National Football League

Offense caved to the third-down pressure

Published Oct. 18, 2010 10:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

PHILADELPHIA --- The Eagles used an assortment of blitzes to stop the Falcons on third down and keep their offense from settling into a groove.

On the Falcons' first third down attempt of the game, linebacker Stewart Bradley came right up the middle to sack quarterback Matt Ryan for a 5 yard loss.

It was a sign of things to come.

The Eagles held the Falcons to 4 of 14 on third down (29 percent). In the five previous games, the Falcons had converted on 37 of 80 third down situations (48.3 percent).

"Maybe we'd pick up the blitz or throw it hot and we weren't able to make the play," Tony Gonzalez said. "Like me, on one third down I dropped that ball down in the red zone. You can't do that. You can't have those mistakes."

The pass skidded off Gonzalez' hands and was intercepted by Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel.

"I'm glad it didn't turn into a score for them, but if you make those plays maybe we go in to score," Gonzalez said. "It's one of those things where we have to play better and we have to execute."

Also, Gonzalez said he saw bracket coverage from two players on most third downs.

On Samuel's interception, Ryan's pass appeared high.

"That's a drop," Gonzalez said. "That was a good ball. That's where I like that. That's where I tell Matt to throw it. I take full responsibility for that."

Falcons starts

This was the third season that the Falcons have opened with a 4-1 mark.

After the other 4-1 starts, the team failed to make the playoffs.

Last season, they went 4-1 before losing consecutive games at Dallas and at New Orleans. A rash of injuries started to set in and the team finished 9-7.

The Falcons started 4-1 in 1995, before losing to the St. Louis Rams 21-19 to drop to 4-2. The never got on a roll and finished 9-7.

The Falcons best start was in 1986 when they opened the season 5-1-1, before losing five straight and closing out the season 7-8-1.

The franchise went 5-1 twice. In 2004, they went on to finish 11-5 and reached the NFC championship game. In 1998, they went 14-2 and went to the Super Bowl.

The Falcons have never started a season 6-1.

"We are 4-2, hopefully we can win next week and be 5-2 going into that bye week," Gonzalez said. "We'll still be sitting pretty. It's not a time to panic. We just have to go out there and keep getting better in practice."

Weatherspoon out

Rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was declared inactive because of his knee injury. Stephen Nicholas started at his strong side linebacker position.

Also inactive for the Falcons were cornerback Dominique Franks, running back Gartrell Johnson III, tackle Garrett Reynolds, guard Mike Johnson and defensive end Lawrence Sidbury and defensive tackle Trey Lewis.

John Parker Wilson was designated as the third quarterback for the Falcons.

Injury report

Running back Antone Smith was injured covering a punt in the first quarter. The trainers were looking at his left knee.

Cornerback Dunta Robinson suffered a head injury, but it was not confirmed if that meant a concussion.

"We talked to him in the locker room," safety William Moore said. "He was doing good."

Etc.

The Eagles are now 8-1 against the Falcons under coach Andy Reid. They have won the past four matchups and six of the last seven. . . . The Falcons are 0-3 at Lincoln Financial Field. . . . The Falcons entered the game averaging 148.8 per game (second in the league), but were held to 65 yards rushing on 19 carries. . . . Philadelphia wide receiver Chad Hall (Wesleyan High) had one catch for 5 yards in his first-career start.