5 things we learned from the Saints game
This is not the goal post that Jason Elam missed twice. That one was at the other end of the Superdome. (D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER/AJC)
LUCYS RETIRED SURFER’S BAR – Lucy’s is the best bar in America.
Lucy's, a safe haven for retired surfers and sports writers.
Only the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis is on par.
After the game –- because newspaper folks don’t charter out with the team like some of our TV/sponsor friends –- that’s where I retreated.
I did see Jeremy Shockey drop his Cadillac at the hotel and ask how much valet was for the night ($50). He hopped into the back seat of a cop car and rode off to his little celebration. I’m thinking the cop was his body guard for the night.
But here are the five things I came up with at Lucy’s with the benefit of watching the ESPN replays while B52s and Rock Lobster were blaring in the background.
1. Vilma’s tip: If Jonathan Vilma doesn’t tip that pass, the Falcons win. Tony Gonzalez was open and set to gather in the go ahead touchdown pass. The Falcons would have gone ahead 31-28 with 8:30 to play. But the tipped ball ended up in the hands of Tracy Porter for an interception.
Will Smith (not that Will Smith) spent too much time in the Falcons backfield. (CHUCK COOK/THE TIMES-PICAYUNE)
2. Vilma’s pass interference wasn’t call: The Falcons would not have been down 28-14 at halftime if the officials would have called pass interference on Vilma for hitting Roddy White, way more than 5 yards down the field. Vilma’s hit was blatant. The one the called later on Mike Peterson was a “touch” foul. With White off track for his route, Jabari Greer stepped in and intercepted the pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.
3. Who’s the left cornerback?: Tye Hill started at left cornerback, but gave way to Brent Grimes after suffering a really bad case of cramps. Hill was solid, but gave up a touchdown pass to Marques Colston. Grimes came in and had that awesome interception. Do we have a cornerback controversy? It is the position that was manned by DeAngelo Hall, who’ll be visiting the Georgia Dome with the Washington Redskins this week.
4. DB Jamaal “Cover Corner” Anderson: Why exactly was Jamaal Anderson is pass coverage – oh about 20 yards down field with my hotel mate Shockey? Who drew up that scheme?
5. Wire is a ball hawk: Coy Wire came up with two fumble recoveries, including the onsides kick. He also ripped the ball away from Pierre Thomas to help keep the Falcons’ hope alive.
Just a couple of other things: Lenny Kravitz was in the house. Are we going to see Matt Ryan in the pre-game hype huddle getting the team fired up like Drew Brees does with the Saints? If the QB is out there getting pumped like that, what’s the backup defensive tackle going to do?
Pierre Thomas flips into the endzone on the Falcons. (MATT BUSH/HATTIESBURG AMERICAN)
(Made my 6 a.m. flight along with Mark Bradley, radio personality Elle Duncan and retired left tackle Todd Weiner).
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184 comments Add your comment
Steve C
November 3rd, 2009
12:36 pm
Elton,
We could say the same thing about John Abraham being strangled by your LT every play.
Nick
November 3rd, 2009
12:37 pm
The pass that was tipped by Vilma and intercepted would not have gone for a touchdown. Mike Peterson did hold Bush, but the ball was totally uncatchable! And Roddy White’s overturned TD catch was pass interference!
Falcon in a down spin with Ryan (Patty Melt) ICE NOT
November 3rd, 2009
12:40 pm
YOU had better keep Tuner healty . Keep the hit off Ryan he does fine . When he get pressure and a few hits he become instance Punk!! The CB will be fine
ira lovett
November 3rd, 2009
12:49 pm
good game falcons, ryan needs some help from his other wide receivers, also ryan needs to calm down and stop trying to force his passes
corner backs look back for the ball sometimes.
DC
November 3rd, 2009
1:00 pm
Enjoyed the game and was imperssed with the Falcons. The game in our doem will be a different story. I just want Matt to stop forcing the ball into double coverage it does not help.
