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)

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 Bakerarrested 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?

Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC

2,596 comments Add your comment

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm

I’m guessing the falcons draft a LT in the first round next year

suwaneefalcon

September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm

falcon wing, sorry aint’s fans only want to talk about last year.

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm

Wow name steal goes on a lot in georgia, what a bunch of losers

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:04 pm

The Falcons will be 8-8 again wait and see

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:05 pm

GO SAINTS!!!! SUPERBOWL CHAMPS. THE FALCONS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF LOSS LIKE ALWAYS

suwaneefalcon

September 26th, 2010
6:05 pm

Saints rules, it happens when piss ants like you come on a falcons blog and start acting like a loudmouth moron. I don’t agree with it but, you bring it on yourself.

DangerousDan885

September 26th, 2010
6:05 pm

Suwanee Falcon –It’s “too” not to. Do you have trouble with that your you’re and therem their and they’re? lol

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:06 pm

Bunch of immature punks steal names, The Falcon Fans Can Kiss Where The Sun Don’t Shine Losers

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:06 pm

Saints 8-8, can’t stop the run, can’t kick field goals……

suwaneefalcon

September 26th, 2010
6:06 pm

dangeroud dan, proof read your own crap before you knock someone’s grammar. Just a thought.

Kane337

September 26th, 2010
6:06 pm

@Saints Rule!!!!!……have you not finished crying yet? Need a hug?

Saints Rule!!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:07 pm

I just bought a scrach-n-sniff Drew Brees jock strap. Wow….nice musky smell. Oh and still wet!! YES!!!!

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:07 pm

DangerousDan885 You know those country Falcon Fans didn’t learn anything, LOSERS

suwaneefalcon

September 26th, 2010
6:08 pm

Now I like the new and improved saints rules better then the original.

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:08 pm

Whoever steals blog names please grow up loser

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:08 pm

Waaaaaaaa……someone stole my name. Oh Saints Rule, you think I can get a scratch-n-sniff Mike Vick jock strap?

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:09 pm

Dan Mullen I know the country folk didn’t learn anything, that’s why they won’t win a superbowl. GO SAINTS!!!!

FrontRow

September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm

Hey leave and nobody will steal your name.

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm

Hey Dan I’ll check and see if my boyfriend will lend you his.

saintsSuck

September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm

good come back don, you are so witty. So above us falcon fans. I am thinking you are a closet butt muncher.

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm

Falcon Fans Win One Game and i’s like the superbowl to them, what a bunch of morons

MWC

September 26th, 2010
6:11 pm

Mabye the aint’s will give Morton Anderson a call in the morning.
BTW, I have never see such a pathetic group of sore losers than these NO fans…sad

falconfan 2986

September 26th, 2010
6:11 pm

Matt Ryan stepped up today and showed the heart of a champion. He is a true leader. Did you see him chew azz at the O- line as Coach Smith stood by. There was no back talk from the players. He is a respected and true leader; I posted last week when all the fair weathered falcon fan was bashing him on this very blog.If you are a fan be a fan through wins and lossess. I hate fair-weathered fans far more than I hate the Aints. Be true to yourself and our team, or find a new team. My wife and I are at the Dome every home game sitting in section 111 row six, cheering our azzes of the Birds.Go Falcons.

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:11 pm

Atlanta Falcons 2 1 0 .667 77 46 1-0-0 1-1-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 Won 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 1 0 .667 50 59 1-1-0 1-0-0 1-0-0 1-0-0 Lost 1
New Orleans Saints 2 1 0 .667 63 58 1-1-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 2-1-0 Lost 1
Carolina Panthers 0 3 0 .000 32 71 0-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-2-0 Lost 3

Notice points scored and points given up, the Falcons lead both

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:11 pm

Sorry Dan he said no.

welikebaseball2

September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm

What do you do when your overrated TEAM loses? Compare QB’s. Care to compare kickers? I know, they don’t matter…except for when they’re WINNING or LOSING games for you. LOL!!!!

saintsSuck

September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm

no danny boy, we just like beating the saints and watching turds like you come on here and bitch and moan.

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm

Falcons Fans will lose just wait and see because their fans say it all

Mountain Man

September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm

Sam Baker needs to buy a ticket.

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:13 pm

GO SAINTS!!!!!!!

ryan

September 26th, 2010
6:13 pm

The Falcons ran all over your Saint’s A$$es hey Dan you need some wine to go with that cheese you must live in your moms basement if you have all this free time on the computer .

DangerousDan885

September 26th, 2010
6:13 pm

Hey Suwanee Falcon — I live in Suwanee too.. where do you wanna meet so I can kick your ass?

truth

September 26th, 2010
6:14 pm

Good post Greg.

saintsSuck

September 26th, 2010
6:14 pm

SAINTS SUCK!!!!!!! So say the first place Falcons!

Saint Simmons

September 26th, 2010
6:14 pm

All them country falcon d*cks can go suck on something, its only one win

DangerousDan885

September 26th, 2010
6:14 pm

or is that you’re ass? lol

MWC

September 26th, 2010
6:15 pm

Matt Ryan showed some big time sack today…
He’s only getting better.
Eat your hearts out.

saintsSuck

September 26th, 2010
6:16 pm

did you say lick or kick danny boy? Truth told, I crapped out something more imporatant then you this morning. And going to jail for your sorry ass is not my way of starting off a week. After my birds beat the saints!

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:16 pm

One Win and The Fans Parade, they still suck

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:16 pm

I love it, they get their A$$ kicked in their own house, and they still talk smack! Only an idiot would do that, enough said

DangerousDan885

September 26th, 2010
6:17 pm

Saints rule: so what is the difference between Country folk and coon-asses ? lol nuthing

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:17 pm

saintsSuck I will be in Atlanta for the Rematch, do you wanna meet someone so I can whoop you a$$ loser, but them falcon fans are punks

suwaneefalcon

September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm

you are like a broken recors saints rule. This will be a long and hard week for you and next weekend, well who knows? Your team is beatable.

falconfan 2986

September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm

Hartly ran out of free passes. The Aints luck has ran out. They had no business winning Monday night against the 49ers. Just watch and see, how we play the 49ers. It will be another blowout victory for us.

We have played three of the last four Superbowl participants and are 2-1 against them. We went toe- toe on the road with a good Steeler team and should have won. Not bad, Go Falcons.

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm

Saints rule isn’t a coon-ass, they’re smarter than that

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm

We all know them country folk falcons fans can’t win in anything

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:19 pm

Uu-wee, With a name like DangerousDan, I gots ta have me some of that!!!!

DangerousDan885

September 26th, 2010
6:19 pm

Yup we are lucky to win. Who thought the Saints would miss a 29 yard FG? but– Who thought our birds would win by starting with a 1st and 20?

Dan Mullen

September 26th, 2010
6:19 pm

COUNTRY FOLK=FALCON FANS

falconfan 2986

September 26th, 2010
6:19 pm

@ saints rule,

Do you need counseling? Please don’t hurt yourself. It is only a game.