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
Buford T. Justice
December 16th, 2011
4:12 pm
PS. Exactly what team do you follow? Let me guess… the Packers or Patriots?
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
4:14 pm
I was at the game. It started with JJ and ended with a str8 up curb stomp by the D. The 1st half was as close to a perfect a 1/2 as I have ever seen from the Coons! Total BEAST mode. Preditor was sick. SpoonMan was all up in it. HotRod was blazin the field, and the Iceman was pitchin lazer pills. The Aints, that Caint, that Stank, are gonna go down, like we all know they will. I soooo like this team more than last years for some reason. Maybe it’s JJ, or Quizz, or maybe the Pack Smack last year hurt these guys so much, that it’s the Real time to Rise the F up. Maybe it’s time.
True Falcon Fan
December 16th, 2011
4:17 pm
3:49 “Only about the things that deserve a cynical outlook… There are lots of things I’m optimistic about”…
Give us a break! You are the most pessimistic “FLAMING” liberal on this blog, that’s OK let’s jus tell it as it is! You really think & believe someone else owes you something!!!!
Go Falcons – Ain’ts Next
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:22 pm
nopes..
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
4:23 pm
And to all the Aint fans stinkin up our blog with thier POOR little teams dream of another charity run from the top brass at NFL Corp. Forget it losers! Go get those paper bags out of your section 8 cribs, and take it like a man. Surely that sorry team has it’s on fan blog by now. Please take that crap of yours and go away forever.
T-Bone
December 16th, 2011
4:24 pm
It is nice to say that the Falcons are hitting their stride, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that these last 2 victories were against bottom-feeders. The real test of play-off readiness will at the next tilt. If we can’t beat NO on the road, why should we think that we won’t be another one-and-done?
Stinger2
December 16th, 2011
4:24 pm
We can all relax now. Pamela has had her late afternoon snack and is apparently taking her nap now. hopefully all the Who Dats will join her.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
4:25 pm
And there goes Beavis… He’ll be pulling the shirt over his head for the next 7 hours until colostomy bag fills up…
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
4:25 pm
It is so fun to watch you falcon fans get happy over a meaningless win. Jags !!! Beat a play-off contender team then go up the sky.
Z-Ro
December 16th, 2011
4:37 pm
Big Enos Burdette has gotta be the coolest alias ever hahahaha ANYWAY Roddy is right we’re gonna win in N.O. last i checked all our games seem to come down to the last possession of the game or overtime we have just as good a team as anybody when were clicking always remember ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
Stinger2
December 16th, 2011
4:38 pm
Stephen: Your comments are understandable considering the source.
Now run along and get your mommy to give you an early supper. Then she will read you a bedtime story and tuck you in for the night.
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
4:47 pm
And there goes JSS. The tired old lemon sucker. Please write more of you crap.
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
4:52 pm
The same Jags that beat the Ravens, and put 41 up on the Bucs. When the Falcons hit on all aspects of the game, they can kick the shat out of anyone. Like up by 14 on the Pack, remember. It’s just taken a little time to figure it out. It’s comin though. Just wait haters.
todd
December 16th, 2011
4:57 pm
I find that people that use the word “FAIL” on the internet are A HOLES. If you think that using this term puts you on the cutting edge of internet coolness, you’re wrong. Stop trying to be cool and get a life.
Settle Down
December 16th, 2011
5:00 pm
They all get checks, they all play for money. Sometimes it lines up right and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s how the Rams beat the Saints, the Falcons beat the Packers last year then lost to them in the playoffs. The 14-2 Patriots lost to the Browns last year. It’s all entertainment.
Sitting here predicting winners and losers is all gambling.
But one thing is for sure, New Orleans….all day, every day serves as America’s septic tank. And it smells like it.
ijonathan
December 16th, 2011
5:00 pm
If you will indulge me, I was able to pull a few strings and I stumbled upon the template that JSS uses to submit most of his blog posts:
@(insert user name of whomever said something that got you so mad you spilled your chocolate milk on the keyboard)
1. begin with a snide pop culture reference, demeaning to the aforementioned user but obscure enough to make you look learned.
2. Throw heaps of scorn and disdain upon those who are base enough to actually root for a team — remember, you have evolved beyond that point to a higher plane of existence — you are an omniscient, objective supberblogger and part of the new media literati
3. Here, try to work in a couple of words or phrases of foreign origin, or a GRE word that will cause all of the idiot droolers reading this to run to google
4. Make an obscure, passing reference to your line of work, suggestive of something quite important and maybe even mysterious that only a few hand-picked individuals in the world could handle with such aplomb; yet never actually say what you do
5. Intimate that you know and “work with” people who are well above the station of 99% of the people on this blog — remember, you are the 1% and proud of it!