DC
November 3rd, 2009
1:01 pm
“impressed” is what I meant.
Jason Morgan
November 3rd, 2009
1:02 pm
Why wasn’t offensive pass interference called on Roddy Whiteon his long touchdown catch in the 3rd quarter? The Brees fumble was the tuck rule if there has ever been one. There is 14 points right there the Falcons shouldn’t of had. Face facts, the Saints kicked your dirty bird butts. Have kicked your dirty bird butts 6 of the last 7 and will kick your dirty bird butts again December 13th.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
November 3rd, 2009
1:06 pm
Questions for you to ask D-LED:
1) How likely is it that the Falcons use Koenen on field goal attempts? Particularly those that are 40 yards or more?
2) Will Snelling and Norwood be ready on Sunday?
3) Will we ever see someone else at the Right Cornerback position? What is the devotion to #23?
4) On the Ryan interception in the red zone that nullified our attempt to take the lead…was Tony G. the primary receiver? Did the fact that the LB was in the passing lane make any difference?
Coryb06
November 3rd, 2009
1:11 pm
I’m proud of the way the guys responded to the Cowboys loss. The Falcons still have to get a consistent pass rush going. Grimes “balled out” and Mike Turner finally showed up when needed. Matt telegraphed that pass to Gonzalez that Vilma tipped. I wonder had he looked to his right and pumped and came back if Vilma had been in the area to get ahold of it.
Sunday is an absolute must win and I hope that the Falcons are up for it and bring their A game. We don’t want the Falcons to go out like the Eagles did against the Raiders.
Also, I wonder if Dimitroff is going to pick up another running back with speed in the draft…I’m starting to wonder about Norwood’s durability.
Lil Larry
November 3rd, 2009
1:27 pm
D.OL you can ask Smith these questions:
1) Does he have a problem sitting a player who is not producing? (Mike Jenkins) When we have Finn and Booker who are more than capable.
2) When are we going to stop being so predictable in our offensive play calling? Too many players staying in to block and defense still getting to our QB. Can we throw some screens, pitch outs around the end, skinny posts up the middle using Weems?
3) Are there any plans to rotate the RBs more often to keep the fresh throughout the game? Forget Norwood he’s not an every down back. Alternate between Turner and Snelling. By the way, what are the plans for Stecker.
Thanks
Terrell
November 3rd, 2009
1:36 pm
Battfist,
That was not a push off. If you know anything about the rules you are allowed to put your hands on the DB as long as you don’t induce momentum. White did not do that. Greer bumped into him as well. That’s called playing football, try it once in awhile.
Terrell
November 3rd, 2009
1:49 pm
Jason Morgan, are you serious? There was no pass interference. WRs are allowed to touch the DB. He did not cause Greer to go upfield. Greer didn’t complain so obviously there wasn’t a penalty. That Brees fumble was not a tuck rule at all. He had secured the ball to brace for the hit and once again there wasn’t a complaint by any of the Saints’ players.
Kevin, helmet to helmet? Brees ducked his head down. If he doesn’t do that then there is no helmet to helmet contact. That was why it wasn’t called.
Nick, if the pass was never tipped, Gonzo was in the endzone, Porter wasn’t going to tackle him. Peterson did not hold Bush at all. Holding isn’t predicated on the ball being catchable or not only pass interference is.
Finally Elton, when W.Smith hit Ryan that did not induce the fumble, Ryan still had controll of the ball as he brought his arm forward. The pass was altered yes but Ryan had control of the ball
Terrell
November 3rd, 2009
1:51 pm
JeanE,
The no huddle didn’t happen because Atlanta wasn’t trying to get into a shootout with the Saints. When you do no huddle you use less time on the clock and allow Brees and the offense more time on the field.
