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
Sgt. Pepper
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
I could take the high road and say “well done Saints, great game.” But seeing as how obnoxious and unsportsmanlike your fans are, I’ll just say: “WE ARE THE BETTER TEAM!!!!”
FalconUGAFan
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
@Cajun crap talker ..you are a man among men or woman..ah you get the point…thanks for the respect
greg norton facts
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
wheres jeff
drmaryb
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
Ding!
How in the world Sean Payton iced his own
kicker? Smith iced him too?
That punk was double ICED!
His azz is sent packing tonight!
Hah!
Coaches called a great game -
Players executed Great!
Reminds me of Morten Anderson kicking the
Falcons into their lone Super Bowl in Minnesota!
Go Dirty Birds!
Clean game! No intercepts, No fumbles,
Great runs, Great catches!
Only one muffed punt and a few bad penalties!
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
they got lucky today
NuclearJim
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
Totally drained. And I was on the couch! Nice win for the Birds.
Sgt. Pepper
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Well said SeenThisBefore!!! Get out of our house!!
Pesch
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
GREAT WIN!!! Time of possession wore their D out and allowed us to run it down their throat at the end. I love the intensity of Coach Smith.
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
The Falcons Fifth Quater show is HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ken Rodriguez sounds like he should be hosting the dating game and poor Morty has a face made for radio.
Cajun crap talker
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Big Ray. Lotta football left, but it’s not realistic to go to the Super Bowl twice. Truth is, Saints could lose every single game from now until the end of time and I would still have all the joy from what happened last year. I am at peace with the universe because of that. Hahahahahaha!!!!
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Dang now the only game on is the Colts and Broncos. Oh well at least they aren’t showing Philly
dean
September 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
The REAL SeenThisB4 ain’t coming in here today.
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Not quite Mullen….better team won – lesser team CHOKED!
HiramSaint
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
I should apologize also, but I’m not man enough, like the Saints. I will however geaux bleaux SeenThisB4 to try and make everything better.
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Another thing, is it possible for Ken Rodriguez to have another BOTOX injection.
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
cajun you have been a stand up guy.
bgfalcon
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
has anyone seen seenthisb4? haha we won’t be seein him this week
lol GO CONS OUR TIME!!! hahaha
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
THE FALCONS=THE GEORGIA MUTTS
The Ayatollah
September 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
I take my hat off to the Falcons. But hang on, it’s a long season. Y’all aint the super bowl yet. I know because I’ve been there
True. But you ain’t there either. That was last year. Does last year count for this year? Nope.
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
SeenThisB4 is changing his name to NeverSeenAgain
ryan
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
Hey Mullen Brees turned the ball over 2 times Falcons only team to be able do that.
Florida jacket
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
I would’ve liked to have seen the end of that game but outside the Atlanta and New Orleans television markets the NFL and Fox sports shut down the feed immediately after the Saints missed field goal, it was Heidi all over again.
buick59
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
thank you Falcons for giving us beat down sports fans in Georgia something to look forward to. Watch out for the Niners…they can be dangerous!!!
Cajun crap talker
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
Ayatollah – see my comment to Big Ray. And good luck.
Doug
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
What is a Dan Mullen and do the total points in today’s game exceed his IQ???
hollywould
September 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
You were lucky last year Dan . Lucks over!
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
FrontRow the better team did not win, you wasn’t saying that in OT win the saints were about to score
Big Ray
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Cajun Crap Talker
I hear you. But if you’re at peace, then why are you still talkin’ so much crap, with your Cajun a$$? LOL…
JOHNNY B
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Cajun and Whodat – you guys have class and still have a hell of a team. Game could have gone either way and the Saints had their chance.
Great win for Atlanta and tough beat for the Saints – Great Game by both teams!
See you guys in the Georgia Dome – GO FALCONS!!!!
ATL krusher
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
FALCONS DAT!!!
Falcons Fan
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Who dat? We dat beat that them saints1
Once "Recent" Reader
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
This team was very balanced today. about 225 in air and a little over 200 on the ground. I know they’ll be games when we’ll be screaming for Mularkey to open it up a bit more . . … .but I think the bottom line is . ..this is our team. Balanced and will attempt to keep some sort of balance . ..even when it seems they can’t run for an inch.
Cajun crap talker
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Well, heck. It’s what I do!!!!
Sgt. Pepper
September 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Suck on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVERz5D1YEU
FalconFever
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Dan, Ryan didn’t play against the Saints but once last year, he was hurt in one of the games, so let’s see, he is now 2-2 in his short 2.2 year career. Idiot
drmaryb
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Luck Happens when Hard Work meets Opportunity!
If the Saints had won, wouldn’t they have been lucky too?
After all, Brees threw two intercepts!
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
This is a great feeling.
We did get torched for 350 yards by Brees.
What I have found refreshing is this team…though clearly undermanned
gets into a position to win.
They compete.
If we can keep upgrading, we will be superbowl ready in a year or two.
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Doug=Another Atlanta Falcons Loser, where was you at when the saints were in the red zone about too score with all that talking
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Did you see the Saints – players, coaches, and fans – collectively begin whining on que?
The first day of the has beens.
YOUR TIME IS UP! GEAUX HOME!
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Any word on Sean Weatherspoon’s injury?
mountain_jim
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
What happened to Spoon -taken out on the cart and I did not see them show or say what happened?
edjmusic
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
I haven’t yelled as loud for a football game for as long as I can remember. LOVED every minute of it, thank you team!
Big Ray
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Um, Mr. Dan Mullen,
I hate to break it to you, but unless the game is won or lost off of an event of a highly controversial nature…..it’s simply a win or a loss. Saints were the better team last week. The were the better team the week before. They weren’t the better team today. Kickers make up part of the team. Ask us, we lost like that to Pittsburgh in game 1 (a team I don’t think the Saints can beat, either). Saints lost. We won. Period.
Cajun crap talker
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Johnny B — Doesnt get any closer than that. I’ll be there in the Georgia dome, taking crap from y’all, as expected. I love that this rivalry is at least as passionate as any SEC rivalry!
David W
September 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
Beating the defending champs in their home is huge, but I think everyone – regardless of who you are rooting for – can agree that this was probably one of the best pure football games in a very long time, and easily one of the best this year.
I feel sorry for the rest of the NFC. Saints and Falcons just showed that the power in the NFC starts in the SOUTH!
Sean "Diddy" Combs
September 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
Take dat, take dat.
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
All the smack talk can be saved when vick beats te falcons in 2 weeks, he already has a TD ALREADY LOSERS
Browncoat
September 26th, 2010
4:52 pm
Dan, you have no idea what you are talking about. Nothing UNLUCKY about a hook shot. It’s bad form. Maybe Payton shouldn’t ice his own kicker. Dumb.
greg norton facts
September 26th, 2010
4:52 pm
be safe jeff they may capture any stray atlantians.
JOHNNY B
September 26th, 2010
4:52 pm
mullen you can talk about coulda, shoulda, woulda al you want but all I gotta do is look at the FINAL score and that’s all that matters!
Brees may have thrown for more yards but he didn’t get it done did he? 2 picks for Brees and 0 for Ryan so who was the better QB today?