Falcons respond as great teams should, beat Lions (updated)
Michael Palmer celebrates with Tony Gonzalez after his one-yard touchdown catch made it 21-3. (AP)
(Updated: 1:15 a.m.)
DETROIT – With no guarantees for the future, the Falcons nonetheless did all they could Saturday night to comfort its fan base and fire a warning shot over the rest of the NFL’s playoff field. They are ready this time.
The bandwagon still seemed half-empty after 11 wins. The 34-0 bodyslam of the New York Giants last week caused a majority of skeptics to reconsider their position.
But after Saturday’s 31-18 win over the Detroit Lions, the doubters almost certainly represent an extreme minority, like those few purchasing the only sweater at full retail before Christmas.
This was a test for the Falcons. They passed. They didn’t “go cool,” as tight end Tony Gonzalez had put it days after the win over the Giants. They stepped on the gas. They jumped out to a 21-3 lead on three touchdown passes by Matt Ryan. They survived some hiccups in the third and rebounded when Ryan orchestrated one of the best scoring drives of the season, with six straight completions and a 16-yard scramble (where did that come from?)
Ryan completed 25 of 32 for 279 yards and four touchdowns. For the second straight week, he looked as good as he has at any time in his career.
You wanted a statement? This was it. A win over the Lions doesn’t equate to a win over the Giants in marquee value. But it says something about a team’s strength, character and direction when it can win this kind of game. They’ve rendered the final regular season game against Tampa Bay meaningless. They’ve clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home field through the playoffs.
Now all they have to do is make this count for something.
“It means a lot because this was one of the goals,” wide receiver Roddy White said. “We wanted to play in the (Georgia) Dome and have everybody come to us, and then we’ll give them our best shot.”
White led the Falcons with eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. And it’s hard to look good when you’re a receiver playing in the same game as Calvin Johnson. The former Georgia Tech star finished with 11 catches for 225 yards and broke Jerry Rice’s single season NFL record for receiving yardage.
Lions’ fans in Ford Field exploded after Johnson’s record-breaking catch. The Falcons didn’t mind because they had already secured the win and everything they came for.
“I like our chances (in the playoffs) a lot better at home with the Dome rocking,” Gonzalez said. “But it doesn’t mean anything obviously. We still have to go out there and play. It doesn’t mean we’ve arrived. We still have to go out there and play some great football.”
Matt Ryan threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns and is playing at his best. (AP)
They still have something to prove. But the Falcons are a team with direction. The Lions are a team in need of a fire extinguisher. They seem to be in a perpetual grease fire.
How is it that a franchise can have a jewel of a player like Johnson and yet be 4-11 with a seven-game losing streak, long-since exterminated from playoff contention? Lions’ fans exhibited two emotions in the first half: They cheered Johnson and booed almost everybody else.
The Falcons lquickly eased concerns of a letdown following the win over the Giants. They played fast, jumping out to an early lead. They seemed loose. In pre-game warm-ups, all of the players huddled around wide receiver Harry Douglas, who exhibited some break-dancing moves, jumping up in the air and doing a belly landing on the turf. (Wasn’t he just on the injury list with sore ribs, or was that a smoke screen?)
Ryan was at the center of the early assault. He completed his first 12 attempts. In the half, he went 15-for-16 for 184 yards and three touchdowns.
There was that one incomplete intended for Julio Jones in the end zone. Wimp.
Ryan actually had 22 straight completions before that pass, two short of the NFL record, going back to the Giants game. Ryan laughed when asked about the near-record, saying, “They told me about it after the game. But I was preoccupied with other things. … It’s one of those things you don’t really talk about on the sideline. Don’t feed the demons.”
It was 7-0 in the first quarter after White, on a third-and-1 play, burned ex-Falcon Chris Houston for a 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It was 14-3 in the second after Ryan checked down to White, who took advantage of a great down-field block by Sam Baker on Detroit Louis Delmas, who streaked 39 yards for another score.
The Lions’ second fumble of the game — by Johnson at the Lions’ 40 – set up the Falcons’ third score. On second down from the 16, Ryan lofted a pass toward the back right corner of the end zone for Jones, who made the catch and somehow dragged both feet in bounds to make it 21-3.
At that point, it seemed like the Falcons’ only chance of losing this game depended on how many nations Johnson would conquer in one night. He had nine catches for 178 yards through three quarters. It was he and quarterback Matthew Stafford who largely engineered a 60-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that suddenly made things uncomfortable in Falcons’ land (21-13). An ensuing field goal made it 21-16.
But Ryan restored order. Just as he took over in the Giants game last week, he took over again, completing six straight passes. He had a 16-yard scramble on second-and-17. And after completions to White, Jones and Gonzalez, who does Ryan throw to for the one yard touchdown? Michael Palmer. That made it 28-16.
Asante Samuel picked off Stafford on Detroit’s next possession. That pretty much was it. The Falcons were soon celebrating a win, a bye week and a No. 1 seed.
We’ll soon find out what it means. But they have to like the view.
By Jeff Schultz
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194 comments Add your comment
Mariage Parfait Gueze
December 22nd, 2012
11:43 pm
Bury?
ld
December 22nd, 2012
11:43 pm
first
To
December 22nd, 2012
11:43 pm
First
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
11:46 pm
Wholesale -15% is the only to go…
Barney Fife
December 22nd, 2012
11:47 pm
Trade Turner for Megatron!
Rod
December 22nd, 2012
11:47 pm
Just what I said before the season started, home-field advantage. I have one more person on my list, and that’s Aaron Rodgers. They took care of Brees, Manning, and now one more. I want him for the NFC championship game, and I can’t wait. This is a special team. I’ve said it once and I’m saying again. This is our year!!!!
Former Good Day Fan!!!!
December 22nd, 2012
11:48 pm
Falcons Rise Up!!!!!!
Intellectual Ninja
December 22nd, 2012
11:49 pm
Also read ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas’ recap here: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/43379/rapid-reaction-falcons-31-lions-18
His “What I Didn’t Like” section is right-on.
Mike Smith’s continued forcing of a horrible Michael Turner is stupid, stubborn coaching and almost cost the Falcons everything at the beginning of the second half.
Mike Smith REFUSES to learn any lesson. He continues to shut down the offense any time they get a 2-score lead. His Schottenheimer coaching style will once again cost the Falcons when it matters most.
The only person who can stop the Falcons offense is Mike Smith. And he is so stupidly insistent on stopping it as often as he can by interfering with what Koetter is going, and forcing the garbage Turner on the offense.
Falcons will never win a Super Bowl under Smith if he doesn’t change. I thought he’d change this year, but he hasn’t. Falcons pass more under Koetter, yes, but EVERY DAMN TIME they get a lead, Smith shuts the offense down.
WHY DO YOU STOP YOUR OWN OFFENSE IF THE OTHER TEAM CAN’T???
Stupid, stupid, stupid. stupid coaching.
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
11:49 pm
Two things I learned:
1) Calvin Johnson is unstoppable
2) Falcons can’t run the ball
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
11:50 pm
Easy answer, throwing 50+ times and multiple turnovers added to Jeff Fisher Jr. equals 4-11…
Oh does this means I get to break out the coronation coverage from Whitehall again next week? It turned out so well in 2010…
austinwantsyou
December 22nd, 2012
11:52 pm
Peter Konz has no business playing RG
Calistoga Dawg
December 22nd, 2012
11:53 pm
Good win. Glad to have the #1 seed. Better find a semblance of a running game or they won’t win it all. They may win a playoff game, but they won’t win the SB with this running game. Hope I am proved wrong.
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
11:55 pm
Oh god, worse than the junior version of obnoxiousness, the original version of “cut-and-paste” mental illness has crypted back from Davy Jone’s locker!!!
Voice of Reason
December 22nd, 2012
11:56 pm
Thanks Jeff! This was a huge win for the TEAM and earned a HUGE advantage in the playoffs!!!!
Voice of Reason
December 22nd, 2012
11:56 pm
Thanks Jeff! This was a huge win for the TEAM and earned a HUGE advantage in the playoffs!!!!
