Falcons give performance to leave us wondering again
DeAngelo Williams' 53-yard touchdown off a screen pass buried the Falcons late. (AP photo)
CHARLOTTE – It started with the Carolina Panthers winning the coin flip for the first time this season. It ended with the Falcons being trash-talked off the field by a last-place team. Somewhere in between, we witnessed Atlanta’s worst four quarters of football of the season.
And the Falcons’ deserved it all – the loss, the mocking, the questions about what this means moving forward.
“I can hear everybody right now,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “They’re getting off the bandwagon. I can hear them jumping off. Looking at our history, people are going to go, ‘See, I told you.’”
OK. It’s a little premature for I-told-you-sos. The Falcons haven’t lost a playoff game yet. But it has to be concerning when an 11-1 team falls behind 23-0 to a 3-9 team, and at one point finds itself being outgained 356-66. It’s concerning any time a defensive front is so thoroughly shredded the way the Falcons’ front was Sunday, and the offense can’t run the ball (again), and all hopes of opening the regular season’s final month with an impressive win are emphatically squashed.
Cam Newton account for 403 yards and three touchdowns passing and rushing. (AP photo)
The Falcons lost 30-20 to Carolina. They managed to make Cam Newton feel like he was back at Auburn again.
If Newton could combine for 403 yards and three touchdowns with his arm and legs in victories every week, media members wouldn’t be hiding behind potted palms and waiting for anonymous quotes that rip him for being petty, immature and ego-maniacal (just paraphrasing the attack pieces).
The fact the Falcons lost a game in itself isn’t devastating. They’re 11-2. They’ve already clinched the NFC South Division and remain in a strong position to clinch home field through the NFC playoffs.
But Gonzalez is correct: This was like feeding steroids to a doubting public.
Next week’s game against the New York Giants will tell us something. The Falcons find themselves having to rebound, physically and emotionally, against the team that drop-kicked them out of the playoffs last year.
“We all knew we were flat,” linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. “It seemed like every time there was a play to be made, we were almost there. You can’t be almost in this league.
“We get a chance to go after some guys who controlled our destiny last year.”
Yes. Best to turn the page as quickly as possible. Embrace the possibility of amnesia.
The Falcons made the Panthers look like a playoff team. Carolina scored on its first five possessions (two touchdowns, three field goals), and only one of those ended in a big play (Newton’s 72-yard touchdown run, finished off with a flip). Mostly, the Panthers punched the Falcons in the mouth.
It figured they would milk this a little, and they did. When the Falcons rallied for a 30-28 win back in September in the Georgia Dome – Matt Bryant’s game-winning field goal coming with five seconds remaining – quarterback Matt Ryan was caught on camera screaming toward Carolina’s bench to, “Get the [bleep] off our field!”
So when this one ended, several Carolina players were overheard trash-talking on the field, led by defensive end Greg Hardy, who witnesses say mimicked Ryan’s comment, “Get the [bleep] off our field.” Bryant’s reported response: “Watch us in January.” Introducing, the trash-talking kicker.
Hardy is the same obscurity who earlier said the Panthers were a “better” team than the Falcons, adding: “I’m trying to mess up their whole playoff experience. I want them to go home sick in the stomach, mad about life, a couple depression issues …” (He didn’t make himself available for the media Sunday.)
Down 23-0, the Falcons showed a pulse. Ryan’s four-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones closed it to 23-13. But a seemingly successful two-point conversion pass to Roddy White was ruled incomplete (questionably), deflating the comeback. DeAngelo Williams’ touchdown on a 53-yard screen pass slammed the door shut.
When asked if he considered this loss a bump in the road, Gonzalez responded: “It better be, if we’re the team we think we are.”
Instead, they’ve left everybody wondering again.
