Falcons understand that wins, No. 1 seed only set stage
Calvin Johnson is a special player but the Falcons may be a special team. (Detroit Free Press photo)
DETROIT – The schedule says there is a game left. The coach, Mike Smith, says, “We’ve said all along that if there’s games left to be played, we’re going to play them to win.” (And in his head, he probably adds: “Even if we play them with Luke McCown.”)
But this is the reality: Nobody is thinking about Game 16 against Tampa Bay. It’s about what happens in three weeks and that’s where everybody’s thoughts are. There’s no pressure to win the regular season finale next Sunday, no requirement to play in the first round of the playoffs, no pressure to jazz up the resume.
“We’ve done everything we can,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said late Saturday night following his team’s 31-18 win over Detroit, which secured a bye and the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. “Now we just have to go do it.” In the playoffs, he means.
Imagine being outfitted with the best ski equipment and taking four months of lessons, then one day being dropped at the top of a mountain and being told, “Try to get to the bottom without wiping out.”
That’s where the Falcons are today.
They’re 13-2. They can walk to the finish line of the regular season. Two weeks ago, they wowed skeptics and believers with a 34-0 win over New York. In Detroit, rather than suffer from the kind of emotional blahs that have plagued them, they jumped out to a 21-3 lead, endured some bumps in the third quarter (as Calvin Johnson took a wrecking ball to the NFL record book) and then pulled away in the fourth.
Blank is right. The Falcons have done all they can do. Now, it’s just a matter of validating their record.
They won’t know their opponent for two weeks. But after quick exits in 2008 (Arizona), 2010 (Green Bay) and 2011 (New York), their focus is, and should be, more on themselves. The words, “It’s not about them, it’s about us,” might as well be stamped on their foreheads.
“Going into the Giants game, we knew a lot of questions were going to be answered,” Tony Gonzalez said. “I think that day we realized how good we can be. Maybe we even surprised ourselves a little. But that helped us. The focus that we had that week of practice was the same focus we had in preparation for (Detroit). And yes, we’ve been here before. We’ve had a top seed. We’ve had a bye. It doesn’t mean anything. But this time we’ll come out focused and ready to roll.”
Safety Thomas DeCoud viewed the Lions game as another test passed. “We proved we can carry over from a really big win. We had a lights-out game against New Orleans but then just went through the motions against Carolina. It’s nice to know we can get this out of our system.”
There were some concerns before this game. Linebacker Mike Peterson, one of the team’s emotional leaders, walked into the locker room following warmups and sensed it was too quiet. So he banged two cymbals together, figuratively speaking.
“He riled us up,” Roddy White said.
Peterson smiled when asked about his pregame antics. He was the one who marched the team out of the tunnel and right through the Lions’ quasi-blockade for warmups in Detroit last season.
“They wanted to be relaxed,” he said. “When you’ve had success one game, the natural thing is to feel like you’ve made it. So I was just trying to keep the guys up, let them know what’s at stake.”
The Falcons started fast. Matt Ryan attacked early and often, completing his first 12 attempts and 15 of 16. He threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns. In the last two games, he is 48 for 60 passing (including 22 straight completions) for 549 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. The MVP candidacy just circled back.
Detroit’s defense focused on stopping Gonzalez (one catch). So White and Julio Jones (15 catches, 224 yards, three touchdowns combined) destroyed them.
Defensively, the Falcons gave up a ton of yards (522). Matthew Stafford threw for 443, more than half of that to Johnson (11 for 225). But the Lions reached the end zone only once, going one for four in the red zone. That’s why they’re 4-11. That’s why the Falcons are 13-2.
Said Ryan, “When you have a combination of guys who are committed to doing everything the right way, you have fun doing it.”
This much we know: The backdrop is impressive.
By Jeff Schultz
•
You may have missed . . .
– Short takes: Matt Ryan back to MVP level in last 2 games
– Falcons respond as great teams should in win over Lions
– Live: Falcons seek No. 1 seed, AJC endures without D-Led
– If last week’s Falcons were for real, we’re about to find out
– Falcons’ line on a roll, now gets rematch against Suh
– Haters’ roundup: National view on Falcons has changed (including video)
– Ryan asks for more, gives more at right time for Falcons
– Falcons, Smith know now is time they’re going to be judged
– SEC’s decision to not suspend Dial sends wrong message
– Dale Murphy sounds off on steroid users in Hall of Fame and his own candidacy
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265 comments Add your comment
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
8:57 pm
Great! Another “haven’t one a playoff game in three tries so they can’t win this year” opinion. So trite and simplistic. I so look forward to this team serving notice to the football world that the proverbial corner has been turned and the Falcons will be a long-term franchise success. Every team with a Lombardi had to break through the same wall and emerge victorious to claim their title. This Falcons team is on the right track to do just that, and I don’t think they fear any team playing. They will be ready when the time comes to defend the dome.
