The Atlanta Falcons lost another game to continue this horrid 2019 campaign that had high expectations for a big playoff run, as well as being in the Super Bowl conversation. Through 6 weeks, the Falcons sit at a disappointing 1-5 and if not for a Nelson Agholor dropped pass, we are seeing a winless Falcons team with two upcoming heavyweights before a much needed bye week.
The game started off hot for the Falcons offense as they scored their first touchdown on their opening drive this season. The drive was extended due to back to back off side calls against the Cardinals defense on 3rd down put the Falcons into the redzone. This allowed for Ryan to cap off the drive by throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley.
Isaiah Oliver proved yet again why teams continuously pick on him. With the Falcons leading 7-3 at the start of the 2nd, Oliver was beaten deep by Byrd to bring the Cardinals to the 1 yard line for a go-ahead easy score. However, the refs botched this call as Byrd fumbled the ball and there was a clear recovery in the endzone by Atlanta. Play stood after review.
Poor tackling and blown coverages continued in the first as david Johnson had a huge 30 yard catch and run with no Falcon defender in sight. Followed by a 31 yard catch and run by Chase Edmonds to set up another Cardinal score from the 2 yard line to take a 17-7 lead.
The Cardinals went into halftime with a 20-10 lead. Only twice this season have Atlanta went into the half ahead.
The Falcon defense was so abysmal in the first half that Arizona had 300 yards. Murray went 16 for 19 and 240 yards, adding on 14 yards rushing with a QBR of 136. Murray ended up having a career day in TD passes, completion %, and QBR. Only fell short of his career high of 349 passing yards by 9 yards.
To start the second half, the Cardinals offense showed no signs of slowing down as Murray connected with a wide open Maxx Williams to extend the lead by 17 points.
Austin Hooper proved yet again why he should be among the conversation with the elite tight ends in the league. Hooper and Ryan connected several times toward the end of the 3rd quarter on big plays that set up a Ryan touchdown pass to Freeman to bring the falcons to within 7. The next drive, Hooper and Ryan connected again on a massive misdirection play where Hooper was all alone for a 30 yard catch to get into the redzone. Hooper himself capped off this drive to level the game off at 27 with 10:50 remaining in the game.
Now this is where the game gets really interesting. On a Falcons punt with 7:12 left in the game, the refs botched a fair-catch interference call that ended up putting the Cardinals into Falcon territory after the Falcons defense stood tall in the second half by stopping Arizona on 3 straight possessions. Replays showed that there was no interference by the falcons coverage team. Mike Pereira sympathized with Falcons fans by saying there should have been a no call.
The Cardinals marched downfield and capped off the drive with a laser pass from Murray and a catch from David Johnson that is probably better to go ahead 34-27 with 5:12 left.
This is plenty of time for Matty Ice.
Matt Ryan connected with Sanu and Freeman almost the entire drive. Freeman walked into the endzone from a Matt Ryan short pass. Bringing the Falcons to an extra point away from tying the game.
Surely Matt Bryant won’t miss.
……. and he missed. Falcons 33, Cardinals 34. There is still time with 1:53 left and 2 timeouts for the Falcons.
More controversy ensued as on 3rd down, Murray scrambled and was pushed out of bounds at the line of gain. The call on the field was Murray gained the first down, ending the game. Murray ran to the right and held the ball in his right hand and did not extend the ball forward. The ball never crossed the line of gain. Mike Pereira again professed that the call should have been 4th and 1 and a probable. Arizona punt.
It’s hard to blame this loss on 1 thing in particular because there are ample of things to point at. Defense, seemingly botched calls by the refs, Matt Bryant missed extra point. However, I refuse to put this on Matt Bryant. Man never misses and just like Julio said after the game “There is no one else I’d rather have in that situation”‘. I am glad the heat is being taken off of Matt Ryan and the offense. The only defense to allow more points is Miami…. Yikes
