For the Falcons, the ‘D’ in ‘defense’ also stands for ‘dud’
One photo of John Abraham tells us all we need know. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Since Oct. 24, the day the Bengals had scored 32 points in the Dome, the Falcons’ defense had been more consistent than their star-spangled offense. (Five offensive Falcons to the Pro Bowl, only one defender.) It had held Baltimore to 21 points, Green Bay and New Orleans to 17. It was becoming the fleet and fierce unit general manager Thomas Dimitroff had envisioned as he was building.
Suffice it to say that TD the GM never envisioned what happened Saturday. Nobody did. Nobody could have.
A defense that didn’t yield more than 32 points in any game this regular season was overrun for 42 points — in the first three quarters. The D had made a big early play, Stephen Nicholas forcing a Greg Jennings fumble that Brent Grimes gathered. That enabled the Falcons to take a 7-0 lead. That would also be the last time over the next five Green Bay drives that the Packers didn’t score a touchdown.
Five possessions, five scores. The first four came on drives of 81, 92, 80 and 80 yards. (The final series spanned a mere 50.) The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers didn’t complete every pass, but he came close. Through three quarters he had passed 31 times, completing 27. He’d thrown for 330 yards in 45 minutes.
Rodgers had treated the Falcons’ secondary as if the signing of Dunta Robinson had never been consummated, as if Brent Grimes hadn’t developed into a big-play cornerback, as if nothing that occurred this regular season had been anything more than a sweet dream.
Alas, this was reality, stark and sobering. In a playoff game against a top-class quarterback, the Falcons’ newly tailored defense was made to seem shabby. The pass rush couldn’t get there, and nobody downfield could cover or tackle or do much of anything.
It was so bad that the Falcons, who’d led 14-7, ventured into the final period down by 28 points. This from a team that had, with Matt Ryan as its quarterback, lost only one Dome game before falling to New Orleans on Dec. 27. That night was disappointing, but not because of the defense. This night, by way of contrast, was so crushing as to make us wonder if the defense is indeed, as Dimitroff suggested this week, rounding into a championship unit.
Could Brian Williams have meant that much? He’s the Falcons’ fifth defensive back, the nickel man. He played in every regular-season game but hurt his knee against Carolina on Jan. 2. He couldn’t go Saturday, and into the nickel stepped Christopher Owens. Falcons defensive backs have had worse nights over the years — remember Charles Dimry against Jerry Rice? — but there haven’t been many. And Robinson and Grimes weren’t any better.
Credit Rodgers and the Packers for seizing on Williams’ absence. That said: Should losing your nickel man reduce a defense — a defense that ranked No. 5 in the 32-team NFL in points yielded — to rubble? If five possessions garner 35 opposing points, can you really be said to have a defense at all?
No, the offense wasn’t very good, either, and Matt Ryan was terrible. (His end-of-the-first-half interception will live in infamy.) But few offenses could have kept pace with the ravenous Packers this night, and certainly Mike Mularkey’s grind-it-out game plan is poorly suited for a point-a-minute game. This loss can be shared by all, but the defense was first — or, put more precisely, last — among equals.
But what now? Is this game a signal that the defense cannot hold up under duress, or was it simply one wretched night under the glare of the postseason? Thomas Dimitroff has some decisions to make, and they won’t be easy calls.
By Mark Bradley
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813 comments Add your comment
feudfinder
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Enter your comments here
Ackshun
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Wow after that butt-whipping, and thats exactly what it was a good old fashioned country butt whipping, you got some major issues to address. Time to quit fooling ourselves about this defense, it’s flawed from concept to delivery, bail out all season but guts and heart but there is a reason why the elite teams in the NFL use the 3-4 scheme. Our 4-3 leaves the middle of the field wide open and depends on the pass rush to keep the quarterback from dumping it short. Their is an immediate need for 2 top corners and a safety in the secondary (Asoumgha is available and we better grab him quick while we can still convince him this is a championship calibre team) Grimes is mighty mouse incarnate but he got owned last night because he is simply not tall enough to play corner in the NFL. Green Bay knows it, I don’t know why we dont. Philly fired McDermmont yesterday and I wouldn’t be surprised if Van Gorder joins him next week. In addition I am really tired of seeing Matty Ice melt under the hot lights of the national stage. I feel sorry for Tony Gonzales who left KC only to get the same result here. We owed him last night and we couldn’t deliver. Who knows if he will be back. Vick and Petrino have gone but these birds still have alot of work to do.