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
8:57 pm
“Probation?” You must mean that restraining order for someone else, my sheets clean… Chucky E. Cheese is all his “intellectual” capacity can handle…
1 N Done
December 23rd, 2012
9:05 pm
@IN I’m not Choke!! I think he is quite amusing!! I think your obsessed with him you seem to think everyone his him, how funny. I will be him if it satisfy you. Oh and by the way watch what color kool aid your drinking, because it will stain your carpet when it comes up in a few weeks!!! ROTFLMAO!!
DJANGO
December 23rd, 2012
9:08 pm
Man the Seahawks are hungry and they will be coming to town.
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
9:09 pm
Oh, JSS, so quick to miss yet another meaning of a joke at your expense.
What he meant, is that you remind him of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y71i4VnO-eY
Very funny, no?
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:16 pm
No, you’re 1990s joke book is still in need of updating… Since your business is so slow, you can disinfect the pit…
DJANGO
December 23rd, 2012
9:17 pm
1 N Done why is everyone obsessed with this mystery Guy choke?
Texas Pete
December 23rd, 2012
9:17 pm
Wishing we had Tebow for short yardage situations right about now…
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:17 pm
And we know your sociology career ain’t paying the bills…
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
9:22 pm
Sociology career? Hahaha! Don’t know quite as much about me as you claim, do you? Whatever it is I do, I assure you, although I’m not the poor-man’s Kevin Smith, I am very comfortable.
But thank you for your concern. It was almost human of you.
Matty Bicep
December 23rd, 2012
9:23 pm
Why is everyone obsessed with Choke? He is uncanny in how wrong he can be. Can you believe he thought the Eagles would compete for a title? LOL. He even said that Cam Newton would “own” the falcons….I mean, now can one person be so wrong? He is a legend of fail.
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
9:24 pm
Oh, okay… I get it. I’ll play along.
DJANGO has been asking questions like a dummy all day.
When he asked for the 10th time about Choke, 1 N Done pops up and then says, “Because I’M in their heads.”
Then, even though I caught him in that, he claims not to be Choke.
And now we see 1 N Done having a conversation with DJANGO, and it’s completely obvious it’s one guy talking to himself.
Very funny. Disturbed. But funny.
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
9:31 pm
Well it looks like the Seahawks are running roughshod over the “best team” in the NFL. I can hear all hear Skip Bayless and his cronies screaming “I would have never picked SF if I had known Seattle was going to score 21 points in the the 1st 17 minutes….had I known that I would have picked the Seahawks so I was really right”.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:31 pm
I know the phony crap you posted in 2007 hacking that discredited research on sociopaths… Thus, I know that is not paying your bills… Trash in, trash out… Your paper always comes back to bite your phony butt… Stick to crashing folks web sites Sonny…
1 N Done
December 23rd, 2012
9:32 pm
@ Django Choke drives the pigeon fans crazy!!! They seem to think everyone who dislikes the pigeons is him!! What’s the difference between a dirty tub and a dirty bird??? The tub a ring!!!
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:45 pm
Ah the Trolls are out, Under different names,, and of course there’s JSS, he’s like a fly that wont go away LOL.. like i said every good blog needs a douche bag or 2, Keeps things lively. LOL, Good night fellers!! and Merry Christmas. Go Birds!!
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
9:46 pm
You are insanely hilarious, JSS.
You seriously have some major issues. Besides the ones you continue to display here. I love it. You’re seriously a paranoid little man.
Again, I may not be perfect either, but I’ll feel better soon enough and find better things to do… but you’ll still be here.
Here’s another reference: you’re like a demented Brick Tamland. You have mental problems, man.
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:51 pm
JSS is many thing but hilarious does’nt come to mind, he’s the only one that knows what he’s saying half the time, He likes making obscure references and speaks in riddles which “He” thinks make him sound intelligent. Poor little fella.
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:52 pm
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:54 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah BugKiller, I’ll be gone in February (like I was gone most of October and November) and you’ll still living in your lies and fantasies about what my daily life is all about… You haven’t a clue…
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:56 pm
Excellent!! We cant wait LOL,, why you do us all a favor and go ahead and check out early LOL
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
9:57 pm
@ 9:51P…
Stay out of this little boy, this is grown man (I) and a sociopath blogging… You’re not invited, go and gravy-train somewhere else…
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
One more thing,, San Francisco looks like crap, LOL
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:59 pm
When some grown men show up i’ll leave dip stick,
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
10:03 pm
thanks,, i’ll be here all season,, try the veal. LOL
DawgNole
December 23rd, 2012
10:04 pm
LOL at the Aints
December 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
One more thing,, San Francisco looks like crap, LOL
_______________________
Or Seattle looks like world beaters. The Seahawks are hot and dangerous. Hoping the Falcons can avoid them.
