After eeking out record-setting franchise win in week 4, the Falcons extended their best season start to 6-0 at home this week–despite Matt Ryan’s 3 interceptions. With Houston’s Sunday night loss to Green Bay, Atlanta is now the only unbeaten team in 2012.
By: James Emery
It was another breath-holding win this Sunday against the Raiders, not unlike week 3 vs. the Panthers as Matt Bryant kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired and last week’s nail-biter vs. the Redskins with 17 of Atlanta’s 24 points scored in the 4th quarter. The Dirty Birds had Atlanta fans’ hearts racing, but a win’s a win!
Once again, the game was decided by a Matt Bryant field goal. The typically reliable kicker missed a 43 yard attempt in the first quarter–his first miss this season–making the Falcon’s last-ditch effort that much more intense. He redeemed himself in the third, tacking 6 points on to the Falcon’s score.
The action heated up in the fourth as Asante Samuel picked off Carson Palmer and returned it for a 79 yard touchdown. The Raiders retaliated with a 2-yard touchdown run by Darren McFadden, tying the game at 20. With one second left on the clock and their perfect record on the line, Bryant came through once again, putting a 55-yarder through the uprights.
This win couldn’t have come at a better time for Atlanta fans, who are still recovering from a heartbreaking baseball loss with the Braves losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League wild card game. 6-0 in football is definitely helping brighten Atlantans’ spirits!
