LIVE from New Orleans, as Falcons go for the upset
If John Abraham is doing this to Drew Brees, the Falcons have a chance against New Orleans. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
NEW ORLEANS –Good morning. I’m looking forward to actually watching some football today since I really didn’t see any last night in Starkville.
The good news for the Falcons is that no matter what happens in today’s game against the New Orleans Saints — and I do believe they have a legitimate chance to win — they will be fine this season. That’s not the case at Georgia, which not only lost last night at Mississippi State but had yet another player — freshman linebacker Demetre Baker — arrested this morning for underage possession of alcohol and DUI. That makes 10 arrests for the Bulldogs since the spring to pair with a 0-3 record in the SEC.
By comparison, the Falcons are Camelot.
There obviously were some good signs in last week’s 41-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The Falcons ran the ball effectively, with Jason Snelling having a breakout game (three touchdowns) after Michael Turner left with a groin strain. Quarterback Matt Ryan also was sharp.
But the Saints are at another level. Ryan will face a stronger pass rush and play in a tougher environment in the Superdome than last week.
The biggest step up today must come from the defense. In the first two games, the Falcons faced a third-string quarterback in Pittsburgh (Dennis Dixon) and a last-resort starter against Arizona (Derek Anderson). Today, the opposing quarterback is the MVP of the Super Bowl, Drew Brees.
The New Orleans offense has not been as explosive as a year ago. The Saints have won their first two games by scores of 14-9 and 25-22. But Brees has completed 74.3 percent of his passes (55 of 74) for 491 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It’s imperative the Falcons get pressure on him, and that starts with John Abraham.
The lone starters out for the Falcons are wide receiver Michael Jenkins and safety Erik Coleman.
That’s it for now. I’ll check back shortly. How do you feel about the Falcons’ chances today?
♦
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2,596 comments Add your comment
JP
September 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
Mike Mularkey, Coach Smith and Matt Ryan all showed “BALLS” on both 4th downs…..that will make us a better team…..this is what it means “we play to win the game” ……
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
give it to him again.. give it to him again, he’s pissed. gotta be..
Frozen Rope
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
Michael Turner is dragging a sofa around
CEEDEZ
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
yOU HAVE 3 250+ BACKS…………….ANY QUESTIONS,KIDS?
jerry
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
Is Turner the best back on the Falcons? Nooooooooo.
Donny Corleone
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
Stop with the scrotal talk. I’m offended.
John
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
Sure we will score. But then they get the ball back and will score in 90 seconds and lead 21-14
All this with 2 turnovers. When you are + 2 in to’s you should be up not tied or losing
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
pts here.. defense has gotta be locked in.. Saints are going to try to go 2 for 1.. end of 1st and beginning of 2nd half pts..
Far_East
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
Did I hear Billick just say Tony G is “probably future hall of Fame”??? I really have an issue with the word “probably” on that one. Geez
falcon52
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
2 nd and goal on the 1 you have to make this touchdown right here
Scooter
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
Even if the birds manage to lose this game…I’ve gotta say it’s fun watching a team that plays as a team and shows some will to win…unlike certain other teams with red and black on their uniforms yesterday…
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
This team is not going to be denied today. A fresh Falcons defense is going to get after Brees and get some sacks and picks, and the Falcons offense is going to grind them into the ground.
SCFALCON
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
Wish we had this mentality at Pittsburgh.
willy
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
Still, RAM, I’m not convinced they can’t get tough short yardage yet this year by running. Pittsburgh would make you think not, but they’re gonna make everybody think not. But I will agree Atlanta had too hard a time of it last year. I think you just have a lingering feeling.
Hank Stram
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
“Just keep matriculatin’ the ball down the field, boys.”
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
When are all the NO Saints fans moving their azz back to that nasty town? Parents went to Copelands for brunch and it was full of Katrina refugees. Take you ghetto butts back to that town you love so muck you NO Aints fans.
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
horse collar for 3rd time.. he’s too fast..
falcon52
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
finnaly a horsecoller call
Mick
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Again WHY ARE WE RUINNING TURNER??? HE SUCKS
SCFALCON
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Apparently the 3rd horse collar is the charm.
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
It’s about time!
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Saints were offsides, and that was the second horsecoller of the day
MWC
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
about time
Marlee Matlin
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Is the stadium quiet?
Mick
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
IDIOTS HE IS SLOW PUT IN SNELLING OR PASS
willy
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bootleg pass
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Ramguy same ole falcons, they can’t run without vick
Bring Back Reeves
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
SNELLING>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Please put Snelling in the game or run play action
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Please put Snelling in the game or run play action
Far_East
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
PUNCH IT IN!!!!
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
give it to him again.
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Dang it…you guys haven’t been able to pick up short yardage all year…
CEEDEZ
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bounce to the sticks puleeeeze!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Frozen Rope
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Snelling
Mick
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Yeah keep running turner you fools
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Sorry that’s was the 3rd time
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
why put it in the air..? run the ball!
greg norton facts
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
punch it in dammit
mmgtfan
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
snelling Snelling Snelling Snelling SNELLING SNELING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
playmeortrademe
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Snelling….Snelling…Snelling…
how many times does Turner have to be stopped before they figure it out?
Lance
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
@ Dan Mullen – Get as life moron! Vick has been gone and he isn’t coming back.
ATLJim31
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
scrap the bunch formation!
spread them out and then run and they will score.
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
If the Falcons are going to have any chance of winning this game, THEY HAVE SCORE A TOUCHDOWN HERE! You can’t go into halftime down by 4 and the Saints getting the ball back to start the 3rd quarter.
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Yeah Dan…couldn’t get guys sent to prison without Vick either
Frozen Rope
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Snelling will put it in the endzone,,, Coaches?
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
This is just bad that we can’t get it in fron 2 yards or closer. Where is the O-line push?
45ACP
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
At times we just called running plays blindly. WTF???
GTMustang
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
Turner really, really sucks. Not the guy we all thought he was.