Short takes: On Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, no turnovers
Falcons have followed franchise mandate through eight games (all wins). (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Here are my three short takes from the Falcons’ win over Dallas Sunday night:
1. Julio Jones is a difference maker: With every play he makes, the Falcons’ receiver buries concerns by some that the Falcons might have given up too much in trade for him before the draft two years ago. Jones finished with five catches covering 129 yards. That includes a 38-yard catch in the first quarter while he was being mugged by Morris Claiborne (who was called for pass interference) and a 48-yard gain in the fourth quarter when he lined up in the backfield, took a short pass and bolted past the likes of DeMarcus Ware. He also ran for eight yards on a reverse on third-and-1.
2. Matt Ryan shows toughness: Ryan was hit so hard on a blindside sack by Ware that it looked like he might have to come out for a few plays. He didn’t. He was sacked three times and leveled after several throws on a night when the offensive line had its worst game in pass protection (which had been a strength this season). Statistically, Ryan threw for 342 yards on 24-of-34 passing, and that doesn’t account for at least two drops and two throw-aways).
3. This team doesn’t beat itself: Do the Falcons have flaws? Of course. The NFL is devoid of great teams. But they don’t beat themselves. They committed only two penalties for 15 yards and did not have a turnover. (Ryan fumbled on the aforementioned Ware sack but it was recovered.) A team can go far in this league if it doesn’t make dumb mistakes.
– By Jeff Schultz
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89 comments Add your comment
rob
November 5th, 2012
9:41 am
first?
some sense
November 5th, 2012
9:49 am
So now we go into our next week of wondering how good the Falcons are, a broken record. But one thing is for sure as Jeff points out; when they lose it’s not gonna happen because they beat themselves.
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
10:04 am
Dallas (3-5) may have lost a game they were in total control for most of the game, but do you really believe this team puts the fear in Green Bay, Chicago or San Francisco? This looks like the same team that wins a bunch of regular season games and gets brought back down to Earth in the playoffs. What’s different about how they are winning compared to the 13-3 team that got blown out 48-21 in the Dome?
The Falcons still...
November 5th, 2012
10:05 am
…have to play at N.O. at TB, at Carolina, at Detroit, and play the Giants, N.O., AZ and TB at home – and unfortuantely, they lose at least 3 of those four road games, plus at least one at home – they will then have to travel to Chicago to make the Super Bowl, so, i just don’t see it happening despite this feel good, 8-0 start –
And, I know, I am just one of many “doubters” – but like Bradshaw said yesterday, until Atlanta actually wins something that means something then they deserve to be doubted…
Thomas Brown
November 5th, 2012
10:06 am
Are the Falcons consensus # 5 coming off a 37-10 win over Ole Miss here over the beautiful weekend outdoors, here in this college football town ?
Ted M
November 5th, 2012
10:07 am
Wasn’t Ryan sacked 7 times by someone earlier this season?
I wouldn’t call the OL a strength but they are a little better then last yr.
Rodgers is looking pretty darn good lately.
tooltime234
November 5th, 2012
10:10 am
some sense, i could see if the offense came out flat one game maybe a team like the saints with a big offense could put up enough points to put the falcons in a big hole that they cant get out of. This team is really soild right now though. I just feel like they are going to win most days and I think they do too
Zach
November 5th, 2012
10:11 am
The difference between that team and this team is that they find a way to win even when the opposing defense “takes away” our identity. In the past 4 years the blueprint for beating the Falcons was to take away the run and let Matt Ryan beat you. Now there really isn’t a blueprint. You can “take away” any facet of our offense and yet someone else steps up.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
November 5th, 2012
10:15 am
@Not Impressed says:
“… do you really believe this team [falcons] puts the fear in Green Bay, Chicago or San Francisco?”
I don’t know. Does it matter right now?
And I think the difference in the way they win this year as opposed to 2010 for example, is a better offensive and defensive scheme and Matt Ryan’s maturing as both a leader and a QB. The #2 we see on game days now is the real deal.
