Matt Ryan lost for only the second time in 21 home starts.
This season has been about comebacks.
This season has been about the Falcons making plays at the end of games to win.
This season has been about Matt Ryan engineering winning drives against New Orleans, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Green Bay and Tampa Bay.
Whether that magic carries over into the playoffs remains to be seen. But it ran out Monday night. One reason: a bad decision by coach Mike Smith.
With the Saints leading the Falcons 17-14 at the Georgia Dome and less than three minutes remaining, Smith pulled Ryan and the offense off the field. The team faced a fourth-and-6 from the Falcons’ 43 and the head coach went the conservative route.
Smith’s mindset: A good punt could pin New Orleans deep in its zone, the defense looked strong most of the evening and the Falcons could get the ball back in good position.
But that same defense had just allowed Drew Brees and the Saints a go-ahead, 90-yard touchdown drive.
Strategy: Epic fail.
The Saints got the ball back with 2:44 left. They made two first downs and ran out the clock.
Smith has made a lot of good decisions over the past three seasons. This was a bad one.
How do you pull Ryan off the field? The quarterback has been nothing but clutch. He excels in the two-minute offense. He excels in no-huddle. Actually, a case could be made that Ryan often is better in pressure situations and in the fourth quarter than in other situations.
Also worth noting: The Falcons went into the game with the NFL’s best fourth-down percentage (84.6 percent, 11 for 13).
Granted, Ryan wasn’t necessarily at his best Monday night. He completed only 15 of 29 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
But do you know what he didn’t do? He didn’t melt down. Even his counterpart, Brees, did that early in the fourth quarter.
With the Saints leading 10-7, it was Brees who threw a foolish shovel pass as he was being sacked by Jonathan Babineaux in the fourth quarter. The pass was intercepted by Chauncey Davis and returned 26 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 lead Falcons lead. It was Brees who, on the ensuing New Orleans drive, was pressured and ultimately intercepted by John Abraham.
But in the end, it also was Brees who led the Saints to a 13-play, 90-yard touchdown drive, capped by a six-yard pass to Jimmy Graham.
The Falcons trailed 10-0. But that wasn’t all about Ryan. The Saints’ touchdown was set up by a bad snap by center Todd McClure — the ball never making it to Ryan’s hands. To open the second half, Ryan drove the offense down the field to the New Orleans’ one-yard-line, completing four of five attempts and throwing two passes that led to a pass interference penalty. But Michael Turner was stopped on first down and fumbled on second down.
Two turnovers — a 14-point swing.
Ryan’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White in the second quarter had closed the score to 10-7. Then came the Turner fumble drive in the third.
In September, Ryan led a comeback win at New Orleans. With the Falcons trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, Ryan took them on a nine-play, 85-yard touchdown drive, finishing with a 22-yard score to Roddy White to give Atlanta a 24-21 lead. The Saints rallied for a game-tying field goal, but the Falcons won the game with a field goal in overtime. It was a run-dominated, field goal drive but it was Ryan who set the tone with his calmness.
He wasn’t given that chance Monday night.
If the Falcons win next week over Carolina, their regular season goals will be achieved. They can clinch the NFC South Division, a first-round bye and the top seed in the conference. The memory of this loss will fade quickly.
The Falcons have proven themselves this season. They’re 12-3, still the best record in the NFC. But we know teams and quarterbacks are defined by the playoffs, not regular seasons. That’s not meant at a knock on Ryan. Fact is, everything about him — from his talent to his makeup and his leadership — suggests he will succeed in the playoffs. But consider it the unchecked box on his resume.
Thus far, Ryan has had only one chance. Two years ago as a rookie, he led the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record but looked average in a playoff loss at Arizona, losing 30-24. Ryan threw two touchdown passes but was intercepted twice, sacked three times and fumbled once during an attempted handoff (leading to a 27-yard return for a touchdown by the Cardinals’ Antrel Rolle).
I remember thinking during and after the game that Ryan didn’t look the same and something must be wrong with him physically. I asked a couple of team officials about him, but the response I got was: Ryan was healthy. It’s just that the playoffs are a step up and the rookie quarterback wasn’t ready for that moment.
This season, Ryan has outdueled four of the league’s top quarterbacks: Brees (New Orleans), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Joe Flacco (Baltimore) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay). He has the best touchdown-interception ratio (26-9) of his career. He looks ready for the postseason.
It just would’ve been nice to see him get one more chance Monday.
685 comments Add your comment
falconsfan
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
first
RaleighDawg
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Melt down ? Please, I’m a Falcon’s fan and Brees was the only QB in the building to step up and do what needed to be done for his team to win.
GW
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Falcons still keeping Ryan parked in the garage like a shiny new Rolls in a hailstorm.
falconsfan
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
JS your editor is not very good
Navshad
December 28th, 2010
12:21 am
Agree with everything said Jeff. What amazes me is how everybody is blasting the organizations. We split with the defending world champions, still have a chance for home field and most importantly, the defense showed it can hang. The offense will figure it out. You look at the entire body for work and think rationally, you find the Falcons will be fine. This lost is the a blessing in disguise. It will refocus a team that will have home field during the playoffs. I hope the irrational fair weather fans are long gone too.
Smoothie
December 28th, 2010
12:21 am
Terrible way to lose with the offense choking away their chances all nite. Not taking advantage of JA’s gift-wrapped present in the middle part of the 4th quarter. But it should have been obvious to the normally astute Mike Smith that the defense was completely exhausted after that 90-yard, game-winning drive by the Aints. They weren’t swarming the same, tackling the same or pursuing the ball the same. This one is on Mularkey, Smith and Roddy White….where the hell was Roddy in the 2nd half?? Way to back up your smack talk Mr. White.
Pete
December 28th, 2010
12:23 am
This wasn’t a “must-win” and that’s how it was played and coached. Not a botched game, and the two big fumbles has as much to do with the outcome as anything, but it wasn’t played with the greatest intensity or execution. I’m confident that we will still get it done next week against Carolina and I doubt we’ll see New Orleans again this year. I expect their season to end in Philly or Chicago.
Hummon
December 28th, 2010
12:24 am
I am surprised at the lack of commentary about the total stuffing of our running game two weeks in a row. That is more worrisome than what we have done or not done in any other phase of the game.
the truth..............
December 28th, 2010
12:24 am
Seemed to me we let up on the pressure on Brees in the final 5 minutes…plus not going for it on 4th down was crazy……………
Sports Review
December 28th, 2010
12:25 am
[...] Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)The season has been about comebacks. It has been about the Falcons making plays at the end of games to win. It has been about Matt Ryan engineering winning drives against New Orleans and San Francisco, Cincinnati and Baltimore, Green Bay and Tampa Bay This is a preview of . Read the full sportreview (464 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time) Administrator @ 2:25 am Filed under: Uncategorized No Comments [...]
Who Dat Nation
December 28th, 2010
12:25 am
Them Saints thats who, you sorry Falcons HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
UGABugKiller
December 28th, 2010
12:27 am
You’re STILL not addressing the issue of Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey’s terrible, boneheaded, loser Play-Not-To-Lose attitude towards offensive football, Jeff.
They should have been in the no huddle ALL NIGHT LONG!!!
Their stubborn refusal to stop running Turner into TEN MAN FRONTS cost the Falcons this game.
It’s wasn’t about some stupid 4th down call.
It’s about their need to take the ball out of Ryan’s hands on the goal line (STUPID).
It’s about their need to run Turner into a TEN MAN DEFENSIVE FRONT (STUPID).
It’s about their need to try and micromanage every aspect of the offensive game when EVERYONE can see the offense is A MILLION TIMES BETTER WHEN RYAN IS CALLING THE PLAYS FROM THE NO HUDDLE.
For ONCE… I’d love to see you, Mark, or DOL admit this.
The Mike’s idiotic stubborness to stick with their play-not-to-lose offense is keeping this team from achieving everything it SHOULD.
Dwayne C
December 28th, 2010
12:28 am
@ Navshad- two things:
1. the Falcons offense should have already “figured it out”
2. I’m looking at the Falcons body of work and thinking, and rationally that this team will lose in the playoffs at home to either the Packers, Saints or Eagles.
the truth..............
December 28th, 2010
12:31 am
bugkiller is right if Ryan can’t call the plays in the red zone ….
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:32 am
Jeff,
I was screaming at home for them to go for it on 4th.
Mike Smith and Mularkey are too conservative in crunch time in big games.
The D was clearly getting tired late in the 4th quarter, as evidenced by the 90 yard saints scoring drive.
It was Mularkey’s conservative play calling late that cost us.
Frozen Rope
December 28th, 2010
12:32 am
Matty Ice Blew this game along the the OC,,, but I agree JS,, should have gone for it,,,, D played outstanding and thats good going forward….
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
12:33 am
When you couldn’t depend on the running game…your quarterback couldnt deliver. 4rth down would have been no different….Saints would have probably stopped them and game would have been over. Coach Smith couldn’t have been right either way…give him a break. You couldn’t run it or pass it all night long.
Oh yeah Drew Brees melted down alright….right down the field into the endzone…. Who is Schultz fooling?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:33 am
Like I have been telling you delusional Falcons fans – CHOKE is worthless.
Dude plain sucks! He let the visiting qb show his PATHETIC CHOKING DOPEY sorry good for nothing butt up.
14 for 29 for 51 percent and a qb rating of 77.9.
I told you guys, this is the time of year that than ole NOODLE arm gets worn out. Think I am making it up? Lets take a look at his last 4 games:
vs Tampa….. qb rating 62
vs Carolina…qb rating 76
vs Seattle….qb rating 87
vs Saints…..qb rating 77
total 4 picks in the last 4 games.
Dude just plain SUCKS
He once again lived up to his title of CHOKE
Brendan
December 28th, 2010
12:33 am
Jeff Schultz, I couldn’t agree more. And I’m saying that as someone who screamed at my TV, “Why are you punting?” At 4th and 6, at your 43, you put the ball in the hands of your money maker, Matt Ryan. I kept thinking, “If we punt, we might not get it back. Let’s take our shot at it, and if we don’t make it. Maybe we hold the Saints to a FG. Get the ball back, down 20-14, still in a ‘one possession’ game.”
Still, I must admit … that with 2 timeouts and a 2-minute warning … that if the defense held … we still would have had a pretty good shot.
CB
December 28th, 2010
12:34 am
One of the best defensive efforts I have ever seen from a Falcon’s team; all lost because of offensive ineptness. What a waste! The Falcon’s should have won this game. I keep hearing what an offensive genius Mularky is; maybe so on the practice field, but in games he sucks.
Pip
December 28th, 2010
12:34 am
McClure fumbles the snap, Saints TD. “Slow as Molasses” Turner stuffed on Saints 1 and then fumbles. Abraham, the hardest working guy on the field tonight, forces a turnover and the Falcons are 3 and out. D@mn! Offensive play calling by Mularkey was offensive! Falcons played conservatively. When are the masses going to realize that Turner is okay but not great. He gets a lot of yards because the team runs a lot of running plays. He is slow. Lombardi told his backs to “run to daylight”. Turner doesn’t. He takes ten yards to accelerate to NFL speed. Unfortunately, he runs to the closed part of the line and gets stopped at 1 or 2 yards. We could have put a nice exclamation point to the season tonight but we left the door open for other teams to be confident that they can come here during the playoffs and beat us on our field.
Who Dat Nation
December 28th, 2010
12:34 am
Noodle Arm CHOKES again HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
12:34 am
It was a bad move to punt on 4th down. As far as I’m concerned, if you are trailing, it is a bad move to punt on 4th down within 3 minutes under any circumstances unless you have all 3 timeouts and you are facing a terrible offense.
But let’s not act like Ryan wasn’t given a chance to win. The Falcons got the ball back with over 3 minutes left needing a field goal, and every play called from that point was a pass play. It doesn’t take even a great comeback artist to get the team into field goal range in those circumstances. The plays went like this: scramble, short completion, incompletion, incompletion, punt. Bottom line is, in a position where Ryan had a chance to mount a fairly pedestrian comeback, he didn’t get it done. Obviously he has had much more impressive comebacks this season, but in that situation he didn’t do it tonight.
Gatorman
December 28th, 2010
12:36 am
Shultz: You impress me again that you recognize that Coach Smith has the tight butt syndrome. The Saints just marched down the field to take the lead, why would he think the defense would some how stop them at the end. Smith gets an F and the defense a B for standing in their most of the second half when Mularkey called a horrible game on offense.
metallica0785
December 28th, 2010
12:36 am
Why is no one talking about the fact that it should have been 3rd and 1 and not 3rd and inches right before we had to burn our last time out? Why wasn’t the play reviewed by the booth?…1 yard is huge.
Savannah Fan
December 28th, 2010
12:36 am
The Ice has melted!!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:36 am
the truth…………..
December 28th, 2010
12:31 am
bugkiller is right if Ryan can’t call the plays in the red zone ….
_______________________________________________
I thought you guys said that Peyton II calls audibles
Pip
December 28th, 2010
12:37 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan is a tool.
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Our running game is being stuffed because teams are playing 7 and 8 men in the box.
Our running game is being stuffed because everybody knows we will run on first down.
Our running game is being stuffed because Turner cannot get around the corner.
Our running game is being stuffed because our coaches won’t change things up.
Our running game is being stuffed because we kept Norwood the oft-injured back.
I think we can win in the playoffs…but the ball will have to bounce our way a few times.
The refs will have to call a fair game.
Our coaches will have to open it up.
Frozen Rope
December 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Ryan is still young and learning,, I love the guy,, I think he is going to be great…….
Brother John
December 28th, 2010
12:39 am
Falcon’s defensive intensity was awesome — but their technique was pathetic. They over ran Brees’ quick feet “step up” about 15 times in this game. They were there — but couldn’t adjust an make the sacks. Could have had eight easily! Then, toward the end, they attempted only to strip the ball from the running backs instead of tackling them. If the coaches haven’t “fixed” this by now — there’s no fixing it. Falcons one and done in playoffs regardless of opponent…
Who Dat Nation
December 28th, 2010
12:39 am
Matt Ryan for MVP????? HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:39 am
They punted with 2 minutes left because the coach does not trust CHOKE – Who can blame him. The dude only completed 14 of 29 passes for 148 yards.
Do you guys really think they could seriously hang with the Eagles?
Come on now
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:40 am
metallica:
It was not reviewed because of a stupid NFL rule that does not allow challenges in the last two minutes of the game. Since it was not a first down play, it was not reviewable in the booth.
Mack1124
December 28th, 2010
12:42 am
“Fake Matt Choke Ryan” you constantly show your ignorance and “Who Dat Nation” you and the entire city of NO shoud get over yourself. You should be worried about your QB and his 21 INT’s, I assure you no NFC team are worried about aints.
mike turner
December 28th, 2010
12:42 am
I have twinkle toes.
Navshad
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Dwayne C
This is the NFL. The coaching staffs get paid a lot of money to create wrinkles, ESP on offense. The Saints made a decision to stuff the run and the Falcons didn’t adjust..that simple. But the Saints never adjusted to the blitzing by Atlanta. They lucked out. The fact is we should have went for it and in the playoffs I think Smith and Co will….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
What cracks me up, is when CHOKE gives press conferences and interviews like he is an elite qb and like he belongs with the big boys
Its like that ugly girl posing with the prom queens
I actually feels a little sorry for CHOKE because the delusional Falcons fans have filled his head up with false hopes and expectations that he can never hold. This is still Mike Vick country
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Mike Vick brought his team back from 21 points down, that is a true leader. Matty Duck can’t even lead his team to a field goal, Vick will always rule Atlanta
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Choke:
We all get sick of you (in all your aliases) spewing the same stupid stuff all the time.
You are boring and moronic.
Mike McDonald
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Outcoached.
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Your defense sux, you could not move the ball against a team that Flacco shredded. Birds are not flying this year. Drew Brees has thrown 5 ints. in his last 2 games 2 in Atlanta & you can’t whip him. This is a preview of the playoffs you guys are going nowhere, Turner looks more like he was playing for Green Bay LOL. Just like the governor of PA Falcons are a bunch of wussies! Your defense scored 2 too keep your sorry@sses in the game. HA HA HA Losers!
bigtaco
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
you guys were missing mc hammer…….matty ice….ice, ice baby….what a city……chase that ring ladies..we have one…….wher was mc????
gabugman
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
The biggest game of the year saw the smallest showing from the Falcons offense. Play calling, execution or the Qb, it all stank!
Defense turned in the best performance of the last three years. Too bad this team has not found a way to get in sync.
Mark Bradley is the true culprit!
Who Dat Nation
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
“Who Dat Nation” you and the entire city of NO shoud get over yourself. You should be worried about your QB and his 21 INT’s, I assure you no NFC team are worried about aints.
And we just beat your Falcons loser, how does that Crow taste moron
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Has anybody seen Tony Gonzalas tonight
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:45 am
Drew Brees tried to help you guys up as much as he could with those fluke turnovers and CHOKE still screwed that up
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:47 am
Weems killed us all night by letting the ball hit and roll
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:47 am
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Mike Vick brought his team back from 21 points down, that is a true leader. Matty Duck can’t even lead his team to a field goal, Vick will always rule Atlanta
___________________________________________
Come on now, don’t be too hard on ole Noodle Arm
bigtaco
December 28th, 2010
12:47 am
ice, ice matty…sounds like an mc hammer song…what a joke of a team.. i drove all the way here to this dirty city to see a team that is suppose to be great get beat down….by a wild card team….ice, ice matty………oh, i hear mc
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:49 am
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Choke:
We all get sick of you (in all your aliases) spewing the same stupid stuff all the time.
You are boring and moronic.
_________________________________________________-
Oh James, I can understand your frustrations – would you like some more WHINE with that cheese
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:49 am
San Fran played the same type game against the Falcons can you say ” The Blueprint ” if you shut the running game down Ryan is a joke or maybe choke.
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:50 am
Blue:
I think Weems is told to let the ball hit and roll.
Our coaches don’t won’t to risk a fumble down there.
Its part of their conservative approach.
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:50 am
The Falcons stink!
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:51 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:47 am
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Mike Vick brought his team back from 21 points down, that is a true leader. Matty Duck can’t even lead his team to a field goal, Vick will always rule Atlanta
___________________________________________
Come on now, don’t be too hard on ole Noodle Arm
Sometimes the TRUTH hurts, he Choked again on national TV. Where are all the Ryan supporters????? Its kinda quiet on here tonight
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:52 am
@ Jimmy you maybe right but tonight it cost us at least 60 yards
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:52 am
Conservative?????? WTF heading into the playoffs who the h*ll is conservative? Dumb response Falcon Fool!
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:53 am
I support Ryan
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:53 am
Vick is the MVP!
Brother John
December 28th, 2010
12:53 am
I agree with you about Weems. He could have caught one bad punt at the fifty — never attempted to field it, and it hit and rolled to the 28. There was another similar one in the same game. He’s probably coached to do that. Again, just play it safe, non-agressive, panty waist football. If Sean Peyton coached the Falcons — they would be unbeatable!!!!!!!!!
Lesa
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
Come on, people!! We lost a heartbreaker to a very good football team that we beat earlier in the year. Stop blaming the coach, the players, etc. The winning streak was bound to end sometime. I’d rather it end now than in the playoffs. Get a grip!! The Falcons played a great game tonight, particularly on defense. They just came up a few plays too short. Look at it this way: it is rare that a team can beat a good opponent 3 times in one season. If we had to lose a game to the Saints, better now than in the playoffs. The Falcons will wrap up the division and home field advantage on Sunday. No way will we lose to the pathetic Panthers. The Falcons are going to the Super Bowl!!!!
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
No Vick is a peace of $hit human
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
@MV7 for MVP
Because they are cowards! They have no spine and know CHOKE is a loser.
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
Vick would have scored more points Falcon Suckers!
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
you show how stupid you are MVP over Brady really
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
Ryan just flat out CHOKED
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
No Vick is a peace of $hit human
Eagles 31 Falcons 17
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
No Vick is a peace of $hit human
_____________________________________________
Blue you sound Blue
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
Yep….real quiet. This was the time for Ryan and the Falcons to show their championship mettle. On a National stage to finally show the media that they have been wrong about the Fraudulent Falcons. To show the nation that they haven’t been lucky in all those comebacks…that the Saints didn’t just lose because of a fluke missed 29 yard FG. But they proved that they are the Fortunate Falcons…..and just like I said before….the clock has struck 12 and cinderella Falcons slipper is now broken. 1 and done in the Playoffs……Pigeons!!!!!!
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:57 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
@MV7 for MVP
Because they are cowards! They have no spine and know CHOKE is a loser.
Yes that is true, they are probaly thinking of more excuses right now
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
12:57 am
Vick did not play
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:57 am
BLUE I guess every black athlete that doesn’t live up to your standards is not HUMAN ! Racist
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
12:57 am
Blue:
I agree with you. I felt Weems should have been up there fielding the ball.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:58 am
@Vick Supporter
There sure are a lot of crickets tonight
When they lose they always blame Turner and/or White and blame the refs.
They never blame CHOKE and his 14 for 29 148 yards
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:59 am
Can’t win when it counts = CHOKE
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
1:00 am
No it has doing to do with race I have a problem with Roslenberger also and I am black Dumbass
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
1:00 am
Eagles 31 Falcons 17
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:01 am
148 yds passing in a MNF game LOL you can’t make this stuff up!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:01 am
No way would the Falcons lose to the Panthers…… What did Charger fans say last week? They said….No way would the Chargers lose to the Bengals….
Panthers game will be fun to watch.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:03 am
Delusional Falcons fans, if you tune in to NBC tomorrow night there will be an elite MVP siting
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
1:03 am
The Ryan supporters know there can be no real conversation with Choke (in all his aliases) on here taking up space.
Ryan haters will always hate.
Last year they whined about him not leading any comebacks.
Wow…he’s done that repeatedly this year, but that is not good enough.
He’s had monster games and that’s not good enough.
You complained he couldn’t throw the deep ball. He proved he could but still you guys whine.
You guys are idiots and really…not too interesting.
Your arguments do not hold merit.
That is why most Ryan supporters sign off…
It is why the AJC should ban you jerks.
You are killing the blogs and everyone else’s brain cells.
Goodnight.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:03 am
When the center botched the snap, Matty Ice didn’t try to dive on the ball….he just Froze. Guess that’s how he got the nickname!!!
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:03 am
Well if your black, talk about them rapist’s instead of being a racist!
JD
December 28th, 2010
1:04 am
2 can’t cut it when the heats turned up, he’s proving that every week. His first year was by far his best year even though we were 11 and 5. Not sure if its his game prep or his coaching but he is NOT getting it done. Honestly he looks scared out there and it is starting to show up in a lack of confidence that’s hard to define until it matters most.
and TD – you might want to shop for a real running back that can get it done against better than .500 teams. Michael – Dude has the size but not the foot skills to run the ball to daylight, plus he goes down WAY to easy for a very big man. Somebody needs to show him some film of AP running downhill. Run that thing North/South my friend, instead of trying to do so much dancing when trying to find a hole. Get your head up and see the field instead of putting your head down and running into your linemen. Your first year here from San Diego was your best – you had a very large chip on your shoulder and you KILLED it when you ran the ball, just KILLED it. Now, look at the way you run…..it’s a shame Michael, a crying shame….
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
1:06 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
You’re right. Not a peep of blame
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:06 am
Hello Matt Ryan has fewer completions in the 20 to 40 + yds area than any QB in the league that includes McNabb. 148 yds passing C’mon Man
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
1:07 am
tthe only Falcons that showed up are 55 and 12
san diego dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:08 am
MV7 fans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBZdjc4RfQA
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:09 am
This is supposed to be deadly on offense 148 yds passing SLOL!
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:11 am
Mark Bradley will write a very dumb article about the Falcon chances tomorrow
Jimmy
December 28th, 2010
1:11 am
JD:
What are you talking about?
Have you been watching reruns of Matt’s second season?
Your comments about Ryan are way off.
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
1:12 am
TO ALL MATT RYAN FANS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFd-HyqseXI
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
1:14 am
TO ALL MATT RYAN Fans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1DzNzE0MFM&playnext=1&list=PL72C01B1BAFE71D0D&index=64
Chuck
December 28th, 2010
1:14 am
So much more fun to talk AFTER your team has won, Falcons fans. Roddy should have plenty of tweet material now. “Non factor” sounds about right. “Nice rings, Saints. Wish I had one.” That one sounds even better.
So typical… Way to buy into your own hype. You’re as bad as the sorry Jets!
Nice predictions, Jeff. Care to revise your story? Falcons have zero championship mettle. Fools gold
birddawgbill
December 28th, 2010
1:14 am
Missed false start, missed pass int 3 times, missed facemask, Roddy called for PI when he was held all the way down the field. Be proud aint fans once again the refs helped you all they could. It was a horribly called game. Oh and I forgot the running into the kicker call instead of roughing. With that said Ryan wasnt to blame, fumbles and dropped passes were. Plus Bush fumbled a punt that the Falcons fell on but without even looking the ref gave the ball to the aints. I do think perhaps they were scolded by someone at the half as they at least called it better in the 2nd half.
san diego dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:14 am
MV7 fans http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/popup?id=3394113
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:15 am
HMMM….at the end of the day Trent Dilfer wasn’t too offbase about the Fortunate Falcons….huh????
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
1:15 am
Jeff, you’re always always good for a laugh…Drew had a meltdown???? LMAO…
Drew Brees was presured all night by the falcons defense…they blitzed every dang play…and yes he threw 2 back to back picks and then came right back and engineered a 90 yard scoring drive….LMAO…and you call that a melt down!
Matty Ice is no Drew Brees…Get it through your head Jeff! Sure Ryan is good, but without Turner…he melted.
WHO DAT!
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:16 am
Dude can’t throw the ball 40 yds down the field, total Bum
san diego dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:16 am
MV7 fans : Among the more disgusting aspects of Vick’s behavior that has come to light is this: Losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.
Tweets that mention Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance -- Topsy.com
December 28th, 2010
1:17 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alex Ramati and others. Alex Ramati said: RT @JeffSchultzAJC: Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance http://bit.ly/e9tEUa [...]
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:18 am
Brees proved who has exp in this preseason type game, Matty stunk up the the Dome
JD
December 28th, 2010
1:20 am
Jimmy, I wish I was. I’m as big a homer Falcon fan, lived here all my life and LOVE this team. But I’m telling you my friend, Matt Ryan is soft. I thought it was a fluke but the more I’ve seen of him this year the more i’m convinced that he’s either not getting coached up, not doing the film work he needs to do, or he’s just getting scared to stay in the pocket and take the shot. Look at the way he played his heart out in his rookie season – he’s not the same QB anymore. Maybe he’s trying to be too smart and just forcing the ball, i don’t know. but from where I sit, he’s playing scared.