LDawg
December 22nd, 2012
11:57 pm
Wow – I thought 522 yds of offense would mean you were invincible. How do you do that and still lose? Our defense was so vanilla, yet we got the win. Way to go Falcons on the win! Congrats to Megatron.
playmeortrademe
December 22nd, 2012
11:57 pm
Falcons don’t need a running game. They need to line up more people than the defense can stop. No more trying to establish Turner. Teams cannot stop Ryan reading defenses and having his choice of several options to throw to. It’s stupid playing not to lose like they do sometimes.
Eric C.
December 22nd, 2012
11:57 pm
Unfortunately, there were some plays where Turner was obviously not up to speed. Forget running turner outside…no more toss sweeps for Turner! He is too slow to cut up field through a seam…
Turner the “play” burner!!!!
Eric C.
December 22nd, 2012
11:59 pm
Julio Jones, worth those picks…wow
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
12:01 am
LDawg, should have been under 500 yds if not for handing the dumb play call for safety…but forget the stats now, time for a couple of playoff wins!
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:02 am
Took off most of the second half. Let Stafford and Johnson carve us up. This was a 4-10 team that climbed back in on us.
To our credit, we did what we had to, but come on! As we’ve said most weeks this season: why can’t we put theses crap a$$ teams away!?
Mariage Parfait Gueze
December 23rd, 2012
12:03 am
Falcons won, but I think using the word “bury” is hyperbole.
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
12:04 am
MCR, we miss you…come back please.
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:05 am
I’m thinking Turner getting hurt would help the team. If he’s not available, he’s number won’t be called.
Am I wrong?
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 23rd, 2012
12:05 am
FIRST
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 23rd, 2012
12:06 am
Eric C.
December 22nd, 2012
11:57 pm
Turner the “play” burner!!!!
lol yep
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:09 am
And I love Calvin. Greatest player in GT history. But he was a fool to resign with the Lions. He will suffer the fate of Barry Sanders if he doesn’t demand a trade.
playmeortrademe
December 23rd, 2012
12:12 am
Don’t want Turner to get hurt, I just wish the coaches would stop believing that this is 2007 Michael Turner. Hey, he wasn’t even that good that season against above average defenses, and the Falcons had one of the weakest schedules ever. Quizz and Snelling are better weapons. Snelling’s only problem is he will put the ball on the ground sometimes.
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:13 am
What would it take to trade for Adrian Peterson? I’d send them a first, third and Harry Douglas.
playmeortrademe
December 23rd, 2012
12:15 am
I wonder how many of Johnson’s yards were in garbage time, like last week.
ESPN is disgusting with all this for Johnson. He has not won ANYTHING.
playmeortrademe
December 23rd, 2012
12:16 am
Johnson is just a nicer version of Randy Moss with a really stupid nickname playing against today’s soft NFL defenses.
Ben
December 23rd, 2012
12:17 am
Kinda cool that the best receiver in football also has the best nickname in sports.
Go Falcons!
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:18 am
Johnson’s a great player. Yards, garbage or not, count. I just wish he had thought about the his future. Of course I also wish that future had included coming home to Atlanta.
The way things are now, he’s wasted on the Lions like he was wasted at Tech…
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:20 am
Johnson=Barry Sanders 2.0
Michael "The Turtle" Turner
December 23rd, 2012
12:20 am
Can’t ya’ll see I ain’t getting a whole lot of blocking up front?
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 23rd, 2012
12:22 am
falcons need to cut kroy beirmann ! he cant get any pressure ! no knock downs, no nothing ! 4 mil down the drain !!!
Boo Boo
December 23rd, 2012
12:22 am
Bizarro World Post-Game interview, IF Matthew Stafford had played for Ga Tech and Calvin Johnson had played at UGA, with nothing else in the world having changed:
Reporter: What would you have said at the start of the season if someone had told you Megatron would break Jerry Rice’s receiving yards record this year?
Stafford: I would have asked what our record was first.
Reported: Oh, 4-11 after 15 games.
Stafford: Oh, well I would have said it comes with reason because I would have guessed we would always be behind and I would always throw 50-60 times a game … and Calvin would be getting a lot of trash yards.
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:22 am
Michael “The Turtle” Turner
December 23rd, 2012
12:20 am
Can’t ya’ll see I ain’t getting a whole lot of blocking up front?
Can’t u see u need to get your fat a$$ cut? Lol
1990_Champs_GT
December 23rd, 2012
12:26 am
Well, at least I can rest easy tomorrow.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 23rd, 2012
12:27 am
beirmann’s wife thinks he has a future in football…. shes spent all of his money !!
Michael "The Turtle" Turner
December 23rd, 2012
12:30 am
I’m just not getting the ball enough. So what if 9 out 10 carries go for no gain. It’s that 10th carry that I break out for a 12 yard gainer that earns my paycheck.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
12:30 am
@ Intellectual Ninja 11:49 Just wondering what info you have that you know Mike Smith is the one demanding that Turner runs the ball. I’m pretty sure that the OC is calling the plays. I find it hard to believe that Mike Smith picks up the headset and calls a Turner run play. We are doing what all teams do. You prod the Dline for weaknesses, and if you discover them, you exploit them. The Falcons have obviously changed their offensive mindset to a pass oriented game. With the weapons we have, we would be idiots not to use our wide-outs predominately. Just my humble opinion, but it is what it is. Either way, you can’t argue with success!
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
12:32 am
There is I never answer certain people asking stupid questions, Thanks Boo Boo…
And thank you Matthew Stafford!!!
“Stafford: Oh, well I would have said it comes with reason because I would have guessed we would always be behind and I would always throw 50-60 times a game … and Calvin would be getting a lot of trash yards.”
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
12:36 am
The Playoffs will be full of rookie, young or inexperienced Starting QB’s I think that is Great for the Falcons.
meme
December 23rd, 2012
12:40 am
back 2, go to bed! your brain’s exhausted!!…jeez! what a idiot!
Eric
December 23rd, 2012
12:42 am
The running game is a concern to be sure. I can’t say I would be overly confident if say GB were to revisit us in the divisional round of the playoffs but I really do think this team (with Koetter and Nolan) is ready to make a move in the playoffs. I said at the start of the season that only an NFC title game would be considered a success for this team and I really do believe they will get there. My biggest concern to be honest is running into Peyton and the Broncos in the SB. That would be a bad omen…
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
12:43 am
Hoping the Falcons get to face Washington, Seattle, then Cincinnati for SB! lol
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
12:44 am
You can tell that many posters here don’t watch a lot of football except for the Falcons. If they did they would know that every team doesn’t look like world beaters for every play in every game.The Lions have played a lot of good teams close this year. The Falcons jumped on them early and then when the Lions thought they were back in it, the Falcons drove down the field and scored a demoralizing TD …just like good teams do. The general public just doesn’t know anything about football.
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
12:45 am
@Eric, you would think we were the same people…scary
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
12:48 am
ramguy68, I’ve seen enough to know that it would be nice to have a defense more like the 49ers than the Saints
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
12:49 am
@playmeortrademe Johnson is just a nicer version of Randy Moss with a really stupid nickname playing against today’s soft NFL defenses.
You’ve never played much football in your life have you? Madden games don’t count.
Michael
December 23rd, 2012
12:51 am
Great? Or is that sarcasm.
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
12:53 am
@Eric C. amguy68, I’ve seen enough to know that it would be nice to have a defense more like the 49ers than the Saints
Kinda like the 49′er defense that showed in SF against the Giants? I think the Falcons handled them a little bit better.
bart
December 23rd, 2012
12:55 am
The safety demonstrated to all other playoff teams that the Atl OL is weak – how do you call a power running play and have the D-line push the OL back into the end zone. Weak, weak weak. This will kill them in the playoffs when they need that one yard.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
12:56 am
..it seems some of these FANS never played the game ever. Pros know how great an accomplishment records are. Players hated to lose to Jordan but they were also fans of his game. When a player is an a..hole other players are not happy with his success but when the player is a Great Player and Person they take pride in being a fan too.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
12:56 am
Good point Ramguy. A couple of weeks ago, the Pat’s looked lost for most of the game. The true test is how teams respond to adversity and change the gameplan on the fly. The Falcons have shown that all season. You just can’t win 13 games in today’s NFL without being able to adjust on the fly and actually make those changes work on the field. I’m a little concerned about the insistence of running Turner, but he IS a bruiser and makes the defense work to bring him down. That has to wear them down throughout the game, I would think.
