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Falcons surprise Seahawks in high-scoring affair

Dec 30, 2007 - 11:35 PM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Falcons ended their miserable season on a positive note.

Mark Redman tossed three of his four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Falcons surprised the playoff-bound Seattle Seahawks, 44-41, on Sunday.

The Falcons (4-12) snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided matching a franchise record for losses set in 1996 (3-13).

"It was a big win," defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said. "We had a stormy year. It felt like a hurricane came through here. But it was a great way to end the season."

Atlanta won its first game under interim coach Emmitt Thomas, who took over after coach Bobby Petrino abruptly resigned three weeks ago to take the job at the University of Arkansas.

"When (owner Arthur) Blank asked me to take over this team, I wanted to make sure we prepared this team the best we could, installed some character to the team and showed the players some love," Thomas said.

"I am so happy we got a win this week because we were so close last week. They will head into the offseason with a win and will come back next season and show people that they still have life in them."

Petrino left the Falcons during the same week that quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in a federal prison on dogfighting charges, notifying his players of his decision to leave the club via a letter.

"It's real nice to end up on a positive note," said Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who was particularly incensed with how Petrino left the team. "Especially to get (Emmitt Thomas) his first win. It was huge for us."

Redman completed 17-of-27 passes for 251 passes, throwing two of his TDs to Crumpler, who caught only three passes for 67 yards.

Crumpler, who had just two touchdown receptions under Petrino's reign, caught three in his final two games under Thomas.

"A lot of it was (Petrino's) scheme," Crumpler said. "That belief in each other was instilled by (Thomas). He took the eggshells out of the building."

Falcons running back Warrick Dunn rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He also caught two passes to became the seventh player in NFL history with 10,000 rushing and 4,000 receiving yards.

Playing their third straight game since clinching the NFC West and locked into the NFC's No. 3 seed, the Seahawks (10-6) may have been guilty of looking ahead to next week, when they will host Washington or New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs.

"We wanted to win the football game, but we got health out of it and that was a big plus," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "Now, we are going to get ready for the next game. We don't know who we are going to play or when, but we're going to play."

Seattle grabbed a 27-20 lead on Maurice Morris' 29-yard TD run with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter.

But the Seahawks collapsed early in the fourth, as the Falcons scored 21 straight points in a 1:47 span.

Redman connected with Crumpler on a 45-yard touchdown run to tie the contest, 27-27, eight seconds into the final quarter. On the ensuing series, Babineaux forced Seattle backup Seneca Wallace to fumble at the Seahawks' 19-yard line.

Three plays later, Redman found Crumpler again for a 7-yard score to put Atlanta up, 34-27.

Wallace also turned the ball over on Seattle's next possession, throwing an interception, and again Redman took advantage of the mistake.

His 10-yard TD pass to Roddy White made it 41-27 with 13:05 remaining, and the Falcons held off the Seahawks' late rally.

The 44 points were the most allowed by the Seahawks in 69 games, dating to a 44-41 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens on November 23, 2003.

"I was disappointed that we did not win the football game," Holmgren said. "We had our chances. We got a stop and gave it back by (14) points in turnovers."

With the playoff berth secured, Seattle played quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for just one half.

The 32-year-old Hasselback, who completed 15-of-25 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, finished with a flourish.

Hasselbeck found Bobby Engram, who made a pretty over-the-shoulder grab down the middle for a 30-yard touchdown reception to put the Seahawks ahead, 17-14, with 1:10 remaining in the first half half.

"It was a perfectly executed play," Hasselbeck said. "Bobby made a great catch for a touchdown."

Atlanta's Morten Andersen connected on the first of his three field goals to knot the contest at 17-17 at the intermission.

Wallace finished 17-for-22 for 206 yards, two TDs and an interception in relief of Hasselbeck.

Nate Burelson caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns for the Seahawks, who lost for just the third time in 11 games against the Falcons.