The Atlanta Falcons officially secured the 8th overall pick for the 2015 draft, after they were crushed at home in a must win game against the Carolina Panthers.
Both sides went into the game knowing whoever won the game would be heading to the playoffs whereas who ever lost, would be crashing out with a losing record. But there was no fight from the Atlanta Falcons, Mike Smith who may just of managed his last game as a Falcons staff member has often been accused of his sides being ‘dead’ for big playoff games. Well last night the Falcons were ‘dead’ even for a fake playoff game. There was no passion, no hunger and worst of all no answers to the defensive onslaught from the Carolina Panthers.
Within just four minutes the Panthers had their first points on the board with a close range field goal. Cam Newton who has often been accused of not being a smart quarterback was exactly that last night, in the RedZone on the very next drive he found Dickson for a comfortable five yard touchdown reception. Dickson who isn’t the fastest of men still somehow managed to find himself in acres of space with no one close to him and he was able to dive into the endzone for the first touchdown of the game.
Early on in the second quarter the Atlanta Falcons had some form of comeback when Bryant who is a costless agent in March, slotted over a 21 yard field goal to give the Falcons some form of hope. This as it turned out would be the Falcons only points of the game. On the Falcons next possession they were forced deep into their own twenty after a penalty and on second down, Ryan forced the throw only to find former Saints and now Panthers safety Roman Harper who returned the ball 32 yards for a touchdown, the first of two pick sixes for Matt Ryan on this all important night.
But it wasn’t only Matt Ryan playing poorly and making mistakes, the very next Falcons possession Ryan found White for the first down who then fumbles the football. The ball was recovered and returned to the Atlanta five. The very next play Newton was able to run the ball into the endzone via a power play, which just sums up the Falcons season. With promises of they are going to get tougher during last year’s training camps, the game of the season just saw their defense be bullied over their own endzone. The Falcons had not go tougher and the Falcons were not going to the playoffs once again.
Then in the third quarter the Falcons season went from over to all out humiliating. The Panthers just bullied the Falcons on offense and then bullied the Falcons on defense. No one on the Atlanta side line had a clue on what to do, it was a rabbit in the headlights display by the home team. Until the last twenty seconds of the third quarter the only score was a Carolina field goal, but with twenty one seconds left on the clock in the third quarter and on a 4th down attempt, Ryan had four receivers to find. Instead he finds Tre Boston for an 84 yard pick six. The Falcons had gone down in style to say the least.
Matt Ryan was sacked six times, threw two pick sixes and only went for 260 yards without a single touchdown. The Falcons also turned it over via a Roddy White fumble. There was no rushing game to lean on either as the Falcons in 16 attempts rushed for only 63 yards.
Cam Newton on the other hand was sacked only once, didn’t throw a single pick, threw a touchdown and rushed a touchdown. The Panthers offense also did not turn it over at all and were very efficient on the ball.
The Panthers now go to the playoffs where they will host the first game of their playoff run, whereas the Falcons go home after coming 3rd in the NFC South. It could also be the last time Mike Smith and several of the Atlanta Falcons players ever stand in the home teams side line again.
