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Game 1: Carolina @ Atlanta |
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There is quite a bit of tailgating to wander around at Atlanta. While wandering we came across the Michael Vick Experience trailer. Ian did his best to answer trivia questions and got chatting to the guy running the trailer about the University of Miami. We saw Miami in 2003, and the guy had played in Miami. Ian blagged himself a t-shirt, and by the time we left we all had t-shirts and drawstring bags. |
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After collecting our tickets, we headed to the Coca-Cola Football Town USA. It’s very much like our NFLE Experience stuff - player and cheerie signings, games, that kind of thing. Lou joined a queue to meet cheeries, and was soon dragged away by Ian who had found a former Falcon that we should meet… |
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RANDOM EVENT NO. 3 - The best-known British football player of all time, Mick Luckhurst, was doing a signing. |
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Mick was Atlanta’s Kicker from 1981-1987. He still holds the Atlanta records for most career PATs (213), and shares the record of most PATs in a single season (51 in 1981) with Morten Anderson (51 in 1998). |
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When we reached the front of the queue, Lou exclaimed “We travel 4,000 miles to meet a Brit!”. We chatted briefly about our tour, and how badly he was doing in the Sky Sports fantasy league. He was very sweet, and the people in queue behind us were very patient as we took slightly longer than the average fan. Random! |
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Mick Luckhurst, the most famous British American football player. |
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The game was a classic divisional rivalry. Atlanta had already won the division but needed the win to get a first-round bye. Carolina was still in the playoff hunt and was desperate for the win. |
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After trading punts to start the game, Carolina fumbled the ball in their own territory, giving Atlanta excellent field position. Atlanta drove the ball downfield with solid rushing from Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick. |
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Vick on the run. A common sight in the Georgia Dome. |
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After nearly 8 minutes of play, Vick had the first completed pass of the whole game with a 3 yard touchdown lob to WR #86 Brian Finneran (Barcelona Dragons, 1999). |
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Barcelona's Finneran had a great game. |
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Carolina were again ineffective especially in the run game. Atlanta’s next drive ended with a Feely field goal. They eventually put together an 80 yard drive as former Frankfurt Galaxy QB #17 Jake Delhomme went to the air finding #87 Mushin Muhammad numerous times including the 6 yard touchdown strike. |
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Muhammad scores the Panthers' first TD of the game. |
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The next two drives ended in field goal attempts although only Carolina’s attempt was successful at the end of the first half to leave the scores tied at 10. |
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On the first drive of the second half Carolina’s run defence was found wanting again as Warrick Dunn again chewed up the yards finishing with a 6 yard TD rush. |
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Carolina then punted which was returned back 34 yards by Atlanta’s pro bowl bound #20 Allen Rossum which made him Atlanta’s all-time punt return yards record holder (picture) He was helped by some great blocking on special teams by LB #50 Artie Ulmer (Galaxy 98) and TE #85 Dwayne Blakely (Rhein 03). |
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This set up another quick drive by Atlanta with Vick’s second TD pass this time to WR #89 Dez White. The third quarter ended after a Delhomme fumble and a Vick Interception. |
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Carolina needed a score to start the fourth quarter and Jake Delhomme became hot as they abandoned the run. He completed 7 consecutive passes for 90 yards including the TD to TE #86 Kris Mangum. |
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Atlanta then went 3 and out and punter Chris Mohr (Montreal Machine 1992) lofted a long kick which was muffed by Carolina and recovered by Atlanta. 2 Plays later Vick got Sacked by #99 Brentson Buckner and fumbled which was then returned all the way for a TD by #90 Julius Peppers to square up the score again at 24. |
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Atlanta’s next drive stalled when TE Alge Crumpler fumbled away the ball. Jake Delhomme went back to work with another 78 yard drive with running back #37 Nick Goings who had been relatively ineffective all game scoring on a 5 yard run. Taking Carolina into the lead for the first time. |
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Atlanta’s next drive produced Vicks only good pass of the game, a 54 yarder to Dez White. He finished the drive with an 11-yard scamper and stretch for the line miraculously keeping his whole body off the ground from the 5-yard line to take the game to OT. |
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Carolina won the toss in OT however Jake Delhomme was intercepted deep in his own half leaving a simple Jay Feely FG to seal the win for Atlanta. |
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Feely wins the game in OT for Atlanta. |
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It was a very good game of football. Delhomme’s 340 yards including 135 yards to Muhammad was being enough to outweigh the rushing of Atlanta with 135 yards for Dunn (still nobody in Atlanta wears his shirt) and 68 Yards for Vick (everybody wears his shirt). We are still not on the Vick QB bandwagon (he is very fast and has a big arm) as we feel he will lose a step with the hits he takes and needs more accuracy (11 of 28 for 154 yards and 2 Ints in a dome). This would get most QBs benched and certainly not sent to the Pro Bowl! Kordell Stewart anyone?? |
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FINAL SCORE: Carolina Panthers 31 - 34 Atlanta Falcons |
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