Saints gone, Vick gone and Falcons ready to defend turf
Brent Grimes (20) and William Moore are two reasons for the Falcons' improved defense.
The New Orleans Saints are gone. Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles are gone.
Can you do without the drama? Thought so.
The Falcons’ first opponent of this postseason will be Green Bay. That hardly qualifies as an easy draw. At the outset of this season, many considered the Packers the best team in the NFC. But with the potential of Vick returning to the Georgia Dome in two weeks (nobody really relished that scenario) and the possibility of a third game against division rival New Orleans (were you really hoping for a showdown game against the defending Super Bowl champions?), this was as good a scenario as the Falcons could have hoped for.
They will be at home. They have had a week off. They will be facing a Green Bay team coming off a physical and emotional win and playing in a short week.
If you wonder whether the Falcons are good enough to beat Green Bay, maybe you’ve forgotten that they beat this team in November 20-17 at the Georgia Dome, when the defense wasn’t nearly as good as it is now.
Goodbye, Saints. Goodbye, Vick.
Now it’s just about football for the Falcons and trying to remember what postseason success feels like. When they play the Packers Saturday night at the Dome, it will be six years to the day of their last postseason victory — a 47-17 dismembering of the St. Louis Rams (Jan. 15, 2005). The following week, they lost the NFC title game at Philadelphia.
Then came the slide, then the misery, then the cataclysm.
It’s there for them. They are rested and they have the advantage of playing on their home turf, where they’re 20-4 since their rebirth in 2008 and quarterback Matt Ryan is 20-2.
It’s worth noting that when the Falcons defeated Green Bay in November, wide receiver Roddy White proclaimed: “I have no plans of going to Lambeau Field in January. I plan on staying right here and sleeping in my own bed in the playoffs.”
So let’s see where their own beds and climate controlled temperatures take them.
The path to a Super Bowl is there. That’s not just because the Falcons have a smart and efficient quarterback in Ryan, a game-changer in White and a versatile offense that prefers to pound the ball with Michael Turner. It’s because of a defense that nobody talks about.
This isn’t a game of real estate; it’s a game of points. The Falcons’ defense ranked only 16th in yards allowed during the regular season and 22nd against the pass. But they finished fifth in scoring defense at 18 points per game. In the final seven games of the regular season, the Falcons allowed 17, 17, 24, 10, 18, 17 and 10 points.
Has anybody noticed that?
Jack Tatum, the former Oakland Raiders safety, once proudly declared, “I like to think my best hits border on felonious assault.” (Worth mentioning: If Tatum played in Roger Goodell’s NFL, he would be jailed merely for thinking of inflicting harm.)
The Falcons’ defense doesn’t remind you of Tatum. They seem less a felonious assault squad than they do a bunch of sneaky pick-pockets.
We just watched the New Orleans Saints give up 41 points to the Seattle Seahawks. They’re out. So is Kansas City, which allowed 30 points to a pedestrian Baltimore offense. So are the Eagles, who finished 21st in scoring defense and couldn’t stop Rodgers and the Packers when they needed to
The Falcons’ defense hasn’t necessarily been some impenetrable force. But more often than not, it has made plays to win games or hold leads.
Defensive end John Abraham, from start to finish, has been the team’s best defensive player (the numbers: 13 sacks, one forced fumble, his first career interception). But the biggest difference of late is that the secondary no longer resembles scattering ants. Cornerback Brent Grimes and safety William Moore — who spent most of his rookie season on a training table – each have five interceptions. They’re two of the big reasons the lampooning has stopped.
“We know Abe has been a productive guy,” defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “Those two [Grimes and Moore] really have been the next two guys in terms of lively production. Grimes really has a comfort this year playing corner in the NFL. His growth has been unbelievable. It’s been fun to watch. William makes mistakes but his interceptions and his impact in tackling are evident.”
They’re better now than the last time they played the Packers. The Saints are gone. Vick is gone. So let’s see where this road takes them.
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Tweets that mention Saints gone, Vick gone and Falcons ready to defend turf | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 9th, 2011
8:41 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sean Womble and others. Sean Womble said: RT @JeffSchultzAJC: Just posted: Goodbye #Vick. Goodbye #Saints. #Falcons road to Dallas starts now. #SuperBowl http://bit.ly/h5owjh [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
January 9th, 2011
8:42 pm
“In the real world, with real people, Animals like Cows, Pigs, Chickens, Lamb, Deer, Elk, Moose, fish and Rabbits are killed every day to feed normal humans.
