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
tb falcon fan i think
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
hey if brady could play us next week he might get that record you think,
Falcons Sloppy Secondsdary
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
We’ll get ‘em next time! (LMAO)
phil
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
So on this predictably losing and humiliating for all time night, i say GOOD night!!
And merry christmas – seriously.
Saints guy
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Katherine, you’re correct. It won’t last forever, but it sure feels good now. No one , esp Falcons’ fans’ cried for the Saints when the team was horrible. N.O. was just a fun stop during the NFL season. Falcon fans gloated plenty when the birds broke our hearts time and time again. Now, we run the South!
Mixxo
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Why do we always choke on “the big stage?”
clyve
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
New coordinators needed
Jay Dubu
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
ESPN makes me ill!!!!
Angus
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Embarrassment again.
We should know by now, but it is absolutely worthless being a fan of any Atlanta team.
phil
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Edwards – LOL!!!!!!!
Mr. Panic Button
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
The Falcons are the Saints whipping boy!
Loserville USA
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
WE HAVE THROWN 52 DAMN TIMES TONIGHT.
Mularkey is a frickin’ genius. I hope he gets what’s coming to him.
Reduced running. No screen passes. No ball control. How will this team actually win 10 games?
A WEAK SCHEDULE.
Ted
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Matt Ryan quit? I guess you were watching a different game. Or perhaps you specialize in quitting and have a different sense of that word. Ryans stats won’t be that different than Brees.
ATL Sports Fan
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Choke must have been Mike Vicks cell mate/bitch at Levenworth.
Elvis Presley
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Dammit, you just wait until next season (Groan).
Mr. Panic Button
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
This team is a F’n JOKE!
keeper
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Choke, you and Vick two of a kind…dog poop!
Dirty Bird Nation
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Big Michael Turner 39 yards rushing………………too slow………………not a bruising runner and needs to be moved before next season along with BVG & MM!
stendek
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
To the morons who say Falcon fans blame refs shove it! We do not. It is just that when a yellow penalty flaf is thrown in the end zone it is a penalty 100 percent of the time. Except in NO against the Saints. So enjoy the record then shove it. I hear Katrina may be back soon. Losers!
Joe
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Refs made it clear from the beginning of this one that they would insure that the Falcons had no chance in the game.
Falcons are the better team and can only hope to get lucky enough to get a rematch with NO in the playoffs.
Sam
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
The falcons should be embarrassed. One and done in the playoffs. I guarantee it
PMc
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Fire everybody start over again
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
@katherine
You need to put down that crack pot.
This CHOKE led team couldn’t beat Georgia St…………….
HA HA HA
FalconsHeroZero
December 26th, 2011
11:44 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.
__________________________________________________________________________________
No..Way…
Falcons need to lose…Even if they win..It’s going to take all they have, and they won’t have enough in the tank for The Packers or The 49ers..
Lawton
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Falcons need to get deeper at receiver
sainthiram
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
awwww fellas -show some respect -i think we’ve earned it!
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Wheres Mr Blank?????????????????
He figuring out who to fire 1st!!!!!!!!
Tear a new hole into them Mr Blank!
clyve
December 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
Turner sucks..the line sucks..they have to throw it..Blank was too cheap to keep Dahl and look what happened
JSS
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
How many minutes till the spin doctors start their annual crying? Good night Boys and Girls, it was good sitting back and watching this one… Oh yeah, for all of the misinformed on Karma, well how was that one working you?
DocDawg
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Classless Saints. We should have broke his leg on the last drive.
Sam
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Mike smith look like a loser on tv. Lost for words. I can’t wait for his post game interview
tmc
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
count_schemula-
why the he ll you calling me out?
I never said anything bad about Brees.
It’s S. Payton’s call to leave him in the game and pass for the record.
It’s called Karma… Falcons efense (cause there was no “D” in there tonight) was horrible… but that’s pouring salt in the wound.
tell it like it is
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
i may never watch a falcon game again! i’ve been a part of a lot of falcons lop sided loss’es,but this game is to much,loseing to the saints10 out of 12 games is to one side in my book.Mr blank needs to make changes,weather with personel or Coaches,something needs to be done and done quick.this gets old after 45 years.
FalconFan
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
One person came to play tonight and that was Matt Ryan. He is the only shinning part of this game. The other 52 players STUNK. Ryan has almost 400 yards passing and is the only part of the Falcons that can hold his head up.
IAW
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Joe- You sir are a clown. Your comments are not rational. Stop drinking g the kool aid with Matty ICE
sainthiram
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
joe the sore loser or is it soar loser
Falcons: Play 60
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
1st RD bye last year … then soundly knocked senseless by the Packers.
11 day layoff between games (a BYE week) … soundly knocked senseless by the Saints
that settles it. I don’t ever want to see the Falcons play with extended time off. ever again
count_schemula
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
You gotta tip your cap…
Steve
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
AJC already as a final score?
Dirty Bird Nation
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Has Coach Smith reach the top of all he can accompolish with this organization. Need TD needs to take a hard look at this coaching staff?
MTSeats
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Pay Cowher!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
A MESSAGE FROM JIM MORA
At least I took this sorry team to the championship game
HA HA HA
FalconsHeroZero
December 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Nothing will improve in 3 weeks..lolol.
katherine
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Saints guy
December 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
Katherine, you’re correct. It won’t last forever, but it sure feels good now. No one , esp Falcons’ fans’ cried for the Saints when the team was horrible. N.O. was just a fun stop during the NFL season. Falcon fans gloated plenty when the birds broke our hearts time and time again. Now, we run the South!
Well…like I said…enjoy it while you can…..but the way you all are acting on this blog now….I just hope karma comes back to haunt you
FalconFan
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Brady will break Brees record on Sunday. How funny
Who Dat?
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
bvg called a time out to go shake drew hand and a get photo with a real QB!
Loserville USA
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
LET’S SEE: Turner runs 20 times and we win normally.
TONIGHT: 11 for 39.
WHAT AN IDIOTIC GAME PLAN!!!!
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Need a new HC and Staff plus a new QB!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submariner683
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Do all these Saints fans still not have homes to go to? Still haven’t recovered from the hurricane? Get a life, and when the warning that a big hurricane is coming, GTFO of town. Just pathetic and no class.
Bill
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Phil..happy New Year!
Falcons: Play 60
December 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
there’s ESPN and Katrina!