What was becoming a bleak primetime blowout loss for the Falcons turned into a fun memorable defeat against the Packers thanks to Jones’ outrageous performance.
Being down 31-7 at halftime is one of the most deflating feelings in football. There is a clear mismatch on the field, as one team dominates on both sides of the ball. It wasn’t surprising to see a 10-3 Packers team led by a prime Aaron Rodgers pick apart a 5-8 Falcons team that was severely flawed.
As mentioned in the most recent piece of the Julio Jones’ summer series, Atlanta hadn’t beaten a team outside a historically abysmal NFC South until upsetting Arizona in Week 13. It proved to be their only victory outside of the division all season.
Despite facing a 24-point deficit on a classic frigid December night in Lambeau Field, Jones did everything possible to inject intensity into the game. He nearly had 100 yards in the first half.
Most of his receptions came on dig routes and comebacks, where the dynamic wide receiver found openings against zone coverage looks and created separation when matched up against Sam Shields. Green Bay decided to get more aggressive at the start of the second half playing Cover 1. That’s where the fun began for Jones.
One Man Army
On the first play in the second half, Jones ran a swift sluggo route against Tramon Williams. It left the former Pro Bowl cornerback bewildered as Jones blazed past him for a 79-yard gain. Jones showed off how lethal he was after the catch by changing direction on Morgan Burnett in the open field. What should have been a 25-yard completion nearly turned into an 82-yard touchdown. That set the tone for what turned into an incredible second half.
After a 12-yard reception on third and six to get the Falcons into the red zone, Jones finished off the drive with a 22-yard touchdown to make it 34-24. He exploded past Shields and rose up to high point the ball near the pylon. He maintained excellent body control to ensure possession, not allowing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to make a play on the ball, which capped off another outstanding play.
It didn’t matter which coverage they played, what cornerback they chose to match up against him, or what safety they attempted to shadow him with. The Packers couldn’t stop Jones from getting open.
Jones had multiple catches of 18+ yards on the next possession. He followed it up with a fourth and third down conversion, setting up another scoring drive where Matt Ryan connected with Roddy White for a one-yard touchdown to make it 40-30. The only thing that stopped Jones that night was his body.
An unfortunate hamstring injury forced him to miss the final drive, as the Falcons scored again to make it 43-37. He could have hit the 300-yard mark if he didn’t get hurt. Catching 11 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown would have to do for one of his most astonishing receiving performances ever.
Lasting Memory
What Jones did to turn an ugly one-sided blowout into an incredibly entertaining showcase is something football fans cherished that night. It was evident how much the Falcons were at a talent disadvantage against one of the top teams in the league. Rodgers could have eaten a cinnamon bun and sipped some hot chocolate in the pocket with the pass protection he received. Instead of going through the motions in the second half in frosty conditions, Jones kept playing hard and never let the deficit affect him. He forced Green Bay’s defense to try to stop him, which they never came close to doing.
After such a lopsided first half, it would have been completely understandable for viewers to go to bed early or watch something else. I was with my good friends Kevin and Nick (who roots for the Packers, because every Jet fan needs a second team to be emotionally invested in) sitting in a bar thinking we would leave if the Packers made it 38-7 in the third quarter, which seemed bound to happen.
Instead, the Falcons scored on all five of their possessions in the second half. We sat there mesmerized by Jones accelerating into the open field, making acrobatic catches, and breaking tackles. There was no letting up in him. Even the most casual fans inside a bar in Queens, New York were in awe of how relentless the two-time first-team All-Pro was.
Combining his domination of Patrick Peterson and torching of Lambeau Field, Jones produced 21 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in back-to-back games. He was becoming one of the league’s most unstoppable players in 2014. Finishing third behind Antonio Brown and Demaryius Thomas in receiving yards, Jones was bound to lead the NFL in that category at some point.
As times were changing in Atlanta with Mike Smith’s departure, Jones was going to be counted on more than ever to lead the franchise into a new era. His performance against Green Bay in difficult circumstances proved he was ready for the challenge. It didn’t take long for the bright lights of Monday Night Football to be on him again. Atlanta’s newest superstar was going to put together another exceptional showing to start the 2015 season off with a bang.
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