NFC playoff picture: Falcons are in the driver’s seat
The Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders perform between the 1st and 2nd quarter at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – For the 9-2 Falcons, the playoff picture is pretty clear: win-out and earn the No.1 seed in the NFC.
The Falcons, who are about to set out on a three-game road swing, have the best record in the NFC and hold a one game lead in the NFC South over the New Orleans Saints with five games to play.
A Green Bay Packers fan isn't happy with the 20-17 Falcons victory at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
“It’s great to get winning season,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “But our expectations and our goals are a lot higher than that. We want to keep them internally, but we are progressing on our journey to where we want to be as a football team.
“In December that’s when the games become very important.”
If the playoffs started today, the Chicago Bears (8-3) would represent the NFC North. The Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) would win the NFC East and the St. Louis Rams (5-6) would win the meek NFC West.
New Orleands (8-3) and the New York Giants (7-4) would wrap up the wildcard spots. Tampa Bay (7-4) and Green Bay (7-4) would be on the outside looking in.
NFC PLAYOFF RACE
Conference seedings
1. Falcons 9-2
A Green Bay Packers fan isn't happy with the 20-17 Falcons victory at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
2. Bears 8-3
3. Eagles 7-4
4. Rams 5-6
5. Saints 8-3
6. Giants 7-4
7. Bucs 7-4
8. Packers 7-4
Remaining schedules
FALCONS
At Bucs (7-4)
At Panthers (1-10)
At Seahawks (5-6)
Saints (8-3)
Panthers (1-10)
Opponents’ record: 22-33
SAINTS
At Bengals (2-9)
Rams (5-6)
At Ravens (8-3)
At Falcons (9-2)
Bucs (7-4)
Opponents’ record: 31-24
101128 Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes levels Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings as he catches a pass from Aaron Rodgers during 2nd half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
BUCS
Falcons (9-2)
At Redskins (5-6)
Lions (2-9)
Seahawks (5-6)
At Saints (8-3)
Opponents’ record: 29-26
BEARS
At Lions (2-9)
Patriots (9-2)
At Vikings (4-7)
Jets (9-2)
At Packers (7-4)
Opponents’ record: 31-24
PACKERS
49ers (3-7)
At Lions (2-9)
At Patriots (9-2)
Giants (7-4)
Bears (8-3)
Opponents’ record: 29-25
EAGLES
Texans (5-6
At Cowboys (3-8)
At Giants (7-4)
101128 Atlanta - Santa Claus Michael Castellana, Covington, celebrates a 20-17 Falcons victory over the Packers as Matt Ryan is now 19-1 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Vikings (4-7)
Cowboys (3-8)
Opponents’ record: 22-33
GIANTS
Redskins (5-6)
At Vikings (4-7)
Eagles (7-4)
At Packers (7-4)
At Redskins (5-6)
Opponents’ record: 28-27
RAMS
At Cardinals (3-7)
At Saints (8-3)
Chiefs (7-4)
49ers (3-7)
at Seahawks (5-6)
Opponents’ record: 26-27
Get updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
132 comments Add your comment
Dave
November 29th, 2010
6:12 pm
I am transferring this from the other blog, because it relevent:
I am about to commit heresy: The 2010 Falcons are REALLY not too different than the 2009 Falcons!
If you analyze the games from last year’s 9-7 team, they could have finished 12-4 with a consistent kicker, a completely healthy Matt Ryan and a healthy (and NOT over-weight) Mike Turner.
This year’s 9-2 team has won only ONE game decisively and lost only ONE game decisively. The rest were all very close, often decided by one or two plays. Had those plays turned out differently, we could be looking at a hard-luck 4-5, 3-6 or even 2-7 Falcons team, with the fan base screaming for the coach’s head! Oh, BTW, there were a number of 2009 Saints’ games that were JUST AS CLOSE!
This team lives and dies with Matt Ryan and Mike Turner, and, to a lesser extent, Matt Bryant. If either or both are injured, they would still make the playoffs (because even the second teamers would beat Carolina twice, and may even beat Seattle and Tampa Bay), but the Super Bowl would be a pipe dream!
Let’s hope that the next two games can be decided early, with the Falcons going into the 3rd quarter with comfortable 20+ point leads, to allow Turner and/or Ryan the chance to rest and AVOID INJURY.
The Injury Bug has made the Indianapolis Colts and the NY Giants average teams at best, and the same thing can happen to the Falcons (knock on wood!).
I think a 3-2 finish is almost a sure bet, while a 4-1 finish is VERY feasible, and 5-0 is not beyond the realm of possibility. The 4-1 finish gives the Falcons a first week bye, and home field in both NFC games. If that happens, a trip to Dallas in February could very well be in the cards!
