Atlanta Falcons: Lesson learned, Falcons vow focused effort at Detroit
FLOWERY BRANCH–The Falcons can solidify their postseason positioning with a road victory against a struggling opponent on Saturday.
Faced a similar situation two games ago, the Falcons fell flat at Carolina. They are vowing not to do the same at Detroit (4-10) with home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs within reach.
“I think we learned our lesson from the Carolina game,” Falcons running back Michael Turner said. “We are not taking anything for granted. We’ve still got work to do. We’ve still got things to get better at. They are going to give us their best shot. We know that.”
Some players admitted to becoming too relaxed in their preparation for the Panthers game, which followed a tough victory against the rival Saints. After the humbling 30-20 defeat at Carolina, the Falcons responded with what they said was a focused week of practice before their 34-0 victory against the Giants on Sunday.
Coach Mike Smith doesn’t expect a repeat of the lax preparation.
“I certainly hope we approach it differently,” Smith said. “I believe we will. This (Detroit) is a very good football team. Their record is not indicative of what kind of team they are.”
Smith noted the Lions have lost eight games by eight points or less and, like the Giants, have a talented defensive line.
The Falcons started slowly against Carolina and never recovered. They want to jump on the Lions early.
“We want to do that every week, but even more so this week,” Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud said. “If we can get them behind the 8-ball and under our thumb early, I think the ball will be in our court.”
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101 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
December 19th, 2012
7:54 am
First
woop woop
GDawg
December 19th, 2012
8:05 am
Go out and get home field this weekend on a national stage. Let the people see the REAL Falcons. Plenty of people will be watching, hate to pull against Matthew Stafford but I hope he throws 4 picks with one a pick 6 by 22.
Elvis is Alive
December 19th, 2012
8:10 am
12 and two..Detroit and Tampa..then the playoffs..Fellas ..IT’S NOW OR NEVER”!!!
Drew Brees beats up orphans
December 19th, 2012
8:19 am
Hate to say it, but if the Falcons don’t get to at least the conference championship, Mike Smith should be shown the door. All the tools are there.
Falcon James
December 19th, 2012
8:28 am
The Falcon are going to put it to Detroit and wrap home field advantage.
Felix the Cat
December 19th, 2012
8:31 am
The Falcons Play the rest of their games in a Dome. All the way through the SuperBowl the temperature will not drop below 70 degrees. Go Falcons!
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
8:33 am
QB, Check; Receivers, Check; Running Backs, Check; Tight Ends, Check; Offensive line, hmmm;
Secondary, Check; Linebackers, Check; Defensive Line, hmmm;
Kickers, check.
Yes, we have the tools!
Now the question is: Do the Falcons have the drive, the mental capacity, the intestinal fortitude, the heart, to go out and get the job done? Do they? I say it’s time they show the world who they truely are!!! SING IT WITH ME NOW MY COMRADES IN ARMS, SING IT WITH ME NOW!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY FALCONS!
ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!!
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
8:45 am
I still think we should sit Ryan, Jones, Gonzo, and maybe even White this week to reduce their exposure to injury. Detroit is a dangerous team with a penchant for illegal play and malevalent acts on the field. We don’t need any of these 4 to go down to season ending injuries at this point in time. We can take the Lions without them!
We need to play smart!
Whadda Ya Know?
December 19th, 2012
8:47 am
If they play against ALL remaining opponents with the intensity they went after the Giants with, there’s no doubt they will be in position to win these games. Stay aggressive offensively and defensively for 4 quarters…NEVER let up (Smitty).
BillyBob
December 19th, 2012
9:46 am
“Mike Smith shown the door”? Yeah right. Falcons fire head coach after 14 and 2 said no one ever!
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
9:47 am
That just makes no since esquire. We need to win this game. It seals the deal on home field advantage. We do not neccesarily need it but it would most certainly be beneficial to have. Play our starters, get up by at least the third quarter, then consider resting the starters. A loss to the buccs means nothing as long as we win this.
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
9:48 am
I mean he only has the best record of any falcons coach ever. More like “shown a raise”!