I had hoped he’d mature more this year, and maybe its Mularkey just not turning over the keys. Frustrating as heck to watch the last 6 games or so though….
san diego dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:20 am
mv7 fans ……..In the most disturbing account yet of Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation, a federal investigative report details how the disgraced athlete killed pit bulls by hanging them from a nylon cord nailed to a tree and drowned others in a five gallon bucket of water. Quoting confidential witnesses and several of Vick’s cronies (all of whom, like the former NFL star, pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges), a United States Department of Agriculture report portrays Vick as a heartless enthusiast of barbaric pit bull fights. Excerpts of the USDA report, which was prepared by the agency’s inspector general, can be found on the following pages. Along with killing underperforming pit bulls, a government informant told investigators that Vick twice placed family pets into the ring with pit bulls because he and his cohorts ‘thought it was funny to watch the pit bulls…injure or kill the other dogs.’
Harpie
December 28th, 2010
1:22 am
Ryan’s not the problem – the coaches stunk up that game for the Falcons!
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
1:23 am
We were out coached
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
1:23 am
Nobody gives a sh-t about dogfighting anymore. Most people have gotten over their fake outrage. Vick is an MVP candidate whether you like it or not. In typical hypocritical American justice system fashion, cows will continue to be legally electrocuted across America. Go post that sh-t on PETA.com where someone might actually care.
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
1:23 am
TO ALL MATT RYAN FANS:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/460399-2010-nfl-season-rankings-the-most-overrated-amp-underrated-player-on-all-32-teams#page/3
Sameul L. Jackson
December 28th, 2010
1:23 am
I believe #4 is playing tomorrow !
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
1:24 am
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhsYfiNfb0wfu50i12
Enjoy.
You’ll particularly like the part where the piglet’s testicles get ripped out.
BLUE
December 28th, 2010
1:26 am
Najah you like the part were I coat your tonsils with a load
39576
December 28th, 2010
1:39 am
Good weekend Hornets beat Hawks and Saints beat Falcoons.
yo mama
December 28th, 2010
1:49 am
ok, so i watch all the games from afar in LA, and I come home for the holidays, to get this? Note to falcons, you charge alot of money to see games, outside of the value you get from seeing the game live in person is the emotion, and the dome provides that. but your entertainment value is pathetic. no stats, no access to get radio info, cuz its delay is too distracting, and what do you do when a play is being reviewed? Nada, nothing. Too many times i couldnt understand the refs call on the sound system, and everytime a play was in question, i was left with nothing as a result. Falcons staffers, you charge too much for the crap you offer fans. what do we get for a face value ticket at 150. outside of the game you get zippo. hardly no kids were at the game, but the entertainment was geared toward Justin Bieber fans. give me a break. fire your ent. director, and get someone who knows what they are doing.
san diego dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:50 am
this doesn’t change the fact that the Georgia Institute of Bowl Losses are now 0-6 in their last 6 bowl games. Pitful
Fin
December 28th, 2010
1:56 am
Man…folks are LOSING their minds. We lost a tough game to the DEFENDING SUPER BOWL Champs. Let’s not act like the Saints hadn’t won 6 of their last 7 previous to this game. On the Falcons last possession, the Saints were dropping LB and playing zone w/ all of their DBs, so passing would have been very difficult.
As for the playcalling, yes, it left a LOT to be desired, but has anyone ever considered this…The Falcons play the Panthers next week and SHOULD easily overpower them to win the division. Falcons will get a first round bye and then more than likely play the Saints again in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Perhaps we didn’t want to show off all of our offensive plays. If anyone noticed, a lot of our offensive plays were very basic. Not a lot of motion, hurry up offense only a couple of times. B. Finneran was on the field for one play that I can recall. No bunch formations and roll outs for Ryan.
Let’s not panic. The season is not over. Let’s prepare for Sunday against the Panthers and get the first round bye which is the most important thing right now.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 28th, 2010
2:06 am
najeh, disturbing video but i’m still going to eat pork, chicken, meat, etc. things are what they are….life goes on.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
2:15 am
I didn’t post that to make you stop eating meat. I posted it to show san diego dawg (and people who think like him) all the legal animal cruelty that goes on in America and why Vick killing a few dogs is comparatively irrelevant.
Martin
December 28th, 2010
2:24 am
Pretenders, just as I called it. Roddy country white, next time remember, shut your trap. That Georgia dome was like a library after that loss. Man it feels good to shut you loud mouth falcants fans up. A team that does not have a super bowl ring, but you talk like your team is the best in the nfl. Shut that run down, you shut that worthless team and it’s fan base down. Hey look at it this way, the falcants are still the paper champs.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
2:33 am
This is a problem, no matter how you want to look at it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bycategory?cat=Passing&conference=NFL&year=season_2010&sort=43&timeframe=ToDate
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
2:34 am
We have a World Series Championship dumb ass ! Both cities have a Champion !
John
December 28th, 2010
2:42 am
Stack the line and play a man over the top of Roddy, and you can beat this team easily. Can’t wait til Vick gets here, the Eagles are the greatest show on artifical turf.
John
December 28th, 2010
2:44 am
Anybody notice the picture how the offensive tackle is holding the Saints player around the neck.
wxwax
December 28th, 2010
2:49 am
Losing might turn out to be a good thing.
It’s really hard to beat a good team three times in a row.
And that’s what the Falcons would have been looking at if they end up facing the Saints in the playoffs.
Instead the series is split. And now the Falcons can seek revenge instead of a sweep, should there be a playoff replay.
That’s a good thing.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
3:00 am
I Don’t like dogs, so what!!!!!
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
3:05 am
@ JD Matt Ryan is Chicken, one good hit and he is rattled for the rest of the game!!!!!
IlliniDawg
December 28th, 2010
3:41 am
The most annoying thing about losing to the Aints is having to hear all of the media types fawn all over the city of New Orleans. I’m so sick and tired of hearing the sob story of Katrina – an event that would have been irrelevant if they had not built a city 20 feet below sea level.
N.O. is a stinking s***hole of a city – the most disgusting place I’ve ever visited in America. If you like the smell of a porta-potty, litter-filled streets with vomit running down the gutters, and more abject poverty than a Third-World country, then N.O. is your place. Take away their beignets, the Preservation Hall, and the world-class WWII museum, and New Orleans is a cesspool. Can’t believe our govt spent billions of dollars rebuilding a city that never should have been built in the first place. And now we get to revisit all of the schmaltz of Drew Brees and the “who dat nation” (what a f-ed-upped name!) and the “feel good” story of New Orleans. Aaaarrrggghhhhh! Makes we want to go down there and puke in their gutters along with the rest of the drunken idiots in the French Quarter!
BJ Tompkins
December 28th, 2010
3:54 am
Enter your comments here
As a Bears fan, I watched the NO-Falcons game without favor to either team. I was surprised they didn’t go for it on 4th down so late in the game. Played right into New Orleans’ hands. It’s the same “not to lose” attitude Lovie Smith brings to the Bears, so we here in Chicago suffer with a coach who has to “luck” his way into victories. Must be something in the name “Smith”.
Stinger2
December 28th, 2010
3:58 am
JS and all of the other armchair quarterbacks should relax. Its very easy to second guess the next day.
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
4:47 am
Tonight, Jeff, the decision in question was a no-win situation. Mike Smith did what 90% of any of the other NFL head coaches would have done and punted the ball. Had he taken your hindsighted advice and shot the wad on a one play first down or nothing, then even if the Falcons did convert there is no guarantee with the way that the offense stunk tonight that they would have scored. That being the case, then your Siamese twin Mark Bradley would be trashing them for going for it instead of doing the wise thing and punting.
The Birds won eight straight games with contributions from the entire team and especially from their head coach. Can you not even give Smitty the benefit of the doubt when they lose to the defending world champs (and God does it ever pain me to acknowledge that, note the all lower case characters) by 3 lousy points after running off those eight straight wins over some pretty darn good teams? Get real dude!
JSS
December 28th, 2010
5:01 am
Well, I enjoyed my night out… I heard there was a NFL game late night, how did it turn out?
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
5:23 am
By the way, to anyone who pays attention to reality (I know, reality sucks), with but merely one scant game left in the season, the Falcons have the second best record in the NFL and the best record in the NFC. I know plenty of Who Dats out there that are dying inside because they only wish that they could make that claim.
Tonight was no big deal and certainly was no great tragedy by any stretch of the imagination (other than the delusional imaginations out there, of course).
JSS
December 28th, 2010
5:55 am
SMDH @ 5:23…
Samuel
December 28th, 2010
6:30 am
I like what Mularky has been doing with the play calling this year. But tonight he called a bad game. He kept trying to run the ball down the Saints throat when they did a good job of stopping the run. Turner got stood up on the two yard line with no where to go. He’d been better off taking a knee. The defense folded in the last three mintues of the game. Can we say Pittsburg Steelers. Todd McClure muffed the ball without recovering the fumble. Eric Weems had oportunities to not put us in bad field position. But he didn’t field some of those punts. Silly penalties killed our momentum at times. Now being that said All is not lost Let’s go out and get a victory Sunday and win the division.
Samuel
December 28th, 2010
6:34 am
In the off season we better get a speed back who can compliment Turner and Snelling. Also we need more speed on defense. If you look at team speed of Chicago and Philly their faster than we are.
The Truth
December 28th, 2010
6:52 am
Smith blew it? First, great defensive game plan; equally as bad offensively. Smith didn’t fumble on the one, that lost the game. You don’t win championships by fumbling on the one yd line. Smith didn’t snap the ball all of one inch and let it roll around on the ground. The NFL is a mental league, Saints were desperate and had to win, the Falcons wanted to win really bad but didn’t have too. Saints get to go on the road to a very cold city and play, we stay home nice and cozy in the dome with a bye like they did last year. Pro football is not a beauty contest, it is too even and little things count a great deal.
BirdsRsOaring
December 28th, 2010
6:56 am
this loss is on mularkey and smith…horrific offensive gameplanning and execution…murlarkey constantly ran a slow michael turner into a 10 man front, and never stretched the field…dmitroff needs to upgrade the OC position in the offseason….
Devildog
December 28th, 2010
7:01 am
The good news: The group of New Orleans residents in the Dome last night SPENT money in Atlanta and are on their way home. Not the same as that other group of New Orleans residents who came up here after Katrina and stayed, living off Georgia welfare and starting a huge crime wave.
Only bad news is that each Saints fan didn’t take one of those Katrina “visitors” back home with them.
righteous
December 28th, 2010
7:18 am
Three man rush. Period.
bob
December 28th, 2010
7:24 am
I was thinking not to punt as well. Falcons’ D has not stopped anyone late all year.
Also knew Turner’s fumble was coming when the announcer said it had not happened since 1998. The announcer needs to be fined by the NFL for actively affecting the outcome of a game. We all know it was some kind of New Orleans voodoo in action.
Over!!!
December 28th, 2010
7:26 am
Vick will NEVER,NEVER be a Falcon again! Get the F%c& over it.That POS is gone from the ATL.This City loved MV7 and what did he do to us? How some of you can still support this guy is beyond stupid.And your true COLOR is coming out,IF you know what I mean.
Lobosolo
December 28th, 2010
7:27 am
I see that Schultz is as bad a writer about football as he is about baseball, and the idiots that answer him are just as stupid… Idiot redneck football fans…
dd
December 28th, 2010
7:29 am
Yeah, and if Smith had gone for it on 3 & 6 and failed, Schultz would be writing just the opposite.
Turnovers lost this game, not coaching.
Chop Buster
December 28th, 2010
7:30 am
This loss is on Mike&Mike…plain and simple. Smitty gets gun-shy all of a sudden late in the game and Mularkey with his run Turner, run Turner mentality is killing this offense. Jenkins was killing their secondary and that disappeared. They couldn’t cover our receivers deep; that’s why they were getting the pass interference calls. This team has put themselves in a very bad position needing a MUST WIN against the Panthers. You can overlook them if you want, but stranger things have happened. Smitty and his convervative mindset will cause us a lot of disappointment. The defense played their heart out and then they go to the BBDB defense and the Aints drive the ball down the field. And these coaches actually get paid to be dumb asses. I swear.
M. D. Cain
December 28th, 2010
7:35 am
All you Aints Fans, The Falcons will still win the Division so enjoy your wild card status….. as long as it lasts.
righteous
December 28th, 2010
7:37 am
Schultz is FOS. No sane person would have gone for it on fourth down there. That would have conceded a tie. What, the Saints had to go three yards for a field goal from there? Please. This shows what a schmutz Schultz is. He’s all style and no content. He’s nothing but a hack whose entire career is based on “this is me being clever and cutsy. Watch out, I’m gonna have a couple of brewskis and write some more. Oh wowee this is good!”
Mostly he steals material from other writers and beer commercials. (who aren’t that funny either)
or clever.
This football game was easily won by the Falcons. The blitz was scatter-gun blunderbusted. Brees can too readily dodge the haphazard red-doggers. He easily buys the seconds necessary for his receivers to get open. Simply have a more controlled blitz, that no head fake can foil, and Brees is sacked six or eight times and we win.
Offensively, the running game is too easily defended. Slow developing slants are yesterday’s bog downs. Quick openers. Furious thrusts. Crossblocking counter motion plays. That’s the plan to the big W. The easy V. The drunk cheerleaders and the ensuing anatomical lesson from sexting quarterbacks. and everything.
You want superbowl rings, hire me. I can get them for any team.
But I love the Falcons.
A football savant like me comes along once in an upon a time. A writer like Schultz comes along once in a tampon mime. (ew)
“Duh, I woulda gone for it in my own territory with fourth and six, duh. It coulda worked, duh.”
Stick with your clever asides and your copy cat columns, Schultz.
Let real pen men reflect football games.
Who Dat!
December 28th, 2010
7:38 am
The Saints are rolling to another Super Bowl! The falcons will choke as usual in the playoffs. Saints beat the Patriots—mark it down!
Ackshun
December 28th, 2010
7:38 am
I dont know why Mike Smith loses his nerve in Big Games. Last night the Birds were playing with house money and he put the ball back in Sean Peytons hands with less than 4 minutes in the game. The drive before all the MNF announcers were talking about 4 down territory for the Saints and then they incredulously agreed with Smiths decision to punt. I mean we really had nothing to lose last night and everything to gain (most importantly RESPECT). But instead on the final drive of the game we run the ball at the heart of their defense for minimal gain, throw an incomplete pass and PUNT? Say what you will about the Saints but they won because they had the guts to take chances to get it done. Probably the best defensive effort against Brees in years and we waste it. ARRRRGH cant get the taste of loser out of my mouth.
Double Zero Eight
December 28th, 2010
7:39 am
Outcoached and outplayed. The defense looked
good until the last five minutes. The offense failed
to consistently execute. The defense had some
missed tackles at critical points. The bottom line
is we got beat.
scott
December 28th, 2010
7:40 am
i,m, very dissapointed in the falcons your on monday night football..a chance to show why your in the position your in and get the respect you deserve and you didnt play like it ..no intensity,defense played well but dree brees is clearly overated they will be out of the playoffs in the first round by chicago new orleans is not a good team..the falcons coming home after a month should have been really riled up in front of the national spotlight and the atlanta fans..mistakes that you havent made all season and you get to the most important game and then you make mistake i,m clearly dissapointed
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
7:42 am
I’m almost jealous of the Saints fans for having a team that is just sneaking in to the playoffs. The reason being is that it will seem like an eternity waiting for our playoff bye week to be over so that we can actually play some ball while they get to go play right away. It sucks being good.
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 28th, 2010
7:42 am
Tweet this…..Ya Got Beat by the Super Bowl Champs……BOOOM
2 words of advice….
DREW BREES
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 28th, 2010
7:44 am
Deveil Dog…I would take you mama back with me to the Big Easy if she weren’t so ugly….Who Dat….FAL-CANT
Mrs. Butterworth
December 28th, 2010
7:48 am
`
Tampa Bay will upset the Aints in the Superdome.
Sports Review
December 28th, 2010
7:51 am
[...] Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)This season has been about comebacks. This season has been about the Falcons making plays at the end of games to win. This season has been about Matt Ryan engineering winning drives against New Orleans, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Green Bay and [...]
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
7:53 am
When did Jenkins and Douglas become the top playmakers?
Ryan did not throw it to White in the 2nd half and only 2 Receptions to Gonzo
Throw it to the leading WR and HOF TE in crucial downs not Harry Douglas
mike
December 28th, 2010
7:56 am
Maybe the falcons could become doctors because all the local sports hackers offer nothing but excuses this morning. Reading their columns you would think Atlanta won the game last nught. It’s not the end of the season folks. But starting now, you goobers better start winning or you will be at the local sports bar watching the playoffs as usual.
DHD
December 28th, 2010
7:56 am
This is pretty lame. Coach Smith is the greatest coach in ATL history. I will trust his decisions more than a writer from the AJC who spends most of his time writing about Mike Vick for lack of a real story. Just lame.
Drew Brees
December 28th, 2010
7:57 am
Dear Roddy White: The City of New Orleans accepts your apology.
GEAUX SAINTS!
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
7:58 am
its ok guys
We stole one in NO earlier this season. The Aints returned the favor.
We just need to be more aggressive in playcalling and give the ball to WHITE and GONZO
kaminari
December 28th, 2010
8:00 am
In times of adversity, I look at the positives. We are in first place boys with the chance to clinch a 1st-round bye in the playoffs with only Carolina, the worst in the league, in our way. Let’s wash away this ridiculous performance and look ahead instead. The land of milk and honey is within our reach. Let’s be happy we gave back what we took from N’ohleans earlier this year. It’s the time of giving. The Falcons are still the class of the NFC regardless of what other idiots far outside 285 say. This was a team loss. But let’s lose with dignity and say that the Saints were the better team. Today. Oh wait, that was yesterday.
kaminari
December 28th, 2010
8:02 am
Go Falcons!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:04 am
Gotta dance with the one you brought. Mike Smith got this lofty record for the Falcons by playing a conservative brand of football. By running the old “3 yard and a cloud of dust” offense & PROTECTING his quarterback with the running game. When the Falcons have a lead it is very effective. The Falcons are not built to come back offensively from multiple scores. They are not built to be unbalanced and throw more than run the football. 4th and 6….dictates that you run a passing play. The Saints are one of the top defenses against the PASS. Falcons fans….you may not like his decision….but it isn’t as bad as everyone is making it out to be.
crunching the numbers
December 28th, 2010
8:06 am
Falcons … 12-3
Saints …… 11-4
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
8:06 am
That’s okay Saints fans. I understand why the game was such a big deal for you last night. That was your Super Bowl. Congratulations on beating the eventual 2010-2011 Super Bowl Champs by the same amount of points that they beat you earlier this year. You must be so proud to get even with a team that, unlike your own, is the pride of the NFC.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:06 am
I typed on this blog last week…That a loss like this could derail the whole Falcons dream season. Beware the writing is on the wall. Cinderella…..your glass slipper has broken.
Wake Up Call
December 28th, 2010
8:07 am
Well we can Tuesday morning quarterback this one all we want. Bottom line, Mike Malarky’s offense is too predictable to survive the second season. It is time to pull out the same looks and play action on first down. It is time to bring some totally different looks. Where is our short slant passing game, Brees hit open receivers all night on these when he had to. Where was Tony Gonzales? Where is Finneran? We tried to force the run on first down as if we were going to get a thousand chances to get it right. The defense showed up big time tonight (with the exception of Moore’s overpursuit blitzing and going conservative at the end) but the offense didn’t bring it. Time to regroup boys and take care of business. Show some intelligence and creativeness on offense. Steal plays from other teams if you have to for goodness sake. They are out there Malarky! You won’t get a second chance to get this right against smart, talented (and hungry) teams coming your way.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:08 am
“Ryan has outdueled four of the league’s top quarterbacks: Brees (New Orleans), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Joe Flacco (Baltimore) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay).”
Mr. Schultz…
Carson Palmer? Did you mean Carson Daly? Palmer is heading to the Joey Harrington world of missed opportunities…
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:09 am
Our FG kicker gift wrapped the 1st game for the Falcons. Now do you think we have any doubt that we own the Falcons? I hope we play you in the Playoffs. Would love to finish you boys off and wash Roddy’s mouth out with soap while we’re at it.
Chop Buster
December 28th, 2010
8:10 am
These blogs are becoming a place where children hang out in attempts to make themselves feel good about their teams’ win. The Aints got beat at home and now the Falcons lost one game at home. So what? Na, na, boo, boo! Go get a life idiot. It was always the media hyping the Falcons are unbeatable at home…maybe some of our guys started to believe that B.S. Who Dat whatever and all you Vick lovers need to go study your school work–because I know grown men wouldn’t be on an opponents blog with all this silliness. Mighty funny you all were in silent mode while the Falcons were winning. Go back to your closets.
BIGWALLY
December 28th, 2010
8:11 am
Let’s not burn the Falcon for this one, New Orleans wanted it more, Drew Brees pull’s things out of his butt but that is what makes a good quarterback. Matt has only 3 years experience, I think he is doing darn good. Yes I wanted to win last night but the Saints are still a good team. I have a feeling Atlanta will take it out on Carolina next week. Jeff you are right, Smith did blow it, but even coaches make mistakes. I am sure he is thinking about that decision right now.
Tommy
December 28th, 2010
8:13 am
Before everyone jumps off a ledge. .
1) We still win the #1 seed if [when] we beat carolina this weekend.
2) We gave away 14 points, 7 to the saints with a once-in-five-years center fumble and another drop at the 1, turner’s 1st giveaway in 400+ attempts;
3) The team proved it could play a pressure defense and not get burned (this is HUGE). when we let up on that final drive and it cost us the game.
4) Yes, smith should have gone for it. There isn’t much difference between handing the Saints the ball at the 50 or the 25 in that situation. At least we would have gone down fighting.
Ask yourselves.; . .is it better to have skated by the Saints last night, think everything is OK, have the team get overconfident and have what happened last night occur in the first round of the playoffs, or is it better to have this re-focus the team and give them something to think about and prepare for when it really, really counts?
The team didn’t have it last night, and they still almost won. They are 5-3 against teams with winning records. Granted, we’re not the ‘85 Bears, but all of the other NFC teams are quite beatable. We’ll be fine. And if we do blow the Carolina game, we don’t deserve to go to the playoffs to begin with.
NFL seasons are about more than talking trash to people on a message board you’ve never met.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:13 am
In passing situations Matty is predictable. look for Roddy & Tony ….instead of finding open guys. The Saints limited those guys…and he had to throw to Jenkins most of the night. Matty was uncomfortable reading the defense all night long.
Packer Fan
December 28th, 2010
8:14 am
I hope we meet the Falcons in the playoffs. With the way Green Bay shredded the G-men on Sunday afternoon (500+ total yards), how we hung right in with the Pats while starting our backup QB, and the fact that you only beat us by a field goal and could never put us away on 11/28, I’d love to play the Falcons again.
I think we would win.
This is assuming, of course, that we get through the Bears on Sunday, which I think we will.
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 28th, 2010
8:15 am
Crunching the Numbers….
Super Bowl Rings….Saints 1 – Fal-Cants 0
Unitl you win a ring….it just don’t mean a Thing
Vick Rules
December 28th, 2010
8:16 am
The Falcons should have never run Vick out of town. He’ll be in the Super Bowl with the eagles–bank on it, while the falcons go out in round 1 to the Saints or round 2 to the eagles.
bravesfansince66
December 28th, 2010
8:17 am
Two turnovers killed us and we never made any adjustments on our passing routes to take advantage of NO’s loading up the box. On the defensive side we had good pressure all night but when Drew had time he was throwing to the same areas (out route and dump over the middle pass)and the secondary players looked like they were bunched up and giving too much cushion.
AP
December 28th, 2010
8:17 am
Our feature running back has become a liability. He looks tentative, old, devoid of speed and doesn’t possess any moves or ingenuity when he has the ball, not to mention it just looks like he lacks effort. Time to draft a new running back!
elephanthead
December 28th, 2010
8:17 am
You have to put the blame for this one on the coaching staff. CMS- punting the ball away with under 3 minutes was a terrible call. BVG- called a good defensive game with the pressure packages right up until he went soft on the Aints scoring drive to take the lead. Give Brees 3 or 4 seconds and no one in his face and he will eat you alive. Mularkey – the one yard and a cloud of plastic scheme failed again. No imagination again. These guys were coaching not to lose – Payton and his staff were coaching to win. Period.
It should be apparent by now that the O-line is weak. Allowing penetration and getting pushed backwards consistently. Thats not gonna work against good defenses like playoff teams tend to have. Needs an off season rebuild – draft LT, Baker to guard, replace McClure.
Having gotten that off my chest, I still think the Facons have a good chance to make a playoff run if they draw the correct lessons from this. That was big boy football last night and 1 or 2 plays will make the difference in the outcome.
Coaches need to remember an old paratrooper saying “fortune favors the bold”. Go Falcs
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:19 am
What do you prefer? A quarterback that doesn’t make mistakes or a quarterback that makes plays?
Ryan didn’t make mistakes (0 interceptions) but he didn’t make plays….That’s the identity of the Falcons whole team. Conservative.
Brees did make mistakes (2 interceptions) and made plays of all sorts….that’s the identity of the Saints….Aggressive. Take no prisoners….go for the jugular. If you’re gonna lose go down guns a blazing.
Nope the conservative Falcons put their guns down and come out with their hands up…a meek surrender.
until then: Saints Rule Everything Around Me!!!!!
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:19 am
Someone who would choke an animal with his bare hands is a step away from serial killer monster! Vick deserves a chance to rehabilitate – Still in my book he is low life scum and always will be! Post that up your arse Najeeh Poop!
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:19 am
Vick rules:
If Falcons beat the Panthers they will have a 1st round BYE
Turners needs to stop fumbling in crucial games. In his two most important games with the Falcons he fumbles.
1st: playoffs against CArdinals
2nd: last night to clinch division
Does Turner choke? I hope he doesnt fumble in the playoffs
Rob Thomas
December 28th, 2010
8:20 am
I think some people are taking this loss a little too hard. The only thing this really means is that clinching #1 seed will have to wait another week. Sure, it would have been nice to beat the Saints on nat’l television and finally make everyone recognize that this team is real legit contenter, but this only thing this loss will do is keep the Falcons under the radar like they have been all season. Neither team exactly dominated, and the Falcons definitely did not play their best, but they hung with the Saints the entire game and only lost by a field goal. I still think the Falcons are very capable of beating the Saints if they meet again in the playoffs. The most important thing now is to put focus on Carolina next week; win that game, and its like this game never even happened.
