Atlanta Falcons: Birds Face Playoff Questions
Time for the Falcons to Get it Done
Time to Get it Done #2 (AJC)
It’s what we’ve all been waiting for: the playoffs. Falcons players, fans, and everyone associated with the organization have heard it all the way back to last January when they were embarrassed for the second year in a row in the playoffs, losing three out of four. The chorus from the media elite and talking heads has only grown louder every time the Birds won another game. There are literally almost no articles that have been written this season regarding the Falcons, in any capacity, that have not mentioned the “can’t win in the playoffs,” or “0-3 in the playoffs,” meme. Even articles that have been favorable or complimentary always have that backhand tucked in there somewhere. Yes, it’s true the Falcons have fallen short the past three tries in the playoffs under Coach Smith, but the incessant and ridiculous inclusion of that attack line has been preposterous. How could the Falcons change anything about past or the postseason in week 4?
The time has come for this head coach, this quarterback, and this organization to put this garbage to rest. For some, it will never be enough until the Falcons win the Super Bowl outright, and even then some will rationalize it away. However, getting over that hump will do wonders for all associated with the Falcons and blow up that assault once and for all. Fans likely can’t even go to what it will be like if they don’t win this one.
Have Lessons Been Learned? Part 2
This is a sequel to last weeks post regarding planning and preparation on the part of the coaching staff, specifically Head Coach Mike Smith. An article by the AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter discussed how different this year’s preparation will be both during the bye week and after. It appears that Smith has learned his lessons, because the details of how truly soft their bye week preparation that was done, is shocking. The idea of a team earning a bye week is just like the bye week during the season, teams can get their team as healthy as possible, working on fundamentals that have been slipping, and fix problems that cropped up.
Time to Cut Julio Loose (AJC)
Smith evidently felt it was a time have cookies and punch. He gave them 3 days off during the bye week, had them report on Thursday, and then gave them the rest of the weekend off. Yes, that’s no joke. It’s actually a wonder the Falcons didn’t get beat worse than 48-21 in the Debacle in the Dome by the Packers. It’s understandable that you don’t want to do Oklahoma drills all day and treat it like training camp battles, but for goodness sake, you’ve got to find a way to keep somewhat of an edge. Smith has said all the right things and it seems he got the message loud and clear after his initial approach. Smith was quoted as saying something along the lines of “we’re going to do do everything completely different than the last time.” That’s surely music to fans ears.
Momentum is a Guarantee of Playoff Success, Right?
Most talking head media elites are ready to crown the Seahawks and the Redskins as NFC champions because they are on a winning streak going into the playoffs. Many writers and so-called experts are all about the recent trends, don’t really do research, and just go with what’s popular. It’s very true that the past two years, the wild card teams have squeaked into the playoffs and gone on to win the Super Bowl, the Packers in 2010 and the Giants in 2011. Both teams were 6th seeds and that has become a very popular theme because that’s what’s in vogue. The Giants were a wild card in 2007 and went on to beat the mighty undefeated Patriots. The Steelers were a wild card in 2005 and they beat a stacked AFC that year.
No More Arm Tackles DeCoud (AJC)
ESPN even went as far as to develop a stat that read “of the 36 most recent playoff teams, 11 that have been on a 5+ game winning streak have gone to the Super Bowl. 5 of those have won the Super Bowl. The Broncos, Redskins, and Seahawks are on a 5+ game winning streak.” What kind of stat is that? And furthermore, that comes to a whopping 30% of success on getting to the Super Bowl and 14% winning it. They might as well done a statistic on cleat colors and playoff success. Talk about curtailing statistics to fit your biased opinion.