Matt 'Choke" Ryan
November 3rd, 2009
1:52 pm
5 THINGS WE LEARNED:
1. QB RATING vs Chicago…..68
2. QB RATING vs Dallas……66
3. QB RATING vs Saints…….46 (Can it go any lower?)
4. Falcons have beaten 3 teams currently with 3-4 records
5. The Redskins are NUMBER 2 in total defense
This guy had a 108 QB RATING after week 2 and since the New England game, with a slight blimp with the niners game, his QB RATING has sank faster than the Titantic at an amazing 82.
Arthur Blank, this “New Face” project is just like the CHOKE – a BUST!
nanunanu
November 3rd, 2009
1:52 pm
1. Not quite sure how you figure the Falcons win without Porter’s interception. With 8:30 left in the game at home the Saints would have scored (they did score after the Porter interception). 2. If you give White the interference call on Vilma to make it fair give Greer the interference call on White.
Terrell
November 3rd, 2009
1:54 pm
KJB,
How many times was John Abraham held? John Madden says it best, “Holding happens of almost every single play, it’s just a question is how much are the refs willing to tolerate?”
tyger
November 3rd, 2009
1:57 pm
1. Matt Ryan is too easily rattled; he’s starting to look for places to fall.
2. Did Elam throw the game???
3. Coleman, Lofton, Peterson, DeCoud are hitters!
4. Injuries catching up: Jerry, Moore, Douglass, Norwood, Williams, Snelling hurt.
5. Corners are too small !!!
6. Matty Slice can only throw to the middle of the field.
7. Falcoons sans screen play.
Terrell
November 3rd, 2009
2:00 pm
nanunanu,
There wasn’t any Pass interference on White. Greer knows it that’s why he didn’t say anything. What really hurt Atlanta was that holding call. I understand the other things happen in the game but with the game winding down and that close you don’t make that kind of call. There was contact but it was within 5 yards and it wasn’t holding. All the other stuff I’ll take but it was that call that really hurt us because it went from 3rd down to 1st down and that gave the Saints new life. I would’ve felt better if we had lost and that call wasn’t made, but that’s water under the bridge now. While everybody ready to crown the Saints the divison champs I don’t think it will play out like that. I think our next meeting will have as much meaning as this one.
Clemfan
November 3rd, 2009
2:06 pm
who dat is actually an upgrade from the normal vocabulary that comes out of new orleans
P. L. Charles
November 3rd, 2009
2:11 pm
GEAUX SAINTS! Here’s five things I noticed about this column and the atlanta vultures…
1. Stop whining – There can be holding called or pass interference on every play. No one said anything about the push off Roddy White used on Greer to get open for that 3rd quarter TD.
2. Even if they (the ugly vultures) score on the Porter interception, do you really think they were going to stop the SAINTS?
3. Someone might want to block Will Smith. Or don’t, as a Saints fan I don’t mind.
4. The atlanta defense played very well in the second half.
5. That being said…SAINTS WIN!
P. L. Charles
November 3rd, 2009
2:14 pm
Oh and clemfan, I happen to speak the “King’s English” quite well. I would not be so quick to denounce the speaking patterns of one city till you walk around your own town. You need a translator to understand the atlanta version of english. WHO DAT!
Nobis
November 3rd, 2009
2:18 pm
How do you spell loser = FORMER FALCONS FAN!!!
brody
November 3rd, 2009
2:20 pm
This game should have been won by the falcons. The sants are supposed to be the “best” team in the league and they needed BS calls by the refs to get away with a win, albeit Brees looked good as always. Defense played pretty well, Tye hill looked good all night and was tight in coverage when he gave up the TD. Pretty encouraging signs from the D
Alloy505
November 3rd, 2009
2:23 pm
For all the talk about the blown calls, why is virtually NO ONE talking about the HUGE dropped pass by Jenkins on third down. To me, THAT, was the difference maker of the game. Say what you will about the interference calls, the missed field goals, and even the strong comeback in the fourth quarter. Jenkins drop when he was WIDE OPEN WITH NO DEFENDER on him was crucial to that drive. Yeah, I know Elam should have been money on the 34, but who is to say that if Jenkins makes the completion, the Falcons have a better chance at a touchdown, more so than a shorter field goal. That would have put us up 21-14 with about 7 minutes left to go into halftime. I’m not saying it would have sealed a win.The Saints play great football and would have rallied much like the Falcons did last night. But, the dropped pass by Jenkins was costly more than the penalties everyone is screaming about.
