Your 2011 Best Atlanta Falcons Play Voting

by Dave Choate on Feb 20, 2012 12:00 PM EST in Falcons Talk

What was the single best play of 2011? These are the questions that keep us up at night, assuming we are already insomniacs.

There were plenty of worthy nominations for this one, in no small part because there were incredible plays throughout the year. Even during their most frustrating games, the Falcons managed to put up eye-popping stretches thanks to the strength of their players, the occasional clever scheme and dumb luck.

Onward, friends. Here's our nominees:

Chris Owens runs down Percy Harvin in the Vikings game, tackling him just short of at touchdown on a return. This was one of the most athletic, persistent displays of determination I've ever seen from an NFL player. Owens didn't give up despite chasing down one of the league's deadliest and fastest returners.
Julio Jones caught a 50 yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan that involved him diving and coming up in the ball in the middle of three Colts defenders. It was a truly incredible play, and the moment when Jones truly arrived in Atlanta.
Jason Snelling ran more than 20 yards for a touchdown against the Saints. That wouldn't have been totally incredible by itself, but Snelling also trucked over multiple defenders on his way.
Julio Jones' 75 yard touchdown catch against the Panthers. Jones is amazing.
Matt Ryan had his ankle stepped on by Svitek versus the Lions. It looked like he was going to miss the game, at minimum, but he returned and tossed a 49 yard pass.
Jacquizz Rodgers caught his first NFL touchdown pass against the Panthers, reeling in a 31 yarder. It was a great play for the mighty mite rookie.
In the second Saints game, William Moore tipped a pass that Dominique Franks intercepted. Hey, it was Drew Brees.
Tony Gonzalez one-handed touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles. That dude can still ball.

Vote!

Poll

The best play of the Atlanta Falcons 2011 season belongs to...?

Chris Owens

91 votes

Julio Jones (versus Colts)

168 votes

Jason Snelling

59 votes

Julio jones (versus Panthers)

45 votes

Matt Ryan

30 votes

Jacquizz Rodgers

22 votes

Dominique Franks/William Moore

3 votes

Tony Gonzalez

101 votes

519 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I voted Ryan

Cuz our hearts sank at that moment but he came back and didn’t miss a beat. None of the other choices made me say hallelujah.

East Side Mathemagician

by 831salasfan on Feb 20, 2012 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Tony G

That catch was amazing!! The whole dome was rocking after that and it showed the heart we had in beating the eagles

by dirtybirds233 on Feb 20, 2012 12:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm probably the only one that voted for Quizz

and the reason I liked that play so much was because it was beautifully set up and executed. It didn’t look like a herculean effort by any single player (like the Julio and Owens plays), it looked like a well-oiled machine executing. It showed what this offense can do given the opportunity.

by JoshuaG on Feb 20, 2012 12:54 PM EST reply actions

Nope, I did too.

For a couple of reasons. I agree with the idea of the whole play being executed extremely well. The biggest reason for me though, is that it was the play that made me truly believe we were not going to lose that game after the potential season ending loss to the Panthers. I remember watching the first half of the game at a friends house and we had to leave at halftime to go grab beers at Taco Mac (Their ranch dressing is the best thing on the planet, fyi). We start coming back and then the Quizz TD happens. The whole place is sitting there thinking the same thing I am; “Did our 5’6 runningback just catch a 30 yard touchdown over his shoulder, while being covered?” I knew that we weren’t losing after that play.

Oh, and yeah I do have a Jacquizz Rodgers jersey, what of it?

by FalconfanPhil on Feb 20, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

whoops

" after the potential season ending loss to the Panthers. " is a bit misleading. I meant that losing to the Panthers would have been potentially season-ending for us. I <3 Engrish.

by FalconfanPhil on Feb 20, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

Good point...

In terms of the play as a whole, that was a great play. It wasn’t just talent and effort by one player, but a well executed play by the whole team.

"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta

by TomQ on Feb 20, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

I voted for Snell, but

I can see why you voted for Quizz. Best of all, it seemed as if MM lost his mind just for one play. We were down against Panthers and I thought we’d get stuck in run-run-pass-punt mode again, and that was a thing of beauty. but the thing is, can it work again? nobody expected a pass like that, especially to Quizz.

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Feb 21, 2012 5:06 AM EST up reply actions

I voted for JJ against to Colts

But damn I was tempted to vote for the Jaquizz play for the same reasons stated by JoshuaG

by DanishFalcons on Feb 20, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

I went with Owens...

I’m a sucker for hustle plays, and that was a game and potentially season-saver.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Feb 20, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Snelling...

Depending on your criteria for best “play,” this could have gone to the Quizz TD play (see JoshuaG’s reasoning), but Snelling’s run was just pure beast. As much as I want to give every award to Julio (cuz I love him) I had to go with Snells here.

