C H O K E

[gbgary]

someone on one of the morning talk shows said ne's secondary got extra physical in the second half, because they knew they wouldn't call interference on every play (a la sea), too.

[pbmax]

On first down after the Julio catch freeman was caught in the backfield for a two yard loss. The Patriots were catching him for losses more consistently in the second half and I believe they were more worried about another loss running the ball and had a better chance getting into better position throwing the football. Ryan had been lights out and Jones was going to catch anything coming his way. Hindsight is a motherfucker.

The sack is the killer. You can't have that.

Holding penalties happen.

[pbmax]

Maybe instead of blaming Ryan you blame his running back who missed his block. Ryan had very little time and got blindsided.

Maybe I am confused, but the RB who missed a blitz block was the strip sack. Ryan sacked inside Patriot territory late was a D lineman who beat Mack up the middle I think.

Or maybe I just dreamed this.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Falcons Stayed in character? JJ got only 4 target all night (and 4 catches I might add). Ryan didn't trust the best WR in the NFL; the guy just wins battles with CBs time and again. Matt Ryan passed only 23 times all game and the last two passes by Matty Melt were among the worst play call decisions in the history of NFL super bowl. Save Falcons RB Freeman from what? The game was ending...an easy FG was in the books and a two score game again for the dirty birds and also less time for a Pats comeback. Not even McCarthy would do this! Stupid that is beyond stupid.

My point was that the Falcons lived and died by Ryan's big-play pass attack this season. I'm not saying they didn't choke, I'm just saying that they didn't turtle up (when they should have) which was very much in their character of how they played this season. I think they were going for the kill with a TD pass there. Again, not arguing it was smart, just consistent in what they've done this season.

[pbmax]

Falcons Stayed in character? JJ got only 4 target all night (and 4 catches I might add). Ryan didn't trust the best WR in the NFL; the guy just wins battles with CBs time and again. Matt Ryan passed only 23 times all game and the last two passes by Matty Melt were among the worst play call decisions in the history of NFL super bowl. Save Falcons RB Freeman from what? The game was ending...an easy FG was in the books and a two score game again for the dirty birds and also less time for a Pats comeback. Not even McCarthy would do this! Stupid that is beyond stupid.

The Falcons averaged an incredible 6.7 yards per play this year. The combo of an explosive offense and a middling Defense meant that the Falcons ran 70 less plays this year than their opponents (700 more yards for the Birds though).

It is completely typical for their offense to be close to even in run-pass ratio. Falcons only had 46 plays, 23 passes (plus 5 sacks).

Doubling Julio worked. Pass pressure, a 2-4 nickel and good tackling did the rest in the second half.

[gbgary]

Maybe I am confused, but the RB who missed a blitz block was the strip sack. Ryan sacked inside Patriot territory late was a D lineman who beat Mack up the middle I think.

Or maybe I just dreamed this.

you're right. mack got beat. ryan had at least a full 3 seconds before he started to scramble. he didn't get blindsided either. he kinda spun out of the tackle and mack himself hit ryan at the same time. devastating play.

“For me, I wish I could have found a way to throw it away and not lose that yardage – that would have been important for us,” Ryan said

[pbmax]

Falcons played man coverage. Since the Patriots altered their offense to be more short pass dominant, some teams idiotically try to play zone against it. The Packers broke this mold in 2010 on Sunday Night Football, the Matt Flynn retirement fund game.

Andy Benoit @Andy_Benoit 10m10 minutes ago
#Falcons foundation was man-free-lurk, which kept free defender in shallow middle, taking away crossers. Great tactic but exhausting to play

But at a 46 to 93 play advantage, they could not keep it up. Patriots did adjust by 3rd Quarter. If you'll notice, lots of comeback patterns, crossers and bunched groups of WR. Mostly though, passes to RB who escaped LB coverage in flats.

[gbgary]

yup...lots of passes to the rb in the 4th qtr for ne (including the game winner). no jamming by atl dbs either.

[Harlan Huckleby]

A long field goal attempt is not a great option. You don't want to risk giving N.E. the ball with good field position. I didn't blame Atlanta for passing to get the ball down near the 20. They had enough time to use several quicker passes - but maybe defense was playing tight.

[Zool]

someone on one of the morning talk shows said ne's secondary got extra physical in the second half, because they knew they wouldn't call interference on every play (a la sea), too.

A la Atl's DBs as well. Remember Adams' exposed shoulder pad on a route early in the game showing that the refs weren't going to be calling much.

[mmmdk]

My point was that the Falcons lived and died by Ryan's big-play pass attack this season. I'm not saying they didn't choke, I'm just saying that they didn't turtle up (when they should have) which was very much in their character of how they played this season. I think they were going for the kill with a TD pass there. Again, not arguing it was smart, just consistent in what they've done this season.

We're on the same page - 100%, Craig.

This Falcons SB blunder was an eye opener for me...I hope! I sat with my very best friend, a long time Falcons fan and I witnessed a brain fart beyond brain farts...and Falcons lost in the most horrible way thinkable. This is where my sceptic nature has helped me through the years of "only" 2 SB wins for Packers since 1992 but the news is that I actually now will appreciate the many good Packers seasons more today than I did yesterday (I already did but besides my point). Lombardi and Hoody eras are very rare...even with Packers fortunate decades of having Favre & Rodgers led GB teams. Packers 2016-17 season is a gem. I've always held Packers Majkowski '89 10-6 season in very, very high regard...I've got many of the '89 wins on dvd (back from when it was easy to get nfl games on the world wide web) and Packers recent 8-7-1 season with an injury to AR are among my favorite Packers season (improbable comeback in Dallas)...though sans the 2 modern Pack era SB win seasons.

Anyhoo, Packers 2017-18 is a...Lombardi trophy or bust season...but most of all - let it be a gem!

[mmmdk]

The Falcons averaged an incredible 6.7 yards per play this year. The combo of an explosive offense and a middling Defense meant that the Falcons ran 70 less plays this year than their opponents (700 more yards for the Birds though).

It is completely typical for their offense to be close to even in run-pass ratio. Falcons only had 46 plays, 23 passes (plus 5 sacks).

Doubling Julio worked. Pass pressure, a 2-4 nickel and good tackling did the rest in the second half.

Atlanta didn't stay aggressive on offense and when they did [get aggressive]...Pats licked theirs chops and won a SB; I'd rather have a turnover with throws to an almost covered JJ or Gabriel than lose the way Atlanta did. This is for you Ripkowski, it ain't on you!

Atlanta's season stats are just that...stats. Within the game, this SB LI, you gotta be sharper than what Atalanta were. It's a painful loss but luckily it's only football. Certainly a dark day in november can trump that...(this is no political endorsement for Hilly) yet the one ring must be destroyed.

[pbmax]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nfl-superbowl-ratings-idUSKBN15L1L5?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5898e50104d3011ce1f6d31b&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Lowest SB rating number in four years. Only the Harbaugh brothers could make it less interesting.

[yetisnowman]

I live in Atlanta for those that don't know. The mood in the city today is just palpably morose. It feels like the entire town just had to put their dog down simultaneously. I've never seen anything like it. I didn't think it could get worse than the Packers Seattle debacle, but this makes that look like a preseason game. Falcons were a 99.6 percent favorite with three minutes to go in the third. 1 in 200 chance to lose. Ouch.

[pbmax]

Everything that went wrong: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page...-super-bowl-li