Falcons Win First Complete Game of Season
The Atlanta Falcons won their first complete game of the season versus the San Francisco 49ers 28-14 on Sunday at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The team competed from the beginning of the game to the end of the game with no real big mistakes or setbacks. The Falcons started off strong building a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The team held strong during the second quarter as San Francisco tied it up at 14, but Atlanta scored another touchdown and went up by seven, 21-14 at halftime. The Falcons held the 49ers scoreless in the second half while adding another touchdown to end the scoring 28-14.
Throwback Uniforms
Was it a good luck charm or not, but the throwback uniforms looked good on the team. It is debatable if the throwback uniforms actually help the team win or not. It is this writer’s opinion they sure look good. The Falcons are 8-1 dating back to 2009 when they started wearing the read helmets again. I think they should where throwbacks but with red jersey and silver/grey pants and the red helmets for every game. The players seem to like them as well, but if I’m making millions of dollars I would like any type of uniform.
Game Notes Versus 49ers
Falcons won their third campaign of the season, and the stats show that it was a controlled game throughout by Atlanta. The 49ers did have their chances, especially when San Francisco tied the game at 14 in the second quarter.
Head Coach Arthur Smith, who also calls the offensive plays, and tight ends coach by trade, is building a run first and wear the defense down type of offense. He’s running a smash the defense in the mouth type of plays that builds the time of possession for the offense. He sprinkles in play action and long throws when need be.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota doesn’t need to be perfect, just manage the team and not make stupid decisions. Mariota was on point completing 13 of 14 passes for 129 yards throwing two touchdowns and running in one touchdown. Tight End MyCole Pruitt was just activated from the practice squad on Saturday and caught his first touchdown. The Falcons ran for a combined 168 yards while the defense held strong only giving up 50 rushing yards. The previous game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw the Falcons give up only 69 rushing yards. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees is building a run stop defense.
Mariota also ran for 50 yards while Caleb Huntley had 59, Tyler Allgeier 51, Avery Williams 6, and Keith Smith 2 to round out the Falcons rushing yards for the day.
Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett helped cause a fumbled and didn’t have a personal foul called on him, while cornerback AJ Terrell scooped it up diving for the endzone and lost the football. But safety Jaylinn Hawkins was there to dive on the ball for the score.
Nickel cornerback Isaiah Oliver, just activated from the injured reserve, had a key interception in the fourth quarter to round out the top plays for the defense.
Kyle Pitts Scores First Touchdown on American Soil
Tight End Kyle Pitts finally did it!! He scores his first touchdown on American soil catching a 7-yard pass from Mariota in the endzone for the last touchdown of the day, second touchdown of his brief career. Last year as a rookie, Pitts scored his only touchdown of the season across the pond in England as the Falcons beat the New York Jets. Hopefully, this will be a breakout game for Pitts and he will score more as the season progresses. But defenses seem to be able to shut him down since they know he is the top target.
See Pitts touchdown here.
Tom Brady Fined After Kicking Grady Jarrett
The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week five of the season. The Falcons had the momentum after Jarrett sacked Bucs quarterback Tom Brady. The score was 15-21 but that momentum was stalled as a roughing the passer on Jarrett was called. Bucs ended up winning the game by the same score above. Brady then kicked Jarrett after the sack and was fined last week by the league $11,139. I mean really NFL, why even fine him? This fine proves nothing and the NFL is going about their roughing the passer and fines the wrong way. Bad look for the NFL.
See sack and kick here and you decide.
Next Game: Falcons (3-3) will travel north to play the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3). Both sit in second place and winless in their respected divisions. Kickoff set for Sunday, October 23 at 1:00PM EST on FOX. Read more of my articles here, and next week read my writeup on this game and more Falcons coverage at Gridiron Heroics.
