Atlanta Falcons: Birds Steamroll Giants
Wow!
What a Game! (AJC)
Fans have been waiting a long time for a statement game, and boy was it worth the wait. The Falcons utterly dominated every aspect of the game against the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. It was one of the best and most complete games in the 5 years that Mike Smith has been head coach and likely one of the best in franchise history. Wanted to go ahead and get a new thread up and let you all discuss the great game that was. Rest of post will be finished soon. Enjoy………..
One of the Best Wins in the Smith Era
Last week was one of the worst losses in the Smith Era, but he followed it up with one of the best wins not only in his tenure, but likely in franchise history. The Falcons utterly dominated pretty much every aspect of the game. They moved down the field with ease on offense, getting almost every playmaker involved. The offensive line had one of it’s best game in years versus one of the best defensive fronts in all of football. The defense not only intercepted two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning twice, but also held the Giants on three 4th down conversions in the Falcons territory. The special teams stepped up to the plate and held David Wilson in check and the planning and preparation on the coaches part has to be one of the best in years. If fans were waiting for a complete game, they finally got it and then some.
Ryan’s Great Day
JJ with Two TDs (AJC)
AJC columnist Jeff Schultz wrote an article about Matt Ryan asking every player for an extra 30 minutes this week and promising an hour of his own time for every 30 minutes the players gave. The leadership off the field translated to an excellent day on the field. After a bad trend started to emerge the last few games, Ryan bounced back in superb fashion and led the team to one of it’s best offensive outputs of the season. Ryan was efficient (23/28), checked in to correct plays throughout the game, threw the deep ball, and came away with 3 touchdown passes. He did one of his best jobs distributing the ball in a long while. He found a way to include almost every offensive playmaker in some form or fashion. Here’s to hoping that Ryan is hitting his stride at just the right time and that turns out to be true, he’s going to a tough out for almost every defense.
Great Coaching Effort
Many of us here in The Bird Cage have been guilty of heaping criticism on the Falcons head coach (this author as guilty as anyone), but it’s only fair to give effusive praise when warranted as well. Coach Smith seemed to take the embarrassing loss to the Panthers personal and it “heightened their focus” while planning and preparing for the Giants. The scheme on offense, defense, and special teams was magnificent. They confused and harassed Manning on defense. The offensive scheme was one of the best in a long while, making a point to getting as many playmakers involved as possible and making it virtually impossible for the Giants to focus in on one or two players. The special teams held one of the most explosive returners in the game in check as well. A huge kudos to Coach Smith and the entire coaching staff on a near-flawless gameplan, preparation, and execution. Here’s to hoping that Smith can find a way to bottle that special week of practice for the playoffs coming up soon.
Excellent Tackling, Defense
Falcons D Stands Tough (AJC)
The Falcons found a way to fix one of their biggest issues on defense all year long: tackling. They wrapped up well throughout the game, which was a big factor in stopping the Giants 3 times on 4th down conversions. They carried a gameplan that did wonders to confuse and harass Eli Manning throughout the game. Only a few times did the Birds have issues stopping the Giants. They were able to shut down one of the more talented receiving corps in the NFL with Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Dominik Hixon. It also was a total team effort. Chris Hope did an excellent job filling in for the injured William Moore. Stephen Nicholas had one of the better games he’s had in awhile, adding to the already stellar play of Sean Weatherspoon and rapidly improving Akeem Dent. The defensive line generated pressure and held firm against the run, one of the weakest areas through the season. Asante Samuel has brought a swagger to this defense and his presence was readily felt early in the game. Hats off to one of the best defensive efforts in recent memory.