Go Falcons!
HPDawg
December 23rd, 2012
12:58 am
Tell em ramguy68!!!
Fargan Bastage
December 23rd, 2012
12:59 am
@Ramguy68
You hold yourself out as some kind of expert. Are you Roman Gabriel or Deacon Jones from the 68 Rams? Were you in a pro bowl? I actually agree with your assessments but you could be a little less self indulgent.
playmeortrademe
December 23rd, 2012
1:00 am
Look out everyone, ramguy68 has come to let us, “the general public”, know we are all ignorant….
Get off your high horse, man. You haven’t been watching much football either if you can’t tell that today’s defenses are weak, with record numbers getting put up on offense almost every year.
HPDawg
December 23rd, 2012
1:02 am
Let’s see, the Falcons did win, right? Rather comfortably right? C’mon guys!
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
1:05 am
Gotta put this out there…anyone see Sam Baker make the block to spring Roddy on his 2nd TD. We slam him all the time, but he was out there making the block. How bout an attaboy! Maybe his back is finally fixed! (fingers crossed)
Go Falcons!
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
1:06 am
@Ramguy68, in “general” terms…over the course of the season, the 49ers defense has “generally” been better than the Falcons…if you don’t see that, then you are no smarter than the “general” public.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
1:10 am
@HP Dawg…you gotta work your way through the “Mayan Maelstrom” of naysayers on these Falcon blogs. In all fairness, we have been disappointed many more times than we’ve been satisfied, but this year, something just feels different. Every once in a while, I catch myself thinking the glass is half empty, but then the “Birds come through and win. Maybe, just maybe…this is the year!
Go Falcons!
tripptraitorboy
December 23rd, 2012
1:18 am
Put In Timeout…Did you play the game?
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
1:19 am
Fan since 66, I really hope you are right. Like you, I’ve been dealt many bitter pills by the Falcons. I though things were “different” in 2010 and then again in 2011…hopefully you are on to something.
JamaalSweetvoice
December 23rd, 2012
1:19 am
Great we have Home Field Advantage!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
1:23 am
tripptraitorboy….Yes
Great Falconi
December 23rd, 2012
1:23 am
I’d like to see Quizz get the ball more, but it isn’t like his YPC is very high. After tonight, it’s less than 4.0. We just don’t block the run well enough, though Quizz gives us a better chance because he can make a cutback. I’d like to see more Snelling along with Quizz. Turner just doesn’t have it anymore. There’s no shame in that, but I’d rather see his redemption song in the playoffs (and it probably would happen that way) than to continue to feed him the ball and watch him pick up a foot on first down.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
1:27 am
The other play that we haven’t seen used is the full back in the flat pass.
Bull Cox was open on at least 4 plays that could have been for first downs or 3rd and very short.
RYAN Cox and catch the ball and run. I’ve seen him do it.
tripptraitorboy
December 23rd, 2012
1:28 am
wELL WHATEVER POINT YOU “ATTEMPT” TO MAKE GUESS YOUVE GOT SUBSTANCE…LOL
MICK
December 23rd, 2012
1:31 am
Why do you have micromanage Falcons, posters? We’ve got home advantage!!
playmeortrademe
December 23rd, 2012
1:56 am
I think Snelling has a history of fumbles, doesn’t secure the ball well sometimes. But I agree that he and Quizz both seem like better options than Turner because of their pass-catching abilities. I like having a fullback normally, but with that receiver corps and TG, Atlanta needs to go almost exclusively to a single back formation and let Ryan read the defense. There could also be plays where Snelling is the FB with Quizz in at RB. That’s five people to defend. You can’t cheat the safeties or Julio/Roddy burns you, linebackers have to cover TG, linebackers have to honor play fakes, blitzes get picked apart by screens or quick slants. Too much to stop. But when the Falcons run Turner, you can stop him with 6 or 7 in the box (like lions did tonight), and since he’s slow to the line, linemen and linebackers can read the play and come off blocks and still make stops for short yardage, safeties can play back further and know they have time to make a play before significant yards are gained. And then Turner is not a big threat to catch a pass out of the backfield or turn up and get yards after the catch. It’s not Turner’s fault, Falcons coaches need to use their personnel more effectively sometimes..
Eric C.
December 23rd, 2012
2:16 am
Mick, re: 2010.
So…I say rest the starters next week.
The Bucs aren’t playing for a playoff spot and the Falcons have #1 secured…don’t risk an injury!
If anything, you could say losing the final regular season home game just about guarantees a win in the divisional round because the Falcons never lose back-to-back games, eh?
ATL all the way
December 23rd, 2012
2:26 am
Incase anyone hasn’t noticed the past two superbowl champions have have ranked in the bottom of the league in rushing so I’m not worried about dat. Our offense will score a lot of points weather we throw it 50 times or run it 40 times.
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
2:52 am
JSS,
I presume you’re on drugs, with your unclear posts ? Have you ever written a post which isn’t Indecipherable, Incomprehensible, Narcissistic, Obscure, and Supercilious ?
Whiznot
December 23rd, 2012
3:11 am
Well done Roddy White and the high flying Falcons! The Man approves.
Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson happy to be in the NFL record book – MLive.com | BB 10 News headlines
December 23rd, 2012
3:40 am
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Falcons 31, Lions 18: Notes, quotes from Saturday’s loss to Atlanta – Detroit Free Press | BB 10 News headlines
December 23rd, 2012
3:51 am
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Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz, on Calvin Johnson’s record-setting day: ‘The best is … – Detroit Free Press | News headlines
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jeffrey d
December 23rd, 2012
4:08 am
I’d feel a lot better if the yardage wasn’t 522-344 in favor of Detroit.
Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz, on Calvin Johnson’s record-setting day: ‘The best is … – Detroit Free Press | BB 10 News headlines
December 23rd, 2012
4:19 am
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Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
5:10 am
jeffrey d,
Yes, but the 3 turnovers and -0- TD Passes, are just more of the same for any Matthew Stafford led Offense. It is what he has done all 4 years and is what he did when he was here, too.
Matthew Stafford has 15 Fumbles and 53 Interceptions in his career to 79 TD Passes with a career 59 percent completions, giving him a Passer Rating of 79.2 again this season.
443 yards Matthew Stafford threw against our secondary, but note he threw -0- TD Passes.
This is why Matt Ryan is a better quarterback than Matthew Stafford, throwing for 126 TD Passes on 62 percent completions.
When you settle for 3 Field Goals while we settled for none, and have 3 turnovers while we had none again, you’re going to be 4-11 and us 13-2, no matter how many yards you throw.
Never First, Just the Best!
December 23rd, 2012
5:41 am
Falcons Win 31-18.
Can we borow Mega-Tron for the Playoffs? I bet he would make a great shut down corner.
Never First, Just the Best!
December 23rd, 2012
5:44 am
jeffrey d
I’d feel a lot better if the yardage wasn’t 522-344 in favor of Detroit.
Don’t feel bad. The Lions have a great WR and some what above average QB with a good o line. But thats all. We wont see that combo in the playoffs.
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
5:45 am
11 TD 09 INT 58% .79 # 27 Michael Vick
20 TD 10 INT 59% .86 # 12 Joe Flacco
31 TD 14 INT 69% .99 # 02 Matt Ryan
Elvis is Alive
December 23rd, 2012
5:54 am
MT33 reminds me of an intoxicated person trying to run into a wall. He can’t get around it and tries repeatedly to run staight at the wall and gets knocked back again and again. Sadly, I give him the nickname,”STONEWALL”! No lateral movement when approaching the line. I believe he has a “tell” when he is going to get the ball. Or someone shows a “tell” to the defense.
We did show some new wrinkles. The end around and the screens/flats passes are keeping the
Defense on their toes.
Nice block by Baker. Konz has talent but had a rough nite. Most would against Suh.
Game ball to JJ, Roddy,MR2 and Koetter. Nolan couldn’t stop the drag pass over the middle.
