Written by Erik Slaby
Green Bay, WI – Like they have most of the season, the Atlanta Falcons showed flashes of promise but ultimately gave way to sloppy play and mistakes. On a cold, cloudy afternoon here at Lambeau Field, the Falcons were defeated by the Green Bay Packers, 34-20. With this loss, the Falcons fall to 4-9 on the season and are guaranteed to have a losing season for the first time since 2014, Mike Smith’s last year as the head coach before Dan Quinn replaced him.
Quinn spoke after the game about the difficulties the team is having with their overall team identity translating over to games and wins.
“I thought from an effort standpoint, the preparation and that part was good,” said Quinn. “But, our style is clearly not carrying over and our identity into game day and that’s been the case too many times this year. As a team, we are looking forward to getting back home and playing in front of our fans. But clearly, our style and identity are not being displayed and that was a factor in this game.”
When the game started, it seemed like the Falcons were going to have a fairly successful day against the Packers. On the opening drive, the Falcons were able to move the ball with ease against the Green Bay defense, going seven plays for 75 yards and capped off the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to wide receiver Julio Jones. The drive however, was not without controversy.
On the second play of the game, Ryan launched a 28-yard pass down the right sideline to Jones, with Packers rookie cornerback Jaire Alexander in coverage and Jones apparently came down with the ball according to the officials. However, replay showed that Alexander got a hand on the ball and knocked it out before the catch was completed, so Packers interim head coach Joe Philbin threw the challenge flag. After the review, the officials stated that the call on the field stood as boos rained down from the sellout crowd of 77,329 fans.
On the very next play after a false start penalty from Falcons guard Ben Garland, Ryan targeted Jones, hitting him for a 19-yard pass play. Once again though, officials called the play a catch even though it appeared that Jones only had one foot inbounds before making the catch. Philbin threw his second and final challenge flag. To several people in the stands as well as the press box after watching the replay, it seemed that this play would be ruled as an incomplete pass. When the officials came back onto the field though, they ruled that the play stood as called. Even more boos rained down upon the field after that and shortly after, with momentum on their side, the Falcons were able to take a 7-0 lead.
Even though the Packers lost both of those challenges, Packers cornerback Bashaud Breeland spoke after the game about Philbin’s decision to challenge the two catches and the effect it had on them.
“I pulled Jaire to the side and I said, he’s really going to bat for you right now. Both challenges in the first half, a lot of coaches don’t really do that. Not ticky tacky calls like that. But he showed that he’s really going to ride with us.”
After that score by the Falcons, the Packers scored 34 unanswered points and the Falcons did not score another point until the fourth quarter. The Falcons had a few chances to score points throughout the game but penalties, sloppy play and other mistakes cost them. The Falcons finished the game with 13 penalties for 101 yards and arguably, there could’ve been more penalties as a few were declined by the Packers, or were offset by Green Bay penalties. Quinn said after the game, “there’s certain periods of not getting stops, not scoring and too many times the result of that was penalties, mistakes and turnovers.”
One such mistake was roughly midway in the second quarter, only two drives after another mistake when Falcons kicker Matt Bryant missed a 53-yard field goal attempt.
The Falcons were down 10-7 and were deep in their own territory, after returner Marvin Hall fumbled the kickoff at the 1-yard line before recovering the ball at the Atlanta 4-yard line. Two plays later, facing a 3rd & 4, Ryan threw a poor pass towards tight end, Austin Hooper, when it was intercepted by Breeland. Breeland had nothing but green grass in front of him and he was able to waltz his way into the end zone, giving the Packers a 17-7 lead. Ryan and Breeland both spoke after the game about the interception.
“It just wasn’t a good enough throw,” said Ryan. “Higher, firmer, further outside. That happens from time to time. Again, that was tough timing for it to happen in the game. Certainly, cut the momentum we had at that point.”
Breeland spoke about the interception saying, “I knew he (Hooper) had two routes to go. Either and out or a dig, or a vertical. I read his stance when he broke out. I kind of had my eyes on Matt Ryan the whole time and when I saw him release the ball, he gave me a chance to really get down and pick it.”
Though the Falcons were struggled to put points on the board, it was not because of a lack of offensive success. They were able to move the ball down the field but it seemed like every time they would get in scoring position, a penalty, sloppy play or turnover would cost them Ryan completed 28-42 passes for 262 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Backup running back Ito Smith led the rushing attack for the Falcons, finishing with 11 carries for 60 yards and predictably, Jones led all Falcons receivers with eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. With these numbers, Jones became the first receiver in NFL history to have five consecutive seasons of at least 1,400 yards receiving yards in a season.
For the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 21-32 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. With these numbers, Rodgers set the NFL record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception. He broke the previous record of 358 passes, formally held by Tom Brady. The record is now at 368 pass attempts. Rodgers also had success running the ball, carrying it three times for 44 yards. Rodgers spoke after the game about his rushing performance.
“I don’t like to do it a whole lot of that in general. I’m getting too old for that, especially when I’m getting drilled by these young guys,” Rodgers said with a small grin on his face.
Following this loss, Quinn spoke to the team stating, “I said, ‘as dark as this is, that the men will get it right here in three weeks are the men that are standing in this room.’ Just wanting it to get better isn’t a great way for real progress, you’ve got to make changes that are consistent to playing better, whether that’s turnovers, whether that’s fouls, all those contribute to not scoring points or to allowing points.”
The Falcons will return home back to Atlanta and face off against the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Stadium next week on December 16th at 1PM EST.
