Atlanta Falcons: Falcons to face white-hot Seahawks at 1 p.m. Sunday at Georgia Dome
The Falcons' Michael Turner (center) rushes against Seattle in first half action last season. (Associated Press).
FLOWERY BRANCH – Coach Mike Smith, the winningest coach in team history, has the Falcons poised to make an unprecedented third straight appearance in the NFL playoffs.
The Falcons, the No. 1 seed, will host the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional round at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome. The Seahawks advanced with a 24-14 victory over Washington on Sunday.
The Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs under Smith, but are determined to reverse the direction of their recent playoff fortunes.
Each time they lost to the team that went on to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and the last two playoff defeats were to the eventual Super Bowl champion in Green Bay and the New York Giants.
Smith doesn’t have to look too far for a signal that things are going to change.
“Matt (Ryan) has had a great regular season for us this year,” Smith said of his quarterback. “He’s got the individual accolades. He’s led our team through some tough ball games and been able to pull them out. Those experiences will help us in the post-season.”
In a meeting with Seattle last season on Oct. 2, 2011, the Falcons jumped out to a 27-7 lead, but had to hold on for a 30-28 victory.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka missed a 61-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer. It was short and wide left.
In the last meeting, Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was held to 24 yards on eight carries and one touchdown. He rumbled for 131 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown against the Redskins.
The Falcons faced quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in that previous matchup. The Seahawks are a much different team with rookie Russell Wilson at quarterback.
“I’m just very impressed with his maturity,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who broadcasts Seattle’s games in an interview on 790 The Zone. “His work ethic and the way he just comes to work with a sense of purpose every day; it doesn’t change. It doesn’t waiver. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. It doesn’t matter if they won the game by 50 or lose by 7, he comes to work with that same attitude each and every day.”
The Seahawks also received a boost against Washington from the return of cornerback Brandon Browner, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Unlike in 2010 when the Falcons were the No. 1 seed, the Falcons had a full week of practice during the bye week. They are hoping the extra work will allow them to stay in a rhythm.
The players contend this playoff trip will be different.
“The coaching, the locker room, the brotherhood in the locker room is totally different than 2010,” defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said. “I think that guys are eager to get into the playoffs and make our presence known. We are a team that’s going to be able to make this run in the playoffs.”
The Falcons know that stopping Lynch will be a key to their efforts against the Seahawks.
“Every play starts with the (defensive) line,” Babineaux said. “What we do up front dictates a lot of what happens on the back end. It’s our job to fill in our gaps, secure our gaps and make sure that the ball doesn’t run in our gaps. If it does, we have to make the tackle. That’s the type of attitude that we have to have from here on out. We have to be stout in everything that we do.”
The Falcons are facing arguably the hottest team in the NFC. The Seahawks have won their last six games.
Before the playoff game, the Seahawks had outscored their five previous opponents 193-60, including a 58-0 rout of Arizona and a 42-13 rout of San Francisco.
The Seattle defense has not given up more than 28 points in one game this season.
The Seattle won all eight game home games, but they had to learn how to win on the road.
“That was the hurdle they had to get over,” Moon said. “When you have a young football team. When you have a young quarterback, you just have to figure out what it takes to win out on the road, especially in close football games.”
LATEST NEWS
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Smith to ramp up bye-week practices
Smith expects Abraham, Robinson to be ready for playoff game
Falcons’ run defense to be tested in divisional playoff game
Falcons to open playoffs at 1 p.m., Sunday Jan. 13th
OTHER RECENT STORIES
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277 comments Add your comment
playmeortrademe
January 6th, 2013
8:24 pm
Also think the betting line will shift to favor Seattle. No one believes in the Falcons. A butt whooping of the Seahawks next Sunday is the only thing changing that.
DieHardFalconsFan!!!!
January 6th, 2013
8:25 pm
Im feeling good about this game come sunday! GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!
Braves #17 Fan
January 6th, 2013
8:26 pm
Stupid headline.
West Seattle James
January 6th, 2013
8:26 pm
I used to live on Peachtree and Pharr Rd, now standing behind the 12th Man in rainy Seattle. Cant wait to fly down for the game: whoever gets a two score lead I reckon will win next week. GO SEA HAWKS
Michael M.
