Atlanta Falcons: ‘Different team’ vows to end playoff flops
The Falcons say this season won’t end like the one in 2008 . . . or 2010 . . . or 2011.
That’s three playoff busts in three tries for the Falcons with general manager Thomas Dimitroff, coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan. That’s a lot of baggage for the Falcons to carry when they open the playoffs on Jan. 12 or 13 as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Rather than pretend the weight isn’t there, the Falcons say they are ready to carry it.
“This is a very different team from last year, two years ago, three years ago,” Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said. “Our players are much more mature. I think we are ready to go. We feel like we’ve got a lot to prove in the playoffs because we haven’t won a game and we want to win one so bad.
“I don’t think anybody is pressing. We just want to go win.”
The Falcons (13-2) have done all they can to set themselves up with the easiest possible path to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
They secured the top seed with 31-18 victory at Detroit late Saturday. Atlanta earned a first-round bye, home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and will play the lowest-seeded wild card team to advance to the divisional round. The result of Sunday’s regular-season finale against Tampa Bay at the Georgia Dome won’t affect any of that.
It’s only the third time in franchise history the Falcons earned the No. 1 playoff seed. They don’t need to be reminded of what happened last time they finished with the NFC’s best record.
The 48-21 loss to the Packers in the 2010 playoffs was deflating for the Falcons because they were the top seed playing at home. They lost 30-24 at Arizona in the 2008 wild-card round and 24-2 at the Giants in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.
The Falcons are 7-0 at the Georgia Dome this season but, like everything else with this team, it won’t mean much if they can’t keep it up in the playoffs.
“I like our chances way better at home with the dome rocking and how comfortable we are at home and how we’ve played (there),” Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “But we still have to go out there and play. (The top seed) doesn’t mean we’ve arrived; it doesn’t guarantee anything.”
Gonzalez is among the key skill players remaining from the 2010 team along with Ryan, wide receiver Roddy White and running back Michael Turner. Key additions since then include wide receiver Julio Jones, cornerback Asante Samuel and running back Jacquizz Rodgers.
Atlanta’s depth chart may look much the same but quarterback Matt Ryan said the intangibles are different.
“I think our chemistry is as good as I’ve ever been around,” Ryan said. “We’ve got guys in that locker room, both players and coaches, that are committed to doing everything the right way. And we have fun doing it. When you have a combination of guys who enjoy what they do and put in the time and put in the work, it’s enjoyable to be around.”
At the very least, Smith knows what not to do during the team’s bye week this time after the Falcons fell flat against the Packers.
Smith said the lessons learned from that experience prompted him to come up with a different practice plan if the Falcons earned the bye again.
“We’ll handle it differently in terms our workload and the days that we are going to work during our bye week and what our schedule will be,” he said. “We are not going to do anything like we did last time.”
During the bye week Smith and his staff will have to scout three of the four wild-card teams since they could end up facing any of them except the No. 3 seed in the divisional round.
Atlanta’s opponent will have to contend with an offense that’s clicking, especially in the passing game, and a defense with a knack for creating turnovers at key times. The Falcons recovered from a lackluster effort in a loss at Carolina and turned in strong efforts to beat the Giants and Lions.
The Falcons say their roll will continue in the playoffs this time.
“We are right where we wanted to be,” Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “When we started talking about it in training camp, we wanted to be a good team by the end of the year and control our own destiny. So far things are working out. We have to just go out and finish the deal.”
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161 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
December 24th, 2012
10:53 pm
Yeah, but. there is always a but. Two of the three teams they score 150 on were Arizona and Buffalo. The other was San Francisco’s equivalent of a Carolina moment at Seattle. However, the Seahawks do look very impressive this late in the season. Tough D, and Russell Wilson is a helluva QB. I’d like to see the Falcons play them.
Falcons Fan
December 24th, 2012
11:30 pm
Hey Falcons,
No. 92 SMU
ChipperisGod
December 24th, 2012
11:30 pm
Rise up guys! This is your year! Take it!!!!!
meme
December 24th, 2012
11:37 pm
As Chuck Smith said in ‘98 The whole can SHUT UP if ‘they’ don’t give us any respect then ya just have take it from them!!
meme
December 24th, 2012
11:40 pm
whole world (crap)
Mora less Petrino
December 25th, 2012
2:53 am
Merry Christmas to all you Falcons fans, and a lump of coal to all the trolls!
convinced
December 25th, 2012
6:30 am
yes the falcons will lose in first round of the playoffs!
