Time’s up for Falcons: They need to win in postseason now
Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff know they're being judged on playoffs now. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – When Falcons coach Mike Smith was asked this week whether he could sense when a team was ready to take the next step, he gave a long, winding answer that never really arrived at “yes” or “no,” even if he spoke in well-crafted sentences.
It reminded me of middle school when I was faced with an essay question that I didn’t know the answer to, which led to something like, “The Taft-Hartley Act is considered one of the most important documents in history, written half by Taft and half by Hartley, both of whom were fine, distinguished gentlemen who liked to wear suits, and this had a big impact on the United States of America! You’re my favorite teacher! Oh, look at the birdies …”
This was Smith, on whether he knows when a team is ready to take the next step, or possibly the Taft-Hartley Act: “We feel very good about what we’ve accomplished thus far this year. We have expectations. We set our goals, and we’ve been clicking along pretty well this season. I like the way that we’ve played through the first season. The second season is getting ready to start, and I know that we respect everybody that’s in this tournament because they’ve fought very hard to get in it.”
I’ll answer for him: No.
I’ll also answer for general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who, in trying to avoid anything close to state-of-the-Falcons questions this week, has decided to make himself unavailable to the media: No.
In the NFL playoffs, there’s a tendency to handicap teams not by records, statistics or talent, but by resume. New England and Green Bay are feared. They’ve won Super Bowls. The Falcons are not. They scored two points in the Meadowlands.
In their past three playoff seasons, the Falcons went 11-5, 13-3 and 10-6. They lost their first playoff game each year, in stunning, increasingly humiliating fashion: 30-24 (Arizona), 48-21 (Green Bay) and 24-2 (New York Giants). In all three years, they were confident. In all three years, they thought, “We can do this.” They didn’t.
So now we watch again. A talented, confident, 13-3 Falcons team, following the luxury of a week off that’s afforded a No. 1 seed, faces Seattle at the Georgia Dome on Sunday. There’s a public concern because the Seahawks are hot.
But really, that’s not what this is about. This game is not about what the Seahawks are, but rather what the Falcons have been.
This is a one-game pass-fail test. It’s important to Dimitroff, the architect of this otherwise wonderful, five-year franchise makeover, who made the decision to make few roster changes from last season’s team until the late trade for cornerback Asante Samuel (a familiar face from their New England days).
It’s important to quarterback Ryan, who could be excused for getting outplayed in the postseason by three Super Bowl quarterbacks (Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning), but probably not so quickly if he loses to a rookie (Russell Wilson).
It’s important to Smith, who likely will catch more heat than anybody — yes, even more than Ryan — if the Falcons lose this game.
The people who claim Mike Smith absolutely gets fired if the Falcons lose this game are wrong. So are the people who say Mike Smith absolutely would not get fired. Fact is, we don’t know. That’s one man’s decision, and regardless of what that one man, owner Arthur Blank, might say now, even he can’t imagine the difficulty of processing another defeat and where that would lead him. We’re talking about one of the more emotionally invested owners in sports.
But there are several good signs for the Falcons (notwithstanding the season-ending stink bomb against Tampa Bay). They seemed hardened by the criticism. There was less celebrating this season after victories. There’s a swagger on defense — certainly in the secondary with Samuel, Dunta Robinson, William Moore and Thomas DeCoud — that wasn’t evident before.
This has been Ryan’s best season. His completion percentage (68.6), touchdown total (32) and rating (99.1) all were career bests.
But the Falcons’ biggest step forward this season probably came in game-planning and decision-making by the coordinators. Mike Nolan (defense) and Dirk Koetter (offense) have been superior to their predecessors (Brian VanGorder and Mike Mularkey), in terms of motivating players and putting them in positions to succeed.
Smith said, “We’re a much more mature team because of our experiences. I think you learn from your previous experiences in the playoffs.”
We’ll soon find out. Because if they lose again, there’s a very good chance the changes would not be small.