Yes, the past two years and 3 out of 4 have favored the team that has momentum, a fairly mythical construction all on it’s own, but statistics are past numbers for a reason. If the same researchers go back a little further (most statisticians averse to determine a “trend” less than decade), they would see a fairly inconclusive analysis. A list of the past 10 seasons:
Season — Super Bowl Winner — Seed
2011 – Giants – #4 Division Champ
2010 – Packers – #6 Wild Card
2009 – Saints – #1 Bye
2008 – Steelers – #2 Bye
2007 – Giants – #5 Wild Card
2006 – Colts – #3 Division Champ
2005 – Steelers – #6 Wild Card
2004 – Patriots – #2 Bye
2003 – Patriots – #1 Bye
2002 – Bucs – #2 Bye
So there you have the list of the past 10 Super Bowl winners. Even though recent history says that getting hot at the right time, barely getting in the playoffs as a wildcard, or being on a winning streak guarantees you a Super Bowl or playoff success, the fact is that it’s a fairly insignificant probability over the last 10 years, despite what’s “popular” among the media elite. The last 10 years have seen 50% of teams with a bye win the Super Bowl, 30% Wild Cards, and 20% as Division Champs. The point is not to say that momentum can’t play a part in playing well in the playoffs and ultimately winning the Super Bowl, but it’s simply meant to bust all the media elite’s strict adherence to “playing well close to the playoffs guarantees playoff success” and thereby denigrating or outright ignoring the Falcons. After all, the Saints actually lost 3 games in a row before winning the whole thing.
Underdogs Again
The Falcons and everyone associated with their organization won’t lack for any motivation when they tee it up next Sunday at 1 pm. To be fair, the Falcons losing all 3 of their playoff games, with the last two being embarrassing blowouts, have given most “media elite experts” every reason to doubt the Falcons. Unfortunately for Falcons fans, that is the painful truth. However, the experts have taken that meme and ran away with it, all the way back since April and continuing on to mini-camp until now. It seems that it’s a “anyone but the Falcons” in the NFC mantra for most that know everything there is to know about football and the NFL (too bad we can’t use these experts to solve world hunger, eh?).
Spoon's Big Arena (AJC)
The Seahawks and the Redskins are everyone’s darlings because A) they’re not the Falcons and B) they’re the wild cards who are on a winning streak (see point above). The Packers and Niners are the traditional teams who have been their favorites all year, even if they’re not the flavor-of-the-week wild cards, but of course they’re always the backups. Maybe the only other team close to the Falcons are the Vikings, but they have MVP, All-World running back Adrian Peterson and that’s definitely a feel-good storyline better than those terrible Falcons.
Of course this will come across as whiny to any non-Falcon fans, and it might be a little bit, but Falcons fans are sick and tired of hearing it and it’s impossible to imagine how much the players are. Truth be told, the Falcons, particularly Mike Smith, haven’t helped themselves at all. Todd McClure said something to the effect of flying under the radar all the way to February. Looks like he’s going to get his wish. They say that bulletin board material can only go so far and doesn’t win games in the end, but it surely can’t help to add in a little extra fire when the game kicks off or when things get tough.
Which Offense Will Show Up?
The Falcons jekyll and hyde offense surely has some fans worried about next Sunday. To be fair, the Falcons have done a much better job overall with consistency than year’s past, including some really nice offensive explosions like the Chiefs, Eagles, and Giants game. However, they’ve also put up some big clunkers as well. It’s hard to imagine the Birds coming out as flat as they did the previous two years in the playoffs, but some bad offensive outputs may have fans a little nervous. While looking dominant at times, they’ve also looked downright anemic as well, such as they did vs. the Raiders, Cardinals, the Saints second game, and the Panthers second game, not to mention the most recent game vs. the Bucs. Something that may ease fans concerns a bit is the fact that their very best offensive game came against the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants and a darn good one came a week later vs. Detroit that saw them go up 21-3 before they started sitting on their lead. The players keep saying it’s a different attitude and feeling than year’s past and here’s hoping that the clunker offense is gone for good.
Will the Giants/Broncos or the Panthers/Bucs Defense Show Up?
Although being a touch more consistent than the offense, the defense has had it’s ups and downs as well. They came to be known as the elite QB killing defense that saw them intercept the Manning brothers and Drew Brees 10 times, not to mention shutting down Phillip Rivers, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo. But they’ve also had their own fair share of issues at times, especially in the run game. Cam Newton had his way both times with the Falcons defense, especially the second time in Charlotte which was arguably one of the best games of his career. Josh Freeman looked like Superman in the last game and Drew Brees put up plenty of points the first time in New Orleans.