You could be right, the Falcons might fold in the playoffs – again.. Or they might lose honorably to a better team But they are a different team than the one we saw in both 2010 and last year.
And I expect – win or lose – that they’ll acquit themselves well in the playoffs.
DP
November 5th, 2012
10:15 am
While Julio Jones is a great talent, that’s not all he brings to the Falcons. He doesn’t run his mouth, is physically tough, blocks, doesn’t whine about not getting the ball enough. He’s the anti T.O./Ochocinco/Moss/Rison, the kind of high character, strong work ethic player you want as a core player for the franchise. The Falcons didn’t give up too much for him.
Given that pass happy New Orleans apparently can find no productive use for Julio’s college teammate Mark Ingram, who is the same type of winning, hard working, high character player as Julio, perhaps the Falcons could get him on the cheap during the offseason and have a younger replacement for Turner to complement Jacquizz Rodgers.
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
10:20 am
@Falcons still…..
Exactly.
Thomas Brown
November 5th, 2012
10:22 am
That’s really nice of the 4 Falcons’ fans in his college football town, to come in here and talk about the Falcons like that. How many Falcons’ posts can we expect ? 55 again ? 28 of those saying not 1 word about the Falcons. Had a Falcons post yesterday and didn’t even get off the 1st page of comments. The one before that had 55 total, again, 28 of which were not in the least about the Falcons. It’s great the Falcons are on top of the heap, half-way through the season. But, that is the issue with the Falcons, it’s winning play-off games, now, isn’t it ? Atlanta will never be anything but a college football town. Jeff Schultz writes a blog about UGA and we get 1100 or 800 posts, all about UGA.
Thomas Brown
November 5th, 2012
10:27 am
How honorable is it to be a team who does not win play-off games, again ?
I missed that one.
We have had 1 exciting play-off game in 45 years of Falcons’ Frachise and that was beating the Vikings to play in the Super Bowl. Other than that one game which stands out like a sore thumb, what we have is a Falcons’ franchise which has fans who don’t support the team, and who don’t know anything about football or about any of the 53-man roster.
It will be nice to build that, and honestly, I think Arthur Blank has brought us that. He stands alone for professional sports in this town up there with Ted Turner before he SOLD US OUT and moved to Montana.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 5th, 2012
10:33 am
Where is CHOKE?
dedge
November 5th, 2012
10:33 am
@not impressed- A game dallas was in total control of? I think that your stupid a@@ and I were watching a different game. Go get on your Saints blog.
Ted M
November 5th, 2012
10:34 am
It was pretty darn exciting when when Vick & the Falcons beat Green Bay in the playoffs.
Falcon James
November 5th, 2012
10:35 am
Ryan was lucky to get up with his head still attached. He is some kind of QB. I know of 31 other starting QBs who would have needed help to get off the field.
Tron5000
November 5th, 2012
10:39 am
Sure the Falcons haven’t had playoff success lately. But their GM, head coach and QB are all only in their 5th years in their jobs. They were all rookies together and have all grown together. They now have better coordinators on both sides of the ball than in previous years. Matty Ice is maturing and making the right decisions. Dude was on point last night. Quizz is a spark this team has needed for a while, and Julio is obviously a difference maker whenever he’s on the field. I think these boys are ready to do some damage.
DavoB
November 5th, 2012
10:39 am
Need to double check the penalities. Falcons had more than two. I know Jones was called for offensive pass interference on the last drive.
drew
November 5th, 2012
10:46 am
It’s apparent that many “fans”, detractors, and commentators alike, simply won’t be impressed with the Falcons until they win a Super Bowl (or at least a playoff game). Fine…that’s your right. So keep on doubting, worrying, fretting, dismissing, and distancing yourselves from the team. The rest of us will get on with enjoying the moment. As a long time fan, I’ve suffered more than my fair share of disappointment, and I gonna enjoy this season until there’s nothing left to enjoy. If the Falcons trip again in the first round of the playoffs, I’ll be as pissed as the next guy. But I’m not gonna sit on my hands and expect the worse…I’m gonna enjoy every minute of the season to it’s max, and we’ll cross the playoff bridge when we get to it.
