Forget loss — defense proves Falcons ready for playoffs
John Abraham has 13 sacks (and added an interception Monday) to lead Falcons' defense.
FLOWERY BRANCH – For the first time in more than 10 weeks, it was the day after a Falcons’ loss Tuesday.
Cleansing breath.
Who knew this season would bring about such an adjustment period?
As you look to get grounded again, here’s your focal point: A three-point loss to the defending Super Bowl champions who probably were just a little more desperate for a victory probably doesn’t constitute a collapse. Nor does it alter the power structure in the NFL’s playoff field. As coach Mike Smith said again Tuesday, the day after a 17-14 loss to New Orleans: “There’s 15 other teams [in the NFC] who would love to trade places with us,” and I think we can assume that includes the next opponent, Carolina (2-13).
Truth is, we know now pretty much what we knew before Monday’s loss. The Falcons and Saints are dead even. It’s not bad to be dead even with the defending champions. Also, Philadelphia, Chicago, Green Bay are all conference threats to get to the Super Bowl — not a revelation. And in games when Michael Turner (2.8 yards per carry) can’t run, the Falcons’ offense tends to shut down.
But the loss to the Saints wasn’t a horrible sign for the future. The Falcons can still achieve all of their regular-season goals — NFC South title, first-round bye, No. 1 seed — just by beating Carolina, and that game plan usually entails little more than having a pulse.
In fact, notwithstanding Smith’s position that “nothing good ever comes from losing,” there were some fairly significant positives. Some of the areas that we questioned about this team might have been answered, particularly on defense. Offense was a problem Monday, but occasional criticism of offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey notwithstanding, scoring generally hasn’t been the problem this season (the Falcons are fifth in points: 25.5).
Sounds strange. But I feel better about this team now than I did before the New Orleans game.
Consider:
– Despite the Saints’ 90-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes Monday, the Falcons’ secondary has been strong. They make plays. Pass defense figured to be an issue this season. But with the meteoric rise of Brent Grimes and the short learning curve of safety William Moore, it’s now a strength. Surprisingly, the biggest question mark is $57 million cornerback Dunta Robinson. Here’s your stat of the year: Four linemen — John Abraham, Chauncey Davis, Jonathan Babineaux, Kroy Biermann — each have more interceptions (1) than Robinson (0). (Smith said Robinson is “coming along” after missing training camp with a hamstring strain. Can you still be “coming along” in Week 16?)
– The pass rush pressured New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees all game (though he was sacked only once because of eight missed opportunities, when pass rushers overran him). Abraham and Babineaux in particular have been strong. Abraham has 13 sacks, the second-highest total of his career. There is no better sign for the Falcons’ postseason fortunes than Abraham.
– Monday’s game was extremely winnable. Two Falcons fumbles led to one New Orleans touchdown and prevented an Atlanta touchdown. Michael Jenkins dropped a touchdown pass (albeit, drawing a pass-interference penalty in process).
Finally, there was the decision of coach Mike Smith to punt on fourth-and-six with 2:52 left, leading to the Saints running out the clock. Smith didn’t second-guess himself on that Tuesday, though he acknowledged that the Falcons’ defense (which allowed the Saints to get two first downs and run out the clock) might have been fatigued in that 90-yard drive: “We ended up playing 75 snaps on defense, and that’s a lot of snaps. In the average game, you’re playing 60.”
Some skeptics believed the Saints would expose the Falcons. They didn’t. Monday’s loss changes nothing. This team looks ready to take the next step.
Just don’t lose to Carolina.
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408 comments Add your comment
Karma is a Bitch Slap
December 29th, 2010
1:22 am
So Choke, you said the Falcons lost to the Steelers back up quarterback. And then you said the Falcons lost to another teams backup quarterback.(Eagles) So I guess you say the Eagles lost to who’s 3rd string quarterback tonight ?! *See my name !
Former Falcon Owner
December 29th, 2010
1:27 am
Had a Ford Falcon way back. Notlanta team has about the same power and the same number of SB wins. 0.
Tweets that mention Forget loss -- defense proves Falcons ready for playoffs | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
December 29th, 2010
1:30 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Danny Stephens and JenniferfromLaJolla. JenniferfromLaJolla said: Sounds strange (*wink *wink) but @JeffSchultzAJC made me feel better about #Falcons loss to #Saints. http://bit.ly/f42ZfS [...]
Punk'd
December 29th, 2010
1:34 am
Eagles got, *See my name !
