Falcons keep winning even though the way keeps changing
Matt Ryan and the Falcons have been ascending for weeks.
All they do is win. Sometimes it’s Michael Turner running. Sometimes it’s Roddy White flying. Sometimes they just stretch it out and let their balding 35-year-old kicker end the suspense on the last play because, well, it’s good for ratings and keeps us all guessing.
“We’re just tying to give people their money’s worth,” linebacker Mike Peterson said.
They’re building a fat bank account. The NFL season is moving into December and the Falcons already are sitting on nine wins. They’re 9-2, a record that only the New England Patriots and New York Jets can match.
Winning has become so commonplace that they just clinched their third straight winning season and it was barely mentioned.
“It’s an afterthought,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “Last season at this time we weren’t having a positive season and the conversation was we still hadn’t put together back-to-back winning seasons. It’s a nice feeling to have that behind us.”
They played Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. They won. They played Baltimore amid doubts that they belonged among the league’s elite. They won.
On Sunday they played Green Bay, which had won its last three games by a composite score of 85-10 and was the most recent leader in the oh-they’re-going-to-the-Super-Bowl derby. While it came down to a Matt Bryant field goal with nine seconds left to secure a 20-17 win – the fact remains that it was the Packers who were scrambling to find ways to beat this team.
The Falcons are good enough to win a Super Bowl. Here are a few reasons why:
♦ On a day when the Packers often doubled White and made sure he was a non-factor, quarterback Matt Ryan still completed 24 of 28 passes to nine different receivers against one of the league’s top defenses and engineered two14-play, 80-yard and seven-and-a-half-minute touchdown drives, the kind that can demoralize an opponent.
♦ They don’t beat themselves. They did not have a turnover for the fourth straight game and won the turnover battle for the eighth time in 11 games (all wins).
♦ The defense. Yes, the defense.
Aaron Rodgers lies on the turf after getting drilled by the Falcons' Brian Williams. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
There have been times you’ve wondered about it and maybe covered your eyes. But did you watch the Packers on Sunday? One of the NFL’s premier teams, led by Aaron Rodgers, struggled at times to deal with the Falcons’ speed on defense. How rare is that in recent history?
Green Bay totaled more than 400 yards in offense. But it often was able to extend drives only because Rodgers managed to scramble away from the pass rush. (He led the Packers in rushing with 51 yards, including three first downs.)
Rodgers was sacked once and smacked a few other times, most notably by Brian Williams in the fourth quarter. He also was clocked by Curtis Lofton and fumbled at the Falcons’ one-yard-line in the second quarter (Peterson recovering).
In the third quarter, having been held to a field goal, the Packers resorted to trying a flea-flicker. (It worked, with Rodgers taking a pitch and completing a 34-yard pass to Greg Jennings). In the fourth, with the Falcons leading 17-10, Rodgers bought time on fourth-and-1 from the Falcons’ 21 and threw a desperation shovel pass to James Jones for 18 yards. Later, on fourth and goal from the 10, he bought time and eventually found Jordy Nelson for a tying touchdown with 56 seconds remaining.
Quoth Peterson: “We left our offense just enough time to win it.” Again.
Eric Weems returned a kickoff 40 yards and survived despite a facemask penalty on Matt Wilhelm that looked like a cartoon from Hell. Ryan, starting from the Packers’ 49, completed four straight passes to move the ball to the 29. Bryant took it from there, just as he did against New Orleans and San Francisco.
The Falcons celebrated afterward but it wasn’t at nearly at the champagne-spraying level. They’ve come to expect this.
“We’re ascending right now,” linebacker Curtis Lofton said.
“We think we’re developing something special,” cornerback Thomas DeCoud said.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Peterson. “We win, but when we come back to work next week it’s like everybody forgot all about Sunday.”
Another winning season becomes an afterthought. Welcome to the Falcons’ alternate universe.
♦
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291 comments Add your comment
Joe Tess Fish House
November 28th, 2010
9:23 pm
I dont understand
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:25 pm
That pretty well sums it up Joe.
Joe Tess Fish House
November 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
A lot of loosers here having to call me names. Some of U are real interwebs tough guys.
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:26 pm
Some of us can spell too.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
BTW gotta gush on my Alma mater…Auburn University is once again #1 in the BCS
DK
November 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
Fish House said “I dont understand”
That’s the first true thing you’ve said all day.
Atlanta Peach
November 28th, 2010
9:27 pm
Everybody Clap your Hands ! Clap Clap ! Clap ! Clap ! Clap Clap !……….
Najeh Davenpoop
November 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
The Falcons are the best coached team in the league. It’s hard to find teams that make mistakes as rarely as the Falcons do, and it’s hard to find coaching staffs who maximize their players’ strengths and minimize their weaknesses as well as Mike Smith and company.
