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
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:47 am
yes,I’ve been punked by a man-child who bases peoples fandom on who knows what about a team in an era before they were even born. Quick, tell me who the right guard who got called for an offsides penalty on the Falcons 27 yard line in the 9th game of the season. Oops, times up, youre no true fan, youre a bandwagoner, Guess youll be rooting for another team next year also since you couldnt answer my question. THATS how ridiculous you sound my friend. You sir, are incredible
FALCONS 1 AND DONE!
January 2nd, 2012
12:47 am
ohhhhYEAH,
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE GETTING SCARED TO FACE THE GIANTS!!!!
DON’T TAKE IT OUT ON ME BECAUSE THE FALCONS FELL INTO THE PLAYOFFS. ALL OTHER TEAMS PLAYED HARDER THAN THE FALCONS.
YOUR TEAM LOOKED LIKE “BUBBA GUMPS” THE ENTIRE SEASON. JUST ASK:
“MATTY MELTING ICE” RYAN
RODDY “DROP BALLS” WHITE
MICHEL “SIMMERING SMOKE” TURNER
JULIO “I DON’T KNOW WHO I AM OR WHERE TO GO” JONES
hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TEAM GIANTS!
awesompt
January 2nd, 2012
12:48 am
News flash…..I’m an educated man, and a student of the game. 0-3…..please, my brother, take some English grammar lessons. You’re embarrassing me just reading what you’re spouting.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
12:51 am
Knowing or not knowing obsure trivia does not define your status as a true fan or not. Knowing Scott Case (who, by the way, was a personal favorite of mine to watch roam the secondary) is a lawyer is interesting but really has nothing to do with football. But if knowing things like that make you feel good, then by all means knock yourself out, cuz!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:51 am
Yes, you’re right, I’m such a bandwagoner because I don’t remember people from an era when I WASNT ALIVE. Thanks man, but I take comfort in knowing that my devotion to this team is real no matter what a man-child such as yourself wants to think because I have no clue about a team that existed before I did. Quick, tell me the name of the Falcons left guard who jumped offsides on the Falcons 27 in the 6th game of the season in 68. Oops, can’t tell me? Guess youre just another fairweather fan who knows nothing about his team, youll be pulling for the Patriots next year i guess. THATS how ridiculous you sound, moron.
blane f.
January 2nd, 2012
12:51 am
only the falcons could take a 42-0 game and make it interesting in the 4th quarter! they had better get some playoff intensity or the giants will eat them alive. they have a better chance against giants than they would have vs saints, but they better be on top of their game.NO DROPPING PASSES! NO MISSING TACKLES! PUNCH EM IN THE MOUTH AND TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:52 am
Yes, you’re right, I’m such a bandwagoner because I don’t remember people from an era when I WASNT ALIVE. Thanks man, but I take comfort in knowing that my devotion to this team is real no matter what a man-child such as yourself wants to think because I have no clue about a team that existed before I did. Quick, tell me the name of the Falcons left guard who jumped offsides on the Falcons 27 in the 6th game of the season in 68. Oops, can’t tell me? Guess youre just another fairweather fan who knows nothing about his team, youll be pulling for the Patriots next year i guess. THATS how ridiculous you sound.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
12:52 am
And this is a football blog. Can’t think of a place where grammar is more irrelevant.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:53 am
Yes, you’re right, I’m such a bandwagoner because I don’t remember people from an era when I WASNT ALIVE. Thanks man, but I take comfort in knowing that my devotion to this team is real no matter what a man-child such as yourself wants to think because I have no clue about a team that existed before I did.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:54 am
Quick, tell me which Falcons left guard jumped offsides on the Falcons 27 yard line in the 6th game of the season in 1968. Oops, you mean you dont know? Guess youre just another fairweather fan who knows nothing about his team, looks like youll be pulling for the Patriots next year. THAT, my friend, is how ridiculous everything youre saying sounds. so please stop talking, youre making yourself look worse and worse
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:56 am
Quick awesompt, tell me which Falcons left tackle jumped offsides on their own 27 during the 6th game of the year in 1970. Oh, you cant? Guess youre not a true fan. Dont worry, youll have a new team next year too, right?
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:57 am
1 and done.
Not quite sure how i said us NOT “falling” into the playoffs, as you put it, makes me sound scared. Fairly certain all i said was that we earned a playoff spot, and earned it way earlier than your team did. But uh….I guess if it makes you feel better….?
