Not Their "A" Game: Atlanta Falcons Beat St. Louis Rams Despite Three Turnovers

With four minutes remaining in Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Rams, the NFC playoff picture looked different from what many had projected coming in to Sunday.

Few had considered what would happen if the Falcons lost, (they'd drop from the fifth seed to the sixth seed) and they were losing 27-24 to the Rams. The Georgia Dome scoreboard showed that the Saints had come back from 20 points down to take a one- point lead against the Panthers.

In a Falcons game that had a handful of starters out and was plodding along unsuccessfully, there was suddenly new meaning in the outcome.

The home crowd reacted to the score and so did the Falcons. Running back Jerious Norwood at that almost exact moment burst through a hole, broke two tackles, and ran the distance for a 45-yard touchdown run, to put the Falcons up, following the point-after attempt, 31-27.

Unlike earlier in the day when Norwood returned a kickoff for 92 yards, he had the speed and the stamina to finish the run the run that time.

With less than a minute remaining for before the half, Norwood took a Rams kickoff back almost the entire length of the field.

Catching the ball on the end zone line, he got a huge block from his wedge and burst through the hole with only the kicker remaining to fool.

Once by the kicker, he had an open field ahead of him. The notoriously fast Norwood, hampered by injuries in the last few weeks, appeared to slow down as he reached the Rams 20-yard line and was run down by Rams cornerback Jason Craft and brought down at the eight-yard line.

After a failed pass attempt, Atlanta lined up in the "Wildcat" formation and the direct snap to Norwood allowed him to cap his own scoring drive, rushing to the end zone on the left side for an eight-yard touchdown run.

That score proved to be a monumental one as the Falcons regained the lead, 17-14, and headed in to the locker room determined to come out strong.

Falcons coach Mike Smith spoke glowingly of Norwood's play on Sunday, "It is no doubt that they were game changing plays in terms of the kickoff return, the 45-yard run, and also the score on the eight-yard line as well. I think those were big plays in the ball game. Jerious is a very explosive player."

On the first possession of the second half Atlanta put together its best scoring drive of the day, marching 75 yards on five plays to take a commanding 24-14 lead. Following three strong runs from running back Michael Turner, the drive was finished with an 18-yard touchdown pass to the wide open wide receiver Roddy White in the end zone from the arm of quarterback Matt Ryan.

Ryan had a tough day (10-for-21, 160 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions), but came through in moments like that when the team needed him the most, as has been the case most of the season.

For the third time this season the Falcons were able to overcome a three turnover day and escape with a win.

However, their season of nine lives is wearing thin. They've had comeback wins, ugly wins, and a few blowout wins. The resiliency, however, that this Falcons team has shown all season reared its ugly (or pretty, depending on how you look at it) head again on Sunday.

Atlanta managed to pull out the win despite a big rushing day from the Rams' running back, Steven Jackson.

Recognized as one of the most complete backs in the NFL, Jackson has been slowed by injuries this season, but finished this forgettable season for the Rams with his highest rushing total of the season (161 yards) and eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for the fourth straight season.

The parity of the league was on display on Sunday as one of the league's worst teams, record-wise, took a playoff team to the wire. Riding the tough running of Jackson and some timely throws from quarterback Marc Bulger, the Rams almost ended the Falcons' season on a sour note.

Coach Smith called their game plan "aggressive". Rookie linebacker Curtis Loften reminded everyone that each week presents a tough challenge. After the game he said, "This is the NFL. It’s a job, and everybody is going to come to play, so you’ve got to show up each and every week.”

But even with the win, it proved to be a bittersweet day for the Falcons. The Panthers came back and nailed a field goal to win by two points over the Saints in the final seconds of their game. But those few moments of renewed emphasis on the win may have proven to be enough to get Atlanta over the hump and close out the game with the 31-27 win.

Center Todd McClure acknowledged that the Falcons may have opened the game flat, with a playoff spot already secured. "I would have to say it felt a little different. I know you don’t want to admit that, but it just was a different feeling. I know once we got out there, we got our juices flowing and realized that we had to go out there and get that win."

In the end they got the win, but along the way the Falcons managed to set some records.

When Turner (leading the Falcons' way with 206 rushing yards) ran into the end zone for a second quarter score he became the franchise holder of the most scores in a single season. With his second 200-yard rushing game of the season he now holds the top two highest rushing totals in a single game for the Falcons.

Pro Bowl receiver White registered three receptions for 48 yards and set the franchise record for receiving yards in a season with 1,382.

The Falcons' offensive line has been outstanding all season. Leading the way for another huge rushing day (263 total yards on the day), they've been the glue that has held the offensive unit together.

They've also protected the quarterback well all season. They set the franchise record by allowing only 17 sacks all season, shattering the previous mark of 25 allowed, set in 1982. 

After the game, Turner recognized the line's play as a critical part of his season's success. "They have done a great job all year. They have been the hardest working group this offseason. They are tough on the football field. I wouldn’t have that many yards if those guys weren’t doing what they were doing on the football field."

And one of the most overlooked and productive units of the team found their way into the record books on Sunday as well. The special teams unit set the NFL record for punt return yards allowed in a season. Atlanta finished with 49 yards allowed, besting the 53 yards set by the Buffalo Bills in 1991.

So now with the regular season in the books, the Falcons turn their sights to the playoffs, specifically next Saturday's match up with the Arizona Cardinals in Arizona.

"We are now in the tournament and we are very excited about that opportunity," Smith said. "It’s...the second season and we talked about that in the locker room. We are very proud of what we have accomplished up until this point with 11 wins. But now we are all zero and zero."

Despite the 0-0 record, one can't help but ignore that the Falcons were 7-1 at home this season and on the road they were 4-4. The Cardinals limp into the playoffs, despite winning on Sunday, losing two of their last three, but they feature a dynamic passing offense that will be tough to slow down.

"The Arizona Cardinals have an explosive offense. We’re going to have our hands full and frankly, I wouldn’t want it any other way," linebacker Keith Brooking said of his team's first-round opponent. "It’s a great place to be and I have complete confidence in my teammates. Regardless of what comes our way, we’re going to fight and we’re going to lay it on the line."

Lay it on the line, as they have done all season. Entering the season few, if any, thought this Falcons team would be in the playoff picture come the end of the season.

Many of the Falcons' players have mentioned feeling positive about their team once training camp began. And once they saw Ryan's first professional pass go for a touchdown in Week One, they knew they could be special.

Special they have become. The talk of the league. One of the biggest surprises of the year. All of those things, they recognize, are nice and rewarding for a year full of hard work. But now, as coach Smith says, the records have been reset and everything's equal.

And the Falcons have a long playoff road schedule ahead of them.

This article originally appeared on the Atlanta Falcons Examiner page. To view, go here.