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?
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,596 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
Ryan did a nice job buying time there.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
Too many 3rd and longs
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
Yeah Dan Mullen won’t comment on what you stated….you said that Brees was about “too” score again….I guess you thought the Saints was going in to score or maybe Brees was going to score a TD also…heh
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
what a throw.. !
thats what i wanna see from you Matt.. show some guts..
Far_East
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
I’m beginning to get sold on Matt Ryan!!!
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Who are these guys and can we keep them around for the rest of the year.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Too much Tony G for them
Bring Back Reeves
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Finally…a nice run
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Nats lead 1-0, 2 aboard, 2 outs.
treaddawg
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Well, it’s obvious when Snelling runs. Someone is gonna get hurt
willy
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
That’s why you don’t give up on your team right there. FAREWELL, I might just hang around and scholl half you guys on how to be football fans. You’re mad because I’m calling you out for being so easily demoralized. You’d rather be a schleprock?
Scooter
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
The Snellllll dog!!
treaddawg
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Snelling can soften those guys up…
Bring Back Reeves
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Did I just see Snelling?
Falcons2010
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Snelling going to win the job before season is over if not this week.
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Snelling is looking like a man with great vision
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
runners move up 90 feet, pass ball.
Father Time
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
Run that clock!
Run that clock!
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
inning over. Lotta pitches for Beachy.
Bring Back Reeves
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
2 headed attack – Snelling/turner…it can work!
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
All that time to throw, please tell me somebody was open? Cmon Birds! Need a score here
Scooter
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
Snelling just seems to have better vision and hits the hole faster…
SCFALCON
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
2 horse collars and still no call.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
That looked like a horse collar.
Frozen Rope
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
refs not calling horse collar against saints,,,,
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
Where’s the horsecoller flag? Just because he didn’t take him down doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.
MWC
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
willy, go play in traffic…
willy
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
They’ll kick it
Dan Mullen
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
timeout
Vinings
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
How bad are these announcers?
Mike
September 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
Here we go.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
or not
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
If Baker jumps, blog buys Cheffy Poo a shot.
Dawgs73
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
3rd and 5 and you throw a 3 yard pass…Uh, ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rocky Balboa
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
Go for it.
SCFALCON
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
gotta go for it…now and all game if we are going to beat these guys.
falcon52
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
were going to kick it smith has no balls
Far_East
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
Go for a TD!!!
Scooter
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
The refs aren’t gonna call anything that’s not blatantly obvious against the Saints…remember…they are the great story…the team that cured all of Katrina’s ills…everyone should love them…
Bring Back Reeves
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
take the points
Ramguy
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
Brian Billet had been added to my list of announcers that irritate me.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
Freeman at the plate. Strikes out against Levan.
bigdave
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
id take the points but.. its no gimme w/ our deficiencies at kicker..
willy
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
You know what? If you aren’t the ones crying that “we’re gonna lose” from the first Saints score, I’m probably not talking about you. If you are, then you’re probably also one that’s screaming at me to leave
Jeff Schultz
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
For the record I like this decision
DHunt
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
We keep pressure on Brees we can end this game 24-14 Falcons.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
Okay now here we go.
Jeff Schultz
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
That was surprisingly easy to Roddy over middle.
Mike
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
YES!
falcon52
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
yessssssss