Want to Beat Atlanta? Patience Required.
At 4-1, the Atlanta Falcons have only lost to the New England Patriots. The four teams that they have defeated are the Dolphins, Panthers, 49ers, and most recently the Bears. How did the Patriots do it? Are their clues in the numbers?
The following stats are the actual numbers of Atlanta’s opponents this year, including the stats of the one team that they were defeated by, the New England Patriots.
Which number is the Patriots’ average yard gained per rush?
A) 4.3 – this one
B) 4.4
C) 5.8
D) 5.9
The other numbers belong to MIA, CAR, and SF.
Which number represents the Patriots’ yards passing versus Atlanta?
A) 277 – right here
B) 300
C) 308
The other numbers belong to CHI and CAR.
Which number represents Tom Brady’s quarterback rating versus Atlanta?
A) 82.2
B) 84.8
C) 87.1 – yep
But his stat is not a lot better than Delhomme or Pennington.
To me, the following numbers show more of the reason why NE defeated ATL.
Time of Possession:
A) 39:49 – NE
B) 33:54 – CHI
C) 29:07 – MIA
D) 28:28 – CAR
E) 23:31 – SF
In my opinion, NE won with slow, methodical, patient, clock-burning drives.
Just take a look at several of the Patriots’ offensive drives:
Started at their own 16
Burned 8:39 off of the clock
15 plays
Kicked a 21 yard FG
Started at their own 27
Burned 3:36 off of the clock
12 plays
Kicked a 33 yard FG
Started at their own 17
Burned 5:59 off of the clock
13 plays
Kicked a 22 yard FG
Started at their own 15
Burned 6:59 off of the clock
16 plays
Kicked a 33 yard FG
Started at their own 22
Final drive of the 4th quarter and Atlanta never got the ball back
Burned 6:52 off of the clock
11 plays
Ended with a Brady “kneel down”
Another telling statistic:
Atlanta’s 3rd down conversion percentage on offense
A) 57% versus SF
B) 50% versus CAR
C) 42% versus CHI
D) 40% versus MIA
E) Only 22% versus NE
Of the 9 opportunities that ATL had 3rd down versus NE:
1. 3rd and 7 converted on a 21 yard pass
2. 3rd and 3 – inc
3. 3rd and 7 – inc
4. 3rd and 3 – inc
5. 3rd and 3 converted on an 11 yard pass
6. 3rd and 18 – only got 13 on a pass
7. 3rd and 14 – only got 7 on a pass
8. 3rd and 3 – inc
9. 3rd and 4 – inc
I know there's more than one way to "skin a cat" but the NE method was......
1) On Defense - keep ATL from converting on 3rd down
2) On Offense - be patient, eat up the clock, and keep Matt Ryan on the bench
Do the Cowboys need to replicate this approach, or create their own way to defeat Atlanta?
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
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you mean
If we Folk em to death?
by MicThaRock on Oct 23, 2009 9:02 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Great post
If they could manage to minimize all the mental errors, our guys could beat any team however they see fit. If they don’t, they’ll still most likely play a close one until the very end…
But I certainly agree that running the ball, keeping Atlanta’s offense off the field seems like the best strategy. Really hope Felix is ready to go, because the running game isn’t even half as effective without him.
Epic Fail since 1985
Mental Errors?
New England only had 2 penalties versus Atlanta for a total of 10 yards.
I doubt the Cowboys can match that.
Obviously
I was simply saying the source of most of our troubles seems to come from mental errors such as penalties, confusion, etc. If they get that sorted out, they could very possibly prove to be much more talented than the Falcons defense.
I think the Falcons are the real deal, but I think our offense can score on them frequently if they manage to cut back on the mental lapses that have held them back so far.
And every game is different. You can’t just look at it and say “well, New England is better than us and they barely beat the Falcons, so we’ll really struggle”. Every team matches up differently.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Oct 20, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions
I wasn't contradicting you
I agree, but was just pointing out that NE had very few penalties versus ATL, and can only hope that DAL will limit their mental mistakes, too.
Ah
Well, I should go on the record as saying I DO think the Pats are a much better team than we are at this point in the season. I also think the Falcons have a good shot at beating us. I’m just trying to convince myself that we COULD be an elite team if we cut back on the drive killing penalties, offensive confusion(I really hope MartyB starts “getting it” some time soon), etc.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Oct 21, 2009 3:44 AM CDT up reply actions
you can win that way or beat them in a shootout
Either way works for me as long as we get the “W”.
In Romo we Trust
Dallas has a good 3rd down defense, if they can manage to keep ATL in long 3rd downs then they can get their
offense off the field. The offense will need to lean on that running game to keep the long drives going.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Long 3rd downs
Versus NE, ATL had 9 third-downs:
Only 4 of them are what I would consider 3rd and long: 7, 7, 14, and 18 yards.
