Falcons Get First Loss of Season 26-10
September 27, 2009 by Paul McParland
Filed under Falcons Blog
The Atlanta Falcons lose their first game of the season as the New England Patriots defense controlled the game.
Falcons moved the ball well on their first offensive possession but had to settle for a field goal after Brian Finneran slipped and was unable to retrieve a 3rd down pass from Matt Ryan inside the red zone.
The Patriots Offense responded moving the ball down field. Tom Brady was shaky missing a couple of passes including a wide open Randy Moss for an easy touchdown. They stalled out at the three yard line on a third and goal and tied the game up 3-3 on a field goal.
New England’s front line then took over in the second quarter by establishing the running game. Fred Taylor ran the ball effortlessly against the porous Falcons defense. Fred Taylor capped off a 6 play 51 yard drive with a 8 yard rushing touchdown and the 64th of his career.
Matt Ryan responded with a sharp 18 yard pass play to Michael Jenkins. The Falcons elected to not go for a 52 yard goal on a fourth down. Instead the went for it on 4th and 3 and converted. Matt Ryan drilled Michael Jenkins on a long pass to the Patriot’s two yard line. Michael Turner then pounded the ball in for his second touchdown of the year tying the game up at 10-10.
With the Falcons on the move, Michael Turner fumbled the ball turning it over to the Patriots. Patriots moved the ball down field but Joey Galloway dropped a perfect pass from Tom Brady near the end zone. Patriots had to settle for a 33 yard field goal taking a 13-10 lead into halftime.
The second half started as the Pats had no trouble moving the ball inside the Falcons red zone. The Falcons defense rose to the occasion holding the Patriots to another field goal.
Patriots elected to go for it on fourth down a couple of times including one deep in their territory. They were successful both times but the Falcons defense held them to another Stephen Gostkowski field goal.
Falcons offense failed to execute on their first two possessions of the 4th quarter. Tom Brady made them pay with a 36 touchdown bomb to tight end Chris Baker. It was the 200th career touchdown pass for Tom Brady.
The story of this game was New England’s defense and the Falcons inability to run the football. The Atlanta Falcons were held to less than 300 yards of total offense.
