Atlanta Falcons: Birds Beat Broncos on Big Stage
Falcons Notch Big Win on Monday Night Football
Moore = Beast! (AJC)
The Atlanta Falcons finally won on the biggest of stages after falling flat the last few times, and every time in the Mike Smith Era. The Birds welcomed one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time full of hype after beating the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an entertaining and very long game that was filled with plenty of turnovers (for the Broncos) and a bunch of stoppage times from the replacement refs. We can talk all day long about how the Falcons almost let a big slip away, but the fact remains that they didn’t. In fact, this was a big win for no other reason than help the Falcons themselves, the organization, and their fans psyche in believing they can win the big ones. A look at the huge win……….
William Moore’s Breakout
No Caption Needed (AJC)
There were plenty of great performances to go around, but it one player had to be chosen it was safety William Moore. The former Missouri product has become a quick fan favorite for his hard-hitting and many have been waiting for his breakout season. If last is any indication, we might be seeing it in 2012. Moore started the Manning pick party by making a great play on the ball, bobbling it, intercepting, and taking it all the way to the one yard line. Moore had his hands on several more and was all over the place, making huge hits, batting balls, and making key stops.
With Falcon fans shaking in their boots seeing Manning start to heat up, Moore made one of the biggest plays of the game by sacking Manning on 3rd and 6 in Falcons territory. He blitzed off the edge and dropped Manning like a cold stone. Some though guys like Kroy Biermann, Lawrence Sidbury, or Sean Weatherspoon would benefit the most from Mike Nolan’s aggressive defense, but Moore might be the guy after all.
This was a Big Win
Some of the NFL Media elite have tried to downplay the significance of the win after the fact, saying it was more Manning making mistakes than it was the Falcons getting the huge win. Wrong. Matt Ryan and Mike Smith had never won on Monday Night Football and everyone loves to talk about the times the Falcons have come up short. In fact, someone should create a Mike Smith-Matt Ryan-playoffs-0 and 3 drinking game with the sheer redundancy all media parrot the tired description. Peyton Manning was back. He beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and couldn’t be stopped in the talking heads beliefs. More than anything, the Falcons proved they could win a tough, tight, and big game against a very good defense and an elite quarterback.
The Falcons Defense FORCED Those Picks
Nick Had a Huge Game (AJC)
The headlines were quite succinct after the Falcons big win: “Manning throws 3 picks,”Manning can’t overcome turnovers,” and “Manning fails in late comeback.” Was there another team playing? One reason many Falcons fans have tuned out and turned off the “NFL Media Elite” is because of this very reason. All we heard in the post-game was how Manning made the mistakes and that’s why they lost. Dead wrong. Mike Nolan and the Falcons defense played lights out and FORCED those interceptions from one of the greatest to play the game. Nolan had a fantastic scheme, coached his players up, and they executed to perfection. The vaunted Steelers defense didn’t force an interception. The Falcons forced three in the first quarter. I’m sure they were all luck, right? To be fair, there were a few pundits who gave Mike Nolan and the Falcons defense due credit, but not many. The Falcons played hard, tough, and aggressive and deserve every bit of that victory.
Best Defense in a Long Time
It’s only the second game of a long season and this isn’t meant to denigrate past defenses, but the defense against the Broncos facing one of the best QB’s of all time was one of the best in a long, long time. They were aggressive, tough, hit hard, and opportunistic in their defensive effort. They had picked off Peyton Manning 3 times in the first quarter and didn’t relent until they finally started getting a little tired after the offense had 3 weak series in a row. The Falcons have now forced 7 turnovers in the first two games. The blitz schemes and disguises were superb and confused one of the best of all-time. As mentioned earlier, there’s still a long way to go, but the sky’s the limit for a defense long looking for someone to help them turn the proverbial corner.
Great Pass Blocking, Weak Run Blocking
The long beleaguered Falcons offensive line have done an excellent job protecting Matt Ryan through two games in the season. Sam Baker was singled out several times by Jon Gruden for his excellence in stopping one of the best pass rushers in Elvis Dumervil. Garrett Reynolds has done well working at right guard, as have Justin Blalock and Todd McClure. Tyson Clabo has struggled a bit this year, giving up the only two sacks, but there’s no reason to think he can’t turn it around. Major congrats on a job well done so far this season protecting Matt Ryan and giving him time to run this new aerial offense.
