We’ve been breaking down this week’s game. We conclude today’s postgame analysis with a look at the special teams.
Let’s review the key contributions…
Kicking game – In the Nick of time
It’s nice that Nick Folk finally got that first miss out of the way in a game that ended so positively for him. He won’t be dwelling on the 55-yarder that was just short because his line drive 56-yarder as time expired somehow made it over the bar to give the Jets the win.
Folk also hit another field goal and three extra points, one of which was under pressure to tie the score with 1:53 to go.
As for Austin McNamara, he also impressed. His best moment was when he launched a 55-yard punt from his own goal line with the scores tied late in the game. A shank or decent return there and the Falcons would be set up for the winning field goal.
Of his six punts, only two were less than 50 yards and they were both from near midfield; downed at the 10 and muffed at the seven. He also had a 55-yarder downed at the five. This left him with a sparkling 49.5 yards per punt net average.
On kickoffs, he was pretty decent two. Three of his five kickoffs were fielded inside the five and none of them were returned past the 30.
Credit also goes to Will McDonald for generating pressure on the Zane Gonzalez missed kick.
Return game – Isaiah Flies
The Falcons were the latest team to try to keep the ball away from Kene Nwangwu as they booted four touchbacks. However, kicking to Isaiah Williams instead backfired in a big way when his 83-yard return set up a field goal.
That was excellent speed and vision from Williams, although he perhaps ran out of steam as he was tackled at the 12. Andrew Beck and Dean Clark had the key blocks to spring him.
On punts, Williams had perhaps an even more important play on his 16-yard punt return to help set up the winning field goal. Qwan’tez Stiggers did an outstanding job of aggressively controlling the gunner up the field on that one.
Williams also took one fair catch and left four other punts to be downed or to go out of bounds. The debuting Jordan Clark got beaten downfield by the gunner on two of these plays.
Kick coverage – Stigger and Better
It wasn’t just in the vice role that Stiggers was impressive. With Arian Smith inactive, he was the first man down virtually every time on punts, as he downed three, had two tackles and recovered a muff for the Jets’ second turnover of the season to set up the first touchdown.
Nwangwu was the other gunner and he got down there first on the one that was muffed and one that Stiggers blew up with a big hit. The Falcons had minus-one punt return yards on six punts.
As noted, they also didn’t get past the 30 on five McNamara kickoffs. Mykal Walker had a big hit while Beck and Isaiah Oliver had two tackles each.
Isaiah Davis, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Kobe King and Kiko Mauigoa were also credited with tackles.
We’ll be back with the 3-on-D and 3-on-O over the next few days…