Falcons get their reality check, and it’s not what they expected
Falcons could do nothing to stop Drew Brees and the Saints. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 1:03 a.m.)
NEW ORLEANS — So much for the mystery.
There’s no need to wonder how heavily to weigh six consecutive dominating quarters against Carolina and Jacksonville. As it turns out, it means only that the Falcons are better than Carolina and Jacksonville — neither of whom they’ll be facing in the playoffs.
They’re not as good as New Orleans. They’re certainly not as good as Green Bay. It remains to be seen if they’re as good as anybody in the playoff field (although they did beat Detroit. But the Falcons won’t be playing them, either.)
Pecking order was firmly established Monday night. The Falcons got boat-raced by New Orleans 45-16 at the Superdome. At least, that was the score the last time anybody looked up.
“I think it’s an aberration,” coach Mike Smith said when asked what this says about the state of his team.
He had better hope so. The Falcons just suffered their worst loss ever under Smith. The 29-point deficit was even bigger than last season’s playoff loss to Green Bay (48-21).
Some might have been upset that the Saints poured it on at the end. (Drew Brees threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game with 2:51 left, prompting Saints coach Sean Payton to later alibi that he was just trying to get Brees the single-season passing yardage record on that drive.)
But when a team gets body-slammed like this, it has nothing to whine about.
The Falcons didn’t merely get beat by a seemingly faster and more talented team. They got punched in the mouth. They lost both lines of scrimmage. They had receivers laid out in the New Orleans secondary, and their own defense didn’t reciprocate. They got outcoached. They didn’t have an answer for a New Orleans offense that went over 300 yards by halftime or for quarterback Drew Brees, who just made them look silly most of the night.
They gave up a 92-yard kickoff return and allowed a touchdown on a 30-yard fumble return after Julio Jones found himself with an excess of thumbs. So they spread the agony around.
This all happened with quite a bit on the line, not the least of which was a slim chance to rally and win the NFC South.
“It’s pretty embarrassing the way we played,” linebacker Curtis Lofton said.
“I don’t even know what this means — I don’t have a clue,” wide receiver Roddy White said.
This doesn’t mean the Falcons are incapable of winning a first-round playoff game over Dallas, New York or San Francisco. But they have beaten only two teams all season that currently have winning records (Detroit and Tennessee), and this performance by players and coaches leaves nobody with any sense of comfort.
There’s also this: If things fall just right (or wrong), the Falcons will be coming back to New Orleans in two weeks for the playoffs. Sleep well, Brian VanGorder.
After consecutive wins over Carolina and Jacksonville, the Falcons had started to believe they could go on an improbable playoff run from a wild-card position this season, just like the Green Bay Packers did last season. But this game provided no reassurance of that.
Smith again: “I felt like we had a good week of preparation. I didn’t see this coming. We didn’t play Atlanta Falcons football and the scoreboard indicates that.”
What the scoreboard indicated was that this defense still can’t handle offenses with an elite quarterback. The only thing the first half gave the Falcons were bad flashbacks of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense, ripping them apart in January.
The Saints led 21-10 at halftime. They would’ve had four touchdowns in four possessions, but one would-be score went off Jimmy Graham’s hands in the end zone, was volleyballed by William Moore and fell like manna from heaven into the hands of Falcons defensive back Dominique Franks for an interception. So much for the Falcons’ first-half defensive highlights.
When Brees stepped back to pass, the Falcons’ secondary looked like somebody had kicked an ant hill. The Falcons rarely pressured Brees, rarely blitzed and, when they did, they got burned. Brees threw for 230 yards on only four possessions and New Orleans totaled 306 yards in offense.
There is your reality check about the Falcons’ defense in game No. 15.
Moving the ball wasn’t an issue early. The Falcons’ drove to a field goal and a touchdown on their first two possessions. But when they stalled, New Orleans kept going. As much as the Falcons fashion themselves as an explosive offense, they’re not nearly at the level of New Orleans or Green Bay.
