Falcons Week #2: Jacksonville Jaguars
Game Result
Jacksonville 13
Atlanta 7
Game Analysis
If the NFL only played 3 periods like the NHL, and neither team could kick field goals for points, the Falcons win this game. Once again, the story for this week is the passing game and kicking field goals. The Falcons offensive line is really struggling against teams pass rushing and blitzing. Defenses are stopping the run and the Falcons are finding themselves in a lot of third and longs and teams are just having a field day blitzing and adding to their sack totals. The Falcons gave up 7 sacks this week and gave up 6 sacks last week. Harrington has no time to throw the ball once they get into passing situations. Even when Joey has time to throw, he holds onto the ball too long. I don’t know if it is that the receivers are not getting separation from the defender or if Joey is having a hard time seeing the field. Either way you look at it, the results are the same — another sack. However, the Falcons have shown in the first two games of the season that they are capable of driving down the field and scoring. In the second quarter, the Falcons put together a nice 73 yard drive the resulted in a Warrick Dunn rushing touchdown. Then in the third quarter, the offense had another good drive of 59 yards that resulted in a missed field goal; the second missed field goal of the game for Matt Prater. After that, the momentum switched to the Jaguars who finished the game with 10 points in the fourth quarter to win the game. This weekly blog is going to get easier as the year goes along, because all I will have to do is change the opponent name and score, the sack totals, and missed field goals.
The bright side of today’s game was the defense. Yeah, they gave up some third and longs and they gave up 10 points in the fourth quarter, but they were out on the field a lot in the second half. Plus I think that missed field goal took the wind out of the Falcons sails. John Abraham recorded his first sack of the season and the Falcons defensive line played a good game and held Jacksonville to only 3 points until the fourth quarter. After the missed field goal, the Jaguars started to throw the ball down field and really made it look easy against the Falcons secondary. At one point in the game, Lewis Sanders gave up a couple of big pass plays and was replaced by rookie Chris Houston. I believe you will see him a lot more next week. Not to mention that you will also see a new field goal kicker. Petrino was not happy after the second missed field goal and Matt Prater is now 1 for 4 in attempts after being signed. Where is Morten Anderson??
Game MVP
David Garrard for the Jaguars
John Abraham and Warrick Dunn for the Falcons
Game Grades:
Offense = C+
Defense = B
Special Teams = D
Coaching = C+
Overall = C
Composite (Season) Grades
Offense = C
Defense = B-
Special Teams = D+
Coaching = C
Overall = C
Upcoming Game Analysis
The Falcons will be at home this week for their home opener against the Carolina Panthers. This is an important game for Atlanta to try and get their first win against a division rival and put on a good showing for the home crowd. If Harrington is sacked 6 times and the Falcon fans see missed field goals, it could get ugly and the boo-birds will start to echo in the Georgia Dome. Abraham had a huge game against the Panthers last year before getting injured. Hopefully he can duplicate that performance. I predict the Falcons will come out strong and put more points on the board then they have the last two weeks, but only if they hire a new kicker. Even though they will have the home field advantage, and the players will be pumped up, I do not see the Falcons winning this game. If they do not get pressure on Delhomme and double cover Steve Smith, Atlanta could be in for a long day. The Falcons will fall to the Panthers 23-17 and start the season 0-3.
