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
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Please leave CHOKE alone he has his Knee pads on and is CHOKING on my Red Hot Chili Pepper.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
oldbird
December 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
If everyone ignores the idiot choke, maybe he will go away.
_______________________
Kudos, Jason. Sure looks now like you called it. Could you please make the same prediction for the first playoff game? Thanks.
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Giants are offsides and still can’t touch MR
Catch the fever for the Falcon!
December 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
My grandma was telling me the first year of the dome they always opened the roof. Why don’t they do that anymore?
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Keep the Giants off the board. They put 52 on the TAINTS last week…hahahaha…38 on the Packers…ZERO on the Falcons!
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
Bi Cri……..thanks for the LOVE…….WHO you follow in the NFL?
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
Haha……a Keith Rivers(#55 for NYG) sighting!!
Now there’s a draft bust!!
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
That penalty is ok. We get another down to run the clock…
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
This is the same Giants team that beat the stuffing out of the 49ers 24-3 in San Fran.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
And that is the answer to old man why Smith is a NOT cure-all…
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
Smith went to FSU
not Fresno State
david
December 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
stats 20-25 for 236 2 td and 0 picks– choke on that
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
Nobody but 2 ppl on here think the Falcons will not win in the playoffs……..The same 2 keep saying it to try to make it look like a bunch of people think that. The fact is the Falcon fans know they are going to win in the playoffs
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
Julio!
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
34-0 ??????
Sid
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
the 2 NFC teams I am most concerned about….Packers and Redskins…..both are playing really well.49ers offense is not consistent….Seahawks bad on the road plus they may have 2 DB’s suspended.
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
LOVE the way Julio came back to the ball and then accelerated..
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
I don’t think the giants can recover from this mauling by playoff weekend. This is a knockout punch.
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
Ryan in this game has broken his season club records for passing yards and completions.
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
Ryan over 4000 yards…2nd year in a row
Dave
December 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
Ah, my boy “chokie wohkie”….. I just love him!!!
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
51 — the Falcons & Falcons only.
Phil — go ahead & blast Julio for coming off the field.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
Bye bye Giant fans, hope you enjoyed your GA Dome experience!
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
Crimson, did you actually watch Rivers in Cincy?
Mora less Petrino
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
According to NY media, Giants have never been shutout in regular season with Coughlin coaching! History in the making?
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
They want this score badly… Love the timeout… Get it right and go up 34-0
NORRIS CHUCK
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
Wish i was watching this game. Im stuck with the Dolphins and Jaguars. And it probably is the worst game of the year!!!
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
12-2 ATLANTA ……… smacks 8-6 new york.
Strange Murphy
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
What dumbass at Fox Sports has decided to turn off the Falcons game to the Bears/Packers game? Fox can’t stand to see their beloved Giants getting their asses kicked I guess.
PantherDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
Man we are just carving them up!!! I am loving this – way to go Falcons!!! Hope this hushes all the critics. I read the other day MSNBC wrote we were the worst 11-2 team in NFL history – all I have to say is HA!
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
Shutting out the Defending Super Bowl Champs and a blow-out at that………………………hehehehe
tmc
December 16th, 2012
3:33 pm
This is the way we are supposed to play!
Home field for the playoffs!!!
Do it Falcons
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Looks like the Braves will not have to face the knuckle ball this yr…Glad to see him Dickey go to the AL.
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
I’ve waited for thirty five years for a falcon team this great.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
34-0. Falcons are putting on a clinic.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
24-2…..I can’t remember who won this game. Can someone refresh my memory?….ha ha
Mora less Petrino
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
This is awesome! GO BIRDS!!! 34-0!
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
JULIOOOOOOOOO!!!!1
Eli "CHOKE" Manning
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Taking notes…..
Section 212
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Giants and their fans thought just showing up meant that they were going to win this game. Now the fans are running home quite and the players are looking like they really want to go home! TD Julio!
william
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
I told you so Phil
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
27-0 never get tired of saying that
_____________________
34-0. Even better!
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
THE FAT LADY HAS “BURPED! BYE-BYE GIANTS FANS…
ubah
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Live in Panama City Beach, watching game. Leave to get something and when I come back I’m watching Chicago and GB. Really?? Thanks Fox (not).
dean
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Comparing last week to this week, there has to be an appropriate Shakespearian quote.
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
somebody got EXPOSED
twoiron
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
most impressive drive of season
AndrewRiggs
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Do the d&*m thing!!
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Nice !!!
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
Atlanta will go 1 and done ?………………….Bulls*itt…………………………