LIVE: Falcons still solid for playoffs (if they beat Titans)
Julio Jones, who aggravated his hamstring strain last week, will not play today against Tennessee. (AP photo)
With the hangover from last week’s fourth-and-one and the Falcons’ loss to New Orleans subsided, its worth noting: This team is still in pretty good shape for the playoffs.
Just don’t lose to Tennessee today.
The Falcons (5-4) already have one more loss than last season (13-3). But their remaining schedule and the current standings suggests they’re still in solid position to win an NFC wild card berth and can still catch New Orleans (7-3) for the South title.
The Saints have a bye this week. They come out of the off week with home games against the New York Giants and Detroit and then travel to Tennessee. The Falcons travel to New Orleans on Dec. 26. If they win today and can stay within one game of the lead, that game will mean something.
Here’s a mini-breakdown of the wild card race. I’m projecting Chicago (6-3), which has won four straight and five of six, will get one of the two spots. That means the other berth likely will go to one of four teams: the Falcons (or New Orleans), Detroit (6-3), Dallas (5-4) and Tampa Bay (4-5).
Here’s the NFC playoff standings right now, factoring in tiebreakers, via the NFL. The top four seeds would be division winners Green Bay (North), San Francisco (West), New Orleans (South) and the New York Giants (East). The top five wild card contenders are in red.
| NFC Team | Div | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Net |
Div | Pct | Conf | Pct | Non-Conf | ||||||
| 1. | Green Bay Packers | North | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 320 | 186 | 134 | 3-0 | 1.000 | 7-0 | 1.000 | 2-0 | |||||
| 2. | San Francisco 49ers | West | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 233 | 138 | 95 | 1-0 | 1.000 | 6-1 | .857 | 2-0 | |||||
| 3. | New Orleans Saints | South | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 313 | 228 | 85 | 3-1 | .750 | 4-3 | .571 | 3-0 | |||||
| 4. | New York Giants | East | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 218 | 211 | 7 | 1-1 | .500 | 3-3 | .500 | 3-0 | |||||
| 5. | Detroit Lions | North | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 252 | 184 | 68 | 2-1 | .667 | 4-3 | .571 | 2-0 | |||||
| 6. | Chicago Bears | North | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 237 | 187 | 50 | 2-2 | .500 | 6-3 | .667 | 0-0 | |||||
| 7. | Dallas Cowboys | East | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 223 | 182 | 41 | 1-1 | .500 | 4-2 | .667 | 1-2 | |||||
| 8. | Atlanta Falcons | South | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 212 | 196 | 16 | 1-2 | .333 | 4-4 | .500 | 1-0 | |||||
| 9. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 156 | 233 | -77 | 2-1 | .667 | 3-4 | .429 | 1-1 | |||||
| 10. | Seattle Seahawks | West | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 144 | 202 | -58 | 1-1 | .500 | 2-3 | .400 | 1-3 | |||||
| 11. | Arizona Cardinals | West | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 183 | 213 | -30 | 1-1 | .500 | 3-4 | .429 | 0-2 | |||||
| 12. | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 220 | 203 | 17 | 2-1 | .667 | 3-5 | .375 | 0-1 | |||||
| 13. | Washington Redskins | East | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 136 | 178 | -42 | 1-2 | .333 | 3-4 | .429 | 0-2 | |||||
| 14. | Minnesota Vikings | North | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 179 | 244 | -65 | 0-4 | .000 | 2-5 | .286 | 0-2 | |||||
| 15. | St. Louis Rams | West | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 113 | 223 | -110 | 0-1 | .000 | 1-6 | .143 | 1-1 | |||||
| 16. | Carolina Panthers | South | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 190 | 237 | -47 | 0-2 | .000 | 1-6 | .143 | 1-1 | |||||
•
The Falcons’ remaining schedule is favorable. They play home games against Tennessee (5-4), Minnesota (2-7), Jacksonville (3-6) and Tampa Bay (4-5); road games against Houston (7-3), Carolina (2-7) and New Orleans (7-3). Only three of of the seven opponents have winning records. One is the Titans and the Falcons get them at home. Another is Houston, which has likely lost starting quarterback Matt Schaub for the season. The third is the Saints.
Back to today’s game. It’s not a likely walkover, especially if Tennessee can run as well as it did last week against Carolina (Chris Johnson rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown). But the Falcons have been strong against the run (No. 3 in the NFL at 90.3 yards per game). Conversely, the Titans’ defense ranks only 22nd against the run (125.2) so expect a heavy dose of Michael Turner.
