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
Falcons > Packers
December 17th, 2011
3:58 am
ATL is rolling!!!! The falcons will beat green bay in the playoffs—bet the house. Green Bay will not be able to deal with angry Falcons D!! Ryan and Turner will light up their overrated D. Falcons 30 GB 20!!
robertussen
December 17th, 2011
8:56 am
greenbay played the eagles first not us
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 17th, 2011
9:11 am
Take away the 4 STRAIGHT games versus rookie quarterbacks and you still have the same ole NEVER GONNA WIN A PLAYOFF GAME Falcants.
The Falcants have a potentially explosive team, but they never will be until they get rid of their achilles hill – CHOKE.
They need to get rid of that chicken dinner and get a real winner.
CHOKE has just as many playoff wins as Joey Harrington, Ryan Leaf & Tim Couch.
Only the Falcants fans are dumb enough to be convinced he is more than he really is:
AN OVERPAID CHOKER
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 17th, 2011
9:13 am
Falcons > Packers
December 17th, 2011
3:58 am
ATL is rolling!!!! The falcons will beat green bay in the playoffs—bet the house. Green Bay will not be able to deal with angry Falcons D!! Ryan and Turner will light up their overrated D. Falcons 30 GB 20!!
______________________________________________
I guess we will never find out, because to get to the Packers you have to advance past the 1st round, and we all know Vick has and will be FOREVER the last quarterback to win in the playoffs.
Just like Babe Ruth, Mike Vick’s curse will haunt Art Blank until he sells the team
Mister.Earl
December 17th, 2011
9:34 am
That was the Jacksonville Jaguars with a rookie QB.
Not the Giants, Packers, Saints, Steelers, Patriots or Bengals.
The Jaguars
Go ahead, throw a parade. But first, consider the opponent.
Mister.Earl
December 17th, 2011
9:36 am
It was not the Texans, Broncos, Cowboys, or the division benchmark, THE New Orleans Saints.
It was the Jaguars.
The Jaguars. C’mon Son!
Vannesa Bryant
December 17th, 2011
10:03 am
Typical of Falcon/UGA fans to get excited about beating bad teams. I want the Falcons to be successful just as much as the next fan. But shouldn’t we expect more than just beating bad teams? If we can beat N.O. then I’ll be more optimistic, but as of now im not convinced the Falcons can compete with quality teams. So far they have lost to every playoff team they have faced this season.
JSS
December 17th, 2011
10:11 am
Eric
December 16th, 2011
1:50 pm
“JSS, do you just sit on the AJC f5-ing all day until somebody posts a Falcons story, at which point you break your fingers trying to post some “witty” commentary on how the Falcons actually suck? Is that really how you spend your life, trolling Falcons’ fans? I mean, haven’t Falcons’ fans suffered enough for 40+ years without having a basement-dwelling, beer-swilling moron such as yourself crapping in their Cornflakes at every opportunity?’
Cornflakes, if you’re been a “fan” for 40 years and haven’t learned to take better of your colon by now, well you may not have to worry about them much longer… “Beer swilling?” Are you misplacing your daily consumption practices on to me? Sorry, no basement or creepy attic, anymore cliches left in your paltry arsenal of yuck-yucks?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 17th, 2011
10:20 am
CHOKES WINNING FORMULA:
Beat up the bottom dwellers………………..
Lay eggs versus the Green Bay/New Orleans/Bears type teams.
Playing 4 straight games down the stretch vs rookie qbs is not impressive.
The still need to beat either/or both the Saints & Bucs to get in.
Even if they get in, they won’t be playing a rookie or a creme puff defense
FAILURE is CHOKES destiny, and the Grim Reaper is knocking at the annual January door
JSS
December 17th, 2011
10:22 am
And no, you haven’t suffered enough… There’s a easy way to cure an ailment (being a fan of the current Falcons regime), get treatment… You’ll find is full of roses… And I spent nearly a month without you cretins (Oct. 17-Nov. 7)… Most of you are so stupid, that you never realized I was gone (even though I announced it for a week prior to my departure… You jackoffs, spent 3 weeks talking crap to someone who wasn’t even around… Don’t worry, I made sure to give it all back to ya! Hey, take solace, the end of January will be here soon and then you morons can talk trash to someone who is not around again… Idiots!