KJB
November 3rd, 2009
2:25 pm
I gave you guys props but rather than owning up to the bad calls on both sides, you peddle on more nonsense…the only thing that really matters is the score at the end of the game. And there’s no debating that…Saints won. That’s all there is to it.
J. J.
November 3rd, 2009
2:29 pm
Lose with dignity…luck birds sometime fly away…
Slim
November 3rd, 2009
2:30 pm
Stop whining and take a ass whoopin like every year before. Football is played on the field not in the blogs. What if? What if? What if we had scored 65 then what. Yall kill me with the useless excuses Atlanta fans. You got a good team the Saints are just better. You didnt expect to win you were hopen for a respectable loss and it was.. Let it go
TURTSNAP
November 3rd, 2009
2:31 pm
I hate to play the “blown ref call” game, but while we are at it… :O)
On numerous replays, I noticed that Abraham was being held all night long. On one play in particular, Brees scrambled to his right and Abraham was trying to break free of a hold to get to him!
I thought the rule was no contact beyond five yards….. Not to mention the Vilma mauling of White, as has been pointed out, but there was another play where the intended receiver was White or Jenkins, and in the background, you can see Gonzalez being knocked down before the ball arrived to its intended target. Granted it wasn’t intended for Gonzalez, but that play normally gets called!
All in all, there were tons of positives to pull from this game. While frustrating, it is better to play as we did against the Saints, than how we played most of the game against the Cowboys, and in the 2nd half of the Pats game.
hiramsaint
November 3rd, 2009
2:34 pm
if vilma doesn’t tip the ball the falcants win? please.. .. there were horrible calls on both sides[non-calls as well].roddy white off. pass int. when he scored. holding by the falcants off. lineman when matty DIDN’T fumble on the sack. y’all need to grow up , accept the loss and move on to the skins. you’ll have another opportunity to make excuses on dec.13 i’m sure. it’ll be the refs, the play calling, matty had the sniffles…….who knows what you’ll come up with then!
Clemfan
November 3rd, 2009
2:36 pm
PL if you think the roddy catch was a push off you obviously have never played football considering the corner had no idea where the ball was and Roddy was trying to get to it. I dont see any atlanta fans screamng whodat all over the place because we dont like insulting ourselves.
your second and fourth statements contradict each other.
hiramsaint
November 3rd, 2009
2:38 pm
you have no reason to scream WHODAT at 4-3
nanunanu
November 3rd, 2009
2:39 pm
Seriously, do you Falcons fans realize how childish you all sound whining about the refs? How about the helmet to helmet hit when Brees fumbled? Check the Giants vs Saints game when Vilma got called for the same hit on Manning. It goes both ways and whining about it doesn’t make a difference. You all need a bunch of pacifiers. NO ONE outside of the state of Georgia thought the Falcons stood a chance last night. The Falcons gave a great effort but the fact is the Saints are 7 and 0 and this year are the better team. Get over it.
FORMER FALCONS FAN
November 3rd, 2009
2:41 pm
HEY!!! spud webb, I spelled Drew Breeze —- DREW BREEZE BECAUSE OF THE POISE AND EASE that he displays in the pocket. The game has truly become a breeze to him. *um* *ss!
Falcon's Fan
November 3rd, 2009
2:42 pm
You Saints fans need to act like you have won before….Oops, you haven’t. Remember you guys started off hott last year? What happened? Please remember, your franchise has only won two playoff games before. Don’t act like you’ve done this before. You still won’t make it to the Superbowl. Lets be real, you needed help AT HOME, 4 INT’s, 2 missed FGs, and Jerrious Norwood (Who is essential to our offense) to beat us.. If this game were at THE DOME(ATL), we get the win.
