LIVE: Falcons seek No. 1 seed; AJC endures minus D-Led
An artist's rendering of Darryl Ledbetter's injury. (Zazzle.com)
DETROIT — Good evening. Welcome to Monday night football on Saturday night. Because while the NFL sees nothing wrong with multiple Thursday games that increase the chance of concussion hangovers (shortened game weeks) and is pushing for an 18-game season, at least it won’t make teams play on Christmas Eve.
Before we get to the Falcons-Detroit game, I’d like to give a shout out to the captain of the AJC’s Falcons’ coverage, Darryl “Lightning Led” Ledbetter. He’s a former high school cornerback who claims to have patterned his game after Jack Tatum, the only difference being that Tatum took out opponents and
Here's actual updated look at Ledbetter's left leg.
Ledbetter took out himself.
Last Saturday morning, while carrying three loads of laundry, he tripped on a book that was left on the stairs at the state Ledbetter manor. Down went Lightning. His left leg buckled.
An X-ray revealed no damage so D-Led toughed it out last Sunday, covering the Falcons- New York Giants game with what he (and a mistaken doctor) believed was just a bad knee sprain. But a followup MRI
Matthew Stafford (Georgia) and Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) have been a lethal combination since uniting in the NFL. (AP photo)
revealed D-Led had a ruptured quadriceps, which required surgery Thursday.
While the AJC is not required to declare our writers’ inactive list until 90 minutes before kickoff — competitive reasons — I’ll disclose that D-Led did not make the trip to Detroit, nor is he expected to cover next week’s regular season finale against Tampa Bay.
“I’m hoping to be back by the playoffs,” he said.
That still put him ahead of Ray Edwards.
So the able and fleet-footed Michael Cunningham has come in off the bench and is in Motown with me for tonight’s coverage. Michael told me he long had been dreaming of making a December trip to the tropical paradise that is Detroit. (I might have made that up.)
OK, about the game. The Falcons are coming off their biggest win and most impressive performance of the season, a 34-0 blowout of the Giants. This game can’t match that one in marquee value but there’s a lot on the line. A win over the Lions guarantees them a first-round bye and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which would give several banged up players a week of needed rest. Here are the scenarios:
• They secure a first-round bye with: 1) A win or tie tonight; OR 2) a Green Bay loss or tie vs. Tennessee; OR 3) a San Francisco loss at Seattle.
• They secure the No. 1 seed with: 1) A win tonight; OR 2) a tie and a San Francisco loss or tie; OR 3) A Green Bay loss or tie and a San Francisco loss.
A strong performance against the Lions would be a good sign going into the postseason, whereas an emotional letdown would again make some wonder about what lies ahead. As tight end Tony Gonzalez said, “This is not the time to go cool. It’s not the time to think you’ve arrived. Actually, it’s the worst time to have that attitude.”
Stating the obvious: The Falcons’ defense likely will double-cover wide receiver Calvin Johnson (who has a chance to break Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving record) because there is not much else on the Lions’ offense to worry about. Offensively, the team will be rematched against Mr. Wholesome, Ndamukong Suh, and the Lions’ defensive front. Detroit actually has been pretty solid defensively, especially for a 4-10 team, but the Lions have hurt themselves with turnovers (26) and penalties (6.9 per game).
That’s all I’ve got for now. The Falcons try to secure home field and the AJC endures without Lightning Led.
The cyber-venting lines are now open.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,122 comments Add your comment
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
10:10 pm
@phil, would you rather they play on the road? As it stands, the Falcons will have played only 2 outdoor games since October … and one of those was in Florida. It gets cold in January. I know they lost to GB two years ago at home, but you always want to be the #1 seed. The past is past.
Michael M.
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Who is worried about the seahawks…………I don’t think the Falcons are too worried about anyone…….this team just thinks they suppose to win everytime they touch the football field and I love it!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
The SEAHAWKS are a JOKE because of the Great Replacement Refs win against Green Bay. If they would still be in if that were not a win then I’d be OK. The Green Bay game was a JOKE.
FalconFan
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Different team Phil. These guys just seem to really have it. Much better coaching on both sides of the ball.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Until we advance to, and win, the Super Bowl, the national media is right to doubt us.
But I do like the thought of homefield advantage from next week through the super bowl….i consider a super bowl in NO to be our advantage, if we get there and it isn’t Peyton.
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
Phil, No…we’ve only had one home field advantage and that was in 2010. The other two playoff games were on the road at Arizona and at Giants.
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
10:11 pm
@gofalcons: The Falcons caused those turnovers. Defense hitting like crazy today! Just interesting in that stats can lie! The Falcons are dominating the game even though stats say otherwise….
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Just think, the Falcons won’t have to leave the Georgia Dome again this year unless it’s to the Super Bowl and I’m sure the Falcons won’t mind that one bit.
DawgNole
December 22nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Just Asking?
December 22nd, 2012
10:07 pm
Jeff, can you guess what the national media’s headlines will be tomorrow? Calvin Johnson sets record in Detroit game. I’m sure that the falcons still will not get the respect that they deserve, no matter what the score. Already that seems to be the theme from the announcers.
