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
Hickory Avenue
January 16th, 2011
12:25 am
@nolafan—–you tell’em , bruddah !!! you’re exactly right ; it don’t mean a damn thing , if you “ain’t ” got that RING !!! (And when you hold it up to the light , it shines with a “BLING ” , baby !!!!!)
Voice of Reason
January 16th, 2011
12:26 am
Jeff, I thought Mark’s blog was better (sorry). More facts, less negativity. That said, Matty played horrible. Defense played horrible. Hell, everyone except Eric Weems played horrible. If you would have told me at the beginning of the year we’d be 13-3 and the number one seed in the NFC, I would have considered this one of the best seasons ever. That said, it was still one of the best regular seasons ever. But we need to build a better team to compete in the post season. For one, we need much more pressure on the QB. Second, we need more playmakers on offense. We need to learn from this and move on. I am more than disappointed — and angry. But we either quit or we get better. I look forward to all the football experts (i.e., you and Mark and Orlando) writing about ways we can improve for next year. Let’s face it, the Falcons are still one of the best franchises we have in this town, despite tonight’s disaster. Let’s look for positive change in the future.
Mike McDevitt
January 16th, 2011
12:26 am
GO PACK GO!!!!!!!! The Falcons are way overrated!!!!!
Savage57
January 16th, 2011
12:26 am
I am going to be magnanimous in victory here. All week long, not only were all the Falcons posters bragging on the Falcons and how the outcome of the game was a foregone conclusion, the vast majority of people had to make it personal. Now I understand fervor for your team, but there are lines you just don’t cross. Lots of smack about how much better southerners were, about how much the people of Wisconsin and Green Bay sucked, about how great Atlanta was, about how little there is to do in Wisconsin, about how much Yankees suck. It’s just a game played by millionaires, so why the personal vitriol? You’ll not hear it from me even though the Packers totally spanked the Falcons.
Well here’s the deal. Having lived in both Wisconson and Atlanta, I can tell you that both places have their sins and their saving graces. It was just a football game folks, and I think y’all need to get a little perspective.
That said, the Packers absolutely owned the Falcons tonight. Does that make me any better, smarter or wiser than a Falcons fan? No. But the team I support with grace and class carried the day and in that there is a small measure of redemption after the amout of just plain ol’ nastiness dished out by a lot of folks that lost their sense of measure over the last week.
Humble pie is one of the toughest dishes to swallow, but I have to say that based on the talk that preceeded this game, y’all earned a double serving.
FALCLOWNS are losers
January 16th, 2011
12:26 am
What abgreat regular season team the FAILCANTS are….Saints As # 1 seed last year WON IT ALL! Loser Falclowns can’t win a playoff game – epic failure – much worse than Saints losso Seachicks….SAINTS remain the BEST team in the NFC SOUTH! Later, redneck ghetto dweller Falclowns fans and losers….
saintsgirl
January 16th, 2011
12:26 am
My regrets to all Falcon fans. However, my predictions on NOLA .com about the Packer/Falcon game were spot on! As a Saints’ fan, I must say seeing the Falcons get destroyed is the next best thing to a Saints win. It especially lifts one’s spirit following the collapse of my team in Seattle. As for those of you who question why Saints fans are on your site, you should have seen the Falcon fans trashing the Saints on the New Orleans site last week.Some of the evil words that were spoken about our imperfect but resilient city were reprehensible. As to why we keep bringing up the superbowl, I’ll let you guys in on our little secret. All Saints fans are aware that our team stunk it up against the Seahawks and are no longer the world champion, but the pride that comes with becoming world champs stays forever. Maybe, some day Falcon fans will know of what I speak. We are not living in the past, but we get to keep the bliss of past memories forever.
The truth is both NFC South teams did a good job of embarassing themselves in the playoffs. The Saints lost to a 7-9 team, and the #1 seed Falcons were dismantled at home by an obviously superior Packer team. One thing I can emphatically say is that such losses hurt alot less once you have won a superbowl. We will get to see who is best in the south next year .I like my Saints’chances over your Falcons next year, however, neither us should sleep on the Bucs-they are getting really good really quick.
