LIVE BLOG: If Falcons win, it could be Super Bowl dance
John Abraham and the Falcons celebrated after a 20-17 win over the Packers Nov. 28 at the Georgia Dome. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Win tonight. Go to the Super Bowl. So sayeth I. (Sorry. I saw, “The King’s Speech” last night and got carried away with the whole English thing.)
Most believe the Falcons and Green Bay are the two best teams in the NFC. They just happened to be meeting in the conference semifinals. I fully expect the winner of this game to beat the winner of Sunday’s Chicago-Seattle semi. So winning today could mean a trip to Dallas.
It has been nearly two weeks since the Falcons last played — a lopsided home win over Carolina. It has been only six days since Green Bay played — last Sunday’s win in Philadelphia in the wild card game. Logic says the Falcons will be rested and the Packers will be beat up. (Remember, this is a team that also had to scramble down the stretch and win its last two regular season games just to make the playoffs.) What we can’t predict is whether the week off will affect the Falcons’ timing, but I doubt it.
Is Green Bay a better team? When healthy and at full strength, probably. But neither of those two are the case right now. The Packers lost running back Ryan Grant in the season opener and generally haven’t been able to run the ball this season, last week’s win over the Eagles notwithstanding (seldom-used rookie James Starks rushed for 123 yards).
The Falcons’ keys are fairly obvious and I touched on a couple of them during the week. But here they are:
– Get running back Michael Turner going. Turner has been good this year but not consistent. Green Bay’s defense this season ranked fifth against the pass but only 18th against the run, and Turner rushed for a 110 yards and a touchdown when the teams met in Nov. If he can duplicate that feat, it helps quarterback Matt Ryan. Which leads to . . .
– As a I wrote earlier in the week, Ryan has shown he can win games in the fourth quarter. But the Falcons are not at their best if they’re a pass-dominated offense. They need balance. Ryan has excelled this season in clutch situations and threw a career-low nine interceptions with a career-high 28 touchdowns. That stems from making good choices. Assuming that continues tonight, the Falcons will be fine.
– Defensive end John Abraham has had one of the best seasons of his career with 13 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, despite the backdrop of his mother battling lymphoma. The defense needs to get pressure on Rodgers and move him off the spot (to use a football phrase). Abraham is the key to that. He’ll be opposed by Packers left tackle Chad Clifton.
That’s it for now, I’ll be here blogging all game. Before I go, for what it’s worth, here are some odds from the online sports book Bodog (for entertainment purposes only, of course). The Falcons are anywhere from a 1½-to-3-point favorite.
Odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl XLV New England Patriots 8/5 Atlanta Falcons 11/2 Green Bay Packers 11/2 Pittsburgh Steelers 6/1 Chicago Bears 8/1 Baltimore Ravens 9/1 New York Jets 12/1 Seattle Seahawks 40/1 Odds to win the 2011 AFC New England Patriots 5/7 Pittsburgh Steelers 3/1 Baltimore Ravens 5/1 New York Jets 15/2 Odds to win the 2011 NFC Atlanta Falcons 8/5 Chicago Bears 2/1 Green Bay Packers 11/5 Seattle Seahawks 14/1 ♦What will be the Exact Super Bowl XLV Matchup? New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons 13/4 New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears 4/1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers 8/1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons 9/1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears 11/1 Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons 14/1 Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears 16/1 New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers 17/4 Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers 18/1 New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons 20/1 New York Jets vs. Chicago Bears 22/1 New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks 22/1 New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers 25/1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks 55/1 Baltimore Ravens vs. Seattle Seahawks 80/1 New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks 100/1 ♦
Total Passing Yards – Aaron Rodgers Over/Under 290.5 Total Rushing Yards – James Starks Over/Under 50.5 Total Receiving Yards – Greg Jennings Over/Under 85.5 Total Passing Yards – Matt Ryan Over /Under 240.5 Total Rushing Yards – Michael Turner Over/Under 85.5 Total Receiving Yards – Roddy White Over/Under 80.5 ♦
♦
Falcons blogs from the week:
– Matt Ryan’s notes, intangibles driving his success
– Falcons’ Abraham excelling, even with thoughts on ill mother
– Digi-Blog goes to Falcons’ camp (and there’s no Flowery Branches)
– Poll time: Who’s most important Falcons player against Packers?
– Saints gone, Vick gone and Falcons ready to defend turf
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
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2,080 comments Add your comment
GETTOFFDABUSS
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
THATS THE ONLY REASON WHY WE’RE HERE OHIO. your fellow birdmen were on our site blasting us so this is fair play…btw you’re building towards something that the AINTS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED!!!
idot
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
Amazing how all of the saints fan come pouring out of the woodwork, like roaches after a RAID spray down.
Congratulations to the Packers and there fans.
Falcons Are No One
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
@ Ohio – I’ll take losing by 6 to losing by 27 ANY DAY! What a pathetic display!
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:48 pm
Can’t wait to go home!!!!!
Damn!!