6. Mention periodically your extended vacations to other, warmer climes, where you can spend time with people more of your class, and away from the hell-hole that is Atlanta…ignore all questions of why you still live here, or blame “work”
7. Just to make sure you are still connecting with the idiots on some level, throw in a reference to their mommas, the basement, drooling or their general lack of intelligence
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:02 pm
Delicious lemonade! You only put 13 up on the Bucs… Keep spinning, did the Local health clinic run out of your special ointment again?
MWC
December 16th, 2011
5:05 pm
ijonathan… man, that was AWESOME!!! Post of the year bro !
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2011
5:06 pm
The Saints will not win and the Falcons will enjoy Flushing the Toilet called NoLa.
Stephen Fleming
December 16th, 2011
5:14 pm
yeah…just like we come and take a dump in hotlanta..
Quincy
December 16th, 2011
5:14 pm
Nice wins Falcons against Carolina & Jags the Falcons have only 2 wins against teams with winning records Detroit 8-5 Titans 7-6 records.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:20 pm
@LJonathan…
I’ve answered that question ad nauseum… If you missed it the first 15 times, you either did it intentionally or you have selective memory… GRE words? Dude, learned most of the language rules and vocabulary rules by the 5th grade… After that point, your teachers better be trying to fire intellectual curiosity… Sorry if that wasn’t the case in school…
I’m no 1% percent iconoclast, I can teach you to be a frugal traveler too… Just to let you know, so then you won’t be a travel illiterate; there are multiple climates in Mexico… Do you need frequent flier miles?
You have that Ryan burr in your saddle again… That is beautiful, but remember I believe in the old Afghan adage: “Revenge is a dish best served cold!”
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit, it is Scottish by the way…
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
5:22 pm
ijonathan, we are dealing w/ a non-athlete, pencil neck geek. Period. I’ll bet all the money in his 401k, that he can’t do 2 push ups. He was the pimple faced nerd that never got picked in horseshoes or knitting. Even a fool, when he is quiet, is mistaken as wise. JSS shut up.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:23 pm
And I’ve never been a “mystery.” All that joined in with the Haitian Relief effort know who I am… It ain’t that clandestine young fella…
wisconsinfalcons fan
December 16th, 2011
5:23 pm
Pamela just like most women, who talk football you know may one player on the team an that probably D Brees, right, yes I knew it what about your receiver’s an running backs, yeah right you don’t know them an you say you understand that the falcon played a weaker team, just a reminder
everyone in the NFL are professional strong are weak you beat the team you are suppose to beat that included that aint’s, nuff said
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:32 pm
Ha ha ha ha… @ A-s-s-umption Junction, What his function (AKA Yo Vince)
Sure, I love that one… TripleH feed you that one? I just love that one all the way back to AAU championships and NCAA championships in Baton Rouge, Franklin Field, and Eugene, Oregon… Oslo, Rieti, Karl marx Stadt too, but that would require to actually figure out what that means… ha ha, acne jokes!!!
Mikey
December 16th, 2011
5:32 pm
What a pleasure watching the fruits of the effort put forth by this team. They are winning with class and getting better every week. The chemistry is starting to arrive and they still have two games to solidify into a playoff contender. If this team continues to improve at the current pace, the sky is the limit. GO FALCONS! They are starting to look like the best of the best!
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:35 pm
Oh do you need more Brett Favre meds?
jay
December 16th, 2011
5:36 pm
Falcon’s peaked way to early last year. This year it feels right.
Uhh......I am Tony Gonzalez, Univ. of Cal.?
December 16th, 2011
5:42 pm
I would bet my life, my daughter, my grandchild, & every penny Ive got that the Falcons will NOT get past the Packers or Saints & reach the Super Bowl, especially since they wont being playing with the dome field advantage, IF they get past the first round, then they are DONE!!!
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2011
5:43 pm
Flacons got lucky geting 2 play one of the worse teams in the laegue. IO bet smitty had anoter hart atack since he no they have 2 paly the Saints next.
Hey Now
December 16th, 2011
5:47 pm
Johnathon Dude,, that was right on point,, you nailed him,,, great job,,, Post of the year award…
Hey Now
December 16th, 2011
5:53 pm
And whats really funny is in his retort he did exactly what you said he does,, thats hilarious,,,
JSS
December 16th, 2011
5:56 pm
Multiple user-name personality disorder blogger(s) all agree with you! Don’t let the one arm applause deafen you!
M'ville Mayhem
December 16th, 2011
5:58 pm
If I remember the NFL scheduling guidelines that the NFC South played the teams in their own division 2 times, NFC North (2 at Home and 2 Away), AFC South (2 at Home and 2 Away) and depending on last year’s record the placing of the other 2 NFC divisions. The Saints played the exact same schedule as the Falcons except they played NYG and Rams where the Falcons played Seattle and Philly.
