Mike Smith said it was a ‘tough night’ for the Falcons

Kudos to Coach Smith. This is the right response (regardless of the questions) and the right attitude. In the pre-season, this team wasn’t predicted to go to the Super Bowl. They weren’t even predicted to win the NFC South by most people. Some didn’t even have them making the playoffs.

2010 was another step FORWARD in the process. I know everyone with the organization is disappointed about tonight, as I am, but they’ll look at the big picture as Coach Smith suggested.

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Give me a break Mike Smith. The “whole body of work” you just flushed down the toilet in 60 minutes.

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Hey pigeon fans. You took GREAT JOY in the Saints defeat last week. Seattle beat a banged up Saints team, at home, by 5 points. The Packers made my year by shutting up you arogant pigeon fans. They exposed you for the fraud you are, #1 seed, loses by 27 at home, that’s a true BEAT DOWN. As an NFC South rep, I as actually going to root for you to go all the way, but you took great joy in celebrating the Saints loss. So I broke out my voodoo doll. It’s true, Dirty Bird can’t fly with a broken wing. What goes around comes around.

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It was just one of those games, you have them sometimes. Great year Falcons and wish you the best for the future looks bright.

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Thanks for the good season coach Smith. We are all disappointed by the loss but there were sure a lot of good times this season. The future of Falcons football is bright but we have got to fix that 3rd down defense. It was an Achilles heel all season long and we got embarrassed by it tonight.

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Why are Atlanta teams always on the wrong end of these stupid stats?

Aaron Rodgers’ 86.1 completion percentage (31-of-36) at Atlanta is an NFL single-game postseason record for a QB with 35-plus attempts.

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Mike Smith=Jim Mora, he might get you to the dance, but he’ll never get to dance as long as he plays conservatively. Dude, Matt Ryan has the makings of an elite QB, if only you’d let him throw more.

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I said I’d b here, win or lose. That’s what I thought. No falc fans in the 4th quarter at the dome either. What happened? Running out of beer in the 2nd quarter?!? Stay classy atl

Go Pack Go!

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Falcons play football games like they are afraid … must get a killer instinct in the running game (with FASTER more explosive alterative to Burner Turner). He’s a great back, but needs help. Snelling isn’t the answer — let Gatrell Johnson loose. Also, you need more deep threat receivers like the packers, harder hitting line backers like clay matthews, and playmakers on the team. Stop wasting money on weenies — get players. OC and DC should be fired tonight. With them, you will never succeed. need more aggressive play calling. And the players dont need to be coddled any longer – they are men, who play like boys. Up your coaching, and the Falcons might have won the game tonight.

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Ouch. That hurt. A lot.

EVERYBODY (except possibly Weems) underperformed. It all ended on the pick six. The entire team, coaching staff and fanbase went into VISIBLE shellshock. The brutal shortcoming of the otherwise great regular season is that the team only really faced a big deficit in one game (Eagles loss). The moment they were down two scores, they clearly were emotionally unequipped to deal with the situation.

In the offseason, they will need to address the following:
- opening things up so Ryan can develop. He’s a great leader but isn’t getting enough ground testing with a more wide open playbook. I called the pick six b/c I knew where the ball was going before they even got out of the huddle. While the Ryan hatred often annoy me, in their critique of his now-suddenly-worrisome forays into the postseason lies a legitimate kernel of truth: this Falcons team knows how to construct a winning offense but it doesn’t adjust well in the playoff environment.
- getting a defensive difference maker. The Falcons D was ATROCIOUS tonight but they did exhibit overall improvement this year. What’s missing is the difference maker. GB has Matthews, CHI has Urlacher, PIT has Polamalu….the Falcons need a guy like that.

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Atlanta, you finally have met the real Green Bay Packers.

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im dissapointed with the results but the falcons have to get off the field on third down to much zone defense when you rush 3 and drop 8 back in coverage to cover 5 players you should be able to disrupt a pass i saw alot of watching the qb instead of the receivers and the 4 or 5 times the dline got to almost sack rodgers they missed the tackle . I dont think the packers are any better 11-6 they played better tonight and atlanta didn’t cover well when you have 3rd and 6 or 8 dont play off nearly ten yards you give them the first down. The 2 interceptions killed the atttitude of the falcons and the opening score of the 2nd half. But its football anyopne can get beat. Hopefully next year they play better and the fans didn’t lose the game for atlanta that’s stupid .They don’t give out free tickets they cost money it must be nice to follow your team but not all of us can afford to do it. Atlanta is still my team i hope to see them do better next year! Im proud of them 3 winnig seasons in a row. GreenBay had over a decade of losing until favre came in 1992 atlanta has good coaching and a owner who wants to win unlike rankin smith who was just about making the money for his family. Im looking forward to continuing to see good things for the falcons in the future.

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The players are an elite group who has bonded well. They will get better as a team. What this team need is an offensive coordinator that is consistent and and can help the player adjust during the game. I beleive Mac would be a good position coach. Every game we have lost during the past two years were due to in effective coaching.

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Falcons got their axx handed to them on their home field……….All their work got flushed down the drain……What an embarrassement

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hopefully they have a rematch next year

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ReidAdair and others. ReidAdair said: RT @AJCFalcons: Mike Smith said it was a “tough night” for the Falcons http://bit.ly/f5K8KR [...]

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24 point turn around before half killed the team. Instead of going up 21-14 or 24-14, we ended up 28-14 behind after both of those interceptions…Van Gorder’s defense was terrible.. They really helped Rogers look great. The return for a td killed the defense after GB’s first TD.. They had two long drives that the defense had only the short rest between drives of a total of nearly 30 plays. Time of possession or lack of possession killed the Falcons plus poor defense, and a few questionable play calls…Total crash of the whole team.

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It’s so loud in the dome! I can’t hear! Is that 115 decibles? Oh wait you all left and went home.

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how is 20 – 29 not doing your job as qb i get the pick 6 bad throw..but should the stat sheet have read 22 – for 29 with about 60 more yards added too it and a 2 td 1 int game if jenkins can hold on too the ball and stay upright..Not Matty’s fault a guy fell down in the end zone…every Well Known Player ala Abe Roddy Turner Grimes Weems Ryan did something positive in the game But individuals don’t win games teams do bad team effort worse coaching dumb penalites..and Having 2 guys Owens and Spoon should have never been on the field..Spoon gets a pass but Owens come on man

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OK…The pain of this embarassment has subsided. For the REAL Falcons fans here…let’s talk about the glaring needs for 2011 (provided there is one). Here where I think we need upgrades:
LT – Sam Baker is not a TRUE LT. This year, he cost us much yardage in false start and holding penalties because he was too often getting beat of the edge.
OG – Can the 2010 draft picks step up next year or should we look for Dahl’s/McClure’s future replacements in free agency?
WR – Roddy needs a speedy compliment with great hands. HD was surprisingly ineffective and inconsistent in his role out of the slot.
DE – When will Sidbury be ready to step into 55’s role?
RB – Is Gartrelle Johnson a keeper? Just like WR, we need a speedy, aggressive compliment to 33.
DB – I think we have the talent here, but maturity is an issue.

Thoughts?

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They can be fixed but Blank will CERTAINLY NOT do what it takes to fix them. Could the young up and coming NFC Champs need a major overhaul already? YES!!!

1. Either Mularky or Matty Ice (lol) or both need to GO! The ultra-conservative play calling will never get you past the FIRST ROUND of the playoffs. These plays are called either because the Mularky knows no other way and cannot adapt or because he knows that Ryan is very very iffy on long balls and tough reads. Given that Mularky HAD a rep for offensive innovation before coming to the Falcons; I would say that he knows Ryan’s limitations and has been trying to prevent the type of interception fest that went on last night. The third rather intriguing option is that Mularky has been INSTRUCTED by Mike Smith to call the plays that way to protect Ryan, in which case I can’t really blame Mularky.

2.Van Gorder has got to go. It quickly became obvious in this game, as in several recent ones that the only way the birds can stop a high powered O, or a hot QB is to Blitz, Blitz, Blitz! Everyone watching, including the announcers could see that we needed to blitz except BVG. Unless once again he was following Smith’s orders.

