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
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
34-0 That sounds sooooooo good!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
Falcons now lead 34-0. They will cover.
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
That was last year “Choke” with different coaches…. This year is waaaay different and you know it….
Mora less Petrino
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
CHOKE’s real name is Vicktor Massengill. Give him a call at home.
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
Hey Phil, I bet we can arrange for you to meet Julio and you can say that to his face instead of being a coward behind a keyboard!
Oh, and I wonder if you’d tell Brian McCann he’s a sissy boy… Dan Uggla????
Just guessing the answer to be be no…
*********
of course I wouldn’t…..i’m afraid and it’s dark down here…
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
JSS — he was worse in Cincy.
That might explain why he was cut & now a backup for the G-Men.
Jay Dubu
December 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
Perfect drive!!!
Just what I asked for with my post @ 3:19 pm!!!
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
Makers and a Cigar on the way!!! Thank God for apps! Took three apps today to keep up, but it was worth it… Now in a few minutes, TuneIn to follow the pst game!!!
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
Unfortunately tomorrow the media will talk about the Giants instead of the Falcons. We deserve so much more respect than we get. Maybe they’ll like us after we win the Super Bowl. But I really don’t care. RISE UP!
Sid
December 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
@Georgia…I hope you are right.
oldbird
December 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
How will the sports media find a way to disrespect us now? Oh yeah, the giants fall to 8-6, so they weren’t a test anyway.
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
What happened to the “Road Warrior” G-Men…. Remember when they owned the “Road”???
david
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
make that 3 td’s with 0 picks— where are u chicken choker? oh thats right, its a regular season game, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA a regular season game BEATDOWN!!!!
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
I am trying to find that article that MSNBC wrote that the Falcons were the worst 11-2 team in history?????? Who wrote that crap! I want to find out and email this score to them!
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Last win against the Giants in Atlanta? 1981….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Hey guys, do you think the Falcants can keep Aaron Rodgers from scoring more than 48 points this season?
Joe 12-Pack
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
The Manning Bros have 1 TD and 5 INT vs. ATL this year.
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Looks like Atlanta may have knocked the goofy giants
out of the playoffs.
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
william
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
I told you so Phil
********
no one told me anything. I was dead wrong, though. A great win today, unless we lay down and let em score…..
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
..FISH… Heres to you and Makers Mark!!!!
falconsrus
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Well Jeff Shultz I quess we “throttled The Giants”
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Wes just corrected himself…1978. Haskle Stanback the game winner.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
I’ll take your slack on that one phil… That is because only a stupid blogger or Lawrence Phillips thinks Jones or any professional is going to get in a fist fight over pro football challenges to someone’s manhood…
RedandBlack
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Who was the idiot broadcaster that said “no one is afraid to play the Falcons”! Ask the Giants about that!
Atlfalconsfan0125
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Time to pull starters. This game is over! Great killer instinct.
Eli "CHOKE" Manning
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Mora less Petrino
December 16th, 2012
3:35 pm
CHOKE’s real name is Vicktor Massengill. Give him a call at home.
——
I thought massengill was a douche…Oh…I get it.
Section 212
December 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Giants post game will be interesting…along with the NY Post head line.
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
…. We didn’t have Julio last time we played Aaron or Quiz…. Like I said…New Year and New Team…
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
That is MY damn BALL again.
rhettt
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
To all you naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasayers, and you know who you are, it’s ok if you want to join the party. Those of us who have a “realistic” view of what is happening with the Falcons, inside the NFL, are thoroughly happy and vindicated. But hey, there is more room to join the celebration if yoiu wish. Either way, there haven’t been a Falcons teams with this overall talent, coaching, and management. Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
dean
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Choke…maybe. Maybe not. That’s why I want GB for the NFC CG
Section 212
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Poked that ball out!
BobDawg
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
SHUTOUT TIME!!!!
Mora less Petrino
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Time to send in the McCown’s.
Oventbrel
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
This is easily the most complete game I have ever watched the Falcons play. Talk about total destruction.
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
ABRAHAM!!!
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Beat that dWag player to death…LOL
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
SMOKE emmmmmmm
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
Best punch-out I’ve ever seen! Longest too!
pete
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
Ed :Falcons will get destroyed today. Then maybe all of you will shut up and prepare for your playoff loss.
Wow-What an IDIOT-You don’t drive or have kids do you Moron!!! What an As* kicking- You probably won’t even make the playoffs. This is the best we have played all year and where was this team against the pathetic Panthers??
oldbird
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
OK lets score again and really stomp these buttholes.
Go Luke!
Mike Smith for Governor
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
well said Rhettt
JSS
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
Rodney Harrison, and he’s still right… They are not afraid to play them…
phil
December 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
The Giants played horribly….
Get ready to hear it. It was all them.
agent7g
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Hey Choke, which QB is:
12-2
7-0 @ home this season
12-0 in his last 12 home games
33-4 (after today) @ home
Also has 15, 4th quarter comebacks.
Not to mention his 26.6 passes completed per game this season. Which ranks him 8th all time for a single season.That’s before today’s OUTSTANDING performance.
And a passer rating today of 142.6.
Oh yeah it’s MATT RYAN.
Take your garbage elsewhere child.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Drew
December 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
I think the nation remembers Falcons 2, Giants 24.
So while everyone whines about the lack of respect, realize, 24-2 is what people expect the Falcons to do in the playoffs.
___________________
That’s the truth–based on past playoff performances. But today’s win is a MAJOR step toward reversing the mindset that has seen them cower in big-time games for 46 years.
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Basstringerfish
December 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Last win against the Giants in Atlanta? 1981….
—
We’ve won a few in the Apple since.
I remember the “great” Kirk Kittner leading us to victory in NY about a decade or so ago.
dean
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ryan only had a 82% completion rate today. He sucks!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Good thing the Falcants are not going to face Carolina again…ha ha
Paul in NH
December 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
JSS
You forgot Plaxico Burress. He doesn’t get into fist fights