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
featherless falcon
December 26th, 2011
11:58 pm
pittyfull no pressure cant cover anybody crappy playcalling . did we really give up 6 draft picks for an imbecille. fourth and goal and ryans not in the gun? i think smith didnt have a heart attack he had a stroke. one and done in playoffs
Leonard Pinth-Garnell
December 26th, 2011
11:58 pm
For all you Saints trollers out there,,,, you will not make it past GB,,, so enjoy this little victory and winning the division rivalry. You have proven that you can easily be outmatched,,, so I will look forward to watching you lose ,,, because that is all I have with the ‘Coons being a joke.
Hurst
December 26th, 2011
11:58 pm
Nothing like ATL fans. Once again whining that the other team has no class, while wishing a city sinks into the Gulf, the opposing QB’s leg gets broke, etc. etc. Oh yes, Atlanta is the epitome of class . Why is that? Because you have a Real Housewives franchise?
Just like after the SEC Championship, Atlanta proves they have the absolute worst fans for any sport.
CGD..
December 26th, 2011
11:58 pm
Blowouts??????????????????????
Mr Blank Fire the whole staff!
Once is fluke, Twice is an incident, Three times needs resolution ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whodat70816
December 26th, 2011
11:59 pm
How about that Saints defense…LMAO…sure did stop Matty Melt!
And thank Julie Jones for caughing it up for that TD by the Saints Defense!
Nerehere
December 26th, 2011
11:59 pm
So we only rushed attempted 14 times. That means that the Falcons had no confidence in their ground game period. If rushing is your bread and butter, why are you afraid to make contact in the running game and wear the other team down? Why do you assume that you aren’t going to be successful in running the ball. When you do rush, the running back in predictable and the holes aren’t there. You cannot devise a game plan with 5 weeks preparation if you don’t know what your doing and which way to get there. That’s the Falcons. You do not deserve a time off day. Parcells would’ve had them practicing on Christmas eve and day. No more time off. Your too spoiled and don’t deserve it. Mr. Blank, get a new coach and put in a new system while you have the authority to do so.
BigTimeTECHFan
December 26th, 2011
11:59 pm
Refs give the saints another game against ATL
this is getting out of hand.
Low class to run up the score, they will pay in the playoffs
TCCB
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
WHO DA HELL DAT??? THE SAINTS DAT AND THAT’S THAT!!!!!!!!!!
Brent
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
BVD sucks
katherine
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Saints guy
December 26th, 2011
11:57 pm
If Katrina comes, NO folks will do what we do…..overcome, adapt and rise up! Nola culture, food, music, art and now, according to Forbes, entrepreneurism, is second to none. We had fun when we were bad….we have more fun when we’re good.
Katherine, no matter what, we’ll always have our unique food, music, joie de vire, and Lombardi trophy…so it’s all good. PS, I have it on blue ray….for the bad times.
Its all good for me too…i have a lot of fun going to games in atlanta……I dont take it too serioiusly…i do have a life
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Coach Smith = Norv Turner… In over his head………………….
More of the same
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Drew Brees is playing at an elite level that is so good, it is hard to even put into words. Aaron Rodgers, believe it or not, may get the MVP over Brees.
For us Falcons fans, Ryan played pretty good tonight – but 16 points and a pretty good effort is not going to win on the road in the Big Easy or in the playoffs. Brees was 8 for 8 on 3rd downs and MADE PLAYS with pressure on him. The difference is, Brees wants the ball in his hands and WANTS to make plays with his arm, feet and his brain.
Ryan threw high, checked down or threw balls out of bounds with pressure on. Matt Ryan does NOT want the ball in his hands with the game on the line. He is now 1-5 this season when throwing 40+ times. This also takes his career record to 3-13 when throwing 40+.
Not a good omen for this year or the future. Perhaps another QB swap with SD is to be considered?
falcon fred
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
great post saints guy…from Louisiana myself…these Georgia crackers wouldn’t understand…
Brent
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Sorry, BVG
Tom G
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
stendek(also known as Vick Supporter) – Ryan threw for 375 yds while under constant pressure with NO INT’s, give him some credit you d—a–. Letting Harvey Dahl(OL) get away was our biggest mistake, the highly paid CB and DE have been busts for the money we pay them. It is probably not the coaches but the talent level of the players we have just do not match up to the really good teams.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
RONNY LOTT would OWN the NFL 1.5 million after every season if he played football under these rules.
Big Wally
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
Hey Hurst this is an Atlanta blog site, you twit. If you want to bask on the glory of the Saints then find a Saints blog.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
Hurst, the real housewives of Atlanta DO NOT represent this city. It’s funny in a metro area of over4 million, they pick the women from the minority 20 percent to make a show about. They should be called Housewives of N.O.
MTSeats
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
Blank, are f’ing stupid? The GD spread was 6.5.
TN Jeff
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
FrontRow,
The idiot explanation was that it was not holding on the play due to throwing a screen pass. Of course, the only thing missing was an actual pass ever being thrown but the refs knew the intention was there and that’s good enough for the Home Team Saints.
