Falcons look ‘Super’ in rout of the Giants, 34-0
Falcons tight end TonyGonzalez dunks the ball over the goalpost after scoring against the Giants for a 14-0 lead during 1st quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
The Falcons may be the most ridiculed double-digit win team in recent NFL history. Unimpressive. Easy schedule. Lucky.
For now, the Falcons just want to be called ‘Super,’ as in Super Bowl champions, if not at least legitimate contenders. They were nothing but dominant in routing the defending NFL champion New York Giants 34-0 on Sunday at a raucous Georgia Dome.
“We love the haters,” said cornerback Asante Samuel, who started the party with an interception on the second play of the game. “The haters keep us going. So keep the hate coming. It makes us play with a chip on our shoulders. We love that.”
The Falcons improved to 12-2 and inched closer to wrapping up home-field advantage in the playoffs while recording their 11th straight victory at home.
“When you come to the Georgia Dome, this is our house,” Samuel said. “That’s how we have to look at it. We ain’t taking no prisoners in our house. That’s how we are going to take the field. We are going to take the field as champs and you can’t do nothing in our house.”
Those waiting for the Falcons to produce a statement game were presented plenty of evidence. They harassed the Giants into three turnovers, stopped them three times on fourth-down conversions and beat them in Atlanta for the first time since 1978.
“We showed that we can play with the big boys,” said wide receiver Roddy White.
If some of the pundits are still be skeptical, the Falcons appear to have won over the Giants.
“They came out and beat us fair and square,” Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said. “They put a pounding and (butt)-whipping on us.”
The Falcons needed a Green Bay loss or tie and a San Francisco loss on Sunday to clinch the home-field advantage for the postseason. But Green Bay improved to 10-4 with a win over Chicago. The 49ers played at New England in the late Sunday game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan outperformed the Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning, completing 23-of-28 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. But it was Atlanta’s 129 yards on the ground — Michael Turner had 52 of them on 16 carries — that helped sway the day.
“I think the run game was really crucial for us,” Ryan said. “Getting that going early and making their defensive line have to defend both, having to rush the passer and defend the run and the draw was crucial.”
The Falcons won all the battles, including a third-quarter skirmish between White and Giants cornerback Corey Webster.
While getting great interior pressure, the defense attacked Manning, intercepting two passes which led to a 17-0 halftime lead.
Ryan then tossed a 40-yard bomb to Julio Jones on the first possession of the third quarter to take firm control at 24-0.
Falcons kicker Matt Bryant added a 19-yard field with 10 seconds left in third quarter and Ryan later tossed a 3-yard touchdown to Jones for the game’s final touchdown with 4:57 to play.
The defense, led by linebacker Sean Weatherspoon’s nine tackles, had three key stops on fourth down to throttle New York. The Giants had converted 5-of 7-times (71 percent) on fourth down this season, which ranked fourth in the league.
“I think that was a little disrespectful,” Weatherspoon said. “We did it between the lines. There’s no need to talk about it.”
Last week in the Falcons’ loss to 30-20 to Carolina, they came out in a near sleep-walk and fell behind 23-0 while the Panthers scored on their first five possessions. Against the Giants, the Falcons arrived alive and alert.
On New York’s second snap, Samuel intercepted Manning and returned the ball to the Giant’s 16-yard line.
“That was huge for us,” Ryan said. “It gave us great field position offensively.”
After four straight runs by a hard-charging Turner, the Falcons scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and the day’s pattern was set.
“We had a fast start, not only on defense, but I think in all three phases,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
The Falcons, who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Giants 24-2 in last year’s wild-card round, hope to clinch the No. 1 seed when they face the Detroit Lions on Saturday at Ford Field.
“I thought we rebounded very well from our performance from last week,” Smith said.
LATEST NEWS
Roddy White, William Moore are questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants
Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon takes over as leader of the defense
Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups
Falcons rewind: Reeves reflects on march to the Super Bowl
Who’s the best receiving tandem? Roddy & Julio? Cruz & Nicks?
