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
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
smh horrible thats why the offense needs to keep scoring
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
Here they come.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
Typical play by our defense. Dominant play all day but give up a touchdown heading into halftime to give the other team hope.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:15 pm
Rise Up D,,,,,,Put a stop to this drive!!!!!!!!!!!
phil
December 16th, 2012
2:15 pm
georgianabulltiger
December 16th, 2012
2:12 pm
Hey, phil; we’ve lost two freaking games this year. Do the other twelve not count?
Why don’t you go curl up in the fetal position somewhere and let us enjoy the game?
**********
i guess you’re one of the dolts satisfied that Bama beat us, right? Pathetic fans that embrace losing, like you, are a dime a dozen. I hate loser mentalities.
Good Grief!
December 16th, 2012
2:15 pm
Giants score here and get back in the game! And our offense still sucks!
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
2:15 pm
If they get 6 here……it could be over.
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2012
2:15 pm
falcons dont have that killer mentality. once they get a good lead they start relaxing
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
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?
_____________________
Phil’s dead right. There should never be satisfaction with ZERO championships in 46 years. Hang on to this one, and the Falcons will have taken a huge step in the right direction. Blow it and you can expect more of the same going forward.
jo
December 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
So far the d is keeping the falcons ahead…if the d gets lax, we are in trouble.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
What are you talking about, the D has shut the Giants down and ppl say the D is no good? Get real!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Falcons!!!!!!!!
phil
December 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
The foot’s off the pedal. We do this nearly every week. Last week, we never showed up at all, of course.
But why play 60 minutes when you can always make it interesting for the other side’s fans?
Ridiculous.
Optimist
December 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
Bend no break defense has been a leader in take aways this season! Go Falcons.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
This game will probably end 24-21 and once again people diss the Falcons for winning “another close one”…where is our statement 35-7 game? I want one but unfortunately doesn’t look like we know how to get one.
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
I’m watching eight games at once with direct tv.
Robert
December 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
Can someone tell me why our 2 main WRs only have 2 catches, And they are down CB
GA Dome
December 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
Offense has run out of juice, defense has given the Giants the run and pass game.
houze
December 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
need a stop here!
phil
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Typicql late collapse….boooooooo!
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Giants are doing a nice job on Abe.
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
He did not make it!!!!!!! 4th and 1
houze
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
nice stop!!!
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
I’ll give the Falcons run D credit. They do know how to stop a team in short yardage.
georgianabulltiger
December 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Right. Never be satisfied in life. Always focus on what can go wrong. Never enjoy anything; it’s such a sign of weakness.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Rise up again D! Come on!
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Giants dumbest playcalling in their history.
NFC South Champs
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
gimme the damn ball
Eli "CHOKE" Manning
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Can I call Peyton? Oh wait, he choked against the Falcons too. Dad?
AndrewRiggs
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
BEND BUT DON”T BREAK!!!!
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Shutout! HAHAHAHAHAHA…Coughlin should have taken the points. 17-3 leaves you only down 2 scores.
Ivan
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
ANOTHER STOP ON 4th down
GA Dome
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Have to give it to the front four, they are earning their pay checks. Wish I could say the same for the left corner.
Jeff Schultz
December 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Two straight possessions Giants stopped on 4th down. … Strange decision to throw on that.
Optimist
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
There it is!
Pigskin
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
We still have a chance!
son's who?
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Coughlin’s gotten frustrated.
Jimmy Crack
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
NOT IN OUR HOUSE!!!
goFalcons
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Another great stop!!!!!!! woooomp there it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOMP THERE IT IS !!!!!!!
phil
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Wow. Giants committing suicide.
Thanks!
Kris
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Jason – relax dude it’s still early and we are up 17-0
houze
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
need to keep the foot on the gas
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Go get some points O!
JSS
December 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
Playing left handed in the running game is just plain stupid against them
DawgNole
December 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
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!
_______________________
Cool your jets. The Giants have won 7 in a row in ATL. Long way to go in this one. Just have to hope Smith doesn’t start trying to sit on the lead–again.
Jason
December 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
Ok I understand that. That’s fine. 17-0 is good. We get the ball to start the 2nd half. If we didn’t, we would have went for points.
NoShamSam
December 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
If we win a close one…remember those two stops
Georgia
December 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
Lovin these falcons.
Kris
December 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
Pigskin – what do you mean we still have a chance? We are winning 17-0 at the half…what game are you watching?
Michael M.
December 16th, 2012
2:22 pm
They better keep emergency medical people close to Old Tom on the Giants sideline when the second half gets under way………………..he is going home a loser today………………hehehehe
Atlfalconsfan0125
December 16th, 2012
2:23 pm
This team, this coach lacks killer instinct. You had 1 minute and 2 timeouts. Drive for a FG at least! DAMN.