ATLANTA — A year ago at this time, the Atlanta Falcons were unbeaten and riding a wave that would eventually carry them to the NFC title game.
Five games into their 2013 campaign that began with such lofty hopes, the Falcons are virtually a mirror-image version of their 2012 selves — the negative image, that is.
Last year was all about coming from behind and salvaging wins. This season, through five games, the Falcons have come up short on the plays that ultimately separate victory from defeat.
That was the case again on Monday, as the New York Jets kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to down the Falcons, 30-28 at the Georgia Dome, sending Atlanta — a 10-point favorite — reeling to a 1-4 record.
After the game, Falcons head coach Mike Smith said his team will "evaluate everything we do" during the upcoming bye.
"I feel like we’re not making the plays we needed to make," Smith said. "We're not coaching the way we need to coach. Obviously, we're all in this together. There's enough things to look at. It's a group effort."
Smith, who never second-guesses himself, hinted in that direction on a decision made shortly before halftime, on what proved to be a critical sequence. Down 17-7, the Falcons earned a first down at Jets’ 1-yard line (after a pass-interference penalty), but only one second remained on the clock.
If Smith opted for an easy field goal, it might have been the eventual margin of victory.
Not only did Smith decide to go for the touchdown, but he chose to run the ball — going away from the Falcons’ strength in the passing game — into a Jets defense that ranked No. 5 in rush defense. Jacquizz Rodgers was stopped for no gain by Sheldon Richardson as time expired, leaving the Jets exulted at the break.
"We felt like we needed to score a touchdown in that situation there," said Smith, who later added that Jets ranked fourth in the league in "explosive plays" and that New York would have also received the ball to start the second half.
"Felt like we had an opportunity to do that. We didn't get it done. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the decision the way the game ended up; but it’s the decision we made."
A number of miscues put the Falcons in bad position to begin with. In the first half, the Jets (3-2) blocked a punt and converted the ensuing possession into a field goal. In the second half, Leger Douzable sacked and stripped Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan of the football, leading to another Jets field goal.
Meanwhile, the Falcons defense, ranked 26th in the league and looking as porous as ever, failed to take the ball away from the Jets.
All of that helped the Jets build a 27-13 lead in the fourth quarter. From there, the Falcons staged what began to look like a 2012-style comeback. Rodgers ran 19 yards for a touchdown with 8:03 left, and then with 1:54 left in regulation, Ryan threw a three-yard score to rookie tight end Levine Toilolo, putting Atlanta on top, 28-27.
At that point, Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith — who went 16 of 20 for 199 yards and three touchdowns and notched a 147.7 QB rating for the night — led his team downfield with three quick completions and an eight-yard scramble, earning a first down at the Falcons’ 38.
"He’s a rookie and we made him look like a 10-year veteran today," said Atlanta safety William Moore, a Pro Bowler last season.
Smith said the Falcons did not tackle "as crisply as we needed to" on that final drive. Four plays later, Nick Folk converted the game-winning field goal.
Among the most outspoken Falcons after the game was veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, who postponed retirement one more year to chase a Super Bowl dream with the Falcons -- a distant prospect for a 1-4 club. Gonzalez said the Falcons have dug themselves "a deep, deep hole."
"It’s going to be tough to dig ourselves out of it," he said. "I’m not going to sit here — what are we going to do? — sit here and feel sorry for ourselves? There’s still a lot of football left to play. I'm going to believe, and I expect my teammates to believe."
Both Gonzalez and Moore referenced the injuries that have ravaged the Falcons, the defense in particular with three of the top four linebackers sitting out.
Injuries struck again on Monday, as wide receiver Roddy White, who has played through an ankle injury that has hobbled him all season, left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return. Running back Jason Snelling — who has taken on a larger role with Steven Jackson having missed the last three games with his own hamstring injury — left with a concussion.
"On the injury side, we’re short a few guys, we got a few guys stepping up but those injuries, those guys that have been out, they’re huge," Moore said. "Later in the season when we get those guys back, we’ll be able to turn it up a notch."
But will it be too late?
Gonzalez, who registered a catch in his 200th consecutive game on Monday: "Nothing against the guys that are out there right now, but starter guys — it’s just the nature of football — get those guys back and get them healthy. I’ve got to be confident. What am I going to do?"
The Falcons have finished with a winning record for each of Smith's six seasons at the helm. That run hangs in jeopardy. As a head coach, Smith has never been three games below .500, with the back-to-back home losses serving as a rarity, as well.
"It's still in our hands," Gonzalez said. "It puts us behind the 8-ball. At the same time, if we do our thing, one game at a time, I’m confident we can turn this thing around. Whether it’s realistic or not, it's up to you guys — I’m sure you guys will say what you got to stay — but as far as I'm concerned, I’m going to go out there and play my heart out and hopefully we can turn this thing around."
Heart is necessary, but will it be sufficient to turn this quickly disintegrating season around?
