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
NewOrleansJazz
December 26th, 2011
2:31 pm
Mike Smith is a big Drew Brees fan
I am a big Mike Smith fan. Sign that man for 10 additional years. Guaranteed contract. No firing clause .
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
2:32 pm
Last seaosn….MR2 goes to round 2, MV7 goes out in the WC. I mean, the FREAKING WC round. How pathetic is that? I mean, Ryan, his rookie year, goes out in a WC, but VIck, a season vet, goes out like a rookie….I guess ‘the weight of expectations” go to him
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
You know, Vick would really be good it he did not have to deal with pressure caused by the “weight of expectation”…..OMG…DID HE JUST SAY THAT!!!! REALLY/ REALLLY RRREEAAALLLLYYYYY?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
Dang
Why are the guys on The NFL Network saying the Falcons only chance to slow down
the Saints is for Michael Turner to save them.
HA HA HA
All I'm Saying Is...
December 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but what I want to know is why do you all keep responding to a fan whose team we not only beat in the regular season but who is out of the playoffs and, therefore, irrelevant?
What is more important at this stage is for the Falcons to play well tonight and next week. A win tonight would be great, of course, but more importantly we need to play well against one of the top teams in the NFL (not just NFC, in my view). And then, depending on tonight’s outcome, appropriately approach next week’s game at home versus Tampa Bay.
As Green Bay (and the Falcons) proved last year, everything resets to zero when the playoffs start so regular season smack talk is completely worthless.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
I see Stars
December 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
Choke that was an awesome breakdown between the Eagles and the Fal-cons..
One Organization that gets it and the other one no so much!!
The stats do not lie..They show a pattern..The Falcon fanatics cant handle the matrix setup by these clueless owners over the past 46 years. So they switch to delusional mode and grasp at straws for almost 50 years some of them…..Sad group of fans..Ya gotta feel sorry for em Choke? C’mon man…….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
@Mrs Charlie
How many playoff wins does CHOKE have? I forget.
HA HA HA
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
Its up to Turner..If he cant run this game is over by the half……
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
2:37 pm
@I See Stars
I salute you sir
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
2:38 pm
CHOKE won’t be worth a bucket of balls after his 4th straight year of failures.
Time for Blank to find another Great Hope to fill the Vick void…………….
HA HA HA
2004 & COUNTING FOOLS
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
Choke….What does it matter how many wins Choke has? Who cares about the past? Who cares about next year? IT IS ABOUT NOW. LIVING IN THE MOMENT. AND AT THE MOMENT, ICE HAD LEAD HIS TEAM TO YET ANOTHER PLAYOFF BERTH, WHILE MV7 “COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATIONS”. REALLY? REALLY? NO HE DID NOT SAY THAT. REALLY?
realitycheck
December 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
Falcons4Eva……..I do think Falcons have a chance tonight, but just don’t think they’ll get it done, but we’ll see.
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
A playoff atmosphere tonight on the road too? Oh no!! U know what that means? Another meltdown coming? For the whole world to see!.. Gosh darn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
2:41 pm
“WE COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATIONS” Oh no he did NOT say that. Really. Did I really hear that? NO WAY, REALLY, REALLY? REALLY? DID IT REALLY HEAR THAT?
And his fans call Ryan a Choke?
Yo Vince
December 26th, 2011
2:43 pm
Dear Santa, Please bring the Aint’s fan their very own blog site. All of us good little Falcon Fans are so sick of them trying to dog out our team day after day. We know their team has never won anything, that’s why they are called the Cant’s, or bag headed Aint’s. Mostly we just want to talk about our winning team that’s in the playoffs again. Not a bunch of losers from New Orleans. Thanks Santa
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
Hey Choke, your brilliant dissertation has made me realizes that the Eagles are much closer to contending than the pretenders going into NO tonight by a mile….Wow…..
trademark
December 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
Damn, all you Saints Fans are going like total dribbling morons if the Falcons win….
…then again, you DO have to look at yourself in the mirror every day too, so it shouldn’t come as a shock.
FrontRow
December 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
Who’s talking “collapse” here?.
Wasn’t it the Saints that collapsed in the playoffs against the first sub-500 team EVER to make the post season?
Saints and their fans are, once again, guilty of reading the press concerning how “great” they are. It will happen again; 2010 was an abberation that required an NFL assist.
You will see so tonight. Good luck against the Panthers.
FrontRow
December 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
Who’s talking “collapse” here?.
Wasn’t it the Saints that collapsed in the playoffs against the first sub-500 team EVER to make the post season?
