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Sunday was a nightmare made real for the Falcons. Each issue that has plagued this team over the past several seasons--soft defense, poor o-line play, weird strategy and clock management decisions, and second half collapses--came to bear on Sunday. It was a disastrous implosion on an international stage.
In a season this delightful, why limit tweet recaps to gameday tweets?
2000 of those yards were thrown from his back. #Facts "@ESPNNFL: Week 7 QB Leaders (yards): 1 Andrew Luck 2331 2 Matt Ryan 2078"
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 21, 2014
In case you didn't know where to find the game on Sunday, Jenna had you covered.
Lifetime "@Justk3ish: What channel my bums playing on Sunday?"
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 21, 2014
Many things about the London game were different from a standard home game for the Falcons, including the security.
This is the most British thing that I can imagine pic.twitter.com/zxAIjzbrpW
— Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) October 26, 2014
One thing that wasn't different was the dread fans felt and the low expectations they harbored for this Falcons team against the Lions.
Watching the Falcons get blown out at 6am is gonna be the lowest point in my life.
— Beanie Seagull (@DaBlackHoward) October 26, 2014
welp.. this is about to be fun (depressing) to watch. #FalconsNation.
— Kam (@IAmSubZeroMusic) October 26, 2014
Man. I really wanna watch this game but my heart just cant take watching Matt get hit too much. Think I'll wait till half to see whats good.
— ZTrez (@ZekeTrezevant) October 26, 2014
Yeah, that's right America... wake up to the real treat of what's Atlanta Falcons foosball
— Take a guess (@MyNameIs_LEO) October 26, 2014
Kinda nauseated at the thought of us playing the number one defense. I'm sorry, Mart. #HeGonDie
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 26, 2014
But the Falcons started off strong, with a solid drive capped off by Devonta Freeman scoring his first NFL touchdown.
Steven Jackson, to borrow a British slang term, "runs for seven."
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 26, 2014
Wow we look like a real football team
— fil dinunzio (@FalconPhil11) October 26, 2014
Devonta Freeman with a one-handed grab and run to the end zone! Touchdown, Falcons! #DETvsATL
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) October 26, 2014
Freeman!!!!!!
— Ronald T. Shields II (@MrShields2) October 26, 2014
FREEMANNNNNN!!!!!
— .danielle. 2-6 atl (@danim0) October 26, 2014
Touchdown!!!!!!
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
Atlanta lads look right topping fit, lads! Detroit are shit!
— Jason Kirk (@JasonKirkSBN) October 26, 2014
@V8Freeman with a nice catch and sweet move for a TD. #Falcons up 7-0 the hell you say! YEP! #RiseUp
— Brian Finneran (@BFinn86) October 26, 2014
Matt was standing there in disbelief like... we scored???? We scored!!!!
— Take a guess (@MyNameIs_LEO) October 26, 2014
Things were even looking a little brighter on defense.
OK guys, I must still be drunk because Kroy Biermann getting pressure can't be real.
— Matt (@FalconsM5) October 26, 2014
Is Kim husband the almost sack leader? #Falcons
— AB (@MsBliss1212) October 26, 2014
@TheFalcoholic TIN TATE
— B17 Bomber (@b17fortres) October 26, 2014
And the offense looked pretty unstoppable. I wouldn't say that hopes were high at that point, but hopes were slightly less low than they were pre-game.
YALL SEE WHAT HAPPEN WHEN HARRY DOUGLAS IS BACK???
— .danielle. 2-6 atl (@danim0) October 26, 2014
WHO LEE OH!!
— .danielle. 2-6 atl (@danim0) October 26, 2014
Julio doing BEASTLY THINGS #Falcons
— The DW (@TheWalkerman) October 26, 2014
Let's hope they come back to the States whoever they are! "@MagicFalcon: Who the heck is this team? #Falcons"
— Shelley B. Manning (@SB_Manning) October 26, 2014
James Ihedigbo with the facemask-horsecollar hybrid tackle thing on Roddy White. More free yards. #DETvsATL
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) October 26, 2014
GROWN. MAN. FOOTBALL.
— Josh Gamez (@gamez_time76) October 26, 2014
I'm as stunned as I was in week 3. Harpo, who dis team??
— WonderJaye (@WonderJaye) October 26, 2014
LONDON FALCONS ARE THE BEST FALCONS.
— Preya ॐ (@PreyaMargarita) October 26, 2014
There were a lot of Falcons fans at Wembley. It was fun to see the team have so much support in London.
It looks like there are more #Falcons fans at Wembley than were at the last home game in the Georgia Dome.
— Wendy Adams (@wendyradio) October 26, 2014
Sounds like them Fans in UK all #Falcons fans! They gettin loud up in there!
— Eric (@MagicFalcon) October 26, 2014
And in the first half there were plenty of good things to support. Robert Alford added an interception to the defensive effort.
Stafford still throws like Keke Palmer.
— princey massaquoi. (@NFLBadwitch) October 26, 2014
Alford continues to leave me confused lol
— Amy E (@statusQoH) October 26, 2014
I feel happiness.
