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
Yo Vince
December 16th, 2012
6:48 pm
Guys, if your wife looked like JSS’s does, you would try to make people sick too!
Joe Tess Fish House
December 16th, 2012
6:55 pm
Enter your comments here
Fan since 66
December 16th, 2012
7:16 pm
Waited till now to read this blog. I read it from start to finish and was hoping for a good discussion of a very good game by the Falcons. Instead, what I found, again, is that it devolved into a bunch of folks trying to outdo each other in a race to get to the gutter. Jeff, do you seriously want to have a reasonable discussion on the Falcons, or do you enjoy this tripe? I try to find a good blog with reasonable discussions about the Falcons, but my search has failed again. What a bummer! After a great game like today’s game, I would think people could be positive. Even if you hate the Falcons, you should at least admit they played a great game. Instead, we stoop to insulting people’s wife.
Sigh!!!!
Anyway…Go Falcons!
truckstop
December 16th, 2012
7:34 pm
Someone please tell (convince) me why its so freakin’ important that the Falcons be accepted by the media as a great or even good team? Why should the Falcons care? I don’t. I just want them to continue winning.
Go Falcons!
Mr_Buckhead
December 16th, 2012
7:38 pm
Well said “66″
I’m one of those long suffering fans from last 45 years.
I guess I’m one of those nuts who, regrettably, responds to other nuts.
It’s just a game that way too many people take way too seriously.
It’s still just a game and a sport.
Win or lose, the sun will rise tomorrow.
JSS
December 16th, 2012
8:52 pm
Hilarious, people complimented the Falcons (see 4:16 and 4:17), but people making mass murder jokes, other talking about acts of sodomy, and still others gravy training comments looking for adoration (no more. no less) is all that ever exists here… Like I always, you people cherry pick, it is why people never feel really bad when the implosions occur…
PS… If I had a wife (had one who died, and she was lovely as the day we wed back in 1992 and the day she passed in 2006, because we knew she was living on borrowed time since the she took her first breath – sickle cell does that), I have a fiancée, and she is as lovely as the sunsetting against the Sierra Madre Orientals, brozen and full of joy… No little boy insult can make it any different…
smlarsen
December 16th, 2012
11:00 pm
Man you need treatment. What is wrong with you? I don’t no if you realize this, but this is a football blog. Not a place to bring all your personal problems. So, unless you have something to say about football do this blog and the world a favor and stop. If you can actually muster up a decent statement regaurding the falcons or football in general. Shock us all and do so.
PS
You still haven’t said who your team is. So I am still wondering if you even watch football at all.
JSS
December 17th, 2012
7:58 am
No, you are the moron who trapes around blogs making personal comments. And people like you who have obviously spent way too much time hiding on places ESPN comment boards ttrying to gather comment scalps don’t get that most folks around here (I’ve been here since 2006) know my stance on the NFL and pro football in general. That you were not here is your “personal problem” and no one is going to spend time giving you a special ed version so you can get caught up… You want to know? Go up to the ‘Search this blog’ spot on this page, type in the user-name and it is easy to find where I stand. Shock yourself and get a real clue, the D3 fan blog is where you need to take that pissing contest that you’re carrying on in your mind…
And big talker, since you have such a big set, it is Jeff Schultz’s blog, go and cry to him… See where it gets you…
smlarsen
December 18th, 2012
12:09 am
Are you kidding me. You have not made a comment on football the whole time you have been in here. Oh, and FYI I have been in many other blogs and people are constantly sayin where is JSS on this. Probably crying. No on respects what you have said and have obviously not since 2006. (thanks for the info). So when you want to talk about football get back on the blog. If not Stay out. Falcons are 12-2 for a reason they are one of if not the best teams in the league. They have had close games, however, most of the good teams do. No one in the NFL comes out and just blows teams out. Why dont you try watching a game. Actually there is one on this saturday(you probably didnt no since you dont watch football) Falcons are on the rise as well as there fans. You should try taking advice from them and rise up out of your pesemistic slump you are in. Keep rising up falcons fans and player. Let little piss ants like JSS keep whining
JSS
December 18th, 2012
7:52 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
JSS
December 16th, 2012
12:20 pm
“Good luck Jeff Schultz, The immature, socially dysfunctional, and the emotionally repressed are out in full force this week…”
And every posts by a smlarsen proves the point over and over again…
And when you can put together a coherent rant with some semblance of punctuation; please try to tell somebody what to do, until then zip it…
Oh, if other idiots are mentioning someone, and they aren’t commenting, here’s a hint: they don’t care! That the other person has an attachment problem… Yeah, I was “crying.” I was “crying” laughing at you bunch of creepy stalkers…
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:16 am
If only shcultz could rep the braves instead of a kansas fan DOB and Cross get of the radio, only then could we be happy, FYI a idiot Aubrun fan ask that question to our coach, and a phili fan on 680 as well. ATL we deserve better then DOB a miami refect, and a phi and aub grad to rep us, we not need that
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:18 am
a miami reject rep our braves and he only knows kansas basketball, the fish kicked him out, Braves fans deserve more then that, and 680 the fan have oliver talk smack to our coach at uga, and cross on our falcon station, when will they leave the atl?
