Quote:
Originally Posted by jday
I understand what you are trying to say...but 13 of those 19 points came in the fourth quarter. This, after possession after possession of offensive ineptness. Granted, Atlanta only had the ball 5 minutes longer than the Cowboys, but the Cowboys didn't start having long drives until towards the end of the game, so I would venture to say that when the Falcons did finally score, the defense was pretty exhausted. Factor in injuries to Church, Lee, Ratliff, and a number of guys playing hurt like Ware and those 19 points, in my mind, become understandable against a potent offense like the Falcons.
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ATL's 2nd half possessions
11:41 3Q 04:58 ATL 14 10 plays 61 yds Missed FG
02:39 3Q 03:23 ATL 19 6 plays 81 yds Touchdown
12:39 4Q 04:50 ATL 20 9 plays 62 yds Field Goal
05:21 4Q 05:04 ATL 20 12 plays 66 yds Field Goal
ATL had the ball for 18:15 seconds in the second half; ATL finished with a 32:43 - 27:17 TOP advantage (+5:26); all but 22 seconds of that final margin came on ATL's final possession of the game. In other words, TOP for the game was almost dead even when ATL got the ball at their own 20 with 5:21 remaining.
If the D was gassed at the end of the game, it ain't because of anything the O did or didn't do. The plain fact is our D allowed themselves to get worked by ATL in the second half.