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By Jeff Schultz
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353 comments Add your comment
World 42, JSS 0
January 8th, 2013
11:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Tuckatl
January 8th, 2013
11:48 pm
I think the Falcons have a great shot at making the Super Bowl and maybe winning it all. Nolan is the best DC in football. He has shut down every top QB that has came into the dome this year. If you can trick the Manning brothers and Brees into throwing 3 or more picks then we shouldn’t worry about Wilson or Kapernick.
Mandelbrot
January 8th, 2013
11:51 pm
‘M. Ryan will pick their secondary apart’……Lol, get some smelling salts jr., Cam Chancelor,, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner and co, are going to knock the snot out of your wr’s….I betting a couple o of them ‘pull hamstrings’ (wink wink) before the game on Sunday to get out of facing the Seahawks bonecrushing D.
Darnell Dockett can't get hot chicks
January 9th, 2013
12:01 am
Falcons fans,
Falcons win this game. Seattle is HOT, HOT, HOT, and have a STOUT D and RB. Much respect to Seattle and their passionate fan base. The national media are not pointing out that the Falcons use their superb screen pass attack as part of their running game. Back to back trips east, and R Wilson is a fine rook, but he IS a rook. Falcons D will do what they always do – give up yards and more FG’s than TD’s.
Look for Quizz, J Snelling, & Douglas to make an impact – especially if Jones and White cannot get loose. Look for Falcons to establish Gonzalez early and shorter throws to Jones and White. Use the pass to set up the running game and only hand the ball to Turner with a slam FB (Saints game in the Georgia Dome). The vertical throws will be there later, but you got to set up those Seattle safeties. A couple of successful smoke screens to Julio in 1st half will set up the fake screen to Julio/wheel route to Douglas in 2nd half from the Seattle 40 yd line. O-line ultimately wins/loses this game for Birds. RISE UP DIRTY BIRDS
Nostradumbass
January 9th, 2013
1:05 am
So, you kids can’t even tell that you are ripe for a whoopin’?…I am going to be laughing so hard watching the face of a defeated fan base that is arguably the most pathetic in all of sports…How come Matt Ryan performed better on the road this year?…That’s a testimony to the lamest sports town in the country…The pressure is all on the Falcons and they have proven that they are not up to the task in the post season. You think this year is different?…Think again losers. Your team is soft and one dimensional…You can’t win with just a passing game. This has been proven in the playoffs. You weren’t impressed with the win on the road in Washington?…Good. We love it that way. All of you fans sound like you are trying to convince yourselves that this team is different and yet deep down you know…They are gonna take a beating. You can’t have a one dimensional offense and a weak D and expect to win a playoff game in a weak stadium against the hottest team in the league…By the way,..our rookie has a better rating than your veteran…Our runner hits DB’s, not the other way around. Marshawn Lynch will drag your defenders for 6 yards after you think you have him tackled. I feel sorry for you people having to be let down playoff after playoff. Make no mistake, it’s going to happen again and I’m going to laugh my ass off as I read your comments again about how you’re going to the SB. You are going to be beaten by a rookie QB who may not have as many yards but he does have a better passer rating and can run like your QB can’t. In the last 8 games of the season no QB in the league had a better rating. He may hand it off to Lynch, he may run, he may dump it off to a running back, a fullback, a tight end or maybe even a wide receiver…Your defense won’t have a clue. But hey, good luck with that Super Bowl dream.
Larry
January 9th, 2013
1:36 am
Indeed, the third and fourth syllables of “dumb” and “a.ss” are most telling in the poster above.
The Falcons have the superor QB, the better overall team, the better coaching staff and they are an angry bunch whose anger will be stoked b their fans on Sunday.
I predict you will see a team fill of fury, resolve and a rabid determination to exemplify what the astute among us can clearly see forthcoming.
The Falcons will have this game in hand from the opening kickoff and their margin of victory should be by a minimum of 10 points…it coud be less or more depending upon MIke’s Smith’s tendency to protect a late lead or simply be the gentleman and true sportsman he is.