January 6th, 2013
8:26 pm
Demolished the Giants……………….and the Seabuzzards think they will come into the Georgia Dome for a cakewalk?…………………absolutely hilarious……………………
FALCONS ARE FOR REAL
January 6th, 2013
8:28 pm
@Schwindler-Low Life- Falcons won against the teams Seattle lost to. Wait till they are overwhelmed by the DOME and the HUNGRY!!! FALCONS. We’ll destroy them and they’re rookie qb
Ledbetter blocked me
January 6th, 2013
8:28 pm
It was a limping RG3 that runs faster than Ryan even when he’s hurt. Ryan will be a sitting duck. Expect lots of hits Matty.
What do Chris Ivory and Marshawn Lynch have in common? They both are the type of backs Assante Samuels won’t wanna tackle. Seahawks prevail; Smitty makes boneheaded decision ….same ole Falcons.
TechNut
January 6th, 2013
8:29 pm
Yep, Koetter and Nolan will confuse the seadogs.
The Falconator
January 6th, 2013
8:29 pm
The three losses this year came in games in which The Falcons looked totally flat. Discount the third loss because they really were not playing for anything. In the wins, they either charged out offensively or the defense held. As always, the question is: Which Falcons team will show up next Sunday against Seattle? Hope the run game shows up. Playing in the Georgia Dome should be the biggest difference-maker. Would like to see more of Julio and Roddy on slants across the middle and running away from defenders for long gains.
Ghost of Norn van Brocklin
January 6th, 2013
8:30 pm
Jerry Schwindler, I agree with Falcon Fan, who did the Seahawks play? Nobody also. The Falcons beat the Broncos, Redskins and 2012 NFL champs Giants. Seahawks will choke under the pressure of defending White, Jones and Tony G.
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
January 6th, 2013
8:31 pm
FALCONS EXPERIENCE FROM PAST YEARS WILL BE THE FACTOR…RYAN,WHITE,GONZALEZ,TURNER S PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE WILL SHOW UP SUNDAY..WITH A VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY LOUD GEORGIA DOME…..ATLANTA 28 SEATTLE 17
trollhawks
January 6th, 2013
8:31 pm
@Falcon Fan…really. The weakest division? WTF are you smoking? 49er’s are 12-3-1, Hawks 12-5, Rams are 7-8-1 and Cards 5-11. Seahawks are 5-1 against this years playoff teams. We’ve beaten the Packers, Patriots, Skins, Cowboys, 49ers, Minnesota and were 8-0 at home. The NFL’s best defenses come out of the NFC Best. Seahawks led the league in giving up 15 pts per game.
The Falcons won’t score more than 17 points against the Hawks and Roddy or Julio will get rattled by our corner and safety play. I could go on all night long, but your fandom is blinding you to facts.
NumberOneDirtyBird
January 6th, 2013
8:31 pm
Ryan led offense has put up 30 points every time he faced this defense! I will be taking all bets against my Falcons this week! I will have a nice payday!
DieHardFalconsFan!!!!
January 6th, 2013
8:31 pm
Matt Ryan is gonna torch the seasquaks defense!
Voice of Reason
January 6th, 2013
8:32 pm
Mr. Swindler – really??? I thought the New York Giants looked better than the team that just beat a one-legged RGIII tonight. Dallas too. I am not scared. The last guy to come into the Dome and beat us was aaron Rogers — who I think is 10 times the QB that Russel Wilson is right now …
Final Score
January 6th, 2013
8:34 pm
Seattle 50
Falcants 3
Oh yeah………Flacco 6 Matty Ice 0
Lori
January 6th, 2013
8:34 pm
RGIII went four quarters. The Redskins chose to go all the way with him. And they LOST.
The Seahawks and specifically Russell Wilson outplayed, and endured. And came to D.C. to win. Dismiss the Seahawks – their offense and their defense together – at your arrogance and peril. Seahawks are the REAL DEAL. Treat this team with the respect they deserve. They will not be ignored.
MarkATL
January 6th, 2013
8:35 pm
This game will be a statement game for Atlanta! Hope the Falcons put up 28 points by halftime! We need to beat the crap out of Seattle to get respect from the national media.
Kim Zolicak
January 6th, 2013
8:37 pm
Final Score
January 6th, 2013
8:34 pm
Seattle 50
Falcants 3
Oh yeah………Flacco 6 Matty Ice 0
poor choke, banned !!
okeetee!