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
10:33 am
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
9:47 am
That just makes no since esquire. We need to win this game. It seals the deal on home field advantage. We do not neccesarily need it but it would most certainly be beneficial to have. Play our starters, get up by at least the third quarter, then consider resting the starters. A loss to the buccs means nothing as long as we win this.
***********************************************************************
Don’t be a peeshwank, I’m not saying the Falcons should tank and give this game away, I’m saying the Falcons can win this game even with the reserves in key starting roles. Detroit is a team that plays aggressively, physically, and often with questionable tactics. Remember, they almost took out Ryan last time they played them.
Is it smart to risk injury to some of our best players just to beat them? I say not!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Eric Florida's #1 Falconfan
December 19th, 2012
10:36 am
Are we the only NFL team that does not have a good (I’d take descent) punt returner? Maybe Smitty is saving some trick’s up his sleeve for the playoff’s? Every week we see Frank’s do the same thing, two step’s left, two step’s right and fall’s down! Please tell me come playoff time HD or anyone else return’s punt’s, good field position can really turn a game’s momentum around!! GO FALCON’s!!!!!
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
I disagree Esquire. If you look at the score and record of detroit they lose games by very little points. As a Georgia fan I often watch detroit play because of stafford. Many of the games that they have lost were games they had the lead in the majority of the time. I don’t like the idea of injuring a significant player on offence, however, I do like the Falcons at home agaisnt anyone. Get through this game then rest them. That gives them the bye and home field so as long as there are no season ending injuries they will have a minimum of 2 weeks to recover.
909
December 19th, 2012
11:03 am
Laughed this morning after hearing Blank on 790 pandering about how Atlanta “doesnt have a birth right to the SEC-CG and the Chik-Fil-A bowl being held in Atlanta.”
Blank was advancing the idea that the SEC-CG and the Chik-Fil-A bowl risked being moved elsewhere if Atlanta doesnt get a new Dome ?!?!?!?
ROTFLMAO !!!!!!
And Blank emphasized that a new Dome would be financed by a Hotel/Motel tax in the City of Atlanta and all of Fulton county.
So, as the economy CONTINUES to retreat, a whole lot fewer folks will travel to Atlanta for Falcon games and pay the Hotel/Motel tax, or be able to afford the new PSLs. Blank offers that the Hotel/Motel taxes will be paid by folks that dont live here. Ahhh, always OPM…Other Peoples Money.
If Blank wants a new Dome, let him pay for it with his own money.
Blank s bluffing about moving the Falcons if he doesnt get a Dome.
Given the horrid finances of MULTIPLE NFL franchises, what city other city beside LA could possibly support a new NFL franchise?
The City of Atlanta and ALL of Fulton County will be on the hook for ANY short-fall in the Hotel/Motel taxes.
What Blank is really worried about is that the State legislature
has the ability to cancel or block the whole thing.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
December 19th, 2012
11:05 am
Falcons still have plenty to prove:
1) I want to see two consecutive weeks of hard RUNNING football. Did anyone notice the end of the Giants game when Snelling #44 was absolutely taking it to the Giants? Would have scored had we not been so “nice”. What will it take for us to use Snelling in the run game during crunch time????
2) Dent #52 played one of his better games, but his performance has not been up to Astro standard. I want to see him anticipate against a Lions team that has had a hard time running the ball. The Lions should not run for 100 yards, nor should the Falcons be gashed for any run over 10 yards in this game. Eyes will be on #52.
3) I want to see Ryan #2 utilize slot receivers Douglas #83 and Davis #19 more efficiently. His security blanket is Tony G. #88, but good teams are going to take him away in the playoffs. He better get used to finding #83 and #19 now (and put this on film)
4) Tackling has got to improve. Weatherspoon #56 was admonishing teammates that whiffed on tackles. He needs to continue this authority role. I only wish that Ryan #2 would take this role on offense.
5) Play calling was better last week, save a few questionable calls (reverse to #83 Douglas in third down). I want to see another week of coherent play calling that includes deep shots down the field to the NFC’s best WR tandem, #84 White and #11 Jones. We have to keep the pressure on defenses down the field to open up intermediate routes and the run game.
Saturday night is a huge contest. In primetime. We need to come out and PLAY!
