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Improbable play makes a game-winning hero out of Falcons lineman Kroy Biermann

The man who delivered the play of the game Sunday afternoon was a worker-bee defensive lineman for the Falcons.

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View full sizeAtlanta's Kroy Biermann leaps and deflects an attempted screen pass by Jake Delhomme late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. Biermann managed to track the ball in the air and make a diving catch ...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Atlanta Falcons feature multiple big names on offense, but the man who delivered the play of the game Sunday afternoon was a worker-bee defensive lineman.

End Kroy Biermann made a spectacular interception and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Atlanta's 20-10 victory over the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"I know that Kroy is from Montana," Falcons coach Mike Smith said, "and he's probably ridden a few wild broncos and bulls and been thrown off and landed on his feet. I'm sure that had something to do with it."

Or maybe not.

"I don't know if that has anything to do with it," said Biermann, a third-year pro and native of Hardin, Mont. "But it sounds good."

Trailing, 13-10, late in the fourth, the Browns faced a third-and-7 from their 47. As quarterback Jake Delhomme caught the shotgun snap and set his feet, Biermann rushed untouched off the right edge. Delhomme's pass failed to clear the outstretched arms of a jumping Biermann, who knocked the ball into the air.

"The tackle went down [to block the interior], and it was supposed to be a quick 'smoke' screen out," Biermann said. "I could feel the screen. Then it became instinct."

The Falcons would have been happy to force a punt, but Biermann had bigger plans. He dived to pick the ball inches from the grass at the Cleveland 31.

"I saw it coming down, and I went for it," he said. "We practice those types of plays on Fridays. It's a tip drill."

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... then Biermann managed to get back on his feet and elude Chansi Stuckey's attempt to strip the ball before he could reach the end zone for the game-sealing score for the Falcons.

Biermann could not recall having intercepted a pass since high school. Count Atlanta end John Abraham, who was getting a breather, among those impressed. When Abraham exited, Biermann moved from his starting left end spot.

"When Kroy batted it, I thought, 'Is he going to catch it, too?'" Abraham said. "I saw him come up with it and was like, 'Wow, I wouldn't have caught that one, so I'm glad he was in the game and I wasn't.'"

The Falcons would have been thrilled with an interception for zero yards, but Biermann had other plans. The 6-3, 255-pounder rolled over, popped to his feet and began to rumble toward the goal line. Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey attempted to poke the ball away inside the 10, to no avail.

"I took off and hoped for the best," Biermann said. "I knew I was ahead of everybody because I was behind the line. I felt some guys around me, and all I was trying to do was get to the end zone. That's where I ended up."

The touchdown with 4:01 remaining pushed Atlanta's advantage to 19-10. Matt Bryant's extra point accounted for the final margin.

Biermann never had an opportunity to truly celebrate because his teammates piled on him and pinned him to the ground. Officials penalized the Falcons for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"We got a flag for that?" Biermann said. "That's unfortunate."

Even as his teammates continued to congratulate him in the postgame locker room, Biermann did his best to downplay the game-changer.

"I was just playing football, trying to make a play to help my team," he said. "Right place, right time. Everything's got to fall into place there, and it did."


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