In Korea, Dogs are eaten, but most animals are not put down without some sort of respect. What vick did showed total lack of respect for animals. So go chew on that for a while…or a handful of nuts.”
I don’t have any problem with eating meat. I only have a problem with logical inconsistency. I’m just pointing out how idiotic it is to claim that killing animals is OK as long as it benefits you but not OK in other instances. It doesn’t make any difference to the animal whether you respect it or not as it dies. Jews and Muslims only eat animals that have their throats slit and slowly bleed to death. None of the supposedly animal loving Vick-hating hypocrites bother to speak up about this, because the animals they eat are not furry and cuddly. If you’re going to judge people, at least judge them all on the same set of rules.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:42 pm
If we can get pass the Packers we will be in Dallas in February. Seattle or Chicago in the NFC title game. The Bears have a good defense but I believe Cutler would cave under the pressure. He tends to do that. Their offense is not near as good as Green Bay and defense gets you only so far.
Open Minded
January 9th, 2011
8:43 pm
Hey all you Vick worshipers…..Today’s Packer’s game was a lackluster performance…. Ryan has not played that flat all season. We are blessed we have Ryan and that the sandlot QB, Vick has moved on.
Thank goodness we are who we are…Falcons will play in this years Super Bowl and we laid a foundation for years of relevance in the league.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:43 pm
what are all the convick fans going to do with their playoffs tickets, maybe sell them cheap.
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:44 pm
OH MY! What are we going to do? What will they talk about this week? Superman MV7 throws a game ending interception and loses. Heck no better than McNabb who was 11-5 and 0-1 in the playoffs last year and MV7 10-6 and 0-1 in the playoffs. Oh My, and the incredible Brees and the FORMER World Champs AINTS are gone too!
Don’t worry about these Falcons, they will win and advance.
Go Falcons!
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:44 pm
Najeh, no body gives a crap, give it a rest
NRBQ
January 9th, 2011
8:45 pm
Najeh:
Time to put on your #7 PJ’s and hit the hay.
Sweet dreams of beating puppies to death.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:45 pm
Scott is right. Time to shut them all up. The Falcons are the least respected #1 seed by the media that I have ever seen and I’m getting sick of it. It’s like they hope the Falcons can get beat by someone. It’s okay for any team in the south to win a championship but the one in Atlanta.
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:46 pm
Najeh,
The Difference is fighting and killing DOGS FOR FUN is AGAINST THE LAW. Or does that matter to you.
BTW, VICK LOST!
eturn
January 9th, 2011
8:46 pm
This is crazy..What are we talking about Vick for…Damn people…Let talk about how we gonna beat the Packers
not a chance
January 9th, 2011
8:47 pm
Trust me. Your team is overrated. Packers will definitely win this game which sucks because the winner should make the Super Bowl. Bears and Seahawks have no shot.
Sorry. A Panthers fan just calling what I see. You will lose on Saturday night.
Bama Falcon Fan
January 9th, 2011
8:47 pm
Definitely glad that the Saints and Vick are out of the playoffs. That being said, Smitty needs to make sure that the Falcons take a business like and SERIOUS approach to playing the Packers next Saturday night. We just barely got by them earlier this season. As has been proven this weekend the seedings in the playoffs mean nothing. The lowly 7 & 9 Seahawks put it to the Saints, the Ravens destroyed the Chiefs, and the 6th seeded Pack beat the 3rd seeded Eagles on their own home field.
I have followed the Falcons through a lot of bad years while growing up in ATL since 66. I remember the GRITS BLITZ of Jerry Glanville, the losing to Dallas in the 4th Qtr. after leading, and of course the loss to Elway and the Broncos in the 98 Super Bowl.
The Falcons need to practice hard. It is said that “How you practice is How you play”. We have to take the Pack seriously because they are an excellent team. Clay Matthews is more than likely going to be the Defensive Player of the Year. He IS a game changer. The Pack can be beat, we proved that earlier this year. We just have to play sound, smart, TURNOVER FREE football for 4 quarters.
Let’s go Falcons, beat the Packers and then get ready for the NFC Championship Game in the ATL. All the FANS need to show up EARLY and BE LOUD. RISE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:48 pm
Oh not a chance,
You mean like the Falcons didn’t have a chance in beating the Saints the first time, beating Tampa 2 times, beating Baltimore and beating Green Bay the first time. Come back Saturday evening after the game to eat crow.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:48 pm
we have to get turner going, 100+ yards, no turnovers – Jenkins will have to step up, because they are going to be all over white and TG. I wish Harry Douglas could catch.
