Falcons still have chance to hit their stride at right time
Could Sean Weatherspoon and Falcons be flying high going into playoffs? (Jason Getz/AJC)
At this point of the season a year ago, the Falcons had won eight straight games, were 12-2 and tied with New England for the NFL’s best record, had beaten New Orleans, Baltimore and Green Bay and generally looked like anything but a team that could lose its first playoff game by 27 points — which, of course, they did.
There’s an obvious byproduct to having a season suddenly going down like Pompeii. People stop assuming what comes next.
Which brings us to the 2011 Falcons. More people probably project them as a first-round playoff exit than a Super Bowl contender. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Athletes feed off external doubt, and the “Green Bay did it, so can we” thing is slowly evolving into this group’s rallying cry. (The Packers entered the playoffs last year as a NFC’s sixth seed and proceeded to obliterate all in their path, beginning with the Falcons.)
“All of our goals are still in front of us,” running back Michael Turner said following Thursday’s 41-14 dismembering of Jacksonville. “All we can ask for is to get in the tournament, and then we’ll take it from there. We saw what happened last year with Green Bay.”
The Falcons are 9-5. They will get into the playoffs. They’ve had more than a few hiccups this season but have rebounded nicely. After losing to Houston and getting humiliated for one half at Carolina (combined six-quarter slouch: opponents 40, Falcons 17), they rallied to beat the Panthers and bury Jacksonville (combined six-quarter bounce-back: Falcons 65, opponents 14).
Falcons have lessened Mike Smith's stress. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
A stronger sense of how real this awakening is will come next Monday night, when the Falcons play at New Orleans. But there’s certainly no reason to think this team can’t go on a special run. It was a talented group with a veteran core before this season started, and it remains that.
“We like the [playoff] position we’re in because we feel like we can take our show on the road and win,” wide receiver Roddy White said. “We’re built to run the ball and play-action pass and get the ball to [the receivers] on the outside. We don’t break. We know we just have be consistent to win games. Carolina definitely was a wake-up call for us. It took two quarters to wake up, but we learned. You never want to be down 23-7 but it’s good to see what your team can do when that happens. That gave us a lot of confidence.”
The Falcons have clinched their fourth straight winning season Thursday. It speaks to general expectations that that was an afterthought. They know they need some measure of postseason success because one-and-dones get old real quick with a jaded fan base.
But there are positive signs. Matt Ryan is on target again. Receivers aren’t dropping passes. The defense is starting to get more pressure. There are fewer missed tackles. Sean Weatherspoon is an emerging star. The team hasn’t had a turnover in the last two weeks.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff was concerned about his team for several weeks, but he’s starting to see light now.
“Mike has echoed this, and we’ve been very clear: We expect much more consistency given the talent of this football team and the talent of this coaching staff,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we had some moments of inconsistency. But we really believe now we’re starting to get our feet underneath us and we’re starting to play some fundamentally sound football.
“I’m seeing accomplished assignments. I’m seeing focus. I’m seeing finish.”
A little swagger also may be coming back. When asked his thoughts on the New Orleans game, White smiled and said, “We’re going to win.”
So he’s guaranteeing that?
“I don’t guarantee victories,” he said. “But we’re going to win.”
That certainly would alter perceptions.
By Jeff Schultz
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400 comments Add your comment
New Orleans 'Inhales'
December 16th, 2011
3:10 pm
For those who believe the only good thing out of Alabama is I-20 (which is pretty much everyone) Julio Jones just might make it two.
tremaine
December 16th, 2011
3:12 pm
Pamela, they played a sorry team and did what they suppose to do. Whoop that tail.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 16th, 2011
3:15 pm
No playoff run for this sorry flock of birds. They are simply not that good. Mediocre in every facet, yes QB included.
Damien
December 16th, 2011
3:15 pm
Lol…Failcon fans take pride in beating a sorry team !!! And think they are SB caliber team.
Next monday, we will bring you back to reality.