Can You Believe It!!!
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Still you would think that a 12-4 team could beat a 7-9 team in any stadium.
Call it like it is
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Classless fans….I dont think so. I was there for the whole game too, section 125 right by the Falcons entrance, to which is the same place I have for every home game. I dont blame any fan for leaving, we pay good money and we expect a good return for our investment. It was obvious the Falcons had given up you could see it in their faces at the half time. Why stay and support the rich kids, when they had already checked out. And yes I was there when the game was over when the falcons left the field. I saw no remorse, no looks to the crowd, yep me and around 400 packer fans in my section alone. Nope I dont blame anybody for leaving that disgrace.
skip
January 16th, 2011
10:52 am
Maybe the only good thing that will come out of this is the firing of Brian VanGorder. The man is clueless. He can’t make the adjustments and gets out-coached nearly every week.
KCV
January 16th, 2011
10:52 am
@call it like it is…at least you stayed! The team owes you nothing, you should be thanking them for entertaining you and putting themselves through a battle! If you don’t like the “rich kids”, stop supporting them when they are up and stepping on them when they are down!
Fact Chequer
January 16th, 2011
10:54 am
GeorgiaBorn: Flames weren’t here 13 years. They were here eight. Playoffs for six. First round losers every time. Gotta love comment pages where people just make it up as they go along.
bears r god
January 16th, 2011
10:55 am
quest field iz da loudest stadium in da league home field advantage means so much
John Richardson
January 16th, 2011
10:55 am
This was an embarrassment on the national stage. We were the top seed, playing at home with a week off to rest and work on our deficiencies before installing our game plan and we get smoked like that, on national tv? Aside from the loss this is going to leave a very deep, a very visible scar and I am not sure how you recover mentally from that. Mike Smith and the coaching staff need to take a hard look at themselves. TD needs to reassess the personnel and the fans, I am not sure we can trust these Falcons again.
Paul
January 16th, 2011
10:56 am
`Why is everyone ripping on the Saints….that’s the problem, you guys are too worried about just beating the Saints instead of becoming a legit, respected team. The Saints did what they needed to do, legit and undisputed! You have a great owner, coach and QB…put your focus on them and maybe one day you too can be a Superbowl Champion! WHO DAT
FALCLOWNS are a good regular season team
January 16th, 2011
10:56 am
‘TURRIBLE’ playoff team…stage fright…bad coaching…poor execution…perfect storm…oh yeah, over-rated, frauds, house of cards…all those adjectives come to mind….
One and done. So much for the Number 1 seed and the Super Bowl goes through Atlanta. It still may for those with connectiong flights…..
Btw, over the last 30 years only 4 NFC top seeds lost in the first game, with the icing on the cake since the Falcons have now done it twice!!!! EPIC FAILURE = FAILCANTS! Saints rule, we have a ring, you don’t, enough said….stings, huh? so sorry! Who Dat, We Dat! later, losers…
BirdDaw24
January 16th, 2011
10:57 am
greenbay played a heck of a game, congratulations.Falcons secondary coverage was poor… pass rush was poor, coaching could ve been better.this was an ugly loss all the way around.matt ryan is a good QB that made some bad decisions last night.aaron rodgers played very well. falcons are a good team, but had a lot of luck on their side this year too. thats fine till it runs out.it did…
jay dubu
January 16th, 2011
10:57 am
With Mike Smith icoming from a defensive background, how could they not make adjustments to what the packers were doing? You saw from the regular season game against the packers that they could not stop their offense.
The falcons have to play from in front, and use their running game to keep the defense off the field. They are not a very well built team….that’s why everyone outside of Atlanta, picked the Packers to win. With an extra week to prepare, this is the best that you came up with?
It’s tough to see how the Falcons defense can be this bad for the three years he’s been here. Get the defense fixed!
They have no pass rush, no corners that can cover man on man, lees than average linebackers, and no on on the defense can tackle.
