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
phil
December 16th, 2012
1:39 pm
Game is WAY FAR from over….
We normally begin to come apart at some point each week.
Let’s get up 21-0 and see what we can do then.
And ultimately, it’s not January. Perspective.
MATTYRIGHT
December 16th, 2012
1:40 pm
Choke your QB Brees Leads the league in INTS
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:41 pm
Phil, you are never satisfed. STFU
FalconUGAFan
December 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
Anyone find a good stream for the game?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
I feel sorry for Tony G. He will finish his hall of fame career with zero playoff wins
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
Ya know Phil, you’re right, it’s not January…but not only is it not January for the Falcons, but it’s not January for 31 other teams. Can only play the games up until January and then let the chips fall where they may.
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
UGLY play and pass
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
Enter your comments here
phil
December 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
And here we go. You can just feel it. Like you can every week when it starts.
So frustrating.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
CHOKE stop teasing and just get the pick 6 out of your system
Mikey Mike
December 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
Giant fans have the right to yap all they want….but the Falcon “fans” who refuse to back their team are yellow bellied punks that might as well spend their day at friggin Starbucks reading 50 shades of useless waste of space….well, that felt good…go Falcons…kick their ass…
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
1:45 pm
I am in w virginia. Listening on 790thezone.com. game also on nfl moble app on android
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
LOL, The Giants better not try to run on us or BIG ABE will get you!!!!!!
phil
December 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:41 pm
Phil, you are never satisfed. STFU
**********
why don’t you take your own advice. I’m not satisfied. You got it exactly right. How many titles have we won? How many? What exactly should we be satisfied with?
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
I will say this though, that if we get the ball back and fail to score again, then yes conservative ball has kicked in, but until then, I’ll be satisfied with 14-0 on the defending Super Bowl champs. Can’t score every single posession. If you could, teams would be score 70-80 points every game.
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
CHOKE………has a mouth full of Jock Straps so he is high on player sweat and urine again.
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
Looks like Giants have lost their RT. Chris Snee drags off.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
i would be satisfied if fans like Phil would not pull for the Falcons or the Braves!!!!!!! Fans like him are not needed!!!!!!!!!!
Kris
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Wow – some on here act like we are 2-11 and falling apart…FYI the Falcons are 11-2 and we are up 14-0 in the first quarter against the defending Super Bowl champs. Just sit back and enjoy the fact that the Falcons are bringing it!
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Nice pick by DeCoud… Great read.
Ivan
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
DECOOOUUUUUUUD
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Most impressive. We have the giants where we want them.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Can anyone tell me which teams 45 years or older without a Superbowl win?
Thanks
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Our safeties are the best in the league. Hands down.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
2nd pick!!!!!!!!!! I love it, woooooooo hoooooooo
Roger
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Heck yea
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
MY damn BALL……………………….Choke? are you still sucking on other teams JOCKS?
80sFalcon
December 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
DeCoud!!!!
falconsrus
December 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
Tomeow DeCouuuuuuuuuuuuu
Eli "CHOKE" Manning
December 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
What happened?
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
DeCoud is a BEAST
Roger
December 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
You know what I’d worry about? If Choke actually picked us to win….you know since he is always both wrong and a fool
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
Sorry guys. I just have no life. You don’t know what it is like to have no friends and to have never been with a woman. I actually have a little crush on Matt Ryan and am obsessed. That is why I am always on these blogs.
ole man
December 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
Is that Really Turner #33 doing that running?
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:51 pm
We gotta exercise this demon right here on the Giants. Converting 3rd and short.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:51 pm
Okay, Okay, I understand the Falcants excitement. This is their equivalent to a playoff win
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
1:51 pm
hehehehe……………………..Giants are not going to beat the Falcons in the Birdhouse , not going to happen, not today, not tomorrow, not in no playoffs, ……………….not at all!
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
1:51 pm
Snee: injured hip. return is “questionable.”
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 16th, 2012
1:10 pm
Falcants enjoy your 7 points off of a turnover. That will be all the points today
___________________
ALL the points today? What a brilliant prediction.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
This is the Falcons team we have been waiting to see!!!!! We all knew they had it in them and now they are playing great!!!!!!!!! Yes Sir Yes Sir!
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
shotgun on 3rd and 1
FalconUGAFan
December 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
@NoShamSam-Thanks..in Va here…
phil
December 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
Means little without a TD right here….
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
horrible play calling
80sFalcon
December 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
Got to question that call
Jason
December 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
Damn man. Why do that? Play calling stuns me sometimes…overthinking it right there. Just run the damn ball up the gut.
5150 UOAD
December 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
ROGERS…………….ROGERS………to the EDGE or a Screen pass.
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
1:54 pm
Shutout sounds good.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
1:54 pm
17-0 what a great day today!!!!!!! Wooooo hooooo
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
1:54 pm
Barney
December 16th, 2012
12:35 pm
Time for the Falcons to really be exposed. They are about to get dominated.
But dont worry, I’m sure Ryan will make some outstanding checkdown passes to his tailbacks and some really impressive 7 yard throws to his washed up mexican tight end.
______________________
Dominated? Yeah, right.
Washed up? Yeah, right.
Dolt.