5 reasons why the Falcons must beat Lions
- Andrew, Allen and Denise McMillan are big supporters of Matthew Stafford. (This was taken during Stafford’s first mini-camp with the Lions in May of 2009.) (By D. Orlando Ledbetter/Dledbetter@ajc.com)
FLOWERY BRANCH — The 2011 season hasn’t started quite exactly the way the Falcons envisioned.
“They haven’t had what they would consider a great start to the season,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. ”But we can’t let them get on track.”
But they haven’t fallen completely off the map like say Minnesota (1-5), Indianapolis (0-6), Jacksonville (1-5) and Denver (1-4).
Here’s why the game against Detroit is so important.
If the Falcons can beat a team with a winning record they could establish a degree of legitimacy as a playoff contender. (It might be wise to forgot about the Super Bowl stuff, for now. That’s a pipe dream until they start stopping folks on third down. They are last in the league at 49 percent in third down inefficiency.)
The Falcons have victories over Philadelphia (2-4), Seattle (2-3), and Carolina (1-5). They have been beaten by Chicago (3-3), Tampa Bay (4-2) and Green Bay (6-0). There’s a pattern in there somewhere.
So here are five reasons why the Falcons must beat the Detroit Lions:
1. Beat a winner: The defending NFC South Champs need to knock off the upstart Lions (5-1) at Ford Field to show that they can beat a team with a winning record before going into the bye week.
2. Conference play: The Falcons already have three conference losses, one of the key playoff tiebreakers.
3. Consistency: They need to break another hideous pattern: L-W-L-W-L-W. They have been up and down this season and have not played with “consistency.”
4. Wildcard race: Barring a Wayne Fontes-styled collapse, the Lions will likely be at the playoff finish line. The Falcons need to get the head-to-head advantage over one of the NFC North teams. The Lions and Falcons could finish 10-6 like Green Bay and Tampa Bay did last season. Green Bay got the last seed and Tampa Bay was at home. We know how that worked out.
5. Better vacation: I’m sure the bye week is much more enjoyable for the team coming of a W.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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112 comments Add your comment
Samuel
October 20th, 2011
11:27 am
The defense has to get off the field on third downs, if not we have to let Vangorder go. I know we have some flaws, but you can’t tell me with all this talent the defense can’t get better.
ctfalconsfan
October 20th, 2011
11:36 am
Samuel with all due respect you can’t talk about talent and our defense in the same sentence.
Our defense has very little talent. I believe only Abraham and Lofton could start for MOST NFL teams. The rest of our starters would be good back-ups.. BVG has nothing to work with so that’s why we play a bend dont break D.. With that say they are dead last in 3rd down conversions and that MUST improve.
MULARKEY on the other hand is loaded with talent that is wasted by his simple minded approach.
The Offense needs to step up and score 30+ points every week!
Samuel
October 20th, 2011
11:44 am
ctfalconsfan, You mean Witherspoon, Grimes, Moore. and Edwards have no talent.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
October 20th, 2011
11:54 am
I hate to say this BUT…..Matthew Stafford is going to lite up (all day long) the pass defensive scheme of VanGorder. That soft zone coverage (rush 3 and drop 8 into coverage)….that is what is consistently killing the defense of 3rd downs. VanGorder rarely has his CBs bump and run…..why not????
SirReal
October 20th, 2011
12:05 pm
3rd and 2: SMITTY and BVG call for secondary to back 5 yards away from line of scrimmage.
3rd and 17: SMITTY and BVG call for secondary to play prevent D. Ball is caught by Calvin Johnson and Dunta Robinson slips. TD Lions.
jc_dawgs
October 20th, 2011
12:07 pm
Lions will be very tough for the Falcons to run against. So esentially….we dont match up well with them. This is where Mularkey needs to step up…it is on him! If we have to throw it more….and we probably will…Mularkey must stretch the D both vertically and horizontally. If Matt does not have time to throw the deep or imtermediate route…we must utilize Rogers with the screen and flat passes. That will take the pressure off of the Falcon oline. Its up to Mularkey because if he just continues to stick to the Falcons offensive gameplan by continuously running into a stone wall….we will lose.
Mularkey…despite what some people think….cannot be that clueless. Or Can he?