AintsFan
January 16th, 2011
12:27 am
HA! HA! HA!, RISE UP, more like FALL DOWN. What a joke. That is sooooo LAME!!!!! The Falc*nts really stunk up the joint just like i knew they would. 13-3, number one seed with home field advantage and still couldn’t seal the deal. I am proud to be an Aints Fan. The Saints rose from AINTS to Super Bowl Champions when they had every reason to throw in the towel. Think about this, the 2009 Saints accomplished in 4 years what all the other Saints were unable to accomplish in 42 years after the city and team was almost wiped off the map. Tell Roddy, a Katrina might do yall some good. Katrina showed the world what the people of New Orleans are made of. WE ARE SURVIVORS, and we are moving on. Not only did the Saints get to the big show. THEY WON IT!!!!!! Don’t go if you can’t win it. That’s why it’s best that the Falc*nts lost tonight because nobody would have wanted to see yall lose the Super Bowl again. The SAINTS will always be better than the Falc*nts because we won the Super Bowl first, and we will win another one before yall even make it to another one. Yeah, I know the Saint’s lost to Seattle, but at least they showed up. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! I will sleep very well tonight. May next year FALC*NT LOSERS!!!!!!!!!
Timmy
January 16th, 2011
12:27 am
LOL at the sob stories of the Aints. “Oh no, classless Falcons fans have been talking trash on a aints board? So obviously I have to respond by stooping to their level, right?”
Seriously, I don’t care that Falcons fans have invaded your boards. I’m not one of them, so all I see is YOU guys over here commenting on OUR blogs, and yeah I’m not going to respond nicely when you come here talking trash…but I will never stoop to the level of going to an Aints board.
“Oh no, I lost everything in the hurricane because I was too hard-headed to take the warning signs seriously.”
Cry me a river, then sail your belongings down it.
Jessie tuggle
January 16th, 2011
12:29 am
Bless you boys!!! Bless you boys! Go saints!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 16th, 2011
12:30 am
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
12:23 am
Here’s the Falcons’ last playoff win.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d801b7e24/Falcons-47-Rams-17
Happier times.
________________________________________________
Who was that quarterback?
Bob in Suwanee
January 16th, 2011
12:30 am
The best part of the evening is that the half-a$$ed cable company Charter couldn’t deliver an HD signal that had less tiles than an Egyptian mosaic.
Timmy
January 16th, 2011
12:31 am
The same QB who last to GB last week with a hell of a lot more firepower around him…no thank you
Pat
January 16th, 2011
12:31 am
Hey can the falcons RISE-UP from the dead now after getting undress by the packers?
nolafan
January 16th, 2011
12:32 am
Packer Fan: not making excuses. We’re a good team that didn’t get it done & lost by 6. Different reality when a 13-3 No. 1 seed is made to bend over on national tv & get drilled by 27.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
January 16th, 2011
12:32 am
The packers still didn;t have a good running game tonight, the only bright spot for the ATL D was they shut down the running game..But Brett Farve Jr carved us up..I can;t explain it since our D line manhandled their O line 7 weeks ago, but it is what it is..I still am very happy for our 13-3 season and after a week of ouch I will be renewing my season tickets and looking forward to the start of the NFL season 2011 and AU’s season opener.
Maybe if we had not won the national championship monday, I would be more upset..but I think the Falcons will be contenders again next year, and In the NFL, this is how the season ends for 31 teams every year..at least our season lasted longer than 25 other teams..the days of years and years between playoff trips are hopefully gone for this franchise.
Keep Paying
January 16th, 2011
12:32 am
New owner, new coach, new QB, new logo,…….same ol Falcons…..don’t but into the hype……29 days till pitchers report
missouridawg
January 16th, 2011
12:33 am
Fail Clowns – You are so right. You should see the way they trash the Braves, Bulldogs, and every single team in this city. It’s crazy. The Atlanta fans are so freaking ignorant it’s unreal. One bad game and they turn on you. They leave at halftime, etc. No support whatsoever. Worst FANS on earth.
