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

Saints Rule!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:39 pm

Women?
‘ I like raping men.

ryan

September 26th, 2010
6:39 pm

You guys need to chill out it was a good game why can’t you respect that it was a fun game to me i love close games i like that keeps you on the edge of your seat .

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:39 pm

Hey Saints Rull!!!! Blow Me

Cedrick (Arlington, TX)

September 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

VICK!!! IS FOR REAL!!!

Carlos

September 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

Saints Rule, Drop the caps and learn how to spell before you make such an ignorant, childish comment. Look at the final score! Falcons 27 Saints 24. Enough said!

Jeff, I don’t remember you ever getting so many responses….Good job. Keep it up!

Bring Back Reeves

September 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

I’m surprised any Aints fans know how to get on the internet….i guess the federal aid from my tax dollars are doing good down there!!

Saints Rule!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

I like mush.

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:40 pm

Your right ryan,, but its sooo funn,,,,,,!!!!

Falcons1989

September 26th, 2010
6:41 pm

All this name calling needs too stop, it was a great game.

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:42 pm

just for the record,, i’m a big Vick Fan ,, very proud of him

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:42 pm

SaintsRule – so you’re an Eagles fan now, wow lose one game to a better team you aints bail- hope you kept your paper sack

Saints Rule!!!!

September 26th, 2010
6:42 pm

I USE CAPS TO LOOK BIG.
(4 inches is big, isn’t it?)

falconfan 2986

September 26th, 2010
6:42 pm

The aint fans aint acting nice on this blog. The aints players aint good sportsman, the who dat nation aint happy.The Falcon nation aint feeling sorry for them. The Falcons is gonna kick the aints azzes again in the Georgia Dome . Aint I’m right Aints?

Kennesaw Falcons

September 26th, 2010
6:44 pm

Don’t you love that the no-class aints and there fans are crying so loud. Peyton showed what a no class he was at the end of the game when he pulled the no class trick of calling time out right before the kicker kicked. but it just didn’t work out for the little crybaby brat did it? Don’t you love it?

GregKennesaw

September 26th, 2010
6:44 pm

Shame a guy like Brees has to play with such a bunch of losers

FrontRow

September 26th, 2010
6:44 pm

Jeff quit posting at halftime. Now he’s kicked back waiting for the AJC post record to become his.

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:45 pm

Falcons are Bad Ass

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
6:46 pm

You Falcons Fans need to show some class, it was a good game and every team played good

MWC

September 26th, 2010
6:47 pm

To all the sore losers,
Us Falcon Fans are counter-punchers. If you people can’t go the distance, stay the hell out of the ring! Cry babies.

That being said, win or lose that was a great game!
Can’t wait till next week!

LakeDawg

September 26th, 2010
6:47 pm

It was sure nice to finally watch a well coached team from Georgia. Great win! BTW who is the defensive coordinator for the Birds?! We could sure us him at UGA. : D

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:49 pm

Hey,,, Seen This and Hiram,, where ya at buddy,, lets talk

DONTMISSVICKATALL

September 26th, 2010
6:50 pm

Hey all you Ryan Haters, NOODLE ARM WHAT? WE GONNA HAVE THREE BACK TO BACK WINNING SEASONS, PLAYOFFS, SUPERBOWL DOWN THE ROAD, I CAN ONLY THANK FIDO AND ROVER FOR GETTING VICKS A– OUTA HERE, GO DIRTY BIRDS, THANK YOU ARTHUR BLANK!!!!!!!

FrontRow

September 26th, 2010
6:51 pm

@Superbowl Champs – as soon as the WhoDats stop the whiner trash talk, we’ll give you due props.

In the mean time remember this – there is no victory tour in the NFL. The better team won.

ryan

September 26th, 2010
6:52 pm

I am McLovin !

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:53 pm

Saints are over rated

VICKMVP

September 26th, 2010
6:54 pm

VICK Has Outplayed Matt Ryan Today and the stats show that

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:54 pm

Thank You Front Row,, well said

truth

September 26th, 2010
6:55 pm

Enter your comments here

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
6:55 pm

Wow one win and you falcons fan are already planning a superbowl parade, you guys won’t win the nfc south

truth

September 26th, 2010
6:56 pm

Mike Vick…..yawn.

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
6:56 pm

When is the last time a team from georgia won anything, all the major sports team suck

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:57 pm

Falcons are commin baby GET OVER IT

VICKMVP

September 26th, 2010
6:57 pm

Michael Vick is the TRUTH

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
6:58 pm

Falcons Coming? They might make the wild card but they won’t win anything

FrontRow

September 26th, 2010
6:59 pm

@Superbowl Champs the only thing we are planning for is the 49ers. Unlike the whiner-champs we know there are still 13 games before the playoffs.

Unfortuantely all you WhoDats expected the Falcons to lay down because the Saints are the reigning champs. Maybe your should direct your anger toward the Saints defense that is so obsessed with “forced turnovers” they forgot to tackle Turner and Snelling.

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
6:59 pm

Wow, Superbowl Chumps,, its a new year, LEARN IT LOVE IT LIVE IT!!

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
6:59 pm

They is nothing to get over because they won’t win anything

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
7:00 pm

Wow name calling that’s real mature no class

FrontRow

September 26th, 2010
7:01 pm

Yes there is something to win…like your Week 3 game. We did, you didn’t.

YOUR TIME IS UP! GEAUX HOME!

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
7:02 pm

Hey SUUp BOwl,,We beett you in your house,,, get over it

Superbowl chumps

September 26th, 2010
7:02 pm

You just got it handed to you. Go cry somewhere else. I was just on the Times-Picayune blogs and was surprised that most of the words were spelled correctly and that most of the people were reasonable. Sure there is some crying, but most realized that you turds got beaten by a better team today. Maybe you can have your Superbowl ring kick field goals for you next time, loser.

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
7:02 pm

When the falcons can win something besides a regular season game then talk morons

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
7:04 pm

IM BACK!!!!! GO SAINTS!!!!

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
7:05 pm

I Am very proud of this team,, Go Falcons!

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
7:05 pm

You guys have to win something first then do the talking

Saints Rule!!!!!

September 26th, 2010
7:06 pm

FROZEN ROPE PROUD OF WHAT? WHAT HAVE THE FALCONS WON BESIDE A GAME? GO SAINTS!!!!!

Superbowl Champs

September 26th, 2010
7:07 pm

I agree until you guys win the nfc south then talk

Frozen Rope

September 26th, 2010
7:07 pm

Has your Moron right hear budddy,, bring it,, Falcons Rule this weekened

Steelers fan

September 26th, 2010
7:08 pm

Falcon fans are so silly. The Falcons win one game and you are acting like you won the Super Bowl. This was only a regular season game. It’s a long season. Win 6 Super Bowls, then you can have a parade. After beating your Falcons team, I didn’t act like the Steelers won the Super Bowl. I know it’s a long season.