The Falcons haven’t been getting national media respect because they don’t have the game-changing playmakers that some other teams do. The nice thing about big play guys is that they can erase mistakes. But when you never make mistakes, you don’t need game changing plays, and that’s where the Falcons are right now. I have a feeling that after this week’s win, there will be a lot more talk about the Falcons. They have passed every test so far.
With that said, I think it’s funny that the Falcons just won a huge game to cement themselves as the NFC’s best and 3/4 of the comments here are about MV7. Did y’all really expect him to go the entire season without throwing a pick? The Eagles made a lot of mistakes today, mostly due to the defense overpursuing, and needed Vick’s playmaking ability to get them back in the game — which he did, but ran out of time. Again, when you don’t make mistakes as a team, you don’t need playmakers to make big plays.
He’s still 5-1 in games he started and finished, still leads the league in passer rating, is still a front runner for the MVP award, still has the league’s best TD/INT ratio… and deny it if you want, but if there is one guy who can come to the ATL in the playoffs and withstand the dome field advantage, it’s MV7. I’ll chalk today up to the SI cover curse.
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
Come on Joe! Give us another brown nugget of wisdom!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:32 pm
Note to Dimitroff…Nick Fairley…mid 1st round if he is still there…assuming we will be picking 31st or 32nd(ahem..hopeful!!!!) maybe trade up
Joe Tess Fish House
November 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
Brown nugget? U calling me a terorist?
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
Najeh, do you think MV reverts to his old self if he gets the big contract and adulation? Has he really changed, or is he just doing an act to save his career?
Man's Best Friend
November 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
“Let’s show a little grace where Michael is concerned……. this is football……. not life and death!”
Unless you’re one of his pets.
DK
November 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
@Fish House – Talk about web tough guy, your the a$$hole that said “Hay no need 2 inslut me. U wanna talk footbal, then tlaks football. U wanna insult me then we can meet some where and we can straiten this out.”
I offered to take you up on it put you just climbed back into bed with your mom rather than telling me where to meet you.
Josh Smith For 3
November 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
“As bad as we played, we lost by five and they know we’re a better team” — Eagles left tackle Jason Peters after Philadelphia’s 31-26 loss to Chicago
He could be a great Philly troll on these blogs
Joe Tess Fish House
November 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
No way we draft a thug from Aubrun. We cant afford to pay him liek they do at Auburn and we cant have thugs on our team.
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Tess, after that comment I have ahard time thinking you’re for real. Well played. Now go “terrorize” some other team’s blogs for a while.
Joe Tess Fish House
November 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
Pick a place and time pal
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
the terrorist comment not the “Aubrun” one
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
Why would the falcons want a dirty player like fairley?
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
“Let’s show a little grace where Michael is concerned……. this is football……. not life and death!”
I do hate him..and it is not about football..there are tons of ex falcons playing in the NFL I do not hate…
I love animals and he tortured abused and slaughtered them…you can’t turn that on and off you can only say and do what is scripted for you..I don;t believe he has changed inside anymore than a pedophile can change inside..they are always who they are deep down. I do wish him the best with his contract negotiations, because he left creditors holding millions in debt when he went to prison and they deserve to get paid off with his new earnings.
my 2 cents
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
Joe, who? Me, DK or the other fifty bloggers you insult on a regular basis with your drivel?
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
Man’s Best Friend
November 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
“Let’s show a little grace where Michael is concerned……. this is football……. not life and death!”
Unless you’re one of his pets.
He did his time..paid a heavy heavy price and is trying to rebuild his life. I applaud him for becoming a better person and starting over for himself and his children.
ATLol
November 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle..what about drafting Cam as the wildcat QB & H-back? In an 18 game season starting QBs may need more platooning.
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
Trisha…you don’t know what vick changed inside….and there are players in the nfl still playing who have abused, raped, even killed human beings…what about that?
Ok
November 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
Hey Poop, so what and who cares.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
ATL, I would LOVE that but regardless of what the so called draft experts say, I do not see cam being passed over by a lot of early picking teams(they missed the boat on Tebow also)..he may be the next QB of Carolina(god forbid).
truth
November 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Note to all Eagles fans……..your team will not be going to the playoffs this year. The teams are starting to figure Vick out again and he will be a none factor from this point on. Sorry, just telling the truth. When he got figured out in Atlanta he was done. Your day is coming. I remember and will for a while Vick’s last two seasons here was a joke. Just go check his last two year stats in Atlanta and you will find out what you have to look forward to.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
katherine, touche’…I can;t prove or disprove my feelings about him, but I do not believe people really change..you are what you are for the most part…I do believe people learn to hide who they are when before he was ok with being known as a ghetto thug pot head..now he has a PR machine..but bolstering my feelings are the fact someone got shot at his birthday party, post prison.
Anyone ever been shot at any of your b-day parties? mine neither..
DK
November 28th, 2010
9:46 pm
@Fish House – Time and place. Sure. Just go to 770 Hi-Hope Road, Lawrenceville. Tell me up front that you want to speak to Officer Kelly because you’ve got something you want to straiten out.