Lassie
January 16th, 2011
12:33 am
Timmy, it’s me Lassie. I know how you are after a Falcons loss so meet me like you always do for a little canine lovin’…
Schultz = Trash
January 16th, 2011
12:33 am
A journalist using the term “epic fail” in the title of an article is an epic fail in itself. This term was recently relegated to the garbage bin of the English language. Congratulations Schultzie – you are writing like a stoned high school kid.
Jeff Schultz
January 16th, 2011
12:33 am
Ryan — that was fixed, thanks.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Just remember delusional Falcants fans, that the last regime was let go after 3 seasons and they went to the championship game
Hickory Avenue
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Falcons fans —- seriously ??? Did you actually think that you guys were gonna talk all of that smack that you guys are so ADEPT at doing on a regular basis , and then trash-talk our city and make fun of the Katrina stuff , and then go out and get your a** handed to you , at home as the number #1 seed , by a 27-point margin , and NOT have Saints fans UNLEASH on you guys ????? C’mon , man ……….
Jeff Schultz
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Cheshire — Thanks. I don’t believe most of fan base will be satisfied. Like I said, no shame in losing to Packers but not like that.
Timmy
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Hey Lassie, do yourself a favor and go barking “Who dat” in blackface like the Aints fans
Joe Packer
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Future looks bright – Matt Ryan is an awesome quarterback. NFL teams need good QB’s to excel. The Falcons have one. Hope for 2012 starts now for you folks, good luck!
ijonathan (formerly a Ryan defender)
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Aaron Rodgers is now part of the current NFL QB elite…right with Brady, Manning (who is close to falling out of it), Brees, and perhaps Big Ben and Rivers.
Tonight, Rodgers showed that he is >>>>>>>>> Matt Ryan.
There is indeed a chasm between Matt and the elite quarterbacks.
I’m not confident he’ll ever be able to bridge that chasm.
504forlife
January 16th, 2011
12:35 am
WHO DAT!!!! BLEAUX ME FAILCANS!!!!
Brogens Hero
January 16th, 2011
12:35 am
Jeff did you pick the Falcons to win the division this year? Matt Ryan a third year quarterback made some poor decisions. This is a team that will get better. Jeff is a columnist who sadly will not get any better. Congratulations to the Falcons on a great season. I am in support of local columnist who tell it like it is, but to completely dismiss the season based on one loss is ridiculous.
Fail-Clowns
January 16th, 2011
12:35 am
TIMMY BOY…you see that’s the difference between Saints fans and FAIL-CLOWN fans….you resort to an event like Katrina where people actually died. That’s why you are void of class to an epic level. It costs money and resources to evacuate a city. Everyone who could afford to evacuate, evacuated you idiot. The ones that stayed didn’t have a choice.
WE HAVE A RING, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A RING…..EVER. DEAL WITH THAT FOR THE REST OF YOUR SAD LIFE. RISEEEEE UP LMAOOOO
World Champ Saints
January 16th, 2011
12:35 am
A lot of Falcon fans here, I guess when you leave at halftime…then you have time to login and blog about NOLA.
Atlantan
January 16th, 2011
12:35 am
‘Aints superbowl was a fluke, can you say fix?? Minnesota was the best team last yr…Why are you on this board anyway? Your season ended vs. team with a LOSING record!!
Baron Samedi Papa Legba
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
May Timmy forever be cursed by the Voodoo Gods for comments about New Orleans and Katrina.
Jeff Schultz
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
Georgia curse! — You are the first to the table with the “Deliverance” theory. And I’m guessing the last.
kaminari
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
Well, at least we can get revenge.
Numba1PackFan
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
Falcons fans need to support their team until the end, win or lose.
Asisde from that Atlanta is a great city with an up and coming team. I expect to see the Falcons in the playoffs next year.
Go Pack Go!
whodat70816
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
Matty Ice is no elite QB. The falcons didn’t have an off day, they started the game like they’ve started their games all season long.
