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
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 27th, 2011
8:55 am
Falcons and UGA the best football teams in America from March until August! The QB for the Birds will never get you past one game due to he can’t throw the deep pass. The DB’s are average to below and ther offensive line is much below average.
William Andrewws
December 27th, 2011
8:55 am
You got some bad weed there jim jones. Falcons played to win last night. They looked the same as they did against the Packers,Bears, & Tampa Bay. I guess they wanted to lose those games too ?
GT
December 27th, 2011
8:55 am
Our fans do suck. NO has had a show down there even when Archie Manning was quarterback. They were the Chicago Cubs of football. Atlanta has a lot of transplants at the games. When we play someone from the northeast the crowd is filled with hairy looking people dressed in polyester of the opposing team. Only one team gets supported in Atlanta and it is not even an Atlanta team, Georgia. I am thinking a Baptist minister would not approve of the stuff that goes on in a Falcon game. Mr. Blank has found a home though, and on television he looks comfortable in that atmosphere.
Keith
December 27th, 2011
8:56 am
Re: Jim Jones
If not showing our hands is getting obliterated, then you are naive, my friend…even though it can be difficult beating the same team 3 times in a row. Nothing from last night would say that we can stop their offense, and we obviously can’t keep up in a shootout. We…must…RUN…the ball.
Apostle
December 27th, 2011
8:58 am
Another great game by the “Dirty Birds.” What a joke! Yeah,selling the farm to get No. 11 was sure worth it.They’ll be horrible on defense for years because of that decision.
Some Perspective
December 27th, 2011
8:58 am
The Falcons are a good team, but they are not in the same league as the Saints. Last night should be a real wakeup call to the front office. Defense secondary needs an overall. IMO stop looking to dump Ryan, you aren’t going to get anyone any better. The coaching staff needs to be looked at. Again they are good but not great. If the Falcons want to win division titles they are going to have to beat the Saints at least once a year and this team isn’t capable of that.
Samuel
December 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Settle down fellas, I know emotions run high and every time we lose a big game- the fans want to clean house. Here’s the rub the Falcons had opportunities to score touch downs and didn’t get it done. If you kick field goals and the other team scores touch downs you are not going to win. Some of the Falcons players haven’t panned out, Ray Edwards has not been very productive and Abe plays well against teams that are sub par. We are small on the defensive side of the ball and other than Walker getting a sack up the middle, it was few and far between all night. Babs and the rest of the D-line got pushed around. The two rookies Jones and Jaquizz Rodgers made crucial mistakes that killed momentum. I thought Matt played well, but some of the offensive play calling was suspects. I don’t know why you keep kicking the ball to Darren Sproils, Bosher can’t consistently kick it out of the end zone like the Saints kicker. Maybe we should have paid more to retain the kicker we had. The refs missed several calls that would of help the Falcons. There are some players on this team who’s contracts will not be renewed next year. All you can do is forget about this lost, win the Tampa game and look forward to the playoffs. Remember you are what you are………
MG3
December 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Congrats to Drew Brees, he is a class act. Falcons fans have to realize that we are simply not there yet. No running game and couldn’t get our D off the field. Saints completed numerous third and longs last night just like every team does against us. We’re still headed in the right direction and as a long time fan I’ll take this over the past anyway…including the Vick years for all his fans who troll these blogs. Bitching about our chances in the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 years is a far cry from where this team has ever been. It took Brees 8 years folks. We’ll get there but the team has to address both lines of scrimmage.
LakeDawg
December 27th, 2011
9:00 am
MountainMan
I think you’re right. Gave up way too much for Julio. I think they screwed the pooch with that move. No way to address any of their needs now for a couple of years. Can’t sign but a couple of mediocre free agents a year or one good free agent. I think the Falcons have boxed themselves in with no way to appreciably improve themselves for a couple of years.
Keith
December 27th, 2011
9:00 am
Re: Some Perspective
Agreed. They are a good team, but not an elite team. In order to do that, they need to have more than a talented (but small) Grimes on the secondary that can make plays.
Dunta Robinson continues to get burned. Overrated since day 1 unfortunately.
blazerdawg
December 27th, 2011
9:00 am
Still hopeful and looking forward to the playoffs – game was closer than the score, but did reveal that the Falcons would have to play at their very best to get beyond one and done – so I am looking to next year.
Where to start?
I thought Ryan played well against the Saints, but had little time and no help from RW, so I am not on the “Choke” bandwagon of members from the NOI.
DBs played as well as they could last night, but we need a man size CB.