And Thomas Brown…what’s your problem? Are you retarded or something? If you want to suck the dawgsdicks, go on over to THEIR blog and post your gibberish there. OK then.
Boo Boo
November 5th, 2012
10:50 am
The potential blame for failure would have gone on Matt Bryant’s shoulders, for missing 2 field goals, had Romo come up with a 17 second miracle. Because of one Bryant miss and then a Cowboys’ miss, Smith chickened out of a 50-yard field goal attempt and punted. The Falcons only had two penalties, but one negated (and created) an interception. Samuels dropped a potential interception before the Cowboys missed their field goal attempt. The unrecognized “turnover” was when Jay Ratliff reinjured his ankle just before halftime. His being out of the game helped Ryan take us down to get the tying field goal with no time left, and Ratliff’s shell of himself being on the field in the second half led to the Falcon running game breaking open enough to turn the tide and go up by 10 points.
Athens Tider
November 5th, 2012
11:01 am
@DP.. That is an excellent idea for the Falcons to somehow acquire Mark Ingram. He is a great player and a better person. He is also a very tough runner who almost never goes down at first contact. He is wasting away in New Orleans, and the Saints will not let anyone take the starring role from Brees, especially now that they’ve paid him $100M.
mark
November 5th, 2012
11:02 am
Jeff you forgot to mention Rodgers who I think will be the biggest story to come out of the second half. I really like the way Kotter uses him and I think down near the goal line he can start to make a difference. His play in the last 5 minutes put the game away and down the line is the answer to teams like Chicago and Greenbay that like to blitz, he is hard to cover out of the backfield and can take a 5 yard play and turn it into a 20 yard play.
DP
November 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Athens Tider, have you seen how New Orleans uses Ingram, when they bother to use him? They run him right over center on first down, then he comes off the field for Sproles, used almost exclusively as a receiver out of the backfield, or Pierre Thomas. If they have a 3rd or 4th down and a couple of feet, they bring Ingram in to slam the ball into an 8 man front. Which is why he barely averages 3 yards a carry for his career to this point.
I have no idea why they spent a 1st round draft pick on Ingram when they have no interest in running the ball and turned around and signed Sproles to a big free agent contract shortly after. They could have gotten a big back to pound the ball into the line 5 or 6 times a game with a late pick or at almost no cost via free agency.
If Ingram stays in New Orleans for another couple of years he could be another Michael Turner, a 25-26 year old back who still has a bunch of productive years ahead because he’s barely been used and hasn’t taken a beating.
ItsMe
November 5th, 2012
11:11 am
@ not impressed…is that a nickname given by your girlfriend?
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:13 am
@TRON5000
How long was Jim Mora a Falcon before his playoff win and Championship game appearance? Stop the excuses please. Baltimore hired a new coach and new qb the same year as Smith and Ryan.
Ryder
November 5th, 2012
11:13 am
@Not Impressed and Falcons Still, the question is “Can Chicago, SF, and the Giants stop Atlanta’s playmakers?” New coordinators, a QB with a chip on his shoulder, and a team that doesn’t beat itself can make a world of difference. If Eli, Alex Smith, or Cutler get down by 10 or more points they’re toast. Matt Ryan can be down by 10 and knows he can come back.
Atlanta’s biggest question is can they stay healthy for the stretch run.
FalconDawg
November 5th, 2012
11:14 am
The Falcons look GREAT! YOU DONT GET TO 8-0 IN THE NFL WITHOUT BEING PRETTY DAM GOOD! (Only 14 times since 78 when they went to 16 games, 9 of those went to the Super Bowl, 6 won it.) Havent even played our best ball yet and still we beat EVERYBODY! Dallas has a top 5 defense and we scored 19 with two missed field goals. I like this team. Keep your heads down Falcons and keep on truckin’!
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:16 am
@itSME
Are insults your way of debating why this team is not impressive? Being soft on playoff failure only hurts the team further, similar to a parent turning a blind eye to their child on drugs.
