Atlanta Falcons: One win away from wrapping up home-field advantage
FLOWERY BRANCH — Asante Samuel is the Falcons’ resident expert on the importance of momentum entering the playoffs.
He should know. Samuel is the proud owner of two Super Bowl rings — XXXVIII and XXXIX.
He experienced a seismic momentum roll during his rookie season with the New England Patriots, who took a 12-game winning streak into the playoffs and steamrolled Tennessee, Indianapolis and Carolina on their way to the Vince Lombardi trophy.
One year later, the Patriots had less velocity, entering the postseason with just a two-game winning streak. But they still generated enough momentum to beat Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and become the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
What does Samuel think now?
“I think (Sunday) was the best game that we put together so far,” the cornerback said of the Falcons’ 34-0 thrashing of the New York Giants. “We just want to take this momentum that we’ve got and ride it into the playoffs. That’s how you win it. You take your momentum and you keep it going.”
Since the Giants and the Packers both lost their 14th games in 2010 and 2011 and then stormed to NFL titles, it’s become fashionable to talk about hot teams and winning it all.
The Falcons are outspoken about building on the big win over the Giants with victories over Detroit and Tampa Bay to close out the regular season.
“You need to win big ball games in this league to gain momentum going into the playoffs,” wide receiver Roddy White said.
There are differing theories on how momentum works.
Falcons cornerrback Asante Samuel intercepts Giants quarterback Eli Manning on the opening drive of the game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
While the Giants and Packers were hot the last two seasons, the 2009 New Orleans Saints went 13-0 and then dropped three in a row before the playoffs started as they rested starters. They were able to recapture their urgency during a playoff run and defeated the Colts for the Super Bowl XLIV title.
“Momentum is very important,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to measure, quantify it and put a number on it. Momentum is kind of like when you use the word passion or when you used the word purpose.
“Sometimes, you can define them, but you can’t quantify them.”
The Falcons have studied the angles. They seek to end a four-game postseason losing streak that dates back seven seasons. On Jan. 15, 2005, they throttled St. Louis 47-17 in the division round at the Georgia Dome before Jim Mora’s team lost the NFC championship game to the Eagles.
Under Smith, the Falcons have been eliminated from the playoffs in their first games after the 2008, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
In 2008, they went into the wild-card round at Arizona with a three-game winning streak.
In 2010, they were the No. 1 seed, went 9-1 to close out the regular season and lost to the Packers in the divisional round.
Last season, they finished the schedule with a 3-1 run and lost to the Giants in the wild-card round.
“It’s important that you are playing efficiently and effectively in December and January,” Smith said. “I think that is what every team is striving for.”
Smith was on the 2000 Baltimore coaching staff when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. The Ravens dropped Game 9 to Pittsburgh 9-6 before winning seven in a row heading into the playoffs.
“That was a unique experience in terms of having really five games where we didn’t score an offensive touchdown and we had to keep the team together,” said Smith of those offensively-challenged Ravens. “We won two of those five games where we didn’t score an offensive touchdown and then we got on a roll.”
The mentality then quickly changes in January.
“When you start talking about tournament games, it’s all about winning that game,” Smith said. “If you don’t win, then you go home. There’s definitely a conclusion.”
The Falcons can extend their momentum in Detroit Saturday, when they can wrap up the home-field advantage for the playoffs with a victory. Smith will then be faced with the notion of sitting his starters for the finale.
“We are playing for a whole lot,” Smith said. “There is still a lot of things that have to be determined in terms of seeding for the playoffs.”
LATEST NEWS
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
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
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
88 comments Add your comment
Simply the Best
December 18th, 2012
12:12 pm
Pamela’s team is the team we just destroyed 34-0…She was on here last week saying all kinds of cute things though being a girl from the NYC all we heard was BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH…Pamela You are a delusional Broad (that’s what they call little girls up in the NYC) the last time I checked the NFL doesn’t have style points girl whether it’s 3 points or 7 points A Win is a Win and all those W’s combined makes the Birds 12-2 and the inventible luxury of watching the Wild Card Playoffs on their first round BYE week…Pamela you need to stop regurgitating opinions of what the NYC boys are telling you and do your own research so when you come on big boy blogs you don’t stay girly things like, “9 out of the 12 games that you actually won this season was with 3 points or less”…. This only solidifies the fact that you are indeed only a girl that can’t read or can’t count I don’t know which is worse…….@Eli is Elite still rockin that huh… Eli Staring at huge Goose Egg on the score board doesn’t sound Elite to me… That dumb Coaching has out coached Bill Belichick Twice in the Super Bowl when you think about it like that Eli_is Elite your dumb …..BronxMike Your team’s playoff chances just got extremely sketchy by the hands of the Mighty Falcons I agree with you the giants fell flat at the most Crucial time of the season and even if Blue gets in they have to go on the Road… Bronx Mike how deadly has Old Blue been on the Road in the second half of the season Because all the big wins were in your House NEVER on the road besides the Cowboys game ….Old Blue just looks full from Last year’s Super Bowl win they simply are not Hungry this year
NFC South Champs
December 18th, 2012
12:15 pm
14-2 will do.
