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In case you haven’t heard the news, former Falcons tight end O.J. Santiago is making a comeback in football in his home country.  Santiago, who helped create the “Dirty Bird” dance during the team’s Super Bowl run in 1998, has signed to play in the Canadian Football League this year.
Santiago, a native of Whitby, Ontario, [...]

Former Dirty Bird Still Spreading His Wings »

A Few Stadium Memories

By fkleha | Published: December 17, 2009

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As the team flies to East Rutherford, N.J. to take on the Jets this Sunday, it will be the last time the Falcons will play at what is known as “The Meadowlands”  (when opponents play the Giants the stadium is referred to as Giants Stadium and when the Jets host a game at the same place they call it simply, The Meadowlands.).

With a new billion dollar stadium literally yards away to open next season for both teams, the Falcons will be saying goodbye to a place where they have performed sparingly over the years.  Their first meeting with the Jets didn’t take place until 1973 and it was at old Shea Stadium.  The current stadium opened in 1976 with a Giants-Cowboys affair and the Birds didn’t make their first appearance at the venue until 1979 (against the G-Men).

Atlanta has made the trek north to play the Jets only three times and the Giants just seven times (counting an encounter earlier this season).  The first time the Birds faced off against their AFC opponent at their home confines wasn’t until 1983.  The Falcons have posted an overall winning record of 6-4 at the stadium through the years, going 5-2 versus the Giants and 1-2 against the Jets.

The most points Atlanta has scored at the venue was 34 in a win against the Giants during their Super Bowl run in 1998. Ironically, that super season of ‘98 was also the last time they have played both teams in the same season.  The Jets handed the Falcons only their second defeat of the season in the midst of franchise-best 14-2 regular season with a 28-3 loss with 44-year-old backup quarterback Steve DeBerg calling the plays that day for Atlanta.

Incidentally, there have been a total of six football teams that have called the stadium “home” at one time or the other over the years, including the New York/New Jersey Knights (of the World League of American Football) to the New Jersey Generals (of the United States Football League) to the New York Sentinels and don’t forget the New York/ New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL. Also, the New Orleans Saints hosted a home game there after Hurricane Katrina hit and they were forced to relocate.

It’s time to close out The Meadowlands with memories of a final Falcons victory at the 33 year-old stadium.

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Fighting To The End

By fkleha | Published: December 9, 2009

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With a rash of injures that swelled to a season-high 12 players listed on the injury report this week, the Falcons are short-handed to say the least going into a big showdown against their arch rival and undefeated New Orleans Saints.

I can recall a game on the final week of the 1995 season where the odds were stacked against the Falcons but the final results turned out differently.

Atlanta faced a difficult hurdle in the season finale on Christmas Eve in ’95 at the Georgia Dome.  The Falcons were 8-7 and facing a powerful San Francisco 49ers team that boasted an 11-4 record while capturing their fourth-straight NFC West crown.  The defending Super Bowl (XXIX) champions were trying to wrap up home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory.

The Birds had to win the game to even qualify for the playoffs.

The 49ers jumped out to an early 14-3 lead but the Falcons would never give up on this day and stormed back. Atlanta backup quarterback Bobby Hebert replaced an injured Jeff George with 1:18 remaining in the first half and played the hero’s role.  He completed 17 of 27 passes for 197 yards with two big scoring tosses.

In a seesaw battle that went down to the final pass, several Birds played key roles throughout the game.

Morten Andersen booted two long range field goals (out of his three total) of 59 and 52 yards.  Wide receiver Terance Mathis caught eight passes for 84 yards with a pair of crucial touchdown grabs.  Fellow wide receiver Bert Emanuel hauled in seven passes for 86 yards.  Linebacker Jessie Tuggle pounded the Niners with 12 tackles and a sack of quarterback Steve Young.

But Hebert’s two biggest throws enabled Falcons fans to enjoy the holidays on the highest of notes.

Facing a fourth-and-5 yards at their own 40-yard line, Hebert, under heavy pressure, completed a clutch 23 yard pass to Metcalf for a first down at the Niners 37 as the clock struck 2:00 minutes.  The next play, Hebert scrambled to his left to avoid the rush and threw a strike to a waiting Mathis at the 10-yard line.  All Mathis did was cut across the field, elude several would-be 49er tacklers and dive over the goal line for the game-deciding points from 37 yards away for a 28-27 lead.