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:19 am
@FalconDawg
Green Bay was 15-1 & New England was 16-0 and lost to a 9-7 Giants team. It’s not about your record, it’s about the quality of opponents. The Falcons have not beaten a winning opponent, and they have struggled to put away the mediocre teams.
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:22 am
@Ryder
Dallas held this so called explosive offense to 6 points well into the 2nd half, and Dallas is far from the caliber of Green Bay, San Fran or Chicago. If they play this way vs those teams they will get blown out like they have vs Green Bay and New York in the last 2 playoff games.
Stan
November 5th, 2012
11:25 am
Falcons look better this year, and no matter who’s on your schedule, perfection is tough to come by. Just ask the 31other teams in the NFL.
Better coordinators, a maturing and talented QB, and top shelf receivers and backs have been enough to cover the iffy O-line and sometimes porous defense. Good thing the secondary have been ball hawks giving us a decided advantage in turnover ratio.
The Giants appear to be the only test remaining in the regular season, and hopefully we get game film showing how the Steelers shut down Eli. We could still get blown-out in the playoffs, but it’s appearing more and more likely the road to the SuperBowl comes through Atlanta, and this team just feels different than the last few years – they’ve learned how to win even when performing below potential. The front office has done a nice job of filling holes with impact players each off season.
pb
November 5th, 2012
11:25 am
FalconDawg,
Please come back down to Earth! Nice to be excited for your team, but until they beat someone good really convincingly, just don’t excite. They did not play Super Bowl great yesterday, but good enough to win. When win a playoff game or two, I will be excited and impressed. But agree, this is a much better Falcon than past two years.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
November 5th, 2012
11:34 am
There was a time when the New England Patriots had never won a Super Bowl, and had had very little playoff success. Before 2001, they had been to the Super Bowl only twice – in 1985 and 1996 – and lost both.
As they began to win games in 2001, there were many detractors who bemoaned their prior lack of playoff success.
Every great team has to start somewhere. There is always a beginning. Once begun, the past is forgotten.
This could be the Falcons’ year. If you’ve been a long-suffering Falcons fan, why not enjoy this winning streak? Why whine about the past? This could be the start of a great run. Enjoy it.
Quitcherbitchin.
MLH
November 5th, 2012
11:43 am
@Not Impressed
Actually Dallas has the #4 defense in the league.
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:45 am
@Mike Choke Dogs
You do realize that before any team wins their 1st superbowl that there was a time when they never won one – right?
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:46 am
@MLH
And they also are 3-5.
Riser Upper!
November 5th, 2012
11:46 am
To all of the fans of other teams who like to bash this Falcon team I say this: 8-0. I don’t care about the Giants. I don’t care about the Jets. I don’t care about Green Bay. I don’t care about the Cowboys. I don’t care about _______________ (insert your team here). This is Atlanta. If you want to be where your team is, Delta’s ready when you are. We’ll help you pack. For Falcon fans, we’ll continue to RISE!
Boo Boo
November 5th, 2012
11:49 am
@not impressed – “The Falcons have not beaten a winning opponent”
Denver was 1-0 when the Falcons beat them (they are now 5-3)
San Diego was 2-0 when the Falcons beat them.
Additionally, Kansas City (0-0), Washington (2-2), and Philadelphia (3-3) did not have a losing record when the Falcons played them. The only teams that had losing records before the Falcons played them were Oakland (1-3), Carolina (1-4) and Dallas (3-4). Check your bias by checking your facts.
Anti-Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
11:49 am
You know what an ugly W is? It’s a W. We got 8 of ‘em!
DP
November 5th, 2012
11:52 am
Not Impressed, judging from your whining about the Cowboys defense holding down the Falcons, you much not have watched the Cowboys pretty much shut down the Giants offense the previous week. Most of the Giants scoring was from defense and special teams plays. Their offense sputtered all day.
DP
November 5th, 2012
11:55 am
Jeff Schultz, a sign of the coming apocalypse: Fat blowhard self absorbed juvenile insufferable ESPN gasbag gets interview with both Obama and Romney tonight on the eve of the election. I’m old enough to remember when there was some level of dignity associated with the Presidency.
red hill
November 5th, 2012
11:57 am
There is a lot of football left to be played. The beauty of the NFL (unlike college) is that it will all be settled on the field. All of the Falcon doubters will either be proven right or proven wrong. All we have to do is keep watching.
