Tuesday 21 November 2017 08:36, UK
Seattle Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh missed a last-gasp field goal as the Atlanta Falcons held on for a crucial 34-31 victory on Monday Night Football.
Walsh could have taken the game to overtime with seven seconds left on the clock but his potentially game-tying kick from 52 yards dropped just short of the posts as Atlanta escaped with the win.
The Falcons had looked to be heading for a more routine victory after quarterback Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes to help put the Falcons 11 points clear in the fourth quarter.
But Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson picked out Doug Baldwin for a 29-yard TD and then connected with Jimmy Graham for a two-point conversion to put Seattle within a field goal of tying the game.
Atlanta needed one first down to run out the clock but Ryan was sacked as the Seahawks regained possession to mount one last drive. But, after marching downfield to put Walsh in range, the Seahawks kicker was unable to deliver.
It was another cruel blow for Walsh, who joined Seattle from Minnesota in the close season. Walsh has already cost his team one victory this season, missing three kicks in a 17-14 defeat to the Washington Redskins earlier this month.
The missed kick also highlighted some questionable calls by Seattle head coach Pete Carroll. The team went for a fake field goal late in the first half rather than attempting a 35-yard kick that would have pulled them to within 24-20. He also made a poor challenge in the fourth quarter that didn't go his way and left Seattle with just one timeout.
That lack of timeouts came back to haunt Seattle on the final drive when seconds ticked away and, rather than running one more play, Walsh was sent out to attempt the 52-yarder. His season long is 49 yards.
The Atlanta win continues the Falcons' revival after a convincing rout of the Dallas Cowboys last week. Atlanta, last season's Super Bowl runners-up, improved to 6-4 with the win and are now in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Seattle, however, slip to 6-4 with the loss, missing the chance to go level with the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) at the top of the NFC West.
