Falcons fans came out strong to participate in the Falcons March, Falcons Landing activities and tailgating before the Falcons game on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Special guest of the Atlanta Falcons Pierce Keen and his mother Dianne stand on the sidelines during pregame warm-up. Pierce has Marfan Syndrome and underwent eye surgery in the Spring of 2014. This was Pierce's first time seeing the Falcons play since gaining his sight.
Imagine growing up, loving the game of football, but not being able to watch as your favorite wide receiver snags an impossible catch for six points. Imagine not being able to watch your team force a game-winning fumble, jumping on the ball with a minute left in the fourth quarter.
This time last year, that was the reality of 17-year-old Atlanta Falcons fan Pierce Keen, who was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at age four, causing severe vision impairment. An avid football fan, neither he nor his parents ever thought he'd be able to go to an NFL game and watch it in person.
That changed Sunday, when Pierce, accompanied by his mom Dianne, got the chance to stand on the sidelines during pregame warmups, prior to the Falcons-Bears game. It had only been a few months since his eyes had completely healed from surgery, bringing his vision from 20/400 to 20/30 with special contacts.
"(The players) are bigger than what I thought," the 6-foot-5 teenager said as he looked on with his newfound vision. "(The Dome) is a lot smaller than I thought it would be."
As far as being a football fan goes, watching the game is the heart and soul of the action. It is where heartbreaking losses take place and last-second, game-winning touchdowns bring fans to their feet.
The Falcons are back in the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon to take on the Chicago Bears. The players and coaches will wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.
QB Matt Ryan
RB Antone Smith celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Julio Jones and TE Levine Toilolo
WR Devin Hester
TE Levine Toilolo makes a catch.
RB Antone Smith runs the ball.
LS Josh Harris makes a tackle on special teams.
T Jake Matthews warming up before the game.
DT Jonathan Babineaux fights through the line.
Head Coach Mike Smith
QB Matt Ryan
WR Devin Hester catches a pass during warm-up.
QB Matt Ryan warms up his arm before the game
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates a play
S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears TE Martellus Bennett
WR Eric Weems rallies the Falcons during pregame
FS Dwight Lowery
DT Jonathan Babineaux
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
CB Robert McClain celebrates a play
Atlanta Falcons Drumline
DE Ra'Shede Hageman blocking on the line
RB Devonta Freeman and DE Malliciah Goodman
RB Steven Jackson
WR Devin Hester
QB Matt Ryan
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
Freddie Falcon
Falcons win the coin toss
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
RB Steven Jackson
QB Matt Ryan
K Matt Bryant
S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears WR Chris Williams
LB Paul Worrilow
DT Jonathan Babineaux closes in on Bears QB Jay Cutler
LB Paul Worrilow takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
WR Roddy White celebrates a touchdown with RB Antone Smith
CB Josh Wilson and LB Paul Worrilow work to bring down Bears RB Matt Forte
LB Paul Worrilow tackles Bears RB Matt Forte
DE Kroy Biermann puts pressure on Bears QB Jay Cutler
CB Robert McClain defends against Bears WR Brandon Marshall
WR Devin Hester runs the ball after a reception.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the first half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow tackles the Chicago ball carrier during the first half of play.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi
DT Corey Peters lines up on defense before the ball is snapped.
QB Matt Ryan yells out an audible during the first half of play.
LB Joplo Bartu and CB Desmond Trufant combine to tackle Bears RB Matt Forte.
RB Steven Jackson runs the ball through several Chicago defenders.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi and DE Osi Umenyiora celebrate after making a big defensive play.
WR Roddy White
RB Antone Smith
CB Robert McClain and DE Kroy Biermann work to take down Bears QB Jay Cutler
Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank greets Bears head coach Marc Trestman
RB Antone Smith
WR Julio Jones
S Dwight Lowery defends against Bears TE Martellus Bennett
RB Antone Smith lines up behind T Jake Matthews
T Jake Matthews blocks for RB Antone Smith
RB Antone Smith
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.
WR Roddy White runs after making a reception.
RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.
RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow lines up one defense.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.
QB Matt Ryan throws a pass during the second half of play.
DT Paul Soliai tackles Bears RB Matt Forté during the second half of play.
RB Steven Jackson runs through several Bears defenders.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the second half of play.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
QB Matt Ryan speaks with former NFL QB Joe Theismann on the sideline prior to the start of the game.
CB Desmond Trufant
DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Miles College Marching Band
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University
RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University
WR Julio Jones and WR Eric Weems talk to Bears WR Brandon Marshall after the game
Far away, you'd never know by looking at Pierce that he'd never had that experience before.
Up close, however, there was a raw intensity in his eyes, while he watched the flurry of action as players stretched and warmed up in the end zone, pointing out big-name players to his mom as he saw them.
Pierce was treated to a brief conversation with the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, after a few of them came over and introduced themselves. Standing next to them, he smiled on as his mom snapped pictures, capturing the special day.
Both Pierce and his mom participated in the pregame show, honoring breast cancer survivors. They held the corner of one of two American flags on the field, each flanking the pink breast cancer ribbon, while the Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Survivors Choir sang the National Anthem.
"It truly is an absolute dream come true," Dianne said as she watched her son soak up his first ever gameday experience. "The day-to-day life, the visual part of this, has changed everything for him."