Get a new D-Cordinator today!
feudfinder
January 16th, 2011
10:57 am
Can you believe it, this is playoffs man. You can throw all that regular season records in the dust bin. This is what the sports writers and commentators in Atlanta have been using to kill their teams. They tell them how good they are, and this goes into their heads. They think all they have to do is just show up and they will win.
wastedyears
January 16th, 2011
10:57 am
no running game last nite ,rodgers was on the field to long to win u have to keep him on da sidelines
Black and Gold
January 16th, 2011
10:59 am
falconfan 24-7,
So you’re saying that the true Falcon fan base consist of you, your family and a few other folks in Sec 111? You must be so proud. Good thing is you don’t have to worry about post-game traffic!
If you don't like it
January 16th, 2011
11:00 am
give up your season tickets, don’t buy anything, don’t watch, take a hike, take a long walk off a short pier, there is Greyhound bus leaving Atlanta every few hours, be under one. Disappointment is one thing but the vitriol that spews forth from some fans is ridiculous. The Falcons losing is not the end of the world. There will be 30 other NFL teams just like them at the end of the Super Bowl game.
wastedyears
January 16th, 2011
11:01 am
FIRE MARK RICHT !!!!! HIRE GENE CHISNIK!!!! A REAL COACH!!!! WE R WILLING TO TRADE MARK WRONG 4 A CRACKED HELMET AND A FLAT FOOTBALL!!!!
Seattle's Best
January 16th, 2011
11:03 am
Who dat got beat by the 7-9 Seahawks?
Deer in headlights
January 16th, 2011
11:07 am
Exactly the look from the Falcons last night!! Could not believe this professional team, the NFC #1 seed, looked like scared little kids!! Stage fright?
For the “wait till next year” fans…the schedule will get much tougher being a 13-3 team.
Wait Til Next Year
January 16th, 2011
11:07 am
No D. No stars on D. Noone like a Clay Matthews or a Polamalu or a Woodson to build a D around. Average LBs, Below average DBs, a decent D line (didn’t show up last night) all equals a field day for Aaron Rodgers. Does anyone know how to tackle on this team? Did Aaron Rodgers throw an incompletion last night? I don’t remember one..our offense and our defense did exactly the opposite of what they needed to do to win the game.
tony
January 16th, 2011
11:07 am
OMG! Where are the Vick’s HATERS? I use to get stone for bringing his name up. Are they feeling the affects of not forgiving him?
We would of won the SB with Vick running the offense and with Glenn Dorsey running the defense. WOW, if Blank had hired Mike Tomlin instead of Petrino we would of won a SB by now.
Mr.Blank, give that team to me because I will do the right thing for it.
feudfinder
January 16th, 2011
11:08 am
Yes, Seattle’s Best, they got spanked. That’s why the Bears must come with their A game.
shadow7071
January 16th, 2011
11:09 am
Genetics are very hard to overcome. If your daddy and granddaddy died of heart disease there’s a ver good chance you’ll die of heart disease no matter what you do. The Falcons have bad genetics. No Falcon team has ever had it within them to be a complete winning team. They always rely on flashy plays/players and being able to hold on to a lead. (”Oh my, it’s first quarter and we’re leading we just have to run out the clock”). And, they don’t have the “eye of the tiger” to defeat the opposition and win. I’ve beeb through too many years of this. Too many let downs. Mr. Blank, sell this thing off. Get it out of Atlanta for good. Open a new department store. After all, we all miss Rich’s. It would be good for you and Atlanta.
If you don't like it
January 16th, 2011
11:09 am
give up your season tickets, don’t buy anything, don’t watch, don’t listen, take a hike, hit the road, take along walk off a shore pier, there is a Greyhound bus leaving Atlanta every few hours, be under one!
Being disappointed is one thing, but the vitriol coming from some of these so called fans is ridiculous. At the end of this season there will be 30 other NFL teams just like the Falcons who did not win the Super Bowl. It is not the end of the world.
feudfinder
January 16th, 2011
11:11 am
Hey Tony, let’s be real. Vick did that to himself. Moreover, Vick got taken out by the same Packer team.
Bubba
January 16th, 2011
11:11 am
An obvious observation. The Falcons were completely over matched on both fronts of the ball which will always equate to a loss. You can lay blame with the DB’s and lack of offensive play makers all you want but until you win the battle up front, nothing else matters. Aaron Rodgers had far too much time rolling through his progressive reads, no DB in the league could cover that long…has the d coaching staff ever heard of disguising a blitz? Man, this was so one sided, I’d have been better off watching the sheep herding championships on Animal planet.