Nice Run Mix
Michael Turner led the way and Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling added in some nice balance and formed a very complementary trio in the backfield. Turner saw most of the carries and ran as hard and well as he did all season. Rodgers may not have had the best final stat sheet (11 carries for 25 yards), but he injected some needed versatility and shiftiness in the backfield to Turner’s hard charging style. One of the most pleasant surprises was seeing Jason Snelling rack up 39 yards on 6 carries, running with drive and toughness. Snelling hasn’t gotten many touches this season, but he may have earned himself some more with his play on Sunday. Some will say that it was only a product of mop-up time, but there didn’t seem to be any wholesale changes on the Giants defense. Snelling basically ended the game all by himself, running for several first downs to end the game kneeling down inside the Giants own 10 yard line. It will always be a struggle getting all the backs involved with markedly less carries than the past due to the emergence of the passing game, but Dirk Koetter did a darn fine job of it on Sunday.
Huge Game by the Offensive Line
Great Day by Ryan (AJC)
No other unit has been so beleaguered and criticized as the Falcons offensive line. They may not be a more maligned unit on any team in the entire NFL. With their backs to the wall and facing one of the best fronts in the league (ones who owned them in last year’s postseason nonetheless), they gave Matt Ryan plenty of time and opened plenty of big holes for the running backs. It was by far one of the best played games by the Falcons OL in a long time. Like Smith with the Giants gameplan and preparation, only if they can figure out a way to bottle that scheme and execution for the playoffs.
HD’s Big Day
Sure, it was only 3 catches for 83 yards, but fans finally saw what they’ve been waiting so long for, which was to see the extremely talented slot receiver make an impact in a game in a big way. The thought was always that Douglas would start to get a ton of looks with defenses focusing on Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez first, but that hasn’t really come to fruition this year as expected. There’s only so many touches to go around and the Falcons already have two 1,000 receivers and a tight end that is well over 800 yards himself. However, Douglas had two huge receptions for long gains that helped change the face of the game. The catches added an element of versatility not seen to this extent in 2012 where defenders found themselves in an impossible position of trying to cover all the Falcons weapons. In fact, if Ryan had hit Douglas in stride on the first long reception, he may have taken it to the house. It was a beautiful sight to behold seeing essentially all of the Falcons weapons get in on the action, including HD, and much of the credit goes directly to Dirk Koetter for his superb gameplan and scheme.
Keep It Going……
Smitty Gets Huge Kudos! (AJC)
The Falcons have a 2 game lead in the NFC for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and seemingly only need to win one of the two final games to lock up the home-field advantage. However, if history has told us anything in the NFL lately, the team that’s playing the best football as the playoffs approach are usually the ones that go the deepest in the postseason. They couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the final drive towards the playoffs, but they will have their focus tested as they travel to the Detroit Lions who are 4-10 on the year and host the Bucs who sit at 6-8 after being 6-4 only a month ago. They talked about keeping the pedal to the metal before their clunker of the year in Charlotte. They also will not have the luxury of getting up for the defending Super Bowl Champions and also the team that knocked them out of the playoffs. With so many goals right in front of them, an issue of focus and motivation shouldn’t be a problem.
Bird Cage Victors Turn
1) Simple Steamroll – where does this game rank for you?
2) Is this the best game in the Mike Smith Era?
3) How does the coaching rank for you?
4) Is Ryan taking that final, next step?
5) Is the defense peaking for the playoffs?
6) Just a one game surge, or are the Falcons finally clicking?
7) Your thoughts on the running back mix?
8.) Can Smith and Co. bottle that preparation and practice for the playoffs?
9) Most importantly, can the Falcons keep it going?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
688 comments Add your comment
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
12:33 pm
Only thing Turner jukes is the salad buffet.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
12:40 pm
ESPN needs to stay out of the national tragedy stuff. What they should do is honor it and then leave it alone. People need a distraction for times like these. Entertainment, and yes sports, is one of those distractions.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8753444/victor-cruz-new-york-giants-play-heavy-hearts-atlanta-falcons
Stuff like this makes me lose all kinds of respect for people like Ian O’Connor.
The sickest part of all of this is that it’s not about the tragedy in Connecticut. No, that tragedy is used as a vehicle to:
1) Take several cheap shots at the Falcons.