Ben
November 5th, 2012
11:57 am
I love it when people say the Falcons have not beaten a good team. That totally ignores that fact that a lot of the teams the Falcons beat were supposed to be good. It’s only when the Falcons beat them that everyone is suddenly, “Oh, well that team isn’t any good.”
Just look at Dallas. Last week, after they barely lost, all the talking heads were all about how the Cowboys are good, and just need a little spark to take off and start dominating. Then the Falcons beat them and all of the sudden the Cowboys suck and were never any good and the Falcons only beat bad teams.
Well, here’s another point. The Falcons can only play the schedule the NFL gives them and they are undefeated on that schedule. Find me another team that can say that.
You naysayers can talk about the playoffs all you want once this team plays a game in the playoffs. Last year doesn’t matter, that was a different team. The team I’m following is the 8-0 2012 Atlanta Falcons!
KC Falcon
November 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
The Choke Police detects another alias- Not impressed and Still on here to stir the contrarion waters.
Falcons wins trump everything, Choke.
Peter
November 5th, 2012
12:10 pm
All Falcon’s fans should be excited..and wow the coaching staff has made all the difference this year…….
The players beleive in the coaches and themselves…… Wonderful to watch !
Ivan
November 5th, 2012
12:10 pm
“It’s not about your record, it’s about the quality of opponents”
Someone get Mike Smith on the phone and tell him to stop picking easy opponents to play each week.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
November 5th, 2012
12:20 pm
Not impressed, that is correct. That is my point exactly. Those saying the Falcons can’t win the Super Bowl because they never have before don’t seem to get that simple fact.
Ivan
November 5th, 2012
12:29 pm
8-0
Nativebird
November 5th, 2012
12:37 pm
Matt Ryan is the real deal. I told you so in 2008. again, he WILL win a superbowl probably more, the question is…with WHAT TEAM. Surely this age old crappy franchise with a Lying sack of #$%^ hammer salesman owner will mess this up too and end up watching Matty Ice hoist the Lombardi trophy for say…..Philadelphia (mark my words).
KC Falcon
November 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
Native- Are you Choke’s twin…cousin? BillyBob Choke? What kind of sorry a$$ prediction is that!?
Do you even pay attention to any of the games?
Lou Kirouac
November 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
Interesting observations. But are they yours – or Lilly’s??
Agree with them all – especially the third one. Discipline and clutch plays are defining this team………
There's Choke
November 5th, 2012
1:07 pm
NativeBird, Matt Ryan will never leave Atlanta. He’s here to stay. The reason the Falcons are so good is because they don’t beat themselves. The great teams don’t make mistakes. It makes the other team have to play perfect and just outplay you to beat you which is why nobody has beaten us to date.
Dan
November 5th, 2012
1:33 pm
Before the game Dallas was supposedly one of the most talented teams in the league and they were going to be playing for their season. So you had a talented motivated team….if any other team had beat them it would have been all over about what a great, gutty win. This team is very similar to the 98 team…well coached, prepared with a lot more playmakers. Lets also not forget Falcons played without a beast in the middle on defense last night too….although Peterson and Nichols played pretty well
Richard
November 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
Cleveland dropped from no. 6 (Jones) to no. 27 (defensive tackle Phillip Taylor) in the 2011 draft, picking up no. 59 (WR Greg Little) and no. 124 (fullback Owen Marecic), as well as a 2012 first-rounder (Weeden) and a 2012 fourth-rounder (traded when Minnesota fleeced them into giving up three picks to jump a spot to take Trent Richardson, whom the Vikings weren’t taking, anyway). Just for fun, can we pay-per-view a phone call of Cleveland’s Mike Holmgren calling Atlanta and seriously offering Taylor, Little, Marecic and Weeden for Julio Jones, with all proceeds going to Chuckstrong?
