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
bgness
January 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
Is it messed up that i had drew brees on my fantasy team as a falcons fan??
I mean the guy just won me my second straight fantasy championship (with the help of Vic Cruz too..
)
tom
January 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
I will take a wait and see approach.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
by the way, hope you guys can stop Stafford for throwin for 500/5TDs, because the pack sure couldnt
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
We finally have a childish person on our side! Welcome to the nursery, ohhhYEAH! Now you can CHOKE go outside and play OK?
sainthiram
January 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
we did it already- beat them once and gonna do it again like we did to the failclowns
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
PB…….exactly what way am I being childish? I’d love to understand your logic. By saying it wasn’t meaningless to win today? By saying Matt Ryan only threw 9 passes? Or by saying the NFC title game will likely be settled between NO and GB? Get a clue man
kreedham
January 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
To the ATL….nothing I would like better than to beat the Saints but if we win next week we’d play the Pack or SF. Only possible way to play NO again is win the first 2.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
bgness
Fantasy is fantasy, do what ya gotta do brother! LOL
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
There have only been 11 games ever played, in which a QB had more than 500 yards. One of them was today. It was Matthew Stafford.
kreedham
January 2nd, 2012
12:19 am
To add to the last comment. We’d play the packers if the Saints win next week and the 49ers if the Lions win.
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:19 am
No ohhhYEAH, I agree with your faultless logic, it’s your maturity that is in question.
FALCONS 1 AND DONE!
January 2nd, 2012
12:19 am
WELL, WELL, WELL… THE FALCONS ARE GOING TO THE NY GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!
YES, YOU JUST FELL INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND DIDN’T WORK FOR A THING. YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD GET A POSSIBLE EASY WIN WITH DALLAS! WRONG!!!!
YOU BETTER GET SCARED BECAUSE THE GIANTS WERE PLAYING SOME BALL TODAY!
THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS! REMEMBER, THEY HAVE WON A SUPERBOWL.
IT’S AN OPEN STADIUM, VERY, VERY COLD. IT MAY BE SNOWING!
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MATTY “ICE MELT” RYAN SLIPPING AND SLIDING DOWN THE SLOPES! hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
HiRam Taint I am sure you made that kind of money. And I bet you are married to a super model too.
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
we can all turn to ESPN for INFORMED opinions.
You are kidding right. The SAME ESPN that told us after the first Bama LSU game that they would play for the BCS Championship? ESPN tries to manipulate opinions more than anything.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
In case you missed it, which uh….you clearly did, it’s called competitive banter. I clearly do not think Stafford will throw for 500 again in the Superdome, but thank you for pointing out historical facts and proving to all us huble bloggers that you are the Great One
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:21 am
ohhhhYEAH……I will. That’s the wonderful thing about the NFL. All you people think that you’re experts….you as well. You can spew out stats, but none of you could do half the job under center than Matt Ryan does. I’m not a fair weather fan. I am a life time Falcon fan. I watched Bartkowski, Swann, and Andrews practice in Sewanee. I saw them play at Fulton County Stadium, and I endured the two lone playoff losses to the Cowboys WAY before Mike Vick arrived. So, you’re right. I’ll stop reading Jeff and Bradley’s less than acurate and articulate views….as I will stop reading yours. I’m a lifelong Falcon fan, and I have NEVER given up hope on this team. And I never will. You guys have fun THINKING that you know something about this team and frachise.
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
Oh BTW that’s since 1960. I know Norm van Brocklin and YA Tittle each had at least one 500 yard game So that’s 13. Stafford is the reincarnation of one of these old timey quarterbacks. He’s amazing.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
1 and done
I honestly didn’t know it was possible for a team to “fall into” a playoff spot in what’s possibly the most competitive professional sport there is. The Falcons worked hard and they got what they deserved, a playoff spot as a wild card team. Now if youre done wasting all our time, we would like to get back to the big boy talk
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
like ORR and other Dawgs love to tell Tech fans I guess that was a Moral victory for Stifford. See the Stats don’t WIN the game. Tech rushes for 600 and loses. Stifford passes for 500 and loses.
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:25 am
I’m a Tech grad. Stafford is not at UGA any more. He throws the oblong thing to an alien who went to Tech. His name is Megatron.
Falcons > Giants
January 2nd, 2012
12:26 am
The giants are overrated—the angry Falcons D can shut down manning with a few INTS. Falcons 30 NY 21–bet the house!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:27 am
awesompt,
Pretty sure I have not thrown out a single stat other than Stafford threw for 500+ today, and that Matty only threw 9 passes, which was not at all bashing him by any means. I was stating, plain and simple, that he threw only 9 passes, and if you can argue that then be my guest. I, unlike half the people on here, love Ryan as the QB of our team, and i have not at all joined the negativity wagon that most jump on when we lose. So to say im trying to be an expert or say I’m no true Falcon fan is pure idiocy. Especially when trying to argue that none of us could have done what Ryan did this year. Well, no crap, because last i checked I, nor you, or anyone else on this blog is a pro QB. And I never said he did a bad job this year, I enjoy watching him mature as a QB and a classy person. So please, feel free to think that every objective opinion is a personal attack on yourself if you’d like, but do it somewhere else where you are less likely to make yourself look foolish
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Orr Stifford is good if he is standing. This is the first season he has actually played. In his first 3 years in the league he only played enough games to equal 1 season. He looks better when he isn’t in a hospital bed.