What impressed me more was the fact that the Patriot defense got Ryan and company off the field 4 out of 5 times in 3rd and 4 or 3rd and 3 situations.
Of note: Ryan passed 100% of the time on 3rd down in that game.
DAllas never gets off the field...
…in 3rd and 4 or 3rd and 3 situations it seems.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
I say bore the heck out of the fans at Cowboys Stadium.
Run, checkdown, hit Witten down the middle. Run, checkdown, hit Witten down the middle. Every once third series, take a shot or two downfield.
Keep Ryan, Gonzo, and Roddy off the field.
Doing so will take discipline, though.
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
Discipline?
The team has the makeup of being a team that can run an offense like that (it’s what I’ve really been telling you all along Bishop). It’s not the team that needs to have this discipline, but the offensive coordinator (i know, this story is getting old).
I can envision 2 types of outcomes easily…..
1- a game where we pass but are not productive and we stay with it and Romo doesn’t get into sync, forces passes, Falcons get a turnover or two, and win, simply because you don’t want to be giving the ball to Matt Ryan and they’re offense.
2- a game where the Cowboys run/screen/short pass the ball with Tashard, MB3, and Felix, mixing it up well, eating the clock, making the Atlanta offense sit the bench, staying productive, making little/few mistakes because the plays are higher percentage, patiently waiting for the passing game to open up, defense awakens, stops Atlanta, and we win by a larger margin in a conservavtive game than we would have thought we could have. Making no mistakes does that. i stlll expect a false start or 3 fro Flo, but that won’t loose the game as much as giving Atlanta extra touches on offense because of turnovers. If there was ever a time to clobber a team with the run (and stick to it) it’s now. We have to prove to other teams we are willing and able to win a game THAT WAY, and until we do, teams will be baiting Romo and Garrett in the passing game. If they have to worry about us running them into the ground- well, that changes the way a team will study and prepare for us.
This is truly a Tashard Choice kind of game. Use Felix out there a the same time, as a decoy AND a reciever. You can’t go wrong against any defense having Miles and Felix out there at the same time (our two fastest players on offense), and Tashard will get his yards running. And just when a defense gets used to that kind of production…
BAM-touchdown Witten!
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Oct 20, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions
No yet.
That’s still in that “hopeful” category.
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Oct 20, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions
*Not
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Oct 20, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Garrett is a discipline of the Turner/Zampese school
Pass to get set up the run. Get out to an early lead, then run to wear down the opponent, milk the clock.
Unfortunately, this formula hasn’t worked. We really haven’t jumped out in front of any team sufficiently to enact the 2nd part of the strategy. So it looks like we abandon the run. My concern is we aren’t disciplined enough with penatlies and turnovers to produce these sustained drives. So we revert to the quick-strike mentality that was so prevalent in the last 2 years and in 2 of our 3 wins this year.
I am all for keeping the ball away from a solid ATL O(good analysis BTW). I don’t trust a D that has yet to really assert itself to the point we can survive a shootout.
Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
+1
Sounds like this game falls largely upon Jason Garrett’s shoulders…
God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!
As always
and it’s the reason why I say he has failed as our offensive coordinator. The answers as to what to do to win these games is right there in front of him- he just needs to see it. Don’t be surprised if this isn’t the gameplan though. Jason Garrett is pass-happy, and it’s not a matter of what we discuss here, but rather what he feels like doing. There have been many games where he needed to play conservative and use the run/short pass more, but opted to pass alot. It’s in his nature to not make the run a bigger priority than the pass. I feel, in this game, he has no choice but to use the RB’s alot. But don’t be surprised if he chucks it. the problem is, even if he has success in the beginning with the pass, if he doesn’t establish the RB’s first (and stick to a gameplan that uses them alot), he may not be able to later the way he needs to. In this game (like every big opponent we play), establishing the running backs as a threat is the biggest priority (in my opinion).
Simple formula’s and schemes Garrett- eat the clock on Atlanta and you win. Do alot of 3 and outs with passes and you don’t. That doesn’t mean you turn your back on the pass- on the conntrary, your success doing these other things will set up the pass beautifully.
Notice how I said establishing the running backs, and not exclusively the run. Who here doesn’t believe that MB3,Felix and Tashard are devestating on screens in the open field? That’s what I mean by running backs, and not just saying “run”.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Oct 20, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I disagree
Unless the Falcons are playing a cover 2 deep zone and just daring us to run, we should attack their achilles heel which is their porous secondary.