The defense’s only hope against opponents at this level is to punch them in the mouth. But the Falcons were throwing hooks at air Monday night. In the first half, Brees moved the Saints 84 yards in 3 minutes and 28 seconds, 81 yards in 3:59 and 80 yards in 1:55.
You could almost hear defenders yell in unison, “Which way did he go?”
When New Orleans took a 28-10 lead in the third quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Robert Meachem, chants of “MVP, MVP,” went up in the Superdome crowd.
Nobody in white jerseys would cast a dissenting vote.
The Falcons were looking for a sign that they could do something special in the postseason. Instead, they got smacked with a reality check. Barring an unexpected mutation, they’re nowhere nearly good enough for that.
By Jeff Schultz
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751 comments Add your comment
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 27th, 2011
11:42 am
C’mon guys lay off of Ryan he is a winner. Put a cupcake schedule in front of him and he will beat most every sub .500 team he faces. Ryan will lead your team to multiple winning seasons…enjoy it while you have him.
Mularkey will only be your punching bag for a little while longer – he wants out. Better to jump off before the ship totally sinks.
Dawglasville
December 27th, 2011
11:43 am
GT – Huh? I don’t think I am reading your post like you intended it. Are you joking that UGA doesn’t make it to the SEC Championship game very often or are you saying that UGA is not like a professional team?
“Choke” – I forgot about the memorable win over the Rams. Either way, I stand corrected. At the end of the day I think that the safe money is on neither Ryan or Vick landing in Canton or hoisting a Super Bowl trophy.
Dawglasville
December 27th, 2011
11:46 am
I like Brees a lot. I think that if Peyton and his staff switched sidelines with Smith and his staff that Peyton would win more often than not.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 27th, 2011
11:48 am
Face it…you blew it last year and let Greenbay steal your Superbowl! You had home field advantage, you were healthy and you had confidence after winning 13 games…….and they came in and beat you for 3 quarters and then YOU quit and panicked! In the off season you freaked out and thought you were a wide receiver away from being ELITE. HUH??????
Tony Montana
December 27th, 2011
11:52 am
Drew Brees is having one of the all time greatest years a quarterback has ever had,, did anyone really expect anything other than what happened last night. I was not surprised at all. I dont think there is a team in the league right now that can beat these guys…
Mediocrity continues...
December 27th, 2011
11:52 am
REAM
Do you really want to get into a discussion about last season’s playoffs? Didn’t think so…
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 27th, 2011
11:56 am
DC Dirty Bird, ….here you go:
http://www.nola.com/saints/app/330193/saints-aint-all-that——–.html
class.
Cold Hard Truth
December 27th, 2011
11:59 am
Last year’s 13-3 season was, unfortunately, an aberation, fueled by near flawless performances and an abnormally low number of injuries. With that said, the 48-21 shelacking by Green Bay and the 45-16 trip to the Saint’s woodshed in two big, meaningful games against elite teams is far more indicative of where this Falcons team stands. Matt Ryan is in the upper third if not the upper 25% of QB’s, but he is no better than Matt Shcaub whom we traded away and then used a #1 pick for Ryan. Sam Baker is a 1st round bust. We over rated Ray Edwards, failing to realize that he benefitted from playing amongst other greats on the Vikings D-line, and on a pay/performance scale Daunta Robinson’s contract is the worst value at CB in the league. Although Julio is great, we way over paid for him, mortgaging our future by trading away too many draft picks. We now have an elite receiver that we cannot get the ball to, because our O-line is mediocre and Ryan is a pocket passer and not the athlete that Brees is. Meanwhile Abraham and Turner are aging and slowing. Turner is a sad caricature of three yrs ago. It takes him a week to hit the rare hole that his O-line provides. Add it all up and you have to think that while Dimitrov is a better GM than McKay, he will never produce anything other than a middling team. Get used to 10-6 and out in the 1st round of the playoffs. Dimitrov does not have the acumen or savvy to trade his way out of this and the Julio Jones deal has us relagated to this level of performance for some time. In fact, given the aging Turner and Abraham it could actually get worse before it gets better. My bet is that we get embarrassed and exposed for what we are (a solid middle of the pack team) when we play the Saints in round one – they will kill us again.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 27th, 2011
11:59 am
Mediocrity…..Last years playoffs were poor for us. We were not healthy….still should have won but lost to Seattle. Tough break for us. We didn’t have any healthy running backs, Safety, Tight ends…were all injured. So enjoy some other teams work all you want…..you couldn’t do it!
