Falcons @ Patriots - Week 3
Falcons 31, Patriots 28 (OT)
Offensive explosion from start to finish. Zero punts, that's right zero punts in regulation (and, neither team had a 4th down btw). Ryan Grant opens the game with his first rushing TD as a Patriot. Nearly immediately followed by a Tony Gonzalez TD in the red zone with Matt Ryan being hit and just barely getting the pass off. In the 2nd, Grant scores for the second time on the day and puts New England up 14-7. And then, toward the end of the half Matt Ryan sneaks it in with under a minute left. But, New England isn't going to wait until halftime. Brady comes out with a fade route to Moss for a huge pickup putting New England in FG territory to take the lead at the half. An under thrown ball to Matt Jones in the end zone ends these hopes with an interception by William Moore, who takes it to the two yard line. Luckily time had expired. On to the 2nd half, the ball was controlled by the Falcons the entire third quarter capping the drive with a 2-yard TD pass to Tony G. New England fires back a few minutes later with another Ryan Grant TD knotting it up at 21 all. Then, a few minutes later, it's third down for the Falcons and it looked like the pressure was going to get to Matty Ice and we may see our first stop on third down, but Ryan stays calmly in the pocket and hits Roddy White on the screen for the 51-yard TD. Less than 2 minutes later Ryan Grant scores TD #4 on the day. Then the tides turn for the defensive side of the ball. Very uncharacteristically, Michael 'the Burner' Turner fumbles the ball recovered by Adalius Thomas. Atlanta challenges but the the play is upheld by the booth. The very next play, Brady play-action looking for Randy Moss on the fade. The pass rush gets to him quickly and Brady tosses up a desperation ball intercepted by Chris Houston. So, Atlanta gets bailed out and has a chance to end the game. After converting a few third down conversions Jason Elam is set up for the game winner from 46 yards out only to miss it wide left. To overtime we go! Atlanta wins the toss and looks poised to take home the victory. But, for the first time all game the offense is forced to punt. So, now it looks like New England is poised to take home the victory. But, this time a three-and-out ends their hopes. The Falcons get the ball back and don't think twice about it. Ryan set up a huge drive. Third and one, get the first down, hit the field goal, go home. Easy, right? Holding call brings it back. Third and 11 now. Harry Douglas on the post route across the middle goes up and makes the biggest catch of the game setting Atlanta up for the game winning 36-yard FG. Elam doesn't disappoint again and hits the game-winner. What a game!
I'll gladly take my first loss in this fashion, albeit I should've taken home the victory after that Turner fumble, but that's how it goes. Hell of a game Swag!! Hope to see you again this season...