Punk'd
December 29th, 2010
1:45 am
Oh what a treat. Someone is hosting their last home game of the season in 5 days. Guess ?!
Got my Foot on the Gas and not Letting Up
December 29th, 2010
1:48 am
Guess ?!
Thomas
December 29th, 2010
2:07 am
Jeff, I have to agree that the Defense was good, but coach called off the pressure in the 4th qtr, resulting in NO winning score. Secondly you cannot coach scare and that was what coach Smith did when he punted with less than 3 minutes to go. The decision to punt was similar to what Coach Smith did in Pittsburgh and that also killed any chance of a victory.
Despite the resuts on Monday I feel very confident that if we take care of business against Carolina we will make it to Dallas as participants.
Mathman
December 29th, 2010
2:12 am
This is a WELCOMED loss. It is extremely difficult to win more than 8 games in a row, ask the Patriots who ran the table until the Big Game. Math is not on your side with a 10 game winning streak going into the playoffs, because the loser goes home. The Falcons will win the Super Bowl!!! They have the best coaching staff next to AND I HATE TO SAY THIS the Patriots! I hate everything out of Boston. . .Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, Harvard, Tufts, even Boston College except for one player!
Hope someone
December 29th, 2010
2:58 am
helped Vick when he was chocking against the Vikings!!
SaintsUptown
December 29th, 2010
4:03 am
J.Schultz u can say forget about it all you want. Although you praise the efforts of the defense it gave up a six at a critical moment in the game when rookie tight end J.Graham caught an easy touchdown. There’s no such thing as a good loss. While praising the Falcon defense and declaring them “playoff ready” take a look at what the Saints defense did holding M.Turner to 48 yards on 17 carries. Matty Ice had only 148 yds on 29 attempts and 1 t.d. M.Smith punted on a critical 4 and 6 because the Saints defense had been effective all night. The “play off ready” Atlanta Falcon defense then allowed the Saints to run out the clock converting 2 critical 3 downs. All this in the Georgia where they were previously undefeated needing a win to secure home field in the playoffs. I would called this “play off ready”. Who Dat Baby???
Najeh Davenpoop
December 29th, 2010
4:51 am
“Najeh Davenpoop — “You win some, you lose some.” Damn, why didn’t I think of that?”
Well, the point I was trying to make is that when you play close games week in and week out, sometimes the breaks are not going to go your way and you will lose, and the Falcons have had breaks go their way more often than not this year (Hartley’s miss, Clements foolishly trying to return the pick and getting stripped by Roddy White). A team that wins by more comfortable margins (the Patriots for example) generally won’t be seeing a game turn on one bad break.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 29th, 2010
4:56 am
Funny to see all the Vick haters come here and rejoice after his first bad game of the season. Brady had his bad game against Cleveland, Peyton Manning had his bad game against Dallas, and Vick had his bad game tonight. Vick was clearly off all game — you could see that he was throwing with his body instead of his wrist. The good thing about this loss for him is that he gets to chill next Sunday and let the nagging injuries heal before playing the Packers or Giants in the opening round of the playoffs. The bad thing, of course, is that the Eagles now have to go to Soldier Field in Round 2.
It’s fair to say now, though, that Vick’s shot at the MVP went out the window. Good thing for him is that the Super Bowl MVP is still there for the taking.
hop
December 29th, 2010
5:22 am
it is good that somebody in the national press realize the falcon defense is for real.
all we heard from the nuts on fox and other national tv so called experts was the
falcons defense was only average and had not been tested.
will for all of that crap, the super bowl champs tested it and THE FALCON D
held brees and the saints to only 17 points after the falcon offense
turns the ball over to the saints that cause our defense
to play most of the game on the field.
our offensive line did not play very well and the aints stuff
the run for most of the game.
our passing game was not consisent with our
receivers could not get open which put further pressure
on ryan and our defense as well,but the real killer was the
turnovers especially on the one yard line by turner.
we cannot have that in the playoffs.
FALCONS N AFGHAN
December 29th, 2010
6:16 am
I think our DEFENSE was awesome. The DC finally realized the capabilities of our defense when he cuts them lose. Brian Williams do not forget back to the basic breakdown and make the tackle. Could have stopped that 90 yard drive.
??? I think Norwood was missed in this game for change of pace. On some of Turner runs he could not get the corner, but a speed back could have made the corner for maybe 2 to 5 extra yards. Which wouls have made our play action effective. I think the Falcons should look at giving Houston a 6 or 7th round pick for Steve Slaton if he is still under contract and do not resign Norwood. I would like some feedback.
