BLOGGER’S NOTE: For quarter-by-quarter recaps of Sunday’s historic game, check out John Manasso’s Beat Blog. You can also get more stats and early highlights on the NFL.com Game Center.
You could say the Falcons, as a franchise, got off to a slow start. Having gone the first 44 years of existence without back-to-back winning seasons, it’s hard to argue.
That changed Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa when these much-belittled Birds erased one of the more frustrating footnotes in sports history.
Sleep well, Falcons fans. With Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Bucs, your team finishes at 9-7.
And the players who will be heros in this game are youngsters who really didn’t know much about the team’s lackluster history.
Second-year cornerback Brent Grimes and rookie corner Christopher Owens each picked up interceptions in the fourth quarter. Owens’ setup the game-winning touchdown drive. Grimes pick came in the end zone with less than five minutes to play and gave the Falcons a chance to run out the clock.
And chipping away at that clock was third-year man Jason Snelling, whose 5-foot-11, 229-pound frame seemed deliciously adept at chewing up the turf and running over would-be tacklers.
Subbing for an injured Michael Turner, he finished with a career-high 147 yards after just 16 in the first half.
None were alive for some of the more frustrating years like backing up a playoff appearance in 1980 with a 7-9 mark in ‘81.
But they felt the importance of Sunday’s game and, played up to the challenge. Many times in Falcons history, that wasn’t the case.
Falcons fans saluting the team as it boarded the buses summed this one up perfectly.
“For us to go out and get back-to-back winning seasons is something that we as a football team want to have happen,” Head Coach Mike Smith said. “We want to be a relevant football team year in and year out. That’s what we talked about. When you’re relevant you got to have a winning record and you’ll have an opportunity to be in the discussions for the playoffs. We weren’t in the playoffs but we had a season that gives us nine wins and that’s something that we are very proud of.”
Falcons fans know a thing or two (or a million) about shared pain. Any team coached by Smith knows a thing or two about team work and camaraderie .
For months Smith, his players and coaching staff have preached the importance of team defense.
Sunday the Falcons allowed their first touchdown in 10 quarters but managed to knock the Buccaneers offense out of rhythm the entire game. Tampa Bay held the ball for just 24:31 and rushed for just 38 yards to the Falcons 183.
In fact, Atlanta out-gained the Bucs in yards 397 to 206.
On offense, Matt Ryan threw a pair of interceptions and two touchdowns — one to Roddy White and one to tight end Justin Peelle. The group, like the Falcons franchise, got off to a “slow start,” recording just one first down in the opening quarter but prodded the Bucs defense for weak points.
They found them with the no-huddle offense and a running game designed to punish defenders.
“You know, that’s the type of football the Falcons like to play,” Snelling said. “It’s very gratifying to be able to do that, to be a part of that. But like I said, the offensive line, it’s all credit to them. They were blocking to the whistle, a little bit after the whistle, but that’s those guys. A running back loves running behind them and even our fullback Ovie Mughelli. I’ve been loving running behind him all year, just finishing to the whistle…”
The Birds certainly didn’t play perfect in this historical game, but they did things the right way — “The Falcon Way” often described by coaches and executives in this era that began with the hiring of General Manager Thomas Dimitroff.
Power running. Team defense. Refusal to quit.
And let’s not forget success by younger players and all-around signs for a brighter tomorrow. Enjoy this Falcons fans, because dubious history can now rest in the past.
Now, it’s really about the future.
“We broke the curse and it’s awesome to be the first to do that,” linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “…We just got to keep winning, win some games and get to the playoffs.”
MORE FALCONS-BUCCANEERS COVERAGE:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: More Falcons-Bucs coverage from AF.com
- GAME CENTER: Click here for stats and more from NFL.com
- MULTIMEDIA: Interviews, highlights and more from Bucs-Falcons
- FIRST TAKE: Exclusive post game interviews with Dave Archer
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes kept in the Raymond James Stadium press box
- THE BEAT BLOG: Quarter-by-quarter updates from AF.com’s John Manasso
- J. MIKE’S MISSIVES: Additional thoughts from the AF.com managing editor
- INACTIVES: Inactive players and starters from Week 17
- QUOTABLE: Thoughts from Falcons postgame | Buccaneers
- PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons victory over the Bucs
- FORUMS: Talk about the Falcons 9-7 finish with fans on FalconsLIFE
19 Comments
bout time hope they do better this year
Well Dave it looks like you missed this one. Way to go Falcons! I like it. I am so glad to have that monkey off our back. Next year we will do even better. I like this team and where they are headed. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to the players, coaches and the management. Thank you Arthur Blank for giving us a winning team. Know keep it up year in and year out.