MS says he wants to play 60 except when we have a lead. I do see a tendency to revert to conservative football. Probably comes from a lack of faith in the our defense, which in past years has been sketchy.
Tampa this week and let the second string play. I’d like to see Dominic Davis and McCown get some reps.Allowing Antoine Smith to get some Game experience may be the answer we need at RB. And for some reason I see a “halfback” pass.
As I used to sing..”It’s Now or Never”..I’ll change the lyrics to ,”It’s NOW or NEXT Year”
Rise up ..Angry Birds..Rise up !!!!
Big Daddy
December 23rd, 2012
6:19 am
Great win for the Falcons!!! For the most part, I thought the play calling was superb. Matt does a good job of reading the defense at the line and making whatever changes he sees as necessary. Turner does not have the explosiveness that he once had but, he is steady, does bust some big plays every game and rarely puts the ball on the ground. We have seen running backs who have helped us out during the course of the season by fumbling the ball and every now and then multiple times.
The defense has preformed well this season. When Brent Grimes went down, I suspected his replacement might be a letdown. McClain has proven himself and his value to this team. Rogers has shown he can be a great change-up to Turner when inserted during the game. Gonzales seems to have been rejuvenated with the wide receivers taking some of the heat from him and Ryan’s play and calls have been exceptional, 5 interception game notwithstanding. Good game and I like the fact that as far as we go, we will be playing indoors. GO FALCONS!!!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
6:29 am
Thomas Brown, don’t come crawling in with you usual hooey! You say “more of the same from the Matthew Stafford>” But you are so obtuse to not realize that you just endorsed the position that carried on your usual cut-and-paste war trying refute… You’re myopic in your views, the same crap that say you’re so against is exactly what you keep posting… “Vick” and “Flacco,” according to people like you, you shouldn’t have to put his numbers against those types of QBs in the first place… Why, he’s on the Olympus level… Let’s put his numbers against Rodgers and Brees 2010 thru 16 weeks… Why he so great and Herculean, put them up there with Brady 2007… (RME)
Thomas Blabber Brown is more like it…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
6:37 am
And have you ever written a single sentence with punctuation marks used in the correct manner? I mean seriously, that’s stuff teachers correct by the sixth grade, especially in honors English…
Samuel
December 23rd, 2012
6:39 am
I think the Falcon’s are saving some of that playbook for the playoffs. Let’s hope Turner, Snelling and Jaquizz Rodgers can get that run game going better in the playoffs. If not, use Julio Jones and Roddy White in screen plays to compliment the run, like they did against Detroit. But some of you boneheads, probably didn’t realize that. GO Birds!!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
6:45 am
So if you’re going to continue to perpetrate that fraud, you need this badly…
http://www.andyshack.com/2009/08/13/strunk-white-good-grammar-guide/
Bookmark it, use it, otherwise all of those misdirected adjectives that you point at me are just mere mirror reflection…
Falcon 228
December 23rd, 2012
6:52 am
Goal accomplished. Stay healthy, focus on the game ahead. Great win.
Knute Rockne
December 23rd, 2012
7:01 am
Intellectual Ninja is correct…….Fire Coach Smith……..he has no clue on how to coach in the NFL
This Ninja nimrod is a complete idiot. He uses 7 paragraphs to demonstrate his lunacy. I am continually amazed at how many former Atlanta Water Works employees see themselves as professional football experts.
Knute
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
7:32 am
Rockne, he’s no ex-AWW employee… Be careful, that is truly one of the most dangerously deranged individuals to ever post on the AJC blogs… Seriously, do not engage him unless you have all types of secure firewalls and adequate device protections in place… You’ve been warned…
Carz
December 23rd, 2012
7:46 am
Gruden put it best. They are using the run game to force teams to prepare for it. I also think they are giving Turner significant snaps to save Quizz ’s health for the playoffs. I think Quizz will be huge in the playoffs. Lets not dump on the aging Turner with negative comments. He’s carried us for years and is over the hill, but still has value. He’s the most productive back in Falcons history.Give him his respect as we move towards Quizz.
Scary to see Matt take off and run a couple of times last night because it’s regular season. In the playoffs, however, I hope Matt takes off a few times to keep them honest. Pull out all the stops.
zbulldawg
December 23rd, 2012
7:48 am
RISING UP GETUSUM of THAT
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
7:49 am
@Fargan Bastage
@Ramguy68
You hold yourself out as some kind of expert. Are you Roman Gabriel or Deacon Jones from the 68 Rams? Were you in a pro bowl? I actually agree with your assessments but you could be a little less self indulgent
I’m not being self indulgent. I’m just tired of the same old lame comments week after week, game after game by people who have obviously never worn a jockstrap. Roman Gabriel? Why couldn’t pick out someone who was good…relatively speaking of course…..come on man!
Let's Go
December 23rd, 2012
7:51 am
Come on Jeff, Great? Yes this team is good but let’s be real they have some issues and hopefully in the next 2 weeks they can get them worked out. Luckly they will have home field in the playoffs but honestly the Packers and 49ers probably are better right now but the way the seedings are coming together they will have to play each other before the NFC championship game. I think the Falcons match up very good against the Seahawks, Redskins, Cowboys, Bears, Vikings, or Giants so I do believe they get to the championship game.
Coming thru Dome
December 23rd, 2012
8:01 am
Great win for the Falcons. They are a very good team in a year that appears not to have a true power house nfl team. Home field is great and they are absolutely capable of going to Super Bowl given this years competition. That being said the inability to pick up short yardage when everyone in stadium knows you are going to run remains a problem and could be a true problem in playoffs. A touchdown at the two instead of a ;field goal in fourth quarter would have put them up three scores and would have been a knock out punch. Also they could have run significant clock off when they got dropped for a loss and a safety giving lions ball back at end. Turner is washed up and gets his yard now once pass is established and the defense is playing pass. He can’t get yards when we have to run only when we choose to run. Can falcons win anyway. Yes. Packers two years ago and New England every year have been winning without run game. The NFL is different than 15 years ago. You CAN win without run game. Those teams have elite QBs It can be done but is Ryan enough of a QB for falcons to do it. We will see. The team is fairly healthy. The only major season ending injury was Grimes. Play starters into 3rd quarter next week. With the bye if starters don’t play next week they will be looking at three week layoff between last night and playoffs. Don’t want to get rusty. Nice win falcons. Hoping for nice January
Coming thru Dome
December 23rd, 2012
8:05 am
Enter your comments here
Jack Schitt
December 23rd, 2012
8:08 am
Michael Turner stinks………no other way to say it. He should wear ballet / tap shoes instead of cleats for all the dancing he does. 98% of the time he goes down on 1st contact instead. In fact he goes down quicker than Monica Lewinsky. I know what I am talking about….I am Jack Schitt.
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
8:10 am
@Eric C. @Ramguy68, in “general” terms…over the course of the season, the 49ers defense has “generally” been better than the Falcons…if you don’t see that, then you are no smarter than the “general” public.
Well SF certainly have the dominant DE’s. They are the number 2 defense in the league.Guess who is #1? The Steelers, a team that is trending down. Also in the top 10 are the Bears, Bengals, Rams, Panthers and the Jets.. Not too many dominating teams in that list. SF is has the #1 scoring defense. Guess who is #4? Our own Atl Falcons. The are also #5 in takeaways. SF is far behind at #17. Does SF have a better defense? I would say so but the difference is as much as you might like to think. None only that the Falcons have a better offense and have the edge at QB regardless what the media might think. I don’t know who will win a match up between these 2 teams but If Matty Ice gets a little bit of time and the Falcons can slow down the SF running game and confuse their rookie QB, I think the Falcons have a great chance of winning.
Nativebird
December 23rd, 2012
8:14 am
Winning 13 games with this o line and a running back that hits a hole like my grandmother just shows how amazing this quarterback and receiving corps is. I’m c’mon, let’s get real, honestly, 13 wins and Weak OLine
No running back
No punt return game
No kick return game
Second rate pass rush
Very weak head coach
You basically have an all pro passing attack and a stellar defensive backfield. That’s really great to have but do you really think its enough to win a Super Bowl? Odds are not. But when your franchise goal is to simply not lose your first playoff game, that’s basically the team you try to build.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
December 23rd, 2012
8:15 am
Great game by the birds was really suprised ryan had that 16 yard scramble since the only player on the field slower than him is turner. Now lets be real careful against tampa give everybody but turner an easy day and out of the game early turner needs the work
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
8:21 am
“Packers two years ago and New England every year have been winning without run game. The NFL is different than 15 years ago. You CAN win without run game.”