And plese cease witht eh never ending promotion of all of these read and react QB’s that are supposedly taking over the NFL QB position. This is an offense to dumb down plays to enable the Russell’s, Griffins’s, Kaepernck’s and Newton’s to be relevent and not make many mistakes. Make no mistake about it, the QB that will be hoisting the Lombardi will be either one of Brady, Manning, Rodgers or Ryan…the guys scoring in the 30’s on their Wonderlic scores and not stupid enough to wear tattoos, earrings, and fashionable arm covers. Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck are the only two smart and mature enough to possibly do this in the future.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 9th, 2013
1:56 am
“Damn, Najeh. I though you disliked Ryan…”
It’s never about likes and dislikes. I don’t know any NFL players personally. Just call it as I see it. The first four years of Ryan’s career he sucked at making plays down the field and didn’t respond well to pressure. This year he has consistently completed deep balls. I was skeptical about whether he would ever develop that explosive element to his game but he showed this year that he could. Now he just has to prove it against the league’s best secondary this weekend.
Michael M.
January 9th, 2013
1:58 am
Lmao………The blogging world here is in for a rude awakening come Sunday when Atlanta destroys the SeaHawks in the Georgia Dome……………..Atlanta – 34………………Seabuzzards – 13
rabid_dawg
January 9th, 2013
2:21 am
The Falcons are going to blow Seattle out of the building on Sunday.
1) This is the best Falcon team under Smith…the experience is there.
2) They basically ran away with the division. There goal is to make the playoffs and win. They were a virtual lock for a playoff spot after there 8th game. They have been looking forward(looking past opponents)to the first playoff game for over 2 months and yet they still won most of there games in the 2nd half of the season.
3) They are rested….angry…..hungry….focused and very good at what they do…..and they are at home.
We have yet to see how good they really are…..we got a glimpse against the Giants because that was a big measuring stick for them. That is the team that will show up on Sunday….only this time they will play even better.
Seattle is good but do you really think that a rookie led team can come in here and beat us given the above? I don’t think so either. Falcons roll……42-7.
jc_dawgs
January 9th, 2013
2:49 am
New coordinators…..great offensive plan whereby Turner…Rogers….and Snelling have been utilized perfectly and that includes many different screen pass options. No….this team is not the same as the last 2 falcons teams that lost in the playoffs. Remember the Denver game?….The defennsive scheme the Falcons used? The #1 seed Broncos and Manning did not even know which way was up. Big game….big performance. How bout the super bowl champion Giants? 34-0…are you kidding me. V Cruz was quoted as saying that the Falcons are the best team they faced all year. No folks…..this is the Falcons year! it is!
How many of you Falcon fans remember the 47-17 beating we laid down on the rams when the had Mora Jr? That playoff win represented a euphoria that I have not had since…..and I am looking forward to that euphoria returning this Sunday. The Falcons…coming off there 1st round bye… are going to play balls to the wall for 60 minutes and I just don’t see how a rookie led Seatlle team…having to make that 2800 mile trip can hang with us. I know Seattle is a solid team but that fact will end up sealing there doom as this years Falcons seem to play up to and well beyond the competition. 38-10….Falcons in a route.
Gritsfalcon
January 9th, 2013
3:30 am
RELAX Falcon fans! Falcon’s have this one! Falcons win by 9 or 10 points!
JSS
January 9th, 2013
4:33 am
“There’s no way anyone is gonna take away Roddy, Julio and Tony. And there’s also Harry in the middle of the field.”
If the 1990 San Francisco 49ers, as balanced and explosive offensive football team that has ever walked on a professional football field led by possibly the greatest big game QB in League history can lose to a lesser team (in terms of offense) on that home field, then a team which is nowhere as talented or balanced can be beat… Come on, I’ve seen better get taken down in the playoffs… It’s Game plan vs Game Plan, case closed… And for all of you deriding Wilson, here’s one name for you, Jeff Hosteltler… Again, defense and running games travel, unless you have a stubborn HC (see Mike Ditka), Carroll for all of arrogance does not seem to miss that point.
Eric C.
January 9th, 2013
4:42 am
I’ve seen some mention of comparisons of Seattle to Carolina…and I agree they are similar.
The Falcons will struggle early and often vs the Seahawks and get down by 10 or so points in the first half, but they will scratch and claw in the second half and find a way to win a close game after Seattle’s replacement FG kicker misses a FG that would have sealed the game late in the 4th.