Young drove the Niners to the Falcons 48-yard line in the final minute but his desperation pass was intercepted by safety Kevin Ross and the celebration ensued.  For the Falcons, it was their first playoff berth in four years.  But even more satisfying for the fans and what was more appreciated was the way the Falcons fought hard against some difficult odds in a game where most people didn’t give them a chance.

Sound familiar?

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Thanksgiving Day Memories

By fkleha | Published: November 25, 2009

As Thanksgiving approaches, I recall growing up eagerly awaiting the day for a number of reasons.  Of course, the fact that we were off of school was always near the top of the list.  Then there was the annual “Turkey Bowl” football game for bragging rights in the neighborhood.  But another big part of my anticipation of the day was being able to watch NFL football.

It didn’t matter who the Detroit Lions were playing on Thanksgiving.  The fact that you could watch football all day while enjoying your mother’s delicious cooking multiple times was enough to make it one of my favorite holidays.

When I received a chance to be a part of a Thanksgiving Day game as a member of the Falcons in 2005 for the first time it didn’t really hit me until I got to the Lions new stadium.  But when I arrived at Ford Field I started to get a sense of how special this game is for everyone involved.

I started thinking about how everyone around the League would be watching at some point like we always did coming off the practice field following a Falcons early work out that day.  I also thought about how huge the national television audience would be for this Thanksgiving Day game and how all of your family, relatives and friends around the country would be getting a chance to see your team play in prime time.

The stadium was dressed up, the game day workers were wearing big smiles along with Thanksgiving themed clothing, and regardless of their record, the Lions faithful were fired up for some football.

This all added up to create a buzz in the air.  You got a sense that you were somehow part of tradition. You were part of a game on a special day on the NFL calendar that meant a great deal to a lot of people.  And it felt just like I imagined it would if I ever got a chance to attend one of these games in person.

The Falcons took it to the Lions early and often that November day in 2005, winning 27-7.  Even though I missed Thanksgiving Day with my family, I was glad I had a chance to experience a game that I grew up watching for so many years.

It was well worth the wait.

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Looking To Duplicate Past Success

By fkleha | Published: November 17, 2009

fk-bfinneran111709The Falcons take flight this weekend to the Meadowlands for one of their two final games they will ever play at the New Jersey stadium. (The Giants and Jets are opening a new stadium next year.)  If past experiences have any bearing on future outcomes, one thing is for sure.  Atlanta doesn’t mind visiting the state of Jersey to face the Giants.

The Falcons have captured five games in-a-row at Giants Stadium and have not lost there since 1979.  One game in particular stands out in my mind and mirrors the position the 2009 Falcons find themselves in at this point.

In 2002 Atlanta was coming off a 20-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and looking to rebound.  A strong defensive effort highlighted with a pair of forced turnovers deep in Falcons territory in the fourth quarter sealed the win at Giants Stadium.

Falcons cornerback Juran Bolden picked off a Kerry Collins pass attempt for wide receiver Ike Hilliard at the Giants 6-yard line early in the final stanza.  The turnover stopped the Giants from breaking a 10-10 tie.

Then, safety Henry Jones forced a late fumble that cornerback Kevin Mathis recovered at the Falcons 15-yard line with 3:32 to play to snuff out another scoring opportunity for New York to add to the day’s defensive heroics.  The Falcons winning score came on a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Finneran as the birds held on for a close 17-10 victory.

The win against the Giants on the road propelled the Falcons to a four-game winning streak en route to an eventual playoff berth.  Can this game on Sunday prove to be a springboard for better things to come as it did in 2002?

With three-straight home games on the horizon after this trip, the Falcons hope to right the ship this weekend in some successful past surroundings up north.

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Close Encounters of the Carolina Kind

By fkleha | Published: November 10, 2009

fk-bchristian111009This weekend the Falcons will be attempting to sweep the annual series with the Panthers for the sixth time since they began facing off against each other in 1995.  There have been some memorable games played in Charlotte. In fact, during a four-game stretch from 1998 through 2001 contests in the Queen City were decided by five, six, five and three points.

I vividly remember a November game in 2001 with particular interest where an unlikely hero emerged.

Atlanta entered the game with a 5-4 record and full of confidence after defeating Carolina 24-16 in Week 2 at the Georgia Dome.  Has a familiar ring doesn’t it?