_____________________
Forty-six years. ZERO championships. Can’t blame the national media for their skepticism. Win in the postseason; that respect will come.
Titletown Falcon Fan
December 22nd, 2012
10:12 pm
I have seen some flases from Turner tonight, but not enough to calm my fears for the playoff run. There is going to come a time when we need to eat some clock and not get in a scoring war with A Rogers.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Yes, we’re a different team, but dadgummit, we have to ACTUALLY DO IT before i quit worrying about it.
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
10:13 pm
Jason, the Seahawks own all wildcard tie-breakers even if they lose to the 49ers… Man, they’ll be the 5 seed… 6th seed goes to DC if they win out… 4 or 5 winner comes to the 2, if the 3 (Green Bay) loses the wild card game to 6, 6 goes to 1, if not 5 goes 1 (remember 2010)
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:13 pm
The Falcons would torch anybody in the playoffs. The Packers, Giants, 49ers, Seahawks, we don’t give a damn.
DawgNole
December 22nd, 2012
10:13 pm
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:12 pm
Yes, we’re a different team, but dadgummit, we have to ACTUALLY DO IT before i quit worrying about it.
___________________
Same here.
Sav FAN
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
Let Calvin go the the yards this half
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
Jason – 1980?
Section 212
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
Cool Jeff. MCR earned it
Michael M.
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
The biggest thing that any of us could have out of the Falcons is playing in the Superdome for the Superbowl to run the Aints fans noses in the dirt………………the ultimate revenge……………..
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
Uh oh, conservative ball at it’s finest. Very conservative here.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
No blocking…..
Booooooooo!!
goFalcons
December 22nd, 2012
10:15 pm
Put a NFL all star team together and tell them to bring it!!!!!!!!!! We are the Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:15 pm
Did not get that drive at all. You’re supposed to bury teams when you have them down 21-6, not potentially let them back in the game. Come on!
J.J.M.
December 22nd, 2012
10:15 pm
peter konz is the future?
Sam
December 22nd, 2012
10:16 pm
3& out
playmeortrademe
December 22nd, 2012
10:16 pm
Ugh, I hope Mike Smith’s insistence on giving the ball to Turner doesn’t hurt in the playoffs. I don’t understand why you don’t put the ball in the air and try to put this thing away this quarter, instead of letting them hang around.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 22nd, 2012
10:16 pm
The SEAHAWKS are lucky this year because of the Replacement Refs plain and simple.
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
10:16 pm
Overlook that Seahawks all you want, that was a gift from the replacement refs, but that is whole different team now… The 49ers know, they’ve been triple serious this week…
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:17 pm
Mike Smith is running the 4 minute offense. We have 2 quarters to go Mike Smith. Not 4 minutes. Can’t kill two quarters of time.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:17 pm
Weak, sissy boy ball…..
LOL at the Aints
December 22nd, 2012
10:17 pm
@JSS, Did you have to bring up 1980,
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
10:18 pm
…but the Seahawks are a different team on the road, and if it is them… however good he’s been this year, Russell Wilson is no Aaron Rogers….
goFalcons
December 22nd, 2012
10:18 pm
The Falcons will show the 49ers or anybody why we are the best
austinwantsyou
December 22nd, 2012
10:18 pm
Peter Konz is so weak
Section 212
December 22nd, 2012
10:19 pm
Lets hope Smitty stays out of the play calling for the remainder of the game.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:19 pm
The Seahawks are scary.
Period.
We better wake up here.
Section 212
December 22nd, 2012
10:19 pm
Crud another penalty. That’s our 4th?
Jeff Schultz
December 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
JSS — no and no. (But I like Drew. Don’t know other guy)
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
Defense playing soft now. Offense should have made it 28-6.
Section 212
December 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
3rd
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
C’mon D step up and get off the field.
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
phil…
Falcons history only begins in 2008… Sssssssssssssh!
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:21 pm
Pitiful…..
Boooooooooo!
DawgNole
December 22nd, 2012
10:21 pm
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm
Jason – 1980?
___________________
The team should NEVER forget what happened in 1980. They played one of those so-called “meaningless” season-ending games against the LA Rams (like next week vs Tampa Bay???) and lost. Then blew a 4Q lead against Dallas in the playoffs. Set the franchise back for years.
Time to step up. Only losers let up.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:21 pm
Lol
Jeff Schultz
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Maybe they should triple-cover Calvin. Or are they?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
sorry FALCON History starts in 66….I remember
goFalcons
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
i want to bully the lions like uga did tech, Uga bodyslam them twice, Rise up Falcons
Macon Fan
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Bill Simmons (ESPN) says in this weeks column that no playoff bound NFC team is worried about coming to ATL for a playoff game.
I think that they’d rather not.
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Defense is reverting to the 1st half of the Carolina game. Here it goes! Detroit is about to be back in the game
phil
December 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Are we gonna blow this game?
Of course we normally fall apart for a time each week.