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
Rey
December 9th, 2012
3:59 pm
Ryan could have on 2 occasions run the ball into the enzone untouched.
Jaded
December 9th, 2012
3:59 pm
Smitty is EXACTLY like Bobby Cox. They both had lots of attributes that worked great in the regular season but didn’t translate well to the postseason. It’s that same buttoned-down, conservative approach.
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
3:59 pm
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
3:49 pm
It still feels great to be a Falcon fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
______________________
They could lose every game from now on and you would “still feel great” about them. Them’s pretty low standards, loser.
cadwellnek
December 9th, 2012
4:00 pm
and neither is michael turner
ramblinwreck80
December 9th, 2012
4:00 pm
turning point was the 2-point conversion that was MADE but taken away by the officials…if this was an 8 point game the 4th quarter would have been a different story…
TNScott
December 9th, 2012
4:00 pm
TD’s past personnel decisions are now hurting the Falcons. Went cheap in the D-Line not ponying up for Peppers and taking Edwards instead. Gave away the farm for Julio which could’ve been used to upgrade both lines. We won’t win the Super Bowl because of our lines and could easily be one and done in the playoffs.
TCCB
December 9th, 2012
4:00 pm
The Falcons are not a great football team and everybody knows it so stop fooling yourselves they do not play like champions and I agree with Choke This whole team is a BUST!!,,,,
Jason
December 9th, 2012
4:00 pm
30-20 makes me feel no better. We still lost. At least we’re in the playoffs. I really don’t care if we lose out and finish 11-5. Get to the tournament and win.
Robert
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
kerryb,
St. Louis has a better OL than we do, Remember they have Dahl
Sid
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
Dawg Nole…..or that favorite new term of the day….”haters”.
CHOKE - the official soft drink of the SB ringless FAILCANTS
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
Lmao…you are a JOKE…no respect until you win the SB…LOOSAHS…
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
AmpK……………………….so I guess you will be buying Playoff Tickets to PULL for the Falcons to win.
No you will be at home crying at every bad play and typing you brilliance.
kerryb
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
That was a catch on that 2 point conversion. I don’t know what the replay official was looking at.
The Real Falcon
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
We gave up 9/15 on 3rd down WTF!
toccoa
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
This team we’re playing got beat by KC last week. The same KC who is getting pasted by the Browns today. Don’t say another word Falcons until you prove you can dominate when you are supposed to. New England would have beat these guys by 30. WHAT A JOKE!! And PLAYOFFS!! Whatever day that is I think I’ll be doing something else.
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
realist???????? what is that somebody that hates on the Falcons? Really if you are a realist you could see our great record! I tell u what the Falcons would be better off without u so called realist fans
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
Why don’t the Falcons get any respect?
Robert
December 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
What type of onside kick was that, Damn we can’t even do that right,
h8rzgnnah8
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
That was the worse onsides kick I’ve ever seen.
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
3:45 pm
You idiots that say he chokes, look at all the others and the best of the best have 3 or more in the L column……..
____________________
We’re not talking about “all the others,” dope, and what they do has NOTHING to do with Ryan.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
Dont get why the “realist” are here to bash the team? Lol kinda crazy if you ask me. Bad game and have played bad on offense for 4 weeks…..no arguement about that….still 11-2 and have HUGE room for improvement. I say we fix it and lets show up next week…on to the next one! Simple.
Jason
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
Our O-line and D-line is horrible. We are our weakest where it hurts the most. In the trenches.
around town
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
It’s about time the zebras made up for some of those earlier terrible calls. If the replacement officials had made those calls everybody would be screaming for their heads.
rm
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
thats why the Falcons get no respect. thats why they lose in the playoffs. Falcons are soft. the refs didn’t help with that 2 pt botched call but the Falcons got whooped today. didn’t want it more than Carolina. pathetic. prove me wrong birds. please! how does the o line not protect on 4th and 8? how does our offence not show up in the first half against a depleted Carolina defense? how does our defense keep giving up 3rd downs? we are not playing as good as our record. we aren’t wining in the playoffs playing like this.
