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
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:33 pm
Sore losers.
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
The reason why we JAMMED it down their throats is they can’t tackle..they play for the inevitable “forced turnover”.
They’re still waiting.
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
These saints fans are obviously drunk.
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
@Saints Rule!!!!!. No smack intended friend, but the Falcons are for real, and barring injury, they’re going to be a force to contend with.
Falcon Jim
September 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
Cajun crap talker,
I LOVE your attitude. You are a true GOOD SPORT. I wish more were like you. I do understand your feeling that once winning the SB, you could never be too let down.
(Except when the Braves won the WS in 95, I was still pissed about the strike in 94. It was sauerkraut sprinkled with sugar.)
Cajun, thanks again, it “taint” nothing…………………..
F.J
.
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
I Saw The Comments When The Saints Were About To Win, You Falcon Losers Were About To Cry About One Game, Just A Bunch of B*TCHES
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
And now they gotta come to OUR HOUSE!
Cedrick (Arlington, TX)
September 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
TD!!!!! MIKE VICK to JACKSON!! Got to say the man is BACK!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
Beating them in their dome was important because now if we beat them in our dome , where Matty Ice(vanilla Ice ..to piss off the vick fans) does not lose as a starter. we have a two game advantage and winning the division is always better than being a wildcard.
Plus, division opponents are supposed to be hated..get with the program…it doesnt put us in the superbowl, but it puts them one step further away also, and thats a spitegasm.
rfgh
September 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
HATE the HATERS! Most of the people constantly whining have probably never played competitive sports. Meaning they dont understand you dont make every play. The game isnt over till the fat lady sings. And that is what most of the haters are. We have a team we can be proud of. No quit in them! No thugs! Just football players!
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
Wah, wah, wah. lol
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
Michael VICK TD BABY!!!!
Once "Recent" Reader
September 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
Someone posted a complaint about the overthrown pass in OT to Douglas, indicating the great ones make those. Someone replied that was a ridiculous statement – only one play in the game. That would have been an incredibly exciting play for Falcon fans if it was a couple of yards shorter or Douglas a step or two faster. But . . .the Great Ones do miss those!! I painfully remember Tom Brady just barely missing Randy Moss in the waning seconds of the 18-0 year SB . . .after Giants had just taken a lead. If that pass was just a bit shorter . . ..Moss would have had a TD or Pats would have been in Vinitairi range for another SB winning FG. Unless Brady is not one of the Great ones . . ..that shows they do make the same “mistakes”.
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
Look I love birds, but I’m not talking smack because I realize the game could have very easily gone the other way. Saints fans, ya’ll don’t need to talk smack because, well, ya’ll lost. I know this suggestion kinda flies in the face of what we usually do with each other but why not just say good game and let it go there.
Falcons73
September 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
Great win! It’s also good to hear that Weatherspoon was not seriously injured…the kid is looking like a stud and is already leading the team in tackles.
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
We all know the falcons will choke like always, GO SAINTS!!!!
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
Dan Mullen I agree the Falcons Suck and they got lucky, GO SAINTS!!!
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
5:41 pm
Hey you can see most of those Vick supporters on the latest episode of Prison Wives.
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:41 pm
Excuse me Saints Rule!!!!!, but did you see that turnover that gave the Saints the ball back in the 3rd qtr? I’m sorry, but if there was a such thing as luck, the Saints had it today.
falcon fan
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
As much as these guys talked over the past months, we deserve to soak this one up. Even though your kicker missed, we still had to drive the field to get in position to win the game. Don`t take a great game and make it embarrasing on your end by being sore losers. Game of the week hands down.
We Still Love ya Vick!!
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
Man, that was a nice TD toss by Vick (Well the calling him Vick 2.0)!! The guy is playing nice despite a few drops today.
virginia webb
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
Where the hell did the kicker come from send him back there he is the worst I have ever seen. He just cost us the game we should have beat the falcons. He stinks!!!!!!!! I get mad everytime I think about it !!!!!!!! A team as big as the Saints can do better than that!!!!!!! We need a kicker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
Falcons Defense is overrated, everybody saw it
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
Man the Superdome can get quiet real quick.
