Atlanta Falcons: NBC’s Harrison is not a big fan of the Falcons
FLOWERY BRANCH — If the playoffs started today, the Falcons would be the top seed in the NFC.
That doesn’t sit well with NBC analyst Rodney Harrison.
During halftime of Sunday’s night game, host Dan Patrick asked him to pick the best team in the NFC. Harrison swung a haymaker at the Falcons.
“Atlanta is the No. 1 seed, but no one is afraid to play Atlanta,” Harrison said. “To me, the team to beat in the NFC is the New York Giants.”
And guess who’s coming to town Sunday?
“I don’t even care about the record,” Harrison said. “When the Giants (8-5) get into the playoffs, they have the experience and that pass rush. Eli (Manning) in the fourth quarter, that’s the team to beat.”
The Falcons, coming off Sunday’s discouraging 30-20 loss at Carolina, saw Harrison’s comments.
“It’s not disrespectful,” defensive end John Abraham said. “How we played last week, they should say stuff like that. When we put stuff like that out there on tape, they should say stuff like that.”
Safety Thomas DeCoud wasn’t bothered by the comment, even if it was dismissive of the NFC South champs.
“The man is entitled to his opinion,” DeCoud said. “He can say whatever he wants. He gets paid to say whatever he wants. We can’t be too tuned into that type of stuff because after a while, that type of stuff becomes a distraction.”
The Falcons watched the film of the Carolina game on Monday and said they were ready to move on from the embarrassing defeat to a team that had won just three games before Sunday. They are preparing for what could be a playoff preview when they face the Giants at the Georgia Dome.
“I think we’ll be OK,” Abraham said. “It was a butt-whipping. Call it what it is. They did a good job. They played a great game. We didn’t come to play like we’re supposed to come. So we are getting ready for the Giants right now. We have to get over the hump.”
Carolina nearly beat the Falcons earlier this season and were furious after losing in the final minute 30-28 on Sept. 30. The Panthers took verbal shots at the Falcons all last week and said they were the better team. They then backed it all up, jumping out to a 23-0 lead and then holding on for the victory.
“You hate to admit it,” running back Michael Turner said. “But when guys are talking smack and they come out with the W, it’s kind of like a double-whammy.”
The Falcons have tried to put the day behind them.
“We can’t keep worrying about things we can’t change,” Abraham said. “It’s in the record books. We’ll let that go. We can have something to do with the future right now, so we need to worry about that right now.”
The last time they met, the Falcons were eliminated from the playoffs by the Giants last season in the wild-card round. New York held a 7-2 halftime lead before pulling away to a 24-2 victory.
The Giants throttled the Saints 52-27 on Sunday.
Falcons coach Mike Smith started laying the groundwork for a turnaround, one of the team’s biggest challenges of the season.
“The message is real simple,” Smith said. “We didn’t play our best. We didn’t play up to our capabilities and up to our standard. We’ve got to get back in here, to the office, to get the corrections, and come out here on Wednesday and prepare for the New York Giants.”
Under Smith, the Falcons have never dropped back-to-back games with Ryan as the starting quarterback and one of the games was at home.
The Falcons have dropped back-to-back games with Ryan at the controls twice, but all of those games were on the road.
In 2009, Dallas beat them 37-21 on Oct. 25 at Cowboys Stadium followed by a 35-27 loss at New Orleans on Nov. 2. They also lost at Carolina 28-19 on Nov. 15 and at the New York Giants 34-31 in overtime on Nov. 22.
Overall, the Falcons have not dropped back-to-back games since Games 12 and 13 of the 2009 season. With Ryan out with a turf toe injury, they lost to Philadelphia (Dec. 6, 2009) and New Orleans (Dec. 13, 2009) with Chris Redman at the controls.
“(The Giants) are playing very good football right now,” Smith said. “The last two weeks, they’ve played outstanding football and it’s going to be a big challenge. They’re right in the middle of the playoff hunt.”
