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
Disgusted
January 16th, 2011
12:07 am
What a pathetic excuse for a spectacle. If this team thinks I’ll support it just because I live here, they got another think coming. Choking like GW Bush on a pretzel and giving the ball repeatedly to the other team – I mean, they were so PATHETIC the stadium emptied at halftime of everyone but Packers fans. “There’s always next year” my backside. Failclowns suck.
Packer Respect
January 16th, 2011
12:07 am
Guess the world was right about the Packers. See you Falcons next year. You’re almost there! RISE UP!
pmc
January 16th, 2011
12:08 am
Dunta has to get cut he’s worthless.
Need Namdi.
This loss took us back to 2007
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:08 am
atl 2011 nfc south champs…N.O 2010 super bowl champs
Allen
January 16th, 2011
12:08 am
What the columnist fails to see is that no defense in the league could have stopped Rogers tonight; it was a career performance. His great mobility constantly gave him extra time and he zinged the ball like he knew there was no possibility of missing; I’m betting he would have beat New England’s defense to heck this night!
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:09 am
Green Bay is becoming a force to contend with for years to come. Still think they miss pill-popping, d!ck in the box, redneck Brett Favre? I think not!
Bama 13
January 16th, 2011
12:09 am
Hey “We have a ring”: The Falcons have rings from the 1998 Super Bowl. You get a ring for making it to the Super Bowl, not winning it. What you have that Atlanta does not is a Lombardi trophy.
renton
January 16th, 2011
12:09 am
Christopher Owens is Atlanta’ s version of Jason David man that guy makes it look sooo easy to score against. Just think if yall would have had real injuries to key players like the defending champs had, just think of how many more losses yall would have had, hell Greenbay might still be scoring on yall as we speak. ha ha ha hah ah ah ahah hah hahh hah aha hha ha ha
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:10 am
First off, CONGRATULATIONS to the Falcons for a very good season. Secondly, CONGRATULATIONS to all the Falcon Fans who supported this team all season long. The Falcons will be a good team for a while. They are only a few pieces short. They need two more wide receivers and a speedy running back that can stay healthy.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
12:10 am
“When was the last time atl won a playoff game? Sarah Palin was a teenager…”
No, but Mike Vick was the Falcons’ starting quarterback.
TCCB
January 16th, 2011
12:10 am
Matt Ryan, your golden boy, the Falcon Fan SAVIOR, RISE UP AND GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!
ThisAintKoolAid
January 16th, 2011
12:11 am
To “We have a ring”….oh please, was wondering when one of those hater Saints fans would pop up.. Last weekend your team lost to a franchise that contains not one single Probowl quality player, along with being one of the lowest ranked offenses and defenses in the league. And of course the only team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record.
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:11 am
Falcon Fans: You have nothing to be ashamed of. The Packers have the most athletic wide receivers in the NFL. As a Saints Fan, that is the one team I would hate to face. I’m glad we didn’t see them last year. Every time they put the ball in the air, it could go the distance. No other team can boast that.
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:11 am
Hey baman13…please don’t brag about a ring you recieved for getting blowed out…
CAPTAIN Kirk
January 16th, 2011
12:12 am
Same old same old..I recall the loss to Dallas in ‘81 like it was yesterday..pass defense gets torched..tonite was worse….Also the Super Bowl drubbib by Elway….recall Eugene “Up all night lookin for a BJ” Robinson _and with his wife n kids in the hotel than gettin torched by Elway on that deep crossin route?? remember?
Seems as if thers one constant, whether its been Leeman Bennet, Jerry Glanville, Mora or Smitty… Other than Deon,,this oorganization INCAPABLE of drafting DBS or LBs..if you recall the immortal Jessie Tuggle wouldve been overlooked if someone didnt make a phone call on his behalf to even get him looked at….
I guarantte you Bellicheck will find a way to tame AAron Rogers, he usually does with other hot QBs… BVG has got to GO..n Take Micheal Jenkins with ya!!
some things never change..
