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
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:53 pm
And mo’ can leave you just as quick
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
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?
***********
today, pretty much so there bub……
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
Raiders always play tough in games but they not good at winning as their record shows…………………………………
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
And mo’ can leave you just as quick as it arrived
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
sorry for that…
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
2:55 pm
it is just 13 – 10 and a lot of time left……………….
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:55 pm
Fire Mike Smith!!
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:56 pm
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
Raiders always play tough in games but they not good at winning as their record shows…………………………………
____________________
They look pretty good at winning so far today.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
2:56 pm
Come on folks! It ain’t like the Falcons are playing Georgia!
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:56 pm
Another zone run…plus the penalty and there goes the flip of field position
Ghost of Al Davis
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
The Raiders hometown newspaper doesn’t proclaim them as a great team 5 games into the season
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
Thank you 55!
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
PHIL…………………tell me ONE…ONE….ONE Championship Team that has had an EZ walk to the Championship? Is there 1 team that didn’t have a game or 2 in doubt during their Championship season?
Check the 72 Dolphins 85 BEARS and they had games they had to win LATE too.
F..K you Falcon Haters………….
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
Playin a little D
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
Told yahs……………………………………..
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
FINALLY!
Now punch it in!!!!!!!!!!!
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
Abe!
Better not screw this up….
Ray Edwards
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
I’m back from my 13-month vacation!
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
I wish he would have gotten in.
We might struggle to push this over.
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
2:58 pm
Is that Ray Edwards who made a play? When did the Falcons get him.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
2:58 pm
WOW. That was needed
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:58 pm
Third straight game in doubt…..serious doubt.
Try again.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
Now watch the lousy refs try to screw us out of it. We are ATL after all.
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
Ray had a nice tackle in the first half….crushed some bum.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
Can’t believe we actually got a fair call.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:59 pm
Rankin Smith’s grave just got a lil Greener……..He sh.t is burial suit. LOL
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
Like i said, hope we don’t scew this up.
I suspect we might.
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
Bama’s O-Line is better than either of these Teams.
GritzBlitz
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
lol…Was he throwing to someone in the stands?
? mark
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
why can’t we just run it in?
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
2:57 pm
I wish he would have gotten in.
We might struggle to push this over.
_____________________
My thoughts exactly.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
Need a TD here.
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:00 pm
And why not run it on 1st and goal from 2?
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
As i was saying…..
Boooooooooo!!
jerry
October 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
The NFL has turned into a BS league of endless reviews, penalties, commercials, timeouts, and is getting hard to watch.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
We can’t score from the 2 yard line its like madden
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:02 pm
We’re still gonna pass it in.
We can be at the inch line and its gonna be a toss
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:02 pm
THat’s bad. Falcons have to settle for FG try after TO.
dean
October 14th, 2012
3:02 pm
Sigh
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:02 pm
Embarrassing
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:02 pm
No excuse for this, with backs the size of Snelling and Turner’s.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
3:03 pm
PHIL 72 Dolphins record and scores. Get back to me.
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 17, 1972 at Kansas City Chiefs W 20–10 1–0
2 September 24, 1972 Houston Oilers W 34–13
3 October 1, 1972 at Minnesota Vikings W 16–14
4 October 8, 1972 at New York Jets W 27–17
5 October 15, 1972 San Diego Chargers W 24–10
6 October 22, 1972 Buffalo Bills W 24–23
7 October 29, 1972 at Baltimore Colts W 23–0
8 November 5, 1972 at Buffalo Bills W 30–16
9 November 12, 1972 New England Patriots W 52–0
10 November 19, 1972 New York Jets W 28–24
11 November 27, 1972 St. Louis Cardinals W 31–10
12 December 3, 1972 at New England Patriots W 37–21
13 December 10, 1972 at New York Giants W 23–10
14 December 16, 1972 Baltimore Colts W 16–0
Had to go for IT to get the MOJO but the points are OK too.
ramblinwreck80
October 14th, 2012
3:03 pm
this is CRAP Falcons offense…CRAP!!!
Mike "CHOKE" Vick
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
Will we ever learn? When you run drop back to hand the ball to the runningback the defense has enough time to get penetration. QB sneak would’ve worked there! Dumb azz coaching staff!
Ivan
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
Ive been screaming for years now……..
FIX THIS POWDER PUFF OFFENSIVE LINE!!!!!! THEY CANT EVEN GET AN INCH!!!!!
ab initio
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
No identity what-so-ever.
That was sad.
Falcons are not playing the kind of football that earns respect.
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
Any questions?
Falcons: Play 60!
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
First down at the 2 and you can’t score ….. what the heck???
Sav FAN
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
3 points
jerry
October 14th, 2012
3:04 pm
Space your OL wide on the goal and give the rb a place to go, idiots.