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
katherine, touche’…I can;t prove or disprove my feelings about him, but I do not believe people really change..you are what you are for the most part…I do believe people learn to hide who they are when before he was ok with being known as a ghetto thug pot head..now he has a PR machine..but bolstering my feelings are the fact someone got shot at his birthday party, post prison.
Anyone ever been shot at any of your b-day parties? mine neither
Soooo let me get this straight…you have a “feeling” that he didn’t change and since someone got shot at his birthday party…which had nothing to to with him..that makes you think he hasn’t changed even more? Really? ok then…I guess you are entitled to you opinion. What is your “feeling” about ray lewis?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 28th, 2010
9:50 pm
“Najeh, do you think MV reverts to his old self if he gets the big contract and adulation? Has he really changed, or is he just doing an act to save his career?”
I don’t know him so I have no idea, but if I had to guess I would say it’s a little bit of both. I don’t think you can lose as much as he did in life and not change as a person, but I do think he’s learned how to work the media and say what people want to hear.
With that said, I really only care about what these players do on the field, and on the field he is ballin’.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
If I owned a limo company, Ray Lewis would be on my “no Ride” list.
LakeDawg
November 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
Yeah, let’s leave the dog torturer out of this. We have a real QB now.
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
9:54 pm
What about Rothlesberger? The guy is scum.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
If i was commissioner, Rapelesberger would not be playing either..
Nighttrain # 99
November 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
If I owned a professional football team, fairley would be on my “no hire” list because he is a cheap shot loser in college ball.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Which all reminds me how happy I am with the good guys we have on the falcons ..mean on the field, non felons off the field..
drmondo
November 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
Got some Falcons love on NBC at half…”The road to the Superbowl runs through Atlanta”…
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
@drmondo..it is amazing watching a colts game and they are talking about the Falcons..total role reversal:) I like it..I like it a lot!
WTG FALCONS…on to Tampa Bay!!
Auf Weidersehen!
Man's Best Friend
November 28th, 2010
10:04 pm
Katherine:
Michael Vick is a talented football player, one of the best. Maybe I should be more sympathetic.
But I love animals, especially dogs. What that man did to his dogs does not evoke my sympathy or compassion. He beat and electrocuted his dogs for losing a dog fight, but Mr. Vick will not be beaten or electrocuted for losing tonight’s game to Chicago. He “did his time” according to the law. He paid a heavy price. If I thought Mr. Vick’s ordeal had taught him morals, I’d show him a little grace.
PMC
November 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Peria Jerry had a touchdown saving tackle of Aaron Rodgers on the first goal line stand.
Younger Than That Now
November 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
I’ve been to the Falcons/Ravens game and the Falcons/Packers game and both times I’ve witnessed a last minute drive to win the game and to send all Falcons fans home happy! These Falcons are definitely something special and there is a winning vibe at th Dome that I’ve not felt in a long time… too long… but this time it’s a confident and satisfying vibe, and it feels good.
suwaneefalcon
November 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
All I can say is how great it is to have Matt Ryan as the face of the Atlanta Falcons. And before anyone accuses me of knocking Vick, I am damn glad of his success ih Philly, he paid his price. If Rothlisberger can still be in the league then why not Vick? Still, damn glad to have Matty Ice behind center.
GO FALCONS!!!
PMC
November 28th, 2010
10:13 pm
Najeh, I love reading your takes… all the time. Appreciate it.
LuckyDawg
November 28th, 2010
10:16 pm
He’s the new Booby Cox, the second luckiest sunavabeatch in sports, that moron VanDumbass did his best again to blow the game at the end and damn if the special teams and Ryan didn’t bail his butt out again in the final minute. Game after game his incredibly stupid playcalling allows the opponent drive to down the field in the final minutes, and they either self destruct (Tampa and St. Louis), or they score and blow it themselves in the final seconds (Baltimore and Green Bay).
That idiot may be living a charmed life for now, but one of these days his luck is going to run out, most likely in a huge game when it will hurt the most (like he did when he was at UGA) and make all the good work of Ryan and the rest be all for nought. And yet somehow he’ll escape any blame or criticism, like when he was at UGA and after blowing the Arizona playoff game two years ago.
Just wait and see…
Neshoba
November 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Poor deluded Falcant fans…you know deep down that NFC title game will be hosted by Drew et al.
suwaneefalcon
November 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Yo lucky dawg, get over it. They won last night. Youy are a freaking idiot who knows squat about the game.
suwaneefalcon
November 28th, 2010
10:19 pm
Don’t think so neshoba but, you keep talking that trash. And that is what it is, talk. Back it up on December 17th or shut up.
dcfalconsfan
November 28th, 2010
10:19 pm
Shades of ‘98?? Maybe. Michael Turner runs like Jamaal Anderson. Mike Smith is coaching as well as Dan Reeves. Matt Ryan is throwing better than Chris Chandler ever dreamed of. You gotta love the chances for another Super Bowl.