3. We obviously need personnel upgrades ALL OVER THE FIELD!

I could go on and on. But without the first two changes, other changes, including player personnel would be futile. Mr. Blank is enamored with his coaching staff and QB due to the moderate success that they have had. So this NEW FALCONS DEBACLE will continue for at least another three years. Then we will start all over again.

Rise Up! Go Birds! Blah, blah…..blah.

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Looked alot like Georgia vs. Auburn except the G was on the other helmet.

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Congrats to the Falcons on a very good season. Every team has a game like this, especially a young one in the playoffs. You guys could use a few more players on the defensive side of the ball, but really, the Falcons are set up to compete at a high level for the next several years. And I think Mike Smith is an excellent coach. You guys will be back. In fact, I think the Packers and Falcons will have some great battles in the coming years. Go Pack!

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Enter your comments here

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I’d like to congradulate the Greenbay Packers on the win against us. They out coached us in everyway and even if you take away our 4 turnovers it still couldve been 28-7. They are a class organization with great fans. Good luck in the NFC Championship.

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We learned that the Falcons were pretenders. Definitely not deserving of a top seed in the NFC and certainly no in the upper tier of the NFL. The combination of no pass rush and weaknesses in the secondary is lethal against the better teams in the league. Like Green Bay. Falcons needs are pretty clear – defensive lineman that can get pressure on the QB, people that can cover in the secondary and another running back. Norwood needs to go. It’s questionable Turner’s future is. His lack of speed is a problem – allows defenses to pile up in the middle and take away the run. The bottom line is that this team is nowhere near as good as we hoped they were. It was a total embarrassment on the national stage last night.

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Great try Atlanta

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The Falcons are still a couple of players away from winning it all. Had we managed to get to the Super bowl there is now way we beat the Patriots or Pittsburgh. It would have been a real hard loss to take.
Were getting there, be patient.

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i hate a conservative coach

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Atlanta is just not as good as Green Bay. If not for a fumble by Aaron Rodgers on the 1 yard line the Falcons would have lost the first time they played.

If you think Green Bay is tough this year, wait until next year when they get all their guys back. I think they have 7 starters on Injured Reserve.

They still have to win two more games this year but Green Bay is on the verge of big things in the years to come if they don’t win it all this year.

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A big disappointment. We had two weeks to get ready. But it did not look like we were ready. It is a long wait until next year.

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COACHING FAILURE!!! Points on the scoreboard win games!!! Nothing else matters!!! Our coaching staff worries about the statistics. We played GB the same way we played in every game this year. BugKilller is right – NOT TO LOOSE!

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I’m still wondering how the hell we can put extreme heat (aka blitzing) on another great QB, Drew Brees and forget it last night? Rush 3 or 4 against a QB like Rogers? Even as dumb as I am I think I could figure out a way to put more pressure on Aaron Rogers. OOPS, I forgot: rust a few and stay back and prevent pass completions…that’s it! Look at Roger’s stats, he sure was held to only a few dozen yards (per pas, that is). boy, that Zone D works like a charm.

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ATLANTA FANS at the Game, We did our part. The crowd was the greatest I have ever seen.

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I never expected the Falcons to look so much like the ‘09-’10 Hawks. Green Bay was the Falcons’ version of the Orlando Magic.

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This is a special team that need a few additions and it showed. That’s the good thing about losing figuring out what needs and adjustments for next season. Overall, we are a very young football team that will have many more chances. We are very similar to the early years of Manning and the Colt’s.. Gooo Falcons and go get em next season.

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Real Falcon Fan, if you truly believe that the Falcon’s beat themselves, you were not watching the same game as the rest of America was. It is one thing to get beat by 7 or 3 points and point to one or two mistakes which changed the game completely around. When you get beat by 27 points, at home, you didn’t beat yourselves. You got the s**t kicked out of you. I’ve lived with this saying for about 20 years. It was something said by a sportscaster, it goes like this; “I may be a homer, but I am not an idiot.” The Falcon’s got straight out beat up, down and all around. They wouldn’t have won yesterday if they brought their A game.

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WTF: Like I stated, WIN or LOSE — as I promised, I’m here/aqui,,,, CONGRATULATIONS to the GB Packers & Fans— “Good Luck” through-out the rest of the way.
Saludos
TFF

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Greenbay had alot of injuries and beat us with 2nd string players for the most part. Van Gorder and Mularkey got schooled too not just the players. We were ther stepping childs for Greenbay. Bad thing is they’ll show the thrashing on ESPN that Greenbay as highlight films.
We have got to get a better RB than the one we have now. Michael Turner doesnt cut back, run with vision and has no break away speed. Yeah he’s fat and big legs but doesnt get big gains. Tony Gonzalez needs to retire folks, he still hasnt won a playoff game.
O.K. so now we have had a winning record the last 3 years. We won our Division which was great but next year the Saints and Tampa will have something to say about that. Great Defenses win Super Bowls and ours is sub par at best.
We have got to get better CB’s by trading or drafting which either and be able to play 1 on 1 more cause this zone stuff isnt working Van Gorder.
Watch Greenbay and New Orleans on film and maybe you can learn something. Greenbay is going to the Super Bowl folks, their a class act with a complete football team even without their starters. We got beat in the trenches on both sides yesterday.
Their front 4 played awesome and our OL couldnt pick up the stunts, no check offs, no screens and no execution. We only won in our Special Teams which was a non factor later on.
I hvent given up on the Falcons but you gave up yesterday, no effort, no focus, no pride and the score proved that. Go get your 43,000.00 pay checks for participation and watch the rest of the playoff’s on the tube.
Those are real players and real men in the playoffs, cash your checks sit by the fire, drink some hot chocolate, cuddle with your wives and make your plans on going on vacation.
I dont want to watch us get embarrased on t.v. and atleast you saved us from that.

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I said earlier in the week my team is tough. The stinky birds will have to wait until another year.
This loss should be easy to take for you birds as it was a complete ass whipping by the Pack.

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I agree with Coach Smith–since 2007, the Falcons have been adding building blocks to this team. Arthur Blank cares about this team and this city(unlike Rankin Smith and his family.) Mr. Blank has gone out and hired us a great coach and front office when we had none.

Over the last three years, the Falcons have put together consecutive winning seasons(something the organization had never done before) and two playoff appearances. Yes, last night was difficult but as Mike Smith said the Falcons will learn from this and go after players who will fill those holes so visible last night.

Great teams aren’t built overnight but over time. This is just another step in the process, a hard one to swallow but still a step forward.

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The ghost of Jed Clampett still hovers over this program.

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Does Ryan still deserve that Pro Bowl selection? His regular season was nowhere near as impressive as A-Rodg’s NOR was his post season performance.

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ouch – that did hurt.The interception before half was the backbreaker but we would have lost anyway. What’s up with the ole pass rushers. To me, that was the game. BVG got free rushers but Arod just slipped them time after time. So the BVG didn’t know what to do but drop to a zone which I fully believe even he didn’t think would work. I have a bad feeling about the falcons going forward. You only get setups like this year so many times and to get routed when you had everything going for you does not bode well for the future. Smith and Ryan are the future but the psyche of getting smashed as a #1 seed at home may never be forgotten. I see some missed playoffs and maybe a wild card loss for this team over the next several years. But they appear to just not be tough enough in the trenches to ever win a major playoff game. Hope I’m wrong. Go Braves!!!!

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Dave, Dave, Dave….What a dilemma,, hey ? You can’t attack the Pack’s performance because it was nearly flawless. You cant attack the Falcons’ performance because it was nonexistent. You can’t attack the Falcon fans because they bailed out early. So you attack the Packer fans. Tsk,tsk.

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Also, Falcons fans, please stop saying BS such as “we underperformed” this game. What actually happened was you guys over-performed all season. Everything about your offensive and defensive system screams mediocrity. You had how many “Pro Bowl” players from a defense ranked 16th… That should never happen.
Turner, while leading the league in carries is a distant 3rd in overall yardage and 31st in the league for yards/attempt.
When ranking qb’s, Ryan is never ranked higher than 9th in the league for Percentage, overall yards, passer rating, or yards/game. Best thing he has is TD to INT ratio.
You have a team focused on playing to not lose and to make fewer mistakes than their opponent. Which is fine, it will get you to the playoffs. But you are not designed to come from behind or to stretch a lead. That does not work in this league, in which the rules regarding how receivers can be covered, encourages the big play. You don’t believe me? Look at what happened to the Titans after that 10-0 start. They crumbled. They also had a much better defense and more explosive running game.
Facts is facts.

