LIVE: Falcons have chance to clinch playoff bye (or more)
Stopping the Carolina Panthers starts with stopping Cam Newton for the Falcons. (AP photo)
CHARLOTTE — Good morning. When I walked out of the deck parking lot toward the media entrance of the stadium (a healthy walk here at Bank of America Stadium), there was only a slight drizzle. But a few minutes later, the skies opened up, I got drenched and it totally ruined my coiffure.
(Go ahead, I’ll give you a few minutes to laugh. … Waiting. … Still waiting. … )
So yes, it is raining here in Charlotte. The forecast says there’s only a 10 percent chance of showers, but that 10 percent clearly resides on this block. So at the very least, the field will be slippery for the Falcons’ game against the Carolina Panthers today.
Some folks around the Falcons are worried about this game. The Panthers are only 3-9 but seven of those losses have come by six points or less (one in overtime). The Falcons were fortunate to rally and beat Carolina 30-28 on a last-minute field goal drive in Week 4.
Tackle Tyson Clabo said of the Panthers, “They’re the exact opposite team of us. They’re in every game but somehow they find a way lose. We’re in every game and we find a way to win. It only takes a bounce of the ball here or there to change the whole thing. They’re a good team and they’ll be at home.”
The X-factor for Carolina obviously is Cam Newton. Every week it seems like there are new stories that quote anonymous players, questioning Newton’s attitude and leadership. Personally, I don’t like anonymous quotes. But the questions about Newton’s maturity have been there from day one so it will be interesting to see how he reacts to all of this and whether he grows from it. If he goes in the wrong direction, the Panthers are sunk because they’ve invested a lot in him from a financial and marketing standpoint.
Back to the Falcons. At 11-1, they’ve already clinched a playoff berth and the NFC South Division. They can clinch one of the top two seeds — and therefore a first-round bye — with a win over Carolina and ONE of the following two scenarios: 1) A San Francisco loss (home vs. Miami: OR 2) Chicago loss or tie (at Minnesota) and a Green Bay loss or tie (home vs. Detroit). A tie with Carolina and losses by Chicago and Green Bay also would clinch the bye.
The Falcons would clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home field through the playoffs with a win, AND a loss by San Francisco AND losses or ties by Chicago and Green Bay.
With college football winding down (pre-bowls), the amount of Falcons’ content in the AJC went up this week. Here’s a sampling, with links:
– My column on the Falcons realizing they have some flaws to correct in these final four games.
– My column on John Abraham and another double-digit sack season at the age of 34.
– Barrister Ledbetter’s Q-and-A with wide receiver Julio Jones.
– Ledbetter’s story on Jacquizz Rodgers’ work load possibly going up.
– Tim Tucker’s story on how the Falcons’ proposed new stadium deal breaks down.
Here’s a link to the AJC’s Falcons page if you’re looking for more.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll post the inactives in the comments section below.
Any thoughts on today’s game? And what are you hoping to see from the Falcons today?
I’m here to serve.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,276 comments Add your comment
TCCB
December 9th, 2012
2:44 pm
Choke, do you know where I can get a can of that Camy Cam Juice?
Jason
December 9th, 2012
2:44 pm
I hate to see Newton smiling on the sideline. Falcons got called out all week and this is how they respond?
Section 212
December 9th, 2012
2:44 pm
We will slide down to 9th in the power ranking!
kevkat
December 9th, 2012
2:44 pm
They really can pin there ears back now…good luck Matt
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
MVP MVP MVP
CHOKE is a JOKE…………
NEUTER THE POODLE
WITH AN ARM MADE OF NOODLE………
HA HA
I told you fools.
HA HA
FRAUDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Scam Newton
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
Falcons are finally finding their TRUE luck!
jo
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
We drop balls on special teams too. I think I am curious now to see how the falcons respond. Game us over but do the falcons really want to be embarrassed badly?
Snake Doc
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
Trademark – You may be right.
Ted
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
We are getting into playoff form early.
Great Falconi
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
If we do anything in the playoffs, it will be because we had a wake-up call now. There has been no competitive effort today. We’ve earned this L.
kevkat
December 9th, 2012
2:45 pm
What part of the “process” is this Smitty?
scrappy
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
To ANSWER THIS:
So that was HIS laptop he threw out the window at Florida before he got kicked out? I’m sure he had a receipt for it somewhere. He is his father’s son.
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
Comeback Falcons!