January 15th, 2011
11:49 pm
I’ve never seen a football game on any level where the opposing team never punted!!
idot
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
Well, at least the Falcons made it in to the Playoffs, and didn’t lose to the worst team in the tournament.
OHIOdirtybird
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
What is it all you aints fans wanna hear???……i don’t really understand how you have ANY kinda room to be talkin chit lol
Scott
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
The reality is the Packers have peaked at the right time and are the hottest team in the NFC right now. And a big reason is Aaron Rodgers. Would you want anyone else leading your team? I’ve said all season the Falcons are still one year away. But I have to wonder why Atlanta didn’t blitz more often. If they felt comfortable blitzing Brees relentlessly a few weeks ago then why not tonight – poor coaching. Atlanta would also do well to look for another RB. A back who has a little more speed and can catch a ball out of the backfield would be nice. Seems like I can count the number of screen passes this year on both hands.
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:50 pm
I love the Playoffs!!!! It is awesome!! I know you Falcant Fans are mad at me but we need to find a way to Beat Drew Brees…..I’m scared of him!!!
GETTOFFDABUSS
January 15th, 2011
11:51 pm
WHATS WORSE IDOT THAT WORSE TEAM IS STILL PLAYING…you should;ve played your game tommorrow…
ATL Born
January 15th, 2011
11:51 pm
Signing off. Disgusted but not surprised. Go Falcons and we’ll get ‘em next year, yeah what the phuck ever. We couldn’t get wet if we jumped in the ocean. Later.
Falcons Are No One
January 15th, 2011
11:52 pm
@ Ohio – we don’t wanna hear anything – we just want to to site there and TAKE IT!!
@idot – after tonight’s game, I think the falcants ARE the worst team in the tournament!
ijonathan (formerly a Ryan defender)
January 15th, 2011
11:52 pm
The two hosts on 790 The Zone are about to come to blows with each other and yelling at the callers. Classic.
idot
January 15th, 2011
11:53 pm
The thing to remember is that the Falcons, might have lost, but they are the team of the future in the NFC South, along with Tampa.
The saints are on their way down.
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:53 pm
IDOT>>>>>>SUPERBOWL CHAMPS don’t you forget it!!!! I think #21 for Atlanta is awesome and you should definitely keep him on the team next year.
iamawhodatfan
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
@ idot
your fellow falcant fans did the same thing to us on our website last week. soooo as i watched the falcants get roasted i couldnt wait to fill atl’s message board with deadly venom. 13-3 + homefield advantage = no super bowl rings for the falcants.
HaHaYouLost
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
@idot….the Falcons were SUPPOSED to be the best team in the tournament and got MURDERED by a 6 seed…HAHAHAHAHAH….that’s what you F#GS get for talking Sh#T on nola.com….HAHAHAHA
By by birdie
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
Ohiodirtybird- are you stuck inside due to the snow on your brain. Why don’t you come on down to the big easy and kiss the ring, thats about as close as you and your team will get to a super bowl ring. Another year, no Lombardi for the dirty birds, how awful. Man you should give up on that team. Come over to the who dat nation, we are winners. You can touch our Lombardi dude.
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
We lost tonight but at least we beat Carolina the last game of the year!!
TurdyBirds Vs Auburn?
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
My money’s on auburn…
Dirty Birds
January 15th, 2011
11:57 pm
this was almost worse than losing a playoff game to a 7-9 Seattle team
idot
January 15th, 2011
11:57 pm
Falcons Are@11:52……..No, I would have to say, that would be the saints. A team that lost to a 14 point underdog, with the worst season record in history, for a playoff team.
Yeah a team with a 7-9 record, beat your saints.
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:58 pm
Home Field Advantage………Throughout……..and get drummed!!!! That is funny!!!!
iamawhodatfan
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
@idot
team on the rise? the proof is in the pudding if you stop turner the falcants lose. on the other hand the saints were down to their 5th and 6th string rb’s and a boatload of injuries throughout the season and still finished 11-5. the falcants remained healthy and got knocked the f*** out the playoffs!
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
IDOT>>>>>Do you want to come kiss my RING!!!!!!! 13-3, Homefield Advantage………HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA
SeenThisB4
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
I am Gay and love Drew Brees…. he is soooooooooooo sexy!!!!! OOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OHIOdirtybird
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
@birdie Yall can bank on that ring for now!!, But we are on the way up, we will be there again next year, I PROMISE!!!……Say what you want about GB being a 6 seed but that 6 seed will probably be repping the NFC in the SB
Mike Smith
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Enter your comments here
HaHaYouLost
January 16th, 2011
12:02 am
14 NFL teams have never won a Superbowl….That’s almost half the league…The Saints are on the other side…GET THERE!!! lol
here are 10 teams that have been to the Super Bowl (in years shown) and lost each time:
* Minnesota Vikings (0-4) 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977
* Buffalo Bills (0-4) consecutively 1991-1994
* Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) 1982, 1989
* Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) 1981, 2005
* San Diego Chargers (0-1) 1995
* Atlanta Falcons (0-1) 1999
* Tennessee Titans (0-1) 2000
* Carolina Panthers (0-1) 2004
* Seattle Seahawks (0-1) 2006
* Arizona Cardinals (0-1) 2009
There are 4 Teams that have never played in a Super Bowl :
* Cleveland Browns
* Detroit Lions
* Houston Texans
* Jacksonville Jaguars
idot
January 16th, 2011
12:02 am
The saints will not be in a SB for a long, long, time.