Asante's Leadership Will Be Key (AJC)
They’ve generally done pretty good against the pass, but they’ve had major issues at stopping the run at times. They stopped Doug Martin the first time, only to get shredded the second. Alfred Morris ran for over 100 yards, even though he was held to to no TDs. Cam Newton and the Panthers running backs racked up yards like it was going out of style and they even had major problems with Saints running backs, namely Chris Ivory. Although they’ve done light years better in the takeaway department, they’ve only marginally better in the pass rush. The Falcons defense will have their hands full which ever team they play first, be it Russell Wilson / Marshawn Lynch, Robert Griffin III / Alfred Morris, or Christian Ponder / Adrian Peterson. Birds fans are hoping that the Magician Mike Nolan has saved his best for last.
Bird Cager’s Playoff Turn
1) Playoff Push — Has the time finally come to bust the playoff hump once and for all?
2) What things are you looking for as the Falcons come out next Sunday?
3) Do you genuinely feel that lessons have been learned by Mike Smith?
4) What to make of momentum: reality or myth?
5) Nervous, anxious, or confident for playoff game?
6) Are Falcons biggest underdogs in all of playoffs?
7) Which offense do you think will show up: stellar or clunker?
8.) Will the defense be ready to stop the run?
9) Preference of who to play on Sunday?
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670 comments Add your comment
BobbyDawg
January 9th, 2013
4:46 pm
I should have read more carefully before my last post. Oh well! At least I’m trying to keep up with what’s going on.
Paddy O
January 9th, 2013
4:50 pm
trademark – very nice write up. I’m hoping we come out strong and score on our opening drive, and those are the first points of the game.
Wabe
January 9th, 2013
5:30 pm
What will be interesting to see is whether the loss of Clemons makes Seattle more blitz-happy…
You’d have to think with ‘the best secondary in football’ that they’re comfortable leaving those guys back there on an island. Also, with the tape out on Atlanta showing us to be somewhat vulnerable at times against the blitz, it has to be within their thought process.
I also am somewhat skeptical regarding exactly how good Seattle’s secondary is. They’re a good defense, there’s no arguing the facts. But, folks have pretty much made the secondary out to be one that’s one of the greatest ever seen [or at least it seems that way to me]. I haven’t watched enough Seattle games to know exactly what our guys are up against. But, I’ll reiterate again:
I’ll take:
Julio Jones and Roddy White > any duo of corners in the league
So, with that said, it won’t really be won on the outsides, it’ll be won in the trenches, as most of our games this year have shown. When Ryan has the time, and he’s on target, there ain’t a secondary out there that can really prevent these guys from getting theres. I’m hoping to see a decisive Matt Ryan out there. Not the one that scans the field and holds the ball and then checks it down. I don’t want to see that checkdown offense that we’ve seen at various times. We’ve gotta be decisive, and take our shots when they’re there.
crowmeat
January 9th, 2013
6:23 pm
Everyone has at least 2 opinion’s, just like elbows…The team that wins Sunday will be the team that makes the fewest mistakes and operates at a very high level!!
Matty Bicep
January 9th, 2013
6:39 pm
Since Seattle’s option read depends on what Wilson reads at the line, ya think Nolan will have anything special cooked up to make think he sees one thing, when we might be doing something else?
I just have a hard time believing that Seattle is going to come into town with a college offense and a rookie QB and put up a bunch of points.
Chris
January 9th, 2013
8:43 pm
There corners are average, well maybe even good but not elite. They are playing behind one of the NFL’s best pass rushes. That is the only reason they are getting alot of there stats, except maybe E Thomas. He’s there best secondary player and its mostly coming from the blitz/pass rush.