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Dave, if you think Packer fans are the worst fans, then you should come to a Titans game. Don’t ever say we are worse than this guy:
http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=1465

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Wow, biggest loss in NFL playoff history….

Only in Atlanta can a sports team go 13-3 for the regular season, yet make the franchise look like an absolute joke in just one play off game.

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man boycott this terrible franchise..this team gose back to the beginning, when it comes to loseing and chokeing…watch the 1980 atlanta vs dallas playoff game in atlanta….ain’t nothing changed.

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A few things…. i’m not hating, but just curious. How does Matt Ryan have a nickname of Matty Ice. No playoff wins…. you get a name like that only if you EARN IT. Remember Joe Cool, and of course Cool Brees or Big Breesy- they both won SBs. EARN IT first before you talk! atl got owned in their own house. Second, roddy said something a few weeks ago about the aints…. looks like roddy (aka push off) still aint got a thing but an ego. perform and then talk. Not hating….just saying…

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Welcome to the Atlanta Circle of Fail 2010-11 Falcons.

The 1980 Falcons, Mark Wohlers, and Eugene Robinson welcome you with open arms.

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Matty Ice fits, his arm is iced. We are not looking at this as a problem. It is rediculas for our receivers to have 2 or 3 steps on a defender on deep routes and Matty Ice can’t get them the ball. That interception in the inzone proves it. Go back and look at all the interceptions he has thrown in his NFL career, he cannot throw the deep routes wake up an smell the coffee. You are right we need to get a better running back for the quarterback we have. The running back needs to be a franchise running back not the quarterback that we have now.l

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Best video ever….enjoy FAILCANTS…..LMAO…FALCLOWNS = EPIC FAILURE!

http://www.youtube.com/user/dejuanptv#p/a/u/0/31ydzkbjTrY

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I HAVE 3 THINGS:
1.)GET RID OF MULARKEY(HIS OFFENSE IS TOO VANILLA AND PREDICTABLE.)JOSH MCDANIELS?
2.)CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE,PLEASE TEACH MATT RYAN HOW TO PUMP FAKE!!! PLEASE!
3.)GO AND GET NAHMDI FROM OAKLAND. HE’S A FREE AGENT!

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Nobody should thank nobody for anything. The Falcons don’t deserve the fans’ respect after yesterday. They are a complete joke, and are no different than any other pathetic Falcons team that has been put out on the field. Say whatever you want about the “strides” they’ve made. ALL that matters is winning championships. That’s IT. And not only did they get beat in the biggest game they’ve played in YEARS, they looked like complete amateurs out there. Watching the Packers, Steelers, Patriots, etc makes you realize what REAL football is, and the Falcons don’t play it.

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It dont mean a thing if you aint got dat Ring….WHO DAT….Falcons fold under the pressure of the big lights. Saints still got a ring and all the falcons got is sour grapes….Denver crushed u in the super bowl and now green bay made you look like the little sisters of the poor last night….Give Roddy white my condolences my how he must be crying…

MATTY ICE….laughable…..You should be scrreaming for Mike Turner because thats all yall got and the saints and green bay just showed the whole world that MATTY ICE is a joke… if turner cant get it done it wont get done…oh well good luck with the rest of the season falcon fans…OOPS sorry I forgot.

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Matt Ryans atleast for now isnt going anywhere. @ Wishing….. few years back we went into Greenbay in the playoffs and you suffered your 1st loss at home….. EVER.
We beat you and you beat us this year so what! Youre not sure where Greenbay will be next year as i dont know where the Falcons will be. They beat us and you can bask in the sun with delight over this. Go to a bar with your buddies and have alot of laugh’s about the game. Doesnt mean that GB will never get beat by 30 pts. Doesnt guarantee GB will go to the Super Bowl. Really doesnt mean youre a better team than Atlanta. Im not gonna sit here and make excuses for Atlanta’s loss.
Things have a way of coming back around whether it be with us or another team but its for certain GB will have a bad day and get a beating. For you to come in the room and act like a child about your win only proves your too inmature and anal to realize Atlanta happened to play its worst game in 3 years.
A true Football Fan would not say i told you so, and that Atlanta is a joke, they insteadwould be decent and say good things about the other team as opposing players do.
Yes you have the right to say what you want to about the Falcons, i have already congradulated Greenbay on their win, they played great.
Dont prove yourself to be an ass and make all Packers Fans ashamed to have fans like you. Remember you get your turn next time and i wont go on Greenbays chatroom and chastise their team with comments such as yours to show that Atlanta Falcon Fans are childish and bad sports such as you.
We’re all Americans here and true sportsmen and this is what makes the sport fun to watch and talk about. I just hate it when people come in here crapping on other teams when in fact its happened to them as well.

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My…my…my…Such fickle fans…You guys are pothetic. You would never see Saints fans turn on the team like this. We didnt finish were we wanted this year…Hell you guys put up a better record this year as much as that pains me to say.. just thought you guys might still be supporting your team.

but now u see what happens under the big lights….Roddy cant push off defenders to get open and get away with it and jekins didnt even try to hide it

NOTE TO MR. BLANK….you dont need much added to your team you just need some real fans…come to the big easy we will show you how real fans support a team….ex. when the saints came back from seattle (loss) we were at the airport between 2 and 3 am to welcome the team home and thank them for a good year.

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Strill No Ring for the Dirty Birds — ha ha ha.. Roddy might need a little practice in keeping his mouth shut. Get a real QB and you guys might actually have a team next season. I beleive Brett Farve will be avail – oh that’s right you guys had Brett right out of college but though he wasn’t any good so you sent him to Green Bay.. Once a LOSER always a LOSER

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WTF?????

MATT RYAN WENT INTO A SHELL LAST NIGHT!!! ALSO, SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO TELL THE DEFENSE THERE WAS A GAME LAST NIGHT!!!

I AM TOTALLY EMBARRASSED AS USUAL TO BE A F*ING FALCON FAN!!!!

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Wasn’t the birds scheduled to play Sat.? Must have gotten their migration schedule mixed up and left before the game. Goes to show you how overated they were. #1 seed – they didn’t even deserve to be in playoffs – same as division champs – what a crock of S#^t.

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Thanks for a great year Coach Smith. A decent draft pick and some good free agent shopping in the off season and we’ll be back here next year. Need to pick up a “quick hitter” back and perhaps a linebacker and defensive back to make us better. At any rate thanks for a great season; three winning years in a row for a Falcon team: who’d thunk it?

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Coach Smith – I’ve been behind you all season – and now I must say — IT SINKS. DOn’t you understand that in order to win that we need to score more points then the team we are playing ??? Yea there’s next year and I really hope that with you and your staff coaching the Pro Bowl that you actually ask some of those good players for some advice. Come On Man…… I’d suggest that the weather inside the dome is what lost the game for us – and it looked as if your headset was a bit to tight which might explain some of your play calls

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NEW FLASH….Did you hear the FalCANTS LOST LAST NIGHT???? Yep….got KILLED!! In fact, all season long they played themselves up as unbeatable!! NFC South Champs, Best Record in the NFC…etc. Now, what does it mean no????? ONE AND DONE….LUCK BREAKS ALL YEAR….NO EXPLOSION in your game…..Turn Coat Fans…..No loyalty….NEVER EVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!! So, you say N.O. is the toilet…WELL, TURDS BELONG IN THE TOILET!!!

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RMIKE – when the SAINTS were the number 1 seeded team they knew what to do with it and actually played like a # 1 seed. Course you guys will never know the burden of being World Champions. You lost to the NUMBER 6 seeded team. Maybe if your city wasn’t so.. well you know – you might attract and keep a few good player – why do you think that Farve left????? He could smell your stink

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This game points out very clearly the glaring weaknesses the team needs to address. We need more speed at running back, a couple of players in O line and D line. The supporting team arounf Ryan must get better to make up for his shotcomings. He does not have the insticts of Brady or Rodgers or Breese and never will. He’s good, but not good enough to overcome a weak team. We also need game changing recievers. White is a good possession guy but can’t break the game open.
If only a few changes are made, we will find ourselves in the same situation again next season….good record but not deep into the playoffs.
Answer one question….would you trade complete rosters with GB, Pitt, N.E? Yes, yes and yes!
We’ve got a troubled road ahead. I was not shocked at what happened last night.