All I know is Greenbay pounded you…. And we pounded you too.
benchwarmer
December 27th, 2011
12:00 pm
not enough talent on line on both O & D. Saw this coming. Falcons not a very good team as long as they don’t have very good line play and they just don’t have that.
NFL is better than College
December 27th, 2011
12:01 pm
Watching that game last night, made me realize that Drew Brees is a 1st time future Hall of Fame Quarterback. Matt Ryan is not there yet, he will get better(maybe). Let’s be honest, there’s not a lot of teams that can score with NO, let alone beat them in New Orleans. Just in my humble opinion, if Atlanta really want to get serious about being one of the elite teams in the league. They need a PitBull(sorry vick) Defense, like Baltimore or Pittsburg. Offense sells tickets, defense wins Championships!!!!!!
Something 2 Look 4-ward 2
December 27th, 2011
12:02 pm
Look on the bright side…..
If we beat the Saints in the First Round of the playoffs…(Matt Ryans gets his 1st playoff win)
Then we get to play the Packers in the Second round…(and a chance to do to them what they did to us).
Yeah…and if hell freezes over maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad place to go ! !
Slyyy
December 27th, 2011
12:03 pm
I cant believe these idiot falcon players and coaches are moping around decrying the fact that the Saints “poured it on” at the end. There is a solution for that. Play defense and stop them. duh!!!
tmc
December 27th, 2011
12:04 pm
It’s frustrating to see:
-your team get “trucked” in a big game. (2nd year in a row)
-your best players play poorly in a big game. (many in a row)
-your defense play absolutely horrible defense. (9-9 in 3rd down conversions…)
-your coaching staff haven’t a clue how to change the way your team is playing.
All of these happened last night vs. Saints, last year vs. Packers in playoffs…
Makes you wonder about these players and coaching staff.
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:06 pm
“I didn’t see this coming.” Wtf!!!
Smith is a good coach, not a great coach. The OC & DC are below average. You are not going to win a Super Bowl with these coaches.
Compared to Falcon’s history, Smitty is a good coach. When you pit him against great coaches, he gets spanked.
Time to move on.
Oh, 1 and done. If they luck out and win, it will be 2 and done.
Samuel L. Jackson
December 27th, 2011
12:06 pm
FalconFan,
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Brees is 32, not about to be 34 and his birthday is at the beginning of the year. Stick to what you know like making excuses for the Falcons sucking.
THE SAINTS ARE BETTER THAN THE FALCONS.
10-2 since Breesus came to New Orleans against Atlanta. If it was the refs, then the Falcons would win more than once every 3 yrs. Brees > Ryan and I can’t wait to see the Saints pimp slap the dirty birds again come playoff time. You better pray to baby Jesus you draw the NFC East winner or you will be looking at another embarrasment in 2 wks.
Welcome to “Debacle in the Dome, Part Deux” lol hahahahaha
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
12:08 pm
Cold Hard Truth
December 27th, 2011
11:59 am
—————————————— YOU SAID IT ALL ! ! ! / —————————-
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
12:10 pm
Courtesy of Cold Hard Truth:
“Last year’s 13-3 season was, unfortunately, an aberation, fueled by near flawless performances and an abnormally low number of injuries. With that said, the 48-21 shelacking by Green Bay and the 45-16 trip to the Saint’s woodshed in two big, meaningful games against elite teams is far more indicative of where this Falcons team stands.”