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174 comments Add your comment
techduck
December 11th, 2012
6:16 pm
FALCONS DON”T KNOW HOW TO COACH A GAME IN THE LIKES OF N.E. N.O.S.F. H.T. AND P. S.
techduck
December 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Enter your comments here
one and done
December 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
I can’t wait for the playoffs to see the Falcons pound Turner up the middle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
techduck
December 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
ONLY THE SMART ONES LIKE MY SELF THATS RIGHT ME .I ALREADY NEW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON THEY WEREN”T GOING MUCH FURTHER THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR.THEY DIDN”T DO ANYTHING TO BEEF UP NEITHER SIDE OF THE LINES.as LONG AS THEY THINK THAT THERE SMALL LINES CAN MOVE FASTER THAN THEIRS AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WINS EACH YEAR OVER And over again same OLE SAME OLE.
techduck
December 11th, 2012
6:28 pm
MONEY BACK PLEASE,REFUND
techduck
December 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
GO BACK HOME,NO NOT THE GA,DOME.YOUR CHILDHOOD HOME AND GROW UP SOME MORE
bird
December 11th, 2012
6:32 pm
I’m a diehard Falcons fan, and I can’t be to upset with what Harrison said. I mean the man is right. Harrison gave the Falcons a lot of credit earlier in the season but it is what it is. As Abe stated, when you’re on film playing the way they played, you give people more than enough reason to feel the way they feel. If we as fans don’t feel the same, then we’re fooling ourselves.
SimpleDawg
December 11th, 2012
6:58 pm
The Falcons got smack talked in the papers, and then got bitch slapped in the game.
Embarrassing.
1 and done
December 11th, 2012
7:04 pm
The 1st round of the playoffs is not a fan of the Falcons.
bud
December 11th, 2012
7:08 pm
The only undefeated team was the 72 dolphins. The giants had 7 losses nobody in the media crushed them like they are crushing the falcons. The 49er couldn’t beat the rams twice. The media didnt crush them. the media was rooting for the Falcons to lose so they could bash them and drop them from their so called power rankings. I say beat the giants and tell them to get off are bleeping field.
FalconJim
December 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
Who cares what that “JackWagon” has to say. I could care less if he’s a Falcon’s fan, or not.
It all comes down to this….In the immortal words of Rick Flair — “If you want to BE the man, you gotta BEAT the man”, as another poster put it. And right now, “the man” is the N. Y. Giants…
GO, YOU DIRTY BIRDS!!!
Birdhouse
December 11th, 2012
7:21 pm
Ravens fire OC.
atlppal
December 11th, 2012
7:25 pm
Of the 11 wins posted by the FALCANTS, 7 could have gone to the other team…So, FALCANTS FANS!! Get READY!! It’s that time of year for you do show who you really are. You will get blown out Sunday by the Giants. This will be the preview game to set you up for what we’ve seen the last 3 years….. ONE AND DONE! That’s who you REALLY ARE. ICE MELTS!!!
Kramer
December 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
Does anyone give a rat’s a**what a person on nbc sports or for that matter in nbc’s news room, what they think? Please!
mj
December 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
PROFOOTBALLTALK.COM
Worst 11-2 team in NFL history! I say better than the worst 2-11 team in NFL history!!! Hell new stadium, high dollar seats and expensive cold beer. Ain’t no 2-11 getting you that PROFOOTBALLTALK.COM!!!!!!!
X-Ryan
December 11th, 2012
8:05 pm
Trust me when I say everything starts with Ryan! Momma’s boy needs to cut the cord already and starts playing like a man. This past game at Carolina and most times, I see a dazed and confused look on his face. When the pocket starts to collapse a little, he starts peeing in his pants. I can’t understand it. When I look at other successful QBs, I don’t see that. Other successful QBs seem to have this confidence about them that Ryan lacks. Please Matt Ryan………cut the cord and start playing like the big, grown man that you are. I and most Falcons fans are tired of seeing the eight year-old girl in your performances!!!
Bobby
December 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Well Ledbetter, the Falcants won’t make it past the first playoff game.
GEAUX NEW ORLEANS GEAUX!