GO FALCONS!
marcus
November 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
go falcons i love it but in order for the falcons to get the respect they want around the league that everybody wants and the falcons want they have to shore up the pass D 26 in the league isn’t good enough i like the safetys but its something thats holding them back on that end unless we take the morris approach and say stats or for lossers i would like to see robinson with a int or two by the end of the season because as of right now he and grimes should trade checks at least in my eyes but we should be set with the win over the packers go falcons
PackersSuperbowl2011
November 29th, 2010
6:35 pm
Good game Atlanta. Even though you all recognize you got a gift thanks to the Packers boneheaded coach. He challenges the pass ruled complete but actually dropped and the Packers win. Hope we see y’all in the playoffs for different results.
FrontRow
November 29th, 2010
7:52 pm
I think the Falcons have all the respect they want. It’s the fans that are clamoring about the respect thing.
The only opinion I want to hear about who is the best team is the opinion the day after the Super Bowl. Then, you can easily tell who is correct and who is an idiot.
Falcon Jim
November 29th, 2010
8:12 pm
You got that right FrontRow. I HOPE the talking heads just keep up their disrespect until it is obvious they don’t know anything.
Tom
November 29th, 2010
9:08 pm
Since the Falcons coaches refuse to eliminate their only real weakness (Grimes) I would recommend that all the teams remaining on the Falcon’s schedule target Grimes on as many pass plays as possible. Why not. The odds are that Grimes will get beat time and time again. Great effort and attitude are not enough. Too small, can’t cover the much taller receivers.
Once "Recent" Reader
November 29th, 2010
9:11 pm
Amen FrontRow. This talk about what ESPN or what SI says or doesn’t say is kind of boring. Almost makes me want to go back to the days when a large amount of posters were criticizing the Matt Ryan draft choice, and what seemed to be the smaller proportion of us were defending it. Now, there still are the detractors that complain about the alleged Noodle Arm, or the alleged tendency to throw Ints, or the dinking and dunking . . .rare passes of 40 yards or more. But now those just seem like reaches to criticize a QB that has been doing a great job leading Offense/Team to victories.
truth
November 29th, 2010
9:37 pm
Shoot……this team could win without a defense on the field.
take it from me.
November 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
It takes defence to win in the playoffs,anybody listening!
SaintsNOT
November 29th, 2010
10:26 pm
Whodatsay sure blows a lot of hot air. The aints have one winning season and you would think they are a mighty powerhouse. A powerhouse would not be in second place looking up at the Falcons. So, bring it on aints…..you’re one and done!
FrontRow
November 29th, 2010
10:32 pm
@Tom I’m with you…keep targeting Grimes. QBs and receivers make alot of plays over the course of a game. It only takes one big play by #20 to turn a game around….the more they throw at Grimes the more chances he gets to take one away.
Falcon Jim
November 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
Cool. Now he’s conversing with himself.
clay
November 29th, 2010
10:59 pm
to all saints fans. you are real quick to bring up how the falcons won every single game which means you follow them and are a fan at heart. lol. so your telling me that every single one of the saints win has come down to nothing but skill and nothing else. All calls have gone against you and you still find a way to beat the refs. Come on guys the records are what they are because each team has earned it. Saints fan will come up with any excuse because they hate seeing us at the top. Every freakin week they are real quick to bring up how we win. “Lucky” come on even the real football fan knows that you create your own breaks they arent givin to you. You saints fans are really pathetic. You probably think we still owe you a favor from katrina still too right?
Ledbetter
November 29th, 2010
11:11 pm
I didnt touch no white woman I was just looking.
George Bush
November 29th, 2010
11:12 pm
I lick aretha
President Barock H. Obama
November 29th, 2010
11:12 pm
As half honky and half negra, I say all this racist talk has to stop.
George Bush
November 29th, 2010
11:13 pm
I mean like, dick….
Cheney., dick cheney
clay
November 29th, 2010
11:26 pm
yeah your right dee. the nfl is giving the falcons all the call this year to build them back up. come on man are you serious? that is def the dumbest thing I have ever heard. the teams that get the calls are ne, ny teams, philly, pitt. come on man. that is pathetic.
mo
November 30th, 2010
2:07 am
we have more aints he , it show that u guy are worring bout this team that you should, Time is running out. how many of them gamee in the GA dome with MATT ICe one…. that was a lose to how . and avg team beat you in your house .your next game can be a lose you KNOW that its cold up here now .
mo
November 30th, 2010
2:10 am
IF you lose this week give thanks to skip on 1st take , he #1 pick of the week loses the past 4 weeks
Dario from Italy
November 30th, 2010
5:35 am
D.Orlando:
I’ve been very impressed with the play we’re having this season, but i don’t think we’ll be able to win-out.