And if your still feeling bad, here’s an interesting little fact: The last 2 times 10+ win teams met on MNF, the loser of that game went on to become the eventual Super Bowl winner (1990 Giants, 1997 Broncos; both lost to the 49ers).
jerry
December 28th, 2010
8:21 am
There is only one way to avoid a humongous ass kicking by the Patriots in the SB….lose before they get there.
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:21 am
I’m still waiting for Ryan to show that he can take over a game, be Bradyesque, when the Falcons can’t run the ball and the Falcons are playing an elite team. Haven’t seen it yet. Without a running game Ryan appears to be pedestrian at best.
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
8:21 am
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 28th, 2010
8:15 am
Crunching the Numbers….
Super Bowl Rings….Saints 1 – Fal-Cants 0
Unitl you win a ring….it just don’t mean a Thing
——————————— ——————
Sorry to break it to you Cindy, but your fairy tale ended last year. It’s going to be fun watching the Saints get eliminated while the Falcons are resting during their bye week for being the #1 seed.
On being 12-3
December 28th, 2010
8:22 am
Coach Mike Smith said.
” I think there’s probably 15 teams
that would want to trade with us so I like where we’re at.”
BaseballBuff
December 28th, 2010
8:23 am
Mike Smith made the right call. The offense did not inspire confidence. Matty Ice melted a bit, did not have a good game. Despite the two interceptions, Brees outplayed Ryan by getting it done when he had to.
It’s just one game, a tough loss against a tough team. We’re still going to the Super Bowl.
ctfalconsfan
December 28th, 2010
8:23 am
Ryan had a vey poor showing, 15-29 passing!!
Brees had tons of pressure as ATL was swarming around him all night but he was able to deliver the ball, except one time.. Ryan had more time than Brees but just couldn’t get it moving.
Smithy you have to go for it on 4th down!! Who cares if aints are going to try to kill the ball on their 20 or our 40?? Let your Offense have a shot then play defense if needed..
Ted Striker
December 28th, 2010
8:24 am
Agree with your assessment. Thought the Falcons should’ve called more screens and slants and perhaps a bit more play action early on. I thought the defense played about as good as they could’ve played from an effort standpoint.
Sid
December 28th, 2010
8:26 am
So we split the season………..the Saints didn’t look like champions last night either. We had the talent and team to beat them (again) and we shot ourselves in the foot. But that’s ok because if we have to see them again in the playoffs I know we will win (in our house again). I would not want to have to beat them 3 times in a season, nor would they us. I have no problem with the officiating last night except for the ref calling interference on both players, the ref had to call the interference on the Saints because everyone saw it but then to add interference on both players was a clear intention to negate the play………..a drive killer. We abandoned the running game so early and I am not sure why, you have to keep pounding to put a defense down. Would have liked to seen some passes to Finn but I guess he has to be on the field to accomplish that. Anyway, as a NFL fan a pretty good game, as a Falcons fan it was theirs for the taking and they didn’t do it. Let’s focus on Carolina, time to move on and finish this march to N Collins St, Arlington, TX Feb. 6th.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:28 am
Trent Dilfer, says that the Saints can beat the Falcons at home. I believe him.
Ry
December 28th, 2010
8:28 am
I agree with you about the decision by Mike Smith. That is the biggest diff. between Falcons and Saints, the coach. Payton is much more aggressive and Smitih is much more conservative. The conservatism kills alot of drives for Atlanta. This time, it cost them the game. I also thought they stuck with the run too long, when it was obvious the Saints were loading the box and playing man coverage. There is no excuse for not exploiting that coverage more, especially with Roddy White. When they did throw down field, they were getting pass interference calls, so why not stick with that and make the Saitns D adjust.
Wake Up Call
December 28th, 2010
8:29 am
Anybody else find it odd that the Saints lovers come out the woodwork on this blog instead of celebrating over on their own site at the Times-Picayune. The few who celebrate here are just looking for a blog fight since they are home from high school with nothing better to do. Some of us are on paid vacation wasting our time doing this! (Anything to avoid taking down Christmas decorations!) TCB Falcons!
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:30 am
Just finished watching the DVR of Gregg Williams sending Matt Ryan and Mike Mularkey into the male equivalent of toxic shock.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2010/12/28/qa-sharper-tells-how-they-shut-down-the-falcons/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
For all of you moaning about why Gonzalez (not Gonzales) and White were not able to make more plays; I’ll complement Ryan, he didn’t try to force it to covered targets. The Falcons secondary did exactly what most of their detractors thought they were capable of doing. That was nothing. Jam Harry Douglass at the line and under cut Finneran on his route. That leaves Jenkins, I’ll stop laughing later today… Poor Michael Turner, you people keep deriding him. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Baker, Blalock, McClure, Dahl, and Clabo… Turner could not get out of the backfield, the blame goes to the offensive line… The same goes for the pass protection.
I can not find fault with the defensive… That is as good of a game plan that Van Gorder has ever implemented on the NFL level… Payton is just better in adjusting, no shame in that……
Steve
December 28th, 2010
8:31 am
Falcons split the season series with the defending Super Bowl champions and probably one of the top 4-5 teams in the league and people are hating on them. Sad.
As for Ryan, my take is completely different than you haters. The Saints were getting solid pressure with 3 and 4 rushers all night. when you can do that and still drop 7-8 in coverage it is going to be tough on any QB. That was a failure of the Atlanta OLine. Take a look at the opposite side .. the Falcons were having to send 5 and sometimes 6 guys in order to get pressure on Brees, leaving them in man coverage all over the field .. and Brees still didn’t get ANYTHING done until the last drive. That just shows you how important pressure can be. If the Falcons could have gotten that smae pressure with four rushers instead of 5 or 6 then Brees does nothing. Also .. why did the Falcons stop blitzing on the final Saints drive for a TD? Silly.
On to the real goat. Michael Turner. I am nto talking about the fumble. 500+ carries withotu a fumble is nuts, so I am not going to beat him up for that even thoguh it probably cost us the game. My problem with Turner is that his intensity is lacking. I haven’t seen him run over a player all year. He tip-toes to the line and instead of busting it thru the hole he cuts it outside EVERY TIME. He used to hit up into the dsigned hole, trusting the blocking, and if he made it thru to the second level he was lights out. Now, he runs like a sissy. Time to make Snelling the feature back .. as he runs like he should.
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:31 am
Falcons needed to throw more on 1st and 2nd down
They would run the ball on 1st and 2nd down and get in 3rd and long
The Saints then played zone to double cover White. If they passed when Saints were stacking the box on 1st and 2nd down they would have been more successful
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
8:31 am
Vick is the bestest! I wanna have his baby…oh wait I’m a man. But I still love him. *sigh*
geauxsaints
December 28th, 2010
8:31 am
awww, the little sparrows fold to the World Champions. We even spotted you a free TD. We also beat you in week 3.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
8:32 am
Boy I’m so happy Brees beat you guys. Now he can come back and REAM me good like I like it.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:33 am
“Anybody else find it odd that the Saints lovers come out the woodwork on this blog instead of celebrating over on their own site at the Times-Picayune.”
Many of you said how much you looked forward to gloating over them. Well, be careful what you ask for…
Badbird
December 28th, 2010
8:33 am
Hey Roddy, you need to keep your trap shut and play ball on the field. Remember the “greatest” corner back that was so full of himself that he got traded and now plays in Washington? Your heading the same way!!!! Run your routes not your MOUTH and maybe we could move the ball. And where was the Gonzo??? Both seemed to disappear in this game. Sure am glad the defense showed up or it would have been a MASSACRE! Thanks DEFENSE.
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:33 am
I think Turner is wearing down
He has had more 850+ carries last 3 seasons, he does not have the burst he used to have
geauxsaints
December 28th, 2010
8:34 am
we all had to come back after we beat you. yes we were hiding when we couldn’t catch you. i know we got this one but you guys will get the next if we are lucky enough to make it back to the dome.
Doug
December 28th, 2010
8:34 am
Thank God someone probably brought a sense of reality to Atlanta. The Falcons are a mediocre outfit that holds the city and state hostage for any payout they can get. I wish they would move to Mobile. Who needs that bunch of overpaid creeps.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:35 am
And that is “The Falcons secondary receivers.”
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
8:36 am
I’m only here because i like the attention and want to rub vick in your face. even though i know vick did this to himself and the falcons had nothing to do with him fighting dogs, i’m still mad that you got rid of my role model. he’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. i guess if i had a life, i would be sniffing a grown man’s nutz constantly.
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:38 am
I’ve read some things about the bad snap from McClure and bad snap it was. However, did anyone notice that Ryan was looking down at the ball and backing up? WTF? Biggest game to the year and instead of diving for the ball he’s getting out of the way!
I was jacked about this team after beating Baltimore – Baltimore has shown themselves to be human – You win these games in your own house – I’m thinking one and done now!
BaseballBuff
December 28th, 2010
8:39 am
This extreme criticism of the Falcons, a very fine, very talented, very well coached team, is blowing my mind. You’re all idiots. I’m outta here.
NoodleArm Ryan
December 28th, 2010
8:39 am
i really don’t have a life. i can’t do any better than ryan, but i sure do enjoy constantly criticizing him and comparing him to much more experience players. my mommy didn’t show me a lot of attention, that’s why i need a father figure and choose brees and vick as my new daddies. my mommy say i can have two.
TheAntiMe
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
Anybody else find it odd that the Saints lovers come out the woodwork on this blog instead of celebrating over on their own site at the Times-Picayune. The few who celebrate here are just looking for a blog fight since they are home from high school with nothing better to do. Some of us are on paid vacation wasting our time doing this! (Anything to avoid taking down Christmas decorations!) TCB Falcons!
No, I can’t really blame the Saints fans for being excited about that one they eeked out last night to even up the season series. After all, it is without a doubt the biggest game the have won all year and they are still behind in the standings to us. Even though this game meant very little to the Falcons, it will be the highlight of the season on the NFL Films Saints 2010 highlight video. They must be so proud.
flagger
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
how about the people that did not do their job…. michael turner and todd mcclure and the
offensive play caller that keeps running into the same knife over and over on the goal line
play calling. the rest of the team won the game!!!! best defense of the year.
Snake Doc
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
MV is a sociopath! Anyone, and I mean anyone, who would choke an animal with his bare hands is not a role model but a serial killer wanna be. Of course MV ain’t gut the guts to try to kill a real person so he kills defenseless animals!
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:40 am
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
12:43 am
Mike Vick brought his team back from 21 points down, that is a true leader. Matty Duck can’t even lead his team to a field goal, Vick will always rule Atlanta
============
What did Vick do in his first 3 seasons? not much
I think he spent more time injured than on the field
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:41 am
“I think Turner is wearing down”
Y’all have been saying that all the time… When the line blocks and sustains those blocks, Turner gets to the 2nd level and runs fine… Turner is not the problem, the line is the problem…
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:43 am
Poor Weems, saved the season in Tampa Bay; now he is a pariah for last night…
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
8:43 am
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:41 am
“I think Turner is wearing down”
Y’all have been saying that all the time… When the line blocks and sustains those blocks, Turner gets to the 2nd level and runs fine… Turner is not the problem, the line is the problem
=========================
Turner has trouble against quick defenses. He is not quick enough to round the corner. His worse games this season have been against quick/aggressive defenses. THe falcons keep running up the middle because Turner is not quick enough to turn the corner, thats why the Saints were stackign the box in the middle and daring Turner to run to the edges
Harry Houdini
December 28th, 2010
8:44 am
Final NFC South Standings
—————————————
Falcons .. 13-3
Saints … 11-5
Bucs …… 10-6
Gumboz1953
December 28th, 2010
8:47 am
Ignore those other Saints fans. Here’s the real deal: QUIT WHINING. The Saints were in the same position last year, only worse. We were undefeated, then lost the last three games of the season. Everybody thought the sky was falling. (Hint: it wasn’t.)
Folks were saying before this game that these teams were evenly matched, and the team who wanted/needed it more would win. That’s what happened. No team is perfect; and it’s probably better NOW for the “Georgia dome/home field invincibility” to be cracked rather than in one of those playoff games. Now you guys can relax and just play ball, which you obviously know how to do.
Calm down, for Pete’s sake. Jeez — and this is from a Saints fan, too.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:48 am
This is to the name thieves on this blog this morning… Stop that silliness! You got a beef with a blogger, be man or woman enough to stand behind your post! Stop stealing user names and call people out the right way!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
8:48 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan:
You are obvious a Michael Vick fan, and a sure fire racist…if you can’t enjoy what Ryan has done for the Falcons this year, go to Philadelphia and pull for Vick….
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
8:50 am
Raleigh dog,
Brees made two bone-head plays that almost cost his team the game
Mid Town Joe
December 28th, 2010
8:50 am
Without establishing a running game, we can kiss this season goodbye. Turner will not get us there. He needs a hole big enough for a mack truck to drive through. He has no lateral movement. Sometimes I think the only reason he’s given the ball is to give the receivers a break from running down field.
Saints v. Patriots
December 28th, 2010
8:51 am
After last night’s game, the super bowl is set—it is clear that New Orleans and New England are the two best teams in the league and will play for the title. Saints win a close one: NO 33 NE 30–title #2!
Cajun Crap Talker
December 28th, 2010
8:51 am
Schultzie, c’mon man! Icey Matt “outdueled” Brees last time? More like Matty Bryan outdueled Garett Hartley.
Football wife
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
It looked like a well matched game on both parts–both lost the ball twice and scored; both defenses showed up to play; neither had any kind of running game. Could have gone either way.
The difference was 1) the Falcon receivers particularly Roddy White who should have played the game rather than shoot off his tweeter finger. Matt would throw them a precise pass and they acted like they’d never caught a football in their lives. So don’t blame Matty Ice–look at his receivers, and 2) our offensive coordinator has been playing conserative ball all year long; gets them ahead then its first and second down of running up the middle with a third down long ball. Got some news for you, DOESN’T WORK when your receivers aren’t doing their job.
Overall, good game on both sides of the field. The Falcons seem to go into each week with a ‘defining game; so to lose one out of the last nine is nothing to lose faith over. And losing makes a great team hungry for a win next time.
Can’t wait to see you Aints back in our dome in a few weeks, that is if you make it through the Bears or the Eagles.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
Schultzie:
You been drinking Paul Johnson koolade again…He goes for it on all 4th downs…You don’t last long in NFL as a coach or in the ACC either going for 1st downs on 4th and 6 on your end of the field….Sure, if Coach Smith had known the defense wouldn’t hold up, he would have gone for it…give credit to the Saints, they got the job done….
georgiadawgg
December 28th, 2010
8:52 am
matty ice has changed his name to luke warm. turner the burner is not as good as people thinks he is.
Byron
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
I agree with Nashad and Jeff. Being a Falcon fan since age 5 and now 43, I have seen this rivalry with NO for a long time. This game was a chance to tune up for the BIG Game. Mike Smith will go back to the lab and get our team ready. We now have a winning mentality and can compete. Whether You believe it or not. THIS IS OUR YEAR TO WIN IT ALL. I WILL BE IN DALLAS WITH THE 2011 SUPERBOWL CHAMPS — THE ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruce Matthews
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
The only melt down was the O-LINE for Atlanta…no run blocking all night…bad snap…gave up sacks/pressure…that O-Line better step up or it will be 1 and done in the playoffs…Philly/NO/Chicago will all blitz/pressure Ryan….LETS GO FAT GUYS…a good O-Line is the key…ask Tom Brady/Peyton Manning…with no time, nothing else matters
Diehard Falcon
December 28th, 2010
8:57 am
Two main people to blame:
1) Mike Mularkey
2) Michael Turner
Mularkey couldn’t get it through is d@mn head that the running game was not working. Turner wasn’t keeping his feet moving like the old days and turning 2 yard gains into 8 yard gains. Turner is slow and needs to go! Snelling and Gonzalez were productive, yet they hardly touched the ball all night. I don’t understand why you aquire the league’s best TE and only throw to him an avg. of 3-4 times per game. It makes no sense! Time to draft a new RB.
Not the playoffs
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
I am disappointed in the analysis by Schltlz and Bradley. A close loss in a less than critical game is little more than a bump in the road for the Falcons. We are not a dominant team, and will need to hold on to our trump cards as long as possible to be successful in the playoffs. Why turn this game into “the game of the franchise’s history”? The Falcons were in the position to play conservatively and prepare for the playoffs. It would have been nice to win, but the season’s big prize should not be chest thumping because we swept the season series from the Saints. We’ll see how good the Falcons are in a few weeks.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
“THe falcons keep running up the middle because Turner is not quick enough to turn the corner, thats why the Saints were stackign the box in the middle and daring Turner to run to the edges”
Man, that is the “STRENGTH of the TEAM! Blalock, Dahl, and McClure. Guess what? Snelling ain’t getting outside either last night. Your STRENGTH is being neutralized! That is not Turner’s fault, that is your lines fault… Barry Sanders and Maurice Jones-Drew don’t wear the red and black… By the way, that is what having a All-Pro wideout and Tight end is supposed to take care of… Maybe your offense has lost its mojo in one short week? Didn’t seem to be a problem in Seattle…
Slim Pickens
December 28th, 2010
8:58 am
I am sick of watching Michael Turner fall down at the first contact by a defensive player. Also I just had a feeling something bad was going to happen when it was first and goal. Turner got stuffed and they turned around and handed it go him again…..and he coughed it up right on cue. If you took all the running he did “east & west” he surely had over 120 yards for the game. To make it worse, we had to look at King Arthur trolling the sidelines to get his mug on TV…as usual. Overall grade for the game C-.
Deb Lilly
December 28th, 2010
8:59 am
Well, I thought we played exceptionally well and should have won, but you can’t win them all. Good try Falcons — and yes, the Saints won but it wasn’t an easy win for them. The Atlanta defense was outstanding and proved it to the nation — unfortunately, the rolled snap from the center basically gave the game to New Orleans, but as with any sport, you have to have some luck as well. Let’s forget last night and look forward to Carolina and hopefully cinching our division and home field advantage.
richard
December 28th, 2010
8:59 am
second half – offense went – 3 and out – 3 and out – 3 and out and that my friend is the story line
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
who cares about mike vick, really we dont want him here as our QB. he didnt do anything while he was here ! during his time off he finally learned how to almost be a QB.notice i said ALMOST. ryan is a very good QB . vick is a almost! dont get confused chokey.u and maybe 3 other people are the only fans he has.matt didnt lose this game by himself.the defense played very well for the most part, falcons didnt score early and often, there were turnovers, running game never developed.bad calls by officials on both teams.nethier yeam looked like a superbowl team last night.
Hit A Single
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
The Falcons got whipped on the line of scrimmage all night. That is the bottom lilne! I thought Coach Smith made the right call. 4th and 6, if you couldn’t get it done all night why do you think you can get it done on one play. Punt the ball and play defense, it just didn’t work out. Falcons didn’t deserve to win and maybe in 3 weeks we will be glad we lost this one. It would be tough to beat that bunch three times in one year. Alot of football left.
BobbyDawg
December 28th, 2010
9:00 am
The Saints played some awesome defense. They gave our offense 7 points. Give ‘em credit! They shut down Michael Turner, and they shut down Matt Ryan. The Falcons still had a chance to win this one except for two critical fumbles one by Turner and one by the center which led to a N.O. TD. It’s the way football is. I hope that Mike Smith learned his lesson about punting the ball away with less than 3 minutes. I don’t care if you’re backed up on your own 10 yard line, the offense is the only way to go. This tells me that Smitty is one of those people who doesn’t pay attention to time. I’d bet he doesn’t even wear a watch. It’s not over yet. Put this game behind you and “ROLL ON FALCONS”
Dan Lance
December 28th, 2010
9:01 am
Out dueled Aaron Rodgers? Are you kidding me? Did you see that game? The Falcons were lucky as hell to win that game and Rodgers “smoked” Ryan in that game. The Packers special teams and mistakes blew that game – it had nothing to do with quarterbacks.
Gumboz1953
December 28th, 2010
9:01 am
To “Saints v. Patriots” — whatever you’re smoking, I hope you brought enough for everybody. I am a Saints fan, and I think it’s remotely possible for the Saints to make it to the Superbowl. But they would get their hats handed to them by this year’s Patriots; Brees is doing too many screwy things lately. Frankly, I don’t think they’ll make it that far, especially if they have to play any playoff games in the snow. They don’t like snow.
The Falcons, who play all their games at home, do have a chance to take it all, assuming Ryan is playing well and the defense can stop Brady.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
RISE UP!!! Panthers RISE UP!!!!
Roger
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
Totally agree with an earlier comment about the “fair weather fans”…if I must, fans are SUPPOSED to be 100% fans…not 99%. We had our chances to win; didn’t do it!! Give our opponents some credit; they came through when they needed to make some plays. Our defense was on the field way too long…period. May have been some let down team wide; knowing that we can still win the division and home field advantage by winning next Sunday. A lost can sometime force the entire team to re-focus. WE GOT THIS…lookout EVERYBODY…”RISE UP”!!!
Gwinnett Fred
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
Disappointing loss for sure, but just like they gave us the first one with a missed 27 yard FG, we gave this one to them with 14 points worth of turnovers.
But let’s put it this way – if we play them in the playoffs with the EXACT same intensity and the game comes down to the Falcons scoring vs. coming away empty on a 1st & Goal from the 1, I’ll take those chances any day of the week.
Nothing lost here but a game. Beat the Panthers and the #1 seed remains in tact.
Great effort boys!
lombardi
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
The guy who stubbornly clutches onto his Pop (friggin) Warner playbook is this team’s Achilles Heel.
Lewis Buzzard
December 28th, 2010
9:03 am
The 2 fumbles were killer but I thought the officiating as usual was pathetic. How do you have off setting PI called. Either you keep the flag in your pocket or have the balls to make the proper call. Brees intentional grounding in the end zone would have gained the Falcons a safety and another possession. Finally how about the spot Pierre Thomas got on that last drive when his knee clearly touched the ground while the ball was a yard short of where it was spotted. I thought the replay officail in the booth looks at all the plays inside of 2:00 even without a challenge flag being thrown. Methinks
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
Falcons aren’t guaranteed to play their playoff games at home. Keep assuming….. Just as Roddy assumed that the Falcons can’t be beaten at home.
Michael Turner
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
Going forward, I will be known as “Turner the Bummer”.
SAVANNAHDAWG
December 28th, 2010
9:05 am
You people are a bunch of negative, crying SOB’s! The damn team is12-3!!!! Yeah they lost a tough game…..Could the Falcons have played better? Sure they could have but I’ll take a loss right now. Keep them from getting over confident heading into the playoffs. A tough loss in a game against the Saints, who are just as good as anyone right now, isn’t a bad thing.
Schultz and Bradley………..both of you are idiots who don’t have a clue! The rest of you band-wagon bitches need to get a real clue!!!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:06 am
Lewis Buzzard…..on NFL.COM they have the rule book. You need to read it and you would feel better about the officiating.
John
December 28th, 2010
9:06 am
Reality check – Falcons lost to a team with just as much to play for – with just as much (if not a little more) talent. They lost to a team that has been in the situation before, and consolidated to put together one drive when they had to. It’s really comical to see the doomsayers and naysayers come out against any team – any time they lose. Seem to recall several posts at beginning of the year after the loss to the Steelers predicting a sub-500 season. Get a grip folks..
Falcons should beat Carolina next week – if not – don’t deserve a home game. If they do – some team still has to come here and beat this bunch at home who gets an extra week of rest. White’s knee is bothering him; Ryan wasn’t sharp at all; But I’d suggest the defense played much better than anyone expected. Name the last team to win their last 7-8 games of the season – including the Super Bowl. It’s a fantasy to think that teams roll into the playoffs.
Sout Georgia
December 28th, 2010
9:07 am
If the Falcons face the Saints and they probable will then it would have been almost impossible to beat a team of their caliber three times in one season. Now the falcons can learn from mistakes and win it all. Awesome season. Go Falcons
Mike
December 28th, 2010
9:07 am
I don’t know how you called him clutch when he was the reason we were 4th and 6.
Mike
December 28th, 2010
9:08 am
We need a scatback more than you know! Turner can’t bend any corners … we need a game changer, not two of the same the backfield. Look for RB and TE to be the focus of the draft …and DE.
Sout Georgia
December 28th, 2010
9:08 am
Enter your comments here
BW
December 28th, 2010
9:10 am
This game didn’t come down to one play. First after his quick slant touchdown, Roddy White disappeared the rest of the game. If we are going anywhere then he’s going to have to STFU on Twitter and play damn ball. Second, I know Michael Turner is getting all this hype but he’s starting to slow down and it’s apparent this season. Dimitroff may at least want to draft a running back this offseason that will be a threat out of the backfield to catch the ball downfield. Third the offensive playcalling was meek at best. Outside of the drive that got them to the Saints 1 yard line, the offense was inconsistent at best. Ryan is in his third year and it’s time to allow him a chance to complete improvisiontal throws like Brees did all night. Seeing the defense put up its best effort of the year, they deserved from the offense to play better. Finally last night was a case of a team that’s been in the clutch situation and won and the Falcons haven’t reached that level. All hope is not lost but Schultz is right…Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey need to turn up their game to advance in the postseason.
John
December 28th, 2010
9:10 am
SavannahDawg- I second your passionate call-out of the crybaby fans.
SaintsReam – We’ll see you in ATL on January 15. Bring the A-game..
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:10 am
man, all negative today yesterday everyone was yelling SUPERBOWL!!!! what happened ? ATTENTION all real falcon fans please remain in your seat, the train will be slowing so the bandwagon jumpers can jump off ! pleaser take all your baggage and negativity with u . and dont be trying to get back on later we really dont need you . maybe NFL network will let u be guest anylasist
biff
December 28th, 2010
9:12 am
Jeff says in this article that Matt Ryan wears make-up. WOW!
stendek
December 28th, 2010
9:13 am
Only long time Falcon followers understand how truly depressing and devastating this defeat at the Georgia Dome was. This setback has far reaching implications. Goes far deeper than simply a tough loss to a decent team. Far deeper…
http://stendek77.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/falcon-offense-no-show-in-home-loss-to-saints/
Fans with the team since 1966 know exactly what I mean.
STENDEK
MisterEarl
December 28th, 2010
9:13 am
The Saints ran the same game-winning slant play to Jimmy Graham earlier with the same player (Reggie Bush) in motion. Great tactical decision by Sean Payton. Jimmy Graham is a great story of redemption.
The x factor if the two teams meet again will be Chris Ivory.
Great game with every play holding significance.
