Who/what lost it for ATL?

2nd half play calling was horrible.

conspiracy theory's ain't my thang, but it seems the refs "let em play" for the most part, until the Pats really needed some help.

With a collapse like that, it's always a combination of things. You can point to several playcalls and players on both sides of the ball that had a hand in it.

It all started with the sack-fumble turnover. That was brutal as it was a 3rd&1 deep in falcon territory. Then driving late in the game with a chance to go up 2 scores, they get taken out of FG range by a sack and penalty. Defense was gassed at the end and couldn't get a stop.

In hindsight Shanahan probably would have played it more conservatively and ran the ball, but at the same time I can't really blame him for putting the ball in the hands of the NFL MVP and expecting him to deliver. No way Ryan can take a sack in those situations, he should know better. That ball has to come out. He held on too long on both sacks.

Overall, I thought the game was officiated very well. They let them play, and the result was a very clean game imo. They missed a face mask on NE on the crucial sack that knocked ATL out of FG range late. I also didn't agree with the PI call in OT to put the Pats on the 1, but the defender didn't turn his head and more often than not it's a PI even if contact was minimal.

I haven't a faintest clue how people can blame so much on the D????

To begin with, the Falcons' D ranks a lowly 25th in Total D, so can someone explain to me like a 4 year old as to what exactly were we supposed to expect from this D unit?

Were they supposed to shut out Tom Brady and win the game for the Falcons? I think not.

Sure, they needed the stops, so I would say a max of 30% blame on the D. The rest of the 70% has to be on Matt Ryan

Originally posted by Rascal:
I haven't a faintest clue how people can blame so much on the D????

To begin with, the Falcons' D ranks a lowly 25th in Total D, so can someone explain to me like a 4 year old as to what exactly were we supposed to expect from this D unit?

Were they supposed to shut out Tom Brady and win the game for the Falcons? I think not.

Sure, they needed the stops, so I would say a max of 30% blame on the D. The rest of the 70% has to be on Matt Ryan

Truthfully Atl D made couple near game changing plays but the ball bounced Pats way. One was the hit on Brady and ball went up, Bennett was right place right time or it was getting picked. Then ofcourse the highlight catch that was held off the ground by a Falcons leg.

Play for the FG with the 8 point lead late. Game over.

I can definitely see where Shanahan should have called the run over the pass on some of those drives however you learn from your mistakes and only get better. He learned with Falcons. Hopefully that only makes him a better Coach for the niners.

Where is the option for Dan Quinn? Obviously he was completely disconnected from his team in the second half.

I love how if you play safe and just play super conservative people bash you for not stepping on the throat. Now they try and step on the throats and lose and people bash for being to aggressive.

Originally posted by 5timechamps:
2nd half play calling was horrible.

Yes I agree the 2nd half defensive play calling horrible.

Originally posted by Hysterikal:
I love how if you play safe and just play super conservative people bash you for not stepping on the throat. Now they try and step on the throats and lose and people bash for being to aggressive.

trent dilfer said they shouldve been conservative too because thats his whole game. this loss is more on the defense to be honest. 28 points is enough to win

Originally posted by Rascal:
I haven't a faintest clue how people can blame so much on the D????

To begin with, the Falcons' D ranks a lowly 25th in Total D, so can someone explain to me like a 4 year old as to what exactly were we supposed to expect from this D unit?

Were they supposed to shut out Tom Brady and win the game for the Falcons? I think not.

Sure, they needed the stops, so I would say a max of 30% blame on the D. The rest of the 70% has to be on Matt Ryan

You just answered your own question with your own point with phrase "Flacon;'s D ranks a lowly 25th what exactly were we supposed to expect from this D unit?" for the question "I haven't a clue how people can blame so much on the D???"

Originally posted by hondakillerzx:

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

I love how if you play safe and just play super conservative people bash you for not stepping on the throat. Now they try and step on the throats and lose and people bash for being to aggressive.

trent dilfer said they shouldve been conservative too because thats his whole game. this loss is more on the defense to be honest. 28 points is enough to win

Agreed. The defense was buzzing in the first half and in the second half the pass rush went MIA. They are a young team and may have emptied their tanks in the first half. It was a great game and Tom Brady had so many clutch passes in the 2nd half.

I'd rather have a coach overly aggressive than running out the clock in the second quarter. Patriots were expecting them to run it out so I like that he was trying to get yards thru the air.
Against anyone other than Brady and they win that game regardless. Brady's passes were just money down the stretch.
Hopefully Brady will retire soon and we don't have to worry about that with us in the Superbowl.

A few play calls were questionable but there were turning points in the game.

The lack of effort by Freeman to not block Hightower in the 4th on that sack/fumble was unacceptable. He looked asleep

Veteran & MVP QB Matt Ryan can not, can not, can not take that sack w/ 4 mins left and in FG range. That is not acceptable. Chalk it up to inexperience in the "big game". He should know better. That's when it comes down to situational football. Not sure why there was a call for a 7 step drop. Run the ball. Ultimately though Ryan needs to know better. Have a plan to get rid of the ball.

Didn't see the same energy & passion in the 2nd half but I think ATL's defense was gassed.

ATL just couldn't sustain drives, at all. Ran the ball 5 times in the 2nd half right?

NE took the air & momentum out of the building right after the Coleman TD.

Everything went NE's way in the 2nd half. The catch by Edelman was unbelievable.

Hey, at least Shanahan's not being blamed for losing a Superbowl for SF. He will learn a lot from that experience right there. Last time I checked, he wasn't the head coach.

This is still an absolutely awesome HC hire!