In a close contest throughout, fullback Bob Christian, who was used primarily as a blocking back throughout his career, broke out and enjoyed a career day against his former teammates.  Christian, who was signed by the Panthers in the NFL expansion draft in 1995 after being a 12th round draft selection by the Birds in 1991, saw his role expanded in the absence of running back Jamal Anderson (season ending-knee injury in Week 3).

After a goal line stand by the Falcons defense stopped the Panthers on a four-straight plays at the 1-yard line in the second quarter, Atlanta took over and marched 99-yards down the field.  (Sister) Christian (as ESPN’s Chris Berman called him) put the Falcons in scoring position with a career-long 53-yard scamper to the Panthers 39-yard line.  The former Northwestern runner then converted a crucial third-and-2 on a hard rush up the middle on a draw play. Christian culminated the drive with a 4-yard touchdown plunge for the first touchdown of the game and a 10-0 Falcons lead.

The defense did the rest as safety Johndale Carty sealed the win with an interception with 0:35 seconds left and Atlanta escaped with a 10-7 victory and its second-straight series sweep.

Christian finished the day with a personal-best of 122 all-purpose yards, including a career-high of 78 yards on the ground with an additional 44 receiving yards on a team-high five receptions, to earn game MVP honors.

Will Michael Turner continue his burning pace of the past two weeks or will another Falcon come forward to play the heroes role this weekend in this Week 10 Division showdown in this I-85 rivalry?

What do you think?

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Bitter Rivalry To Be Renewed

By fkleha | Published: October 28, 2009

 The Falcons-Saints rivalry may not have the national cache of some other rivalries in the NFL but don’t tell that to either team or the fan bases in both cities.  Each team’s fans circle the two dates on the calendar and prepare accordingly.  Travel plans are made early to visit each others towns and walk the streets the night before donning team gear to show their support.  Players on both sides feel the intensity of this crucial Division game. And it’s been that way since they first squared off in 1967.

 This yearly battle has had its share of close games and blow outs. T here have been 43 games decided by eight points or less in this long standing series.  The Falcons beat the Saints 62-7 in 1973 in New Orleans in their widest margin of victory ever in a single-game in team history.  The Saints handed the Falcons a 38-0 defeat in 1987 in Atlanta. It doesn’t matter where the games are played between these traditional Southern towns. More often than not these contests always seem to be filled with intrigue and no shortage of drama (especially in the month of November).

 On November 12, 1978, the birds of strong-armed QB Steve Bartkowski trailed the Saints in New Orleans 17-6 with 2:23 remaining and the ball on their own 20-yard line.  Bart methodically marches the Falcons 80 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a RB Haskel Stanback one-yard touchdown burst around right end to close the gap to 17-13 with :59 ticks left.  Atlanta tries an onsides kick but it fails and the Saints take over at their 49 to apparently run out the clock and claim the win.  Not so fast my friend (as College GameDay’s Lee Corso says).

 New Orleans decides to go for it on 4th and 2 at the Atlanta 43-yard line.  But RB Chuck Muncie is stuffed by DL Jeff Yeates and the Falcons take over for one more play with :19 seconds left.  Bartkowski drops back and launches one of his famous long balls with so much trajectory that it would have probably hit the scoreboard in the middle of new Cowboys Stadium.  The ball was intended for WR Wallace Francis but it is hit up in the air by Saints defenders and lands in the arms of fellow WR Alfred Jackson.  Jackson runs untouched into the end zone for the unlikely winning score.   The historical pass was the first “Big Ben Right” play called in team history.

 On November 24, 1991, the Falcons overcame a 10-point deficit in the last two minutes to send the game into overtime in an exciting national television match-up on ESPN.  A 54-yard completion from QB Chris Miller to WR Michael Haynes sets up a 50-yard game winning boot in the OT from K Norm Johnson before ESPN’s largest TV audience of the season.

 These two games illustrate the close competitiveness between the arch rivals and how the games are never seemingly over until the clock strikes zero.

 This 80th meeting on Monday night between these two long-time combatants and Division foes is shaping up to be another wild affair in November on Monday Night Football in the party backdrop of the “Big Easy”.  But there is nothing easy when it comes to this rivalry for either team.

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Dramatic Wins Like Bears In ‘09 Prove Pivotal

By fkleha | Published: October 15, 2009

fk-mhaynes101509In looking at this week’s opponent and last season’s thrilling, come-from-behind, heart stopping 22-20 victory over the Chicago Bears, it got me thinking about a similar down-to-the wire contest that was also played in Atlanta some 18 years ago.

