We find ourselves going steadily along, now in the second round of this bracket. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for their favorite plays in the first round, and I hope that this is as fun of an exercise for your to participate in as it is for me to write about.
The first round of the first region has been completed. You can look back at those results here, however, voting has been officially closed. The winners go up against each other in this round, with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
The rules continue to be the same. It’s a head to head format and the moment in each matchup with the most wins will advance.
I have also seen your concerns regarding some of the videos which could not be played. I have done my best to put in alternate videos which hopefully will work, however, the NFL has done its best to block off almost all of their videos from being viewed on this platform for some reason.
1) Julio Jones 73-yard dagger receiving touchdown vs. Packers in NFC Championship Game (2016)
vs.
9) Falcons blow out Rams in 2004 Divisional Round game (2004)
It was a comfortable victory for the region’s 1-seed, completely outclassing the 16-seeded Eric Weems kickoff return with 88% of the vote.
Julio Jones’ massive touchdown against the Packers would be the overall 1-seed in this tournament as it generated more votes in the seeding phase than any other play in this bracket This was the back breaking score in the 2016 NFC Championship Game, all but clinching Atlanta’s trip to Super Bowl 51, as Julio blew the roof off the Georgia Dome by completely annihilating Ladarius Gunter in coverage.
The blowout of the Rams against the Steve Bartkowski trade was one of the most exciting first round matchups, fitting of an 8 vs. 9 matchup. The 2004 victory won five more total votes, and moved on with a 51% mark.
The 2004 Falcons were the peak of the electric Mike Vick era in Atlanta. Under rookie head coach Jim Mora Jr. the team went 11-5 and won their first division title since the Super Bowl season of 1998, also earning a first round bye in the process. In the Divisional Round they absolutely outclassed the Los Angeles Rams en route to a 47-17 victory to clinch just their second ever NFC Championship Game appearance up to that point. The defense was stout and Vick, Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett led the best rushing attack in the NFL.
Poll
Which play wins?
This poll is closed
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75%
1) Julio Jones 73-yard dagger receiving touchdown vs. Packers in NFC Championship Game (2016)
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25%
9) Falcons blow out Rams in 2004 Divisional Round game (2004)
5) Mike Vick 4th and goal touchdown run to force OT vs. Panthers (2004)
(Play occurs at 38:32 mark)
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13) Falcons sign Michael Turner (2008)
Vick’s incredible stretch run for the tie had a relatively comfortable victory against Adrian Clayborn’s record setting day with six sacks, winning 59% of the vote.
The Falcons don’t secure a first round bye in 2004 without the heroics of Mike Vick in the Week 15 comeback victory against Carolina. On 4th-and-goal from the 12-yard-line, Vick accelerated up the middle and somehow kept his knee off the ground as he dove into the end zone to complete a 14-point second comeback and send the game into overtime. He was maybe the only quarterback in the NFL at the time capable of making that play. The Falcons won in overtime on a Jay Feely field goal.
The closest matchup of the first round in this region was won by the signing of Michael Turner, which was the lowest seed to advance to the second round, procuring just three total votes more than Julio Jones’ memorable Monday night in Lambeau Field in 2014.
The Michael Turner free agent signing was maybe my favorite in team history. Turner immediately became the engine of the Falcons offense, serving as an all important crutch for a young Matt Ryan to lean on as he grew into his role as a franchise quarterback. Turner was a Falcon for five years, and recorded 1,300+ rushing yards three times and double digit rushing touchdowns all five seasons. His Magnum Opus came in 2008, when he had 1,699 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns en route to a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Poll
Which play wins?
This poll is closed
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54%
5) Mike Vick 4th and goal touchdown run to force OT vs. Panthers (2004)
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45%
13) Falcons sign Michael Turner (2008)
6) Deion Sanders punt return touchdown vs. Rams in his first career game (1989)
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3) Matt Ryan is drafted by the Falcons (2008)
Deion Sanders’ big highlight in his first career game had a resounding victory against Asante Samuel’s game-winning pick 6, garnering 70% of the vote, and proving to be a formidable foe for any opponent.
Deion Sanders certainly took no time in making an impact at the professional level. The 5th overall selection out of Florida State was drafted for his playmaking skills and the first time he ever touched the ball in an NFL game he electrified Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium by shaking off a number of Rams en route to the first of many touchdowns as an Atlanta Falcon. The Falcons lost the matchup, but Sanders had announced a quick arrival.
Speaking of resounding wins, Matt Ryan getting drafted had the most lopsided victory of the first round in this region — destroying Roddy White’s game-winning TD on TNF against the Ravens by a 92%-8% margin. This is the moment that I would guess will make the Final Four out of this region.
The Falcons started the most successful era in team history in 2008, and the first move in transitioning into that era was the selection of Matt Ryan with the 3rd overall selection in the draft. After Miami and the Rams passed on the Boston College product, the Falcons opted to make him their next franchise quarterback and never looked back. Ryan has since eviscerated every single team passing record, has been the undisputed face of the franchise and will one day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Poll
Which play wins?
This poll is closed
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23%
6) Deion Sanders punt return touchdown vs. Rams in his first career game (1989)
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76%
3) Matt Ryan is drafted by the Falcons (2008)
7) Roddy White chases down Nate Clemons, forcing a fumble, before Matt Ryan takes the team downfield to set up the game-winning field goal vs. San Francisco (2010)
(Play occurs at 2:10 mark. Will need to be watched on YouTube).
vs.
2) Julio Jones toe tap catch in 4th quarter of Super Bowl 51 (2016)
(Play occurs at 1:07 mark. Will need to be watched on YouTube).
Roddy White’s chasedown had a resounding victory over Deion Jones’ pick 6 against Jameis Winston to end the 2019 season, winning 70% of the vote.
The Atlanta Falcons narrowly avoided getting upset by the winless 49ers in Week 4 of the 2010 season, and what gave them a chance at winning was Roddy White’s immaculate hustle — sprinting 40 yards downfield to pry the ball loose from an unsuspecting Nate Clemons who had delusions of the end zone. Guard Harvey Dahl also sprinted downfield to recover the fumble. Instead of San Francisco having the ball deep in Atlanta territory with the lead and with 1:22 remaining, Matt Ryan got the ball back at his 8-yard-line and led a clutch 11-play game-winning drive which culminated in a Matt Bryant field goal.
Julio Jones’ incredible catch which should have won the Super Bowl was also a comfortable first round winner, getting 73% of the vote in its own matchup against Hartley’s miss and Bryant’s game winner against the Saints in 2010.
As you can see from the video, Julio Jones put on a show throughout Super Bowl 51. The culmination of that show came in the form of an impossible 27-yard sideline catch, which was a brilliant play from both he and Matt Ryan. That got the Falcons into field goal range, already up 28-20, to put the game away. Julio did enough to win the Super Bowl, and had the rest of the team done its job this would have gone down as the greatest catch in Super Bowl history (helmet catch be damned).
Poll
Which play wins?
This poll is closed
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32%
7) Roddy White chases down Nate Clemons, forcing a fumble, before Matt Ryan takes the team downfield to set up the game-winning field goal vs. San Francisco (2010)
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67%
2) Julio Jones toe tap catch in 4th quarter of Super Bowl 51 (2016)
The winner of the 1-9 matchup will face the winner of the 5-13 matchup in the next round. The winner of the 3-6 matchup will face the winner of the 2-7 matchup in the next round.
Our next article will be looking at matchups in the second round of the second region of our bracket.