Falcons bounce back against Titans, as they always do
Michael Turner ran over and around the Titans, and the Falcons rolled to a win (Curtis Compton)
Let’s put aside for a moment that the Falcons set out to serve us a gourmet meal Sunday but their quest for perfection was slightly marred by the overcooked lobster and then dropping the dessert in our laps.
They won again. That’s what they do after losses. No matter how physical or emotional it was. No matter how long public debate seems to stretch into the following week. Of all the things this regime has achieved, one of the most remarkable is that the team’s ability to rebound after defeats.
The latest illustration was Sunday’s 23-17 win over Tennessee, which came on the heels of last week’s overtime loss to New Orleans. The game may have left an after-taste, the result of the offense turning six red zone possessions into only two touchdowns. But there’s something to be said for this team’s resilience.
Under coach Mike Smith, the Falcons are now 16-3 after losses, eight straight wins and 4-0 this year.
“It says a lot about the team,” Smith said. “Regardless of the outcome, we know it’s a long season, we know we have to move on to the next game. From the first day we talked about what the formula is for a successful football team. Part of that is putting defeats behind you. We don’t let things linger.”
Mike Smith inspired Falcons' players with his words the night before the game. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Smith hammered it home again Saturday night. His speech to the team, while short on pyrotechnics or even some great revelation, apparently struck the right chord with players.
“It wasn’t anything big, but I think what he said went to everybody’s heart,” center Todd McClure said.
“We’re at a point in the season now where we really need to start hitting our stride,” said tight end Tony Gonzalez. “We’re almost there — we’re not there yet. As Smitty said, we have to start putting things in overdrive. When we have a team down, let’s step on it.”
For most of Sunday, the Falcons looked like the kind of team Smith embraces: physical on both sides with a dominating running game and a stout defense.
Michael Turner, who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, said, “Sometimes you have to remember why this team was put together. You have to play smart and play physical. We haven’t been doing that lately. We were losing focus in games.”
The Falcons opened the season with a borderline humiliating loss at Chicago, but rebounded with an emotional win over Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. Losses to Tampa Bay, Green Bay and New Orleans were followed with wins over Seattle, Carolina and Tennessee, respectively.
They haven’t lost consecutive games since Dec. 6 and 13 of 2009, a streak that has reached 29 games.
“I don’t think it’s arrogance or overconfidence,” Gonzalez said, “but every game we’ve lose this year we felt, ‘Man, we could’ve had that one. Even the Chicago game.”
This isn’t to say the Falcons don’t have flaws. They do. The offense walked over Tennessee with 432 yards. They had a 100-yard rusher, a 316-yarder passer (Matt Ryan) and a 147-yard receiver (Roddy White).
But the result of six red zone possessions were two touchdowns, three field goals and a fumble. Maximum potential: 42 points. Falcons’ net: 23. Great teams don’t leave so many points on the field.
This should have been a lopsided win. But when Titans rookie backup quarterback Jake Locker threw two late touchdown passes, there were a few tense moments on the Atlanta sideline.
But the Falcons played with an attitude and a physical edge they sometimes have been missing. Titans running game Chris Johnson (12 carries for 13 yards) was outgained by one Matt Hasselbeck scramble (17 yards).
That kind of defense will serve this team well. So should the schedule. The Falcons’ 6-4 record doesn’t sparkle but the final six games present great possibilities. Three of their remaining opponents — Minnesota (2-8), Carolina (2-8), Jacksonville (3-7) — have a combined record of 7-23. If the Falcons sweep those, that gets them to nine wins before even addressing the other three opponents (Houston, Tampa Bay, New Orleans).
It all sets up for a nice playoff run. They could use a few more touchdowns. But at least we know resilience isn’t an issue.
By Jeff Schultz
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186 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
1:09 am
WHY should I be NICE to a dead man? Dawg fans are not nice to LIVING Tech fans. Read your bible and see how many people will actually go to heaven. have any of you ever met a person that says they are going to hell? Does anybody say I love the person and they were real nice but they are going to hell now that they are dead.
97% of the people you know and Love re not going to HEAVEN. Those are the Bible numbers. many that THINK they are Christians or Muslims or Jews will have to FIGHT in the Holy War on the side of God or Satan. What lil we know about LARRY do you think he LOVE the Lord with ALL his Heart? i say NO. He LOVED UGA Football more than anything.