Atlanta Falcons: Quarterback Matt Ryan is not going over the physical cliff
OTHER RECENT NEWS
Panthers hold on to defeat Falcons 30-20
Report card: Falcons grades for loss to Panthers
Falcons quoteboard after the 30-20 loss to the Panthers
Run defense goes back to the drawing board
NBC’s Rodney Harrison is not a big fan of the Falcons
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
179 comments Add your comment
FalconFan
December 16th, 2012
5:12 pm
Dominant win over a good, physical team. Both Mannings down in same year. Complete game.
92.9 suspends broadcast from 2 to 10pm
December 16th, 2012
5:13 pm
They won’t have anything to talk about this week since all last week the “talent” on the shows from 2 to 10 said the Falcons stink and are overrated.
Go away carpetbaggers. I’d rather here Jerome Jurenovich & Jamie Dukes replayed twice than listen to these clowns.
Bogus Bill
December 16th, 2012
5:13 pm
Having a “U”GA product in the backfield was the kiss of death for the Giants. Dawgs have no intelligence or character.
Troupdawg
December 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
4 – 0 against AFC West ( we’ll take that trophy )
4 – 0 against NFC East ( we’ll take that trophy )
Rest of the NFL?? We’ll take that trophy and just call the Birds SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!!
Fan since 66
December 16th, 2012
5:18 pm
Bill…Falcon blog about great win. Get a life!
Go Falcons!
Captain Falcon
December 16th, 2012
5:19 pm
FAL-CON YEAH!!!!! http://soundcloud.com/sapeloproductions/falcon-yeah
Great win!
count_schemula
December 16th, 2012
5:20 pm
I thought the Dome was an embarrassment. Rain leaking in through the roof, whole sections collapsing leaving fans stranded with pricey tickets in their hand, the paint is peeling and not even in the Falcons colors. They need to replace that Dome ASAP or people are likely to think that Atlanta hood.
Professer Waldo E. Culpecker
December 16th, 2012
5:21 pm
Need a rematch in the playoffs with Green Bay and whip em good and make them believers too.
okeetee
December 16th, 2012
5:22 pm
I thought we would win, but I didn’t see this coming!!! Our secondary is as good as it’s ever been in the history of the Atlanta Falcons! We finally opened up the offense and it paid off! I hate New England with a passion, but I’ll have to pull for them tonight so we get at least a bye week. One more win and we’ll have both playoff games at home! Looks to me like the only team that scares me in the NFC is Seattle and if we can get them in our place we can beat them, too. Not afraid of the Packers anymore…..not with our secondary playing as well as they have all season!
vesaversa
December 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
The Falcons made beating the Giants look real easy they look like a playoff team .But which team will show up next week?
retired
December 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
even at halftime the announcers were saying Falcon’s no that good but Giants just playing bad, let’s see what the jerk who called em frauds has to say this week, or Bayless and Stephen A let’s see what their excuses are for dissin’ Falcons this week. As a transplant myself (here 40years and yes from western NY) all I can say to the NE press a big SCREW U .
Go Falcons time to wrap up home field and then we’ll talk playoffs!
TO ALL THE TROLLS SEEN , JSS, HIRAM AND THE REST OF YOU F—–RS
CAN YOU HEAR US NOW!
Sav FAN
December 16th, 2012
5:26 pm
Bring on Calvin and the Lions-they will be next on the menu
Big perry
December 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
that is the toughness i am talking about on both side of the football keep it up and you will play in the superbowl keep that toughness going until the end do not let up !!!!!!!!
okeetee
December 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
“I thought the Dome was an embarrassment. Rain leaking in through the roof, whole sections collapsing leaving fans stranded with pricey tickets in their hand”…..
…..is that right? That’s pathetic! With all the money these teams are making you’d think they could fix a leaking roof! What an embarrassment to the league and the NFL! What would prevent the Falcons brass from fixing a leaking roof?