Rajun cajun
December 28th, 2010
9:14 am
You poor misguided Failcant fans….you got outplayed….outcoached….and could only produce a single offensive td. Your qb was terrible and looked like a rookie. In other words, you have been lucky and are frauds. If it were not for the sloppy play and penalties of my Sants, they would have beat you soundly. You are in denial and delusional. You ae not play-off ready and will be one and done. What a pathetic fan base. Losers above – keep calling us the ‘Aints. Only makes that SB44 ring shine more…..
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:17 am
Mr.Blank did some good things for this team but he did the wrong thing when he didn’t forgive MV. Forgiving is a direct commendment from God but Mr.Blank disobeyed it. He will have to answer for his unforgiving heart. Matthew 18:22 saids to forgive 70 times 7 times = 490 times
Back to football. Could of been…….Michael Vick + Glenn Dorsey = Super Bowl Champion.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>G.Dorsey 60 tackles 1 1/2 sacks<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Gwinnett Fred
December 28th, 2010
9:18 am
Put me down for a pat on the back to SavannahDawg and his comments.
You crybabies make me want to puke. It takes “fans” like you to crucify a 12-3 team. You don’t deserve to follow a winner, because only the 1972 Dolphins would have kept you from bitching at some point, though you’d have probably found something to bellyache about anyway.
John, SavannahDawg, and all the REAL Falcons fans – my advise (that I’m fixing to do myself) – log off this ridiculous blog filled with other teams fans and Falcon whiners – real fans were at the Dome last night blowing the roof off the place and will be there next week and again 2 weeks after that cheering our team on while these bellyachers will be passing out on their couches with a beer in hand thinking they could do it better. Yea, right.
Lewis Buzzard
December 28th, 2010
9:18 am
Hey Saint REAM how about doing me a fav and doing a copy and paste from the rulebook. I went to the NFL rulebook and couldn’t find the specific rule. Evidently you have. So how about posting so all us Falc fans will know?
atlnative
December 28th, 2010
9:18 am
Coach Mike Smith was overruled by the “forces”controlling the Atlanta Falcons.It’s fourth and six with 2:52 left in the game.Why would you punt the ball without giving Matt Ryan a chance to rally the team to victory?Who really made the decision to punt the football?
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:18 am
Loser Falcon fans rationalizing that the loss keeps them from having to beat the Saints 3 times this year….ridiculous. What is this foolishness about how hard it is to beat a team 3 times? Uh….so should Saints fans be happy that we botched a FG earlier in the season. that way if we play the Falcons in the playoffs we would only have to beat them twice this year. Nice loser mentality. Nope. When you own a team you pound them everytime you play them. Thats what domination is about…..but ….you fans know in your hearts you were lucky to win early this season. And you don’t think you can get lucky 3 times in a season. Freakin losers!!!!
cajun2good
December 28th, 2010
9:19 am
HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha….choke city,,,,,I told you about sean paytons national tv % win…dirty birds are a long way from being a elite…….the dirty birds will lose Sunday and the Saints will take the division……..HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Rob Thomas
December 28th, 2010
9:19 am
I posted this little factoid earlier; don’t know if anyone saw it, but i found it pretty interesting:
The last 2 times 10+ win teams met on MNF, the loser of that game went on to become the eventual Super Bowl winner (1990 Giants, 1997 Broncos; both lost to the 49ers).
Sportsrealist
December 28th, 2010
9:19 am
Good gut check for the birds. We needed this to get us focused for the playoffs. Now we regroup and turn up the volume. We’re on the right path to a super bowl victory. Go Falcons!!!
Gwinnett Fred
December 28th, 2010
9:20 am
And now we have to read Stendec’s crap about how losing last night was the end of the world.
Get a life you LOSER and quit living thru others.
I’m gone – tired of reading blogs filled with other teams fans and false Falcon fans that can only complain about a great 12-3 team.
I suggest all REAL Falcon fans do the same and exit this bogus blog.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:20 am
michael turner has helped this team win games all year mike, youre looking for someone to blame but u just dont know who.. lets blame it on FREDDIE FALCON. yeah thats the ticket, he did it . he dropped those passes, he let the saints score. he put water in the cups instead of gatorade.he didnt flapp his wings hard enough. freddie how could u ?
Nativebird
December 28th, 2010
9:20 am
This is what’s wrong with coaches and organizations who do not dare to greatness. who PUNT with the game on the line, your franchise quarterback under center and under 3 minutes. Mularky? too conservative. and now he’s convinced his head coach that no matter HOW many times he’s seen this young talented QB drive and win with time runningout, that the right play is punt. You have GOT to be kidding me! Give this kid the tools! Give this kid the opportunity! EVEN on a bad night, they could have pulled this one out. but now, THIS ONE is definitely on the coach for not even trying!
Atlanta..once again, on the big stage, when the spot light is on you…you lay another TURD. Yes, you’ll go to the playoffs, yes, you’ve got another (boring!) winning season, yes, you’ll probably win 1 or no playoff games and talk about next year. THIS franchise does NOT have the Superbowl as its goal! Just like the Braves, their goal is to NOT be in last place. ya know why? because us suckers who pay the bills are ALLOW it to be that way. Suckers. Blank, Smith, Demitroff, Cox, Scheruholz….they ALL get PAID big bucks for reaching the goal of NOT BEING LOSERVILLE…this year and next. WE are the suckers. New England? New York? Philly? Allin baby! SUPERBOWL OR WORLD SERIES OR BUST. that, my friends wins championships!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:21 am
Lewis Buzzard….how about holding these. I don’t work for you….trick.
Underground Atlanta
December 28th, 2010
9:22 am
The Saints can’t even win the NFC South,
much less the Super Bowl.
GoDawgs
December 28th, 2010
9:22 am
Jeff,
The call to punt and not go for it was a good call. If the Falcons didn’t make the 1st down it would give the saints the ball at the Atlanta 39. The offense didn’t play their style of game and let the Saints run 20+ more plays than the Falcons and held the ball for 10+ minutes longer. What hurt the falcons was to many consecutive 3 and outs that led to the defense getting worn down late in the game. The 2 critical offensive pass interference calls on White and Jenkins that negated big first down plays didn’t help. The throw by Matt Ryan on 3rd down to an open Harry Douglas that was off target before the call to punt on 4th down was poorly executed. It’s better to end the streak now than have it end in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Matt Ryan has played poorly or average at best his last five games and could easily have had 7-8 balls picked off if d-b’s could catch balls that hit their hands. That should be the focus on why Atlanta lost and not a decision to punt on 4th down late in the game.
Lewis Buzzard
December 28th, 2010
9:23 am
REAM go back to Trashville.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:23 am
Gwinnett Fred….yes leave the blog…just like you left the Dome last night….quickly.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:23 am
I think losing last night may be a blessing in disguise. Look at New England, loses to Cleveland, HUGE wake up call. Now they can stop reading all their press clippings, and come back down to earth.
Granted, OL did not have a good game, but it’s hard to block eight in the box. NO did a nice job of taking Roddy out of the game in the second half, they kept a safety to help on him.
No huddle would have been nice, no sense of urgency. I would have gone for it on 4th, defense was tired, just came off the field after 90 yard drive aginst them, NO actually scored twice on the drive, first one to Colston called back.
Need to put this one away, get ready and beat Carolina, and still get what they’ve played for all year, home field advantage. Good chance we will see the Saints again in three weeks, after they beat the NFC west winner.
Don’t get down on the Falcons, it was a bad night, everyone has them.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:25 am
This will be a blessing and not just because it may wake up the coaching staff from its delusions of conservatism but because it will force the Falcons to play next week. The Falcons were not good enough to take 2 weeks off before the playoffs.
Boudreaux from St. Bernards Parish
December 28th, 2010
9:25 am
Underground….We are the Super Bowl Champs…..
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:25 am
ha mike you beat me
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:25 am
Lewis…its ridiculous that the Falcons would complain about the officiating of a game. Out of all the beneficial calls you have received this year to keep this fraudulent season alive. The ridiculous Roddy White push offs….the non-catches are too many to name….C’mon man.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:26 am
saints rim , your guys were lucky to win last night. not good, not super. average and lucky. neither team played their best last night. and right now your saints are thinking darn we are probably gonna have to play these guys again . break out the advil and the pepto. are u worried ? u should be ! your aints are.
GoDawgs
December 28th, 2010
9:26 am
Plus the Falcons had 2 timeouts and the 2 minute warning left which gave them plenty of time if they could stop the Saints forcing them to go 3 and out.
elvisluvsfalcons
December 28th, 2010
9:28 am
Our pass rushers have no technique other than run as fast as they can towards the opposing QB. Stopped counting at 5 the number of times we had our hands on Brees and didn;t bring him down.
Turner as good as he is simply does not have the ability to stretch the field from left to right, I have an artificial hip and I could catch him if he runs laterally. Our average yards per play on first down was pathetic. Turnovers, abyssmal offficiating (double pass interference??) no running game cost us. BTW, where was Tony Gonzalez? Hate to say it, but not having Norwood the last couple of games hurt us, his speed would have caused the New Orleans D to play a little soft on the edges.
Von
December 28th, 2010
9:29 am
Didn’t it look like Ryan saw the ball on the ground on the bad snap and stepped away instead of diving for it? I read an article where some reporter said Brees was no longer the best QB in the NFC South, Ryan was. After tonight on MNF despite with everything thrown at him except the kitchen sink, he came through and led his team to victory. Are you kidding me? Brees is ice!
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:29 am
@Tony- this is a football blog, not Bible Blog! Though I praise Vick for getting his act together (23 months in a jail cell can do that to you) I will NEVER forgive him for putting living creatures lives on the line by putting them in a cage and fighting to the death, whether it be a dog, human being, rooster, cat (well maybe cats would be OK).
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:30 am
Birddawg….really. Why would they/we be worried? You aren’t that physical of a team, you couldn’t run it or throw it consistently. Your offense scored 7pts…no matter the length of the field. Matt Ryan played a pedestrian game and so did all of your “playmakers.”
In the game earlier in the season you won the toss in OT….we stopped you.
Your fan base exited the Dome to beat traffic before the game was over….what should we fear??
Red&Black
December 28th, 2010
9:31 am
The real game was the defense. This is a prelude to the post season. Unleash the 3-4!!!
Finally
December 28th, 2010
9:31 am
So basically the local media is just gonna ignore the fact that the Falcons scored only 7 offensive points and try and pretend like it came down to one punt with 3 min to go.
Lester
December 28th, 2010
9:32 am
You won in New Orleans because a kicker missed a 32 yarder. Get over yourselves. You were THAT close to getting swept by the WORLD CHAMPS!
Who Dat Talking bout beating them Saints
December 28th, 2010
9:32 am
Well, Roddy White, you talked too much trash before the game. Let’s make some dirty bird gumbo. Who Dats baby.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:33 am
Draft Cam Newton. We need a strong scrambling qb.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:33 am
I not only hope to play the Falcons in the playoffs…heck, i wish we could play them every week. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Falcons are a good team…but I think if we play them 10 times we win 7 of them. We blew the first game with a botched FG. Still we never felt like the Falcons were better….still don’t.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:35 am
Trade Matt Ryan to Kansas City for Glenn Dorsey and draft Cam Newton.
Ed
December 28th, 2010
9:35 am
I actually agreed with Mike Smith in that 4th and 6 situation. The Falcons had 2 timeouts remaining plus the 2 minute warning I was confident that the Falcons would be able to stop New Orleans and get the ball back. The most disappointing thing of all was the running game, it just never got going. I really liked the way the defense played all the way around, they certainly deserved a better performance by the offense but all is not lost we need to just regroup and beat the Panthers this week.
Saints R.E.AM.
December 28th, 2010
9:36 am
Hey everyone, don’t you like my name? Isn’t it the gayest nickname you’ve ever seen? MMmm, I like boys too.
luangtom
December 28th, 2010
9:36 am
It’s still just a game for entertainment purposes. That said, is it really a surprise? Think Hawks, Thrashers, Braves……..end of the season blues.
myra
December 28th, 2010
9:37 am
Wow. If the saints defense did that to us, we are not who we thought we were.
Back to the books. We gotta have better designed plays on offense. Need a few more tricks.
Falcons Defense much love 2 U. You played the whole damn game!
Oh no!
December 28th, 2010
9:37 am
I put this one on the play calling. You have to find a way to get the ball to White or Gonzo. We went to Harry Douglas 3 times in the seam in the 2nd half. He couldn’t get seperation from linebackers. What was that crap?
atlnative
December 28th, 2010
9:37 am
To all the so called Atlanta Falcons’ fans who are still loyal to Michael Vick:Do you remember Vick flipping “birds” to the Georgia Dome crowd during a loss to the New Orleans Saints?Why are you still mourning Mr.Vick’s demise?Arthur Blank took a substantial financial risk and drafted a guy with questionable character and made him a multimillionaire.Vick lied to the man who made him rich about his involvement with dogfighting,and you people think Blank should be loyal to Vick?
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:38 am
you fear THE BIRDS ! admit it reemy . aint no amount of voodoo can get rid of that feeling you re getting in the bottom of your stomach that says THEY will get us next time !!!! i hope you enjoy the FALCONS- Patriots superbowl.Who DAT SAY THEY WONT Be There ????? your saints lol lol lol.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:39 am
Poor Falcons fans….last unoriginal idea. Hey I’ll take someone’s username and post in the blog something stupid. That will make the Falcons look Good.
Stupid
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Why was it when Vick was with the Falcons(Ron Mexico, Weed in the bottle at airport) every time the Falcons were on TV we would see music intros with jungle beat, crotch grabbing, blue gummed fools singing trash music. But with the eagles, we don’t get that?
wareagle0904
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Our offensive line got whipped and Turner’s fumble and poor running were what cost us this game. If you watch many of the other backs in the NFL, they would make most of Turner’s runs much better than he does. Props to the defense though. Even thought they got whipped in the 4th, I was truly impressed with them overall on the night.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Matt Ryan and Kevin Knob Have one thing in common, they are “MY HERO ZERO”
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:41 am
atlnative, do you know what forgive means?
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:41 am
@Tony- do you have a mancrush on Glenn Dorsey?
@ atlnative- couldn’t have said it better.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
Good game. Wrong team won. There is no dominant team in the NFC, but a number of flawed, but good teams. We saw two fight it out last night.
If I was an impartial observer (which I’m not) I’d rank it up there among the best MNF games of the 2010 season.
Bottom line is Michael Turner reverted, as other posters have already mentioned, to “Twinkle Toes” Turner last night. There’s no excuse for the indecisive, hesitant manner in which he minced up to the line of scrimmage on his fumble play from the one yard line. He also spent way too much time running east and west instead of north and south.
From the side, Mike makes a chubby, slow and inviting target to defenders. Head on, and IF he’s got his game face on, he’s a formidable runner who dishes out punishment to defenders.
Like other posters already mentioned (hey, after six pages, what’s new to say?) the Birds defense ran out of steam.
Kudos to the Saints. We may meet again before it’s all over. Somebody in Flowery Branch be sure Turner is in a surly mood next time.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
A chance to do what? go three and out? gut check. back to life back to reality.
I just see this loss lingering into the next game and the panthers winning. Seen this b4.
‘cons rise up to get beat down, step up step up and get your arses whipped.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
@ Tony- a mancrush on Vick too?
kimmer
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Woulda, shoulda, coulda. The reality is if smith had gone for it on 4th down and not made it, most of the go for it crowd, including you too shultz would likely have pilloried him for that decision too. You defend the logic of going for it based on the birds 85% success on 4th down but that is misleading. How many of those 4th down tries were less than a yard? What is their percentage on 4th and 5+ yards?
Smith did the right thing. He was banking on the saints doing what every other team would have done in that situation & that’s run the football with both arms around the ball three times then punt it back with a minute plus and a fresh set of downs. You gotta give peyton credit for having the guts to throw the ball down there to get those first downs. It almost cost him with that near fumble that required a replay to correct.
Ultimately, this might work in the falcons favor. They have a very good chance to clinch anyway at home vs the hapless panthers and they now have the pressure relieved from the unlikely prospect of having to beat the saints three times in one season should they meet them again in the playoffs. I say this and I am a saints fan myself.
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
wareagle0904
December 28th, 2010
9:40 am
Our offensive line got whipped and Turner’s fumble and poor running were what cost us this game.
Agreed. On the play Turner fumbled if he had run off the end, it was him versus a corner, I don’t know what he was thinking running into a wall of butts.
Ed
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Rajun Cajun… you say that Matt Ryan looked like a rookie, well Drew Brees didn’t exactly look like Joe Montana when he threw that interception that was ran back for a touchdown by Chauncey Davis.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:43 am
Making 6 yards should have and in fact would have been easier then stopping the Saints a first down.
Question
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:42 am
No job.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
oops…stopping the Saints “from making” a first down.
Falconsin
December 28th, 2010
9:44 am
Here is exactly why the Falcons should have went for it. Give the offense one more attempt and then if it fails let the defense get a stop.
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/the-falcons-shouldnt-have-punted/
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:45 am
mike, do you know what forgive means? just the meaning plz.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
9:47 am
God I love my name.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
Smith did the right thing. This game was never in doubt except brees got greedy and would not settle for the short game and attempted to be superman at the wrong time.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
@Tony I told them to go get Tim Tebow they did not listen!!!!!!!
juice sourcer
December 28th, 2010
9:48 am
Pro coaches do this all the time and I just can’t for the life of me understand why. Take the offence off the field and let New Orleans run out the clock. It just makes no sense. It’s playing to lose.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:50 am
brees looked like he was holding a hot potato, he saw the falcons coming and he just tossed it to get rid of it. the game did have its comical moments. matt was looking at that ball on the ground after the botched snap like whats that ? i dont want it .. both teams played sloppy and both will be lucky to make it to the superbowl.
Russ555
December 28th, 2010
9:50 am
It’s not just a game between quarterbacks. Saints coverage was too good on the last Falcon drive, and the pass rush to good for Ryan to make his magic. Agree that the punt was the best option, between two very bad choices. Failure to make a first down would have ended the game.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:51 am
Our biggest need when we drafted Ryan was a defensive tackle but we took a qb instead. Had Mr.Blank forgiven Vick which is the right thing to do we would have Glenn Dorsey and M.Vick.
Kem
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
Smoothie- Don’t blame Roddy. He can’t throw the ball to himself. Give the Saints “D” some credit, although the “O” line left a lot to be desired.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
Tony- yes, I know what forgive means. I also know what forget means also. Do you forgive a murderer who takes someones life, or has something to do with it? I don’t.
Maybe you should take a ride to Petsmart on a Saturday, and look at all the dogs waiting to be adopted, and all the proud dog owners who bring their dogs to the store. What do the dogs and us human beings have in common? Life, and Vick took that away from defenseless dogs. It may not have been a human, but it was murder of life!
SteveW
December 28th, 2010
9:54 am
And if Smith goes for it on 4th down and misses with 3 minutes left, we say what an idiot of an HC when he could have punted, look at the Defense etc. Really, you have to have confidence in your defense to stop them from the 14. And if that fumble would have been ruled the other way, Smith looks like a genius.
And I like the Rear Naked Choke the Falcons OL has on the Saints player in the picture! Glad to know that’s legal now in the NFL. Protect Matty Ice any way necessary!
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:55 am
Mr.Blank was more concern about pleasing the world than pleasing God.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:55 am
Tony: I keep reading your crap, and I have to ask you, if I killed one of your family members, would you forgive me? Doubt it.
Red&Black
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Bottom line. I like Mcclure, but that snap cost us the game. Here’s a scary thought: Last nights defensive with this years offense in the post season. Umm champagne popping next year, and i’m not talking about New Year’s celebrations.
GURU
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Come on Man: If Mike Smith would have gone for it and not got it, he would still be his fault for not believing in the “D”. Truth of the matter its: Matt Ryan and the Falcons had a chance to win the game and didn’t get it done. They scored one touchdown on the Saints “D” all night………….So to sit here and question Mike Smith judgment in quite ridiculous! This is a very fine coach, who has gained a lot of respect throughout this league with his ability to lead an organization. (Jeff Schultz) Don’t throw Mike under the Bus after he did what 30 other coaches’ would have done in the same situation……….
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Its all CPJ’s fault. His special teams are a flat out embarrassment. Scott Blair is a good placekicker even still it appears as though the Jackets have the worst special teams in college football.
Does he not even have the backup return men practice? I’m staring to wonder if he thinks his “genius” triple option status precludes him from even caring about special teams.
Its all CPJ’s fault.
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
saints reak. your boys will have trouble getting to the superbowl too . they got lucky this time like we did last time, they are not playing like the same saints that won the superbowl. falcons pretty much beat themselves last night. i didnt see anything special out of saints either.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
Tell us mike, what does forgive means?
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
9:58 am
Falcons weren’t only out coached, their players were out played as well.
What you saw last night folks was the Falcons A game. There was nothing conservative about it…they did not hold back.
That was it…you saw exactly what kind of team you have.
One and Done in your Garbage Dome!
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
9:58 am
@Underground Atlanta: nobody care about the NFC South the Falcons can have it the Falcons will be one and done in the Playoff for sure!!!!!!!
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
Glenn Dorsey is a bust. 3.5 sacks in 2 years.
mike
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
Tony: Mr. Blank can please whoever he wants to, it’s his business.
Rambo
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
I thank that the Falcons played a very vanilla offense on purpose and did not want to show too much to the Saints since they may see them again. There were no reverses, screens, fakes etc. Still, we almost won and should have won with the botched snap(terrible) and the fumble at the goal line. I think if they come into the dome for the playoffs, you will see a different Falcons offense. Good to get this wake up call in a meaningless game than the playoffs.
tony
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
yes I would forgive you mike because its the right thing to do.It won’t be easy but I will do it.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
10:00 am
oops again “I’m starting”
That’s it I’m brewing another pot of coffee.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 28th, 2010
10:00 am
Hey tony,
Keep Mike Vick? We’ll wait for you like a faithful girlfriend who’s beau marched off to war.
Please. What do the Birds do for two years while MV7 is cooling his heels in Leavenworth? Stay the course with Joey Harrington?
You won’t find a bigger Mike Vick fan than me. I’m tickled as heck with his success in Philly. But let go of MV7 as a Falcon. He caused his demise here in Atlanta. The Falcons moved on, Vick moved on.
Both stories have happy endings.
tony
December 28th, 2010
10:02 am
Thats true mike but lets hope his disobedience to God doesn’t hurt his business.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Rambo
December 28th, 2010
9:59 am
I thank that the Falcons played a very vanilla offense on purpose and did not want to show too much to the Saints since they may see them again. There were no reverses, screens, fakes etc. Still, we almost won and should have won with the botched snap(terrible) and the fumble at the goal line. I think if they come into the dome for the playoffs, you will see a different Falcons offense. Good to get this wake up call in a meaningless game than the playoffs.
—–
you ‘cons are so gullible and will believe and say anything to justify this loss.
Unknown Hinson
December 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Whoa, just calm down everyone. We still will clinch homefield and the South next week. If anything we needed to be humbled before the playoffs start to ensure we are not too complacent. This team has played awesome the entire year, still leads the entire NFC with the best record and everyone wants to fire Mike Smith, trade Matt Ryan, kill Mike Turner??? Am I the only one that is still 100% confident in this team? That game could have gone either way, it came down to the last 2 minutes and we were in it til the end.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
10:04 am
BirdDawg24
December 28th, 2010
9:57 am
saints reak. your boys will have trouble getting to the superbowl too . they got lucky this time like we did last time, they are not playing like the same saints that won the superbowl. falcons pretty much beat themselves last night. i didnt see anything special out of saints either.
—–
how did you beat yourself when you were ahead 3 points and had the ball? You showed your true chumpionship colors yesterday.
mike
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
Tony: this is not 8th grade english vocabulary, and it is not a Bible Blog, it is football, something you know absolutely nothing about, as Ted M pointed out to us with the Glenn Dorsey sacks stat.
I know what forgive means, I am not a big believer in forgiving people who take lives in any form away. I can’t say, oh Mike, you ran a dogfighting ring, killed dogs, had people illegally bet lots of money on these fights, but you went to jail, did your time, all’s forgotten. No way.
Tony: you should go into prison ministry, on death row. ” That’s OK Mr. Manson, I forgive you for killing Sharon Tate and her friends, and cutting the fetus of her unborn child out of her pocket.”
Falcon 316
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
Drew Brees and Mike Vick are playmakers. Matt Ryan is a game manager. I like Ryan and I think he is a good QB. However, he still has not proven that he can carry this team when the running game is not working. How many 1000 yard backs has Tom Brady played with? Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton etc…
tony
December 28th, 2010
10:07 am
Ted.M, get out of the twilight zone sir.
AU exec.
December 28th, 2010
10:07 am
Hey it was a defense battle and we had 2 costly turnovers. This game is always a good one…I would have liked to see Ryan get a chance. But only our pride hurt..we win Sunday against Carolina and we still are #1 seed team in NFC, win the conference, and have 1st week bye and home field in playoffs…The only thing i hate was losing to the Aints…Their bunch of low life fans…are worst in NFL…I observed them picking fights with folks throwing stuff from stands..spitting..it’s like turning a bunch of animals out in the streets..I watched this big ole guy come out of stands(almost tripped on steps because his pants were at his knees) go out of his way to pick on this 70 year old looking man and curse and spit…because the old man had a sign he didn’t like….when a Falcon fan equal in size stepped up to his defense the coward tucked tail and went up stairs..at a safe distance started yelling back down..our glorious Ga Dome security did nothing..but they never do..they allow opposing fans to do what they will but never take care of the home crowd…but that is another story. Bottom line we lost to a good team that is a rival…maybe it was good to get the loss now instead of a few weeks down the road.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
10:08 am
@ snake doctor : you are a sick person you need some help real bad:
MV is a sociopath! Anyone, and I mean anyone, who would choke an animal with his bare hands is not a role model but a serial killer wanna be. Of course MV ain’t gut the guts to try to kill a real person so he kills defenseless animals!
WOW what a statement!!!!!!!!
Lawyers should not be refs
December 28th, 2010
10:08 am
The Falcons got put into this position by some of the worst officiating in the NFL. Ed Hochuli, who needs to spend more time back in Southern Arizona at his law firm instead of calling NFL games, blew himself or was part of several awful anti-Falcon calls. The running into the kicker that was clearly a roughing the kicker in the first quarter, the double pass interference call, the numerous times Saints defenders hit Falcon receivers past the 5 yard zone all go to show how the wrong crew was sent by the NFL. It even took a public temper tantrum to get the call on spearing Ryan in the 4th quarter. Even listening to ESPN’s announcers made it all seem like the NFL had predetermined who was going to win the game.