Sure, the Packers averaged 101 yards a game during 2010 championship season playoff run… The Patriots last successful SB season, they averaged 112 a game (including using a 210 yd game to win the Division round), It got them to the Super Bowl, there they turned to the passing game and the defense… You have to know the difference, not being to run in the post-season has a number doomed hi-octane offenses in the post Trent Dilfer Super Bowl era…
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
8:29 am
Love that new word Jeff in the article…..”doubters”…..almost the same as haters! Lol. Nice win birds, now lets see how far we can take this thing…..got to be careful with giving MT33 the ball….and please once again to make my point, Mike Smith stay the fudge out of the Offense Team Meetings! You dont belong there. Let both of your coordinators do what they do! You cant argue with 13 and 2!!!! Stop messing up the flow!
RedandBlackPeachy
December 23rd, 2012
8:29 am
Yes, it is hard to look good as a receiver in a game with Calvin Johnson; but I will take Roddy’s 2 TD’s over Calvin’s 225 yard 0 TD game any day.
Short takes: Matt Ryan back to MVP level in last 2 games
December 23rd, 2012
8:42 am
[...] the Detroit Lions as well as clinched the No. 1 seed as well as home margin by the NFC playoffs. Here’s the couple to my mainstay off the game, as well as I’ll have the brand new mainstay after currently with some-more comments from [...]
The Real Falcon
December 23rd, 2012
8:48 am
Nativebird
December 23rd, 2012
8:14 am
A native of where? Not Atlanta.
A weak coach? Or just one of the most winning since he’s been here.
All roads to the Superbowl lead throigh Atlanta. So take that negativity back to where it belongs!
The Real Falcon
December 23rd, 2012
8:49 am
AMEN, JSS!
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
8:50 am
JSS : ” “Vick” and “Flacco,” according to people like you, you shouldn’t have to put his numbers against those types of QBs in the first place… Why, he’s on the Olympus level… Let’s put his numbers against Rodgers and Brees 2010 thru 16 weeks… Why he so great and Herculean, put them up there with Brady 2007… ”
____________________________
Grammar lessons from the likes of you ? Seriously ? (1) There is not an example of 1 single sentence you wrote here, not 1. (2) It is totally indecipherable, incomprehensible, and obscure.
What in the hell does your post say, anyway ? Good Lord.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:01 am
No, that would be “grammar lessons” from the likes of William Strunk and E.B. White… At least then we would not be subjected to your daily butchering on simple punctuation rules… Well, you’ll still butcher factoring matters too… “Good Lord,” I’d wish he’d learn that rule!
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:08 am
JSS,
You can run in here and criticize Matt Ryan all you want. The rest of us believe that Matt Ryan has been playing great. Compare him this season with Rodgers and Brees not this season, not last season, but the season before that ? Compare his season this season with Tom Brady’s season not this season, not last season, not the season before that, not the season before that, not the season before that, but the season before all those ?
If those are the comparisons you wish to put up for this blog, do so. We don’t care. Matt Ryan has done well this season, no matter what you say, JSS.
Is that all you’ve got JSS ? Do not compare Matt Ryan this season against other quarterbacks this season. Do not compare Matt Ryan this season against other quarterbacks last season, either. Go back to the season before that, and compare Matt Ryan that season with Rodgers and Brees ?
Go ahead.
You’re not going to alter our opinion that Matt Ryan is doing well, no matter whom you compare him to not this season, not last season, but the season before that, or the season 3 seasons’ before that.
This is here and now.
You’re living in the past.
Matt Ryan is doing well this season. Matt Ryan is doing a lot better this season, than you are at posting 1 single sentence, which anyone has ever understood.
Are you on Drugs JSS ?
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 23rd, 2012
9:09 am
Pamela (CHOKE), where are you? We’re all waiting for you to tell us how “meaningless” this game was, and to remind us once again how “meaningless” the Giants game was, but how meaningFUL the Carolina loss was.
How “meaningless” is 25 of 32 for 279 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT?
Tell us how a team that’s 13-2 are “losers,” and tell us again how great Mike is because he won a playoff game when he was just 22, TEN YEARS AGO.
All this really tells us is how CLUELESS you are about football!
HA HA
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:11 am
Who needs Choke, when we’ve got JSS saying what he’s saying about Matt Ryan’s year and whom it is we should compare his season this year with what they did 3 and 6 seasons’ ago.
Bill
December 23rd, 2012
9:17 am
“How is it that a franchise can have a jewel of a player like Johnson and yet be 4-11 with a seven-game losing streak, long-since exterminated from playoff contention?
Football is a TEAM sport, that is how.
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
We cannot enjoy the season Matt Ryan is having this season, according to JSS this morning. After the performance Matt Ryan put-up in the game last night, JSS comes in here this morning and states for all of us that we should be comparing Matt Ryan’s season this year to what Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees did in 2010. JSS, as his summary of the game, says that we all should be comparing Matt Ryan’s season this year with the season Tom Brady had in 2007.
JSS has this to say after the performance in last night’s game by Matt Ryan, with his over 100 NFL Quarterback Rating for this 2012 season.
rfgh
December 23rd, 2012
9:22 am
I just do not understand why Smith doesnt use Snelling and Rodgers instead of Turner. He is finished. Hard to believe he was ever “The Burner”. Get a lead and start “pounding” Turner in there. Has that protected ANY lead all season? Improve pass rush and dump Turner and you have a true SB contender.
Edd
December 23rd, 2012
9:29 am
Great win but the Calvin record means nothing when your team only wins 3 games a year. Another Barry Sanders. Go Coons !
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:32 am
Go Falcons !
Edd
December 23rd, 2012
9:32 am
And where are all the Mike Vick fans, both of them. Oh, how bout dem Saints ! Crickets
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:34 am
Didn’t you hear Edd ? We’re not supposed to reply in here to those comparisons with Michael Vick and Joe Flacco.
We’re only supposed to be comparing Matt Ryan’s season this season with what quarterbacks did not this season in comparison to his season, but with seasons 3 and 6 years’ ago by Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady way back then.
Go Matt Ryan.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:37 am
Thomas Blabber, your dogma is showing again… Sure, enjoy it, but the minute you try to use it to degrade others who you claim are so inferior (simply because of this regular season), you delude your own argument by cutting off your nose to spite your face… It is not even the best rating or season in his own conference (this season)! That is not hard to understand…
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
9:45 am
JSS : “It is not even the best rating or season in his own conference (this season)!”
__________________________________________________________________
Yes, you’re right of course JSS.
Matt Ryan is having a horrible year, and deserves to have the likes of you run in here after that performance by him last night and show your jealously, and complete lack of respect for his season which you have maintained from day 1 about Matt Ryan.
Edd
December 23rd, 2012
9:46 am
Ok, the Falcons are playing great as a team. I was concerned with the Dirk hire but he was just what Matt and the offense needed. The D is playing great when healthy. Yeah Calvin got his yards and the Falcons said he would before the game but their concern was winning. It worked, 13-2 and at home. Birds are flying high!!!
Edd
December 23rd, 2012
9:51 am
When people try to put down the Falcons and Matt they are just jealous and don,t know football.
Edd
December 23rd, 2012
9:52 am
Gotta go, Go Falcons !!!
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
9:55 am
@ Thomas Brown Good morning! Try not to get your boxers in a bunch! Everyone who watched the game, and for that matter the Falcons’ throughout this year, know what kind of QB Ryan is. The skill with which he runs the offense is obvious. True, he throws int’s every once and a while, but his overall work product this year has been incredible. You are not going to win a war of words with that dude. For that matter, you’re not going to even be able to engage in a coherent discussion with him. Just ignore his posts and he might go away. Then we can discuss our ‘Birds and their play (both good and bad)!
