Roddy White's Forced Fumble Versus 49ers Is The Moment Of The Year

by Dave Choate on Jan 12, 2011 8:00 AM EST in Editorial

The voters have spoken, and your 2010 regular season Moment of the Year belongs to Roddy White.

With more than 600 votes tallied, Roddy's heroics against the 49ers ran away with it. It's little surprise, really, when you consider what White did.

Let me set the scene. The Falcons are trying to win the game, down by a single point, and Mike Mularkey puts the ball in the hands of Matt Ryan on an important second down with nine yards to go and 1:31 left on the clock. Attempting to rifle a pass to Tony Gonzalez over the middle, Ryan throws it into the waiting hands of 49ers cornerback Nate Clements, who gleefully sprinted toward the end zone with what would surely be the game-ending score. The Falcons were 2-2.

Or not. In an astonishing display of determination and speed, White caught Clements from behind and quite Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Roddied the football out of Clements' hands. Harvey Dahl, who was running with a grim fury that kept him within striking distance of the play, managed to fall on the football, and the Falcons had it back. A few plays later, Matt Bryant locked up the win with by drilling a field goal from 43 yards out. Miracle complete.

I think commenter Donny Brasco said it best, in the first comment from my recap of the game:

Can't forget that image of Rowdy flying down the sidelines after Clements. Superhuman.

I feel the NFL should make some sort of uniform exception and allow him to wear a cape for the rest of the season.

White and Dahl deserve the credit for one of the great plays I can ever remember seeing, and the play was a reminder, as I wrote at the time, that the Falcons simply don't know how to quit. It also made Roddy's desire to win crystal clear, and kept the Falcons out ahead of the Saints just one week after they grabbed the lead. It was a perfect distillation of the effort and talent this team has displayed all season long.

And that's your moment of the year. Thanks to all those who voted, and feel free to opine on the final selection below.

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Comments

"totes mcgoats"~ Peter Klaven

It’s gotta be the never give up play of the year for the league.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 12, 2011 9:32 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I agree...Jobin.

by orion12 on Jan 12, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

There is something to be said

about the type of players this team drafts/signs/develops.

Many big time WR’s would not have made that play, not because they aren’t capable, but because they aren’t willing. I was watching a Bengals game at some point this season and Carson Palmer was leading a drive for what would have been the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. A pass intended for T.O. was picked off. What astounded me was that T.O. walked off the field while the play was still live. I mean the defensive back who picked off the pass was still on his feet trying to make a play on the return and T.O. gave up and walked off. I immediately thought of Roddy’s play against the 49ers. That’s the difference between the players the Falcons have/seek and the free agents some fans wish the Falcons would sign.

by JoshuaG on Jan 12, 2011 11:49 AM EST reply actions

I remember that game..

I started laughing cause thats typical T.O. Leave the QB out to dry.. He only thinks of himself.. So glad we didnt get that punk.

by DesertFalcon on Jan 12, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Link to video of the play

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b0632a/White-catches-Clements-pokes-out-ball

by epatl on Jan 12, 2011 12:24 PM EST reply actions

I agree that play was awesomeincrediblemesmerizing but...

I think Kroy’s INT was better. One man, 3 plays. Pass deflection, diving interception, arriving in the endzone with six. I’ve never seen anything like it. Whereas Roddy did this same thing last year. Don’t get me wrong, Roddy showed hustle, heart, and determination and I applaud him for it(he’s one of my favorite players).

P.S. How awesome is it that there were so many good plays that we have to vote for the best? This rocks. And this is me being giddy like a schoolgirl….. AIYEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

by birdwatch on Jan 12, 2011 12:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions

that photo above

is from that game in 2009 when he stripped another SF defender and returned the ball to the Falcons.

Kroy’s play was a masterpiece, but here are three reasons why Roddy’s play is still better:
1. Every once in awhile, a defensive end or even a tackle gets an INT returned for a TD – some are nicer some just effective. Abe nearly pulled the same feat against Brees (who was quicker than Delhomme though and tackled him immediately), Peppers had something similar. Still not taking away any credit from Kroy.
2. Bierman’s play sealed the game, but Roddy’s play saved the game.
3. Unlike Bierman, what Roddy did was very uncharateristic for a big time receiver (if he didn’t have that habbit of talking trash on twitter I’d respect him even greater), and it made everyone feel that on that final drive, after the strip, we would score no matter what.

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Jan 12, 2011 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

I remember getting my post ready in my head about what a misery our boys were

We were supposed to win this game handily! Yet here we were, Matt’s bad pass going back for 6, then Roddy blazing down the field and with one swat, changed the course of the season. This team never gave up. Even in the buc game when it looked dead and buried, Weems made his pro bowl clinching return and we dusted ourselves off and did what we had to do. This attitude is so new. For too many years it was the opposite, down by two w/a minute left? Game over. Not anymore! Can’t wait for Saturday! Let’s get rid of a few more of those demons!

by aces666high on Jan 12, 2011 1:51 PM EST reply actions

Comment:

As I have said to fellow Falcon fans, and on this blog. That one play by Roddy has changed this whole season. If he doesn’t do that, who knows where we’re at right now. We go to the Bowl, and win it, go back and look at that moment from week four. This stuff just doesn’t happen. It happens for a reason, just look at other teams who have gone to the Bowl and won. It was because not only good, quality consistent clean play and staying healthy, it’s because of the little things that change the momentum of games and seasons.

by EvilFalcon on Jan 12, 2011 2:17 PM EST reply actions

clearly my top choice too

I was watching the game with my brother – as a result I was explaining the rules of the game, and by second quarter he could understand what was going on on the field. but after that Roddy’s play I was left speachless – I had trouble explaining to my brother that in his first NFL game on TV he witnessed something that happens once in a whole season (maybe?), once in tens of thousands of plays…

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Jan 12, 2011 2:39 PM EST reply actions

I agree

Play of the year no doubt. When any 49er intercepts the ball from Matty, he’s got to keep his eyes peeled for Roddy White…right Nate Clements? Dre Bly?

by ndnpride8806 on Jan 12, 2011 8:23 PM EST reply actions