FBD
cb795
December 19th, 2012
11:06 am
Luke could not start and win a game at the High School level. Forget about him winning against the Lions. Win first then rest Matt if they must. Let’s keep the team sharpe!
Elvis the falcon fan
December 19th, 2012
11:07 am
Jump on them early and often. Blitz stafford, we dont have to get sacks, just make him throw it when he doesnt want to or make him throw it where he doesnt want to. That will result in either incompletions or interceptions. Get touchdowns off of turnovers. Use Quizz on screens and draws. We are on our way to the Super Bowl.
Doodaddy
December 19th, 2012
11:17 am
“If we can get them behind the 8-ball and under our thumb early, I think the ball will be in our court.”
Decoud’s New Years resolution should be to avoid cliches like the plague.
It is a ROAD game in the NFL...
December 19th, 2012
11:21 am
…against a team that SHOULD have been pretty good – mark up a loss for the birds – it is just tough to go on the road and win anytime, but especially at Christmas when knowing you are already in the playoffs and have players who really don’t care, or understand, about home field advantage…
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
11:28 am
Did you not read the Name of the article buddy. Atlanta Falcons: Lesson learned, Falcons vow focused effort at Detroit. I think that might just indicate the exact opposite of what you just said. Lions= No running game. Falcons= stront secondary. Falcons vs Lions Saturday night= Falcons W.
I Concur
December 19th, 2012
11:39 am
With Esquire, 100%. Been saying the same thing for past few weeks. Especially against Detroit.
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
11:48 am
You all really think that our back up qb is capable of beating Detroit? I surely do not.
Esquire
December 19th, 2012
11:51 am
Look, SceneThisB4 is trying to be me!!
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
8:33 am
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
8:45 am
Esquire IS IN THE HOUSE
December 19th, 2012
10:33 am
NOW MY COMRADES IN ARMS, SING IT WITH ME NOW!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY FALCONS!
ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!!
**********************************************
My god that is funny!!!
Hey, look at this. Joe Montana’s son is going to Tulane!!
http://tinyurl.com/bsgacly
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
December 19th, 2012
11:54 am
Obliterate Detroit!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Bogus Bill
December 19th, 2012
12:02 pm
The difference between this game and the Carolina game is that the Panthers have a competent quarterback.
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
Stafford Is a damn good QB Bill. Im a big falcons fan but, be honest with yourself
Mario
December 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
Detroit has no running game. None. They pass the ball a lot. Abraham and the D-line should be able to pin their ears back and go after Stafford. Stafford is prone to throw interceptions so if we can get to him, he’ll throw the ball to DeCoud and Pick Six.
D man
December 19th, 2012
12:47 pm
I believe it is important in a game like this to get up early on Detroit. They will feel like a looser and fold if we can do that. They did last week in Arizona. The last thing we want to do is let them hang around late n the game.
Smlarsen
December 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
agreed
Uh, Mario...
December 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
…how does one “pin his ears back”?
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
December 19th, 2012
1:42 pm
Esquire you suggest we play scared, no way man our starters dont come out till we have the number one seed locked up, we sit our starters early against detroit and we are stating that we are scared and not aggressive enough to play in this league. We need this to be another completely dominant game like against the giants. We can rest our starters against the bucs, resting them two games early guarantees they go into the playoffs rusty.
Tommy
December 19th, 2012
2:03 pm
‘Mike Smith should be shown the door”???? How about passing around whatever it is you’re drinking. . .
Smith is 55-23 as Falcons head coach. That’s a .705 winning percentage. They are the only NFC team with a winning record each of the last 5 seasons. He’s taken teams to the playoffs with Justin Peele as the starting tight end, Michael Jenkins as the #2 wideout and Akeem Dent as the starting MLB. They guy is a dang good coach and you all would think letting him go was a good idea until 12 other teams beat down his door to come be their head coach.
If you buy the ‘championships are all that matter’ line, you’ve been drinking the ESPN Kool-Aid far too long. By that logic 31 coaches should be canned every year. . .that is the true ‘loser’s mentality’
WDE
December 19th, 2012
2:15 pm
Tommy great post..show Mike Smith the door…to a new BMW perhaps..