By Jeff Schultz
The last dozen from the digital juke box
– Short takes: Cam Newton and Panthers’ line dominate
– LIVE: Falcons have chance to clinch playoff bye
– Even at 11-1, Falcons know they can’t afford to settle
– ‘Sack Schultz’ Bowl Blowout contest (from Potato to BCS)
– Hawks are surviving nicely without Joe Johnson (gee, go figure)
– OK, Falcons’ critics: Find something wrong with John Abraham
– Brian Gregory may have Tech on way to something good
– Trying to win is only half the problem at Georgia State
– Georgia earns respect in defeat, but loss will be hard to take
– Braves dump a pitcher (Hanson) they once viewed as gold
– Falcons’ offense hits a wall, but as usual it doesn’t matter
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722 comments Add your comment
Roswell bob
December 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
Falcon fans-only 30 per cent of the crowd? Nothing like when giants, Steelers and other fans are more than 50 per cent in the atl!
D-bo
December 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
Should start grooming Dom Davis
zing
December 9th, 2012
8:05 pm
Looks like Matt need more time in the pocket. Quizz for president! Will the DL stand up?
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:05 pm
Hahahaha these haters mad that we 11-2
Honest
December 9th, 2012
8:05 pm
Mike Smith is proud how HIS team performed. They ROSE up for him and will next week,if they have football stamps.
Lolligag
December 9th, 2012
8:06 pm
Way to lay a turd today guys! Place still smells!
Eric C.
December 9th, 2012
8:06 pm
@ Thomas Brown, actually, that was a huge call on the 2 pt conversion…changed the whole dynamic of the remaining game plan.
@ Panther Paw in Yo Head, ha…Mike Smith loves that “fix it” quote.
Roswell bob
December 9th, 2012
8:06 pm
Might be 11-2 against a weak schedule. You are 0 for the playoffs go giants!
Ron Roberts
December 9th, 2012
8:07 pm
That being said, it was just one game, and without William Moore and Asante Samuel, we were thin on defense. In the NFL, every team lays an egg.
San Francisco can’t handle the Rams – at home or on the road.
The Bears have five losses. The Giants, too. Green Bay’s got four losses, but none of ‘em are shameful. The Falcons losses aren’t either, really; the Saints in New Orleans? Tough place to play in a heated rivalry and they are still the playoff-caliber Saints.
Today was, by far, the Falcons’ worst effort since the playoff thud last year; but like I said, we were short-handed on defense.
That being said, give 44 the damned ball and give up on this silly “squeeze the last ounce of usefulness out of Michael Turner” experience.
Panther Paw In Yo Head
December 9th, 2012
8:08 pm
My son wanted to go watch a Falcons game at the dome before he watched today’s game. Thanks Falcons players and Mike Smith….
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:09 pm
Aye guess what?! All the teams we played in the playoffs…..went to the superbowl
hahaha fu*kers
Panther Paw In Yo Head
December 9th, 2012
8:10 pm
Who is 44 ? Quizz is #32.
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
8:10 pm
5pick Julio, 66 yds. Great to see the big play vs 3-9 team!
Whopper Dawg
December 9th, 2012
8:10 pm
Interestingly enough, three of the weakness Jeff pointed out in his previous column and I commented on reared their ugly heads again.
Ryan step up – no
Run the ball – no
Defend the run – no
Weakness like that are the death knell in the playoffs. Next week’s game will be insightful.
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:10 pm
and weak? HA. We made the broncos look like fools!
"Process and Resiliency"
December 9th, 2012
8:11 pm
…oh,, and “3 Phases”. Mike Smith is starting to remind me of Fredi Gonzalez the “cap tipper” Well Borgnine, Dumbitiroff, and the appropriately named “Blank”you can count on Blank-4 in the playoffs after this season ends ,, domefield or no domefield. Ryan is a wuss, who looks scared every (and I mean every) time it comes to the big game. I don’t care how many comebacks he has led, he is a hack ,, who throws the ball away so quick (well before the sack comes) and cannot get in position to extend play. Has horrible (by NFL standards) peripheral awareness and today showed why it will be another one-and-done. They showed their true makeup today, and this was not a look past game (as they had 10 days off and knew Carolina would want to prove something). This team could easily be 6-7 or 7-6 ,, easily.