On a cloudy November day at Fulton County Stadium in 1991, the 4-4 Falcons hosted the 4-4 San Francisco 49ers in an NFC West showdown.  There were plenty of stars on the field on both sidelines.  For the Falcons, there was WR Andre Rison, CB Deion Sanders, WR Michael Haynes, LB Jessie Tuggle, G Bill Fralic, S Scott Case and QB Chris Miller. The Niners countered with QB Steve Young, WR Jerry Rice, WR John Taylor, LB Charles Haley, CB Merton Hanks, G Guy McIntyre, and TE Brent Jones.

The game had the normal twists and turns (just like last years Bears game) with a few key injuries that had a huge effect on the outcome and thrust some unlikely heroes onto center stage.

Quarterbacks Chris Miller and Steve Young took their share of pounding early in the game and were forced from the game for good. (Miller in the second quarter and Young in the third quarter.)  But each team’s apprentice actually fared better on this day than the starter.

The Bird’s back-up, Billy Joe Tolliver, replaced Miller and finished the day 11 of 22 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. The Niners second-stringer,  Steve Bono, hit on 9 of 16 passes for 111 yards and one score.

With the 49ers leading 7-0 heading into the pivotal fourth quarter, something had to give.  And it just so happened it was the scoreboard.

The Falcons tallied 10 unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead with under three minutes remaining.  But Bono directed an eight play, 68-yard drive to re-take the lead for the Niners on a 30-yard touchdown strike to WR John Taylor.

Tolliver stared at the clock, which read 0:53, and faced an 80-yard up hill battle.  But the hard throwing Tolliver didn’t blink.  On a crucial fourth-and-6 from his own 37-yard, he completed a big 19-yarder to Rison for a first down at the 44 with 0:16 ticks left to keep their hopes alive.  After an incompletion moved the clock to 0:9 seconds left, there was only one thing left to do.

Tolliver dropped back and heaved the ball as hard and long as he could, 44 yards in the air towards the end zone.  In a crowd of seven players somehow Haynes came down with the ball to claim the 17-14 win in “Hail Mary” fashion.  As the stadium erupted and an on field celebration ensued, the improbable became reality.  “Big Ben” had struck again for the birds just like the first ever last second win in team history on November 12, 1978 at New Orleans. (The play call in the huddle that day delivered by QB Steve Bartkowski was Big Ben Right.)

The exciting 1991 win would help the Falcons post a series sweep of the Niners and the loss would eventually prove disastrous for San Francisco as they did not make the playoffs despite a 10-6 record.  The team who made the playoffs that year on the heels of this sweep was the Falcons, who totaled an identical 10-6 mark.

Similarities abound as last year’s big win over the Bears instilled a level of confidence in Coach Mike Smith’s team that would propel them to an eventual playoff berth while Chicago finished with a 9-7 record and out of the postseason.

Will the rematch with the Bears this weekend prove to be another dramtic, hard fought game with a national television audience in attendance?  What do you think?

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Some Good Memories By The Bay

By fkleha | Published: October 6, 2009

kleha-dsanders100709Fresh off the bye week, the Falcons take flight to a familiar place from a historical perspective, landing at Candlestick Park to start their stretch of 13 straight regular season contests.  Two weeks to wait to play another game after carrying around the bitter taste from the New England game has the Falcons re-focused, re-energized and itching to get back on the field.

This trip to San Francisco marks the 37th trek to the city by the bay for the Birds in franchise history. Of course, a majority of the previous 36 trips were played as rivals in the old NFC West Division. The first time they eyed each other across from the line of scrimmage was 1967 and it was on the road in San Francisco.

The 49ers and Rams were the powerhouses of that Division years ago but the Falcons have shared some memorable moments at The Stick.

In 1991, Atlanta faced a San Francisco team that had won seven of the last eight games on their home field against the Falcons. But the Birds were ready.

Returner extraordinaire Deion Sanders ran back a kickoff 100 yards for a score to put the Falcons ahead at the end of the third quarter 27-20 in this see-saw battle. Two Norm Johnson field goals and a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Miller to wide receiver Andre Rison would be the winning margin for the Birds in a 39-34 shoot-out over the Steve Young and Jerry Rice led Niners. The Falcons would go on to post a 10-6 record and a playoff berth.