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
12:59 am
Hey o’yeah, don’t sweat that knucklehead. Those fools just like feeling superior by bringing up absurd facts and then trying to knock the normal people who don’t know them. Ignore the idiots of this world and your day will be much better, I promise.
You just keep enjoying yourself as a fan, keep learning more about the game, and keep on supporting our Birds!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
12:59 am
awesompt, your time is up, now we all know you used google, you have been punked my friend
you’re no true fan
WAFFLE HOUSE OR BUST
January 2nd, 2012
12:59 am
I say if the Dirty Birds fall to NY on Sunday it’s time to say goodbye to the present coaching staff. To avoid this situation, would love to see Ryan lose the happy feet routine and show signs of being a tough QB for once.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:01 am
I know plenty about football, being as how I played up until my junior year of college. Fairly certain I know a decent amount. wonder how long awesompt played. Bet he was a Heisman winner and a first round pick LOL
DAMON
January 2nd, 2012
1:02 am
I remembered when Art Malone went over 1000 yds in the last game of the year…..then on his next carry he lost 3 yds. Ended the season with 997 yd but there were only 14 games back then. I could only imagine the color of Falcons uniform…….we only had black and white tv.
I also remembered when………….let me stop
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:03 am
but I do appreciate the backup ATLien.
Waffle house
I honestly dont think Ive seen a tougher QB than Ryan this year, aside from maybe Big Ben or Cutler. Ryans toughness should never be in question, he takes licks more than almost anyone in the league, and he missed only two snaps when a 320lb tackle STEPPED on his ankle. His toughness is not in question, but our Offensive Coordinator sure is
FALCONS 1 AND DONE!
January 2nd, 2012
1:03 am
NEWS FLASH!!! FALCONS WITH AN ATTITUDE!!!
NY GIANTS WILL SMASH YOU!
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FROM THE SAINTS AND WANT TO PLAY AN EASIER TEAM?
GREAT TEAMS PLAY OTHER GREAT TEAMS. THIS DEFINES THE ELITE!
NY WILL BE WAITING ON YOU!
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
1:05 am
7 of the 13 500 yard passing games, have been losses, including Stafford’s. Norm van Brocklin’s record-setting 554 yard game was not – a 54-14 win against the soon to be extinct New York Yanks on opening day. Amazingly, van Brocklin was platooned that year with Bob Waterfield, who was almost as good.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:05 am
We ran from the saints bc we got the 5th seed? You make no sense. Why dont you try and find some friends on the short bus to talk to
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:07 am
Hmm. Guess awesompt didn’t like getting punked at his own game. Good riddance
Officiating
January 2nd, 2012
1:08 am
Atlanta will get hosed by the NY loving refs as usual–bank on it. The league wants NY to advance in the playoffs and the refs will give them all the calls!
P B Orr
January 2nd, 2012
1:08 am
SI stole the Falcons motto.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/?eref=sinav
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:12 am
I can’t believe people here are jumping up and down on beating TB !!!!!!!!!!!
seriously ….I am sure Giants with that pass rush will bury matty ice alive.
GUARANTEED….anyone wanna bet ?
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs
January 2nd, 2012
1:12 am
awesompt, you are only embarrassing yourself.
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 am
NO WAY FALCONS CAN GO AND BEAT NYG IN METLIFE… Season over guys lets start planning for next season.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 am
Ill take that bet. Ryan has been sacked maybe once in the last 6 games. Not saying i guarnatee Atlanta will win, but I wouldnt bet on him getting sacked more than once or twice if i were you.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 am
Ain’t about running, it’s about understanding that certain paths to the Super Bowl are preferable to others. But you gotta be careful what you wish for at the same time. Look at Arizona and Green Bay very recently. Seedings don’t mean squat really.
I’m confident because we have balance and playmakers on offense and a defense that isn’t any worse than those in GB, NO, DET, or NYG. My fear is another vanilla un-inspired gameplan from Mularkey the Moron. If we just went no-huddle (i.e. – Matt Ryan calling the plays instead of Mularkey) the whole game, then I really think we got a chance against anybody anywhere. But we all know that ain’t gonna happen, so let’s just hope Mularkey gets strep throat and can’t talk next weekend.
DAMON
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 am
I can already hear the media…….awwwww, the Falcons are not used to cold weather. I always find that comment rather stupid as though this is a high school team and all the players are from ATL.
I wondered do they know where Manning is from and where Ryan is from. So Ryan should be in his elements and Manning not……..silly rabbits.
Sandy Springs
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 am
We recorded a sack! Hooray!!