What does what Cruz tried to do for a family of a deceased child have to do with a helmet-to-helmet hit by Chris Hope? What does it have to do with some interview in which Roddy White said something about Victor Cruz that wasn’t flattering?
2) Try to explain away the loss and color it as a superior win in realiy and in comparison to what happened on the field.
Oh, the Giants tried so hard to win for this child and this school and those families, but their hearts were too heavy, they just couldn’t do it. Just like they tried to win one for the Hurricane Sandy victims, but again, they just felt so noble and so martyred and they just couldn’t do on the field what they needed to do because they cared so much more about the victims of families.
This is by far the saddest, sickest, most sordid thing I’ve read….topping all the drivel from the Bounty Gate scandal… by a long shot .
Ian O’Connor did not HONOR those families and those victims. He make a mockery of them. This had nothing to do with who beat whom on the football field. That is for a different article, a sports-only article.
If you want to write about a tragedy you don’t understand nor can you relate to, then write about what players, coaches, team staff did OFF the field. Not what they did ON it.
The Giants got the hell beat out of them. There is no honor in relating that to what they MEANT to do. I also don’t buy the whole “they weren’t playing that game to get into the playoffs, to win their division, to do anything football related.”
Oh really? So are we going to write articles about how every team that loses during Breast Cancer Awareness can’t concentrate?
Write about the tragedy and show how HUMANS are relating to HUMANS, how PEOPLE are trying to help and comfort PEOPLE.
Stop making it about football, because it is NOT about football, and football is NOT about this tragedy. The two are irretrievably separate.
I’m glad I’m not within reach of this a$$hole. I’m not mad about him taking a shot at my team as much as I am that he used one of the most awful things to happen anywhere in the U.S. to do it with. Shameful. Just pure, plain shameful.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
12:49 pm
And I submit this –
What about the shooting and deaths in Colorado? Didn’t the Broncos lose to the Giants that week? Where’s the article on the connection between the two?
To suggest that only the heart-heavy Giants felt awful about this tragedy is what O’Connor and his fan followers are doing. This is insane.
Media bias is the worst kind.
You owe Colorado an article of pure attrition. You scum-sucking MFers. How dare you trample on a community’s tragedy while trying to act like you’re championing it. I am beside myself with rage. And I’d pay the ESPN subscriber price just to get in there so I can say it…but I don’t want those bungholes to get any of my money.
Arno
December 17th, 2012
12:50 pm
At first I didn’t think it was a JUKE at all, but a computer generated digital replacement of Turner. As long as they keep putting him out there– I’m glad to see him go with some spark.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
12:53 pm
It seems I am not alone in my thoughts on this awful representation…
http://espn.go.com/newyork/conversations/_/id/8753444/victor-cruz-new-york-giants-play-heavy-hearts-atlanta-falcons
The Time is NOW
December 17th, 2012
12:53 pm
Big Ray – “ESPN needs to stay out of the national tragedy stuff. What they should do is honor it and then leave it alone. People need a distraction for times like these. Entertainment, and yes sports, is one of those distractions.”
Exactly!
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
I’ll give ESPN’s Mike&Mike credit.
They said that it didn’t matter how close or far you were to this tragedy, if you’re a parent, the tragedy affects you.
They also said they did their best to try and present a show this morning to help people get some relief from such dark times, without ignoring it.
Bravo.
Mr. O’Connor doesn’t even deserve to be drawn and quartered.
The Time is NOW
December 17th, 2012
12:56 pm
Gotta give the man his due. Yes, it was only possible because of the play of the OL and the good play calling, but Turner looked good at times yesterday. It should be his final season as a Falcon, but the guy can still contribute when utilized properly. (And yes, I noticed some TWP’s.)
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
12:56 pm
Sorry, but I’m beyond furious. I’ll quit now.
Unca' Bob
December 17th, 2012
12:59 pm
Big Ray,
Idiots are out there and unfortunitly they get to vote and reproduce.