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
12:11 pm
Courtesy of Cold Hard Truth:
“Matt Ryan is in the upper third if not the upper 25% of QB’s, but he is no better than Matt Shcaub whom we traded away and then used a #1 pick for Ryan. Sam Baker is a 1st round bust. We over rated Ray Edwards, failing to realize that he benefitted from playing amongst other greats on the Vikings D-line, and on a pay/performance scale Daunta Robinson’s contract is the worst value at CB in the league.”
Well said.
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:12 pm
Face it everyone, the Falcons are an above average team.
Good enough to win, but not good enough to win the big ones.
With these coaches, Matt Ryan is the new Jim Kelly.
Peter
December 27th, 2011
12:12 pm
Well the Saints ARE a better team. and why ?
A few players yes……. but by and large it would be the coaching staff………and GM.
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
12:13 pm
Courtesy of Cold Hard Truth:
“Although Julio is great, we way over paid for him, mortgaging our future by trading away too many draft picks. We now have an elite receiver that we cannot get the ball to, because our O-line is mediocre and Ryan is a pocket passer and not the athlete that Brees is. Meanwhile Abraham and Turner are aging and slowing. Turner is a sad caricature of three yrs ago. It takes him a week to hit the rare hole that his O-line provides.”
Well said.
ShempHoward
December 27th, 2011
12:14 pm
I know that most falcon fans are feeling SICK TO THEIR STOMACHS this morning, but I just want them to know that the FALCONS PLAYED A BAD GAME LAST NIGHT. It didnt matter who the Falcons played last night, they were going to lose playing that brand of football. Had the Falcons played the Saints last thursday against N.O. instead of Jaxsonville, the Falcons would have beaten the saints last week and lost to Jacksonville last night. What difference does it make. There is one thing for sure: the falcons are among the elite teams—-WHEN THEY PLAY LIKE AN ELITE TEAM:LAST WEEK IN JACSONVILLE. When the Falcons play like they STINK–LAST NIGHT IN N.O.—TRUST ME, THE FALCONS CANT BEAT ANYBODY PLAYING LIKE THAT. That being said, I still think the Falcons will win this years superbowl—and that is not a pipe dream.
Mediocrity continues...
December 27th, 2011
12:15 pm
Oh we enjoyed ya’ll losing to the worst playoff team in NFL history. Don’t really remember ya’ll “owning” anyone last year. Excuses excuses. Hey dude, quit being such a troll and enjoy that your team is playing at the highest level in the league. I see a lot of you trolls like Red Sox fans, so used to being losers you don’t know how to act when you win. Classless…
In the land of DIXIE
December 27th, 2011
12:15 pm
The falcons stunk it up last night. That game was a joke. WTF have those clowns been doing since the last game to prepare for the Saints game? Clearly nothing. We get torched again on MNF, just as bad as it was when Petrino was here. Now, people will remember that Drew Brees lit up the falcons and passed the all time passing record for one season against them. Nice defense losers. The falcons will lose to Tampa and they will certainly be one and done in the playoffs again. Same stuff, different year.
Mr. Negative
December 27th, 2011
12:16 pm
I have a room rented for the next two weeks on Bourbon St. 2 week party till the final steak grilling after the Trifecta in two weeks
PaulCrieder
December 27th, 2011
12:17 pm
Michael Turner is as slow as a pig coming out of the pen or a cow coming out of the pasture. Turner is as slow as christmas and needs to be demoted in the starting lineup and replaced by the more talented and faster Snelling.
