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
GaPawnGuy
December 27th, 2011
12:24 am
Would BVG please go back to Statesboro. Maybe they would hire him to wash the uniforms. Our defense is TERRIBLE!!!! Not one of the DB’s could cover my grandmother. Pass rush is a hope and a prayer. 3rd and 12 always nets 15+ for any offense against us. TERRIBLE!!!!!
cb795
December 27th, 2011
12:25 am
It started in preseason with this team that can’t get off the field on third downs and it continues. After watching this franchise since 1966, why can’t we get a team that plays each game for our state with pride? White dropping passes and the defense that can’t get pressure on the QB time after time.I didn’t like our defensive coach at Georgia, now Smith thinks he can produce. Yes, the officiating was horrible but can’t our offensive line learn how to hold like Green Bay and the Saints? At least the strips fail to notice their holding. These men that collect paychecks from Blank have zero pride as a team to continue to loose like this and go to the play offs. Wish a real team was going!
Dwayne C
December 27th, 2011
12:25 am
@ Mr Panic Button: agreed, absolutely!
tjhook
December 27th, 2011
12:25 am
The final score will be hung on the defense, but the offense’s inability to control tempo is the number one culprit of failure tonight.
PMc
December 27th, 2011
12:26 am
I mean its been clear all year that they weren’t a very good team we just hoped they were better. The talent on the team is lacking big time. Huge money to avg players.
ssgt_usmc
December 27th, 2011
12:26 am
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Waaaaahhhhhh, Wahhhhhhhh, Waaaaaahhhh. Ya’ll need to Shut The eff Up. You’ve obviously not been a Falcons Fan as long as many. Whining and crying about the Falcons as they make the playoffs. Wasn’t so long ago that a sniff at the post season was just a whim. Yeah, we’ve got a lot to work on but we’re in the post season and have another winning record.
Oh, and those of you calling for Van Gorder’s head, aren’t ya’ll the same ones that were hollering for him to go to Georgia and be the Defensive Coach there? Yeah, that would have been peachy.
You either like these guys with all their flaws, or just bail and be a Tampax Bay or Panty-waste fan.
Bleed red
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
Defense wins games and bad DC loses games it’s a no brainer he’s got to go. VAN GORDER Get gone .
Tom
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
Racists are generally ignorant people. They forget that white people generally dominate the nation, by more than 60%, and that blacks make up less than 12% of the population, and are still reeling from more than 200 years of oppression, segregation, hatred, and their own ignorance. It is not easy to erase that much hardship against a race in only 40 or so years. And why did you make the Saints winning a racial issue anyway? Don’t you have better things to think about? Oh. I forgot. You are ignorant.
Mr. Panic Button
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
Whatdatwasthere? Blow me!
jman41287
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
WTF??????????????????
Larry
December 27th, 2011
12:29 am
tjhook,
Those two interceptions were tipped balls (more luck than skill). If you are seriously “OK with BVG” then you should never be allowed to drive a car.
Gerald
December 27th, 2011
12:29 am
And Julio Jones cost you a 1st, a 2nd and two 4th round picks. When you already had a Pro Bowl WR (Roddy White), a Pro Bowl TE (Gonzalez) and a Pro Bowl RB. The Falcons could improved their OL and gotten several defensive players, but Arthur Blank was determined to make Matt Ryan into something that he isn’t.
Mr. Panic Button
December 27th, 2011
12:30 am
For you delusional Falcons fan that think they are going to actually win a playoff game…keep dreaming! From the Owner on down to the players this team is a JOKE!
ssgt_usmc
December 27th, 2011
12:30 am
I keep reading these comments that “Van Gorder must GO!!!!!!
You’re UGA fans aren’t you?
Same ones that wanted to run off Richt?
Same ones that wanted to run off half the doggone coaches on the UGA staff?
Grow up and when you get some facial hair, try to post something that makes some sense.
Saints/LSU Fan
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
Hate to rub it in, but this huge beat down reminds me of the LSU/Georgia game. This game was for the NFC south championship, the filthy birds did not even put up a fight, how pathetic.
Dimitroff sux
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
All those years of sucking, we don’t suck.
But as others have written … we’re not great at ANY position.
We don’t have a single GREAT player. We don’t have a single GREAT coach.
Is “good enough” going to ever be good enough?
PMc
December 27th, 2011
12:32 am
Yeah classic draft mistakes. Skill position talent with hot garbage lines of scrimmage
Spoon Divy
December 27th, 2011
12:33 am
WHO DAT SAY DE GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS….not them falcant’s. Ha Ha Ha Ha….GEAUX SAINTS !!!!!!!!!!!