Richard
November 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
^^ Sorry, I hit enter without attributing that to Grantland.com.
GetReal
November 5th, 2012
1:41 pm
What’s the deal with Chris Collingsworth? I thought he was going to cry when the Falcons did not fold.
blue
November 5th, 2012
1:50 pm
Not impressed: Maybe, when stating “do you think they put fear into” certain teams, you should use one that they didn’t already beat this year (San Francisco)?
Kelly
November 5th, 2012
1:55 pm
Hmm. Every playoff team ATL has faced w/ Ryan has gone on to the Super Bowl, two of those three teams have won the Super Bowl. Wow! So Atlanta hasn’t been the only team to lose to those teams?
Paddy
November 5th, 2012
2:01 pm
Thomas Brown…..people are making fun of you again. I know you are used to it. But have you no shame? You give all us Dawg fans a black eye. Give it a rest, pal!
Lowski
November 5th, 2012
2:15 pm
Not Impressed is “Choke”. Same pompous attitude. He just changed names to wash off the Saints shame.
Falcons Chic
November 5th, 2012
2:22 pm
Wow. Lotsa Btchn from fans of an 8-0 team, I’ve never been a pom-pom toting cheerleader, so I don’t want this to sound happy: But, get real: We are 8-0.
Yes, we have to face the Giants (they of playoff safety fame) and complete the rest of the schedule, but we’ve got the impetus to make it deeper in the playoffs than we ever have before at the exact same week of the schedule. And, now, back to my newly found gloating thoughts…
Not Impressed
November 5th, 2012
2:27 pm
If the Falcons think Ryan took a beating from the Dallas rush, better take your midol before the Arizona rush comes to town. Arizona’s offense may suck but that defense is top 5. They made Aaron Rodgers and Mike Vick run for their lives. Just imagine what that means for the speedy Ryan.
GregKennesaw
November 5th, 2012
2:32 pm
@Falcons- Still so you predict the falcons will lose 3 out 4 of their remaining road games? Just curious, what was your prediction on the road games they have already played and won? Also from your predictions the falcons will only play .500 ball from here on out mostly against teams with a losing record.
GregKennesaw
November 5th, 2012
2:37 pm
all the Falcons have to do to make the doubters and haters go away is just to keep on winning. Makes’em crazy! Next week the aint’s and their vaulted defense(NOT). Then we get Arizona at home.
These may not be, GregKennesaw,...
November 5th, 2012
2:40 pm
…your “father’s Falcons”, but, they are still the “Atlanta Falcons” – hence, the dire predictions regarding “road wins” and the thought of losing 4 of 8 to teams that they “should” beat, based on paper analyses…
And you are correct, GregKennesaw...
November 5th, 2012
2:42 pm
…the home/away/home/away schedule for the Birds this year is pretty good…
After further review...
November 5th, 2012
2:42 pm
No, Thamas, the Falcons are not a concensus number 5 after coming off a win versus an inferior oppinent. They are undefeated, and the only team in their league to be able to say that
13-3 and first round loss again?
November 5th, 2012
2:47 pm
The Falcons are good and will be in a fight with the Bears for the top seed. However I am not convinced yet. Am I am the only one who believes had Dallas gotten the ball back they would have scored a TD for the win.
The Falcons played the “perfect” game with no turnovers but at the end of the day only scored one TD, that is not going to work against Green Bay.
harleyman
November 5th, 2012
2:48 pm
Who are you trolls pulling for tonight since there seems to be a conflict of interest? Vick vs. Saints
KC Falcon
November 5th, 2012
2:55 pm
Choke knows what Midol is. Not surprising.
Why don’t you call out some of the offensive linemen you don’t like. They’re in the same game.
Did Arizona win in Green Bay? Answer- No.
By the way, Dallas did get the ball back and DID NOT score a touchdown.
And in the Choke gets to root for any team that may effect the Falcons- It’s your Super Bowl tonight.
Aints and E-Gals. Your heros MV7 and DB9. Somebody’s gotta lose there tonight. That’s just too bad isn’t it?
