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
Michael
December 16th, 2012
4:56 pm
I fell asleep in the first half. What happened?
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:56 pm
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
4:44 pm
“The Falcons shut out the defending Super Bowl Champion…the NY Giants first shut out in more than 15 years.”
Well we know you’re one heck of an NFL fan… Pssst, they were shut out in the playoffs in 2006 by the Panthers… Better luck with your research next time…
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
4:57 pm
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.
_______________________
But the Pats have won multiple SBs. The Falcons have not won one the past 46 years–their entire existence. So yes, it DOES matter.
Answer This
December 16th, 2012
4:58 pm
Not a JSS fan either but that type of talk is off limits Mr. Buckhead! Just stay falcons please
Choke's real name
December 16th, 2012
4:58 pm
Choke’s real name … Summers Eve
JSS
December 16th, 2012
4:59 pm
@ 4:55P
Seriously dude, who makes that joke? Are you that attached to insanity that you actually posted that?
But knowing most of the folks here, they might agree with someone that callose… Something is not right with you…
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
5:01 pm
Answer This
You are right.
I’ll take a break.
Michael
December 16th, 2012
5:02 pm
Try this. If you find yourself being constantly trolled on a blog, imagine the troll as some 12 year old that you are arguing with. Then you will waste no more time feeding a troll.
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
5:03 pm
JSS
You’re nuts, but I’ll still take a break.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
5:04 pm
atlantaga faldawgs what r u even doing in here. Maybe u an jss an choke can go have a 3some in 1 of ur moms basements.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:05 pm
SMDH… You’re on another planet…
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
5:10 pm
I think it might be u that is jss
TrishaDishawareagle
December 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
But Michael, sometimes it is fun to watch a really bratty 12 year old (particularly those whos parents let them run wild in a store and bother other people) fall and hurt themselves..
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 16th, 2012
12:42 pm
I guess last season’s beating wasn’t enough…..
I am PUMPED for this beating forthcoming…………
ha ha
Yes, it was a BEATING, all right
Matt
December 16th, 2012
5:13 pm
Matt Ryan-”Making “choke/vick-lover” look like a fool, since 2008″
dean
December 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
After last week I had no idea which Falcon team would appear today. It’s a credit to CMS and his staff that they did not follow up last week’s egg with another one.
See y’all later.
Ps..the best non- homer commentary on today’s game will be by Jim Rome tomorrow. Like him or not, he’s a straight-shooter.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
No, you and that mass murder joke teller have some serious issues that aren’t conducive to being rational or mentally stable people… Your 5:04 and 5:10 posts are seriously alien stuff…
Barry
December 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
Hey Ed. Now the Giants got the stuffing kicked out of them today. Let the playoffs begin and the Giants may not be there. Take that to the bank Ed.
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
5:32 pm
dean
December 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
After last week I had no idea which Falcon team would appear today. It’s a credit to CMS and his staff that they did not follow up last week’s egg with another one.
See y’all later.
Ps..the best non- homer commentary on today’s game will be by Jim Rome tomorrow. Like him or not, he’s a straight-shooter.
________________
Rome’s full of himself, but I, too, enjoy his commentary. I still chuckle at the memory of Rams QB Jim Everett overturning the table on him when he called Everett “Chrissy.”
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
5:34 pm
ok whos your team jss if ur not to embarassed?
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:40 pm
I knew this gravy train blogger was a newbie trying to make blog name for himself…
Seriously Dude, you’ve need to check yourself… Today is not the day, and after your posts, you’re definitely not the blogger to address anything with…
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
5:40 pm
JSS is still an idiot. NO ONE cares what he or his wife Seen have to say. By the way, you want a statement game big mouth, there it was. When the Falcons play 4 good qts, they are REAL good. Stick it.
Falcons win and espn and NFL network are beside them selves
December 16th, 2012
5:41 pm
34-0 Birds pooped on Giants at Ga dome….finally a statement and just be stepin stone to a NFL championship Game at Ga dome too…and finally matt Ryan will have fans here forgetin Vick here…Great win espn n NHL folks are chokin on the steak now..Lets see what they say now oh wait they say Giants were tired are some excuse…..14-2 after end of season are 13-3 either way we have home field all way thru….Poor Fox and CBS will suffer seein Falcons carryin the Vince Lombardi trophy after game …when win super bowl
Falcons win and espn and NFL network are beside them selves
December 16th, 2012
5:44 pm
Well shoot i mean NFL network darn it sorry no hockey in football..lol Go falcons make espn choke on a cabbage
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:46 pm
And the prince of slime rears his homophobe head… Sticking to Alias #2 today?
