Panthers-Falcons: Cats Send Birds to Back of Bus

I would imagine that bus ride home was not pretty. The Falcons went into Carolina with an opportunity to sweep the division series and laid an egg. It was probably the most predictable game I've witnessed this season.

Either long snapper Bryan Pittman or kicker Jason Elam caused the Falcons' first opportunity for a lead to disintegrate. On the shank heard 'round the world, Elam missed a chip shot to put the Falcons up 22-21 late in the game.

But this game was far from their fault alone. Throughout the season, we've learned the Falcons' kicking game is terrible. Because Elam averages less than 65 percent on his attempts this year, I often cringe when I see him come on to the field.

But losing this game was a team effort. Practically every leader on the team let the fans down in one way or another.

Whether it was the continued disappearance of defensive end John Abraham or the regressing of second-year standout quarterback Matt Ryan, the team effort became a team loss. And that goes all the way back to coaching and ownership.

Let's take a moment to break down the blunders, shall we?

The Falcons kicked off to open the game. They held the Panthers to 3-and-out, and the Falcons got the ball on their own 31-yard line.

On the second play of the drive, Michael Turner took the handoff and rumbled 40 yards. With Turner seemingly returning to his old form, I told my wife that we should be able to control this game if he keeps running like that.

The drive stalled shortly after, and the Falcons sent out kicker Jason Elam. I must admit my cheeks clinched up as if I was in prison wearing makeup and a dress. But to my surprise, it sailed through the goal posts, and the Falcons took the lead 3-0 with only four minutes off the clock.

After Koenen's second touchback, the Panthers took over at the Falcons 20-yard line and proceeded to march right downfield almost effortlessly.

The Panthers tried to run the ball, but tackles Jonathan Babineaux and Jamaal Anderson wouldn't allow it, forcing Delhomme to take matters into his own hands. Then he found out just how weak that secondary is this season.

Without Brian Williams to guard Mushin Muhammed, the Panthers tossed two long passes to Moose totaling 43 yards (21,22) and moved into the red zone, where running back Jonathan Stewart punched it in from one yard out.

Down 7-3, the Falcons took the next possession and moved the ball into Panthers' territory, but stalled and were forced to punt. They attempted six passes and three runs. Right there, I could see the signs of a bad game.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is struggling badly. Running boot legs that cut off half the field. The way Ryan stares down his receivers. Have no doubt, both are serious issues. More on that later.

When Carolina regained possession, they did what the Falcons failed to do. They ran the ball effectively without forcing Delhomme to win the game. Take note, Mularkey, your young QB goes as your running game goes.

After scoring the touchdown and taking an 11-point lead, the Falcons did what they have done many times this season. They marched down the field and scored a touchdown.

That drive consisted of Turner pushing out 42 yards, and Mike Smith deciding to go for it on a 4th-and-8 situation. Everything about that drive screamed guts. But after that drive, everything went wrong.

Michael Turner left the game with an ankle injury, and Ryan continued his slide of the last several weeks.

The defense came in and forced a 3-and-out. The Falcons' offense took the field, and Ryan needed all of five seconds to throw his first interception of the game.

Then the Panthers turned the turnover into seven points, and it wouldn't be the last time.

To open the second half, the Falcons marched downfield to kick another field goal. Once again, my cheeks were so tight you couldn't insert a pin with a jackhammer. Elam makes me very, very nervous. But, he made it! At this point, the Falcons are only down by eight.

When the Panthers are forced to kick a field goal of their own, a great jump from Chauncey Davis blocked it. Time to play catch up.

Again on the move, the Falcons score on a three-yard pass to Justin Peele. The game is in hand, and the momentum belongs to the Birds. That is, until they missed the two-point conversion.

Behind DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers moved into Falcons territory. The Falcon defense snuffed out any further nonsense and forced the Kittens to punt. Down by two with 11 minutes left, the game was well in hand.

Then my fears became reality. After failing to convert a 3rd-and-1 on the Panthers 16-yard line, coach Smith sent out Elam to put the Birds up by one. Because it was an important kick, you wouldn't expect the entire thing to be botched.

Elam appeared to start moving at least two seconds before the snap. Once the kick was off, it sailed far left. With the Falcons still down by two, Carolina had the ball back with six minutes left.

But again, the Falcons oft-criticized defense held strong, forcing the Panthers to punt with four minutes remaining. Then Atlanta needed only five seconds to give it back.

After a great return by kick returner Eric Weems to mid-field, Matt Ryan took the first snap and proceeded to toss another sailing pass to Jenkins that was picked off. Ball game.

Deja vu for Falcons fans, as many remember Mora, Jr.'s 11-5 season, followed by a 5-2 start the next year. They finished 8-8 and all hopes of back to back winning seasons were dashed.

This is all too familiar territory for this team. As much as I'd like to stay positive, word of possibly losing Turner to injury for several weeks is devastating.

The Ice Has Melted

Well, folks, it's official. Matt Ryan is no longer Matty "Ice" any longer. He's playing scared. After watching every game multiple times, I've concluded several disturbing things about QB1:

1. He is not planting his feet to pass the ball. More often than not, he is throwing across his body while on the move. If he would set his feet and throw, his accuracy would increase dramatically.
2. He is running far too many bootlegs. He cuts off half the field with these boot outs. They may help the running game, but they aren't using the field effectively.
3. He's not feeling the pressure like he did last season. Far too often, he's moving backwards, causing him to throw off his back foot and make errant, sailing releases.
4. He is wasting offsides penalties. He has done an outstanding job with his cadence forcing multiple linemen to jump early, but he wastes them by taking a knee. Pro Bowl quarterbacks will take a shot deep down field. Who knows? You may get a pass interference to go with the offsides.
5. The no-huddle offense has been removed from the playbook. Used briefly yesterday, it resulted in a touchdown drive. Then it was forgotten.
   
