Atlanta Falcons: ‘Very fortunate’ to be 6-0 at the bye
The Falcons enter their bye week as the only undefeated team in the NFL with a two-victory lead over the rest of the NFC.
They don’t talk like a 6-0 squad, though, because they have hardly looked the part of a juggernaut.
That’s probably why, following Atlanta’s 23-20 victory over Oakland on Sunday, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan cited the team’s undefeated record on the one hand and acknowledged troublesome trends on the other.
“We’ve been good enough to win and at the end of the day, that’s what you need to do,” Ryan said. “I think it’s going to be important for us, this bye week, to try and find ways for us to play our best and to look critically at ourselves and try and improve.”
Style doesn’t count in the standings, but the quality of Atlanta’s play is regressing even as the victories keep coming.
Atlanta’s problems both running the ball and stopping the run are still apparent and the secondary’s knack for making big plays has masked problems with pass coverage and tackling. Atlanta’s offensive line play has been inconsistent and the limitations of a pass-heavy offense reliant on Ryan are starting to show.
The Falcons have some time to sort things out. Their next game is Oct. 28 at Philadelphia.
“Our goal is try to be better tomorrow than today,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said Monday. “There are times that we take steps forward and times we take steps back.”
While earning another another victory Sunday, Atlanta took another step back after opening the season with convincing victories against the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers. The Falcons got past Oakland (1-4) only when Matt Bryant kicked a 55-yard field goal with one second left in the game.
It was the third time in three games Atlanta had to rally to win in the fourth quarter.
“This game took a lot out of us as a defense (so) this off week, in those respects, is right on time,” Falcons defensive back Dunta Robinson said. “We’ve still got a long season ahead of us. We are not where we want to be. We are 6-0 going into the bye (but) we know we are going to get everybody’s best shot so we’ve got to take it to another level.”
The Raiders found themselves stride for stride with the Falcons with a suddenly rejuvenated offense and some ball-hawking defense. Smith said close games between seemingly mismatched opponents and upset losses in the NFL reinforce the notion that “each week is a hard battle.”
Still, the Falcons have yet to play a contender. The combined record of their six opponents, discounting their losses to Atlanta: 11-15.
Smith and his staff have plenty to work on during the off week.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter prefers a balanced attack but last week said the best approach was to put the game in Ryan’s hands because the quarterback’s play had been superlative. That strategy didn’t pay dividends against Oakland; Ryan wasn’t as sharp while tossing three interceptions.
Ryan faced a heavy pass rush and Atlanta had virtually no running game to relieve the pressure. Ryan’s 15-yard scramble was its longest run of the game. The Falcons totaled 45 yards on 15 attempts after gaining 83 yards on 28 attempts at Washington the week before.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, stressing that winning is the bottom line, acknowledges that his unit’s struggles to stop the run could eventually cost the Falcons. That nearly happened against the Raiders, who churned out 149 yards on 32 attempts. Shoddy tackling has become another issue.
The Falcons will address those weaknesses and others.
“I think the really good thing about this football team is they are not satisfied,” Smith said. “There is a desire in there to play better football. We’ve been very fortunate.”
LATEST NEWS
Q&A: Falcons coach Mike Smith on first practice after the bye week
Tight end Michael Palmer (shoulder injury) returned to practice on Monday
Defensive tackle Corey Peters (stress fracture left foot) returned to practice on Monday
OTHER RECENT STORIES
Nicholas held out of practice with ankle injury
5-0 start boosts Falcons’ TV ratings
Tony Dungy tells Mike Smith, ‘Get Michael Turner back involved’
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238 comments Add your comment
LOL at the Aints
October 17th, 2012
12:42 am
Hey Keeping it Real,, whats the over under on how many fumbles Michael Prick will have against the Falcons,, I’ll take the over,, LOL
Atlanta Falcons: ‘Very fortunate’ to be 6-0 at the bye | NFL Online News
October 17th, 2012
7:11 am
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged Atlanta, Falcons, fortunate, very. Bookmark the permalink. ← Eric Decker has sense of humor about odd tumble [...]
Asante Samuel Sends Twitter Jabs at Andy Reid, and More NFC South News | Scripting4You Blog
October 17th, 2012
7:32 am
[...] Mike Smith said the 6-0 Falcons have "been very fortunate" this season. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution] [...]