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:09 pm
Nolan would wipe that rookie sensation out with a wickedly confusing and frantic pre-snap read. The Falcons could handle the Seachickens, Bring’em on!
Go Falcons!
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:09 pm
Seattle….
So that’s who craps on our parade this year.
Why does this keep happening to us?
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
No.
The Falcons can’t handle anyone.
The Giants imploded. It wasn’t us.
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
Fire Mike Smith now, before we’re humiliated in three weeks!!
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
I don’t know to who’s parade you are referring Phil, but it doesn’t rain in the dome! Nor on the falcons for the rest of their run. Hail Lombardi! (Hail)
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
Big crap talkers… None of you want a part of the Seahawks, and the Vikings aren’t scared to travel even with that lousy Christian Ponder…
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:16 pm
Quite “Phil of yourself” there aren’t you?
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
10:17 pm
From everything we’ve seen tonight, JSS, the only one living fantasies is you. The rest of us know our limitations as well as our capabilities.
We don’t spend so much time as you to convince others of our superiority. It’s almost like you’re compensating for something.
Hilarious.
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
10:17 pm
How many Rookie QB’s have won playoff games?
How many Rookie QB’s have won a playoff game on the ROAD?
Sorry I Ain’t Skeered of no Rook QB.
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:25 pm
You better be scared.
I certainly am.
Unlike most of you, I’ve noticed how many super bowl’s we’ve won.
That would be zero.
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:25 pm
Every game this year that the Falcons have game-planned to make an opponent one demensional they have done so.”They can’t stop the run so muscle-hamster will tear them up”= 50 yds rushing.
“Drew Breeze will expose their weak and depleted secondary.”= No td passes+ end of record streak.
We had our hiccup @Carolina. We took the lesson to heart and are on pace to complete the mission set forth by Smitty during training camp. Exorcise the demons!( and blog trolls)
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:26 pm
BugKiller, how’s that fire Mark Richt campaign going? Yeah, just what I thought… Compensate for your lack of sense…
Bills fan
December 23rd, 2012
10:29 pm
Love your comment Jeff, “I’s all about us.”
Have mentioned this before, but will always hold true: John Wooden never emphasized winning, just always giving 100% esp. in practice. Winning would take care of itself. His national championship teams had games during the season he was more proud of his team losing than winning the nat. chmshp., because they played their very best.
In this age of parity, it sometimes just comes down to who is willing to play their best every single down and not rest.
The Carolina debacle was a perfect example of “Who wants it more?”
Yeah, for the Falcons anything but a ring is failure, but it won’t happen to this club if they just leave it all on the field.
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:29 pm
Seattle 46 – Atlanta 13
phil
December 23rd, 2012
10:31 pm
The problem is the more talented overall ballclub that leaves it all on the field….
That’s the one that crushes us each year in January.
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:33 pm
As far as Rookie QBs, you don’t have to look too far, Flacco and Sanchez won multiple games on the road… 2008 and 2009
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:34 pm
Seachickens 20 – Falcons 41
3 ints for the defensive backfield.
3 td passes for Ryan
Pete Carroll cries during postgame interviews
San Francisco comes to town to determine NFC crown
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
10:35 pm
Phil……are you stoned or just Drunk on Wilson’s jock fumes?
icndark
December 23rd, 2012
10:37 pm
For real dough!
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
10:38 pm
JSS….I knew there were some just didn’t know who or how many.
Michael M.
December 23rd, 2012
10:42 pm
I thought this was a football blog, not a social class guided by the Professor…………….lmao………………………………….Seahawks would match up well with the Falcons, be a real good entertaining game with Atlanta coming out on top. Don’t think so?
JSS
December 23rd, 2012
10:45 pm
Overall, since the merger in 1970, 5 rookie QBs have won playoff games… TJ Yates, Sanchez, Flacco, Rothleisberger, and Shaunn King in Tampa…
ramguy68
December 23rd, 2012
10:47 pm
@JSS Flacco and Sanchez
lol….maybe the Falcons GM is on the phone trying to trade Ryan for one of those two…..you know the Ravens and the Jets would love that trade.
Intellectual Ninja
December 23rd, 2012
10:48 pm
I dunno, JSS… as good as Mark Richt is, he’s not great, leading one to wonder if that’s all there is.
But my Fire Soft Willy Martinez campaign sure was gangbusters.
But I say that not to impress, because any time I’m right about sometime, I’m sure I’m wrong about two things. Unlike you, I possess that kind of self-awareness.
You’re the only one here constantly trying to impress, constantly telling all us just how much you’re above the fray, as it were, and how that makes you better than us.