Atlanta started their third possession of the game needing something, anything. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, nobody could get a first down for the Falcons on their first two possessions. They've been dreadfully unproductive, befuddled by a Giants defense that seems to have established a presence behind the Falcons' offensive line. Prior to the start of this drive, the Falcons had four yards of total offense.
Falcons Vs. Giants: Fourth Down Attempts Comes Up Short For Atlanta
On first down, Michael Turner went around the left end for a single yard. That was his third carry of the game. On second down, Ryan caught the Giants in zone coverage, hitting Julio Jones in the middle of the field for a 20-yard gain, moving the ball to their 31-yard line.
Turner finally got a hole in the Giants defense, with a little help from his fullback, for nine-yard run and a first down. THen Roddy White nabbed his first pass in two targets for a five-yard gain. On third-and-two, it was rookie Jacquizz Rodgers catching a pass in the flat to get a new set of downs.
Jason Snelling got a turn to carry the rock after Rodger's first down, with the Falcons working out of the no-huddle offense, picking up a six-yard gain. Ryan then got chased out of the pocket by Osi Umenyiora and had to throw the ball away to set up third down.
Ryan then went back to Jones, after huddling the offense, to pick up another first down. Jones, so far, proving the Falcons right for trading the farm to draft him back in April.
On the next set of downs, just as the last seconds ticked off the first quarter, the Falcons handed it off to Jason Snelling. It was an attempt to power through the middle on third-and-two, but the Giants defense made a key stop on their own 24-yard line. Atlanta picked up 66 yards on the drive.
Fourth-and-one, and the question for Mike Smith is whether or not to take the points of go for it. He went for it with a quarterback sneak. The chains came out for the measure. Atlanta held its breath. Short. Inches away. New York gets the ball back on their own 24-yard line, scored tied 0-0.
SB Nation’s NFL bloggers made predictions for Wild Card weekend and here’s a look at the updated NFL playoffs schedule for Sunday. Check out Big Blue View for the latest on the Giants and The Falcoholic for the latest on the Falcons.
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