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.”
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Falcons to open playoffs at 1 p.m., Sunday Jan. 13th
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277 comments Add your comment
phil
January 7th, 2013
9:54 pm
Hugh Jardon
January 6th, 2013
11:00 pm
You Falcons fans obviously have no depth in your thinking and will underestimate Russell Wilson and the Seahawks all the way to a loss. Don’t be surprised when it happens.
*********
THIS fan of 35 years running is plenty worried. Most of our fans are simply blind homers with nothing on which to base such crazed optimism. I don’t get it.
Nostradumbass
January 7th, 2013
10:02 pm
You Atlanta fans sound real confident,..That’s good. It’s going to make for a better look on your face when you get the whoopin’ that’s coming on Sunday…Matt Ryan is a choke artist…Like Romo he can put up big numbers in the regular season but when it’s on the line, he chokes…You haven’t faced a D like Seattle…There is one defensive stat that counts…points allowed and Seattle gave up the fewest of any team…We can handle your passing game…You running game is weak…You had the easiest schedule in the NFL with an opponent AVG win percentage of only 425%…Your D is weak…Seattle’s D is going to punish the Falcons…players are going to be helped off the field and they won’t be wearing blue…Go ahead with your delusional confidence and phony hubris…It’s gonna be another one and done for ya’ll…And by the way,..What a bunch of weak fans you are…11,000 tickets still available today?…That’s pathetic,..What a horrible sports town you are…Don’t be thinking you have some sort of home field advantage…you don’t even know what that’s like…Nobody has a better home field than the Seahawks and thats a fact…Welcome to your worst nightmare Atlanta and get ready to get pounded.
Timmy-Time
January 7th, 2013
10:32 pm
I am getting very amused at all of the Falcons fans that are saying their team beat up on the Seahawks defense last year. No! The Falcons have never seen THIS Seahawks defense . It is like nothing they have seen from the Seahawks before. They are big, they are athletic, they are fast, they hit people really hard, they hurt people they hit, the people they hit don’t get up quickly, if at all.
Atlants plays a finesse type of game. That works in the regular season. Not so much in the playoffs. The Seahawks’ offense plays with the same mentality that their defense does. Marshawn Lynch is not hype. Beast mode is not just a slick slogan. He is a force of nature. RW1 is the real deal. He is the kid that makes everyone else better. The offense has come into its own over the last half of the season. The Atlanta Falcons are not just facing a hot team, they are facing a team that has decided to define itself by their play and they are having a lot of fun doing it.
Peter Marshall
January 7th, 2013
11:24 pm
As a Seahawk fan, I love Atlanta and their fans. I just want a good game on Sunday.
Esquire
January 8th, 2013
6:51 am
Seattle Dylan
January 7th, 2013
1:23 pm
Hey Falcons fans,
You guys are in trouble for a couple of reasons. First off, your run defense is garbage, and the Falcons have struggled against mobile QB’s. Secondly, you guys are close to last in the league in rushing yards a game. So without having to worry about the run, the Seahawks secondary (which is arguably the best in the NFL) can focus on locking down Jones and White, while passing rushing Matty Ice. The Falcons are good but this is just a bad matchup for your team.
*********************************************
Great to have you on our blog Dylan. Sadly you won’t be here after we open up a can on your over-rated team this Sunday. No doubt Seahawks have made improvements, Wilson has had a decent year. But you are about to discover the Falcons in a light that you aren’t aware of. Look at all the stats you want, meaningless when our Birds decide they are going to take you down. These Falcons push a button and take it to another level on both offense and defense. You’ll see.
The Falcons have struggled against mobile QB’s? We beat RG3, we beat Cam, we beat the Eagles with their fleet of foot QB so I don’t know where you get that. Wilson may not be so sure he wants to run, RG3 got knocked out of the game that way against us. Also, Wilson has put the ball on the ground a lot but being fortunate to lose only 50% of his fumbles. We’ve beaten some pretty good quarterbacks. Ever heard of Manning and his other brother Manning. Or Brees, or Romo, or Stafford, just to name a few. Hey, wasn’t Wilson the name of Tom Hanks friend in the movie “Cast Away”. You Seattleite’s will need to comfort Russell after the loss on Sunday, he is going to feel lonely, just like that ball.
Matt Ryan is 5th among passers, Russell Wilson 23rd. Wilson had 10 interceptions in the regular season, that is a whole bunch of INT’s for somebody that only attempted 393 passes. You mention our rushing ranking as being nearly last, well you are right. 29th in the league. But all we need is a few rushes to keep you honest against the run and our league leading (5th) receiver corp will chew you up. We only needed 20 rushes to gain 126 yards rushing against the #1 rushing defense in the NFL…………………that is more than what we will need to beat you.
I noticed you mentioned Jones and White. Say, have you ever heard of Tony Gonzalez? Just a heads up, you might want to account for him. And you mentioned rushing Matt Ryan. Unfortunately, it looks like you’ve lost your best pass rusher Clemons not to be confused with Bruce Springsteen’s sax player Clarence Clemons whom sadly passed away in 2011. I am certain you Hawkers will be screaming “oh if only we had Clemons you would have never kicked our tails.”