SirReal
October 20th, 2011
12:08 pm
1st and 10: Hand the ball to Turner
2nd and 9: Hand the ball to Turner
3rd and 7: Ryan dinks a pass to Snelling for a 4 yard gain.
4th and 3: Punt
Great job mixing it up Mularkey.
eturn
October 20th, 2011
12:15 pm
Soooo everybody says MM have to step it up BVG have to step it up…So if the Falcons lose to the Lions then What? Step it up the next game.. SMH
FBGuy
October 20th, 2011
12:23 pm
Want to see Falcons win, but suspect Lions will prevail. Stafford to Johnson is something no one has stopped this season, and even though Lions have weak running game, Falcons’ D is not impressive. Will be close, but the safe wager says Lions by 3.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 20th, 2011
12:37 pm
The Lions make enough mistakes on both sides of the ball to where they are beatable, and they will likely be missing Jahvid Best. But they still have more than enough firepower to where if the Falcons get into a shootout with them, the Lions will win.
As is almost always the case, the Falcons’ best chance of winning is to control time of possession by running the ball and using short passes to move the chains, and force turnovers on D. If they get behind or in a position where they have to make big plays in the passing game, they will lose.
The good thing is that Detroit plays in a dome, where the Falcons are typically much better.
Nevascared
October 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
RISE UP ATLANTA!!!!! In my Samuel L Jackson voice…. We will WIN in detroit.
SR
October 20th, 2011
12:44 pm
Agree with you that they it is a must win but doesn’t matter, they won’t. Lions will come out with a real chip on their shoulder after losing to Niners last week. They didn’t play well and Schwartz won’t let them get away with that again. They will pressure Ryan like crazy and Stafford will chew up that short, weak secondary. Take the Lions in this one, they will more than cover.
ctfalconsfan
October 20th, 2011
12:52 pm
@samuel
Spoon? He is a 1st rd pk and I hear his name mentioned every now and again
Edwards? That’s our sack specialist with 2 sacks in 6 games
Moore? William plays pretty good but not great
Grimes I like. He his a good little CB for us . OK I’ll toss Grimes in with John and Curtis..
fan
October 20th, 2011
12:54 pm
I think some of you on here have been smoking weed. We have a better coaching staff, what a joke. G. Cummingham is way better defense coach that Smith and BVG. MM is not better than Scott Linghan . Our O-line is no match for their defense line. Ryan will be lucky to finish this game. And we do not have anyone to cover Calvin Johnson. Dallas has more talent in secondary than falcons. They had three corners on Johnson and could not stop Stafford to Johnson. Tell me how we are going to beat Lions with BVG and Smitty soft zone. We have falcon blindness here. Lions win. And Turner is no Frank Gore.
deep pass
October 20th, 2011
12:58 pm
reebok, I half way agree with you. I don’t think falcons will win eight games, let alone playoffs. They will not be another Seattle this year.
Andre Bruce
October 20th, 2011
1:03 pm
Go ahead a pick on Houston, he has three picks, check his 57 million dollar replacement on falcans.Dunta cheap shot, does he have a pick. I know he has a fine.
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:16 pm
There is a minor skill aspect in football called “tackling.” If the Falcons knew how to tacle, their record would be MUCH better.
JohnD
October 20th, 2011
1:17 pm
Geez – what a bunch of haters.
This team is not as consistent as last year’s team. The major problem is this year’s team plays 30 minutes of good football – not 60. Significantly outplayed Green Bay for first 25 minutes; Outplayed Tampa in 2nd half; Outplayed Seattle for 50 minutes; So the problem isn’t talent or initial scheme. The problem seems to be preparation – player and coach and an inability to make necessary in-game adjustments.
The softer 2nd half schedule can easily be a 6-3 or 7-2 finish – so a win this weekend sets them up for 10 or 11 wins. If not – probably finish 8-8 or 9-7 – and don’t deserve to make the playoffs anyway.
Joycee Banicheck
October 20th, 2011
1:21 pm
Andrew, Allen, and Denise McMillan…. Complete dorks.
Not that I wish it on D’twa but Stafford gets planted on his shoulder and sits for a few weeks after this game. Mark it down.
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:23 pm
The Lions have nothing, just like Obankruptbama.
Realistic Fan
October 20th, 2011
1:23 pm
We are done. We can barely beat an overhyped quarterback. We’ll be lucky to get to 8-8.
