LIVE: Falcons are in playoffs, now go for South vs. Saints
Falcons are hoping John Abraham can replicate this play against Drew Brees. (Jason Getz)
NEW ORLEANS — After lunch with D-Led at Mother’s — always my first stop in New Orleans — I’m ready for the afterthought of this road trip: a football game. (Sorry, but everything takes a back seat to food here.)
The byproduct of two straight wins and a few NFC playoff contenders collapsing around them has left the Falcons in a comfortable position going into tonight’s game against the New Orleans Saints: They’ve already clinched a postseason birth for the third time in four seasons.
There's always a line at Mother's.
But is winning that NFC South that implausible?
Three things need to happen for the Falcons to win the South and clinch a home playoff game: 1) They need to win tonight. (The last four meetings between the teams have been decided by a field goal, with two going into overtime, so an upset wouldn’t be monumental); 2) The Falcons need to win next week’s regular season finale at home against Tampa Bay. (Not a problem. The Bucs have lost nine straight); 3) New Orleans needs to lose next week against Carolina. (The Saints will be favored, but the Panthers have won four of their last five and have a high-scoring offense.)
In that scenario, the teams would finish tied at 11-5 overall but the Falcons would get the edge because of a better division record (4-2 vs. 3-3). So it’s possible they can pull it
Darryl Ledbetter scripts his first 15 plays.
off. But winning in the Superdome won’t be easy, especially with quarterback Drew Brees playing like the league’s MVP (16 touchdowns, zero interceptions in the last five games, 24 TDs and 3 interceptions in the last eight).
At least the Falcons know they’ve already clinched at least a wild card playoff berth, the result of Green Bay’s win over Chicago Sunday night.
If the playoffs opened today, the Falcons (NFC’s sixth seed) would face the Saints (third seed) in the playoffs. If the Falcons finish ahead of Detroit for the top wild card spot (fifth seed), they will travel to the NFC East champion, which will be the winner of next week’s Dallas-New York Giants game. If they win the division, they could wind up hosting Detroit. There’s still a chance New Orleans finishes with the No. 2 seed and
Counter-clockwise: Red beans and rice, shrimp po-boy, chicken and andouille gumbo, softshell crab po-boy.
draws a bye, leaving the Falcons to travel to San Francisco.
For now, the Falcons are focused only on trying to play four quarters against the Saints as well as they played the last six against Carolina and Jacksonville.
Some obvious keys tonight: 1) Turnovers (it’s notable the Saints’ defense has only 13 takeaways, the fewest in the league; 2) Don’t waste red zone possessions, as was the case the last time the teams met; 3) Get some semblance of a pass rush on Brees, at least forcing him to move off his spot; 4) Pound the Saints’ defense with the run, using up clock and keeping Brees on the sideline.
The Falcons also get cornerback Brent Grimes back after a three-game absence, which should help against a quarterback who’s about to break the NFL’s single-season passing record (Brees’ 4,780 yards trails Dan Marino’s record of 5,048 by 268).
OK, that’s enough. I’ll turn it over to you now. Call me crazy (not the first time, I’m sure) but I like the Falcons’ chances tonight. They seem particularly up for this game. We’ll see. I’m here to serve, at least until I have to start banging out the game column.
By Jeff Schultz
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2,750 comments Add your comment
phil
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Pathetic choking losers….
But what’s new.
Wookie Ninja
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Matt Choke Ryan! Dude really? Mike Vick is even more useless than Van Goober, go off yourself you waste of humanity!
IMHO
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
If Brees comes out for another series, ATL should body slam him.
Falcons Sloppy Secondsdary
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
It’s not Sean Peyton’s fault that the Falcons suck. They should kick an onsides kick and humiliate this defense even further.
Elvis Presley
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
ijonathan
December 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
Put Redman in.
Bryant, or Redman?
80sFalcon
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Does Payton come from the Bill Walsh tree?
FalconFan
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
What’s going to be funny is if Brady ends up passing Brees on Sunday
Fire Murlarkey & BVG
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
LMAO THIS IS JUST EMBARASSING. I LOVE TO BE A FALCONS FAN. YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, PURE DISAPPOINTMENT
Falcaints
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Hey Roddy does have the record for drops, and I am pretty sure Turner holds the record for the lowest 40 time (just under a week), and the defense gets th we have no balls award so it could be worse
Tomekon
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
That was as classless as anything I’ve ever seen. Hope that city sinks in the gulf.
americankris
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Falcons gonna kick there butts in 2 weeks
CaliDirtyBird
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
I agree BVG needs to go.
This is embarrassing… Mr. Blank we need a better offensive line. We also need a better D-line.
Not that it is the reason for us losing because it doesn’t appear that the Saints needed the help but some of these refs calls have been atrocious.
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
11:40 pm
Atlanta learned something today pride comes before a fall!
This has got to be on of the worst losses in 40 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The worst?????????????????????????????????
Why do they play their worst ball in front of millions????????????????Never fails????
Who Dat?
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
atlanta chickens got a beat down again tonight.HAHA
Falcons Fan in Dallas
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Why are all you guys blaming Ryan? I’m confused… He has thrown for almost 400 yards, hasn’t thrown an interception, hit his receivers, and if we’re left to him, he could outcall a game vs Mike “Bularky” any day.
