An all-inclusive and comprehensive demolishing of the Niners gets the Falcons back on track.
Scott Pharr, Atlanta, GA
Falcons 45, Niners 10?? No one saw this coming. And more than likely, that is exactly what Falcons coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff were hoping for. After starting the season with two wins over then-winless teams followed by a back-to-reality loss at New England, you got the feeling that Falcon’s fans spent the bye week waiting for the other shoe to drop. What shoe is that? That is the size 15 cleat that, when you flip it over, it reads “The Atlanta Falcons have never experienced 2 successive winning seasons”. It also has neon lettering on the side under the laces that says, “QB SOPHOMORE SLUMP”. However, the trepidation was for naught and the apprehension was misplaced. In a reenactment of an old NFC West battle yesterday, the ‘Birds ambushed the 49ers and had them waving the white flag by midway through the 2nd quarter.
Courtesy ESPN
Not only was the victory important with regard to when it came on the schedule, the decisive nature with which the Falcons dismantled the Niners sent shockwaves across the landscape of the NFC. Were they to lose yesterday, they would then be at .500 and staring down a gauntlet of 3 games with teams that have a combined record of 10-3, two of those games on the road, and two of the teams coming off byes. Next week they host the 3-1 Bears, who were on a bye this week. Following that, it’s a trip to Dallas, who is on a bye next week and feeling good after a gritty overtime victory at Kansas City. And finally, it’s a showdown in New Orleans against division rival score-at-will Saints. Truly, this is the Amen Corner of the Falcons 2009 schedule, and a win yesterday would go a long way towards putting the necessary wind in the sails going forward. But that wasn’t just a win, it was a statement.
The 2009 Niners have been the feel-good story of the league so far this year, a team with average to below-average talent coached up by a former defensive legend who makes it known to everyone he would expect nothing but 110% effort from his squad. That is what made yesterday’s blowout so shocking. It was shocking that they were able to run up 477 total yards, the most since December of 2002 against Detroit.
Courtesy ESPN
It was shocking that Roddy White’s 210 yards receiving set a new franchise record. And quite shocking that a Mike Singletary coached team would lose by 35 points, a margin of loss only exceeded by a 41-0 drubbing at the hands the Chiefs in 2006. Maybe they had a bad day, or maybe they’re just not ready for prime time.
The most satisfying aspect for Falcons’ fans was the need, desire, and will to go on the road and put down an opponent by stepping on their throat and refusing to let them breathe. This is not something Atlanta is used to seeing, but after 48 years of what-if’s, almost’s, and never were’s, the team may be on to something special. It’s likely the most significant regular-season road victory since 1998, the last and only time the team has played on Super Bowl grass. In week 10 of that season the 6-2 Falcons traveled to New England and laid a 41-10 pasting on the Patriots, propelling them to a 14-2 record and representation of the NFC in the big game. While that is getting a little ahead of things this season, being only week 6, a demonstrative win like yesterday’s at least gives a win-starved fan base a reason to get excited again. The other shoe appears to have dropped, but this one dropped on the Niners at Candlestick, and the Falcons are trying to prove they can step on anyone in their path.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Great article. Nopw please write something nice about the Buffalo Bills. They need it
October 12th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Great article. Nopw please write something nice about the Buffalo Bills. They need it