The only difference is that the Falcons lost to Chicago in Chicago, Houston in Houston, Green Bay at Home, TB at TB and the Saints at Home. Your 3 losses have been on the road and the tough games have been at home. Detroit, Chicago, Houston and Giants have all been at home….You won the team that you played against…Congrats!!! The Falcons had Detroit, Chicago, Houston and Seattle on the road…..See the difference!!!!
The game will be played Monday December 26th on MNF and then that will tell the story. Do I think that the Falcons are SB material??? No, But they can start playing better and WHO Knows….But if we let Quizz loose on the Saints he may just “Marshaun Lynch” your @$$. But then again MT33 has always performed well against NO in the past.
It will all come down to which Defense plays better. Can our DB’s cover your recievers? Can we pressure Brees? Can we contain your weak running game? Can you stop Turner and the other RB’s? Can you put pressure on Ryan? Can your Defense get the turnovers that you have in the past when your team has won? All the games have come down to these issues….Which “D” plays better.
So on December 27th will the same ones crowing about the Falcons not being good be on here giving props? I hope that the Falcons win but as Herm Edwards says “that’s why we play the Game!”.
Later Haters!!!!!
ohhhhYEAH
December 16th, 2011
6:11 pm
Whats funny to me is how soon people seem to forget. 10/9/2011, the Pack came to the GA dome and we completely disabled them for an entire first half of football. Then, thanks to our completely incompetent O and D coordinators, Mularkey stopped getting aggressive with play calling up 14-0, we decided to run it up the middle on first and second down, losing yards at a time, making Ryan need to pick up 13 and 14 yards almost every 3rd down. Then our D coordinator went with his same vanilla-no pressure scheme soft zone bull crap, instead of all the blitzes, the man to man, and the cover schemes that worked so well in the first half. As a result, Rodgers picked the soft D apart and our offense had essentially died. Coaching beat Atlanta that game. Same goes for the Saints game a few weeks back. We played VERY good football the majority of the game. Had Roddy not dropped the slant in the end zone causing us to settle for a game-tying field goal, we win that game with 4 seconds left and no need for overtime. So can we beat these elite teams? YES! We have had them both beat during the course of the season, but we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot. This team is hungry, and theyre out for blood. They looked DEAD the first half of the Carolina game, but after half time, ive never seen an Atlanta team play with so much fire and enthusiasm. Just wait….this team will open some eyes in weeks to come
Objective Superblogger
December 16th, 2011
6:19 pm
Enter your comments here
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:19 pm
I see JSS getting Sandusky’d on the blogs as usual. Sure, working on that Pro Forma and brown nosing Shultz….just another day for da man.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
6:21 pm
I see Butthead came to join Beavis…
Bite My Clank
December 16th, 2011
6:25 pm
Hogan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Van Gorder
December 16th, 2011
6:27 pm
You all are just envious of my mustache. I don’t blame you.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
6:27 pm
Is your 70s lingo from watching too many ‘ploitation films at the Rhodes; or is it the fact you can only get Good Times on the rabbit ears?
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:32 pm
I see Joe Flacko is crying about Tebow and complaining how his team is not respected by the media. Maybe had he not laid a colossal TURD of a performance against JAX a Defense that Matty took apart they might take him a little more serious.
What do you think? QB rating:
1 Rogers
2 Tom Brady
3 Ice/Brees/Big Ben
The rest.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:35 pm
I love Steve Smith having to justify Cams losing season by saying he would rather have him than Tebow….Then he does on to throw his D under the bus….So, we got the great Scam already spreading that cancerous form of leadership that only coach killers can do. Just sowing the loser seed.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:37 pm
Actually, Blain Gabbert and Scam have the same number of wins, and Scam is 0-2 againts ice, and Blain is 0-1. So now even Blain Gabbert>Scam…..To bad Scams name is not Blain…BLAME would be such a good fit.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2011
6:43 pm
Paters Bier
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:44 pm
Ranking the 2011 rookie QB class:
1. Dalton
2. Locker
3. Yates
4. Ponder
5. Gabbert
6. Newton
I love my Falcons BUT...
December 16th, 2011
6:44 pm
Before we get all excited let’s not lose perspective. The Jags are one of the worst teams in the NFL, not to mention their head coach was fired last week. Also, the Falcons have not beat ONE playoff team this year. I’m all for being optimistic but again, the Falcons need to beat a quality opponent before we start making outrageous proclamations.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
6:46 pm
Where are all the yuck yucks talking about how they saw this coming duing the pre season?
Michael
December 16th, 2011
7:00 pm
Ranking the 2011 rookie QB class:
1. Dalton
2. Locker
3. Yates
4. Ponder
5. Gabbert
6. Newton
———————————————————
Cam will win rookie of the year. He is on pace to eclipse Peyton Manning’s rookie record for passing yards.