LBs are AWESOME.
DL is inconsistent.
Love Julio, and Roddy White when he makes the catch – other options are good as well.
It would seem to me that this team needs a radical change and upgrade on the offensive line in order to reach Green Bay and NO.
In the Spring I hope that GM Dimitroff looks to replace the center and at least one other O lineman, then perhaps can pick-up a darting RB in the middle or later rounds of the draft – or perhaps the Jaguars hiring our OC for head coach will help.
Miclee1
December 27th, 2011
9:02 am
Ah, the Saints do not own the Falcons! The all-time series is currently led by Atlanta at 46-39 (45-39 regular season, 1-0 playoffs).
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:03 am
“As fans we really have nothing to support. People say you support no matter what. Well we have been doing that for decades, and we have been rewarded for squat.”
Incorrect. Fans have not been united behind a local team since the Braves of the early 90s. Look at the Hawks attendance. Look at people saying they’re done with the Falcons after one loss. Need I remind you about the Thrashers, I mean, JETS? The support is simply not there.
smartazz11
December 27th, 2011
9:04 am
every year on the local sports talk shows and message boards, it seems UGA and the Falcons get hyped up for no reason…. Richt is just a mediocre coach who has the talent to win a national championship but can’t because of his coaching style…. Smith is a decent coach but far from a Superbowl worthy coach (reminds of a Rex Ryan without all the endless rants)…. it’s the coaching, Smith is too simple minded to take chances, unlike Sean Payton who is willing to take a risk (same with Les Miles)… Coaching just flat out sucks at both UGA and the Falcons….
also Brent Grimes looked like a little boy against Jimmy Graham’s touchdown catch…. the hell is a 5′9″ (seriously doubt he is 5′10″) corner covering a 6′6″ receiver??? doesn’t make much sense…. and Grimes talks like he is a top 3 corner when he is maybe (and that is a big maybe) an avg corner at best….
the d-line played well last night against an o-line that is above avg and got pressure on Brees last night, Brees is just that good with his feetwork, but it’s the Falcon’s secondary that sucks, blown coverage, open receivers, and piss poor tackling…. IF the Falcons want to get to the elite status then they need to make changes in Defensive Secondary big time get rid of Grimes, Robinson, Decoud and Sanders…..
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:06 am
Dunta Robinson = Derek Lowe.
Free agents signings that each team had to make because they had nothing else. Everyone knew both players were overpaid/overrated, but the team basically had no other options if they wanted to compete. I suspect Dunta will be cut after this offseason.
Jeff
December 27th, 2011
9:06 am
After decades of mediocrity, the Falcons are at least competitive with their 1950’s style game plans. The problem is it’s 2011 and the leagues elite teams play an entirely different game. The Bears, Giants and other “old style” teams show the same fatal flaws as the Falcons, too little creativity and too much reliance on too few options.
The current staff is starting to resemble the Reeves era…look good for a while, but a football scheme that is easily beaten in big contests by teams who can adjust.
Modern winning teams have a playbook ( both O and D) that addresses what is actually happening
in the game, not just on a chalk board.
Finally, with players like Robinson who was literally standing around watching the game (maybe he needed the down time to braid his hair) and lineman who don’t seem to have any fire in their bellies on both O and D, this team will not reach elite levels. It’s time the Falcons take a lesson from their Hall of Fame TE and stop trying to look great…work hard, play with heart and with a little luck and a more creative game plan, the winning will take care of itself. It’s time for this team to grow up.
cteez
December 27th, 2011
9:07 am
Dunta Robinson was half of the defenses failures last night. He bit on the up route almost every play, and he played deep on the in routes. Brees picked him apart all night and i think if we have a competent corner in that spot then the game is at least competitive. Also, Ryan did have 373 yards with no picks which is nothing to scoff at, but he could only do what the playcalling allows him to, and Milke Mularky’s playcalling sucks. Especially inside the 20. Who calls a screen pass to Michael Turner on the 19yd line?!? I hope someone picks him up as their head coach cuz i dont want him anymore, and then i hope Mike Smith replaces Brian Van Gorder but whatever. Congrats Drew Brees. You’re my least hated and most respected Saint (as opposed to Roman Harper).
Sad Sack
December 27th, 2011
9:07 am
Wait – I hear the Fat Lady getting ready to sing!!