Eric C.
January 9th, 2013
4:44 am
Btw, an intersting stat I saw posted recently…the Falcons have beaten every team on their schedule this season. No one else can say that.
Samuel
January 9th, 2013
4:58 am
If Mike Smith loses he could be in a position that coach Dungy had with Tampa Bay. They fired him and hired Gruden and won a championship the next year.
Nostradumbass
January 9th, 2013
5:08 am
@Larry…The better overall team?…You’re hilarious. I noticed in your comment that you didn’t even make one point as to how that was the case…Better overall Team?…Wow…Denial is truly the best sedative in the hands of a Falcons fan I guess…The numbers would suggest the contrary and that doesn’t even come close to accounting for the intangibles…You will be one of the first people I will annoy on Monday…You probably won’t be around though…you seem to think that your team is going to conjure up some sort of physical dominant persona when they haven’t really had that all year and bring it against Seattle…I have 3 words for ya…Fewest Points Allowed. Only one team can claim that and unfortunately for you and your team, that’s the team you are playing on Sunday. This particular statistic was posted against teams like Green Bay, New England, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, just to name a few…During the regular season they never lost by more than 7 points…They were never blown out. This team hit their groove in the second half of the season and that’s the most important part of the season…Better overall team?…That’s a joke. Over the second half of the season Seattle averaged more points than you and gave up less points than you, by far. Larry, you’re an idiot. Even I don’t take my self seriously as is obvious by my screen name (Nostradumbass) which you thought fit to point out. At least I back my stuff with facts, not the delusional rantings of a perennial playoff losing fan of the Falcons. Make sure you’re here on Monday Larry. I’m going to have a special comment just for you. Three playoff losses in a row…about to become four…You are pathetic excuses for fans in Atlanta…I’d give you more respect but you don’t deserve it until you support your teams like real fans do. I’m gonna go ahead and apologize ahead of time for your players that get injured…I hope they are able to heal in the off season and subsequent rebuilding. Cheers!
Thomas Brown
January 9th, 2013
5:15 am
Jim Zorn 3 consecutive seasons 3000 yards passing then Seattle Seahawks team record, since broken by Matt Hasselbeck in 2005, who had 7 seasons with Seattle of 3000 yards, including 4 seasons in a row over 3000 yards 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Chipper Towers, last night January 8 at 4:19 pm of the AJ-C, states :
“Aaron Murray, the first quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons”
Uh, no. That’s not true, now is it Chipper Towers, sir ?
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2012/FBS.pdf
19,217 yards career passing Case Keenum Houston
17,072 yards career passing Timmy Chang Hawai’i
15,793 yards career passing Graham Harrell Texas Tech
15,031 yards career passing Ty Detmer BYU
14,667 yards career passing Kellen Moore Boise State
Aaron Murray will not catch any of these Top 5, and of the Top 5, only Case Keenum was awarded an extra season – because of injury during his 3rd eligible year.
71,838 yards career passing NFL Brett Favre – former Falcon traded
I believe that record to be safe from Aaron Murray, too, Chipper Towers, sir.
Aaron Murray went on yesterday to the press : “Work on my speed a little more. I feel like at my age I’ve gotten a little slower. I’ve got to work on that more”
Well, yeah. No one is going to accuse Aaron Murray of being a Dual-Threat Quarterback in college, now are they ? The SEC Defensive Linemen routinely out-run him from behind and tackle him. He’s not very mobile, with a career 1-yards per carry average in college. Billed as the Top Dual-Threat Quarterback after his Florida State Championship coming into College, he has clearly attempted to run the football in college, with zero success. Trying to do so now, once again his Redshirt Senior Football Season – here practicing with the team starting December 2008 the 1st Michigan State bowl game – with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall Track Stars to hand the ball off to 2013, would be the height of self-centeredness ball-hoggishness.
And, as Grievous an error as having tried to do so since December 2008 here.
Only more-so, and wrong-headed, and silly, and a huge mistake to the detriment of the Team.
The Last Thing this football team needs 2013 is for Aaron Murray to try to prove his Internet buddies right that he can run the football, when by now, even they have given-up all hope of making such spurious comments, again, that he can, or should attempt to run the football.