Ron Roberts
December 9th, 2012
8:11 pm
And enough with the Matt Ryan slams. Dude had horrible protection and no running game for the defenders to honor. Oh, and he threw for 342 yards, STILL…sorry; this one’s on Koetter, Turner and an undermanned defense.
Loss might be a good thing...
December 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
If we had coasted to home field advantage, we probably would have pulled the starters for the last 2 games… Ask the 2009 Colts how that worked out… We need the last two games to mean something so we can try to peak at the right time… The NFL is a league where the team playing the best football at the end of the season wins the superbowl (that is assuming they made the playoffs)
Panther Paw In Yo Head
December 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Every replay showed Roddy caught the 2 point conversion. Even announcers & former referee Ferrerria said he caught it. Officials STILL blow calls even with replay.
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
Here is your answer. Ran the ball once in the first quarter. Dumbass Offensive coordinator made Defense know what was coming.
all i remember is
December 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
the Panthers are 4-9 and the Falcons are
the NFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS.
Falcon Flap
December 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
Honestly, the majority of Falcon fans, including myself, had their hearts ripped out on Dec 1st in the SECCG. So if the Falcons do what everybody is expecting to do and that is nothing in January. Then its whatever at this point. I really don’t care right now. I have been so emotionally involved in our local teams for so long that I just can’t do it anymore. My heart was ripped out on DEC 1st so its whatever, if the Falcons want to lay another egg in the playoffs, oh well. Its not like its going to be any surprise. If the Falcons decide to surprise everyone , then great!
TWO GOOD DOGS
December 9th, 2012
8:16 pm
JEFF, AS ALWAYS, A GREAT PERSPECTIVE. THINGS HAVE LOOKED BAD FOR 5 WEEKS NOW OFFENSIVELY. THIS COACH IS NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH. HIS STAFF IS NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH. THEY AREN’T GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS. WHERE ARE THE LEADERS ON THIS TEAM? IT’S GO TIME. WHY ARE WE DISRESPECTED? IT’S OBVIOUS, WE CAN’T WALK THE WALK..
WE HAVE TO OUTSCORE THE BAD GUYS AND HOPE TO HANG ON FROM TIME OF POSSESSION. OUR QUARTERBACK NEEDS TO SUDDENLY GROW UP. DON’T TAKE A DAMN SACK. THROW IT AWAY. THROW IT AWAY ASSHOLE. ( SEE PEYTON MANNING VIDEO ON HOW TO PLAY QUARTERBACK ) PLEASE REMOVE THE SCARED SHITLESS FROM THE EYES OF MATT RYAN ON THIRD AND LONG. ASK MATT RYAN TO GO AND DISCUSS THE BAD ROUTES OR THE BAD READS TO HIS RECEIVERS BEFORE THE NEXT SERIES, ALA AARON RODGERS/ PEYTON MANNING/ DREW BREES. ARE THOSE DECENT REFERENCES?
ALSO CAN SOMEONE FIND THE SCOUT IN SAN DIEGO WHO FOUND MICHAEL TURNER, DARRIN SPROLES, AND LADAINIAN TOMLISON. FIND THEM, HIRE THEM.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
Wonder why all of these people who are not Falcon fans on this blog……maybe they dont have a NFL team who has a blog? Go figure…..i would love for one of them to answer that……hahahaha.
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
Falcon Flap
December 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
Honestly, the majority of Falcon fans, including myself, had their hearts ripped out on Dec 1st in the SECCG.
================================================
Hahah there are MANY Falcon Fans that Loved Dec. 1 SEC CG.
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
tbh nobody gives a single Fu*k about anyone’s opinions. Win the superbowl. Saints suck Dic*. IM OUT.
Cammed Up
December 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
HAAAAA HAAAA! LMAO ! Cam butch slapped the Buzzards ! Seahawks,Giants,49ers will beat Buzzards to death ! Falcons could be 75-0 and get beat in 1st rnd playoffs EVERY TIME !!!