LDawg
November 5th, 2012
3:07 pm
The O-line is a strength? Did you see the Carolina game where he was sacked 7 times?
BobDawg
November 5th, 2012
3:09 pm
Let’s face it… Mularkey is having a “blast” in Jax and Van Gorder is about to be fired along with Chizick in Au-Barn…. We have two really great OC’s and DC’s now and they will get it done in the playoffs… and did you really think Ryan will never ever win a playoff game??? Once he gets the monkey off his back… watch out… It could be a fun 2013….
LDawg
November 5th, 2012
3:11 pm
13-3 – yes you are the only one who believes that – they had one lucky drive. Notice he didn’t even take a shot down the field?
KBP
November 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
Offensively, Dallas is not very good. Defensively, they are very good. If Bryant makes those field goals then we have a double digit win and the national media would probably say we should have scored touchdowns. Never mind the fact that we just shutdown a team that scored 23 unanswered against the defending SB champs and their vaunted defense. Falcon fans, we should give our team credit as we see the national media does not. Of course the playoffs loses have been hugely disappointing but I am glad we are at least making the playoffs and we will not lose in the first round every year. I am very confident in Dimitroff and Smith as they have set us on the right course. Let’s see how this plays out this year. The offensive and defensive philosophy makes this team much better than the last 2 playoff teams and hopefully we prove that this year. I think we will lose 2-3 games and the sooner the better as I don’t even want to entertain the undefeated season nonsense. I think it hurt the Pats in ‘07.
Rodster
November 5th, 2012
3:19 pm
The Falcons are a good team. I think staying under the radar is a good thing. Let the rest of the league think we’re soft. Having a big bullseye on your chest never helped anyone. The Falcons have to got to deep in the playoffs then they’ll get everyones attention which is not really that good of a thing.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
The EAGLES need to hurt Brees and the Saints to put Vick out of the game and after that I don’t care who wins tonight.
KC Falcon
November 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
Playoffs aren’t on Falcons or their fans minds until January. Next game is the game. Aints will be licking their wounds following a physical game with the desparate (multiple players only meetings) E-Gals.
,
And if Jerry Jones wants to wave big time cash in front of Seen (the Overseer of Bountygate) Payton
Nola could be singin’ the blues again down on the BYE BYE You!
blu eagle
November 5th, 2012
3:31 pm
Loved how the announcers were trying to give dallas a chance, well they might get a turnover, well if they stop them, blah blah blah. Jaws from sportscenter just gave falcons the #1 power ranking this week they do like us they do. This Falcons team stuck it down Dallas throat and 8-0 is no joke in the NFL, I believe!
Esquire
November 5th, 2012
3:47 pm
Dallas’ defensive stats prior to the Falcons game:
PTS 23.1 (18th) YDS 292.4 (4th) PASS YDS 187.7 (3rd) RUSH YDS 104.7 (13th)
……………and after the Falcons game:
PTS 22.6 (18th) YDS 312.5 (5th) PASS YDS 205.5 (5th) RUSH YDS 107.0 (15th)
Super Falcons
November 5th, 2012
3:58 pm
Win or lose, I love our Atlanta Falcons, but I do enjoy their winning streak more than their losing. Teams are not built in one year, ask Dan Snyder who’d been trying to buy the Lombardi Trophy through free agency for years (Jerry Jones closely behind.) Good teams need effective leaders, as evidenced, for example, in the difference between Michael Vick, who was all about himself, and Matt Ryan, who is generous in always praising the team first. Furthermore, Dan Reaves was the Falcons’ only other competent coach before Mike Smith. In short, this Falcons team was built methodically and slowly for greatness, and I believe the team’s core players are now in place for a start of a long winning tradition in Atlanta football.
Esquire
November 5th, 2012
4:17 pm
The Falcons still…
November 5th, 2012
10:05 am
…have to play at N.O. at TB, at Carolina, at Detroit, and play the Giants, N.O., AZ and TB at home – and unfortuantely, they lose at least 3 of those four road games, plus at least one at home – they will then have to travel to Chicago to make the Super Bowl, so, i just don’t see it happening despite this feel good, 8-0 start –
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If I am following you correctly you say the Falcons finish the Regular Season 12-4 but don’t have home field for the NFC Championship and that Chicago wins the NFC………..