"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta

by TomQ on Feb 20, 2012 2:04 PM EST reply actions

same here

there were many memorable plays in 2011, but that Snelling run was a thing of beauty. More importantly, it came against the hated rival and made their D look pathetic. in many other plays mentioned in the ballot it was a matter of an outstanding play by one player or two, or (in Quizz’s case) our team playing superbly but the other team blowing coverage. in that Saints game play, Snelling literally ran over half the aints defense.

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Feb 21, 2012 5:09 AM EST up reply actions

That Gonzo catch was just retarded. For anybody.

Then you consider his age…

by VenomySnicket on Feb 20, 2012 2:05 PM EST reply actions

It's got to be Julio against the Colts

Unless I’m missing something, I believe Julio’s first Touchdown was the 50 yarder against the Colts. And it wasn’t even an easy, breakdown in defensive coverage kind of catch. He absolutely went ALL OUT to reel that football in.

by wparker82 on Feb 20, 2012 2:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I thought that it could be play of the year for the league.

That was until the hurdle/flip/TD came along at the end of the year.

by SmokeyBell on Feb 20, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Chris Owens gets my vote

We knew he was fast, but we didn’t know he was “run down Percy Harvin” fast. You could argue that he had much fresher legs due to his lack of playing time, but that’s still a great play.

by mr92687!!! on Feb 20, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. One of our favorite targets to bash came thru in spades on that play

JJ’s plays were more memorable but they were against pitiful squads. It was the Hulk vs. puny humans. While the Vikings aren’t top tier Harvin is a very talented player. Owens came flying out of nowhere and just refused to give up and singlehandedly stopped a TD.

And like mr92687!! said, Owens is fast!!!

by aces666high on Feb 20, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

I voted differently

but Owens is a stud. for all the miscues he had previously, the two special teams tackles stand out – and lets not forget it wasn’t just the Vikes games – he also tackled Sproles when the dude seemingly was running for a TD on a kickoff return.
a guy who can catch Harvin and Sproles must have incredible speed. makes you wonder how good he could be in coverage against fast receivers with some coaching…

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Feb 21, 2012 5:03 AM EST up reply actions

Owens because he usually gets dogged so much by fans and everyone else

But would have loved to vote for Turner throwing Weems at that defender as well. Just to be able to grab someone and chuck them like that without missing a step was incredible

by OldBird67 on Feb 20, 2012 4:06 PM EST reply actions

If you'll recall, I'm pretty sure the Owens play lead to a goal line stand where we gave up no points.

Just fyi. These things matter.

Say what you want to say, think what you want to think, but there is a method to my madness.

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by Caleb Rutherford on Feb 20, 2012 4:15 PM EST reply actions

Yup, we had just scored to go up 24-14

If he had scored 24-21 with still bout 6 minutes to play. Who knows what would have happened with the way our coordinators call games late. Remember that Seattle game?

by aces666high on Feb 20, 2012 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

yeah...

I’m not sure what the score was at that point, but I know the Vikings were on a comeback run. They went for it on fourth, I think, instead of kicking the field goal. Big momentum shift. If we lose that game, we’re at 6-5 heading to Houston. The reg. season could’ve turned out much differently.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Feb 20, 2012 4:29 PM EST reply actions

above was meant

to be a reply to caleb. oobs

by ChardeeMacDennis on Feb 20, 2012 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

People are not giving the Tony G catch any justice

This play should be first if not a close second.. just the catch in traffic, the footwork, holding on to the ball.. that was one of the plays of the year in the entire LEAGUE forget team

by BigMac1 on Feb 20, 2012 11:45 PM EST reply actions

Snell

This was a super tough choice but I went with Snelling. Snelling just absolutely wouldn’t go down. His play was long and drug out and the beast just wouldn’t be denied! Remember him taking Saints into the endzone!
All the others were works of beauty and I loved them but his was just absolute pure unadulterated will to hit that endzone.
Then what amazed me was just how little he was used the rest of the season!!!!
Goodby MM you dipstick

by Sbaron55 on Feb 21, 2012 6:52 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Even Madden 2012 wishes it could ball like Julio

I loved the TG catch and Owens determined pursuit, but JJ manuvering inside triple coverage and somehow coming up with a diving reception of a MR2 bomb was unbelievable. The best part was how he calmly got up and walked over to the side line and probably said something like “Yo coach, you’ve got a red flag in your pocket worth six points, just sayin.”

'Each of us is a mixture of some good and some not so good qualities. In considering one's fellow man it's important to remember the good things ... We should refrain from making judgments just because a fella happens to be a dirty, rotten SOB.' John Wayne, Playboy Interview 1971

by jcaustic on Feb 21, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions