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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,026 comments Add your comment
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
Who gives a damn about Maurice Clarett?
So he says he got “paid” more in college than the pros, drug use & hookers left and right in Columbus, OH.
Who exactly is this news too?
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
AJC’s server has shut down. Great.
Joe 12-Pack
December 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
Atlanta 4-0 vs. the NFC East.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
I’ve waited for thirty five years for a falcon team this great.
_____________________
I’ve waited 46 years!
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
4:13 pm
Eli is drinking the kool-aid and on board the Falcons Bandwagon after this and Old Tom is in the locker room looking for his Rolaids…………….for heartburn………..lmao
phil
December 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
Statement?
No.
Win the Super Bowl.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
Like I said “DawgNole,” but since someone has to gravytrain something not directed to him… That makes it even better…
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
CHOKE…………………..CHOKE…………….CHOKE?
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:16 pm
Nah phil, I’m going to credit the Falcons for at least showing a symbol
Big Crimson 75
December 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Should be an exciting end to the NFC this year.
Pack & Niners fighting for the 2 seed.
Who wins the East?…..may not be the Giants, this year.
Bears, Seahawks, Skins, NYG, Dallas & Vikes fighting for the Wild Cards.
Falcons can beat any of these Teams.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
of heart like a division leader should today…
Rick in Warner Robins
December 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
How long are the Falcons going to put up with Dunta Robinson’s poor pass coverage and missed tackles??? He’s big weak link on this team and needs to be replaced. The Falcons are lucky he didn’t cost them any touchdowns as several times he got beat and the passes were incomplete. Asante Samuel is just as bad…sure, he got an interception, but even blind squirrels find a nut every now and then. Tony Gonzalez, on the other hand, is the man!
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
They ” Could ” win the SB Phil and you still wouldn’t believe it or saying oh we gonna lose this or oh no its all over now during the game…………………that is they can get to it, which is a hard thing to do whoever you happen to be and how hot you are at the moment, but right now this Falcons team is hot and runni g on all eight cylinders.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
OLD MAN “ryan stinks. Hes horrible Draft a new QB.” Are you serious? Are you so old you cant see his stats. 23-28 270 yards 3 td’s. Man what do you want? Those are great numbers and he is a great qb. You must be a giants fan. Get some glasses or hearing aids. If that doesnt work maybe try a brain?
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
4:20 pm
phil
December 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
Statement?
No.
Win the Super Bowl.
===============================
HOW many teams have SB rings? Do the Math and get back to me.
Do you give your wife a Child every time you have SEX? Then you FAIL. Do you give her an Orgasm every time you have sex? No! You FAIL again. You need to STOP trying.
trademark
December 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
You know? After the Carolina loss last week and the predictable backlash from the National Media…”frauds”, “freefall” and so forth, I realized that their lack of respect was making me feel miserable about watching one of the all-time greatest seasons in the NFL, and I wasn’t going to let them do that anymore. I said to Hell with them, I believe in my team, and I’m going to have one hell of a great time watching them. Thank you Falcons, thank you for rewarding the faith from the real fans. GO FALCONS! SUPER BOWL!!
Answered all Questions
December 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
What a beat down. Answered all questions today? NFC East champs. Brees 5 int’s (Ended Touchdown streak), Manning’s 7 ints.
old man
December 16th, 2012
4:22 pm
smarlson:
re-read my post. Closely.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
4:23 pm
Jimmy Johnson giving the Falcons some love. Like I said, win games like this and the respect will come.
ijonathan
December 16th, 2012
4:24 pm
There are 32 Phils…one for every team, on every sports blog in each NFL city. Well, maybe not Jacksonville. And each year, 31 of those Phils are proven “correct.”
Being Phil is the easiest job in th world.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:28 pm
@ POAD…
Oh please, 18 teams have won the Super Bowl… But since the expansion that brought the Falcons into the League, only a hand full of those teams haven’t done it…
oldbird
December 16th, 2012
4:28 pm
Beautifully played game. Apparently Coach Smith knows what he is doing. Nuff said.
Answered all Questions
December 16th, 2012
4:29 pm
@Rick in Warner Robins
Our DB’s and LB’s is the heart of this team. No one person.
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
4:29 pm
JSS……..it is STILL a SMALL group that have WON the BIG GAME.
rhettt
December 16th, 2012
4:30 pm
Terry Bradshaw picked the Falcons over the Giants. He stated they had not had back-to-back losses since 2009. He recognized a change going on in Atlanta.
tallulahfallsfalcon
December 16th, 2012
4:31 pm
Phil have yourself an enema and call us real Falcon fans in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Douglas
December 16th, 2012
4:31 pm
Hey 5150: I’m glad Valdosta State won the championship — it’s good when any college in Ga. wins. However, which school brought in the most money for the state of Georgia — Valdosta State — UGA — Ga. Tech or Ga. Southern?