But, we do have 6 Quarterbacks on the roster, if that is how he wants to end his college career. He is simply way to slight to run the football in The SEC. And, is his worst attribute for the next-level, too.
I wish I could grow 2 more inches, 6’ 1” Aaron Murray quipped to Chipper Towers last night, swearing it is legitimate, Chipper Towers reports.
Ok. If Aaron Murray “SWEARS” to Chipper Towers, he’s 6’ 1” as legitimate 6’ 1”, I will certainly concede the point. Only JSS would SWEAR to a lie, and certainly not Aaron Murray.
And, then there is
5’ 11” Russell Wilson QB Seattle Seahawks
JSS
January 9th, 2013
5:22 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Get your morning “Cut-N-Paste” idiocy…
Rmikel58
January 9th, 2013
6:10 am
If you lose to Seattle………..They’ll be saying how overrated Atlanta was and how easy their schedule was and also point out that they lost 2 out of their last 3 games.
Then theylll pick out why we lost , blaming Abraham and Gonzalez as tired old men combined with a lack of coaching experience.
The Falcons have never been a fan favorite nor sports casters either. All i hear about is how dangerous Seattle is right now and how wonderful Seattles defense is and how fantastic their head coach is.
When Atlantas mentioned its more like “they have good recievers” and have a good home record and a sub par running game.
Falcons win then itll be Seattle just wasnt ready to play or their QB had a bad performance and Seattles Defense made too many mistakes.
Its never about us in Atlanta. Our fans, our players. Roddy White not being selected to the Pro Bowl and some others as well. We never get respect and i hope……..no i pray that my Falcons will play like theyve never played and beat every opponent the next 3 games with shutouts or no TD’s and make all these nay-sayers eat crow.
I am fed up with it my friend…….NO RESPECT.
Time things change and the Falcons be feared by opponents when their played. Not only losing to us, fearing embarrassment and getting hurt by our defense.
Nativebird
January 9th, 2013
6:16 am
Pretty simple Smitty….just show us you can coach and lead a team with the big boys…the better coaches, not the best, but the better. Anybody can beat up on the league during the reg season. But consistently winning when the big chips are on the table? That takes a certain steely and mentally tough type of head coach. This is no longer the “marathon” and is now a sprint. It is now not only what your team does….but How it does it. It take passion, focus, channelled fire, immense aggression, precise execution. Not sure Smitty has this….I hope I’m wrong.
Say what
January 9th, 2013
7:23 am
Jeff Schultz: “Just checking in. I see it’s JSS vs. The World again . . .”
You’re not surprised, are you Jeff? The guy is a Falcon hater. This is, or should be, a blog for Falcon fans. So a Falcon hater, especially one who constantly denigrades the other posters (”you people” “hilarious” etc.) is going to be constantly catching flack.
Now Seattle fans coming on here and talking smack, that’s cool. But this guy is Just Sorta Sad (and pathetic). He should Get the eff off our blog!
Can't wait to see....
January 9th, 2013
7:26 am
“Turner, hit in the backfield!!”
Mask of False Bravado
January 9th, 2013
7:31 am
Enough with the “Joe Flacco has won playoff games” talk. His team (defense) has won playoff games. Joe Flacco’s playoff averager per profootballreference.com:
181.4 yards/game, 10TDs, 8 INTs, 75.1 rating. One of the worst stats in sports is wins by a baseball pitcher. On par with that is “wins by a QB”.
loose caboose
January 9th, 2013
7:32 am
JSS is like a bad penny…always shows up and is never going away. Jeff is not going to do a damn thing about it. JSS is not only a Falcon hater, he is just a miserable person, probably a very lonely person…it is indeed very sad. GO FALCONS!!
jerry
January 9th, 2013
7:34 am
Somebody tell me, why can’t the Falcons stop the run? If they can’t, don’t worry about Julio and Roddy, they Falcons won’t have the damn ball.
Say what
January 9th, 2013
7:38 am
*Most* Seattle fans talking smack are cool, but I gotta say, Nostradumbass (perfect screen name), I have never seen anyone more puffed up about a team of professional atheletes.
