Stafford Says Sunday Was Just A Bad Game
OK, you are the Atlanta Falcons preparing to play the Lions. You watch the film from Sunday where the 49ers stoned the Lions' ground game playing essentially a six-man box the entire game.
On top of that you know their best back, Jahvid Best, had his second concussion of the season and is questionable and newly acquired running back Ronnie Brown didn't take his physical until after practice on Wednesday.
Even though the 49ers play out of a 3-4 alignment and you use a 4-3, why wouldn't you use the 49ers' game plan as a blueprint for how to attack the Lions' passing attack?
"Some teams are stubborn with their design and they stick to what they do best," wide receiver Nate Burleson said. "From what we've seen on film, they've been pretty consistent. At the same time, they might look at the 49ers film and feel like it's a formula to beat the Detroit Lions. We will be prepared for both man and zone defense so we won't be surprised."
Like the Lions, the Falcons can put significant pressure on a quarterback with just their four down linemen. They have 11 sacks, all by defensive linemen.
"We've got faith in our running backs," Burleson said. "But more importantly, it's about getting a rhythm in the passing game. That is our strength."
So, as always, it gets back to quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is coming off arguably the worst game of his pro career. He was chased and harassed and hit throughout the game by the relentless pursuit of the 49ers defense. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he was under pressure on 35.7 percent of his pass attempts. He was sacked five times, once for a safety, and hit 10 times.
Even when he wasn't under pressure, he still felt the heat. He bailed out of the pocket too early at times and grounded the ball too quickly at times.
"As an offense, we couldn't get a whole lot going," said Stafford, whose 86.5 passer rating was his lowest of the season. "They did a great job. They had a great plan and they executed it well. They played better than we did and they got the win for it."
Stafford, though, dismissed the notion that the game sped up on him.
"I don't think I got quick," he said. "Every game there are plays that get left out there. There were chances to make plays all over the field and we just didn't make them."
Still, the last time Stafford looked as forlorn and defeated on the sideline as he did late in the loss to the 49ers Sunday, it was opening day last season and he had his arm in a sling.
"Obviously it's frustrating any time you lose," he said. "But the guys came back and had a good practice today. We've bounced back from it."
Apparently Stafford bounced back from it long before Wednesday's practice.
"He had us all over for dinner Monday night; he was fine," said center Dominic Raiola. "It was just one of those games. Realistically, this is his first full year starting and playing a string of games in a row. His rookie year was tough and then he got hurt in the first game last year and was never able to get going.
"Right now he's just kind of getting into his groove. You are going to have speed bumps. We all have bad games. We all did on Sunday and we still could have won the game."
Raiola was actually amused by the topic of bouncing back.
"A loss opens everybody's eyes, I guess," he said. "But it's pretty crazy talking about bouncing back. It was one loss. We are 5-1. But that's how it is around here now. The urgency is awesome."
SERIES HISTORY
34th regular-season meeting. Lions lead series, 23-10, though the Falcons have won three of the last five, including a 34-21 win at Atlanta in 2008. The Lions are 14-4 at home in the series. For a while, it seemed like every season either started or ended with a game against the Falcons. From 1985 to 1994 these two opened or closed seasons seven times.
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