Falcons’ embarrassing loss means season was an epic fail
Matt Ryan had two interceptions and was sacked five times in the loss. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
It’s year three of this great franchise awakening, and that means one thing: We don’t grade seasons on the first 16 games.
We can praise the Falcons for a 13-win season. We can marvel at their young quarterback, Matt Ryan, for his progress in three seasons and his ability to pull out victories in pressure situations. We can sit back and praise the owner, the general manager and the coaching staff for seemingly doing everything right and winning 33 regular season games since 2008.
But in January of 2011, the Falcons should not be graded on what happens in the first 16 games. They should be graded on postseasons.
They failed. Epically.
There’s no shame in losing to the Green Bay Packers. But getting bodyslammed 48-21 is a level of humiliation that no playoff team should ever experience, especially this one. Not after a 13-3 season. Not in its first playoff game. Not at home. Not after having a week off while the opponent was in a short week following a road playoff game.
You expected a high point for the franchise. Instead, the Falcons gave us a low — the most lopsided playoff loss in their history.
“We didn’t do anything like ourselves,” Roddy White said. “It felt like were a different football team.”
If the Falcons could have stepped outside themselves and astral-projected into other bodies, it would have been an improvement.
They committed four turnovers. They allowed the Packers 442 yards in offense, 366 coming from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who threw three touchdowns and completed 31 of 36 passes (and I honestly can’t remember the five incompletes).
If you think it can’t get worse, try this: Green Bay never punted. The totals: Five offensive touchdown, a defensive score, two field goals, a missed field goal and a fumble. It was like the return of Arena Football, except only one team was fully functional.
“Totally our fault,” said defensive end John Abraham, who like many Falcons defenders got close to Rodgers on occasion but seldom could get him to the turf (he was sacked twice). “I’m not saying they didn’t play well, but we could’ve done a lot more to move this in the right direction and we didn’t.
“Personally, I had bigger goals. The regular season is good. But being done in the first game hurts, especially the way we got knocked out.”
Some feared the New Orleans Saints coming back into the Georgia Dome and winning for the second time in a month. More feared Michael Vick coming back and winning again. Was this any better — a lopsided loss, with several thousand “Cheeseheads” chanting, “Go Pack Go”?
We thought the Falcons were past this. Granted, they won a lot of close games during the regular season. Great teams win close games. But when a team has such an epic faceplant in its first playoff game, you have to wonder how close it really is.
In 2008 — the first year of the Ryan-Mike Smith-Thomas Dimitroff era — the Falcons rose from two years of wreckage. They went 11-5. Then they lost at Arizona, a team that went on to the Super Bowl — no embarrassment there. This season they went 13-3 and lost to a Green Bay team that may end up in Dallas. The difference is venue — the Falcons were 20-4 in the Georgia Dome in the last three seasons – and what we perceived to be the Falcons’ evolution to this point.
Nobody thought the defense was great. But it appeared to be young and improving and certainly not set up for a dismembering. The offense added Tony Gonzalez last year to win a Super Bowl, but the team hasn’t even won a playoff game. (Nor has Gonzalez in his career. In fact he made his first catch of the game with 2:03 left in the third quarter and then limped off.)
The Packers fumbled on their opening possession. Then they scored touchdowns the next six times they touched the football – five on offensive possessions and one on a 70-yard interception return by cornerback Tramon Williams, a play that Ryan will be reliving in his nightmares for the next several months.
Oh yes, Ryan: The Falcons thrived this season on not turning over the ball. Ryan was at the forefront of that, throwing a career-low nine interceptions. Both second-quarter interceptions were costly. The first ended a scoring drive, though it may have been more the fault of wide receiver Michael Jenkins, who slipped and fell in the end zone, leaving Tramon Williams to make an easy interception.