bigdon
December 27th, 2011
12:17 pm
I’ve seen this before. Since 1966. I’ve seen this before. The last Braves game of 2011. I’ve seen this before. The last Hawks game the last five years. And now we get to see it again and again and again and again ad nauseum from here to infinitum as all the Drew Breese record breaking performances are being replayed on ESPN, NFL. network, his hall of fame induction, the Super Bow, all local sports casts. And hey, if you missed it on tv, you get to hear it all day on 680 The Fan’s ESPN fill in shows. They’ve discussed nothing but Drew Brees all fing morning. So thank you Mike Smith for once again being out coached, out prepared, psyched out. Thank you Coach Malarky for being out coached, out prepared and psyched out. Thank you Coach BVG for being out coached, out prepared and psyched out. Thank you Julio for fumbling for a St. touchdown. Thank you Roddie White for you’re league leading 15th and 16th drops in the second quarter. Thank you Croy Bierman for marrying the soon-to-be fat chick with the big boobs and playing like second tier DE that you most certainly are. Thank you Ray Edwards for sucking all season and not even having the guts to say I suck. It’s the knee. Yeah, right. thank you Done-tay for your dreadlocks. Hell, if you’re going to play like a sissy you might as well look like one. Thank you Tyson Claybo for you illegal hands to the face penalty in the 3rd quarter. As big as you are, too. thank you Mister Blank, for being the presumptuous tool that you are by asking to be called Mister Blank. What an absolute tool. Thank you TD for providing us yet another subpar roster to blow our season ticket money on I gotta admit our new punter looks like a real gem. And lastly, thank you, Sam Baker, for keeping your sorry hillbilly looking short-armed fat ass off the fieldl. What is it with USC linemen? We had another one named Travis Clarege. He got called for a holding penalty in 2004 up in Philly when Michael Vick had just scored to give us a lead over the Eagles. Never got a lead again, though.
You guys suck. You are horrid. You are a waste of protoplasm. Certainly a waste of money. Time after time after time after time after time you choke in the big stage. It’s one thing to get beat. It’s another entirely to get it handed to you on a platter and play scared. It’ll be one and done once again. We all see it coming. Sombody’s gotta go if not for anything except change. And thank you for the writer’s cramp I’m having right now. EAT ME.
smegma
December 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
It is so hard to be a Falcons fan. They make you suffer for the privlege. They were so bent on appeasing the PETA people they got rid of #7. And even though Matt Ryan hasn’t killed any dogs he hasn’t won any playoff games either. For that reason he can only be Matty Nice. We brought in a coach who is without a doubt one of the nicest guys you’d ever wanna meet…but he’s not a winning S.O.B. (sigh) I wish he was. I am so tired of having our pants pulled down in front of company or a national TV audience. It’s hard to believe we were in the NFL before these guys and we have nothing to show for it. It is obvious to me we have an inferior product. I believe we are on the wrong track again. Everybody in our division is about to leave us in the dust. After we got our mobile quarterback with the rocket arm. Everybody else wanted one too.
So then came Cam and Josh Freeman, and Drew Brees is no slouch either when it comes to getting away from a pass rush. In addition we need more than one Michael Turner to run the ball. We got beat by Sproles, Thomas, Ivory. Our defense is slow and uncoordinated. We play the Saints twice a year. Winning the division should have been a FIRST priority. If anybody in that front office looked at film from the previous years and thought this team was just a WR away from beating the NO Saints, they should be taken away in a straight jacket and we should be ashamed their name was ever on a door at Suwannee. Thats your fault Mr. Blank!
DC Dirty Bird
December 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
Saints REAM…..thanks. Stand up guy.
Cold hard truth…..close but I’m not sure we overpaid for Edwards or Julio. 30 million over 5 years isn’t for a quality DE. The need to go up to get Julio is more of the question. Did our overall draft needs in other areas surpass the need for a stretch the field WR? It appears so.
As for TD, I agree that our future looks bleak as far as getting to the elite level. Only a coaching change a la Sean Payton or Jim Harbaugh could fill the current and anticipated gaps at FS, DL, RB, and LT.
Peter
December 27th, 2011
12:22 pm
bigdon…….. Do as I have done..
Give up season tickets….and when you get a chance to see a game for FREE….don’t spend a dime in the stadium !
Same for the Hawks.
Calm Down People
December 27th, 2011
12:22 pm
You know…..New Orleans is just a better team….with one of the best offenses I have seen in a long time led by a 1st ballot Hall of Fame QB at the top of his game….New Orleans is simply loaded… no reason to panic.
TwoLegit
December 27th, 2011
12:23 pm
Let’s face it, we are just not that good this year. It sucks, but “we are who they thought we were”.