Hochuli almost got canned 2 years ago but like a bad taco, he’s back.
All of you ‘Aint lovers need to go find your own board to take your second place rants to – this “aint” your home and we don’t want you (we never did).
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
10:09 am
@BirdDawg24…
Lucky…LMAO…well, if that makes you feel better!
Saints had 8 penalties for 92 yards, while the Falcons had 1 for 10 yards.
If any body on that field was beatting themselves it was the Saints.
You didn’t see anything special out of the saints either?
Saints Defense held Ryan to 15 of 29 for 148 total passing yards.
Saints Defense held Turner to 48 rushing yards and forced him to fumble on the 1 yard line.
Your 2nd best rusher of the night…guess who…Matty Ice with 26 yards.
Drew Brees commits back to back interceptions and comes right back out there and drives his team down the field 90 yards for the game winning TD.
That is something your beloved Falcons and Matty Ice could never do!
MV7 for MVP
December 28th, 2010
10:12 am
The Skip Bayless Jinx strikes again
MannyIce
December 28th, 2010
10:12 am
The reason why Mike Smith made the decision was because the offense wasn’t moving the ball. The defense, however, played a monster of a game. The defense played terrific, and they accounted for 7 of the points.
The offense, however, only had one touchdown the entire game. That’s the problem. It was an anemic performance. But I’m kinda happy that we lost because I think that it will make the Falcons hungrier in that locker room. The Falcons plays better when they’re underdogs.
tony
December 28th, 2010
10:13 am
mike, what does forgive means? just the meaning plz.
heartofdarkness
December 28th, 2010
10:13 am
I thought the Falcons best offensive plays involved getting a back going down field against a LB or DL. The Saints stuffed the run all night, and had good coverage on White, Gonzalez and Jenkins especially in the second half. Something had to be open, but the Falcons didn’t find it or chose not to divert from their basic attack. Maybe that is well founded strategic thinking or maybe it is boneheadedness. Only the playoffs against the better defenses will reveal the truth.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
10:15 am
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
10:08 am
@ snake doctor : you are a sick person you need some help real bad:
MV is a sociopath! Anyone, and I mean anyone, who would choke an animal with his bare hands is not a role model but a serial killer wanna be. Of course MV ain’t gut the guts to try to kill a real person so he kills defenseless animals!
WOW what a statement!!!!!!!!
—–
No he is not a sociopath. you don’t know what the word means. Unless you are a vegeterian and have been one all your life you aren’t any better.
Actually how he treated those dogs was no different than a parking ticket. Keep hollering though.
dga
December 28th, 2010
10:16 am
To be honest, I’m not that upset by this loss, or the conservative game plan (aside from not going for it on 4th and 6 near the end of the game). I thought it was pretty obvious that both teams played things pretty close to the chest in this one, and the Saints got the better of the Falcons.
Going into the playoffs, with a chance to see the Saints for a third time, I’d rather be 1-1 against them, than 2-0 (especially with 2 games that could have gone either way). It would be extremely difficult for any team to beat the defending Super Bowl champs 3 times in the same season. It’s not like we got killed. I would have been a lot more worried going into the playoffs if we had gotten beat badly last night, but I feel like we were conservative on purpose, and I highly doubt we will see a similar approach by Mike Smith in the playoffs. Defense played well (against the best offense they will see, other than the Eagels potentially) which is good to see at this point in the season.
I think both teams approached this game knowing that there was a good chance they could see each other in the playoffs, and that’s why both teams played conservative. You have to go into this game, play conservative, and hope you pull it out in the end. At this point in the season, when you have a chance to clinch home field the following week, you really need to save any wrinkles you plan to put into your scheme for the playoffs. I’m not happy we lost, but I don’t think there is any reason to panic. We split with the defending SB champs, are 12-3 and should still clinch home field next week. If you had told me before the season that we would go 13-3, have home field through the playoffs and split with the Saints, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. Have to keep things in perspective, and while losing to the Saints sucks, I’d rather beat them in the playoffs (if we play them). Plus, I don’t think there’s any way that any team can beat the Falcons twice in the Dome this season
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:18 am
Jeff:
Great story. I’m not sure how some of these bloggers are blaming the offense coordinator. The Saints played a conservative game plan as well, until after Brees threw his 2nd interception. They knew this game would be close.
I said it a few weeks back when the Saints beat the Cowboys, everyone can blame whoever they want, but Brees drove the Saints up the field 90 yards for the game winning touchdown. He did the same against the Cowboys going 89 yards.
The Falcons were 3 of 12 on 3rd conversions. The Saints were 8 of 17. Three flags were thrown on the Falcons first touchdown to extend the drive. Two flags were thrown to put the Falcons on the 1 yard line on Turner’s fumble.
Jackson Square
December 28th, 2010
10:19 am
Drew Brees said “It feels good, you just want to punch your ticket to the big show, and we’ve done that.
Obviously Carolina needs to beat Atlanta next week so we can get that 1-seed.”
The sAINTS
better worry about beating 9-6 Tampa Bay and not 2-13 Carolina beating Atlanta.
SportsFan31313
December 28th, 2010
10:19 am
Jeff Schultz,
I told mark Bradley two weeks ago that the “Dirty Birds” and “Mattie Ice” will fall to the Saints. I said, “MARK MY WORDS” The saint will beat the Dirty Birds in Dome.
They did. It was an exciting game. I have never seen the Falcons Defense play so well. They Blitzed All game. Red Jersey everywhere. Same thing for the Saints. It’s just that Drew Brees took care of business when the moment of truth arise. NEVER Underestimate Drew Brees.
Here is my prediction again: The Falcons will lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs, or if they meet the Philadelphia Eagles.
Falcons ROCK
December 28th, 2010
10:19 am
To all of the chest thumping, full of themselves Saints fans – congratulations! You woke up in second place this morning! Have fun playing in Chicago or Philly in January.
To the idiotic MV posters – I don’t care if he goes on to be the greatest that ever played the game – when he was here, he QUIT on this team, he QUIT on this town, and he QUIT on all of you so-called fans. Do you really think he cares about that (or you?).
BirdDog
December 28th, 2010
10:20 am
Jeff, you should get out of the prediction business.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:22 am
Lawyers Should Not Be Refs:
Look at the picture that Jeff has up on the story. If I’m not mistaken, you can’t choke NFL players that are trying to sack your quarterback. However, that call was not made last night.
Tyler
December 28th, 2010
10:27 am
How do you pull Matt Ryan’s offense off the field? Well Mr.Shultz – does 3 for 12 on 3rd down make you fell more confident in “Matt’s offense”? Ha!!
And can you please stop referring to him as “Ice”? Look, the guy IS a good QB, but he’s simply noting more than a glorified “game-manager”.
Great game between two solid teams. We’ll meet again…
Ty
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Jackson Square:
Everyone wanted to compare this year’s Falcons to last year’s Saints. Well, let’s keep that comparison going. The Saints lost to the Cowboys last year after going 13-0, and undefeated at home. Then they lost a very tough emotionally draining game to the Boys. The next week, they played a very sorry Tampa Bay Bucs team. The Saints jumped out early for a 17-0 halftime lead. The Bucs came back in the 2nd half and won in overtime.
I’ve believe the Saints will get the 5th seed, but don’t understimate the Panthers. They play the same type of ball possession, field position game that you all do. They rushed for 218 yards against you a few weeks back. In that same game, they fumbled the 1st play on their own 10 yard line. You all scored a TD after the turnover.
Gatorman
December 28th, 2010
10:29 am
I love guys that hate Matt Ryan, but he did what the coaches wanted, hate if you must. Mularkey has been fired from every job he’s had, so why is he still here. Remember Bill O’Brien (offensive coordinator at GTech) fired by Chan Gailey because he wasn’t very good, yeah the same guy that is the Offensive Coordinator for the New England Patriots. Good head coaches understand how both the offense and defense must attack and react, and it’s obvious now that Smith relies too much on Mularkey’s ability.
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
10:31 am
Can the Falcons beat 2-13 Carolina and clinch the division ?
I think so.
Dan
December 28th, 2010
10:32 am
I’ve been a Falcons fan since I was a child in the late 60’s. This Falcons management, coaching staff and players have brought the most success any Falcon team has ever seen and all most of ya’ll can do is beitoch and most of you idiots want to see them gone. Ya’ll don’t deserve success; ya’ll don’t deserve this team.
miko.wade@gmail.com
December 28th, 2010
10:32 am
Our offense was a total no show last night and we were still in the game. If Turner wouldn’t have fumbled, then we would have easily won.
I am not concerned with this lost because I know that we will win against the Panthers. What I am concerned with with is our offense being too conservative.
I say let Matty air it out more! C’MON Mike Smith, you have to remove the cuffs!
Peace,
http://www.the404list.com
mcdaviddawg
December 28th, 2010
10:33 am
A bad coaching game. Bad decision at the end and bad deciison in running Turner when NO had shown they could shut him down. Apparently no plan B if Turner couldn’t get it done.
Bird Fan Forever
December 28th, 2010
10:35 am
I would like to count how many games Jeff has won in the NFL as a HC, OC, or QB. For that matter, how many games have any of you moron, loser, Tuesday morning QB’s won? Let’s look at some of your arguments, gripes, bitches, and general compaints.
1. The Falcons should have gone for it on 4th and 6. (How bad a decision would this seem now if that “almost fumble” by the Saints had counted? Jeff would be praising Mike Smith. That is why loser non-athletes like Shultz that cannot run, throw, or catch have nothing important to say.)
2. The Falcons gameplan is too vanilla. (Well, they are 12-3. They lost in OT in week 1. They got kicked around by the Eagles on a bad day. Last night they came in with a gameplan that would have worked to perfection if not for a botched snap and Turner’s first fumble of the year. Guess they should have accounted for those two mistakes in the gameplan, right morons?)
3. The Falcons defense cost them by not rushing the QB late. (Two answers to that one. First, they continued to bring pressure. Did you notice those guys in red shirts rushing the QB. They got blocked with 5 and 6 man pressure. That ain’t scheming. That is getting blocked. Secondly, the Saints stopped sending pressure and it won them the game. If the Falcons had done that intentionally, it might not have been a bad idea.)
Skitty Fritty
December 28th, 2010
10:35 am
Don’t Panic, the Falcons have only lost 3 games and will clinch home field next week Last time I checked, the Super Bowl wasn’t played on 12/27.
Go Falcons!
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
10:35 am
Heres a comparison to chew on Vick lovers:
Ryan 1-3-09 @ Ariz L 30-24 15/29 199 yds 2td’s 2 int’s 72.8 qb rating
Vick 1-23-05@ Phil L 24-17 11/24 136 yds 0td’s 1 int 45.8 qb rating
C from Marietta
December 28th, 2010
10:36 am
WOW! Falcon’s fans. Your so ready to throw them under the bus after one game. They win Sunday and they have the best record in the NFC. It’s not like the Saints came in here and piled up big points. I can’t believe the bad mouthing over ONE loss. Most of you are cowards. When the going gets tough you pussy out. They lost the battle not the
Kashi
December 28th, 2010
10:39 am
RODDY WHITE IS TURNING INTO ANOTHER D’HALL. He needs to focus more on game then thinking about choice words to blog on social network. What he thinks of himself that noone can touch him. It’s football. White is pissing me off last few games. Smith needs to be tough on guys like a first year coach. White has more offensive pass interferance calls then anytime in his career in last few games. Can somone add his penalty yards in last few games?
ymmot
December 28th, 2010
10:39 am
Tough loss, love the Falcons, but we simply did not get the offensive game plan done. Defense overall played their hearts out, especially up front. Brees truly showed what a great competitor can do with twice the will! He made a couple of huge mistakes, but also played like a posessed man that got the job done.
Was not a good game for MR..did not see the same fire that is most always there. Seemed lost at times. I guess it’s just nerves. Has a bit of a losers limp at times. Seems the Matty Ice label is not truly deserved just yet. Tough loss, we can overcome, but the offense has got to re-think it’s gameplan, or it’s just the same old ’slightly’ improved Falcons. And that’s why the city stays lukewarm about them. Selah.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Bird Fan:
The Saints defense stopped the Falcons after Abraham’s interception. All you had to do was get a few first downs and then kick a field goal. The didn’t do it and had to punt. What’s ironic is Smith went for it on 4th down 3 times the first game, but wasn’t taken any chances the 2nd game.
Falcons73
December 28th, 2010
10:41 am
It was definitely disappointing that the Falcons lost last night, but there was no shame in the effort by both teams. It was a hard fought game and it came down to the final minutes to decide the winner. It’s disingenuous to say that the Falcons are now a failure because they lost this game or that the Saints are so much better for winning.
The fact remains is that both teams are fairly even and have won on each respective team’s home field. If I am being objective and not over emotional, I would pick apart a few areas that I feel must be corrected.
Mike Smith has a very defined way of playing the game on offense and defense and it’s definitely very conservative. His mind set is to play percentages by winning the ground game match up/time of possession and shrinking their opponents number of plays. For the most, this strategy works but he needs a little more planned aggression during games. Last night the offense was clearly out of sync and the Saints were determined to load the box and make Ryan beat them (which he is clearly capable of doing). Instead of running some play action on 1st down, they were steadfast in trying to pound against 8 & 9 man fronts (obviously didn’t work).
The 4th & 6 in the fourth quarter, with less than 3 minutes was also a colossal brain fart. If you are going to win in the playoffs, you have to be willing to give your team a chance in those situations. Go with Ryan and give you team a chance of winning with the ball in your hands, then conceding defeat by punting. The Saints had just scored on a 90 yard drive and the defense looked a little less stout (at that time). It’s clear that Sean Payton was not going to be denied and the Saints were even throwing the football on their last possession under the 20 yard line.
If they Falcons are going to win in the playoffs and prove to nation that we are for real, it’s imperative that Mike Smith & Mike Mularky allow Matt Ryan more freedom to take charge of this offense and take them to the next level.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
10:41 am
@ Tough Nolla Guy:Please explain that to Underground Atlanta I don”t like dog!!!!!!!
Keith
December 28th, 2010
10:44 am
Come on People!!! The guys made some mistakes that they do not nirmally make, Jeff youir right on this point. I disagree with you on the punt though, almost 3 mins left the Defense has been playing well and your on your side of the 50, you give Brees a short fioeld and we already saw what happens, yes Matt has been clutch, and yes we have the best 4th %, but you don’t go for it on your side of the 50 when the game is with in reach. we did not make the play we needed, it did not help that the refs gave the Saint a fablous spot. that said the Defense played out of their A– all night, Brees pulled a couple of Vick escapes and made plays. I think we learn form this and it makes us stronger going into the Playoffs, all roads lead to ATL!!!
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
10:45 am
RISE UP!!!! and punt on 4th and 6!!!
LMAO
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:46 am
Falcons73:
I’m sure Mike Smith was thinking about the 4th down play last year in the GA Dome that Vilma stopped short for the Saints win. Your coach played it right. He gave you a chance to win the game. Your defense, which played pretty well all night, didn’t deliver.
Byronatl99
December 28th, 2010
10:47 am
That’s what I don’t get! After Turner fails to break the line at the Saints 1yd why go for the same play again? WHY?
We know Ryan can boot leg it so why not spread the Saints D?
We lost that as oppose to the Saints winning it.
I think in the off season we need to pick up a superstar defender…. a Troy or Ware etc…..
Our D still doesn’t have the killer drive of other teams.
Saying that one mistake by our offense shouldn’t cost us the game! The offense failed to capitalize on opportunities and for a game like this Ryan should have been pin point! No Excuse!
Courage
December 28th, 2010
10:49 am
On the 4th and 6 from the 43 yard line…
First, I would say the odds are equal or better that we have a play designed to get 6 yards and execute this play than the odds of keeping Drew Brees from getting a first down or two. He’d just gotten several in a row on the previous 90 yard drive! With the ball in hand you can control your fate; with the ball in Brees hands, HE controls your fate in this situation.
Second, Even should we miss the 4th down play they get the ball at our 43 needing to accomplish the identical thing–get a first down or two and run out the clock. It wasn’t like the ball was on our 23!
Third, and this is the most disappointing aspect, what did we have to lose? Smith’s comments after the loss is “we still are in the perfect position and the other 15 teams in the NFC would love to be where we are.” Meaning, even with this loss we can accomplish the same goals nest Sunday. Then why not go for it if you have nothing to lose and your still holding the “trump card” in your hand by beating Carolina next week?
You see, I think another opportunity was missed to try to practice and hopefully execute a do or die play that we may face again in the postseason. Somewhere along the way we may face another 4th down play to keep our season alive so why not prepare for one right there–with nothing to lose–to give our team more confidence by having pr oven in this game they can do this. Lastly, what if they had succeeded on the 4th and 6th and went on for a tying field goal or game winning TD.
In my opinion and there’s not a doubt in my mind that, given the identical set of circumstances, Sean Peyton and Bill Belichick would have allowed Brees or Brady to got for it! Coach Smith and or Mike Mularkey will need to sharpen or “man up” at these critical moments or somewhere in the postseason once again we will painfully watch the opposing QB take a knee as we helplessly watch the game clock expire.
It was the wrong call at the moment under the circumstances.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
10:53 am
The Falcons “Rose up”….and got smashed. Give the ball to Ryan? He had the ball the entire and put up an amazing 148yds passing.
Like I’ve always said…..
Stop Mike Turner = Falcons loss
Time and time again its been proven…put the “entire” game on Ryan’s shoulder and his “ICE” will melt. Sure, he’s had some comebacks this year and good for him, but FRANCHISE QBs (Vick, Brady, Manning, Brees, Freeman, etc) put the franchise on their backs and carry them to the promised land.
Maybe Ryan needs to keep a piece of ice in his hand,lol. He damn sure didn’t have any “ice” in his veins last night. Dude’s arm was tired,lol
willipic
December 28th, 2010
10:54 am
Turner is bull strong , but has little speed laterally.
North-south running is his forte, and playoff level defenses
have figured it out.Unless the birds use him in most effective manner they will not last long in playoffs
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
10:55 am
Like I have been saying, CHOKE is a NOODLE ARM JOKE.
If you play 5 years of college ball and still throw 22 picks in the weak A.C.C. in your 5th season, you are not NFL starting material.
The Falcons have emptied the bank trying to make this scrub legit. Check out all the transactions that the organization has made to provide him with a supporting cast:
- 72 million dollar contract without proving his worth.
- Drafted 1st round offensive linemen (Vick never had any).
- Signed a 50 something million dollar back (Vick had a 180 midget).
- Signed an entirely new management staff (Still no playoff wins).
- Wasted a 2nd round pick on aging tight end (K.C. looks good w/pick).
- Now has a pro bowl back, receiver and tight end (still sucks).
The Falcons need to realize that this chump is not the answer and I’m tired of the excuses about how Flacco and Sanchez has tough defenses and that is the reason why their rookie coach and rookie qb was able to make it to the championship game in their rookie seasons, even though they didn’t have all the offensive weapons that surrounded CHOKE.
I told you that CHOKE and the Falcons were F-R-A-U-D-S and they got exposed on national television. They proved why AMERICA likes watching the Eagles in prime time, afterall the Eagles are 8-0 in prime time games.
If the Eagles played the Falcons last night, the Eagles would have won by 30 easily.
No more superbowl or elite qb talk – this whole organization is a big JOKE just like CHOKE
JeanE
December 28th, 2010
10:57 am
The 2 very uncharacteristic errors by McClure and Turner killed us. But so did Mike Mularkey. Anyone still calling him an “offensive guru” is nuts. What adjustments did he make when his predictible run 1st offense was stuffed? None. He continued to run the same plays and we continued to go 3 and out. And why the freak does he continue to run that midget smurf Harry Douglas out there? Why throw to that smurf 2 times on unsuccesful key 3rd downs??? Finn gets one pass thrown his way all night, don’t know whether the miss was his fault or Ryan’s but then that was it for Finn the rest of the night. Makes no sense whatsoever. Finn is 6′5″ and can actually see when the ball is thrown his way, plus he is a superlative blocker. Mularkey is just flat out awful. He and Smith both are holding Ryan back. Understandable while he was a rookie but he is capable of so much more. And this infatuation with Harry Douglas is ridiculous. What good is his speed if he can’t catch the damn ball??? But kudos to the defense and BVG for devising a kickbutt blitzing scheme and they played out of their minds awesome all night. Abe was fabulous and defense kept us in the game all night. Offense laid a stink egg courtesy of one MIke Mularkey. Who the heck would want him for their head coach?? Gotta go annihilate Carolina now. Go Birds.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
10:57 am
This game will have an affect on the team’s phsyche, no matter what anyone says. They will be sitting in meetings “dazed”. They lost their mojo. Now just think if the Falcons win the 1st seed, they could see the Saints first, or even the Packers. The Saints can beat you twice in one season. They did it last year, as a matter of fact, Brees is 8-2 as a Saint. Another stat I just read, the Saints are 6-0 when Bush plays and 0-2 when he doesn’t play. If the Packers come here, you won’t beat them twice. Especially after they had a poor showing the 1st time and were in position to win.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
10:57 am
OK, Falcon fans, you can make all the excuses that you want, but you just got beat. A few things should be clear. First, Matt Ryan is not yet an elite quarterback, and whether he develops into one or not is to be seen. Elite QB’s win big games like this one, and when they get the ball with 3 minutes left down by 3 points they step up and deliver. Mattie Ice disappeared in that situation, and you really can’t deny that. Brees stepped up and drove his team 90 yards for a touchdown when it counted, and that is why he is an elite QB. Brees can put points on the board and score even when his running game isn’t there, but Ryan can’t. To beat the Falcons you just have to stuff Turner, and make Ryan try to beat you with his arm. The Falcons are a good team, not a great team, and Trent Dilfer was right. They can be beaten at home, and the Saints can do it again in the playoffs. The fact that the Falcons offense only scored 7 points and was held to just over 200 yards in a big game at home says a lot. Sorry dirty birds, but facts are facts.
Shout out to TRENT DILFER
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
10:58 am
Fort Leavenworth is not the promised land.
Who Dat Tigershakk
December 28th, 2010
10:58 am
Hard fought game, I would expect nothing less from a Saints-Falcons game. I was impressed with the Saints defense shutting down Michael Turner, we usually have a tough time tackling him, but GW did well preaching his “population to the football” slogan. Only allowed one offensive TD. Great for the Saints to get this win and lock up the #5 seed so we will play at St Louis/Seattle rather than Philly/Chicago in the first round. I’m sure yall will have no problem with Carolina, so the road will go through Atlanta, and it took a heck of an effort to win tonight. I have a feeling we will meet again. Good to see this great rivalry get some national attention. WHO DAT! REPEAT DAT!
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:00 am
Trent Dilfer was a below average QB, far from a good QB.
Shout out to the 12-3 Falcons.
Who Dat Tigershakk
December 28th, 2010
11:00 am
*to win LAST night. (still hungover from partying last night, half asleep)
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
11:00 am
I think saints fans and falcons fans can agree on one thing.
Roddy White needs to shut up and just play the game
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:01 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan: “Like I have been saying, CHOKE is a NOODLE ARM JOKE”
DAMN!!! LOL!!! Man you just made me laugh out loud at work. That was funny as hell
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
11:02 am
Vick support,
Maybe to be elite, Ryans needs to learn how to throw that little suffle pass staight to the opposing team, Brees tried to show him to do that last night, twice now that’s elite.
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
11:02 am
Fighting for a playoff spot,
Tampa will give the “who dats” some problems.
JeanE
December 28th, 2010
11:03 am
OK, why did my ranting comment not post??? Because I insulted the great Mike Mularkey??? I will restate comments. Why do we continue to throw the ball on key plays to the smurf Harry Douglas?? Guy can’t see the ball coming at him and has no rapport with Matt Ryan. Finn misses one ball and is consigned to the doghouse. Makes absolutely no sense. Speed is irrelevant if you don’t catch the ball. Ryan is being hogtied by Mularkey and his predictible my 5 yr old knows what’s coming offense. What was his answer when that offense wasn’t working? He had none. He continued to trot out the same plays and we went 3 and out every time. The defense played out of their minds awesome and BVG was a genius with the blitzing. But our offense sputtered and died. Courtesy of Mularkey and Smith’s refusal to open up the game. I just don’t understand why people think Mularkey is so good. I maintain that this offense thrived in spite of him not because of him. Use Finneran for pete’s sake. He is the best option after Roddy, Jenk and Tony. Not Harry D. Go Birds.
BoLegs
December 28th, 2010
11:04 am
The Braves, Falcons and Hawks just build you up butter-cup just to let you down…………..
The defense played great..The “O” had 5 or 6 players that didn’t show up!
The Fans were great great great…….
The Saints were lucky………….sometimes better to be lucky that good.
The “R White” needs to play ball and shut the blank up on the field…
The Falcons will win next week…..
ESPN has a love affair with Saints Bree…….made me sick..bree this,bree that, bree eyes, brees arm,,brees butt…
Have a great New Year!
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
11:04 am
21 interceptions this year, now that’s elite, you know you’re right, maybe Ryan should throw more interceptions,
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:05 am
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:00 am
Trent Dilfer was a below average QB, far from a good QB.
Shout out to the 12-3 Falcons.
————————–
Say what you want about Dilfer. We all know he wasn’t a great QB, but he’s doesn’t play anymore so your “comeback” doesn’t carry any weight. He’s in the media now, doing what they do, and he was 100% correct about the Falcons, as CHOKE and myself has been saying for years.