MR
December 27th, 2011
9:08 am
They are NOT good. Good teams don’t get blown out twice in their biggest games in a years time.
just facts
December 27th, 2011
9:08 am
what worries me most is the fact that the person who is totally responsible for creating this team appears to not know what he is doing. I think Dimitrof has been given a lot of leeway because he was mentored by Belichek. it is becoming more and more obvious that Dimitrof is not qualified. I am scared that Blank does not have the willingness to make a change.
blazerdawg
December 27th, 2011
9:09 am
LBH – Hawks attendance is amazing considering the product and absolutely certain known outcome of the season. Hawks avg 16K a night, comparable or better than Washington, New Orleans, Charlotte, Philadephia and many other markets.
Braves average 2.5M a season. TV ratings are typically in the Top 10 among MLB markets and #1 on radio among MLB markets.
Falcons have sold out every game the past few years. TV ratings for Falcons are, along with NO, the highest for any sunbelt market.
Thrashers attendance was greater than Chicago and Boston for six of their years in Atlanta.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
9:10 am
The only shining player for this game is Matt Ryan. You cannot blame him. Completing 64% of his passes for 374 yards and a TD. He will break Jeff George’s single season passing record for the Falcons this week, since he now has over 4,075 yards passing this year. Blame this one on bad special teams, fumble by Jones, lack of a running game with Turner, and absolutely NO Defense. Ryan did well.
Hawthorne
December 27th, 2011
9:11 am
RISE UP ATLANTA AND BOW DOWN TO THE SAINTS. YOU GUYS ARE A JOKE. BREES IS 10 and 2 against the Dirty Chickens since his arrival in 2006! LOL…WHO DAT!
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:11 am
The Saints-Falcons game looked very similar to the LSU-Georgia game.
So my question is: How can the same people who are criticizing Mike Smith, sit there are make excuses for Mark Richt? What’s the difference?
I’d make the argument that Richt has done less with more, but some of you people give him a pass because he’s such a nice guy.
Playoffs!
December 27th, 2011
9:11 am
Against the saints, the falcons held everything back—they didn’t want to show anything. In the playoffs, their game will explode and atl will beat the saints easy!!!
Bet the house on the falcons!
tfalcon
December 27th, 2011
9:12 am
fellow falcon fans dont blame the refs for our bad A$$ play,they put it on us period,dem saints r on a roll right now i do get tired of people blaming any & everything other than thr real reason we lost we lost cause they r the better team. maybe the team should have been at practice those three days instead of being stold they could just stay home
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
9:12 am
Furthermore and I hate to say this, the Falcons need a young running back with speed and a new OC. Don’t laugh but why not Josh McDaniel? Also, my God do we have any rushers any more? Abraham needs to be replaced along with the entire DB’s. The only thing the D has going for it is it’s LB’s.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
9:14 am
If Matt Ryan played for Sean Peyton he would be the MVP. With a HORRIBLE OC, Ryan is going to pass for over 4300 yards this year.
JB
December 27th, 2011
9:16 am
It took Roddy White a couple of years to find himself and become all pro. I can only hope Julio Jones does the same, because the Falcons gave up a boat load and they really need some help in other Areas. Green Bay and New Orleans are heads above anything in the NFL. The Falcons are a league dream. Just middle of the pack average. Parity. It’s what the NFL dreams of.
Watch...
December 27th, 2011
9:17 am
But they will beat those bucs and then schultz and bradley will write articles how they can beat those saints!
I'm a moron according to Schultz
December 27th, 2011
9:17 am
Are you done calling us names yet?
Time you do some growing up.
Cesspoolaints
December 27th, 2011
9:17 am
For all you aints fans out there…when did you jump on the aints band wagon? I’m guessing once they finally became worth a damn because before yall were the laughing stock of the league. You better pray nothing ever happens to Drew Brees because without him yall are terrible once again.
St Simons - we're on Island time
December 27th, 2011
9:17 am
I’ll type this one more time (15) – Bosher, Owens, Decoud, Baker
not NFL caliber.
When an accountant sitting on the hill at Flowery Branch
can see that after one practice, surely the pro Personnel people
can see it too, nut apparently not. Horrible schemes, worst talent
scouting in the history of the NFL.
They should give the lifetime achievement Ryan Leaf Award to the
Falcons.
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:18 am
blazerdawg,
You have to include revenue in your argument because those attendance numbers don’t always work since tickets are given away, bought up by the team itself, etc. You still see a lot of empty seats at the local home games. Hawks, Thrashers and Falcons are all low-revenue teams, and this is supposed to be a Top 10 US market. The Braves are doing OK as far as revenue, but fans are apathetic towards them now and rarely sell out at home.
