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
phil
November 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
Where’s that guy who said this would be easy?
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
Falcons fortunate Arizona doesn’t have much of an offense or they would be down more than two scores (13-0).
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
13-0……ho-hum.
FALCON FAN
November 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
So they couldnt challenge that?
Mr C
November 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
that looked like a fumble
Steve From Dalton
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
Why is Turner still in there? Give another back a chance. Put in the Quiz.
jo
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ok so falcons offense -10, Arizona 3.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
I hate fans who bail on their team…..I get enough of that crap with Braves fans and I always said Falcons fans are not like that. Stop bailing on our great team. We going win
FALCON FAN
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
The coaching staff, players, and everyone involved are clueless today! No challenge! WTF!
jo
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
Looked ike a fumble…
Steve
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
The combined QB rating of both QBs is 50. Very impressive
Mr C
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
u will think the Falcons have guys in the booth that should have told the coach to challenge that call
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Let’s get ready for another 3 and out or a Falcons turnover.
Turner up the middle
Turner wide
Incomplete pass
punt.
Dum-Bass
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Who’s more overrated, the DAWGS or the Falcons?
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Cards are 0-4 on 3rd down. Build on the positive.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Still just two scores back. Somebody better start playing some D though.
ubah
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Wonderig if they thought they were playing the Stanford Cardinals?
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
This game is only close cause their Offense is terrible.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
UGA and the Falcons let their record speak for themselves.
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
Dum-Bass……
You are what you say you are.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
extremus
November 18th, 2012
1:39 pm
Well, the one good thing that’ll come out of this game (which is quickly looking more and more like a Falcons crash n’ burn-style loss) is that heads will assuredly roll.
______________
Actually, like other ATL pro teams over the years, they’ll likely do nothing, which is one of the many reasons the city has earned the label of “Losersville.”
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
80sFalcon — Don’t do that.
Dawg Boy
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
Do people just come here to vent their anger every week? What were all of you saying the first 8 weeks? Every NFL team has a bad game every week. Be patient. Falcons will be up by the half and will win by at least 2 TD’s. I do agree Turner has to go though. I like Snelling.
falcondumpsterfire
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
the falcons had their wings clipped last week by the aints now they are going in for the crash landing.this team is paper champs..nothing else..
phil
November 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
All we’re bailing is water….
As the foulcons ship slides beneath the waves.
Fire Mike Smith!!
GritsBlitz
November 18th, 2012
1:46 pm
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
I hate fans who bail on their team…..I get enough of that crap with Braves fans and I always said Falcons fans are not like that. Stop bailing on our great team. We going win
_________________________________________________________________
Welcome. You must be new to Atlanta.
extremus
November 18th, 2012
1:46 pm
@goFalcons,
No offense, but I don’t think anyone is bailing; it’s simply that we’re seeing all-too-familiar ground covered here and one game means a heck of a lot in an NFL season; in the playoffs it’s win or go home. So yeah, given what we’re seeing I’d say fans have a right to be voicing concerns.
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:46 pm
At least Rogers is running like he has some balls.
FALCON FAN
November 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
Go no huddle and forget about getting the ball to Turner for 1 yard and 2 yards! What a waste! We cant run block! Face the facts! Screw balance! If you cant get 1 or 2 yards on 3rd down you lack toughness up front! HD is a huge bust! He has not done anything since last years New Orleans game!
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
End of 1 quarter: Arizona 13 points, Falcons 3 interceptions.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
Free Fall
November 18th, 2012
1:40 pm
Ryan being exposed vs playoff quality defenses. Sounds like playoff football?
_______________
I wouldn’t call Arizona’s defense “playoff quality”–although they certainly look like it today.
Steve From Dalton
November 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
I have not seen an uglier quarter of football in a long time.
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
1:48 pm
80sFalcon — Last warning. No profanity, even if it’s disguised with punctuation.
ubah
November 18th, 2012
1:48 pm
Also, with all this blitzing, thinking a screen might be in order.
jo
November 18th, 2012
1:48 pm
Ok, so offense is a wreck today….defense is decent but if Ryan cant throw, receivers cantcatch and we already know we cant run, something has to give….didn’t see this coming to a sorry a$$ Arizona team.
phil
November 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
Calling for coaching changes is sheer lunacy….
At least be rational, folks.
Let’s play McClure at RB, for example.
egr
November 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
i agree even if Cards had a avg QB today it would be like 24 or 30 pts for cards
Falcaints
November 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
Jeff, are the Falcons the worst running team in the NFL? Neither back is a threat to take it to the house. Turner the slow burner is not a threat to get past the line of scrimmage.
Chasj
November 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
Are we familiar with the screen pass?
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
Contrast from first step between Turner and Rodgers is amazing
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
Awful first qtr.
eturn
November 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
LMAO GritsBlitz… so true
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
At least with Rodgers, the pile tends to be moving forward as the play ends.
Free Fall
November 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
5-12 and 3 picks in one quarter. Can we stop the mvp crap now?
phil
November 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
jo – don’t curse…..you’ll get bumped from here.
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
1:51 pm
We seem to be asleep, falling down, dropping passes, misreading plays so far
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
1:51 pm
Thank God for #88. Some of the best money this team ever spent.
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:52 pm
39 years here gritsblitz, I know the deal, born and raised, I got sick of hearing fire bobby cox now it is wren and FG. UGA always want to fire M.R. and it just makes me sick. RISE UP FALCONS
Common sense
November 18th, 2012
1:52 pm
Matt Ryan is not an elite quarterback. Get him off his spot and he is lost. He knows this. That is why he tries to throw off his tip toes instead of moving from his spot. He is not a QB who can extend the play.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
1:53 pm
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
I hate fans who bail on their team…..I get enough of that crap with Braves fans and I always said Falcons fans are not like that. Stop bailing on our great team. We going win
_________________
What, we’re supposed to cheer this miserable performance against one of the league’s worst teams?