Wipe them tears up man. You’ll survive
Who Dat Tigershakk
December 28th, 2010
11:05 am
@GregKennesaw, yea it’s never good to give the other team any extra motivation. Especially the part about getting a Super Bowl by the grace of God, that probably rubbed the Saints the wrong way. We earned that SB. But on the other hand, if you need any extra motivation to play in a game like last night, so Rowdy Rod was just speaking his mind.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:05 am
Who Dat Tiger:
Turner is not a great running back. Watch his games. He gets stuffed the majority of games and then breaks a long run which makes his yardage look respectful. You stop the big plays and Turner is lineman who plays running back. That is where the Falcons need to upgrade.
stendek
December 28th, 2010
11:06 am
Only fans who have been with Falcons since 1966 understand how truly deep this home defeat goes. New fans do not have a clue! First of all the Falcons are the Rodney Dangerfield of NFL. No respect. I must admit that respect has yet to be earned despite misleading overall record. This was a MUST WIN game for FALCONS! It does not matter if Falcons rip Panthers 100-0. Damage has already been done! Saints now KNOW they can defeat Falcons in Georgia Dome. Falcon defense will never play any better! Falcon offense can perform even worse. Does not bode well for possible third meeting in playoffs even at hallowed Dome. Anyone watch movie Replacements? Remember that well. With exception of missed tackles on blizes plus long late Saint drive I have never seen Falcon D perform so gallantly or courageously. Did somebody resurrect the Grits Blitz of Jerry Glanville? Sure looked like it! Offense resembled those of Chris Miller or Jeff George. Three plays then punt! The Saints said well in advance that, “We are coming to your house, slap your mother, beat you up, have our way with your sister then broadcast the entire scenario to the whole world.” THEN THEY DID! Guess Roddy White was too busy texting his greatness to bother catching any passes in most important game in Falcon franchise history. Thanks Roddy! Oh and thanks for that goal line fumble which kept Saints alive Michael Turner. Overrated untalented bum! Do not even get me started on the heartless Falcon center. A team destined for greatness would have kicked the Saints back to the Bayou then wished then well for another similiar treatment in a few weeks. Falcon offense rolled over and died! If Matt Ryan wishes to be considered among elite he MUST win games like this one! Such a defensive performance simply cannot be wasted. The Saints will adjust completely if there is a third meeting. Book on that! This one hurts as much if not more than playoff losses to Cowboys and Cardinals. Those were winnable too!
STENDEK
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:06 am
Why are Falcons delusional fans so surprised. I told you people that this time of the season, that NOODLE arm gets tired. I mean the guy looks like he could use a couple of supersized meals
Why do I claim he gets worn out? Check out his last 4 games as evidence:
vs Tampa……qb rating 62.
vs Carolina….qb rating in 70s.
vs Seattle…..qb rating in 80s.
vs Saints…..qb rating in 70s.
This is not elite material – hell Redman could put up those numbers with the great Mike Turner in the back field.
Why are you surprised? He does this every season. Obviously, the training staff can’t strenghen that weak NOODLE ARM.
He is a big string bean JOKE
BoLegs
December 28th, 2010
11:07 am
Jean don’t feel bad a couple of my post didn’t show-up either.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:07 am
GregKennesaw
December 28th, 2010
11:02 am
Vick support,
Maybe to be elite, Ryans needs to learn how to throw that little suffle pass staight to the opposing team, Brees tried to show him to do that last night, twice now that’s elite.
———-
Brees is a Super Bowl CHAMPION and SUPER BOWL MVP. That’s all that matters
Vick will earn those titles this year. Deeeeep down inside, you Vick is going to win it all this year
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:08 am
Roddy White’s comments had nothing to do with this game. You don’t have to motivate professional athletes trying to clinch a playoff spot.
Kennesaw: Trent Dilfer does have a super bowl ring though.
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:09 am
12-3 is a better record than the sorry Eagles will see this year.
Wipe them 4 loss tears man.
choke it fan
December 28th, 2010
11:12 am
Fans that say the samething over and over ..have mental problems. we got your message the first time..so choke it!
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:13 am
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:09 am
12-3 is a better record than the sorry Eagles will see this year.
Wipe them 4 loss tears man.
———————
You think the regular season record matters? You think the Saints or Packers care what their “record” is? Great teams only care about getting in the tournament. You Falcon fans are PRAYING for that #1 seed because you don’t believe your team can win on the road in the playoffs (which is true, they would get blown out in the playoffs on the road).
Go get your QB to “ICE” his arm. Its looking really tired right now
BELIEVER
December 28th, 2010
11:14 am
God hates New Orleans…just ask Katrina.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:14 am
Ryan Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:09 am
12-3 is a better record than the sorry Eagles will see this year.
Wipe them 4 loss tears man
______________________________________________
Eagles 31
Falcants 17
GFalcon
December 28th, 2010
11:15 am
First, there wasn’t a single play in which the Saints had a TEN MAN FRONT. Had that been the case, Ryan would have called a different play at the line. He didn’t do that very much. There were EIGHT MAN FRONTS, and the Falcons couldn’t get open underneath. White was doubled a good bit and Gonzalez and Douglas were having trouble shaking their man early. The Saints line pursuit was arguably the best the Falcons have seen this year, last night, with the exception of maybe the Ravens. At least the Falcons kept them somewhat honest with counter runs.
As far as the punt – Falcons had two shots to stop the Saints. They didn’t. I think, in that situation, I see if my defense can get some pressure on the Saints and lock down the outside for 8 plays than seeing if Ryan can capture lightning in the bottle one last time….. Yes the defense maybe still gets to make a stand, but it’s in our territory, down to the two minute warning, and we’ve lost hope of field position should we get the stop. Conservative call? Yep. Wrong call? maybe not.
who dat underwater?
December 28th, 2010
11:15 am
We will win when the game actually has some meaning. This would have just been icing on the cake. We played awful and still should have won. Im all for a loss motivating a team to prove themselves in the playoffs.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:17 am
Believer:
But GOD loves the Saints. That’s why he calls his children SAINTS.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:17 am
14 for 29
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
11:17 am
I’ll take Matt Ryan over Drew Brees and his 21 interceptions any day.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:17 am
148 yards
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:18 am
77 qb rating in dome
who dat underwater?
December 28th, 2010
11:18 am
and matt choke ryan needs to go choke on something else. The way he puts those smiley faces on the message board I wouldn’t doubt if he does
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:18 am
14 for 29 148yds
Damn that Ryan sure is accurate!
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:18 am
All these fans claiming that the Falcons should have done play action passes, did you see the Saints defense players executing “run blitz’s” all night? As soon as Ryan would have done his play action, he would have been hit in the mouth. Your coaches are not that foolish to set him up like that.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:19 am
Back-to-Back 3 and outs in last 2 drives when game on the line
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
11:19 am
who dat who lost the NFC South Division ?
……….. I guarantee who dat lost it.
Holy cow
December 28th, 2010
11:19 am
I’m glad Vick has finally turned his life around. But Vick killed the Falcons for a couple years with all his problems. I for one am glad he is gone. Is he a great player? Yes..do I wish him well? Yes.Is Ryan very good? Yes. Let Vick do his thing in Philly and God’s speed but in Atlanta lets for get the past and win with Ryan.
Why beat a dead horse over and over.
Who Dat Tigershakk
December 28th, 2010
11:20 am
“God hates New Orleans…just ask Katrina.”
-
Stay classy Believer, let’s put the K word to rest, we trying to get past that. It feels pretty good to be a New Orleans resident this morning. Always fun to beat the Falcons. And we’ll be back to see yall in 3 weeks, so get ready. Is Matty Ice ready for primetime, I know Drew Brees is, I know Jon Vilma is, and Sean Payton is always on top of his game. The Saints are coming!
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:20 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:19 am
Back-to-Back 3 and outs in last 2 drives when game on the line
———————————
Thats a sign of a winner!! Ryan the comeback king!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:20 am
Even after 10 days, the sports channels are still talking about the “Great” Mike Vick’s amazing comeback skills.
By the way, the Eagle’s last 5 wins have been 4th quarter comebacks
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:21 am
And for you people that are using Katrina as a way to down Saints fans…Karma is a MF…
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:22 am
NEWSBREAK:
Fox 5 just reported that Saints fans have painted a large L over the G. The Superdome East is now called the LA Dome.
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
11:23 am
`
Adrian Peterson will run all over the Eagles tonight and give Vick his fifth loss.
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:24 am
QB ratings huh?
Vick 02..81.6
04..78.1
05..73.1
06..75.7
Ryan 10..90.5
09..80.9
08..87.7
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:25 am
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:24 am
QB ratings huh?
Vick 02..81.6
04..78.1
05..73.1
06..75.7
Ryan 10..90.5
09..80.9
08..87.7
—————-
Where are the 2010 stats?
I see that you “failed” to post those….:)
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
11:25 am
The road to the super bowl still goes through Atlanta,
not Philly,
not New Orleans.
ATLANTA
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:27 am
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
11:23 am
`
Adrian Peterson will run all over the Eagles tonight and give Vick his fifth loss.
———-
Not with that bad knee he won’t…and that college QB that they have starting….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:28 am
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:24 am
QB ratings huh?
Vick 02..81.6
04..78.1
05..73.1
06..75.7
Ryan 10..90.5
09..80.9
08..87.7
_______________________________________
You left out Vick’s 2010 rating. I wonder why that is
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
11:28 am
The Eagles and Saints only wish they had home field advantage,
but they just lost too many damn games.
Falcons73
December 28th, 2010
11:28 am
I would have to say that the Saint contingency and Ryan haters on this blog are not the brightest bunch. It’s easy to pick apart one game and hang your hat on the negatives (in regards to the Falcons and Ryan last night).
Here’s one fact that you can take to the bank. The Falcons are the #1 seed, have earned this right, and will win next week securing home field advantage until the Super Bowl. If you are truly being objective, any of you would love to be in the same position (as % favor the home team). If you want to point out facts and stop with this ridiculous, childish banter, then step up the conversation relative to this year.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:29 am
Sal:
I don’t get your point about “the road goes through Atlanta”. The Saints, Philadelphia, or Green Bay will run right “through Atlanta”.
I think we need to have “Pep Rally’s” every Falcons’ game. Someone call the Mayor and see if he can schedule another one for Sunday morning.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:29 am
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
11:25 am
The road to the super bowl still goes through Atlanta,
not Philly,
not New Orleans.
ATLANTA
________________________________________________
That “road” is now looking like a dirt road
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:31 am
Vick ‘10..103.6 so?
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:31 am
TRAFFIC ALERT:
Be careful on the streets today. There were several reports of Zombie’s seen throughout the city.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:32 am
The Falcons are now irrevelent. Its time for the Eagles, Saints, Packers and Bears to concentrate on “real” competition
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:32 am
What a way to bring in the New Year. The Saints are winners and the Falcons are …………., well we all know what they are. They are “WHO WE THOUGHT DEY WERE”, in my cajun Dennis Green voice. LOL.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
11:32 am
Look at that picture up there. The one with a Falcon using a choke hold on a Saint. Yeah, now remember back to the first quarter when Reggie Bush nearly got his head ripped off by the helmet on a punt return. Now tell me how the Falcons got ONE penalty charged against them?!?
AFDawg
December 28th, 2010
11:33 am
Pro football is corrupt and sucks anyway. Now with college players being bought off (Cam and the rest of them), it looks like college football is going the same way. How can anyone take enjoyment from your school going out and buying the best player in the nation to win a championship? Cam Newton will have played one whole year at Auburn — how can they claim they “built this program back to respectability”? It’s all a farce. What makes it even worse are Cam’s numerous character flaws. I would love to see a documentary on Cam going to class, Cam taking his finals, Cam studying with his tutors — what a joke it has all become. How did we go from Tim Tebow to Cam Newton in such a short period of time? And to think — the press loves this guy and his flunky criminal friend Nick Fairley to boot. Disgusting!
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:33 am
The Eagles,just like the Phillies, will fold when the playoffs start.
KB
December 28th, 2010
11:33 am
I agree about Smith not making the right call – we had to stop them from getting first downs – what’s the difference if it’s at our 40 yard line or their 20? Give our offense one more down and see what happens!
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:34 am
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:31 am
Vick ‘10..103.6 so?
——————–
That’s called GREATNESS, Bravissimo. The past don’t matter. Once I see Ryan bring a team back ON HIS SHOULDERS from 21 points down in 8 minutes then we can compare.
Ryan is an average QB. Not a knock on him, that’s just what he is. Take away that running game, and his “ICE” melts
Fat Burner
December 28th, 2010
11:35 am
The saints were lucky to win and not very good. Too bad they won’t make it back to the dome. It would be an easy win for us in the playoffs.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:36 am
@AFDawg
Cam Newton could probably beat out Ryan for the starting job. ATL fans love an athletic QB….even when he’s on the other team,lol
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:36 am
@Vick Supporter
You are way too nice – it is a KNOCK, because that CHUMP SUCKSSSSS
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
11:37 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 28th, 2010
11:36 am
@Vick Supporter
You are way too nice – it is a KNOCK, because that CHUMP SUCKSSSSS
—————————-
You’re right, CHOKE. He does suck
alex
December 28th, 2010
11:37 am
Great game ..the Saints had a big chip on its shoulder and his name is Drew Brees..The Falcons threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and he still got the job done..im surprised that Atlant did not threw the ball more..our corners are not that great just good and they coulda had been eaten up if more efforts are put into the passing game…but you ran and ran and the play calling was soft..this game was one of the best ever win for us..thanks Falcons! You guys got heart but we got the ring and going for more.
tony
December 28th, 2010
11:37 am
The reason why Matt Ryan doesn’t have better passing yards because he tends to lose his composure when he feel the pressure. Michael Turner doesn’t have better yardage because he doesn’t use his big body to plow through people. He need to plow through the line of scrammage like a raging bull.
Matt Ryan need to keep his eyes on his target until the ball is release and not let the pressure dictate the outcome of each passing play.
Turner need to use his big body and run through people the way William Andrew use to do back in the day. No more hesitation Turner, just run through people.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
11:37 am
GregKennesaw… he also won the game and is second in the league in yards. Also he has a Super Bowl ring and a Super Bowl MVP. Oh and he was SI Sportsman of the year and AP’s athlete of the year. I think all that trumps his INTs which haven’t exactly doomed the team at 11-4 (more like 12-3, you know what I’m talking about)
Jim
December 28th, 2010
11:41 am
It’s about WINNING in the 4th Qtr!!! Mr. Brees know’s how!!
It’s a joke…Atlanta didn’t win the first match up (Saints blew a field goal), Atlanta won’t win a 3rd match either!! Doesn’t matter if the Saints travel and then come back to Atlanta…I think it’s pretty secure thinking that the Saints will at least have a shot at repeating…they look Super Bowl ready!!
Law
December 28th, 2010
11:42 am
MV7 lied to Blank, Goodell, the judge. Soon it will be time to lie again. Back to jail where he belongs in the cell with FalconSorry.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
11:42 am
Us Saints fans are constantly flummoxed as to why the Falcons never get obvious calls against them. Look at that picture up there…what’s wrong with that picture?!?! Why is it Bush can get tackled by the back of the helmet on a punt return and not get a call? The Falcons aren’t “disciplined” when it comes to penalties, they have a little guardian angel on their shoulders in stripes.
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
11:43 am
Well then…the bottom line with Vick ..Hes never won a championship game. Even in the Sugar bowl in 2000 he was stuffed.
So for all his razzle dazzle,he still hasnt won anything at the top.
If you think a playoff win is the ultimate, ask a Vikings or Bills fan how it feels to go to the superbowl multiple times and lose.
The Eagles have been to the SB twice and are 0-2.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
11:44 am
Saints have won what, 8 of the last 10 meetings? And really we all know they won 9 out of the last 10 meetings. The Falcons may have the division this year, but it was a gift from the Saints, not something they earned but was given to them. Saints own the Falcons.
ls1z28chris
December 28th, 2010
11:44 am
The best part about this Saints win is that we’ll get to see an empty Georgia Dome next week. All that hype is gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons lose to the Panthers.
Who dat!
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
11:46 am
The Saints were just not capable of repeating as Division Champs.
alex
December 28th, 2010
11:46 am
My friends were at the game ,,and they said they had the best time ever with the Falcons fans…sure there was trash talking especially about Roddy White..but they has a great time in Atlanta..you guys have a great team.,,great fan base..(just like ours) ..the next 3 Superbowls champs will come out of either New Orleans and or Atlanta…
voo doo is trashy
December 28th, 2010
11:47 am
Falcons own the NFC South,
Tampa Bay will beat the sAINTS this week.
keith
December 28th, 2010
11:50 am
It’s a crime, that a Louisina born boy, just gives the Saints the ball, on a give away. McClure should go home to Baton Rouge, where he was born, and never come back.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:53 am
Alex:
I was at the game as well. You have a good fan base, BUT when the Saints took the lead with over 4 minutes left, the fan base started to leave. A Saints Fan would stay till the clock says 00:00. That is the difference.
As far as the Super Bowl champs thing, you have some grammatical errors. You need to remove the word either and put a period behind New Orleans.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:54 am
VooDoo:
We will not lose to Tampa Bay. We know how to handle wins, as well as, handling losses. We dismantled Tampa Bay 31-6 at their home field during our win streak, we will do the same in the Dome.
SaintsFan
December 28th, 2010
11:55 am
Jeff, you’re an idiot for the following reasons:
1. Drew didn’t have a “meltdown”. If you know anything about him thowing interceptions, he doesn’t let that bother him. He’s aggressive, and he put the team in position to win the game .
2. Mike Smith made the right call by punting, you know why? Cause he’s the head coach. It irks me that there are 50 million “head coaches” calling plays from their living rooms, and they all talk about what they would have done differently.
3. If there was a turnover on the punt, you all would have been rejoicing about what a great call by Mike Smith. After all, NO has been known to miff punts with the game on the line.
4. When did Matt Ryan outduel Brees this season? Last I checked, Brees had combined yards of 667 and 4 TDs vs. 376 yds and 3 TDs for Ryan.
Again, you’re an idiot, and your column is pathetic.
T-bone
December 28th, 2010
11:56 am
Jeff, a person paid to write, wrote: “He excels in the two-minute offense. He excells in no-huddle.”
I’m confused Jeff, does “excels” have one “l” or two? I disagree with your strategy to use both excels and excells in print. Spell-check has saved you all season, you should have given it a chance instead of punting to your copy editor. (BTW: It has one “l”).
See how annoying it is when people second guess an understandable decision. I guess Paul Johnson is the only coach who doesn’t err in the eyes of the AJC staff.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
11:56 am
‘cons rise up to get beat down, step up steup and get your arse whippin.
Let me remind you who the reigning SB champs are. None other than the NOLA Saints.
We show up and rep for our city and we aren’t going to lose to a city full of carpet baggers.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
11:56 am
Voodoo:
I can see it now, the Saints unveil another SuperBowl banner at their first game; while the Falcons unveil their NFC South Banner. Does the NFC South Championship come with a ring? I’m not sure, but if it doesn’t, I will ask Arthur to purchase some for the team since that is the only ring they will ever get.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
Look at that picture and tell me if that saints player is not being held?
N'Awlins Mojo
December 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
To the reader who writes that he doubts Atlanta will see the Saints again and that “expect their season to end in Philly or Chicago,” you must not understand the seeding process. Unless the 6-seed beats the 3, the Saints would travel to Atlanta in the divisional round. So, if the Saints’ season ends in Philly or Chicago, it is likely because they beat the Falcons. … And look, I’m not going to name-call or be the stereotypical fan, but honestly the Saints are the better team. Matt Ryan is going to be an elite quarterback some day, but he isn’t on par to Drew Brees just yet. … That will be the Falcons’ ultimate demise in the playoffs, whether it comes at the hands of the Saints or not.
ls1z28chris
December 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
From Chuck: ” So typical… Way to buy into your own hype. You’re as bad as the sorry Jets!”
The Falcons have been buying their hype all year with the Samuel L. Jackson video and the Sevendust music video. They know that they don’t have a good fan base, so they go out and pay performers to create hype for them.
That isn’t the way hype works. It is supposed to be something that builds organically from a dedicated fan base. That is one thing New Orleans has that Atlanta never will. We’ll see that next week when everyone stays in the suburbs and watches the Falcons vs Panthers game at home.
chickenman
December 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
i dont agree with the punt… i dont see how CMS could of taken matty ice off the field… the game was a joke, i am just glad i was not the sucker who paid 200$+ to see that go down… the only reason i see is that CMS didnt want to show his hand on offense, live to fight another day… but today could have been a better day if he would of sacked up
chipontheroad birdsrus
December 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
these birds can and will beat these saints did you see them with their heads down when they realized it onward and upward seasons not over yet rise up
Elvisinthehouse
December 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
Jeff it was not a bad decision by coach smith,matt ryan simply got a check mate from the whodat defence.he(ryan)had under 200 yards passing and they simply couldn’t run the ball.They just got beat by a better team and technically the falcons got handed the first game they played(saints)on a silver platter(missed 28yd field goal).So just like it was said a missed field goal is part of the game and a win is a win,same with the monday night game no excuses.I don’t think it will happen but it would be a shame if the falcons lose against carolina and the saints beat the bucs giving the saints home field.I don’t think it matters because the saints,philly,packers(i think they will make it in)dispite the records are better teams than the falcons so home field will not matter.I think the falcons will not show up in the playoffs.
Give me the Ball
December 28th, 2010
12:14 pm
Packers or Giants can beat the #3 seed (Eagles or Bears)
So its not for certain the Saints will come back to Atlanta
Bill from New Orleans
December 28th, 2010
12:14 pm
I thought Atlanta played us very tough. They look like our team last year. They will be fine (although I hope we still win it all).
Although it’s fun to celebrate, I thought our team was out of line posing on your 50 yard line. I like the good rivalry, but I expect my team (and fans) to have class. I apologize for our immaturity.
You will get another chance at us. But I still want New Orleans to win!
SaintsFan
December 28th, 2010
12:17 pm
Seattlesaint. . .aren’t you wishing that the seahawks win next week, and the saints get the #5 seed? I know I am. . .Saints nation will be up here in droves. I live in Lake Stevens.
Tdawg
December 28th, 2010
12:18 pm
Coaching was pretty pathetic, no imagination what so ever. The offense was as vanilla as a window pane. Why is it that the teams opposing recievers are always running wide open down the field on most plays and yet the Falcon recievers are most always blanketed. They throw a 2 yard pass and then run for 7 or 8 more yards before a Falcon player even enters the picture. A Falcon player catches a short pass and is lucky to advance the ball another foot. They need 11 yards and what do you see? A reciever running right down the middle of the field wide open. The Falcons needs 10 yards and Matt has to tread the needle because their are at least 2 or 3 defenders on the reciever. Do the Falcon db’s not guard their receivers. I mean the opposing QB is completeing about 70% or better against the Falcons. why not have your db’s cover somebody instead of letting them roam through your secondary unmolested for crying out load. The Falcons will have to play perfect football once they get to the playoffs because they are seriously not talented enough to win unless they do. They are a decent team that does just enough to get by. That won’t cut it in the playoffs. I knew that as soon as Smith made the Falcons punt they would never see the ball again. Any fool could see that. The Saints just knifed threw your defense of 90 yards for crying out loud and I knew that the Saints would not play like Mike wanted them to. Why would you just try to run the ball down a teams throat when they are so easy to pass against?
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
12:18 pm
Tough Nolla Guy: that’s what I’m saying. Of course no Falcon fans going to admit their team gets away with murder (or trying to rip a guys head off on a punt return while the entire stadium except the refs is watching). Surprised they would put up a pic like that on an Atlanta site though.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
12:19 pm
SaintsFan: You know I hadn’t event thought that the Saints could be coming to my town! I couldn’t afford the outrageous ticket prices, but it’d still be cool.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
12:20 pm
The fact is the birds got beat by the better team. Smith did not go for it on fourth and 6, is ini three downs they gained an average of 1.3 yards a down. Give the guy a break, Smith has coached up this team. His relentless working of the officials lead to the most absurd roughing the passer call in NFL history. Come on, admit it, touching the chest and shoulder of a QB who still has the ball, not sacking, no head shot, no late hit, is absolutely home cooking. Ryan has showed he is an exceptional young QB, and Bress showed why he is an elite QB. What is suprising is the lack of words from Roddy White. After all, he had sooooooo much to say before the game. The Falcons will have the top seed and will end up losing the first game just as they did last time they made the playoffs.
UGA83
December 28th, 2010
12:20 pm
We proved that with a little pressure Brees looks a lot like Eli Manning on a bad day. Unfortunately, our O line got pushed around all night (whose backfield was Will Smith lined up in when the plays started?), and we had two very costly turnovers.
But the decision to punt was terrible. Big picture we had very little to lose (we’ll still be the #1 seed) and a lot to gain (force NO to fight for their playoff lives against the Bucs), which was the most obvious reason to go for it. Not to mention going for it gives us two chances; we can make the first down or we can still hold them at our 43 and get the ball back. I just hope coach Smith learned something from this otherwise meaningless game because NO will destroy the Rams and be right back here in three weeks!
FRANK PERTUIT
December 28th, 2010
12:23 pm
You can second guess and play sofa coach all you want but you had the chance so don’t whine and say coulda – shoulda – woulda. You lost and you are not the coach. He made his decision and now it is ancient history. What if they don’t make the first down (shoulda – coulda – woulda). Go tell Roddy to make his comment this week to the Carolina Panthers and see what happens again. Maybe just Maybe you don’t win the division.
Good Luck
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
12:25 pm
“We proved that with a little pressure Brees looks a lot like Eli Manning on a bad day.”
Yeah, that 90 yard drive made Brees look sooooooooo bad!!!
“NO will destroy the Rams and be right back here in three weeks!”
And the World Champion Saints will be victorious again!!!
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
12:26 pm
“Go tell Roddy to make his comment this week to the Carolina Panthers and see what happens again. Maybe just Maybe you don’t win the division.”
We can only hope he opens his trap again. lol
Just Me
December 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
Just like their previous two losses to Pittsburg and Philly, the coaches lost this game for the Falcons. Poor play calling and in-game adjustments were THE reasons this game was lost. New Orleans stacked the line to take away Michael Turner virtually all night and dared us to pass the ball. We waited much too long to recognize their strategy and therefore acted with not sense of urgency UNTIL we were down 10-0. This is NOT the hallmark of a Championship team! To their credit, the coaches have done a very good job this season in managing these two facets of the game, BUT it seems when the pressure is (really) high, they revert to conservative and predictable play calling and decision making that WILL doom them in the playoffs.
The Falcons are a lot like New England in that they are very methodical in their approach and execution to the game. One key area where they differ is making adjustments relative to the opponent you are playing that week. Our approach is that we are going to do what we do and you simply have to stop us…which is fine if you have the right personnel to execute it. But New England is always looking for the advantage by identifying a teams weakness and exploing it. New Orleans just got railroaded in the running game last week by Baltimore, so it would stand to reason that would be an area where they would be vastly improved this week playing the Falcons. NO ADJUSTMENTS on out part. This position of us simply doing it our way every week and the other will have to stop us is fine…up to a point. Beacuse in today’s NFL, teams will figure out a way to stop you and without proper adjustments, you simply will not become a Championship team.
