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
Wookie Ninja
December 27th, 2011
12:27 am
All you LOusyana crack babbies has Grampas for daddies anyways, something wrong with inbreeding, seems to me it’s illegal everywhere but NOLA!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:27 am
5150 You should know for sure
Saints guy
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
5150, what’s your point? Was that the only gang in Georgia? I guess now there is no more crime in the Atl now. Are Georgia’s oldest and most successful gang, them fellas in the funny white pointy hats, still around?
Saints Super Bowl
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
uga fans…gt fans…falcon fans…hawks fans…losers of the world unite!!!!!!!!!…losers…yall suck…
Goodgod
December 27th, 2011
12:28 am
falcons could trade matt melty ice to the eagles for there 2nd string qb. then M.R. could become the trivia question he deserves. then since we like bold moves, trade that eagle qb to the panthers for cam “i can get it done” newton to lead us to the superbowl. newton lost to the saints by three points, M.R. by over 30 points. with cam newton the falcons would be unstoppable. from a business stand point, you could get a new stadium, a minimum of $500 million dollar of merchandise revenue and three superbowls. M.R. is the past, Cam Newton is the future and the answer.
Wookie Ninja
December 27th, 2011
12:29 am
FF like sperm squirters!!! much like Brees, and Payton.
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:29 am
Atlanta ga redneck inbred capital of the south! you clowns earned it and yall wear well!
Eric C.
December 27th, 2011
12:29 am
Well, it is hard to beat a team three times in one season.
Saints guy
December 27th, 2011
12:30 am
Goodnight fair citizens!
once recent reader
December 27th, 2011
12:30 am
One thing I have noticed often with Falcs. They seem to come up a yard or two short on many plays. It’s as if either the Defense knows where to be or the routes are planned to be a few yards short. I’ve seen many 1st or 2nd and 1-2 yards after the 8 yard pass not be converted. After the catch they also seem to make a decision to try and go for extra yards instead of pushing straight ahead for the 1st.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
The point is all the NoLa people that didn’t return are the Trash. They have set up their criminal enterprises in other cities and are not going back.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
Good grief, that’s it saints lovers…spit, spit, spit, get it all out
Wookie Ninja
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
now why in the hell would Scam Newton be better in the ATL? skin color? run along IDIOT!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:31 am
White pointy hats. Yeah right, let’s go back 60 years. They will never see the day they are as bad as the Paints on the ground thugs that think society owes them. Saints Guy I guess you can’t mug any students at Ga. Tech this week since they are out for winter break. Don’t worry they will be back soon. Maybe you can go out to Stonecrest mall and rush into the mall for Air Jordans while leaving your 2 and 3 year old kids in the car to buy 185 dollar tennis shoes with government money. Make sure to get your nails done too.
ls1z28chris
December 27th, 2011
12:32 am
“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?”
Yeah you right, brah.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:32 am
Who Dat, yeah and you are here living right with us aren’t you.
Wookie Ninja
December 27th, 2011
12:33 am
New Orleans sputum drinkers!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:34 am
http://www.wtoc.com/story/16385891/air-jordan-cause-chaos-at
Yeah look and learn who swarms the mall for tennis shoes
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:34 am
5150 you are average dumb georgia reneck….you can’t help it redneck hick.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2011
12:34 am
One thing I’ve noticed is that Turner looks older on every play. He hits a big run every now and then, but runs like he has concrete boots when the hole isn’t just right. Does any back kill a drive more than he does? For crying out loud, please run with some aggression at the line of scrimmage…I’m tired of the touchy, feely stuff.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:35 am
Who Dat? Why are you in Atlanta? Why not live in New Orleans? Seriously? Why are you here? Where did you come from?
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:35 am
Who Dat what did I say that was not true?