JSS
December 17th, 2011
10:35 am
“at which point you break your fingers”
You guys can join the rest of us in the 21st century…
Try voice recognition software, why are you still typing?
painter
December 17th, 2011
10:54 am
Reality check. I love the Falcons, but look at SOV, Strength of Victory, at ESPN. It’s just above Carolina in the NFC. No matter how great we feel about the Falcons and what the players say, we must realize that we have mostly beaten bad teams, which we should be doing. Besides Detroit, what have we done against good teams? Until we beat the Saints, I don’t trust that these guys got it fixed. I’m an optimist, so I’ll stand with Roddy and say we’re going to win. At least we can talk, right? It’s a free country. Hopefully he’ll shutup and let his play talk cause I’m sure the Saints will have Roddy’s guarantee on their bulletin board.
Russ
December 17th, 2011
10:55 am
For all the fans who cannot remember Norm Van Brocklin, Jerry Glanville, Dan Henning, Bobby Petrino and others. Four years of winning seasons in a row is a breath of fresh air. This coaching staff and front office is the best we have ever had. As a lifelong Falcons fan since 1969, I am very thankful.
painter
December 17th, 2011
10:58 am
Btw, there’s no way the Saints, the Patriots or Green Bay wins a championship this year. All of their defenses stink and most playoff teams with a good enough defense and enough play makers on the offensive side will, WILL, win. Everybody is so enamored of the QBs, but not this year.
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
11:30 am
Choke: Just like Babe Ruth, Mike Vick’s curse will haunt Art Blank until he sells the team.
I do not disagree that there is a MV7 curse, but logic dictates that it follow him to Philly, I man, Andy Reid has been to how many playoffs?
I believe the curse started when we drafted him over Drew Brees….And I also see the “Cam Curse” starting in Charlotte, where they passed on Andy Dalton.
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
11:46 am
When we listened to the hype, and ignored our common sense, we traded up and drafted MV7 over Drew Brees….The Vick curse was born. MV7 was suppose to get us to win multiple superbowls, but he could not even take the franchise as far as journeyman Chris Chandler took them. Hence, THE MV7 curse was born. But the good thing is, he took the curse to Philly. So we are lucky.
It is up to Ice Ice baby put it all to bed.
D.Ellis
December 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
Playoff wins arent the only thing that matters. Super Bowls are.
Ask Donavon McNabb if playoff wins are the only thing that matters.
even my small mind can comprehend that hahahahahah
your fishing with weak bait.
ohhhhYEAH
December 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
hey CHOKE
let me ask you a question……why is it that you think the only wins that count are playoff wins? Have you ever sat back and ask yourself why a playoff win matters more than a regular season game? Because guess what…..the only “playoff win” that matters, is the one that gets you the trophy. So you can sit here and say that Ryan “chokes” because all his numbers have only improved every year he’s been in the league, and because he hasnt won a playoff game in just TWO trips to the playoffs, but guess what? it doesnt matter if you never win a playoff game or win one or two playoff games every year jsut to lose before or in the big game (McNabb). But, being as how your logic is that playoff wins are the only ones that count, and really only ONE playoff win actually counts, and by your logic if you dont win that one, well then youre a bad quarterback.
Now, having said all that….I dont know how old you are and how far back your “football intelect” can reach, but by your logic you are saying that not only is Matt Ryan a terrible QB because he hasnt won a playoff game in only two trips in his FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE LEAGUE, but youre also saying quarterbacks such as McNabb, Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, Jim Kelly, and uh…..oh yeah, DAN MARINO, are all terrible quarterbacks. I mean after all, the last playoff win is really the only one that counts according to your logic right?
JSS
December 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
Funny, why just hang that collar around McNabb’s neck? Funny how let Craig Morton and Fran Tarkenton off the hook with that argument? I like Darryl Lamonica, but he’s in the same boat too… Roman Gabriel can shout row…
ohhhhYEAH
December 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
intellect*
ohhhhYEAH
December 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
JSS, you speak truely. But I really was only just naming the ones that were right off the top of my head. Didnt wanan make an entire list lol
ohhhhYEAH
December 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
truly* wow, i am typing way too fast this morning
JSS
December 17th, 2011
12:26 pm
And the Super Bowl is a “playoff game win.”
