Sunday’s 34-0 Falcons win over the Giants had to look pretty familiar to both fan bases. Only this time, instead of beating Atlanta 24-2 by forcing two turnovers on downs (as it did in last season's playoffs), it was New York that failed to convert two crucial fourth downs.
The first failed conversation (a run by rookie RB David Wilson for no gain) could have been prompted by K Lawrence Tynes’ first quarter miss. After sending a 30-yard attempt wide left on the Giants’ second drive (his third miss in his last six attempts), Tynes wasn’t allowed to make a 49-yard attempt early in the second quarter.
But the Giants (8-6) didn’t lose because of a missed field goal or a few failed fourth-down conversions. Rather, the Falcons (12-2) beat them in every facet of the game.
“Atlanta was very, very good,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “We were very, very bad.”
Falcons QB Matt Ryan completed 23 of 28 passes, and Atlanta’s running game re-emerged with a 38-carry, 129-yard performance. As a result, the Falcons -- who may have established themselves as the team to beat in the NFC on Sunday -- held a marked edge in time of possession (38:57 to 21:03) and outgained the Giants (394 yards to 256) on Sunday.
When the game turned: Perhaps it’s a bit cynical to say that the Giants lost the game on the opening kickoff, but Wilson’s failed return really did seem to set the tone. New York boasted an average starting field position of the 49-yard line against the Saints last week. This Sunday, however, Wilson was stopped at the 16-yard line to begin the game (New York's average starting field position was the 18-yard line). The Giants have dealt with poor field position in the past, but this time it led to an interception and a short field for the Falcons’ offense. Atlanta RB Michael Turner ran three times before eventually squeaking in for a one-yard touchdown.
If Wilson’s failed kick wasn’t the moment the game went sour for New York, the next logical option would be Falcons CB Asante Samuel’s interception, which came two plays later and led to an early 7-0 lead.
Highlight moments: Samuel picked off Giants QB Eli Manning four times as a member of the Eagles and registered his first interception of Manning as a Falcon on the second play of the game. The pass, which was intended for WR Hakeem Nicks, was bobbled by Samuel, but eventually hauled in and returned for six yards down to the Giants’ six-yard line.
Samuel would later add a big play on fourth down with just 1:10 remaining in the first half. The Giants had driven down to the 11-yard line and could have scored their first touchdown of the game, but Samuel defended WR Victor Cruz’s buttonhook perfectly and swatted the ball away to give possession back to the Falcons.
RB David Wilson had his moments, particularly in the first half. His 25-yard run on the Giants’ second drive got the team into field goal position, but K Lawrence Tynes ultimately sent the field goal attempt wide left. ... Falcons WR Harry Douglas was playing with bad ribs, but the injury didn’t stop him from making a 38-yard reception. Harris beat rookie CB Jayron Hosley, who was starting for injured CB Prince Amukamara, and the big gain would lead to a touchdown pass three plays later when Ryan found TE Tony Gonzalez in the end zone. Ryan was hit by Giants DE Osi Umenyiora on that throw and Gonzalez was blanketed by S Will Hill, but the duo still connected.
But Ryan’s best throw of the game was his 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Julio Jones, who beat Hosley down the left sideline. Ryan and Jones were so perfectly in sync on the play, it resembled a training camp drill rather than an NFL touchdown. ... Jones added another touchdown catch in the fourth quarter when he beat Giants CB Corey Webster to the corner of the end zone and hauled in a 3-yard pass from Ryan.
Top-shelf performances:
- Falcons QB Matt Ryan -- 23 of 28, 270 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions
- Falcons WR Julio Jones -- six receptions, 74 yards, two touchdowns
- Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez -- six receptions, 49 yards, one touchdown
- Falcons CB Asante Samuel -- one interception, two passes defended, one tackle
- Falcons P/K Matt Bosher -- four touchbacks
- Giants WR Domenik Hixon -- five catches (in six targets), 80 yards
- Giants S Will Hill -- nine tackles, one for a loss.
What they said about the Falcons offensive line:
- Matt Ryan: “I thought our offensive line played fantastic. They have one of the better front fours in the league and our guys really stepped up to the challenge. I thought in the run game they did a really good job and opened up some holes in the pass game.”
What they said about the Giants’ loss:
- SLB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka: “Embarrassing.”
- DE Osi Umenyiora: “I don’t know what to tell you. When you play like the way we played last week, and to play like this this week, it’s always going to be a mystery to me.”
What they said about Asante Samuel’s fifth career interception of Eli Manning:
- Samuel, who was dealt by the Eagles to the Falcons last offseason: “I guess they (Eagles) got tired of me picking (Eli Manning) off, so they sent me somewhere else to make a better team over here. Shout out to Coach (Andy) Reid. I love ya, Coach.”
- Manning: “He just jumped it. That’s what he does and (has) done a number of times. ... I thought I had room and threw it and he did a great job of jumping on the ball.”
Numbers you should know: RB Michael Turner (6,022) now ranks second in rushing yards on the Falcons’ all-time list after passing William Andrews in the first half. Turner still trails Gerald Riggs (6,631 yards). ... WR Roddy White and Jones became the first pair of Falcons receivers to post 1,000 yards performances in the same season since Terance Mathis and Tony Martin did it in 1998. ... Tynes hit 30 of his first 33 field goals this season, but has now missed three of his last six attempts. ... The Giants have given up 60 plays of 20 or more yards this year. ... Ryan broke his own team record for passing yards in a season.
Injury update: Giants -- Jayron Hosley (ankle) and RG Chris Snee (hip) each left the game and ultimately returned. Snee left again once the game was effectively over. Hosley said the ankle affected him but insisted he wasn’t using that as an excuse. DT Chris Canty has a burner, according to the team, but he clearly had trouble moving his right arm after the game. Falcons -- Chris Hope (head) returned after suffering a head injury and ultimately made a violent hit on Cruz that left both players on the turf for a few scary moments.
Going forward: Giants -- The loss, coupled with the Washington Redskins’ win over the Cleveland Browns, means the Giants are in second place by virtue of the tie-breaker. They’ll travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens on Sunday before ending their season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Falcons -- Atlanta needs just one win in its final two games to clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs. The Falcons travel to Detroit to face the Lions next week and end their season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin @CBSGiants and @AlexRaskinNYC.
For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSFalcons.