Week 17 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 17, Philadelphia Eagles 24

What you need to know

Atlanta Falcons

QB Michael Vick was erratic and shaken by the Philadelphia pass rush eventually getting knocked out at the start of the second quarter with an injured ankle. He was very close to throwing multiple interceptions that hit defenders in the hands. He was very inconsistent throwing a few very nice balls mixed with a couple head-scratchers too.

Backup QB Matt Schaub threw a few questionable balls as well, but more often than not was on target delivering strikes keeping the Falcons in the game. He tied up the game late with a touchdown to TE Alge Crumpler once, and nearly did it again driving the Falcons to the two yard line late in the game.

Starting RB Warrick Dunn shared touches with backup RB Jerious Norwood. Dunn saw the advantage in touches with a ratio of 22:13. However, Norwood looked much more explosive breaking off longer runs and exploding through holes. His burst in comparison to Dunn is undeniable. Norwood held the advantage in yardage with a ratio of 91:75 on far fewer touches.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles knew that they had wrapped up their playoff spot just after their first drive. Dallas lost at home meaning that Philadelphia would host the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. The starters played only the first series. As soon as head coach Andy Reed got the news he had backup QB Jay Feeley warming up on the sidelines. RB Brian Westbrook, the starting receivers, and the majority of the Eagles defense were rested from this point on through the game.

QB A.J. Feeley threw three touchdown passes and directed what looked like the normal Philadelphia passing attack. The Eagles didn’t run the ball one time during the entire third quarter or early in the fourth quarter. They let Feeley air it out. He executed their short passing game with precision and confidence.

WR Hank Baskett was the main beneficiary of the Eagles sitting their starters. He pulled in great receptions making big plays that led to scores. He led the team with seven catches for 177 receiving yards including the longest play from scrimmage by a Philadelphia player (89 yards) on the season.

What you ought to know

QB Matt Schaub, Pass: 15 - 21 - 175 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 21 - 0

Schaub entered the game when starting QB Michael Vick hurt his ankle at the beginning of the third quarter. His first two passes were incomplete on second and third and long. On the next series he hit WR Roddy White on a deep cross. The pass was at White’s feet, but he did a nice job of securing the reception and picking up extra yards after the catch. He nearly threw an interception three plays later. He hit the deep safety in the hands on a ball targeted to White. While holding for the field goal attempt on the following play Schaub fumbled the ball around and didn’t get it set. He pulled the ball up and rolled out to his right hitting backup TE Eric Beverly, but they were well short on the attempt. On the following drive Schaub marched the Falcons downfield completing six of seven passing attempts capped off by his nine yard touchdown pass to TE Alge Crumpler. The highlight of the drive was the touch he put on a lobbed pass to RB Jerious Norwood down the right sideline. He fit the ball into a very narrow window. Late in the game the Falcons had a chance to tie up the game down by seven. They had the ball inside the two yard line on third down. Schaub started to roll out to his right after taking the snap, but tripped over his own feet falling to the ground getting sacked. On fourth down he tried to force a pass into WR Michael Jenkins, but it was knocked away by a defensive back.

QB Michael Vick, Pass: 8 - 14 - 81 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - 17 - 0

Vick marched the Falcons down the field on their second possession hitting RB Warrick Dunn for a touchdown pass. They ran their option up the middle with Vick keeping the ball and taking off around left end. However, Vick had nowhere to go and started working his way back across the field to his right spotting Dunn alone in the end zone for the touchdown. He nearly threw an interception at the start of the second quarter when he floated a deep pass towards WR Roddy White. The pass was too far inside closer to the safety than it was to White. He almost had another one picked off at the end of the same drive when he was targeting WR Michael Jenkins deep to the goal line a slant. The defensive back had great position on the play. Vick attempted one more deep ball towards White on the goal line on the same drive. On their following possession Vick got caught scrambling all over the place deep in the backfield twice. Each resulted in penalties. One was offensive pass interference because he had a man blocking downfield when Vick finally decided to throw the ball. The second was an intentional ground penalty that was nearly a safety. On the first play of the second half Vick was caught rolling out to his left. DE Juqua Thomas rolled up on his ankle while recording the sack. Vick stayed on the field for a long time being checked out before being helped to the sidelines. He was replaced by backup QB Matt Schaub. Vick was seen walking to the locker room under his own power.

RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 19 - 58 - 0, Rec: 3 - 17 - 1 (4 targets)

Dunn was the focus of the Falcons’ offense on their first series that resulted in a three and out. He had two stuffed carries followed by his first passing target down the left sideline. At the end of the next drive QB Michael Vick and Dunn ran their option play to the inside. Vick kept the ball scrambling to his left and Dunn floated into the right flat. When Vick had nowhere to go he came back his right and spotted Dunn alone in the end zone for the easy seven yard touchdown pass. Dunn split carries thereafter through the game with backup RB Jerious Norwood. Dunn saw most of his touches between the tackles grinding out tough yards. Late in the fourth quarter he got consecutive carries from inside the five yard line, but came up short of the goal line.

RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 10 - 63 - 0, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (3 targets)

Norwood entered the game at the start of the third Falcons’ drive near the end of the first quarter. He had a nice run for six yards up the gut creating a third and short, but wasn’t able to push the pile on third down forcing a punt on fourth down. The Falcons ran a quick hitter to Norwood in the right flat near the start of the second quarter. He did a nice job of breaking a tackler one on one, but the play was called back because of a penalty on a lineman. Norwood was the featured player on a drive late in the third quarter. He got four touches on the first four plays. The last one was a reception down the right sideline. He ran the pattern as an out and turned it up field catching the ball over his shoulder while tip toeing the sidelines. He posted consecutive eighteen yard runs up the middle late in the game jumpstarting the Falcon offense that was down by seven points. Each run game him a chance to flash his burst and ability to break tackles.

WR Roddy White, Rec: 4 - 90 - 0 (8 targets)

White saw his first target on the second Falcon series of the game. He pulled in a short three yard pass in the left flat. On the next play QB Michael Vick floated a deep pass down the left sideline towards White. The pass had little chance of being completed, but White was bowled over by the defensive back drawing the pass interference penalty. White was targeted deep at the start of the second quarter, but Vick threw the pass too far to the inside and it was nearly intercepted by the safety. At the end of the same drive Vick tried to hit White deep again, but the defensive back made a good play knocking the pass away. He made a nice sliding catch on a deep cross from QB Matt Schaub at the start of the third quarter. The pass was low and White did a good job of getting his hands under the pass. He immediately popped up before being touched and sprinted back to the left sideline picking up extra yards. White caught the final pass of the game on a 47 yard bomb from Schaub, but the Falcons weren’t able to get to the line and spike the ball so they could have a shot at the end zone. White did a good job of leaping and catching the ball at its highest point on the play.

WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (6 targets)

Jenkins caught his first target on a deep comeback route to the left just before the Dunn touchdown. Of note, Jenkins didn’t have to, but he caught the ball against his chest instead of using his hands to secure the pass. Early in the second quarter QB Michael Vick tried to hit Jenkins on a deep slant to the goal line, but he pass had little to no chance as the defensive back had perfect position on the play. Jenkins was targeted on fourth down from inside the ten yard line late in the game. QB Matt Schaub tried to force a pass into Jenkins, but he defensive back got a hand on the pass knocking it away. Jenkins wasn’t able to gain much separation on this route.

WR Ashley Lelie

Lelie didn’t play in this game due to his separated shoulder.

TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 6 - 64 - 1 (6 targets)

Crumpler caught his first target at the start of the second quarter. He sat down in the center of the field in a hole between the linebackers and made the reception. On their next possession Crumpler pulled in a deep 22 yard corner route. He did a great job of catching the ball with is outstretched hands while keeping his feet in bounds. On the next play he was flagged for offensive pass interference because he was blocking down field while QB Michael Vick was scrambling from left to right deep in the back field, but opted to throw a pass downfield instead of running. Crumpler tied up the game with his touchdown reception at the start of the fourth quarter. He ran a good route gaining great separation making it an easy throw for backup QB Matt Schaub.