You are not as good as you think you are and we proved it lasst night.
We’ll take the loss, but we showed we are a tougher team than you.
Can’t wait to see you in OUR HOUSE!!!
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!!
hiramsaint
November 3rd, 2009
2:46 pm
a W is a W and a L is what the falcants go home with. we’re gonna give you one to match it on the 13th.
Mr Saint
November 3rd, 2009
2:49 pm
Don’t feel bad Falcons fans. The Saints made a LOT of mistakes, that would have left your team looking like one of those teams we beat by forty something. As far as penalties being overlooked. Go the the Neworleanssaints.com and look at the photo gallery,, picture number 25 of the game. There’s one where your defensive guy (NO. 72) is riding our offensive guy like a horse to keep him away from your quarterback….no flag either. Good game, good try, see ya in Atlanta.
FORMER FALCONS FAN
November 3rd, 2009
2:55 pm
matt ryan, joey harrington, anything in common? I’m truly starting to see some leadership in our future. 10 year franchise player huh? 10 year of the same old bull….At Least bart could throw it 70 yards down the feild.
Matt 'Choke" Ryan
November 3rd, 2009
2:56 pm
10-6 this season will not get a playoff birth. Each team will need 11 wins to get in.
The Saints can go 4-5 the rest of the way and finish 11-5.
The Falcons need to go 7-2. That means of the Giants, Eagles, Saints, Panthers, Jets, they have to beat at least 2 of them.
It doesn’t look good when your qb has had 68, 66 & 46 QB RATINGS in consecutive weeks.
The Redskins have the NUMBER 2 overall defense in the NFL, so that is no walk in the park either.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 3rd, 2009
2:57 pm
Thanks FDB and Lil Larry for the questions. Coach is up in a few minutes. Presser to be live on NFL Network. I’ve got about 8 questions on my list for Coach.
Necromancer
November 3rd, 2009
3:00 pm
This is about the only time I can honestly say that I feel good after a loss.
The Falcons don’t have too much to hang their heads about. They looked decent and competitive. Even the announcers were saying that the Falcons were a good team.
Mr Saint
November 3rd, 2009
3:00 pm
Hey Falcons Fan:
Number 1: History has been changed quite a few times this year for the Saints.
Number 2: You are right, the Saints played just like you said, shi**y, and still beat your butts.
Number 3: Don’t talk about last year, this is this year, and things ARE better.
Number 4: We are 7-0
Number 5: Right again, we haven’t done this before, thats why its our turn
Number 6: Get over who is injured on your team, all teams have injured players tha could affect the outcome, we had players out.
Number 7: You didn’t prove JACK last nite, except that you lost
Number 8: Last nite was not how the Saints got to 7-0, That was our bad game.
Number 9: Pray we don’t have a good night on Dec 13th
and lastly, be afraid, be very very afraid!!
Mr Saint
November 3rd, 2009
3:03 pm
Number 1: History has been changed quite a few times this year for the Saints.
Number 2: You are right, the Saints played just like you said, shi**y, and still beat your butts.
Number 3: Don’t talk about last year, this is this year, and things ARE better.
Number 4: We are 7-0
Number 5: Right again, we haven’t done this before, thats why its our turn
Number 6: Get over who is injured on your team, all teams have injured players tha could affect the outcome, we had players out.
Number 7: You didn’t prove JACK last nite, except that you lost
Number 8: Last nite was not how the Saints got to 7-0, That was our bad game.
