Falcons fall to division rival...

Atlanta RB Jason Snelling barrels into endzone for six: Photo David Goldman / AP

Going into last Sunday's game versus the New Orleans Saints (7-3) at the GA Dome, I knew it was going to be a nail bitter down to the end. It always is when both of these two teams meet, and this game lived up to its billing. Game ending in OT with the Saints coming out on top 26-23. Okay, lets get into talking about the game. The reason why the Atlanta Falcons (5-4) lost this game is because of the penalties. Falcons committed 10 penalties that set them back 85 yards. And what really upset me the most is three of the penalties were not even necessary. Two personal fouls by special teamer Eric Weems. Not so special to me. Then another push off by starting WR Roddy White. Unecessary foul that didn't even have anything to do with the play at all. The Dirty Birds had every reason to win this contest, outscored the Saints in all categories, but handed the game to the Saints at the end.

The Falcons were down in the 4th quarter 13-23 with about five minutes left in the game, with the ball, when the team started to stretch the field. Amazed me to know end. First time I believe this season that the black jerseys (old school uni for game) stretched the field in that manner. It might have taken the Saints by surprise as well, because the Saints D started to look like the Falcons D, leaving wide gaps in the middle of the field for slot receiver Harry Douglas to catch and run large chunks of yardage. QB Matt Ryan, who threw for the most yardage in a game this year for him, 351, threw a quick pass to TE Tony Gonzalez inside the redzone for a score. With the extra point, we were only down by three. So the breath of life finally came back to the Falcons, as the D stopped the Saints O, then we received the ball back. With about a minute left, the opportunities to enter the land of milk and honey (Wes Durham) were there, and it looked like the home team was about to pull another 4th quarter thriller out. But one ball slips through Gonzalez's hands, and another hits White directly between the eight and four on his jersey, and we couldn't come away with six. Another three to tie game and enter free football.

In overtime, each team stopped each other, then the decision that ultimately won the game for the Saints happened. Falcons went for it on 4th and one on their 30, and were stopped. Saints ended up kicking the winning FG from there. I know there has been plenty of naysayers out there that say we should have punted it away. And even Head Coach Mike Smith stated he didn't want to punt it back to them, and have Saints QB Drew Brees drive them back down the field. I commend Smith for the call, it was a good call. I always hate using the word execution, because it is said way to much. Good call but bad execution of the play. It was 4th and one, and Ryan hands the ball off to RB Michael Turner five yards deep for him to go six yards for the first down. Now if your going to give it to Turner, bounce him off the side, not up the middle. The Saints had stacked the box up the middle, no one on the outer sides. If Turner had bounced to either side, it probably would have been six points and Falcons win. Or the play could have been a quarterback sneak with Ryan up the middle for one.

Hopefully this is a lesson learned for next time. There are times during a play when you have to adjust actually as the play is unfolding, but the Falcons do not do this very well. Not sure if this is the scheme, or the players. Great call Coach, but poor execution.

Falcons have a chance to redeem themselves this Sunday in another home game versus the 5-4 Tennessee Titans. Kickoff has been changed from 1pm to 4pm. This will be a good contest for both teams, both teams are very similar.

Falcons still have an outside shot to make it into the playoffs, but in order to do that they will really need to win the division, in which they are 1-2. One win versus Carolina, and two defeats against these Saints and The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. My projection is the Wild Card team will come from the NFC North, in which the Green Bay Packers (9-0) will win that division, and either The Chicago Bears (7-3) or Detroit Lions (7-3) will be the wild card team.