Bleed red
December 27th, 2011
12:33 am
This is not collage football this is THE NFL he can go back and I been a falcons fan for 30 years so what .He gets out coachs and it shows .
Total joke!
December 27th, 2011
12:35 am
They are what we thought they were. Another average team in Atlanta. I will no longer pay to watch this BS until significant changes occur.
egghead
December 27th, 2011
12:36 am
Sad display with so much on the line….Matt Ryan melts with it on the line…LMAO @ the turds…
ejj
December 27th, 2011
12:36 am
Major changes needed.
Used to be
December 27th, 2011
12:36 am
So much for this being a rivalry, this is getting old. New Orleans has won the last 10-12, I’m selling my falcons tickets, any takers.I mean they just scar dragged us in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. We were embarrassed on national tv once again.
Bob
December 27th, 2011
12:38 am
I’m sick of these pathetic performances by this Falcon team. Offensive or defensive coordinators have not a clue on how to make half time adjustments. Defense looked terrible even with two interceptions. WHERE IS THIS HIGH POWERED OFFENSE!!!!!!!!!! We are soooooooo screwed. Rediculous…….
Tom G
December 27th, 2011
12:39 am
Egbert@12:15 – I agree with you 100%!! Harvey Dahl(who we lost) gave us a mean fighting spirit that we do not have now! He would have probably got tossed tonite for fighting or roughing!
ssgt_usmc
December 27th, 2011
12:39 am
Well, I can see the women are out tonight. Nice comment, Total joke! Same with you Bleed red. Actually that’s pretty appropriate since you appear to be PMSing tonight. And cb795, WTF is your problem?
Get a grip girls. We’re winning more than we’re losing. Check the history. That wasn’t always the case.
Phalcon Phil
December 27th, 2011
12:40 am
Hilarious seeing all the shock and awe. Us longtime fans are used to it by now. We just arent that good. Like ‘Dimitroff sux’ said, we don’t have any great players. Roddy is as close as it gets and Abe is too old. Our qb is great if you’re simply happy with being better than Falcon’s history. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like he is a big game player. A string of comeback wins against dumpster diving teams isn’t really that impressive. (Sanchez has more come from behind wins than Ryan the last 2 seasons, rendering that “feat” unimpressive in the grand scheme of things).
Pete
December 27th, 2011
12:40 am
Jeff, in spite of all your negative comments about the Falcons (which I agree with completely), there’s one thing I can guarantee: in game 1 of the playoffs, you will pick the Falcons to either win, or cover the spread. Without a doubt.
Birdbrain
December 27th, 2011
12:40 am
Reality check, this team’s D’fence stinks and needs to be addressed in the offseason which will be soon as the first round hits. The secondary looked like fools and Breeze passed like he know the Falcon’s playbook. No hope, too many penalities, they better draft better this time.
Mr. Mustard
December 27th, 2011
12:42 am
Its third down and 12, Falcons in a zone defense and it is complete for 25 yards. He was WIDE OPEN.
Pathetic and this has been happening for four years.
Over matched in all phases.
We have brilliance on New Orlean’s side and our side comes with “play it safe and grind it out” old school crap.
Pathetic and I am done.
Good luck you fans, I wish you well, I do but after 40 years, enough is enough.
This was humiliating and the last time I felt this way was, uhm………against Green Bay last year.
Really, really disappointed.
Biff Pocoroba Fan Club
December 27th, 2011
12:43 am
Atlanta Falcons = the Atlanta Hawks of the NFL
PMc
December 27th, 2011
12:43 am
Well hopefully GB SUbs will beat Detroit and we can still take the 5th seed. The NFC east is garbage
gaborn66
December 27th, 2011
12:43 am
Lets face facts here. I for one never felt the Falcons had an above above average team. What I do believe is the Falcons have a good team. A good offense and good defense. Super Bowl Champions are usually made of either Great offenses or Great defenses. Dont have to have both, but at least one of the two. Until Falcons can step up their game in one area of the other, we will continue to see winning seasons, playoff games but no Super Bowl Champions. My Christmas wish is that Van Goerder get a good college head coaching job.