Saints and their fans are, once again, guilty of reading the press concerning how “great” they are. It will happen again; 2010 was an abberation that required an NFL assist.
You will see so tonight. Good luck against the Panthers.
5150 UOAD
December 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
How many names is CHOKE using today? He writes a posts then uses another name to congratulate himself. CHOKE get a clue.
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
There is a difference between choking and losing. Sometimes you get your azz whipped. It is part of being of competition, of going to battle. It happens in ever game. BUT “collapsing under the weight of expectations” is the very definition of choking.
MCR, I really think you reaped some very bad Karma on your team with all you nonsense ranting about Ryan choking, when in fact, he is the antithesis of choke.
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
3:01 pm
Hey Choke, I will be interesting to see who Blank fires 1st after the Giants/Cowboys dismantles his squad on the road on National TV…
He did say a playoff win was a must this year.. No exceptions…..
He’ll probably get out his short list round about midnight tonight?
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
3:07 pm
“CHOKE can only realize that dream if he plays MADDEN”
Classic chit! lmao
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
3:11 pm
This is what Charlie says about Chokes stats, and pretty much every argument he has ever brought to this blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmJRVcFrDmE
5150 UOAD
December 26th, 2011
3:14 pm
Seeing the the NoLa blogs it is obvious there are not many people left in New Orleans that have power or the internet. I guess all the Katrina Trash still hasn’t moved back. They took their Govt. Cheese, stayed in Atlanta, and got the internet.
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
3:15 pm
Wrong Vid…lol…THIS is what charlie says about Chokes’ stats, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBw9cdOiaw8
Stinger2
December 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
Greatest waste and loser on all AJC Blogs= Matt “Choke” Ryan.
trademark
December 26th, 2011
3:18 pm
..and the scared-er they get, the more they squeal….
Dwayne C
December 26th, 2011
3:27 pm
Agreed that we will all see exactly where the Atlanta Falcons stand after tonights games vs the Saints:
-the Falcons will be 9-6 after losing to the Saints, 33-17. Brees -350 yards and 4 TD passes…Ryan-220 yards passing with 2 TD passes and 2 INT’s
The good: the Falcons are already in the playoffs and, despite tonight’s loss, will likely beat Tampa Bay to finish 10-6
The bad: the Falcons will lose in the first round of the playoffs
The ugly: the Falcons retain both BVG and Mularkey as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively
The ugly, part 2: the Falcons do little if anything in the off season to improve their pass rush or secondary which = the Falcons likely owned by the Saints in 2012 as well
MG3
December 26th, 2011
3:31 pm
Trademark, you just hit the nail on the head. Saints fans are nervous and the Vick fans even more so b/c once Ryan takes the next step in his progression they will have nothing to point to. Damn it must be tough to keep hanging onto 2004…that was 8 years ago. Vick is gone, killing another coach’s career and the Falcons are in the playoffs for the second year in a row.
DocDawg
December 26th, 2011
3:39 pm
Flacco? Flacco!?! He’s regarded as a bust in Baltimore and one of the reasons the Ravens are regressing. Read a newspaper sometime dumbazz. Or just watch a Ravens game. Jeez… Flacco! Lol. What a maroon.
Ben
December 26th, 2011
3:46 pm
yeah and you think if they won tonight, that they could win twice in a row at NO? not a chance. i hope they play a good game but lose
Rick
December 26th, 2011
3:48 pm
Perhaps you should read some doc or just look at the standings. A team that is going to be the #2 seed doesn’t have a qb that’s a bust you idiot.
BIG-D
December 26th, 2011
4:31 pm
24hrs.later and the mental racist is still on here,jeff it’s time to close the comments!
trademark
December 26th, 2011
4:33 pm
Saints are a one-man show…they better pray to whatever voodoo dolls they got stuffed up their collective a$%es that nothing happens to Brees, or the Falcons figure out how to pressure him. Look at the Colts if you want to see your future New Orleans….
….as for the immediate present, you guys got WORLDS of bad karma built up on your butts, and it’s about to take a BIG bite.
ijonathan
December 26th, 2011
4:42 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 26th, 2011
12:55 pm
CHOKE is like a stripper and his butt kissers are his loyal patrons.
He teases them with a little thigh or boob and they just know the best part is about to be revealed
yet, every year they can only fantasize about what players like Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez & soon to be Matt Stafford will accomplish.
