LIVE: Falcons hope to avoid hangover from Saints loss
Matt Ryan is hoping for better results when he hands off to Michael Turner today. (AP photo)
Hello. Sorry, but I’m a little rushed today. I just posted a new column on Dawgmania in the BCS, following losses by Kansas State and Oregon late Saturday night. Now it’s time to switch gears to the pro team.
The Falcons play host to Arizona today. This is kind of a big game. I know that sounds strange for an 8-1 team with a three-game lead in the NFC South, but consider the circumstances.
They are coming of their first loss of the season, an emotional defeat to rival New Orleans (31-27), a game in which they felt they should have won (largely because of six red zone possessions that resulted in only three touchdowns). A loss to Arizona wouldn’t devastate the team but it has the potential to make things uncomfortable in the NFC South, with three straight divisional games to follow (at Tampa; home against New Orleans; at Carolina).
The questions about the Falcons now are the same questions we knew before the season: Is their running game and their run defense good enough to compete for a title? The run defense played better in the second half at New Orleans after a miserable first half, but the absence of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (who will be out again today) continues to hurt the front seven.
The principles of the team’s short-yardage running game have taken a lot of heat, from the offensive line to Michael Turner. It will be interesting to see how effectively Atlanta can run against Arizona because the Cardinals are physical up front.
That said, this is a game the Falcons should win. They can score (NFL’s No. 6 team in offense, No. 8 in points) and Arizona can’t (No. 31 in offense and No. 31 in points). At least, that has been the case up until now.
One key injury note: wide receiver Julio Jones (right ankle) is playing today.
That’s it for now. The venting lines are open. Any new thoughts on the Falcons moving forward?
I’m here to serve . . .
By Jeff Schultz
Recent ramblings from the digital jukebox
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
• Short takes: Murray wakes up the offense
• Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Jackets, Falcons and the lust triangles
• Falcons’ flaws aren’t worse than any other NFL team
• College hoop kings provide rare thrills for Atlanta
• Falcons’ startling admission: Ray Edwards was a blunder
• Will SEC get team to BCS championship (answer below) (with video)
• Georgia wins SEC East, and looks like threat to Alabama
• Richt is coaching through pain (because he fell off a swing … honest)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
968 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
Damn you dunta
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
Dunta has terrible hands
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
2:33 pm
That Cardinals QB is terrible!
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:34 pm
Falcaints
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
No way this is a championship team, average at best. One and done, just like the Braves and Hawks.
___________________
And Thrashers and Flames.
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:34 pm
MCR, I believe the Falcons are similarly leading their division.
HA HA
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
2:34 pm
That was by far most legit Ariz scoring drive: 6 plays/74 yards.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:35 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
What’s #36’s first total compared to Najeh Davenport’s?
egr
November 18th, 2012
2:36 pm
Cards should run run run
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:36 pm
So depressing watching our loser teams, week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week after week……
After week, after week.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:37 pm
phil…
Break open a Red Stripe playa!
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
2:37 pm
This is where Ryan/offense at their best.
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
2:38 pm
so stop watching.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:39 pm
WELL DONE
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
2:39 pm
Wow, Matt Ryan sure “Choke”d.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:39 pm
C’mon, Bryant. Don’t let us down now. This one’s in your range.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
You da man!!
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
Falcons drive to field goal in final 32 seconds. … tied 16-16 at half.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
phil u must not understand math!!!!!!!!!!! At what point is 8-1 a loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u not know math? Great job Falcons
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
We need more of that last drive.
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
2:41 pm
We are the kings of the one minute offense.
Dawg Boy
November 18th, 2012
2:41 pm
Well, I was wrong…they’re not leading. But they will still win by 2 TD’s. Where did all the negative people run off to? I guess “CHOKE” went back to play in his sandbox.
afan
November 18th, 2012
2:42 pm
Phil just a funny man..no harm
Falcons 73
November 18th, 2012
2:43 pm
“Choke” – Your blogging brilliance leaves me speechless. I was most impressed with! & your use of “chump” & “HA HA”…WOW!
