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
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:22 pm
Falcons moving at will early. Then Matt Ryan starts throwing the ball to guys in white uniforms! What a bum. If Saints get within two games of Falcons the division will be forfeited. This carpola stinks. Big time!
MTSeats
October 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
one bad start is an aberration, 3 is a trend
atlfalconsfan0125
October 14th, 2012
2:23 pm
Lets see the second half adjustments.
CamiloAtlanta
October 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
The Falcons think the bye started last Monday. Shameful, glad we got spanked to put things in perspective. We look good, smell bad, for sure.
Mike "CHOKE" Vick
October 14th, 2012
2:24 pm
Hey guys, I’m a TURNOVER machine! Fumble, interception, you name it!
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
Hard to adjust incompetence, which is what they APPEAR to be today
GritzBlitz
October 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
Billyho55
Press that little key next to the “A” on your keyboard.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:22 pm
Falcons moving at will early. Then Matt Ryan starts throwing the ball to guys in white uniforms! What a bum. If Saints get within two games of Falcons the division will be forfeited. This carpola stinks. Big time!
_____________________
“This carpola stinks.”
It’s CRAPOLA, dummy. And yes, it does stink.
Matt "asphyxiate" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
2:27 pm
Well seems like the blueprint on the falcons is out. Expect dogfights the rest of the season…and more losses than we could’ve imagined after a great start.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:27 pm
Six points behind a horrible Raider team at home! Better hold off on those Super Bowl reserrvations. Total BS. No matter what the apologists contend!
Billyho55
October 14th, 2012
2:28 pm
WEREN’T WE READING ALL THIS BS AT HALF OF KC GAME? HOW DID THAT ONE TURN OUT FELLAS!
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
2:28 pm
Fake angus Fans! Lol tired of you all! Anyway the Raiders blow in the 3rd quarter…..lets see what happens!
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:28 pm
GritzBlitz
October 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
Billyho55
Press that little key next to the “A” on your keyboard.
__________________
Especially if you want anyone to read your nonsensical rants.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:29 pm
Forgive all misspellings. I tend to err with words when I am angry. I am in that state now!
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
2:29 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! all you negative angus fans stay that way at the end of the game PLEASE DONT COME BACK TI THE BIRDS SIDE! PLEASE
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:29 pm
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
2:28 pm
Fake angus Fans! Lol tired of you all! Anyway the Raiders blow in the 3rd quarter…..lets see what happens!
___________________
Remember your promise now. Be a man of your word.
Billyho55
October 14th, 2012
2:29 pm
Gritz,
JUST THE WAY I COMMENT MY FRIEND! NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS!
GritzBlitz
October 14th, 2012
2:29 pm
Indeed DawgNole. Indeed.
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
Promise that I dont like you fake angus fans?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
Cheer up CHOKE apologist…..there is good news………..
The Raiders get the ball first, so no pick on the opening drive
HA HA
Josh
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
any chance the AJC could pony up a little web-development cash and get a real chat board for games?
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
Are these really the Georgia Bulldogs? Guess not. These bums have scored! Let the disappointment continue.
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
2:31 pm
Too much liability on the OL and in the rush defense for this to be a great team. ..the Texans, Giants, and 49ers would have a 24 point lead right now.
kevkat
October 14th, 2012
2:32 pm
Well they did have a bye week to prepare…can’t bear to watch this game, think i will let the blog keep me informed unless we go back in front
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:32 pm
When did AARON MURRAY get a shot at playing QB for the Falcons?
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:32 pm
Falcon offense no show! Where is Falcon D? Sheesh.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:32 pm
Answer This
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
Promise that I dont like you fake angus fans?
______________________
No. Promise that you were leaving us fake angus fans to commiserate in our misery until game’s end.
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:33 pm
“Respect”..is not earned until the team is feared. They are not feared so far this season, even while undefeated.
I think ATL wins but not out of intimidation.
DaView
October 14th, 2012
2:33 pm
SERIOUSLY? This is the team that is supposed to be as good as the NINERS? What a joke.
DawgNole
October 14th, 2012
2:34 pm
Josh
October 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
any chance the AJC could pony up a little web-development cash and get a real chat board for games?
______________________
Not likely. It’s a pretty cheap outfit.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:34 pm
49ers? No. Saints? No. Forget records!
Rip
October 14th, 2012
2:34 pm
all you Falcoon fans, now we get the real Matt Ryan, now he thinks he is Joe Montana, Matt is an average QB, and to lose to the Raiders, is the start of the down hill slide, this should have been a blow out if the falcons were a good team, I see 9 & 7 after the break and a playoff missed.
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
2:34 pm
51 — that was fake.
If NASA had staged that, the conspiracy theorists would be out in full force.
Mike "CHOKE" Vick
October 14th, 2012
2:35 pm
I wonder if Vick fumbled the soap in prison like he does a football on the field? LMAO
dean
October 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
Rip, you realize there is another half?
LIVE: Falcons can make it 6-0 before getting a little rest | football-feed.com
October 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
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Josh
October 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
@rip – I’m sorry, is the game over? They already lost to the Raiders? Funny, I thought it was just halftime.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
Another great play call by Mike Bobo! Whoops. Wrong team.
Big Crimson 75
October 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
…..and the wind cries Lousaka
jerry
October 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
Falcon’s WMD’s like Bush’s WMD’s, non existant.
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
Fans should boo this team
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
Matt Ryan strikes again! Pure loser. Crap with capital C!
nobody
October 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
Good Lord….
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:38 pm
Still think we’ve settled down? Sure.
stendek
October 14th, 2012
2:39 pm
Raiders own Falcons! Like old times. Downhill slide begins in earnest today! Very sad.
phil
October 14th, 2012
2:39 pm
Dean and Josh appear to be blind homers too! Lol
J.J.M.
October 14th, 2012
2:39 pm
I just don’t get how the raiders have all these injuries and you can’t get the ball down the field
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 14th, 2012
2:39 pm
@stendek
AMEN Brother………….
HA HA
Ghost of Al Davis
October 14th, 2012
2:39 pm
Pride and poise shall prevail.
5150 UOAD
October 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
Funny…..I guess the Game was OVER in the first 5 minutes.
All you FALCON & MATT hatters cans stop watching and posting now. The GAME is LOST and the Dome Ceiling is falling.