The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FALCONS OFFENSE DOES IT AGAIN
Offense flies into postseason
The Falcons had a fitting finish to a regular season in which they’ve had the best offense in the league for most of the year.
Against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Falcons became the only NFL team this season to score touchdowns on their first five possessions, in a 38-32 victory. The Titans had scored on their first four possessions in a game this season.
“I think that kind of sums up the season,” Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley said. “The offense has been playing great the whole season. What they did today was remarkable.”
The Saints had improved defensively in the second half of the season, but they had no answer for the NFL’s top-scoring offense. In the first half, the Falcons gained 323 yards on 28 plays (11.5 per play) while converting all three third downs, and quarterback Matt Ryan was 17 for 19 for 235 yards and four touchdowns.
“Matt has been hot the whole season,” Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones said. “The offensive line has been doing a great job with protection for him, and he’s been getting the ball out to the right guy.”
The Falcons scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. The first drive took just four plays, capped by Tevin Coleman’s 7-yard TD catch. The second drive lasted one play, with Devonta Freeman breaking free for a 75-yard TD run.
The Falcons began their third drive late in the first quarter and ended it four plays later with Ryan’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Jones early in the second. The Falcons went 76 yards in 11 plays on their fourth touchdown drive (Ryan 10-yard pass to Mohamed Sanu) and 75 yards on nine plays on their fifth possession (Ryan 7-yard pass to Justin Hardy).
“Always can get better,” Jones said. “We’ve always got to keep putting that work in and then coming out whenever we play in the playoffs and go out there and let it go.”
Jones didn’t appear limited by his bothersome toe but looks forward to the bye.
“Everybody could use a week,” he said. “It’s a long season. But, yeah, it will be beneficial for me for that week, especially with the toe injury I had. A week will be great for me.”
Jones had seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Saints.
Shoulder injury hampers Beasley
The Falcons avoided a serious setback to their postseason chances when a left shoulder injury suffered by Pro Bowl pass rusher Vic Beasley wasn’t serious enough to keep him out of the game.
Beasley said his left shoulder “popped out” when he collided with a Saints player on a play in the first quarter. Beasley said he immediately suspected he’d hurt his labrum because the pain was familiar after he’d played the previous season with a torn labrum in the opposite shoulder.
After the injury Beasley went to the locker room, where he said X-rays taken on the shoulder were negative. Beasley returned to the game early in the second quarter and sacked the Saints’ Drew Brees just before halftime.
“I was still able to function,” Beasley said. “I did a little workout and just fight through the pain. We did a couple exercises to keep that movement, to keep that mobility, and I started feeling better later.”
Beasley entered the final week of the regular season with the NFL lead in sacks (14.5) and forced fumbles (six).
Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was elated to be invited back to the Georgia Dome to participate in a ceremony during the final regular-season game.
The Dome is set to be demolished to make way for the new $2 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium after the Falcons’ playoff run this season.
“The last time I was here I was on the opposing side,” Vick said. “I was with Philadelphia.”
Vick, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 draft, electrified the fan base, energized the team and sold out the Georgia Dome.
Vick fell out of favor with the franchise after he pleaded guilty in a federal dogfighting investigation in August 2007. He was suspended from the NFL for a violation of the league’s personal-conduct policy.
He served 21 months in prison and two months in home confinement.
Vick was a three-time Pro Bowl player with the Falcons and helped guide them to the NFC Championship game after the 2004 regular season. He also guided the Falcons to a historic playoff victory on the road over the Green Bay Packers after the 2002 season.
“I was thrilled when I first got the call that they wanted to honor the Georgia Dome legends and have a lot of guys come back,” Vick said. “I’m just thankful that I got the call. This is a special place in my heart. This is where I started my career.
“I’m just thankful that there are a lot of people here and people within this organization and this city, I come and go all the time, and there are a lot of people who have forgave me. They have given me a different opportunity to show a different side of myself. That’s the candid part that people respond to.”