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SawThat1nce
December 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
Show Mike Smith the door??….
SawThat1nce
December 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
The Falcons would be an ultra-elite team, if the person in charge of doing so, would strive to build a bigger, stronger, faster, meaner, and dominate OLine.
That is someone over Mike Smith in the organization.
kirkinga
December 19th, 2012
3:43 pm
I do not know how some people can say there is a coaching problem without also talking about how the team is assembled.
It can be argued that Coach Smith has excelled despite coaching a team that is deficient on both lines of scrimmage. We all understand that the running game is sub par, but yet the team is still 12-2. Some teams are consumed by their holes, the Falcons are surviving theirs.
Even if they win the Super Bowl, this offseason is going to be one of the most important in the franchise’s history.
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December 19th, 2012
3:57 pm
[...] Lesson learned, Falcons expect focused effort at Detroit [...]
Ueeediot
December 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
So, you want to sit Ryan and crew so they dont get hurt?
Are you proposing we put in their backups so they CAN get hurt?
@kirk
You are dead on accurate with that one.
This off season will be very important. We dont need contract hold outs or stupid things happening. We need a team that knows how to win in the off season too.
This team is built to be a power house for the next 3-5 years. Just need to keep tweaking the edges.
TUG MAN
December 19th, 2012
4:28 pm
WITH THAT WIN OVER THE GIANTS.SOMEBODY IS DRINKING FREE BEER .ME!!!!!!!!THANKS!!!!!!!! .FLY HIGH BIG BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!FALCONS FAN FOR LIFE YEA!!!!!!!!!BABY
RealisticFootbalFan
December 19th, 2012
4:55 pm
Until they can consistently win in the playoffs and get a SB ring…they will continue to be a good regular season team. Even with the win over the Giants…Can they beat them in the post season after the Giants adjust or better yet…Matt Ryan has yet to see the likes of Aldon Smith of the 49ers who has terrorized just about every team he’s played against…the real test for the Falcons doesn’t come in the regular season….We will see what they’re made of when they have to see a team like the 49ers. You think they don’t get respect now…let them lose again in the playoffs this year and they’ll be that much LESS respected…It doesn’t mean a thing without the SB Ring
falconsrelax
December 19th, 2012
5:32 pm
Some of you falcon fans still show that you have no clue about football. Fire smitty if we don’t make it to the conference game??? We should rest our starters against the lions even though we haven’t clinched home field advantage yet??? Really?? LMAO!
Samuel
December 19th, 2012
5:35 pm
I haven’t seen a dominate team so far this year. All the good teams have been beaten even with their so called great defenses. None look like the 85 Bears. So the Falcons are cable of beating any team they face. The Forty Niners are a well rounded team, but they’ve still lost three or four games. I’m sure Aldon Smith started in those games. And now their fate lies with a rooky quarterback that’s bound to make mistakes. Go figure!!
Bill
December 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
“If we can get them behind the 8-ball and under our thumb early, I think the ball will be in our court.”
Block that (mixed) metaphor!
RealisticFootbalFan
December 19th, 2012
6:10 pm
@Samuel the 49ers have a pocket qb who can run….That will give the Falcons defense fits…hence the X factor….Falcons have proven that when they get in to scoring matches again teams like the 49ers or green bay they usually come out on the short end of the stick. Matt Ryan had better start using his slot receivers more…don’t think for a minute that playoff caliber defenses aren’t gonna be ready for his security blanket(Tony Gonzalez). Also, don’t think for a second that playoff caliber defenses aren’t gonna be ready for Matt Ryan’s noodle arm when his receviers have to slow down on their routes for the ball to get to them…If the Falcons are gonna prove people wrong then they’re gonna have to do some things a little differently…and finally Matt Ryan has got to get rid of his happy feet in the pocket..when a Aldon Smith sees that…Ryan will be on either on his back or throwing INT’s…he doesn’t do well when he’s blitzed often…
RealisticFootbalFan
December 19th, 2012
6:14 pm
@Tommy so freaking what Mike Smith’s record is 55-23 as Falcons head coach….THAT ISN”T GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE…How many SB’s wins or apperances…. ZERO….how many playoff wins…ZERO…..The Falcons can win…no doubt…but they can’t win the ones that actually count for something!!!!! Still remains to be seen dude…
ZinoDawg
December 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
Just don’t hurt my boy Stafford – I love that kid. He’s a DGD.
