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
Mr. Panic Button
December 16th, 2011
7:05 pm
They can be the Saints and I won’t be convinced they have turned the corner until they beat them CONVINCINGLY!!!
bobwhite
December 16th, 2011
7:05 pm
Bah humbug! Falcons lose to the ants by 10!
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2011
7:06 pm
Cam is the new MV7. He will be arrested for something big in a few years.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
7:11 pm
Before Scam gets arrested, he will have a few disappointing seasons that where he tosses his teammates under the bus, flips off the paying fans, and leaves every coach in Carolina have to rebuild their reputations.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
7:16 pm
5150….No brainer there.
Fan
December 16th, 2011
7:17 pm
You guys are getting desperate. hitting stride??!! PLEASE! Same story every year. One lousy win against the lying paid college player from Auburn’s team in Carolina, another against a team in Jax and all of a sudden the lousy birds are hitting stride? IF and I do mean IF they make the playoffs, they will lose their first game. It’s in the cards, it’s history repeating itself, it’s the same ole team that can’t win the big one. nuff said!
screwball
December 16th, 2011
7:25 pm
The Falcons will not hit their stride, unless their stride is to lose so many games in a row that they will be eliminated from NEXT year’s playoffs.
ANd that’s just a natural born fact, jack. It’s the coach. Smith. He’s a total idiot. Total. He doesn’t understand what an offensive play is supposed to accomplish. He’s the poster child for trophy-goat. I can’t believe clowns like him get anywhere in this wonderful game of footaballa.
Michael
December 16th, 2011
7:25 pm
Cam is the new MV7. He will be arrested for something big in a few years.
————————————-
Cam is NOTHING like Mike Vick. And don’t encourage that bumbling idiot Mr. Charlie.
MG3
December 16th, 2011
7:37 pm
Um, that idiot has never even lost two games in a row. I guess the disaster coach MS inherited was supposed to immediately start winning super bowls, right? I for one am happy with three playoff appearances in 4 years and the postseason wins are on the way.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2011
7:39 pm
Im thinging the Flacons will end up having a loosing season. Laste nite was an not the reel Falcons game.
screwball
December 16th, 2011
7:46 pm
Wrong! I mean, look at what MS, the football idiot sends in when it’s 2nd and 7. Really? The run straight back and hand off to tucker? Gee, that’ll fool the defense. Smith doesn’t think the consequences of a play through, nor does he appreciate that 3 and 1 in the first quarter requires a different play that 3rd and 1 in the fourth quarter. He just throws plays out there like dice and hopes for the best.
He’s a loser, and football in Atlanta would be better without him.
MWC
December 16th, 2011
7:47 pm
Joe Tess…crack kills.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2011
7:50 pm
I used 2 bielveve in the Hugs not Drugs…..Until I got Hi. I never remeber being up at 3 AM trying 2 score a hug……
ramguy68
December 16th, 2011
7:52 pm
I used to follow the live game blogs until I couldn’t stomach the Lombardi’s, Shula’s and Madden’s that filled the pages. Give them billions and billions of $ and about 100 free agents to sign and they would win the Super Bowl.
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2011
7:55 pm
i guess Joe Tess have never been at Johnny’s Hideaway at closing then.
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
8:08 pm
JSS… I just got back from dinner here in Dunwoody. I think I ran into you at the bar. Were you the 60 something, thick in the mid section, balding woman? I never seen anyone drink 6 str8 shots of whisky in such a short time. Keep up the good work Chubs. Oh, yeah, the quote was from Proverbs. Ever read that one, superstar?
Reality
December 16th, 2011
8:09 pm
Falcons won’t beat the Saints on the road (won’t be able to run and can’t pressure Brees-same old, same old) but will beat the Bucs at home to get into the playoffs. Same pattern as all year: lose to a good team but follow-up the loss by beating a bad team.
The pattern is good enough for 10-6 and by getting to the playoffs by virtue of beating the Lions, Cutler/Forte’s injuries and the Cowboy’s strange field-goal problems.
If the playoffs started today the Falcons would play the Giants on the road. Falcons struggle on the road against good teams (who doesn’t beside GB) and Eli is better than TJ Yates. Looks like another one and done. That is, if the Falcons don’t lose to NO and TB (they’ve already lost to both this year).