Ben Roth-rapist-berger
January 9th, 2011
8:49 pm
I thought DogKiller went to jail for gambling, not animal cruelty, but…
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:49 pm
not a chance, your just mad because the Falcons kicked the crap out of your sorry team twice this year. The Packers will come in slower than the Falcons with tired legs on a short week. Falcons 21-Packers-10.
Diddly Squat
January 9th, 2011
8:49 pm
Najeh,
Please go to a blog where someone may care.
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:49 pm
Funny thing, a Panthers fan knowing enough about football to talk about someone being overraterd.
Voice of Reason
January 9th, 2011
8:50 pm
I was at that Packers game. Even when Rogers drove to a TD near the end, I knew Matty had enough time to get it done. Falcons won’t be intimidated. They need a good week of prep. Also, whoever our team would meet in the Super Bowl is at least as good as the Pack, so we may as well warm up now. If the ‘Hawks beat the Bears again, we’ll get them in the NFC title game!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 9th, 2011
8:50 pm
There is N-O W-A-Y The Falcons beat the Packers!
Regular season and the playoffs are 2 different things and as long as CHOKE is the qb for the Falcons and Green Bay has a running game, Aaron Rodgers is the 2nd best qb, behind Vick of course, in the NFL.
CHOKE is a JOKE and the Falcons will join the Eagles, Saints, Chiefs and Colts in the local sports bar after this Saturday
Anyone notice that Sanchez and Flacco have won playoff games in every season and CHOKE…..well he just CHOKES
eric
January 9th, 2011
8:50 pm
Get over it. Najeh will defend mike vick no matter what he does. he is also generally down on the falcons just about every week. I am sure he will be touting the packers against the falcons this week. he will criticize matt ryan and talk up the packers defense right up until the start of the game. maybe once the falcons beat the packers they will start to get a little bit respect nationally. But I doubt it. every week there is some other media darling team that is supposed to beat the falcons yet the falcons continue to win.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:50 pm
not a chance, How is that Jimmy Clausen thig working out for you?
John Fox
January 9th, 2011
8:51 pm
Atlanta will beat Green Bay worse than the awful Carolina Panthers.
Ben Roth-rapist-berger
January 9th, 2011
8:51 pm
Among three possible team, the Packers was the one that I hated to face.
They got some ridiculous yards of offense last time we faced them.
I don’t think we can have that again and win.
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:51 pm
Matt Choke,
Hope you aren’t like the AINTS and IGLES fans, and come back Saturday to eat crow after the Falcons kick the Packers.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:52 pm
Matt “Choke Ryan, Aren’t you that idiot Vick fan that comes in here knocking Matt Ryan all the time?
FalconFan
January 9th, 2011
8:53 pm
I think Matt Choke picked the Saints or Eagles to be the NFC Champions
Najeh Davenpoop
January 9th, 2011
8:53 pm
“The Difference is fighting and killing DOGS FOR FUN is AGAINST THE LAW. Or does that matter to you.”
I was responding to the guy who accused me of being a vegan, and his argument was about what is morally correct or incorrect, not about what is legal or illegal.
SAL PAOLANTONIO
January 9th, 2011
8:53 pm
The offense choked for the 10-7 Eagles.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
8:53 pm
Keep knocking Matt Ryan. He just keeps winning.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:54 pm
not a chance,
you got a 50-50 chance of being right. go ahead ignore we are 13-3, we beat the crap out of your sorry team, and we just beat the packers a month ago. overrated? No one could possible say that about carolina, they stink, they quit, and the kid from stanford, probably stayed in school so he wouldn’t have to play for souch a crappy cheap organization.
scott
January 9th, 2011
8:54 pm
not a chance.if i were you and a panther fan i wouldnt be on here they have a chance and the falcons will prevail..the panthers didnt have a chance period appreciate your opinion but it is not needed this is ATLANTA and were for the home team. . falcons will be ready spout your negativity on charlottes web site,,www.charlotte.com..this is about THE ATLANTA FALCONS THIS IS THIER TIME!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 9th, 2011
8:54 pm
eddiedawg
January 9th, 2011
8:19 pm
Where’s Choke? I want him on this blog to tell us about that great throw Vick made to end the Iggles season…..talk about choking!
