Saints Falcons 4th Quarter Analysis

So we open the 4th Quarter with the Falcons driving to the Saint 29 and my heart's in my mouth.  The ESPN Analyst doesn't help by pointing out Falcons coach Roddy White has never lost back to back games with the Falcons.  Heck of a time to bring that up guys, thanks a lot.  My heart has gone to Defcon 4.

Big 3rd and 5 coming up after incompletion and Turner run.  DEEEEFENCE, DEEEEFENCE, DEEEEFENCE.  Come on crowd, be the 12th man...  GET THE FUNK IN, they force the run wide and only pick up 1.  But the Falcons go for it on 4th and 4 and... connect to Gonzalez for a 1st down and I'm going to hide behind my giant hands for a while.

Falcons at the 9, false start penalty though and they are 2nd and 12.  Did the crowd entice their first big penalty of the game?

Ryan to ex Saint Stecker (Judas) and they're down to the 7.  3rd and 4.  Ryan to Roddy White for a touchdown and we are tied... NOOOO, the call is being challenged and with good reason as that ball was not caught.  And the ruling is overturned!!  4th down and 4.  This time the Falcons are settling for the field goal and Elam converts.  Heck of a job holding them to 3.

Falcons 24 Saints 28.

Saints take the field with the ball at the Saints 25.  Time for a big time drive.

Brees to Henderson for 8.  Bell runs right and picks up 1 and a half so we're facing 3rd and a squiral.  Oh jeez, Thomas spills the ball to the carpet and the Falcons recover.  Payton is challenging the call as it looks like Thomas may have been down before he was mugged at the bottom of the pile.  And...

They loose the challenge and are out of challenge attempts.  DAMN.  The Falcons have the ball at the 35 with momentum.  Time for a Championship defence.

But no Michael Turner runs for 20 after being stuffed at the line.  This is the guy I most feared and he is putting up big numbers.  Heck of a play.

But... Tracy Porter intercepts the next Ryan pass at the 2 and returns it to the Saints 20.  Jonathan Vilma tipped that ball which pushed it Porters way.  Heck of a momentum shift back the Saints way and hell of a play by messers Vilma and Porter.  Man this game is killing my ticker.

Quickly to 3rd and 5.  A yellow flag rescues the Saints as the ball sails past Reggie Bush.  I think we caught a break as that was not pass interference.

Bell picks up 2.  Brees long down field to Colston who makes an outstanding catch at the Falcon 41.  Colston is upended but holds on and wins my undying love.

Bell runs right for 4.  Here we go, finally a decent 2nd half drive.  Thomas in the back field floors John Abraham giving Brees time to complete an uncatchable ball to Shockey... who catches it being the legend he is.  1st down!

Thomas inside picks up 4 and the clock is ticking down to 4 minutes.  Brees to Colston for the 1st down and the clock runs as the Falcons throw a hissy fit because they are big birds and can't take the pace.

Thomas for a couple and Atlanta call a timeout with the ball at their own 7, 3.12 on the clock.  Brees to Henderson who is stopped at the 1.  Great catch (more because it eases my blood pressure than a hall of fame catch or anything).  3rd and goal.  Come on the black and gold, this is the game.

Brees to Thomas in the flat who leaps and... TOUCHDOWN!!  That Pierre Thomas Jersey goes to the top of my Christmas list and perhaps many others.

Falcons 24 Saints 35 with 3.03 on the clock.

Falcons ball at the 34 and the commentators are goofing.  Goof away boys as I am happy... for now.  Ryan will be heading to the air as the Dome picks up the noise.  Here we go...

Oh my, tipped pass and Sharper almost snares another interception but drops it, damn.  Roman Harper makes a heck of an open field tackle on Gonzalez on the next play to bring up 3rd and 2.  Ryan converts by sneaking out the pocket and takes it to the 48.

Will Smith of Hollywood fame forces a fumble and the Saints recover.  Smith is definitely among the Super Saints of the week with 4 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

However the Falons have just challenged the call and won it.  Incomplete pass my ass.  Stupid Falcons.  Brings up the 2 minute warning.  So chalk off the forced fumble from Will Smiths numbers and he's relegated to Super boy status for now.

Ryan to White down the sidelines but Sharper gets over there to force White out before he gets the second foot down so incomplete.  Hell of a play Eagle Eyes.  Another incomplete and it's 4th and 10.  This is it...

