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
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
3:49 pm
All they got to do is keep em out of that endzone and we 6 – 0 baby !
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
4th & 1
kerryb
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
Pathetic pass defense
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
As i was saying……not over.
Boooooooo!
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
He just let him go.
dean
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
Free football anyone?
cybo
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
People . This is the NFL
All games arent easy Geez
Can you just be happy.
Check all superbowl champs and see what the week by week games were like
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
FRAUDSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
LOSERSSS
HA HA
Mableton Falcon
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
Which team sucks the most?
Without the sucky Raiders, we would be getting buried today.
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
Well,, 5 and 1 aint bad.
shun
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
how come the annoucers know so little about the teams they cover unless its new york green bay or a team like that
kerryb
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
No tackling
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
October 14th, 2012
3:45 pm
Art Blank coaching Smitty again…..
HA HA
__________________________
Likely the ONLY time we’ll ever agree. Blank needs to keep his smarmy azz in the owner’s box.
treaddawg
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
they gotta work on their coverage assignments and tackling wow
KenDawg
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
Boy do we need a bye week!
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
Put in fresh DEs!
ijonathan
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
Good thing JSS isn’t on here…he would rightly be roasting Decoud today
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
WE CANNOT TACKLE PERIOD. We are making sub par receivers look great!
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:51 pm
Are we settled down yet, blind homers?
Huh?
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
3:52 pm
I heard this once……………………..Winning by 1 point is still a WIN.
Mableton Falcon
October 14th, 2012
3:52 pm
Is we lose Asante, it’s all over for us.
He seems OK though.
Walker T
October 14th, 2012
3:52 pm
DawgNole- please don’t encourage him (”Choke”)
kerryb
October 14th, 2012
3:52 pm
They left 40 sec on the clock
Falcons: Play 60!
October 14th, 2012
3:52 pm
there ya go Falcons, that’s how you score from the 2 yardline ………
bigdwarf
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
ive never seen so many anti falcons fans,go and support some 1 else will you
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
It was over, right?
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
Pass rush pass rush
ramblinwreck80
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
thanks “D”…you gave us the lead…and now you’re going to give it back…SHEESH!!!
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
crap………………looks like OT
kerryb
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
And 3 time outs.
Mableton Falcon
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
5150.
Yea but we can’t dream of the Superbowl after a game like this.
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Gawd, I love my Falcs but both the O and D have been very frustrating today. Guess we need that bye… spa time.
ijonathan
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
So Atlanta called the timeout down by the goal line??
Sav FAN
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Thats the way a Defense is supposed to play in the last 2 min-Now it’s the Ice Mans to lose
Sid
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
the defense is gassed because of this sorry offense.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Come on CHOKE you are good for one more pick……..
You can do it…….
I have confidence in you…………..
HA HA
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Too much celebrating by Falcons’ D after that pick-six. Raiders drive 80 yds in 8 plays to tie it. 20-20 with :40 left.
FalconUGAFan
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
calm down…phillis
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Dont throw no pick Matt…………………………………………..
Falcons65
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Falcons played this game like they were fat and happy, which will usually get you beat.
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
WE WIN!!
Wait…..what?
guest
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Why are Falcons fans so vehemently ANTI Falcon??????
Thomas DimiHairGel
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Ryan is gonna throw an INT
Janakowski kicks game winning FG
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
phil
October 14th, 2012
3:53 pm
It was over, right?……….You and CHOKE said it was OVER after 5 minutes from the start of the game. you A…Hole.
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
3:54 pm
Mike Smith got schooled by some guy named Dennis Allen today.
He is over-matched on the side-lines.
Game in & Game out.
Our talent makes up for his Coaching.
Sav FAN
October 14th, 2012
3:55 pm
Enter your comments here
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
3:55 pm
cybo
October 14th, 2012
3:50 pm
People . This is the NFL
All games arent easy Geez
Can you just be happy.
Check all superbowl champs and see what the week by week games were like
_________________________
Happy about what? 46 years w/o a championship? Struggling w/ a heavy underdog?
Walker T
October 14th, 2012
3:55 pm
I hope the Raiders play Panther 2 minute defense
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
3:55 pm
Can’t put that on the D-line. they played well today. However, our secondary sux. And cannot emphasize sux enough. If there were a land called SUX, our secondary would certainly be it’s leaders! At least for today’s performance
Brian Vangorder
October 14th, 2012
3:55 pm
you clowns still suck with out me.HAHA