NFL Recap (Atlanta-New England)
Posted: Sun November 8, 1998 at 8:29 p.m. EST
ATLANTA 41, NEW ENGLAND 10
FOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- The surprise team in the NFC
knocked the New England
Patriots out of first place in the AFC East with a resounding 41-10
rout.
The Atlanta
Falcons sacked Drew
Bledsoe four times and forced two turnovers in the first half when they
built a 28-3 lead. Defensive end Chuck Smith returned a
fumble by Bledsoe 71 yards for a touchdown and Jamal Anderson ran for a
pair of scores in the half.
Chris Chandler
connected with tight end O.J. Santiago for a pair
of touchdowns and Anderson recorded his sixth 100-yard game of the season
for the Falcons (7-2), who improved the best start in the franchise's
37-year history.
"I really can't be more proud of my team," said Falcons coach Dan
Reeves. "This game was big for us because we wanted to come in and show we
were for real and win a road game against a very good opponent."
The Falcons finished with six sacks, forced four turnovers and shut
down New England's running game. Smith had three sacks along with the
touchdown and defensive end Lester Archambeau added a
pair of sacks. Patriots rookie Robert Edwards, who
entered the game with 580 yards, was held to 11 yards on 10 carries.
"There's no way I thought we were going to come in here and dominate
this team like we did," said Archambeau. "We made a great QB rush a little
bit, forcing him to make passes he didn't really want to make."
Atlanta will host San Francisco in an NFC West showdown next Sunday.
The 49ers rolled to a 31-20 win over the Falcons in Week Four at San
Francisco.
The Patriots (5-4) suffered their worst home loss since a 37-3 defeat
to the Denver Broncos
on October 8, 1995. The 41 points were the most allowed by New England
since a 41-27 loss at Pittsburgh on December 16, 1995.
"Obviously, that was a pretty horrific performance and it starts with
me," said Patriots coach Pete Carroll. "For whatever reason, we weren't
ready today and you can pin that on me. As a team, we've got to pick it up
and find out what happened because we have three huge division games
coming."
Chandler completed 15-of-22 passes for 240 yards, including touchdowns
of seven and 22 yards to Santiago, with a pair of interceptions. The
Falcons have won their last five games with Chandler at quarterback and
scored more than 30 points each time.
"We were really on our game today," said Chandler. "I had plenty of
time to see the receivers and complete passes. Not in ny wildest dreams did
I think it would be this type of game, a blowout."
Anderson, who entered the day second in the NFC in rushing with 862
yards, had 104 yards on 32 carries. He scored on runs of one and 10 yards
in the first half.
"I guess we delivered the knockout punch right away," said Anderson.
"I had great blocking in front of me. What a great feeling this is because
we go into the 49ers game knowing that if we win, we have first place all
to ourselves."
Terance Mathis had
eight receptions for 117 yards for Atlanta.
"I thought one of the players that had a great game was Terance
Mathis," said Reeves. "He really opened things up for Jamal."
Bledsoe, harrassed throughout by Atlanta's pass rush and hampered by a
injury-depleted receiving corps, completed 19-of-34 for 229 yards and a
touchdown with an interception. Rookie Tony Simmons had four
catches for 95 yards.
"When we go out and play like this, you don't have to look any further
than me," said Bledsoe. "I don't care if eight guys hit me, I've got to
hold onto the football."
The Patriots again played without receivers Terry Glenn, Troy Brown and Vincent Brisby. Glenn
continues to be bothered by a sore hamstring, Brown is nursing a sprained
ankle and Brisby has missed the last few games with a broken finger.
"That was a good old-fashioned butt whipping," said Patriots receiver
Shawn Jefferson. "If
people want to complain about us, I can't really blame them after that
performance. We just were never in the game and I don't know why."
Anderson scored on a one-yard run 2:50 into the game to set the tone.
It came one play after fullback Bob Christian turned a
screen pass from Chandler into a 39-yard gain.
On New England's ensuing possession, Smith sacked Bledsoe, forced a
fumble and defensive tackle John Burrough recovered
for the Falcons at the New England 16. Five plays later, Chandler hit
Santiago with a seven-yard touchdown.
New England finally broke Atlanta's momentum when cornerback Ty Law intercepted a
tipped pass and returned it 12 yards to the Atlanta 27. But the Patriots
only cashed in with a 40-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri late in the
first quarter.
The Falcons then put together a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive with
Anderson gaining 45 yards on six carries. Fittingly, he capped the drive
with a 10-yard touchdown run 1:55 into the second quarter to increase
Atlanta's lead to 21-3.
The Patriots drove all the way to the Atlanta 13 later in the quarter,
but the Falcons defense struck with another big play. On a 4th-and-2,
Bledsoe was sacked by Archambeau for a 16-yard loss and fumbled. Smith
recovered the ball on the run and raced 71 yards for a touchdown to give
Atlanta a 28-3 lead.
Morten Andersen
kicked field goals of 40 and 42 yards in the second half and Chandler
connected with Santiago on a 22-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter.
Bledsoe hit tight end Ben Coates with a two-yard
touchdown in the third quarter. Coates had five catches for just 13 yards.
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