Samuel
October 17th, 2012
7:34 am
I think the Falcons coaching staff know what they need to do. Now these are professional athletes and they aware what it takes to go far in the playoffs and ultimately get to the big dance.
okeetee
October 17th, 2012
7:50 am
“The Falcons have a lot of work to do.. They are good.. but if we go up against the Giants right now.. we are going to get blown out of the park!”
I certainly concur with this observation and have stated so on another thread about the Falcons win against the Raiders. On the other hand, the guy that thinks we will end up 9-7 is also WAY off base! Our remaining schedule is not all that tough, either. and we have 5 more home games to play as well! We’ve got the Aint’s twice, Tampa Bay twice and all the tough teams we play at home! We will make the playoffs. How far we go depends on stopping the run and our ability to start running the ball ourselves. Our play against the Eagles will be an eye opener as to whether we can adjust and improve or possibly tank and collapse! The Eagles are desperate and playing at home and coming off a bye week, too! However, if we can protect Ryan and he doesn’t keep regressing to being just an average quarterback we should score some points and be there at the end to win. Frankly, other than the Giants, I don’t see ANY team in today’s NFL that doesn’t have some serious flaws either on offense or defense! They can all be beaten. At 6-0 if we go 5-5 the rest of the way, that should be more than enough to win this division and get us a first round home game. What say you???
Falcon James
October 17th, 2012
8:02 am
Can’t we all just get along?
True American Hero
October 17th, 2012
8:34 am
Run the ball, run the ball…. That’s all I read now when it comes to the Falcons. Last year it was pass the ball, pass the ball… let Ryan go deep. Make up your minds up people. What good does it do if Turner runs for 2 yards up the middle every down and then we punt. I love the way we have played. Seems the Falcons are letting the game dictate how they run their offense not redundant play calling that ends up with a 4th down punt. Keep the wins coming Dirty Birds, and to all you whinny fans complaining about how your team got to 6-0…don’t ruin it for the rest of us who are relishing in the moment.
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
9:04 am
“Football Outsiders” has given the MIGHTY MIGHTY ATLANTA FALCONS the highest percentage odds of all teams to “WIN” the Super Bowl.
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
9:39 am
I just want to say that, for the sake of the kids of America, that I hope we don’t have any wardrobe malfunctions at the Super Bowl this year. I mean who would want to see Beyonce partially clad anyway…………….yeah right.
GA_Native
October 17th, 2012
9:51 am
Uhh, Esquire. Count me as 1. >;-)
Roswell Falcon
October 17th, 2012
9:54 am
Very fortunate indeed! Being 6-0 in the NFL and not playing your best,
fortunate = good.
There are 23 teams in the NFL at 3-3 or worse, including pats, Bengles, Eagles, Dallas, the Mighty Packers, and oh yeah, the aints.
PMC
October 17th, 2012
10:20 am
Satisfied could run a 3.9 40 and not even get a look on this team
Ueeediot
October 17th, 2012
10:31 am
Is it possible the Falcons go to Philly, recover several turnovers and end the Mike Slick era in Philly?
Joey
October 17th, 2012
10:36 am
DOL, that is a true accessment. We don’t look dominating, like Green Bay last season, or some of the unbeaten teams of years back.
I think we will know the true value of this team with the Eagles and Giants games.
monty
October 17th, 2012
11:22 am
Ideally you run to set up play action but you can’t consistently run 1st and 2nd down and gain only 2 yards and put Matt in a position where he has long yardage and the rush is coming. O-Line has got to become nastier and open up some wholes. Doesn’t help, that our RB is slow to get to the line and isn’t good at creating something if nothing is there.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 17th, 2012
11:23 am
The Falcons got 99 Problems but a L ain’t one. Hit me!
ItsMe
October 17th, 2012
11:24 am
Why can Peyton Manning have a come back win and everyone slubbers his scrodum, but when Matt does with less than 1 min. remaining it’s no big deal and he was just “furtunate”.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 17th, 2012
11:34 am
Peyton has earned his stripes. Matty hasnt yet.
Answer This
October 17th, 2012
12:03 pm
SeenThisB4
October 16th, 2012
6:30 pm
The Falcant’s are 6-0 before the break barely beating the old and cripple. Just watch them go 4-6 after the break. I”l guarantee that the Saints will whip them twice and end up being South Champs again. Just watch and see. The Eagles will expose these chumps for what they really are and so will the Giants. Poor Falcant’s having their bubble burst!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Back to making predictions again STB4? Heheheheh how that go for you over the last 6 weeks? Look at your Aints…….did you perdict that 1-4 record? HEHEHEHEHEHE. I am not sure but I hope you can clear that up for us.. dont quit your day job and dont go to Vegas,…..better yet I am opening up Little Tiny’s Gambling House and we will give you a credit if you only give us your business! HEHEHEHEHEHE.
Even at 4-6 the rest of the way guess what that means? Playoffs! HEHEHEHEHE. We not going 4-6 BTW! 6-4 perhaps but not 4-6!
Are you Aints bubble burst yet? What happens when your AINTS go 5-6 the rest of the way? Not looking to good is it? Go ahead give us the prediction on the record they will have the rest of the way. They need to go something like 9-3 to squeeze them playoffs right? Not happening big guy! You want paper or plastic bags with the holes cut out? Now you a Eagles fan? Hehehehehe. Original! And a Giants fan also? More originality. Thanks for cheering against us, you keep the Nation burning bright and you also give us Fans the opportunity to keep chumping you! Those Aints looking pretty good right now, Vilma is coming back and he will make a BIG difference (sitting here laughing so hard I almost wet my pants!).
Part of the Nation has spoke…………we 6-0 and have played as you put it so bad………so what does that say about the way your team has played? Hmmmmmmm!? Dont Answer that….but Answer This…….if we have played that bad and looked so bad but are 6-0 and your team has played __________(fill in the blank) and looked so _______________, and are 1-4 that makes you?
Joe Tess Fish House
October 17th, 2012
12:15 pm
Ill say they are very frotunate 2 be 6 – 0. Even so Oakland embrassed them last week. Matty Melt thru 2 many ints Miachel Tippy Toes Truner need 2 retrie and Juliet Jones need 2 stop dropin balls.
North FLA Falcon
October 17th, 2012
12:18 pm
Hey Joe tess how many INTs has Breezy thrown this year??
d
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Jo tee it iz moor embarrasment 2 loose then 2 win just so yu no.
Lmao...FAILCANTS have not beat a team with a winning record
October 17th, 2012
1:30 pm
Explains why you have NO SB ring….fact…Saints and Bucs have one….you got NOTHING…until then…ssshhh….
d
October 17th, 2012
1:46 pm
perhaps you should think about shushing it since those aints are back to normal.
Answer This
October 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
Who lives in the past? Anyone? Tomorrow is a gift and that is why it is called the present……and our future sure looks good at 6-0. Did not know you had to apologize for being 6-0…..1-4 you got some apologies to be doing but 6-0…..looks good to me. Aint fans would you rather be 6-0 right now? Shhhhhh dont answer that….Answer This…..who is 6-0 in your division? Just a question. Even that Bayou education can help you understand you need a miracle in uour next 11 games…and for those Aints that keep saying who we “have not played” who have you played……and lost to….need a reminder? Hehehehehehehe. You all need to hush it and stay in the moment and understand why you need to get that paper bag ready.
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
2:42 pm
Ueeediot
October 17th, 2012
10:31 am
Is it possible the Falcons go to Philly, recover several turnovers and end the Mike Slick era in Philly?
***********************************************
Reid is looking for a reason to bring in Nick Foles, 6′6″ 243 lbs and no doubt there is a large contingent of Eagles fans wanting Mr Fumble sat aside.
Vote to bench Mike Slick here:
http://tinyurl.com/bvuap9y
Of course we don’t want a repeat of the Houston game with a rookie QB.
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
Lmao…MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS have not beat a team with a winning record
October 17th, 2012
1:30 pm
Explains why you have NO SB ring….fact…Saints and Bucs have one….you got NOTHING…until then…ssshhh….
****************************************************
You are such a dunce hat……………..I keep telling you “all participants in the Super Bowl get a ring”, now the winners ring does have a little more bling but 2nd place in the World Championship earns a ring too.
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
Answer This
October 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
Who lives in the past?
*****************************************
I have a poem by Emerson about the past………………where did I put that??
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
3:10 pm
Yep, found it.
“The Past”
BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON
The debt is paid,
The verdict said,
The Furies laid,
The plague is stayed,
All fortunes made;
Turn the key and bolt the door,
Sweet is death forevermore.
Nor haughty hope, nor swart chagrin,
Nor murdering hate, can enter in.
All is now secure and fast;
Not the gods can shake the Past;
Flies-to the adamantine door
Bolted down forevermore.