Mike
January 9th, 2013
10:03 pm
I have to agree with a couple of post stressing the importance of the running game. I would l like to see Turner able to get established ( I by no means am suggesting making Turner the horse you ride). Not really worried about his total yards, however I would be happy to see a 4.5 – 5.0 YPC average. Their have been a couple of games (Arizona, Oakland, and the second game at Carolina comes to mind) when it seemed teams had absolutely no respect for our ability to run. I think that really helped vs the Giants where we got the turn over and went out for 17 yards and punched them right in the mouth. That set the tone for the whole day.
I do like our matchups with our def against their offense. This is subject to Lynch not being able to take over the game. If Seattle gets into second or third and longs it could be a long day for the Hawks. Between the crowd noise and Nolan’s defense it will be difficult for Seattle to convert. I do expect delayed blitzes… Also there has been a lot of well deserved praise given to Seattle’s two safeties. That being said we have a couple of pretty good ones as well.
Though I am nervously anticipating this weekends game, I am hoping to be even more anxious next week.
Coop
January 9th, 2013
10:08 pm
Paraphrase from Walterfootball is that he’s picking the Falcons even thought the Seahawks are the better team… Simply because the Hawks are in a bad position traveling to the East Coast. He disgusts me.
Big Ray
January 9th, 2013
10:10 pm
Walter can eat a man sausage…
PoolerSpirit
January 9th, 2013
10:26 pm
I was listening to Rush Limbaugh today… he was pointing out that the Washington Post blamed the Washington loss to Seattle last Sunday on the “racist” name of the franchise… the “Redskins”… and then he pointed out something I didn’t know… there is no such thing as a Seahawk… it’s a completely made-up animal! Falcons can’t possible lose to a make-believe bird!!!
Falconidae
January 9th, 2013
10:54 pm
Regarding the comments on 2010-2011 playoff prep, remember there was a freak snowstorm that
shut down the entire Atlanta area at the end of the bye week going into the game week. The light
practice sked you are mocking was largely dictated by the bad weather. I remember stories of
coaches and players sleeping at Flowery Branch, struggling to get to and fro. This year is clear sailing weather-wise and we have the perfect team to play. When we beat the Seahawks, we earn our way and put the hate talk to rest. Then if we face Green Bay (beat us in playoffs in ‘95 and ‘10), we can clean up the mess from two years back, having beaten playoff nightmares of years past: Cards (’08), Saints (eliminated us from playoffs in ‘09), Cowboys (’78 and ‘80), Redskins (’91), Broncos (’98), Eagles (’02 and ‘04). Only the Vikings (’82) would escape the clean-up. If we win out, we will have beaten every team we played this year (at least once)! Go Falcons!
Greg Mendel
January 9th, 2013
11:22 pm
“I was listening to Rush Limbaugh today…”
Ornithology-wise, that’s going out on a limb.
Geo
January 9th, 2013
11:38 pm
“I think that really helped vs the Giants where we got the turn over and went out for 17 yards and punched them right in the mouth. That set the tone for the whole day.” — Mike
Agreed. And don’t forget the second Taints game, an even longer opening TD-scoring drive, all on the ground. These Falcons are just laying in wait for the Seachickens. Lettin everybody get worked into a froth over “the lack of a running game.” Just wait, feathers are gonna fly. There will be massive disarray. And just one bird standing when it’s all over Sunday afternoon.
trademark
January 10th, 2013
4:12 am
Lynch has a hurt foot?
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2013/01/09/seattle-seahawks-injury-report-marshawn-lynch-did-not-practice-today/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
Ooopsie. Hate to break it to ya, Seahawks, but if Lynch is not 100% or limited in the game (or OUT), you are going to have a hard time doing anything out there on Sunday. Might get damn near shut out.
Ah well, at least the media can add that to their list of built-in excuses to have if Seattle loses.
JJ
January 10th, 2013
5:59 am
Unca’ Bob,
Happy Birthday !!!
Unca' Bob
January 10th, 2013
7:40 am
JJ,
Thank you my friend.