DeCoud in Manning's Pick Parade (AJC)
For as good as their pass blocking has been, their run blocking has been anemic. Matt Ryan was the leading rusher at one point in both the games against Kansas City and Denver. It’s surely not all the offensive lines fault (Michael Turner we’re looking at you), but they haven’t opened up hardly any holes for any of the running backs. It’s true that maybe Jacquizz Rodgers or Jason Snelling could squeeze out a few more yards than Turner, but not much. Something has to get fixed in the run game and the offensive line shares the blame.
Please stay tuned, plenty more to come very soon………..
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721 comments Add your comment
Paddy O
September 20th, 2012
7:09 pm
Play action is our best friend. It would be sweet if Turner (which is why SW is on Ben Tate) could bust a 7 yard run consistently, but our current scheme is not doing that. We shall see. However, this has been a GREAT start to the season.
Big Ray
September 20th, 2012
7:18 pm
D3 ,
Major flaw in the logic of that article, as you said.
If running the risk of being intercepted is the reason for sitting back on the run game, then why pass in the first place, since there is a risk of turning the ball over?
And doesn’t running the ball have it’s own risks, as we clearly saw?
As somebody else said, we were fortunate that Nolan’s defensive game plan held the Broncos off. Or it would be “Peyton Manning’s comeback” all over the sports news world and then I wonder what Smittyball lovers would be saying?
I don’t like playing russian roulette with teams that have good QBs and can score.
darrell starks
September 20th, 2012
7:33 pm
Yes with what the Falcons are doing on offense i would like to see Quizz brother run the football.
Speed is what the Falcons need back there in the backfield, Turner has lost not one 1 step but 2 or 3 steps, J Quizz is a only a good runner from east to west, not north and south.
Snelling hit the hole but only for minimum not for the burst to take 2 the house.
I say bring Quizz brother back as a running back and let him do his thing.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
7:34 pm
Evening Cage, although I may wind up the biggest ffl repeat loser, I still read all the top ffl websites and esp. blogs. We are about to encounter a top 5 run defense in 32 teams. Sure those in falcons heirarchy know this. We all are blaming smittyball on the head coach because it has trancended cordinators. Who knows for a fact but turner will not work between tackles.
Looking fwd tosome new twist to the offense if get A WIN!
Short week, half the team on IR, its going to be a tough short week out west!!!
darrell starks
September 20th, 2012
7:35 pm
Falcons might finish dead last in the running, this will hurt them in the long run.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
darrell starks
September 20th, 2012
7:40 pm
Good win by the Falcons on monday night, Falcons have always been and embarrassing on monday night football, SMH
My biggest concern is the running game along with front 4 not making enough plays up front.
Offensive line have played great so far in protecting the Ice man.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:00 pm
Damn, darrell stole my thunder !
Chris
September 20th, 2012
8:02 pm
After 2 weeks, Matt isn’t the best QB in the league….but he us playing like it for sure. Defense is hitting hard, creating turnovers and getting pressure from multiple areas. We can’t run to save save our lives. I think some teams will start to run the rock on us & play ball control offense on us. We is our o-lines push? Can anyone answer that?
Coop
September 20th, 2012
8:03 pm
Was watching the game again. I didn’t notice before, but when Turner dove over the top to score the first TD, Brooking made the stop. When I watched I saw him run away with his arms up like he thought he prevented the TD…
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Suck it Brooking
falcon21
September 20th, 2012
8:11 pm
We is our o-lines push? Damn, I better start working out!
D3
September 20th, 2012
8:12 pm
JWW — Thanks brother. Been trying to catch up all week after that late night MNF.
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:22 pm
Wilson vs Brown…we’ll talk later bitches of 0-2’s!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:24 pm
#1 Talent vs flavor of the week, comeon!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:28 pm
JJ, 0-2, D3- 0-2
Le battle of losers!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:29 pm
Such a puss, cant respond…putty D3!!!!!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:30 pm
Man up math teacher!!!
JJ
September 20th, 2012
8:32 pm
Just givin some smack my friend!!!
JB FALCON
September 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
Glad it’s not us playing tonight. Looks like the Giants go this. Time for the sack!
Wabe
September 20th, 2012
10:20 pm
Man, the way things are shaping out here, the Falcons could literally run away with this division without much resistance from anybody else.
The Panthers are getting smacked right now. The Bucs have a tough game against Dallas.
I know we have a tough game out west this week, but if we manage to take care of business, we’ll be the only team within the division above .500 and comfortably ahead of everybody else.
I know it’’s early, but I see us contending for homefield advantage this season.