The Falcons should still be commended for a great season thusfar. But that season will come to an abrupt end if we do not begin taking teams more seriously and game planning to put them away early and often versus just “trying to do what we do”. Our future looks bright, but will look even brighter if we can CORRECT some deficiencies with the team like:
Mike Mularkey – poor play calling
Sam Baker – subpar left tackle
O-Line – meatier linemen to protect QB and open running lanes for our RB
Mike Peterson – not much left in tank
Brian Williams – cannot tackle
Defense – improved tackling
UGA83
December 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
No the 90 yard drive against the stand and watch D was fine, it was those two (not one but two) cowardly underhanded attempted dumping of the ball INT’s that reminded me of Eli. While Gruden sounded like he was in man love with da Brees everyone ignored pointing out his 20 and 21st interceptions of the year should have sunk NO.
blacksuit
December 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
a little pressure? ATL brought the heat ALL day – unfortunately the effects wore off quickly, tired out the defense, and caused the loss. Also unfortunately, you can’t back off for our next meeting (in the playoffs) because Brees will pick you apart. Catch 22 sucks huh? WHO DAT?!?!
UGA83
December 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
Just me – You’re right. We put in or finally ran all those great blitzes on D but the O is still using their 2009 game plans!
UGA83
December 28th, 2010
12:33 pm
blacksuit – we learned the blitz will stop their one dimensional offense. we just need to show some creativity on offense.
Carol
December 28th, 2010
12:35 pm
Mike Vick should not ever be allowed to play football period. I do not care how fast he is or what he has done this year. As for the Falcons two mistakes beat them and Matt Ryan had nothing to do with either of them. It happens !
Rodney
December 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
I feel that the offense had its chances i think matt ryan choked at times he look like deer in headlights. matty ice was thawed out last night he is not ready for the big stage and i agree they should have went for it on that 4th down but i can assure you we wouldnt have made it matt was not confident and OMG micheal turner what a overrated back he never fight for yards if the hole is not there he just lay down run like he in lttle league and yes he gains a lot of yards through out the season but never when it counts snelling is better
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
“should have sunk NO”
The difference between a team that simply makes it to the playoffs and one that has a Lomardi, or the difference between a really good QB and an elite QB is that it did not sink Brees or the World Champion Saints.
blacksuit
December 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
UGA – you’re right, it was one dimensional. With any luck, we can get Chris Ivory back for the playoffs (and the time off doesn’t create a negative effect, i.e. Reggie Bush / Pierre Thomas). Looking forward to the next meeting. I don’t see any other teams that can really challenge either the Saints or the Falcons in the NFC.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
“we learned the blitz will stop their one dimensional offense.”
Except when it counts….lol
UGA83
December 28th, 2010
12:46 pm
SB44champs – You and Tampa got that SB ring and we don’t but my score sheet still says ATL 46 wins Saints 38 lifetime and in the playoffs it’s ATL up 1-0 as we beat you in your own house! soon to be 2-0
Furman Bitcher
December 28th, 2010
12:48 pm
Falcons 12-3
Saints 11-4
Nuff said LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
Furman Bitcher
December 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Oh and soon to home field thoughout.
donymo
December 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
You left out a key piece of information about the first Saints-Falcons game.
The Falcons won the toss and went 3 and out when the Saints sacked Matt Ryan.
Then, Drew Brees marched the Saints all the way inside the 20 yard line and setup the potential game winning field goal of only 29 yards – which Hartley shanked. So, if Hartley had made that field goal, there never would have been a drive for the win. Shoulda-coulda-woulda…he missed.
In last night’s game, the Saints gave the Falcons a pick-6 and another interception and they still couldn’t get it done. The score should have been much more lopsided.
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
12:51 pm
With all of the pressure put on Brees and the 2 interceptions he threw, the man still managed to complete 35 of 49 passes (71%) for 302 yards.
LMAO…Imagine what he would have done to your dirty birds had they not “Slowed” him down!
Compare that to your Matty Ice’s 15/29 completions (51%) for 148 yards. Then again…don’t, because Matty Ice is no where in the same league as Brees!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
Carol….please return to the kitchen and fix me a ham sandwich. Football is not for you.
Chillin on Paradise Island
December 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
Everyone is bashing the team after one loss by 3 points. The media is making it seem like the Saints are the best team in the world and the Falcons are a bunch of choke jobs. We are 12-3 and still the BEST team in the NFC. Would yall have lost to the Saints now or in the Playoffs? Its HARD to beat the same team three times in the same season, i think Mike Smith realized this, so he didnt open up the playbook at all. The whole game we were running only fundamental plays (Run it up the gut with turner and slant passes). This loss is more good than bad. It brought all the fans and the team back down to earth, after all we hadnt lost a game in 2 months!
Let the media and other fans bash us. Who cares about all that stuff? We got Carolina next and with home field advantage on the line, i like our chances. Then we got a first round bye in the playoffs, and then the journey to the Superbowl begins in the Ga Dome!
GO FALCONS!
No time to panic
December 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
Listen, what I saw last night was not the falcons lose as much as the Falcons beat themselves. McClue turnover, Turner turnover, failing to score when we forced turnovers, No challenge on fumble by saints. The Defense was awesome, considering the saints high power offense. I am not worried The Falcons need to open the playbook up and stop playing so damn conservative. We play to maintain instead of trying to win.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
Matt Ryan looked like a deer in headlights when the center fumbled the snap. He never went for the ball….he kept backpeddling. I don’t want to say that he was scared…but he looked scared.
Chillin on Paradise Island
December 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
Wow Saints fan are ridiculous. We beat you in your house too, by the same margin. So quit acting like yall are better then us, because yall are not.
N'Awlins Mojo
December 28th, 2010
12:58 pm
Hey UGA, guess what? Eli and Drew have something in common: They both have a Super Bowl ring. What they don’t have in common: Drew has the record for best completion percentage in a season at just above 70. Drew is the only quarterback to twice have 400 completions in one season … and now he has done it three times. “Cowardly” underhand passes? They were both ill-advised throws, but “cowardly?” What exactly made them cowardly? Why do you hate on Breesus? Jealousy is an ugly thing, my friend. … It is OK, the Falcons have a good young quarterback, a good coach, a solid running game and a good defense. They will be a decent team for years to come. Too bad they’re in the same division with the world champs. … We’ll see what happens in Round 3 in three weeks. But I wouldn’t bet against our “cowardly” quarterback. It has been a while since Breesus has lost a game when the nation was watching. That’s when he shines, and he’ll do it again.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
12:59 pm
Katherine you got my cookies yet? Get Carol to help you because she is another dog kissing whack job
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
Chillin on Paradise….you are part of the losing mentality of your Fraudulent Falcons. Yeah, its real hard to beat a team 3 times when you are trying to get lucky! It’s hard to get lucky 3 times. You got lucky in the 1st game against the Saints as the FG kicker shanked the potential game winner in OT. When you own a team like the Saints do the Falcons you can beat them 3 times in a season or more.
You don’t feel that way about Carolina do you? Don’t need luck to beat them…huh?
suwaneefalcon
December 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
GOOD GOD! We lose our first game in more then a month and you would think that the freaking team is like the Panthers! You wagon jumpers p*ss me off with your on again off again love for this team. Fact: We win Sunday we clinch the South. Fact: We win Sunday we clinch home field advantage. Fact: It is not a forgone conclusion that the Saints can beat us twice in one year in our dome. Fact: it is not for sure that the Saints will make it past the first round.
You are either with this team or you ain’t. If you can’t except last nights loss and look at what can be if we win this Sunday, then go buy a Eagles number 7 jersey or a Saints number 9 and jump on their bandwagon! Both have plenty of those type of fans!
Shut the Fu-k Up Matt choke Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:01 pm
Hey you dumb ass look at Matt Ryan’s number of wins in his first three years as a QB.Falcons win next week he ties Marino for most wins in first three seasons all time!!!! Forget about the loser Vick he will choke like he always has,the NFL canceled the game Sunday night cause Vick could not show out on TV in 8-10 inches of snow.Vick would have laid an egg cause he can’t run like he did growing up in the ghetto in all the snow.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:01 pm
I like $ucking C0ck!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:01 pm
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
Carol….please return to the kitchen and fix me a ham sandwich. Football is not for you.
____________________________________________
Yeah girl, make yourself useful
No time to panic
December 28th, 2010
1:02 pm
Saints Fans, guess what! the superbowl will still have to come through Atlanta, See you in the playoffs,(if you make it past the first round)
Whereyat
December 28th, 2010
1:02 pm
JF, you actually get paid to write this crap. In a game in which the Falcons had a chance to show the league, they were the best team in the NFC, they laid an egg. The Saints unlike the Falcons played to win this game and make the playoffs as opposed to waiting until next week to secure a victory. In an era when your team should be playing its best, the Falcons were exposed in this game. The Saints gave the rest of the league a receipe for beating the Falcons in the playoofs. Pete, we will see you in the divisional round. I expect another classic Saints-Falcons battle. Good luck and next time, don’t play like pigeons.
WTF!
December 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
Can anyone tell me when is the last time they saw a double pass interferance call?
Ivan
December 28th, 2010
1:04 pm
I think it was a damning decision either way you look at it for Smith.
Go for it on 4th and 6 from your own 30? Sure. No difference in losing 24-14 or 17-14.
Punt and let the Defense go back to work with 2 timeouts since they’ve probably been playing their best game all season? Sure. Another Turnover wins you the game or forcing a 3 and out gives you the ball back with 80 seconds.
Sorry, I can’t place this on coaching decisions and playcalling. A fumbled snap or a fumble at the 1 yeard line is what did it.
Good Game Falcons. I’ll take clinching the 1st seed even if it means beating Carolina in Week 17.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:04 pm
I’m a LOSER
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:05 pm
I am a flaming d0uche bag!
hjones
December 28th, 2010
1:06 pm
Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance
Jeff you are exactly right. Mike Smith should’ve given Matt Ryan, offense a chance for the ENTIRE season. This offense has operated the same way in every game but one. It was the Thursday night game with the Ravens when Matt Ryan entered the game and ran the “no huddle” for the entire first half. The Raven game has been the only game that the offense has been given a REAL chance. The strategy was a surprise to the Raven and the fans. We CANNOT and WILL NOT win a championship with the predictable play calling of Mike Malarkey. In fact, we probably WILL NOT win a single playoff game this year if the offensive strategy stays the same. The “RUN MICHAEL TURNER NO MATTER THE OUTCOME” strategy is known by the Eagles and Saints.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
I wish I was one of Michael Vick’s dogs so he would beat me like a bad little boy.
seattlesaint
December 28th, 2010
1:08 pm
“We proved that with a little pressure Brees looks a lot like Eli Manning on a bad day.” Uh… yeah. He threw for 300 yards and the game winning TD on a 90 yard drive. You proved a lot didn’t you?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:09 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
I wish I was one of Michael Vick’s dogs so he would beat me like a bad little boy.
_____________________________________________
Ssssh……that’s a secret
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
WTF….I have never seen a double pass interference call. While you were calling for Def pass interference I was calling for Roddy’s push off!!! LOL!! When watching Falcon games I often see Roddy White push off and nothing being called. So perhaps the Ref was confused so instead of calling nothing….he called both.
Cinderella the clock has struck 12 and your slipper is broken….dream season over…no more Ref assistance!!!
No time to panic
December 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
This is what a game between good team is suppose to be like, We were playing the defending champs in a game that was a must win for them. We played great and came up short. You Saint fans have be more to be worried about than falcon fans.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:11 pm
WTF….did you also have a problem with the Roughing the passer call ???? Probably not.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:11 pm
CHOKE is just a POSER – He should be a backup at best.
That CHUMP just continues to stink up the place
NEUTER THE POODLE WITH THE ARM MADE OF NOODLE
Whereyat
December 28th, 2010
1:13 pm
UGA83, I’m surprised your an educated person. Ask any athlete, the only thing that matters is a Championship. Saints 1, TB 1, Falcons/Panthers 0.
Finally
December 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
LMAO!!
Hey Choke…(in my Lavar Arrington voice)….”git’em”
Vel
December 28th, 2010
1:15 pm
It was good for them to lose. Now they can get a good taste, and not let it happen next week, or in the playoffs! Go Falcons!!!!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:19 pm
Some guy from NOLA calling ATL dirty i would say there is something in the water that makes em stupid well seing as how they spent so much time in it…and dear god they will never let us forget it.To the Falcons fan that says Brees was the Only Qb in the building last night you aren’t a Falcons fan but you are a douchebag.Pee Wee footballers don’t make stupid mistakes like that..You wouldn’t have even said that if The Falcons had won..don’t be a sore loser
Finally
December 28th, 2010
1:19 pm
The Falcons offense puts up 7 points for 3.8 quarters and Schultz thinks Mike Smith didnt give them a chance?
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:21 pm
Cinderella huh..Saints should have come in as 6 loss team.Falcons don’t lose to teams with losing records..Saints get blown out by Cleveland and Arizona..who is the actual Cinderlla team here
JSS
December 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
“next week he ties Marino for most wins in first three seasons all time!”{
Oh Boy, we know how the career of “Glory Dan” turned out?
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
Alpha 9 . . . .. . Cinderella….Falcons should have come in as a 7 loss team. Defending Superbowl champions can’t be a Cinderella!
Sunshine
December 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
As a member of the Who Dat Nation living in Atlanta I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this win. The Falcons and Saints rivalry is heating up. It’s 2 teams soaring high and that is great for NFL football. I had my whole family come up for Christmas and we went to the Fox Grill and boy was it fun. The fans were living it up and talking smack throughout the whole game but at the end we all had a drink and some food because it’s just a game. No reason to bash anyone’s city or get offended because of a FEW morons. On another note Matt Ryan is far from a choke and the kid will transform into a premier and elite QB soon.
WHO DAT
Kevin
December 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Thank you, Thank You, Thank You. Finally a writer puts it out there. BAD CALL. Also we are a pass on first down team, and did well when we did it last night. Why are we running on first (and sometimes second) down, when they are stacking 8-9 in the box? As a falcons fan, you have to be worried now when we get to the playoffs, because it might be coaching decisions (and not team performance) that knocks us out
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Ref Assitance bitch please.I guess all the classy Saint fans are the only ones who don’t actually live in NOLa anymore they live oh wait they live here..If you are a saints fan and were at the dome last nit you live In ATL..because if you live in NOlA you don’t have a job a car but you do have a weed probl;em and won’t move out of your mother’s housing project
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
which 7 games did we lose
Go FALCONS!
December 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
This was the best defensive effort I have seen out of the birds ever! Nice job defensive coaching too..
Offense, to me was a different story. I hope they learn from their mistakes and come back stronger!
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
“You are either with this team or you ain’t. If you can’t except last nights loss”
Man, I “accept” this loss just fine… And there is a third choice that people have; they just don’t care anymore! It’s called “Falcons apathy!”
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
which 7 games did we almost lose for that matter..i recall the 3 games we actually lost but not the 7 we shouldn’t have one..I also don’t recall losing to a team with a sub 500 record or getting blown out by them at home
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Alpha….Pittsburgh, Philly, Greenbay, Baltimore, New Orleans (twice)…Tampa bay…should i go on?
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
so lets see we got 6 come from behind wins we scored and the defense didn’t stop us we had more points at the end of the game than the other team…Hartley missed a field go and we didn’t more points at the end of the game we win…Whats the end game here…Oh let me guess the Baltimore game where the Birds were already in position for the go ahead field go just looking to get a little closer and it turned into a touchdown..that one
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
Niners.
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
The most impressive part about Drew Brees’ comeback win against the Falcons and the Cowboys is the fact that he was down by 4 points. He couldn’t just move them into field goal range and hope to tie it, or play for overtime. He had to go down and win it. Matty Ryan hasn’t been in that position at all, and if he was put in that position, he would crumble. Its one thing to move 20-30 yards for a field goal, its another to move 90 for a TD. That’s what separates elite from good.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
Alpha…you said the Saints had 6…..If that’s the case the Falcons had 7!!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
lost to PItt Lost to Philly beat Tampa Bay Twice second game with a goal line stand on 4th and 1 to end the game..Explained the Ravens and Saints..Went ahead on green Bay with like 9 minutes left in the 4th and held the lead…I don’ understand the logic here.Saints defense got torched by Bengals and Cowboys in Second half of both those games and squeaked it out..Falcons play close games..Don’t need to be sexy
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
Niners Ryan Threw a pick and Roddy White outhustled the defense and got the ball back..not a fluke because he has done that to the niners twice….
ls1z28chris
December 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
From IlliniDawg: “The most annoying thing about losing to the Aints is having to hear all of the media types fawn all over the city of New Orleans. I’m so sick and tired of hearing the sob story of Katrina – an event that would have been irrelevant if they had not built a city 20 feet below sea level.
“N.O. is a stinking s***hole of a city – the most disgusting place I’ve ever visited in America. If you like the smell of a porta-potty, litter-filled streets with vomit running down the gutters, and more abject poverty than a Third-World country, then N.O. is your place. Take away their beignets, the Preservation Hall, and the world-class WWII museum, and New Orleans is a cesspool. Can’t believe our govt spent billions of dollars rebuilding a city that never should have been built in the first place. And now we get to revisit all of the schmaltz of Drew Brees and the “who dat nation” (what a f-ed-upped name!) and the “feel good” story of New Orleans. Aaaarrrggghhhhh! Makes we want to go down there and puke in their gutters along with the rest of the drunken idiots in the French Quarter!”
New Orleans has more soul and culture in those vomit filled gutters than the entire Atlanta metropolitan statistical area. When the place we now call Atlanta was just the confluence of indian trails, Creoles, pirates, militia, and free men of color were fighting under the command of Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. That victory, made possible by the unique and eccentric people of New Orleans, is recognized by historians as a turning point in American history. Our republic came into prominence on the world stage after a group of citizen soldiers routed what was up until that point the most powerful army in the world.
Today the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana combine to make the busiest port in the world. America needs New Orleans more than New Orleans needs America. If we had control over our own tax revenue, we wouldn’t have to rely on the criminals in the Army Corps of Engineers.
You need to read a history book and venture outside of Bourbon Street next time you’re in New Orleans. Be careful, as you might learn something.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
In addition, many of your precious Matty Ice comebacks are Ref assisted. You’ve been Fortunate Falcons all year & you know it. When the Ref is calling bs you have a chance. Last night the Saints had almost 100 yards in penalties vs. your 10 yds worth of penalties…..some of it was valid…some was really questionable.
Watch the whistle stop blowing for you and thats yo azz…bitch.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:40 pm
Still doesn’t excuse the fact Saints lost to 2 inferior teams.Also Bengals and Dallas were definately considered lucky wins because of the circumstances..Penalty fluke fumble..I’ll give you Hartley but Saints should have blown out Falcons and didn’t
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
What is ref assisted
BELIEVER
December 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
Why are all saints fans such ghetto trash??? And why in the hell did Katrina have to blow em all this way?
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
what wins did the refs assist in the falcons play close games which normally goes down to the final 2 minutes which is booth review so how is it ref assisted
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:43 pm
oSo false starts and offside penalties blcks in the back on punt returns are ref assisted
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Hands to the face penalty is a rulebook call..Can’t lead with your helmet when a qb is on the ground..ticky tack call but it was the right call
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
1:45 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=lc-vickdevelopment122810
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:46 pm
double pass interference WTF..saints got away with a clean shot on Ryan that didn’t get called..If you are gonna make argument bring some facts and not a fans opinion
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
Alpha….count the “non-catch” breaks the Falcons have gotten….C’mon. Teams have had to challenge so many calls they have no challenges left to combat the bad Reffing.
But let’s talk about what the Falcons do. they play a basic, make few mistakes brand of football which is effective for regular season success…but theyre gonna have to do more on the big stage. Cause throwing to 2 receivers and handing off to Turner aint gonna cut it.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
Also the Falcons have been the least penalized team in the NFL in the past 3 years..were 9-7 last year because of injury..whats different this year other than a healthy squad oh yeah the record..Ref Assistance is just lame and ignorant
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
Shot on Ryan was legal. Double pass interference – don’t see it often but does it make sense that i could foul you…and then you could foul me….i guess so. The shot on Ryan’s slide…was called. Roughing the passer was a bad call…bottom line.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
@ Ryan Supporter you say ” Fort Leavenworth is not the promised land.” That’s what they said in the NFL but ANDY REED did not listen. DAMN HE’S SMART!!!!!!!!
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Did I see a Falcon fan post that the Saints win was lucky? I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Is this the same fan base who swore up and down that they won the game in New Orleans because they were just better. The Saints turned the ball over 3 times in the first game and missed a field goal, for a total of 4 turnovers. You didn’t turn it over at all.
Yesterday, the turnover margin was 2-2, which is even and you got your lunch handed to you with the Saints running a very conservative game plan. If the Saints had two takeways and no giveaways, you are blown out the Dome. Yet, you get 4 takeaways and have no giveaways and you are still staring an L in the face.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:52 pm
I agree in the playoffs it needs to be changed up a little…which non catch..gotta remember what the challenge is.Thats just like saying that The Siants O line doesn’t hold if it’s reviewed and stands it’s not a bad call.Non catch i thought the ball couldn’t touch the ground at all which would have nullifed shockey’s catch before the half but was reviewed from a million different angles and stood..It’s not assistance…Come on dude no bad call effected your games against the Falcons so why get so hyped up about it
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Conservative game plan…NO Tried go deep and couldn’t…..must be nice to have such low expectations..since when is a 3 point loss that goes down to the wire getting your lunch handed to you…
Shut the Fu-k Up Matt choke Ryan
December 28th, 2010
1:56 pm
Hey choke are you queer or something,you must like black men in thongs all oiled down.I think you have a man crush on Vick the convicted felon.No I just figured it out you was his bitch in his cell while he was in prison,might as well come out of the closet.YOU ARE SO JEALOUS OF MATT RYAN !!!!!!!!!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
ticky tack call but a rulebook call..I don’t think it should have been called but i know why it was called..let em play..if 25 had done that to 9 though we would be talking about that today
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
Alpha..you got sidetracked. You said Saints should’ve come into the game with 6 losses. . I say if thats the case Falcons had 7 losses…..based on the bogus calls that have extended key drives at the end of your games. I only said that because of your initial comment about the 6 losses.
I really don’t like talking about the officials this much. However, last night early in the game Mike Smith lost his mind over a blown call. He got more hyped than i’ve seen most coaches….I knew they were in trouble early.
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
Saints played there best game of the Season with a comeback win 2 boot beat the Falcons at their own game with late running and ball and clock control Falcons offense was never in gear..sloppy..Still only got by with a 3 point win..lat year no Matty Ice no Turner still got by with 3 point win..and you guys were way more dominant last year..good divisional games give some credit
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
this why i think there is a difference..Saints weren’t coming from behind they were getting caught.Double edged Sword.Defending champs shouldn’t be giving up 30 + to anybody
mac
December 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
I’m with you Jeff..Smitty had been gambling all year on 4th down..what, 49% success..all of a sudden, with the game on the line..he punts?? I’ve said all along that Ryan is the man i want with the ball inside 3 minutes.
There again if you don’t execute..you don’t win!
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
All in all NFC south is quickly becoming the best division in football..Carolina will get back on track soon maybe with Bill Cowher and Andrew Luck…Bucs are gonna be scary next year and the Falcons and Saints are gonna trade Superbowls for a while
who dat65
December 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
Saints won falcons lost. Is this really a surprise for everyone?
Two Dat Saints!
December 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
What do you call a Falcon with a Superbowl Ring???? A THIEF!!!! ha ha
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
why do i need to read a book when you just gave us a free history lesson..This is Saints Falcons it’s supposed to be like this..It’s how we like it.nobody on here means a word they are saying when it comes to saying something derogatory..it’s fun to feel like we are on seperate sides of something even if is as irrelevant as sports rivalry…We all love it..National media outside of the South has no idea what real southern culture is about..They think it’s a nice place to visit but wouldn’t wanna live there..It’s all LOve Trust me
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
what do you call a letter sent to Vikings home office with Saints letterhead on it…A Thank you Note To Brett Favre..That reads thanks for the ring couldn’t have done it without you
Alpha 9
December 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
Doesn’t every place have it’s own history..Or is only special when discussing someone elses to demean or downplay relevance
Brendan
December 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
Over 12 Pages of posts, Jeff Schultz. Someone is getting a raise!
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
Great game last night, too bad we lost. Defense played great. Offense didnt show up but hats off to the saints defense. They had the game of their life last night. We are still the best team in the NFC. 12 & 3 baby. Splitting with the world champs is all I can ask for. We are headed in the right direction. We will wrap up the South next week. Vegas has us as a 14.5 point favorite. No worries.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
Matt Ryan a chicken on Zoloff I would not spent not another dime on him!!!!! Author Blank
if you don’t like Cam Newton, go get that Luck guy at Stanford the Falcons need a real QB now lets get real!!!!!!! this team needs a total package when you can’t run plan B the bomb!!!!!!!! find somebody anybody that can throw the ball PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to cheer for my home team!!!!!!
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
All I can do is CHEER for the EAGLES pure EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
TCCB Really?
PAF and The blitz !
December 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
All I could think of while watching the last night’s game was “PAF” – Play action Fake. The Falcons running game was not working at all. I couldn’t stop wondering, why aren’t the Falcons during more PAF plays. Nevertheless, Hats off to the Falcons defense. They looked real good. If the Falcons play New England, the blitz will come in handy. Falcons need to look at the Giants play book during their Superbowl win against New England to see the results of keeping Brady out of sync. Let’s be real, Brady will rip a defense apart if he is not touched by the defensive. You give Brady enough time and he will pick you apart like a vulture picks at a carcass. After watching last night’s game, Falcons defense seems to be firing on all cylinders. A little tweek, here and a fine tune there .. and the Falcons look like they are ready for a Super Bowl Championship.
Finally
December 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
1:35 pm
The most impressive part about Drew Brees’ comeback win against the Falcons and the Cowboys is the fact that he was down by 4 points. He couldn’t just move them into field goal range and hope to tie it, or play for overtime. He had to go down and win it. Matty Ryan hasn’t been in that position at all, and if he was put in that position, he would crumble. Its one thing to move 20-30 yards for a field goal, its another to move 90 for a TD. That’s what separates elite from good.
_____________________________________________
wow….good point….sorta puts that whole 3 TDs in 7 minutes by Vick last week into a very clear perspective.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
2:30 pm
Vick Rules:
Even if he wins a Super Bowl for the Eagles, we are satisfied with our QB and would not swap back….Move the Philadelphia if you want to support Vick….
Saints1Fan
December 28th, 2010
2:32 pm
Alpha:
Watch the game again. The Pick-6 made the game more interesting, and referee assistance for ya’ll. You had a total of about 215 yards of offense. The Saints were about 370. Your offense was 3 out of 12 on 3rd down. The Saints were 8 of 17.
On your 1st touchdown, you had 3 penalties extend your drive. On Turner’s fumble, you had 2 penalties put you on the 1 yard line. Without those, you don’t even move up the field.
I know you saw the game. Watch it again.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 28th, 2010
2:34 pm
Wel well well…..Mr Tess was write all along.
