tip my hat to him on that one."

Smitty strikes again lol

[The Chunk]

Scary how Hester is the only player who would run in to help a team mate. That crap he said about our vanilla players having each others back made me chuckle a bit. Where was all this comradery when Matt Ryan got lit up off the ball by the grubby Aints corner last year I think it was. That c was the most blatanty dirty play and not one lineman did squat about it . They should have all been benched for that alone.

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

• Falcons owner Arthur Blank obviously was in a much better mood Sunday than he was after his team blew a 21-point lead against Detroit in London earlier this season. "Yes, I am happy, definitely," Blank said. "First place in our division; I'm happy." The Falcons are 4-6 and tied atop the NFC South with the Saints, but they beat New Orleans in the season opener

Arthur Blank should be excited about the Falcons in first...he knows we are in the middle of a rebuilding season. He helped put us there...JJ deal. Explosiveness over what turned this franchise around...strong running game/T.O.P./opportunistic "D".

[quotemokc]

I am all for Hester defending his team mate, but he should know better than to lead with his helmet

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

I am all for Hester defending his team mate, but he should know better than to lead with his helmet

My only problem was the fumble and false start after the ruckus.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Smitty. Probably scolded everyone after the fight instead of using it as an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin.

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

Smitty. Probably scolded everyone after the fight instead of using it as an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin.

Probably hated the false start and fumble, like any real coach would.