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I wish Arthur Blank would move this crappy franchise to a different city. What a bunch of losers. What an embarrassment..

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@Another Season’s Over – Yea your right.. as it turns out ole Brett might not be the role model folks once thought that he was.

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“Falcons fan” nice point, they aren’t going to be any better next season if they don’t change that offense around, need faster receivers, Douglas, Finneran, Jenkins, needs to go, they do need another running back and those coordinators(offense and defense) need to be replaced. They have an easier schedule next year but they still need to get better.

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Objective Joe: You are not looking at the game very well. White is the break away receiver. OUR QB CANNOT GET THE BALL TO HIM ON DEEP THROWS. Our receivers are not the problem, we are running the type of offense already to hide the true weakness of the team. A QB THAT CANNOT MAKE THE DEEP THROWS. Not having Norwood what hurt us that way we can have a more potneat running game.

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Well at least the Falcons had snappy uniforms and most weren’t even dirty following the game

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F-U, Phalcons Phans! Swallow my thought provoking “fluid.” What was “Vanilla Ice’s record at home again? 19-0 or something? Wow, very impressive, what is that record now? You know….The one that really matters? At any rate, the NFL and the “Ref’s” rigged both games the “Falcons” played against the Buccaneers. You know it and so does everyone else. I do have a “trophy” you can polish in lieu of a “Lombardi” trophy. It’s my personal trophy, let me get it lubed up for you.

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How SAD the poor PIGEONS #1 seed and lost at home. Matty Ice was more like Matty ICECREAM LOL!!! Green Bays fans were louder than the the PIGEON fans. Yall are a pittyfull organization with sorry fans. The SAINTS< PACKERPATRIOTS FANS would have never abandoned there teams like that!!!, and for this reason you will never WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! Your fans don’t travel well like the mentioned teams. How sorry on national TV!!!!

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JMIKE, I get it! You are a beer-belly Republican, never played a down of football, don’t know shi…… and think you know everything. I would go there with you, but YOU ARE BASE-LESS. What does the city have to do with cheering for a team. THIS IS YOUR FORUM to get YOUR RACIST THOUGHTS OUT, HUH?????

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Poor RMIKE – He wouldn’t recognize a real football fan if they walk up to him and said WHO DAT. Nor can he tell the difference between a football and a suppository. Hey I think that I can sympatric with your loss last night. Once you come to grips with the beat down that you got beat in every fashion the sooner the healing can begin. And no, you’re not really a loser… I do agree with your assessment about Tampa in that they are gonna spank you like a 4 year old at K-Mart. Maybe on day you will know what it is like to win a Super Bowl – but it’s like you have said many times before “ Wait till next year”

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One thing for sure, the other teams in the NFC South were not present for this round of the playoffs and the one that was got beat down in the first round by Seattle, SAY WHO DAT, SEATTLE.

THE FALCONS AT LEAST GOT BEAT BY A QUALITY TEAM-now Falcon haters go stick your head in the MUD where it belongs.

GO FALCONS AND GO SOUTHERN RUSH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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They would never draft CAM NEWTON….They’re WAITING ON THE SOUTH TO RISE UP….AGAIN!!! RIGHT RMIKE???

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What brain dead reporter asked if the wether played a role in this loss ? You guys play in a Dome ! It only snows in the Viking’s Dome. I was stunned at the Falcons team I saw last night. It looked nothing like the team I saw all year.

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I will always be a die hard fan, but I am just sick of the embarassments! Losing is understandable. Being blown out at home when you are the number 1 seed is totally unacceptable!!!!
Call me a fickle fan if you like, but the falcon history is marred with this type of games. I thought they had turned the corner on this garbage, but last night proved me wrong.

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The falcons proved that the seeding and regular season records doesn’t matter! NEW SEASON. When you narrow the field…exposure pops up!!

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@Paper Champs……………..thats a lie……….Your City elected to not spend tax dollars on your levy. Y

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First of all congrats to the Falcons on a good season. Second it is time to put play makers on this both sides on this team NOW! We well never be any better than average until TD does this. I understand drafting players but you still need FA to take the team to the next level. This team has a good core but we still need more top talent.DE.LB,WR,TE,RB

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FALCONS,good season…..Thanks for all the fun and good times

To all the rest of you… The sky is falling, The sky is falling, The sky is falling…… Come on man! Least we forget Bobby ball., not that long ago. We have made progress every year… Oh sorry, back to reality for all the short sighted, THE SKY IS FALLING… THE SKY IS FALLING
COME ON PEOPLE

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OK, the dome is lousy venue. I was a season ticket holder for a number of years in late 90’s and just couldnt take going down there. Awful, the whole experience.
Draft: Last 3 years, who have we gotten out of it?
Defense: Owens is a joke. We lose 1 nickel back? Nobody can cover, Robinson, nobody.
Offensive Line: Caved in every play, terrible pass blocking.
Recievers: Where was Gonzales and White last night? Disappeared.
Everyone in the country knew what was coming last play of the half. Painful.
Take the best player available in the draft, because there is no area that we don’t need serious help. Get some free agents who can play. And lets get a really nice outdoor stadium where its fun to go to, and not some awful downtown dead end.

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@Paper Champs…………… New Orleans knew the levy would not hold a catagory 5 and put the money somewhere else. Not Corps of Engineers but your City elected to not spend the money shoring up your levy’s. You guy’s didnt think it could happen and guess what? IT DID.
Bad planning, corrupt city officials, corrupt mayor, corrupt chief of police, half the police force ran off, thouands of buses were not moved and you had plenty of time to plan better so you deserve what you got.
Atlanta didnt plan thje snow storm well either but with the oil spill, Katrina and preperation plans New Orleans cost the tax payers billions upon billions of dollars, citizens shot other citizens, stole, raped one another. Alot of that could have been avoided if you didnt have so much corruption in your city and piss poor planning.
Comparing Katrina to our recent snow storm is like night and day you’ll have to do better than that.

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@RMikeI58—seriously, are you talking about the levy. This is Football, stop crying,
take that beating like a man! dont be mad bc your team got owned in their own house.
say what you like about the Saints, They ARE SB Champs. They went through Warner, Favre, and Manning to get there. Remember that. They EARNED IT. the only thing your team earned is a spot on the couch to watch another SB. take it like a man and stop crying.

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TOUGH NIGHT FOR THE FALCONS?

How about with social media ALL OF US who are getting killed as well….a 13-3 team playing like THAT?

..
Van Gorder had NO CLUE what was going on last night…NONE!

Mularkey didn’t even use Gonzalez until the 2nd half… and what happened to the running game early…. TURNER IS OUR KEY…. not MATT RYAN…..

Our biggest friend last night could have been the clock, but we’re too bust trying to make Ryan into Peyton Manning.

Manning never lost like this in the postseason!

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A tough night? C’mon coach. I realize you can’t say anything publicly and I respect that BUT it was a HORRIBLE night, EMBASRRASING, DISGUSTING even HUMILIATING but tough just doesn’t cover it.

I put most of the blame on the coaching and game playing. Even us arn chair coaches know that you can not use a drip and grind approach when your opponent is as explosive as GB was. The game plan was absolutely HORRENDOUS

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buzz . ….the Saints fans took a hit last week from Falcon fans. They are just doing what is normally done on all posts . . . .exacting there revenge. This is the AJC’s blog, not Falcon fans only, just as any other blog open to the public is everyone’s blog. Just how it is. There are ways to set up your own blog where you only allow access to those that have like minded views . .and are able to remove access to those who prove to be intruders. This is not one of those sites. So we’ll get Green Bay, New Orleans, Philly, and many other fans. The Blogs are not about civility . … .can’t remember a time they were, especially in regards to Sports and Politics.

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Alpha9 you’re right get some packer fan ladies together and they could beat the falcons!

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Falcons were not the better team last night.

That game ended in last 2 min. of the 1st half.