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
You have to understand, JSS and Choke are just pests. All they are interested in is getting under your burr. If the blog was a highway, they would travel 50 in the left lane. Like the terminator, they are not capable of negotiation or reason. There is only one man that can stop them, and it is Matty Ice, the Hope of Atlanta.
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
It is basically Matty Ice, the hope of all that is good for mankind VS choke and JSS Only Matty can lift the MV7 curse that was bestowed upon use when we drafted him, and passed on Drew Brees. Only Matty can make things right again. Otherwise, we live in the dark full of hatred and dispair, slowly being driven insane listening to JSS and Chokes “logic”.
P B Orr
December 17th, 2011
12:51 pm
I come back here and I see Choke is back. It’s like entering a room full of loud children. Well, I’m going out on the porch to have a beer, you kids have fun.
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
RIP Slim Dunkin
phil
December 17th, 2011
1:49 pm
Apparently i’m in the huge minority of Bird fans who think JSS is witty and obviously intelligent.
You guys should just ignore him if he bugs you to the point of tears….otherwise, get a sense of humor.
As for the Birds, yes, i see signs of life and possibility….
But as always for me, i’ll believe it when I see it on the field. This team has failed ultimately every season it’s been in Atlanta. We’ve been way too inconsistent this year for me to get my hopes up.
I’m hopeful as always, but we’ll have to wait and see. If JJ shows up, if Abraham shows up and if we can block a little and knock down a pass or 2 in the secondary, yes, we could go the distance.
But how likely is this? Exactly. Not very.
phil
December 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
He’s only 42-20….
Fire Mike Smith!!
Amazing
December 17th, 2011
3:38 pm
Yeah and you’ll look like the same idiot you always are schultz when they go to no and lose
37-17
Once Recent Reader
December 17th, 2011
4:07 pm
So I see the cat fight continues another week. Oh well.
phil
December 17th, 2011
6:06 pm
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
********
Too funny.
snookums
December 17th, 2011
6:24 pm
I love it when people bet on or against the Falcons. I’m a Falcon fan and I would never bet on them. I also know never to bet against them or the Braves. So Pamela please go find someone foolish enough to bet with you. And bet lots of YOUR money. Put your money OUT there. If you’re so sure you could bet enough in Vegas to make lots of money. The Falcons ARE SUPPOSED to LOSE to YOUR SAINTS. Put it out here baby. And on the 27th come on here and BRAG. But I’m sure you’re going to give some points on your wager. Your team is the SAINTS!!!. THEY CAN”T LOSE!!
They’re better than that Minnesota team the falcons beat in the NFC championship game they were supposed to lose. And you KNOW your team is THE BEST. THEY CAN”T LOSE!! SAY IT Pamela. LET us hear you say “THE SAINTS can’t lose to the FALCONS!! MONDAY NIGHT!
JSS
December 17th, 2011
6:36 pm
” the MV7 curse”
Do you believe in Werewolves and The Groundhog as a prognosticator of weather too?
JSS
December 17th, 2011
6:46 pm
“It is basically Matty Ice, the hope of all that is good for mankind VS choke and JSS”
That is TV Western logic… But go ahead and run with that… My my the Pol Pot of bloggers has declared a war of good vs evil… RME!!!
phil
December 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
What do MV7 and pit bulls have in common?
gcs
December 17th, 2011
6:50 pm
The last time the Falcons had a complete game (beating Indy 31-7), they turned around and lost to New Orleans the next week.
phil
December 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
Matty ice is an all time awful nickname…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
8:17 pm
Jeff Schultz, you really should respond to Gearon calling you out in his Q&A with MC and Tim Tucker. It would be entertaining.
stendek
December 17th, 2011
8:21 pm
Stride will either lengthen or disappear on Monday night. Waited to comment in order to offer fair commentary after Thursday night blowout. Extremely proud of D. Takeaways plus TDs. Well done. The O was consistent with no giveaways. Only thing that truly made me sick was blocked punt which resulted in TD. Completely inexcusable. I forgave meaningless late TD allowed by Falcon defensive substitutes. Game worthless as measuring stick. Falcons will have true baptism of fire in Louisiana. Victory lifts team into elite status. Loss probably leaves defending division champions with wild card playoff spot. Failure against Saints also knocks Falcons into slightly better than average category. It is what it is. If the Falcons fail to pressure Drew Brees they lose. If the Falcons play not to lose they will do just that. The Falcon kick returner needs to take it up a notch or two. The Falcons must prepare for this like a playoff game because it is. An 11-5 record has much more benefits than a 10-6 mark. What do you guys and gals think?