I know I am going to get MUCH hate POSTS on this, but I don’t care. The all you have to do is accept Christ stuff is true, but if you TRULY did that it would show in your life. The HOLY SPIRIT would show in ALL your Life’s Actions. Your heart would be burning with LOVE for CHRIST with a passion that makes your post about your football teams pale in comparison.
Falcons forever
November 21st, 2011
1:18 am
One thing is for sure, after 12 this boards is filled with the crazies. We have a board police (JSS) and a religious nut job (5150). This is keeping me entertaining at work.
JSS
November 21st, 2011
1:18 am
I don’t care about heaven, hell, or any book telling you to do right… You are better than that! It ain’t about about Munson, it is about you! Leave that silliness to folks who don’t know better… We don’t agree on a lot of things, but that is a line that you should never be on the other side of in regards to behavior… When you read that, you should cringe….
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
1:18 am
I greatly respect what LARRY MUNSON did and the mark he made on my life good and bad. He led more people to the Dawg nation than the Lord. I don’t know if Larry and the Lord had a passionate relationship or not. If he did then he will be calling games in heaven. If not he will be calling the game on the sideline behind Satan and Paul “The BEAR” Bryant.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
1:20 am
Football is FUN
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
2:21 am
From the day you are born you start Dying
From the day you are dead you start Lying
In between it is your job to send peoples souls Flying
If you are good at it thousands will be left Crying.
Larry you did that and there is no Denying!
Eric C.
November 21st, 2011
3:23 am
JSS, dude…you need to take a chill pill. You are going to burn my internet house down and that is a promise? Before you do that, let me take you out to lunch with my attorney so we can discuss your plan of action. Is this what is know as “web rage?” I mean sheesh, we all endure road rage every now and then, but this is a little ridiculous.
Far from it, I do not live and die by this blog, but I’m a proud and long-suffering Falcons fan for decades and your pompous diatribes taking shots at the best stretch of Falcons football I’ve had the rare pleasure of watching are quite annoying…it’s as simple as that. I don’t keep score, but some of the foul names you’ve called me dwarf anything I’ve ever written about a person.
I’m sure you are valued and highly respected person in your community, and it is obvious you have been around. What drives you to constantly prove your worth as a worldly and highly knowledgable sports fan? The fact that your niece was in a class with Matt Ryan proves what? Did you have some sort of inside scouting report that Dimitroff missed?
Frankly, I was a huge MV7 fan at one time, but now I couldn’t care less because he is completely irrelevant to the success of the Falcons. Any reference I make to Vick now is solely to defend Ryan against the “haters” who incessantly bring up comparisons between the two.
Hello
November 21st, 2011
3:32 am
Enter your comments here
Eric C.
November 21st, 2011
3:35 am
JSS, dude…you need to take a chill pill. You are going to burn my internet house down and that is a promise? Before you do that, let me take you out to lunch with my attorney so we can discuss your plan of action. Is this what is know as “web rage?” I mean sheesh, we all endure road rage every now and then, but this is a little ridiculous.
Far from it, I do not live for this blog, but I’m a proud and long-suffering Falcons fan for decades and your pompous diatribes taking shots at the best stretch of Falcons football I’ve had the rare pleasure of watching are quite annoying…it’s as simple as that. I don’t keep score, but some of the foul names you’ve called me dwarf anything I’ve ever written about a person.
I’m sure you are valued and highly respected person in your community, and it is obvious you have been around. What drives you to constantly prove your worth as a worldly and highly knowledgable sports fan? The fact that your niece was in a class with Matt Ryan proves what? Did you have some sort of inside scouting report that Dimitroff missed?
Frankly, I was a huge MV7 fan at one time, but now I couldn’t care less because he is completely irrelevant to the success of the Falcons. Any reference I make to him now is solely to defend Ryan against the “haters” who incessantly bring up comparisons between the two.
Eric C.
November 21st, 2011
3:35 am
JSS, dude…you need to take a chill pill. You are going to burn my internet house down and that is a promise? Before you do that, let me take you out to lunch with my attorney so we can discuss your plan of action. Is this what is know as “web rage?” I mean sheesh, we all endure road rage every now and then, but this is a little ridiculous.
trademark
November 21st, 2011
3:42 am
Two biggest stories coming out of Sunday….
1-OK, this one ain’t really that big for anyone with brains…but Ryan can throw it deep. (Hate to say “I told you so” BUT…I told you so….) This just serves as more proof against ignorance. Gotta love enlightenment. I guess the news here is that he can throw it deep with accuracy. That hadn’t really been established yet. A couple of more games like that and we’re good.