3lanes2nj
January 10th, 2013
8:33 am
I keep hearing all this talk about Seattle’s CBs and how big and physical they are, like Julio and Roddy are small or something, anywho just finished watching last years game in Seattle and Julio had his way with Brandon Browner. 11 rec, 127 yds
Chop Buster
January 10th, 2013
8:44 am
3lanes2nj – I don’t know about Sherman, but Browner holds just about every receiver that is capable of blowing by him. He was hanging on for dear life last year against Julio and I’m pretty sure he will be asking for safety help over the top most of the game. Don’t believe for one minute that Seattle will play our receivers straight up man-to-man. Pete Carroll is lying.
trademark
January 10th, 2013
9:04 am
Chop Buster – they might HAVE to. With their blitz package relying mostly on the DEs eating up the guards and the safeties coming through, it isn’t going to be functioning as well with the rookie there. If they drop 4 or 5 into coverage, Gonzo and the screens are going to eat them alive.
Paddy O
January 10th, 2013
10:02 am
UB – you finally legal to drink? BTW, Happy B-day!
Arno
January 10th, 2013
10:39 am
Decent article on Nolan/Koetter. Some good quotes. Helps to pass the Thursday wait.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130109/atlanta-falcons-mike-nolan-dirk-koetter/?sct=uk_t11_a5
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
10:47 am
Dang. Everybody picks against the Falcons.
Can Sunday hurry up? Jeez.
Chop Buster
January 10th, 2013
11:05 am
Trademark, I think with the way we have been calling plays this year Seattle will be damned if they do go man. If the OL holds up against the blitz then Ryan will have a field day and make them think twice about blitzing after getting burned by Roddy, Julio, HD or Gonzalez or even Jacquizz in the screen game. We need to get Snelling in the game to slow down any pass rush/blitz–if the butter churner isn’t running well as usual. Something tells me Turner might come out running hard like he did against the Aints in the Ga Dome.
D3
January 10th, 2013
11:15 am
Great Thursday Greetings Cagers!
For those of us that are trying to find anything about the Falcons and the media darling Seahawks and matchup to help us get through these painful last few days, Pat Y has a ton of stuff up about the Falcons and media darling Seahawks……….
ATLANTA FALCONS
For the second straight year, Atlanta is losing its director of player personnel. Dave Caldwell has been hired as the general manager in Jacksonville. That comes a year after Les Snead left for St. Louis. Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff has a deep and talented staff in place. But it’s logical to speculate about the chances of Scott Pioli ending up with the Falcons. He used to be Dimitroff’s boss in New England.
WOW!, talk about a dream scenario getting Pioli on our staff as an assistant to TD. I have a hard time believing that Pioli can mastermind such greatness in NE only to forget everything he knows about football in a few years. I know that Belichick did play a big role in the GM side of it, but still. I think Pioli doomed himself with the Todd Haley hire. He may have been a good offensive mind, but he was an effin’ headcase and that doomed him. Some of the picks may not have been the best either, but he did draft Tyson Jackson (sorry, the guy may not be balling in the NFL, but he was an absolute stud in the SEC, hard to argue with that pick). Sure, he passed on a few guys in retrospect (BJ Raji, Brian Orakpo, Josh Freeman, Michael Oher), but there were a lot of early busts from that draft class. He drafted Eric Berry, Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas, Tony Moeki,
Arno
January 10th, 2013
11:19 am
We played four common opponents. Not very useful comparisons, because Seattle played them early in the year. Week eight was a long time ago, when Detroit beat them at home 28-24– but a few things do stand out. Seattle was up 17-7 in the second quarter, but their vaunted D let Detroit back in the game. Calvin Johnson had only 3 catches in the game, but Stafford still had 331 yards passing. Lynch averaged 8.8 yards per carry, but Detroit still led time of possession. Seattle is 8-1 since week eight, so maybe they fixed all their problems. Or maybe not.
D3
January 10th, 2013
11:23 am
My computer flummoxed there and I didn’t mean to get into a Chiefs discussion, but my point was that Pioli taking Haley and then electing to go with Crennel (who just ain’t got it at head coach) doomed him.