Three seasons earlier in 1988, Atlanta stormed into Candlestick and stopped a two-game losing streak by shocking the 49ers of quarterback Joe Montana, 34-17, to claim its first victory of the season. With no time left on the first half clock, quarterback Chris Miller went around right end on a one-yard scamper to stake the Falcons to a 21-3 halftime advantage and they never looked back.

The last journey to The Stick for the team was a successful one on the opening week of 2004 campaign. Atlanta prevailed 21-19 as three current players performed in that contest (center Todd McClure, wide receivers Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran).

Who will step up and get the Falcons back on the winning track this weekend in familiar West Coast territory? Remember, Head Coach Mike Smith’s crew has not lost back-to-back games in his tenure.

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Making The Biggest Impact

By fkleha | Published: September 29, 2009

Last year after three games into the season most fans would have said that RB Michael Turner had made the most impact.  Turner totaled 366 rushing yards with five touchdowns through the first three weeks of the season in 2008.

This season, QB Matt Ryan has thrown for 648 yards on 60 completions for a 65.9% completion percentage with five touchdowns and only one pick. TE Tony Gonzalez has hauled in 13 receptions (second on team) for 160 yards for a 12.3 yard average with two touchdowns.

On the defensive side, LB Mike Peterson has accumulated 33 tackles with two  forced fumbles to his credit. While LB Curtis Lofton leads the defense with 42 tackles, including a career-high 19 stops at New England.

So I thought I would throw out the following question to the fans and let the votes be counted.

Who has made the most impact in the first three games for the Falcons?

View Results

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Home Victories Set Up First Road Test

By fkleha | Published: September 22, 2009

With two tough home wins to start the 2009 campaign in the Falcons’ rear view mirror, the stage has been set as the birds take flight to New England for their first road contest of the season. Similar to last year, the Falcons have started out strong at home boosting their confidence heading to a very difficult place to play at Gillette Stadium.

But the huge task at hand is tempered this year because of the successful experiences of a year ago. Coach Smith’s team proved its mettle on the road going to places like Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Metrodome in Minneapolis, and Qualcomm in San Diego, and pulling out difficult, hard-fought victories. Players feed off of the positive experiences gained in the past to provide a strong foundation the next time they are faced with a similar hurdle.

Those 2008 Falcons under Smith finished with a 7-1 record at home (the best mark since 2004). All coaches believe that if you can post a successful home record, then you can face the uphill battles better when you travel to hostile environments. Winning on the road is the hardest thing to do in the NFL. But these young Falcons are up for the challenge and it starts this weekend in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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Trivia Question #1: This is the first trip to Gillette Stadium for the Falcons since it was opened in 2002. Atlanta defeated New England at old Foxboro Stadium in 1998. What Falcons phenomenon was created that day? (Answer below)

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 According to The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, did you know that this week years ago…

 …On September 24, 1976, University of Pennsylvania kicker and former Falcon Tim Mazzetti tied the Ivy League record for the longest field goal in league history after booming a 54-yard kick against Lehigh. But the Quakers fell at Franklin Field 24-20.

 …On September 26, 1992, Hawaii kicker and current Falcon Jason Elam set a WAC all-time scoring record with 327 points by sending three field goals through the uprights, including a 56-yarder, to lead the Warriors to a 36-32 upset over BYU.

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Mazzetti scored 230 points in three seasons with the Falcons from 1978-80 and his best known in team lore for his performance on Monday Night Football in 1978. He kicked five field goals to account for all of the winning points to help Atlanta defeat the division leading Los Angeles Rams 15-7 on October 30, 1978 in the team’s first nationally-televised game in four seasons. Mazzetti’s break through season included a team record nine field goals in-a-row and his points were the difference in five victories. Because of his heroic contributions the Falcons earned their first playoff berth in team annals. Mazzetti was also responsible for the winning points in that team’s 14-13 first round playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Mazzetti’s past included being a bartender in Philadelphia prior to getting his kicks in the NFL. He also played in the old United States Football League with the Boston/Portland Breakers after his Falcons career was over and was named an All-USFL first-team kicker.

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Trivia Question #2: Who was the first player to score a point in the USFL? 

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Answer #1: In a 41-10 victory at New England in the Falcons’ last trip to face their AFC East foe, the “Dirty Bird” touchdown danced was first introduced.     

Answer #2: Tim Mazzetti hit a 30-yard field goal in the Breakers’ first game against the Tampa Bay Bandits to score the first points for the upstart league at the time.

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