Game started at 7:30PM. Tensions weren't high since this is preseason and it didn't really matter anyways. But I report unbiased so here goes nothing.
(Should be noted that I didn't get paid a dime for this, simply reporting on a sport I love, please give back if you thought it wasn't absolute garbage reporting). (Also if you are a company looking for a beat sports writer, message me on twitter, @SenorHansel. I could use another Full Time job.)
Began with a bad drive from the Jets, nowhere really to go, no chance. Gave ball up to the Falcons. Falcons weren't able to do anything really, Jets defense looked quite suffocating, kept them from leaving their own endzone area even. Punted away to the Jets. Jets took over around midfield, almost Falcons territory already. Noted that Bridgewater missed either 1 or 2 seasons due to injury, I forget the exact number because I was munching away on some gameday pizza.
Jets drive quickly became a 3 and out. Go for it on forth? Hell, if it was Madden, I'd do it in a second. And since preseason isn't that far, decision-making wise, from being Madden, I guess my terrible advice spilled over to their coach. So they went for it on fourth. Ended up a helluva good decision, off a perfect slant route, 1st down ensues. A decent throw & an awesome power run on 3rd down continues the drive. Followed eventually by a nice run, Jets 3rd & 4. BOOOOOOM!! Jets connect to Crowell for a perfect touchdown, up 7-0. Eventually we learn that Crowell is a bit shaken up & taken in for a possible injury. Praying for his swift recovery. God if you are listening, heal this man.
Now it's the Falcons ill-fated turn. Nothing came of it, so I can short-summarize for you. A penalty ruins this drive, stops it short. 4th down, punt to the Jets looming. Almost immediately Bridgewater connects to Johnson for 23 yards. Looking excellent against the Falcons, really eating up their defensive schemes, which seem rather apparent to the Jets. For the record I said early on I could already see the win going to the Jets First quarter ends 7-0 Jets.
2nd quarter begins-
Jets begin driving, couple of good plays quickly land them near the endzone, after their 35yd line, they struggled getting much further. A swing pass gone wrong ended the drive. Field goal 10-0. Falcons struck back with a few nice plays including a 9 yard pass to their tight end, with about 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Falcons end drive in 3 & out. Punted away, Jets ball now.
Time to see what Sam Darnold, the Jets first round pick in the draft, has to offer. It should be noted that they haven't picked a QB in the first round of the draft in years. Probably a great decision on their end. We'll see as the season progresses.
Nice 1st down pass on the quick slant (yes I told you I know football). Darnold makes a bad throw, possibly injures hand, who knows, prayers his way, God heal this fine young man. Drive ends up in a punt to the Falcons around 30 yard line, 10 yard penalty sets them back. A few decent plays, 3rd & 2 after a nice throw, toss to the side for really nothing, 4th & short. Punt back to Jets, back & forth it seems.
Hand off to Atkinson winds up being a nice 10 yard run, 1st down!! Unfortunately all the excitement forced a false start. No worries though, they can bounce back. 10+ yard pass immediately afterwards, no problem there! Another nice catch, 8 yards, with someone's helmet flying off (the most fun plays, but always praying for those involved).
TD ensues, only it comes back as a penalty, no bueno. Funny thing is, Darnold gets the scramble pass on the very next play, in the same exact placement, right corner of the endzone. Guess the Falcons didn't learn from previous mistakes, and the Jets knew the could exploit this weakness. Touchdown 17-0 Jets.
Halftime ensues.
Jets have been nothing short of stellar & are dominating the field in New York. Falcons ball for the second half. Jets call a jarring timeout right away, probably due to a defensive malfunction. Falcons come out swinging, 27 yard pass on a sideline sail route. Followed by another great pass completion, across 50 yard line already. Throw towards the endzone missed by Falcons. Run ensues & sets them back. Illegal block in back. Basically ends the drive. Falcons send the ball punted away. Catch is almost lost via fumble but recovered. Jets inside 10 yard line, long way to go.
From here it may have been quite shaky because I already came to the dire conclusion that the Falcons lost this game, sorry fans
Darnold ran the ball, lost it, ruled down. Following this play, the Jets acquired a nice 1st down. Nothing more to be said of this drive. Had to punt it away. Falcons turn.
Atlanta driving very nicely, but less than 4 minutes in the 3rd quarter with no points on the board, doesn't give you too much hope or momentum. In fact something like this would steal your confidence & the other team usually picks up on this quickly. Falcons with little effort, racked up about 40 yards on the drive via perfect passes through the air. Before you knew it, they were at their opponents endzone. 25 yard line. Next play was a bad throw to essentially nobody, brings up 2nd & 10. Next play brings them to 3rd & 6. You can almost feel their momentum deflating, quicker than the Patriots deflating a ball. But all of the sudden, Falcons QB Beckert makes a nice scramble for a first down, under the 15 yard line now. Then Williams pulls a nice juke move and gets 5 more yards, under the 10 yard line. This ends the 3rd quarter, Jets up 17-0, but could the Falcons possibly score to bring something to the table in the 4th quarter? Spoiler alert, no, much apologies to anyone who is triggered by this
Back to Jets & Darnold. The game has basically been decided at this point, the Falcons won't be able to claw their way back into competitiveness, but you didn't hear it from me. Darnold is extremely accurate, you can tell why they chose him as quarterback high up in the draft, no doubt. His college skills, and I did watch him in college, have translated perfectly over to the NFL.
From here on in, no points were scored; it was simply a back & forth. It was necessary, as we all know, to finish the game and be able to point to someone and say "You won, great job!" There were some details after this point that may have made this article a more interesting read, but I won't bother to subject you to them because the final outcome of the game stayed exactly the same. Jets pull the win, 17-0. Falcons looked pretty awful, although is this indicative of their actual season games? Who knows, I've seen teams do a complete 180 degrees. The preseason doesn't mean much. Although to play the devil's advocate (and I'd never advocate for the devil, friend of Jesus here), it means a lot, saying your rookies are better than the other team's rookies. Could mean more in the future seasons.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my first American Football (good band btw) article & hope there will be many more to follow suite!!
-Sincerely yours, a huge NFL advocate
(And no, kneeling isn't disrespecting the flag, it's simply pointing out the racial bias in la policia arrests. Google this)