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
Falcons 73
November 18th, 2012
2:23 pm
Hey “Choke”…you are my hero!
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
2:23 pm
Fire Mike Smith, hire Derek Dooley!
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:23 pm
Every time the ball is thrown to HD, I’m anticipating a drop.
Every time HD catches the ball and runs with it, I’m anticipating a fumble.
At least in me, he just doesn’t inspire much confidence.
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:24 pm
Is it a knee? ACL look to it?
Mike Franklin
November 18th, 2012
2:25 pm
Why doesn’t NOLA allow Falcon fans to harass like the AJC does here for Ainters?
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
2:25 pm
Again we can’t finish drives off
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:25 pm
Derak Dooley….
Just awful.
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
2:25 pm
More crap play calling.
jo
November 18th, 2012
2:25 pm
Usual red zone blues remain but we are lucky to be tied after the poor offense …
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
Nothing like a Falcons blog to get the humor level on ZERO!
Mike Franklin
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
It’s a new game… might as well be 0-0
ramblinwreck80
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
needed a TD there guys…Falcons RED ZONE ineptness is getting frustrating!
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
Re-hire Dan Reeves! Better yet, June Jones!
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
We stopped scoring weeks ago now….
Pathetic.
afan
November 18th, 2012
2:26 pm
BS in red zone..got to get a TD…3 points will not get it in long run. like last week.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:27 pm
phil…
It was a ankle roll-up
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:27 pm
Glad the Falcons are not like us fans,,,,,,,,,,,they fight and don’t give, I love the Falcons, RISE UP 2nd half is our half
Mike Franklin
November 18th, 2012
2:27 pm
Nothing like a troll to corrupt the humor level of any blog
Special Investigative Unit
November 18th, 2012
2:27 pm
Home cookin…refs doing all they can.
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:27 pm
Expect crap play calling…
We hired an idiot from Jacksonville, of all dead ends.
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
Oh, crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
He tackled himself!!!
Chop It Up
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
wow
afan
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
JSS try the Braves blog..alot of hate
Mr C
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
Run defense
Mike Franklin
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
Holy mother of ingrown toenails… we gotta do better or JSS & Co. will actually have something to cackle about
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
William Moore got suckered.
Jeff Schultz
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
Whiffs and mistackles on that 53-yard run. Cards have a chance to put up some points.
jo
November 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
So our defense just caught whatever illness has been affecting the rest of the team. Speechless.
J.J.M.
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
seen that run coming
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
Franklin, stop talking about yourself!
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
Falcons cure a lot of rushing woes.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
This is has NO QB and you STILL CANT STOP THE RUN? Give me a break!
Ed Pilcher
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
And now we are about to give up the halftime lead.
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
Hey mike franklin, go abuse some helpless staff people….
Steve Superior
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
This game is so dull, even Jeff fell asleep!
Sid
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
can’t go far in the playoffs with this defense.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
Add “team” in my last post
MTSeats
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
Must give kudos to a real running game. Wish the Birds had one
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
They were just going run the clock out and boom a busted 50 plus play and now this, Come on Falcons
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
Giving up big runs to no-names. Nice sack by JA.
JSS
November 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
Facts or facts and you choose to ignore it… That’s on you!
phil
November 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Yep…
Your super bowl bound foulcons…..
LOL!
jo
November 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Offsides..saw that coming
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Still a nice sack–just doesn’t count.
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Cardinals get the ball first after halftime too…
goFalcons
November 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
MTSEATS GIVE THEM KUDOS…….I GIVE KUDOS TO THE BEST TEAM IN THE NFL THE FALCONS. You make no sense
ijonathan
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
Despite his deficiencies, Beirman >>>> Ray Edwards
Falcaints
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
No way this is a championship team, average at best. One and done, just like the Braves and Hawks.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
Remember you chumps keep using the reason for Flacco’s playoff success was his great defense. So Ray Lewis and several other defensive players are injured yet Flacco and the Ravens are still leading their division.
So next excuse for the great meltdown know as CHOKE is?
HA HA