Mike
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
Thanks for another great sports year falcons,hawks,braves, and yellowjackets! Why do I do this to myself?
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:02 am
all you falcons fans…u want some cheese with your whine? lol
More of the same
December 27th, 2011
12:02 am
Shultz and D-Led -
Hit the Gumbo Shop tomorrow before you leave. It’s right off of Jackson Square.
The Shrimp Creole sandwich is an absolute must.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:02 am
saints guy if NoLa was so good at getting back then why are all the thugs still living in other cities?
katherine
December 27th, 2011
12:02 am
falcon fred
December 27th, 2011
12:00 am
great post saints guy…from Louisiana myself…these Georgia crackers wouldn’t understand…
making racist comments just makes you look like an idiot…just fyi
Loserville USA
December 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Go ahead Smitty, make the ol’ corrections.
In 2 weeks, no matter what, it will the same. Especially with knuckleheads for coordinators.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Falcon Fan says the most profound things.. Your Lodge has taught you well bubba…
Hurst
December 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Hey Big Wally, we’re rivals remember? We’re supposed to do this, and vice versa. Boy, you have some thin skin there.
Tiredoflosing
December 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Look at teams like the saints, steelers, and pats. When players don’t perform they are cut. Players like turner and ray cannot get the job done.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Hope like heck Brees has a bad game next week and Brady passes him. That would make all this celebration crap seem kind of foolish.
BigTimeTECHFan
December 27th, 2011
12:04 am
long kick return hold and block in the back right in from of sporles
hold call back because of it was a screen play, making up rules as they go
big time hold on two brees TD
Dude held Roddy white beownd 5 yards, they call white for pass interferance
list can go on and on, Falcons will never beat the saints, 3rd game in a row the refs handed them the game
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:04 am
Saints Guy are you joking. Do what you do? Rise up and overcome from Katerina. Seriously? Half your people were bused out, didn’t come back and live on welfare. Your city streets still have empty dumped housing with trailers in front of them. You depend on tourist to come to make sure your city has people in it and your mayor is a joke. Yeah, keep smoking that crack why don’t you
Brent
December 27th, 2011
12:04 am
We do understand falcon fred, and it is a shame. GOD BLESS NO.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:04 am
Bye Coach Mike Smith you aint the one……
and take your staff with ya………………..
realitycheck
December 27th, 2011
12:04 am
Could Blank be flying to Winnipeg to meet with city leaders soon to discuss relocating? That kind of thing has happened before in this city you know!
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:05 am
drew he is a class act!
JSS
December 27th, 2011
12:05 am
Tom G
December 27th, 2011
12:01 am
“stendek(also known as Vick Supporter)”
Now that is just crazy talk!!! That is just REAL crazy talk!!!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:05 am
RONNY LOTT doesn’t recognize this game they call football now.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
12:05 am
I don’t have an NFL rules book in front of me…but are you not allowed to assess a holding penalty on a screen pass?
Triplett mentioned something about the offensive lineman “shedding” the defender???
Mike
December 27th, 2011
12:06 am
We will beat Tampa by kicking 8 field goals
tell it like it is
December 27th, 2011
12:06 am
No excuse the saints are a way better team!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:07 am
The reason so many Saints fans are on here is because they were bussed here, never left, bought computers with the taxpayers money and got internet because they complained they deserved it and still off of someone else’s wireless. They are waiting till next week to get their next monthly allowance from wefare and their food stamps. That’s why the Saints fans are here on this blog, not in New Orleans because even the stupid lazy bums don’t want to be in that miserable city.
Who Me?
December 27th, 2011
12:07 am
Who in the hell would ever THINK about blowing Brees’ knee out?? what kind of a lame-a** fan are you thinking that the coach should order his knee blown out??? why, because he’s kicking our a**? it’s not his fault we suck, its ours you idiot. we got outplayed and outcoached tonight once again, but that’s no call to ask your own players to go out and hurt a guy because he’s throwing the ball against our Div. II secondary….
Like it or not we own this team, even when they play so badly you want to puke. Thankfully you and I don’t have to stroke a check for this kind of effort or we would really be nauseous. Good news is we can lick our wounds against Tampa this weekend and hopefully eke out a win against another lame team.
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:07 am
falcon fan boohoo keep crying you loser just like your falcons!
falcon fred
December 27th, 2011
12:07 am
keep on cryin Georgia trash!!!
FrontRow
December 27th, 2011
12:08 am
TNJeff – the guy from Cali had it right. Safety = sack = yards off Brees’ total.
Clearly the NFL wanted the record on MNF.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:08 am
Pride comes before a fall Falcon Fan..Bet your Master didn’t enlighten you on that one?
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:08 am
falcon fan…you talking about your redneck inbred family boy!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:08 am
Who Dat? When do you get your food stamps and welfare check, on the 1st or 15th
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:09 am
Ryan is class act also….