PK Morten Andersen 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Anderson missed out on a 39 yard attempt when holder Matt Schaub pulled the ball away at the last moment causing Anderson to swing and miss. Schaub muffed the snap slightly and couldn’t get the ball down in time.

ATL Rush Defense

The Falcons’ front seven wasn’t tested by the running game of the Eagles. RB Ryan Moats got nine carries in the first half, but they were easily stuffed and Philadelphia went back to their all out short passing attack. QB A.J. Feeley didn’t hand the ball off even once in the third quarter.

ATL Pass Defense

The Falcons’ pass rush didn’t sack A.J. Feeley in the game. They were unable to provide any pressure as Feeley was allowed to stand in the pocket if he couldn’t find his first option. However, more often that not Feeley got rid of the ball quickly while executing the Eagles’ short passing game.

QB A.J. Feeley, Pass: 22 - 33 - 321 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0

Feeley entered the game at the start of the second Eagles possession. He marched Philadelphia down the field completing passes to WR Hank Baskett before hitting backup TE Matt Schobel on a quick slant from fourteen yards out. He lucked out on the touchdown pass because it was tipped by LB Keith Brooking before being caught. He missed WR Greg Lewis down the left sideline at the start of the second quarter, but connected with him on a very crisp 12 yard slant to start the next drive. Feely was flagged for intentional grounding midway through the second quarter when under a heavy pass rush he flipped the ball towards empty space in the right flat. His second touchdown pass was a quick slant on the goal line to WR Jason Avant. He nearly had a touchdown on the previous play as well, but backup FB Thomas Tapeh dropped a pass in the right flat that would have been an easy score. During the middle of the third quarter Feeley directed a 72 yard drive completing eight passes and targeting seven different receivers, but PK David Akers put the chip shot field goal attempt off the upright. He ran the Eagle offense with poise and confidence completing short passes all over the field. Feeley threw his third touchdown on a deep corner route to WR Hank Baskett. He laid it in perfectly allowing Baskett to turn it up the field for the 89 yard score.

QB Jeff Garcia, Pass: 1 - 3 - 29 - 0 TD / 0 INT

Garcia led the Eagles’ offense down the field for a field goal on the first Philadelphia series. After getting word that the Cowboys had lost at home to the Lions head coach Andy Reed opted to put backup QB A.J. Feeley in the game for the duration.

RB Ryan Moats, Rush: 11 - 22 - 0 (1 targets)

Moats got an overload of touches early in the game because of the ankle injury to RB Correll Buckhalter and starting RB Brian Westbrook being rested. He had one pass target on a screen play midway through the third quarter that was blown up by the Atlanta defensive line. Of note, it’s quite possible that this target was incorrectly recorded in the NFL.com game log. He got a couple of late token carries when the Eagles meekly attempted to run out the clock.

RB Reno Mahe, Rush: 3 - 14 - 0, Rec: 2 - 4 - 0 (4 targets)

Mahe fumbled his first reception at the start of the third quarter after a short gain. He also got two carries late in the game when the Eagles were making an attempt to run out the clock.

RB Thomas Tapeh, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (3 targets)

Tapeh got extra playing time due to the starters being rested in this meaningless game. He dropped his first passing target near the goal line from QB A.J. Feeley. Had he made the reception he might have walked in for the score.

RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 29 - 0 (1 targets)

Westbrook pulled in his first target on a short pass in the left flat and broke it for a 29 yard gain setting up an Akers field goal. This was his only touch in the game. As soon as head coach Andy Reed got word that they had wrapped up the NFC East with the Dallas loss Westbrook was informed he wouldn’t see the field again today.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets)

Starting RB Brian Westbrook only played the opening series before being rested. Buckhalter started the second series for the Eagles, but ended up limping to the sidelines after only two touches. They checked him out on the trainer’s table before he walked to the locker room. He was seen smiling on the sidelines late in the game.

