Falcons overcome blown lead, defeat Dolphins 30-28
Just when you thought it was going to be another last-second Falcons heartbreak, the team overcame a blown lead and answered with a 36-yard field goal to seal a 30-28 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Rookie Kyle Pitts was sensational, the offense stepped up when it needed to, and special teams came through with big plays all afternoon.
Let’s recap all three phases of the Falcons’ Week 7 performance against the Dolphins.
Offense
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The offense again threw a lot short passes and screens to start the game, which resulted in zero first-quarter points for Atlanta. Matt Ryan got in a little bit of rhythm as the game progressed and he could better anticipate some where some of the pressure was coming from. Calvin Ridley returned from his one-game absence and returned to the end zone.
But the story of the game was rookie Kyle Pitts, who finished with seven catches for a career-high 163 yards (23.3 yards per reception). Every time the Falcons needed a big play, Pitts was there. Every time it felt like the game was going south, Pitts was there.
Ryan threw for 336 yards, two touchdowns, one interception (which wasn’t his fault) and a passer rating of 95.4.
Defense
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The defense survived a tough game and even though they did technically blow the lead late in the fourth quarter, two key interceptions spurred Atlanta to a 30-28 win. Cornerback A.J. Terrell and safety Erik Harris were injured, putting a ton of stress on the young secondary.
The Falcons allowed Tua Tagovailoa to throw for 291 yards and four touchdowns. The defense did a decent job containing the running game, but there was a lot to be cleaned up. On the bright side, safety Jaylinn Hawkins got another interception after recording the first of his career in Week 5.
Overall, it was the kind of performance that you can live with since there were bright spots and the team ultimately came away with a win.
Special Teams
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Younghoe Koo kept the Falcons in the game with a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, then rookie Ade Ogundeji broke through the line to block Jason Sanders’ field goal attempt. Koo was outstanding on the day, making all three extra points and converting a 36-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
Atlanta is 3-3, but without Koo’s consistent production this season, there’s no way the team could be .500 at this point. It’s good to have a clutch performer at one of the game’s most important positions.
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