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:20 am
jss and matt choke ryan are not fans but this phil guy always calls uggla stuggla and we dont need none of them as fans
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:23 am
schultz rep the braves no miami reject who love kansas basketball should have got that job
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:26 am
when did the ajc take miami rejects like DOB and give them a job, that makes no sense to me
goFalcons
December 20th, 2012
1:29 am
What makes me mad is mlbtaderumors quote DOB as the gospil and it makes me sick. He has no ties to the Braves, FYI a miami fish reject so why did the ajc hire him?
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:27 am
Mark Richt era NFL Draft Selections :
Draft : FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2012.…4……8……2.…..5.…….7…..3
2011.…3……5……4.…..6.…….6…..9
2010.…3.…..7..…..9.…..6.…….5…..7
2009.…1……4..…..3.…..6.…….6…..11
2008.…3……0..…..2.…..7.…….4…..10
2007.…5……3..…..9.…..5.…….5…..5
2006.…8……5..…..3.…..7.…….7…..11
2005.…9……4..…..3.…..3.…….6…..5
2004.…5……4..…..5.…..0.…….4…..4
2003.…6……5..…..8.…..4.…….7…..5
2002.…3……4..…..8.…..5.…….8…..2
2001.…9……3..…..4.…..3.…….6…..3
Total…59….52..…60…..57……71….75
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year-FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16…9…..6……8……3……5
2012..11…2……5……6…..14…..20
2011…1…7……26…..9…..5……4
2010…9….4……1……7…..21…..5
2009…18…2…..21…..3……4……9
2008…8…..1…..12…..7……5…..9
2007…33…22…..1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12..18……2…..7……4……1
2005…3…16…..11…..19……4…..6
2004…4…19……8……2……6…..1
2003..12…45……4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…..20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…..16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11…16…..10……8…..8…..6
Total…59….52..…60…..57……71….75
AVG..11…16…..10……8…..8…..6
Southern California 2001-2013 :
# 1 in recruiting rank, average ranking # 6
# 1 in NFL Draft Picks, with 75
Georgia 2001-2013 :
tied at # 2 in recruiting rank, average ranking # 8
# 2 in NFL Draft Picks, with 71
fixing to be 82 NFL Draft Picks after our next game
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:34 am
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year:FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012..11….2……..5……6…..14…..20
2011…1….7…….26…..9…..5……4
2010…9….4…….1……7…..21…..5
2009…18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12…..7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7……4……1
2005…3….16…….11…..19……4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Total…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:37 am
Year:FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2……..5……6…..14…..20
2011…1….7…….26…..9…..5……4
2010…9….4…….1……7…..21…..5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12…..7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7……4……1
2005…3….16…….11…..19……4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:39 am
Year:FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1….7…….26…..9…..5……4
2010…9…..4…….1……7…..21…..5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12…..7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7……4……1
2005…3….16…….11…..19……4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:43 am
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year:FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7…….26…..9…..5……4
2010…9…..4…….1……7…..21…..5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1….5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7……4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19……4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8…..6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:45 am
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9…..4…….1……7…..21…..5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1….5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7……4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19……4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:48 am
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9…..4…….1……7…..21……5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1….5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7…..4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19…..4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:49 am
Mark Richt era NFL Draft Selections :
Draft : FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2012.…4……8……2.…..5.…….7…..3
2011.…3……5……4.…..6.…….6…..9
2010.…3.…..7..…..9.…..6.…….5…..7
2009.…1……4..…..3.…..6.…….6…..11
2008.…3……0..…..2.…..7.…….4…..10
2007.…5……3..…..9.…..5.…….5…..5
2006.…8……5..…..3.…..7.…….7…..11
2005.…9……4..…..3.…..3.…….6…..5
2004.…5……4..…..5.…..0.…….4…..4
2003.…6……5..…..8.…..4.…….7…..5
2002.…3……4..…..8.…..5.…….8…..2
2001.…9……3..…..4.…..3.…….6…..3
Total…59….52..…60…..57……71….75
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9…..4…….1……7…..21……5
2009..18….2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8….1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22…….1….5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7…..4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19…..4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:54 am
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9……4…….1……7…..21……5
2009..18…..2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8…..1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22……1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7…..4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19…..4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
………FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
Thomas Brown
December 22nd, 2012
8:56 am
Mark Richt era NFL Draft Selections :
Draft : FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2012.…4……8……2.…..5.…….7…..3
2011.…3……5……4.…..6.…….6…..9
2010.…3.…..7..…..9.…..6.…….5…..7
2009.…1……4..…..3.…..6.…….6…..11
2008.…3……0..…..2.…..7.…….4…..10
2007.…5……3..…..9.…..5.…….5…..5
2006.…8……5..…..3.…..7.…….7…..11
2005.…9……4..…..3.…..3.…….6…..5
2004.…5……4..…..5.…..0.…….4…..4
2003.…6……5..…..8.…..4.…….7…..5
2002.…3……4..…..8.…..5.…….8…..2
2001.…9……3..…..4.…..3.…….6…..3
Total…59….52..…60…..57……71….75
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9……4…….1……7…..21……5
2009..18…..2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8…..1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22……1…..5…..17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7…..4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19…..4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
………FSU—AL—–FL—LSU—-GA–USC
Picks…59….52…….60…..57……71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6