Falcons get another shot at Saints, looking to affirm direction
Are Matt Ryan and the Falcons headed forward? We'll find out Monday night in New Orleans. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
NEW ORLEANS — There have been enough times over the 40-plus seasons of Falcons-Saints games when we knew it really told us nothing about the future, other than maybe who would be happier once their hangover wore off.
One team stunk. Both teams stunk. Neither fan base was deluded into believing their team was that great, just better than the other one. It was the closest thing the NFL got to a college rivalry.
But the meeting in New Orleans Monday night will be different. This game likely will tell us something about the future for the Falcons. They’re almost certainly headed to the playoffs, and it’s possible their first-round game will be in the Superdome.
We know about the Saints: They’ve won six straight. Drew Brees, coach Mike Smith said, “is operating at a level we probably haven’t seen,” having thrown 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the last five games. Because of Brees, New Orleans is a Super Bowl threat.
We don’t really about the Falcons: They’ve played their best six quarters of the season consecutively. But that has come against Carolina (6-9) and Jacksonville (4-11), so they’re not quite feeling a group hug yet.
Their 9-5 record breaks down this way: 7-1 against teams currently with losing records, 2-4 against teams with winning or .500 records (including Chicago, which was 7-7 going into its game at Green Bay game Sunday night.).
The Falcons were viewed as a title contender at this time a year ago, and we know where that got them. They’re viewed as something less than that now. They’ll tell you they’re fine with that because they have the wild card/Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers as a reference point. But this is when the Packers stepped on the gas a year ago (winning their last two before the playoffs, including 45-17 over the Giants in game 15).
This is when the Falcons can begin to define direction and alter perceptions.
“It’s an important game because we’re going down the stretch and this is a big test for us,” wide receiver Roddy White said. “This could be a really big statement game for us, especially if we have to go back down there to play these guys again in two weeks.”
The Saints haven’t clinched the NFC South yet. But for the Falcons to win the division and clinch a home playoff game, they would have to win in the Superdome and again next week over Tampa Bay, then hope New Orleans loses its finale against Carolina. In that scenario, the Falcons would be the NFC’s No. 3 seed and host a first-round game against Detroit. As a wild card, the Falcons would travel to either the NFC East winner (Dallas or New York) if they’re the fifth seed, or New Orleans or San Francisco if they’re the the sixth seed (which ever opponent had the lesser record).
The scenarios would be different if the Falcons hadn’t, in their view, given away a game to New Orleans six weeks ago. The Saints won in overtime 26-23. You might recall something about a fourth-and-1 decision by coach Mike Smith in overtime that backfired. But Atlanta also had three red zone possessions that resulted in only field goals. Matt Bryant missed a field goal. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw an interception that led to three Saints’ points.
If any of those things fall the Falcons’ way, the teams probably are tied at 10-4 today instead of separated by two games. That game still stings.
“Guys have had this game circled,” Smith said.
“This is the one that we want,” White said.
“When we lost, we knew this game would be here later on in the season,” center Todd McClure said. “We want to go back and get a little revenge.”
This is their chance. The Falcons’ playoff lives aren’t on the line. But how they play against one of the league’s better teams should tell us something more about where they’re going.
By Jeff Schultz
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424 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:41 pm
Charlie Matt is so dumb he makes OTHER people carry his dope on Airplanes
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 25th, 2011
8:43 pm
HA HA HA
Bears can still eliminate CHOKE after the SAINTS WHIPPING
And no draft in 2012
P B Orr
December 25th, 2011
8:43 pm
Please ban him Jeff – please get rid of Choke. It’s awful dealing with that thing month after month. Just make it end.
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
8:44 pm
What to the 2011 Falcons and Eagles have in common?
Both had their playoff fates established in week 16 without having to even play a game.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:44 pm
Burn that early Timeout.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 25th, 2011
8:44 pm
Okay losers I’m going to come back just before the Saints MASSACRE to spread a little more cheer.
Night girls
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
8:45 pm
Night Choke….See you then.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:46 pm
CHOKE you are Hanging your hopes on the Bears beating Green Bay tonight? You really are a rocket scientists.
panic fan
December 25th, 2011
8:47 pm
Here are the ## regarding Ryan — 42-20. That’s the Falcons’ record in games he has started. That’s a winning percentage of .677, and it puts him in high company. Brady and Roethelisberger have won at a higher rate, and so has Rodgers, if barely. (He was 44-21 entering Sunday’s game.) But that .667 beats the great Peyton Manning’s career winning percentage, which is .661. so he will be ok
FalconsAlltheWay
December 25th, 2011
8:47 pm
CHOKE our birds have winning records for 3 years in a row… You have to start somewhere nobody starts off winning championships it takes time to build the right team and we just about got it so I don’t know what team you’re a fan of but you need to go to their blog and post about them and stay off the falcon page and leave it to the falcon fans thanks happy holidays ^_^
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:48 pm
Nice Pass by Mckown
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
8:48 pm
Choke is bailing to go curl up an cry, he can’t watch MR2 get his 3rd playoff appearance in 4 years.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:50 pm
CHOKE is going to take a shower and dream about MV7’s time in the prison showers.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
8:52 pm
Miss It
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
8:52 pm
Lot harder hitting those long ones out doors.
