New Orleans Saints
vs.
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta 20, New Orleans 17 - This was a fun and fascinating game to watch! Well, admittedly, I did not watch it from the beginning, but perhaps from midway or so through the fourth and final quarter. But these two teams seemed to go back and forth. One minute, it seemed assured that the Saints would win, then then next, it seemed certain that the Falcons would win.
In the end, the Falcons were able to ice the win when a rare Drew Brees mistake saw the Saints seemingly good chances for a game winning touchdown (they were quite close to the end zone, and at least in great position for a field goal to tie the game and force overtime) was intercepted by Deion Jones in the end zone.
The ball thus went to Atlanta with little time remaining, and with the Falcons needing a first down to keep the drive alive and keep the ball away from the Saints dangerous offense, Sean Payton obliged by running well onto the field to protest that he was not being paid attention to while trying to call a timeout. That gave the Falcons 15 yards and a first down, and from there, they were able to run out the clock on New Orleans.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Sean Payton showed his trademark class and imitated Pete Carroll by making a "choke" sign with his hands. It was perhaps meant to get inside of the heads of the Falcons, who infamously blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last season, and lost some games earlier this season after holding sizable leads.
Atlanta's Devonta Freeman saw it, but it did not bother him. Here is the response by Freeman, according to an ESPN article by Vaughn McClure:
"Man, I saw it,'' a chuckling Freeman told reporters after the Falcons' 20-17 win. "That man don't know nothing about choking. He ain't from where I'm from. He don't know about choking. He's a good competitor. The 'competes' probably came out. But we don't let that bother me. He don't know nothing about choking.'
Well, maybe Payton meant to get in their heads, but as it turns out, much like when Carroll made that gesture with the New York Jets in a game that the Dolphins would eventually lose, the Saints also lost this one. It seemed rather fitting, frankly.
With the loss, the Saints might wind up once again being tied with the Panthers after this weekend, if Carolina manages to stop the red hot Vikings and end their big win streak. At the very least, New Orleans is not nearly so close to clinching the division as it appeared they might be after beating the Panthers last weekend, and being favored by many to win this one this week.
The win for Atlanta keeps their playoff hopes alive, although they do need help.
Or, perhaps, they do not. Why? Because, in fact, they play the Panthers and the Saints again this season, in their remaining three games. And if they manage to win all three of those remaining games, they will win the NFC South, as unlikely as that scenario appeared just days, or even hours, ago. It might not happen, but by virtue of this win, it is at least still a possibility.
So, maybe the Falcons did choke in the big game in February. And maybe they did blow some big leads earlier this season. But they certainly did not blow it in this one, and if they can avoid choking in any of these upcoming three games, the Falcons will be able to proudly call themselves NFC South champions, against all odds.
If it is anywhere near as fun as last night's game was, I for one ame looking forward to it!
This is the article that I used (specifically the quote) in writing this particular blog entry:
Devonta Freeman brushes off choking gesture from Sean Payton by Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer, December 8, 2017:
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