2-THANK YOU RODDY. I knew you were the real deal. Professional adjustment, whether it was mental or something else, true pros do what Roddy did. Now, no relaxing! Keep moving forward and you achieve what very few ever can.
Other stuff…lay off Turner. Fumbles happen. This is the NFL. BVG-this soft-zone sh”!§ has GOT to stop. Conservative football can lose you games, there was NO WAY the Titans should have even had a chance in this one at the end. Talk about trying to hand it over. Damn, man.
Overall-Good win after a depleting loss against a very respectable team. Nothing to define a season over, but definitely a good puzzle piece. Suuuccch good new to see Roddy back, this guy (when he’s playing like he can…see Sunday) is a HUGE part of this team and it’s identity of a winning franchise. All smiles here after that one.
JSS…*rolls eyes* So many holes in your boat I won’t even bother…just let it sink.
GTFan
November 21st, 2011
5:59 am
Classless comment 5150 POAD, but we already knew how classless you are. We expect nothing less.
Ron
November 21st, 2011
6:22 am
Hopefully the Falcons can come up with someone to replace the injury in the secondary, and not use Christopher Owens at all. He is just not very good.
Kyle
November 21st, 2011
6:24 am
The teams the Falcons can’t beat are the teams they would see in January, if they make it that far, and that is the problem.
Trademark
November 21st, 2011
7:08 am
@ Kyle – Want to please clarify? Four Falcons losses this year-
@Chicago – Opening day on the road against a pretty damned good team it seems. The only one they weren’t really in. Agreed, they haven’t shown they can beat them. Yet. The Falcons have figured out a ton of stuff since then and are getting better and better. Chicago just lost their starting star QB. Ouch.
@ Tampa – Tampa DESPERATELY wanted to beat Atlanta, they played the house for that one. Tampa still should have lost that one. Atlanta was in that one. Means they can beat them.
Green Bay – Troublesome offense shut down after a hot start. Got conservative too early. Another score by Atlanta somewhere in the last three quarters and Green Bay’s undefeated season would not be so. Play that game again today and see what happens. Bottom line. Falcons were in that game. Could have won. Means they can beat them. (and that is the best team in the NFL we’re talking about, BTW).
New Orleans – Obviously could have swung either way on that one. Can beat them. No problem. The Saints are lucky as hell they didn’t a) get beat and b) get beat by a lot. Ah well. Like last year, let’s see if we can remedy that by beating them at home.
Other top teams- San Francisco-Run heavy team. Falcons are 2nd in the NFL in run defense. Not a bad draw for Atlanta. Can beat them. Dallas, New York, Detroit – Good but beatable inconsistent teams. The Falcons have been improving after a shaky start. The only team in that group that can say the same is Dallas. And their Defense is questionable. Bottom line. Can beat them.
See the point?
Samuel
November 21st, 2011
7:19 am
Thank goodness we won, now being said that, this team can play a lot better.
BigHittas
November 21st, 2011
8:03 am
LOL! Bounce back? well, I guess you could say that.
Looks like the coaching staff is relapsing into its old ways. They put 21 back in there, you know the guy that couldn’t cover my grandma on her hoveround. As soon as the rookie QB came down the field, who does he burn on the Titan TD pass? Yep, you guessed it. 21.
Wake up coaches, this guy is a special teams player at best.
I also fear the criticism leveled at 2 and the OC are more accurate than I previously thought. Has to be the most boring game offensively I’ve seen. The Falcons are totally vanilla and don’t seem to be capable of blowing out anyone.
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:06 am
No doubt if this game was played in Tennessee it would have been a loss,just like the up coming playoff game..It will be a road loss beat down… A Lock…
BigHittas
November 21st, 2011
8:09 am
Trade,
I don’t agree. The current Falcons team won’t beat GB; oh sure there’s a chance if Rodgers gets hurt, etc. but you gotta remember 21 will be put ont he field at some point by the coaches.
If we make the playoffs, we better hope someone else takes them out first.
JSS
November 21st, 2011
8:10 am
trademark
November 21st, 2011
3:42 am
You think you’re man enough to get in on this matter? Then come and get some… I’m standing on dry ground, and my kayak has a working pump… So even you should be infer what I think of your comment!
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:11 am
Who is #21? He cant cover his shadow what a brutal game he had out there?
Hey will the real #21 Deion come back and cover somebody please?
That rookie Lockey looked like Arron Rodgers out there, almost brought em back…Made a ball game of it in the 2nd half..
Its going to be surreal in 7 weeks….wow….