How many times does Turner have to run between the tackles and fall down before you run a toss sweep to Rodgers? Julio continues to blow it in key situations in marquee match-ups. Roddy drops more passes than a man with his arms tied behind his back. And let’s not start on this bust of a defense, especially this joke of a secondary core.
I am so sick of seeing the MV7 stuff. I loved him when he was in ATL, and wish him all the best but that guy bailed on you Falcons fans. Oh and how great has he been this year? I’ve had many Eagles fans ask if we want him back……ummm…..no!
ijonathan
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
That route that Sproles ran, not one of the Falcons running backs can run it…Quizz is talented enough, but not seasoned enough. Not sure any of the receivers could have run it either.
count_schemula
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Was Gruden sportin’ a bone?
Loserville USA
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
This is what good coaching can do for a good quarterback — make him great.
He was NEVER like this in San Diego. Never.
We have the cast of DELIVERANCE as coordinators.
SMITTY: Get with it.
katherine
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
congrats to the saints….but anything actually can and does happen in the playoffs so im not giving up on the falcons….and even it they do lose thats how it goes….if you dont like the falcons and are saying all this awful stuff about them…you might want to pick another team because at the end of the day only one team is going to win it all
ls1z28chris
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Thank you, Falcons fans, for staying tuned to watch a real QB: 2011 MVP Drew Bree’s of the New Orleans Saints.
Michael
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
I’ve never seen a fanbase blame the refs every time they lose a game. Falcons fans are really pathetic losers. I’ve nevre seen anything like it.
FalconFan
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Heck Brady is 150 yards away from Marino’s record too.
phil
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
But that’s the damn problem!
We can be embarassed all we want, but we can never do anything about it.
We define losing.
80sFalcon
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Yeah, rest Ryan. He needs it.
FrontRow
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Eerily, this is just like the MNF “return to Nola” game.
Holding in the endzone is a safety. Can’t have that on “Drew Brees” night.
IAW
December 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Please stop with the officiating garbage. The Falcons were outclassed. I can’t wait to read the national media’s coverage on this overhyped bunch.
DocDawg
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Why doesn’t BVG call time out and instruct the defense to hurt Brees. This is humiliating.
stendek
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Matt Ryan out? What a damn quitter. Untalented slimeball. Bring back Steve Bartkowski!
Sam
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
MM and BVG need to go! Seriously, AB is an idiot if they keep them both
sainthiram
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
guess i was a bit off on that 17 pt. prediction wasn’t i 5150 ?
Fan from SAV
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
This game will set the Falcons back at least a couple of years-they may never get this one behind them
5150 UOAD
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
SENDEK you are 1 stupid SOB. Ryan never quit. You need to go find another team your too much of an AzzHole.
Falcaints
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Quizz is too slow to be a factor, the Falcaints don’t think speed, anywhere is important
mike
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
i believe every Atlanta franchise should move to another town hopefully with owners who dont go half ass year in and year out.Im plum sick of this 40yrs of my life following losers
Joe
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
The Refs made it clear from the get-go that they would insure that the Falcons had no chance in this one.
Mark it down now. If Atlanta gets lucky enough to play at N.O. in the playoffs, the Falcons win by 2+ td’s. The Falcons are better at about 19 of 22 spots across the field and are the better overall team. The bait is set.
Charleston Jacket
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Tv is officially on mute. Let’s keep perspective here- Brees did not cure world hunger on cure cancer- enough already. With that said -Congrats Brees on your football acomplishment – I still hate your team
FalconsHeroZero
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Teams with dominate DTs…Brees struggle against..
Watch The Lions defense…Watch the aggression…with CB Chris Houston..no less..
Watch these speed, the blitzing…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
I STILL OWN THIS CITY
-Mike Vick
HA HA HA
Tomekon
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Drew Sleeze bag. Most classless man, besides coach sayton.
ATL Sports Fan
December 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
People from New Orleans are classless. Time and money means nothing for these coonasses.
FalconFan
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Last time the Saints and Falcons played in the playoffs in the Super Dome in the early 90’s the Falcons lost both regular season games to them, went to NO and kicked the crap out of them
MTSeats
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Blank should write the check now and get Cowher.
Jay Dubu
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
This was just a good old fashion beat down. The Saints beat the Falcons in ATl, and slaughtered then in The Big Easy.
Mo
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
I’m so glad they are celebrating the Brees accomplishment right in front of these Falcons. This team is so gutless they wont use this as fire they will simply say “We didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. We didn’t play well in all 3 phases of the football game. We will watch the tape and make the necessary corrections. Our focus now has to be on our game next week and preparing to get our asses kicked in the first rd of the playoffs”
Falcon Fan
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Fire Mularkey and Van Goober…
They can take Bubble-Butt Turner, Old-Man Abrahams, and the rest of that Undersized, underachieving bunch of losers they call a Defensive line and trade the whole freaking lot of them off for some guys who want to play ball!!!
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Mr Blank Shooting Blanks!!!!!!!
Fire Blank!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hired 3 Norv Turners in a row. These busters cant coach?
michael
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Send Van Gorder on his way to a new hair stylist as well!!
ls1z28chris
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Darn auto correct.
Elvis Presley
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Leeman Bennett in 2012 (ha) !
sainthiram
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
where was edwards ? did he miss the flight?