Big Daddy
December 11th, 2012
8:36 pm
First, forget what anyone else says and think about what you see. The Falcons lost to a team they should have dominated from start to finish. And, the worst part was the game was not even close. They were very ill-prepared and it showed. The loss to the Panthers is the reason why so many of the analysts and others don’t take the Falcons seriously. The Texans lost, big time to the Patriots. But it was to a perennial Super Bowl contender, not to a bad team. We cannot take this loss lightly.
If there is a must win game for this season, this is it. If the Birds lose this one, at home, they will lose the confidence of other teams, the fans and most likely themselves as to how well they will do in the playoffs. Ryan has not looked sharp the last few games and there were a couple of plays where is accuracy was not there. We have an opportunity to demonstrate that we belong in the company of top teams that have our kind of records on Sunday. It is the most important game this year. Don’t mess it up.
Cliff
December 11th, 2012
8:40 pm
The Falcons can beat anyone. They can also lose to anyone. They have a good record and they should have a first round bye, and maybe home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That’s the goal of the regular season. Not to blow everyone out. Not to gain the accolades and praise of sports analysts. Believe in your abilities, win games, and ignore everything else. Let me tell you how good the Giants were last year. In the regular season, they were 9-7 and they beat one team with a winning record and lost to every other playoff caliber team. What a truly dominant performance. But does anyone look back and say, gosh those Giants really had a mediocre regular season in 2011? No. Because they won the Super Bowl so everyone has to shut the @#!% up. Playoffs are different. We don’t know how the Falcons will do this year in the Playoffs. Maybe they lose, but maybe they dominate. The Falcons are the authors of their destiny, the rest of us will have to read how this story ends.
clem
December 11th, 2012
8:44 pm
smith is decent coach, but something is lacking. some teams have won superbowls with average qbs but falcons defense, offensive line, & running game too sporadic.
11 and 5 in 2013
December 11th, 2012
9:09 pm
As a Falcon fan for 40+ years and having watched the last 6 Falcons games, I see no indications that this team will be able to compete or even remotely win “ANY”of their 3 remaining games.
1.Our offensive line’s run blocking and pass protection are non existent
2.Michael Turner is shot and should be released outright, period end of subject
3. Anyone but Michael Turner should be running the damn ball
4. Pass protection has been spotty and unimpressive at best
5. No pass rushperiod and end of subject again. (Offensive line are bunch of stiffs)
6. Punt returner is a “Black Hole” Franks lacks ballz and skillz
7. MatT Bryant has not been accurate over the last 6 games
8. Matty Ice has take a beating and has displayed happy feet from the lack of pass protection
9. Questionable offensive playcalling (Wheres the short Nickel and Dime passing game) See#6
10. No emphasis on SCREEN PASSES( these slow down the pass rush) See #6
Guys I am just calling them as I see them. Unless there is a magical transformation during the next 3 games…….. I am afraid the Birds will be 1 and out again come playoffs. They needed to address the OFFENSIVE and DEFENSIVELINES in last 2 drafts and chose not to address the most obvious needs . I love Julio Jones but until we get some horses and studs on the O and D lines it won’t matter how how talented we are at the skill positions.
If anyone on this blog is paying attention then look back over the last 20 years and see which teams were successful in the playoffs. You will see that the ones that won in the playoffs were all loaded on the O and D lines. Falcons can’t Rush or even Disrupt the passer.
When any NFL starting quaterback has the time the Falcons give opposing quaterbacks, then we will continue to be Joke . And Arthur wants a NEW STADIUM WITH PSL’s ???………………. LEARN HOW TO WIN IN THE ONE YOU NOW HAVE. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DOME OTHER THANTHE SMELL OF THE FALCONS MEDIOCRE PLAY.
11 and 5 in 2013
December 11th, 2012
9:16 pm
The Falcons got smack talked in the papers, and then got bitch slapped in the game.
Embarrassing.
Spot On SimpleDawg…………… Fan Blindness is Everywhere. We played like bitches and it showed
Ed
December 11th, 2012
9:22 pm
He said that because it’s true. Any team would be happy to play the Falcons in the playoffs, because it’s pretty much a guaranteed win. The Falcons themselves know this. This is why the rest of the NFL can’t take them seriously.