_____________________________________________________
Right here buddy, I don’t coward away like you delusional Falcons fans
Besides, this is my favorite time to be on the Losers Falcons blog, to be CHOKEs torn on his backside
CHOKE remains a JOKE, and I will be right here E-V-E-R-Y-T-I-M-E he CHOKES, so that means I’m here for an eternity
SRF
January 9th, 2011
8:55 pm
Why in the world do you hate Ryan ? what has he done to you ?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 9th, 2011
8:56 pm
“Najeh will defend mike vick no matter what he does. he is also generally down on the falcons just about every week. I am sure he will be touting the packers against the falcons this week. he will criticize matt ryan and talk up the packers defense right up until the start of the game. ”
I don’t even post on the Falcons blog every week, so I don’t know where you are getting this from. I call it like I see it. I’ve been touting Mike Smith for coach of the year all season. I don’t see how someone who is always “down on the Falcons” would do that. In fact I don’t know what specifically you are referring to as me “defending Vick no matter what he does”.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:56 pm
hey choke, who jock you gonna sniff now? the con-vick is gone, brees is gone?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 9th, 2011
8:56 pm
On a side note, I think it is a HUGE tragedy in Arizona. I’m curious to see if the out cry and outrage will be anything near the outrage over dog fighting.
Interesting indeed.
Voice of Reason
January 9th, 2011
8:56 pm
Choke the JOKE is back! Best QB “other than Vick.” Hmmmm. I actually wanted Vick to win this one (but not next week against the Bears). But that’s an odd statement on your part. This was like a microcosm of Vick’s entire career in a single season. Glory. Struggle. Catastrophe.
CoolBrees
January 9th, 2011
8:56 pm
What is a Who Dat?! A who dat has da ring!!! HAHAHAAH lol at all the falcon fans….. too bad the Aints are gone… u pathetic bytches couldn’t handle losing to us twice in a month. LOL what a bunch of douchebags. Georgia Dome = Superdome North. GET OUTTA MY HOUSE!! hahahaha
Ben Roth-rapist-berger
January 9th, 2011
8:58 pm
Ummmmm Where is Brady in the conversation of the best QB in the NFL?
Just to prove how idiotic and no-brainy CHOKE is.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
8:58 pm
hey choke,
did you like that choke interception that the con-vick threw to end the game? LMAO
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
9:00 pm
Where is all those Saints fans who were on here a couple of weeks ago? The ones who said the Falcons were going to lose to the Panthers and they would be the #1 seed and beat us in New Orleans. I told them they wouldn’t have the guts to come on here.
The Dome Will Be Rocking
January 9th, 2011
9:00 pm
Win the turnover battle and the Falcons will win the game. Aaron Rodgers won’t be able to hear himself think. Make it happen Falcons! Noone in the media believes in you but your true fans do. Let’s show them why we are the # 1 seed . We aren’t flashy and our offense isn’t sexy so ESPN ignores us. Just keep on winning, and everything will take care of itself. Go Falcons!!!! All the way to the Superbowl!!!!
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
9:00 pm
CoolBREES,
you guys are delusional, you just got spanked by a 7-9 team, and you’re here talking smack. Now that’s funny.
GregKennesaw
January 9th, 2011
9:03 pm
CoolBrees,
I seem to remember we beat you in that toilet, you call a city, only we don’t want to call that our house, we just wish you would take back all of your low-life’s that moved up here, causing our crime rate to go up.
Kerryb
January 9th, 2011
9:04 pm
What do you usually see happen to a team that has played a game and had a short week against a team that had a bye week? The bye week team looks 10 times faster than the tired team and thats what will happen on Saturday. My prediction is the Falcons will be up 21-7 by halftime.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 9th, 2011
9:04 pm
Where will all the AINTS players be Monday night? At their homes. Those homes ain’t in NOLA either. Nobody choses to live in a toilet bowl but Crap.
RockyMTNFalcon
January 9th, 2011
9:05 pm
Dont worry FalconFan, Matt Choke will be on the bandwagon of who ever the Falcons face in the NFC Championship. Then he will be on the bandwagon of the AFC Championship winner when they Face the Falcons in the Superbowl. Then he will be back on the Saints bandwagon talking trash starting next spring. We will never get rid of Matt “choke” until his momma takes his cpu away or if he gets in the way of a bullet ment for a politician at a local grocery store.
Bye Bye Breesy
January 9th, 2011
9:07 pm
Saints are losers!! What a great game they played against 7-9 Seattle. Nice defense Aints. HAHAHAHA!
That ring is H I S T O R Y. You are now one and done and of course you lost a road game in the playoffs. Nice game! I guess that road playoff streak will remain intact for a while, LOSERS!!!! Have fun watching the Falcons in the playoffs while crying in your jambalaya. Who dat just lost to the Seachickens?? LMFAO!!!