JONESBORO SLIM
December 18th, 2012
12:30 pm
I don’t know why you Falcons fans are using valuable positive energy trying to explain the points of the game or the game itself to people like BronxMike, Pamela…Falcon fans focus your positive thoughts on the upcoming Detroit game….disregard their opinions…after all OPINIONS are like*&%$#@#$ everybody got one…I THINK?
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 18th, 2012
12:36 pm
Pamela is Matt “CHOKE” Ryan.
Shesoleo
December 18th, 2012
12:36 pm
That game Sunday meant everything to the NY Giants, it wasn’t that they didn’t want it or need it, it was the Falcons just took it!!!!!! Go cry a river somewhere else because we don’t want to hear the BS. FALCONS ALL DAY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Realness
December 18th, 2012
12:38 pm
D. Orlando Ledbetter you are extremely corny. In fact the entire sportswriting/reporting staff for the AJC is corny. We need some people with charisma to report on our teams. And what is your first name? You sound like you are from Jackson, MS or something.
KC Falcon
December 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8758301/jim-schwartz-admits-detroit-lions-gone-rails
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
Bow ties are corny.
Detroit lions – Daily Cut-Up: MegatronWatch – 182 yards to go
December 18th, 2012
1:04 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons: One win away from wrapping up home-field advantage D. Orlando Ledbetter – Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionDecember 17, 2012 [...]
True Falcon Fan
December 18th, 2012
1:05 pm
DLed — FYI: Interesting stat, looking over the past 16/years i.e., Re: Super Bowl winners. The champions are 13 & 3 if they’ve won their 16th game of the regular season. So the message is Smitty wants to keep momentum rolling, lets don’t let-up we need to win out or at least the last game of the season. Very interesting stat, don’t you think? As Roddy has stated “Pedal to the Metal” don’t let-up never let-up!
Go Falcons — Lions next
D man
December 18th, 2012
1:23 pm
At the beginning of the season, I predicted that the Falcons would finish 12&4. Is it too late to change to 14&2? I think we are going to kill Detroit this weekend…
Esquire
December 18th, 2012
1:51 pm
Pamela
December 18th, 2012
8:06 am
C’mon. You Falcons fans know that the Falcons will not win their first game in the playoffs. 9 out of the 12 games that you actually won this season was with 3 points or less. That is NOT a good win. So what you beat the Giants! Their minds were obviously somewhere else. It doesn’t matter if you play in or out of the GA Dome; your team will lose the very first playoff game. They ALWAYS do. You all had a very easy season this year. Next year you will not.
**************************************************************
“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.”
― François de La Rochefoucauld
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************************
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
1:53 pm
Good afternoon fellow Falcon Fans, Trolls, Esquire impersonators.
I have an announcement to make.
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
SirReal
December 18th, 2012
1:54 pm
Esquire Its cool. I can dig what you are saying. I just think it’s still too early and we dont want to give DET any freebies.LOL
Really?! Well said sir.
Should be an interesting stretch Birdland! If we play like we did Sunday the rest of the year, we might just be blogging past January!!!
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
1:58 pm
SirReal
December 18th, 2012
1:54 pm
Esquire Its cool. I can dig what you are saying. I just think it’s still too early and we dont want to give DET any freebies.LOL
Really?! Well said sir.
Should be an interesting stretch Birdland! If we play like we did Sunday the rest of the year, we might just be blogging past January!!!
********************************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL*************************
*************************************TROLL FAIL**************************
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
2:00 pm
(reprinted without permission)
The Cowboys and officials in the NFL’s offices were unaware that Brent — who is on the reserve/non-football injury list after being charged with intoxication manslaughter two weeks ago in the car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown — would be on the sideline Sunday during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas. Both the team and the league agree that it was not appropriate, sources said.
The Cowboys will have their way with those lily sissy Caints this weekend. They like it like that.;
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
2:01 pm
Like Elton John wrote,
Don’t give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night’s alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Obliterate Detroit!!!
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
2:03 pm
Falcons Offense
PTS 26.5 (7th ) YDS 377.4 (7th) PASS YDS 287.5 (5th) RUSH YDS 89.9 (28th)
Detroit Defense
PTS 27.1 (28th) YDS 337.5 (12th) PASS YDS 218.1 (11th) RUSH YDS 119.4 (18th)
Detroit Offense
PTS 23.6 (14th) YDS 406.5 (2nd) PASS YDS 302.1 (1st) RUSH YDS 104.4 (23rd)
Falcons Defense
PTS 18.5 (4th)YDS 354.4 (19th) PASS YDS 229.5 (17th) RUSH YDS 124.9 (24th)
bullrusher1
December 18th, 2012
2:04 pm
I can’t decide if I want the Falcons to rest their starters against TB or not. I guess first we should lock up against Detroit, but think about it. Falcons have the No. 1 seed, a very healthy team, and great momentum. Not to mention that the Falcons haven’t had back-to-back losses since 2009, so will we want to risk that in the playoffs? I get being agressive, but it might be better to treat Week 17 more as a preseason game. Either way, we have to beat the Lions first, and make sure we keep “Cheap Shot Suh” off of Matty Ice.
