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
chuck
November 18th, 2012
4:04 pm
The OL is going to ruin us in the playoffs. Whichever team we play in the first round will boot us out of the playoffs in the first round once again. Ryan can’t complete passes running for his life. The NFL has ruined the ability of rookies such as our two draft picks from this year to make an impact in positions that require a lot of reps and training with their stupid limit on number of practices. Regardless, we need to work Holmes into one of the Tackle spots because neither of our starting tackles is even average.
Al
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
6 turnovers to 1 and we are ahead? How is that possible
Falcons65
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
Unbelievable.
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
That pass was on Ryan. He tried to throw a ball that had no chance of being caught, and it was right in the helmets of the defense.
Al
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
If we lose, it’s all on ryan. He sucks
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
Now they run?
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
If I was the Cardinals I would say to heck with the pass and run it all day.
Al
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
They will go for it and make it
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Four down territory. I would run it again.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
3:51 pm
Dawgnole
“So you bring 46 years with ZERO championships to the table? What’s so positive about that?”
I’m a fan of the team, therefore, like any other real fan, I have high hopes for the team. Why are you watching them if you don’t have hopes that they will perform well?
Also, I take it from your handle that you are a dog fan. They haven’ t won a championship in 30 years. Do you still root for them? Do you feel positive about their season right now? How can you feel positive when they haven’t won in 30 years?
___________________
Pointing out the reality of the team’s negative play doesn’t mean I’m not a rabid fan. Only narrow-minded dolts like yourself think that way.
falconsrus
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
R MC and willy mo!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Falcons had to burn TO for substitution.
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Yea Defense! Oh no, they’re going for it on 4th down. Defensive line hold your water….
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Abe was held big time I first play
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
“I understand the negative comments, I just don’t get the vitriol that they are spoken with.”
@Spartacus – me neither, but the same could be said of any sports blog in the AJC, especially the UGA blogs.
Sonny Clusters
November 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
Arizona is pretty bad but 5 interceptions is pretty bad, too. Whatever happened to the picture of Arthur Blank on his horse?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/08/06/blank-found-paradise-in-solitude-of-montana/?cxntfid=blogs_jeff_schultz_blog
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
Whis is clueless today
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
This is the worst i have seen the Falcons play ever.
KenDawg
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
Matt’s gonna need a good dose of Xanax after this…
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
This is called WINNING UGGGGGLY!
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
Should be a quick pass. Hands up D-line.
gt97
November 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
Matt Romo in thr game?
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:08 pm
Lucky
phil
November 18th, 2012
4:08 pm
5 picks?
Sad.
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
4:08 pm
“Only narrow-minded dolts like yourself think that way.”
Ooh, you really got me with that one. Real mature.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:08 pm
CHOKE is a LOSERRRRRRR & BUSTTTTTTTTTTTT
I told you fools he is mediocre vs good defenses.
He will be a career 1 and done qb because he SUCKSSSSS
HA HA
5 Picks……ha ha
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Pro Bowler has to make that catch
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Lucky, Lucky, Lucky. Thats a pass Fitzgerald is usually clutch on.
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
6 consecutive drives without a First Down.
wow
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
He dropped it….or lost it out of bounds!
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
And you’ll blame Turner right?
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Think we’ll see a pass now?
morn
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
If they win this game they are the luckiest team in the nfl.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
They are so lucky Arizona doesn’t have a qb to fight back
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
PASS the DAMN BALL
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Just keep running and punt it.
falconsrus
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
D#### grew a little today
jo
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
That was close. Folks, Ryan has been throwing the ball really low today…its nit just bad luck.
Chop It Up
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Something tells me all that Ryan for MVP talk will quiet after this game.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
4:01 pm
My point was that if it’s that bad and makes you so mad, quit watching and rooting for the team that continues to let you down and do something else with your life. At the end of the day, it’s only a game!
______________________
And everyone else’s point is that if you don’t like what you’re reading, stop reading it and shut the hell up.
“. . . it’s only a game.” Classic loser mentality.
kevkat
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Think we’ll see a pass now?
God forbid!
phil
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
Possessions.
Not drives.
Possessions. A drive requires a first down or two.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:11 pm
Fitzgerald dropped the ball. but he also didn’t get his back foot down.
Al
November 18th, 2012
4:11 pm
Defense won this game that ryan tried to lose
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Clusters, ha ha!!!
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
1st DOWN!!!
RB
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Matt Ryan will never win a superbowl (and you can quote me on that)!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Won it by the skin of their teeth. Very uncharacteristic day from Matt Ryan.
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Ball game. If you want to call it that. I can think of something else.
JoeBrave
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
BallGame