The Top Five Defensive Plays For The Falcons In Week 14
The Falcons absolutely crushed the Jaguars offensively, but we wouldn't the D to get lost in the shuffle. They played admirably on Sunday.
Obviously, John Abraham is the defensive player of the game. He posted 3.5 sacks, forced two fumbles and generally made Blaine Gabbert's already miserable existence a little grimmer, so there's really no competition here. But he wasn't the author of all five of our best defensive plays of the game.
John Abraham Sets The Tone
Is it particularly challenging to sack Blaine Gabbert? Maybe not, but John Abraham still deserves props for making it look easy.
Abraham abused Guy Whimper, instantly shattered Gabbert's confidence and put the Jaguars in an untenable position on Jacksonville's very first drive, catching Gabbert in one of his famous seven-step drops and bringing him down for a 10 yard loss.
That's what I call setting the tone.
Sean Weatherspoon Puts In Another Day At The Office
You have to give credit to Sean Weatherspoon for blowing up Marcedes Lewis in the first quarter, turning a third down into a fourth down and dropping Lewis for a four yard loss.
Again, this was about stamping out hope early while the offense stomped all over Jacksonville. These were big plays.
John Abraham Sacks, The Police Cometh
Abraham got Gabbert for the second time in the second quarter. Jacksonville had actually managed to get out to their own 42 yard line and had a first down...until Abe tore Whimper's guts out, ate them and sacked Gabbert again.
Gabbert fumbled the ball away and Lofton made a heads-up play on the ball, grabbing it and returning it to the Falcons. They promptly drove a short distance and nailed a field goal.
John Abraham Sets Up A Corey Peters Rumble
Abe's third sack of the game came on a 2nd and 9 deep in Jaguars territory. Once again, Abe took a long drink from the fountain of youth and slammed Gabbert to the turf, forcing a fumble.
This time, Corey Peters was all over it. The criminally underrated defensive tackle found the ball, scooped it up and ran 13 yards for a touchdown. He followed it up with an awesome touchdown dance, which earns him extra points.
That's teamwork, folks.
Thomas DeCoud Kills Remaining Hope
The Jaguars had scored near the end of the third quarter. If they had even an outside shot at coming back—and they probably didn't—they had to score early in the fourth.
They managed to drive into Atlanta territory before Gabbert made an ill-advised deep throw to Marcedes Lewis. The ever alert Thomas DeCoud jumped the route and grabbed the interception, running it back 21 yards and putting the Falcons on the 35.
The Falcons' next drive chewed up seven minutes and effectively ended the game.
Honorable Mentions
It was that kind of week.
Kroy Biermann's 12 yard sack came in the third quarter on a 3rd and 10, but it was still sweet to watch. It's especially big given his relatively poor season as a whole.
John Abraham and Ray Edwards' split sack was a hell of a lot of fun to watch, as well.
Corey Peters' early sack may have gotten called back thanks to Ray Edwards, but it was still a great play.
Michael Turner doesn't play defense, but I'll be darned if using your own teammate as a blocker doesn't count for something.
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How long will the Turner/Weems block be mentioned
In the perfect world, hopefully forever.
Anyway, the Abe sack into a Peters TD wins it for me, and I’m assuming it’ll win quite comfortably too.
Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.
Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17
by Turner_The_Burner on Dec 18, 2011 8:21 AM EST reply actions
I got the Abe/Lofton sac/fumble
But truthfully, it was a 60 minute display of great defensive play
"We did a lot of good things last year, and now we've got Julio ... That does nothing but improve the offense, and we expect to do better. That's our goal, to lead the NFL in everything. Every offensive category." -Roddy White
Even my wife, who cares not for football, chuckled at our "human shield" play when I showed it to her
But I am learned in the ways of football(ha!), so I voted for the Abe/Peters combo. Anytime a play is so devastatingly good that after a sack and fumble, your 300lb DT has time to rumble over to the ball, come to a complete stop over it, gently cradle the kitten, I mean football in his hands and then stroll to the EZ without a chance of being brought down is sheer awesomeness.
I voted for the very first Abe sack
it wasn’t the prettiest or the most effective play, but it was simply the play that set the tone for the whole game.
however, looking through the list of plays and remembering how big of a game it was for many players on defense, I couldn’t recall a single play by Babs. was he in the game at all?
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Not sure if it was Babs or Peters each time
but there were a few times, the few rare times I might add, where MJD went up the middle and we stuffed him at the point of attack. Could have been either DT. Only would of happened about 3 times, cause MJD is a beast, but I can remember our DTs getting good push against the O-line throughout the game anyway.
Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.
Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17
by Turner_The_Burner on Dec 18, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
I vote for all of Abraham's sacks
Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.

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