This past week nickel cornerback Dee Alford has been more of a punchline than a football player. Just a week after becoming an embodiment of the Falcons defensive woes against the Minnesota Vikings, Alford has given Atlanta a much-needed spark to start their Monday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Las Vegas and former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder had garnered a few first downs before a trick play, sniffed out by the Falcons defense forced a third and long. What was supposed to be a routine third-and-long run to gain a bit more ground in the field position battle becomes a big play for the Falcons as Alford put his helmet on the football and jars the ball loose.