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
stendek
December 22nd, 2012
11:59 pm
Has Michael Turner made it out of EZ yet?
falconsrus
December 23rd, 2012
12:00 am
Willy Mo better be healing up
13 and 2
keep it rolling
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:01 am
I hope all long suffering Falcon followers receive a very late Christmas present in early 2013! Get my drift?
phil
December 23rd, 2012
12:01 am
Smith just said our number one goal was to win 13 games….
Great.
We’re doomed.
falconsrus
December 23rd, 2012
12:02 am
Merry Christmas phil and a happy new year and new mayan age
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:02 am
I remember Falcon teams of past which did not win 13 times over three seasons! These are definitely much more pleasant times. Ho ho ho.
phil
December 23rd, 2012
12:03 am
Stop congratulating opposing players!!
Boooooooooo!
falconsrus
December 23rd, 2012
12:04 am
Ho Ho Ho indeed
phil
December 23rd, 2012
12:05 am
We can’t run the ball….
Chew on that some.
Exactly. Not good.
Good night all and a merry christmas again.
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:06 am
One thing I am truly grateful for. Matt Ryan is Falcon QB while dog killing quitter Mike Vick has been relegated to non playing status in Philly. Who says there is no justice in pro sports?
eddie willers
December 23rd, 2012
12:09 am
I have found that is much more fun to only read the blog at halftime and again after the game is over.
Reading the Doom & Gloom of the third quarter knowing that Ryan would put together as pretty a professional drive as anyone in the biz is fun. (also knowing that the way to stop CJ is to brush yourself off after he knocks you down and STILL step in front of him for the pick. So glad we got Asante.
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:10 am
Michael Turner does average right at two yards per carry. I think. That is definitely not good! Lost a step. Gained extra pounds. Too slow. Needs to go! Thanks for past efforts but…
eddie willers
December 23rd, 2012
12:11 am
Stop congratulating opposing players!!
The most satisfying feeling in the world (OK…2nd most satisfying) is being a gracious winner.
extremus
December 23rd, 2012
12:13 am
The good: The win gives the Falcons guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Obviously no guarantee, but it’s sure better than the prospect of playing in Green Bay or anywhere else on the road.
The bad: Once again we saw a team that is dangerously schizophrenic; they came out strong and pretty much dominated the first half, but then the Lions rang off 13 unanswered points and had serious momentum. By the time Ryan and the offense drove for the clenching touchdown early in the 4th quarter, the outcome was seriously in question.
You know what would be REALLY scary? Matt Ryan with the time to throw that our defenders have been giving opposing QBs all season. By my count Matt Stafford got knocked to the turf only once or twice throughout the whole game. Ryan on the other hand has had to get used to being rushed, and the Falcons are very fortunate that he’s still managed as well as he has at times.
I don’t know whether or how much Mike Smith will rest his starters next week against Tampa Bay with home field clinched; having the extra time to get healthy COULD prove beneficial. But the other side of the coin obviously is, come playoff time we have absolutely no idea which team will show up: the intense, motivated, playmaking Falcons or the flat, unprepared bunch that we’ve seen in the past after long layoffs.
Obviously we need a real, consistent power running game. Turner was decent on a couple of plays, but the coaches need to figure out you CANNOT run sweeps with him, and he’s usually not much better on the draw. Starting RB should be high on the priority list this offseason regardless of how the playoffs go.
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:14 am
Tony Gonzalez may get away with a bit of offensive pushing off but Calvin Johnson gets by with a Hell of a lot more of it! Enjoy the record Lion fans. Like the UGA choke job against Bama. Those stats may soothe but will always be for losers! Put em in L column.
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
12:16 am
eddie willers……….exactly…..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.
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 23rd, 2012
12:18 am
when do the falcons release kroy beirmann ??? he is useles ! can never et pressure ! he should not make it out of training camp 2013 !!
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 23rd, 2012
12:18 am
oh, and his wife got kicked off of her show !!!
stendek
December 23rd, 2012
12:23 am
When Claude Humphrey and John Zook were Falcons they put constant pressure on opposing QBs! Matthew Stafford had time for a meal plus dessert in the backfield. Where has the Falcon pass rush gone? Can it be found before playoffs commence? I certainly hope so!
Ricnic
December 23rd, 2012
12:51 am
I heard D-Led broke his leg doing the Gandom Style dance. Get better soon.
eddie willers
December 23rd, 2012
1:01 am
when do the falcons release kroy beirmann ???
Gee…with your football acumen you probably thought downing a free kick on your own 4 was a clever idea.
nbrdrdnk
December 23rd, 2012
9:12 am
Daaang, D-Led! I don’t blame ya for not wanting to go to Detroit, but you didn’t hafta cripple yourself! Have a speedy recovery!
Falcons’ Christmas list:
Qualify for play-offs — check
Win division — check
Home field advantage — check
Avoid Pro Bowl appearance — Uh…Uh… waiting on the after-Christmas rush…