Fired-up Falcon Fan in a Fall Football Frenzy (F6)
September 20th, 2012
10:21 pm
Back from a grueling week (but successful, make some more voters this week!!), and ready for some FOOTBALL!!!
Thoughts:
1) Mike(alob) Turner – It is sad when your top RB needs to go to a strip club to try to learn some moves, perhaps that is where he got the idea that slow is good.
Unless our new RB coach is named Molly Mounds or something (obscure Armageddon reference there in deference to Turner – the flick that best describes where his career seems to be going) – pretty sure that is NOT exactly what Smitty meant when he told Burner to hit the hole with authority.
And, don’t EVER get me started on why anyone, for any reason, would be headed home at 90mph+ at 5am after heavy imbibing. There has mostly been a consensus that Burner needs more acceleration, but between the chalk lines, not on I-85.
Tiptoe down the sidelines at speed during the game, not in a sobriety test administered by a Gwinnett County cop after his breathalyzer went tilt,boing, boing. That was NOT a dancers big toe hanging off a pole that you were blowing on there, Mikie.
May not have helped that Mike tried to stuff a Dollar Bill down the officers pants when he mistook the gun belt for a g-string,
And, Mikie, that was a taser, NOT a banana being produced from nether regions by a stripper during a magic show.
Wonder if he met any of the replacement ref’s working their “normal” jobs in the nudie bar???
Burner is burning bridges, methinks.
Sorry if the references’s are off. I have never been to a strip club in the USA.
2) Speaking of obscure references, I saw a math teacher ref in an earlier post. I used a math(ish) reference for some ESL students earlier this week, where the punchline is 1004180. It is worth a cold beverage of your choice (if we ever meet in the real world) for who can get that one right and understands the reference.
3) Am I the only one that is ready to concede the 2012 Carnac the Magnificent award to Dimitroff?
He foresaw the need for serious CB help and snagged Samuels for a 6th round pick (and some creative juggling of the salary cap). If not for that precision precognitive power-play, where would we be now after the Grimes injury, Franks struggles, and Walls injury release?
4) With all the homage coming for Phillip Rivers (who has a lower QB rating that Matty Ice), worth noting:
After two games:
Passing Yards
Ryan – 518
Rivers- 515
Percent Complete
Rivers- 73.8
Ryan – 70.1
TD’s/INT
Ryan – 5/0
Rivers- 4/1
QB Rating:
Ryan – 117.6
Rivers – 110.7
I like our guy. Falcons win (longest run from scrimmage is a Ryan scramble though).
Wabe
September 20th, 2012
10:27 pm
That is if the Bucs lose…
Big Lou
September 21st, 2012
6:41 am
Lol
Cam Newton sucks!
All those Matt Rtan trolls saying Cam > Matty Ice. Lmao
3 int – 0 touchdowns
Preston Thompson
September 21st, 2012
7:57 am
To me the biggest thing about the win against the Broncos is their defense this year is the same one that got them to the playoffs “in spite” of Tebow. I know some of you think Tebow lacks any talent at all, but still the Falcons won against a defense I think is very good.
But this Smitty ball has got to stop. I know Jones dropped a TD pass but to go into the fetal position in the 4th quarter is gonna be the stake in the heart as the year goes on. Let the coordinators call their game or look for another long season of sitting on the edge wondering what gonna happen.
Birdman
September 21st, 2012
8:32 am
Morning Cage
I heard the game this week is gonna be a black out . Any of ya;ll know about this ?
Unca' Bob
September 21st, 2012
8:43 am
Birdman,
http://www.the506.com/temp11.html
Birdman
September 21st, 2012
8:52 am
Thanks Unca’ Bob
John Waynesworld
September 21st, 2012
9:12 am
It’s not good for Falcons’ fans living in San Diego…
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/20/falcons-chargers-will-be-blacked-out-in-san-diego/
There are a few stories out there about general indifference with the Chargers. It seems a ton of fans have disembarked the Chargers’ bus and jumped onto the 49ers bandwagon, so we may see a few thousand empty seats on Sunday. Hopefully, there are a number of Falcon fans out there that will grab some tickets and make a little noise for our boys.
Considering the economy seems to be in permanent catharsis and with 100″ HDTVs surely on the horizon, the NFL will have to re-address their blackout policy. Hopefully they will keep it simple and MAKE THE OWNERS PAY for any empty seats remaining by the cut off time.