Falcon Red
December 19th, 2012
6:37 pm
Ryan needs to abuse Chris Houston and show everyone why the Falcons let him go. And at the same time, Duanta needs to step it up a notch and show why we chose him to replace Houston! Honestly, I haven’t seen the latter of the two…hope he has a great game Saturday night!
Dickelsby
December 19th, 2012
6:44 pm
I just hope my Falcons get out of Detroit alive……..Oh I expect them to win big but I hope they can out of Detroit alive!!!!!!
falcon freak
December 19th, 2012
7:37 pm
if not mike smith then who?
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Dwayne C
December 19th, 2012
8:29 pm
@ Tommy: championships ARE all that matter and I’ll continue drinking that “kool aid”. You can can go on drinking the “one and done in the playoffs” kool aid if you want.
Mr. Thomas Anthony 'The Taxman' Jones, SR
December 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
Suh is the best!
Joshua
December 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
Starters should not be rested in the upcoming games. Let them keep playing and keep building momentum. Sitting out starters is exactly why high seeded teams get beat so frequently. These guys need to keep playing so they will be sharp when the playoffs come. If someone gets injured – so be it. You cannot expect these players to not play for weeks on end and come in and be effective when it matters most.
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December 19th, 2012
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[...] Lesson learned, Falcons expect focused effort at Detroit [...]
okeetee
December 19th, 2012
10:52 pm
“The Forty Niners are a well rounded team, but they’ve still lost three or four games. I’m sure Aldon Smith started in those games. And now their fate lies with a rooky quarterback that’s bound to make mistakes.”
…that’s why I’m saying it behooves us to draw either the 49ers or the SeaHawks in the championship game to see who goes to the Super Bowl…..because BOTH are starting rookies quarterbacks….and no matter how they look now, they WILL make mistakes in the Georgia Dome against our secondary! We don’t want Aaron Rogers…although this year, he can be beaten, too! We definitely need both of our games at home and the bye week! Win Saturday…..and the Falcons are rewarded with a 3 week “bye” week!
Jock Sniffer
December 20th, 2012
7:26 am
While Obama destroys America let’s keep our focus on the big picture…sports!
Ackshun
December 20th, 2012
7:29 am
The 49ers can’t even beat the Rams. Far to many weapons on ATLs side of the ball to worry about losing to them. And as far as mobile QBs go Atlanta has already defeated Cam Newton and damn near knock RG3 senseless. If you truly are “Realistic” you have to say this team can beat just about anybody.
Macon Fan
December 20th, 2012
8:24 am
the Noners, The Sea Chickens, the Cheese Packers, The Gints – are all hoping they don’t have to come to the Georgia Dome and face the Falcons in the post season.
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
8:29 am
What’s all the talk about the 49ers and recent playoff success. They have only two playoff wins in the past 16 years.In that time frame the Falcons have 4 playoff wins.
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
8:31 am
@ Jock Sniffer
The elections are over and you lost. Deal with it or not…
Playoff Wins
December 20th, 2012
8:51 am
I have sadly seen this lesson for 5 years now. When will Blank learn?
Playoff Wins
December 20th, 2012
8:54 am
@Macon Fan
You really want a more polished Aaron Rodgers in the dome again? Do you remember the 48-21 beating?
Ghosts of Past
December 20th, 2012
8:59 am
Hi Matty Ice, we are the ghosts of Arizona, Green Bay and New York Giants…….regular season means very little.
1stn10
December 20th, 2012
9:11 am
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
Believe it or not…we do know the players without their number posted after their name. Stopped reading, got annoying.
1stn10
December 20th, 2012
9:12 am
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
8:31 am
@ Jock Sniffer
The elections are over and you lost. Deal with it or not…
I believe you made a mistake…the country lost.
1stn10
December 20th, 2012
9:13 am
Bring on whoever…Roddy and his teammates said…”they are not affraid of anyone.”