“Illegitimi non carborundum”. It is a mock-Latin aphorism meaning “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”.
Unca' Bob
December 17th, 2012
1:04 pm
Big Ray,
I just sent you a repost, but, because of my verbage, it was eaten by the blog monster.
Atlanta Falcons: Birds Steamroll Giants « Matters News
December 17th, 2012
1:05 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Birds Steamroll Giants Fans have been waiting a long time for a statement game, and boy was it worth the wait. The Falcons utterly dominated every aspect of the game against the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. It was one of the best and most complete games … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
trademark
December 17th, 2012
1:08 pm
Acting like it’s a good thing to try to “own” the mourning and loss.. Stupid. No one wants the loss, you silly bastards, and if it was such a great story, why did you a$$holes at ESPN and SI start writing about the team tributes only AFTER the Giants got beaten? Reason: Because they would rather write about that then write about how the Giants got the taste smacked out of their mouths on Sunday. That’s why.
D3
December 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
BR — Can’t say I’m surprised at anything that comes out of MTV Sports also known as ESPN. I am a little taken aback by the readiness that they feel the need to try and use or include this terrible tragedy in sports at all. By the way, if Victor Cruz or any other athlete didn’t feel up to par before the game, then they shouldn’t have played. Finally, there’s plenty of other players besides Cruz that got their @ss whipped on Sunday as well.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
1:42 pm
Unca Bob ,
Good stuff. Thanks for the reminder.
Trademark and D3 ,
Agreed. Just so sickening to see. This is an all-time low.
Meanwhile
Matt Ryan gets ZERO mention. These fools can’t get enough of Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, etc.
They’ll even talk about Sanchez, Tebow, and Romo.
Wow. I want the Falcons to win out so badly.
Arno
December 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
Before they game the Giants said they needed the game more than the Falcons did. They intended to come to the dome for the W. After the game we find out they were too grieved to play their best? Every single player on the Giants team would be sick to their stomach to put out such a lame line. Ian O’Whatever dissed the Giants as much as the Falcons.
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
2:07 pm
Peter King picked the Falcons to win it all last year, he believed, he was let down. He has to move on. As we saw yesterday, the only think predictable in the NFL is the unpredictable.
And for those who think I am insane, that is what people said when I started my first internet company, so I am OK with that, I am used to people being freaked out by my ability to see things in a much larger level than they can comprehend. I learned a long time ago to live with it.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Is there such thing as a narcissistic idiot?
Sorry, my inside voice is talking on the outside A LOT today.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:16 pm
D3
Yeah. I linked that article on Matt Ryan yesterday and was amazed by his leadership. The man who wears the number Duece looks like he’s taking that next step into that elite status.
Next stop… playoff win. After that? Hopefully Super Bowl champ in the Mercedes Dome.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
Actually,
That was meant for Big Ray.
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
Sorry BR, you read my threads, I don’t call anyone names, use poor language, or even respond to attacks sent my way. I just tend to freak small minded people out, you know, people who are scared that we are going to lose a game when because we ran a simple dive play when we are up 17 points.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
MB
Whatever helps you sleep at night. Your attempt to defend yourself with a real life ‘accolade’ over the Internet shows me a lot about you. *Golf Clap*
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
I take it back, I do call name when I am called out first. But really, it takes courage to believe your going to win, it don’t take much to see how to lose.
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
2:24 pm
BL, no reason for you to attack me yesterday. None. Then you use the “I speak for everyone” card. Sorry, go look at the thread.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:27 pm
D3 and Big Ray
After ESPN bloviated about Green Bay being the team to beat in the NFC, and the NFL network crowing the 49ers a few hours later… I have came to accept that respect will only be given in the playoffs. Till then, not going to watch those channels.
They all can suck extra thick and long ones.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:27 pm
MB – son, you are painfully delusional. and as BR stated, a profound narcissist. Sadly for you, your BS is blatant. BTW, you are not all that intelligent – except in your own little universe – but, that is OK because everybody know you there. Thankfully, other than here, I don’t have to have any contact with your sorry butt.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:28 pm
MB
I’ll just ignore you…
wait who am I talking to again?