WR Hank Baskett, Rec: 7 - 177 - 1 (8 targets)

Baskett was the main beneficiary of the Dallas loss allowing the Eagles to wrap up the NFC East without a win today. He pulled in his first two targets on the second Eagles drive. The first was a 28 yard out route on the right sideline. The second was an eleven yard hitch in the left flat. He did a nice job of securing the low pass with his hands rolling onto his back to protect the ball. Baskett broke a 17-17 tie when he pulled in an 89 yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter. QB A.J. Feeley laid the ball in perfectly on a corner route to the right sideline and Baskett did a great job of turning it up field running away from the defense.

WR Greg Lewis, Rec: 4 - 52 - 0 (7 targets)

Lewis got open down the left sideline at the start of the second quarter on his first passing target, but backup QB A.J. Feeley missed him well short. Midway through the second quarter Feeley drilled Lewis with a very sharp twelve yard slant to start a drive. On the following drive Lewis made an outstanding grab stealing the ball away from the defensive back. Feeley lobbed the ball down the left sideline where the defensive back had great inside position. Lewis adjusted coming back to the ball leaping over the top of the cornerback to make the grab putting the Eagles on the Falcons’ five yard line. Just before halftime Lewis made a nice diving attempt at a pass and caught a different eight yard hitch. He was open on a deep out on the final attempt from Feeley in the first half, but the pass was well overthrown.

WR Jason Avant, Rec: 4 - 40 - 1 (6 targets)

Avant got extra playing time because the starting Philadelphia receivers were rested in this meaningless game. His first reception was a short slant for a touchdown from backup QB A.J. Feeley. Avant did a nice job of catching his other targets across the middle of the field taking solid shots from defensive backs.

WR Donte Stallworth (2 targets)

Stallworth saw two early targets at the end of the first Philadelphia drive, but couldn’t connect with QB Jeff Garcia on either pass. After the Eagles learned that the game was meaningless because of the Dallas loss Stallworth remained on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

WR Reggie Brown

After the Eagles learned that the game was meaningless because of the Dallas loss Brown remained on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

TE Matt Schobel, Rec: 2 - 24 - 1 (5 targets)

Schobel caught a fourteen yard touchdown pass from QB A.J. Feeley on a post pattern. The pass was tipped by LB Keith Brooking, but Schobel did a nice job of concentrating on the ball and making the reception. His second target was a long fade towards the right sideline. He made a great over the shoulder catch, but was flagged for a push-off and offensive pass interference on the play. On the next series he converted a second and six play pulling in a nice catch on the right sideline. Midway through the third quarter he was able to draw a pass interference flag on a linebacker to keep a long drive alive.

TE L.J. Smith

After the Eagles learned that the game was meaningless because of the Dallas loss Smith remained on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

PK David Akers 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Akers missed his first every attempt from under 30 yards when he hit the right upright from 23 yards away.

PHI Rush Defense

The Eagles allowed Atlanta to run for 159 yards averaging 4.7 yards per carry, but those numbers were slightly inflated by the rushing yardage from the Falcon quarterbacks. They shut down the Falcon’s primary ball carrier in RB Warrick Dunn. Dunn was met at the line of scrimmage on most of his carries as the Eagles closed holes not allowing Dunn to get into the second layer of the defense. Dunn averaged only 3.1 yards per carry. However, when backup RB Jerious Norwood entered the game he made tacklers miss and broke a few longer runs.

PHI Pass Defense

The front seven was able to bring heavy pressure on the Atlanta quarterbacks in spurts. They forced QB Michael Vick into several errant throws and mistakes including an intentional grounding penalty and nearly a safety. SS Sean Considine had a deep pass hit him in the hands that he dropped, but made up for it by intercepting his first pass of the season late in the game on an overthrow from QB Matt Schaub.