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)
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968 comments Add your comment
Dilla
November 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
That has to be the dumbest rule ever, you lose the right to challenge the play
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
Abraham
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
As bad as Skelton was sucking, I still am thankful they made the QB switch.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
Roddy white has not shown . First pick right of his hands. Then he is stripped, luckily the ball bounces out of bounds. then he doesn’t run a good route and catches a td but is out of bounds. Then doesn’t look for a wide open ball.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
How many moore times is the defense going to bail that anemic offense out?
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
DeCoud!!! Khan!!!!
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
Starting inside the 5!
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
what foolish push in the back
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
DeCoud!!!
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:20 pm
Offense and special teams are awful today….
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:20 pm
Bench Franks and any one else that does that stupid assed stutter step, this is football, not da=ncing with the stars!
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:20 pm
Steve Sabol has passed on, RIP. I think film of this game would have killed him.
ramblinwreck80
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
we have Ryan…White…Jones…Gonzalez…Rodgers…they have a rookie QB and Fitzgerald…why are we not blowing them out of the Dome?????
Dilla
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
But yet its still a tie game, I guess they are going to wait till less than 2mins left in the 4th quarter to pull it out.
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
“No doubt, gotta give credit when due – Cards playing way above themselves and the Falcs… playing somewhat less than their abilities. They are tackling the ball…”
Actually, the Cardinals defense is not playing way above themselves. They are the 9th ranked defense in the league and the 5th ranked scoring defense, right above Atlanta at 6th. The Cardinal offense, on the other hand, is running the ball much better than they typically do as they are ranked 31st.
Atlanta is struggling on offense, but that has a lot to do with the offensive line struggling with a really good front seven on the Cardinals. Ask the Patriots and 49ers about that.
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
Jason Heyward just tweeted, “Infield fly? #Falcons” .. I think that sums up that rule.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
Schultz, headline should have read : Falcons trying to avoid Buckhead Hangover:
gt97
November 18th, 2012
3:21 pm
when do we stop getting teams off of a bye? Ryan must of stayed up and watched BC play last night. This running game is really starting to freak me out! I bet Ray Edwards sold them his playbook!
Eric C.
November 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
Can we get a 96 yd run from Turner?
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
Without run game AZ is keying on the pass is the reason why we aren’t ahead.
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
The Arizona Cardinals are terrible…therefore the Falcons will win 19-16.
The bad news? The Falcons will more than likely drop in the BCS standings.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
Is Julio jones playing? Guess not
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
Lol yea harry douglas is average at best
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:23 pm
Whoa!!!
trademark
November 18th, 2012
3:23 pm
BTW…the other three teams that had bye weeks last week…are winning their games.
Just saying.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:23 pm
Do these doofasses even know what a damn draw play is?
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
They are physically whipping them!
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
NO such thing as a easy game in the NFL, they won the first 4 games. All games are a battle for the Falcons because everybody wants to show us we are not the best. Bring IT, Falcons except the challenge
Andy
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
This is sooo not a championship team
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
leave julio on the bench before you eff up his ankle more
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
Keep in mind that these guys are coming off a bye.
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
Super Bowl, my buttocks
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
Julio is not right in the ankle. Roddy is sleepy. Matt is rattled. Offensive line is its normal sucky self.
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
3 and out again…scary….
trademark
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
…except Green Bay, in Detroit…but they will win theirs
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
OK. Smitty … don’t throw flag.
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
@ Spartacus
The Niners beat the Cardinals 24-3. Do a little research pal.
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
This is looking very weird. These guys look like they’ve never played with each other.
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:25 pm
Somebody better towel off JSS…he’s getting excited.
gt97
November 18th, 2012
3:25 pm
tI believe this was supposed to be the 1st loss instead of last week.
Andy
November 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
If we didn’t have abraham, we’d be a .500 team
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
Cardinals are getting their 1st down yards today. Thank goodness for 2nd and 3rd down.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
Once again the defense bails em out!
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
This offensive line is terrible. cards rushing 4 and Ryan doesn’t have time for a 2 step drop. Without major improvement of this Oline, the falcons have no chance in the playoffs.
The offensive line is THE issue for the falcons
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
Way to go defense!
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
That was a Mularky play call right there…have a receiver run 5 yards short of the marker on 3rd down.
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
Thanks to the defense again.they cant keep bailing out the offense all day…
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
Megatron!!!
And that one just grazed the endzone
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
3:15 pm
Dawgnole u joker if not for Atlanta Athens would have no viewers or money. Don’t cut your nose despite your face. Dawgs are Atl. You less then a hour away from Stone Mt. We like Paul Johnson and GT and we are starting to follow Georgia State Football, but don’t get it twisted, UGA is claimed by Atl, joker
______________________
You can claim it all you want; doesn’t make it yours. You’ll have to be satisfied with Tech and GSU. Loser.
FALCON FAN
November 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
Falcons offense is offensive!