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
8:15 pm
O K, so you have a past in sports. I found out who you are. My M O is to start at the top, reduce them to the pile of steaming monkey vomit that they are, and move on to the next, smug, self important, crusty old farc. Clearly, you have been found unworthy. Next
JSS
December 16th, 2011
8:33 pm
Poor Yo… Still working like a Croatian street worker in Moscow for attention… Nope A,J,WYF… Wrong again…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
8:37 pm
“In Commentary”
Once upon a time in 2008, Art Blank sold the Bank to win in the post season. Having a young brilliant quarterback from Virginia Tech, who performed miracles based on the lack of talent that he was surrounded with.
That young 22 year old freak of nature would haved loved to have a pro bowl back with the size and speed that Michael Turner has. He would have loved having a hall of famer in Tony Gonzalez. He would have loved to have explosive receivers like Julio Jones. He would have loved to have an offensive line that wasn’t built on low draft picks.
Yes Mike Vick without nearly the talent that CHOKE is surrounded with, yet he managed to play in 3 pro bowls, win 2 playoff games in different seasons, finish runner up in the MVP balloting at the ripe age of 22. Let’s not forget that playoff game in Green Bay where he led an overly outmatched Falcons team, and what did he do? Well you can ask Brett Favre how that turned out.
Then you have that legendary Falcons game versus The Greatest Show on Turf, where he led the Falcons to the most lopsided playoff win (47-17) or something close to that score. The scores are not as nearly as important as the point they proved. Before and after Vick, the Falcons had never had a quarterback to win playoff games in separate seasons. All this before the ripe ole age of 26.
By the way CHOKE is already 26 years old and he has ZERO playoff wins. With so much talent, why does he continue to get a free pass with the media & the bias fan base? Is it because he is the anti Vick? Are they so angry with Vick that they close their eyes and turn the other way with all the failures in the playoffs led by CHOKE?
Maybe it’s because they never wanted a quarterback that resembles Vick physically in the first place. Whatever the reason is, they have not won a playoff game since Vick has departed. Why is that? Why has it appeared so easy for Joe Flacco & John Harbaugh to win playoff game after playoff game, even thought they came onto the scene the same time as CHOKE & Smitty?
The bottom line is this: The Falcons can hate Mike Vick all they want, but it’s not going to fix the problem that they are stuck with for another 2 plus seasons.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
8:42 pm
Falcants fans have been saying the same thing for the past 4 years.
They lost to both the Saints & Bucs and their fate is already sealed because history will repeat itself.
Playing 4 straight games vs rookie quarterbacks is not something to boast about.
2012 will be a long draft free season
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
8:44 pm
Vick was worshipped in this town by everyone. He NEVER won 2 years in a row. He acted like a gansta. He is gone. News Flash.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
8:47 pm
The past it the past, 2012 is in the future.
Today, in the now is all that matters, Ice has the Falcons on the brink of another tournament. Vick, he is gonna need a lot of help to get it. And before you start the same “he does not have talent around him” excuses, lets not forget he is has the most talented roster in the NFL. But, he lacks leadership, and what happened there is what happened here in 05 and 06. MV7 is a quitter.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
Vick has a respected coach, the best talent in the NFL, and will have run the table to finish .500. Now, THAT is the truth. Cam is next to disappoint each year….At least with Ice, you cannot say it is wasted talent, the man gets the most out of what hes got.
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
8:51 pm
Cam is 13 games into the NFL, and his receiver is already throwing the defense under the bus….Classic.
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
8:51 pm
Hello Choke, the Joke. My little white kid had the home and away MV& jersey, the fathead of Vick on the bedroom wall. We watched his every move like he was the Second Coming. I loved MV7. But….. He was of low morals, and let his pot smoking keep him away from practice and being his best. He has changed and paid his debt. He is forgiven and I hope he has a great finish. It’s his fault though, not Falcon Fan.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
8:57 pm
PLAYOFF WINS: The only stat that matters…..HAHAHA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
8:59 pm
Hell……even Tim Tebow has a better record than CHOKE.
It’s all about the playoffs
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
9:07 pm
And that’s why Choke is a Joke
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2011
9:09 pm
CHOKE is a moron.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2011
9:34 pm
Leaf Choke a lone. he no more then most of U
Tom G
December 16th, 2011
9:45 pm
Choke was Mike Vick’s silent partner in the kennel operation. That explains everything!!! Or better yet Choke’s middle name is Hussein, like his buddy?
