NFL

A Dunn deal

NFC - FALCONS 47, RAMS 17: Former Bucs running back Warrick Dunn leads record-setting Atlanta to a rout and into the NFC Championship Game.

By RICK STROUD
Published January 16, 2005

ATLANTA - If this is truly a playoff race, nobody will catch the Falcons.

When it comes to speed, only light has them beat. They scorch the turf, play with wings on their feet and come at you faster than Monday morning.

Just ask the Rams.

They made the mistake of getting stuck during rush hour in Atlanta.

Take the Falcons' 47-17 win over the Rams in Saturday's NFC division playoff game.

If it wasn't running back Warrick Dunn racing for touchdown runs of 62 and 19 yards in the first half, it was quarterback Michael Vick scrambling for a 47-yard run on the third play from scrimmage or tossing touchdowns on the run to Alge Crumpler and Peerless Price.

But before you can slow them, you have to stop kick returner Allen Rossum, who faked a throwback pass and bolted for a 68-yard punt return on his way to a playoff record.

"Early, it was crazy," said Dunn, who led the Falcons with 142 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. "Mike (Vick) took off on a scramble and he had a big play. I was sometimes a tackle away from having a big play, then you have the big play. It was just crazy. I can't remember a time when I've been part of something like that. But it tells everybody we can do that. It's a matter of whether you can stop us."

The Rams couldn't. Vick finished with 119 yards on just eight carries, helping the Falcons to a club playoff record 327 yards on the ground.

The victory advanced the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game Jan. 23 against either the Eagles or Vikings. It's the first appearance in the conference final for Atlanta since 1998 when it upset Minnesota before losing to the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Even more meaningful, it came under rookie coach Jim Mora Jr., whose father was 0-6 in playoffs appearances with the Saints and Colts.

Maybe everybody should've seen this coming.

Perhaps Dunn did, albeit two years ago when he left Tampa Bay as a free agent. That decision cost him a Super Bowl ring, but his performance Saturday put the Falcons on the brink of a championship.

"The thing is, you hate to miss out on a Super Bowl season," Dunn said. "And when those guys went to the Super Bowl, I was happy for them. But at the same time, I was like, damn, that could've been me. But things happen for a reason. I'm in a situation now that I have an opportunity to play in a game that decides whether we go there."

The Falcons led the league with 5.1 yards per rush and 167 yards per game, much of that the result of Vick's improvised scrambles. When the Falcons beat the Rams 34-17 on Sept. 19, they did it with a season-high 242 rushing yards, 109 by Vick. Turns out, that was just a jog in the park.

On Saturday, it was Dunn who made the quickest work of the Rams.

The former Bucs and Florida State dynamo had 106 yards on six carries - a 17.7-yard average, in the first quarter. By halftime, he had carried eight times for 126 yards and two scores, smashing Jamal Anderson's club playoff record of 113.

The Falcons needed only five plays to take a 7-0 lead on Vick's 18-yard touchdown to Crumpler just three minutes into the game. That score was set up by Vick's great escape. On third and 2, Vick sprinted to his left looking for a receiver. But Rams defensive end Anthony Hargrove did a good job of containing and prevented Vick from getting outside.

Bad idea. Vick put on the brakes, reversed field, slipped through a tiny crack and was gone. He went out of bounds 47 yards later at the Rams 21.

Rams QB Marc Bulger, who finished 25-of-35 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one INT, kept his team in the game. The Rams cut the deficit to 21-14 on Bulger's second touchdown pass of the first half - a 28-yarder to Torry Holt, who beat safety Cory Hall to the back of the end zone.

But Dunn's second touchdown run, a 19-yarder with 9:58 remaining in the first half, made it 21-7 and the Falcons cruised from there. All told, the Falcons gained 241 yards on their first 22 plays from scrimmage.

The second half belonged to Rossum, who finished with a playoff record 152 punt-return yards. His 39-yard return to start the second half electrified the crowd and set up Vick's 6-yard touchdown pass to Price.

"Other than being effective in the running game, Allen Rossum was the key to the game," Vick said. "Having a great day on special teams not only created the points for us but gave the offense great field position all day."

Vick is quick. But he is not alone. Dunn, Rossum and the others can keep pace.

[Last modified January 16, 2005, 01:03:03]