This past off season hurt us. Getting Ray Edwards instead of Charles Johnson was a big difference. Obviously losing Dahl was the biggest pain. This year we have both McClure, Lofton, Abraham and Harry Douglas as free agents. I listed them in their order of importance to keep.
Without a doubt Ryan is a different QB when he is under pressure. We need to build another stellar offensive line and the rest will take care of itself on the offensive side. Turner needs a line to block for him to get rolling. We have him for two more years, so there is little chance we improve at that position. With a good line, Turner is the man.
As far as the defensive goes, it’s time for BVG to hit the road. He consistently gets out schemed + smarted by good players and coaching staffs. In fairness the payroll seems to be skewed to the offense, but it’s time for a change. On the whole there is little passion and no fire. If everyone played with the heart of Grimes we would be a much better team.
Time to show up to the Dome for the Bucs game. We don’t want to get swept by both the Bucs + Saints.
reality Gator
December 27th, 2011
12:25 pm
This team reminds you of UGA can beat all the teams in the bottom, can not win against teams with a winning records.
PB
December 27th, 2011
12:25 pm
bigdon:
Having a bad day? Have anything good to say about anybody or anything? Why waste your time with a post like yours at 12:17 PM? Nothing of value in anything you said, except maybe now you feel better?
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:27 pm
Samuel my mistake on Brees age but he will be 33 January 15th and he has been in the league now for 11 years. I was trying to make a point about Brees in his 4th and even 5th years and Ryan in his fourth and there is no comparison. Check the stats. Brees became Brees with Sean Peyton and the Saints. Nothing more, nothing less. I just hate to see people trying to compare an 11 year verteran with a 4th year veteran, who, and check the stats is outperforming Brees in the 4th years of their career and even Brees 5th year.
extremus
December 27th, 2011
12:29 pm
ESPN Analyst 1: Welcome to the beautiful, historic city of New Orleans, where tonight Drew Brees will be going for the all-time passing record and the Saints will attempt to clinch an NFC South title!
ESPN Analyst 2: I always love the atmosphere down here in New Orleans! The culture, the cuisine, the fans…it’s so wonderful!
ESPN Analyst 3: And Drew Brees will be trying to eclipse Dan Marino’s passing record! Man, he’s a DREAMBOAT!
ESPN Analyst 4: You said it, ESPN Analyst 3! Why, it’d be un-American not to root for Brees and the Saints tonight! Brees is the most amazing quarterback EVER!
ESPN Analyst 5: If you are looking for absolute perfection, look no further than Sean Payton and his football team, the New Orleans Saints. They are all about precision, baby! And for more on that, we go to ESPN Analyst 6!
ESPN Analyst 6: What can you say that hasn’t already been said a million times? New Orleans is a model city with such adoring fans, Sean Payton is like Michelangelo and Mozart rolled into one the way he designs plays, and Drew Brees should be canonized as a saint! Ha ha, I made a funny! Get it? Saint?
ESPN Analyst 7: I tell you, you just CAN’T SAY ENOUGH about DREW BREES. The man is a legend, a quarterback at the top of his game!
ESPN Analyst 8: Oh yeah, who are they playing tonight again?
ESPN Analyst 7: Oh, the Atlanta Falcons. But enough about them; we must shower more adoring praise upon our idol, Drew Brees! It is HIS night, after all! Back to you, ESPN Analyst 1!
ESPN Analyst 1: We’re already lighting the candles and bowing down to our little statue of Brees up here in the booth, ESPN Analyst 7! To do otherwise just wouldn’t be objective football journalism!
ESPN Analyst 2: And now the report from ESPN Analyst 9 down on the field. What do you have for us, ESPN Analyst 9?
ESPN Analyst 9: Oh, Drew Brees, Sean Payton, the Saints, and the city of New Orleans are so absolutely wonderful! Let us bask in their swampy glory!
ESPN Analyst 1: I couldn’t have said it better myself, ESPN Analyst 9! And don’t worry football fans; you have a full 60 minutes of football ahead to hear the praises of Drew Brees, Sean Payton, and the New Orleans Saints!…Uh, who’re they playing again, ESPN Analyst 2?
