By: David Schiele
The Falcons showed the world that they were not a good second half team in Super Bowl LI. However, just in case we forgot, Atlanta gave us a nice reminder against the Miami Dolphins in week six. After taking a 17-0 lead into halftime, the Falcons watched the Dolphins score 20 unanswered points in the second half. It is Atlanta’s second straight loss, and they are embarrassed.
“This one hurts, no doubt,” said Head Coach Dan Quinn.
During the postgame press conference, someone asked Coach Quinn if losing second-half leads is becoming the Falcons’ identity. Um…it’s been the Falcons identity for years. The catch is that the Falcons don’t always lose the game in which they squander a double-digit lead. We have seen it more than ever in the 2017 season, however.
Earlier this season, the Falcons led both the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions by 10 points in the second half. Both teams came within five yards of beating Atlanta. The Dolphins finished the job. Each Miami drive in the second half lasted at least two and a half minutes and ended in scores. The last of which gave the Dolphins a 20-17 lead with 2:30 left in the game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan led the Atlanta offense down to the Dolphins’ 26-yard line before throwing his fifth interception of the year to complete the Falcons’ collapse. “This game, this league is about execution, and it’s about being consistent throughout the game, and we need to do a better job of that,” Ryan said after the game.
Atlanta fans should hope their team gets better at consistency because the Falcons travel to New England next week to face the Patriots. You know…the team with the most famous second-half comeback against Falcons.
#truetoatlanta, #atlantafalcons, #Riseup