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
9:24 am
@1stn10
What about 2000 to 2008? The country really got blasted….
Falcons82
December 20th, 2012
9:27 am
@Jock sniffer – get a life and stop trying to destroy everyone else’s.
Smlarsen
December 20th, 2012
9:33 am
Realistic football fan. Are you seriously going to say Ryan has a “noodle” of an arm. Apparently you missed the 90+ yard drive they had in the middle of the season at the end of the game. I think it was a 65 yard pass that got them out of their own endzone. Good try buddy. You couldn’t run the ball 65 yards in an open field.
The Big Fat Blogger
December 20th, 2012
9:48 am
I need to make mention of this since it has been on my mind for a while, what is really up with these so called “sports experts” on the national television market and these haters on sites such as msn and espn.com? We beat the Gnats in blow out fashion and all I keep hearing about now is how we squadeled a game against the kittens the game before….. However, no one talks about how the niners got destroyed by the same team they we just destroyed, or how the cardinals went into foxboro and beat the patriots earlier this year…. it is not until the Falcons play well that people find the negative to harp about, and if I have to hear about how the Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs one more time, I think I will go (crazier)!!!!! Please stop harping on the damn greenbay and gnats game from one,two years or whatever ago!!! This is a new season, new players, better coordinators, better vision….. We are ready this year!!! GO FALCONS!!!!!!
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
10:47 am
@Ackshun…Cam Newton made Atlanta look silly the last time they played us and had everyone questioning ATL defensive capability…what Cam Newton and Drew Brees did was expose how ATL can be easily beaten. No one said ATL couldn’t beat anyone… My point is they havent been able to beat anyone in the POST SEASON. Everyone knows the play level is elevated for the post season and history has shown us that ATL has been able to compete in the POST SEASON..@Smlarsen…Matt Ryan does have a noodle arm..if you paid attention to what I stated…whenever a recevier has to slow down on a deep route that means the QB underthrew it..yes…luckily the pass wasn’t picked off…but when faced with a stellar defense passes like that one you just mentioned will be picked off…mark my word….Matt Ryan is a good QB…not a great QB…. so as I stated before…all this bold talk you guys have right now is bogus if they can’t bring home the trophy…it doesn’t mean a thing without the SB ring…and you can’t even debate that because the Falcons have yet to win one…let alone win a playoff game since 2004…SB wins and consistency in the postseason wins you respect and the city money….Falcons haven’t earned it yet!!!!!
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
10:48 am
hasn’t been able to compete…..typo
Starship 1
December 20th, 2012
10:51 am
U think the Falcons win Sunday-but I will be hard pressed to think they will maintain that focus like they did with the G-Men last week. It’ll be one of those wins like what got them to this point all year. They’ll be trying to explain that they need to learn from this game and play better. My question is: how can they do this-when there will be only one game to left at the dome with TB and you’ve already clinched? Saturday’s game will be a tell all to what the Falcons tell you this week-as far as their mental attitude and preparation.
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:12 am
@ RealisticFootbalFan
RESPECT has been earned…… Name another city that’s in the processing of talking about building a new stadium for non-SUPERBOWL winning franchise. I can answer that for you….NON…… Seems to me RESPECT has been earned even without the ring. Like you said it’s about money for the city.
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:17 am
@Smlarsen….and to correct your statement about not being able to run the ball 65yds in an open field….see Adrian Peterson highlights from last week….. I am a realistic football fan and I know football….here’s what I see the holes with the Falcons are and what will haunt them in the playoffs.