It is so gonna suck being you at about 4:30 on Sunday.
Say what
January 9th, 2013
7:42 am
“Can’t wait to see…. ” Ah, another Falcon hater. They seem to follow JSS around like flies.
Hey “Can’t wait to see…” Get the eff off our blog!
gary smith
January 9th, 2013
7:47 am
Be careful what you wish for….Rankin Smith thought we had reached a plateau with Leeman Bennett after another winning season and fired him….along comes the hot NFL coordinator Dan Henning…I think we all know how that worked out.
silver britches
January 9th, 2013
7:50 am
I don’t think for one minute Blank would can Smittie with a loss. I can remember when the Falcons did not win 13 games in 2 back to back seasons. The line of scrimmage is where the game will be won. If the O line can open some holes, Turner is a load to bring down and he strikes fear in any DB who sees him coming. This automatically opens up the passing game and the Falcons are loaded there. Falcons win by a TD.
Say what
January 9th, 2013
7:53 am
“World 42, JSS 0″
ROFL!
Say what
January 9th, 2013
7:57 am
JSS: “Ha ha, what was that those Carolina players were hollering at Ryan in Charlotte? Ha ha!!!”
I think it was something like, “we won! we won! We beat Matt Ryan and the Falcons!!. See you in the playoffs….oh, wait.”
Thomas Brown
January 9th, 2013
7:57 am
JSS yesterday at 8:22 am, made a racial post, and then when Jeff A. Schultz removed the post and posted that the next person who made a racial post in here would be removed from the blog, JSS replied that what he said was the same racial post yet again, which is still here – only he left off the last A which he clearly did have in his racial post of 8:22 am which was removed for being a racial post, obviously. He went on, JSS, to redefine what the racial post was, the most common of all racial post Acronyms. In fact, so common that GOOGLE searcher JSS could not possible GOOGLE his acronym as actually posted at 8:22 am, and come up with anything other than the racial post it is, and remains – removed for being a racial post or not.
So, to call JSS a poster who does this or that, and leave out what a BOLD-FACED LIAR he is, is remiss, for if he is anything, he is a poster who will say whatever he wants to self-serve his own status for Jeff A. Schultz. Imagine trying to tell us all he actually meant this word referring to your backside only when he used the most common of all racial posts on the Internet referring to race.
No. That is what he is known for. LIAR. Yes, he GOOGLES. Yes, he argues every point as not an advantage for the Falcons. Yes, he steadfastly refuses to post the exact prediction to ANY game so that it is not PASTED DOWN HIS bb…well, you get the idea. But, telling us what it does stand for, having to make that up when everyone knew instantly when he replied to Larry what JSS meant with JSS’s racial post at 8:22 am followed by yet another which still remains, lying what he thought he meant, instead, leaving out at the end, the “A.”
GO FALCONS !
John B;.
January 9th, 2013
7:58 am
1. Offensive line needs to keep Ryan clean. No more than 1 sack and 5 knock downs.
2. Ryan needs to make quick decisions when passing.
3. Defense needs to play like they did against the Giants.
4. Put a spy on Wilson, make him throw the ball
5. Defense needs to confuse Wilson like we did to Peyton Manning
If we can do this, we WILL win…..
Garth
January 9th, 2013
8:20 am
Simply put: they have no running game– a fat chuggy RB who does a little Irish jig for 2 or 3yds and a little fast guy who gets knocked down easy. What the Falcons really need (and they’ve always needed) is a big strong fast breakaway running back. For some reason management has never been interested in trying to get an Adrian Peterson (or the likes) on the team. Until that time comes they will nevere win a Super Bowl.
Call It Like It Is
January 9th, 2013
8:22 am
All I know is if the Falcons choke it up again, all talk over a new dome needs to stop and Blank should give all season ticket holders a discount for next year for staying loyal.