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:56 am
See, that is crazy person with an agenda rambling… Suddenly (as tries to spin the discussion in order to get some rise) as my inferring it as a “Horrible year?” Yeah right, you’re almost criminal in your blogging madness… His season is what it is, a regular season for this franchise alone in record terms…
“Jealously?” yeah right, ha ha (RME), where is this jealousy? Pay attention next time…
Longtimefan
December 23rd, 2012
9:59 am
All that matters is the current season. The facts are the Falcons are 13-2. They have beaten three SB winning MVP QBs. They decimated the Giants in a pressure game situation when the naysayers were out in force. Even a Falcon SB victory will not silence some doubters; some people like to argue just for arguments sake-it’s the verbal jousting they enjoy, not necessarily their position. For those that like to repeatedly critique Ryan’s playoff record-remember another QB who started his NFL playoff career 0-3 and is now in the discussion for all-time greatest QB. That would be Peyton Manning.
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
10:00 am
Exactly Edd.
Imagine after that performance last night, to run onto this blog and summarize your thoughts on the game as Matt Ryan’s season 2012 is not the best NFL QB Rating in his own conference. He is showing his jealousy for Matt Ryan’s season, totally unlike he said it would be this season continuing his harangue against Matt Ryan saying instead of comparing him with Michael Vick and with Joe Flacco as we’ve had crammed down our throats all season, that instead we should be comparing Matt Ryan’s season this season with Tom Brady in 2007 and Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers in 2010.
JSS has that to say to summarize his thoughts on yesterday’s performance by Matt Ryan.
Jealousy, as you say Edd – for the scolding tirade by JSS this entire blog after Matt Ryan’s performance this season.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
@ Edd You’re first sentence is the crux of the matter. They ARE playing great as a team. We have no prim a dona’s on our team. The closest to that is Roddy 84, and even he might have learned his lesson this year. There are very few of the individual celebrations after a play that you see throughout the league. They remind me of a working class team that always has their goal in sight. We should be 14-2 after next week, with a week off prior to a home playoff game. I’ll take that over what most teams face at this point in the season.
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:03 am
And the person who asked one of the most deranged bloggers ever (and no don’t try to spin as I) to try to clarify his crazy offensive philosophy that has now crossed 4 different coaches with the same nut case ramblings to explain himself… Yeah right, I’m going away (not)… You’re courting freaks and slime balls, but being the blog police toward me? Ha ha, yeah good luck with that peeing into the wind thing!
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
10:03 am
JSS :
___________________________________________________________________
“His season is what it is, a regular season for this franchise alone in record terms…”
___________________________________________________________________
Matt Ryan’s season is great. It’s sad indeed that you cannot admit that you’re wrong about Matt Ryan and how well he’s playing 2012.
It’s just jealousy.
DoninAcworth
December 23rd, 2012
10:08 am
Seems like I get skidish after the Lions rallied and our D line just fell backwards to the Lion’s rush and some play calls were really short but
Matty Ice refused to fail and we prevailed like good teams do. Now can we depend on our crowds to help us dominate the games we must win? I
believe “everything is go!”
Tommy Maddox
December 23rd, 2012
10:08 am
I thought one of the most telling of plays was the safety play. Why hand the ball to Turner on the two yard line when he seldom if ever makes it past the line of scrimmage?
Coach Smith – you do understand that the fans are not the only ones taking note of this habitual waste of a down?
Thomas Brown
December 23rd, 2012
10:10 am
Matt Ryan is the MVP of the NFL 2012.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:14 am
JSS Good Morning! I hope you are doing well. Pretty good game last night, huh? What do you think of the Falcon’s chances throughout the playoffs, now that they have home field throughout?
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:20 am
Tommy, gotta agree with you on the safety play calling. Turner was starting 5 yards deep in the ez and there was no push. Suh blew up the line, and it appears Turner doesn’t have the ability to turn the play outside anymore. Seems that play had little chance of success. I was hoping for a play action with a quick slant. Hopefully, we learn from that going forward.
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:23 am
Home field has never been a substitute for being better than another team that is prepared better ad executes while minimizing mistakes in all 3 phases of the game…
It didn’t help the
1989 49ers
1986 Bears
….
1998 Vikings
…
2007 Packers
2010 Falcons
or the
2011 Packers…
But, if it makes you feel more secure, so be it…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:24 am
“ad” = “and”
Growler
December 23rd, 2012
10:26 am
If Ryan’s TD drive when the game got to 21-16 isn’t enough to convince the doubters, then they’ll never be convinced. That was as classic a clutch drive as you’ll ever see — and Matt twice had to overcome incredibly bad first-down play calls that resulted in negative yards!
Really the bigger issue for the Falcons in the playoffs is: can their defense stop the inevitable top-flight QB? CJ was open all night long and he was their only offensive weapon. The other possible issue is turnovers: they played a big role in the win last night — here’s hoping the Falcons can win the turnover battle in the playoffs, as they have most of the year.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
So I guess, (help me out here), that you don’t think much of their chances? I don’t really put much stock in stats from past seasons. They don’t affect this year’s play at all. What I’m wondering is, based on their play THIS year…could they (insert Chris Berman voice here) “Go all the way”?
Go Falcons
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:32 am
There is not “one” thing (pay attention, that what the word looks like) that I spend “one” microsecond envying, coveting, or desiring that Matthew Thomas “Matt” Ryan possesses or might attain… Enjoy your fantasy, it is all you have…
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:37 am
Come on man! While I admit that sometimes watching Matt Ryan play is like looking at a fantasy player come to life, that’s not my question. I’m wondering about your expectations for the Falcons. After all, this is a blog about the Falcons and their win last night. So….? Do they make it to the big show?
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:42 am
66…
I don’t what their chances are, the games are played on the field… Any team including the Falcons that out executes another better than all three phases can win a game… The problem is and has been that when teams adhere to three principles: protect the ball, control the lines of scrimmage, and get ahead in points while exploiting the greatest weakness of the lack of team strength and stamina will be on a equal basis in the playoffs unless a team like Minnesota sneaks in… But even that team with the worst QB in the conference (barring those disasters in Arizona) come with danger simply because Adrian Peterson is a wild card in terms of talent that no rational wants to see… I will leave it at that… While they may respect them (the Falcons), they still scare no balanced NFL playoff roster, Dome or not…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:44 am
66…
I don’t (care) what their chances are(…)
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:47 am
66…
Read the blog, every comment is not addressed to you… He knows who that “fantasy” comment was directed towards…
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
10:52 am
Wow!!!! I have read some of these posts and it appears the Falcons and Matt Ryan had nothing to do with the win last night. It was all the other team and Stafford’s fault!!!….lol….these guys should be writing one liners for Jay Leno. Just think about, The Manning boys and Brees caused their respective teams to lose to the Falcons. and not the Falcons Defense…..after all these guys are supposed to be perfect and should complete every pass and read every defense correctly…unbelievable….Some of these so called fans should stick to the Madden games.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
10:55 am
Just thinking out loud here, (make that typing out loud)…you talk about minimizing mistakes. How bout these stats from THIS year. Falcons tied with Houston, leading the league with fewest fumbles 9, tied with Browns in second place with least fumbles lost 4, and leading the league, not just the NFC, with fewest penalty yards 400 (by over 100 yards…Giants next with 521) Isn’t that minimizing mistakes? You throw in their obvious preparation, which is how they throttled the Mannings, and Drew Breeze in the last Saint’s game, and I think you have a recipe for success…even given your standards for success. But then, maybe I’m missing something!
Go Falcons!
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:02 am
JSS, I am not so vain that I think every post is addressed to me…I’ll leave that to others. I do, however reserve the right to comment on any post on here that I have an opinion on. I try to converse with each poster in a respectful way, unlike others on the blogs. I try to engage you in a discussion of my Falcons and a realistic approach to their play. That you choose to post in the manner that you do makes me wonder “why you gotta be so mean”. And if you don’t care what the Falcon’s chances are…it begs to be answered…you are you even on here? Just sayin’…
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:03 am
They are regular season stats, what were the Packers offensive stats TO last year (before the playoffs)?