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
2:13 pm
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 18th, 2012
8:09 am
Esquire
December 18th, 2012
9:07 am
********************************************
Nope, not me!!
SceneThisB4, how ya doing Peeshwank. You know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
I heard somebody stole your identity. I am sure you can get another one…………maybe even just as cool.
Esquire "I AM IN THE HOUSE"
December 18th, 2012
2:20 pm
OBLITERATE DETROIT…………..!!!!
IMPORTED FROM DETROIT MY BUTT, LET’S EXPORT THEM TO THE CELLAR DWELLERS LIKE THE CAINTS. (would you believe the sack heads still think they are in the playoff run….roflmao)
LOCK UP HOME FIELD, HAVE THE STARTERS PLAY AT LEAST THE FIRST QUARTER AGAINST TAMPA BAY……………..
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Esquire out…………………….!!!
Whadda Ya Know?
December 18th, 2012
2:20 pm
Falcons will take away the Lions strength (passing)–if you want to call it that. They have no running game so…how will they win?
Esquire "THE GREAT"
December 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
aw heck………………in my best impersonation of “Columbo”
“and just one more thing”
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
Esquire out……………………..!!!
Anonymous
December 18th, 2012
2:35 pm
Lots of cornball brothers in the house today.
KC Falcon
December 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Nothing says happy holidays like trolls on a thread. If only you were forced to use your real name.
KC Falcon
December 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Nothing says happy holidays like trolls on a thread. If only you were forced to use your real name.
ProudTechFan
December 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
Funny how the Giants fans are saying the game didnt matter after the blow out. If they would have won, they would be saying that the Giants are finally getting hot and playing their best football and the Falcons cant beat real contender. I know the perception of the Falcons is based on their recent history in the playoffs, fair enough we have to prove at some point by winning playoff games that we are not that same team. But at least give us credit for winning and dominating the Superbowl Champions. We made Peyton look lost most of the game and totally owned Drew Brees in the dome. I know this means nothing in the playoffs, but im definetly going to enjoy the ride while it last. Go FALCONS!!!
Mikey
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
How sweet would it be to beat the Lions? Is it possible that our Falcons can put together back to back DOMINATION games? This is not easy in the NFL… I can’t wait to see this game though… our team looks like the real thing! GO FALCONS! YOU ARE RISING UP!
old man
December 18th, 2012
10:32 pm
Pressure Stafford, he’s not mobile.
Protect Ryan, he’s not mobile.
Game over.
BillA
December 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
Congrats to the Falcons on beating my NY Giants, However, I will say what I said to the Cowboys in week 1 and that is nobody won a Super Bowl in any regular season game. Enjoy the win and hope to see y’all again in a few weeks.
44counter
December 18th, 2012
11:03 pm
All the ” so called experts” keep saying that the regular season doesn’t mean nothing…….HUH!!!!
So how do you qualify for the playoffs???…….ask the Jets do the regular season mean anything.
After the Redskins win the east, you can add the Giants to……..does the regular season mean anything.
rfall
December 19th, 2012
1:55 am
falcs need to handle detroit and rest key starters against tampa. abraham,spoon,asante,roddy,julio,tony,and matt ryan should all sit out against tampa. we wont be super without all of those guys fresh!!
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
9:36 am
Enter your comments here
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
9:39 am
Whooops. I agree with the people saying we need to play our starters against the lions. When you have the chance to lock home field, you need to take advantage. A loss to the buccs means nothing. Play your starters against the lions. Shut them down in the first three quarters(or less) then consider pulling the starters. This game is important. The birds are almost unstoppable in the dome. We don’t neccesarily need it but, it would certainly be beneficial. Rise up falcons. Pamela, your an idiot. End of discussion
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 19th, 2012
1:12 pm
Pamela
December 18th, 2012
8:06 am
So what you beat the Giants! Their minds were obviously somewhere else.
**********************************************************************************************
“Pamela,” or Matt “CHOKE” Ryan, or whatever your name is, that is the stupidest thing anyone has ever said. The Giants are a professional, championship football team. They come to play every week. Your attempts to minimize each Falcon win, as if those games aren’t important, while harping on their losses, as if somehow those games ARE important, just makes you look like a fool.
Mike is gone. His undoing was his OWN doing. Get over it.
DirtyBirds Willfail
December 19th, 2012
7:25 pm
Atlantic can have home field all they want but when the Niners roll in it’s all over . . . Enjoy your record while you can.
Posts about The Falcons From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
December 19th, 2012
8:29 pm
[...] on the field as they look on paper. Despite the talent we know is present on its de more… Atlanta Falcons: One win away from wrapping up home-field advantage – blogs.ajc.com 12/17/2012 FLOWERY BRANCH — Asante Samuel is the Falcons’ resident [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Joe Hawley added to active roster | Atlanta Falcons
December 24th, 2012
2:12 pm
[...] One win away from wrapping up home-field advantage [...]