Me Too
December 25th, 2012
7:00 am
It’s not the same team!! It is the same head coach who will not change. It’s the coach who will prevent the Falcons from winning in the playoffs. You can’t continue to do the same thing and expect a different outcome.
Thomas Brown
December 25th, 2012
7:34 am
+++++++++++++
Merry Christmas !
+++++++++++++
In the NFC, there are 4 Wild Card Play-Off Games’ Opponents, since the 2 worst-rated divisional winners have to play the 2 Wild Card teams, while the top 2 teams earned a bye. Wild Card Weekend, the Falcons are off as the # 1 seed. We aren’t 1 of the 4 Wild Card Games’ Opponents playing in those 2 NFL Wild Card Play-Off Games.
13-3 aside, the Falcons do not need to be getting injured to prove some statistic when we have earned our home field advantage throughout the play-offs, so that we can reach the Super Bowl.
You play your top players to begin the game. You substitute freely, getting all involved. You tell the players that your goal is to win the Divisional Play-Off Round. Obviously, the Falcons have been getting this wrong, too.
Tampa ?
I could give a rats’ behind if we beat Tampa or not. I do not want any of our players injured. Or, nagging injuries.
Then, we have 2 weeks before the Divisional Play-Off 2nd Round game against the worse-rated of the 2 Wild Card Play-Off Opponents remaining. Since the # 2 seed is also a bye for the Wild Card Play-Off 1st Round, we cannot play them. That team is not determined, and therefore by Heavens they both must play hard this weekend at all costs to get the bye.
Bye week we have to practice hard in pads even though it is week 18, not counting the 4 pre-season games.
It has been a long season. We are not a team with a ton of talent sitting on the sidelines. We rely upon our starters far more heavily than other teams who are also likely to go deep in the Play-Offs.
I am glad we’re having this discussion so that it can be clear what our strategies are and are not for week # 17 and week # 18.
It’s week # 19 that counts, and nothing else does.
If we can actually win week # 19, then there are other goals – AFTER THAT.
Week # 20.
If you have a huge advantage in week # 19, you do the same thing : Protect your Starters from injury.
This is not against the rules of the NFL, and it is the Right you earned by having earned the Home Field Advantage throughout the Play-Offs so that you’re able to earn the berth to the Super Bowl.
I believe if we concentrate in the city of Atlanta on what is important to the Falcons, winning week # 19, we will clearly see that we do not need to risk injury to any Starter against Tampa. And, even more so, we have players who clearly need to rest.
You start the Starters. You freely substitute. You let them get back in for some plays to be sharp, and it matters not 1 iota whether you lose to a sorry Tampa team or not. It is difficult to grasp sometimes what is important. This is not college football.
Falcons have failed to flip the switch at the right moment 45 years in a row. Most of those times we had nothing. We would take our 1st Round Pick and waste it. Now, our 1st Round Picks count. We’re still thin. This is Mike Smith’s 5th year, Matt Ryan’s 5th year, and our Defense and Running Games need all the Starters Able-Bodied after this 21-week season already including pre-season games. This is a pre-season game for the Falcons, and nothing more.
I do not want to see Matt Ryan sacked in the 4th quarter with a shoulder injury, and those who are confused about the NFL MVP 2012 needing to win, are fans in a city who for 45 years’ to-date, have not known what to do and have no experience to know.
Tony Gonzalez we do not need to be injured. We have 6 nagging injuries as it is. I do not care about Tampa. I care only about week # 19, not counting the pre-season. You need to peak at the right moment. That moment is NOT Sunday.
Esquire
December 25th, 2012
8:07 am
Merry Christmas from New York City!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
D-BLOCK
December 25th, 2012
8:40 am
We Love Our Falcons. No one’s saying it but 11 other NFL teams do not want to face the FALCONS in the playoffs. “RISE UP ATLANTA”
Let's hate the Caints together
December 25th, 2012
8:50 am
Unless they allow fewer than 217 yards to the Panthers Sunday the
caints will surpass the 1981 Baltimore Colts as the worst defense of all time.
Aint it great!!!!
