Atlanta Falcons Riding Fourth-Quarter Points to 9-2 Record and Elite NFL Status

Head coach Mike Smith has had a lot to smile about in the fourth quarter this season.Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Falcons improved to 9-2 and gained control of their destiny en route to a top seed in the NFC by downing the Green Bay Packers Sunday. Matt Bryant’s 37-yard 43 Polamalu black jersey
field goal gave the Falcons the 20-17 win. The kick was Bryant’s third game-winner of the season, and fourth-quarter points are a big reason why Atlanta is among the NFL’s elite. “You’ve got to score points in the fourth quarter of the ball game, either to seal the game or to be able to come back,” head coach Mike Smith said. “And to do that...I can’t say enough about the resiliency of this team.” The Falcons have scored 85 points this season in the fourth quarter or overtime, just over 30 percent of their 276 total points. Meanwhile, their opponents have scored just 44 points in the fourth quarter or overtime. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team to hold the Falcons scoreless in the fourth quarter this season. 4 Brett Favre White jersey
The Falcons have won five straight and remain one game ahead of the 8-3 New Orleans Saints in the NFC South