Offense –
Matt Ryan relies too much on Tony Gonzalez. Opposing defenses in the post season will account for this better
Matt Ryan has a noodle arm on deep passes..if his receivers don’t fight for the underthrown pass expect INT’s
Michael Turner not producing enough
O-line struggles with blitzes up the middle
Matt Ryan struggles when he’s blitzed often
still not enough screens and slant routes
Defense -
Tackling has been slacked lately
Defense can’t handle mobile QB’s
Secondary needs tighter Man-to-Man coverage
D-line needs to pick up the sack numbers and fast
During zone coverage secondary not knowing their assigments thoroughly
Those are the ones I can think of right now…but these are items that will haunt them if they don’t tighten up..POST SEASON is not like Regular Season…
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:23 am
@Answered All Questions R U KIDDING ME right now…. Dude you said is yourself…non-sb winning franchise….that’s just it…SB’s win you respect dude….so what if they get a stadium…but it will take SB wins to fill it up you moron…if you notice…the taxpayers/fans didn’t wanna pay for it….they had to foot most of the bill themselves…I can almost guarantee you had the FALCONS had some SB wins under their belt then the taxpayers/fans would be more inclined to foot the bill…I.E. because SB wins are what’s respected!!!! ATL has not earned the RESPECT yet because they’re still trying to do what other cities have already done!!!!
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:26 am
@RealisticFootbalFan
Just because you are name calling tells me something about your level of intelligence. See Jerry Jones and Cowboys… Tell me who footed that bill…
Go Falcons..!!
December 20th, 2012
11:28 am
All Sport cable shows have never supported a Falcon Win. There slant will always be “How ‘Far the other Team has Fallen” or the patented ”They Just were not playing well at all”. Last year they gushed over the Aints. This year it looks like the Noners are the darlings of the league. Most of these guys are bias and there canned answers make them look amatuerish and clueless. Who cares….GO FALCONS..!!!
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:29 am
@@RealisticFootbalFan
If Superbowl wins are what’s respected why are the Eagle’s still selling out there stadium?
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:35 am
@Answered All Questions Really dude….you wanna question my level of intelligence just because my opinion of you really believing the Falcons have earned respect is moronic…again..you’re delusional. So yes..Jerry Jones and the Cowboys footed their bill….whoopdy doo!!! you got one one me… my point was simply this…Arthur Blank has the marketing strategy down…I’ll give you that one…but to get that ultimate respect the FALCONS have to produce and get POST-SEASON W’s on the field along with SB wins. We done this before remember…that’s how we got the GA. Dome….but you won’t see ultimate respect until they bring home championships…..not just a bunch of regualar season wins….THAT’S MY POINT!!!! and yes…I still think it’s moronic to think they’ve earned respect just because they got the ok to build a stadium….that doesn’t equate to championships…
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:36 am
@Answered All Questions the Eagles sell out their stadiums because they have POST SEASON W’s and mutiple SB appearances!!!!!! ATL can’t even say that!!!
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:39 am
@RealisticFootbalFan
So it REALLY is NOT about the RINGS then. Just appearances…
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:41 am
@Answered All Questions it’s really about both….but more importantly about the rings dude….The Eagles have gotten closer more often that ATL has…that’s why they’re respected more that ATL is…
Julio Jones
December 20th, 2012
11:42 am
I’m the Y.A.C. master. How many catches have you seen me making in stride?
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:42 am
@RealisticFootbalFan
So it’s about CLOSER now……
Go Falcons..!!
December 20th, 2012
11:43 am
No way im paing 10,000.00 dollars for an opportunity to by a season ticket. I’ve been priced out of the Home Game experience. xfinity redzone here I come…:)
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:44 am
@Answered All Questions Even with the blowout win over the Giants….don’t think for a minute they won’t regroup….they’re respected more because they have consistency in the post season….they lost to us no doubt…but in the post season…they’re a different team….THAT’s why they have rings…and that’s why they’re respected more so than ATL is…I just pray for your sake and others that they bring a championship home…because as I said before they’ll be that much more less respected if they don’t
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:45 am
@RealisticFootbalFan
Upon further review ….I agree with you….You truly are intelligent when comes to football.
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:45 am
@Answered All Questions For ATL…yes it is about closer….because they haven’t been able to do that….. they’re currently respected as the one-and-done team…
Matty Ice
December 20th, 2012
11:46 am
I’ve never passed for 200 yards in a playoff game but I’m elite baby!
RealisticFootbalFan
December 20th, 2012
11:47 am
@Answered All Questions So now you want to be a smart @ss…wow…upon further review..the call on the play stands…you’re still delusional!!!
Answered All Questions
December 20th, 2012
11:52 am
@RealisticFootbalFan
So now I am a smart @ss for agreeing with you….wow. There is now winning with you.
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