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
5:29 pm
The Giants will be the first to say,,,The media was wrong, the Falcons are great.
perk
December 16th, 2012
5:29 pm
these guys are pretty good!
count_schemula
December 16th, 2012
5:29 pm
Falcons were lucky to get a win today in a stadium that would embarrass a AA high school football team. What is it going to take to get a new Dome in this town? Do we need to fly in Roger Goodell and get a couple of politicians interested in this? Surely, just a handful of people could ram this thing through. The Dome is already 20 years old!!! How old does it have to be before we rise up! 20 years old! What a national embarrassment!
Jimmy Crack
December 16th, 2012
5:29 pm
It was a ting of beauty!
Dean
December 16th, 2012
5:32 pm
Thank you Falcons for a gutsy full team effort! You showed fans like me, who had doubts after last week, that you truly have it in you! I shouldn’t have doubted, and I no longer do. Can hardly wait until after the bye! You made us all so happy today–GO FALCONS!
ricocarty21
December 16th, 2012
5:34 pm
I have watched the falcons consistently for over forty years. I have seen a lot of teams and a lot of games starting with Randy Johnson,Junior Coffee,Harmon Wages,etc. to the current 2012 falcons.
This is no doubt the best biggest win in regular season Franchise history!!!
Never have I seen a total domination of a legitimate Contending NFL team ever done by the Falcons like this before. If the Falcons can stay in this gear, they will win the Super Bowl. I have been waiting almost fifty years for this!!
Fan since 66
December 16th, 2012
5:35 pm
@schemula…All good points! After the poor showing by the Falcons today, looks like the only way we get to a Super Bowl is to build a new dome and have the Falcon players work as ushers! To paraphrase the late, great Royal Marshall…”Just Da#n”!
Oh btw…Go Falcons!
Professer Waldo E. Culpecker
December 16th, 2012
5:35 pm
After an onslaught of one n done performances in the playoffs, the Falcons may be the ones making the other teams one n done in a Cinderella Season they will be talking about for many years.
georgianabulltiger
December 16th, 2012
5:36 pm
The Giants were missing a lot of key players today, but dayum.
Tomorrow’s ESPN discussion about the Falcons: They’ll mention them in passing once and say they still aren’t convinced, then quickly move on to Green Bay and talk dreamily about the dimple in Rodgers’ chin.
The poster known as “CHOKE’ will stiffen slightly in unison with them. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Get Back Jojo
December 16th, 2012
5:43 pm
Naysayers, How ya like us now?
GO FALCONS!!!
air of mendacity
December 16th, 2012
5:54 pm
Giants done I think – played with a chip on the shoulder and it showed – I liked and if we get home field – which looks likely, then granny bar the door. Tough as heck at home.
Ray
December 16th, 2012
5:54 pm
Last Week
Was as most people thought a dud/fraud/flat game and honestly could you blame them really it’s like do I really want to play the Carolina Panthers at 3-9.
Although to me as a fan I’m like GET UP:DA** IT!
Still though this team is rounding into form MIKE SMITH COACH OF THE YEAR.
MIKE NOLAN DCOY
MATT RYAN is in Top 5 no lie I can’t say MVP with what Tom Brady did to Texans like that was unreal I’m not Patriots fan, but I had no choice but to clap.
Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony G, and even my man Harry Douglas is dangerous.
The Entire Defense is just A+
Ray
December 16th, 2012
5:56 pm
@ georgianabuilttiger
That’s exactly what I expect. Just like the Peyton Manning game
Really if we drive to the Superbowl which if Falcons play THAT WAY! we can I hope we get Broncos give them some payback for 14 years of grief after that loss in the SB.
Still Gritz Blitz'n
December 16th, 2012
5:58 pm
Bogus Bill; Really? Really? Is that all you got to go on, Dang! Gotta come w/ somethin better than that, Oh man, o’le 49er Randy Cross(92.9fm) said the Giants Roll!, Yep they rolled alright, right out of the tunnel, To all of ya NAY STINKER’S, this ones on you, here have some crow! BOOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAA! Slammed Down On All you So-Called Analysts! AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:59 pm
I’m so cold…..so lonely.
The Rock
December 16th, 2012
6:04 pm
I like what the Falcons are cooking!