AmpK
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
Talk to me after the first playoff game. If he wins one game I will give him credit, but until then…
j
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
If any company had a ceo that couldn’t get them to the top, not even once, the ceo would be fired. Smitty has had the Falcons for some time now like Bobby Cox had the Braves. Neither could keep their teams at the top. Smitty can’t get there, and Cox only had one championship. What does that tell you about Atlanta sports teams ownership?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
4:02 pm
My real name is Vickter Massengill. I’m in the phone book. You guys give me a call if you want to talk.
trademark
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
This just in….Atlanta dropped to 28th in the newest ESPN NFL Power Rankings. Peter King lists them at 33rd.
Jimmy
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
Turner needs to go. We need a back with quickness to the hole.
Our O line needs to be rebuilt.
Abe is still a beast, but he MUST have help next year.
We need to draft a shut down corner to add to Dunta and Asante.
Am I missing anything?
Sav FAN
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
Is Mr Blank on the sidelines today? Hope not because this is not his field
63-39-5
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
playing like crap,finally caught up with us
no defense
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
Matt Ryan is scared to run..
CHOKE - the official soft drink of the SB ringless FAILCANTS
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
Look at the comments above….this loss doesn’t matter….we’re still in the playoffs…lmao…what a bunch of delusional disparate fans….everyone knows you’re a fraud….just got exposed by Scam…what a joke….NO SB RING EVER FOR the FAILCANTS…1 and done in the playoffs…..lmao…
kerryb
December 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
I see the rats are still jump off the bus because of one game. Next week when we beat the Giants at home they will all be saying how great the Falcons are. One thing is for sure. I think the Falcons are the kings of fair weathered fans.
Jason
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
49ers lost to the Rams and the Vikings but no one talks about that. Giants lost to the Bengals, etc. Teams have games like this. Oh well.
Pigskin
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
I didn’t buy this team after 4-0……6-0….or -8-0.
Still don’t and they are getting worse.
Jimmy
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
What…are you saying those weren’t the replacement refs out there today?
h8rzgnnah8
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
I guess all the bigmouths on this blog made a fortune today…betting on the Panthers…or not…talk is cheap haters…put your money where you mouth is…call a bookie…bet against the Falcons. Make some money.
Jeff Schultz
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
Just posted three short takes on game if you want to move commenting over there:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/12/09/short-takes-newton-and-panthers-line-dominate-falcons/
CHOKE - the official soft drink of the SB ringless FAILCANTS
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
How many SB rings the FAILCANTS got? Until you win one…ssshhhh….you’re just noise….and playoff failures….
falconsrus
December 9th, 2012
4:04 pm
Now we see how resilient this team is next week.
Slow start this week team loss.
Any injuries today?
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
4:05 pm
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
3:51 pm
Dont like loses at all Nation….but this might be the best one we ever take……why?
1. Need to be whipped to know we cant play soft and slow.
____________________
But that already happened in N.O. Why repeat it?
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
4:05 pm
@ trademark
does that mean we not playoff bound now?
Frigging clown!
Jimmy
December 9th, 2012
4:06 pm
kerryB:
Don’t let the raving of the haters persuade you that’s how Falcons fans act.
They aren’t Falcons fans.
jo
December 9th, 2012
4:06 pm
Falcons played well in 2nd half afterall but starting 16 points down is tough. Not to mention a few holds never called on Carolina offense. Am curious though why the falcons cant play an entire football game. Next week could be worse that a10 pt lose.
goFalcons
December 9th, 2012
4:06 pm
At what pt do the Falcons care about Power Rankings????????
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
AmpK……………..screw your Giving Him Credit………….Pay your MONEY and Go to the GAME and CHEER for him to WIN one instead of crying like a UGa Mutt fan every time their team missed a play.
Jamie
December 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
Pathetic
Jimmy
December 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
I’m afraid we’re running out of steam as injuries take their toll.
kevkat
December 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
Will “resilent” be in Smitty’s first quote or those that follow…it will be said though..