Short takes: Newton and Panthers’ line dominate Falcons
Cam Newton blasts off for a 72-yard touchdown run, giving Panthers a 23-0 lead. (AP photo)
I’ll be back shortly with my column off of the Falcons’ game against Carolina today. Until then here are my three short takes on the game.
1. Defensive front dominated: The Falcons saw Carolina score on its first five possessions of the game (taking a 23-0 lead) and were just fortunate that the Panthers converted only two of those drives into touchdowns. Cam Newton was efficient and the Panthers ran the ball effectively. But the biggest reason for the early success was that the Falcons’ defensive front got dominated by Carolina’s offensive line. It didn’t help that defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux left in the second quarter with what was announced as a ribs injury. But it wasn’t all about Babineaux. This game belonged to the Panthers’ line, as well as … (see No. 2).
2. Cam Newton shows his upside: For all the criticism from “anonymous players” and “unnamed sources” about his maturity issues, Newton’s physical talents were on full display. He completed his first eight pass attempts. He threw for 178 yards in the first half on 17-of-25 passing. He had a 21-yard scramble in which he spun the Falcons’ Corey Peters in a 360 and a 72-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It’s like he was back at Auburn again. For the game, Newton finished with 235 yards passing and two touchdowns and he rushed for another 118 yards and a touchdown. So that should quiet everybody for a while.
3. No running game… again: It’s not the only reason they lost the game. But the Falcons again failed to establish a running game, which is an increasingly bad sign in the first week of December. Jacquizz Rodgers (4 for 21) and Michael Turner (7 for 14) combined for only 35 yards rushing. When that happens, it allows opposing defensive linemen to ignore defending the run and enables them to tee off on the quarterback. Matt was sacked only twice but often pressured.
By Jeff Schultz
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219 comments Add your comment
Thomas Brown
December 9th, 2012
6:31 pm
Clark Howard is a fraud ?
How’s that ?
legionaire
December 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
No running game and a D that looked confused and gave Newton all day to pass and look like Drew Brees. This team will not get past the 1st playoff game looking like they have for the past couple of weeks.
TCCB
December 9th, 2012
6:38 pm
Choke you are funny hell lmfao
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
6:40 pm
Great Falconi
December 9th, 2012
4:56 pm
Injuries can be reasons, but the lack of effort today was inexcusable, especially against a division opponent who called you out all week.
____________________
And a WEAK division opponent at that.
78Dawg
December 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
D Line killed us. We coldn’t stop the run or pass. Two starters in secondary hurt, but I don’t think it mattered. The middle with worthless Peria Jerry killed us…..Hey D_Block.get your crap together and stop bragging. Spoon….. lose the antics until you prove to be a leader.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
Only play what the schedule says…..if we beat every “good” team by 1 point this year….that would not be enough for alot of people…..would have said we only won by 1…..if you win you win! Grown men who get paid show up on Sunday! Regardless if they are 3-9 or 11-1…..thats the NFL!
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
Georgia Dome has roaches
December 9th, 2012
5:01 pm
Kerryb is most certainly a woman.
______________________
So THAT’S what it is. I was wondering.
Georgia Dome has roaches AND losers...
December 9th, 2012
6:46 pm
Excuses for today’s lost to 3-9 Carolina.
1) Yosemite Samuel bad shoulder needed a rest.
2) Julio Jones is terminally hamstrung
3) Carolina paid off the officials.
4) Falcons didn’t care because they already won division.
5) Georgia Dome is not portable.
drew
December 9th, 2012
6:47 pm
I’m not buying the “Falcons didn’t care about this game; we’ve already got home field” argument. This team played today like it has all year..INCONSISTENTLY. I’ve watched every game, and they simply don’t pass the eyeball test. They might be 11-2 on paper, but their about 8-5 base on the ol’ eyeball. I guarantee you any playoff team out there would LOVE to draw the Falcons.
Yeah, at this point, the only thing that really matters is January. But this is the time of year when the contenders play their best ball and the pretenders wet their pants. And if this is the team that shows up, it’s one and done…again. We have no pass rush and we have no running game. Not a good recipe for winning in January.
And if we DO beat the Giants next week, you can bet your ass it’ll be a squeaker.
JSS
December 9th, 2012
6:49 pm
“Grown men who get paid show up on Sunday! Regardless if they are 3-9 or 11-1…..thats the NFL!”
Seattle – 48, Arizona – 0
Milo
December 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
I’m not surprized at all. We haven’t played ” lights out football” with anybody this year. We’ve been very good at times.., and also very lucky. The players mailed it in today because we were 11-1 and they chose to not get hurt and really don’t care bout the panther game.
I’ll ignore today as a fan, but I expect to see this same game again…..probably when it counts the most.
Maybe the Birds need to eat some bath salts next Sunday for breakfast.
Please find some FIRE & DESIRE soon!
Starting w/ Coach/Matt & u LINE COACHES!
The Truth
December 9th, 2012
6:51 pm
Mike Smith has become the “new” Marty Shottenheimer. Matt Ryan has become the “new” Bernie Kozar.
Good coaches and good quarterbacks. Not “great” coaches or “great” quarterbacks.
Mike Smith probably doesn’t have the great coaching skills to win a Super Bowl. He’s a good man. A good coach. But not a great one.
JSS
December 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Babineaux got hurt, so much for that plan!
Dan Reesecup
December 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
A bad and ugly loss will help down the stretch as they correct the problems we say and have witnessed this season. If the Falcons are serious about playing to another level, they will correct this mess quickly. I expected the Falcons to be either 12-4 or 13-3.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
Cheer up Falcants fans. I know you are suffering from “Haven’t won a playoff game since Bush was in office syndrome” but it will get better.
I’m joking, it won’t get better….ha ha
The Truth
December 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
Drew is telling the truth. The Falcons are one and done in the playoffs. Again.
-This is the last year for M. Turner
-Shake up coming on “O” line. Trades and drafts picks will be the order of the day.
-After next year, will Smith be here? If not Smith, who?
-The Falcons are just interesting enough to lure Bill Cowher out of retirement.
Georgia Dome has roaches AND losers...
December 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
Hey, is it true that the mighty, mighty Falcons…lost to a 3-9 team today? The same Falcons that have to come up with corny slogans, dances, and nicknames just to make themselves feel relevant?
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
6:57 pm
kerryb
December 9th, 2012
5:05 pm
It might have been a little different if Samuel was covering Smith instead of Owens. It might have been a little different if Moore was coming up and smacking Newton when he tried to run. It’s just one game.
_________________
Too many ifs and might-hav- beens. And “just one game” is all it takes in the playoffs.
Jeff Schultz
December 9th, 2012
6:57 pm
Game column is posted. Let’s move all commenting over there. Thanks, J.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/12/09/falcons-give-performance-to-leave-us-wondering-again/