But the second one was all on Ryan. With the Falcons trailing 21-14, eight seconds left in the half and the ball on the Packers’ 34, Ryan tried to hit Roddy White with a quick sideline pass to set up a field goal. But he threw way short and behind White and the pass was picked off by Williams, who brought it all the way for a score to make it 28-14 at halftime. The most audible sound in the Georgia Dome was a loud groan.
Brave fans stayed for the second half. But when the Packers scored on their first two possessions in the third quarter, it was like somebody yelled, “Fire.” By the end, it was only Cheeseheads in the stands.
This was exactly the kind of playoff meltdown Ryan wanted to avoid. He was 20 for 29 but had two interceptions and was sacked five times. Two years ago, his first pass attempt at Arizona was intercepted and led to a Cardinals’ scoring drive. Later in the game he had a fumble that Arizona’s Antrel Rolle returned 27 yards for a touchdown. The Falcons lost 30-24. We didn’t consider it a great tragedy.
This is different. Two years later, humiliating defeat should not be what this team is about.
They’re not as close as we thought they were.
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1,754 comments Add your comment
Timbo
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
Green Bay was right to give Favre the boot. Rodgers is a special quarterback and will be years to come.
Mike
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
This was a butt whipping of epic, EPIC proportions. What an egg was laid. Why don’t the Falcons get any respect? You saw why. Lawnchairs. Regular season means nothing. They can’t perform in the playoffs. A really sorry display. Stick a fork in this team.
Dog kicker
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
The packers never even punted!!! now that tells me our “D” didn’t even show up tonight.
jack
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
Well that sucked,,,, Total embarrassment ,,,,, Not a single Falcon should cash their playoff paycheck,,cause not a single one of them showed up to play tonight,,,,,, What do we look forward to now,, the Hawks ?,,,yeah, right,,, the Thrashers ?,, seriously ?? The Braves ? Not this year,,,, The Bulldogs ?,,, don’t even go there,,,,oh well,, life goes on !
ryan
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
Check your math Schultzie, 37-20 is a 17 point loss. 48-21 is a 27 point loss. they are not the same.
Not a Falcons fan
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
Rise up !!!!!!! What happen? Fans had already made the Falcons Super Bowl champs. Big Hype at the beginning of the season and what happened? The Falcons choked again !!!!!! I have said this many times. Different year, different players, same old Falcons. I will say it for Falcons fans, maybe next year. Now you know why I am not a Falcons fan. Don’t hurt youself jumping off the Bandwagon.
Worm
January 15th, 2011
11:43 pm
Falcons need DB’s, pass rushers, a speed running back,another big time LBer, and a center…McCarthy and the Pack totally exposed their weaknesses…Amazing that all the talking heads on ESPN,Fox, and CBS all picked the Pack..Trent Dilfer was RIGHT!
SeenThisB4
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
LMAO! That was a sweet game! I haven’t had that much fun since last year’s Super Bowl!
EPIC FAIL is an understatement!
GEAUX SAINTS!!
Mitchell
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Anytime the so call experts do not believe in a team. Usually you dismiss it as they don’t know what their talking about. Anytime the so call experts talk about an Atlanta Sports Team. It is alarming how right they always are.
We know the Braves will choke year in and year out in the playoffs. We know the Hawks will struggle in the 1st round and then get embarrass in the 2nd round. We know the Thrashers are everyone doormat. Sure they are playing better. They are just a one year wonder. The Falcons look like the light at the end of the dark tunnel for our pathetic history of sports. ERROR Well wrong on that one.
To Atlanta Sports, 45 years of EPIC FAIL and embarrassments. The Sports World wonder why we don’t get 110% behind our local teams. It would be easy to get behind them if they haven’t perfected the art of choking in the playoffs.
Timbo
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Green Bay was right to give Favre the boot. Rodgers is special and will be great for years to come.
FalconIce
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
neemosacs,
Who Dat on the couch tonight watching the NFC South division champs play Green Bay because they lost to the worst team in playoff history?
Oh yeah, the Aints. Silly me.