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:36 am
Who Dat probably got sent here to live in another Foster home
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:37 am
falconfan- it’s america baby.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:38 am
I would rather be for the Falcons and loose every year than live in New Orleans, a Saints fan and win the Super Bowl. What a pitiful excuse for a city.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:38 am
It is America where the NoLa garbage actually got their 40 acres and a mule because of a Storm.
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:39 am
Falconfan- when your falcons win something…let us know ok?
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:41 am
5150 just average dumb toothless red neck who never ever left his back woods shack. what a moron.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:43 am
Who Dat let us know when you baseball team wins something? You got about as much a chance in basketball as the hawks do. Falcons are 0-1 in Super bowls and the Saints are 1-0. Good for you.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:45 am
yes Who Dat I have my 50 acres and my house. It kills me not to have neighbors up my butt.
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
12:47 am
I guess the Saints and Brees are on the cusp of being the Cowboys, 49ers, Raiders, Steelers, & Packers. You are just so close.
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
12:51 am
OKAAYYYYY///ITS TIME FOR ROLL CALL: #MICHAEL M, #MONDAYMORNING. #RISEUP1////////WHAT HAPPENED TO THE “EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE” YALL WERE TALKING ABOUT? I THOUGHT THE FALCONS WERE GONNA “DISMANTLE” US!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
12:51 am
WHODATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
12:52 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
SAINTS JUST SCORED AGAIN
December 27th, 2011
12:53 am
HAHAHAHAHAH
ESPN showing saint-falcons
December 27th, 2011
12:54 am
it’s all saints!
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
12:56 am
THATS WHAT DA HELL YALL GETN, WRITING CHECKS YA @$$ CANT CASH!!! ALL YALL DO IS TALK AND RUN YALL MOUTH ABOUT THIS VERY AVERAGE TEAM! I ASKED Y DA HELL WOULD ANYONE PICK RYAN OVER BREES…#SMH…
Falcons
Always
Left
Counting
On
Next
Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA..1 N DONE IN DA PLAYOFFS…I LOVED RYAN’S “deer in da headlight look”
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
12:57 am
SEENTHISB4..show up bro!!!! i love you!!!!
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
12:59 am
when has the falcons won anything?
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
1:01 am
Its funny NOW all falcon fans said that WE were gonna be whinning about the refs..BUT LOOK WHOS TALKING!!!!!!//////GET OVER IT AND STOP YOUR WHINNING..U still have a chance at redemption,,A VERY SLIM CHANCE>>>Cant wait to see that disaster again..Falcons loved being embarrassed on national television!
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
December 27th, 2011
1:03 am
last week marlarkey was the man huh? NOW EVERYONE IS HOPING BACK ON THE #FIREMARLARKEY BANDWAGON..LMFAO!
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
1:04 am
515 uoad in the morning when you dump my trash, roll the can back to the curb will ya? I got some micky D’s gift cards for the little ones. p.s. don’t forget your rain coat, glen burns says it’s going to be a wet day!
Who Dat?
December 27th, 2011
1:06 am
city of atlanta + any atlanta pro sports team = cesspool of the south! they know it!
5150 UOAD
December 27th, 2011
1:09 am
If you are waiting for me to dump your trash you will have a huge pile.
BEAT DA AINTS
December 27th, 2011
2:43 am
MATT RYAN IS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY OVERRATED FOLKS
EastP
December 27th, 2011
7:04 am
Can atlanta dump ryan for some picks and draft a good QB? Trade up and get the Qb from stanford.
SeenThis B4
December 27th, 2011
7:08 am
Tole ya!
Why
December 27th, 2011
7:40 am
Enter your comments here
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
7:44 am
Here’s my Mea culpa:
Boy was I wrong. So wrong on this game, this team and this regime.
The fact of the matter is this: The New Orleans Saints are the better team. They are ESPECIALLY great at home. Unfortunately, we will have to return there in two weeks and our season will mercifully come to an end.
SeenThisB4 – “Congratulations”
alletskessgek
December 28th, 2011
12:04 am
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