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
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Matt Ryan won’t win anything and thats the TRUTH
JB
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Seemed like very play, Saints line was going backwards, and Falcons line was runnin’ over ‘em! Smash mouth football. Saints got smashed in the mouth all day! Unh! Birds look great!
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Saints Rule: Oh yeah, you clearly have not NFL knowledge to call the Falcons defense “overrated.” They are “rated” about average by the analysts. So for their average “rating” to be an “overrating” they’d have to play below average. I’d honestly say they’re average with likelihood of getting a lot better as the season progresses. I would say above average if not for their habit of giving up occasional big plays yet again this season. Anyway, I think it would be fair to say the Saints as a team are “overrated” though! LOL!!!!
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
saints rule, last year is gone, welcome to the 2010 season. Please get on board the reality train. Next stop, WHO DAT TOWN! The stop after that is WE DAT!
Riddle: What’s the difference between a turd and saints rule?
Answer: Not a damn thing!
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
When was the last time Vick was in the playoffs…..nuff said….NEXT!!!!
falkonfan
September 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
who dat say tha gonna beat them aints? THE ATLANTA FALCONS, THAT’S WHO DAT!!!!
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
THE SAINTS RULE !!!!Dan Mullen Who is Matt Ryan? Another Draft Bust!!!!
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
Vick did get playing time on the prison team as a tight end. Not a good position on a prison team.
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
Ramguy WHEN MATT RYAN WINS A PLAYOFF GAME THEN YOU CAN TALK
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
LOL!!! Somebody is talking about how we “couldn’t beat the Cardinals”? Wow. I was sure we blew them out last week. Oh yeah, you’re talking about LAST season. You’re really reaching now. LOL!!!!
FALCONS GOT RID OF BRETT FAVRE,MATT.S & VICK
September 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
WHO DAT? DEM DIRTY BIRDS,AINTS FANS!
falconfan42
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Hey saints fans you lost the game get over it.Nobody was lucky and the Falcons are for real.Congrats to both teams for exellant football game the falcons were just a little better when it really counted.GO DIRTY BIRDS.
Howie Long
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
The Falcons will win the SB and Ryan will be MVP.
Mark my words. I’M HOWIE LONG ! ! ! nuff said
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Ramguy – Fed Perps vs the Local Hoods Nov. 9 2008 in the all-prison playoff.
His team lost.
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
I hope vick kills the falcons, GO SAINTS!!!!
welikebaseball2
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Hmmm, what do you do when your TEAM loses? Compare QB’s. LOL!!! It takes a TEAM to win…that includes the kicker
.
FALCONS GOT RID OF BRETT FAVRE,MATT.S & VICK
September 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
WHO DAT? WE DAT BEAT DEM AINTS!
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
Like I said when matt ryan wins a playoff game then talk, GO SAINTS!!!!
Kane337
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
Mike Vick played against the Lions and now the Jaguars. Enough said.
RA
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
Yea, that’s why I really don’t like this blog. Sooner or later, win or lose, it ALWAYS degenerates into…this. @TrishaDishaWarEagle, you’re probably a lady. Don’t climb down to the level of a lot of folks on this blog. It’s not worth it. Speaking of which, I’m out.
Bird Fan
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
Glad to see Falcons have restored order in the NFC South after the fluke year and put the Aints back in their place! Beat them good in their own house. Loved those camera shots of all those depressed, dumpy Aints fans who thought they were gonna get drunk and watch the Aints cruise to an easy win. Man, their hangover started a day early! lol
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
From JAdams twittter:
Again, no official news on Spoon. @AJCFalcons has reported he’s fine and was cramping. I cannot confirm until tomorrow.
FrontRow
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
@Saints Rule – root for another team to do what your team couldn’t do.
Can we get some real Saints fans here? I’m tired of the cheerleaders.
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
Dree Brees>>>>>>>>Matt Ryan
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
saints rule, you have a real grown up attitude towards your team’s loss. Shouldn’t you be on the Justin Bieber blog by now. I am thinking you have bieber fever little boy.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
I like having Billick in the booth for falcons games too, btw. He knows Mike Smith more than anyone else and has great respect for the guy, and he gives a good coaches view of plays.
GregKennesaw
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
You know it’s sad when all they talk about is the past – Geaux Falcons Our Time!
O'Brien
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
In football, you have to be good. but you also have to be lucky.
Saints were lucky to beat the 49ers last week. It happens.
if the Falcons got some luck today, so what? Saints also got lucky on the punt that hit the back of the falcons player’s foot.
A win is a win though
FALCONS GOT RID OF BRETT FAVRE,MATT.S & VICK
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
NEXT UP FEELEY AND VICK?
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
You guys lost too pittsburgh without a QB, LOSERS GO SAINTS!!!!!
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
Falcons>>>>>>>>>>saints
ReddJonn68
September 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
BRAVES SUKKKKKK !!!
GregKennesaw
September 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
Who Dat, that just beat us in our house? who dat, that threw 2 int’s. who dat kicker, can’t hit a chip shot
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Mom says for me to get off her computer machine… almost beddy-by time cuz the short bus leaves early on mondays.
Howie Long
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Drew Breeze is too short, is a turkey plucker, makes chiffon handbags, is an expert at making pudding and likes taking long walks and listening to Yanni.
GregKennesaw
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Falcons did not get rid of Vick, he went to prison for 2 years
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Ryan converted a third-and-short with a quarterback keeper that required a second effort after he was hit behind the line of scrimmage. Did you see Matty Ice drag two Saints defenders for a first down on third down? Wow!
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Kane337 Green Bay has a good defense and Vick brought them back in the game, and how did matt ryan do against the steelers
Aints 2010-11
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Aints are back in Katrinaville.
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Yeah you don’t want to miss the short bus Dan!
DangerousDan885
September 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
agree with Dan Mullen– get 5150 POAD off of here–THE FALCONS WON BY THE WAY.YOU NEGATIVE MORAN
Woooo!
September 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
I love it! The possum-stew eatin’ cajuns found their way to the interwebs to start crowing about their loss! You got exposed today. Go hang out on the LSU board..I think they won yesterday. Losers.
Falcon Wing
September 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Matt Ryan didn’t throw an intereception. Drew Brees did. Score the QB competition a clear win for Matt Ryan. Falcons dominated in every facet of the game – especially QB and Kicker! And coaching! Our coach iced the Aint kicker. Their coach only iced his own team’s BLOCKED FIELD GOAL. Love it!
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Name stealers please get a life
truth
September 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Ryan beat the aints today…….there you go Saints Rule!
suwaneefalcon
September 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Hey mullen, you talk like you got some common sense. Now pull your head out of ass and get over the vick thing. He started is life over and you should do the same. It is never to late.
Saints Rule!!!!
September 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Dan ? I love men not boys!!!
DangerousDan885
September 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
you saints suck– you got the calls last year because everyone felt sorry for you. Now take your loss like a man and go eat some cajun food–lol
Saints Rule!!!!!
September 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Like I said the falcons are overrated and their QB is too, another draft bust
falconfan 2986
September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
The Steelers will blow out the Aints when they meet in a few weeks.