Falcons vs. Lions: Highlights, game tracker and more

The Atlanta Falcons faced the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 24 in NFL Week 3, and here are the highlights from the game.

The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions will be meeting up on the gridiron for the first time since 2014 when they play in London, England. While that may seem like an eternity ago, I promise you Atlanta fans haven’t forgotten what happened on that early Sunday morning. In case you forgot, the Dirty Birds blew a twenty-something point lead to lose in the final seconds — shocker, I know.

In this matchup, people were expecting a shootout. Though the first half was high-scoring, it wasn’t exactly in the ways that many thought it’d be. Putting it simply, the defenses showed up early much more so than expected.

The Falcons scored on their opening drive and made people think that an offensive flurry was about to ensue. However, that wasn’t the case. Atlanta forced Detroit to punt and then both offensive units were forced to settle for field goals. When Devonta Freeman scored from the 1-yard line, it seemed like the Falcons might blow it open. However, the Lions came up big.

After answering the end zone trip with a field goal, they picked off Matt Ryan — one of three on the day — and took it to the house to make it 17-13. Atlanta recovered to get a field goal on the next drive, but they went into the half ahead by only seven points as opposed to 14.

To start the second half, it seemed as though the Lions might be surging in a big way. They conceded a field goal after a bad drive to start the third quarter on offense. However, they responded with a 12-play drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Golden Tate. They then picked off Ryan again on the next drive, capitalizing with a field goal to tie.

Atlanta wouldn’t be denied, though, and scored on an electric Taylor Gabriel catch and run from 40 yards out. The Lions weren’t about to roll over at home, though. They kicked a field goal on the next drive, then came up with interception No. 3 on the next drive to stop a Falcons drive. Unfortunately, they couldn’t come through and had to punt on their next two drives. But with two big defensive stops, the Lions got the ball and looked to drive down by four.

Thanks to a number of penalties by the Falcons, the Lions were able to get down into the red zone. And with eight seconds left on the clock, it seemed as if they came up big with a Golden Tate touchdown. However, upon review, he came up short. By rule, that led to a 10-second runoff, ending the game.

What a brutal way to end such a fun game.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/FirstDownFR/status/912011470472450048

https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/912035871246843904

Next: 20 Bold predictions for NFL Week 3

Again, whoever wins this matchup on Sunday afternoon will be in the driver’s seat heading into Week 3. Not to mention, if Atlanta wins, it will be their third-straight victory over an NFC North opponent to start 2017. If they win two divisions, they automatically play in the NFC Championship right?