Fan since 66
December 25th, 2012
9:40 am
Merry Christmas All…Isn’t it wonderful that we have the problem of trying to decide who plays in our last regular season game? I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we ARE an elite team now, whether the Natl. Media thinks so or not)! Since the hiring of Thomas Dimitroff and Coach Smith, we have been on a steady uphill climb. Granted, we have not reached the Promised Land, but by golly, we have our GPS units set on the Superdome and we know what to do to get there. Let’s all take a moment to realize how lucky we are to have hung our hats on the Falcons. We may not be the best, (yet), but we have a darn good team and a good organization behind it representing us in the NFL. Be thankful, my friends! And to all, Merry Christmas…be safe on the roads!
Go Falcons!
ATLRU
December 25th, 2012
9:41 am
ATL will roll through the playoffs–they will beat Green Bay and SF easily on the way to the Super bowl–book it! No team in the nFc matches up with the ATL!!! Rise up!! ATL will not be beat!
Georgia
December 25th, 2012
10:14 am
The Falcons are the worst 13-2 team in the NFL. Don’t you just love them! How did they win all those games? I dont know. Who cares? Go Falcons!!!
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
December 25th, 2012
10:50 am
COME ON ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!!I,M A DIE HARD FAN BRING A CHAMPIONSHIP TO THIS CHAMPIONSHIP STARVED CITY..SHOCK THE WORLD!!and make a liar out of a lot of folks..the joy you would bring to this very racialy divided crime infested city would be tremendous !!their would be dancing in the street on peachtree..as a 34 year resident hear much has changed to my dislike(too many norttherners from the slums of the north)but one thing has not changed LOVE MY ATLANTA FALCONS!!!GEORGIA DOME MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLY LOUD FOR FALCON OPPONENTS IN THE PLAYOFFS SO LOUD THEY WILL HAVE TO HAVE HEARING AIDS!!!!!!
Thrash
December 25th, 2012
10:58 am
All the teams in the NFC that looked mean & scary a few weeks ago look pretty disheveled and weak now. San Fran? Weak. Giants? Pathetic. Packers? Maybe, but which teams shows up, especially on the road to ATL? Dallas? Be serious. Chicago? Don’t make me laugh. Minnesota? If you shut down AP and the game is yours, big IF though. Seattle, gold at home, crap on the road. Just play your game as you have all year Falcons, no need to get fancy and/or stupid now.
Big Al
December 25th, 2012
11:28 am
Thrash, don’t you remember the last time the Packers came to town for a playoff game? Same thing might be coming again. Geaux Packers!!!!
Samuel
December 25th, 2012
11:30 am
Teams gain yards on the defense, but they don’t score points. The offense when clicking is a quick strike offense. In the Georgia dome, if that running game improves during the course of the playoffs,there’s know telling how far this team can go. The fans have to be the twelfth man. It’s on, go Dirty Birds!!
Fan since 66
December 25th, 2012
11:48 am
@Thrash…Good points. The two that worry me the most are the Pack and the Seahawks. The Pack, because they seem to be on somewhat of a roll with 4 wins, albeit against mediocre teams. This weeks game against the Vikings will tell us more. Seattle had some impressive numbers against teams in the last 3 weeks. The win over the 49ers, however was against a team that was playing on a short week after a very tough win on Monday. Plus, they were playing at home. The ‘Hawks are great at home, not so much on the road. In the Ga. Dome, they may be in trouble. Guess we’ll see what happens after this week’s games. All in all, I like the Falcons’ chances if they play like they did the last couple of weeks. Good time to peak!
Go Falcons!
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
12:59 pm
“Seattle is peaking and they have an X Factor QB, a strong defense and they play tough.”
…yeah, that x factor at quarterback is ROOKIE…..and you can’t tell me that coming into the Georgia Dome he’s not going to make a few mistakes that we can capitalize on and win that game!!! Plus, they have to play that extra game, perhaps pick up a few injuries…..and then there’s the long trip from the west coast to the east coast….which they have not handled very well at all! I’ll take my chances with Seattle…..they’re hot…..but I’d rather avoid Green Bay until absolutely necessary!
