The Falcons recover three onside kicks in a row, a breakdown
What Happened
In a back-and-forth NFC South divisional matchup, the Atlanta Falcons pull off an incredible, game-changing sequence in the fourth quarter. With the New Orleans Saints leading by 17 points, the Falcons recover three consecutive onside kick attempts, refusing to go down without a fight. The drama begins with the Falcons trailing by 17 in the final period. Quarterback Matt Ryan connects with wide receiver Calvin Ridley for a touchdown and the Falcons successfully convert the two-point try to make it a three-possession game. This sets the stage for the onside kick madness to unfold. On the first attempt, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo sends the ball right into the hands of Saints player #41, but he drops it, allowing Atlanta to recover. However, the officials rule it offside, negating the play. Undeterred, Koo sends another perfect onside kick and this time Falcons linebacker #54 easily scoops up the ball for the recovery. The Saints make some adjustments on the next kick, but it makes no difference, as Koo once again expertly places the ball and it bounces right to another Falcons player. "This is one of the easiest onside kick recoveries I've ever seen in my life," the commentator exclaims. Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is understandably elated on the sideline, as his team has now recovered three onside kicks in a row, stunning the Saints and their head coach, Sean Payton. The Falcons' comeback attempt ultimately falls short, but the sheer improbability of their onside kick success is the talk of the game. "They literally just bloop the [expletive] ball down and number 54 just runs and grabs it," the commentator says, marveling at the Falcons' execution. "One of the easier onside kicks I've ever seen and I've seen at least three of them now." Despite the eventual loss, the Falcons' refusal to quit and their remarkable onside kick recovery sequence will be remembered as one of the most compelling moments of this NFC South rivalry matchup.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe Falcons recovered three onside kicks
in a row three consecutive there's the
touchdown they're down by 17
three-possession game they go 4-2 just
for the [ __ ] of it they get the
two-point conversion congratulations oh
wait
drop the ball just joking doesn't count
they go for the onside kick now young
wake ku sends it right through the alley
way into that dudes hands number 41 but
he drops it gets got they get the ball
nope offsides they cheated look at this
he moved beforehand now the official in
the booth said that that actually
shouldn't have been called off sighs he
moved his feet but he didn't break the
plane so I'm going with that guy this
counts that's three in a row so they're
like alright let's redo it same exact
thing and the Saints do the same exact
thing it's the easiest onside kick
recovery I've ever seen in my life they
literally just bloop the [ __ ] ball
down and number 54 just runs and grabs
the ball number 41 kind of gets a little
scared cuz got the linebacker charging
at him don't blame him there I wouldn't
want to get in that mix but one of the
easier onside kicks I've ever seen and
I've seen at least three guys now the
Falcons try to get the next touchdown
they fail they're not doing anything
cool gets called in again he nails the
kick it's all about him the best fourth
quarter of his entire career I'd
guarantee at third onside kick and they
just [ __ ] get it again same thing now
the Saints did try to make some changes
we can go over those in a little bit but
yeah they recovered the ball they pull
him out of the pile
you guys not even [ __ ] close as what
Peyton said right there they get him up
celebration let's look at the two
lineups so you have the first time three
guys and then three in the middle with a
little gap and then two and their whole
thing is to block block block let it
gets to the hand teams guy but they
never get there now the next time they
had one two three four they moved the
three guys over they've spread these
guys out this guy is supposed to be
right where the balls going and he is
but it goes over his head and Sean
Payton is not happy about it and he says
he should be right there and he kind of
is it just goes over his head it's the
perfect kick and then another great play
by 50
or young ways excited and drew brees is
sad he hasn't gotten to play for a while