Difference was…this time Rodgers and his offense controlled the clock and the Refs didn’t overlook the penalties the Falcons have been committing all season.
What this game proved was Matty Ice and the Falcons can’t come back when they are down by 3 or more possessions.
How many interceptions did Matty Choke have tonight? Fumbles?
LMAO…
What a waste of a #1 seed!
Flipper- NOLA
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
Only way the Falcons will ever get to the Super Bowl will be if they buy tickets!!!!.
LMAO!!!!!
reality check
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
My predictions for next season in the NFC South assuming that all four teams have equal health which certainly wasn’t the case next year. 1. Saints 2. Bucs 3. Falcons 4. Panthers. The Saints talent level is superior to the Falcons, and the Bucs are a young talented team headed north. The Falcons better upgrade their talent because all of this regular season’s good fortune is highly unlikely to be duplicated. Was this a historical loss(by 27 pts) by a #1 seed in the divisional round tonight? I’m not sure but it just might have been!
Bob in Suwanee
January 16th, 2011
12:37 am
Anybody that works for Charter want to explain why you can’t deliver an HD signal on channels that are obviously being heavily watched?
Timmy
January 16th, 2011
12:37 am
I don’t go on Aints boards. All I see are Aints fans talking trash on Falcons board. I feel no need to retaliate by going on an Aints board where I’m not wanted.
It’s not my fault if you can’t restrain yourself from going on an opponent’s site to talk trash. Same goes for the Falcons fans who you Aints fans claim invade your sites.
Keep Paying
January 16th, 2011
12:37 am
ESPN reporting the Falcons threw the game and the refs were in on it .
Matthew
January 16th, 2011
12:37 am
Hickory Avenue – why don’t you shut up and return to your position as the town jizz-jar out on bourbon.
Jeff Schultz
January 16th, 2011
12:37 am
FalconUGAFan — I’m not “hating.” I hate that term. I’m just saying this kind of loss in unacceptable.
Jessie tuggle
January 16th, 2011
12:38 am
I’m on bourbon st…celebrating the azz whupping I just saw!!! Who dat! When I played for the falcons back in the day,I knew then the city of new Orleans was by far more classy than Atlanta. WHO DAT! Bless you boys….bless you boys!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
12:38 am
“Aaron Rodgers is now part of the current NFL QB elite…right with Brady, Manning (who is close to falling out of it), Brees, and perhaps Big Ben and Rivers.”
You’re forgetting someone.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
12:38 am
“I’m not “hating.” I hate that term. I’m just saying this kind of loss in unacceptable.”
Why are you hating on that term?
barnzey
January 16th, 2011
12:38 am
You know what losers do when their team’s been OBLITERATED by the #6 seed in front of their home “fans” and have to face the music with their fiercest division rivals? They make Katrina jokes. THAT is classy. Tell me something, you pigeon fans drown your sorrows, do you go to Applebee’s, T.G.I. Friday’s or some other P.O.S. cookie cutter restaurant that defines the bland culture of your soulless glass-and-steel town? Or do you just hit the moonshine still out back? Win or lose, there’s gonna be a parade in NOLA, where people know how to celebrate. You should be thankful the pigeons reverted to their sad-sack selves and got embarrassed at home … if you’d actually achieved the level of greatness the Saints have, you morons would’ve made Gen. Sherman look like he was playing with matches. Your slogan has gone from “Rise Up” to “Throw Up.”
Keep Paying
January 16th, 2011
12:38 am
NFL insiders stating that NFL pushed the refs and Falcons to let Green Bay win…..for ratings and $$$
SirSaint
January 16th, 2011
12:39 am
Timmy—grow up young man!! Football is a GROWN MANS SPORT!! Please refain from making such statements. Again you must have lost your house by betting on the Falcons. Trust me, tomorrow you will feel a lot better. Why don’t you download a picture of the Saints SB Ring and go to sleep. Maybe it will give you something good to dream about.
Jeff Schultz
January 16th, 2011
12:39 am
Ross — I feel your pain but like I’ve posted on comments before, I don’t ban people for being obnoxious.