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:11 am
There is some great comedy on TV tonight…Its on FSN at 7:45pm.
Falcawks
January 16th, 2011
11:12 am
Falcons obviously taking playoff lessons from the Hawks. LOSERVILLE lives up to it’s name once again!
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:12 am
There is some great comedy on TV tonight…Its on FSN at 7:45pm.
Was I just filtered out again.
Call it like it is
January 16th, 2011
11:13 am
“The team owes you nothing,” Dumbest statement of the day. They owe us everything chief. We pay their salaries by our ticket purchases, jerseys, hats… They are paid to perform and win titles, period! That is the difference between college and pro. In college you are supporting amateurs who put on the line for their school. In Pro these guys are getting paid a ton to take care of business, and myself and the other season ticket holders have every right to hold them accountable and be pissed about such a dismal failure. If I performed 1/2 as bad as these guys did, I would be canned a long time ago. And please dont tell me about the record. So what, if you cant win the big game then it doesnt really matter does it!
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:13 am
Oh no my post won’t go!
There is some great comedy on TV tonight…Its on FSN at 7:45pm.
PLEASE
January 16th, 2011
11:14 am
I hope they fire BVG. This is one bulldog supporter that would pay extra to get him back in Athens.
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:14 am
Oh no my post won’t go…take 4.
There is some great comedy on TV tonight…Its on FSN at 7:45pm.
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:15 am
There’s some great comedy on TV tonight…Its on FSN at 7:45pm.
dmcnya
January 16th, 2011
11:15 am
to MIKE u couldnt have said it any better i was also at every bears game at soilder field when all there was was walter payton and soider field was sold out with loose n record every week the falcons are to be commented for a good season not a great season thats why it hard for me now living in atl to become die heart falcon fan because of these fair weathered bandwagoners
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:16 am
Well that sucks
Falcawks
January 16th, 2011
11:16 am
the Falcawks were way overrated like all pro sports teams in Atlanta.
Black and Gold
January 16th, 2011
11:18 am
Ryan…Flacco? Flip a coin.
feudfinder
January 16th, 2011
11:20 am
Thanks to John Abraham for letting Aaron Rodgers run up the scores on the Falcons.
davedawg
January 16th, 2011
11:20 am
RISE UP? MELT DOWN
if you don't like it
January 16th, 2011
11:21 am
call it like it is, fire them. Give up your season tickets, don’t buy anything, don’t watch, go away. They are payed to play a game, and a game it is, some times you win and some times you lose. It is not life and death.
chickenman
January 16th, 2011
11:22 am
Timne to draft a pass rusher… TRADE UP FOR BOWERS no one in this town will complain if it cost you a 1st and abraham
inbreddawg
January 16th, 2011
11:24 am
In the immortal words of Skip Caray, “You, sir, are an idiot.”
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:31 am
Mark,
Are you covering the Jackets tonight?
They will likely make the Falcons performance seem awesome by comparison.
Who Cares?
January 16th, 2011
11:32 am
As a 53 year old guy who’s lived in the metro area my whole life, this game’s outcome comes as no surprise. I love this town and support everything local. Delta, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, etc, but this city’s sports teams have never truly been championship worthy teams, with the exception of the Braves throughout the 1990s. Supporting losers only reinforces inconsistent teams. Lets leave the seats vacant in all professional sports for a year or two, and then you’ll see some people take their jobs more seriously. Vote with your wallets! Back to last night’s game: disappointed, yes, surprised, no!
tony
January 16th, 2011
11:32 am
feudfinder, you don’t want to go there with me young man. Vick had nearly 300 years and 2tds in that game and almost brought that team back after being down by so many points.
Vick didn’t dismiss himself from that team. He’s a humanbeing just like everyone else and should be treated as 1. If I can overlook a person’s wrong then everybody else can too. Forgiveness is power so never forget that.
tony
January 16th, 2011
11:34 am
correction, I meant to say 300 yards
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:38 am
All you have to do is elude to Hewitt’s Jackets and your posts get filtered out.
That’s probably a good thing.
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
11:38 am
woo hoo my post made it.