ATL BOB
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Not surprised though. I was always iffie with this team this year. didn’t quite but into all the wins. We had a lucky defense and a workman like offense that sputtered at times and tonight it threw a rod!
cheshire
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Great article Schultz. You’re gonna hear a lot of fans say a lot of things about the Falcons in the next few days, but one thing I don’t wanna hear is “Oh, but we had a great season”. We didn’t. This season was a colossal waste of time and an utter disappointment… Not because we lost, but because we lost in such a humiliating fashion that it bring a lot of questions up that no one would have even considered a few days ago.
At some point we as Atlanta fans have to start demanding more from our sports teams, and a nice regular season followed by a postseason meltdown is not acceptable. If I want that, I can go watch the Hawks or the Braves. It’s getting old, and if clubs in this town want fans to keep supporting them, they need to win when it matters. The worst part of this is watching fans start to really get behind this team and then get treated like this. Sports teams in this town are turning into “the boy who cried wolf”. It’s the same script over and over – “hey, we’re really good this year! No, seriously, come out and support us! We’re gonna win for sure this time because….HAHAHA, just kidding! You wasted your $$ and time again and we let you down anyway!”
Georgia curse!
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Enter your comments here
Waffle House or Bust
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
FAIL…….
Packers never punted.
Our secondary played like they did two years ago.
Ryan looked nervous.
Defense came after Rodgers on first drive and then let up.
Fans yelled AFTER Packers called play in the huddle (didn’t get that).
This IS Atlanta pro sports. Next up to disappoint? The Braves (we already know the Hawks are not going anywhere). Ahhhhh the joys of following Atlanta teams.
Gen Neyland
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Exposed and destroyed. Better in the Divisional than the NFCC game or Super Bowl. With this loss, football is officially over south of the
Mason-Dixon Line and the Super Bowl in TX doesn’t count…The Falcons can only apologize to Atlanta and it’s fans for this showing.
kman71
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
packers are obviously the class of the nfc. No shame losing to them. Cheeseheads sure seemed to take over the dome tho
Ekim
January 15th, 2011
11:45 pm
Fire everybody! Start over! Disband the team! This is epic! I’ve never felt worse!
Holy Mother of God, where’s my bottle — no, the other bottle. I’ve already got the pills.
Saints fans survived last week; Falcons fans (a term used loosely) will live, too.
Eric C.
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
This is not all on Matt Ryan…the defense was as horrible as I’ve ever seen, even when comparing to some of those late 80s defenses. The Packers are a better team…no doubt about it, but the Falcons defense is severely short-handed when it comes to the big games. They looked way out of their league tonight. This was a make-or-break game for a career, and many Falcons failed miserably.
I would almost expect Gonzalez to retire after this season. The injury-prone Norwood is a sure bet to be gone…and the Falcons need a speed back desperately. Turner the “burner” and Snelling look like they are stuck in mud sometimes. The Falcons never have a consistent pass rush…it has been the story of the Falcons existence, with the exception of a few seasons…they cannot generate a consistent pass rush with their base defense. Abraham is entering the twilight of his career…who is going to set in to fill his shoes?
Georgia curse!
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
It’s a Georgia thing. The move “Deliverance” cursed us forever.
Sad.
Rural Education
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
Several Problems: 1) The Falcons got absolutely kicked in the face. It looked like Pro vs. College, the Packers were ten times more physical 2) Ryan is a competent Qb, but nothing more. He lacks arm strength and it shows. 3) Talent level is okay, but there is a definite lack of top tier talent, the “lines” both offense and defense are pedestrian at best. 4) Once again in a big game, an Atlanta sports teams lays an egg, that is the history of this city.
bdawg
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
The Falcons made Trent Dilfer look really smart tonight…what an embarrassment
Ed
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
13-3 is still a great season and there is no doubt that this is a very difficult loss. I have a lot of faith in Mr Blank, Mike Smith, and Dimitroff that they will get things tweaked before next season. As a lifelong Falcons fan I will not consider this loss a dissapointment like some bandwagon people will do on this blog. After all Ive been through over the years with this franchise it is a breath of fresh air to see how far this team has come since 2008. I think Dimitroff is building this team for the long run, they certainly need some taller corners and a receiver to be opposite Roddy that is a lot more explosive, perhaps Steve Smith from Carolina. Either way Im very proud of this team and they have no reason to hang their heads.
