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
Fred
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
giving the ball to turner in the endzone is a major brainfart. really? wtf
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
You have got to be kidding me! I mean the game is over.. call a QB sneak! The Falcons situational play calling just boggles the mind sometimes….
? mark
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
i said not to give it to turner
jo
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Now we kick the ball back and here they come again. Wth
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Look, more strokes!!!
The Hitman
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
What a stupid play
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Goodness gracious…damn….that was just ugly…where was the blocking there?
Michael M.
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Coach Smitty will be chewing on some Bird this week……………………………. the red n black kind
80sFalcon
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Speaks volumes about teams that are not good. Suh’s team is 4-10 and he stares at the camera as if he’s done something great. as long as he gets his, to hell with everyone else.
Roger
December 22nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Turner runs like he has a piano on his back
DawgNole
December 22nd, 2012
11:29 pm
Thank goodness for boneheaded decisions!
Falcons: Play 60!
December 22nd, 2012
11:29 pm
give the ball to the guy in the endzone who takes 10 yards to get going? That’s not smart …..
Bah humbug
December 22nd, 2012
11:29 pm
The Falcons are the only NFL team with a cheeseburger at running back.
Bah! Humbug!
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:29 pm
Well, we can clearly see our weaknesses and why they will finish us off eventually.
Can’t block the run. Etc.
Nice return there….what an idiot.
playmeortrademe
December 22nd, 2012
11:30 pm
@Growler,
Exactly, put in Mcwhoever and run a sneak or two.
Kyle
December 22nd, 2012
11:30 pm
How stupid are these coaches tonight. It is amazing that they could call the plays they did last week and be so bad this week. The Defense put no pressure on Stafford and to hand to that fat, slow S.O.B. 7 yards deep in the End Zone has to be the dumbest call I’ve ever seen.
Michael M.
December 22nd, 2012
11:30 pm
lol Roger
Answer This
December 22nd, 2012
11:30 pm
One more pick before the game is over?
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:30 pm
500 yards yet for the kittens?
Boooooooooooo!
Bulldawg
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
Bench Turner! Bench Turner! Bench Turner! I am sick and tired of watching this SLOW guy get tackled behind the line.
? mark
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
if the lions were a smart team they would have whipppped our tails tonite
Roger
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
how stupid were the Eagles to give away Asante?
Charleston Jacket
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
Tip Toe Turner gives up another safety. Why is he still on this team?
With that said good win and home field advantage!
Jason
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
Run blocking is severely lacking…yes we won, but the 2nd half wasn’t impressive.
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
My biggest worry in the post-season is Mike Smith will make some bonehead mistake, either with play-calling or clock management, to cost them the game. I hope I am wrong.
playmeortrademe
December 22nd, 2012
11:31 pm
That dumb call to Turner in the EZ has given the Falcons thin D about 8 or 9 more chances to get hurt.. Good job Smitty and DK.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:32 pm
We’re the worst 13-2 team in the league!!
Booooooooo!
I can’t believe we have three 13 win seasons now.
goFalcons
December 22nd, 2012
11:32 pm
We owned them boys!!!!!!!!!! point blank we did it!!!
? mark
December 22nd, 2012
11:32 pm
this has been the longest 2 minutes ever
jo
December 22nd, 2012
11:33 pm
The truth is the falcons were semi ready to play…weren’t amped up like last week. At least they didn’t have the major let down like at Carolina.
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:33 pm
Our D is just awful….
goFalcons
December 22nd, 2012
11:33 pm
WE are the best face it everybody
MenVsBoys
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
How many times have the Lions punted tonight? If we don’t get turnovers, we don’t stop anyone!
Sam
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
Which team is going to show up in the playoffs? The team that demolished the giants or the team that was embarrassed by the Panthers?
Michael M.
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
Be a 13- 3 team this year………………………which is better…………play the starters all game long next week or give em a break and lose……………….
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
Well yeah a lot of garbage yards, but D has given up 495 yards tonight….
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
So i guess we weren’t amped up 2 years ago either when green bay demolished us in the playoffs?
Right?
Roger
December 22nd, 2012
11:34 pm
playoffs are what they are, nearly any team can win or lose on any game, but the falcons have shown a lot over the past 3 years…..often(maybe more often) the best team doesnt win the superbowl with the one and done system…but the Falcons have a DAMN good shot this year!
jo
December 22nd, 2012
11:35 pm
Why cant we tackle tonight?
JSS
December 22nd, 2012
11:35 pm
@ phil…
Dollar General brass is getting loader by the minute…
DawgNole
December 22nd, 2012
11:35 pm
Calling it a night when this clock runs down.
And saluting Schultz one more time for a major upgrade to this blog through his warning to the insufferable hater MCR. Definitely addition by subtraction! I thank you, JS, and I know I’m not alone.
playmeortrademe
December 22nd, 2012
11:35 pm
If the Falcons try to establish the run with slow-footed Turner in the playoffs, when they can line up all those receivers, TG, and Quizz, then they deserve to get beat.
Why the —- is the starting D out there? Even if they score it takes an onside kick. C’mon….
Charleston Jacket
December 22nd, 2012
11:35 pm
Why am i still nervous with 30 seconds left?
Eric C.
December 22nd, 2012
11:36 pm
I’m sorry, but that was the stupidest play I’ve seen in a long time on the safety! Hey, the Lions are expecting a run, so let’s give it to Turner 4 yds deep in the endzone…real, real, smart play.
Growler
December 22nd, 2012
11:36 pm
Falcons tackled great in the first half. 2nd half… another story….
phil
December 22nd, 2012
11:36 pm
Well, we won but so what….
I hate not playing well.
ryan2atl
December 22nd, 2012
11:37 pm
D torched by Stafford. Not championship caliber. Not Ryan’s fault D gives up 400 yds passing. Rodgers will torch them as well. This is why no playoff wins.
jo
December 22nd, 2012
11:37 pm
Phil, falcons were rusty having sat their starters for Weeks and terrible coaching 2 years ago. Now the concerns are know. But…the falcons seem to be a little more solid.
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
11:37 pm
There will be a lot of YOUNG QB’s in the playoffs and I think that is an advantage for the Falcons.
Roger
December 22nd, 2012
11:37 pm
Faclons should have thrown a post to julio on 1st and ten at goal last series then on second ran it…it would have loosend up that front of the lions