Chicago Offense
PTS 29.5 (3rd) YDS 324.4 (25th) PASS YDS 195.9 (29th) RUSH YDS 128.5 (10th)
Atlanta Offense
PTS 27.5 (7th) YDS 376.6 (8th) PASS YDS 278.1 (8th) RUSH YDS 98.5 (25th)
Chicago Defense
PTS 15.0 (2nd) YDS 318.1 (6th) PASS YDS 230.1 (16th) RUSH YDS 88.0 (6th)
If you will note that Da Bears defense is ranked 6th, the Cowboys 5th and yet the Falcons just beat a team with a better defense than Da Bears. And frankly, those Da Bears offensive stats don’t exactly leap off the page at me. In other words………….if the Falcons are playing away for the NFC Championship it won’t be at Soldier Field.
Esquire
November 5th, 2012
4:31 pm
Super Falcons
November 5th, 2012
3:58 pm
Win or lose, I love our Atlanta Falcons, but I do enjoy their winning streak more than their losing. Teams are not built in one year, ask Dan Snyder who’d been trying to buy the Lombardi Trophy through free agency for years (Jerry Jones closely behind.) Good teams need effective leaders, as evidenced, for example, in the difference between Michael Vick, who was all about himself, and Matt Ryan, who is generous in always praising the team first. Furthermore, Dan Reaves was the Falcons’ only other competent coach before Mike Smith. In short, this Falcons team was built methodically and slowly for greatness, and I believe the team’s core players are now in place for a start of a long winning tradition in Atlanta football.
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I concur. And it would still be a tall order to talk winning tradition NFL football in Atlanta under the Smith era ownership. Thank you Arthur Blank.
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Jamie
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
15 yards on 2 penalties and that offensive pass interference on Julio was BS!
Esquire
November 5th, 2012
5:29 pm
KBP
November 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
The offensive and defensive philosophy makes this team much better than the last 2 playoff teams and hopefully we prove that this year. I think we will lose 2-3 games and the sooner the better as I don’t even want to entertain the undefeated season nonsense. I think it hurt the Pats in ‘07.
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Whoa………….lose 2-3 games the sooner the better???? Sure, the undefeated season talk is nonsense but we aren’t entertaining it. If it happens it happens but right now we only have one game on our schedule and that’s the Caints this Sunday. The coaching changes have really paid benefits not only in philosophy but how the game plan is implemented. I look forward to our team stopping by “the statue” at the Mercedez Benz Dome. It’s called Re-Birth and the Caints need to start over because they sure are dead. Michael Koenen has been immortalized.
Esquire
November 5th, 2012
5:29 pm
Jamie
November 5th, 2012
5:23 pm
15 yards on 2 penalties and that offensive pass interference on Julio was BS!
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True but thankfully they missed one on Roddy…………..!!!
atlantaALLDAY
November 5th, 2012
6:34 pm
@Not Impressed U NEED TO GET A LIFE LOL I SEE U DONT HAVE 1 YOU STAY ON OUR PAGE YOU ARE A STR8 UP HATER GO PLAY IN TRAFIC SOME WHERE
nuclearjim
November 5th, 2012
8:53 pm
Uh, HELLO?? We are 8 & 0 and looking to the second half looking healthy and close nit. Yes, our playoff appearances have mirrored the Braves recently – the team ATL loses to wins the Super Bowl or World Series (mostly). Past disappointments are in the past. I like to win and I like the excitement of the chase. But I would LOVE a Lombardi Trophy and some gaudy rings…..
DIEHARDFALCONSFAN!!!!
November 5th, 2012
11:06 pm
Fxxk all the haters! This is going to sound crazy but i would love to see atlanta not get home field advantage and beat all these so called threat teams and win the superbowl or atleast get there. No matter hiw good we r or how far we get in the playoffs,we will always hate us for something. We dont have to prove crap to any one! GO FALCONS! RISE UP!!!!