No they played in NO.
Vick didn't have a concussion, but I know the play you're referring to. It was near the end of the game, and Vick was trying to run out of bounds, he put his head down, and was knocked out of bounds. It was a fool hardy play, one that he was bound to lose. Quarterbacks should not try to use their heads as battering rams!
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Michael Vick felt sick on Atlanta's final possession of the game. That didn't stop him from leading the Falcons to their third straight victory.
Allen's Analysis
Question on the Saints: Are they running questionable defensive schemes or are they lacking in personnel?
It's a question of players stepping up and making plays. The Saints have some good personnel, but they've been torched in the secondary and they haven't been able to get a good pass rush. It's the same old thing. They have a great offense but the defense lets them down. They were 6-1 coming into Week 8, but there were questions about their defense. It's a question of communication, because personnel-wise, the Saints are as good as any team in the league.
Question on the Falcons: How close is Vick to being put on the same pedestal as Brett Favre?
Michael Vick is not even close to Favre. Vick is a wonderful player with great athletic ability, but right now, he's one-dimensional. A quarterback who excels when the play breaks down is something you can't simulate in practice, and you can't coach that. You don't want to have that as your offense's best option, because you're leaving him open to getting hurt. Vick needs to develop more of a quarterback's mentality -- stay in the pocket and make plays with his arm instead of his legs. But he's certainly exciting to watch right now.
Eric Allen played cornerback for 14 NFL seasons with the Eagles, Saints and Raiders.
Vick drove the Falcons down the field in the closing minutes, setting up Jay Feely's winning field goal. Feely kicked a 47-yarder as time expired, giving the Falcons a 37-35 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
"He's elusive and he's a heck of a football player,'' Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "He sure is a talent.''
After Deuce McAllister ran 16 yards for a score to put the Saints up 35-34 with 2:20 left, Vick took control. Feely, who missed a 45-yard attempt with 56 seconds left in Atlanta's loss to Chicago, sent this one through the uprights as time ran out.
Vick took himself out of the game after the Falcons reached the Saints' 29. He said a Saints player hit his left thumb earlier in the quarter and it was swelling. His left shoulder also was bothering him, and he felt nauseous.
"I took myself out because I didn't want to vomit on the field,'' Vick said. "It's nothing.''
Vick, the second-ranked passer in the NFC, completed 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards. He rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including a 32-yard score in the fourth quarter and was sacked three times.
"I'm calm under pressure,'' Vick said. "I love these situations.''
Dunn, who entered the game with 160 yards rushing on the season, gained 142 yards against New Orleans (6-2) and scored a touchdown. Atlanta outrushed the Saints 260-159.
"It was good to get into the flow,'' Dunn said. "It was just a matter of getting the opportunity to play big.''
Atlanta (4-3) harried Vick's cousin, Aaron Brooks, all game. Brooks completed just 16 of 35 passes for 192 yards. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions.
"On film we saw Brooks was most successful when dropping back, so he has time to read the defense,'' Falcons cornerback Ray Buchanan said. "We played man-to-man and rushed guys in his face.''
McAllister had 115 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"It leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth,'' McAllister said.
Michael Vick runs in for a touchdown against the Saints on Sunday.
The Falcons converted 7 of their 11 third downs (64 percent), while New Orleans converted only 2-of-8 (25 percent).
Brooks and Vick, who grew up in Newport News, Va., had never faced each other on the field before.
"I told him there's going to be lots more of these, man,'' Vick said. "It was fun playing against him. He brings out the best in me, and I bring out the best in him.''
The loss ended the Saints best start since 1991, when they were 7-0 en route to an 11-5 finish and a division title.
The Saints scored first, capping their opening drive with a 40-yard field goal. On their next possession, McAllister stretched out both arms to get the football across the goal line on fourth-and-goal, putting the Saints up 10-0.
Vick's 3-yard touchdown run pulled Atlanta to 10-7 with 12 minutes left in the half.
A 61-yard touchdown run by McAllister was called back on a holding penalty. Four plays later, McAllister fumbled after a 9-yard run, setting the Falcons up on their 30-yard line. Atlanta took advantage of the miscue, taking a 14-10 lead on Dunn's 3-yard scoring run.
Brooks threw his second interception to open the third quarter, setting Bob Christian's 8-yard scoring run that put Atlanta up 21-10.
New Orleans answered when Brooks threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to McAllister. A 2-point conversion pulled New Orleans back to 21-18.
After a 31-yard Atlanta field goal made it 24-18, New Orleans took a 25-24 lead into the fourth quarter on Horn's 6-yard touchdown reception.
It didn't last long. Atlanta opened the fourth quarter with a 32-yard field goal to make it 27-25.
Vick stretched the lead to 34-25 with 5:57 left on a 32-yard touchdown run. John Carney kicked a 40-yard field goal on third down with 3:33 remaining to cut Atlanta's lead to 34-28. |