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:17 am
ohhhyeah….ok deal ? I predict ryan will be sacked at least 2 times and we lose to NYG by more than a touch down.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:17 am
NYG pass rush is the only part of that team that remotely concerns me. They do have some pass rushers, but we can counteract that in several ways. Then what do they have? Nothing really.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 am
DAMORON
Fairly certain Eli makes his living playing football in New York, in the winter, in an open air stadium, where he’s used to playing in the cold by now. Ryan, on the other hand, has made his home in Atlanta during the winter, where he plays in a dome…..which is never below 68 degrees. Now tell me, how is Ryan in his element playing in a cold outside game, which he has done maybe twice since his days at BC. And while youre at it, tell me how “all” the Falcons players are from ATL. I’m interested to know
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 am
Saying Ryan will get sacked twice isn’t exactly bold. Predicting 5 sacks is saying something. If Ryan gets sacked just twice then the Falcons win by ten easily.
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:20 am
IcecoldATLien….you must be kidding me ? its Eli dude not josh freeman or blain gabart….Man being fan is onething but being so delusional and blind to facts is so illogical….
Atl cannot play well outside dome ….we facing a SB QB…don’t forget that. we know how all our offense weapon wilt when we play good teams.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:21 am
So youre saying 2 will be the push? Because I already said 2 will be the most. If youre that confident why would you go along with my number?
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:21 am
@icecoldatlIEN…SERIOUSLY ? ARE YOU BLIND OR WHAT ? WHAT ABOUT ELI ?? he is SB QB …
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
1:21 am
The Giants make mistakes and can be beaten if the Falcons force those mistakes. But considering the Falcons’ track record outdoors and on grass, I would feel much better about their chances if they were traveling to Dallas. I think Abraham has to dominate and Jason Pierre-Paul has to be neutralized if the Falcons are going to win next week.
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 am
MATTY ICE WILL BE SACKED 3 TIMES….ATL LOSED BY MORE THAN TOUCH DOWN. WANT MORE CLEARER THAN THAT ?
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 am
ATLien, I’m honestly more worried about the Giants offense. Our o line can at least hold off the pass rush long enough for Matty to get rid of the ball if nothing else. But if Grimes doesnt play, and we cant get Hayden back, Cruz and Nicks will have no problem torching our secondary. The only question at that point is, which Eli will come to play?
Sunny
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 am
If anybody here thinks we can go to NY and beat NYG we are just being delusional.
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 am
ohhhYeah, you just lost me there, dude. Ryan is from Philly and played his home games in Boston. Don’t know if you’ve been to Philly or Boston during the winter, but it’s pretty damn cold (see some of those Patriots games past couple of years?). The point is that these are professional. The cold, per se, isn’t the issue. The style and composition of the team is the issue. If it’s a Turf Show Rams-like team built for domes, then playing in crap conditions in cold January is a problem. The Falcons are actually better served outside where running games are critical, and play-action pass works particularly well. I don’t believe the Giants would have much of an advantage if the weather is bad.
DAMON
January 2nd, 2012
1:25 am
Didn’t say “all” the players are from ATL, comprehension is fundamental.
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:26 am
I dont know how its being delusional. G Men have been just as inconsistent, if not moreso, than the Falcons all year long. They just had to play a de-facto division championship game to go 9-7 and get their playoff bid. Id hardly call that an “unbeatable” team my friend
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:27 am
Sunny, what do you mean “it’s Eli”? What is that in response to? What about Eli? Why do you keep saying that? Do you need the helpline phone number, cuz?
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:28 am
DAMON
1:15am
“….I always find that comment rather stupid as though this is a high school team and all the players are from ATL.”
Pretty sure thats EXACTLY what you said. Memory is key
IceColdATLien
January 2nd, 2012
1:33 am
The Giants are a good squad, no question. Eli is a Super Bowl QB, true, but so was Trent Dilfer. As opposed to Drew Brees, I’ll take my chances. I’m also fairly certain that if Mularkey opens up the offense a bit, NYG won’t keep up with the scoring without making a lot of turnovers. That old stadium really isn’t a super-tough place to play. Especially if you jump on them early, the fans will turn on them and be booing by the half!
ohhhhYEAH
January 2nd, 2012
1:33 am
Uh oh ice cold, looks like I embarrassed DAMORON like I did awesompt. He has no respone to my message after I made him look silly
DAMON
January 2nd, 2012
1:34 am
“as though” is the key young man. May I refer you to IceCold 1:24am am=morning