MontanaDawg
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
I knew the REAL Birds would show up at some point. Heck, some guy on the Panthers even called the upset a day or two ago and said they were tougher than the birds. I guess he was right. Pitiful.
blah blah
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
Ryan needs max protection or he is fairly useless. With Cam, he is so effective breaking the pocket and that is the difference between those two QBs.
Georgia
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
You know that the talent in pro ball is spread out pretty evenly. Many games this year were won by miracles. As a common variety football savant, I would never question a 11-2 coach. I wouldn’t even question an 11-5 coach.
JSS
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
Falling back on his usual mess, oh well…
1996seasontxhldr
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
Calm down everybody its real simple to fix the run game,Dirk listen up use Cox as the lead blocker in front of Turner like you did last game and he will GUT whomever Team you put him against. IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME GO BACK AND REVIEW LAST WEEKS FILM .
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
Blog looks like it is full of the crap that was flushed out of NOLA a few years ago or MV7 lovers.
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
I wonder if cam will ever go to a playoff game….NOPE hahaha
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
You are the usual mess JSS….i brought facts and shut u the fudge up! Now what can you say! Lol u a lame and you know it. U spit like I said lol….continue to do so…..
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
It’s business. Blank wants a stadium(at least cost), fans are sucking on tit wanting for more. Ain’t gonna happen with TD/MS. By then Blank has his $300M from taxpayers, ain’t life great. Blank gets a new stadium without ever producing a winner (post-season). HIRE COWHER!
Jake
December 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
Drew Breese was born a homo…..face the facts.
1996seasontxhldr
December 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
CAN WE PLEASEEEEEEEEE TRY SOME PLAY ACTION PLAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really think they will work. YOU are Looking alot like MIKE BULARKEY. Very PREDICTABLE I meaN veeeerrrryyyy..
Falcon Flap
December 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
5150…it should honestly be even worse for the smaller tech portion of the falcon fan base. Its the dawgs ,yellow jackets, braves, falcons, hawks that contribute to the numbness that has come over this state.
Rick Patel
December 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
Eli Manning’s NY Giants just crushed N. Orleans 52-27. They be waiting on those flaccid Falcons next week. Ooooo, girl!
Cammed Up
December 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Cox won’t gut Usi,Tuck,Pierre-Paul. Wake up, Falcons are overrated and can’t beat their own meat !
all i remember is the pitiful Panthers are 4-9
December 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
and the Falcons are 11-2 with the best record in the NFC
and EVERBODY IS FREAKING OUT because they have lost 2 out of 13 games.
Bring on the Giants !
Snake Doc
December 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
@Chuck – Excellent post!
Eric C.
December 9th, 2012
8:25 pm
Script next week, the Falcons will feed off of home field crowd and get up 10-0, then the offense will go mia until the Giants get ahead by three scores, but by then it will be too late. Giants win 37-24.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
I know you miss me! Lol you cant help but say something to me JSS. And when I bring facts you come with some bullscrip. You came with that lame Seattle talk and I shut you down! Fact not google.stats here little angry man. You here because of what again? You never ask that question. You here to grace us with your bashing of the Birds……its not impressive…makes you look bad. Whos your team? You never say u just bash. Lol. Go away, hide, get lost you stink and you spit….good for nothing…..lol
Dwayne C
December 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
The Atlanta Falcons haven’t left me wondering at all. The only “wondering” I’m doing is wondering what Falcons owner Arthur Blank is prepared to do once this team goes “one and done” in the playoffs again.
Roswell bob
December 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
Most of us in atl are from somewhere else. And root and comment on our team’s blogs too. Just no tradition or fan support here as evidenced on this blog
all i remember is the pitiful Panthers are 4-9
December 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
and wish they were in the playoffs.
Honest
December 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
Players ROZE up for Mike Smith today, in their pants maybe.
G-Men In Tights
December 9th, 2012
8:28 pm
It looked just like when Cam smacked the Dawgs today. I wish Cam was Falcons qb.