Week Two Review: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

The second week of the NFL season is in the books and the Atlanta Falcons won their second home game in as many weeks.

Those who felt the Carolina Panthers were a lay down after their dismal performance against the Philadelphia Eagles last week were in for a surprise. This was a game of two division rivals and neither backed down from the challenge.

That should be the theme of this article, to be honest: Challenges. This game featured every red flag that could be thrown. It started early in the first quarter when Panthers coach John Fox let fly the first of many challenge flags by both teams.

On 3rd-and-7 from the Carolina 48 yard line, quarterback Matt Ryan connected on a nine yard pass to Roddy White for what seemed to be a first down.

Or did he?

Coach John Fox tossed the red flag and had officials review the play, insisting that White never had possession of the ball.

After review, the officials felt White lost possession going to the ground making it an incomplete pass and fourth down. Now, in the old days of uncomplicated Football (you know, a couple of years ago) this would have been ruled a catch and maybe a fumble. It all depends on perception of if the ground caused the fumble.

White clearly caught the pass, took two steps forward, and dropped down to avoid a brutal hit from Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis. It appeared once White caught the ball he made what officials now deem as a "football move" but I digress. It wouldn't be the only head scratching call in this game, merely the first.

Midway through the second quarter with Carolina up 10-7, the Falcons found themselves in another 3rd-and-7 situation inside the Carolina 20 yard line. Quarterback Matt Ryan dropped back and under-threw a wide open Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez had to make a remarkable adjustment, scooping the ball just inches from the ground to keep the drive alive. The officials called it in an incomplete pass and Falcons coach Mike Smith tossed his first challenge flag of the day.

After reviewing that play, video clearly shows Gonzalez never allowed the ball to touch the ground. Once again, the play had to be overturned and the Falcons would later score a touchdown on a screen pass to backup running back Jason Snelling.

In the third quarter, the Panthers took possession and began driving from inside their own 20 yard line. On 2nd-and-7, quarterback Jake Delhomme dropped back and found tight end Jeff King nine yards down-field for a first down.

The official that stood a mere five yards away gave the signal of a completed catch. Coach Mike Smith tossed his second challenge of the day and upon review it shows the ball hit the ground and was overturned.

That's three quarters, three challenges, and three overturned plays. Are we sensing the trend here?

In the fourth quarter, with the Panthers down 28 to 13, they moved the ball into the Falcons' red zone and found themselves in a 3rd-and-10 situation.

Jake Delhomme dropped back and in the face of pressure found tight end Donte Rosario up the middle; he made a leaping catch and came down only to fumble the ball trying to stretch it into the end zone. It was ruled a touchdown but Falcons coach Mike Smith had his third challenge flag ready.

As the FOX camera crew showed from many different angles, it became quite clear that Rosario never truly secured the ball. From the moment he caught it until the moment he fumbled it. The ball never stopped rotating in his hands.

After review, the official stated, and I quote, "The receiver completed the catch, performed a second act, reaching for the goal line...*pause*...penetrated the goal line. Result of the play is a touchdown."

I've seen this same catch made at least five times in the past two weeks and each game it's called differently. The NFL has really made the game far more complicated that it should be these days.

Throwback Week

The Atlanta Falcons wore the jerseys from the 1966 expansion season on Sunday. Personally, I think the red helmets look great. Somehow, the Falcons need to bring those back more often.

I'm sure all the UGA fans out there would agree. The Falcons have always had one of the top looking uniforms/logos in the NFL. I wonder why they ever got away from the red helmet look?

Stat of the Week

Quarterback Matt Ryan only threw two passes in the second half of the game. He went 0-2 in those tosses. Prior to that, he was 21-25 for 220 yards and 3 TD's. He did throw an INT on a very poor decision and had two throw aways in that time. That's pretty impressive for a second year player against an aggressive defense.

He Did it Again

For the second week in a row, Mike Peterson caused two fumbles. This time however, only one counted. On the first drive of the game, DeAngelo Williams took a screen pass and Peterson came in hard and blew the play up.