THANKS TO THE FALCONS FOR AGREAT SEASON …

WE WILL BE BACK SOONER THAN LATER.

ALSO, THANK YOU ARTHUR BLANK AND TO THOMAS D. , MIKE SMITH…….

KEEP DIGGIN, CHOPIN WOOD AND WE WILL GET THERE……

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UN12 . . . . that is true. I do think that endzone throw is not attempted normally by Ryan if the Pack was not moving the ball so easily. But still – he’s gotta stick to smart decision making. Of course posters would have said he has to go for endzone if he made a shorter pass and they get 3 points. I absolutely hated that they tried that quick pass to sideline with a rollout – that turned into pick 6. With no timeouts it was SOOOO obvious to the D what the Falcs would attempt. Ryan has to not throw that ball – I would have preferred just going for 3 or an Endzone attempt again. I really thought the O was doing OK, but just NO match for what the Pack O was doing. They did have to force things. Even then I saw glimmer of hope for a closer game. But that went by the wayside with fumble caused by Ryan and the Center on one series, then the reversed reception to Jenkins. Too bad there.

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This clearly shows that Flacons’ 13-3 season is not legit, they had too much luck in too many games. Unfortunately luck was not even close yesterday..this is what happens when you celebrate on other tema’s loss(Karma).

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At the end of the first half they should have been going for 7 and not three.

When you think you are taking the safe and conservative route, bad things happen. They should have been playing to win, not playing NOT TO LOSE.

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FANU – I completely agree that weed need break away speed but I don’t agree that Matt Ryan is average. The game plan was the problem. No imagination, same ole same ole, and evrybody knew it. Where the heck was Gonzalez?

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What we saw last night was a lack of playoff experience…especially from Ryan. We got behind and I think given the magnitude of the game Ryan forced the issue and threw that int before the half. The Defense could not stop them and Ryan felt he had to match GB’s offense score for score.

The Falcons are a good football team…and I challenge anyone to say otherwise. However….I do believe we were lucky to be 13-3 and we were not quite as good as most other 13-3 teams from past years. GB is playing lights out and we were exposed.

Having said that I will also say that I have all the confidence in the world in the coaching staff….this team will continue to get better and they will be in the playoff discussion next year and the future years to come as well. You can count on it!

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Man up Ryan! You screwed up bad! Those interceptions were killers! Don’t make excuses. You were just plain bad last night!

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Ray B. . … .there have been quite a few non #1 seeds that have made it to SB, and even won. The Pack has been playing great ball towards the end of the year. Unfortunately for Falcs, they met a team as hot as any . . .maybe even New England . . . . in the league. #1 seed is nice, but remember, many had predicted the Pack to beat Falcs in Atlanta during the Reg season. They even have it more together now, especially on Offense. It was a terrible display on Defense and Offense because of turnovers. I think that Offense if it played normal good decisions / low turnover game would have put up close to their average of 25/26 ppg. Unfortunately, they would have needed around 35. (I say 35 as if they got that many, Pack would probably have not had as many points.)

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Like children like father – Ok all you Falcon fans, go on home and mourn in silence, as your beloved UGA and haggardly GT did, the Falcons followed suit. Georgia is truely Losersville.

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I have to disagree with you ReallFan, We have watched our teams have a great season then go nowhere in the playoffs for too many years (mainly trhe Braves). We, as fans, don’t want to settle for mediocrity. We would like to seeb just a little supremacy for this great city.

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Sorry Falcon fans, It might of been my fault. All during the playoffs if I pick a team to win, sure enough the other team wins. A little tweaking and you’ll get em next year.

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The Falcons may have peaked too early with the over-the-top pre game hype. At the end of all the fireworks, the sound effects, the “home field advantage”, the regular season, the nicknames and the marketing slogans don’t mean a thing.

You still gotta Rise Up and play the game.

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Sam Williams . . . . Ryan made a late throw on that play and that was the problem. The ball was in middle of endzone and if he had thrown it a second or so earlier could have been perfect and GB corner would not have been there. I’m not defending the Int . .. .but you say “weak arm”. If that same pass was thrown quicker it’s a beautiful throw. Again, only talking about the weak arm part. Now I prefer he had the Super Rocket Arm and threw that ball into the stands!

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I’ve lived in ATL for 25 of the 50 years I’ve been a Packers fan. Needless to say I’m thrilled over our victory. But, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the Falcons when their so-called fans AGAIN abandoned their team. How do you think your guys felt seeing all those empty seats before the 4th Q? Imagine playing to “Go Pack Go” in your own dome. The Falcons were the # 1 seed for goodness sake! Fans should have stayed until the end and applauded them for their accomplishments this year. You talk about the media not respecting the Falcons. Look in the mirror. Being a fan takes guts, Oh, and those insults towards Packers fans and Wisconsin are juvenile and typical of those “newbies” who jump on the bandwagon every winning season.

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It’s the LARGEST margin of a playoff defeat of a home team in the Super Bowl era

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Here’s another stat to verify my claim of a weak arm QB. The falcons are last in the league when it comes to 20+ yards plays.

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Matt Ryan who do you play next? Oh…. I know couch. HAHAHA I hope the couch don’t sack you like the Packers did. Go ahead and get marry because you are a chump. You a just season player not a playoff player when the light come on. You Falcons don’t need respect. You are sorry just like Trent Dilfer said. Where you Roddy White and your big mouth? Well….. let me said one thing to you shut your mouth up.

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(I am a Green Bay fan from Wisconsin) Come on folks there are a lot of things that went wrong for your team last night.This loss may look like a horrific thing, you may want to fire the whole team after something like this but I would see and hear the same thing from packer fans had the packers lost. You have a good team and I really admire your performance this year. as for our team with injuries and shooting ourselves in the foot a lot our season about ended four weeks ago. the Team needed to learn how to finish games. For all we know we could be looking at one of the best Quarterbacks to step foot on earth. We never know what we are going to get out of a season or our players on a given day. Granted we have a defensive coordinator that has the talent on the field to do what he asks. I look forward to watching your team grow and it will. I think the team will be built around the quarterback like it should. You beat us the last time. It was our turn this time. when the experts talk about momentum believe me it is a wild ride. Green Bay has it. They still hiccup once and awhile but to overcome the hiccups and move on is what a team must do. Team motto is ” No Excuses”
I like your organization a lot. It is really(what I think a class act). I would have been rooting for you had you beaten us. Best wishes to your guys at the Pro bowl and I look forward to seeing your team next year better and improved.

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I remember a lady name Katherine who post comments on every posts saying the Falcons are going to the Super Bowl. Well… So much for that. Katherine let said one thing to you ONE AND DONE.

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let me iliterate what i predicted when this man was hired as head coach of the ATL Falcons . Smith was not the best choice because is and will never be a elite coach in the NFL due his lack of character and know how in preparation of his team in the locker room and on the football field .The fans once again showed up dig time , but where was the falcons what in the hell were they and the coaches doing doing their bi -week playing golf? I seriously dough the falcons will ever become a consistent elite team with Smith as their head coach . The entire defense need to be rebuilt and the offense need a new strategy beside ball control ,because as we seen last night the falcons can control the ball for 50 minute and still lose the game in the last 10 to a team like Green Bay . This game was embarrassing and i predict next year roster will have a lot of different player both on offense and defense .

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I dont think youre fans are ugly, PackerFan since 63. I thought the girls at UofW at Madison were very cool. Our fan base is a sore point for any old school Falcons fan. Its true, its to admit it. I was old Fulton County stadium in the old days, and have memories of games to this day. Of course, most of the memories are of other teams, like Broadway Joe slinging this 60 yard pass out of the endzone right in front of me. We were really bad for a long time. Then we finally had a hard nose team under Bennett, and a lot of people sort of joined up then. At least we were tough. We played some great 7-6 type games against Philly on Monday night in those days. Recent Falcon history is when a lot of these fans joined up. And of course, 40% of the town are transplants with other loyalties. But I dont know, when Eugene Robinson showed up with Carolina the year after his superbowl fiasco, fans cheered him when he was introduced. I was sitting right behind the Carolina bench and heckeled him the whole game. Kirby Puckett was introduced a year or so after he killed us in the series, and he was cheered. I’m the only one booing him. I dont get it. I dont knkow if its a Bible belt thing or what. So youve got this weird combination of rap blasting bbq’s on the way into the Dome and this whitebread morally superior group of jerks, throw in all the transplants, shake well…

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RMike 158 and the rest of you that keep talking about Katrina, why are you talking about a storm, I thought we were talking football here. New Orleans has put Katrina behind them and they are doing what they can to rebuild their city and their life. That is a hard thing to do, hopefully you will never find out just how hard it is. Now RMike 158 and the rest of you if you want to talk football, let’s talk football.