ME
December 27th, 2011
12:45 am
Start Chris Redman!!! He can make all the throws. Fire VanGorder and grab Steve Spagnoulo as the Defensive Coordinator in the offseason. And how about giving jason snelling and Harry Douglas some playing time.
clyve
December 27th, 2011
12:45 am
Julio Jones was supposed to get us into the Super Bowl? TD? you are a joke. Any of us can see you did nothing to address the defense except sign Ray edwards who is horrible. Your other FA sining DR is horrible. The safeties you drafted couldn’t catch a cold. Most overrated GM in football
houstondawgdfan
December 27th, 2011
12:46 am
The Falcons will need to find a better
Defensive Coach to replace BVG in the off season, we are working in the terms of insanity and hoping for different results. The writing is on the wall, follow the lead of the Texans and Saints get a competent Defensive Coach and we will do much better. If they don’t replace him, Mike Smith will eventually be gone and Matt Ryan will not win a Super Bowl here. Class Dismissed. Don’t expect too much from the falcons in the Playoffs, not with this performance, this is the real Falcons a middle of the pack team.
Hayseed Dixie
December 27th, 2011
12:46 am
@ssgt_usmc
An analogy: Al Qaeda can beat up civilians and militias and say they’re “winning more than they’re losing”, but they don’t win against the big boys.
Kinda like the Falcons.
Something about this organization is not ready for prime time. Maybe Coach Smith is a good caretaker, but not the next level guy.
Used to be
December 27th, 2011
12:46 am
I’m sick now, going to bed, hope I don’t have anymore nightmares after this stumping
jv
December 27th, 2011
12:46 am
saint & falcon fans, just remember it’s only a game, at one time or another the sun will shine on each, have a bless day
Leonard Pinth-Garnell
December 27th, 2011
12:46 am
The build of this team was handled horribly and, yes, they overachieved last year to be 13-3,, but that was an anomaly and does not reflect how bad the defense really was and is. BVG looked brilliant until the GB playoff game with a band aids and bailing wire rag tag D,, but that chapter is over and he now looks like an imbecile. You really have to look at who is behind the poor strategic execution of drafts and FA,,, Dimitiroff,, and what he has built. They have regressed and that is totally unacceptable. You have organizations running circles around the Falcons – who unlike the Braves with their limited budget, have ownership that should have been improving from the core and the periphery thru draft and FA. After they do their annual One&Done, what will Blank do? Me thinks it will not be minor.
clyve
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
Rex Ryan would not have a defense that plays like sissies either. We should have hired him
Falcons sucked
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
Falcons suck, and Smith can’t win a big game….Proven here tonight!!!!! Ref’s sucked too…keep drinking the kool-aid!!!!!
MountainDawg
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
Brees waltzed thru the Falcons sub-par defense, whilst the offense couldn’t execute in the red zone. The Falcons will get whooped next week and in the playoffs if they don’t step it WAY up from this.
Pete
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
Anyone want to bet me that Jeff picks the Falcons to win their 1st playoff game? Let me know lol
PMc
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
Give me a break 40 yr fans wouldnt quit now. See ya next game. This is still the good times compared to many years. This team has never had a guy like Brees.
ME
December 27th, 2011
12:48 am
The difference between Ryan’s rookie season and since then…is the passing game invovled everyone…not just Gonzalez and White. Which is why our offense hasnt been as good as it was back then.
Falcons sucked
December 27th, 2011
12:48 am
AND…….Van Gorder must be FIRED NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ls1z28chris
December 27th, 2011
12:49 am
Leave Schultz alone! He is busy drowning his sorrows in a city that isn’t full of puritan religious jackhats and probably telling anyone who will listen that he’d rather stay here and never return to Atlanta. Wait, scratch that, Sandy Springs.
Not even the AJC can tolerate Atlanta, and y’all clowns want to come here to run down New Orleans? You people are pathetic.
clyve
December 27th, 2011
12:49 am
This offense or defense have never become top 10 on either side. $ years of the same coaches.. Outcoached..outplayed.. and out of the playoffs after first game again
Lamar
December 27th, 2011
12:50 am
LIKE I POSTED BEFORE THE GAME, THE FALCONS HAVE THE MOST PATHETIC SECONDARY IN THE NFL!!!!!!!! The NFL average of an offense picking up 3rd & 7 or more is about 42%, NEWS FLASH!! THE SAINTS WERE 11for 12 FOR AN 98% average! Robinson is the most PATHETIC CB I HAVE EVER SEEN PLAY THE GAME! Instead of getting Jones on offense and giving up so much, THEY SHOULD HAVE GOT HELP IN THE SECONDARY!! Last year without Jones they averaged 32.4 points a game, this year THEY AVERAGE 19.2 WITH HIM!! If Smith does not get help in the secondary after this year, THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER WINNING YEAR! WHAT A HORRIBLE SECONDARY, ENOUGH SAID!