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
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:04 pm
RG3> Melt! Make the trade Arthur.. You’ll have to upgrade the QB position to go all the way Sir..
MELT AINT THE ONE GRASSHOPPER!
Oh RG3 is one smart dude.. He’ll get it done with his scholarly mind and arm…Oh did I mention he’s a mobile rocket launcher?
___________________________________________________
The non athletic qb is a thing of the past and will retire with Peyton Manning
To make matters even worse, is the fact that CHOKE is DUMB & UNITELLIGENT along with a weak arm………………….
HA HA HA
Monday Morning QB
January 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
Choke
Super Bowls matter. First Round Playoff games do not. Who in hell hangs their hat on an early round playoff win. Only loser that knows they support an inferior loser that can’t possibly aspire to more.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
“UNINTELLIGENT” but you LOSERS probably missed that
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
Macon bird remembers when he had to a crap outside, because they had no running water 60 years ago…..lol
FAKECLOWNFAILURE
January 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
RIGHT ON @CHOKE…
U ARE HILARIOUS DUDE
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
WOW
The coach firing squad is burning up this morning.
Smitty you are next after this one & done Part III.
HA HA HA
Monday Morning QB
January 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
@ JV
How is 1973 relavent in 2012? There is nobody in the Falcons organization that was around in 1973.
Yo Vince
January 2nd, 2012
12:12 pm
To All Falcon haters… you suck
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:14 pm
@CGD
Macon Bird represents all the CLOWNS that accept mediocrity and that’s why the Saints are
playing for their 2nd superbowl befor Smitty gets a playoff win………….
HA HA HA
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:15 pm
Victor Cruz= The BLUR
jv
January 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
mondy morning your team beat a dead buc, stop beating the lil boys
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
@CGD
It’s also going to be hilarious watching those midget linebackers trying to cover that huge Giant
tight end over the middle.
They will be beaten worse than the Green Bay or Saints game.
HA HA HA
Hey Vinny
January 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
My GIANTS ROCK
colonel
January 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Some teams and their fans need to have the score ran up on them, and the tweetie birds is certainly one of them. I heard their is a new war cry going around in atlanta, I thaw,I thaw I saw a putty kat. tweetie birds should fall down on there knees and thank God they don’t have to face the Saints
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:19 pm
jv
January 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
mondy morning your team beat a dead buc, stop beating the lil boys
________________________________________________
To be exact, the Falcants last 6 games were vs 4 ROOKIES, 1 Four win team & Drew Brees.
Impressive…………….
HA HA HA
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:20 pm
Letter from Vick to Andy Ried.
Mr Reid, I know you took a chance on me, and I showed great promise. However you have to
understand, I am a one trick pony, I never finish, I quit once I get smacked a few times.
You actually designed the defense to beat me back in my glory days, but I am a has been,
hardly ever was, and a coach killer to boot, now you know that, or you should have. You beat me
consistently with Donovan McNabb at QB, and now you think I could take the team farther than he
did? No, I always back up organizations, just like I could not match what Chris Chandler did in
Atlanta. no, I will always collapse under the weight of expectations…..but my loyal fan base will
rally…wait until next year, guys have been saying it since 2001. .
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:21 pm
4 Rookies? Well, one was the great Josh Freeman…..I will take the rookies.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:21 pm
@colonel
That was so funny when Brees broke the record and all the Falcants and their fans were crying like little girls
Double Zero Eight
January 2nd, 2012
12:22 pm
Without a pass rush, the Falcons are doomed.
Let’s hope the secondary does a better job
of tackling or it will be a long day.
It’s time for Ryan to lead the team to a playoff
win (it’s now or never).
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:22 pm
Only thing that Matters- Falcons in Playoffs, Feebles saying Wait until next year.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:23 pm
Oh look who just crawled from his hidden bunker with his barbie doll – Mrs Charlie.
You shouldn’t even show your face after QUITTING on your team, then hide in another blog until the heat cooled down, then lie about having something else to do…………………
COWARD
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:25 pm
Double Zero Eight
January 2nd, 2012
12:22 pm
Without a pass rush, the Falcons are doomed.
Let’s hope the secondary does a better job
of tackling or it will be a long day.
It’s time for Ryan to lead the team to a playoff
win (it’s now or never).
______________________________________
Because he is a LOSER and QUITTER
Add that with not being INTELLIGENT.
HA HA HA
B'Red
January 2nd, 2012
12:25 pm
Michael Turner will not get 30 yards rushing against the Giants.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:25 pm
0-3 In The Playoffsssssssssssss
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:26 pm
COWARD
Mrs Charlie
COWARD
All you need to know about CHOKE. Charlie knew he would lose
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
Ryan was much more intelligent than MV7, Josh Freeman, and Cam Newton x2 this season….but that is right, Ryan only beats losers.
JSS
January 2nd, 2012
12:29 pm
Larry Bedford Forrest…
All of that palabra of innuendo and double talk, and then you have the gall to try say someone provokes you. You only come on these blogs only when either can run your tinge racial and social agenda. Or when you think those 6 clown princes of blogging are here holding of their on-line Reich parties masquerading as Falcons fandom.