None can re-enter there,—
No thief so politic,
No Satan with a royal trick
Steal in by window, chink, or hole,
To bind or unbind, add what lacked,
Insert a leaf, or forge a name,
New-face or finish what is packed,
Alter or mend eternal Fact.
This would be excellent for all Caints fans to print and post on their fridge to remind them that every day we move forward is another day to put this ugly season behind you. You will persevere …..just not this year.
Answer This
October 17th, 2012
3:29 pm
Enough said Esquire!
SINCE66
October 17th, 2012
4:45 pm
The games have to be played to see wo wins. But I also think the Falcons have regressed the past two weeks. A running back can’t run if there is and offensive lineman in the place where there should
be a hole. This happens a lot with the birds. Same thing for theD-line. If they get blown out the lb’s or
db’s have to make the tackle way down the field. They cant fill a gap if the o-line has blown out the d-
line and is then blocking them. The Falcons need to get it together. No excuses. Block and tackle
and you will be suprised at the results.
bullrusher1
October 17th, 2012
4:53 pm
SO….. The Falcons aren’t playing at the best of their ability and they’re 6-0… Is this a bad thing? More like an ominous sight that we’ll dominate the moment we figure out our true potential.
L.A. Mont
October 17th, 2012
6:16 pm
The Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Dream, Jackets, Dawgs all have the same deal…good in the regular season, fizzle out in the playoffs or bowl games….its a GA thing….don’t like it, but it is what it is!
That being said, SOMEONE has to reverse the curse….I’m looking for the Falcons to start it off. To me the Falcons have 4 Benchmark games this season (Broncos, Eagles, Saints (H), Giants). Those games will tell you a lot about where this team is heading to the playoffs. They’ve won one, let’s get it done!
okeetee
October 17th, 2012
6:57 pm
We’ve got ten games left with only 2 of them tough ones on the road: Philly and Detroit…..and BOTH of those teams are SERIOUSLY flawed! Frankly, our toughest game left will be the Giants at home, who whipped our butts good last year…..and play much better on the road for some reason than at home! As flawed as we are I still don’t see any scenario where we don’t go 5-5 in these last 10 games. That gives us a 11-5 record, the division title and one home game to start the playoffs. Now, if we can put things together, straighten out some of our flaws, we could end up with the best record, a bye week, and home field advantage throughout! Lots of good that did us two years ago! We had a bye week and two weeks to prepare….and Green Bay slapped 50 points on us! What has changed since them? Not much. Maybe more athleticism in the secondary (not more brains!) and better wide receivers. But we presently can’t stop the run, and we can’t rush the ball. I wouldn’t mortgage my house and bet on this Falcon team to even win one playoff game! Of course, I hope they do and I’m wrong!
Mark
October 17th, 2012
7:21 pm
A win IS a win and I’m as tired as any other falcons fan by the non coverage of the ONLY perfect team in NFL. They’ll ALWAYS doubt us until we get our first win in the post season. So I say to hell with all the media…we don’t need them…all we need is the FALCON NATION….RISE UP
Michael M.
October 17th, 2012
7:31 pm
Esquire said…………………..This would be excellent for all Caints fans to print and post on their fridge to remind them that every day we move forward is another day to put this ugly season behind you. You will persevere …..just not this year.
The only thing they post on their fridge doors is a new grocey list when the next food stamp balance is issued on their card balance………………hehehehe
Just Sayin.....
October 17th, 2012
7:48 pm
Playing a bunch of basement dwellers may pad your record but it won’t prepare you for the legit teams in the first round.
Just Sayin…..
Just Sayin.....
October 17th, 2012
7:52 pm
Falcons are ranked 29th vs the run with Shady McCoy up next aint gonna be pretty.
Just Sayin…..
Just Sayin.....
October 17th, 2012
7:58 pm
101, 107, 107, 89, 59. Ryan’s qb rating is slipping fast.
Just Sayin…..
Just Sayin.....
October 17th, 2012
8:02 pm
Ryan’s first 2 games 0 picks. Last 4 games 6 picks. Last game 3 picks.
Just Sayin…..
Answer This
October 17th, 2012
8:08 pm
Amongst all your post…still 6-0
Just saying…….
D man
October 17th, 2012
8:29 pm
We won because we were the better team and persevered.