SweetBack
December 16th, 2011
3:15 pm
Pamela……..You keep wanting us to trust you…..Let’s just see if you have the gall to come back here on the 27th and bow down to the Failcons as you call them.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
3:15 pm
@ TJ Yates is laughing at you… (AKA Hey Now)
Pucker up…
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:16 pm
ohh yeah !!! now falcon fans are dreaming about super-bowl is it ??? come on falcon fans,
HELLO …WAKE UP
Samuel
December 16th, 2011
3:17 pm
This a step in the right direction, now if you take your show on the road and beat New Orleans the league will take notice. Other teams will be a little nervous about playing the Birds………..
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:18 pm
Didn’t falcons play all 4 rookies QBs ? so, what’s with this excitement…Mr. Schultz, come on
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:19 pm
Nobody gives a damn about dirty birds …scared ! Lol…if falcons play saints or NYG or dallas or even for that matter lions again. they will lose…
PMC
December 16th, 2011
3:23 pm
But JSS, you do tend to be a cynic no?
Sherman to the Sea
December 16th, 2011
3:25 pm
Falcons remind me of UGA, beat the bad ones and fold up against good teams. NO could be our LSU. Now are we peaking at the right time or just a team that can beat up on the lesser teams? Let’s go to the Super Dome and show we are peaking at the right time. Great season is ours to take.
Falcon James
December 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
You gots to be real. The falcon total crushed the panther in the second half and 3rd and 4th qtr of that game and did the same thing to the jaquar in both half. All the need to beat the saint is one good qtr and keep they foot on the gas.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
To the same guy or few guys posing with names like “Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho” or “Wimpy Stephen (Peggy) Fleming”, whether your agenda is about race or just a fan of other teams trying to troll here, this shows what a loser you are. Get a life, get out of your parents’ basement and go read some educational columns or post comments on other sites.
rammed saint
December 16th, 2011
3:28 pm
Talkin’ about 1&Done;Always a funny reminder how those lowly birds from seatle feasted on u aints in ur 1 & done last year. Yep, can happen I love it when everybody talks but cha’ can’t back it up. Another birds o’prey(red & black) owe ya alil’ pay back for ya barely squeak’n by us in da atl earlier dis year.
vw
December 16th, 2011
3:28 pm
The Saints beat the Falcons on a bad play and capitalized which good teams do. However, this is a division rival and if you don’t think the Falcons can beat the Saints in their own place, you are blind. This game is going to go down to the last 5 minutes. Don’t be so confident WHO DAT. Be humble that you have a good team now.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:34 pm
Buff Justice @ go and preach you bull to other people. How educated are you in first place to comment on somebody you know nothing about…jackasss
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:35 pm
Nobody is saying this team is a wold beater, but they have made some improvements. Keep tweaking, Thomas Dimitroff – - Steady as she goes. I can’t wait to see all you losers, especially from the Stone Mountain with your agendas, jumping back on the bandwagon when the team is one of the more elite ones. Perhaps then you will finally stop being such vikka fans.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:35 pm
But Stephen, it’s you who knows JACK. Shut your mouth and get a life… go whine on another page – you as*hole.
falconfan58
December 16th, 2011
3:36 pm
They could go to New Orleans and blow out the Saints and the same people would be on here discrediting the win.
rammed saint
December 16th, 2011
3:37 pm
Hey vw; I’m atl all the way through;my handle came when those Aints’got there backsides squashed by steven jackson from the rams few weeks ago & I was just answerin’ back from saintsation 777’s comments. My birds are gettin ready to give some payback in ne-orlin’s. They really hadn’t seen da likes of jj, gona explode man.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:37 pm
Does mommy regulate your time online, Ms. Fleming?
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:38 pm
Bluff Justice @ this not your dad’s blog. so STFU…everybody can voice their opinion.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:39 pm
Bluffy @ like I regulate your mom’s time
Damien
December 16th, 2011
3:42 pm
why are falcon fans always dependent on other teams to beat Saints ?