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:14 am
GB would smoke this pretender(Fal-cons) by 4-6 TD’s up in Greenbay ..
You talking playoffs? PLAYOFFS?
JSS
November 21st, 2011
8:15 am
“able”
Trademark
November 21st, 2011
8:15 am
JSS-Fairest thing is to let the Falcs do the talking- reality is-we’re all just blowing smoke here anyway, it’s a comment section…not a gladiator ring. Sadly, if they fail, there’s nothing left to say….on the plus side, if they win…yay supportive fans.
Trademark
November 21st, 2011
8:18 am
..and to everyone talking about Owens…yeah, man enough to say it, you’re right, he stinks. Two things need to happen there….Our secondary gets healthy before the stretch run, or 2) They coach Owens up. Before everyone gets all negative here….remember when Grimes sucked? They coached him up when he was forced into action, and he’s a Pro-Bowler now.
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:19 am
Hey even a blind squirrel finds a nut(Melt connects on a pass over 20 yards deep) from time to time…lol
This guy was supposed to be what Rodgers is today? Hugh? That was some powerful smoke? lol
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:21 am
RIP Mr Munson! We’ll miss ya on the radio man!
Trademark
November 21st, 2011
8:24 am
And yeah, Playoffs…remaining schedule…Minnesota (without Peterson), @ Houston (without Schaub, Williams, Johnson, their towel boy….), Jacksonville, Tampa (on turf…yay us) @ New Orleans (only really dangerous game here) @ Carolina (good team, but too early). Even mediocre teams pull out 4 wins from that schedule. Falcons are better than that. They’ll get 5. Maybe run it. Aw, we’ll have to wait and see regardless.
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
8:27 am
Hey MR Blank you keep hiring these Norv Turner look-a-like type HC? Why dont you just go hire the real one next time and keep the streak alive:
7 straight years w/o a playoff win..Get the real McCoy in here and it will be another 7-10 years…lol
vinny lembardee
November 21st, 2011
8:53 am
Pathetic performance versus a pathetic opponent
MIke Smith's Moving Company
November 21st, 2011
9:04 am
I thought the offensive coaching was horrible at times yesterday save the QB sneak and drawing the D offsides (obviously after the OT debacle of the weak before they practiced those things to show off to us jaded fans). The Titans were one big play from tying the game due to our anemic play calling in the second half. This team has no killer instinct and it starts with Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey. When you are moving the ball settling for FG’s will eventually get you beat against decent teams. We are lucky we are playing bad teams for the next few weeks, but the Falcons coaching staff needs to grow a pair and learn to finish these mediocre teams.
The defense played a great game. No real complaints other than DeCoud completely missing an open field tackly, but that’s about par for him. Grimes is the only keeper in our secondary.
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
9:05 am
(choir singing) ohhhhhhhh, What happens when a QB chokes up??? When a city blows up??? when a WR won’t shut up???
Tell me WHAT DO FALCONS DO???!!!
OHHHHHHHH LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!!!!!!
D Fence
November 21st, 2011
9:10 am
Outside of the red zone shortcomings, their best all around performance of the season. We could use some help at Safety though.
North FLA Falcon
November 21st, 2011
9:12 am
Yesterday I was impressed with Dunta Robinson. He actually defended a few passes and covered well. Running defense was stout, those guys were flying to the ball. We blew a few on our soft pass coverage. Punt/kick game was good. Someone earlier on here was bashing Bosher … his average was low but he remember he had one short field kick where he pinned them down. One problem I see is #14 Weems, he can’t return kicks anymore, he had a penalty and he also blocked a guy into the fair catch receiver (no penalty) … he has become a dirty player. On offense the running game pounded them. Spring Turner outside and good things happen. Our receivers were prime. O-line played very well. We kinda went to sleep in the 3rd quarter and allowed them to come back but this is the NFL … we held on and won. Bring on the Vikings!
PMC
November 21st, 2011
9:32 am
I did like that they ran the ball well and worked the middle of the field this week, if they had executed at a higher level this wouldn’t have been close.
The question…. Why aren’t the Falcons able to execute well for an entire game on offense?
SeenThisB4
November 21st, 2011
9:32 am
Another beautiful, crisp and brisk Monday morning, and as I survey the NFL landscape, to my utmost delight (along with that hot cup of jo) what do I spy? The New Orleans Saints, STILL in their rightful place, atop of the NFC South, in complete domination of their divisional rivals. Ahhhh. Life is good.