3lanes2nj — Welcome! Man, you got that right. I’m so sick of hearing about their corners I could vomit. Sherman sounds like he should playing for the Saints with his ignorant, trash attitude. They’ll likely find to miss Clemons more than anyone.
Now, for those of you getting a little worn out on the matchup on Sunday part, here is a VERY interesting dynamic.
Jaguars hire Dave Caldwell (#2 under TD) as their new general manager. And guess what happens 1 minute ago………..
The Jacksonville Jaguars just issued a news release announcing Mike Mularkey has been fired as their head coach.
“I informed Mike today that he will not return as head coach of the Jaguars,” new general manager David Caldwell said in a statement. “I know Mike well and do not want anyone to misinterpret the rationale behind my decision. Mike is an excellent coach and I am sure he will succeed in his next stop in the NFL. However, I must do what I believe is best for the Jacksonville Jaguars and immediately explore every avenue possible to turn our football team around. For that to happen as seamlessly as we want, and as quickly as our fans deserve, I feel it is in everyone’s best interests for an immediate and clean restart.”
Added owner Shad Khan: “Mike Mularkey is leaving our organization with my utmost respect. Mike gave the Jaguars everything he had on and off the field, and his efforts as our head coach will always be appreciated. Mike will land on his feet soon. Until then, I wish nothing but the best for Mike and his family.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/70197/jaguars-announce-mike-mularkey-is-out
Now, just WOW!. Here you have a guy who has worked with Mularkey for 4 years in Atlanta and the literally the first thing he does after getting the GM job is to fire said former colleague. Now that should tell you something right there about Malarkey the person. Someone you would think would have a good relationship with Mularkey fires his @ss immediately. Just dayum!
D3
January 10th, 2013
11:27 am
Just one more quick item before break is over…….
With all TD’s top assistants getting hired as new GM’s, this is proof in the pudding that TD is GOING NOWHERE and his not attached to Mike Smith’s hip. Sorry, when all the secondary assistants are getting snatched up all around (Panthers hire Giants #2 (good hire)), than TD is one of the best GMs in the biz…….period. Hell, I’d venture to bet that around 70% of teams would give up their current GM for TD. He’ll be here as long as he wants…….and rightly so.
Chop Buster
January 10th, 2013
11:33 am
D3 – “Now, just WOW!. Here you have a guy who has worked with Mularkey for 4 years in Atlanta and the literally the first thing he does after getting the GM job is to fire said former colleague. Now that should tell you something right there about Malarkey the person. Someone you would think would have a good relationship with Mularkey fires his @ss immediately. Just dayum!”
LOL…that’s the reason he fired Mularkey–because he knew him all too well. Don’t think for a minute he wasn’t privy to the conversations TD probably had with Smitty about his coordinators and neither being the answer to take the Falcons deep into the playoffs. I don’t wish losing your job on anyone, but Mularkey should never been hired as HC to begin with. WTH has he ever done as a HC or coordinator in the NFL? Oh wait…he did give us four years of regular season wins. I guess he should get credit for that.
trademark
January 10th, 2013
11:46 am
I knew there was a reason the team got a lot better once Mularkey was gone….damn, man. I do hope he finds somewhere he fits in, though. No ill will.
Zoomie
January 10th, 2013
11:49 am
I had the exact same thought regarding Caldwell’s first move being the Mularkey dump. Quite telling.
There’s been a lot of speculation about Pioli coming to Atlanta to work for TD. I understand the rationale for you arguments, but bottom line to me is: when he got chance to fly on his own, he looked clueless. It appears to me that success in NE may have been in spite of him. I’d be very nervous about the dynamic between him and TD given that TD used to work for him.
Still, TD’s body of work is looking pretty good on balance, so if he thinks he could use Pioli, I’d trust him on that.
SPS
January 10th, 2013
12:25 pm
I hope Caldwell’s next move is not to raid the Falcon’s coaching staff for a replacement for MM.