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:26 pm
Detroit is a ghost-town. The Lions have always been bad. There is no resurrection in sight. Even Obankruptbama’s stolen stimulous money couldn’t raise-up Detroit.
Realistic Fan
October 20th, 2011
1:27 pm
Also, its time to blow up the defense. They are too old and too slow. What do you think the Aints are going to do to us? It ain’t going to be pretty. Also, Matt Ryan is barely a top 15 Quarterback. No arm strength or speed. Also, too conservative. When he does take shots down the field, people like Tramon Williams are the only ones that benefits
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:29 pm
Realistic Fan………………………..BANNED from the Optimest Club of Atlanta.
Realistic Fan
October 20th, 2011
1:29 pm
D. Ledbetter get Real. You and I both know this team has been overhyped the past three years. Now we are getting exposed for what we really are, which is an ultra conservative team with overrated skill players (except Gonzo and JJ).
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:31 pm
BANNED from fan-hood……………………..BANNED ! ! !
Terrell
October 20th, 2011
1:33 pm
@Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
And the dumb get dumber I see. Can’t talk football without politics.
Realistic Fan
October 20th, 2011
1:35 pm
Can’t speak my mind. oh well. This was a great article. Hope your right and I’m wrong.
Later
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:37 pm
It all goes hand-in-foot, genius. Re-elect Obankruptbama and there will not be an economy to support stuff like the NFL. No more football for US. So, it IS very relevant. Thinks about it. Re-elect Obankruptbama……………………..no more football.
Joycee Banicheck
October 20th, 2011
1:43 pm
For real dude, take your political crap to another blog, maybe bill o’rieley has a blog you’d fit right in at…
Realistic Fan
October 20th, 2011
1:43 pm
Leave politics out. The last I checked, this wasn’t Obama’s fault. It‘s not even the Republicans fault. Its Greenspan’s fault the economy is down the drain. Cheap money for too long is the cause of this. Cheap money (Credit) caused people to live beyond their means. Now that debt has passed on to the governments. Either way, don’t blame either party. Just Greenspan. If you don’t believe me, crack open an intro Econ book.
ctfalconsfan
October 20th, 2011
1:49 pm
Falcons are going to dominate this team from start to finish….
It could get ugly!!!
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:49 pm
I’m sure Herman Cain is a Falcon fan. (And Kaynsian Economics don’t work.)
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
I can’t wait for this game. This is getting exciting. Let’s see if Detroit is for real and/or/if the Falcons are back.
ctfalconsfan
October 20th, 2011
2:00 pm
@NIK I agree with your observation, why does the ajc have a picture of these random hillbillies in DETROIT junk??
Are they DOL neighbors or… What is that pic doing here???
AJC PLEASE REMOVE and insert a pic of Falcon fans in MI wearing a Ryan jersey. Now that’s what I expect from you….
ctfalconsfan
October 20th, 2011
2:10 pm
Realistic Fan u r too much….
U scold someone to leave politics out of this blog and then you go on and on about Greenspan and cheap money..lol..
Hollywould
October 20th, 2011
2:44 pm
Go to work on #23 with Roddy/ traps up the middle is what the niners did. Screen pass here and there/ Get at Stafford early/ Falcs 27 Lions 24
Run4ever
October 20th, 2011
2:56 pm
Let’s see what the focus is going to be on Sunday vs the Lions. “In his Falcon debut, Turner broke the Atlanta Falcons single game rushing record against the Detroit Lions on September 7, 2008, rushing for 220 yards on 22 carries with 2 touchdowns.[7] His 220 yards against the Lions marked the third-highest opening day rushing total behind O.J. Simpson’s 250 yards in 1973 and Arian Foster’s 231 yards in 2010 and his rushing total is also the most in NFL annals by a player in his first game with a new team and surpassed the previous mark of 202 yards setting by running back Gerald Riggs on September 2, 1984.”
So now that everyone one knows the importance of this game, it’s time for all the coaches on the Falcons to plan, study, plan some more, and implement a way to get M. Turner going. For M. Turner-this game, as you read the above in the quotations, will be a huge game for him, personally. That being said, Snelling will have his number called alot, as well a Q. The Falcons will pick apart the Lions this week and should be able to win by at large margin 10pts. Anyone agree?