Fan since 66
December 25th, 2012
1:12 pm
@Okeetee, agreed. I don’t think Wilson could handle the noise at the Dome. They love their home field, but don’t do so well on the road. Combine that with a delirious Atlanta crowd, and I see a bevy of mistakes made by them. Green Bay doesn’t scare me as much as they used to, but get them in the post-season, and you never know what you’re gonna’ get! Ditto on avoiding them if at all possible.
Go Falcons!
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:27 pm
Pete
December 24th, 2012
6:21 pm
Dawg: “Now I see–in response to my comment on your ignorant statement that there are “only 2 wild card teams”–that you’ve corrected your original comment to “2 WC teams IN EACH CONFERENCE.”
No one else (except you) needs clarification because the subject being discussed was who were the Falcons going to play. Follow along….DOL said “During the bye week Smith and his staff will have to scout three of the four wild-card teams since they could end up facing any of them except the No. 3 seed in the divisional round.”
Since the rest of us know that our opponent has to be an NFC team, my comment re: there being only 2 WC teams (not 4) needs no clarification, excet for you. Or would you want to scout the 2 AFC WC teams as well? No surprise if you do.
________________________
No one else except me? Is that why you had to clarify for the others multiple times what you meant by your original ignorant statement?
You just keep posting your dumbazz remarks. Maybe you’ll finally get it right. Try holding your breath in the meantime.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:36 pm
Thomas Brown
December 25th, 2012
7:34 am
+++++++++++++
Merry Christmas !
+++++++++++++
_____________________
Merry Christmas to you as well, Thomas Brown, although I respectfully (for once) disagree wih you on the importance of Sunday’s game with Tampa Bay.
Substitute freely, yes, but WIN the game. Or else why even keep score?
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Dirt Nap
December 24th, 2012
8:06 pm
Everybody chill out,Gruden’s giving us some love!
_____________________
Just win–and the respect will come.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:40 pm
Put in Timeout . . .
December 24th, 2012
8:26 pm
Anybody watching the Hawaii Bowl?
_____________________
Guess not.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:46 pm
mgm
December 24th, 2012
10:24 pm
The previous three seasons that the Falcons made the playoffs they ran into teams that all were very hot going into the playoffs. All three went to the Super Bowl and only Arizona didn’t win it but they came very close and were arguably the worst of the three teams that beat Atlanta. Don’t look now but this seasons playoffs scenario is pointing toward Atlanta playing Seattle in the first round. Seattle will probably get the #5 seed (San Fran will beat Arizona and Seattle will beat the Rams in the final week). Seattle will play either Dallas or Wash in the first round and quite frankly they are better than both of those teams. Seattle is peaking and they have an X Factor QB, a strond defense and they play tough. They just dismantled three straight teams and hung 50 points on the first 2 and over 40 on San Fran. The bottom line is, Atlanta may be cursed with facing another Super Bowl Bound up and coming team a la Arizona, Green Bay, New York. Good Luck.
____________________
Based on their playoff history, the Falcons will need that good luck. Seattle looks formidable here at season’s end, but I’d rather face them than a team we’ve already beaten this year (i.e. Redskins, Cowboys, Giants). Hard to beat the same team in the playoffs that you’ve already handled in the regular season.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Fan since 66
December 25th, 2012
9:40 am
Merry Christmas All…Isn’t it wonderful that we have the problem of trying to decide who plays in our last regular season game?
_______________________
Co-sign!
Big Al
December 25th, 2012
1:55 pm
Looks like to me that Falcon fans are skeered of dah Packers. You should be skeered. The Packers are peaking at the right time.
Rick in Warner Robins
December 25th, 2012
3:07 pm
If something isn’t done about the defensive secondary, the Falcons will be one and done in the playoffs. Dunta Robinson is useless…couldn’t cover a 90 year old, blind man running a pass route. Calvin Johnson made him look like an idiot Saturday night. Sad thing is, he’s not the first receiver and won’t be the last. Robinson is a detriment to the team. Assante Samuel isn’t much better…maybe just a notch above Robinson. Between that and the lack of offensive line blocking, we won’t go far by only being able to pass. All a team has to do is blitz Ryan and the passing game will be worthless, as well.
Pete
December 25th, 2012
5:04 pm
Dawg: “You just keep posting your dumbazz remarks. Maybe you’ll finally get it right. Try holding your breath in the meantime.”
I stated there were 2 WC teams (+ 1 Div winner) the Falcons needed to scout. You insisted there are 4 WC teams, so make sure and consider the 2 AFC WC teams as well. Brilliant idea.