WMoore
December 16th, 2012
6:08 pm
That win was for you, Keyshawn.
hit a single
December 16th, 2012
6:08 pm
Great win Falcons! An example of class at the end of the game. The Cowboys need to learn some class. Can’t believe they had the young man on the sidelines that was driving drunk that killed a teammate. The Cowboys continue to lack class since the days of Coach Tom Landry.
GT71
December 16th, 2012
6:09 pm
5150 – Now, now, big fella, no need to be so limited in your vocabulary.
But really, revenge is sweet. And don’t tell me those guys weren’t out to avenge last year’s playoff embarrassment. They may be pros – and it looks like they are coming into their own – but they are human. That was proved on the bad side last week and flipped this week.
Take 2 days off and go north and do it again to that Michigan bunch of Yankees. And sack Stafford twice for me! And you can stomp Suh, too!
Professer Waldo E. Culpecker
December 16th, 2012
6:15 pm
lol @ Jss Professor Waldo says take two asprin and be sure to tune in to the Saturday nite Lions smackdown at the hands of the Fabulous Falcons.
TGMoney
December 16th, 2012
6:15 pm
Enter your comments here
ZACK
December 16th, 2012
6:16 pm
GREAT JOB DIRTY BIRDS!!! THANKS FOR PROVING ME WRONG! KEEP IT UP!!!
Jimmy
December 16th, 2012
6:16 pm
Three things:
1. Where the heck are the haters? Cowards.
2. It doesn’t matter if we get respect from anyone.
3. It doesn’t matter how you win…12-2 in the NFL is HARD.
TGMoney
December 16th, 2012
6:17 pm
We LOVE them Manning boys….
Esquire "THE GREAT"
December 16th, 2012
6:23 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!!!!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!!
Come on guys, let’s make this our official fight song. It is my dream to have the whole dome singing this in unison. As always you all are invited 24-7 to my place to practice! I promise I make good company! Go Falcons!!!
flatsdawg1
December 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
Wow, I honestly thought we could be this good but not today, thought the Giants would be better, but guess what the Atlanta D is for real too. Thanks Dirties!! WE are on our way need that home field and first round bye like1998′ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
haters? Cowards
December 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
The Falcons are a great team. We promise not to make fun of them anymore and irritate their fans.
Duluth Joe
December 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
What a great win.
And what a classy way to finish by Smith, Mr Blank, and Ice on the last plays. Just a class and great org top to bottom.
Great day for all Falcons fans. We answered a lot of questions.
backatcha
December 16th, 2012
6:29 pm
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! We all know historically / traditionally, well lets enjoy this one for the moment then move on! We have not been crowned yet, they have at least two in the past five years! Stay focused! Go Falcons!!!
backatcha
December 16th, 2012
6:30 pm
No questions have been answered! One game, one win! On to Detroit!!!
Professer Waldo E. Culpecker
December 16th, 2012
6:33 pm
@ Esquire “THE GREAT”…………..Choke,Jss and phil are lined up as a trio for practice, when would you like to get started?
Esquire "THE GREAT"
December 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
backatcha
December 16th, 2012
6:30 pm
No questions have been answered! One game, one win! On to Detroit!!!
*************************************************************************************************
Hell yeah questions were answered today.
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!! NOW CRAWL BACK TO YOUR HOLE!
5-6-7-8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE??? GOOOO FALCONS!!!
Esquire "THE GREAT"
December 16th, 2012
6:37 pm
Professer Waldo E. Culpecker
December 16th, 2012
6:33 pm
@ Esquire “THE GREAT”…………..Choke,Jss and phil are lined up as a trio for practice, when would you like to get started?
******************************************************************************
I’M OPEN 24-7…..You’re invited too Professor Waldo…..You sound quite intelligent….hmmm my kind of guy.
SOS
December 16th, 2012
6:39 pm
CONGRATS TO THE FALCONS AND THE ATL FANS
biscuteater
December 16th, 2012
6:39 pm
what the hell..almost a minute left in the half and all we want to do is go to the locker room!!??
Drive the ball to the goal line and quit!? way to go smith and the birds..no killer instinct!
SOS
December 16th, 2012
6:39 pm
CONGRATS TO THE FALCONS AND THE ATL FANS