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:44 pm
ATL was robbed by the infield fly rule or we would have 3 champions this yr, UGA and the Falcons will not be stopped and I sure miss my Thrashers. Maybe the Hawks with that fast scoring offense can join the championship club of UGA and the Falcons, Sports ILL. in your face call ATL loserville, We get last laugh
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
2:44 pm
JSS,
Red Stripe is a good Jamaican Beer!
afan
November 18th, 2012
2:46 pm
roll tide…
falconsrus
November 18th, 2012
2:46 pm
Choke can’t play in sandboxes because a cat might bury him
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
2:46 pm
Phil isn’t the sharpest tool is the shed. A few weeks on this blog will make you realize that.
Jay Dubu
November 18th, 2012
2:48 pm
The Falcons’ have a lot of the same issues that they had last season. That means that their issues are mostly personnel related, and a little coaching.
Don’t know if it’s the design that Dimitroff and Smith chose or just not the best at picking players.
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
2:49 pm
The Falcons are NOT a championship caliber team…if Arizona had a decent QB, this would be a blowout.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:52 pm
They have Red Stripe in Saint Thomas… “Yeah Beer!”
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
Schultz, you’re the spert, why is run defense so poor?
sainthram
November 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
3 picks and a tie with the cards-now thats a pedigree to the superbowl-NAUGHT !!!!
afan
November 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
Phil likes to make people up-set..-are-think!..He’s a great fan and on all blogs, esp Braves. Good guy just having fun so don’t take serious.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
Only place in the world where a “trailing team” would say they were robbed!
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
The stupidity on the blog is mind-boggling. You guys do realize that the NFL is a parity league and that any team can beat any other team on any given week. Arizona beat New England and San Fran earlier this year. Green Bay is losing to Detroit at the half. Houston is struggling with Jacksonville (!!!!) today, and Dallas and Philly (the Dream Team) are basically out of the playoffs already. Every team has professional players that are the best in the world at what they do. It’s difficult to win in this league. Either support your team and quit with all the negativity or quit watching. For you to come on this blog every week and bemoan that play of the team you supposedly “root” for shows just how stupid you are. If it’s such a waste of time watching your teams, then quit, for God’s sake. No one is making you watch!
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
SIU If if if if if if if if if if if if , but they don’t.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
2:55 pm
Sorry guys but if you are making the same excuses for 5 straight seasons, it’s never going to get fixed.
This CHOKE will never amount to anything more than a hope that will
never happen.
Sorry guys, don’t shoot the messenger, just shoot CHOKE ……
HA HA
Just take that boy in the back of the stables and put him
out of his misery
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:56 pm
afan, you and phil can stick it, people like him start neg. crap and it is not cool. He is the one calling uggla struggla and neg. talk makes me sick
Dawg Boy
November 18th, 2012
2:56 pm
Amen Spartacus…
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
Blitz this rookie qb!
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
@ Spartacus
No one is making you read the blog either. No one designated you as Schultz’ blog bouncer…chill out.
trademark
November 18th, 2012
2:58 pm
my god…This is what happens when you play ANYBODY coming off a bye week. Remember Oakland?
Still trying to figure why everybody in the world thought Atlanta was going to cakewalk with this one. Short memories I guess.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:58 pm
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
phil u must not understand math!!!!!!!!!!! At what point is 8-1 a loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u not know math? Great job Falcons
________________
A half-season of success doesn’t erase a half-century of failure. Make the playoffs and WIN in the playoffs. Then, and only then, will full support be there–and with good reason.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
2:58 pm
All these 2,3, and 4 win teams making CHOKE work hard just to
stay competitive. What do you think will happen comes the 1st
round when they have to elevate their games?
CHOKE will once again have deer meets headlight syndrone….
HA HA
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
“blitz?” That helps him… Just cover, he’s shown he can’t the ball there!
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
and by the way, Arizona has the 9th ranked defense in the league and the 5th ranked scoring defense. Their problem this season has been the offense. They are only in this game because of their defense. Give it a rest, the offense will figure it out.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
Chris Owens sighting!!!
FALCON FAN
November 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
Wow he threw that between 2 defenders!
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:01 pm
Atlanta rushing defense is suspect again.