Rey
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
I’ve never cut a Falcons game off in my life until today. I can’t stomach this BULL SHEET….
ijonathan
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
over under on Turner touches the rest of the game…5?
Sav FAN
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
Jeff -you can head to the airport-and Falcs fans can head to the toilet bowl-this is about as worse as it can get -no one predicted this
Let Turner get some work
J.J.M.
December 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
save us hawks!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
TCCB
December 9th, 2012
2:44 pm
Choke, do you know where I can get a can of that Camy Cam Juice?
________________________________________
Well you won’t find it at CHOKES House Of Wuzz…..ha ha
Jimmy
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
Come on people! This game is not over.
ROZEMAN13
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
Got an upset stomach. every time I run to the bathroom for a dump, they score again.Im trying to hold it trying to hold it so they dont intercept and run it back for a touchdown. Pull for me
Kyle
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
No doubt this is the Falcons of December and the one game in January. I can already hear the same old post game press conference about how we didn’t play well in all three phases of the game. Yeah, thanks for telling me that because I would have never known otherwise.
Snake Doc
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
No 11-1 Super Bowl contender should be getting beat by the Carolina Panthers 23-0, with only 3 first downs. LOL
Great Falconi
December 9th, 2012
2:47 pm
Turner only has 3 carries today. He may not get another one.
Brent
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Disgraceful performance by the Falcons. It’s on the head coach…they clinched the division last week, had a long week thanks to the Thursday night game, and Coach Smith completely failed to have this team prepared to play in terms of motivation. It is their ability to play a game like this that makes me think they’re not getting anything done in the playoffs this year despite the record they’ve put together so far.
The Real Falcon
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Rey Stay faithful
Sent my playoff tickets invoice in
Scam Newton
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
How about a punt after this next series! Birds will take the goose egg today
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Move the chains!!!!!!!!!
Jason
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Falcons don’t want to win today.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Now watch CHOKE try to pad his stats in a blowout loss….ha ha
A Falcon in (Snowy!) Minnesota
December 9th, 2012
2:48 pm
Ummmmm……..did the Falcons recruit the GA State team to come play today, because I have never seen them get their asses kicked like this before……WOW!
morn
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
if the defense doesnt get off its collective butt and the WRs start catching some balls this is a lost cause. They cannot let this idiot continue to pass or run like he is, put him on the ground
Pmc
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
So Coach Smith, playoff effort today huh?
Jimmy Baron
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
If only the Falcons had a new stadium to forward to…….
KDYo
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
They have run 4 plays; the suspense is killing me – can they get to 6 before a TO?
Jason
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
If we score here to make it 23-7…who knows? 23-14, 23-21????
Scam Newton
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
five days off did this team some good! they need to do it every week!
lees
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
Come people!!!! The Titanic only hit a tiny piece of ice for Christ sakes!!!!!!
80sFalcon
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
Why bother in hurry-up if you’re taking 15 sec to snap the ball
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
Here we go!!!!!!!!!!
Why the Falcons are not Respected
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
Jeff is busy writing his “this game didn’t matter, the Falcons are still in good shape, blah, blah, blah”. column. Then he will start writing his ” Why Ga. will be farvorec to win the SEC next year column
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
2:49 pm
This game should be 35-0…ha ha
Section 212
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
The play off this game truely reflects that our OL responded like a bunch of punks. There is not toughness on the OL, just a bunch of nice guys, no fighters. This is why we always struggle against aggressing defensive fronts.
Scam Newton
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
how about 23-3 30-6 37-9
Jimmy Baron
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
Wes Durham is crying right now. He’s actually crying on air.
KDYo
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
Yes! Just won a $100 because they made 7 plays in a row!
J.J.M.
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
too late for this unless you score quick not with all these short passes
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
Another 1st down, Here we come!!!!!!!!!!! the comeback is on
playmeortrademe
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
Want to have a championship football team? Then your best players better be on the O-Line and D-Line. Look at the Giants and their D-lines, Patriots and their O-Lines, look at Alabama and their lines recently. Dimitroff and Smith don’t get it, Mark Richt doesn’t get it. Skill players are great, but you have to have guys in the middle that will beat the other guys across from them.
Pmc
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
Wonder why no one believes Vistings the Super Bowl team????
You couldn’t mail in a more pathetic effort
morn
December 9th, 2012
2:50 pm
someone remind me why Turner still has a job