Falcons prevail against major odds with help from a rookie head coach
Scott Pharr
Atlanta, GA
Late in the 4th quarter of today’s tilt between the Tampa Bay Buccaners and Atlanta Falcons, things really could not be going any worse for the Falcons. They were down by 4 to a team with 1 win on the season. Gone was prized 2nd year QB Matt Ryan, felled by a jammed toe in the 1st quarter. Gone was gritty RB Michael Turner, playing despite a high ankle sprain but out for the game after re-injuring it in the 3rd qtr. They found themselves on defense with no time outs left, and a spirited Tampa Bay squad driving down the field, primed to put the game away.
Morris
The down was 4th, the yard line was the Falcons 33, and the time left was 2:30. Bucs rookie Head Coach had 2 choices. A) Pooch punt it, likely leaving the ball at the Falcons 10 or less and requiring the Falcons and their back up QB to drive 90 yards needing a touchdown to win. Again, with no time outs remaining. This seemed like the logical choice. Option B) Send the kicker out for a 51-yard attempt, and if he were to miss, Falcons would get the ball at the 40 instead. Morris chose the latter, and kicker Conner Barth was trotted out to attempt the FG. Barth lined it up and promptly kicked it wide right, giving the Falcons just enough time and yardage for a game winning drive. Maybe Barth’s leg was tired, this possibly as a result of another head scratching decision by Morris. Earlier in the quarter, the Bucs faced 4th down and lined up for a punt. 34 year-old punter Dirk Johnson received the snap, however instead of stepping into a kick, Johnson cocked his arm back and began to scramble to his right, and the fake punt was underway. The Falcons had it covered, and Johnson threw a desperation toss to the left, falling incomplete. Morris must hate punting. A punt would have pinned the Falcons deep, but Morris was throwing caution to the wind and going for the jugular. In the process, Johnson was dinged up on the play, and with a bruise on his right thigh, was unable to go back in the game were any more punts needed. Indeed a punting situation arose later in the game, and Barth was asked to punt for the 1st time in his career. Fast-forward to the end of the game, and a tired-legged Barth pushes the critical field goal, and the Falcons got the ball at the 40 with 2:30 left, down 17-13.
For the Falcons, the story of the day was the excellent relief performance tallied by 7-year veteran Chris Redman.
Redman's first start in 26 games might have saved the season for Atlanta
With Ryan lost for the day, all Redman did was go 23-41 for 243 yards, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. His good play became even more important midway through the 3rd quarter when Turner was lost for the game after taking another shot to his already gimpy ankle. Fortunately, Redman was well up to the task.
The final drive, which was as clutch a performance as any 2-minute winning drive the NFL has seen, consisted of 16 plays, all passes out of the shotgun, with the exception of 2 spikes to stop the clock. Redman’s key target on the drive was TE Tony Gonzalez, who caught 4 passes on the drive in route to a season high 9 catches for 83 yards. After a holding penalty on Tampa Bay gave the Falcons 1st and goal from the 5, it took a 4th down, now-or-never strike to Roddy White, which White proceeded to haul in with :26 left to seal the most improbable of wins for Atlanta. Conversely, it extended what has already been a brutally long season for the now 1-10 Buccaneers.
The win was especially important for Atlanta, with home games against Philadelphia and New Orleans on the horizon. At 6-5, they can still see a glimpse of the possibility of the playoffs. And while Redman was heroic today, there is no question they will need the services of Ryan as well as Turner to have any shot of making noise late in the season.
