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
Matt Ryan breaks his own passing records vs. Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
7:14 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 17th, 2012
7:15 am
POUND PUMMEL PUNCH THRASH TROUNCE BASH BATTER MAUL
“DOMINATE”
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!!!
***********************************************************
Guys, we’ve even got SCENETHISB4 cheering us on.
Congratulations Scene on the Caints Tampa Bay victory……………..it means absolutely NOTHING………….!!!
Atlanta Falcons: What they said after 34-0 Falcons victory over Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
7:16 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Choke On My Grits
December 17th, 2012
7:17 am
They’re going to the Super Bowl and I’m going to watch and enjoy every minute of It !
Atlanta Falcons: Defense rides fourth-down stops to shutout of Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
7:18 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 17th, 2012
7:28 am
HELLO SCENETHISB4, HATED CAINTS TROLL, LOOKS LIKE YOU AIN’T TRASHING US ANYMORE, JUST JOIN RIGHT IN THE CELEBRATION……………ROFLMAO………..
Boo!!!! who is on NOLA AS YOU!!! ……………you never should have f ‘d with us dude. Can’t wait for Goodell to be presenting us that Lombardi in the Merci Benz Dome at the Super Bowl…………..all you Peeshwank crawfish head lickin bounty cheating cajuns gonna hate that.
Lol…………..haven’t seen SceneThisB4 in a long time, of course except as me. He’s got a thing for Mike Cox, damn good game son!!
Report card: Falcons earn high marks in win over Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
8:20 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
IMPARTIALL EAGLES FAN 4 LIFE
December 17th, 2012
8:31 am
PERFECT STORM G-MAN BUILT FOR POSTSEASON AS WE ALL KNOW AND FALCONS BUILT FOR REGULAR SEASON ONLY!!!!!! NO SHOCKER YESTERDAY THE ONLY SHOCKER WOULD BE IF FALCONS MAKE IT A COMPETIVE GAME LET ALONE WIN AGAINST G-MAN IN PLAYOFFS, AS THESE 2 TEAMS WILL MEET AGAIN PROBABLY AS GIANTS A WILDCARD AND AS WE ALL KNOW EVEN US PHILLY FANS WILL DESTROY THE FALCONS, THE FANS WILL BE LEAVING BY END OD 3RD QUARTER MAD AGAIN AND SAYING AGAIN WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR, SO PREDICTABLE, AGAIN IM IMPARRIAL EAGLES FAN. CHOW!!!!!!!!
Falcons playtime percentage chart vs. Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
8:43 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
DC Dirty Bird
December 17th, 2012
9:08 am
EAGLES FAN….you have mischaracterized the Giants in your assessment. The Giants are said to be a December/Playoff team. This was a playoff game for them to keep the division lead. Recall last year that the Falcons played in NJ only because NYG was a division winner. Everyone knows that there is a strong likelihood that only the NFC East Division winner will get in the playoffs based on tie-breakers.
Ken
December 17th, 2012
9:38 am
@ EAGLES FAN
You are Falcon hater and uninformed GIants fall to 3rd place in East with this loss they need to win out and have Dallas and Washington lose at least 1 game to make the playoffs. Go get on the Phill blog and complain about your coach and your sorry overpaid underperformg team. Good day!!
BK
December 17th, 2012
10:11 am
YES SIR!!!!! DIRTY BIRDS IN THE HOUSE ..GRAET WIN THATS WHAT WE NEEDED AND WE DID IT…..ATL ROSE UP
vesaversa
December 17th, 2012
10:22 am
If Coach Smith keep his hands off the offense and let the coordinator do his job the Falcons will go far. No matter what those idiots over at ESPN say who announce a new best in the NFL football team every damm week . The Falcons have the best players man for man and they looked like the best team in the league at 12/2 yesterday . I really enjoyed watching the Falcons dominate one of ESPN most favorite tv teams and made it look easy. If they get total home field advantage through out the playoff look out .
GATiger
December 17th, 2012
10:38 am
Not that it matters, but the overwhelming sentiment expressed on talk shows and publications outside Atlanta is that the Giants didn’t show up, not that the Falcons dominated a good team in a must-win situation. I’m listening to Collin Cowherd (don’t ask why I listen to that buffoon), and he hasn’t mentioned the Falcons. Yahoo sports ran an article about winners and losers in week 15 and they mentioned the Giants as losers, but nowhere in the article can you find the words “Atlanta” or “Falcons”. And these are the guys who have influence in college football rankings.
Joshua Brown
December 17th, 2012
12:27 pm
For all you people who are planning on going to the Falcons home playoff game in about three weeks. YOU NEED TO BE LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! never stop screaming and yelling, we need the dome to play the role of 12th man. RISE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eli_is_Elite
December 17th, 2012
12:48 pm
Man you guys are aggressively flocking to me like your D Fence on Eli the Elite…damn I see what I did there
IMPARTIALL EAGLES FAN 4 LIFE
December 17th, 2012
1:02 pm
Isn’t it pure Shenanigans that a perplexed Eagles fan such as myself is on the blog to begin with …I’m only talking crap about a team that came into my HOUSE and dominated my team Oct/28/12 (30-17)….I like to run my mouth about a team that went undefeated against the MIGHTY NFC EAST… I ENJOY regurgitating opinions I hear from smart guys like Rodney Harrison & company on the pre/post game shows… I guess what I’m trying to say guys are that the FALCANS ARE THE MORE SUPEIOR BIRD OF PREY!!!!! FALCANS RISE UP!!!!!!!
-Bewildered EAGLES FAN 4 LIFE
Atlanta Falcons: Joe Hawley will return to the team Tuesday | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
3:36 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
FOOTBALL RUNNERS » Falcons look ‘Super’ in rout of the Giants, 34-0
December 17th, 2012
3:53 pm
[...] on the ground — Michael Turner had 52 of them on 16 carries — that helped sway the day.” Click here for full article Share on Facebook [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Disguised coverages have led to interceptions | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
6:40 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Atlanta Falcons: One win away from wrapping up home-field advantage | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
9:23 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Old White Haired Man...
December 18th, 2012
10:39 am
we are proud of our NFC South Champions…
MICHAEL FREEMAN
December 18th, 2012
6:25 pm
PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME!! NOT EVEN ELIOT NESS COULD HAVE SAVED THE G-MEN
Atlanta Falcons: Safety William Moore misses practice | Atlanta Falcons
December 18th, 2012
7:58 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants Defense rides fourth down stops to shutout of Giants QUOTES: What they said after the 34-0 Falcons victory Diving intervention: Lord tells Roddy to play vs. Giants Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s post-game comments OTHER RECENT STORIES [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Lesson learned, Falcons vow focused effort at Detroit | Atlanta Falcons
December 19th, 2012
7:51 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Still no consistent running game with playoffs near | Atlanta Falcons
December 19th, 2012
2:43 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Wednesday injury report | Atlanta Falcons
December 19th, 2012
6:31 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants [...]
Falcons at Detroit: 3 key matchups | Atlanta Falcons
December 21st, 2012
9:06 am
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Chris Hope and Roddy White draw league fines | Atlanta Falcons
December 21st, 2012
6:36 pm
[...] Falcons look ‘Super’ in 34-0 rout of the Giants [...]