You are like the clown who stands in the mob and hollers for retribution. But suddenly become the meek mouse when the war crime tribunals commence. So by inference, are you trying to say exactly what about Jeff Schultz? Why don’t you be a grown man and stand behind your thoughts? Why be a little boy Larry? I don’t hide behind a keyboard, I made my identity known to bloggers long ago during a cause. Oh, but that would have require some actual human empathy, no wonder you weren’t or were unwilling to help!
So, “Mr. Positive,” all corpses started rolling in the grave yard, when you tried call someone else “negative!” Your 2012 is starting like every other year, tied to waist to a team of folly and built on a house of cards!
Oh by the way, your so-called “professional QB” who has thrown a Pick 6 in each of his playoff appearances and compounds it by being the first QB in league history to do the aforementioned and having giving up a safety too…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:29 pm
COWARD
COWARD
COWARD
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:31 pm
@JSS
That’s funny
HA HA HA
Sid
January 2nd, 2012
12:31 pm
Falcons Offense
Points 7th Yards 10th Pass 8th Rush 17th
Giants Offense
Points 9th Yards 8th Pass 5th Rush 32nd
*********************************************************
Falcons Defense
Points 18th Yards 12th Pass 20th Rush 6th
Giants Defense
Points 25th Yards 27th Pass 29th Rush 19th
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:32 pm
I mean who throws a safety in the playoffs?
Only an IDIOT does that.
HA HA HA
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:32 pm
JSS, so somebody else noticed you brown-nose Shultz? I love how the blog opened yesterday where you asked for Shultzes reaffirmation that you do not brown nose, the Shultz responding to put your mind at ease. LOL. Can’t make this stuff up.
colonel
January 2nd, 2012
12:33 pm
I suggest that tweetie birds learn how to play football, get you heads out of your azzs, and stop blaming officials for your p–s poor football ball team. Your teams can only beat up on deaf and blind clubs, and still you think they are good, get a handbook and read up on how to play football. Maybe the falcons can make their own lombardi trophy and put in their out house they call the atlanta dome.
Michael
January 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
Mr. Charlie, do you have something against minorities? Are you a racist? Whyt are you always on here making derogatory statements about black people? What’s your deal man?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:37 pm
The 1st qb in NFL History to have a safety?
Are you serious?
Intelligence obviously was not what got him into Boston College.
It wasn’t his athleticism either, so what the heck is it?
HA HA HA
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:37 pm
GIANTS 45 falcons 17
Arthur get your short list out cause you got work to do starting Sunday night!
Rich Mckay, Greyhound is ready for ya…8 years since a playoff win?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Michael
January 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
Mr. Charlie, do you have something against minorities? Are you a racist? Whyt are you always on here making derogatory statements about black people? What’s your deal man?
_______________________________________
BINGO
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Charlie has small feet and short…..lmao
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Jeff doesn’t allow racism on his blogs, so this cannot be true.
HA HA HA
Irving Johansen
January 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Dearest Tony, please stay one more year….I’ll have your baby!!
Sincerely, Matty Ice
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:40 pm
Charlie is Rush Limbaugh & David Dukes…………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:41 pm
Irving Johansen
January 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Dearest Tony, please stay one more year….I’ll have your baby!!
Sincerely, Matty Ice
___________________________________
Oh damn that’s funny…………….
HA HA HA
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 pm
Mister Charlie is a dinosaur! A shape shifter from times gone by.. A 20th century living museum piece..
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 pm
Am I the only one who noticed how CMR talks about how MR2 being a choker due to his playoff record, then his favorite QB gets his “dream team” then actually says he “collapsed under the weight of expectations”. DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, and does not even make it to the playoffs
Am I the only one who sees the irony? Karma?
Collapsed under the weight of expectatiions….REALLY, DID HE JUST REALLY?
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 pm
Michael, what are you talking about? If people are going to say bad thing about my QB who just happens to be white, I have the absolute right to say anything bad about any QB I wish, whatever color they happen to be.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 pm
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:42 pm
Am I the only one who noticed how CMR talks about how MR2 being a choker due to his playoff record, then his favorite QB gets his “dream team” then actually says he “collapsed under the weight of expectations”. DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, and does not even make it to the playoffs
Am I the only one who sees the irony? Karma?
Collapsed under the weight of expectatiions….REALLY, DID HE JUST REALLY?
____________________________________________
When are you going to make your point?
That just sounds like a guy that SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
HA HA HA
Irving Johansen
January 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
Hey, bottom line, the FALCONS are in the Playoffs!!! Win or Lose, they’re at the dance!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:45 pm
Michael, what are you talking about? If people are going to say bad thing about my QB who just happens to be white, I have the absolute right to say anything bad about any QB I wish, whatever color they happen to be.
___________________________________
Sounds like a guilty conscience…………..
HA HA HA
CGD..
January 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
@Michael, you cant reason with Mr cobbwebs… His mind is distorted and under a strong delusion. He and his elk are in for huge surprise when they cross over.. See they been hunkered down in their segregated lodges serving their master and being lied too their entire life…….
Mr Charlie
January 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
Funny how all you guys try and make fun of what you think I look like, what I do, who I am, and even my hand size.. You just hate it when I play the same game as you.