JSS
January 9th, 2013
8:24 am
@ 7:57AM…
Dude take a minute and go get some anti-psychotics… You still gripping on that response? You’re unhinged, that rant on Murray and Towers is just the latest in your insane posts… Anybody with more than a kindergarten education understands that the man was simply pointing out the fact that Murray was the first SEC QB to have consecutive 3,000 yard passing seasons… Who cares if Murray “swears” what his height? Whenever he finally goes in the draft pool and gets to the combine, you and football following universe will know how tall he is in stocking feet… You are just dripping in idiocy, and the obsession with these unpaid (well legally unpaid) college players is just whack…
I’m still here Shady, deal with it! Now go have bust a couple of more thousand synapses getting your weak brain around that fact!
Loyal Falcon
January 9th, 2013
8:39 am
FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE ON HERE TALKING ABOUT HOW BAD THE RUSH DEFENSE WAS, I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU?…Do you all realize that our defense on average has given up only 18ppg….You can have as many yards as you want just as long as we get the W. At the end of the day it’s all about Wins and Loses!
Larry
January 9th, 2013
8:41 am
Nostril.dumb.ass,
Here are some stats for you per ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/seasontype/2
Total offense: Atlanta #8, Seattle #17 (below the league average)
Total receiving: Atlanta #5, Seattle #29 (just above the great Jets and Chiefs–LOL!)
Total passing: Atlanta #6, Seattle #27
And as for your total points allowed? Yes, Seattle in that weak azz NFC west of zero offenses ranked #1.
However, there is a certain team that had to take on the highest ranked cumulative offenses in the NFL (The Saints #2 ranked–twice–, the #3 Lions, the #4 ranked Denver, the #5 ranked Washington, the #6 ranked Dallas, and the #9 ranked Tampa–twice again).
So, slimy nostril dumb azz, the means the “validated” Atlanta Falcons played the greatest scoring, highest octane offenses in the land and guess where we finished in points allowed? 5th…18.7 ppg allowed versus Seattle’s 15.3. That’s a 2.4 game difference for your mountain, rain soaked mind!
So, I will be here right after the game to celebrate a relatively easy Falcon victory over your fraud of a team, your leprechaun QB (nice guy though, unlike you) and you. And WHEN such victory occurs we Falcon fans have a suggestion for your exudate filled nostrils sitting atop your dumb.ass….log off, you’re not welcome here!
Answer This
January 9th, 2013
8:41 am
Lol, wow it so appears that you are correct Schultz…..catch a hint and ban this guy like you did Choke…for some reason you just wont even after he breaks ALL the rules. I am looking at my fellow Falcon fans on here and JSS its not us buddy….trust! JSS you cant criticize anyone about cut and paste, you King Idiot are the Google of all googlers! And what the heck are you doing up at 2:30 and 4:30 blogging….do you work at a 24 hour gas station ( nothing wrong with that ) or do you really sit in the basement picking your arguements with everyone on here to ensure you get your point across!? COME ON MAN………STOP IT!
Schultz…….really? Do you really like this guy that much? Tell us what does he bring to the blog but a consistent degrading of everyone here, never being wrong ( as you can see from the post where he tried to be right, but as I rolled him on the floor about that crap he was oozing out his mouth he never responded to facts….his google was down, he only goes on another gibberish talk about other google stuff telling someone else how wrong they are) COME ON JEFF……STOP IT!
The bloggers on here bust him up, just like Say What has said, Seattle bloggers ( even though you will lose) come on with allegiance to a team. This guy has said he does not care about any team or football for that matter so the age old question of WHY IS HE HERE continues to pop up! GIVE HIM THE ELBOW OF DEATH and put him out of his misery! We know you wont be surprise us like the Falcons are going to shut up all the talking heads this week! How long has he been around on this blog…..6 or more years? Get rid of this clumnugget like the Falcons will be getting rid of that monkey on our back of no playoff wins. Pull a Spike Lee and DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!
O yea JSS
get the eff off our blog……we will see your team in the playoffs……o yea you dont have a team….its ” professional amusement”
COME ON MAN…………..STOP IT!!!!!!!
JSS
January 9th, 2013
8:51 am
^^^^^^^^^^^
Still here…
Scratchy record, wish he was at least an interesting song and not ‘Dunke Schoen!’
