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
TCCB
January 15th, 2011
11:51 pm
Damn, the Packers beat the Falcons with the running game that you guys say they discovered last week. The DELETE Atlanta Falcons really suck!!!!!!! Matty Melt DOWN NEEDS TO GO!!!!!!!
RK
January 15th, 2011
11:52 pm
CHOKERS! TYPICAL FALCONS WHO HAVE NO CLUE OR PASSION! TWO WEEKS TO PREPARE FOR THIS! YIKES! MATTY ICE IS ONLY ICE! SLIPPERY! I AGREE YOU CANNOT JUDGE BY ONE GAME BUT THIS WAS A BIG GAME! FALCONS NEVER HAD A TEAM THAT CAN STOP PASSING ATTACK! THEY NEVER WILL AND WILL ALWAYS CHOKE!
Chuck
January 15th, 2011
11:52 pm
You butt sores make this so easy! Your team blows, you talk smack with nothing to back it up, and you just can’t let it go. Do you need a picture of the Lombardi Trophy to make yourselves feel better? It’s as close as the Falcons are gonna be to holding it!!!
Bwahahahahahaha!
Hey, zeus, roll back onto your cousin. She’s getting cold!!!
Ted Striker
January 15th, 2011
11:53 pm
Heartbreaking loss, certainly, but people saying it’s “embarrassing” to be a Falcons fan or that heads should roll?
Fans are fickle. Especially sports fans in Georgia.
donte'
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
a-town down is over-flowin’ wit orleans sewer rats, go home, don’t be scared, next time watch the weather channel
jestjuda
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
A very important message from the Who Dat Nation to the Dirty Pigeons fans-OOOOVERRRRATED!!!!
nc12
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
Simple, the D never showed up, and the answers are simple…..Fire the D Coordinator who planned the strategy for the first half and wasn’t sharp enough to make the correct adjustments for the 2nd half. Let the D Backfield coach go, I don’t believe there was a 3rd down where we stopped them and often it was a long pass completion that kept GB alive. Get another defensive end, Abraham can’t do it all without help from the other side. Someone needs to teach them how to tackle, Rogers is good but not that swift on his feet, how many times was the play keep alive even though the D was there but they missed on him. Wow, a great year destroyed by a lousy defensive plan and execution. Also hope Mularkey gets a head coaching job.
I still say thanks to Mr. Blank and his team for a great regualr season, there will be many more if the right changes are made quickly.
Black & Gold
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
Quick everyone tune in to the NFL network, they are trashing your Falcants.
St. Richt
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
Peria Jerry? Weatherspoon? Anderson?? Owens??? We obviously can’t pick talent on the defensive side of the ball
And lets hope we’ve seen Jenkins take his last snap in Atlanta. The butter fingered Buckeye with the Al Qaeda starter set beard needs to go.
Great Falconi
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
We desperately have to upgrade the athleticism and explosiveness on both sides of the ball. That has been evident all season, but when you don’t turn the ball over or commit stupid penalties, you can win a lot of games. It takes more than that to win big in the postseason, though. The cream rises to the top. The wheat is separated from the chaff. We were the chaff.
Chas
January 15th, 2011
11:54 pm
Whew. Glad it is over. Biggest letdown I can remember as an Atlanta fan. We won some close games this year and were overrated. I’m more worried about next year now. How do we close the gap between us and the elite teams. Next year we probably will have to win on the road in the playoffs. But I have faith in the management. The upside is that there are clearly holes that need to be plugged in our D. Tough offseason to figure it out.
Sports Junkie
January 15th, 2011
11:55 pm
Quick! Send in the grief counselors.
we have a ring
January 15th, 2011
11:55 pm
When was the last time atl won a playoff game? Sarah Palin was a teenager…
renton
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
For the Falcons, the ‘D’ in ‘defense’ also stands for ‘dud’ man that head line says it all . Are you happy Matty Ice you got little Johny Abraham crying on the front page of your paper. Well be taking our banner back next year remember that NOLA FOREVER!!!!!!!
atlppal
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
Should have been 6-10. Dirty TURDS….Who is rising up, now??????
KeepItReal
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
Note to Falcons organization: Don’t let someone on defense wear #21 that does not have the last name “Sanders”
Falcon66
January 15th, 2011
11:56 pm
Hey Mr. Bradley, after all of your comments, what do you say about the coaching tonight?
