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
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:02 pm
GONZO!
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
there goes the Old Man Tight End for another FIRST DOWN!!!!! ..and the clock is running…
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
2:55 pm
Statement play.
_____________________
Just what I was thinking. Statement play in a statement game.
Another big catch by TG. Remember the poster way back on page 1 who said he was “washed up.”
Sid
December 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
getting the hammer ready?
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
Gonzo is just $$$$.
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
Burn up that clock.
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Let them keep thinking we are not very good…fine with me…how many 12-2 teams are there
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
What a block and what a run!
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
JULIO RUNNING DOWNHILLLLLLLLLLLL!
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
JULIO!!
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
Atlanta is trying to keep em scoreless to revenge the 2 points they scored last year !
*********
yes. That will teach the, um, super bowl champs that crushed us like a tin can.
A regular season whuppin…
Get real.
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Nice play call!
falconsrus
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Me and Julio down by the Goal-line
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Giants destroyed the Caints last week and we destroying the Giants this week……………….hehehe
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
On reverse to Julio, Falcons ran the exact same play a few plays earlier but Ryan had handed off and faked reverse to Julio.
Section 212
December 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
I’m just joining today. Our squad came out with a purpose. 24-0
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
Extremely efficient drive by Falcons, possibly their best of the game.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
CHOKE was thinking “let me wait till the refs show up then I’ll go in the area of the fight and look like I can hit somebody, where is the pointer”……
HA HA
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
That was the green okra or opra play to quizz and it almost scored!!
Section 212
December 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Has Noodle Arm gone hiding?
Hillbilly D
December 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Watched the first half. The Giants were pretty sloppy but the Falcons took advantage and didn’t make any serious mistakes. Line play was a bit inconsistent, in my opinion, but it was pretty good in the crunch.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Falcons are dominating today. 31-0 would be the epic statement to the rest of the league. You can’t argue with a beat down like this. Had it been a 27-25 win or something like that, arguments could be made that the Falcons got lucky or whatever. But with a 31-0, or potentially more beatdown, how can you argue that?
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
7-0 at home
Roger
December 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Phil if the regular season is meaningless and only the playoffs mater, why watch the game?
bowfan
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
Defense will be drooling over the chance to pick off Eli 2 or 3 more times in the 4th qtr now.
dean
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
phil, but the Giants neeeed this win today . That says something to me about ATL-players and staff.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
Does this count as a playoff win?
Ooops sorry Falcant fans, still 0-3 and shutout in the last one
HA HA
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
“CHOK”… MVICK IS ON LINE #7 AND NEEDS A JOB SOMEWHERE NEXT YEAR… IGGLES DON’T WANT HIM NO MORE!!!!
Drew
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
One and done in the playoffs.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
@ phil…
Where did all of these set of brass ones crawl from?
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
I did not expect this today…
Neither did anyone else, so don’t start claiming you did.
I feel better about this team. Yes, we ARE capable of going somewhere. But i still want to see it on the field in January.
SCFalcon
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
Choke what are you still doing here. Hasn’t momma called you to lunch yet?
falconsrus
December 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
These “Making a Statement Falcons” are Tuff as a lighterd Knot
david
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
phil and choke his chicken talk smack and then name call after the can was opened on the G-men. Now, they say its a regular season game. If the score was reversed they would be singing the praises. Talk about sour grapes spewed by a couple boys.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Good job Falcants, for your hard work you get to be steam rolled by Aaron Rodgers again….ha ha
oldbird
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
If everyone ignores the idiot choke, maybe he will go away.
Roger
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Have to agree Phil, I’m surprised and happily so
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Bye Week in the bag and we won’t lose any playoff games this year… Wanna bet “Choke”???
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Still can’t score from the one….
Pathetic.
Boooooooooooo!!
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Gotta go for it here. Punch it in.
houze
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Go for it!!!!
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
The more I watch Julio the more he is becoming my favorite sports player, I don’t even hold that Bama thing or wish we got Green,,,,,Watch out J-Hey you have competion for my favorite player in sports!!!!!
Jay Dubu
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Falcons need to get a TD here. They have to keep the pressure on the Giants and play this down to the last second.
Remember 25 – 2 in the playoffs last year.
Remember the lack of respect that they’ve received all season long.
Remember they have to set the tone and expectations going into the playoffs.
playmeortrademe
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Great game but these 3rd and short problems have got to be corrected.
Drew
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
And when they ask all of the analyst and players around the league, who is better, Falcons who blew out the Giants today or the Giants who got blown out?
Answer… Giants are better.
Nobody cares about Atlanta sports because Atlanta sports never amount to anything.
jo
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Those of you who think game doesn’t matter because its only december are delusional. This single game means the falcons are for real. Look out in January.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Unbelievable that somebody with Turner’s size can’t make a yard. Should’ve gone for it there. Would’ve been another statement.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
I would have gone for it. I don’t like the conservatism.
Roger
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
Damn wish we got the td there
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:09 pm
4 Score Game and time for another Makers Mark!