Number 9: Pray we don’t have a good night on Dec 13th
and lastly, be afraid, be very very afraid!!
saints fan
November 3rd, 2009
3:05 pm
Loyal Saints fan here; glad the Saints pulled it off, but hats off to the Falcons for a great nailbiter of a game. Yes, it’s a big rivalry, but the Saints/Falcons matchups are always exciting to say the least. Don’t get too down on yourselves; you have some real talent on that team. As for bad calls–there were several bad calls on both sides of the ball so they would have probably cancelled each other out anyway. The two that come to mind are the Vilma shove that resulted in a pick-6, but also the Roddy White bear hug on Greer and then push off to catch the deep ball for a TD (Devery Henderson was called on an offensive pass interference with a similar push off for a catch that didn’t involve a hold) But all in all it’s defintely always interesting playing the Falcons. Good luck for the rest of the season–of course, except for when we play you all again
First Sergeant
November 3rd, 2009
3:09 pm
The Falcons did play well, as most posters have highlighted. However, turnovers will seal your fate against a 6-0 team. I basically posted to reinforce several comments made about the #2 wide receiver position; Jenkins is too soft. He has to make those easy catches, and it would help if he could make a few tough catches. And, this happens quite frequently.
over it
November 3rd, 2009
3:10 pm
SaintsFanK3 , we will take the loass and deal with it. Do the same with your flood.
Mr Saint
November 3rd, 2009
3:10 pm
A lot of Delusional comments of coulda woulda shoulda Falcons fans. Your a** lost.
Saints Fan
November 3rd, 2009
3:11 pm
As I expected, the Falcons showed up to play. A typical rivalry game equal to GB/MIN or NYG/DAL. Congratulations to both teams; the Falcons for bring their “A” game and the Saints for finding a way to survive without theirs. I will look forward to our next meeting in the GA Dome where hopefully both teams play to their greatest potential. That would be a great game to watch.
toccoadawg
November 3rd, 2009
3:16 pm
What I liked about this game is the TEAM never gave up even with the bad calls. What a difference a coach makes.
MARTIN
November 3rd, 2009
3:16 pm
To (falcon fan). The saints have won before and we as saints fans do know how to act after winning. Stop being the sorry losers that you are and get over it. It was two NFC South foes going at it, and we just happen to come out the winners. You guys make a big deal about the saints never making to the super bowl. So what, what’s the purpose in getting there like your team did years ago, if you don’t walk away with the trophy. If, the saints do make it there, I could only hope that they win in all. After all it appears that the dirty bird fans are happy just getting to the super bowl, we the saints fans want to get there and win it all. Also you guys talk about,” wait until the saints come to the georgia dome”. Guess what last I checked the falcons were not the big bad wolf. The saints will be there on dec 13, and we will play a god game. We will give it our all, and hopefully come away with the win. If we don’t, it’s not the end of the world. But my guess is the saints will in al likely hood have the nfc south rapped up by then, so that game may not matter as much as you guys think.
FrenchQuarterGuy
November 3rd, 2009
3:19 pm
I’m a little baffled here by the comments of some of the Falcon fans. Making excuses about the loss due to events that “were part of the game”.
I would be more “POed” at Jenkins for dropping a 3rd down pass that would have given the Falcons first and goal or White for dropping a touchdown pass (tough catch but it did it “both hands”).
The “no interference call on the touchdown pass to White… First his arms were around Porter then White pushed off…
in comparison to the aforementioned “no call on Vilma” it would have to be considered “a mugging”
You got beat by New Orleans —- New England and Dallas both beat you by 16 and you’re now barely above 500. You’ve still got road games against the Jets and Giants who (IMO have a better run defenses than the Saints) plus the prolific passing teams — Philly and New Orleans.
If Monday night was just “a fluke” night for Turner (getting 100 plus) and you don’t get some secondary help… reality is a 9 & 7 season is a strong possibility and probably won’t get you into the playoffs.
I don’t post outside of New Orleans often but some of the post on here kind of sounded like “whining”? Just not something you’d expect from the fans of a team that won the division last year and is considered by some as a potential super bowl team.
Hang in there…