Answer This
January 9th, 2013
9:01 am
And you still here
Will you ever answer the question Why? No you wont lol.
And why would someone be up at 2:30 and 4:30 in the a.m. blogging? And then right back at it @ 7? Sad! Very sad life…….
Answer This
January 9th, 2013
9:05 am
My bad 4:33 and 5:22 a.m.
REALLY?…….
WHY?
I made those questions very easy for you and you dont have to google to Answer This…..lol
Joshua
January 9th, 2013
9:11 am
Frankly I cannot see any team in the NFC knocking off the Falcons.
JSS
January 9th, 2013
9:12 am
Idiot, you make “statements,” those are not questions… Here for the same reason anyone who blogs is here… Worry about your own social life, I enjoyed a dinner out with friends after we finished rendering two projects… “Google down” Facts on File would have blown your mind…
Larry
January 9th, 2013
9:13 am
Self promotion?
Sad.
Hand Full of Spades
January 9th, 2013
9:22 am
I’m so ready for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday; was on the espn, msn, and cbssports websites earlier and I’m beyond sick of hearing about how the Falcons lost in the playoffs one,two, three, a hundred or whatever years ago to whoever in the playoffs and their playoff record. I’m beyond sick of hearing about how the Falcons didn’t play anyone and are overrated… I’m beyond sick of hearing the mouths of espn clones a.k.a Seahawk fans acting like their team is literally unstoppable. I’m finally sick of hearing about how the Falcons lost to DIVISIONAL opponents carolina and tampa frickin bay! Enough with the past, hoping that the Falcons end some bad postseason habits Sunday. No matter what the media, other Fans, etc. think, the Falcons have and always will have some of the most dedicated fans, we have never been spoiled by the media, great owners, etc. like (some) of the teams in other cities in almost any sport. (90’s Braves being the only exception). Yet, we continue to stand tall, stay dedicated, and be patient… We are the Falcon Nation, Love us or hate us, we are not going anywhere!!!!!!!!
Say what
January 9th, 2013
9:31 am
Answer This:
“And you still here
Will you ever answer the question Why? No you wont lol.
And why would someone be up at 2:30 and 4:30 in the a.m. blogging? And then right back at it @ 7? Sad! Very sad life…….”
JSS: Idiot, you make “statements,” those are not questions
–
And herein lies one of the problem. JSS has zero reading comprehension skills. Let me help you out, JSS. These things — “?” — denote questions.
Now get the eff off our blog!
Answer This
January 9th, 2013
9:31 am
King Idiot check again those are questions!
Bloggers are here to rep a team….so please whatever you do your village is FULL of idiots! Only you are here for what reason again..you are confusing yourself with fans…..dont do that…remember you dont have a team and dont care about football! Bloggers are on here because they have a team they cheer for……and you here for the same reason you are saying……you making yourself look like the King Idiot you are. You cant be here for what other bloggers are here for correct? Makes no sense….STOP IT! Go head scroll back and read your post! You make yourself look even dumber with every post!
King Idiot lives…..and your babbling shows it!
Jeff Schultz
January 9th, 2013
9:49 am
Thomas Brown – What “racial post” did I remove and what “racial post” did I not remove?
I’ll repeat this now for anybody who isn’t anywhere: If anybody writes something that you believe is objectionable, please let me know and I will look at it or respond. If you think I missed the comment or missed your response to the comment — both of which are possible — you can click the “report this comment” button below that comment or email me directly at jschultz@ajc.com.
I don’t usually address specific commenters like this, but in the case of JSS — whom many of you obviously, uh, dislike — I think it’s mostly a case of you viewing him as an annoyance and taking a contrary view (usually anti-Falcons, anti-Ryan) than it is him going all racial on a situation. But if you think I’m wrong, let me know.
Answer This
January 9th, 2013
9:55 am
Hate to point it out Jeff but you wrong. On your last blog when you said that was it about race he immediately posted another post that went all ham on race! Lol. Does not matter really but he did. FYI….i will send it to you if you like. As a matter of fact when I brought it up, he posted again saying that you knew the difference between when he was answering a question about race and when you knew he was being baited. Just saying it does look lkke the rules are different for him.