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
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:23 pm
@stizz- what is happening is the same mantra the Falcons have lived by since’66. Play to the level of your opponent! I’ve been watching this for the past 40 years!
_____________________
It’s been happening for 46 years.
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
Babineaux is having a good game
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
LOL! all the so called “fans” on here, y’all are hilarious!
Jimmy Crack
October 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
We are playing down to the competition, but it is only a matter of time.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:30 pm
Guess it doesn’t have to be holding
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
1:30 pm
We will still win.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:30 pm
Falcons’ D is making Raiders look silly.
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:26 pm
It’s games like this that give reason to why no one takes the Falcons serious as an undefeated team!
*********
Exactly. What idiot would take a team that’s won so little in 46 years seriously?
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Defense not playing bad,, Matt Ryan is in a coma,, Wake up Matt! The game has started LOL
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
WTG defense!
Yup, them Raider boys are gunnin for us… being unbeaten is like being a gunfighter. You get the rep and you get the challengers.
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
We are going to win this game, it’s just a matter of Ryan and the offense getting it together. They haven’t looked the same since the Chargers game.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Falcons need to try running so ryan can calm down
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Raiders should be ahead by 2 td’s.
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
that drunk just hit a 52 yarder
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:32 pm
This game so far: 6 drives, three turnovers, 1 FG, 1 missed FG, 1 punt. … Art, it ain’t.
the fix is in
October 14th, 2012
1:32 pm
or someone is “Choking”
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:33 pm
@ojacketfan
gosh man do you see it?! These so called fans think we supposed to not face adversity? So tired of having to defend the Nation week in and week out! Look all you fake fans…if you not going to be a real fan and stick with the good and bad please join sides with Choke and be bitter!
Ain't as good as they said
October 14th, 2012
1:33 pm
Ryan, Turner, Rodgers, et.al.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:34 pm
I’ve been a fan since ‘66. And am enjoying this despite the naysayers. It’s been bad in the past. Never know when the success will ebb.
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:34 pm
Finished for the day until the end of the game…sick of these fake angus fans. I am out!
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:34 pm
Wow……………Raiders got 3 on us…………….Falcons will wake up now and start the massacre ……………………………………..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
1:34 pm
42-54 VS 1ST 6 teams and still struggling………..
Oakland? Really?
HA HA
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:35 pm
alright here we go again
dean
October 14th, 2012
1:35 pm
Just ducking in to say ATL is-exasperating-so far today.
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:35 pm
Some of you brainless idiots don’t seem to get it….
It’s great to win games against crap teams, BUT IF YOU CAN’T BEAT GREAT TEAMS WHEN IT MATTERS (see the braves, hawks, bulldogs), then what’s the point in the end? Playing like this is why you lose against the real tough teams.
We do it constantly, consistently and across most all of our teams. You realize this, right?
THAT’S why i get pissed at efforts like this. They carry over.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
CHOKE is going to get TKO’d in this game……
HA HA
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
I still think we win,, but like i said before kickoff,,, it aint going to be as easy as everyone thinks,,, Go Birds,
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
throw another interception we might be macarooony
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
Ryan has only thrown more than 2 ints only once in his career.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
yawning here………………….just wait a little bit…………………touchdown coming for the Falcons
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:36 pm
Ryan has been told which color jerseys to throw to
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Take a Chill Pill Phil LOL!!
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Phil, maybe, just maybe you play up to really good teams and down to really bad teams. If you don’t like the Falcons then GTFO.
GritzBlitz
October 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
What team do you like?
ramblinwreck80
October 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
UGLY game so far…Falcon players all week denying the “TRAP” game scenario…well so far looks like they didn’t take their comments seriously…or the Raiders…
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Ryan is actually making the game harder than it is
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
1:38 pm
Thank goodness my life has more meaning that if a team wins or loses
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:38 pm
Nope, the first quarter won’t be in either teams’ highlight film.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:38 pm
The Falcons are just toying with the Raiders……………………watch n learn boys………………………..
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
hope they give them the burner
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
Did I hear that commercial right? Urging prostate self-exams??
buzzin mycrotch
October 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
TURNER DA BURNERSS TURnING IT UP ON DEM RAIDERS D
Silver Fox
October 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
It’s amazing how soon you “band wagon Fans” get nervous and jump ship. The analogy of rats deserting a sinking ship comes to mind….except, so far, we have only sprung a leak.
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Maybe this is just how the Falcons win. We play well enough to win. And that’s well enough for me. In the NFL, you don’t blow teams out no matter their record, or it’s rare to see a huge blowout win.
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Turner running with authority,, thats a recipe for success,, and did Matt Ryan just say Joe Frazier at the line…LOL
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
Arch, don’t think you should say “jacking around”
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
Right, Mike…..keep kidding yourself.
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
got harry going now
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
Julio looking good!
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
I think Ryan now 11 for 11 (2 to the wrong team)