The Falcons won 11 games because they are built in a way that makes them an outstanding matchup against bad teams. They dont make a lot of mistakes, they dont beat themselves, they are moderately efficient, and they get lucky more times than not.
But they aren’t a good football team. This is plain as day to anyone who follows football and has any sense at all. And when the Giants come in here Sunday and thump the birds by 20, is anyone going to be surprised? Of course not. Just like they wont be surprised when the Falcons get embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs. Again.
Blank should worry less about his shiny new stadium and more about the product he puts on the field. They are an embarrassment.
jarvis
December 11th, 2012
9:31 pm
Harrison couldn’t even cover David Tyree when the chips were on the table.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 11th, 2012
9:35 pm
Which aspect of the Falcons game is Super-Bowl-grade?
Gene
December 11th, 2012
9:44 pm
The Falcons can settle the issue on Sunday, one way or another.
Jamal
December 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
I’m a fan, but I don’t believe in them as far as going deep in the playoffs. NO running game and the defense is suspect………….Just the way it is.
mgdawg
December 11th, 2012
9:54 pm
who is a fan of NBC? The falcons have a history of not doing good in the playoffs, until they overcome that there will be doubters and rightfully so.
Dwayne C
December 11th, 2012
9:59 pm
Think the Atlanta Falcons will use Rodney Harrison’s comments as motivation? They won’t.
NY Giants 33 – Atlanta Falcons 21
DawgNole
December 11th, 2012
10:12 pm
d
December 11th, 2012
8:41 am
Yep, they were flat and we were missing Samuel and Moore. Combine that with the running quarterback and it made for a bad day. Rodney Harrison’s opinion is just that. We’ll send the bandwagon back around for you guys next week.
______________________
Quit making excuses. That’s what losers do. Carolina had FOUR starters out. No excuse for getting clubbed by a 3-win team.
11 and 5 in 2013
December 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
I find it hard to swallow how many on this blog are so blind to the fact that this Falcons Team has been exposed! And yeah I am a Falcons Fan…. but also a realist! Ely will have a HUGE day thanks to no pass rush form the D Line while he picks us apart. If we blitz it will be even uglier! Once that happens they run over us, thru us and around us. Their pass rush with our inability to establish any resemblance of a running attack,vwill overwhelm our O line and Matty Ice Pisses his pants(hell who can blame him, I sure I would do the same). And can anyone please humor me with the reason why Michael Turner is even still in the RB rotation? Check that…..STILL on the ROSTER?
Chances are that if this game is another A$$ whipping.. the consequences will be heads roll after the season.
Sad part is that after the G Men come the Detroit Lions, another juggernaut offense capable of scoring by the bucketfull. Then we close out against the Bucs who are well coached, but by a sociopath head coach and want nothing but revenge after their earlier loss.
Dum-Bass
December 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Never thought I would be in the same corner as ANYONE who works at NBC. He is correct though as the Falcons have been very lucky and are way overrated. They are in the same boat with the Houston Texans. It will be one game and out for both the Falcons and the Texans. It’s an “Atlanta thang” with the Falcons, as was just proven by the Braves and the DAWGS. Such is life, just the way it is. Those who value your life should jump off the bandwagon now or you’re in for another big disappointment.
Barry
December 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
Our Falcons offensive better be ready for the Giant.
Mandingos that they are going to have deal with Sunday. They.didn’t upgrade on the line from the butt kicking they got last year. And I am angry because that same group of offensive.linemen. have not improved their pass and run blocking. Win or lose, we are going to have to overhaul this offensive line. They do not play Nasty nor with Intensity. OWe also need some speedy and powerful running backs. I am still not impressed with Wizz. On defense, we better get some Mandingos like the Giants who know how to play fast and Nasty. Our guys appear to plat too, too soft and unaggresive up front. It’s like they don’t like to hit. I know if I was getting.a fat check like they do, I would be hitting.everybody. invasion different color hereunder. Iwould be hitting them with joy knowing that we are in the run for the Super.Bowl..