Paddy O
September 21st, 2012
10:22 am
after watching the Giants/Panther game – Cam Newton is a prima donna – you ever see him go over & talk up a coach? or motiviate his team mates? All I saw was a guy with a towel on his head – like Ali in a big match. I’m thinking Cam has a whole LOT of Vince YOung in him, or Ryan Leaf if you prefer. Giants crushed the Panthers. I hope they keep the same defense when we play them.
D3
September 21st, 2012
10:39 am
Been wanting to get in here and rap, so I got a second, here we go………..
+ -I know some of you are getting pi$$ed about the SmittyBall references, so I’ll put in another term, calling it the “Smitty Brakes”. And I’ll also go ahead and say that the majority of the time getting a decent lead and winning. But that only works against inferior opponents with quarterbacks that aren’t elite. This is just my humble opinion, so no need to get angry about it. And even inferior opponents in the past several years have come d@mn near close to beating us. Just off the top of my head, the Seahawks, Titans, and Vikings last year, and the Bengals, 49ers, Bucs, and Ravens in 2010. Granted, we won all those games, but only the Ravens were a legit team (49ers was the Singletary days). We in fact DID lose to the Packers at home last year after being up on them in the 1st half and same goes for the Saints game when we were leading in the 4th quarter. We also lost on MNF in 2010 to the Saints after being up on them late (granted it wasn’t a big lead, but that defense could only hold Brees for so long).
To be fair, Smitty didn’t take hold until after that 2nd half drive that put us up 27-7, and any other QB except for Manning Bros, Brees, Rodgers, and maybe a few more it would have been no problem. But it’s PEYTON MANNING! Also to be objective, he has had complete hands-off on the defense because we NEVER saw any of that with Van Softserve. So credit where it’s due.
And one more thing, I really don’t have THAT much of an issue with trying to eat up clock when you got a good lead, but the running HAS to be productive and unpredictable. As long as you’re running the ball well, that’s fine, but if you go into this Tip-Toe Turner Shell, they know what’s coming and they shut it down accordingly (see the three series after we scored that second half TD). That instance after we score a TD is perfect for the Zone-Blocking Scheme our man SW has been preaching til the cows come home. Quizz, Snelling, and Antone would be perfect for that. You get the OL moving, get some yards, and it lends perfectly in play-action passes, bootlegs, and many short, high-percentage type throws where you’re not “scared” to throw an INT as Mark Bradley said.
JB Falcon
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Well, Ray Edwards got fined a little less than $8k for a late hit against the Broncos. That proves that he was in the game and did hit somebody.
Fired-up Falcon Fan in a Fall Football Frenzy (F6)
September 21st, 2012
11:13 am
JB Falcon – outstanding! I think i saw that Sid was active, so that was some good news.
Did someone screw up and give Edwards that cursed, Jamal Anderson locker?
Fired-up Falcon Fan in a Fall Football Frenzy (F6)
September 21st, 2012
11:21 am
D3 – I have no issue with settling into a clock crunching run offense to seal a victory (and take pressure off our QB).
My issue is being one dimensional, and using a RB that no longer has the skills to carry out the plan with the O-line that we have to block for him.
The antics he was caught engaging in this weekend could be interpreted as the fading shadow of a once great player trying to live that feeling of greatness once again thru paid strippers and alcohol.
What we say, he knows, better than anyone.
JB Falcon
September 21st, 2012
11:31 am
There’s been a lot of talk about MT being worn out and he is getting older but, and it has been brought up, Quizz and Snelling didn’t break any records either. Our OL has been doing a good job of protecting MR but they’re going to have to do something other than just stand there when it’s a running play. There’s not many RB’s that can break through a solid line of 300+ football players. Since our line is what it is, maybe we should try to be more creative with our run game. (Either that or give MR a hot poker to stick up their azz just before each run play.)
Wings
September 21st, 2012
11:43 am
D3, I really think SmittyBall is the more accurate term named after MartyBall by Ken S.
For those who don’t know the definition: MartyBall is a philosophy of football associated with and named after former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game. He is about 5th in the NFL with wins. He last coached the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL in 2011.
In my opinion against the Bronco’s, the Falcons started with SmittyBall as the Falcons do almost every game and first offensive series of the second half. Two Tuner runs. I wouid call the first touchdown SmittyBall – three Turner runs to make a touchdown from the one yard line. When the other backs see some plays, they run the same plays run by Turner.