An efficient game by quarterback Matt Ryan also would help. He has four interceptions in the last three games and has thrown in at least one interception in seven out of nine games this year. He already has thrown one more interception (10) than all of last season (nine) and is four off his career high (14 in 2009). He also has been sacked 20 times, three off his career high of 23 last season.
Some late injury notes: wide receiver Julio Jones will not play today because of a hamstring strain, meaning Harry Douglas will start. The Falcons had listed Jones as “questionable,” which seemed optimistic given that he didn’t practice all week.
By the way, the Falcons are 3-0 this season after losses and are 15-3 under coach Mike Smith following defeats, with seven straight wins dating back to 2009.
That’s it for now. Feel free to vent on all thoughts and concerns about today and the playoff race while I get something to eat. And coffee.
By Jeff Schultz
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914 comments Add your comment
ijonathan
November 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
The fact that the birds are only up 10 falls squarely, 100% on Mike Smith. Not Ryan, not Turner, Not Mularkey…our intellectually and backbone-challenged Mike Smith.
Falcons: Play 60
November 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
“How you go for it 4th down against the saints but now scared to go for it because of the media”
coaches who bow to pressure …. from the media. It just doesn’t happen, shouldn’t happen. You’ve got serious problems if it does
GoFalcons
November 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
Falcons are disappointing. Totally outplaying Tennessee, then on the last drive of half let Tennessee drive down field in minute to score.
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
its ok…deep breaths
Loserville USA
November 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
Dominating effort for 13 FRICKIN POINTS.
WitStream
November 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
Any confidence I had in Smitty being a cut above the rest is quickly eroding. This fraidy-cat outlook after the misguided criticism from last week is pathetic. Almost as bad as Mularky’s horrible play call last week.
DeepDiver
November 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
coach smith showing his gash
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
falcons will be fine…its halftime….maybe you all need a beer or something
Pete
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
The Falcons are soft, look for ways NOT to score a TD, have ZERO ability to gain ONE yard when needed, can make a 36 yr. old has-been QB look like Joe Montana, and have a backbone made of putty.
They’re not worth watching.
thom
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
They should have gone for it on 4th down if you were gonna play the “prevent you from stopping the other team” defense on that last drive….makes you wonder what the coaching staff is thinking at times
Rey
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
QUESTION: Why is the Georgia Dome the quietest stadium in the NFL? Just curious to hear your answers.
GoFalcons
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
It’s a difference in going for it on your side of the field in OT than going for it on the 1/2 yard line in the first quarter. It makes more sense to go for it in the first quarter when you are that close to scoring. It makes little sense to go for it in OT on your side of the field.
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
I hate beer…
Sarcasm
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
Based on what I’ve seen today, the Falcons would dominate the Packers in a playoff rematch.
Smith is a Loser
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
How often do we go down and score the 1st time we get the ball starting the game and then turn to crap the rest of the game. Every dam game!!
WitStream
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
“coaches who bow to pressure …. from the media. It just doesn’t happen, shouldn’t happen. You’ve got serious problems if it does”
Yes, yes it is. I seem to recall Smith having balls in the past.
Jamie
November 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
Gutless!!
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
Rey
November 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
QUESTION: Why is the Georgia Dome the quietest stadium in the NFL? Just curious to hear your answers.
maybe its just the people in atlanta arent that loud…its the same way at braves games…its not a bad thing just different…..
ijonathan
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
No Katherine, this is the type of effort/situation that leads to a big loss. Sure, they might hold on and win. But you just gave the Titans a bit of life, and they’ve looked like a clueless single-A highschool team so far. All they need in the 2nd half is a stop and a score and we have a ballgame. AT WORST, should have been 20-0 in the first half. Brutal. They roll Ryan out all day during the drive, and stretch plays with Turner to find the hole, but down at the goal line when everyone and their brother knows we’re running up the middle…we run up the middle, multiple times. Or, we kick a field goal. I give up. Oh, and CBS sucks.
AtlNative
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
Well, again the defense has looked really good so far.
Offense continues to struggle in red zone though, not sure what the issues are there. But 13-3 is a nice lead, hopefully we can continue. Would be nice if offense could give the D more breathing room though.
Obviously, Coach Smith..
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
…has no clue about anything – last week he goes for it on his own 30 and loses; this week he does not go for it from the other teams 38, then allows the other team to go 60 yards in 1 minute for field goal just before halftime – this team is a frickin joke…
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
yea i dont like beer either its gross
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
Rey because nothing exciting is happening. If ryan cold throw deep balls often and accurate the crowd would get pumped up…same for the hawks(even though its no season) the crowd only got pumped up after a josh smith dunk
SeenThisBFalcon
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
WHAT A BORING GAME…ATLANTA FALCONS FANS IN THE DOME ARE RISING DOWN!!!