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:08 am
@ Ramguy. Well said. I believe some would not be happy if the Falcons went 16-0, swept the playoffs, and beat their Superbowl opponent 83-0. What we seem to have this year is a well coached, well prepared, and talented team. In spite of the naysayers…you can’t argue with 13-2. I am expecting a 14-2 record, unless we just phone in the game on Sunday. Those that say the ‘Birds only play up to their opponents level are making my point. They DO play up to their level…and just a little bit better. Doesn’t that translate into wins? Duhhh!
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:10 am
Simple answer: it’s professional football… Patriots fans have no problem with that, Texans fans have no problem with that, Ravens fans have no problem with that, Steelers (especially Steelers) fans have no problem with that, Giants fans have no problem with that, Saints fans have no problem with that, Colts fans have no problem with that, Redskins, Bears fans have no problem with that, Seahawks fans have no problem with that, and on & on… The only people who seem to have a problem are AJC related bloggers and some Cowboys fans (using that word lightly)…
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:12 am
JSS that’s the point I’m trying to make. I don’t care about last year’s stats, regular season or playoff. This is this year, the teams all have another year experience under their collective belts, and that makes things different. You can’t say that this Falcon offense and defense is the same as last year. They ARE better and the level of play shows it. That makes last year irrelevant. This year, I believe, and the stats are showing it, that the Falcons are one of the best in the league.
Go Falcons!
DawgNole
December 23rd, 2012
11:15 am
Mike “CHOKE” Dogs To Death
December 23rd, 2012
9:09 am
Pamela (CHOKE), where are you? We’re all waiting for you to tell us how “meaningless” this game was, and to remind us once again how “meaningless” the Giants game was, but how meaningFUL the Carolina loss was.
How “meaningless” is 25 of 32 for 279 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT?
Tell us how a team that’s 13-2 are “losers,” and tell us again how great Mike is because he won a playoff game when he was just 22, TEN YEARS AGO.
All this really tells us is how CLUELESS you are about football!
_______________________
You haven’t heard?
Early in last night’s live game blog, Jeff heeded the calls of his posters by scolding MCR for the nature of–and motivation behind–his comments. MCR soon thereafter left in a huff. The applause from the blog was thunderous.
Truth be told, MCR likely was looking for an out, since it has become increasingly obvious that Ryan is far exceeding Vick as a QB, and that he APPEARS to have the Falcons in line for their first playoff win since Vick was here. IF that happens, MCR, who’s no doubt sulking in a corner somewhere this morning, can no longer stand on his only valid criticism of Ryan–that he hasn’t won in the postseason.
If, on the other hand, the Falcons go one and done yet again, I don’t believe MCR will be able to resist one more “Ha Ha” visit, so indeed you may yet see him again. All the more reason it’s important for the Falcons to take that next step THIS season.
In the meantime, let’s enjoy the blog w/o his worthless azz hanging around, endlessly repeating the same hateful, lame crap all season long.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:16 am
I lost you…what is the problem and what is the question?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
11:22 am
I swear I think some of you could be having sex with your fantasy girl and complain afterwards that she farted in the bed while you slept.
The Falcons are MORE perfect than any other team so far this season.
Be happy
Be positive
Quit ya bith’n and enjoy the ride,
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:22 am
66…
But you’re going to try to make this season’s result relevant on the playoff stage… It is just as irrelevant then, just as 2010 regular season was… Some team who will not be a one-legged team like the 2010 Seattle Seahawks team was is going to show-up at the weekend of January 13th. And when the smoke clears from all that phony fan fare, then it will be a new season with a team that spent the previous week getting battle tested… I won’t be losing any sleep…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:27 am
You asked “why?” I answered: “It’s professional football.” The blogs of other teams have no problem with dissenting voices, Only AJC Falcons bloggers and Cowboys fans have a problem…
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
11:27 am
Jeff Schultz
December 22nd, 2012
8:03 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan – You know my policy on banning generally is limited to matters pertaining to race, profanity, etc. But I’m considering expanding the criteria just for you. So while you’re welcome to be critical of somebody or something, if the only purpose of you commenting on a blog is to stir up trouble and provoke a response (or responses), understand that you may be banned. And yes, this is completely subjective on my part. So be careful where you step from this moment forward. And this is your one and only warning. And no, I’m not up for a debate.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:29 am
“Fantasy” is an operative word in your word… SMH… What are you doing giggling?
DawgNole
December 23rd, 2012
11:30 am
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:12 am
I don’t care about last year’s stats, regular season or playoff. This is this year, the teams all have another year experience under their collective belts, and that makes things different. You can’t say that this Falcon offense and defense is the same as last year. They ARE better and the level of play shows it. That makes last year irrelevant. This year, I believe, and the stats are showing it, that the Falcons are one of the best in the league.
_____________________
Last year alone might be irrelevant, but 46 years with ZERO champions most assuredly is NOT irrelevant. No, this is not the same team, but you can’t simply throw out its entire history when considering its chances for a deep postseason run this season.
“. . . the Falcons are one of the best in the league.” True, and they were two years ago as well–at 13-3. How’d that work out?
When you’ve closely followed nearly a half-century of postseason failures and bitter disappointments, as I and many others on here have, it’s not so easy to believe that “this (FINALLY!) is the year”–even after 13 wins.
The nice part about it is that we won’t have to wait long to see if this really is THE year. The Falcons have earned what every team wants–a bye week and homefield advantage throughout the pre-SB playoffs. Let’s see if they can finally reward their long-suffering fans with a championship. Certainly they’re in an excellent position at this point to do exactly that.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:37 am
Dawg…Believe me, I am down with that! I too, have suffered with the rest of you. I am not a fair weather fan who suddenly believes the promise land is in sight. However, I do sense something different this year. Can’t really put my finger on it…it’s not really tangible. But I, and others who follow the Falcons, do feel it. Hopefully, I’m not casting my hopes on, as someone so eloquently put it, “a f@rt in a wind”. Like you say, we don’t have long to wait. But in the meantime, I’ll do as fans have done since the start of organized sports…I will pull for my team till the very end.
Go Falcons!
JustSomeSucka is a Troll
December 23rd, 2012
11:47 am
I find it absolutely amazing that The Blog Troll has the testes calls anyone else out on this blog. For ANYTHING.
Why does anyone else take anything The Blog Troll says seriously? “Thomas Brown” is absolutely correct in pegging this turd as nothing more than an incessantly arrogant, needlessly narcissistic, and completely and totally in love with his own sense overrated, google-enhanced intelligence jerk.
What’s the deal with someone who gets his biggest jollies from coming on a blog to tell everyone who happens to be a fan of a sports team just how much better he thinks he is because he’s NOT a fan?
Seriously, for a guy who claims to be better than us, above us, smarter than us, more refined than us, he sure does come on here and spew forth his faux-intellectual b.s. upon the page, doesn’t he? I mean really. REALLY. Really, JSS? REALLY?
You don’t “care?” If you don’t “care” as much as you say, then why the hell do you bother coming on here to do everything you can to suck the joy out of the room? What kind of sick person, what kind of poor excuse for a human being spends hours upon hours creeping and trolling on a blog for fans with his nonsensical garbage as you do? What kind of p.o.s. gets off on trying to make other people miserable?
Human garbage. That’s what internet trolls like The Blog Troll is. Human garbage.
GB's Hamburgers
December 23rd, 2012
11:54 am
Ryan reminded me of the last quarterback to get us to the Super Bowl … Chris Chandler. Chandler’s specialty was his ability to move the team while under incredible pressure. Matt did that last night, especially on the last drive. He’s turning into a great QB.
Fan since 66
December 23rd, 2012
11:55 am
@JSS is a troll Try to relax man! We all know what make JSS tick, I think. Right now he is probably rereading your post several times, “laughing all the way”. Let’s just try to maintain a good blog that real Falcon fans can enjoy. Take it for what it is… I try to engage him in a friendly manner, but to no avail. Have fun today…alas, I have to go to work. This retirement gig is getting to me!
At least I won’t have to watch another dvr replay of my Falcons tonight!
Go Falcons!
Jaded
December 23rd, 2012
11:57 am
This team might be ready to get to a Super Bowl. An elite QB can cover a lot of ills, and there can be no doubt anymore that Ryan is elite. All we have to do is win two home games to get to New Orleans, and with our dominant record at the Dome since 2008, you have to like our chances.