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
Three of the thirteen guys who have 500 yard games are in the current postseason – Brees, Brady, and Stafford.
CuseFalcon
January 2nd, 2012
12:32 am
Enter your comments here
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:32 am
Impress me then….who was the starting free safety in 1982. Or here is an easy one….who was the place kicker in 1985? It’s not about being objective, my friend. It’s about who has been a fan all along, and who has just jumped on the wagon since Mr Vick arrived. You have 2 minutes to answer the questions, or the whole blog will know that you had to look it up. And therefore….your worth will be proven….
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:32 am
ORR that might have to do with how the game is played now.
WHO DAT TO THE 2nd SUPERBOWL!
January 2nd, 2012
12:33 am
For ALL concerned, the SAINTS have played the Lions already so we are familiar with each other.
Don’t worry or be concerned with us because you have the GIANTS in the open, freezing-cold stadium to worry about.
IF (a very strong IF) you should proceed to GREENBAY, we already know what’s going to happen!!!!!
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
Case FS
CuseFalcon
January 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
Everyone is going to pick apart the Falcons season this year over the next week and hand the Giants the game. I still don’t feel like they put together a full game the whole season. I am hopeful they do it next Sunday. Keep it simple, we just need to better than them for 3 hrs next week. KEEP OUT OF OBIVOUS PASSSING SITUATIONS!!!!!!!!!! and we should be able to move the ball against them. GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!!
CuseFalcon
January 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
Obvious………correction……don’t want to sound like taints fan.
CuseFalcon
January 2nd, 2012
12:36 am
GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:36 am
Ryan throws for 4200 and it’s an afterthought. There have only been 61 such QB seasons.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:38 am
First of all, I was born in 88, so to say I knew the answer would be a lie, nor do I need to go look up an answer on Google to try and prove to you that I am a fan. I promise you, I dont need your approval to know that I am a true Falcons fan, I bleed red and black October-January every single year, just like I bleed red and blue every single summer. Take that crap somewhere else man. My worth, nor any other fans, is measured based on facts they know before they were even born. Nice try though
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:39 am
5150 UOAD….yes….Scott Case. And Mick Luckhurst was the kicker in 85. ohhhhYEAH……I gave you almost 8 minutes. You’re just another fair weather fan. Talk to the hand, son. Maybe the AJC will hire me as a sports beat writer. I’m pretty darn linguistic, and at least there are a FEW of us on here that know a little about player history with the Falcons.
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs
January 2nd, 2012
12:39 am
Matt Ryan will throw two INT’S next week.
Ivan
January 2nd, 2012
12:40 am
“YES, YOU JUST FELL INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND DIDN’T WORK FOR A THING.”
Actually, Falcons had the playoffs clinched after the Bears lost two weeks ago. hardly “falling into the playoffs”.
LOL. So many haters out there.
“Choke” can’t stand it that Ryan and the Falcons beat the tar out of his precious Vick and Eagles.
And on top of that, will be serving Vick his herp medicine while they both watch the playoffs from home. ROFL!!!
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
5150 UOAD….right….Scott Case. And Mick Luckhurst was the kicker in 85. ohhhYEAH…..you’re over your time. Looks like your just another fair weather fan. Jus sayin….
Take it from me.
January 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
It will really be hard for the Falcons to beat a NY team in NY,and the refs two!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
And I was a Falcon fan way before Vick got there, I was screaming my head off every Playoff Sunday when the Falcons marched to the Super Bowl, still got the Minnesota game on VHS
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
Mick Luckhurts was he Irish or Welsh? Did he open a Restaurant & Bar in Buckhead too?
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
Another good stat – there was never a 4200 yard season before 1980.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
awesompt, why dont you use your mouse and scroll up to my reply, friend
M&M
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_ygPA_Qtl&feature=related
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
12:43 am
Stafford and Megatron are going to be mighty popular in Atlanta again, if they knock off the Saints. I see it happening.
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs
January 2nd, 2012
12:44 am
awesompt, STFU! No one cares who the safety was 20+ years ago. You are no more a fan than anyone else, despite what your ignorant mind tells you.
flatsdawg1
January 2nd, 2012
12:44 am
Well of course if you are a true football fan you relish an extra 60 minutes of football with your team in position to get earn 60 more,and our team has alot to prove, to themselves, to us fans, to the NFL and the pundits on ESPN and NBC. I believe in this team, and I think they are ready,so if any of you guys are reading this blog, fly north and bring us 60 more minutes to watch when you exact revenge on the freaks in The New Orleans Superdome!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
preciate that soon to be
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
ohhhYEAH……oh, yeah….I’m bored with you, son. I’m sure that you will declare another team to be “your team” next year. You guys are all the same. And dude…..those two questions were basic ones about this team. Luckhurst was the first British kicker in the game. Case was a standout….and also a lawyer. You would have to try really hard to miss those facts…if you are a true fan of this frachise. You have just been punked, boy.
Loserville USA
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
No signature wins.
That’s a problem.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
12:46 am
Of course the Cowboys would have been an easier matchup, I’m happy to face NYG instead of seeing the Saints again. I think winning a playoff game on the road would change the entire psyche of this team, and then we’ll be ready to face down the Saints in their dome. We did it last year, and I just don’t see this Falcons team losing to the same team three times in the same season. But winning this game vs the Giants is needed to get their minds right.