D3
January 10th, 2013
1:11 pm
I have to admit, I’ve always liked Pat Y because he’s one of the few ESPN guys who’s at least somewhat objective than the others and ESPN has a whole section on the NFC South (something NFL N doesn’t). Sometimes he writes things that tick me off, but by and large, I like what he writes. He’s really written some good stuff and come up with some fine nuggets this week. Here’s another good one……..
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Seahawks will become only the fifth West Coast team to play consecutive playoff games in the Eastern time zone.
The 2007 Chargers won at Indianapolis before losing at New England. The 1982 Chargers won at Pittsburgh, but lost at Miami. The 1981 San Diego team won at Miami, but lost in Cincinnati.
The only West Coast team to win consecutive games in the Eastern time zone was the 1989 Los Angeles Rams, who won on the road against the Eagles and Giants.
Pretty good stuff for our ball club………
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/44093/travel-could-work-against-seahawks
D3
January 10th, 2013
2:15 pm
Ya’ll might could agree or disagree here, but I can’t remember even our own fans and own media giving as much respect to a team in recent memory. Maybe I just have forgotten, but I just don’t remember this amount of effusive, over-the-top praise in my life. I mean, reading some of these columns and articles you would think that Russell Wilson is headed for Canton and as good as Manning and Brady. You would think that Marshawn Lynch is only short of Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Eric Dickerson. That they are the “toughest” team and defense since the ‘85 Bears or the ‘00 Ravens. That their cornerbacks are somewhere between Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, Lester Hayes, and Rod Woodson. They’re defensive line is as dominant as the Purple-People Eaters and the Steel Curtain.
I mean, I understand giving an opponent credit and talking about how good they, and they are. They genuinely are a really good football team. But I’m just done with the effusive, over-the-top praise. And I’m not even talking about the national media clownshow; I’m talking about our own media and Falcons related media. Enough is enough. Man up and blow the MF’ers out!
Wings
January 10th, 2013
2:34 pm
The other question that remains unanswered is why did HC Smith keep Mike Mularkey for four years, and does HC Smith not see reality.
nfcchampsliveinga
January 10th, 2013
3:09 pm
Atlanta rarely loses back to back games. In the past 3 years that the Falcons have went into the playoffs, they have won the last game of the regular season, but lost in the postseason. In 2008, the Falcons beat the Rams 31-27 and lost to the Cardinal , in 2010 the Falcons defeated the Panthers 31-10 and lost to the Packers and in 2011 they defeated TB 45-24 and lost the Giants. This year will be the first time in the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan era that the team will be going into a post season with a last game loss in the regular season. I feel that Atlanta will win this game.
LRD
January 10th, 2013
3:19 pm
This is the smallest listing on the injury report we have seen almost all season. Dunta is back, Abe is back, and Moore will be back…
Heck they didnt even do the usual listing of Roddy as Limited on Weds either…
Geo
January 10th, 2013
3:46 pm
Which team shows up? I’m bouncing between confidence and worry because I don’t know if it will be the early season team, or the Oakland, Arizona near-debacle team, or will it be the late season team that played the Giants and Lions, or the one that played Carolina and Tampa.
I don’t know. I know we’ve seen, at various times, a very good team, one capable of playing on Feb. 3. The fact that it comes and goes is nerve-wracking, given our recent playoff history. And that brings me to Smith. In the 8-0 run, the team was mostly playing with a ton of confidence, just balling. Then they started to tighten up and you wondered, what are they doing? Why are they getting so unimaginative again and looking like the old Turner-based conservative offense, albeit with periodic bombs thrown in (which, more often than not, were what saved us, or it was Ryan taking over at the end). Then they steamroll the Giants, looking like they have put it all together again. Then of course, Tampa, in which the Falcs looked like the clueless and inept offense of recent playoff appearances. But that was a no-win proposition of a game from the start.