Bill
December 29th, 2010
6:21 am
I’m convinced that Mularkey and Smith had a vanilla game plan knowing we could play the Saints again in 3 weeks. I’m not worried at all.
Hohum
December 29th, 2010
6:22 am
The Falcons will parade into GA dome on Sunday all excited to take care of business that should have been resolved Monday night. I will not be there to watch. Why would I get excited about beating a lowly Carolina team when they couldn’t beat the team they might face in playoffs?
bob
December 29th, 2010
7:04 am
I’ve never seen a pass interference call on the offensive and defensive player at the same time. like the call against Roddy. Reminds me of game they had when Chris Miller was QB and he tried to down the ball after a completion to stop the clock and the refs called a fumble because he hadn’t raised the ball up high enough. Only happens to the falcons. Turner was jinxed when announcer said in first quarter that he hadn’t fumbled in over 400 carries, then he fumbles on the goal line. Falcons jinxed when announcers said that the Saints had given up a touchdown or a field goal every time opponent reached one yard line since 1992.
Falcons will be OK when Mularkey shows imagination on the goal line. Ever hear of play action on FIRST DOWN!!!
Falcons bring it home on Sunday.
Samuel
December 29th, 2010
7:16 am
This game against the Panthers will tell me what I need to know about this team.
Doc Dawg
December 29th, 2010
7:59 am
Conspiracy theory: Mularkey went vanilla knowing he’ll meet them again in a few weeks.
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:01 am
@ Davenpoop…
“The good thing about this loss for him is that he gets to chill next Sunday and let the nagging injuries heal before playing the Packers or Giants in the opening round of the playoffs.”
Do they (Reid and Mornhinweg) rest him or do they try to get those protection issues worked out? I mean that a real issue they have, maybe 3 to 4 drives or a half?
Tommy
December 29th, 2010
8:02 am
1) Saints needed the game more than the Falcons did
2) The Falcons had the Panthers game in their back pocket, making this game meaningless if the birds do their thing against a team they beat by 21 three weeks ago
3) Teams that roll into the playoffs with long winning streaks usually lose
Therefore, Monday’s game wasn’t that big of a deal.
It took Schultz a full day after the game to figure out something most Falcons fans knew a week ago
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:04 am
“Conspiracy theory: Mularkey went vanilla knowing he’ll meet them again in a few weeks.”
Damn, he’s been hiding it for three years then!
SJH
December 29th, 2010
8:12 am
I see the Packers beating the Falcons in the second round and going to the Superdome to play the Saints for the NFC championship.
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
8:21 am
Has Mike Mularkey and Mike Bobo the same person?
Seriously, when I watch the Falcons trying to run up the middle against 9 and even 10-man fronts, I think of UGA’s OC.
When I see the Falcons, even with the opposing D putting up a good pass rush, never try even 1 screen, I think of Bobo.
When I saw the Falcons Monday with first and goal from the 1 yd line, I said out loud, “they will run up the middle on first and second downs, no matter what.”
If I could call those plays, how simple was it for the Saints DC to load the box? No imagination. No trust in his star-caliber QB. Sounds so familiar.
Switch Mularkey to UGA and Bobo to the Falcons, and nobody would know the difference . . .
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
8:21 am
Is . . .
kaminari
December 29th, 2010
8:23 am
I raise my glass to two things: (1) Wishing the Saints fans on this blog could be “one and done” (with their posts) just like their Saints are gonna be (in the playoffs). (2) The SEVEN Falcons players selected to the Pro Bowl. Too bad our boys won’t see any action cause they will be eating rattlesnake under the shade of 10-gallon hats.
Falcons remain the Class of the NFC.
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:27 am
“Switch Mularkey to UGA and Bobo to the Falcons, and nobody would know the difference.”
DING!!! (That’s crazy talk, no wonder you people obsess over college football if you actually think that…
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
8:29 am
Absolutely right JSS. How can you not let Ryan change the play when he obviously walked up to the line on 1st and goal, and saw the whole D digging in, three deep, two plays in a row?
We just can’t blame Mularkey, though. Smith has a headset on, just like Richt does on Saturdays. The play called is the one the head coach wants also.
Ryan, White, Jenkins, Gonzo, Finneran, Douglas – what a waste of talent.
Hohum?
