One day after his team's 56-14 victory against Tampa Bay, Falcons head coach Mike Smith said it was gratifying to see the defense deliver the way it did on Thursday night, playing fast, physical and in his words, "intentional, consistent and deliberate."
The Falcons defense started Thursday night's contest by pitching a quick three-and-out on the first drive and then received an extra jolt of energy with the interception-and-return score by second-year safety Kemal Ishmael. Reading the eyes of Bucs QB Josh McCown, Ishmael stepped in front of Bucs WR Vincent Jackson, stole the pass and ran it in 23 yards for the score, mobbed shortly thereafter by his celebratory teammates.
"It was a very important play in the game," Smith said of Ishmael's return. "If you want to say which couple of plays, and they all come down to four or five plays (that can change a game), Kemal's interception and return for a touchdown was one and then the defensive play that (Falcons WR) Devin Hester made, punching the ball out, after we had turned the ball over, those were probably, to me, two of the pivotal plays in the beginning of the game."
The Falcons face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Thursday Night Football matchup in the Georgia Dome. Check out these pictures of the game.
WR Devin Hester runs through tackles to score a touchdown off a punt.
S Kemal Ishmael goes in for a tackle.
K Matt Bryant kicks a field goal.
DE Kroy Biermann looks through the line.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.
LB Paul Worrilow cuts in on the line.
QB Matt Ryan warms up prior to the start of the game.
RB Devonta Freeman gets a hand off from QB T.J. Yates.
WR Eric Weems makes a catch.
Former Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez visits with former teammates prior to the start of the game.
LB Paul Worrilow fights through the line for a tackle.
The Falcons celebrate with S Kemal Ishmael after his pick six
WR Devin Hester high-steps into the endzone and passes Falcons alumni Deion Sanders to become the all-time leader in returns for touchdowns.
RB Steven Jackson
CB Robert Alford runs onto the field.
DE Kroy Biermann makes a tackle.
WR Devin Hester celebrates a rushing touchdown during the first half of play.
S William Moore enters the field.
S Kemal Ishmael runs back an interception for a touchdown
WR Devin Hester runs the ball
WR Julio Jones
DE Jonathan Massaquoi runs onto the field.
WR Devin Hester runs past several Buccaneer defenders on his way to the endzone.
CB Robert Alford makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
WR Devin Hester moves the ball as Buccaneers CB Crezdon Butler runs in
WR Julio Jones
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Former Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez visits with former teammates prior to the start of the game.
QB Matt Ryan chats with Buccaneers QBs Mike Glennon and Josh McCown prior to the start of the game.
CB Desmond Trufant makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank poses for a photo with Home Depot co-founder Bernard "Bernie" Marcus prior to the start of the game.
Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank and former President of the United States Jimmy Carter visit with fans prior to the start of the game.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
P Matt Bosher
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
The Falcons celebrate Hispanic Heritage during their game against the Buccaneers
Falcons head coach Mike Smith talks with Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith
The Falcons celebrate Hispanic Heritage during their game against the Buccaneers
WR Roddy White
LB Paul Worrilow dives to tackle Buccaneers QB Josh McCown with the help of CB Robert McClain.
DE Stansly Maponga lines up on defense prior to the snap.
LB Paul Worrilow eyes his target during the first half of play.
CB Robert McClain
C Peter Konz
QB Matt Ryan prepares to take a snap during the first half of play.
RB Steven Jackson leaps over several players during the first half of play.
WR Devin Hester
The Atlanta Falcons defense combines for a tackle.
CB Desmond Trufant stares down Buccaneers WR Russell Shepard
WR Devin Hester and CB Robert Alford
T Jake Matthews goes against Buccaneers DL Scott Solomon
RB Steven Jackson
K Matt Bryant
Head coach Mike Smith high fives K Matt Bryant
WR Julio Jones
QB Matt Ryan hands the ball off to RB Antone Smith
DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates getting the first sack of the season
AFC Hope
T Jake Matthews
K Matt Bryant
LB Paul Worrilow closes in on Buccaneers RB Bobby Rainey
LB Prince Shembo wraps up Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon
LB Prince Shembo gets his arms around Buccaneers RB Bobby Rainey
S Kemal Ishmael
DT Corey Peters
QB Matt Ryan drops back to throw a pass during the second half of play.
DE Stansly Maponga is all smiles after recovering a fumble in the second half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow
WR Eric Weems makes a catch during the second half of play.
RB Antone Smith runs into the endzone for a touchdown.
QB T.J. Yates and RB Antone Smith celebrate Smith's touchdown run during the second half of play.
Head Coach Mike Smith
Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter
TE Levine Toilolo
S Dezmen Southward
It was the Falcons first pick-six since last season, when LB Sean Weatherspoon intercepted Packers QB Matt Flynn, returning it 71 yards for the score. Since 2008, the Falcons have recorded 11 interception-return touchdowns, each resulting from precise game planning and the players' playmaking abilities.
"We worked hard all week in practice, and on defense," Ishmael said. "As a team, we had to get things accomplished and that's what we did. We stepped up to the challenge and made plays."
Smith said defensive scores energize the entire team and that was truly the case in the Week 3 win. In addition to solid play by the Falcons offense and special teams, by night's end, the Falcons defense allowed Tampa Bay just 217 total net yards of offense, forced five fumbles (four lost), logged three QB sacks and scored on Ishmael's pick-six.
The team now enjoys a Sunday off, before preparations begin for next week's road test in Minnesota.