TrishaDishawareagle
December 16th, 2012
4:31 pm
Anyone who still whines about a negative from this game needs to take a ball peen hammer and beat yourself in the head with it until ..you stop bothering the rest of us whop are enjoying one hell of a good win!! The dome qas rocking!! Best game I have ever been to.
TrishaDishawareagle
December 16th, 2012
4:31 pm
Anyone who still whines about a negative from this game needs to take a ball peen hammer and beat yourself in the head with it until ..you stop bothering the rest of us who are enjoying one hell of a good win!! The dome qas rocking!! Best game I have ever been to.
tallulahfallsfalcon
December 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
Well said Trisha
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
Trisha, you haven’t been here all day, stifle!
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:35 pm
POAD, that is more than 50% of the league…
tallulahfallsfalcon
December 16th, 2012
4:35 pm
34-0 nuff said
Answer This
December 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
Good game today home team! Keep building Uncle Mo and lets take it into the playoffs! This was really. RISE UP! The Angry Birds from early in the season showed up today and did not earn respect…..THEY TOOK IT! Nice job Birds, way to get what you have been after all year!
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:04 pm
@ DawgNole…
There is a great book coming out next year about the UFL, it includes a great story about Clarett and life since he joined the league, pick it up when it comes out… Regardless of what you think of him, it is a fine read…
____________________
I sure as hell don’t think much of him. He’s in the same class as L Phillips. But thanks for the tip on the book.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:39 pm
I have been on these falcons blogs for a while now. Its killed me to hear all the crap talked about the falcons and there “fluke” season, but the worst part is that there are appearently “Fans” that have been talkin the same crap. Well for both groups. 34-0 once again 34-0. So if you are really a fan which is doubtful. Realize you have a great team to cheer for and RISE UP WITH YOUR FALCONS. For the haters. Ha.. HaHa… HAHAHAH.
TrishaDishawareagle
December 16th, 2012
4:39 pm
JSS, true, I was not following the blog today I was slapping my boyfriends arm blakc and blue at the stadium, saying this ROCKS
SHUT OUT the world champs…avenged a playoff loss..beat another manning..M<atty ICE 140+ QBR
Complete game, great game, start to finish..I am glad we lost in carolina last week..that was the wake up call the team needed that we are the better team but we have to actually come to play.and today they sure as hell did..
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:39 pm
POAD…
Seriously, what you talking bout?
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:41 pm
They, it will never be “we”
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:42 pm
JSS must be a giants fan. Hes just embarassed guys. He doesnt know how else to react other than to try and bring down one of if not the most dominating teams in the NFL. 34-0 JSS. Get a life buddy.
Answered all Questions
December 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
It does not matter whether we win a Super Bowl this year. It’s about winning games and being competitive to win fan base. The only team to win more games than the Falcons in past 5 years are the Patriots. They also have not won a Super Bowl during that time. In a bad economy we are about build a new stadium for our team. Thank you Arthur Blank and coaching staff…….
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
4:44 pm
I guess I have to shift my posts from yesterdays discussions to today’s.
Where’s the blogs from the “Male B!tches”.
They guaranteed that the Falcons would be wiped out.
Where are those girly guys…CHOKE and “JSS” whoever?
Having dinner with Mommie in the basement?
Come on…crawl out of your cave and start B!tching about UGA, GT, or next weeks Falcon game.
You guys love to do “Stats”, as if they predict the future.
How’s this…The NY Football Giants have not been shut out for more than 15 years…..
Until today!!!
The Falcons shut out the defending Super Bowl Champion…the NY Giants first shut out in more than 15 years.
I consider myself to be realistic. That gosh darn football has a weird shape.
You never know how it will bounce…Unless you’re a professional B!tch like JSS or CHOKE.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:48 pm
I read it again old man your still an idiot.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:50 pm
Ah it took till 4:44 for one of the AJC homophobes to show-up with his new pair of store bought ones to show off to the other ones in the yard… Did you display inflamed buttocks as you typed that one?
TrishaDishawareagle
December 16th, 2012
4:51 pm
I simply assumed CHOKE committed seppuku(Japanese ritual suicide) about the time the fat man benched the dog killa
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:52 pm
“Giants fan?” Thanks for the laugh… Got anymore misinformation to spread? CIA know you’re off the reservation again?
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:54 pm
Why are you cryin so much jss. Its ok man. Our team is good. Yours is obviously not. If they were, i dont imagaine you would be on an ATLANTA blog page, but instead defending whatever joke team you like against Idiots like yourself.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
4:54 pm
Wouldnt*
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
4:55 pm
JSS
Go have dinner with Mommie and check out your “Guns”
But, please don’t get upset and kill kids
AtlanGa Faldawgs
December 16th, 2012
4:55 pm
Unless you do it in January, it really doesn’t matter…last season, in game 14, you beat Jacksonville 41-14…and got embarrassed by the Giants in the playoffs…just like your Bulldwag brothers, you celebrate regular season wins and accept playoff losses…well, in Georgia’s case, you celebrate losses too…at the end of the day, you are what everyone knows you are…losers…