Starship 1
October 17th, 2012
10:44 pm
I agree with the article’s premise. The Falcons are “Very Fortunate” to 6-0 right now and that’s because the seasoned NFL fan and sports columnists all see what has happened to the Falcons. They don’t have to worry about having to have been buried before they could even consider posturing for a playoff seed. Meaning, if they were at .500 or less, given the way they are playing-they wouldn’t make the playoffs. I’ve seen these types of wins before when the Falcons went 13-3 and got plastered by the emerging Green Bay Packers-who went on to win the Super bowl. Some fans think that bloggers are being negative-about the Falcons. No, I don’t think it is negative and that’s why the title of this blog post indicates this. Just look at the Falcons upcoming opponents at the quarter mark in this regular season: They’ve got Philly, which is going to set the tone for the remaining games.
• Dallas
• New Orleans
• Arizona
• Tampa Bay
• New Orleans
• Carolina
• New York
• Detroit
• Tampa Bay
In the next 6 games the Falcon play the Saints twice. I understand Smitty giving his team a full week off, and it looks like they are in a good space as having the luxury of time to get this team to become more consistent and dominate in areas and corrects mistakes and not a lot of teams have that luxury of time to do these things at 6-0. I would say lemme me see where you’re at in the next 4 to 5 games. That will determine who will get to be at the ball (dance). Once you’ve made it to the ball (dance)-Now you have to rely on what got you there in the first place. The Falcons can keep winning by chance and circumstance, but that kind of play will only get you a ticket to the dance. Once in the playoffs, however-if the “Dirty Birds” keep playing like they’re playing, they’ll get their (dance) ticket punched-no pun intended.
Mora less Petrino
October 18th, 2012
12:01 am
If you the read the Philly blogs, they say they are lucky not to be 0-6!
Perhaps there are quite a few lucky teams.
DR. FALCON
October 18th, 2012
12:06 am
SH@#T HAPPENS! I DON’T KNOW, WHO THE HELL WE THINK WE ARE, NITPICKING A 6-0 START! DAMN! UP UNTIL RECENTLY, THIS FRANCHISE HAS BEEN HORRIBLY BAD, YEAR AFTER YEAR! GOD FORBID, IF WE SUFFER OUR FIRST LOSS! SOME OF YOU WILL CALL FOR COACH SMITH’S HEAD! ENJOY IT, WHILE WE CAN! WE WON’T GO UNDEFEATED, BUT, 14-2, OR 13-3, IS WITHIN REACH! NOBODY SAID, THAT THIS FALCON TEAM, IS A FINISHED PRODUCT! I LIKE OUR CHANCES! JUST LOOK AROUND THE LEAGUE!
Esquire
October 18th, 2012
7:46 am
Matt Ryan, 98.8 passer rating, 5th in the league. Drew Wheeze is 13th just in case you wanted to know.
Esquire
October 18th, 2012
7:55 am
Just Sayin…..
October 17th, 2012
7:52 pm
Falcons are ranked 29th vs the run with McCoy up next
******************************************************
Seriously, it does no good to post incorrect stats. We all have access to the information which maybe it would be helpful if you access it yourself instead of pulling numbers from thin air.
True American Hero
October 18th, 2012
8:00 am
HAHAHA!!! I am loving all this jealousy surrounding the Falcons by the fans of these other clowns we have beat and the ones we will be beating. HAHAHA!!! Its great! Keep flinging the mud losers and we will keep wining, by 3 points or 40 points its doesn’t matter, one thing is clear… We will win the NFC South and be in the play offs, not something the Aints can say right now!
Esquire
October 18th, 2012
8:09 am
BY THE NUMBERS
ATLANTA 1st NFC South (6-0-0)
Philadelphia 2nd NFC East (3-3-0)
ATLANTA OFFENSE
PTS 28.5 (6th) YDS 361.3 (15th) PASS YDS 274.8 (10th) RUSH YDS 86.5 (25th)
Philadelphia Offense
PTS 17.2 (31st) YDS 379.0 (11th) PASS YDS 257.0 (13th) RUSH YDS 122.0 (11th)
ATLANTA DEFENSE
PTS 18.8 (6th) YDS 367.2 (21st) PASS YDS 223.3 (11th) RUSH YDS 143.8 (27th)
Philadelphia Defense
PTS 20.8 (13th) YDS 330.8 (12th) PASS YDS 226.3 (15th) RUSH YDS 104.5 (15th)
Just Sayin.....
October 18th, 2012
8:48 am
@Esquire
Try doing a little research………….
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing/position/defense
Just Sayin…..