All you Falaints, aint never won a superbowl, get over it, you will one day, we did and it is a wonderful feeling. I hope that it is something that you get to experience. New Orleans went from the lowest low to the highest high. Give it time, it will happen.

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i am very mad about the loss but i don’t think we’re far from getting back or going further in the playoffs last night the D couldn’t stop the passing game of the packers at all i read and here talk about us needing a DE but its clear we need CORNERBACKS a couple in the draft the way some teams went with two WR in the draft last year and it worked out we need another big play guy in the passing game and out of the back field as well keep the oline together we got plenty of cap room make some moves this off season

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I predicted when this man was hired as head coach of the ATL Falcons They were making a mistake . Smith was not the best choice for this team because he lack the character and know how in preparing a team for a huge play off game like last night The fans once again showed up big time , but where was the falcons what in the hell were they and the coaches doing over the course of their bi -week playing golf? I seriously dough the falcons will ever become a consistent elite team with Smith as their head coach . The entire defense need to be rebuilt and the offense need a new strategy beside ball control ,because as we seen last night the falcons can control the ball for 50 minute and still lose the game in the last 10 to a team like Green Bay . This game was embarrassing and i hope next year roster will have a lot of different player both on offense and defense .

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Mike Smith: ” I hung my head and cry” — Geez, Mr. Smith, My sister can throw a football better than Howdy-Doody–what a minute, Ryan looks a lot like my sister!
My suggestion–get a real quaterback–Cam Newton is looking for a job.

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All Matt needs is protection. He is winner in the clutch and always has been. He needs recievers that don’t just trot out and round off to an open area. Christopher Owens?? Dont get me started.

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Matty ICE is pathetic. Maybe the WORST QB in the entire LEAGUE. Retire!!!!

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Fool.

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ON RYAN’S INTERCEPTIONS: “I’m not going to comment on bad throw, bad decision…I’m going to hold onto any type of judgment.”

OK Mike then I’ll comment. It was just a matter of time till the media spotlight and the hero worship got to that kid. He’s become over confident and, as a result, a little sloppy. Saw it in the last New Orleans game as well. What happened last night was a very talented and seasoned quarterback beat a very good and talented kid who needs a lot more seasoning.

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And he’s not comment on Owens till he sees the film. Rodgers and the Packer didnt need to see the film to go at him on every nickel. Those two penalties on the goal were pathetic. Lets get some DB’s, O linemen, maybe a reciever or two. Few holes, yeah. I think we’ve got a great fullback though.

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I was the recievers who didnt see the blitz, numbnut.

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Recievers don’t block Linebackers numbnut

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No, stupid, they cut their routes off short. Block linebackers? You idiot. Learn something about football.

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I know football SPORT, maybe you should quit being a BLIND LOYALIST and recognize we need a QB with guts, not a noodle arm

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The problem with the fan base in Atlanta is that our area is such an international city and the fan base here is made up of people all over the world. So when the Falcons are having a bad game, the fans just aren’t committed.

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And the problem with Matt is he doesn’t have an o-line that can hold the defense. GB gave Rogers 5 to 6 seconds where as Matt had 2-3 at the most. Can’t throw if you’re flat on your back.

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I have a weak arm and a weak mind

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Changes need to take place with the coaching staff and the players.
We were beat in EVERY aspect of the game..
The Falcons have NOT had their collective heads in the game since the Carolina game 2 weeks ago!
The coaches were busy INTERVIEWING for more lucrative jobs..
The players were busy looking for RESPECT-partying-glad handing..
All you had to look at was the dejection on the faces of the players on the bench..
UGA bug killer hit the nail on the head..Shades of the Arizona playoff game..
0-2 in big playoff games

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Once “Recent” Reader……I respect your knowledge of football. I think you are aware of Matt’s weaknesses. Therefore we should not to much on Matt’s ego. Matt has some good points i.e. knowloedge of the game play calling when in the no huddle and the ability to read defenses. So we have to resign in the fact that we will need an Adrian Peterson type runner so we can run a control type offenese. We can not point at our receivers because it is not our receivers that do not open up the game for us it is our QB. We have to invest more on our defense because we can not play catch up football. We a defense for close call games. Michael Turner during the season if our MVP player because the Falcons game will be successful base on our running back success. But Turner no longer have the speed to be primary back. So in the off season we need to focus on running back and a very strong defense. Our offense coordinator is good for what we have at QB.

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I am a huge Green Bay Packer Fan, but being a Georgia Boy I was pulling for the Falcons, so I was disappointed to see the kinda play I saw last night. I saw one quarter of trying and three quarters of “almost gotcha”…..This team is much better than what they showed on the field and should use the off season to decide whether they are going to fold the tent or come back with a vengance next year. I hope it will be the latter, but frankly, some of these guys are too wealthy (from fat salaries) to care about working when they can be off spending some of that money…..If I’m wrong, then prove it next year Fat Cats !

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Congrats GREEN BAY. You deserve to move forward. You played a great game and put us to shame.
I am so disappointed that we did not go all the way this year. I was hoping this would be our year.
I must admit I was embarrassed by the way we played last night. It was hard to watch. I hope we do better next year and learn from our mistakes. Good Luck Green Bay!!!!

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This word to the Falcon’s who gave it your all ! I salute you, I am proud of you, and I will remain a Falcons fan ! I hope you will at least think about sending some of these Fat Cats packing and replace them with people who are willing to play an entire game……

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Project 115 – was that the number of plays that a BVG defense allows in a play-off game?

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This is what it is like to be a GT fan – you hope and always get disappointed

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Very disappointing that the players and coaches have no more desire to play hard and win than what they showed on Saturday night. The tackling and coverage aspects of the defense is something that really needs to be evaluated and addressed. Chris Owens is not a NFL DB. Curtis Lofton is not the stout, mean middle LB that a good defense requires. John Abraham should retire or become a second string guy. Jamaal Anderson should be released, and forced to give back 75% of his salary for his lack of play.

Offensively, Matt Ryan is 0-2 in playoff games. Not good for a leading QB. It is time to consider that we may not have the right guy under center. Tony G. is still serviceable, but we need a young stud at TE. Michael Jenkins should be traded. We have no explosion on offense at all. Other teams have a lot of what we do not have. It is very discouraging to year after year have to face the fact that your team just will never be good enough to win a championship. I honestly feel that the Falcons organization is going to lose a great deal of fans behind the pitiful effort that was displayed last night. Major changes need to be addressed and made.

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I’m a rabid fan but sorry, the bubble is burst. Coaches and players are fond of saying their opponent was the better team “on this day”. Unfortunately, there is a pattern to these losses. Pittsburgh beat us with their backup quarterback. The Eagles destroyed us with their backup quarterback. We caught the Saints off guard and stole one there. Then they came and took it from us in our Dome, where we are “unbeatable”. We did not dominate in more than a game or two games, and then against questionable opponents.

We have serious deficiencies in both coaching and personnel. A little tweak is not going to fix this team. The Falcons have no air game to speak of. Yes, Roddy White is an elite receiver, but take him away and we are largely helpless to play catch-up from any big deficit. We can’t grind out a running game under those circumstances because we can’t score points fast enough. Elite teams know this and exploit that weakness. Shut down Roddy White, get up 14 points (which elite teams have shown they can do), and the Falcons are done. Our coaches may know about this problem but don’t have the personnel to fix it. They may not know in which case, we are doubly screwed because we need new coaches AND new players. Does that sound like a simple tweak?

I’m trying hard not to be all negative. The Falcons DO have some good players. They have put together a good regular season and a third consecutive winning season, for the first time. They are a high character team, of which we can be proud. To win playoff games, some “facts” need to be revisited and addressed.