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
5:24 pm
“If something isn’t done about the defensive secondary, the Falcons will be one and done in the playoffs. Dunta Robinson is useless…couldn’t cover a 90 year old, blind man running a pass route. Calvin Johnson made him look like an idiot Saturday night.”
…..hey numbnuts…..you watching the same games we are??? Our secondary is without question the STRONGEST part of our defense! They have been fabulous throughout the season! Nobody completely shuts down an opponents passing attack in todays NFL. The rules are set up to give all the advantages to the quarterback and his receivers! Yeah, Johnson got a ton of yards….but DIDN’T cross the goal line, did he? Our secondary is quick, athletic and SMART! The defensive schemes our new guy has been using have worked extremely well! Picked off Peyton Manning 3 or 4 times. Picked off Brezzs 5 times. Picked off Eli Manning 3 more times! Plus, our secondary is DEEP! When we go to a nickel the guy that comes in does very well…..when our 1st stringers need a breather, the guys who come in don’t miss a beat! Best secondary we have EVER, EVER, EVER had! So you are either on drugs or blind or both! If we win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl, you can bet alot of it will have to do with the solid play of our secondary!
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
5:30 pm
“Looks like to me that Falcon fans are skeered of dah Packers. You should be skeered. The Packers are peaking at the right time.”
…not scared of them, just respect Aaron Rogers and what he has done and can do! Our secondary is much improved since the last time he came in here and torched us for 50 points. But, that being said, we’d just as soon avoid him or at least avoid him till the last game, if possible, kapeesh? I’m sure the Packer fans have their preference in whom they would like to play in the first round. Probably would love to knock off the Vikings and have the banged up, offensively challenged Bears come into Lambeua than have to play the Vikings two weeks in a row and deal with Adrian Peterson!!!
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
7:29 pm
Pete
December 25th, 2012
5:04 pm
Dawg: “You just keep posting your dumbazz remarks. Maybe you’ll finally get it right. Try holding your breath in the meantime.”
I stated there were 2 WC teams (+ 1 Div winner) the Falcons needed to scout. You insisted there are 4 WC teams, so make sure and consider the 2 AFC WC teams as well. Brilliant idea.
____________________
I “insisted”? No need to insist; there ARE 4 WC teams.
Let’s try again, Petey. Here’s your original statement, verbatim: “Huh? There are only 2 wild card teams. Who wrote this article?”
Do you see “the Falcons needed to scout” in there. Nope. So not only are you posting ignorant statements, but untruthful ones as well.
Have you fainted yet from holding your breath? Bad boy.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
7:53 pm
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
5:30 pm
…not scared of them, just respect Aaron Rogers and what he has done and can do! Our secondary is much improved since the last time he came in here and torched us for 50 points. But, that being said, we’d just as soon avoid him or at least avoid him till the last game, if possible, kapeesh?
__________________
We wouldn’t be playing the Packers in “the last game” (NFC vs AFC) in any event.
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
8:03 pm
“We wouldn’t be playing the Packers in “the last game” (NFC vs AFC) in any event.”
….don’t you think that I know the “last” game of the entire year is the Super Bowl? I was obviously referring to the last game to be played at the Georgia Dome for the NFC championship! So to review: most Falcon fans would rather play anybody but the Packers and Rogers…..until the championship game, which we should reach by beating the lowest seed that survives the first wild card weekend. It doesn’t appear that that would be Green Bay at any rate, but we wouldn’t mind Green Bay getting beat by anybody in the early round, if they, in fact, don’t get a bye week by being the second seed, which is still a possibility if they beat the Vikings this Sunday. The 49ers lost a golden opportunity to secure that second seed until they got waxed by the Sea Hawks Sunday night.
Big Al
December 25th, 2012
8:38 pm
Please, please, please, somebody please beat the Packers so that they will not have to come to Atlanta. I smells me a great big pile of Falcon Fear. Rogers just might light up the scoreboard in the Georgia Dome. He has done it before.
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
8:58 pm
“Please, please, please, somebody please beat the Packers so that they will not have to come to Atlanta. I smells me a great big pile of Falcon Fear.”