Bleed red
December 25th, 2011
9:01 pm
( Matt CHOKE Ryan) Sounds like MATTY ICE had his way with your lady or are you infactuwated with him just wondering .
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:06 pm
Damn almost the INT
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:12 pm
Need a Turn Over
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:14 pm
Damn got the ball back on the fumble
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
9:16 pm
Don’t know if the Bears knew that Green Bay is suppose to roll over them tonight.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:16 pm
Rook is running hard. PACKERS need an out on 3rd and LONG
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:18 pm
He read that like a children book
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
9:18 pm
Matthews is really the difference maker for the Pack.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:22 pm
He did call Fair Catch.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:29 pm
Green Bay’s D is getting killed on the run. I hope they win, but Falcons could run on them too i think
cteez
December 25th, 2011
9:33 pm
who would you rather play in the 1st round? Giants or Cowboys?
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
Green Bay is showing some chinks in the armor. NY took them to the mat, then Kansas City. I would have to say New Orleans is playing the best ball right now.
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
Probably would rather play the Cowboys.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:36 pm
green bay is still the BEST so far. They are just TIRED at the end of the season. I am not sure why they are not going to rest many of the starters after the HALF.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:37 pm
I like playing the G-men
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
That pass worked nice
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Good play not laying out that reciever.
Breeztastic
December 25th, 2011
9:51 pm
Hate to disappoint ya but everyone knows that Brees is gonna serve up some roasted bird in tha Superdome!
Saints 35
Falcons 14
Geaux Saints!
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
WTF was that O-lay Tackle attempt by the DB?
NRBQ
December 25th, 2011
10:08 pm
Jeff,
Does it matter at all that your blog evokes the stupidest comments in the short history of the blogosphere? That you allow Poad and Choke to comment destroys any journalistic credibility you may hope to maintain in the wake of AJC’s demise.
Those of us who have read you for years know you’re better than this.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:11 pm
NRBQ and what did you bring to the blog.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
That was a nice run for 24
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:15 pm
WOW Green bay can score fast when they need to.
Mr Charlie
December 25th, 2011
10:16 pm
What a pass.
painter
December 25th, 2011
10:16 pm
Falcons just win and shut up these pathetic Saints fans who sit with their fat arse at the keyboard all night talking smack on our boards.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:28 pm
Why can’t the Falcons make it look that easy on 3rd downs?
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:30 pm
3rd & 8 packers pass for 10 so EZ
Mtn Falcon
December 25th, 2011
10:35 pm
Lol @ Matt Choke Ryan, the Falcons are in the playoffs, and your dream team vick eagles aren’t. Vick sucks
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:37 pm
I think that just wrapped-up the Falcons a spot in the Playoffs.
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:39 pm
The Pick and a pass to the 8. Should be a TD and the Falcons & Fans know we are in the Playoffs.
yo mama
December 25th, 2011
10:41 pm
it breaks down like this. if atlanta doesnt go for it in first game, and played on an punted. the d was stopping brees. it did so for a few series back to back. say we win that game. mnf would be the tie breaker, we would be 10-4 and tied with the saints, and brees wouldnt be gettin all the talk cause they lost. we would have won without Julio. think about it. the games we struggled either we didnt get the ball to julio, or he was injured. in games he touches the ball we win. toss out the opener, as the team wasnt ready to play, as was alot of teams.
so stop all your skepticism. this offseason was nil. this team needs to gel over time. it might work to our advantage. matty ice got a solid win at detriot, took a nasty hit, missed like one play, and hit harry on a deep route. matty ice also out performed brees that day, and didnt have julio. add that one offensive factor, and the Saints gonna be scared. watch, julio will deal in the dome. worth every penny and pick. he hasnt even peaked.
falcons 40-Saints 37.
julio two tds
roddy, tg, turner….
5150 UOAD
December 25th, 2011
10:47 pm
Keep it at more than 21 like I called it before the game.
Time to rest the starters now though.
Atlbirds
December 25th, 2011
10:47 pm
The falcons are a huge threat right now. those who understand the game know that a slow and somewhat sloppy start means nothing nor does a playoff seed. Its all about getting hot late and riding it all the way to the super bowl. This could truly be our year if we beat the saints and win out. I have no problem excepting the but you can throw them away with a win. Go falcons! I have notthing but faith in these boys!
Braves #17 Fan
December 25th, 2011
10:51 pm
Green Bay beats Chicago any day and any time, although tonight is extra special since it clinches a playoff berth for the Falcons. Thanking the Packers, however, is overdoing it. The Falcons earned it all themselves. Congrats!!
M&M
December 25th, 2011
10:52 pm
Thanks to our 100 Million Dollar turnover machine and Andy who gave him that deal and the starting job based on him beating 5 bad teams last year. They also in Eagles style, once they were “realistically” out of it a few weeks back, the pressure was off and they starting winning, causing them to miss out on one of the 3 top QBs in the upcoming draft.
— Sidewinder7
Ah, The Philly faithfuls are turning on #7 ! Told ya !