Tigers Fan in Athens
December 27th, 2011
12:30 pm
I think that it if all of the NFC South teams were mediocre or worse, the Falcons mediocrity would be less upsetting to Falcons fans. But to see the Saints join the NFL elite, while the Falcons struggle to remain a second tier team, after all the seasons of both teams struggling not to be the division basement team is just hard to take.
D. Brees is a great qb, I just wish he played somewhere else, like maybe the Chargers. It was a lot more fun back when Mike Vick’s cousin – what was his name – was their qb.
Anyway, I’d still rather live in North Georgia than that cesspool called New Orleans.
Been there – done that – no reason to ever go back.
I’ll be a Packers fan for the NFC title game.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:31 pm
The Falcons playing low tier teams and winning yep and so have the Saints.
Common Opponent Wins
Carolina X2 (assuming the Saints beat them Sunday)
Tampa (both will be 1 and 1 after Sunday)
Jacksonville
Minnesota
Detroit
Tennessee
Indy
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
The bad thing, the Saints beat the Falcons twice. Even though the Falcons should have won the 1st game in the GA. Dome (Bryant missed field goal, Roddy White TD drop in the end zone and a horrible 4th down call).
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:38 pm
If the Falcons had Brees, would they be a great team capable of winning the Super Bowl?
The answer to that is in the front office.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:38 pm
You know for all the Ryan bashers, he is the only shinning spot on the team right now. Believe it or not, look at the comparison of the two games Brees and Ryan went head to head this year. I was surprised.
In 2 games-Falcons vs Saints
Brees
53/82 64%
629 Yards
6 TD’s
2 INT
Ryan
63/104 61%
724 yards
3 TD’s (2 dropped in end zone that should have made it 5)
1 INT
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:39 pm
To answer your question if the Falcons had Brees would they be better, NO. Because Brees is Brees because of Sean Peyton and his gift for creating an offense.
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:41 pm
FalconFan,
Ryan is good. But under this coaching staff he is the new Jim Kelly. A good player who will never win the big one because all the important pieces are never in place.
PB
December 27th, 2011
12:42 pm
extremus @ 12:29:
Vey funny stuff. Yes, ESPN was making Brees a god or a ” Saint”. But the way he ended up playing, they were not far from the truth. Very embarrassing for Atlanta Falcons and their fans. Know this team has a long way to go to be the best…
DC Dirty Bird
December 27th, 2011
12:43 pm
The whole team needs an attitude adjustment. Just think how well we would do with a John Harbaugh at the helm. Mike Smith is too easy on the players to get them to play above their heads.
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:43 pm
PB,
True, true. When the coach publicly says, “I didn’t see this coming,” you know it’s time to change the coaching staff.
WHODAT7556
December 27th, 2011
12:46 pm
SeenThisB4…YOU ARE HILARIOUS DUDE!
YOU TRIED TO WARN THESE CLOWNS,,ESPECIALLY (MICHAEL M, MONDAYMORNING(still looking for your next nursery rhyme lol,#1FALCOFAN) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA..THATS WHAT YALL GET MAKING THEM WACK @$$ PREDICTIONS…
So Michael M~~ You seem to love to make predictions about the Saints, why dont you tell me what were gonna do in the playoffs?????????
Truth Serum
December 27th, 2011
12:47 pm
Mike Singletary got what, 3 years at S F? Smitty has a better record. But can he take the Falcons to the next level? So far it doesn’t look like it.
Smitty may have done all he’s capable to doing. Making the Falcons a respectable team. Someone else (like Harbaugh is doing in S F) might have to come in to get us a Super Bowl win.
Dawglasville
December 27th, 2011
12:47 pm
reality Gator – It is not our fault that UT, Auburn, Tech, and your beloved Gators sucked this year.
My favorite Brees moment came in 2000 when he lead the Boilermakers to a 25-0 lead against UGA, only to collapse to Quincy Carter, yes Quincy Carter, in one of the biggest bowl meltdowns of all time.