The Falcons Were Lucky

I'll give the Falcons the credit for a good defensive play on the interception. Judon was in Carr's face quickly and made a good play (including holding Carr on the return ;)).

The muffed punt is hard to believe. Shaheed is a bright, experienced return man. Never field the punt (or a fair catch) inside the 5 yard line is Return Man 101 basic lesson number one. Add in that he was backing up and tried to field it over his shoulder adds to the WTH factor. Even if you catch it cleanly, you're at the 1 or 2 yard line. Just leave it alone and if backs up and they down it inside the five, that's the breaks.

In a rival, away game you can't afford that kind of mistake. We still were in a position to win in spite of that and with additional key injuries during the game. It played out like most of thought it would and a key penalty kept us from sealing the deal.

And for the record, I don't disagree with going for the TD on the second to last drive. Tyler Allgeier was getting big chunks of yardage on us - especially with Davis and Gay sidelined. In hindsight we got the stop, but if we had kicked the field goal, they may have ripped off a couple of first downs and everyone would have been blaming DA for not trying for the TD.