Falcons’ D steps up in OT
With 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter, Morton Anderson kicked a game-tying 38-yard field goal as the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Rams collided inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Then in overtime, DE Shane Dronett got into the Rams’ backfield and blasted Rams’ QB Tony Banks, who fumbled the ball. Lester Archambeau fell on the ball and the Falcons took over inside the Rams’ 5-yard line. After a few running plays, the Falcons’ Anderson came in and booted the game-winning 22-yard field goal to give the Falcons the 16-13 victory.
The Falcons didn’t have a great day offensively, but they got great play from their defense and special teams. The Falcons’ defense held the Rams to 282 yards total offense and sacked Banks 5 times. Punt Returner Byron Hanspard had the only Falcons’ TD of the day when he returned an 85-yard punt return for a TD in the 2nd quarter to give the Falcons a 10-3 at halftime.
Falcons’ RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 68 yards and passed for another 20. QB Chris Chandler didn’t have his best day of the year, but he passed for 129 yards on 16 completions. WR Terrance Mathis caught 6 passes for 77 yards.
As for the Rams, QB Tony Banks didn’t have his best day either. He passed for 174 yards on 17 of 32 passing. He also rushed for 39 yards.
The Falcons (4-5) will try to climb into the NFC playoff race this Sunday as they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. The St. Louis Rams (2-7) have a stiff test next Sunday when they travel to Lambeau Field to take on the World Champion Packers.