Falcons beat another bad team, but can they beat good one?
Two touchdowns by Julio Jones (left) helped stake the Falcons to an early 42-0 lead over Tampa Bay. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(UPDATED: 11:30 p.m. The New York Giants defeated Dallas, which means the Falcons will face the Giants next Sunday at 1 p.m.)
If there is one absolute this season about the Falcons, it’s that they know how to wipe their feet on the lampooned and downtrodden. They create excitement for punch-drunk fan bases dreaming of Andrew Luck. They can beat any team that has been considered as an emergency replacement by the Big East.
But can the Falcons win a playoff game and, you know, actually beat somebody good?
They beat Jacksonville. They beat Indianapolis. They beat Carolina twice. They didn’t beat Tampa Bay on Sunday so much as they dodged exploding parts and avoided hyperventilating from laughing. The Falcons led 42-0 after 23 minutes — aided by three turnovers — pulled most of their starters early and somewhat wobbled to the finish line (not that the wobble of backups really matter), winning 45-24.
They made the playoffs. They finished the regular season with a record of 10-6. Not great, given the adjusted standards in Flowery Branch, but certainly not awful.
Still, have you ever bought one of those build-it-yourself desks from a cheap furniture store, and then, seemingly 17 minutes after you’ve tightened the last Swedish screw into pressboard and placed your computer, printer and books on top, one of the legs folded like linguini?
That’s kind of where we’re at with the Falcons. They went 8-3 after a 2-3 start this season. But given who’ve they’ve beaten and who’ve they’ve lost to, it’s fair to wonder if they’re going to turn into limp pasta in the postseason when they’re under more pressure.
Careful about conclusions. The Falcons just annihilated a team that finished the season with a 10-game losing streak. (That’s not a franchise record. Oh, did this postgame cry for a John McKay quote.) It makes you wonder how the Bucs beat the Falcons in Week 3.
Michael Turner, who had struggled of late, rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
The Falcons’ last four wins came over Minnesota, Carolina, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, teams that finished with a composite record of 18-46. They went only 1-4 against the NFL playoff field (the only win coming over Detroit).
They went 2-4 against teams that finished with winning records (Tennessee was the other one), 7-1 against teams with losing records and 1-1 against .500 teams.
You don’t indict a team for beating schleps. But skepticism is completely appropriate.
The question isn’t whether the Falcons have the talent and experience to win a road playoff game over the New York Giants next Sunday. They do. The question is which Falcons’ team will show up.
“People are going to have their doubts about us until we go into the playoffs and do some good things,” tackle Tyson Clabo said. “Just because we feel like we have the talent to do some special things doesn’t mean anything. We have to perform. You can’t just write down the roster and decide who wins from there.”
When Detroit lost to Green Bay Sunday, the Falcons were handed the NFC’s No. 5 seed on a platter, meaning they didn’t have to travel to New Orleans next week. They will still be on the road for the entire playoffs (barring an implausible NFC title match-up with Detroit), but running back Michael Turner offered, “It’s been proven over time that seeds do not matter.”
We know that to be true. The Falcons were the No. 1 seed last season and got drop-kicked by Green Bay.
Quarterback Matt Ryan played less than a half. He stuck around long enough to throw two touchdown passes and establish a new single-season franchise record for passing yardage. Running back Michael Turner also spent the second half reclining, after rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns (one for 81 yards) on 17 carries.
We witnessed three interceptions by the Falcons’ defense, a pick six by linebacker Curtis Lofton, a sack and forced fumble by John Abraham.
We saw why general manager Thomas Dimitroff believed wide receiver Julio Jones was worth more than a few draft picks. Jones had a 17-yard touchdown catch to make it 14-0. On Tampa’s first ensuing play from scrimmage, Josh Freeman had a pass intercepted by Dominique Franks at the Bucs’ 48. On first down, Ryan fired a pass to Jones near the 15-yard-line. Jones collided with safety Tanard Jackson, made the catch anyway, went down, got up and then pulled defenders with him into the end zone.
Plays like that show us what potential this team has. But if doubts remain, it’s not a mystery way. Not enough highlights have come against good teams.