The next game at Tampa will be the most important: if you win it, you can starting to think about #1 seed in the conference, if you lose it, you have to worry about earning a playoff berth.
Obviously both game against the Panthers MUST be wins (even if is a divisional rival you can’t figure to lose those games if you’re a playoff contender), but assuming we’ll beat also Seattle, if you’ll lose to Tampa AND New Orleans is almost certain that seating at 12-4 you don’t win the division, and have to travel for most of the playoffs (BIG, BIG difference for us from going on the road and being at the Dome).
I think what is yet missing is earnig some respect on road games: even if we won at New Orleans, that was a dome game (also in Sanint Louis), but outside a dome we barely won at cleveland and lose at Pittsburgh and Philly (this one by far our worst performance of all year).
When i’ll see the Falcons win (and win big) in a road game on grass i’ll be truly confidence in the team.
So, like i said before, the next game will be THE game for us.
Thanks to read and response and greetings from Italy.
GO FALCONS!
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2010
7:40 am
D. Orlando Ledbetter………..Can you identify the person that entered all of the ignorant nonsense onto your blog last night, if so, have you ever considered blocking that person from participating on your blog?
GuitarEdd
November 30th, 2010
7:47 am
Boy there are an awful lot of bellyaching Saint and Greenbay fans out there ! It’s always what if, and shouldof couldof wouldof. What’s the bottom line crybaby’s? Ya’ll lost, Falcons are # 1. Good teams find ways to win, losers find ways to lose , which ya’ll did. Cry me a river , please.
Sid
November 30th, 2010
8:07 am
D’Led, why do you let 1 or 2 people run and ruin your blog, it’s total nonsense and asinine. Seriously, why can’t you have registered users. It’s your blog but you can still have registered users and have your blog open to everyone as you say, they then can only use one identity instead of all this schizoid stuff.
Or maybe D.Led is the multiple personality entries………………hmmmmm……….!!
Sid
November 30th, 2010
8:11 am
MR2 for MVP
Samuel
November 30th, 2010
8:38 am
Yeah Grimes does get beat, but at least he makes plays. Dunta Robinson makes a lot more money than Grimes and so far he’s a bust. This guy Robinson has no interceptions it’s totally inexcusable. We have to have corners down the stretch that can break on the ball. Vangorder and Tim Lewis have to be telling these guys that they have to play better. Heck even Dion Sanders called Robinson out.
Flibertyjibbet
November 30th, 2010
9:12 am
The Falcon,s eill have had two, three game road trips. Is this normal? Do all NFL teams have two, three game road trips? Have the Aint’s had two, three game road trips? I’ll look and see…..
Flibertyjibbet
November 30th, 2010
9:16 am
No the Saint do not have two, three game road trips. They have two, two game road trips. GRRRRRRRR
truth
November 30th, 2010
9:18 am
If the ball is not coming your way very often, how can a CB increase his int percentage? I think some fans on this board should call up Blank and tell him that his coaches are stupid and they could do a better job because they can spew meaningless garbage on an AJC blog.
truth
November 30th, 2010
9:21 am
Our secondary on defense just held a ton of 5 WR’s sets to 17 points, a WR set mind you was lighting up the scored board before comeing to Atlanta, and some of you just DON’T GET IT!
True Falcon Fan
November 30th, 2010
10:26 am
Hedy Jim, did get any information on status of Snelling injury??
Great game – sent those Cheeseheads/blockheads Packing – 10-4 “GOOD BUDDY”
GO FALCONS
Falcon Jim
November 30th, 2010
10:38 am
True,
All that’s being said is it’s a hamstring. That could mean anything from playing this week to hobbling all season.
Jay
November 30th, 2010
11:01 am
I would like to see the Atlanta at Tampa Bay game in Chicago, will it have national coverage?
Gamer
November 30th, 2010
11:22 am
Falcons’ physical play at the line of attack fed into their sustainable drives. THAT’S FALCONS FOOTBALL!!!!
STILL NO RESPECT FROM NFL ANALYSTS!!! MAYBE WHEN THE FALCONS REACH SUPERBOWL THEY’LL GET SOME RESPECT…
WELL, IT’S NOT THAT IMPORTANT WHAT NFL ANALYST THINK..
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP COALESCING AS A TEAM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL AND TO KEEP WINNING..
The respect will come…Great running by Turner & Snelling. Great passing by Ryan. Great catching by his receivers. Solid game by defense..Good enough coaching on both sides of the ball to pull out win..
OF COURSE, WE CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WINNING DRIVES BY FALCONS OFFENSE.. NO MORE THAN WE CAN SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MATT BRYANT POISE TO KICK WINNING FIELD GOALS. WHAT A GAME SAVER BRYANT HAVE BECOME?