1. When we played Green Bay, the Saints, the Eagles, etc., THEIR receivers are frequently open and running towards their goal. Our receivers usually are covered in a sea of opposing jerseys and have to run BACK to the ball. Why is this? Is it the coaching philosophy? Is it poor play calling? Is it taking Matt Ryan too long to get rid of the ball? Why could Matt Ryan not see two Green Bay linemen in his face all evening and throw the ball away or deliver it to a hot read? He stepped INTO a sack way more than he stepped OUT of one. He has a questionable long ball. He turns it over at critical times in big games. Where’s the quick reads, the quick (good) decision making, the play extension through great footwork?

2. Why are elite teams so successful in shutting down our running game? Is it the play calling (coaches)? Are the linemen too small? Does Michael Turner have incredibly strong legs but poor vision? (How many times does he disregard an open hole and opt instead for running into a pile of humanity? It happens a LOT.)

3. Where are the lower tier names who show up and become heroes in big games (think Lynch, Starks, Avant, and half the Green Bay team). Who was the speed option to losing Norwood? Where’s our receiving speedster who can get consistently get behind the defense (and why didn’t he do it)?

… too many more to list in my current mood of disgust.

Lastly, we should not be concerned about whether we draw Seattle or Green Bay in a playoff game. We are lacking the mental attitude which elite teams have. The Ravens lost to the Steelers, but you had to love the T-shirt: “Hey, Pittsburgh!: “[followed by the bird flipping a bird]. I normally don’t go for the braggadocio and bravado, but this was clue about the right mental toughness and intent to dominate. And Suggs, at least, did back it up!

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The Pack came into the game expecting to win. The Falcons came into the game hoping to win.
Hope in one hand and poop in the other and see which hand fills up 1st!!!

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See you on the hill this summer Falcons…..

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@falcons fever I would rather have any than that of the Pigeons they set a record in there own dome #1 seed No team can top that. Oh and the Saints fans were not bragging they were going to the SUPER BOWL LOL!!!!JUST SAD

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Hey, the better team won last night. I think these Saints fans are hilarious though. It is a hoot that they win one championship and think they are the greatest franchise ever. Every team could one day win a championship (even Atlanta). Talk to me about great when the Saints have won 10 or 12 (like Green Bay) championships. That day will never happen though…

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JSS, Najeh . ..and even Monsieur Choke . . .. .well I’ll say this. It looks like my “favorite” NFL QB Mr. Ryan is still somewhere in the 12 – 20 range at this time. He could have done much better to help a team that needed scoring yesterday. The two Int’s were just plain bad. No need to force it in the endzone . . ..unless he had thrown it earlier or a little higher/farther. That roll-out Pick-6 . . . .terrible. Now, I still will be back to defend Mr. Ryan . …. but I’m pragmatic and know there is still lots of room for improvement. And he is now 0-2 as QB in playoffs. A monkey is beginning to grow a bit bigger on his back.

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Packers SB . . . . . . . .the Falcons-Saints fan rivalry and back and forth trashing is probably similar to a mini (and I mean VERY MINI) Bears-Packers fans’ discussion. Not much love being passed around:)

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POOR PIGEONS WILL NEVER GET A RING!!!!!LOL!!!!LOL!!! TO FUNNY JUST WIN ONE PIGEONS, THAT’S ALL IM ASKING!!!!LOL

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the aints are still at home so you aren’t fooling anybody. The aints were terrible this year. they were worse than the falcons so you might want to keep that in mind as you pop off without thinking. Every time

Pack played a great game and the Falcons did not. Rodgers in particular is an exceptional quarterback. He far better than the short man, Brees. I think we’ll have problems with Rodgers for a long time to come and the Bucs will be contenders as well. But the aints time is over. That organization is in decline and its poor fans are extremely bitter and it’s easy to see why.

Congratulation to the Falcons on a fine season.

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The Saints were only team consistantly worse than the Falcons. They were so bad for so long. Theyve got their share of ignorant fans, like we do, but its a really good rivaly. Anybody from Atlanta who wanted the Saints to lose the superbowl last year, just doesnt get it. Some of their fans are not used to being winners and they don’t know how to deal with it. I dont think they mean anything by it.

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The falcan’ts flew higher this year, and crashed harder! Splat! Get the CDC on the line, there’s more dead black birds all over the pavement!

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Would you trade him for Jeff George and his rocket arm right now? Of course not. You protect him, give him time, get his recievers open for goodness sake, and he’ll do it. He’s clutch. I think he has won more games his first three years in the league than any QB in history, and thats with a Falcon team with serious holes. We definitly got things to take care of, but getting rid of Matt Ryan sure isnt one of them.

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JP . ….so in other words . ..if they wanted to trade Ryan, I’m sure they could start their talks in Miami. Of course I don’t believe the Falcons Management and Coaching staff are that STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes I used capitals and multiple exclamation marks for EMPHASIS. )

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SeenThisB4 . . . . . That was a quite a rise the Falcs made this year, and yesterday was definitely a very hard and ungraceful fall!!!! We can trash how the Falcs played, but what can’t be denied is how incredible Rogers and his receivers were yesterday.

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@Once: Yup, he was on his game….

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Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud of the Atlanta Falcons. Green Bay Packer are a better team, I am happy that we had great record in 13-3 before the lost. Mike Smith learn a powerful lesson, to win a Super Bowl, you can’t celebrate to early. The Atlanta Falcons have to get more in depth in there roster, and find guys who are going to step up when people get hurt. No excuses for this lost, defense let us down, and they have to get better and find guys that can step up in that role when diversity is an issue on the field. I am a true Falcons Fan, and I am hurt at the lost, but you have to move on and learn from this lost and get better.

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For the last year, I’ve been studying the comments on sports blogs and notice a definite trend. There seems to be a quick to judgement type cynicism combined with a thought process that is overly simplified and jumps to unwarrented conlusions based on incomplete, erroneous, and overly emotional interpretation of the facts around them.
My own opinion is that it results from listening to much negative radio.

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Dr. Livinston. .. . . . what is your availability?? I have a list of many AJC Posters I’d love to schedule in for a Blogging Intervention session

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I’m booked solidly, my friend, but a mass Blogging Intervention, say at the World Congress Center, along the lines of the mass weddings Rev. Moon used to due, hitch em ten thousand at a time, might have real potential. Could have tee shirts..I like it.

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Chicago is certainly spanking the Seahawks around. That should be a real war next week for the NFC. If Rodgers stays as hot as he is, they could take it all I think.

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“It was a very discouraging night for our football team.” Got that right, Mike. Kind of hard to swing the momentum to your team when the only fans left are wearing green and gold. You had a great season, by a team that surpassed its expectations. Instead of sticking around, cheering them on, and sending them off on a decibel meter breaking thank you, you left them looking for the easiest route off the field. Time to FAN UP Atlanta!!!

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RealFalconFan, the Packers didn’t beat the Falcons? You were watching a different game than I did. The Falcons defense didn’t force a single punt all night long. It is a passive defense that reacts and they got their butts kicked badly. And Packer fans wouldn’t have gotten up and left at the end of the third quarter. That was shameful.

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drmondo, agreed. I can’t see Owens haning aroudn next year. Just way too inept, really embarrasing. It was hard to believe Smitty said he had to see film before he could say how bad the guy was, and actuall said oh, he did some good things out there. I dont what game he was watching.
I guess they justified Anderson as being some kind of run stopper this year, but they should’ve cut his bait years ago. Major bust. I just hope that they can do something in the draft, get us some talent, cut the dead wood around here, and get some free agents who can play the game. Major list of things to improve. They need to just start telling the truth. Im tired of the coachspeak, tell it like it is.

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Ya’ lose to our 4th string quarterback.. should have given you a clue that a journeyman like Rodgers was going to carve you up.
Better draft some defense.. and , there’s a reason why you have the lowest payroll in the league for playoff teams.. you get what you pay for.

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“It was disappointing. We didnt play like we wanted. We didnt tackle as cleanly as we could”,etc etc. But..now get this..”We had great preparation this week.” Huh?

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The Falcons reminded us again on Saturday how hard it is to be a fan of any of the Atlanta sports franchises. But, alas, as the bandwagoners jump off, it’ll be fans like me who’ll still be here supporting them, despite knowing the gloom and doom that lies ahead.