J. Mike you just called snelling delicious, funny. Great game Falcons!! You guys broke the curse! Next year superbowl. Once again our secondary comes up big. I wonder why their production is up for the last few weeks?Hmm, I wonder. Well I’m impressed with our team as a whole even through all the adversity this season. I’m looking forward to a big off season and a very mature football team this year. Go Falcons!!
Two things to consider before you rush to spend your 401k for season tix:
Was there ever a doubt that we would win against this QB running a high school offense?
Did we even beat a single team with a winning record this season?
We are a better team but still not at the elite level.
Congratulations Falcons on a good season!Great to have back to back seasons of win.Plus we end the season with a win.Looking forward to next season.
Great win Falcons!!! We might not have had the best of seasons, but we did manage to get a winning season and end the curse. After free agency & the draft, hopefully we can put a few more pieces together to get the job done next year. Our secondary looks promising with Chris Owens and Brent Grimes. However, another dominant CB from FA or draft wouldnt hurt either. More pressure off the D-line with a 4-3 DE and OLB would complete the defense. Another go-to receiver to compliment Roddy White and a speedy RB to compliment M. Turner and Snelling with another OT/OG would complete this high flying offense. But thats just my opinion.
After looking at the 2010 schedule, our home games look alot more tougher than our away games. Gooo Falcons!!!
Congrats on the win. we didnt have the best of seasons but we did break the curse. All we need are a few more pieces via free agency and draft and we’ll be ok. A 4-3 DE, OLB and CB will complete the defense. Another go to WR, speedy RB and OT/OG will complete the offense. The 2010 schedule looks manageable considering all our tougher games are home and not away. GOOO FALCONS!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU for using my sign JMike!
It was awesome to get to see the team and gain an experience that I will not soon forget.
“GET THAT DAMN MONKEY OFF OUR BACK ” LOL
@ Skillett
QUIT BEING A BUZZ KILL! We beat the Jets and we beat teams who still had playoff chances towards the end. And we almost beat New Orleans with back-ups.
Hey J. Mike – Brent and the rest of our secondary have taken a beating in various blogs all year. Don’t you think it appropriate that they really contributed in a HUGE way these last few games thus showing why Coach has show much confidence in their abilities?
Great season falcons considering all of the adversity and injuries. now that we found two defensive backs that can actually play the ball, what do we do with chris houston, tye hill, brian williams, and chevis jackson? in my opinion, i think we shouldkeep brent, chris owens, and chevis; release tye hill, chris houston, and brian williams and then go and draft a shutdown corner. we also need another pass rusher, offensive lineman, and a complimentary receiver(although harry douglas will be back). michael jenkins has to step up his play or he needs to go. resign norwood, koenen, dahl. i like clabo but i just dont see us keeping dahl and clabo. what do you guys think?
Who has to spend their 401K on Season Tickets? If you’re that bad off financially you don’t need something meaningless like football tickets.
the reason our secondary n entire defense played better the last three weeks was cuz ja98 n ch23, the two arkansas bums, werent in the lineup. Love grimes heart n athletic ability n owens ability to tackle in the open field especially coming up on the run
@Skillett quit being a negative canker sore!
We got robbed at home against the Saints(If they don’t call that pass interference call they go three and out) We almost beat the Saints in the Superdome, In New England the offensive line was getting away with holding all day(The Brady treatment) We were in every game with th eexception of Philly, are defense was ranked 10th in the NFL, we go through several starters on offense and defense and we ended up 9-7……not bad! As Chris Carter said the Falcons are in a good position to be better in the future. When I look at our schedule next year I am no longer scared of the teams i thought are serious powerhouse teams. I watched the Jets run all over the Bengals(we shut them down). We have the 16 best offense in the league and we were hit hard on the offensive side of the ball with our QB, RB, OL…not bad. I look forward to the draft and the 2010 season!! GO FALCONS!
As a life-long Georgian and Falcons fan, Sundays win was very satisfying! My only dissappointment was that Gonzalez wasn’t given the chance to get 1000 receptions. He is an awesome addition to the team. DON”T LET HIM GO!!!!!
THANK YOU for using my sign JMike!
It was awesome to get to see the team and gain an experience that I will not soon forget.
No, thank you for having such a great sign. Sorry I couldn’t hang out and talk with you guys longer. Needed to get on the bus and keep writing this blog! Go Falcons!
Tony G is a beast. We need to keep him. Plus, maybe some of him will rub off on the other TE’s. With the injuries to key players and the fact that we played 6 teams coming off a bye, 9-7 ain’t to shabby. GO FALCONS !
Jmike…i want your job.
(seriously)..any advise? Im a military veteran, about to start college..
what did you major in?
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