Deion Jones INT keeps Atlanta Falcons in playoff hunt

ymakerpi8d

Deion Jones' INT keeps Atlanta Falcons in playoff hunt   Published: Dec 07, 2017 at 03:46 PM           Around The NFL  George McGinnis Jersey Podcast Co-Host                               Atlanta's with every interception counterbalanced by a plague of penalties and injuries incurred by New Orleans in a game of sweeping momentum swings. With the season on the brink, Dan Quinn seemed doomed to days of second-gue sing after declining a holding penalty that would have placed the in a third-and-11 pickle on the cusp of field-goal range. Faced instead with a fourth-and-1 at the 24-yard line, Sean Payton put the game in his quarterback's hands, dialing up a succe sful sneak. Jones went on to save his head coach -- and his team's season -- in the red zone, flashing dynamic athleticism over a two-play sequence that will send the flying into next week's battle with the . After snuffing out a catch-and-run with extraordinary closing speed, Jones leaped high in the air to snare a Brees pa s intended for tight end .     The could have used a waiting room for their sideline injury tent. to get examined by medical personnel, they are going to need the extra few days of rest in advance of next week's home bout with the . went down at the tail end of an opening drive dominated by the sensational rookie's four touches. His absence severely handcuffed a New Orleans offense that discovered screen pa ses to tight ends and quick-hitters to third and fourth receivers don't have quite the same punch. The problems weren't limited to that side of the  Moses Malone Jersey ball. The defense saw defensive ends and , linebacker and safety go down with injuries of their own. With a handful of key defenders out and rookie cornerback sucking oxygen on the sideline, took full advantage with the game on the line, leading an eight-play field-goal drive that stood as the game-winner.     Since Payton and Brees landed in New Orleans just over a decade ago, this underrated rivalry has been defined by high-octane offenses in  Raul Neto Jersey memorable clashes that tend to come down to the last po se sion. With two matchups in a three-week span this month, the talented young defenses are taking center stage. Buoyed by Lattimore's physical approach to covering , the ' aggre sive secondary picked Ryan three times to close out the first half and open the second. Minus Kamara's playmaking ability, on the other hand, the offense managed season lows in points (17), total yards (306) and rushing yards (50) against a stingy defense that afforded Ryan every opportunity to salvage that three-interception performance with a clutch fourth quarter.     How impre sive was Atlanta's defense? Twice this season Ryan has emerged victorious despite throwing a trio of interceptions. Outside of those outliers, the other 20 instances of a quarterback to sing three picks . Just as NBC's Cris Collinsworth was explaining that only two of Ryan's 10 interceptions have been the quarterback's fault this season, the 2016 MVP unfurled his 11th on an underthrown jumpball to Jones in the corner of the end zone.          Even if Ryan managed to salvage the win, it's no secret that the league's 14th-ranked offense pales in comparison to last season's . What's the difference? Under Kyle Shanahan last year, Ryan played like a fast-breaking point guard with unmatched court vision, spreading the wealth to wide open receivers and running backs while hitting bullseyes downfield. Under Steve Sarkisian this year, the multi-purpose running backs and speed demon are afterthoughts and Ryan is too often forced to squeeze the ball into tight windows. To the surprise of no one, Ryan -- like most quarterbacks -- is a lot more effective when the play-caller finds a way to scheme defined open windows.     Isaiah Joe Jersey  Putting the ' offense on his back, hauled in a season-high 10 pa ses for 117 yards and a touchdown. The second-year wideout now ranks second only to with 85 receptions. A legitimate No. 1 receiver as a chain-mover and red-zone threat in a run-dominant attack, Thomas is on pace for 1,220 yards on 105 catches. How does that production compare to counterpart ? Although the four-time Pro Bowler's season has lacked consistency, Jones' five receptions for 98 yards leave him on pace for a sterling 90/1,428/4 slash line.     The rematch between these two NFC South postseason contenders is just  Lamine Diane Jersey two weeks away. Gregg Rosenthal of Thursday night's thriller, pointing out that the No. 1 seed might be a pipe dream for New Orleans at this point. Atlanta's last-minute victory also caused collateral damage to the three-pack of 6-6 outfits ( , and Lions) hoping to see the , or fall by the wayside.       This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
Click here Click here Click here