CHOKE can only realize that dream if he plays MADDEN
====
Ah yes, I knew MCR would throw out a Sanchez reference sooner or later. Check out this great analysis of Dirty Sanchez. Just like Flacco, which I posted the other day, he has been horrible in the playoffs and is not any good unless he has a good running game and a stellar defense. I could make the same argument for Joe Flaccid. Check out his stats in the playoffs…uh-glee. Ryan Leaf-esque.
http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2011/12/26/cosell-talks-youre-seeing-the-real-mark-sanchez/?module=HP11_cp
MCR owned again. Story is getting old.
trademark
December 26th, 2011
4:53 pm
,,and yeah, I said the Saints’ future is EXACTLY like Indianapolis today….
Both are QB driven teams that made some noise in the playoffs for a few years, won a championship, and little else after that. And as Peyton got taken out, just look what happens. You’re left with a team with a couple of talented players, but no field general. An iffy-at-best defense that leaks yardage and points, and suddenly, you’re left playing the “Suck for Luck” game.
That’s right Saints fans, get ready to start sucking worse than at any time in your franchise’s history…and that’s saying a LOT. Because there’s another way to get it started…pressure Brees right NOW, and the Saint’s go down like a Bourbon Street college girl.
Payback time.
realitycheck
December 26th, 2011
4:57 pm
trademark………We don’t know that Matt Ryan is any better than Chase Daniel. The only thing we know is that Ryan has played. As far as the future is concerned, the Falcons have 12 or 13 players 30 and over on the roster compared to only 6 or 7 for the Saints. Saints GM Loomis continues to outmanuever Falcons GM Dimitroff. Teams are in very similar salary cap shape, but Falcons have very little draft upcoming due to the Julio trade. Falcons better hope that trade doesn’t turn into a Herschel Walker or Ricky Williams trade. Saints have been replacing older stars with upcoming ones…..Graham for Shockey and Jenkins for Sharper for example. Falcons will soon have to do that with Turner, Gonzalez, Abraham etc. Saints future looks brighter to me!
Big Dawg
December 26th, 2011
5:00 pm
I’ll trade a Falcon win for a pair of air jordans.
5150 UOAD
December 26th, 2011
5:03 pm
Big Dawg don’t you mean some Air Crowells?
ijonathan
December 26th, 2011
5:10 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 26th, 2011
12:29 pm
Eagles Organization vs Falcons Organization:
Since some of you LOSERS asked for this, I will break it down for you.
The Eagles management actually have a long range plan when they make transactions, unlike the Falcons win they make rash and emotional decisions. The Eagles do not believe in sacrificing their draft picks to hype up their fan base. They would never give up their high draft picks for a single player, especially a player who has not proven himself.
Here are the recent transactions through the Eagles draft:
Since 2007 here are the Eagles top draft picks:
Brent Celek – Tight End
Jason Avant – Slot Receiver
Desean Jackson – Number 1 Receiver/Punt Returner
Jeremy Maclin – Number 2 Receiver
Lesean McCoy – Starting Back
This past draft:
Starting Center
Starting Tackle
The Eagles do not believe in using 1st round picks on receivers or running backs, or even tight ends.
Celek, Jackson, Avant, Maclin, McCoy all were later draft selections. Unlike the Falcons, they did not send their entire draft for an unproven player.
ANALYSIS:
The Eagles know how to draft because they have a legit GM & President.
That’s why Andy Reid has been in the playoffs 9 out of 13 seasons and has gone to 5 championship
games and a superbowl.
After this season, if the Falcons don’t win the superbowl, because they have no drafts next season, and Tony Gonzalez at the end of his career with no backup tight end with his caliber on the roster
the Falcons window will be shut tighter than Mrs. Charlies brain cells.
The free fall will start tonight.
Have a nice day
====
Oh boy, where do we start here. This post suffers first and foremost from a lack of internal logic and consistency. Right after the idiot poster says “here are the Eagles top draft picks” and proceeds to list 5 receivers/RB’s/TE’s, same idiot poster then says “The Eagles do not believe in using 1st round picks on receivers or running backs, or even tight ends. Celek, Jackson, Avant, Maclin, McCoy all were later draft selections.” LOL. Okay, first, you really can’t be a “top draft pick” and simultaneous a “later draft selection” unless each and every year you trade away all of your picks and only have a selection in the 5th or 6th round. Secondly, let’s look at the specific players mentioned:
Celek:he was a late pick in 2007, 5th round, although their first pick that year was Kolb
Jackson: SECOND Eagle selected in 2008 (by only 2 picks), 49th overall, SECOND ROUND
Maclin: FIRST Eagle selected in 2009, 19th overall, FIRST ROUND.
