Falcons Week #4: Houston Texans
Game Result
Week #4 (September 30, 2007)
Atlanta 26
Houston 16
Game Analysis
The Falcons proved on Sunday that they don’t need Vick or Schaub to win football games. Atlanta got Petrino’s first NFL win and their first win of the season at the Georgia Dome. Joey is showing all the Harrington Haters that all you need to do is complete passes and take care of the ball. In the past two weeks, Harrington has passed for almost 600 yards, 5 touchdown passes and no interceptions. The offense line continues to improve giving Harrington time to complete passes. The running game started to get going a little during this game, but the Falcons have yet to have a 100 yard rusher and are averaging under 90 yards a game. Atlanta is still struggling scoring touchdowns and settling for field goals. But when you have Morten Andersen, it is almost an automatic 3 points. With that being said, I was very disappointed with the play calling after the fumble recovery deep in the Texans territory. It seemed like Petrino really wanted to get his first win and was very conservative with his play calling. He called three straight running plays for a total of negative 5 yards. Now, I understand that if he called some passing plays and Harrington by some chance threw an interception, then Petrino would probably get criticized for not running time off the clock and taking the 3 points to make it a two score game for the Texans. However, me being a Falcons fan, I wanted to see them put it in the end zone one more time to put the game way out of reach. I think that would have shown the confidence that Petrino has for his quarterback and offensive line. Anyways, I think he probably did the safe thing, but unfortunately the field goal was block and this gave life back to the Houston Texans. I was really worried at this point, because Schaub started moving the ball down the field and they got into field goal range. Luckily for the Falcons, Kris Brown missed his field goal and the Falcons held onto win.
The Falcons defense continues to make big plays at the right times. The Texans were 5 for 13 on third down conversions and they stopped Houston from scoring from their own 4 yard line. I know Petrino is trying to prove a point and established himself as no tolerant kind of coach unlike Mora, but sitting DeAngelo Hall for the first quarter was a mistake in my book. Andre Davis had is way with the rookie Chris Houston and with Lewis Sanders. (If Lewis Sanders starts next week, I will personally write the Atlanta Falcons organization a letter expressing my displeasure). I know the rookie Chris Houston has been beaten a few times, but I can handle it a little more when it is a rookie making mistakes. Plus, where is Jimmy Williams? I know they are trying to convert him into a safety, but he is supposed to be a good corner back. There wer a couple of times where Lawyer Milloy had a few words for Lewis Sanders. But I shouldn’t be so harsh on Sanders because I have no idea if the safety was in the wrong position or maybe there was no pass rush. Plus I couldn’t cover a bed with sheets.
Game MVP
Andre Davis for the Titans
Michael Jenkins and Morten Andersen for the Falcons
Game Grades
Offense = B (need to be more aggressive in the red zone and get the running game going)
Defense = B (would have been higher but the cornerback play was awful at times)
Special Teams = B (still need a better punt returner and the blocked field goal)
Coaching = B- (need to be more aggressive on both sides of the ball and not sit D. Hall)
Overall = B-
Composite (Season) Grades
Offense = C+
Defense = B-
Special Teams = C
Coaching = C+
Overall = C+
Upcoming Game Analysis
The Falcons will be on the road this week in Tennessee to take on Vince Young and the Titans. This is the week I think the Falcons can get a win on the road. They have been playing with confidence the last two weeks and winning is contagious. The Falcons are excited about their first win and when you listen to the players interviews, they believe they should be 3 and 1 on the season. However, the Titans have had the extra week to rest and prepare for this game coming off their bye week. Plus they must contain Vince Young from escaping the pocket and running for first downs. Hopefully they will spy Young like teams started to do with Vick. John Abraham needs to be patient and not bull rush around the end so much and give Vince Young a lane to run through. To be honest, I have not watched the Titans enough to know how good this team is, but I am on a one game winning streak and I am feeling lucky. So I am going to predict the Falcons will get a road victory, but they need to punch it into the end zone more instead of settling for field goals and create turnovers on defense.
Final Score: Atlanta 24 Titans 20
