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
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
24-12 LOSERS
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Hope weatherspoons okay.
Browncoat
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Dan, take your meds, for your sake
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
In the NFL…any decent team can win on a given Sunday.
Today, the Falcons were the better team because they won.
Saints are a good team and will keep winning.
But the magic might be over.
Drew
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
We Dat!!!
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Well said, Cajun. You are the man. It’s just a win, now let’s pack the Dome next week against the 49ers. Go Falcons.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
perfect weekend…Auburn wins and Falcons beat the super bowl champs in their backyard.
i told ya week 1 you fairweather fans were useless and the steelers D was superbowl calibre..
Anyway, Go FALCONS GO TIGERS
Lenny
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
We Dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
Still I have too admit, I am worried when my starting QB misses a wide open guy coming off knee surgery in OT **** The ones who have rings don’t miss that one ~~~
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
Jimmy Dan was a Winner against the Dawgs. Don’t you still hear the COW BELL ringing in your ears? I no Bobo and Richt still hear them ringing.
Once "Recent" Reader
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
49ers are going to be pretty angry coming in at 0-3 . . . . .but from what I’ve seen the Falcs should be able to handle them . . ..if they have their heads on straight.
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
THE AINTS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE….AND WE DIDN’T LET THEM GETAWAY WITH IT!!!
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
Come on hiram, seen this, Lsu saints, you guys wait any longer and were gonna have to put your plates in the microwave. Make that crow awful tough…..
Wally
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
We Dat!!!!!!!!!!(in 85 pt. font)
hollywould
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
WAR EAGLE!!!!!!
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
Where is Shultz?
WHAT IS Weatherspoon’s REPORT?
Wally
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
WE DAT!!!!!!!!!
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
Yea……HD should have ran faster to keep up with Ryan’s strong arm. Are you for real Redd?
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
Better lucky than good !!!!!!!!!!!
falconfan58
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
Looks like the one with a ring through two interceptions. Would you prefer that? Just enjoy the win.
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
Atl 2-1
Saints 2-1
Bucs 2-1
Kitty Kats 0-3
ryan
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
The Falcons had at least 500 yards total .
Joker
September 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
Saints were maybe the worst Super Bowl champion in history last year.
Maybe the glass slipper is coming off finally.
PlusSizeModel
September 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
“Still I have too admit, I am worried when my starting QB misses a wide open guy coming off knee surgery in OT **** The ones who have rings don’t miss that one ~~”
This is a ridiculous statement. It was one play.
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
Who did the Bucs lose to?
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Redd……we didn’t get lucky we out played them. Get a new team loser. If you can’t congrats your team in a proper way get lost!!! Just say’n.
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
The ball hit Roddy in the chest for a TD, HD damn near tore another ligament trying too run down that throw !!!
Joker
September 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Pittsburgh. Badly
drmaryb
September 26th, 2010
5:11 pm
I saw Witherspoon getting carted off the field at the end of game.
I hope he is OK!
Joker
September 26th, 2010
5:11 pm
Saints were lucky to even be in the game.
The right team won.
i dont think so?
September 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
@ReddJonn68 the one who had the ring… threw far to a receiver, pass was complete… but to Brent Grimes w/an interception. u made no point whatsoever.
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
REDD THE FALCONS GOT LUCKY, WE ALL KNOW THAT
SeenThisHiramSaintBuffoon
September 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
WHERE DAT?
WHO DADDY!
We kicked your azz on your turf. Now stay off of OUR turf. Pollute your OWN blogs, fair weather fans.
Jimmy
September 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
I guess we won’t know about Spoon until tomorrow.
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:13 pm
I did`nt even see him get hurt on t.v. maybe it was more precautionary than anything. hopefully it`s nothing more than a sprain.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
5:13 pm
Look last year all the Mayors of the cities that had Katrina people forced on them got together. The talked to all the NFL owners and together they worked a deal. They all would let the Saints win the Superbowl in the hopes that all the Katrina Refugees around the country would return to the Cresant Shaped Cesspool City and stay there. Well, it didn’t work, but at least they tried to get the crap back in the bowl.
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
5:13 pm
@ Redd
Don’t worry, most recievers would caught up with that throw. Matt threw it so he can run under it. I loved that cal l(very gustsy) , even tough the play wasn’t sucessful.
Kane337
September 26th, 2010
5:14 pm
Our Dirty Birds can fly. They don’t have a broken wing.
SeenThishiramsaintBuffoon
September 26th, 2010
5:14 pm
WHERE DAT?
WE DAT!
Hey…we kicked your butz on YOUR turf. Now stay off of OUR turf. Go pollute your own pathetic blogs, you sore losers.
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:14 pm
In life, one must have luck !!!
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:14 pm
That’s right I said it.
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
Check out Drew tonight on 60 Minutes. I hate the Aints but like Drew.
zorba
September 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
Lot of inspired football, but some questionable play calling. Example: 1st down on the four yard line. Run Turner up the gut with their eight man front staring him in the face. Not smart or creative – or working! Perhaps a play action, roll out. Not getting the touchdown there almost cost us the game.
Joker
September 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
Vick throwing the ball all over the yard today. 6-14 passing
Thats the Vick I think alot of us remember.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:16 pm
Right about now the crime rate is going up in New orleans as their fans scurry back to the ghetto with whatever isn’t nailed down within a 5 block radius of the superdome.. Brees is an Awesoem QB and he has earned his accolades, but you Matt Ryan detractors are officially shut up by the facts now. he is clutch!
Go Falcons
WAR DAMN EAGLE, Hollywould!!
Antonio Gramsci
September 26th, 2010
5:16 pm
5150 P.O.A.D.
I moved to New Orleans from Atlanta 2 months before the levees failed. I hate the Saints and love my Falcons. I don’t appreciate what you just said. It wasn’t necessary. Let’s enjoy the victory over that overrated bunch of tossers and don’t sink to their level.
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
I bet u Hartley won’t have a problem finding property in ATL !!!!
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
I postet last week, that when we can create takeaways, we will be a elite team. The last two weeks we have been doing just that. Go Falcons.
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
JOKER THE SCOREBOARD SAYS IT ALL
scott
September 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
who the h#LL cares about that overated university(GEORGIA) in that backwater country town called athens with that overated coach that is way overpaid !!HOW BOUT THOSE FALCONS STUNNING THOSE WHO DATS ON THIER HOME FIELD ????I LOVE IT…ATLANTA FALCONS YOU MADE MY DAY!!I HATE SMELLY HUMID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND THIER OVERATED FOOTBALL TEAM… HOW BOUT THOSE ATLANTA FALCONS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1