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
5:52 pm
Go away old man. You’re so 2000 and late. Let’s have a vote Falcon Fans, who wants JSS to Choke on a big tube of Seen This?
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
5:52 pm
JSS said:
“And the prince of slime rears his homophobe head…”
JSS was SOOO wrong today… I guess he did something with that Prince’s Slimy Homophobic Head…
Do I hear a sucking sound ???
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:56 pm
In comparison to Mr. 1980 (AKA Yo Vince)? You’re just trying to get your annual pat on the head from the King AJC Blog sleaze… Need to start calling you Odie!
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
5:57 pm
Everyone knows that JSS, Choke, and Seen This are all the same joker. Go away and let us write about our team having a great victory. I don’t care if your wife looks like Thomas Jefferson, that’s not our problem.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
5:59 pm
Another gravy trainer… What were you tired of making mass murder jokes? Grab on to Vince, he likes things clinging on his mental shortcomings, it makes him feel big!
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
5:59 pm
I hear it Mr. Buckhead… Slurp!!!!!
JSS
December 16th, 2012
6:01 pm
Vince, you couldn’t find the truth if they painted on your face and gave you a mirror… Ha ha, “all the same?” As clueless as an auditor at Enron!
agent7g
December 16th, 2012
6:02 pm
Save the hatred and garbage logic for another blog. Football is for everyone.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 16th, 2012
6:05 pm
CHOKE crowed all morning about how badly the Falcons were going to get beaten. They crushed the world champs instead, and now all he can do is resort to calling them “classless.”
HA HA
JSS
December 16th, 2012
6:06 pm
A mass murder joke teller and a homophobic nut have found each other… Must be like the day Pol Pot discovered he was in power…
The 27th
December 16th, 2012
6:09 pm
34-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! I LOVE IT!!! GO FALCONS RISE UP!!!
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
6:11 pm
JSS
Props to you !!!
I thought you were 12 years old.
If you know Pol Pot you’re older than 12.
So now you can, hopefully, act your age.
PS: It’s fun to play with intellectual midgets
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
6:12 pm
JSS, you are in your own private Idaho fool. We talk about our love for the Falcons, you talk a bunch of shiz NO one cares about. Go away and have a drink, of poison.
JK
December 16th, 2012
6:13 pm
Best game for the Falcons since I started following them in 2003.
ZACK
December 16th, 2012
6:13 pm
GOOD JOB DIRTY BIRD! I AM SHOCKED BY THIS OUTCOME! KEEP IT UP!!!
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 16th, 2012
6:15 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 16th, 2012
2:51 pm
Falcants are so dirty. Classless LOSERS
At least they took a knee at the NY 5-yard line when they could easily have scored their 40th and 41st points.
We all know what Mike does when someone is beaten. He picks up the poor pooch by its hind legs, and slams its head against the driveway until it’s dead. Now, that’s REAL class.
HA HA
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
6:20 pm
Folk, my game column posted. Interesting tidbit from week: Matt Ryan telling teammates in Monday team meeting to give more this week (including himself). Link:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/12/16/ryan-asks-for-more-gives-more-at-right-time-for-falcons/
JSS
December 16th, 2012
6:20 pm
Vince you never talked football a minute you’ve blogged… All you do is try to snipe (poorly)… You gravy train, when you the wood is laid by other people for entertainment, you try to live vicariously by their success… That is not a fan, it is a crazy person with no boundaries… Keep up your fantasy illusion…
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
6:23 pm
GO FALCONS !!!
Screw the doubters !!
One game at a time !!
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
Say what you want JSS, but I asked you who your team is and you can’t answer do you even watch football or have a team? Or do you go around the winning teams blogs and try to make fun of somthing where there is nothing to be made fun of. Answer the questions or get out of the blog you attention seeking blood sucking leech
RB
December 16th, 2012
6:31 pm
GREAT GAME FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
6:33 pm
smlarsen
Well said !!
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
NBC’s Rodney Harrison is a Clown.
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
6:44 pm
HaHa I guess jss was exactly what I said. He has no football team and doesn’t even watch the sport. Guess he was like well damn someone finally called me out for what I am. Guess he went on to another winning teams blog. Probably the Texans if i had to guess.
The 27th
December 16th, 2012
6:47 pm
34-0!!!! BWAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!! AND JSS IS LOSING IT!!! I LOVE IT!!! RISE UP FALCONS!!! 34-0!!! BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!