Kalen DeBoer just got one over his ‘naysayers’ as he took down Kirby Smart for the second straight time in a season-turning win for the Tide. Alabama traveled to Athens and defeated Georgia 24-21 to end the Bulldogs’ 33-game winning streak at home.

Well, this Alabama vs. Georgia game turned into an absolute barnburner for everybody, heading into overtime after both squads pulled out all the stops possible. Needs to give credits to Ty Simpson, the former 5-star came out slinging and looked sharp early, throwing a couple of touchdown passes – one to Germie Bernard and another to Isaiah Horton – and even punched in a rushing score to get the Tide rolling and build a decent lead. It was a gutsy first half performance from Simpson, completing 15 of 23 passes for 192 yards and those two scores.

The game really got wild in the second half. One of the craziest plays saw Alabama’s big left tackle, Kadyn Proctor, snag a screen pass and just rumble down the field, dragging Georgia defenders with him like a boss, practically scoring. CBS Sports called it “one of the best plays you’ll see all season”! That set up another Simpson touchdown. But Georgia, being Georgia, wasn’t going to roll over. They mounted a serious comeback, chipping away at Alabama’s lead with big runs and crucial defensive stops. They even capitalized after Alabama missed a field goal attempt and then forced a key turnover on downs late in the game, tying things up and sending us to overtime.

What does this win mean to Alabama?

For Alabama, pulling off this win after a rocky start to the season is a massive statement. After that Week 1 loss to Florida State and all the chatter and armchair quarterbacking about Kalen DeBoer’s crew, beating a top-5 team like Georgia on the road silences a lot of the critics. On3 suggested that while not a “must-win,” it was “must compete until the final whistle.” This win proves Alabama can hang with the best and that the team is finding its stride.
Beyond just bragging rights and quieting the noise, this win is huge for Alabama’s playoff picture.

With this dub, Alabama ends Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak — such a shameful occurrence for Kirby Smart. Alabama continued to stamp their supremacy against the Georgia Bulldogs by winning 10 out of the last 11 games. Alabama once again proved to be Kirby Smart’s kryptonite. Now Kirby Smart is now 1-7 against Alabama.

With one loss already in the books, a win against a team of Georgia’s caliber puts them right back in the mix. Yahoo Sports notes how big these games are for shaping the playoff bracket. It gives them a serious confidence boost and shows the rest of the SEC and the country that Alabama is still a force to be reckoned with under Coach DeBoer.