Coach Mike Smith reached for the challenge flag but decided against it when he realized Williams was juggling the catch when he was hit.

Special Teams Are on Fire

No one can accuse the Atlanta Falcons' special teams unit of not producing. When news of the Harry Douglas injury was announced, the biggest concern was the return game. Douglas, who had never returned a punt before last season, won the job due to the lack of viable options.

Backup wide receiver Eric Weems has been thrust into the role and runs without abandon. After the phantom injury to Jerious Norwood, Weems took over the kickoff duty and busted loose for 41 yards.

The special teams also dug in their heels and blocked the only punt Carolina attempted in the game. Cornerback Brian Williams shot through the line and got his hand on the ball that then bounced into the arms of Mike Peterson.

The Nasty Boys at it Again

For the second week in a row, OG Harvey Dahl was called for a personal foul. I love his tenacity but we must play smarter.

Overall the offensive line never allowed Matt Ryan to be touched.

The Carolina defense does lack a solid defensive tackle but even All-Pro Julius Peppers was unable to get past Sam Baker to dirty Ryan's jersey. This could be one of the most underrated units in the NFL today.

Hit of the Day

There were several good ones of note, but only one stands out. It stands out because I'm amazed the victim of this hit survived.

On the Falcons' first possession, tight end Tony Gonzalez caught a Matt Ryan pass and headed upfield. Four Panther players converged on him and he wisely slid to the ground.

That was bad news for defensive back Richard Marshall: Marshall was hit simultaneously by linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis. It's amazing he didn't lose consciousness. Minutes later, he intercepted Matt Ryan to stop a scoring drive.

Notable Statistics

• Mike Peterson has forced fumbles in each of the first two games. It's hard to argue that Peterson is a drastic upgrade over 11 year Falcon Keith Brooking.
• Running back Michael Turner eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark for the first time this season and scored his first touchdown of the year.
• Both Mike Peterson and Curtis Lofton were top three in tackles for the second week in a row. The linebackers are doing their jobs this season.
  
• Running back Jerious Norwood left the game with an injury for the second week in a row. Last week it was leg/ankle related, this week it was head related. He's one of the most explosive players in the game but cannot avoid being injured.
• Tight end Tony Gonzalez has caught TD passes in back to back weeks now. It's hard to say whether Gonzalez or Peterson was the biggest offseason move at this point. Both have improved the team as a whole dramatically.
• Falcons coach Mike Smith went for it on fourth down twice on Sunday. Both times were successful.
  
• The Falcons had drives of 13 and 15 plays. The 13 play drive ended with the Turner fumble and the 15 play drive chewed up over seven minutes and ended with a Jason Snelling touchdown.
  

Oops I did it Again...

In the first quarter, linebacker Curtis Lofton had an underhand toss from Jake Delhomme hit him in the hands. That's two weeks in a row that Lofton has dropped a sure interception. Expect the coaching staff to put him on wide receiver drills in the coming weeks.

In the third quarter the Falcons were driving in the Panthers' red zone when Michael Turner was hit by linebacker Charles Godfrey and coughed up a fumble. That ball was recovered at the Carolina eight yard line. He later made up for it with a one yard TD run in the third quarter.

Even in Victory There Are Casualties

The Falcons' 2009 first round pick Peria Jerry was injured and did not return. It was later determined he would be placed on injured reserve, ending his promising rookie season. You could tell a drop in productivity of the line with him absent. The Falcons will need to activate reserve tackles Trey Lewis and Vance Walker to step into the role now.

Question of the Day

What happened to the no-huddle offense? Matt Ryan may be the best QB in the NFL currently at running that offense and the Falcons never once utilized it. This is something that should be utilized during every home game. On the road, the crowd noise can cause confusion but at home I'm unsure why it was never used.

Well, a win is a win and no sense in questioning the wisdom of Mike Smith after starting the season 2-0. The Falcons have a real test coming up Sunday at Foxboro stadium against the Patriots.

GM Thomas Dimitroff will be returning for the first time since joining the Atlanta Falcons from the New England staff. It should prove to be a hard fought game. Pregame report on that soon to come...