Falcons 73
November 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
If the Falcons don’t at least make the playoffs, then some coaching changes need to be made. I hate to complain about being ahead, but they should have 10 to 14 more points.
SeenThisBFalcon
November 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
I CAN HEAR INSECTS FLY BY ME IN HERE ITS DEADER THE A CEMETARY…
outonleave
November 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
To listen to a lot of the comments in here, you’d think the score was reversed. Damn, SummaU, chill!!
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
ijonathan
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
No Katherine, this is the type of effort/situation that leads to a big loss. Sure, they might hold on and win. But you just gave the Titans a bit of life, and they’ve looked like a clueless single-A highschool team so far. All they need in the 2nd half is a stop and a score and we have a ballgame. AT WORST, should have been 20-0 in the first half. Brutal. They roll Ryan out all day during the drive, and stretch plays with Turner to find the hole, but down at the goal line when everyone and their brother knows we’re running up the middle…we run up the middle, multiple times. Or, we kick a field goal. I give up. Oh, and CBS sucks.
lol ok then….you are seriously going to have a stroke. If you give up then dont watch the falcons anymore..its pretty simple. Smitty is by far the best coach the falcons have had IMO and im happy we have him
oldfart
November 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
Rey, the fans know when they are seeing one mailed in by a lot of the players. Not all mind you, but enough to be pretty ho-hum. A boring win is fine by me but expect the volume in the stands to match the intensity on the field.
Jamie
November 20th, 2011
5:43 pm
Looks like UGA yesterday. FLAT!
Matt from MN
November 20th, 2011
5:43 pm
Most boring, predictable and anemic offense in the NFL right now. God, this team is frustrating.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
katherine
How did that hope go last week?
HA HA HA
Wasn’t Friday pay day? You should be tired girl
Matt from MN
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
zzzzzz….I hate FG’s.
Hate Falcons GM
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
Just win baby
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
Falcons should be up at least 17-0…hate it when they underachieve. Yeah, that was a catch by Gonzalez…but who recovered the “fumble” if it was indeed a fumble? Just curious because it could have hurt the Falcons
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
uga yesterday was looking ahead and it showed…they will be a different team next week when they play tech
Sam
November 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
Is it just me or is anyone else bored? This game has not been entertaining in the slightest. And I can’t even watch the race because of the RED flag.
ijonathan
November 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
Katherine, it’s as simple as this. The NFL is a take no prisoners, don’t lift your boot off the throat league. If you have a chance to score a TD, you take it. You should be embarrassed to continually settle for field goals. A bigger indictment of our QB is not his so-called “noodle arm” it is his inability to consistently score TDs in the red zone. And our coach? Seriously, listen to him talk. Watch him pace the sidelines looking lost. The guy is a borderline idiot.
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
November 20th, 2011
5:44 pm
katherine
How did that hope go last week?
HA HA HA
Wasn’t Friday pay day? You should be tired girl
excuse me? wth does that mean…..
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
Sure would like to see more Quizz…don’t understand why he doesn’t get more touches.
kevkat
November 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
falcons will be fine…its halftime….maybe you all need a beer or something…you think smitty will let us drink from his keg Katherine..he’s obviously drinking today…lol
Jamie
November 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
In regards to UGA, Mike Bobo is a predictable tool. CMR and his Bobby Cox-like loyalty!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
katherine vs ijonathan
Can’t get any better
Anybody catch Bradley’s article on CHOKE’s weak arm theory?
I guess the honey moon is over
Jamie
November 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
Choke, get a girlfriend!
Loserville USA
November 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
AJC should have a contest….
HELP SMITTY FIND HIS ‘NADS…. because he’s evidently lost them.
katherine
November 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
choke….you are pathetic going after me personally because im trying to stay positive…but I guess thats what I should expect from you
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
5:48 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan —- you and JSS are kindred souls, no doubt
falconfan 24-7
November 20th, 2011
5:48 pm
We have got to be the worst 5-4 team in NFL history.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 20th, 2011
5:48 pm
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
Rey because nothing exciting is happening. If ryan cold throw deep balls often and accurate
_____________________________________
Like winning the lottery
Jbcatl
November 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
This sort of play calling on the goal line and other short yardage situations is the difference between going to the playoffs and watching them on TV.