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
? mark
October 14th, 2012
3:17 pm
see the real mat when he’s not protected
Thomas DimiHairGel
October 14th, 2012
3:17 pm
Our OL is being eaten up!!!!
Giants gonna kill us
Eagles gonna kill us
ijonathan
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
Does Turner even look where he’s running?
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
Raiders just playing a tough game………………..Falcons having to earn this one…………..
drew
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
How many times has Matt Ryan had to pick himself up today??? He’s not gonna make it halfway through the season if this keeps up.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
Ryan is getting distroyedddd
? mark
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
what is there to look at?
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:18 pm
Sigh………
It’s last year, all over again.
Can’t wait til january’s choke!
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
3:19 pm
Why challenge?
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:19 pm
It’ll be a close call.
We’ve already been given our 1 right call for the game.
ijonathan
October 14th, 2012
3:19 pm
incomplete…thought I saw a little movement as JJ was going to the turf. We got our one break on the helmet bounce. Not this time.
80sDawg
October 14th, 2012
3:20 pm
@dean- you get tagalongs or thin mints? Maybe samoas?
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:20 pm
The Eagles ain’t gonna kill nobody.
The Giants, Bears, 49ers & Packers???
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:20 pm
Incomplete……great.
More choking.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:21 pm
thissux
October 14th, 2012
3:09 pm
How does this keep happening–these are professionals, yet they always seem to look like shi^ against the crappiest of opponents…is that a player thing or a coaching thing???
_____________________
Neither. It’s an ATL pro team thing.
ijonathan
October 14th, 2012
3:21 pm
Have we ever, ever, ever rushed up and run a play at the line on a questionable call? I can’t remember.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:21 pm
Oh well
Neo
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Julio drops ball
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Hell of a punt.
Tony
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Falcons is loosing this game because of play calling and lack of tackling.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
We deserve to lose this game.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:19 pm
It’ll be a close call.
We’ve already been given our 1 right call for the game.
_______________________
You’re right again. A shock that we had one go our way. Two will never happen.
Thomas DimiHairGel
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Our OL sucks. We’ve got to play Giants, Eagles… Think if we face 49ers in the playoffs?!?!
Matt Ryan will get killed
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:23 pm
Fire someone!!
80sDawg
October 14th, 2012
3:23 pm
U got “Jacked Up”
Neo
October 14th, 2012
3:23 pm
Raiders get fathom calls again…
Thomas DimiHairGel
October 14th, 2012
3:23 pm
We DESERVED to lose to Panthers & Redskins too
dean
October 14th, 2012
3:23 pm
Popcorn and a dad gum candle. I guess the cookies are their next heist
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
You can just feel the McFadden TD run coming……
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
Thomas DimiHairGel
October 14th, 2012
3:22 pm
Our OL sucks. We’ve got to play Giants, Eagles… Think if we face 49ers in the playoffs?!?!
Matt Ryan will get killed
_______________________
Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t talk to me about Playoffs!!!
da pimp
October 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
you slap a bitch enough, she do what you want.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
WTF? LOSs of YARDS
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:24 pm
Neo = moron
Swiss cheese>O-line
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
Anybody think we can get our D-Line to play both ways?
dean
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
No “we” didn’t. ATL is undefeated.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
DAMN;;;;;; got to make that stop
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
No pass rush once again
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
All day to throw…..
Boooooooo!
? mark
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
Palmer can go back and read the paper
The Duke
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
BOOM, what a hit!
80sDawg
October 14th, 2012
3:25 pm
I see two C’Mon Man’s in this one.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
need that interception now………………….
dean
October 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
Swiss..be careful what you wish for
Rip
October 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
And you wonder why ATL is not a NFL football town. But they do have some really nice turf at the Georgia Dome. If you have a football team with no defensive or offensive line and a rubber arm QB, it equals LOSE and fan disappointment, O I forgot some excuses mixed end, I can not wait to hear Matt post game interview. Tell it like it is I palyed very porrly which is my MO
Ted
October 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
Help Wanted: Pass defenders
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
3:26 pm
He has all day!
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:27 pm
Sigh……and booooooo!
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:27 pm
Not getting any pressure.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:27 pm
Four Falcons around him and he still catches it.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:27 pm
So much for field position again