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
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Wow speed in the backfield. go falcons.
UknowWhat?
November 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
Saved by the bell! Good first down. Just take a knee. Worst game I’ve ever seen with the Falcons.
Pmc
November 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
No chance at a playoff win right now. None.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
Al
November 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
6 turnovers to 1 and we are ahead? How is that possible
____________________
Hard to believe, isn’t it? If we can pull this one out losing the TO battle that badly, that’ll be saying something.
UknowWhat?
November 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
This team need a lot of work.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
Chop It Up
November 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
“Something tells me all that Ryan for MVP talk will quiet after this game.”
Heck no, Answer Nothing, TFF, and Esquire will be shouting it from the roof tops…
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
Falcons are going to win, led by a 4th Quarter come from behind drive by who?
CHOKE?
GritsBlitz
November 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:12 pm
Won it by the skin of their teeth. Very uncharacteristic day from Matt Ryan.
_______________________________________________________________
Third game like that. Falcons will be out in first round.
KenDawg
November 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
Ugliest win ever.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
@RB
time for you to go to work. all you need to remember is “do you want fries with that order”
Pmc
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
Falcons beat a high school offense today the offense shouldn’t get paid
MenVSBoys
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
All these turnovers. All the sloppiness on offense. We still put up 23 points. Somehow this team finds a way to score.
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
how will smith spin this win !?!?
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
What is that QB rating (for Ryan) today?
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
This game was horrible on many fronts, but a win is a win.
Pigskin
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
Wait until we see another “good” team.
Saints
Bucsx2
Giants
Lions
That’s five more guaranteed losses.
Spartacus
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
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.
Boy, you’ve really worked yourself up into a tizzy. You know, if you took your own advice here, my posts wouldn’t bother you. You would just stop reading them and be on about your day.
By the way, those that don’t recognize that it’s “only a game” are the real losers. They are full of vitriol for the team and obviously have never played real competitive sports, or they would know how difficult it is to win consistently. Good day, sir.
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
Ugly wins are better than ugly losses 100% of the time.
oldbird
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
Ugly win, but I have never seen a pretty loss. 4 game lead in division with bucs loss.
kevkat
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
If they hang on and win this game I can hear Smitty now..” A win is a win” we made a lot of mistakes but they are fixable…give me a break. All of them except the defense should be ashamed of themselves with the way they played and coaches on the way they coached. And Matt Ryan needs to blame himself sometimes and admit he sucked today…and no, you can’t blame the line for all the interceptions today..I’m sorry.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:17 pm
Wow the perfect texans can’t put the powerful jags. The should fire thief coach
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:17 pm
40.5 qb rating vs a 4-5 team.
What a BUSTTTTTT……….
HA HA
TCCB
November 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
The falcons are not the team that you think that are today they have been uncovered. The falcons had this much trouble with a team that have a five game losing streak and you think that they will win a championship, they will be flat screen cheerleaders again this year.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
love our falcons, h8ters keep h8ting
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
6 turnovers and still won the game. This will be one for the record books. I hope Julio and Asante can recover and get back on the field. We found a way to win today, but don’t stand a chance against the good teams we have left without those 2 guys.
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
That would be a very robust 42.2 JSS…
oldbird
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:17 pm
40.5 qb rating vs a 4-5 team.
What a BUSTTTTTT……….
HA HA
But 1 – 0 vs. that 4-5 team.
Mora less Petrino
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
A lot of teams are underachieving today! Lions gave GB a game and Jags and Texans are in OT!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
I hope you LOSERS haven’t made any reservations for January.
HA HA
extremus
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
Yeah, a win’s a win but…this one has to be considered a phyrric victory at best. That was one ugly mess of a game. Another like it against any of the remaining teams on the schedule (and especially in the playoffs) WILL undo us.
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
TD/MS are simply putting on a show. Reminds me of the ‘72-74 Flames. Good TV, but no real results.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
Matt Ryan forgot Halloween was a week ago and decided to be Tony Romo for the day.
Bulldawg
November 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
No the Falcons aren’t as good as we thought, but they aren’t as bad as they played today either. They will win at least four of the next six and likely get homefield for the playoffs. However, they have to find a way to run the football.
News flash
November 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
so many clowns on this blog who get their self worth based on the performance of millionaires who play a kids game and happen to wear a jersey bearing the name of the city where said clowns live. Just clowns.
FalconUGAFan
November 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
Welp not pretty but a win…better get focused.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
We win you cry I love it
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
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.
____________________
The same could be said of any blog anywhere. If you think the AJC’s are bad, take at look at espn’s some time.
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
November 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
like the braves, the falcons are missing a couple of pieces….
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
I love Declarative statements made after an upset win or an ugly loss or even an ugly win.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
A win in the NFL is hard to get!!!!!!!!! Bottom line
JSS
November 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
oldbird
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
“Ugly win, but I have never seen a pretty loss.”
Go see the stream of the last GB-Detroit game from last year…
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
Matt Ryan forgot Halloween was a week ago and decided to be Tony Romo for the day.
___
I meant Month. Please forgive me.
kevkat
November 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
Coach PJ for write in president
November 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
6 turnovers and still won the game. This will be one for the record books. I hope Julio and Asante can recover and get back on the field. We found a way to win today, but don’t stand a chance against the good teams we have left without those 2 guys.
I got three words for you on that comment…The Arizona Cardinals
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
This is why Baltimore never goes 1 and done. That’s why Flacco has 5 playoff wins and CHOKE is a 1st round BUST…..
HA HA
I wonder how much MIDOL Mark Bradley is taking with his
superbowl mvp predictions….ha ha
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
True @DawgNole. It’s kinda funny and sad at the same time.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
The Braves, UGA, And the Falcons make us proud.
oldbird
November 18th, 2012
4:23 pm
Look at it this way folks. It takes a good football team to lose the turnover battle 6-1 and still win the game. I don’t see many 6 turnover games in the future.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
4:23 pm
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
This game was horrible on many fronts, but a win is a win.
___________________
Co-sign.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
4:24 pm
Matt, u are sad and Ryan would kick your butt but you would call the cops. U are a sad person
kerryb
November 18th, 2012
4:24 pm
Give Arizona some credit. The reason they started 4-0 was because of their defense. They had a bye week and their defense is good. The Falcons O-line finally got it together enough for that last TD drive. When you’re playing Harry Douglas along with a back up they can double Roddy White. That made it a lot tougher on Ryan but he got the job done when he needed to. This is a different offense with Julio Jones in there so we need to get him healthy. with spoon coming back the defense is going to get even better.