Barry
October 20th, 2011
3:03 pm
Hey Y’all:
The FALCONS WILL BE THE LIONS BECAUSE WE ARE “TICKED OFF!” AND WE ARE NOW STARTING TO GET IN OUR GROOVE. OUR YOUNG VETERAN FALCONS WILL BE PLAYING REAL NASTY ON SUNDAY, ON OFFENSE, DEFENSE, AND SPECIAL TEAMS. THIS WILL BE A “STATEMENT GAME” FOR “PRETENDERS” IN THE NFL TO “WATCH OUT” “THE FALCONS” ARE COMING!!!! AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANY PRISONERS!!!! WE STARTED WITH “ONE HEARTBEAT!! AND WE WILL END WITH “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. THIS IS A NEVER ENDING STORY!!!!!
LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!
THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES.
“WE RISE” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!” THUMP!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!
………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!…………………..
sam
October 20th, 2011
3:22 pm
The opponents are converting 50% of their 3rd downs against the Falcons. So why even bother playing the first 2 downs? Unless BVG figures out how to call NFL caliber schemes, the Falcons will never be more than a bottom 10 defense.
Gator Jim Bob
October 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
first,I’m a gator fan and don’t really care who wins this game. When it comes to NFL I just want to be entertained. that said, I feel that the Lions will win because of the Falcons poor secondary. How in the world Grimes ever became an All Pro defies logic. His nick name should be “Toast” since he gets burned every game. Further, I think Ryan is WAY over rated as a QB. He”s middle of the road at best.
Michael Turner, a STAR on ANY team as is Gonzalez
Gator Jim Bob
October 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
Barry,Barry,Barry
You ain’t seen the ball since kick-off,Baby. You are obviously delusional. Not only will the Birds miss the play-offs, they will be lucky to have an 8- 8 season!
Boom Boom
October 20th, 2011
4:51 pm
Suh is going to EAT Matt Ryan for lunch
McGoo
October 20th, 2011
5:04 pm
I’m a totally unbiased opinion here and all I can say is that Falcon fans seem a little overly optomistic. In fact they are down right delusional to think they will travel to Motown and”win easily” as one put it. Detroit is playing much better than the Birds and I dont see this game being very close with the mismatches in the Falcon’s secondary.
Derrick Orlamdo Ledbetter
October 20th, 2011
5:08 pm
IF THE FALCONS PLAY THEIR GAME, AS WELL AS THEY ARE CAPABLE, they can beat anybody.
(Exept a certain QB from GB that on a certain game that was throwing the ball through the eye of a needle from 40 yards.)
falconsrelax
October 20th, 2011
5:20 pm
I have a feeling about the lions. I think we can go in and pull out the “W” but the play calling has to be top notch against that d-line. Ryan isn’t so good away from the dome. Has a great home record but away things fall apart. O-line is playing bad but turner is running great. We have to have a double dose of the run game because Julio will be out. Get a lead and do what we did last year. Murlarkey isn’t good enough to take this offense to the next level so we have to keep our same identity from last year.
POUND THE ROCK, GET A LEAD, AND PLAY GOOD DEFENSE.
Pete
October 20th, 2011
5:25 pm
So much for which NFL program has taken a LEGITIMATE giant step forward.
How can the Falcons expect to win in the noise of the Ford Dome with Ryan getting smashed to the turf against a REAL defensive line and the pathetic Falcon secondary having ZERO chance against young Stafford. He will torch them on every 3rd and 8, 3rd and 15, 3rd and 25………….makes no difference what the yardage is.
Beyond laughable.
Scott Case
October 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
All I know is that Matthew Stafford is not afraid to throw the ball into coverage. There will be opportunities to pick him off, but there will be opportunites to get scorched downfield. He’s got a cannon arm, unlike Matty Noodlearm Ice. Get pressure or we will get destroyed. Dunta on Calvin? Jigga please!
CGD..
October 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
“Also, its time to blow up the defense. They are too old and too slow. What do you think the Aints are going to do to us? It ain’t going to be pretty. Also, Matt Ryan is barely a top 15 Quarterback. No arm strength or speed. Also, too conservative. When he does take shots down the field, people like Tramon Williams are the only ones that benefits”
If they make the playoffs, the FALCONS are going to get smoked for lunch!
CGD..
October 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
A must win up in the Motor City on Sunday!! Go 3-4 in your first 7 and its a wrap!!!