LIVE: Falcons can make it 6-0 before getting a little rest
Michael Turner scored the wining touchdown last week at Washington. (AP photo)
Five games into the season, the Falcons (5-0) already have a 3½ game lead over Tampa Bay (1-3) and a four-game lead over New Orleans (`-4) and Carolina (1-4). They also are one of only two unbeaten teams in the NFL and lead the race for home field advantage through the NFC playoffs.
What does this all mean? Well, not quite nothing. But not nearly everything.
It’s only October, and as impressive as the Falcons have been in many areas — particularly pass offense, pass protection and to so me degree pass defense — they weren’t great in consecutive come-from-behind wins over Carolina and Washington. The biggest issues remain the running game and run defense, which also happen to be the two factors (along with quarterback play) that generally separate the Super Bowl contenders from the also-rans in December and January.
Today’s game against Oakland seems to set up perfectly. The Raiders (1-3) aren’t very good, they can’t run the ball (32nd) and their secondary is horrible. The Falcons also know they have a bye week after today, before going into a potentially difficult three-game stretch (at Philadelphia, home against Dallas, at New Orleans).
Matt Ryan should be able to throw the ball against this team. But at some point, the Falcons need to get their running game on track. Michael Turner had a 13-yard touchdown run in last week’s win at Washington but generally he has struggled this season behind a weak-blocking line.
Just a few bullet points and then I’ll open up the phone lines.
• Linebacker Stephen Nicholas (ankle) and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (groin) were both limited in practice this week but are in the lineup.
• Falcons coach Mike Smith (48-21) can tie Dan Reeves (49-59-1) as the winningest coach in franchise history in only his fifth season.
• Tight end Tony Gonzalez needs one touchdown catch to hit 100 in his career. He has four already this season — previous season totals with the Falcons: 6, 6 and 7 — and had 13 receptions for 123 yards and a TD at Washington.
That’s it for now. The cyber-venting lines are open. I’ll be here if you have any questions.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Earlier blogs from the digital jukebox
• Fan revolts out of control, one even wanted to fight UGA player
• Weekend Predictions: No sacrifices, but Falcons, LSU win
• Video blog: Are Falcons (5-0) really better than before?
• Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for job’
• Al Groh’s problems at Georgia Tech weren’t pure ‘fantasy’
• Falcons are easy highlight in Atlanta’s dark sports weekend
• Short takes: Gonzalez, Bryant and missing RG3 in Falcons’ win
• Braves’ Frank Wren needs to fix good, but not great, team
• Chipper Jones on loss in his finale: ‘Ultimately, I’m to blame’
• Spurrier should take a lesson from Richt on handling criticism
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1,090 comments Add your comment
MTSeats
October 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
someone get MSmith a tissue. wonder how that even-keel is working
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
Maybe Falcons will draft Brian Murray. Why not? Loser QBs tradition with this franchise!
Kyle
October 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
It took 6 weeks but the real Falcons are back.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
Can we get a CHOKE MVP CHANT?
Where you at guys?
And that dumb Pat y. on ESPN wrote an article that CHOKE
should be locked up for the long haul…………..
Yep he should be locked up alright…………..
HA HA
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:41 pm
Still no pass rush
Josh
October 14th, 2012
2:41 pm
@Phil – nope. just a realist. in reality it’s just halftime. don’t overreact. don’t underreact. seems to me that you are a blind hater and troll.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:41 pm
Bi Cri 75 that was cool as hell.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:41 pm
Falcon D has given up too. Do not blame em.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
It’s only a matter of time before McFadden breaks one or two….
Falcants are FRAUDS…………
HA HA
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
Beautiful Catch
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
see the zip palmer has?
Mike "CHOKE" Vick
October 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
Hey CHOKE, Eagles are struggling with the 1-3 Raiders! LMAO
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:42 pm
Boooooo!!!!
Mike "CHOKE" Vick
October 14th, 2012
2:43 pm
Lions I mean
DaView
October 14th, 2012
2:43 pm
of course, birdie apologists will claim this is their Minnesota game. One huge difference is that NINERS have dominated the crappy teams, while the birds are locked into a battle with maybe the worst team in the league.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:43 pm
It is ONLY time until the FALCONS get the ball a score FAST
? mark
October 14th, 2012
2:43 pm
palmer with all the time he needs
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:44 pm
Wrong again, josh…..
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:44 pm
2/7 0n 3rd down……Falcon’s D not dead yet.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
2:45 pm
Falcons just look uninspired.
Sav FAN
October 14th, 2012
2:45 pm
5-1
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
Hey Matt Lice. THROW THE DAMN THING TO TONY GONZALEZ! In the RED jersey. Loser!
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
Josh…you were being paid a compliment! I admit to being a homer..but not a Yes Man
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
That’s the thing falcons can’t score fast because they don’t take deep shots or ryan can’t complete deep shots…all their scoring plays usually be 9 plus plays drives
2 GOOD DOGS
October 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
IF THE FALCONS LOSE TO OAKLAND, I THINK THEY GO 11-5 OR 10-6. THEY LOSE TO THE SAINTS ONCE,THE EAGLES,CAROLINA,AND THE GIANTS. MAYBE ONE MORE. MAYBE DALLAS. THAT SAID THEY LIMP INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND GET HAMMERED AGAIN IN THE FIRST ROUND. RYAN IS WAY TOO INCONSISTENT AND THE RUN JUST ISN’T THERE. I’LL BE AS DISAPPOINTED AS EVERYONE BUT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE. THEY DON’T INSPIRE CONFIDENCE
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:47 pm
We’re not in a class with san fran or the giants…..not even close.
A loss today and we’re even with 4 other times immediately.
Not a very smart team to overlook the Raiders like this.
Who said the Raiders quit in the third? Not seeing it…..
Josh
October 14th, 2012
2:47 pm
sorry, guess I missed the compliment in that …. ???
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
2:48 pm
I have no problem with 5-1…it’s just that this is not the team you expect to give you the loss, especially at home. It is apparent that the team started the bye a week early…very little emotion or fire…really disappointing to follow up two sub-par games with an effort like this so far.
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:48 pm
Teqms, not times
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:48 pm
Or teams…sigh
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
That was funny.
ZinoDawg
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
Wow is it over?
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
HAHAHAHAHHHAHA…………………………………
Ghost of Al Davis
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
mother*********!!!!
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
Blind luck on another poor throw…..
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
Love that bounce. That might be the only way we win this thing.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
2:50 pm
Falcons fixing to take the lead……………………………
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:50 pm
Momentum turns on strange happenings
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
Another terrible Ryan throw…..
Sad.
Booooooo!!
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
Harry!!
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
Julio jones was wideeee open instead ryan stares down roddy
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:51 pm
It is OVER…………………FALCON Haters go watch something else……..THIS game is OVER the Falcons suck right?
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
Harry was the youngest of My Three Sons.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
We’re lucky Ryan got up from that hit.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
Douglas have to make that catch
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
*yawns*
? mark
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
poor poor
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:52 pm
Yeah.
We’re a great team…..
Got news for you.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:53 pm
Just a sorry performance. Couldn’t have come at a worse time. All momentum lost for the bye week if we can’t reverse this garbage.
stizz
October 14th, 2012
2:53 pm
O line getting mauled, especially on the right side. Might be time to switch things up.