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:32 pm
Now, continue to consider yesterday’s game – it was an amazing display of good football. The Giants NEEDED the victory to prevent Washington and Dallas from becoming tied with them. For whatever reason, the entire team came out flat and played poorly. I’d say it was the Falcon influence. Excellent game all around. And yes, I hope folks realize that going up tempo – which ryan has excelled at for four years now, does have a negative impact on your oppositions defense. Our best players for that type of offensive dynamic are Snelling and Quizz. Both can block, both can catch, and both are quicker to the hole with more lateral agility than Mike Turner. I also believe I complimented the O line play. I really wish the playoffs started now. We simply need to keep our guys healthy.
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
2:32 pm
I know I bring a different perspective, i know rationally that we do no put our opponents under the microscope like we do our team, so although we know all our weeknesses ad nausem, we don’t know our opponents.
So, we do one sided analysis, and although it is comprehensive, it is not complete, and therefor, flawed in predicting a winner of a game yet to be played. Sure, call me names, tell me you hate me, I am used to it…..And as you see yesterday, we won a game in a fashion that non of us so called super fans had the guts to predict. Sure, attack me.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:35 pm
Regarding Harry Douglas, schematically it would be wise to got to him right of the bat, get the defense leaning toward him, then hitting any of our other big 3 guys. If done right – and the Giants game we did it right – our offense is dynamic and unstoppable. Folks also forget – we held SD to less than a TD – that was the first time in 150 games that SD failed to score a TD. I suspect Nolan works on things against teams it does not matter if we win against. Against other top 25% teams, he really schemes to disrupt the opposition. Both Mannings, Rivers, Brees AND we knocked RG3 out of the game – made AZ change their QB’s. Our defense is pretty dominant. We have a very, very good – possibly excellent game. Which is why I’m giving the Carolina game a mulligan.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:41 pm
Paddy
Sorry man, but the defense will not lean to HD when the other big three are out there, unless he scores a TD or something. I do agree that we should set him up more. I speculate he was more involved with the offense because Roddy didn’t practice all week and was playing nowhere near 100%. Just look at his catches and yards.
Big Lou
December 17th, 2012
2:43 pm
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, does it truly make a sound?
If a blowhard posts and we don’t respond, does he truly even exist?
Something to ponder on.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:43 pm
If you understand modern liberalism, most of them are narcissistic idiots. That narcissism is usually magnified by success at collecting multiple college degrees – usually a slew of masters as though the idiot can make decision on which field to excel in – and, does not care how much it costs to collect those diplomas. The vast majority of the folks in the NE – NJ, NYC and connecticut are conspicuous narcissistic idiots. They can’t man up and admit error or failure – which is why you have the distraction stories now on the Giants. They are also painfully gullible in believing profound BS – which is why when a tragedy such as the elementary school shooting occurs – they fail to level blame and assign accountability to the individual who perpetrated the crime. Instead, they blame some nebulous, big notion boogeyman. So, you will soon see regs banning AR -15 type weapons; and banning “high capacity” magazines. Liberals feel compelled to react to a random, rare act – which is why they are frequently called knee jerk. Selah.
Slant Pattern
December 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
“You had HD getting involved. Mike Cox even caught a ball and made a great play for a 1st down. RW84 – JJ11 – TG all played critical roles. Turner – Quizz – Snelling all got touches and actually ran and caught the football out the backfield effectively.
