Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons: Falcons Make Ford Field Home Away from Home

Who says Detroit is not a destination city? Don’t tell that to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Detroit Lions gave us their best Steve Wynn impersonation as they suffered their second straight home loss, 23-16, and made Matt Ryan and company feel as though they were back home in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons took full advantage of the Lions hospitality by building a 17-6 halftime lead. Prior, the visiting Falcons tried to be gracious guests as Eric Wright picked-off Matt Ryan on his second attempt and brought it back to the Falcon 15. Two plays later it was 3rd-and-24 as Stafford was sacked on back-to-back plays. That’s the kind of day it was.

The highlight of the day? Calvin Johnson took a 17 yard pass from Stafford, in the third quarter, and turned it into a 57 yard touchdown. Even this play reeked of ineptitude as Calvin dropped the ball on his attempted field goal post dunk.

Both teams struggled with penalties.  A combined 21 penalties for 164 were handed out by the officiating crew.  The referees were working harder than the flight attendant forced to serve the Jersey Shore kids on their flight back from Italy.

Head coach Jim Schwartz, before the game, urged his players to remember the feeling they had after last weekend's first loss of the season. From the pregame scuttle where the Lions and Falcons were jawing just outside the tunnel, you would have thought the message was received, apparently not.

Dropped passes, fumbled returns, missed tackles; it was all there. The Lions were beat in all three phases of the game Sunday. At the end of the first quarter the Falcons had 56 yards of offense. The Lions, negative-one.

What happened to that home field advantage? The Falcons were running the no-huddle offense in Detroit! At Ford Field, where the previous two offensive lines looked like dominos as they struggled to hear the snap count, the Falcons line executed like the Rockettes. In the course of one week Ford Field had transformed into the Four Seasons.

As with any five-star property, the VIP service was impeccable, just ask All-Pro Tony Gonzalez. The Lions were most hospitable to the future Hall-of-Famer, allowing him to pass both Marvin Harrison and Chris Carter in career receptions before halftime. He ended the day with a five-catch 62 yard performance that could have been better if not for two desperate pass interference penalties in the end zone by linebackers Bobby Carpenter and Stephen Tulloch. He now trails only Jerry Rice in all-time receptions.

There was also special consideration for returning guests. Michael Turner again torched the Lions, but not for 220 yards like the last meeting. Sunday he posted a mere 122 yards on the ground and let Matt Ryan have the only rushing touchdown of the day.

Don’t forget about the award-winning spa treatments. Tackle Will Svitek rolled up on Matt Ryan's ankle and sent him back to the locker room for what appeared to be an afternoon ending injury.  Apparently Mr. Miyagi is a member of the medical staff because minutes later, on his first play back in the lineup, Ryan went Willis Reed and connected with Harry Douglas on 3rd-and-8 for 49 yards to set up one of Matt Bryant’s three field goals to put the Falcons up by 11.

Coming into the game, Atlanta ranked dead last in defensive third-down efficiency.  Were the Lions able to take advantage of that? Not even close. The Lions were unable to feast on the woeful Dirty Birds defense and posted a laughable 1-of-12 on third down. Eight percent against the league’s worst?

Matthew Stafford's struggles from last week spilled over into Sunday as he managed only 47 yards in first half, worst of his career, and ended the game 15-of-32 for 183 yards and one touchdown.  

He again was off, putting balls behind receivers and not reading the coverage in unison with his receivers. The mint on the pillow though was on his last play from scrimmage. He rolled to his left and tried to throw back across his body while Curtis Lofton fell hard on his right ankle. No. 9 limped off the field and an MRI is scheduled for today.

Like all fine establishments, the doormen are your lasting impression. With just over one minute to go in the game and facing a 3rd-and-4 the Falcons called on rookie Jacquizz Rodgers to ice the game.  Taking the ball off the right side, Rodgers bounced and spun off Detroit defenders as they opened the door for the Oregon State rookie and the Falcons to head out of town with the upset victory.

The Lions have begun their decent back to reality and have made the Monday night beat down of the Chicago Bears a distant memory.

Thank you for your visit to Ford Field Mr. Arthur Blank, we hope both you and your team enjoyed your stay.