December 29th, 2010
8:31 am
Hohum, I think you do care. You care enough to get up at 6:22am and make a post on the mighty Falcons blog. Holla.
suwaneefalcon
December 29th, 2010
8:32 am
Good article Shultz and that is the feeling I took away from this game. Our defense is much improved and that is what wins championships. I have full faith that this offense will be ready for the first playoff game at home. I expect them to unleash hell this Sunday on Carolina and show their playoff foes the Saints game only made them stronger. To all you haters out there who support other teams coming in here soon, don’t get top cocky. Just ask the Eagle fans about getting to cocky with a home game. The Vikequeens?
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:33 am
Mularkey is an extension of Smith, they believe in power football (their version of it); but they’ve never tuned the engine…
Damage Inc.
December 29th, 2010
8:35 am
Bill @6:21am. I’m with you on that. I don’t think the Falcs wanted to broadcast their play book to Sean Peyton in a mathematicaly meaningless game. I think they let the D loose but held their cards close on offense. If they won they won. BIG PICTURE- DALLAS!. SB4 you’re still a big french bag of vinegar and water.
suwaneefalcon
December 29th, 2010
8:36 am
Great article Jeff and I took away the same feeling from Monday’s game. Although I did not like losing to the Saints at home I did like what our defense did against one of the best offenses in the NFL. The bottomline is we need to take care of business this Sunday and unleash some hell on Carolina. Then enjoy the week off and get ready to defend the dome. Defense wins championships and I have the faith in this coaching staff that the offense will be ready. You can’t get to cocky in this league especially this time of year. Just as Eagle fans about how it feels to lose at home to a team with a 3rd string qb. You just never know.
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
8:39 am
Damage Inc,
I’m pretty sure the Falcons could have clinched the South and home field advantage Monday night with a win. They then could have sat all of the starters Sunday.
The game was not meaningless.
Moron Schultz
December 29th, 2010
8:40 am
one game doesn’t make a defense.
using js’s logic, the eagles are doomed and not ready. what morons this paper has.
suwaneefalcon
December 29th, 2010
8:41 am
Defense wins championships gentlemen and I have faith that our offense will be ready. I do agree that they are not fully opening up the offense as to not disclose the full playbook before the playoffs. Take care of Carolina Sunday and then start the engine. Hey, home field advantage is what most of you wanted all year and without a collapse Sunday we will have it.
GO FALCONS!
suwaneefalcon
December 29th, 2010
8:42 am
Moron Shultz, if the injuries keep mounting for the Eagles on D they have some worries. They did not look good last night and Vick’s injury is not out there yet to the extent.
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:42 am
@ JDawg…
Not trying to be mean with DING, but you folks at UGA have got to get over that Bobo thing… SEC offenses are not very imaginative… If you execute and limit mistakes in the college game, you can go a long way… GA and heaven knows Tech kill themselves. They just think they can roll that G or GT helmet out there and some sense of fear is suppose to cover the sky… Richt needs to go with Bobo and decide what his team is going to be, spend 4 weeks with OC and actually breakdown if what their idea of offensive football is going to be… If they fail after that, jettison them…
suwaneefalcon
December 29th, 2010
8:44 am
JDawg, even if they had won, Smith is not going to sit starters for 2 weeks. Even the Pats will not do that this weekend.
roddy whittless
December 29th, 2010
8:44 am
the falcants are built in the mold of nfl circa pre 80’s. run hard. play action. no penalties. good defense. time of possession. in the modern era only the ravens have won a superbowl w that formula, ask jim mora. while i love D, the formula not only doesn’t work, atlanta doesn’t even have the personnel to get it done. you wind up getting a lotta wins *more like preventing a lot of losses* but that’s regular season only.
a bruiser back w limited speed and therefor a weak receiver. his backup in the exact same mold. scatback was rarely used. an Oline that is OK in pass protection but just awright in run blocking. the secondary is uneven. the linebackers are lightweight jokes. the conservative playcalling blew. Ryan couldn’t figure out where to go when NO only rushed 3 and went into coverage mode. while i don’t think ryan will lose a game as an excellent game manager, he’s not special. and if your RB isn’t special either, forget getting thru the playoffs and/or winning the superbowl.
quit being homers and offer analysis. class of the nfc? whoopie. that just means another patriots superbowl ring.