6. Why the hell do you have three tight ends on the field? When Keith Zinger is catching passes, you have a serious problem. Are we that thin at playmaker, or do we need mass protection to keep Ryan from throwing the ball away?
7. Quit staring down your receiver. Ray Charles can see who Ryan is targeting after the snap. Last season, Ryan was amazing at looking off safeties. This season, they are making a living off his errant passes.

I could list more, but I think I've made my point. The same quarterback I didn't want from Boston College last season has made an appearance this year. And more than one game has been lost because of his poor decisions with the game on the line. I realize you can't just bench him to teach him a lesson, but something must be done. You can't blame his youth and inexperience any longer. He's played in 25 games, and his first 20 were much better than his last five.

Was Getting Tony a Mistake?

Don't get me wrong, I love having the future Hall-of-Famer in red and black, but what did we sacrifice to obtain him?

The Falcons are without a second-round pick next season, which would have been the perfect spot to snag a back-up running back. They gained a great pass catcher, but lost that sixth blocker on the line of scrimmage Ryan had last season.

To compensate, the Falcons take receivers off the field and run these stupid bunch tight end formations with two and three tight ends. That leaves your playmaking receivers on the sidelines, bunching up the offense and allowing defenses to play press coverage.

Gonzalez seems to be out running routes, and Ryan is feeling the pressure too soon and abandoning his pocket protection. The offensive line lost Ryan's trust, and I suspect it has to do with that sixth pass protector running routes.

The Burner Is in the Shop

After yesterday's cheap shot (more on that later), the Burner is out for several weeks with a high ankle sprain. Without him in the line-up, the Falcons are extremely thin at running back.

Turner struggled earlier in the year, but has since put on a rushing clinic. In a mere three weeks, he went from averaging less than four yards a carry to more than five. Let's hope his injury is not as serious as originally expected.

The Gamble Paid Off

At what point do you get called out for injuring players? Culpepper's existence in Minnesota was ended by a low helmet hit from Chris Gamble, and Sunday he repeated the same dirty play on Turner.

After Turner was tackled on his last run, Gamble came in low and put his helmet on Turner's ankle. Then he was gone.

It's bad enough you hold receivers seven and eight yards down field, but to lower your helmet to hit a player already tackled is just dirty. I wish Dahl would have come out on one of those useless boot legs and knocked some sense into the corner.

The officials should review that play again.

Roddy Needs the Ball More

It seems every week the most overlooked player on the field in Roddy White. What happened to those quick slants he used to abuse teams with last season? This year, it seems like screens and comeback routes are all we are using.

If you get the ball to White in the open field, he can make people miss. If you force him to turn his back or side to the defense, it's stopped almost instantly. Did the coaching staff just decide to change the schemes entirely?

Snelling Is the Utility Man

Enough can't be said about the contribution Snelling has made this season. He's stepped in for Ovie Mughelli at fullback and both Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood at running back. All the while, he's lined up on special teams.

He is the Falcons' iron man who is good at everything he does. The problem is he isn't great at any of it. The Falcons need someone to fill Turner's shoes while he's out, but Snelling isn't the 20-carry guy the Falcons need. For that matter, I doubt even a healthy Norwood is the guy.

I enjoy Snelling, but, if he's the starting running back, the Falcons likely miss not only the playoffs, but also back-to-back winning seasons.

Who Put the Dogs Up?

OK, we are past the midway point in the season, and John Abraham has just three-and-a-half sacks. I realize he's pretty constantly held, but that never stopped him before. I've watched him closely the past few weeks, and he's just not making any impact.

As a huge fan of Abraham, I've allowed his situation to slide because of the lack of help he has on the line, coupled with the poor officiating when he is being held. But this is a career low for Abraham, and I can't think of anything that will correct the issues he's having.

Go Sit in the Corner

Since Brian Williams went down earlier this season, the Falcons are really struggling to replace his presence on the field. Both Williams and Peterson were a one-two punch on defense, and it seemed one keyed off the other. Without Williams, Peterson has slipped back into the shadows, and Williams' replacement has become a revolving door.

Originally, Brent Grimes was slated to take over. He's played his heart out, but, when you're too short to ride the roller coaster at Six Flags, you're too short to cover the Mushin Muhammeds of the world. So the Falcons put in Tye Hill, who has blazing speed.

But that blazing speed does little to help when on 3rd-and-5, you're playing 10 yards off the ball. Hill was torched several times yesterday, and it's time to let rookie Christopher Owens sink or swim. After injuries to both the Falcons' first and second round picks, it's time for the third rounder to make a name for himself.

The Bottom Line

The Falcons had plenty of opportunities to win this game and threw them all away. Missed field goals, interceptions, etc. The Panthers are playing much better in the month of November, and I take nothing away from them.

The fact is Atlanta and Carolina have changed roles in the past five weeks.

At the start of the season, the Panthers had sloppy play at quarterback, their defense gave up in the fourth quarter, and their offensive coordinator made some head-scratching play calls.

The Falcons had great play from the quarterback, the defense played hard all four quarters, and the coaching staff made some great challenges and play calls to put games away.

It's a total reverse now. Delhomme just completed his third game in a row without a pick. Matt Ryan has thrown an interception in seven straight games, including four multiple-interception games.

If the Falcons are going to have a chance at the playoffs or back-to-back winning seasons, field general Ryan must remove his head from his...well, you know. It's up the coaching staff to utilize him more effectively. No more bootlegs!!