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
Hello, this is a Falcons blog. The phillidelphia blog is at the phillidelphia daily news.com site. Check it out. Please… There are a bunch of eagle fans talking about the dog murderer over there. What a thug…
Perrier Jerry is a bust
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
Drafted in the fist round!
Good job Mr Blanks.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
TCCB:
He has played lights out all year, and is still just learning…He is the franchise QB…Falcon fans on here remind me of some of the stupid Georgia fans…You never just get your A$$ beat, it is always some coaches fault or some other BS…Bive credit to the Saints….Everybody has the right answers after it plays out….If Smitty new the defense wasn’t going to stop them the last time, he would have gone for it on 4th down….He played the percentages, and that is what 95% of the NFL coaches would have done…After the defense didn’t stop them, Schultzie had the answer….Always got to play the blame game….
D Man
December 28th, 2010
2:40 pm
A Saints fan saying to stop playing the blame game for the loss last night? Give me a break. That’s all you guys did last week when talking about the first game when the Falcons won.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
2:41 pm
“SB44champs – You and Tampa got that SB ring and we don’t but my score sheet still says ATL 46 wins Saints 38 lifetime and in the playoffs it’s ATL up 1-0 as we beat you in your own house! soon to be 2-0″
If that helps you sleep at night….lol. While we party with the Lombardi, you keep telling yourself that…..lol
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
2:43 pm
“Falcons 12-3
Saints 11-4
Nuff said LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!”
Saints WORLD CHAMPIONS
Birds happy to make the post season…..NUFF SAID….ROFLMAO
Finally
December 28th, 2010
2:44 pm
Now SB44CHAMPS….that was just mean. LOL
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
2:45 pm
“The media is making it seem like the Saints are the best team in the world ”
The team holding the Lombardi IS the best in the world. But then too, the birds wouldn’t know that……..lol
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
2:45 pm
I will move from my chair in front of that flat screen down to the GEORGIA DOME ANY TIME MICHAEL VICK COMES TO TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PURE EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VICK RULE THAT!!!!!!!!!!! they don’t even print enough money to get MICHAEL VICK back to ATLANTA FOR A “SWAP” the only thing that MICHAEL VICK is going to do in this city is come in and KICK A$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
2:48 pm
“What do you call a Falcon with a Superbowl Ring???? A THIEF!!!! ha ha”
Now I don’t care who you are, that’s just funny!!!
Bravissimo
December 28th, 2010
2:50 pm
Once again…Vick has never won a championship, in the pros or college.
razzle dazzle is great for high school championships.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
3:07 pm
The NFC SOUTH IS A WEAK DIVISION THE FALCONS ARE THE BEST SORRY TEAM IN THE NFC. IT IS TIME FOR SOME BIG BOY BANGING!!!!!! FALCONS AT HOME ARE 1 AND DONE!!!
Perrier Jerry is a bust
December 28th, 2010
3:08 pm
Witherspoon missed 2 many tackels last night…..BUST
Furman Bitcher
December 28th, 2010
3:13 pm
Again folks before we lose all sense or reality:
Falcons 12-3
Saints 11-4
Falcons beat Saints at NO by 3 points
Saints beat Falcons in ATL by 3 points
When it is all said and done and the Falcons have Home Field throughout I like our chances a whole lot better than being the wild card. The facts are the facts and Falcons in 2010 were a better team over 16 games. Let the playoff begin and see where the chips fall. Either way everything I just said is 100% FACT. This blog is now closed.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
3:15 pm
X FALCONS HAVE SUPER BOWL RINGS:DEON SANDERS HAS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XXXXXXX
Jeff G
December 28th, 2010
3:16 pm
It was a great defensive battle with awesome intensity on both sides. Two Falcons blunders cost us the game. Simple as that. Enough of the stupid second guessing. Also it would have been nice to see Ryan go for the 4th down, but the Saints defense was awfully tough, and based on Ryans difficulty getting any rhythm going in the air, punting doesn’t seem like a stupid choice to me. They were a longshot at that point anyway. Bottom line – You can’t dribble a snap to your QB ( and seemingly not realize you did), and you can’t fumble on 2nd down at the opponent’s one yard line.
Furman Bitcher
December 28th, 2010
3:22 pm
Jeff G, you are 100% correct. Games come down to one or two plays. One or two plays back and the Falcons win, one or two plays back and the Saints win in NO week 3. One or two plays in every game for gods sake. The people on this blog who point that one team is far superior than the other are just a bunch of blind idiots. saints beat Steelers, Falcons lose to Steelers, Saints lose to Ravens, Falcons beat Ravens. Not one of these teams is really better than the other it is just the one that executes the best on that day.
DJ Sniper
December 28th, 2010
3:23 pm
Does anybody else find it hilarious how 1 SB title has the heads of Saints fans completely gassed up? It kills me how they come in here talking about “Falcons suck” and “Falcons are losers”, when it wasn’t that long ago that the Saints were in the suck and loser category. I guess they forget that both teams were bad for about the same amount of time. Stop acting like the Saints have a long tradition of winning like the Steelers or Packers.
Freedomelover
December 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
Brees did have a meltdown in the game. I did not see Ryan make desperation tosses in the game. One that even got returned for a td(thanks for that one by the way Drew, we appreciated it). Mike did not make any adjustments in this game at all. Always running on first down to.
All you Ryan haters need to get over it. Vick is NOT coming back.
mark33
December 28th, 2010
3:43 pm
JS- I normally agree with your line of thinking, but not in this case.
Our offense was flat HORRIBLE last night. It was 4th & 6, not 1 or 2 yds. I think Coach Smith was in a catch 22. if he doesn’t make the 4th down, game over. If he punts and puts his defense, which was great the whole game but was tired, back on the field… We all know what happened.
You are assuming the Falcons make the 4th down conversion, which is a huge stretch considering we hadn’t made many plays the entire game (offensively). The game did not rest on that decision.
The game rested with the many decisions that were made with the offense or the lack of execution from the offense from the entire game. PERIOD.
DJ Sniper
December 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
I agree with everybody who has criticized the offensive game plan last night. Even though this is a solid team, something has to be done about Mike Mularkey and his play calling. For the love of God, please learn the meaning of the word “creativity”. If you’re constantly doing something over and over and it’s not yielding results (running Turner up the middle for no gain), then maybe it’s time to switch things up and keep the defense guessing. And can someone please tell the man to take more shots downfield. All this underneath stuff is fine for a while, but there comes a time when a big play or two downfield is necessary.
Am I the only one who hopes that the rumors of other teams being interested in Mularkey as their next HC are true? We need an OC who will take the handcuffs off of Matt Ryan.
mark33
December 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
I didn’t see the “urgency” last night.
No urgency by every offensive player.
No urgency in the play calling.
The defense played with urgency and played great.
The offense better pick up the urgency with EVERY possession from here on out or it will end quickly in the playoffs.
This was not the same team I’ve been watching the whole season… I want that team back.
Falcons Fever
December 28th, 2010
4:01 pm
The over-the-top man love for Brees by Gruden and Jaworski last night was hilarious! Then Brees makes a very poor decision to flip the ball and it goes for a pick 6 and they barely comment on it. Brees reminds me of Bret Favre in the way he doesn’t know how to take a sack. Desperation moves by the the QB will always come back to bite you. Brees has 21 picks this year and has the most tipped passes of any QB in the NFL. It was a hard fought game on both sides that came down to turnovers like a lot of games do. I almost don’t mind this loss too much because if we play New Orleans in the playoffs, beating them 3 times in one season would be a very difficult task for any team. We won by 3 there and they won by 3 here and if we play again it will most definitely be another knock-down drag out game that will probably come down to the end of the 4th quarter again. It’s always been a great rivalry and it’s going to continue to get better.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 28th, 2010
4:05 pm
IT’S MULARKEY!!!! Please get a new offensive coordinator for the Falcons next year!!! Enough Is Enough!!!! The offense operates a lot better in the no-huddle when Mularkey can not call the plays.
Eric C.
December 28th, 2010
4:13 pm
Jeff, I completely agree with you…excellent commentary. It’s also a shame the play-calling was so unimaginative…was that a strategic?
Mark33, your point about it being 6 yds is irrelevant…the game was over as soon as they punted the ball. If they don’t make the 4th down, the worst thing that happens is that the Saints get the ball at the 43 yd line and the Falcons would have to play defense. Even if the Saints get into FG range and kick a FG, we are talking about a 6 pt lead…still one score.
voo doo wildcard
December 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
Who dat wildcard
road team going to the windy city and frozen Soldier Field in January?
J-Smoove
December 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
Hindsight is 20/20 Jeff… Falcons are 12-3 and in first place with a chance to clinch home field advantage against the worst team in the NFL on Sunday, and reading these blogs you would think that we are fighting for a wild card spot. Everyone just needs to relax… the road to the super bowl is coming thru the ATL!!! GO FALCONS!!!
Jazzy
December 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
Bottom Line…..future Hall of Famer Brees has Peire Thomas, Chris Ivory, Reggie Bush, Jimmy Graham, Jeremy Shockey, Marcus Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Dave Thomas, etc…..The Falcons have White, Jenkins, and Gonzales. The Falcons have the QB, but 3 weapons are not going far in playoffs. The Saints sound like New England…..an incredible QB and a bunch of no names. The Saints also have a coach….just like New England. Hope the Falcons are listening.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
“Does anybody else find it hilarious how 1 SB title has the heads of Saints fans completely gassed up?”
It is still one more Lombardi than the birds…………….
Jesip
December 28th, 2010
4:28 pm
SB44Champs….Don’t think it will be their last. JAZZY…..that post is correct and couldn’t agree with you more.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
“Brees did have a meltdown in the game. I did not see Ryan make desperation tosses in the game.”
The difference between a good player and a great player is how you handle adversity. Let’s see, Brees handles it by going 7/8 (with a drop by Colston)and leading his team on a 90 yard drive to take the lead, without having to go for it on fourth. Ryan, he went 3 and out. I’ll take our Super Bowl MVP over the third year guy that shows promise any day.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
“SB44Champs….Don’t think it will be their last. JAZZY…..that post is correct and couldn’t agree with you more.”
Absolutely not. Since Payton and Brees arrived two trips to the NFC title game and a Lombardi. I would say that the Saints will be around a while!
Jesip
December 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
Everyone should read JAZZY post!! Pretty Accurate.
ServiceMaster
December 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
I heard there was “sprinkling” going on at the Falcon logo in the Georgia Dome.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
“Also it would have been nice to see Ryan go for the 4th down, but the Saints defense was awfully tough, and based on Ryans difficulty getting any rhythm going in the air, punting doesn’t seem like a stupid choice to me. ”
Jeff, congrats, this is the most sense I have seen a bird fan make today. They had gained 4 yards on 3 downs, and the Sainits D was playing tough. This is a great rivalry, and had it not been for Roddy White’s dumba$$ comments early in the week, we probably would not be crowing so much.
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
`
Boomer,
it looks like the Falcons will go 13-3 and wrap up the division.
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:41 pm
Well off I go. Bye, bye, birdy fans. Hope to see you all in about three weeks and see Matt Ryan on his back looking up at that dome ceiling-be it Super or Georgia!
SB44Champs
December 28th, 2010
4:43 pm
“Boomer,
it looks like the Falcons will go 13-3 and wrap up the division.”
Of course Boomer, we predicted them to beat the Saints, so maybe not….lol
I’m outta here for good now.
Danny Butler
December 28th, 2010
4:50 pm
Falcon Gumbo tastes oh soooooooooooooooooooooo sweet Who Dat!
KB
December 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
And now we see the true face of the Atlanta Falcon fans. Both the head coach and offensive coordinator deserve better fan support than this crap. The game was tight all night. To the armchair qbs who would have gone for it on the 4th and 6 forgot about the wisdom of HC Smith decision. He saw that his offense was not doing that great all night. They were getting their butts kicked. His defense was doing great. Why not punt the ball and let your defense stop them and pin them in a hole? You would get great field position. Go for it and not make it, then the game is over right then and there.
The HC and OC have been in more games and won more games for this team than the previous groups before them. Any you so called fans want to question their judgment now? Mind you that your team record with this team this year is 12-2 under their leadership.
RangerUSArmy
December 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
It’s foolish to bash the Saints…They won the game…….Regardless to how you feel..insults to the city as a whole is stupid. If they are Aint’s… what does that make the Falcons,…..They’ve lost 8 out of the last 10 to the Aint’s(Saints…Defending Super Bowl Champs.)
Jesip
December 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
KB…..Tell me what you think of Jazzy’s comments!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
I think Arthur Blank and Jeff Lurie will get together and trade Kevin Kolb for a couple high draft picks. Then the Falcons will ask CHOKE to either change positions or get cut.
Since he is basically a BUST and overrated, his only option would be to try out for a kicker position
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
I heard that KFC is having a special on Falcons with a side order of NOODLES
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
5:22 pm
Jeff Shultz, How long are you going to allow all this hate speech on your blog ?! Every beat writer for the AJC has said enough to these folks but you ! I do not understand why you don’t take a stand. Are you afraid of a Lawsuit against you ?!
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
5:25 pm
Schultz
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
Eagles, Saints lead pack
CLICK TO REACT
TouchdownField GoalBlown CallBig hitFumble
I had a hard time choosing between who I saw as the two most dangerous teams in the NFC playoffs, so I’m just going nominate both. The Philadelphia Eagles have the NFC’s top ranked offense and have proven time and time again this season that no lead is safe against them. The historic comeback against the Giants gets all the headlines, but Michael Vick has engineered late comebacks over the Texans, Colts and Dallas and in the first Giants game. They’ve outscored opponents 125-98 in the fourth quarter this season and 55-14 over their last three games. The possibility of facing a team with that kind of firepower and one that doesn’t ever seem to give up has to scare anyone in the NFC.
I also have to give a nod to the defending champs. The Saints proved against the Falcons that they’ve got it in them to go anywhere and beat anyone. They’re not as good a team as they were last season, but they’re still a team without any fear and they’ve still got Drew Brees as their quarterback. You can’t discount the experience of having done it last year and having a belief that you’re going to win. They believe that Sean Payton’s crazy gambles are going to work, they believe Brees can make a big play when they need it. As someone who follows the Eagles, I can honestly say the Saints are the last team I want to see the in NFC playoffs
DemonReb
December 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Great game last night. It proved that teams who play for a city will overcome trained seals like Roddy White. New Orleans will always have more character than Atlanta. Atlanta will always be a large group of people co-existing in location, but it will never be a true city, complete with its own sense of place. In other words, it will never be as wonderful as New Orleans. Who dat!
Forget loss -- defense proves Falcons ready for playoffs | Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
[...] 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 [...]
KB
December 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
Jesip,
Jazzy has some valid points. Few of the bloggers here are oblivious to those facts. The point is that the GM, HC, and OC just got here. This teams past is has not pretty at all. This team has drafted busts like Bruce Pickens, A. Bruce (1st overall pick), Jamaal Anderson, Steve Broussard, Michael Booker, Tony Smith, Shawn Collins, Tony Casillas, Rick Bryan, and Junior Miller just to name a few. The last three years this team has drafted players who has made valuable contributions to the success of this current team.
The majority of the Falcons fans have had this Chicken Little mindset. Good grief!!!
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
5:48 pm
The greatest man ever to walk the earth behind Jesus, Martin Luther King was born and raised in Atlanta ! Who has come from News Orleans ?! Brittney Spears ?!?
Jaier
December 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
What the ?……..That’s a perfect name for you after that post!!
DJ Sniper
December 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
Oh wow. Once again, we only see Choke in here after a loss. When the Falcons are winning, he’s nowhere to be found. Typical.
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
You saying you hate Martin Luther King ?! Don’t want to give it up to the greatest Black Man ever ?! You can’t stand him huh ?!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
“What do you prefer? A quarterback that doesn’t make mistakes or a quarterback that makes plays?
Ryan didn’t make mistakes (0 interceptions) but he didn’t make plays….That’s the identity of the Falcons whole team. Conservative.
Brees did make mistakes (2 interceptions) and made plays of all sorts….that’s the identity of the Saints….Aggressive. Take no prisoners….go for the jugular. If you’re gonna lose go down guns a blazing.”
Great post. And there are many people, like KC Joyner at Football Outsiders, who would rather have the mistake-free safe quarterback in Ryan as opposed to the risk-taking playmaker in Brees.
But to me, a quarterback who doesn’t make plays is a quarterback who is going to lose in the playoffs. Ryan’s inability to go deep or make something out of nothing when the play breaks down is eventually going to hurt this team, especially when a playmaker like Brees — or Vick, for that matter — is leading the other team. Peyton Manning didn’t start winning in the playoffs until he learned how to take risks and make plays down the field. Ryan hasn’t learned that yet, nor has he shown the ability to hit deep passes with any level of consistency.
NFL analysts often talk about winning the turnover battle, but turnovers are not the only kind of mistakes a team can make. Penalties, wrong routes, missed blocking assignments, blown coverages… these are all mistakes that can lead to the other team winning a game. The Falcons have become an elite team by making fewer of these mistakes than their opponents. Problem is, in the playoffs, other teams step their games up and limit these mistakes just as well. And when that happens, the team that has more playmakers is going to win. Hard to make plays on offense when your QB is the ultimate “safe” QB.
Jaier
December 28th, 2010
5:58 pm
What the ?….You just compared Martin Luther King to Jesus!!
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
I said he was behind Jesus ! Second running Fool ! And you know it ! You just can’t come up with no one better !
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
Jesus saved the world and Martin made it better for Black people. He was our Moses !
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Jerome Bettis> INSIDE THE NFL
More ColumnsEmail Jerome Bettis
Bus Stops: Eagles are best team in NFC;
The ability to beat teams three ways on offense elevates the Eagles
If Tim Tebow can learn how to read NFL defenses, look out
More thoughts on resting players, Pro Bowl team and more
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Eagles opponents often are forced to choose between stopping quarterback Michael Vick (7) or running back LeSean McCoy.
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Throughout the 2010 NFL season, SI.com’s Nick Zaccardi will work with Jerome Bettis to get the six-time Pro Bowl running back’s observations about the latest happenings in the league. Bettis retired from the NFL in 2006 after a 13-year career and is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.
• The Eagles are the best team in the NFC. The way they’ve been winning is how you build championship-caliber character. They’re beating the teams they’re supposed to, pulling out comeback victories and last-second wins, and their only loss since Michael Vick came back from his rib injury was at Chicago, arguably the toughest NFC venue. They’re more playoff-ready than any other team, having performed so well with the pressure on. I expect more success against the Vikings tonight.
What makes the Eagles unstoppable isn’t just Vick; it’s all the different ways the offense can score. Most good teams can only beat you two ways, the quarterback throwing or the running back running. The Eagles can do it three ways. Vick throwing, LeSean McCoy running and Vick running. It puts a tremendous amount of pressure on defenses. The philosophy of defensive coordinators is to take away one of those facets on a particular play. With all the weapons the Eagles have, it becomes a guessing game. Guess wrong, and the scoreboard lights up. We’ve seen plenty of that.
The only way the Eagles can be stopped is if they stop themselves through mistakes and turnovers. Coincidentally, the best team in the AFC, the Patriots, specializes in mistake-free football.
“AMERICA HAS SPOKEN”
DJ Sniper
December 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Najeh, it’s hard to be consistent on deep passes when your OC calls so few of them in each game. Have Mularkey take the shackles off of Ryan and let him do what we know he can do.
Jaier
December 28th, 2010
6:12 pm
What the ?….he needed to do a better job seeing how “our people” are doing right now!
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
6:14 pm
Not good !
Jaier
December 28th, 2010
6:15 pm
The Saints were the better team and the Falcons are not there yet and don’t know if they will get there as long as brees and payton are in nola.
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
6:17 pm
But God always bring the people at the bottom to the top when he’s ready. There’s a season for everything and God’s time is not like Man’s time.
Jaier
December 28th, 2010
6:21 pm
What the ?…..I just can’t think of one thing where “our people” have come in, whether it be business community, neighborhoods, etc…..and it has thrived!!! It has always been the opposite. If an area was thriving and then had “our people” came in…..it has gone down the tank! Very discouraging! No one to blame but ourselves.
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
6:28 pm
@Jaier, Education is the key. It’s missing with us. But it’s turning, Keep the faith.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
6:54 pm
Hello CHOKE
JSS
December 28th, 2010
7:06 pm
Jaier…
Go read about Tulsa and “Black Wall Street,” there are plenty of examples throughout the post 19th century era… Most aren’t in regular history. For every failure like Patterson, NJ, there’s a success like Sacramento as ethnically diverse as any in America and has not failed to see its a asset and not as hindrance or an adversary… That has come even with a high poverty rate…
The real problems is that as a group, they have never been given a city in ascent.
JSS
December 28th, 2010
7:07 pm
“see its diversity as a asset and not as hindrance or an adversary…”
ejj
December 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
Play-calling sucked, no rhythm, at all. Seemed like Turner, and Snelling, were alternating. No flow of offense at all. Jenkins sucked, NO defense covered G pretty good. White was ok, despite, coverage, need third WO to step up. Offensive line is average, and for this game sucked.
diesel
December 28th, 2010
7:22 pm
Atlanta,your offense scored 7 points.Enough said.
Jamey
December 28th, 2010
7:28 pm
This article is over-the-top with Ryan-Love. The truth is, Ryan’s coach didn’t have the confidence in him to pick up 6 yards on 4th down given his dismal performance so far. His stats were mediocre at best. Ryan performed tentively after he got hit early in the game and seemed unsure of himself from that point on.
DemonReb
December 28th, 2010
7:33 pm
If you think Brittney Spears is the best that New Orleans has to offer, then you don’t know a thing about New Orleans. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, and is the focal point of an authentic cuisine unmatched anywhere else in the South, if not the nation. People from around the world aren’t interested in the blighted urban sprawl of Atlanta. They come to New Orleans for the sense of place that emanates from it.
At three o’clock on any Friday afternoon, the perimeter is jam packed with people trying to get out of Atlanta. At the same hour in New Orleans, the interstate is packed with people trying to get into the city—the best city in the South, New Orleans.
xtrablack
December 28th, 2010
7:57 pm
Enter your comments here
WHO DAT WHO DAT WHO DAT WHO DAT WHO DAT
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
So CHOKE screwed Aaron Rodgers out of the pro bowl, but as it should be, CHOKE will be holding the clip board for the Great Mike Vick
diesel4737
December 28th, 2010
8:17 pm
I watched that game last night and came to the same conclusion i have thought for quite some time now..the Saints,EAGLES,and the Bucs are 3 of the dirtiest teams in football. they cant win unless they take cheap shots at whomever they’re playing. these teams mentioned almost remind me of the old Raiders and Steelers. I haven’t been too much of a fan of any sports,because in my opininion these players couldn’t make it in the real world of actually having to work for a living. must be nice having someone paying you millions for playing a game.i guarantee I could do their job better than they could the job i retired from. The Saints,Eagles,and Bucs in my opinion are the NFL’S rejects.. so blow it out of your ”who dat asses” leave it to you degenerates to come up with some BS like that
What the ?....
December 28th, 2010
8:37 pm
Matt Ryan is going to the ProBowl !
Katrina says...........
December 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
The Falcons leading the League with 7 ProBowl Selections. I guess we got respect after all ! Congradulations Guys !
Katrina says...........
December 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
And no other team got morer !
E
December 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
Atlanta’s problem is they are to predictable on offense; needs a versitle and fast running back that can hit the hole, catch passes and screens out of the backfield because Turner is not a true all around back (no vision nor foot work); he can’t make something out of nothing. Atlanta also have ongoing issues of poor tackling when trying to sack the QB; No help from the kickoff return and punter return game.
Black and Golds
December 28th, 2010
11:08 pm
Well, it was a hard fought game, as usual with our two teams. This is what rivalries are made of, and we have steadily built one of the better ones in this league as evidence by the fact that this MNF game was the 3rd most watched TV event of the year. I would say this however…Roddy White should have kept his mouth SHUT about eh city of New Orleans and Katrina, as should the minority of Atlanta fans out there who seem to think that its OK to make fun of people DYING in your own country. Would it be acceptable to make fun of the NY Giants or Jets using 9/11 imagery? Think about it, then tell your start side-out that he put his foot in his mouth (before we put ours up his butt).
NEVER underestimate this Saints team. We are NOT your daddy’s aints people. Drew Brees is 8-2 vs. you since he came to NOLA. Think on that.
Capt. "No Comeback" Vick
December 29th, 2010
12:24 am
No comeback for Capt. “No Comeback” Vick
Couldn’t even beat Average Joe making his 1st NFL start.
He should just drive over to Tom Brady’s house, stay away from his dog, and hand the MVP award to him.
Lost to Joe Blow in his own house…. CLASSIC!!
Eagles needed this win and Vick couldn’t deliver nothing but a CHOKE!!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 29th, 2010
4:04 am
“So CHOKE screwed Aaron Rodgers out of the pro bowl, but as it should be, CHOKE will be holding the clip board for the Great Mike Vick
”
No he won’t. Vick won’t be playing in that game, because he’ll be preparing for the Super Bowl the following week.
HATinGA
December 29th, 2010
6:00 am
If the Falcons had won, they most likly would have went into the playoffs on a 12game win streak. In the NFL you get due to lose a game, the Falcons would have been defending the streak and home field now thats 1 less thing thing to worry about. Ask NE how defending a long streak works out!!!
Howie
December 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
LOVE reading this stuff…”we won’t see Saints in Playoff, their season will end in Chicago or Philadelphia”–You HOPE!! Maybe you’re right, the Saints season might end in Philly or Chicago, but that doesn’t mean they won’t beat the Falcons again BEFORE that happens!! EXAMPLE: WC Round, Saints beat Rams, Eagles beat Packers…NEXT round, “Uh-Oh, look who’s comin’ to the Georgia Dome again”….
BTW, Garrett Hartley is off the hook in my book for missing the 29-yarder that lost the game in OT, after making the 52-yarder that ultimately won this one…
Dirtybird
December 29th, 2010
10:34 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan and Who Dat Nation should get married since they ain’t got anything to do but talk trash and dogg my QB Go matty Ice
SuperBowl44
December 30th, 2010
2:54 pm
“Out Dueled” Drew Brees……look at the combined stats of both quarterback from the two games and see who’s numbers are better…..you go figure??
Bob Allen
December 31st, 2010
1:16 pm
it’s all hindisght dude. Can’t fault a coach for the ‘in the moment’ decision. The Falcons had two timeouts and the two minute warning remaining and their defense played very well except for the drive before which the saints scored. I hate “expert writers” making statements like this.