….not fear, respect! Who is your team by the way? Probably not even in the playoffs this year? If Rogers does come to Atlanta I can tell you one thing….it will be a lot closer than the last time……our secondary is much better and we can probably match him touchdown pass for touchdown pass!
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
9:23 pm
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
8:03 pm
….don’t you think that I know the “last” game of the entire year is the Super Bowl? I was obviously referring to the last game to be played at the Georgia Dome for the NFC championship!
______________________
Well, I hope you know; I was just going by what you wrote. I agree with you about the Packers, but hell, I can’t think of anyone left that I really “want” the Falcons to play. They’re all too good at this stage. I just hope they don’t play someone they’ve already beaten.
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
9:44 pm
” I just hope they don’t play someone they’ve already beaten”
…..I wouldn’t mind playing the Skins again. They are better than when we beat them earlier in the year, but then so are we! Plus, they also have a rookie quarterback….and as good as he’s been, he’ll make some mistakes, bad throws, bad decisions and we should be right there to capitalize on them! Hey, didn’t we beat Seattle in Seattle a couple of years ago, or was it last year? Well, in either case, unless we have an injury Sunday to a key player, we should be going in with a full deck, healthy and on a roll! .
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
10:02 pm
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
9:44 pm
…..I wouldn’t mind playing the Skins again. They are better than when we beat them earlier in the year, but then so are we! Plus, they also have a rookie quarterback….and as good as he’s been, he’ll make some mistakes, bad throws, bad decisions and we should be right there to capitalize on them! Hey, didn’t we beat Seattle in Seattle a couple of years ago, or was it last year? Well, in either case, unless we have an injury Sunday to a key player, we should be going in with a full deck, healthy and on a roll! .
_________________
Seems harder to beat a team in the postseason when you’ve alredy beaten them once during the regular season. Chicago looks to me to be the most “vulnerable” of the potential opponents at this point.
Pete
December 25th, 2012
10:19 pm
Dawg: “Let’s try again, Petey. Here’s your original statement, verbatim: “Huh? There are only 2 wild card teams. Who wrote this article?”
Do you see “the Falcons needed to scout” in there.”
Yes I do; heres the direct quote from the article (which I was commenting on) which you conveniently left out:
“During the bye week Smith and his staff will have to scout three of the four wild-card teams since they could end up facing any of them except the No. 3 seed in the divisional round.”
Thats when I said “Huh? There are only 2 wild card teams. Who wrote this article?”
So if you think we should scout the 2 AFC WC teams, that speaks for itself.
Thomas Brown
December 25th, 2012
10:53 pm
Denver is a team no one has mentioned yet. They’re tough on defense against the run and against the pass, and they do have a quarterback and 2 capable running backs. I remember when they were 2-3 and not looking good with their imported quarterback. Now, they are 12-3 and look to me to be better than Green Bay.
Green Bay has a good defense, but not as good as Denver defending the pass, and especially not as good against the run. Green Bay’s quarterback has not set the world on fire 2012, has he ? Their running game is better than the Falcons’ running game, but that is about all they are better running the football than, too.
San Francisco has injury issues already. That is a big deal, and this is what I said about Tampa – that we need to avoid injuries at all costs against Tampa to our Starters, unlike San Francisco; and, therefore the Tampa game is important and I never said it was not : What I said is that the Tampa game is important for us because we do not need to beat them at all for any reason whatsoever – just keep our Starters from being injured such as Running Backs, such as Quarterback, such as Tight End, WR and OL and secondary and defense, and such as everyone. How many of the teams who lost in week 17 needed to win in week 17 to move up in the seeding ? We don’t. Who is San Francisco’s quarterback ?
New England has a quarterback whose 2007 season we are to compare against Matt Ryan’s 2012 season. But, they have no secondary.
Seattle. Russell Wilson ? Seriously ? Marshawn Lynch can run the football and so too can Russell Wilson, but quarterback Seattle ? No. They do have a good defense, but their QB passing the football is serious drawback to their 2012 Play-Off hopes and they have home field against no one with their 10-win season. They’re great because they have a tie ? Pardon me, they have no quarterback to pass the football, and are a 1-dimensional offense therefore.
Texans are a better football team than Seattle, and it is because Matt Schaub is better than Russell Wilson.
We need to get our running game going in week # 19. I care not 1 iota about Tampa, other than how important the game is that we do not have anyone injured in it.