NEXT UP BUCS..A TOUGH TEAM TO PLAY ON THE ROAD. IT WILL BE A KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT GAME BUT THE FALCONS CAN WIN IN RAYMOND FIELD..
GO FALCONS AND TAKE THIS GAME BY FORCE AND SMART PLAY DEFENSIVELY AND OFFENSIVELY.
Falcon Jim
November 30th, 2010
11:25 am
Right-on, gamer ! ! !
clay
November 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
Dee Truth
November 29th, 2010
11:50 pm
Falcons are an average team with an average quarterback and a good runner and a decent receiver. Not much else.
What? Dude you have to be kidding me. An average team at 9-2 tied for the best record in the NFL and best record in the NFC, an average quarterback who already has 18 game winning or tieing drives in just his third year including 5 this year. Oh yeah and he went 24-28 with 2 balls that were thrown away for 200 yds and a td. Yeah your right he is just average. Turner a great runner that no one wants to tackle. And just a decent reciever who leads the NFL in just about every recieving category there is. Yeah decent. Come on man, gotta give credit where credit was due. Everyone seen this coming with the falcons as there were building up and now were here to stay. HAHAHAHAHAHA RISE UP ATLANTA. WHAT DO FALCONS DO? FALCONS RISE UP.
Skip Bayless
November 30th, 2010
1:08 pm
I am not sold on the Falcons!
Ross
November 30th, 2010
1:28 pm
Jay, it depends on Chicago CBS but yes, that’s a national game, it got “flexed” to a 4:00 PM Eastern start. Hey good luck with da Bears, I love Chicago
Falcon Jim
November 30th, 2010
1:41 pm
Just who IS Scott Bayless? Man, I think that name was a kid from my high school.
Falcon Jim
November 30th, 2010
1:42 pm
Sorry, posting as Skip, not Scott. (My eyes are tired.)
K
November 30th, 2010
1:43 pm
Boo that! Didn’t the saints get blown out by the browns at home. Didn’t they lose to Arizona? And didn’t they barely beat a horrible cowboys team? The nerve to point the finger at the falcons. Haters. One game at a time falcons. You have the cities(and the states) support.
Go falcons.
True Falcon Fan
November 30th, 2010
2:17 pm
Skip Bayless at one point did a stint in Dallas, Tx area chasing the Cowboys Super Bowl days, “he is a fair critic looking for recognition” – He’s a little squeaky – was not liked/respected very well by Cowboy players. They all looked at “Skippy” as a real dork!
True Falcon Fan
November 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
Jim, Thanks on Snelling info – yes your right-on about Hamstring issues – hope he works it out, he is very important to the team with him rotating with #33
It never rains in S. Cal
November 30th, 2010
2:32 pm
Being stationed out here in San Diego we never get a lot of the Falcons games on, except the big games like Sunday. Gotta say as a GA native they make me proud. Our running game is fierce, but whats the deal with letting teams back in it. I don’t know why we didn’t bring pressure on that 4th & goal play, stop them there & a 17-10 victory would have really shut up these haters on ESPN.
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
2:34 pm
@Jay – it could be. The Atlanta vs. Tampa game was flexed to 4:15 presumably to get a national audience.
If you get it remember it is OK to holler at your TV.
Falcon
November 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
Beat Tampa!
Ken Strickland
November 30th, 2010
3:09 pm
The way the Falcons OL has been playing, especially RT TClabo, it makes you wonder which of our 3 pending FA OLinemen will we try to resign. I believe TE TGonzalez will return for at least one more yr. If our pass rush improves and becomes more consistent, our secondary play will be outstanding. Our pass rush will improve as our DT’s get more experience. We’re starting a rookie in CPeters, and backing he and JBabineaux up with 2nd yr DT’s PJerry & VWalker. And remember, PJerry could very well be considered a rookie, since he missed almost all of last yr.
All 3 will get better as they gain more experience, and develop/improve their pass rushing skills.
True Falcon Fan
November 30th, 2010
3:14 pm
Semper Fi-Delis URRRALLS@Rains – Falcons just finished 3 pretty testing games – 4th redounds by those opponents should be expected. Let’s hope we get by TB & NO
“THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO”!!!!!
GO FALCONS
Joycee Banicheck
November 30th, 2010
3:39 pm
MV8, there’s no room for “if”s in football. You either win or you lose. If the tuck rule hadn’t be created for Brady, NE never would have went to the super bowl in place of Oakland. If Norwood would have hit a FG or two Buffalo would have rings. See how this works dude…
Wins and losses, Falcons are 9-2. Dispute that fact.
Eat this Aints
November 30th, 2010
3:42 pm
The Saints expect to beat Matty Ice at home….yet let Dallas look like one of the best teams in the league…and if it wasn’t for Roy Williams being such an idiot y’all wouldn’t even be in the playoff mix!!!