For the SmittyBall definition, last week I heard on the radio a comparison of Marty Schottenheimer and Tom Coughlin. The point of the sportwriter (don’t remember who) was that the MartyBall concept is weak in producing playoff and Super Bowl wins. This argument was in relation to the conservative approach by HC Smith. He cited these basic facts:
Marty Schottenheimer has a great record of regular season wins but his succuss with the conservative run-run-pass offense has been lousy in post season games. HIs record is 200-126-1 but has a 5-13 record in post season and never reached the Super Bowl.
Tom Coughlin has a record of 142-114-0 in regular season. He has a 12-7 record in the playoffs with 2 Super Bowl wins.
My fear as I have stated previouly is HC Smith will not get all he can from the offensive players on the Falcons.
Wings
September 21st, 2012
11:49 am
From ESPN Sept 18:
Is Michael Turner still a top 20 back?
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8394963
LRD
September 21st, 2012
11:56 am
Wabe: Know what you mean. Granted it is only week 3, but one has to admit, it is pretty nice to open up the standings and see us on top and the sAINTS at the bottom (kinda like JJ’s fantasy team)
Paddy O
September 21st, 2012
12:23 pm
LRD – you got MR2, did you not? So far, he should be producing fairly well. All of our top 4 offensive weapons are producing – MR2, RW84, JJ & Tony G. Plus, HD has done well in our scheme.
Paddy O
September 21st, 2012
12:23 pm
if we had drafted McMurray, now with Dallas, we’d have our impact back.
JJ
September 21st, 2012
1:07 pm
D3
September 21st, 2012
1:31 pm
Paddy — Just like Seminole was on the Spoon train a while back, I was heavily on the Demarco Murray. Could have been had in the 3rd round. I knew this kid would be a stud. His numbers were absolutely unreal in the running and passing game.
Paddy O
September 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
considering brooking grew up in GA, to show boat as he did in the first game with Dallas just indicated the Falcons were right in junking him. His play had become all about him. He will be booed here for the rest of his life. Shame, he could have left with something called class.
Paddy O
September 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
whoops – make that Murray!
Wabe
September 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Quick point heading into our game at SD…
The defense played great last week. Awesome, but they have to put it behind them. This is a different week, vs. a different team, vs. a different QB. Can’t get too bigheaded. I’m sure the guys have been hearing the praise all week, but this week will be telling about how mentally tough this unit is.
Most of the ‘experts’ I’ve seen are picking SD. All but one of the guys on cbssportsline.com are pickin’ the Chargers, and a lot of the ESPN guys are doing the same, claiming the Falcons are coming off a short week after an emotional win vs Denver. Thus, they say we’ll see the ‘letdown’ this week.
In essence, this week is a true test of our ‘mental toughness’. Traveling across country on a shortweek will be a test. How our defense performs against another one of the league’s great QB’s after being praised all week, it’ll be a test.
Do we have what it takes to prevail? I say yeah. I say we get to 3-0.
31-21 Falcons
JB Falcon
September 21st, 2012
3:29 pm
Wabe, are you going to the game? If so, tell the Charger fans the same thing. You can’t rely on anything the talking heads spout off.
Do we have what it takes to prevail? We’ll see!
af fan
September 21st, 2012
3:37 pm
Denver game:
Pass blocking: Impressive. S Baker, didn’t know you had it in you. Keep it up.
Run blocking: #62, not getting it done. #75, not much better.
V Walker, P Jerry: Good game.
Mr. Nolan, Thank you !
af fan
September 21st, 2012
3:40 pm
Someone else needs to return punts.
af fan
September 21st, 2012
3:54 pm
Paddy O, 10:22am. Agreed.
Seems Steve Smith didn’t like what you noticed either.
Big Ray
September 21st, 2012
6:53 pm
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/cam-newton-steve-smith-carolina-panthers-092112/
How NOT to be a leader…
LRD
September 21st, 2012
8:17 pm
Big Ray.. oh the irony.. after the entire NFL network staff was gushing over all his talent, how he was going to go out and light up the giants d, how cam alone is gong to run more than the giants, how cam was going to hold the earth on his shoulders like atlas… and then benched.
What is “primetime” saying now?
( yeah, I get sick of them just gushing over players…. )
And imagine Steve Smith speaking his mind… why I never….
Big Lou
September 21st, 2012
8:49 pm
Actually, two espn analysts picked the Falcons to win on nfl live.
Looks kind of divided.
If the Falcons do win, it will be a very close game. Chargers are number one in blocking the run, which might give Matt Ryan pressure issues later in the game. I hate to say this, but I predict Matt’s first pick Sunday.