Matt Ryan and Falcons Remain Relevant with Win Over Packers

If you'll recall, the last time the Falcons took a trip out to Lambeau, it was 2002. Dan Reeves was the coach and Michael Vick was the offense, running and throwing (just a little bit).

We all know how that turned out.

Fast forward to 2008, and the 2-2 Atlanta Falcons returned to Lambeau, led by rookie Matt Ryan, rookie Head Coach Mike Smith and practically a rookie running back in Michael Turner.

A glance at this game on the schedule in the preseason would have inspired many to say "surely a loss."

Not so fast.

With the health of another young quarterback, Packers' Aaron Rodgers, questionable, Vegas left the line up in the air for most of the week.

And with that, the Falcons entered a damp Green Bay, hoping to continue the season-long learning curve of this young team, with two goals: win on the road and run the ball effectively on the road.

Put a check next to both of those goals.

Not only did they accomplish this, against what many still believe is a good Green Bay team, but they continued to make themselves relevant in the NFL.

Matt Ryan and Roddy White have given Falcons fans reason to nickname the duo something clever. I'll leave that to someone else. For the time being, I'll continue to say "Ryan to White."

Ryan to White was effective in the first half, giving the Falcons a commanding 17-7 lead. White entered the locker room sporting 132 yards with one touchdown.

Ryan and the Falcons got off to a quick start, something they've failed to do in their two previous road losses and showed a hurry-up offense that established a rhythm early and kept the Packers' defense off-balance.

Ryan's confidence continues to build, and the confidence of the coaching staff in him is not in question. Coach Smith's decision to not only go for it on fourth down on the first possession but to leave it in Ryan's hands instead of handing it off to Turner, the play most everyone watching the game expected, is evidence of this.

Ryan rolled out into the right flats and tossed a beauty of a pass to the tight end, Justin Pelle.

The first half continued and Ryan kept looking to a single-covered White, who found himself open a lot in the first half and catching a lot of balls. As I mentioned last week, White needs to invest in some new shoes, as he still seems to slip at some inopportune times.

Now, if you'll allow me, just for a second, I'd like to wax-poetic about Matt Ryan.

It's very difficult not to get excited about the future possibilities in Atlanta with Ryan under center. Watching him game-in and game-out control his emotions and remain calm in the face of some really good defenses, one can't help but think of some of the other calm and collected quarterbacks: Brady, Montana, and Elway.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing him to those Hall-of Famers (and future HOFer in Brady's case), but the attitude and the personality is there. And I've come to love watching him walk up to the line of scrimmage and scream down the line as he surveys the defense.

He's not waving his arms like a bird as Manning is known to do, but certainly the young Ryan is off to a good start in impersonating Manning and his line-of-scrimmage antics.

Okay, just had to get that off my chest. Back to the game.

The Packers found some rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Falcons 17-10, but it was not enough to secure the win.

Aaron Rodgers seemed to show no ill effects from his strained shoulder in the first half, but as the game progressed and the Falcons defense got more and more pressure on him (they sacked him twice), the hits mounted and the pain swelled up.

In the third quarter Ryan made his first mistake of the game, with an interception in the end zone. The momentum shifted here, as Green Bay quickly scored on a Rodgers-to -Jennings pass to tie the game.

While Rodgers was doing his best Favre-impression, trying to tough out a shoulder injury that was clearly bothering him (he seemed to hold his sore wing every chance he got) and lead the Packers back, the Atlanta defense needed to shut the door on the Packers' ideas of a win.

Linebacker Michael Boley's interception of Rodgers in the fourth quarter did just that. Boley's play has been overlooked at times this season, but in a game with a few big plays to chose from, his interception to stop the drive and give the ball back to the Falcons was possibly the biggest.

If another nail was needed in the coffin, Turner provided it, with three runs and a touchdown. He proved again, that if he's allowed to run for 100 yards, the Falcons win. Not to be overlooked in Turner's two previous disappearing acts in Falcons losses was the absence of rookie left tackle Sam Baker.

Baker was back for this game and the line played with cohesion, allowing Turner to run to the tune of 121 yards and giving Ryan plenty of time, all game long (he was pressured a few times, but sacked none).

The Falcons beat a talented Green Bay team, and this could be considered Ryan's first significant win.

A lot of positives from this game: Ryan's in-control performance, Turner's running on the road, White's continued chase to a Pro Bowl, the offensive-line's protection, the defense making opportune plays and shutting down a dangerous running back and the coaching staff's ability to call a good game on both sides of the ball.

The Falcons can only hope to continue to do what they do well. The mistakes will still come, as is expected from a young team, and they need to remain patient in games, waiting for the big plays to come from their play makers.

The Bears come to town next Sunday, and they have quickly become one of the top teams in the NFC, with surprising quarterback play, an impact rookie of their own in running back Matt Forte, and a defense that can at times be downright scary.

This win established the Falcons as relevant in the league and clearly not the direction-less team many projected them to be at the start of the season.

A win at home over the Bears on Sunday could serve as a benchmark win in the season and perhaps the real beginning of a special season in Atlanta.