Can you and DawgNole, cut it out please ?
Pete
December 25th, 2012
11:09 pm
Thomas, youre so right about Denver. If I had to predict which AFC team goes to the Super Bowl, Denver it is. Trying to convince Dawg we dont need to scout AFC WC teams is not as easy as it sounds.
okeetee
December 25th, 2012
11:31 pm
We won’t meet Denver or New England unless we end up in the Super Bowl. So forget about them right now. Looks like our first opponent in the playoffs will be Seattle. We’ve beaten them twice in the last two seasons, both in Seattle. They have a more talented quarterback now, but he’s still a rookie…and prone to rookie mistakes. Then it’s probably going to be the Packers. Well, we’ve got them at home….nothing more we can ask for. The team that makes the least mistakes, turns the ball over the least….and has the fewest penalties is probably going to win. That would be us.
Thomas Brown
December 25th, 2012
11:31 pm
Yes, but he did say Merry Christmas back to me. So, we will leave it at that, ok ? Denver is the best team in the NFL, if Knowshon Moreno in these Play-Offs does what Champ Bailey has done for 14 years defending the pass and supporting the run – before Champ Bailey goes on to the College and Professional Football Hall of Fames. Denver’s defense is better than our defense. I remember their other running back’s career at Miami of Florida and how he got injured too, and Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are better than our running game.
Thomas Brown
December 26th, 2012
12:20 am
We don’t know whom it is we play in week # 19, but we do know we don’t want to play them with anyone injured, and that our focus is on week # 19; while our defense can ill afford any injury even a nagging one, while our running game can ill afford any injury either. There are other positions such as OL, WR, TE and QB which would be devastating to our game in week # 19. Seattle cannot compete Russell Wilson compared to Matt Ryan, so I am not concerned about them, either way, despite Seattle’s defense.
Denver is a whole other story.
Green Bay ? Green Bay matches up with us. I would not say that Green Bay is better than Denver can be. Matt Ryan 2012 is the difference between Green Bay and us. Aaron Rodgers is not going to light up our secondary like Matt Ryan will their secondary. Great game. I’ll take Matt Ryan 2012 to what Aaron Rodgers is doing 2012. And, frankly, I think we will do better running the football against Green Bay than we would do against anyone, and that is never good for a team defending Matt Ryan.
This is our Divisional Play-Off Round Opponent : Green Bay and I remain not impressed with Green Bay’s defense and fully expect them to be lit-up by Matt Ryan because the play-action will be there because we will run the football better against Green Bay than we’ve done against anyone. Matt Ryan has more upside in this game, as a result than Aaron Rodgers.
49ers beat Arizona, so Seattle is the # 5 seed. Washington and Dallas determine who Seattle plays in the Wild Card Weekend games. Washington can defend the pass. All Dallas has is Tony Romo. This game is far from determined, therefore, although Dallas is weak. So, if Washington wins despite their weakness against Dallas’ 1 strength, Seattle plays Washington.
Washington – Seattle match-up is an away game for Seattle, when they went undefeated at home in Seattle but no so on the road. This match-up is completely the opposite of Dallas – Washington where Tony Romo figures to light-up Washington’s poor secondary because Seattle has no quarterback who can throw the football with Russell Wilson. What Tony Romo can do to the porous secondary of Washington, Seattle will never do. Therefore I see Washington as week # 19 opponent at home for the Falcons.
We beat Washington here by a TD. Matt Ryan passes the football as well if not better than everyone in the NFL, and Washington has no secondary and figures to be lit-up.
ATL-WASH
Gary 32
December 26th, 2012
7:44 am
I started watching the Falcons upon there inception in 1966..I was 12 years old…I am now 58…needless to say I have seen an incredible amount of bad football and unlike some I realize we are in a renaissance period. This may be the best Falcons team ever…we shall see….GO FALCONS!!!!!
Big Al
December 26th, 2012
8:22 am
Okeetee!! I have been a Packers fan since the Lombardi years. They will pluck them Falcon feathers when they get the chance.
Mike is Back
December 26th, 2012
8:26 am
Dled, I agree with the sentiment of the TEAM…IF I’M THE BIRDS…I’m just pissed off and ready to take it out…on any team…THAT COMES TO DOME…during playoff!!
LESS KICK SOME ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS****************************…BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!