I see Smitty as the common denominator here. His conservative, safe, no mistakes brand of football gets you a lot of 3-point wins over lesser teams, but damnit, like Koetter says in that SI article, most guys can’t just turn it off and turn it on. Players need to play! Smitty has to unleash these guys. He has to. Carroll has Seattle playing like that all the time, and that’s why I have such trepidation, because it’s hard to just turn it up. So, as confident as I sometimes am or want to be, I can see this being a dogfight to the last second, because we’re going to have to ramp up, and that means we may very well be in a hole, or we may suffer a lull at some point as we fall back into Smittyball familiarity.
Then again, if the team that body slammed the Giants shows up, it’s a two-score win. And I will be shocked again, and giddy as hell for the NFC championship.
FrontRow
January 10th, 2013
3:58 pm
Not sure what everyone has been watching (or smoking). The “great” Seattle secondary had no clue against Julio Jones as a rookie and still won’t have a clue. The “great” Seattle home field advantage was nothing; remember ATL played them (and Pete Carroll go flat-out out coached) in THEIR house the last 2 years running. Some news for the Seattle fans – this ain’t the team you lost to (at home) the last 2 yrs running. You want some evidence of what will happen – look at the NYG at ATL game; the “great” Giants were about to “begin their surge” but the ATL had revenge on their minds.
This team still has a statement to make. Keep bad-mouthing them.
D3
January 10th, 2013
4:12 pm
Jeez, I bet ya’ll are getting sick of me in here by now……….
Geo — And that’s exactly why there’s just a tiny bit of “trepidation,” as you put it, about this game. In all likelihood, we will come out and play tough, but we’ve seen every face of this team and some have been pretty (Giants/Broncos/Chargers/Chiefs/Eagles), some have been bad (Cardinals/Raiders), and downright ugly (Panthers #2, Bucs #2). I’m like you in counting that Bucs debacle, but it was an insanely difficult game to manage. For chrissake, I’m just ready for the d@mn game to get here already.
nfcchamps — Welcome! You make a very good point. Of all the positive things that Smitty has brought to this franchise, not losing back-to-back games, is probably the best. And I think that’s what has made Smitty so darn successful in the regular season. While other teams go on 2,3,4+ losing skids, the Falcons never have. Who knows what the heck he does (fixing fundamentals maybe?), but he does something that works. Here’s to hoping he bottled up that mojo for these last two weeks.
Frontrow — I know man. You would think that they’ve found a way to time-travel some of the best DB’s in history and they’re all suiting up in that terribly tacky green and teal for Sunday. I’m just so sick of hearing about Wilson, Lynch, Sherman, Browner, etc. GAG-O-MATIC!!!!
Arno
January 10th, 2013
4:24 pm
Let fraud and wrong and baseness shiver,
For still between them and the sky
The falcon Truth hangs poised forever
And marks them with his vengeful eye.
– James Russell Lowell
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
4:39 pm
http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks
Most of ESPN picked the Falcons to win… go figure.
But, Adam Shefter also picked us to win…
WE’RE DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
4:41 pm
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/19
CBS picks Seattle.
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
4:45 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/70137/time-for-falcons-to-win-playoff-game
Wow… a positive article by ESPN on the Falcons…
The world must be ending soon.
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
4:55 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/44112/steve-young-falcons-have-lots-at-stake
Like these comments from Steve Young.
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
5:00 pm
http://blog.atlantafalcons.com/jayadams/2013/01/10/actor-mark-wahlberg-gives-shoutout-to-d-block/
Mark Whalberg giving a shout out to the Atlanta Falcons.
Big Lou
January 10th, 2013
5:02 pm
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000124380/article/archie-manning-falcons-matt-ryan-not-a-choker
JB Falcon
January 10th, 2013
5:41 pm
I knew it was January but didn’t know it was the tenth. 1948 I believe? Any, have a great day and keep on keepin’ on!!
JB Falcon
January 10th, 2013
5:59 pm
Oh, my 5:41 post was for Unca’ Bob. & Any=Anyway.
Birdman
January 10th, 2013
6:19 pm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1478539-x-stone-cold-guarantees-for-nfls-divisional-playoffs?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nfl
falcon21
January 10th, 2013
6:52 pm
Unca’ Bob, Happy Birthday young man! Our Birds will get it done Sunday!!!