FalconUGAFan
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
Jeff…you are so utterly WRONG that you really disappoint me (I’m sure you care) but the season is not an Epic Fail. You and many otheres around here were propping these guys up as Super Bowl bound. Well they weren’t this year. They were overachieving all year long. They played with heart and guts on many occasions. They are one or maybe even 2 years away from REALLY contending and to call them a fail is just plain wrong. Don’t jump on the hate bandwagon too.
Matthew
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
Taint fans… they lose to a 7-9 team a week ago and still run their mouths… that’s why they’re the worst fans ever. But I guess I understand – that’s the only bright spot for an otherwise turd of a city.
Hickory Avenue
January 15th, 2011
11:46 pm
@Timmy —– LOL at you , bruddah ; STILL crying about your Pigeons , failing to ‘RISE UP’ and win a Super Bowl ring — yeah , it may have been LAST year , but at least we DID it —– LOSER !!!!!! (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!)
Birdman123
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
Georgia dome empty of Atlanta fans at the beginning of the 4th quarter…Proving to the nation how strong the Falcons fanbase really is.
yuck
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
This was just another in a string of embarrassing Atlanta professional sports team losses. I don’t know why anyone even bothered showing up at the Dome tonight…unless they were Packers fans…I mean, Atlanta never had a shot…it’s just the same thing every year in every sport…decent regular season…lose in the postseason…This is Atlanta people…they’ll never win anything.
Waffle House or Bust
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
Timbo – I agree about Rodgers but dude looks like Mel Gibson drunk.
Timbo
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
DUNTA ROBINSON IS STEALING MONEY!!! What a hack..
Can it be true?
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
VanGorders D looked like Georgia’s????? Green Bay never Punted!!! Pathetic just like the end to Georgias season. WOW what a thud
Eric C.
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
SinceThisB4, you must live a miserable existence.
Who's yo Daddy
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
Terrible on both sides tonight. May need new offensive coordinator, and definitely need better db’s. Blank should definitely seek a refund on all the $ spent on db’s this year. D Culpepper hasnt played up to the level of his salary, and the backup tonight was pitiful. Verdict still out on BVG.
Hopefully this brings the players back with some attitude for next year. We’re a pretty good mid-level team, but not yet in the elite group. Fill a few holes and this team may play at the level of some of the top teams.
djv125
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
and this is why the falcons dont get respect on the national stage. when does baseball season start?
Alerba
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
I think it’s funny as hell that a Saints fan would come on here and gloat.
Laugh away, below-sea-level crowd.
Timbo
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
you funny Waffle House…luv my falcons, but calling it like i see it.
NOLA
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
Well since a lot of you Falcant fans flooded nola.com with your trash talk,I think I will return the favor. You got to crawl before you can walk,You got spanked!! Until you win keep all the Aints B.S. to yourself…..Now bow down and kiss the ring chumps!!!
luangtom
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
Turn out the lights, the party’s over…..nasty game, nasty showing. Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons ALL go down in defeat tonight. Is it something in the water? But….I haffta remember it is only a game……
Ted Striker
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
Magical season — VERY enjoyable — but the pixie dust ran out too soon. That’s football.
Sorry Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
Same old Falcons, turnovers, penalties , bad defense game plan. Where is Artie at? Mattie was put on Ice.
