Atlanta Falcons: Falcons Fall in Heartbreaking Fashion

The Atlanta Falcons lost their second in a row in tough fashion.  Is Coach Dan Quinn’s aggressive decision the reason the Falcons lost?

The Atlanta Falcons fell to 4-3 on the season against the San Diego Chargers. The Falcons blew an early 17 point lead in a game that brought out many of last year’s problems for a team that was being heralded as a legitimate playoff contender.

The Chargers kicked a field goal in overtime to beat the Falcons 33-30 in Atlanta. They were put in a position to win the game after the Falcons failed to convert 3rd and short and 4th and short. The gutsy call by Coach Dan Quinn was one that cost the Falcons the game but was a good call that could have easily won the game for the Falcons.

Phillip Rivers had cut through the Falcon’s defense all afternoon long picking the secondary apart and driving his team back into the game that the Falcons looked to have well under control late in the second half. The decision by Quinn to go for the game was as much trust in his offense as it was distrust in his defense to stop Phillip Rivers.

The loss for the Falcons against an underwhelming Chargers team exposed issues that they have had as a team for the past three seasons and may cause concern as to whether this team is a legitimate contender?

Matt Ryan threw another pick this week against the Chargers though this pick was an even more ill advised throw. Ryan was forcing the ball to Julio with regularity during the game and while Julio made the plays more than not, the time he did not was a key interception that turned the game in the Chargers direction. Ryan’s step back this week in his level of play along with the defense being put on their heels all day by Phillip Rivers are both steps back and signs that this team may not be as good as many thought.

The Falcons were dealt another blow in the loss as well as Tevin Coleman was injured and is questionable on when he may return. The Falcons were given a chance to drive the ball down the field for a game winning drive with eighteen seconds left in the game. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones put the Falcons in a position to attempt a 58 yard field goal that turned out to be Matt Bryant’s first miss of the season. The kick was long enough and almost snuck inside the left upright.

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For the Falcons that was the end of the game and led to the 4th down decision that would let the Chargers kick a game winning field goal.  The Falcons have a lot to prove after back to back losses in heart breaking fashion. They will face the Greenbay Packers in Atlanta next week on America’s game of the week on FOX.