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
buzzin mycrotch
October 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
MATT RYAN STARTING TO SLING THAT THAMG, IT WAS ONLY A MATER OF TIME
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
here comes turner
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ya know you are correct Mike, most games i would guess are decided by a touchdown or less.. and for the love of god quit running Turner wide at the goal line.
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
Attaboy, Roddy!
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
TOUCHDOWN!!! There it goes!!!
Ol'JacketFan
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
Roddy!
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ryan was 7-for-7 on that drive.
Ivan
October 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ryan is back in synch
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
Nice protection and good patience
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
And now?
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
BallGame!! just kidding.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
Toss it to TG
TROTTINGHOME
October 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
only 2 inc are interceptions
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
We turned the ball over twice and still winning. That’s the sign of a good team. Good teams know how to face adversity.
Des Wurham
October 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Or Roddy White
EL-Boogey
October 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Glad we went back to the running game to settle Ryan down. We forget to do that at times. Need to do more to keep defenses honest.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Told yah……………………..fairweather fans, shakin my head out here…………………………………..
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Ryan now 12-for-12 in game (2 to wrong team).
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
Mike, you again kid yourself.
We lose against great teams playing like this.
Surely you know it. Then again, you seem particularly thick-skulled.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
The positive impact–physically and psychologically–of a win today cannot be overstated. Going in to a bye week with an undefeated record would be HUGE. The Falcons traditionally perform poorly in high-stakes games–as they have to start this game. But they also don’t traditionally start 5-0, so let’s continue to hope this season will FINALLY be different–especially for those of us who have suffered with their ineptitude for nearly a half-century.
Oh yeah–TD Roddy White!
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
Idiots you say Phil? Lol. Now you a fan again….weak
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
Nice drive… nursing the gold mine again.
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
get your falcon kool-aid here fellas …………………….
TrishaDishawareagle
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
Ok were settled down, got the lead..things looking good! Lets go Falcons!
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
CBS commercials too damn much.
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
BTW — Raiders didn’t have an interception this season before this game.
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
LOL… yeah, I guess we’ll take that
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
So MCR,, you were saying LOL!
The Duke
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
Nice drive for the home team.
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
BTW…..every week I consider every team a “great team”….this the NFL when you fake angus fans realize that every Sunday you play a good team…regardless of the record!
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
Well guess what Phil, IF NOT for those two turnovers, we’re probably up 21-0 right now. If the Falcons don’t turn the ball over, they are damn hard to beat. Hell, we’re hard to beat even when we do turn it over.
Whadda Ya Know?
October 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
Ok, the Falcons have settled down and scored…back on track. Now the defense needs to take one to the house on Palmer.
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
Right, Mike.
Adversity.
Like in January when NY stuffed that adversity right down our throats.
Is that what you mean?
Superbowl or Bust
October 14th, 2012
1:48 pm
about time for the Falcon defense to pick the ball off and Ryan and the offense to score another touchdown…………………….
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:49 pm
Nice whiff by Spoon
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:49 pm
If, Mike.
If.
Not how you win, relying on if.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
Idiots you say Phil? Lol. Now you a fan again….weak
____________________
Hey, you said you gone ’til game’s end. Can’t trust anyone anymore.
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
The D line is so aggresive that on running plays, we miss the carrier in favor of smooshing the QB…
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Look at the Raiders’ games this season. They were close going into halftime, they crumble in the 3rd. Go look at the stats.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
He is about jump 38 miles…….it is on Discovery channel too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrIxHhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrIxH6DToXQ&feature=g-sptl&cid=inp-hs-bul6DToXQ&feature=g-sptl&cid=inp-hs-bul
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
Robinson is usually a sure tackler. What’s up with him today?
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
Settled down, eh?
Mike Franklin
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
Raiders don’t look like a one-win team. Knew that coming in…
LOL at the Aints
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
Holding
RON MEXICO
October 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
BREAKING NEWS:
I OWN A DOG
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
1:52 pm
All raiders have is mcfadden…stop him!
80sFalcon
October 14th, 2012
1:52 pm
Robinson is whiffing a bunch today
Jeff Schultz
October 14th, 2012
1:52 pm
Falcons giving up way too many big runs but Raiders killing themselves with penalties.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
1:52 pm
Mike
October 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
CBS commercials too damn much.
____________________
Co-damn-sign!!! Their greed is unfathomable. CBS=Commercial Broadcasting System.
phil
October 14th, 2012
1:53 pm
Looking settled down for sure!!