Eric C.
December 11th, 2012
10:44 pm
Crazy how one horrible game can ruin a regular season…that debacle against Carolina just did that.
I have no expectations for the playoffs. If they win one, great, if they win two, I would be ecstatic, if they win three, it will be like winning the lottery.
Otherwise, a loss in the first game will not feel all that bad because there are no expectations…just hoping the players and coaches give it there all!
Mayor of Whinerville
December 11th, 2012
10:53 pm
Just like the Dawgs Falcon fans; start winning the big games and everyone will STFU. Continue losing the big ones and you will continue to get NO respect nationally.
Moon Mullins
December 11th, 2012
10:54 pm
I have watched a shakey Falcons team fumble and bumble its way to a 11-2 record — and they had lightening in a jar for some of those victories. But Sunday, they stumbled coming out of the gate and never regained their balance.
If they stumble on this coming Sunday, the Giants will humiliate them.
Shut 'em up by winning
December 11th, 2012
11:07 pm
That’s usually all it takes
ClassicFalcons
December 11th, 2012
11:09 pm
When we win Sunday… All this rubbish that is on here will turn to Glee and a proclamation that the Dirt Birds are ready to beat the world! Most fickle fan base in the World!!
Hawks are 12-6 also you Morons… Go Support THEM!!!!
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
5-6-7-8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE???? GOOOOO FALCONS!!!!!!
WHERE’S MIKE’S COX????? I NEED IT BAD TONIGHT!!!! Please???
jo
December 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
Falcons have no rush and a weak pass rush. They will lose 31-13 to a highly superior team.it is what it is and the falcons haven’t corrected last years problems so the result will be similar. I confess I enjoy watching the hawks as they play with heart, unlike this boring team that is proving unfortunately they are just not that good.
falconsfansince64
December 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
what happened to my comments dol? can’t stand it or what??
falconsfansince64
December 11th, 2012
11:44 pm
not that one the one before?
GTR
December 11th, 2012
11:50 pm
NO ONE believes in the Falcons. Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd & Bill Simmons. Every major sports analyst. I need to verify, but the sum total record of who the Falcons have beat I believe is sub 500? They really have no big wins and have not looked good these past few weeks.
And, they have a history of losing in the first Rd of the playoffs. Its fair commentary, until they prove them wrong. I predict 2 loses of last 3 games and a first rd lose in the playoffs.
falconsfansince64
December 11th, 2012
11:53 pm
YOU HAVE GOT 2 B KIDDIN ME??? CAN’T STAND IT???
falconsfansince64
December 11th, 2012
11:56 pm
HEY SEEN WHERE ART THOU?? They won’t post anything i have to say’ so much for freedom of speech and the press. they can’t stand it when the truth comes out.lol.
falconsfansince64
December 12th, 2012
12:03 am
i was tying to say that the falcons WILL NOT WIN ANOTHER GAME!!! Join the atlanta chokers falcons…SEEN THIS B 4 4 YEARS!!! and take your stadium with you a.b. or build it yourself!!!no more home depot for me.lol.
shakazulu
December 12th, 2012
2:52 am
He’s correct….until the Falcons actually do something, record means nothing…..only rings and trophies. This team has a number of weeknesses.
Giants arriving at big moment in Falcons’ season | Atlanta Falcons
December 12th, 2012
5:02 am
[...] NBC’s Rodney Harrison is not a big fan of the Falcons [...]
Bruce
December 12th, 2012
5:04 am
A true number one team always comes ready to play. They should dominate most teams, but it is ok if they don’t, but they should always come ready to play. Falcons, Falcon fans until the team wins a game that really matters, credibility will always be questioned. The same came be said for the Texans. Over the past few years, the Texans seem to be a front runner. Based on what? Then, they will get some key injuries, and be out of the playoffs, and next year they will be front runners again. The same is happening to the Baltimore Ravens..At some point, you have to really win something.
NtheNo
December 12th, 2012
5:22 am
When do they award the regular season champ trophy?