Freddie G
September 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
When we gave up the ball in regulation with less than 4 minutes to go I thought that we blew our opportunity. This was a great win by the Birds, however we must be concerned about Sam Baker’s play and the soft running of Michael Turner. Smitty must have noticed that Snelling is hitting the holes much quicker than Turner and so give Snelling more playing time.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:43 pm
I’m a little teapot short and stout!
Here’s my handle here’s my spout!
GO FALCONS! GO EAGLES!! YEAH!
Falcon Jim
September 26th, 2010
5:43 pm
Lucky? Did you watch the game? The taints were lucky to come away alive. The Birds beat the $hit out of them. Much more than the score ! ! ! ! !
MWC
September 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
I’m gonna go take a Dan
and wipe my Mullen
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Snelling and Turner carrying the Falcons on their backs!
Go Falcons!!! Go Saints!! Go Bucs!! Go Panthers!!
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Saints Rule: LOL!!!!! As if you all weren’t talking smack BEFORE the “one game” & as if you all wouldn’t talk smack AFTER the “one game” had your kicker not choked…& had your defense not proven themselves to be average at best. LOL!!!!!!
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Saints entire team overrated, the entire world saw that.
drmondo
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
That game had my blood pressure up…glad they pulled out the wind. True Saints fans, good game. Idiot bloggers, go suck it!!! B4, bend over and give yourself a barium enema, it might help your spelling!!
I hate talking smack before a game, but afterward all bets are off!!! Great game Ryan, Gonzo, Def, all round great game!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
I’m a dittzy broad! Dont mind me!!
Go Vick! Go Ryan! Go D-Breezy!!
drmondo
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
win not wind…sorry, a few too many labatts while celebrating..
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
@Freddie G Turner had a hundred yeard game. Of course, it took him 30 rushes to get it, but he had a good game, but he took one hell of a beating. He did his job, but yea, I have to admit, Snelling was much more impressive.
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
Ahhhhh……Freddie, Turner ran or over 100 yards.
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
When The Falcons Win A Superbowl, Then You Fans Can Talk But We All Know They Won’t. GO SAINTS!!!!
A Big Dog
September 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
Dan Mullen………..still a jerk aren’t ya; cause only a jerk likes the ConVICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He be back in jail within 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!!
truth
September 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
Who is Vick?
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
The Falcons Couldn’t Beat Kurt Warner and The Cardinals, What A Bunch of Losers
Ryan, Falcons Reach The Next Level in Defeating New Orleans – Bleacher Report | Who Dat Nation
September 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
[...] and defeated their archrival New Orleans Saints 27-24 in a thrilling overtime game. …LIVE from New Orleans, as Falcons go for the upsetAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Atlanta upsets New Orleans in overtimeDigital Sports DailyAtlanta [...]
drmondo
September 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
Saints rule: Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
A Big Dog And the falcons still won’t win a superbowl but vick is beating jacksonville
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
To the guy who stole my name above..I’d rather be a ditzy “broad’ by which i think you mean a woman far superior to you..than a “d**kless” name stealer
A Big Dog
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Dan Mullen…………………..pisssssssssssssssssss on you
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Truth WHO IS MATT RYAN? THE GUY HASN’T WON A PLAYOFF GAME
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Saints Rule!!!!!,
Are you hot???
Falcon Jim
September 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Saints Rule:
But we beat drauex breeze. HA HA HA !! Losers ! ! !
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
@Saints Rule!!!!! I don’t think the Saints beat Kurt Warner and the Cardinals either that year. Oh that’s right, they weren’t in the playoffs in 2008 were they? And yes, your team did win the championship…last year, and the last time I checked, last year is over.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
BTW many on this blog were saying matt schaub was better than Matty Ice , and bemoanign that we traded him…an 0-2 cowpattys team lit up schaub today.