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
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
A “prick” telling someone else not to be one!!! AJC blogs!!!
Chop It Up
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
Five turnovers today and still in the game…amazing.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
This is a battle but the Falcons will not lose
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
How about a fumble on the kick return to make it a perfect day?
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
3:36 pm
gt97
November 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
I sure wish that I played golf instead. Now i have to go hang xmas lights for my wife.
Dang buddy, sorry to hear that…
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:36 pm
Put in the backup QB now. Ryan is awfuland rattled.
cadwellnek
November 18th, 2012
3:36 pm
matty ice sucks even when hes good , never never never make it to the superbowl with that bum throwing
Common sense
November 18th, 2012
3:36 pm
Where is Bob “General” Lee when you need him?
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
Nah, as long as no. 14 and Whis is on the other side, even the Falcons have a chance today!
stephen
November 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
Falcons will be the first team to start 8-0 and miss the playoffs.
This offensive line is embarrassing.
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
3:38 pm
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
A “prick” telling someone else not to be one!!! AJC blogs!!!
Preach brother…
kevkat
November 18th, 2012
3:38 pm
I’ve never read where Matt owns up to his mistakes.. It’s always “we need to get better”. Also do they ever “fix” anything Mike claims is fixable?
Andy
November 18th, 2012
3:38 pm
U gonna throw another pick ryan? 4 wth
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
On Tony G…
KenDawg
November 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
Ryan just looks confused and lost today. Wow.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
3:30 pm
Special Investigative Unit
@ Spartacus
The Niners beat the Cardinals 24-3. Do a little research pal.
First, you’re right. I was going from memory and I thought it was the 49ers they beat that was a big upset, when it was actually the Eagles and the Patriots.
Second, you don’t have to be an prick about it. My point remains the same, regardless.
__________________
So you were wrong and he was right–and that makes him a prick?
By the way, beating the hapless, MV-led Eagles is nothing to brag about.
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
Bring in Timmy Toone!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
CHOKE is a LOSER….HA HA.
I told you fools that he puts up numbers vs mediocre teams
and when he plays vs good defenses he is exposed for the BUST
that I called him at draft day.
You fools fall for it every year….ha ha
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
Ryan running for his life witha 4 and 5 man rush. the Oline is just horrible
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
Once upon a time, Turner runs through poor tackles…
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
For all the people who Weatherspoon, look at Washington
Falcaints
November 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
When do they cut Turner, he is worthless.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
They can’t even hold right!!!
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
I wouldsay go for it but we have no run game.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
3:43 pm
Only CHOKE can make Arizona look like a superbowl team…ha ha
Mark Bradley is such a genius with his superbowl picks….
ha ha
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
3:43 pm
5-pick Jones is hurt again. Seems to be kinda fragile.
stizz
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
Smitty is beginning to become a huge problem this year. I hope he knows his job is on the line.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
Wow just Wow, how quickly Koetter and his Vertical passing game has been discovered by defenses!
I smell another first round LOSS brewing!
kerryb
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
With Jones and Douglas out we are down to our second string receivers and they can’t get open. All we need is a TD and this game will be over because Arizona’s offense is even worse than ours.
Falcaints
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
Doing all they can to lose, same old Falcaints.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
every play, the falcons can’t handle a 4 or 5 man rush. No time for Ryan to look downfield. the problems with this offense Starts with the line. getting killed right up the middle.
jo
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
We need an int, that may be our only hope Obi one.
Jimmy Crack
November 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
Come on Falcons, geez,
The defense will carry us,
I keep repeatin’.
Thomas
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
This game is soooooo frustrating to watch…Arizona defense is pretty good, but were making them look like the 2000 Ravens.
david
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Choke disappears when Ryan is doing well, then reappears when he’s doing bad and tries to claim he’s a bust. Good root for Mike Vick and the soon to be 3-7 Eagles.
KenDawg
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Early this season we executed well and looked really dangerous on offense – what happened??
sameoldsameold
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Do the Falcons REALLY wonder why the rest of the league–and the experts–don’t take them seriously…today is your answer; they look like shi^ after coming off a loss…they are the crappiest 8-1 team in the history of the NFL.
Kissinger
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
You can blame Ryan, O line, offensive coordinator, running back, and whoever else. Fact remains this team struggles against good defenses. Just three field goals today. Pretty much all the playoff teams will have good defenses.
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
More 1st down yards for the Cards
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
DawgNole,
Yes, I do bring that to the table, as I have been a fan of the team all of my life. I have endured a lot as a fan, which makes me appreciate just how good we have been over the past 5 years as an organization. I choose to look at the positives (unlike the last pass that Ryan just threw),
______________
So you bring 46 years with ZERO championships to the table? What’s so positive about that?
News flash
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
the best nfl qb’s look bad when the pressure is right up the middle
cadwellnek
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
we need another golden orchid checkoff, how lame are the falcons
Bird fan
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
Anybody thinking oops on this season? Hard to be an elite team without a running game.
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
JSS and SIU,
Ok, tell me how I was being a prick? I was just trying to point out that all of the vitriol being spewed out on the blog was stupid.
Yes, SIU corrected me on the result of the Arizona/SF game, and yes, he was being a prick with his “do a little research, pal” comment. And I rightly pointed out the defensive statistics to support my statement, which did include a little “research”. But of course, one mistake, and all of a sudden, my overall conclusion isn’t valid? I’m sorry, but you guys are the ones acting like little children.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
Mike FATASS Turner can’t run or block!
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
Stop being cute, line up and run it!
kevkat
November 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
3:43 pm
5-pick Jones is hurt again. Seems to be kinda fragile
To me 4-pick Ryan seems kinda fragile today..mentally at least
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
Just short if the TV line is correct
JSS
November 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
Short
Falcons: Play 60!
November 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
with the way they’re stinking up the place at home this year, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they fell to a number 5/6 seed and avoid home playoff games completely