LifeLongFAn
January 15th, 2011
11:57 pm
BVG needs to be concerned for his job! THAT WAS EMBARRASSING! 13-3 season without a SB Ring is a complete failure!
Falcon66
January 15th, 2011
11:58 pm
Guess I got cut off, and don’t know why. Must not be a dawg fan…
Gator Man
January 15th, 2011
11:58 pm
Please Falcons retire the jersey of No. 21, that guy disgrace that no.
There have not been one Falcon close to prime time””
renton
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
real falcon fan — the Falcant’s beat the falcantss yeah right it looked to me like Roger kicked yall azz up and down the field but thats just my opnion. 48 points WOW!!!! to all yall trolls payback is ohhhh sooo sweet !!!! next year bi*tches
Ted M
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
The Hawks might win a second round playoff game but they will definitely lose the series…if they get to the second round.
The Braves however have a reasonable chance to topple the mighty Phills starting rotation. And Dawgs may do some damage in the Tourney as well.
Fred Masci
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
First we need an OC and a DC that plays aggressive and to win ……………. rather than “not to lose” conservative schemes we have…………..second Williams means that much………..Owens didn’t rise up and was terrible…………………third we need another receiver for our number two…………..Jenkins can’t jumb against these tiny cornerbacks and doesn’t go after the ball, and slipping in the end zone is not acceptable………………..fourth we need to learn to teach our defensive guys how to tackle a quarterback………………………….It was apparent our players were not ready to play……………….
I don’t know what our coaches and players did the last two weeks but they didn’t come to play and it is obvious they were scared to play football against the Packers
Total emabarassment for the City of Atlanta and its fans and people
Kickndanuts
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
The way the Falcons played this game is the reason why people feel the way they do about them. They always play like this in the big game. Now I have to hear from every faggoty Saints fan about that dumb ass Superbowl last year. I have been a Falcons fan all of my life and they kick me in the nuts everytime. That’s why you always have to have a backup team when you are a Falcons fan. Let’s go Steelers!!!!
St. Richt
January 15th, 2011
11:59 pm
NOLA forever? Really? That armpit of a city barely made it through Katrina. Its under sea level and guess what? It will happen again.. Not wishing it will happen, but you’re an absolute idiot if you don’t think it will happen again. Again, your armpit of a city is under sea level. NOLA is anything but forever…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
12:00 am
The Falcons’ D is built to force turnovers, not to prevent teams from gaining yardage. They are middle of the pack in yardage defense and near the top in scoring defense for a reason. They failed at creating turnovers, but seeing them give up a lot of yards was not that surprising. They have had the advantage of playing from ahead and not having to be on the field for a long time this season, and they didn’t have either advantage in tonight’s game.
IlliniDawg
January 16th, 2011
12:00 am
“We were who they said we were!” (a take on Dennis Green’s famous post-game tirade).
Ted M
January 16th, 2011
12:00 am
Rogers is 5 times better then Ryan…unfortunately.
Flake
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Don’t take this loss so hard. The Falcons are one of the top teams in the NFL. The fans should have stayed to the end in respect to a good season. Chants of “Go Pack Go” in the second half were on account of the fact that no matter where the Packers play, except maybe Minnesota, it’s likely to be warmer. Think of all the teams that wish they could get into the playoffs. Good season, birds.
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
It’s a quiet in here now as it was in the GA Dome in the 4th Quarter tonight. How do you let somebody hang 48 points on you after talking ALL THAT SMACK! Note to Falcons fans: The 1 seed guarantees you nothing except the chance to host a game. Next time, don’t be so quick to print your Super Bowl championship t-shirts. CLOWNS!!!
Now rise up and fly away for the winter… Fly fly fly, little birdies…
Dan
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Falcons need to just fold. It’s always maybe next year with them.
atlppal
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Hey, FalCANT FANS…..where is all the love you’ve had for your team all year. You Clowns were acting as if you’d already won the SB. You were so not use of winning that your offense tried to quiet you down so they can call a play. FAN LESSON 101.. Make noise when the other team is trying to call a play. YOU”RE JUST NOT USE OF WINNING!!