MR ZIZZLE
December 29th, 2010
8:45 am
Win Loss….what difference did this game make for Atlanta? We still have to play the Saints again, more than likely in the playoffs! But the situation will be different! The Falcons will play to the Saints level with the Falcons Fans in the G-Dome behind them! We are going to win the division Sunday anyway and have home field throughout the playoffs! Congrats Saints…Your number 2!
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 29th, 2010
8:46 am
Whodat0816 — Safe to say there were breaks on both sides. Bottom line, teams split two games and tied 41-41 in points. What more do you want?
Homester….I want you to recognize that the Saints are Super Bowl Champs…..not by the Grace of God and and numb nut WR says…..but by the Grace of Drew Brees….Sean Payton….etc.
Boom…..If you ain’t got no ring …it don’t mean a thing…..
Damage Inc.
December 29th, 2010
8:47 am
I didn’t say it was meaningles to the player’s or to us fans. I just meant that they had to play .500 ball at home with one of the teams having a lame duck coach, rookie qb, and a decimated roster. (or rooster for you Joe fans)
Damage Inc.
December 29th, 2010
8:50 am
The only ring the saints will have this year will be in their ears after they come back to the house!
JSS
December 29th, 2010
8:54 am
“atlanta doesn’t even have the personnel to get it done.”
That I agree…however, they disguise it well…
JDawg
December 29th, 2010
8:54 am
Dang, JSS, all SEC defenses are not created equal! Watch Arkansas, UF, Auburn, and even KY in their bowl games, and you’ll see offensive imagination. Men in motion, different sets, wildcat, 5 wideouts, etc.
jfreak13713
December 29th, 2010
9:00 am
You are never going to please everyone and that is clearly spewed out in this blog. The Falcons offense isn’t good enough? They score almost 26 points per game! Why don’t they good deep more? Because the only receiver they have that can actually catch the ball is Roddy is he isn’t really a deep threat receiver. Defense is solid and the offense is very good most days. The big question will be special teams. The Falcons tend to give up big plays on special teams and in close playoff games that could kill this team.
Philly -vs- Atlanta will determine NFC Champion.
Superbowl Champion Saints
December 29th, 2010
9:07 am
Wear your Vick jersey, chant for Vick, sit on your hands on 3rd down, you got to bring it in the playoffs. The look on the Falcon Fans faces after the Game was priceless! LOL!
JSS
December 29th, 2010
9:11 am
Men in motion just tell you what the safety will do… The wildcat is good is if you have an exceptional player that can make plays… You’ve seen your offensive line, do you really want to expose a first time starter like Murray to a empty backfield when your best wideout was in civilian clothes? Arkansas has a luxury that you guys did not have, Mallet… Kentucky suffered the same fate you guys did against a suspect Florida defense… Like I said about execution, you have to have an identity… What is UGA’s? That’s their issue… Alabama with John Parker Wilson was about as imaginative as a 1930’s penny novel… But you sure darn knew they would execute… Now, If you guys want to be exciting, go hire the QB coach at Oregon and then shutdown the blogs for the 1st two months of next season…
Mr. Mustard
December 29th, 2010
9:21 am
Losing to the champs by 3 and having a 12-3 record ain’t nothing to sneeze at, but this game told us many things, I agree.
The one issue that stands out to me was that we played conservative on offense and special teams.
I was very disappointed in punt returning, where it seemed like Wheems ran away from the ball every time. It must have been 5-6 times he ran away, waving his arms while the ball rolled another 20 yards towards our goal line.
Where was the fire, the guts and the drive to return the ball and give us better field position?
Then, clearly we could not run the ball, so where was the mulitple receiver sets, trying to free up Roddy? Two drives they through to Jenkins, which was a good move, but other than that they seemed to insist upon playing their game plan when it was not there for them to use.
The Saints’ defense was excellent and I do agree we were conservative and a little stubborn on offense. It seemed to me that we went into the game with the mindset of being safe on offense and special teams.
Geez, mix it up a little, fake a punt if you have to, especially on the 4th & 6 play in 4th quarter.
Finally, the last Saints’ drive it appeared we went into prevent, which is again conservative, safe play calling and that is not what has gotten us this far.
The Falcons’ defense was excellent and blitzed all night until the end of the game. They were not conservative, mostly.
Wheems embarrassed me, and the offense must be able to adjust when Turner is taken out of the game.
We win Sunday, no doubt but we have to be aggressive and force issues and take chances in the playoffs. I hope they don’t tell Wheems to run away from balls!
Go get that ball when we need it. Darn it, lose trying if nothing else.
Coach Smith; don’t go soft on us now!