Atlanta Falcons Will Be Playing For Mike Smith’s Job In Week 17
Chuck Cook- USA Today Sports
There are so many things that went right for the Atlanta Falcons that had gone wrong for the first 14 games of the season. The Falcons, with their playoff lives hanging in the balance, rallied to get the W against their divisional foes, the New Orleans Saints, in that loud Superdome in the Big Easy.
They owe this win to the defense, who played phenomenally after coming in the contest dead last in the NFL in yards allowed per game. That Falcons’ defensive front really made Drew Brees uncomfortable, mostly in the first half. Five sacks and two interceptions on a quarterback of Brees’ caliber is one heck of a day at the office for this Falcons’ defense. Oh, and there was an Osi Umenyiora sighting in that game-ending fumble recovery touchdown, might I add.
Perhaps the biggest factor in this game was the Falcons’ defense and their ability to neutralize the Saints’ biggest playmaker’ Jimmy Graham, and not allowing him to get into a rhythm early. Falcons safety Kemal Ishmael, who has had a breakout season filling in for William Moore, made a heads up play in the third quarter, stripping Graham of the ball on a play that looked like a touchdown.
Of course, the play went under review by the booth and the refs upheld the ruling of a fumble. Controversial ruling? Maybe. Either way, it doesn’t negate Ishmael’s playmaking ability.
The Falcons need to replicate that performance defensively and offensively next week in a winner-takes-all game against the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons are playing for more than just the prospect at hosting a playoff game. They are also playing for Mike Smith‘s head coaching gig.
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