And the ball sails incomplete and the Saints will WIN!!!!  Saints go 7 and 0 and steal a march on the division crown.

Except I've spoken too soon because, as the Saints were running the clock out, Bell inexplicably fumbles the ball.  Put two arms on that thing man, for F@*ks sake!!

Now my heart is pumping 20 to the dozen.  It's quickly 4th down though so Elam is in to kick a 40 yard field goal to narrow the score to 35 to 27.  All eyes on the on side kick and the 'not so great' Saints kick return team.  28 seconds on the clock...

And it's...  a hell of a scrum of 20 guys and... the Falcons have the ball, unbelievable!!  26 seconds left.

Ryan to Jenkins and the Falcons are at midfield with 11 seconds to go.  Here comes the Hail Mary.  Come on Porter, Sharper, Greer, Gay, et al...

DARREN SHARPER intercepts!!!!  My man.  And the heart can return to normal and I can stop almost crying like the big girl I clearly am.

Saints Falcons 3rd Quarter Analysis

Falcons to get us underway in the second half and the ball sails deep to Courtney Roby who brings it out to the 28.  Let's go Offence, put this game away. They clearly chose to ignore me however as the Saints are quickly 4 and out so have to punt.  Faclons ball.

Number 72, Tackle Sam Baker of the Falcons, has a hell of an ugly beard and so gets called for holding on Will Smith.  The Umpires secretly wanted to call it for unsportsmanlike beard but couldn't find the rulebook to double check it was in there.  Falcons' 1st and 20 back at their own 33.

Oh dear, Ryan to Roddy White for a 68 yard Touchdown pass over Greer who missed the jump ball... and just when he was shaping up for Super Saint of the week.

Falcons 21 Saints 28.

Roby returns the kick off to the 38.  Mike Bell run, then short pass to Colston brings up a quick 3rd and 4.  We could do with a good drive here so...  Brees to Shockey, 1st down.  The big man does the business after a great Brees audible set up a mismatch.

Brees to Meachem for 17 to the Falcon 26.  Just another great pass and catch.  Brees makes the impossible look easy.

Bell picks up a nice 7.  2 quick incompletions follow and the Saints will have to settle for a field goal.  Here comes John Karney the Cancan man and... he misses wide right.  Balls.

Falcons 21 Saints 28.

White then Turner pick up some yards and the Falcons are at midfield quick.  Dunbar makes a heck of a tackle which brings up a Scott Fujita shot on the sideline for the benefit of Michelle at the Saints Rants blog. 

The Fujita shot must have done the job as Michelle's good vibes enable Eagle Eyes Sharper to break up the 3rd and 5 pass and the Falcons are forced to punt.  Saints ball at their own 16.  Game on.

Pierre Thomas with 2 runs brings up a 1st down to the Saints 27.  Due to a Falcon injury Brees finds the time to chat to Payton on the sidelines about the floral patterns on the wallpaper he's looking to get for his front room next week.

Bell stuffed for 0.  Now Brees to Thomas, who at first stumbles but makes a heck of a second effort, to pick up 7 yards.  Thomas took a good lick there though and is slow getting up.  3rd and 3. Incomplete.  Saints have to punt again.  Damn this is tight again.

3:18 left in the 3rd Quarter and the Falcons start at their own 23.  Big drive coming up.  Momentum is up for grabs.

Turner grabs a 1st down.  That Falcon tackle with the ginger beard is on the sidelines being talked to by the coaches.  Looks like they want to sheer off that ugly chin hair with some sheep clippers.  Will they manage to do it?  Stay tuned as we need to return to the field.

And just in time as Will Smith takes down Matt Ryan for a loss of 4.  2nd sack of the night by the Hollywood star who moonlights for the Saints.

Ryan to Jenkins for pick up of 29.  Good pressure again by the Saints front 4 but the slippery bird flew the nest just in time.  Come on Defence, the Dome is getting LOUD.

Turner runs for a first down and sucks the noise out the crowd to end the 3rd.

Saints Falcons First Half Analysis

You join this weeks Saints helmet analysis near the start of the 2nd Quarter as, like the complete amateur I am, I was still eating when the game kicked off. The Saints are trailing the Falcons 14 to 7 following an 8 play opening drive Michael Turner touchdown for the Falcons, a stupendous Pierre Thomas 24 yard touchdown run in answer and a Falcon fumble recovery for 7 more.

We pick up the game in the 2nd Quarter with 10.38 on the clock and... The Beast Colston pulls in a touchdown catch with a great leap just as the fingers hit the keyboard.