By Jeff Schultz
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946 comments Add your comment
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:35 pm
Falcons tomorrow night Katie? Back in Big Easy? Sure hope not!
JN
January 1st, 2012
11:37 pm
Who covers Cruz?
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:38 pm
Does ANY NFL team fear a group which is shredded for 24 points – 24 points – against the beneath contempt Bucs? Come on…
JN
January 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
I think Ryan will get sodomized by the giants pass rush next week
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
looks like the giants basically got a first round bye
M&M
January 1st, 2012
11:40 pm
Voice of Reason
January 1st, 2012
11:29 pm
Choke, you remain a joke. What are the Eagles doing next weekend???? If you’re not a Falcons fan, leave the blog.
JSS
January 1st, 2012
11:40 pm
They run zone, they have no answer for Cruze or Ballard really…
ohhhhYEAH
January 1st, 2012
11:41 pm
CHOKE
“the Cowboys have a good O line…”
What team have you been watching all season? You really are quite the moron arent you? I belive YOU are the one not suited for thinking above the kindergarten level, not my friend katherine
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
Flames – only true NHL team to call Atlanta home – battling Carolina at midnight in replay. Please do not tell me who won.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
HiRam Taint first round byes don’t always work do they? How id it work for he Aints last year?
JN
January 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
OhhhYeah, the falcons have Baker on their O-Line. I think the cowboys O-line is way better than the Falcons. Remember the Giants have a hell of a pass rush.
JSS
January 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
If they Giants can only rush 4 and pressure and stop the run, it will be a long Sunday afternoon! They can only hope Coughlin reverts to 2009 Tom!
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Hard knocks for Jets! Real hard ones. Hee hee!
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
they didn’t have a 1st rd bye moron
ohhhhYEAH
January 1st, 2012
11:44 pm
……NHL ended the lockout? hahahaha just kidding, but i had to say it
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2012
11:44 pm
RYAN will have to run some. HE will feel the heat, but I hope he can make the plays.
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
When do the worthless Hawks start play again? YAWN! zzzzZZZZ…
– 0 -
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
i’m taking bets on which willbe the biggest laugher-last years packers game or this years pummeling by the giants
ohhhhYEAH
January 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
Baker lost his job to Svitek, he hasnt played much at all the past 6 weeks. And every game I have watched Dallas play (Giants, Eagles, Giants again) theyre O line has been just as bad, if not worse, than Atlantas
ohhhhYEAH
January 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
sainthiram, im thinkin the biggest laugh is the Aints getting blasted by 7-9 Seattle, that was quite hilarious my friend
stendek
January 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
God bless you all…
Nighty nighty. Now where did I put that damn teddy bear?
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
MORON you said the G-men have a first round bye playing the Falcons. YOU stupid -u-k the Saints thought the same thing facing the Sea Hawks. You really are STUPID even not knowing what you said.
P B Orr
January 1st, 2012
11:48 pm
The Falcons need to scheme planned rollouts. Ryan is very good throwing while rolling out. They should exploit that.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
ORR if he stays in the pocket he could get killed standing there.
duke11
January 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
At least we will get some press coverage since we are playing the G-Men. I think we win.
JN
January 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
Ryan wont have time to throw and the chubby RB will get stuffed by the G-men
JN
January 1st, 2012
11:54 pm
The G-men seem to be picking up steam like they did the year they won the super bowl. They did it on their pass rusher and and explosive WR. Is this year a repeat?
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:54 pm
you must still be bitter about the saints making the failclowns look like a highschool team on national t.v. the saints thought nothing of the sort last year. they knew what they were up against with all their injuries but this is a new year though it will fare out like last year for the failclowns -1 and done . good thing is , y’all can watch a real nfc south winner in indy this year get their second lombardi
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs
January 1st, 2012
11:54 pm
Matt “dink and dunk” will be 0-3 in the playoffs after next week.
doggoneit
January 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
sainthiram- Yawn! Falcons will beat the Giants next week and the Saints will lose to the lions:) And you will get your divorce papers from your soon to be ex on the grounds that you are delusional …
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
i can hear smitty after the game already-we did some things that were uncharacteristic today. we had some procedural calls and we couldn’t protect our qb. hopefully he’ll be released from the hospital tommorow and we can start preparing for next year
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs
January 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
The Falcons won’t even make the playoffs next season.