Falcons Forever
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
I am just as disappointed as the next Falcons fan BUT I am SO sick of people saying we were never that good. For god sakes! We have some of the best records in the league as a team and we won 13 games….13 GAMES. So we obviously suck at the post season, but thank you Smith and Co. for a great season.
Go Falcons! My love for you is unconditional.
Gen Neyland
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
Timbo : Rogers was a work in progress. The thing is the Packers built around him to a degree on both sides of the ball. Wisconsin and Green Bay can say, again, the Pack is back…I hope they win it all.
Losersville USA
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
There’s no shame in losing to a good football team. But to not be competitive and be humiliated and embarrassed in front of a national TV audience there’s no excuse for. The last time the Falcons were a #1 seed was in 1980 when they went 12-4 and were eliminated by the Cowboys in their first playoff game at home. I thought that loss was heartbreaking, but at least that Falcons team was competitive and could have and should have won that game. My feelings after this loss is undescribable. Falcons fans want to know why this team gets no national respect. Tonight is the reason why. Atlanta has had one major sports championship. Of all the cities that have sports teams in at least 3 major sports only Cleveland has been worse. I’ve been a fan of Atlanta sports teams all my life and I find myself envious and jealous of the other cities who have multiple championships in multiple sports. I wonder why we can’t have that in Atlanta? I don’t know the answer but I can only hope and dream! The Falcons were a great team for 16 games. I just hope they can recover from this devastating loss. A loss like this can sometimes take a long time to recover from. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a losing season next year. I hope not and I hope the team and the players use this as a learning experience. With the state of Atlanta sports teams the way they are now with the Braves/Hawks/Thrashers owned by groups who don’t want to spend a lot of money the Falcons are our last and only hope of bringing another championship to this city. I believe Arthur Blank won’t rest until he has brought a championship to this city. No matter what I’ll always pull for my home teams. Better luck next year Falcons. At least it’s good to know we have a great owner/gm/coach who will do everything they can to make this team better. For now, tonight that’s all we have is hope!
Can it be true?
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
The only thing that stopped Green Bay was Green Bay. I think they just scored again….. WOW
Sam Troy
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
Dear Mr. Samuel L. Jackson:
I want a refund; Falcons DO NOT RISE UP!
Sincerely,
Sam Troy
reality check
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
I predicted this all week on my posts, but even I didn’t see that score coming. The Falcons were who I thought they were all year-a well coached overachieving fortunate team. They were exposed big time tonight, and that can’t be debated. From time of possession to turnover margin to fewest penalties to very few injuries, this team just didn’t have much margin for error all season. The Falcons do not have nearly enough good football players to really compete for a Superbowl Championship. I’ve been saying this all year, and many of my posts were met with resistance. This team needs a lot more than many of these bloggers care to admit. In reality, getting to Dallas never had a chance at all. And looking ahead to next season, the Saints and Bucs will both be very formidable division opponents. The Saints were an injured team and the Bucs were an upcoming young team this season, so just winning the division will be a tall order for the Falcons next season. The Falcons laid an egg as a #1 seed tonight as bad as the NFL has seen in a long time if not the all time worst. In the end they truly were the Falcant’s after all!
Waffle House or Bust
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
Birdman123 – At least the Falcons fans showed up for three quarters. Thats more than we can say for the players.
Gop Cannon
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
I am so embarrassed by this team’s performance… only an Atlanta team could find a way to take a 13-3 season, and in one game make the entire franchise look like a joke.
yuck
January 15th, 2011
11:51 pm
Stay class Saints fans…stay classy.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 15th, 2011
11:51 pm
“The first ended a scoring drive, though it may have been more the fault of wide receiver Michael Jenkins, who slipped and fell in the end zone, leaving Tramon Williams to make an easy interception.”
No it wasn’t. Jenkins had Williams beat by five yards. Ryan floated the pass and threw it to his inside shoulder, allowing Williams to catch up to the ball. Jenkins blowing chances to catch TDs is nothing new, but he wouldn’t have caught that if he had stayed on his feet.