Atlanta 14 Saints 14.

ESPN analyst states - Tracy Porter 45 attempts against him this season, only 24 completions just as Ryan connects to White over his head. The Falcons are driving.

Michael Turner breaks to the outside for a 37 yard gain (85 yards to date in game). The Saints need to stuff him up quick or this game will go to the wire (and I don't mean the HBO series based in Baltimore).

The Saints stop the Falcons at the 16 after a dropped pass on 3rd and 7. Jason Elam comes in and hits the post from 34 and family Falconer high 5 one another.

7.28 - Saints ball.

Brees to Shockey for 6. Pierre Thomas on 2nd and 4 breaks to the outside for a gain of 29. Great burst of speed. ESPN crew are talking about Pierre Thomas - More 15 yard gains than any back in football (16% of runs for 15 or more - highest in NFL). Nice stat guys, I did not know that despite my dedicated post 'Pierre Thomas Jersey sales set to jump' last week.

Brees to Lance Moore for a 1st down. Mickey Loomis, the Saints General Manager, is being praised by Analyst Jon Gruden for putting together this team of undrafted picks and free agents. Who am I to argue? In fact that theme is on my blogging to do list next week but that's neither here nor there right now.

Stuffed run and a penalty pushes the Saints to 2nd and 21 at the Falcon 39. Brees to Henderson but Fred Grimes makes a huge leap to intercept Brees. Nick Knackers!

3.54 - Falcons ball at their own 19.

The Saints put pressure on Ryan on successive plays and force the Falcons to punt. Jabari Greer did well to break up the 3rd and 6 pass.

2.46 - Saints ball on their own 20.

Brees to Colston for 15, perfect pass over the middle.  Brees to Bush for 6 yards in the flat. Brees pumps the Gatorade into his mouth in his own inimitable style.

Brees to Meachem for 30 down the middle to bring up the 2 minute warning.  Ball at the Falcon 28.  This is looking good.

Brees to Henderson down the left sideline to the Falcon 4.  Hell of a catch by Henderson, the speedster looks sharp.

1.49 - 1st and goal.

Come on boys, let's get the go ahead touchdown. Analysts are eulogising about the receiving corpse and Sean Payton, soon to be known as Lord Payton of Pimlico.

Pierre Thomas down to the 1. Now the Analysts are saying both guards should go to pro bowl.  Reggie Bush takes a toss to the left and... TOUCHDOWN!! Reggie made it look easy.

Falcons 14, Saints 21.

That marks 3 80 yard drives by the Saints in the first half. Not bad going at all.  The Brees to Henderson pass was key and an absolute highlight catch.

Jon Gruden is blowing more smoke up Brees and Paytons asses.  "I spent days at their training camp and it was quite something" he states to a national audience hanging on his every word. "To see those guys work is to see brilliant football players in action". He then goes on to say "I think the Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl as New Orleans is the best city in the World and they have a dedicated blogger called Peter Falconer who is the best in the business" (WARNING - Last part may have been made up)...

Brees and Payton are finally getting the respect they deserve. I feel good for Drew, he more than deserves it. Stat flashes up that confirms Brees leads the NFL in 20+ yard pass completions this season. You're damn tootin!

1.00 on the 1st half clock. Falcon ball at their own 33 yard line.

Oh my - Jabari Greer picks off Ryan and returns it 48 yards for an outstanding TOUCHDOWN. 14th interception of the year and 5th returned for a TD by a Saint.

What did I say in my Saints Falcons preview? Hey? Hey? About the Defence playing a major part with a game changing TD? OK don't get full of yourself Falconer.

Falcons 14 Saints 28 with 40 seconds left in the half.

1st down to Gonzalez at the Falcons 48 with 15 seconds left. Sharper gave him a heck of a 'Hey man, you don't need that air in your lungs now do ya?' kind of shot.

Umpires have stopped the game to discuss embroidery patterns for the perfect quilt... or it may be to reset the play clock, AGAIN. Someone in the Dome (Chef Who Dat maybe?) keeps knocking seconds off the stadium clock.

Pass to Gonzalez and the Falcons are just within field goal range at the the New Orleans 33 with 9 seconds left.

So Elam comes in, getting that Cancan leg swinging and... Well WIDE and LOW. Get the feck OUT A HERE!!

So the Saints go in at half time 28 to 14 up and I'm off to drink a beer. See you in the second half folks.