January 6th, 2013
8:37 pm
“And the games at 12, not 1″
….maybe Central time but not Eastern! And the opening line I saw was Falcons by 3 points. We are going to need to score about 30 points. We need two turnovers. We don’t need any stupid, foolish penalties, like off sides, clipping on kickoffs or punt returns, and ESPECIALLY, excessive celebration penalties or 12 men on the field!!!
Ledbetter blocked me
January 6th, 2013
8:37 pm
Forget about the National media….win something and stop being a big game disappointment and the band wagon will fill up quickly.
robertussen
January 6th, 2013
8:38 pm
all that travel can’t be good for them. jetlag and home field advantage helps us win a close one
wisconsinfalcons fan
January 6th, 2013
8:38 pm
did anyone see the highlights of all the teams that are in the play off last night on nfl network, they showed each team making good plays for their team but when they showed the falcons highlights they showed Matt Ryan getting sack, talk about no respect, I know we will kick butt now, I don’t care if it is the sea flies, stay focus JUST WIN BABY
Philip
January 6th, 2013
8:38 pm
CRAP! I never fails. The Seahawks are going to stuff worthless Turner and the Line can’t holed up to the Seahawks line Ryan will get hammered. One and Done here we go like I said. I am going to NO for the Superbowl prove me wrong Atlanta..
MarkATL
January 6th, 2013
8:38 pm
Lori: So are you saying that Atlanta is not the “REAL DEAL”? Seems like Atlanta is the team not getting respected. We respect Seattle, but we sure as hell won’t let them beat us in our own dome!!
Khalif
January 6th, 2013
8:39 pm
Funny how much skinnier Turner looks in the picture above. If he could lay off the food Falcons wouldn’t have to be so one-dimensional.
Josh
January 6th, 2013
8:39 pm
The Falcons are about to get Hawked!
0-4 is your destiny
January 6th, 2013
8:40 pm
Sounds like a lot of nervous fans.
DirtyBirdinCali
January 6th, 2013
8:41 pm
Next week this time, we’ll be able to start taking about plans for traveling to New Orleans!
MarkATL
January 6th, 2013
8:44 pm
That’s right you haters. Bring it on. We will get the last laugh next Sunday.
TomDawg
January 6th, 2013
8:44 pm
I think pre-game coverage starts @ 12 pm and then the game @ 1pm.
stendek
January 6th, 2013
8:44 pm
Greetings Mr OL. From the remarks by that idiot announcer the Falcons might as well mail in the game on Sunday. From his perspective the Seahawks are unbeatable with a Super Bowl ticket already stamped. Hope the damn Falcons were listening! Of course, if the morons perform like they did in the regular season home finale it will be yet another one then done! The best case scenario would be a Falcon victory coupled with a 49er advance. I do not believe the Falcons can whip Aaron Rodgers in Georgia, Wisconsin or Florida! I am still not completely sold on Matthew Ryan. Especially after the Tampa Bay fiasco! RG III will be a one season wonder. I do not see his recovery! Oh well. If Falcons lose to Seahawks at home they might as well let Mark Richt coach em. That bum cannot win the big one either!
Starship 1
January 6th, 2013
8:44 pm
I think the Redskins vs Seahawks would become a different outcome had RGIII had been at 100%. Falcons win this Sunday. Why? Because I’m watching the game up close-on my flat screen-that’s why. Oh-and I will cuss the @$*@ tv!!!
Josh
January 6th, 2013
8:45 pm
Nobody, and I mean nobody is playing as good as Seattle right now. You’ll all see this coming Sunday. Jet lag? Yeah, it sure was a factor in their come from behind win with 24 unanswered points. RG who? Falcon’s are history this season.
Eric C.
January 6th, 2013
8:45 pm
trollhawks, I admit the Seahawks are very tough and it will take a great game from the Falcons to beat them. However, they haven’t faced a group of receivers like Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas, and Tony Gonzalez lately. Yeah, Seattle has big physical corners, but Julio and Roddy are as tough as they come.
backatcha
January 6th, 2013
8:46 pm
We knew that Seattle was coming & what they bring to the table! Wait til they see what we’re bringing!!! Go Falcons!
Maalox Customer Service
January 6th, 2013
8:47 pm
Mr. Ryan can we take your annual order?
okeetee!