And lastly, and I just hate to be this cheap. Your newspapers are splattered with:
“Seahawks own Washington”
Washington has lost its past three playoff games, all to the Seahawks:
2012 Seahawks 24, at Washington 14
2008 At Seahawks 35, Washington 14
2006 At Seahawks 20, Washington 10
They aren’t showing our last 3 games in the paper:
10/02/2011 Atlanta Falcons 30, Seattle Seahawks 28
12/19/2010 Atlanta Falcons 34, Seattle Seahawks 18
12/30/2007 Atlanta Falcons 44, Seattle Seahawks 41
MoonBuck
January 8th, 2013
6:55 am
Hawks fan here.
I’ve been reading all the comments and I see allot of bird-themed jabs at Seattle. If Sea Hawks = Sea Chickens, wouldn’t it reason that Falcons = Chickens? Just funny. Not being mean.
I respect the Falcons run this season and last and by know means think it will be a cake walk for my Sea Chickens. My gut says we are going pull it off. Just feels right. However, if we don’t win I will be backing you’r Chickens the rest of the way.
Go Hawks!
MoonBuck
January 8th, 2013
7:01 am
*by no means*
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:32 am
Really the weakest division dont make me laugh. The 49ers, and Seahawks are in the playoffs, while the rams just missed out. Name one team in the Falcons divison,besides the falcons who finished .500, not the weakest division anymore, dont be ignorant. Also RG3 and that pistol offense gave everyone trouble late in the year even RG3 not fully healthy. Matt Ryan is not a scrambler, so the Seahawks could focus on your ground game, and blitz him more. Mat is more of a pocket passer, which works in Seattles favor. It will be a close game, it will be a fight, honestly its a coin toss, Atlanta hasa litlle of an edge being that they are at home.
Roger
January 8th, 2013
11:36 am
The ONLY thing that matters is points scored and points allowed.
Seahawks like to say they are #1 in the league in points allowed at roughly 15. Impressive for sure.
Atlanta though is #5 in points allowed at roughly 18.
Is this a HUGE difference in defenses?
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:37 am
What do the Falcons and hot teams in the playoffs equal, usually losses. So dont be surprised if the Seahawks pull off the upset. However I am a die hard seahawks fan, and I know this game is going to be tough but if any team can beat the Falcons it is the Seahawks.I think the winner of this game is superbowl bound, either team. So let Sunday do the talking.
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:38 am
The Seahawks also have two probowl lineman, lets not forget, im not sure about Atlanta
Roger
January 8th, 2013
11:40 am
another important stat is this:
Points given up at home and on the road.
Seattle gave up 18.2 on the road.
Atlanta gave up 17 points at home.
Over the past three games of the regular season9since we all like to hear about momentum)
Atlanta gave up 13.3 points a game
Seattle gave up 13.3 as well.
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:42 am
There is a difference in Defenses when you look at the teams each team has played, Seahawks played the Patriots, Packers, Niners, Panthers, all who have good offenses. Name more than that that the Falcons have played.
Roger
January 8th, 2013
11:43 am
Rise up 12th man, thats good and of course Seattles defense is tough, but Pro Bowl doesnt mean anything since Kansas City has 5 pro bowlers
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:44 am
I have no hate for the Falcons, that being said tho, I think its gonna be a great offense of the falcons versus a great defense of seattle, and a vastly improving offense of the seahwks versus a semi- good defense of the Falcons, it will be a battle, but im leaning towards th Hawks, but well let the play do the talk, it should be a good one.
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:45 am
What I want to see is how the corners will be against white,and jones, if Sherman and Browner come to play, its either gonna be picked off,or Ryan goin down for a sack.
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:46 am
I think the Redskin game is a wake up call for the Hawks, expect them to play tougher in the next game
Roger
January 8th, 2013
11:49 am
Falcons have played 5 games agaisnt teams in the top 6 in points scored and yet still have the 5th ranked scoring defense…id say that isnt unimpressive
I dont think the Seattle corners have played agaisnt ANY recievers this year better than Julio/Roddy…so thats going to be interesting.
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:50 am
Trust me Hawks could do it
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:52 am
They played Fitzgerald, Calvin johnson, Greg Jones, Mario mAnningham, Randymoss, Percy HArvin the list goes on and on
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:52 am
Trust me Fitzgerald is better than both
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:53 am
Also Sherman is 2nd in interceptions, Browner has four, and Earl Thomas has now four, dont undersetimate our safeties
Rise up 12th man
January 8th, 2013
11:55 am
Falcons recievers have not played cornerbacks who posses speed as well as length, Sherman and Browner are both over 6 foot 2, and Earl Thomasis arguably the fastest Safety in the League
BLeder
January 8th, 2013
2:23 pm
The 13-3 Atlanta Falcons have had a really weak schedule. They’ve only played 3 teams that ended up with more wins than losses, and only 2 of them made it to the playoffs, but they are 2-0 against them. Opponent win-loss is a dismal 85-121. The Falcons have also given up a lot of yards to their opponents in rushing and passing.
The 11-5 Seahawks opponents finished 104-102-2. The Seahawks have played 5 teams during the regular season that made it to the playoffs, went 4-1 against them, and then beat the Redskins on the road, in the wild card round.
My prediction:
Seahawks 31 Falcons 21
Seahwaks 42 Atl 10
January 8th, 2013
2:33 pm
Enough said
SeaEatingChickens
January 9th, 2013
1:15 am
I can’t see the falcons scoring more than 23 at best. Seahawks should be able to put up a lot of points and slice and dice the falcons Defense.
Hawks Eat Them Alive
January 9th, 2013
1:03 pm
GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!