Learn to tackle
November 21st, 2011
9:36 am
The poor tackling rose up again. I don’t get it…….It’s their jobs. Why does this happen all the time?
Stop trying to make the big hit(Decoud, Robinson) and make the tackle.
Jason
November 21st, 2011
9:38 am
5150 UOAD – You seem to be lacking the compassion of the Christ that you claim to have a relationship with. While I agree that submission of your life to Jesus Christ and acceptance of His Lordship determines whether or not you will spend eternity with Him in heaven or apart from Him in hell, I also know that those who love Him become like him. I think a good read of Mattew 7:1-5 and 7:21-23 might benefit you. The Lord has compassion for all people and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Note: I’m not calling Larry Munson wicked. I really don’t know anything about him, but I imagine that he was a good man.). See Ezekiel 18:23. The very thing that makes Jesus worth worshipping is His compassion toward people. The only harshness he ever displayed was when he put a stop to those who were using or controlling others in His Father’s name. Your action here seem to be the same type of actions that Jesus would have harshly criticized. Do your actions here on this board really bear the fruit that displays to the world that Jesus is glorious (Matthew 7:16)? Maybe you should think about that some and repent of your attitude toward your fellow human beings.
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
9:38 am
“The question…. Why aren’t the Falcons able to execute well for an entire game on offense?”
The Ans: Two words, ICE MELT!
PMC
November 21st, 2011
9:39 am
Outside of Green Bay, the Falcons shouldn’t fear anyone they play the rest of the season into the playoffs.
The NFC is middling at best outside of the Packers. No one is that good.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 21st, 2011
9:40 am
The Titans, like most of the teams left on the Falcons’ schedule, are beatable. I told y’all last week they would run the table until the Saints game.
Nice deep ball by Ryan in the 3rd quarter to Roddy. Now the trick is to show that is not a fluke.
PMC
November 21st, 2011
9:41 am
CGD, I’d prefer Matt to have more velocity on his passes, but Ryan had a decent game for the most part yesterday. If you’re a Falcons fan, you have to live with his shortcomings, he’s not going anywhere. The step up pass he made to Roddy in the 4th quarter to convert a 3rd down was brilliant. We all get that you don’t like the guy, no need to post it 400 times a day they aren’t bringing anyone else in.
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
9:42 am
Game Ball goes to Turner cause without his superb running, the Fal-cons lose another one against a winning team, 2-5 last 7(winners)….
This team rely’s on Turner having a good day running the Football. Cant win on Ice Melts arm..Not enough fire power.. Run Turner, Run!
CGD..
November 21st, 2011
9:43 am
Melts deep ball connects=Fluke….
Mr Charlie
November 21st, 2011
9:50 am
We are 2-2 against the Packers with Rogers at QB, so yes, they are beatable, because we already beat them.
The big knock on Ryan is he has not one a playoff game, and while valid, it does not mean we never WILL win one.
There was at time it looked like Brady cannot lose, but he has. It took years for Payton Manning years to win one.
So, all the criticism for past performance is valid, but it by no means predicts the future, and it does not matter what anyone thinks, because Ice is gonna be here for awhile.
And for all those who say he cannot throw the deep ball, he kinda put a spanking on you yesterday too. I said all season, this team is going to play its best when it means the most this season. Smitty has them on the right track.
Mr Charlie
November 21st, 2011
9:52 am
CGD, and without blocking by the line, Ice does not do anything either. It takes 11 players, not one arm. So you are starting to understand football, congrats.
Mr Charlie
November 21st, 2011
9:53 am
No shame in beating the Titans, they were a winning team (until we got through with them), who had everything in the world to play for.
Also, Chris Johnson has a of that patented MV7 quit in him too.
not a coach, but you aren't etither
November 21st, 2011
9:55 am
Mularkey needs to forget about the “heavy package” of two tight ends. It rarely works. In short yardage the Falcons need to go with a two back set of Turner and Rodger. Teams are crashing and the edges are wide open. Fake to Turner and pitch to Rodgers. It would have scored a TD against the Saints and Titans. At least it slows down the linebackers.
CDG..
November 21st, 2011
9:59 am
Well, I have to go clean the sewers here in this sh|t hole called New Orleans. GOD I stink.
Mr Charlie
November 21st, 2011
10:01 am
Not a coach, agreed. Smitty is trying to prove a point, that his is just gonna play smashmouth, but Turner is a diesel, he needs 3-4 steps to get moving. I like Quizz outside just to keep them honest. Maybe he is saving that for the playoffs….