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
Dave
October 14th, 2012
4:32 pm
5150 UOAD….please keep pulling against the Falcons, because we know how rabid you are about the turds of Tech, so please keep pulling against the Falcons you buttheaded loser
SIX and O Falcons
October 14th, 2012
4:33 pm
The AFC West got slammed by the Falcons.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:35 pm
DAVE………….are you STUPID?…………CAN you READ?…………..what a Moe RON you are…………..I pilled for the Falcons………….You must be a State of Georgia Government High School Grad…..you can’t READ and COMPREHEND a simple post.
Billyho55
October 14th, 2012
4:35 pm
5150,
I APPRECIATE YOUR ZEAL BUT SOMETIMES IT’S NOT EVEN WORTH TRYING TO REASON WITH SOME ON HERE!
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
4:35 pm
@Billyho55
So good to be around a real fan! They get angry at me when I dont bash the home team…but all these bandwagon fake angus fan want back on now! In the famous words of Mike Singletary….we dont need them we can win without them…..the reason the culture in the ATL is so bad is because if fake angus fans like these that always are negative nancys on the blog! They only want to talk bad about the home team….however when we win they all back in again? Stay the fudge away! If you part if the Nation u swim no matter how bad the sharks are! Like i said no easy game from week to week as Green Bay who has lost to two rookies! NO EASY GAMES!!! We are the Nation and we dont want half angus fans! Stay away or get on Chokes team! Its easier to spot you from a mile way! Ir should I say fromm 55 yards away! We RISE UP!!!!$!
Charleston Jacket
October 14th, 2012
4:35 pm
Glad we have a week off before Philly. Tough stretch coming up so the break is coming at a good time. Can’t wait for the match up with the Eagles – should be a rough physical game. Will tell us alot about our team going into the heart of the schedule.
Offense will be okay – had an off day – but will regroup.
THWG
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
4:36 pm
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:30 pm
dWag Nole…..IF you can WATCH the Game on TV and Post on-line then WHY couldn’t you watch HISTORY on-line watch the game and still post about the game?
65 years ago today Gen. Chuck Yeager broke the “Sound Barrier” in the the Bell X-1 and today a HUMAN tried to to the same without a CRAFT other than his Body and a pressurized suit. If you can’t understand that them you need to say a Drunk Fake Blonde White Chick College & Plantation FAN.
_________________
You can–but don’t beat everybody else over the head with it. Obviously you overdid it–thus eliciting Shultz’s warning. In any event, I had no problem with it personally; I was simply giving you some free grief for insulting my choice of colleges–and questioning my loyalty to the Falcons. I’m as much a Falcons fan as I am a “Dwag” and Nole fan! Always have been.
Ryder
October 14th, 2012
4:37 pm
6&0 is 6&0 but let us ask ourselves, what’s the one thing this team does very well?
Stevereeno
October 14th, 2012
4:38 pm
I said the Falcons aren’t REALLY number 3 on the power rankings, and todays game proves it. Yes it’s a win,….and I’ll take it,….but we need to be nailing down these games with a larger score marginm Squeekers aren’t going to take us deep into the playoffs.
Matt "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 14th, 2012
4:39 pm
3 picks and he STILL won!
AND he makes Choke vomit — how awesome is that!
It takes a lot to make Choke sick. Even the thought of bludgeoning innocent pets to death doesn’t bother Choke!
HA HA
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
4:40 pm
Over time in the philly game!
Billyho55
October 14th, 2012
4:41 pm
Answer This,
TRUER WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN READ BY THESE EYES! I HATE IT FOR THEIR WIVES/GIRLFRIENDS…I GUESS WHEN THEY HAVE “THEIR WEEK” THESE FOOLS RUN AND HIDE TO THE TV AND KINDA BRUSH EM OFF TIL THEIR “BETTER!” A FAN OF A TEAM REQUIRES A COMMITMENT SOME JUST DON’T HAVE!
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
4:41 pm
As I noted earlier in the blog, this was a HUGE win in so many ways–especially with the bye week approaching. And while the fact that we won ugly isn’t particularly comforting, it is what good teams do. Two weeks now to be thankful, rest, recuperate, and clean up the messy stuff from the last few games.
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
4:42 pm
@ steeviereno
Correct me if i am wrong do you have to win by 15 or 1 in the playoffs?
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:42 pm
OK dWag Nole……..I just want people to CARE about History & Politics and much as a Child’s Game played for millions of dollars.
georgianabulltiger
October 14th, 2012
4:42 pm
Ah yes…once again I get to read the garbage by JSS and “choke” and gloat.
I love gloating.
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
4:44 pm
Nice job Dog Killer 3rd and 31 in OT LOL!!!!
georgianabulltiger
October 14th, 2012
4:44 pm
Ryder:
Win.
Billyho55
October 14th, 2012
4:46 pm
HAVE A GREAT WEEK FELLAS! GOTTA SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE OL’ LADY! SHE’S HAVING “HER TIME” THIS WEEK!
C.O.M.M.I.T.M.E.N.T.
