The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Baltimore Ravens last night 26-21.  This is the Falcons’ seventh win in eight games who are currently 7-2.  The Ravens fell to 6-3. 

The Falcons led for the majority of the game, with their defense doing a good job against the Ravens offense.  The Falcons had a ten point lead at halftime after a Jason Snelling, Falcons running back, hauled in a 28 yard touchdown catch from Falcons’ quarterback, Matt Ryan, leaving the Ravens scoreless in the first half.  The Ravens offense struggled to get going in the first half with Joe Flacco, Ravens quarterback, and Ravens’ running back Ray Rice being shut down. 

However, in the second half the Ravens came to life.  After a Matt Bryant, Falcons kicker, field goal Anquan Boldin, Ravens’ wide receiver, received a five yard touchdown pass from Flacco leaving the score at 13-7 Falcons.  After this, Roddy White, Falcons wide receiver, caught a four yard touchdown pass from Ryan.  Flacco went on to throw two touchdown passes on his next two drives to give the Ravens a 21-10 lead over the Falcons.  The Falcons got the ball back with 65 seconds left in the game to put a drive together down one point.  The Falcons drove down to the Ravens’ 33 yard line, where Ryan completed a 33 yard touchdown to White to give the Falcons a 26-21 lead over the Ravens with 20 seconds remaining. Their two point conversion failed however.  The Ravens failed to put anything together with this time, and they ended up losing 26-21.

The 33 yard touchdown pass to White was a questionable call because it looked like White had pushed off his defender.  The refs failed to call offensive pass interference which won the Falcons the game.  After the game White told reporters that he had pushed off and he got away with one.  This was a huge call in the game which clearly made the difference between the Falcons winning or losing the game.

Ryan threw the football 32/50 for 316 yards and three touchdown passes.  White was his major target who hauled in 12 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.  White has proved himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL. 

The Falcons play the Rams next week, while the Ravens play the Panthers.