McCoy: SECOND Eagle selected in 2009, 53rd overall, SECOND ROUND
So, the brilliant Andy Reid and company loaded up on “skill position” offensive guys with their early picks in the early rounds in the 2007-2009 period…and along with the doggggg killah they now form the core of the dream team. Go read any articles or fan input on how the Eagles have so carefully and artfully assembled this team. It is a joke. They have ignored critical non-glamorous positions, like linebacker, and it has come back to haunt them.
MCR owned again. Story getting really old, rancid actually.
ijonathan
December 26th, 2011
5:12 pm
MCR, please stick to comedy and smiley faces. Your forrays into “analysis” are proving disastrous to whatever personal brand you’ve cobbled together here amongst the AJC blog huddled masses.
Tom G
December 26th, 2011
5:36 pm
“CHOKE” – Every since Coach Mike Smith arrived, we have had a pretty good winning team, maybe not the best but a pretty good team. Alot of cities would like to have had our results the last several years. Why do you like to always bash them? They have made a great number of strides forward in the last several years! It is alot of fun to be in the PLAYOFFS, no matter what happens next! You remind me of someone who won the lottery and would still not be happy! I really wonder why? I ask you CHOKE, are you VICK SUPPORTER from past blogs, that might explain it? I hope we are competitive tonite but the Saints are very good(like Green Bay) and it might not happen, but man, we are in the playoff tournament and that is a fun thing!!
SeenThisB4
December 26th, 2011
5:43 pm
Im still a homosexual, dont get it twisted….
5150 UOAD
December 26th, 2011
5:47 pm
SeenThisB4…you are not. The Real SeenThisB4 just left work and is heading to the game tonight.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
5:48 pm
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
Hey Choke, your brilliant dissertation has made me realizes that the Eagles are much closer to contending than the pretenders going into NO tonight by a mile….Wow…..
_____________________________________________
The CHOKE Lickers hate for Vick is a major blind spot for the big picture. The Eagles unlike the Falcants was not a “sell the house” approach. That’s not the way Philly conducts their business. They do not invest in one player like the Falcants did with CHOKE.
McNabb had seasons that CHOKE can only dream of and the Eagles never sacrificed their future for him or Kolb. They always look down the road. They didn’t realistically think this year would be the result of those high free agent signings. 2012 and beyond is their goal. It was the experts who put all those expectations out there. That is why Andy Reid’s future was never in danger.
Instead, the Eagles drafted well in 2011 with a starting Center & Tackle, without throwing away draft picks like the Falcants did with Julio Jones. The Eagles got both Jackson & Maclin in the 2nd round with no picks lost. Now Jackson & Maclin are a duel threat that drives defensive coordinators crazy.
The Eagle team that you have seen the past 3 weeks is the Eagles team that you will see in 2012 and beyond. Last season and this season were rebuilding years, drafting strong and picking up key free agents. However, an Eagles team in a rebuilding year still is relevent.
That’s how smart the Eagles brass is. They don’t care about image, they care about winning. If CHOKE was on the Eagles roster, he would be a 4th string clip board holder. Ask Kolb how that worked out replacing McNabb. When Andy Reid saw Vick released by the Falcons in 2009, he couldn’t wait to jump on signing him, because Andy Reid knew that the Falcants were clueless in developing talent.
Only the Falcants would pay a guy that played 5 years of college ball with 22 PICKS as a 5th year senior, 72 million without even taking a snap. Blank is not happy with CHOKE he is stuck with CHOKE
SeenThisB4
December 26th, 2011
5:48 pm
I will say that Flacco and Ryan are basically the same, inconsistent. They have some shining moments and they have moments where they just completely screw up. Flacco has an arm he just doesn’t have any precision, Ryan has precision, he just doesn’t have an arm….Ryan’s arm isn’t strong enough.. he cant throw a ball more than 25 yards without something stupid happening or the ball deflating…. MY BEAUX DREW BREEZY with his sexy self has both…. by the way… I have DREW BREEZ thongs for christmas yes!!!!! I also got a drew breez centerfold on my wall WINNING!!!!!
SeenThisB4
December 26th, 2011
5:49 pm
I am the real SeenThisB4, who are you?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
5:56 pm
This is my favorite part of the football season.
For 15 weeks CHOKE teases with his IDIOT fan base, then when Winter hits & the snow and wind
starts to swirl, he RIPS that faith from their hearts & like bears they go into hibernation, but……
At least bears get to eat first…………..
HA HA HA
CHOKE the Dream Killer
Mr Charlie
December 26th, 2011
5:57 pm
Yep, the feebles do everything right, except for trusting a QB who “collapses in the face of expectations”. No, he DID NOT say that…REALLY? REALLY? DID HE REALLY?