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 26, 2014
The Falcons went into the half with a 21-point lead.
Halftime comes with the #Falcons up 21-0. If you predicted this, shut up, liar.
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 26, 2014
There must be something in the water. @FalconsJAdams, tell the chef back in Flowery Branch to have tea and crumpets at the ready 24/7.
— war - low (@rarehighfives) October 26, 2014
Did not expect to see this. RT @MPJohnson79: How bout this Falcons oline though! Killin it! Proud of my boys!
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2014
#DrinkUp "@WonderJaye: What do you do during a morning halftime? I'm lost."
— AB (@MsBliss1212) October 26, 2014
If you don't like sadness and misery, you might want to stop reading right now.
The Falcons settled for 21 points at the half because that's like 40 points when you take the exchange rate into account
— Bobby Big Wheel (@BobbyBigWheel) October 26, 2014
Because nobody played well in the second half. Not even Matt Bosher.
And a beautiful shank. Well, this is fantastic.
— Kendall Jackson (@projectjax) October 26, 2014
just an awful punt.
— Scott Carasik (@ScottCarasik) October 26, 2014
Oh my Bosher
— .danielle. 2-6 atl (@danim0) October 26, 2014
Et tu, Bosher? Et tu?
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
that moment when a 21-3 lead doesn’t feel safe anymore...
— The DW (@TheWalkerman) October 26, 2014
And Falcons fans and media are all too familiar with the second-half collapse.
Uh, oh, #Falcons. #noleadissafe
— John Manasso (@jmanasso) October 26, 2014
Falcons fans know what's coming pic.twitter.com/KkRw6mZjis
— Rev. Wessy Jackson (@NujabWes) October 26, 2014
Just gonna leave this here... pic.twitter.com/NRoOFBlYPD
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 26, 2014
RT @ZoHimself: Smh... As a Falcons fan, unfortunately, I'm waiting for them to blow this somehow
— Alex Delarge (@ZoHimself) October 26, 2014
It was the offense, including Matt Ryan.
My QB
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
That was one of the five worst throws I've ever seen Matt Ryan make.
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 26, 2014
maybe have never seen a worse throw by a human being
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) October 26, 2014
Matt Ryan is tanking for a better draft pick.
— Rev. Wessy Jackson (@NujabWes) October 26, 2014
RT @CraigSagerJr: Matt Ryan on the sideline after that pick pic.twitter.com/pPmzV9jtJV
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
It was the defense, with the soft zone and the giving up explosive plays and the general ineptitude that plagues this season.
Damn. Thought they had a TFL there. Nice pressure by Hageman initially.
— Steve (@SteveInBrooklyn) October 26, 2014
Lack thereof, actually. RT @TheWalkerman: The tackling. MY GOD THE TACKLING! #Falcons
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
2nd and "man hell naw ".
— Ubuntu. (@TheEightFour) October 26, 2014
3rd and 25. THIRD AND 25. I'm laughing and crying at the same time.
— Rev. Wessy Jackson (@NujabWes) October 26, 2014
It was the play calling and clock management and the same old Falcons.
I don't blame the team for this poor 2nd half, because I thought London rules said football games were only two quarters, too.
— Matt (@FalconsM5) October 26, 2014
YOU ARE IN LONDON, NOT ATLANTA. Go back to the first quarter please. #sweetbabyJesuspleaseletuswin
— Ari (@nemixtli) October 26, 2014
"Atlanta doesn't seem to have much trouble with (the field)" Nah they have enough trouble playing the actual game
— Caleb Rutherford (@FalcoholicZippo) October 26, 2014
This game is classic Mike Smith.
— R.C.A.R. (@CrossonTheRyan) October 26, 2014
I told my wife that Mike Smith was coaching for his job. He just lost it.
— Adam Schultz (@AdamLSchultz) October 26, 2014
Falcons have sucked every bit of optimism from my life. I have none left.
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
I don't know what happens in the 2nd half with the @Atlanta_Falcons. #noanswers Why do they fall apart?
— Carl Dukes (@putemupcdukes) October 26, 2014
Team's going to have to canoe home if they blow this.
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 26, 2014
CHANNEL FIRST HALF FALCONS, FALCONS.
— Preya ॐ (@PreyaMargarita) October 26, 2014
Public service announcement. RT @projectjax Time to crack open that beer. It's noon, after all.
— Matt (@FalconsM5) October 26, 2014
Blame myself for no halftime adjustments, shoulda started drinking. RT"@TheFalcoholic: Under cause of death, they'll write "Second Half.""
— Gregg Bowen (@gregglegg) October 26, 2014
Throw the damn ball here. YOLO
— Caleb Rutherford (@FalcoholicZippo) October 26, 2014
Julio Jones doesn't catch that one, and the #Falcons are going to punt it away here. Heart just dropped into my basement.
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 26, 2014
steal mike smith's passport. strand him in london.
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) October 26, 2014
Re. Run. "@JennaEarwood: I'm not nervous because I've seen this movie before. I know how it ends."
— Below Standard (@CourtsBS) October 26, 2014
You play to win the game. Herm Edwards told us this. THAT MEANS NOT WASTING TWO TIMEOUTS AND OVER A MINUTE IN THE FIRST HALF.