Romo and the receivers should have a big day if the Falcons chose to play us straight up and focus on stopping our running game.
It really all depends how they attempt to defense us.
In Romo we Trust
Okay Terry...
then what happens when romo’s passes are "off"". The way you are talking sir, is a very risky proposition. Are you willing to throw the game away like that?
There has been many times people have come on the board here (and i have read them for years) and said “let’s throw the ball against they’re porous secondary”, or have said “They’re secondary is small”, and then, somehow, our offense seems to play right into throwing interceptions to them. Again, the whole idea herek, is to establish that against some teams, passing to establish the run doesn’t work. That is what Garrett’s mentality is, and that is where I believe the flaw lies in really establishing the run.
The question then becomes this now: Do you want to risk throwing away this all-important NFC game against the Falcons doing the same old thing that has proven against good teams to be flawed?
My opinion is: No. It’s too much of a risk. and I wouldn’t bite. Not when you have Tashard, Felix, and MB3 at your disposal. That type of offensive mentality has been already proven flawed for this team in my mind, and they haven’t proven it will work. Maybe your right, and maybe, in this game, it will be a difference.
Personally, i think it would be this coaching staff’s last straw. If they loose the game that way again, all of a sudden, people would then realize it’s not the players, it’s the coaches and they’re schemes (specifically Garrett). Why give Atlanta that opportunity? they are already gameplanning against a game like that? Don’t you ever want to show other teams you can beat them a different way? I’m sorry Terry, i respectfully disagree.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Oct 21, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
look at my signature
I fully trust Romo to have a great game and be on his A game. You can never go into a game thinking your franchise qb will be “off”, just can’t do it.
Gotta live or die with #9.
In Romo we Trust
Can Romo control himself?
I think Atlanta will tease him and try to get him to throw deep downfield rather than make safer (if less spectacular) decisions to keep the clock running and the chains moving.
Interesting dynamic here is that the 2nd year guy is being mentioned in the same breath as the elite QB’s in the league while Romo is being called everything from “overpaid” to “Matt Leinart”.
This is a good opportunity for Tony to get public opinion back on his side.
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thank you Blings!
Thank you once again for pointing out the important issues here. Sometimes, I read what people are saying, and they miss the blatantly obvious facts. I’m not saying Terry did, but what I am saying is the teams approach on offense seems to be wrong. That is really what I have believed for some time now.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Oct 21, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
We've had this discussion before and don't really need to go there again
but in the Denver game, Garrett did exactly as you suggest. The first 53 plays were all runs and short passes. It wasn’t until the 54th offensive play of the game that Dallas took a shot down field, and at that point there was only 10 minutes left in the whole game. You just need to remember that “running to set up the pass” doesn’t always work. I still contend that game planning working or not working, has more to do with player execution.
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. - John Wooden
Uh Terry...
Did you read Bishop’s post?
Fat Tire…twelve pack…for me.
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I don't think his post in anyway supports your argument
or wins our bet whatsoever…but nice try.
In Romo we Trust
don't underestimate
using the right players. Let me contend that Tashard should have been used alot more in that Denver game, and wasn’t. He would have made a big difference.
Down near the goal line, they did not use the run/screen. They tried to force it in there with the passing. Other than the first touchdown (and only one). This is what allowed Denver to stay in the game- that and the forced pass by Romo that ended up in a Champ Bailey interception.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
In the Denver game
in the first 59 minutes of the game, Dallas had 8 offensive plays in the Red Zone. They ran 4 times and passed 4 times; that’s balanced play calling.
In the final minute of the game, the Cowboys were in the Red Zone, but only had one time-out remaining. Logic demands that you pass the ball in that situation in order to conserve time on the clock.
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. - John Wooden
Good breakdown Bishop
It paints the picture clearly. I wonder if Terry is closer to the way Dallas will have to win. A shoot out. I can’t see this team showing the disipline to slowly move the ball and finish. They are going to move the ball with our RB and take their shots downfield as the safeties move up to support the run. The team is getting better and can win this game.
Want to win against Atlanta?
First, stop the run. Keep the Falcons in long yardage situations.
Next, bring pressure up the middle and force Ryan to throw without being able to step up in the pocket.
Keep mental errors (penalties and turnovers) to a minimum.
If we can do those three things, we can win.
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I knew from the first stat...
Yards per carry, where you were going with this. And I agree, on offense establish the run game and eat up some clock to keep their offense off the the field. Don’t get too pass happy. On defense, get pressure on the QB, stop the run, and the secondary needs to be able to cover their guys. Should be a good game if we can do these things, and I’m confident we can win it.
However, if we continue to make stupid penalties and turn the ball over, we WILL lose.
Jimmy Johnson for GM.

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