Choke=JSS=Vick's Bee-atch
December 16th, 2011
9:53 pm
Why do JSS(aka Choke) hate Matt Ryan so much? Help me understand.
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
9:58 pm
They are 2 pees in a pod
JSS
December 16th, 2011
10:03 pm
You Cretins are astonishing!
@ MCR…
Remember what you told me during the Smith column? This is why I said that… You get bored of having to flame these type of folks…
atlantato seattle2015
December 16th, 2011
10:13 pm
BEAT THE AINTS IN THAT GIANT FEMA TRAILOR(SUPERLESS DOME)GET IN THE PLAYOFFS AND THEN PLAY LIKE YOUR ANGRY…IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!JUST BEAT THOSE AINTS ..I HATE THAT CITY AND THAT OVERATED TEAM IN THAT SLEEPY SOUTHERN SWAMP..AINTS YOU NOW HAVE A CURSE ON YOU THRU OUT THE REST OF THE SEASON…I HATE THE AINTS WITH A PASSION!!
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
10:15 pm
JSS, If you only knew how predictable your post were, maybe you wouldn’t spend so much time in the mirrow telling yourself how smart and witty you are
JSS
December 16th, 2011
10:21 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah… You only wish that could come up with two lines were coherent during a 24 hour period… Here’s irony for you, they are predictable because “all of you” spout the drivel…
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
10:25 pm
It’s as simple as being a 1/2 full fan. But you know that already. You just love the whole chain yanking thing. Me too
yo Vince
December 16th, 2011
10:32 pm
It’s 1 part WWE, 1 part mental masterbation
Buford Pusser
December 16th, 2011
10:39 pm
We are destined to be Atlanta. There is pain in those words.
jesus suarez
December 16th, 2011
10:43 pm
I DONT REALLY PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO ALL THE TRASH TALKING .ALL I WANT IS FOR ATLANTA TO GET READY FOR THE GAME AGAINST N.O. AND PROVE THAT WE CAN BEAT THE TOP TEAMS TOO. ITS TIME WE ALL RISE UP THIS OUR TIME ATLANTA.I ALSO BET 20 DOLLARS AGAINST THE SAINTS SO I HAVE FAITH IN MY BIRDS .VAMOS ATLANTA SI SE PUEDE CABRONES
JSS
December 16th, 2011
10:44 pm
Astonishing, the Tower of Incoherent Babel…..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
10:54 pm
Joe Flacco (30 million) + 4 playoff wins…….
CHOKE (72 million) – 2 playoff wins……
You do the math
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
10:56 pm
@JSS
You don’t take these clowns seriously do you?
I love playing with their small minds
Throw a little smiley face and we got instant whining
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2011
10:57 pm
CHOKE = Joey Harrington 1.255555
JSS
December 16th, 2011
11:03 pm
@ MCR…
These blog-o-paths are whacked out of their minds… I mean in John Wayne Gacy kind of way… Deep off the bend stuff…
Samuel L. Jackson
December 16th, 2011
11:37 pm
I know what Falcons do!!!!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!!!
How did that work out for Roddy the last time he said “we are gonna win” and couldn’t keep his big yap shut???
Yea that’s right, the Saints came in to Atlanta and whipped the birds in their own house. Make all the excuses you want, but the Saints were up 23-13 with 7 minutes left. The Saints D blew that game. Quit acting like the Falcons dominated that game, and just handed it over to the Saints. 180 of the 489 yds Atlanta got in that game were for the last 2 drives when for some reason the Saints decided to cover Harry Douglas with a LB.
The Falcons will lose to the Saints on MNF like they consistently do since Drew Brees arrival and all the “fire Malarkey” talk will be back. Rinse, wash, repeat… I am out
Remarkable
December 17th, 2011
1:12 am
The Falcons hit a bad team with an awful quarterback at the right time (The Jags had 3 games in 11 days), don’t start singing their praises until they take care of NO. If they do that, then they have hit their stride. I hope they have confidence in themselves, but I still have my doubts.
EuroBird
December 17th, 2011
2:38 am
Roddy White again running his mouth. He needs to shut up and play, instead he motivates the opponent. Dumb.