January 6th, 2013
8:47 pm
Hey Troll Hawk! Last two times we played you in your house, we put up 30 points and won both games! We ain’t the same team that’s been beaten in the playoffs the last two years and neither are you. We like our chances at home. We get any kind of protection for Ryan which we’ve pretty much gotten all year, and we should score 30 again. We could use a couple of turnovers and no stupid penalties……and hope your rookie quarterback plays like a rookie this game!
Get Back Jojo
January 6th, 2013
8:47 pm
Lets go Dirty Birds!! A Falcon will rip a Seahawk out of the sky…
They put their pants the same as you do. They are also used to the “12th man noise”, but their coming to ATLANTA!! RISE UP!!
GO FALCONS!!!
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
January 6th, 2013
8:47 pm
COME ON FALCONS BEAT SEACHICKENS…THE JOY OF MY LIFE???WINNING THE SUPERBOWL ON THE NEW ORLEAN AINTS HOME FLOOR …HEY NEW ORLEAN AINTS THEIR IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME LIKE YOU ARE..
Talk About Pressure-
January 6th, 2013
8:48 pm
The Falcons MUST win. Everyone’s talking about how no one wants to play the Seahawks… well if I were the Seahawks I would not want to play a team as desperate as the Falcons,who i might add is pretty talented and at home.
That said- can u imagine the devastation the city and team would encounter if we lose to a rookie QB… Mike Smith would not get another starting HC job no time soon. He will be the coach that can’t win with a talented team in the playoffs on or at home, not to mention, be a dead walking at Flowery Branch. Matt will stock would plummet.
stendek
January 6th, 2013
8:48 pm
Lori. Will let ya know late Sunday afternoon. You are correct though. Respect has to be earned. Falcons have achieved nothing yet! DO NOT GIVE TURNER THE BALL!
TC
January 6th, 2013
8:49 pm
The Falcons will lose. Ryan and team will through the game, like they did last three times. You sports fans need to wake up, it is all about money not the game.
MarkATL
January 6th, 2013
8:51 pm
Do you Seahawk fans really think that Seattle’s D can stop all of Atlanta’s weapons on offense? Really? Who do you double team? Roddy? Jones? Gonzales? HD? Seattle will not be able to contain these guys all game long. This will not be a close game.
Raiderbeater
January 6th, 2013
8:52 pm
Will Seahawks fans stop saying you beat Green Bay. You didn’t.
It’s like a kid saying they can beat up anyone…..people look at them and call them stupid.
stendek
January 6th, 2013
8:54 pm
Hey Startship. RG III did NOTHING after first couple of drives! Factor? No way in Hell! Overrated like a certain canine killer! Media darling totally overhyped. It was his giveaway which iced victory for Seahawks. Love it cause I hate DeAngelo Hall! Another overrated pile of crap.
Mr_Buckhead
January 6th, 2013
8:55 pm
Yeah baby !!!
Bring it on !!!
The co-founder of Microsoft VS the co-founder of Home Depot !!!
Yeah Baby !!! Bring it On !!!
okeetee!
January 6th, 2013
8:56 pm
SeaHawks just broke an 8 game road losing streak…..and we plan on breaking our 3 game playoff losing streak during the Smith/Ryan era! Bookies have us winning by 3 points. I’ll take that! It will come down to who makes the most mistakes, and that means turnovers and penalties!
Mike In Minnesota
January 6th, 2013
8:56 pm
Hopefully the Falcons have been working on their “screen play” game…
which has to be our new running game…that way we can keep our
defense fresh and their defenders guessing…running back is priority
one for next year no matter what happens next week.
backatcha
January 6th, 2013
8:57 pm
Mr. E, you’re absolutely right! However, Julio, Harry, Tony, Roddy, will have to make the tough catches, beat the press, & get play smarter than a extremely smart, nasty, mean, physical, well disciplined & well coached football team! Jason, Jacquiz, & MIkey will have to keep the chains moving b/c if not we’re in for a long evening! We have experience over these guys & this will probably be the toughest team we’ve faced all season! I’m glad the team was not dismantled at the end of last season like alot of us wanted! Kudos to upper management for staying consistent in the face of failure & adversity! The Falcons know what they’re up against! The only way is (4) quarters of hard-nose, “I’m gonna hate myself in the morning” football!!! I’m sure everybody in the state of Georgia is holding their breath b/c we don’t catch a break in the playoffs & we desperately need this win! Unfortunately, if we make it (I bellieve we will) it does not get any easier in the Championship round! Please, enjoy some R&R while you got the chance!!! Go Falcons!!!