No explosive players…..just ground and pound and luck….none of it worked. Smitty will be out after next season!!
paper bag falc
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
I’m probably halfway drunk, but I don’t care. This is the one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen from our sports team (I wasn’t born in 1980) This is damn pathetic. Sorry Mark for the words. Where was the offense, where was the defense? The only thing we had was special teams. This. Hurts. Bad. On the national stage. Something needs to be done about execution (key word as Smitty says). How do you come in and stink up the joint? PICK 6 to end the half? Falling in the end zone? No pressure? Missed sacks? Even when we stripped Jennings, it didn’t look good because it was a long third down conversion. WE never stopped them. PATHETIC.
ijonathan (formerly a Ryan defender)
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Najeh, have you ever seen any scientific testing/analysis of various quarterbacks, rating their pure throwing ability? Where they take film and break it down to measure RPMs, velocity, accuracy on short/medium/long passes, touch or pure power when needed, etc.
Ryan’s longer passes tonight were absolutely horrible. Worst of the year. I can’t remember one good long pass he tried. Maybe the out that Jenkins dropped at the sidelines…
Bob in Suwanee
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Are you serious, this is what two weeks of game planning gave us? A 3 man rush with no pressure on Rodgers at all? Blitzers that can’t tackle? I thought Mike Smith was supposed to be some kind of defensive guru. We were definitely out-coached this game.
VP
January 16th, 2011
12:01 am
How can you rush 3 linemen and the receivers still aren’t covered? We need playmakers on both sides of the ball? No. 23 needs to pay some money back to the Falcons.
col foot
January 16th, 2011
12:03 am
blame it on the snow and ice. Dem falcons should have been practising instead of laying with they women smoking, driekin and telling each other…you da man, get ya evertime. HAHAHA
St. Richt
January 16th, 2011
12:03 am
Outcoached and outplayed in every facet of the game. Matty Ice was anything but, especially in the first half. We are way too conservative on offense and have been all year.. And don’t even get me started on the defense.
Dan
January 16th, 2011
12:03 am
The worse thing about this is all the obnoxious Yankees making their stupid comments.
Krutch
January 16th, 2011
12:04 am
Look on the bright side… at least now the country is finally noticing the Falcons after being ignored all year and given no serious thought all year. Way to prove the country right, the Falcons didn’t belong in the playoff after all.
thetruth
January 16th, 2011
12:04 am
hey, Unsportsmanlike…………..sounds like you need to bl–w yourself, loser. Now shut your stupid pie hole, you moron, and go back to your doublewide, and your sister….er….wife, and leave us alone, you inbred idiot. GB exposed a sorry defense- one that does NOT have the skill set to win big games. The Falcons have a good core group of players, but need a much better defense to contend for an NFC championship.
1990_Champs_GT
January 16th, 2011
12:04 am
Ouch. At least we got beat by a team, not the Seahags!
St. Richt
January 16th, 2011
12:04 am
Dunta “Make a play ever” Robinson. Most overpaid player in the league. Still looking for that first pick of the year..
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:05 am
Alt will win a super bowl…Right after Haiti becomes the only superpower in the world…
pmc
January 16th, 2011
12:05 am
Matt Ryan ends up as Kyle Orton. Guy just doesn’t have the ability to be great.
He’s physically unable.
Dimitroff has years worth of work to do to fix this talent
Chris Owens should be walking home to compton
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:05 am
Is it too early to invite Matt Ryan to my Super Bowl Party?
PHIL
January 16th, 2011
12:06 am
Defenders were in position to make plays all night long and didn’t make them. All the chances for sacks on Rogers would have been plays that altered the course of the game, UGA “fans” will say it was VanGorders fault. No matter that players were in position, just didn’t do what they get paid to do.
Most disappointing were that the “face” of the offense, Ryan, and the defense, Abraham, played so poorly and did not make the plays they are capable of making.
ijonathan (formerly a Ryan defender)
January 16th, 2011
12:06 am
Somebody better get down to Stats bar…Hans Heiser (sp?) is about to have a coronary or kill somebody on the air.
This
January 16th, 2011
12:06 am
Enter your comments here
mgm
January 16th, 2011
12:07 am
I have been a falcon fan all my life. Lived in Atlanta all my life. This is typical. A fluke of a number 1 seed. Got beaten by a superior number 6 seed. Not even close. Everyone saw this coming. Matt Ryan is not a superstar. No arm strength and chokes when the real game counts. Don’t tell me about his stats in meaningless games. The defense is not playoff calibre. They were exposed. The bottom line is, this team was overrated, and quite frankly the Packers will go to SuperBowl and face the Pats. Should be a good game. Falcons will be 9 and 7 next year and wont make the playoffs. Woo hoo.