I still would like to see us get a big, physical back and another pass rusher this offseason to become a truly complete team, but with no perfect squads in the NFL there’s no reason the Falcons can’t hoist the Lombardi Trophy, this year.
With Ryan at the helm, we’re in the same position the Colts were in for over a decade with Peyton and the Pats have been in with Brady since 2001. We’re going to be in the hunt every year for a long time.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
11:59 am
Nope, you’re wrong as usual, I’m on Skype group blog on a specialty Steelers blog discussing the future of Mike Wallace… Troll that with your short-sighted comment…
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
12:03 pm
Fan66 and all the others fans on the blog….we are:
1. 13-2….not to bad
2. Home field and bye week….I like those chances.
3. Looks like Ryan is getting in playoff mode….?…..look really good last two weeks…perhaps a half next week and we call it? No injuries!
4. Winning without Willie Mo….which is important because I think he brings that hammer down on Tailbacks…hopefully he makes a difference like Spoon when healthy and playing again.
5. I see a hungry team that is not scared of anyone either…..who cares if no other team is afraid of us….we are not afraid of any other team (bears repeating).
Lets roll into next week stay healthy get some quality minutes in and take 14-2 if we can if not stay healthy! Rise Up the playoffs are coming!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
12:05 pm
@ 11:47AM…
Did you make sure to wipe after dropping that load? Did you vomit it up or drop it the conventional way? Need a colostomy bag. they deliver you know…
Just so you know, that is some bile for your bile… Make like a bored bi-ped and throw it against your wall…
JustSomeSucka is a Troll
December 23rd, 2012
12:28 pm
Why would I even have to, Blog Troll?
You’ve been flinging crap against the wall of this blog since last night. Really, dude, you have absolutely no situational awareness or self-awareness, do you? You say something like that, without any idea of the crap you come on here and fling after every single Falcons game. You pretend like you don’t care. You protest weekly that you don’t care. And yet here you are. Telling us again how much better you are than the rest of us. Impressing absolutely no one with your internet-gleaned facts and figures that are all full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
So please, continue. Continue with your garbage. Continue being an enormous feminine hygiene product and the bag from whence it came. Continue protesting WAY too much about how you don’t care. Continue trolling this blog because you subsist off of the misery of others so you must make everyone else miserable. You life is a pathetic waste. People like you have no friends. You’ve driven them all away with your incredible narcissistic ego and “better than everything” attitude. So all you have is this: blog trolling. All you have is blog trolling for ANY kind of human interaction.
You are a sad, sad, pitiable poor excuse for a human being. But because you are also a gigantic said feminine hygiene product and the bag from whence it came, no one feels sorry for you. We just loathe you, and your incessant need to suck the joy out of about which we come here to express our happiness. You’re a miserable forgettable unintelligent cretinous krank.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
12:32 pm
I guess we want the Saints and Steelers to win today.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
12:34 pm
I can just feel all the Christmas Love flowing through this blog.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
12:42 pm
Ha ha, look at the bi-ped with all of that 8th grade tough guy talk at the expense of bad 1990s TV ads! Did you enjoy all of that? Poor little uncreative multi user-name victim, so worried about my social life… Loathe on, if it gets you one more day closer to losing you uncollective mind, man I might take up 24/7 blogging till you lose it completely! Nah, I’m going to see Fishbone at the Key Club next week and get back in time to enjoy the coronation game for the self-satisfied…
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
12:42 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Funny
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
12:43 pm
Talking about Put in time out…..lol…..
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
12:46 pm
If mass-murder doesn’t change the nature of you bloggers, why would you think a religious holiday would do such a thing? Most of you would have the first in line to witness public lynchings for thrills…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
12:49 pm
@ 12:28P…
You too can receive treatment for your recurring problems…
http://www.abreva.com/
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
12:50 pm
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
12:43 pm
Talking about Put in time out…..lol…..
================================
Are you just STUPID or can you really not read? JSS is talking about……….. JustSomeSucka is a Troll……..you idiot.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 23rd, 2012
1:17 pm
DawgNole
December 23rd, 2012
11:15 am
You haven’t heard?
Early in last night’s live game blog, Jeff heeded the calls of his posters by scolding MCR for the nature of–and motivation behind–his comments. MCR soon thereafter left in a huff. The applause from the blog was thunderous.
______________________________
No, I missed that. Good riddance, Pamela (CHOKE)!
Dand, this will mean I’ll need a new screen name!
HA HA
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
Dang
Answer This
December 23rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Not into the name calling but I was actually laughing at your joke about the “Christmas Love flowing through the blog” statement….so you my little friend need to pay down apologies…..your name calling to me was not warranted.
Anyway we still Rising Up!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 23rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Answer This……..I see. JSS was in a fight with the other guy and I thought you meant ME. I haven’t been arguing today really…Sorry.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 23rd, 2012
1:37 pm
13-2
Top seed
1st round bye
Vick done
Eagles suck
Cowboys suck
Saints suck
Choke gone
What a glorious time to be a Falcons fan
Merry Christmas, everyone!
JustSomeSucka is a Troll
December 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Please, Blog Troll… if you don’t care so much, prove it. If you’re above us all, prove it. If you’re so much smarter than everyone else, prove it. We come here to talk about a team we enjoy. You come here to do nothing but run everyone else down. And you don’t care? And you’re above us all? Prove it, Blog Troll. Prove it.
You are nothing but a waste of precious oxygen, your constant garbage words spewed forth with abandon and noxious carbon dioxide, which is of course helping to increase global warming. You offer nothing to anyone here of positive attitude or fraternity. You do nothing but sew discord with an incessant, narcissistic need to bring everyone else down to prop yourself up.
So you don’t care? You’re above all of us who do? Prove it. Come on, big man. Prove it.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 23rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Is it just me…..or is anyone else tired of seeing Turner run for a one yard gain on 1st down or for a lost?
The run play that resulted in the safety was really a bad offensive play too since it meant that Turner would be trying to run out of the end zone. Turner trying to run an end around sweep is also a bad offensive play.
Laughing out Loud
December 23rd, 2012
4:06 pm
Mega Tron is to smart to play for fans like the Falcon fans on this blog….haters, critics, naysayers, doubters, know it alls especially when it comes to coaching! Calvin polays for Lions fans who apprciate who he is and what he does on the field and off.
charles
December 23rd, 2012
4:16 pm
You cant blame the falcons for TRYING to get turner going-we will need some semblance of a running game to keep defenses honest and better to find out now than in the playoffs!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Is that an Tourette’s or what your suffering from @ 2:12? “Prove It!” “Wapner,” “Prove It!” “Wapner,” “Prove It!” “Wapner,” “Prove It!” “Wapner,” “Prove It!” “Wapner,”
Dude, go see a neurologist, your issues and just foul manner are so endearing. The way you throw around the great references to terms that gone on the great publicity ashe heap in the sky is so impressive. Maybe it is because your mind has that “not so fresh feeling” of constant play-off failure. Your “pure joy” in trying to live thru the success of others has been defiled, boo-hoo! Oh, that is right, your attachment issues are just outstanding!
Remember to take a 81mg Aspirin, we don’t want to having an cardiac episode or some other malady… The mental illness, well only a mental health professional can get you on the road to getting a grip on your need to create bogeymen… Oh yeah, Boo!!!
AU Ray
December 23rd, 2012
6:19 pm
I would be much more excited about the playoffs IF Falcons could actually run the ball. Amazing how unstoppable this team would be if they had a good RB to go along with Matt, Roddy, Tony & Julio. Michael Turner, bless his heart, is just too darn slow. Mark it down…that will be ATL in the playoffs.
Delbert D.
December 23rd, 2012
7:09 pm
I guess the Giants weren’t that good after all. Ravens are torching them.
Henry
December 23rd, 2012
7:56 pm
I fully expect the Falcons to go one and out in the playoffs. History says that in the Matt Ryan era, they choke in the money games.
Panic fan
December 24th, 2012
1:32 am
That is what this team is doing setting records and writing history every week This team has best chance they could create for playoff run GO BIRDS!!