In fact, if they ever do get to play in another SB, they will be the San Antonio, or Los Angeles saints, but they will probably change their names when the leave New Orleans.
sazerac jack
January 16th, 2011
12:02 am
@idot…Saints fans NEVER go away. Katrina, BP oil spill, no problem. Yeah, we’re like roaches. We keep coming back. WHO DAT!
Did mention we have a Lombardi trophy in our city? You should see it…it’s really nice.
Mike Smith
January 16th, 2011
12:02 am
I wonder what a SB ring looks like?
Potty White be tweetin'
January 16th, 2011
12:03 am
My team sucks but me luvs me sum country muffins.
Mike Smith
January 16th, 2011
12:04 am
TRENT DILFER………I APOLOGIZE…..You were so right about my team!!
Potty White = Fake *ss Jamaican
January 16th, 2011
12:05 am
Why Matty be thowin’ to da otha team?
idot
January 16th, 2011
12:06 am
Well that’s the way it goes.
It’s only football.
See all of you low class, scumbag, saints fans next year.
sazerac jack
January 16th, 2011
12:06 am
@idot…I forgot to mention…we had a Super Bowl parade in New Orleans, also. You should have seen it. It was really nice.
iamawhodatfan
January 16th, 2011
12:08 am
hey idot go suck your thumb, stick your finger in your a$$, and go dream about the day falcants win a super bowl but in the mean time you can borrow my New Orleans Saints Super Bowl dvd.
sazerac jack
January 16th, 2011
12:09 am
@idot…don’t go away mad…I forgot, last year, NFL Films came out with a DVD on the Saints Super Bowl win. Did you see it? It is really nice.
HaHaYouLost
January 16th, 2011
12:09 am
@ Potty White…Good one lol….anyway…Mardi Gras season starts next week…PAAARRRTAYYY!
Falcons Are No One
January 16th, 2011
12:10 am
At least Saint fans don’t put up posts wishing natural disasters on others…so who’s the low class scumbags?
Falcons Are No One
January 16th, 2011
12:12 am
And for you clowns that guarantee or promise what a team will do next year – you are really idiots!! Tampa was going to win 4 games this year and Dallas was going to the SB – those predictions worked out well, too!
WHO DAT RULES THE NATION
January 16th, 2011
12:12 am
I LOVE DAT ATOWN STUMP YOU GUYS PERFORMED ON NATIONAL T.V. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. IT IS SAD HIS CITY IS FULL OF SUCH HATFUL AND EVIL PEOPLE. SPORTS IS FRIENDLY COMPETITION IF YOU ARE NOT PAID TO DO IT. REMEMBER DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO A DAMN THING, AS YOU SEE YOU LOST A PLAYOFF GAME AND YOUR SITE IS FULL OF WHO DAT FANS JUST LIKE FALCANS WERE ALL ON THE SAINTS SITE. LETS JUST ALL MIND OUR OWN BUISNESS. I HAVE LIVED IN BOTH ATLANTA AND NEW ORLEANS. TRUST ME THE CRIME IS ON THE SAME LEVEL IN BOTH. JUST WATCH ONE NIGHT OF THE NEWS IN BOTH CITIES AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN. GOOD NIGHT AND WHO DAT.
whodatvisiter
January 16th, 2011
12:13 am
i did some reseach and i cant found your ring. HA! HA! HA!
Falcons Are No One
January 16th, 2011
12:13 am
So sad – the turdburd fans are all crying in their pillows now! See you next year when you are zeroing in on the top draft pick!
Bucks on the rise
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
By by birdies, another year without a Lombardi. Atlanta fans are long suffering people. Will somebody please let them touch a Lombardi trophy. By by birdie, you get to watch the super bowl along with us Tampa bay fans, ha ha ha.
GETTOFFDABUSS
January 16th, 2011
12:15 am
man i think it’s wonderful to be a low class scumbag with a sb ring
sazerac jack
January 16th, 2011
12:17 am
A few weeks ago, “Pawn Stars” had a Super Bowl ring for sale. Maybe Arthur Blank can buy some for the whole team, or, come to New Oleans and see Reggie Bush’s ring.
WHO DAT!
pack fan in Suamico
January 16th, 2011
12:18 am
Come on pack fans…none of us saw this coming. Be classy to the falcons fans. It sucks to b where they are. Most falcons fans have been really cool. We play this game again and maybe they win. Go pack…on to the superbowl and the lombardi trophey.
Bucks on the rise
January 16th, 2011
12:18 am
Don’t forget to cancel those Dallas reservations falcants fans, you will not be in Dallas watching your team in the super bowl.