SIX and O Falcons
October 14th, 2012
4:48 pm
Enter your comments here
treaddawg
October 14th, 2012
4:48 pm
Didn’t realize Lions and Eagles in OT.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
4:49 pm
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:42 pm
OK dWag Nole……..I just want people to CARE about History & Politics and much as a Child’s Game played for millions of dollars.
________________________
Nothing in the world wrong with that, 5150. Of course, you certainly did celebrate that “Child’s Game” victory on the blog a whole lot more exhuberantly than you celebrated that jump.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:50 pm
dWag Nole did you see the link about the Supreme Court trying to take our right to sell products on E-Bay in a yard Sale of sell you Car? It will include your Game tickets to Movie, Theater and Sporting Events too. The COURT is deciding IF we OWN Personal Property after we purchase it. people are more about a GAME than OUR RIGHTS……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxZ1g3-2qKU&feature=share
This should SCARE EVERY AMERICAN about OUR FREEDOM to OWN property.
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
4:51 pm
Kudos to you and the lady BillyHo55….good to be around the Nation!
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
Lions 26 Dog Killer 23
Terry
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
Enter your comments here
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
I see that the Vick-led Eagles have just blown another one. Guess we won’t see MCR on here any more. Remember, he’s the coward and liar who posted last week that Vick had led the Eagles to a W over the Steelers.
Terry
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
Mike choke, HA HA HA
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
Guess who just lost ???
Baby Punting
October 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
Oops GREAT Ron Mexico could not pull this one out of his butt.
Once Recent Reader
October 14th, 2012
4:53 pm
Sorry Choke . . .but maybe you should stop calling Philadelphia wins on this blog . …before they win . .or should I say lose. You don’t seem to be helping the Eagles . ..or Mr. Vick.
Tucker Boy
October 14th, 2012
4:53 pm
Am I the only one in America who is totally sick of all the pink on the uniforms, field, refs, coaches, and everything else on the screen. It’s totally out of control. Put a pink ribbon on the field.
Once Recent Reader
October 14th, 2012
4:56 pm
However Choke . . . . you can keep calling Falcon losses . . .and “Matt Choke Ryan” scenarios on this blog as long as you like. That also doesn’t seem to be going so well for you this year. (Hopefully that applies to Playoffs too . . .if they get there. Looking good so far.)
Matt "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 14th, 2012
4:56 pm
Choke can’t type with tears in her eyes. Boo hoo.
HA HA
eddie willers
October 14th, 2012
4:57 pm
Am I the only one in America who is totally sick of all the pink
No you’re not. Its getting silly. What next….wear brown for prostate cancer?
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
4:50 pm
dWag Nole did you see the link about the Supreme Court trying to take our right to sell products on E-Bay in a yard Sale of sell you Car? It will include your Game tickets to Movie, Theater and Sporting Events too. The COURT is deciding IF we OWN Personal Property after we purchase it. people are more about a GAME than OUR RIGHTS……
_____________________
Saw your tease on it, but didn’t want to look. Was afraid it would depress me. And in light of how the Falcons were playing at the time, I didn’t need that.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
I like pink.
I think ith’s pretty!
Tucker Boy
October 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
Someone back me up on the pink stuff. If it was a single Sunday I could maybe understand, but to get bombarded with it for the entire month of October is annoying as hell.
Matt "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 14th, 2012
4:59 pm
Mike = 3-3 and has murdered 317 pets.
Matt = 6-0 and has murdered 0 pets.
HA HA
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
5:01 pm
eagle’s lost CHOKE …got a love it
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
5:02 pm
don’t jink urself willards
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 14th, 2012
5:03 pm
6-0 + Eagles loss + bye week = no Choke for a while!
HA HA!
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
5:03 pm
Matt Ryan? Matt Schub? or MV7? Who EXACTLY is looking better playing QB?
musicgeekmusic
October 14th, 2012
5:03 pm
Matt Ryan seemed overconfident today, forcing balls into tight coverage, including triple coverage on the pick on the goal line with Julio. 3rd pick was just a matter
of being hit while throwing. Got to get Turner involved more. Matt is convinced he can carry the team and maybe he can, but having a good run game will make his job easier.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
5:04 pm
Tucker Boy
October 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
Someone back me up on the pink stuff. If it was a single Sunday I could maybe understand, but to get bombarded with it for the entire month of October is annoying as hell.
_____________________
Hey, “Choke” backed you up. Said he likes pink and thinks pink ith pretty. Can’t get much better support than that.
drew
October 14th, 2012
5:07 pm
6-0 won’t make any difference to Choke…the reality of it all is just too much for him.
Stevereeno
October 14th, 2012
5:10 pm
@Answer this – Sure 1, but it’s got no insurance policy. Gotta win it with zero question. But I’ll take it, as I said.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 14th, 2012
5:14 pm
5150 you crack me up, love your comments!
AlanFalcon
October 14th, 2012
5:18 pm
MLB and the OL are really weak, if we are going the distance we need some corrections if not we will fail as we have in the past, however I’ll take the wins anyway we can get them !!!!!!!!!!!!!
AlanFalcon
October 14th, 2012
5:21 pm
5150UOAD, you are one sick SOB.