Falcon phnom
December 27th, 2011
9:18 am
Who dat? Who dat?? Who dat they say gonna beat them Saimts????
Cesspoolaints
December 27th, 2011
9:18 am
The PACK will show yall what a real team is supposed to resemble. And once again yall will be known for under achieving
Jimmy Crack
December 27th, 2011
9:20 am
“Insanity” – Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.
Being a Falcon’s fan…What’s the point?
Being a Hawks fan…What’s the point?
Being a Braves fan…What’s the point?
Jeff, how much more losing across the board can this city take?
D.S.
December 27th, 2011
9:20 am
We would have lost anyway, but the officiating sure didn’t seem to be evenly balanced.
How many Falcons have to be tackled from behind on a 94-yard kickoff return to earn a flag?
How many great pass breakups do we need before we DON’T get a flag thrown on us?
Rest easy, Mr. Weatherspoon – that was a great play that did not deserve a flag.
Props to Drew Brees, though…
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:20 am
Mularkey does not have a track record of turning good passers into great passers. He has stunted his QBs if anything, since Kordell Stewart.
Good Grief
December 27th, 2011
9:21 am
Get a grip Falcon Fans – the Saints are simply better. Schultz nailed it – they looked faster, stronger and better coached.
When the bell rang we gave them our best shot and they responded – pow – game over.
We need more speed at RB, more push on the OL, more penetration on the DL and we need TWO COVER CORNERS. Robinson is a bust and Grimes just a bit short. Poor Grimes – all 5′ 5″ alone with a 6′ 6″ receiver – I’ll refrain from really bashing our high dollar cover corner that can’t cover.
We could also use a more modern offensive scheme IMHO.
Let's Be Honest
December 27th, 2011
9:23 am
Would you guys prefer being a fans of DC sports? Wizards, Skins, Nats, Caps.
Or maybe Cleveland?
Seattle?
We have three good local teams, but none of them are “great.”
MR. Sale Them
December 27th, 2011
9:24 am
Please do not let let them come back to Atlanta after that. Send they buts to S. Carolina. Maybe they can be the Spartenburg Falcons or something!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT HAPPEN TO DA FAILCANTS
December 27th, 2011
9:25 am
RODDY BIGMOUTH WHITE,SHUT-UP AND JUST PLAY,YOU CANT BACK UP YOUR WORDS,DROP BOY!
SRF
December 27th, 2011
9:25 am
Mike Smith should be fired – please see the saga of Mike Singletary for a life lesson.
49ers suddenly are better – hmmm
blazerdawg
December 27th, 2011
9:25 am
LBH – any NBA or NHL team that is averaging 15,000 in a 20,000 seat arena is giving away tickets – this is done in all of those markets, not just ATL.
Atlanta viewership, listenership, merchandise purchasing and attendance are all very respectable, particularly for the Braves.
It is amazing considering the on the field/court/ice results – and the amount of recreation and other entertainment options in this town.
You want to bang on ATL, fine – just do it from someplace else like NO, Philly, or some other rat hole.
John
December 27th, 2011
9:26 am
All season, the Falcons have made mistake after mistake. It is uncharacteristic when looking at past seasons, but every game they shoot themselves in the foot. All season, it has looked like they are not adequately prepared and that the lockout affected them more than any other team I have seen this season.
flagger
December 27th, 2011
9:27 am
Thank God they didn’t have 2 weeks to prepare for the saints or they would have been beaten 500 to nothing, way to go coaches…
REFUGEES
December 27th, 2011
9:27 am
Note to all Saints fans still living in Atlanta. It is now safe to return to your homes. The storm is over. Please leave. thanks
JSS
December 27th, 2011
9:27 am
60’s Dogfan
December 27th, 2011
8:49 am
“I can’t understand why everyone hyped Brees breaking a record set in a 14 game seaon by passing for more yards in 15 games.”
You just can’t be rational when you make statements like that one… The 14 game season went away in 1978. Marino set his record in 1984.
And by the way, the Saints are 10-2 since the time the Falcons were once 44-28 in the series… There comes a time when reality sets in…
smartazz11
December 27th, 2011
9:27 am
not sure why people are a harping on the DLine…. they played well last night and put pressure on Brees the entire game….. but Brees is just that good…. Brees’ numbers, although good, wasn’t all that great, he got sacked once and INT twice…. One of the INT was by Robinson….so in a way Robinson outplayed Grimes…. but both suck, they are avg CB, no where being a top 10 CB by both players….
either way, the Falcons secondary needs both size and speed, Grimes looks like a little boy compared to the receivers in the NFL…