ohhhhYEAH
January 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
hate to tell ya fainthymen, but youre gonna have to go thru Green Bay to get to Indy, and I just dont really see that happening, not with the way your team turns to mush on the road, and especially considering it wont be a nice cool 70 degrees in the dome in that game. More like a nice freezing 5 degrees at Lambeau, sorry firned, that game will be ugly for you and all your buddies
sainthiram
January 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
i was delusional last week when i said the saints would win by only 17…my bad
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
Yea, right HiRam Taint the the Aint fans were crowing about loving to play the Sea Hawks. You will not be in Indy you can Bank On that FACT.
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
so your admitting we’re gonna get there and the failclowns won’t. finally a voice of reality
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
AMAZING, Jeff! You guys talked about the weak schedule down the stretch like it was God’s right hand reaching down two months ago. And now that they actually BEAT the teams that they were SUPPOSED to beat, you treat it as an omen that all those guys had lossing records! Amazing! You’re really a piece of work! I think that most of what you’re printing now is your attempt to make your pre-season picks sting a little less. You see, this is the thing that gets me…..you and Bradley build everybody up. You guys don’t seem to understand that you’re both sports beat writers. If you could predict games or call seasons, you would be rich and living in Vegas. But invariably, you guys always miss the mark, and then you follow up the misery of your predictions by lambasting everything about the team, what they did, and how they played. Here’s what I want to know….have you or Bradley EVER PLAYED football past the 6th grade? Seriously?! I doubt it very much. Jeff….maybe you should write for the metro section. At bare minimum, maybe you should show a little support….instead of writting crap trying to make yourself look better after all that pre-season crap you were spouting.
The ATL!
January 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
The Falcons are back! With that blowout win over tampa, Ryan is on fire!! The ATL will upset the giants in the playoffs in NY and then beat new orleans!!! This falcon team is for real and will not be denied!!!
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
pay me 1st to help my banking out. oh yeah-you’re a bet welcher
doggoneit
January 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
Yes you were then also. Falcons did not care about that game and we all knew it. The game was meaningless and you know it.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:04 am
taint, I never said Atlanta would definitely make the NFC Title game, and I think the matchup will be the Faints and the Pack, so i guess if youre calling that reason, then yes it is. BUT, even more reason is, like i said, your team sucks nuts on the road, and its gonna be coooooooooooooold. So like i said, you wont make Indy, not unless Green Bay is gone before you play them
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
Yes I am not going to pay you. You never proved it was a bet before the game. You never proved who you are If you are to scared to be real then how is a bet going to happen? You like to HIDE and run your mouth and that is OK. But don’t try to make a BET and still hide.
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
failclown team for real??????????? they got blown out of the state by a real team then won against a team on a 10 game losing streak. i get it … you were being sarcastic
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
As a matter of fact, I’m still amazed that I read your OPINIONS, Jeff. It’s just a matter of time till the AJC and all the other newspapers go under anyway. Maybe then, you will be WALKING the metro section, and we can all turn to ESPN for INFORMED opinions. Or we could all just stop listeing to all your wannabe’s as a whole….and just go watch the games.
Big Blue Wrecking Crew
January 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
Giants are gonna own these chickens. I mean falcons… one of those birds.
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
don’t get flustered 5150- i know you have bills and your welfare check only goes so far. i made a little over 18,000 on that game so your c-note is inconsequential to me. take it and go have some dental work done!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:09 am
The ATL
Matt Ryan only threw 9 passes for 106. Hardly call that an on-fire performance, even though he had the two touchdowns.
doggoneit
this game was anythign but meaningless. it meant EVERYTHING. instead of having to go thru NO and GB in the first two rounds, we now get NY and SF if we get past the first round. Hardly meant nothing to win today, it was huge
0-2 w/smitty demitty &melt
January 2nd, 2012
12:11 am
It looks like I’ll have to change the 2 to a 3 in my username after next Sunday
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:12 am
awesompt
if you dont like the writing, dont read it. its literally that simple friend. take your eyes and divert them elsewhere, perhaps to ESPN. maybe that will ease your pain
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
see y’all later and …GEAUX GIANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!