You gotta utilize everybody.” – Wabe
It is my enjoy the win day off so not gonna get too deep or embattled but glad you picked up on this. Atlanta fans should be quite familiar with a pitcher named Tom Glavine, a guy who couldn’t overpower you but thru location and MIXING up his pitches became successful. Our RB backfield is not an overpowering flamethrowing unit and should use the same philosphy…which we finally did a better job of yesterday. It wasn’t great and the stats aren’t sexy but we did keep the Vagiants off balance and most importantly showed our coaches can learn. Throwing 84 mph Turner batting practice fastballs with no movement down the center off the plate non-stop was becoming more than an indictment against our coaches. Yesterday was like a minor leaguer getting called up and while not dominant showed he could locate and change speeds, a good sign that with more practice a new Glavine could emerge in the playoffs.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
I agree on the RW84 reasoning – I just think schematically, if you get HD multiple catches – and TD’s if possible – it will make hitting our other big 3 far easier. I like HD and think we underutilize him.
John Waynesworld
December 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
First, what a great win for the Falcons and the fans. Yesterday was perfection on a TV screen compared to the nerves I had going in to that game. Boy did we all need that. A statement game indeed, although no one on any of the New York friendly sports channels had the stomach to admit it. I found it comical how the video readers couldn’t get past the highlights fast enough before moving onto either the Redskins’ or the Cowboys’ highlights. The silence is deafening, as usual. 12-2, baby!
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
And getting HD the ball early would be the key. but, it is looking possible that all 3 of our big 3 dudes may surpass a 1000 yards. Anybody know how often that has happened?
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
a legend in his own mind.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:53 pm
well, Nolan said he wanted 10 guys to have sacks – at this point, 9 of our guys have gotten a sack. Good spread of interceptions. Ken S – or was is the last Screen Pass? should feel exceptionally rewarded, they thought that MR2’s completion % would increase quite a bit if we opted for more screen passes. Seems these two guys are a bit sharper than our former OC. Say, how is J’ville playing? How was Auburns defense last year? lol.
Paddy O
December 17th, 2012
2:54 pm
I can’t see any bad NFL teams out there. Not a one.
LRD
December 17th, 2012
2:57 pm
**FFL**
Thanks JJ.. sorry about the beat down… but Ryan carried my team yet again. The son is already wondering what happens if we win the championship ( he gets to go for ice cream….and the tampa game)
Slant Pattern
December 17th, 2012
3:00 pm
“Ken S – or was is the last Screen Pass? should feel exceptionally rewarded, they thought that MR2’s completion % would increase quite a bit if we opted for more screen passes. ” – Paddy O
Has to be KS, that SP guy never gets anything right!
Wings
December 17th, 2012
3:02 pm
MB – “I know I bring a different perspective,…….”
That is your biggest misconception. You make statements which cannot be called a perspective. You have no idea what a perspective is. I picked the Falcons 24-10 by the way.
D3
December 17th, 2012
3:03 pm
POST FINISHED!
You can refresh and head to the top or just hit this link.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-fans/2012/12/16/atlanta-falcons-birds-steamroll-giants/
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
3:04 pm
I know that, the last time Atlanta had two, 1000 yard receivers, it was T Mathis and T Hill, in 1998.
trademark
December 17th, 2012
3:11 pm
I’ll go back to my original statement, I am having one helleva time watching this team. Frustrating at times, sure, but I always had this belief that they were “sandbagging” a bit (as Mark Bradley put it so eloquently) and they were trying their best to get a full game together. Well, now they have that template, they know what it looks like. THAT, may friends, is more than you can say about any Falcons team since 1998. They now know exactly what it looks like, the blue-print so-to-say to beat the living snot out of ANY opponent in the NFL. And it’s just in time for the big dance. Perfect. Timing.
As I said, Loving this season, watching the haters reel and spit is just icing on the cake.
GO FALCONS!
LRD
December 17th, 2012
3:13 pm
And Gonzo has 880yds… and realistically could end up over 1000 too.
Matty Bicep
December 17th, 2012
3:16 pm
Only thing that keeps Gonzo from 1000 yards is using HD as the go to guy to give other D coordinators something to look at.
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
3:35 pm
I guess the shoe fit….
Big Ray
December 17th, 2012
3:36 pm
SP – well said.