D-pressing
Atlanta misery spurred by defensive collapse
HOUSTON — The story was going to be the Falcons defense, an unheralded unit that was doing all sorts of bad things to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Instead, the story of Sunday night — and forever — is the monumental, historic collapse of the Falcons. On defense. On offense, too, but especially on defense. “It’s a feeling I won’t forget,” said Deion Jones, the Falcons’ rookie linebacker. “It sucks. All the hard work we put in … .” His voice trailed off. The young Falcons allowed 31 unanswered points, coughing up a 28-3 thirdquarter lead to lose Super Bowl LI, 34-28, in overtime, when they allowed Brady to march unimpeded for the eas- iest decisive drive in Super Bowl history.
“I think for sure we ran out of gas some,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “I was impressed with how hard the guys fought and battled for it. That’s why we’re hurting so bad right now.”
Brady is a miracle man, to be sure, but he needed help pulling off this historic comeback. He got plenty of help from a Falcons defense that went from men to mice, a defense that completely imploded and stopped covering the Patriots receivers. They did not lose their composure as much as they lost their way. Heck, there should be an investigation into how Brady actually failed to complete nine of his 36 passes in the second half.
The Falcons, starting four rookies and four second-year players on defense, were faster, bolder, sharper at the start, and the prolific Patriots were having all sorts of trouble dealing with what they were getting served. The Patriots were shut out in the first quarter. They had only three points at halftime. Not only were the Falcons flying around, they were also scoring points, as cornerback Robert Alford turned a Brady pass intended for Danny Amendola into a stunning 82-yard interception return, the first postseason pick-six in Brady’s long and distinguished career.
That interception made it 21-0, and the defensive surge helped the Falcons build a seemingly insurmountable 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter. That it did not hold up is stunning, but the ease with which Brady traversed the field was breathtaking, as was the ineptitude of the Falcons’ failing to come up with the one defensive stop they needed.
“Well, I told them it’s going to be a four-quarter fight, and this was a five-quarter fight,” veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “In the Super Bowl, it usually is a story of two halves.”