LIVE: Falcons seek home field and, yes, respect
The last time Matt Ryan saw Eli Manning, he was congratulating him for a playoff win. (Getty Images)
Let’s start with this: I’m thoroughly convinced that even if the Falcons go out today and beat the New York Giants by two touchdowns, there is still going to be a segment of the fan base — a large segment — that says, “Just wait until the playoffs.”
And that’s fine. Because as we’ve discussed ad nauseam this season, the Falcons will be judged by how they do in the postseason, not the regular season, which again is going well (11-2). But a strong performance against the Giants would at least ease some of the concerns moving forward.
The Falcons, coming off their worst game of the season at Carolina (30-20 loss), lost to New York 24-2 in the last year’s playoffs. The Giants had a record of only 7-7 with two games left in the season but won their last two over the Jets and Dallas to win the NFC East and then beat four teams with better records than them — the Falcons (10-6), Green Bay (15-1), San Francisco (13-3) and New England (13-3) to win their second Super Bowl in five years.
If the Falcons’ offense scores anything today, it would put them ahead of the playoff loss, when the team’s only points came on a safety. They need to figure out a way to have some success against New York’s front four because there’s a reasonable chance these two teams will meet again in a few weeks.
A few important items before I open the cyber-venting lines:
• The Falcons will be without safety William Moore (hamstring). Wide receiver Roddy White (knee) did not practice all week but will start. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineux (ribs) and wide receiver Harry Douglas (ribs), who were limited in practice, are active. Cornerback Asante Samuel (shoulder), out most of the last two weeks, will start.
• The Giants are missing three regulars — running back Ahmad Bradshaw (knee), cornerback Prince Amukamara (hamstring) and safety Kenny Phillips (knee).
• The scenarios for the Falcons clinching a bye and home field in the playoffs are similar to a week ago. They can clinch a bye with: a win and a Green Bay loss or tie; a win and a San Francisco loss; or a tie and a Green Bay loss. They can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Green Bay loss or tie and a San Francisco loss. (Green Bay plays at Chicago and San Francisco plays at New England.)
Need something to read from during the week:
– Here’s my column on judgement time for the Falcons and Mike Smith.
– Here’s Darryl Ledbetter’s piece on Asante Samuel’s history against Eli Manning.
– Here’s Michael Cunningham’s story on whether the Falcons felt too satisfied before their loss to Carolina.
– Here’s Ledbetter again on the “voices” in Sean Weatherspoon’s head.
OK, that’s it for now. The floor is yours.
Let’s hear your thoughts on the game.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,026 comments Add your comment
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
OH YEAHHHHHHHHH! DEEEEE—-FENCE!!!!!!!!!
Ivan
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
ANOTHER FOURTH DOWN STOP
Roger
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Three times! Hats off to the defense
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
When these clowns going to understand that going for it on 4th down against the best team in the NFL does not work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Atlfalconsfan0125
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
This is just like last year but roles are reversed.
houze
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By a very thin D!!!!!!!!!!!!
GA Dome
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Three 4th and outs by the defense, lights are dimming.
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Hooray for stupid coaches. Giants should have six to nine pts.
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
respect 12-2
falconsrus
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
The Grits moeba
Jay Dubu
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Defense has come up big on multiple critical downs today! This could be a good sign.
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
Giants can’t do nothing on 4th downs …………….this ballgame is soooooooooo over !
dean
December 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
So much for your prediction, Ghost
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
Giants 0-3 on 4th down! Do you think Mike Smith will tell Tom C. that going for it on 4th down is a bad call?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
Could it really be today CHOKE wins his 1st playoff game?
Oh it’s a regular season game……oops my bad.
HA HA
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
Lovin’ this effort by our D!
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Knoshon…TD. 102 rushing today!
houze
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Wait until we get Grimes and Moore back!!!
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
I DON’T THINK THE MANNING BROS. LIKE IT AT THE DOME!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
CHOKE sucks so bad, all I can do is laugh….ha ha
Where is the TROLL????
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Poor “Choke” is having a bad day. Boo Hoo. HA HA
jo
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Lets score again and put this game away!
Eli "CHOKE" Manning
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS??
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
HEY “CHOKE”… REDSKINS ARE LEADING… UH-OH….
Oventbrel
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
Wow, the Giants have just been smothered on 4th down all day
son's who?
December 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
CHOKE is weeping while Pink Floyd’s “Mother” plays in the background.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
Quizz made something out of nothing! Good job
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
Wish I could be seeing this game…sounds like our best game of the year
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
Atlanta is trying to keep em scoreless to revenge the 2 points they scored last year !
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
son’s who?
December 16th, 2012
2:53 pm
CHOKE returns! What a clown.
___________________
Of course, you can always expect that when something bad happens to the Falcons (a penalty in this case). Only on this blog, though. He’s banned from the others. Once the Falcons clinch this one, he’ll make himself scarce. That’s what’s cowards do.
Dennis
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
Just DON’T go into that damned conservative offense now. KILL!!!!!!!
GA Dome
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
Looks like it may be 31 and 0 by end of the third quater.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
WE will fight them if they want some!!!!! Get’em Falcons! Beat them up and win the game!
son's who?
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
Man, think how good the Falcons would be if they had a quarterback who could pass downfield?
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
This is turning into a laughable route.
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
Hah. Former teammates: White vs. Webster.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
CHOKE walking between the fight after the refs show up….ha ha
What a little PUNK
jo
December 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
Giants are a bunch of sore losers…
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
Harry Douglas! YEAH!! Douglas needs to dance more salsa in front of the Giants bench. Go Roddy White for sticking up for our team–our HOUSE!
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
It isn’t January….
Meaningless butt whuppin. Lol
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
It took 4 players to take RW down but he grab the facemask and brought one down with him!!!!!! great job RW
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
Pour the points on now Falcons…and shut them out… Maybe we put our 2nd stringers in now???
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
You are doing well when haters raid your blog
hey now.....
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
I realize that the national narrative is for the Falcons to not be very good and for New York to retake it’s place (butt-clown Daryl Johnston saying it’s the Giants mistakes, not the play of the Falcons and mistakenly saying the Giants were winning all the big moment plays) but please, only an idiot (Choke), would continue the nonsense
Roger
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
Choke reminds me of the song riders on the storm……”his mind is squirming like a toad”. Dude has to be one of the most childish and insane people in the world to get on here week after week playing the same childish bs
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
I had to laugh at 2:58…
Good Grief!
December 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
@Choke..You are a big fat TURD!
Oventbrel
December 16th, 2012
3:02 pm
You would think the Giants would pay a bit more attention to Harry Douglas at this point. How many times has he been left wide open?
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:02 pm
Hang 40 on these guys.
houze
December 16th, 2012
3:02 pm
“choke” your fricking chicken and watch another game you douche!