— Kendall Jackson (@projectjax) October 26, 2014
Mike Smith is a good person and his time with the Falcons was mostly great
— Jason Kirk (@JasonKirkSBN) October 26, 2014
That was most Falconest of Falcon losses. Ever.
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzAJC) October 26, 2014
And it was the officiating. Oh, Lord, was it the officiating.
Sure looked like play clock expires on this 1st down Lions play pic.twitter.com/32DPEMV94g
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 26, 2014
The Falcons at least need an evenly called game. They do enough to beat themselves, they don't need to contend w/ refs, too.
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
Congrats to the officials for their win over the Falcons this morning. Also the Lions. I guess.
— Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) October 26, 2014
But honestly, Falcons. You blew it.
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
"@jeannathomas: I'm not even mad. I'm sad. Really, really sad." pic.twitter.com/TUF1XnKV5s
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
Fire everyone. pic.twitter.com/QBTZYHA6dM
— Jake Bennett (@DirtyBird_Jake) October 26, 2014
— Nefertitties (@iAmAPickyEater) October 26, 2014
One of the most miserable losses in #Falcons history. Mike Smith with some of the worst coaching decisions down the stretch I can remember.
— Matt Chernoff (@RealMattlanta) October 26, 2014
— DBN Foe Eva (@Justk3ish) October 26, 2014
#3rdAnd25 has replaced #2Points in things I'm most embarrassed by #Falcons
— AB (@MsBliss1212) October 26, 2014
Mike Smith needs to be moved to Cobb County.
— Preya ॐ (@PreyaMargarita) October 26, 2014
Maybe the Falcons can leave a note in Mike Smith's locker saying he's leaving. Kind of like a reverse Petrino.
— Alex Welch (@alexmwelch) October 26, 2014
So this account exists pic.twitter.com/Oom0NCNqD5
— Ted Glover (@purplebuckeye) October 26, 2014
I'm kind of used to Falcons losing now, but it's just cruel to give fans that first half and then play like that in the second half. Cruel.
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
Arthur Blank should play Survivor. Put Dimitrov & Smith on a raft and whomever makes it back, can keep their job.
— ***JEFF BENEDICT*** (@BIGTIMEbenedict) October 26, 2014
@jeannathomas I believe I can cry!! :'(
— Martin Gisborne (@UKDirtybird) October 26, 2014
Hopefully Smith will be fired during the bye week. Coaching mistakes started with 1:30 to go in 2Q. Go for points. Play to win. #ATLvsDET
— Shannan O (@shannanunc) October 26, 2014
I can't believe we lost that game!!!
— Kimberly (@TheFalconsDiva) October 26, 2014
Awful pic.twitter.com/ha1ExydL8o
— F.I.L.A. (@joegreen23atl) October 26, 2014
Arthur Blank tells @DOrlandoAJC "You’re up 21-0. There’s no way you lose that game — just no way. There’s nothing else I can say"
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 26, 2014
*bon jovi voice* "Ohhhhhhhhhh we're halfway there..." (2-6) @jeannathomas pic.twitter.com/yA4wSj62Ug
— Swaggy PhD (@Das_ProfX) October 26, 2014
Current mood: pic.twitter.com/qctTnrsgnX
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 27, 2014
Shut up, Glenn from The Walking Dead. You shut up right now.
Hope you get bit tonight. "@steveyeun: Oh my God. I love you lions!!! I love you!!!!"
— Jenna Bannister #DBN (@JennaEarwood) October 26, 2014
I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FALCONS EVEN HAVE ME WANTING GLENN TO DIE ON TWD. THAT'S HOW AWFUL THINGS ARE.
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
I hate this season, but let's try to look on the bright side.
At least I didn't pay to fly to London. #TweetThePositives
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
@jeannathomas at least joe won't be on the long flight home. #TweetThePositives
— Kelly Hawley (@kellyshawley) October 26, 2014
#TweetThePositives RT @AlabamaMouse: @jeannathomas 2-0 in the NFC south
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
Eh, I'm not on board with this one yet. RT @TrueLeader7: @jeannathomas Better draft position. #TweetThePositives
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
Bye week. #TweetThePositives RT @swampstomper2: @Tera_Monique @jeannathomas A non loss next week guaranteed!!!
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) October 26, 2014
Speaking of the bye week...
I think the words "bye week" couldn't have come at a better time cause someone needs to say bye.
— Ryan Cameron (@therealrc) October 26, 2014
Hopefully Falcons don't lose the bye week. Just their luck Roddy will get arrested, Matt will hurt himself & Biermann will make another baby
— Nubyjas Wilborn (@nwilborn19) October 26, 2014
Bye week could have two meanings this week, depending on whether the #Falcons make any moves. pic.twitter.com/N0iKKLB051
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) October 27, 2014
And at least we don't have Bucs-themed living rooms, I guess.
I legitimately cannot think of anything more disappointing than a Tampa Bay Buccaneers themed living room.
— Matt (@FalconsM5) October 26, 2014