Archive for November, 2012

Curtis Compton / AJC Falcons kicker Morten Andersen (5) pumps his fist after making a long field goal attempt for a 26-16 lead during fourth quarter as Texans cornerback Jamar Fletcher (21) walks off the field dejected.

Kicker Morten Andersen, who made the field goal to send the Falcons to their only Super Bowl, was among the 27 semifinalists being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013.

He was in a group of six first-year eligible candidates that included: guard/tackle Larry Allen, safety John Lynch, tackle Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and defensive end Michael Strahan.

On Jan. 17, 1999, Andersen booted a 38-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 30-27 victory over Minnesota in the NFC championship game. The kick sent the franchise to it’s first, and only, trip to the Super Bowl.

Andersen, who made the Pro Bowl seven times, is the NFL’s all-time leading scoring with 2,544 points.

George Blanda, Lou “The Toe” Groza and Jan …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Morten Andersen is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame »

Atlanta Falcons Playtime Percentage vs. New Orleans

(Percent of playtime per player on offense, defense and special teams)

PLAYER                  OFFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS

J Blalock G                  58 100%           5 18%

T Clabo T                    58 100%            5 18%

S Baker T                    58 100%            5 18%

P Konz G                    58 100%            5 18%

R White WR               58 100%

T McClure C               58 100%

M Ryan QB                58 100%

T Gonzalez TE           56 97%

J Jones WR               46 79%

J Rodgers RB             31 53%            4 14%

H Douglas WR           24 41%

M Cox FB                     22 38%           4 14%

M Turner RB                20 …

Continue reading Falcons playing time percentage chart vs. Saints »

Here are the Falcons’ grades for the 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night at the Georgia Dome.

GAME BALL: Safety William Moore, who finished with 11 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defensed and two tackles for losses gets the AJC “Game Ball.” He was a big-time enforcer from his strong safety position and that allowed free safety Thomas DeCoud to go down inside and play some rugged man-to-man coverage on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

F — Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan’s pinpoint accuracy was off. He had season lows for completions (18), yards (165) and completion percentage (54.5). For the first time this season, the offense disappeared for a major portion of the game and converted just 1 of 11 third downs (nine percent).

B — Running backs: Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers came out strong on the first drive before the running game disappeared. They combined for 126 rushing yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. Turner, Rodgers, Jason …

Continue reading Report card: Falcons grades for win over the Saints »

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints 23-13 on Thursday night and can clinch the NFC South with a Tampa Bay loss on Sunday. Ryan addressed the media after the game.

LATEST NEWS

Falcons avenge their only loss to improve to 11-1

Turner becomes franchise’s all-time leading touchdown leader

Falcons quoteboard: What they were saying after the game

Defense ends Drew Brees streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass

Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, can clinch NFC South title with win over Saints, Tampa Bay loss to Denver

With Sean Weatherspoon back, run defense flexes its muscle on the Muscle Hamster

Falcons quote board after 24-23 win over Tampa Bay

Turner, Rodgers challenge top rushing defense in the league

Continue reading Video: Matt Ryan’s breakdown of the Falcons win over the Saints »

The Atlanta Falcons intercepted Drew Brees five times in a 23-13 win over the New Orleans Saints. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter broke down the impressive performance.

LATEST NEWS

Falcons avenge their only loss to improve to 11-1

Turner becomes franchise’s all-time leading touchdown leader

Falcons quoteboard: What they were saying after the game

Defense ends Drew Brees streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass

Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, can clinch NFC South title with win over Saints, Tampa Bay loss to Denver

With Sean Weatherspoon back, run defense flexes its muscle on the Muscle Hamster

Falcons quote board after 24-23 win over Tampa Bay

Turner, Rodgers challenge top rushing defense in the league

Continue reading Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints »

The Atlanta Falcons intercepted Drew Brees five times in a 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. The 11-1 Falcons can clinch the NFC South title with a Tampa Bay loss on Sunday.

LATEST NEWS

Falcons avenge their only loss to improve to 11-1

Turner becomes franchise’s all-time leading touchdown leader

Falcons quoteboard: What they were saying after the game

Defense ends Drew Brees streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass

Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, can clinch NFC South title with win over Saints, Tampa Bay loss to Denver

With Sean Weatherspoon back, run defense flexes its muscle on the Muscle Hamster

Falcons quote board after 24-23 win over Tampa Bay

Turner, Rodgers challenge top rushing defense in the league

Continue reading Video: Falcons hang the TD Goose-Egg on Drew Brees »

strongBy Michael Cunningham

The Falcons defensive backs, always a boisterous group, took it up another notch while singing along to the stereo in the locker room after this one.

“Don’t believe me just watch!” they shouted.

It was an appropriate tune because their performance against Saints quarterback Drew Brees had to be seen to be believed.

Not only did Brees’ record streak of games with a touchdown pass end at 54 on Thursday night at the Georgia Dome, he also had a career-high five interceptions in the 23-13 defeat.

“We didn’t know anything about a record,” Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “We just came out here and played hard. I feel like we have one of the best secondaries in the entire NFL and I think we came out and showed that today.”

William Moore had two interceptions and fellow safety Thomas DeCoud had one. The two other picks came after Brees passed short when the Falcons had his deep targets covered.

Brees had thrown four interceptions twice …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Defense ends Drew Brees’ TD streak and gets five picks »

LATEST NEWS

Falcons avenge their only loss to improve to 11-1

Turner becomes franchise’s all-time leading touchdown leader

Falcons quoteboard: What they were saying after the game

Defense ends Drew Brees streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass

Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, can clinch NFC South title with win over Saints, Tampa Bay loss to Denver

With Sean Weatherspoon back, run defense flexes its muscle on the Muscle Hamster

Falcons quote board after 24-23 win over Tampa Bay

Turner, Rodgers challenge top rushing defense in the league

Continue reading Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan after win over Saints »

LATEST NEWS

Falcons avenge their only loss to improve to 11-1

Turner becomes franchise’s all-time leading touchdown leader

Falcons quoteboard: What they were saying after the game

Defense ends Drew Brees streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass

Video: Ledbetter discusses 23-13 win over the Saints

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Falcons hold on to move to 10-1, can clinch NFC South title with win over Saints, Tampa Bay loss to Denver

With Sean Weatherspoon back, run defense flexes its muscle on the Muscle Hamster

Falcons quote board after 24-23 win over Tampa Bay

Turner, Rodgers challenge top rushing defense in the league

Continue reading Video: Falcons coach Mike Smith after the 23-13 win over the Saints »

“They were shutting us down especially in that third and early part of that fourth quarter. We’ve got to play better. Offensively, there’s no excuses, especially with the guys that we have on that side of the ball. . . . But, just like always, we came up with the plays when we had to.”

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez

“They’ve had our number. There’s no doubt about it, they’ve had our number. It feels really, really good to come out and get that victory. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say thoughts going the way of getting a loss again, even when we got that lead, crept up in my mind.”

Gonzalez

“If you are worried about what you are doing in January during September, October, November, December you’re wasting your time. So I’ve tried to keep that week-to-week focus but, at the same time, we’ve had some sour taste in our mouths and the end of the last couple seasons so hopefully we’ll have an opportunity to change that.”

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on if …

Continue reading Saints at Atlanta Falcons: Quoteboard »