This shows falcons have no talent to beat a good team.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:45 pm
Stephen, your weak as* comments weren’t opinion, they were mud-slinging posts with no insight or point, designed to rile. You offer nothing but sophomoric jokes about how the Falcons suck… yada yada yada. Like get on a teenie-bopper site and like… post .. like as much as you.. like want… maybe those folks will like… find it entertaining!
Big Al
December 16th, 2011
3:46 pm
LMAO!!! Falcons beat a great Jacksonville team and fans elevate them to Super Bowl status. Wanna give Green Bay another try. This time it will be in Lambeau Field. That should be a sight to see.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:47 pm
Who elevated them to Super Bowl Status? What are you drinking? Big Al… I have a feeling you’re actually Ms. Fleming!
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:48 pm
Bluffy @ why you so sensitive to common inter-team fan trash talks ? after all…its mean’t to be in light vein and nothing personal…
JSS
December 16th, 2011
3:49 pm
@ PMC…
Only about the things that deserve a cynical outlook… There are lots of things I’m optimistic about…
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:49 pm
Bluffy @ if you so much doubt about me being female..come down to houston, I will clear all your doubts and misconceptions.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:49 pm
IT OFFERS NOTHING. If you don’t get that… then you have the mind of a child
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:51 pm
Bluffy @ I don’t give a damn what you think.
All I can say is your team ”S****”
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
3:56 pm
HEHEHHE… You have some IQ, Ms. Fleming. Have you asked yourself this question: if I think this team sucks so much, then why exactly am I spending time here?
And as for going down to Houston, I fuc*ing hate that miserable, sweaty, stanky town. That said, I’d LOVE to meet up with you but the problem is you sound like you’re too young to battle with physically… I could get put inthe slammer for hitting and crippling a minor.
Season Ticket Holder Sec 127
December 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
We R Jus startin 2 put it 2 gether….
I’m Xcited 2 C wer we go from hear….
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
3:59 pm
Well…you sound like a typically redneck hillybilly from countryside hot-alanta. iGNORANCE IS BLISS for people like you.
Nativebird
December 16th, 2011
3:59 pm
wow. You know that you live in a battered and beleaguered sports city when, after 4 years of winning seasons, millions in new Talent and a new coaching regime, and still the goal of your NFL football team is to essentially “Not Suk like it used to for so long.” My fellow Atlantans…wake up…time to start setting higher expectations of your sports franchises and those that run them. Hold them accountable. Boston does it, so does NY, New Orleans, even Milwaukee (Green Bay) for crying out loud.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:00 pm
Change your name, Stephen?
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:00 pm
and get your glasses old man…its stephen not Stephanie.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:01 pm
Buford….Lol , is that a name ? sounds like name given to a dog.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:01 pm
Buford….Lol , is that a name ? sounds like name given to a dog.
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:03 pm
…cause Houston has no hicks, yahoos or rednecks, right Ms. Fleming? As Robert Deniro said in “Analyze This”, YOU – YOU’RE SMART!
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:04 pm
If you looked at the first few posts, you’d see that I am playing off of another name, EINSTEIN!
real talk
December 16th, 2011
4:05 pm
if we could only do this to the fudge-packers and no stanks
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:08 pm
Einstein ??? Lol…he specialized in physics. what do you specialize in ? trash-talks ?
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:08 pm
I just can’t wait for the next prescient comment from Stephanie. Maybe this time it’ll be something like: Um… the Falcons like… um… really really bite the big one… errr something.
Stinger2
December 16th, 2011
4:09 pm
Pamela: You have no facts. Instead, you sound like one who believes in opinions instead of facts. Whatever.
You let your mommy get you a snack and let her have the computer back.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:09 pm
bluffy @ come on wake up…falcons really ? ??..
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:10 pm
you’re the trash-talker, Stephanie. All you have written on this site, to me or about the team, is trash talk. Get a clue half-wit.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
4:10 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Well, those millions spent on the Bonds trial were well spent!