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oh lawd

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A fine good afternoon to everyone. How is everybody?

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Hey, Packer Pete in NC, class act, class comments, thanks much and congratulations! You guys absolutely were the better tem, hope you go all the way. To Mattyicemelted, you are a classless adolescent…one of those guys that runs his mouth like a man when it’s safe, but runs like a girl in real life. Can’t you just enjoy the victory without being a total dickhead?

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I think the falcons should move grimes to nickel and pick up nnamdi or move dunta to fs

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Owens was clearly in over his head, but the loss was a team effort. Brian Williams was sorely missed and that probably handicapped the blitzes needed to get pressure on Rogers.

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This team got some lucky bounce this year and won some close games that could have gone the other way. When they were 8 and 2 Coach Smith stated that they had not played a complete game so far in the season, which was very honest of the coach to state the fact. The offense did not play as well as was expected all year, there were flashes when Ryan was very good, but he was not consistent, neither did Turner always run as hard as was expected. Teams realized that it is best to focus on stopping Turner and Ryan was not able to move the sticks when this happened. Ryan is still young and is still developing and should not be compared with Rodgers who sat behind Favre for three years and gained valuable experience. I hope Ryan wil get to his level soon.
UGA BugKiller : I agree with your comments on Mike Smith, and I have stated this on numerous occasions in the past about his conservative approach. As the DC in Jacsonville he had two stud Defensive Tackles
and a very good defense when he went up against New England in the Championship game prior to coming here, and he never once tried to put any pressure on Brady. He is what he is,a very conservative coach who plays to keep it close with the hope that he will sneak out a win in the end. I was surprised when he blitzed Drew Brees as often as he did.
I did not expect the Birds to make it to the Super Bowl at the start of the season, so I will applaud their record. However Dimitroff will need to find some Defensive backs and Linebackers in the Draft. It is also time to find a quick running back to complement Turner and who can take it to the house. It is also time to find a replacement for Gonzalez as it is doubtful he will play after next season. Dimitroff has still not found a Defensive end to rush the passer and complement Abraham and subsequently replace him.
People around here hailed Dimitroff as if he was the next Belicheck or Ted Thompson when it came to drafting talent, but he is yet to find a good defensive back. He missed on Chevis Jackson, Chris Owens, Dontae Robinson and it would seem Dominique Franks. What has happened to Sidbury and how about Jerry the #1 pick of a year ago? Did he miss on them as well?

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have you taken the block off V ic k Names now that your scub ryan has fcccked up in atlanta?

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DID YOU ALL MISS BRIAN WILLIAMS: ?

NO mudder frocker we missed V IC K!!

stupid azize

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Also, I don’t judge by who played in what division. I judge by who played what team.

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I thought I was a UGA game last night.

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NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, DID I THINK WE WOULD GIVE UP 48PTS AND GET BLOWN OUT IN A HOME PLAYOFF LOSS!! WHO IS TO BLAME? MATT RYAN? OUR SECONDARY? MIKE MULARKEY? BRIAN VAN GORDER? THE 1981 PLAYOFF LOSSS TO DALLAS 30YRS AGO AT FULTON COUNTY STADIUM,PALES IN COMPARISON! THIS WAS A SHALLACKING IN FRONT OF OUR FANS! SOME HEADS NEED TO ROLL! TOO BAD WE COULD NOT GIVE TONY G HIS 1ST PLAYOFF WIN! HOW MUCH DOES MIKE TURNER HAVE IN THOSE LEGS? RIGHT NOW, WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE LEAGUE!

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Wow, look at all the comments from scumbucket Aints “fans”. How little of a life do you have to be to spend so much time going on other team’s blogs to leave insults? How little class and integrity do you have as a human being to spend so much energy gloating over others’ misfortunes? What a bunch of sleasy lowlifes.

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FALCONS NEED TO ADDRESS THEIR DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES AND COACHING STAFF. A SOFT ZONE DEFENSE WAS BAD COACHING DECISION IN A BIG PLAY-OFF GAME. THE WAY THE FALCONS PLAYED LAST NIGHT, ANY TEAM COULD HAVE WON THE GAME.

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PACKER FAN IN ATL you are a good sportsman and thats why you cheese heads are moving on in the play offs.; you guys really love football like the state of georgia. Glad to see that you like this game. good luck in the playoffs packers and beat the bears. you guys deserve a superbowl shot. good luck and i hope the best for you.

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True that the Falcons didnt show up. Like a person said earlier these are hiccups with the team and we got good personnel to make the team better. Its bound to happen that the Falcons or any sports team are gonna have a bad day. Didnt expect it to happen in the playoffs but it is what it is and we must move on.
Alot of us are hurt because we’re die-hard fans and were venting our dismay as to what happened. We beat Greenbay up in lambeau field years back and i cant imagine how bad their fans felt after losing their 1st. playoff game there and even with Brett Favre at the helm.
But now Greenbay is back as Atlanta will be. We have to look past this game and enjoy the other playoffs.
Oh yeah and the 14-2 Team New England Patriots that beat Jets 45-3 lost to them, does this mean theyre a sorry team? No because they’ll be back.
Atlanta can only get better and the NFC South will have great teams such as Tampa Bay, New Orleans and maybe even Carolina.
It’ll be a fun year and something to talk about and debate in this room for sure. All in all we’re sportsmen and if any teams from the NFC South go into the playoffs we should pull for them. Just as we do in college with their respective Conferences.
I’d like to say something that has nothing to do with the Falcons here about Royal Marshall that was on 750 WSB who died yesterday at the age of 43 who left 2 little girls behind.
My prayers and thoughts are with you my friend, you were an awesome person on the radio that i loved to listen to during the week.
I pray that God will watch over your framily and bless your children and give them peace as well as your wife and family.
Again we will all miss you and that voice on radio and the happiness you provided us day in day out.
God Bless!

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This is why you dont draft a project LB in the first round!! Go get another WR and get some free agents on that D!!

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Underperformed at all phases of the game and could not adapt or make adjustments during the game. How good or great is this team? Is the team as a whole too young? Why on the planet are we three man rushing?????

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Let’s go ahead and start saying Matt Ryan can’t win the BIG game… It seems to have worked for Payton Manning.

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This was a crushing defeat!!

If Flowery Branch wants to hide their heads in the sand and just assume all is OK with our team then that’s the wrong approach.

Mularkey needs to be fired. We have too much talent on offense to struggle to score week in and week out..

Defense played well above their heads all year except Saturday , so instead of questioning BVG, I question TD. Where is Jerry and Weatherspoon?? These two are his top picks in the last two drafts and they have done nothing. Robinson is terrible, 1 INT this year. He might as well play Free Safety the way he plays off the WR’s..

We won 6-7 games in the fourth Q, next year maybe we only win 1 or 2, who knows but we need to step up if we want to compete with the NFL Elite teams..

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We have major issues on both sides of the ball:
Offense:
1) Fewest or tied for fewest 20 yard+ plays in the NFL
2) Turner only caught the ball 12 times this season, lowest of any starting RB in NFL
- These two facts sum up an offense that can’t stretch the field! If the D knows we aren’t going deep and they know when Turner is the lone set back that we never throw to him don’t you think that is a huge tip off? crowd the box? play bump and run with our receivers?

Mularkey had 5 guys going to the Pro Bowl on offense but yet we struggled all season to score TD’s..

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This team overachieved and lucked its way to that 13-3 record. With a much tougher schedule ahead next season(NFC North instead of NFC West), this team will be lucky to get to 10-6 if that. Everything broke right for the Falcons this year, and that will not be the case next season. Mediocre talent will only get you so far!

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I’m a die hard but I agree with you realitycheck…

We got lucky many times this season, AND THAT’S GREAT!, but next year luck may not be on our side so we need to rely on talent and while our offense is talented (minus Mularkey’s weak play calling) or defense is terribly unskilled… many, many hole sto fill.

I hope the Falcons take the GB game as a wake up call and not just as a one game loss that means nothing in the long run..

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Second place is simply the First Loser.

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Project 115? Turned out to be Project Zero. Was the weather a factor? Hello. You play in a DOME! Maybe if this was Minnepolis the weather could have been a factor.

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