Nerehere
December 17th, 2011
8:46 pm
Dunta Robinson displays no overt desire to become an NFL general manager any time soon, but the Falcons cornerback didn’t hold back in his assessment of Jacksonville’s receiving corps following Atlanta’s 41-14 rout of the Jaguars.
“Those guys are (expletive) jokes,” Robinson told The Florida Times-Union on Thursday night. “Those guys couldn’t get a (expletive) receiver if it hit them in the head.”
I think it’s time to tell Dunta to shut his piehole. First of all Mike Smith needs to coral his mouth and Aurther Blank needs to keep that in check because it may come back to haunt this team which is as best fragile.. First of all Dunta, take them cave man locks out of your head and learn from M. Vick something about being humble. You ain’t all that. You haven’t won no Superbowl, you have no jewelry. Nuff said.
JSS
December 17th, 2011
8:47 pm
If it is a win in a Super Bowl V like disaster, it wouldn’t really tell you anything… If they played on the level what we saw when Green Bay/Saints or that classic shoot out that Baltimore/Pittsburgh put on earlier this year, then I’ll tip my hat…
Ed
December 17th, 2011
9:31 pm
It’s amazing what having the right combination of Owner GM Head Coach and QB can do for an NFL franchise. This organization has put the pieces in place to be successful for years to come. I think the offense is starting to gel at just the right time and Julio Jones is b ecoming that explosive WR opposit Roddy White that makes Matt Ryans job easier. I think the Falcons can definitely make a run at a Super Bowl title which would be the happiest sports day of my life. Go Falcons
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
9:33 pm
Stendek, how is an 11-5 record any better than 10-6 if both get us the #5 seed? Actually, if NO wins and clinches this weekend, I could see a very simple game plan, maybe even back ups against them. No reason to tip our hand.
Mr Charlie
December 17th, 2011
9:55 pm
Jss “That is TV Western logic… But go ahead and run with that… My my the Pol Pot of bloggers has declared a war of good vs evil… RME!!!”
It is not good vs evil, but positive vs negative. This is Atlanta, and people would like the Atlanta team to win. However, you are negative and would hate to see them win, due to whatever emotional scars you bear. But if they win, you would rejoice and be able to release your hate and anger. You would be embraced by your fellow man, and you would ’see the light” so to speak….You are rooting for Ice, you just don’t know it….but that is ok, because he does.
knock-down, ........ drag-out
December 17th, 2011
9:56 pm
hit the stride at the right time,
Falcons fly in and win.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 17th, 2011
10:10 pm
Enter your comments here
A person SMART enough to know......
December 17th, 2011
10:10 pm
Want a Personalized gift? Something from the heart? Check this site and go to the Bird house Page.
http://www.atlantahaulitallinc.com/Bird_Houses.php
You can request your own theme.
JSS
December 17th, 2011
10:36 pm
“It is not good vs evil, but positive vs negative. due to whatever emotional scars you bear. But if they win, you would rejoice and be able to release your hate and anger. You would be embraced by your fellow man, and you would ’see the light” so to speak….You are rooting for Ice, you just don’t know it….but that is ok, because he does”
Somebody needs to clean the stalls, because that is about a 10 foot deep pile of it!!! RMDE!!! Do you read that insanity before hitting submit? I mean seriously? What was that? Was it some deluded palabra masquerading as a three year old’s version of a mythical Jedi mind trick? Open the barn door, that one needs fresh air!
JSS
December 17th, 2011
10:43 pm
Kinda like this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZTX3cG_yxg&feature=endscreen&NR=1