Example 2009 draft… Birds have an opportunity to get Clay Matthews..who’s now raisin holy hell with the league and Pro Bowl bound..hes available
so who does Dimitroff pick…PERIA JERRY??????
rest my case..unless theres a failure ingredient in the water at Flowery ….. IM fed up with this organizations inability to grasp defensive secondary talent…..
Eric C.
January 16th, 2011
12:13 am
Wow, this loss is ten times tougher than the Cardinals loss…the Falcons were playing with house money that season. This loss just goes right to the core and it could derail the “process” entirely.
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:13 am
Falcons choked like Sarah Palin trying to read!!!!!
Bama 13
January 16th, 2011
12:13 am
Hey We have a ring, try and show a little class. The Aint’s have stunk for 44 years. You caught a break.
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
ThisAintKoolAid: Slow your roll. The Saints loss their game with 3 defensive starters out hurt. An athletic tight end who was out hurt. Two running backs on IR the Monday before the game and then 2 other running backs hurt during the game. I won’t make up excuses because we got beat. Just remember you loss with a fully healthy team on the field. It just goes to show you what I have been saying all season. The Falcons are a good team, but they cannot perform with high scoring offenses.
St. Richt
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
we have a ring, you may have a ring but you definitely don’t have a degree or a high school diploma. Thats pretty obvious. You also probably don’t have a job.
MaineDirtyBird
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
Yes, this was devastating, crushing, embarrassing etc., etc. But this still was a good season for an up and coming team. The 1980 Falcons werer sold out by the ownership who did not want to commit to a longer term winning tradition. A. Blank, M. Smith and T. Dimitrioff are putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I think the Falcons are in the third year of a five year plan to win a championship. If anything, being the #1 seed in the NFC was ahead of schedule and a bit unexpected this year just like going to the playoffs in 2008. Now it is up to the Falcons to take the next step, which they will. The coaching staff will remain going into next year, which is good. A big part of today’s loss goes on the players. Van Groder had people on Rodgers in the backfield, but they didn’t close the deal. The first two drives on offense were productive. Looking forward to a good draft, a star free agent signing, another NFC South crown and playoff victories next season.
renton
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
paper bag falc dam yall fell on hard times I guess we wont sue for copyright infringement yall can keep the bag we got rid of it last year. The one question right now is paper or plastic?
Eric C.
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
Saints1Fan, it is nice to hear positives from a Saints fan…thanks.
All the same
January 16th, 2011
12:14 am
Never posted before about anything but had to vent now. I was 6 in ‘66 and the Falcons became a team. Watched them ever since. 44 years and counting. There is something about this “organization” not necessarily the “team” or past “teams”. What it has produced past to the present, season after season. The organization and fans wonder why “they” or “the team” doesn’t get media respect or opposing team respect. They neither deserve it or have earned it. It is simply because of 44 years of this. What happened tonight. The only thing that has ever been consistent with the Atlanta Falcons: Games, organizations, and teams like tonight. 44 years and counting…..
Don't Despair Atlanta
January 16th, 2011
12:15 am
I sympathize with the Atlanta fans, but I really don’t think this is a problem with the Falcons. The Packers have simply hit an incredible stride of coming together at the absolute right time. I suspect other great team, the Chicago Bears, and quite possibly the NE Patriots will see the same thing. Yes the Patriots beat the Packers earlier this year – when Aaron Rodgers was not playing – and it was still a close game for the Patriots. With Aaron Rodgers coming back, it is like someone flipped the “ON” switch on the Packers, and they have made a determined drive for the Super Bowl. I think the Packers are the definite odds-on favorites for the Super Bowl now, even with the power of the Patriots. The Packers and Patriots are playing at a level above the other very good NFL teams. That is just the way it is. That takes NOTHING away from the accomplishments of the Falcons this year. Sometimes you just face teams that are on a historic “roll,” and that is all I think happened tonight.
Willy Wonka
January 16th, 2011
12:15 am
Sorry Falcon’s Fans……..Matt Ryan is not a super-star. He is a good QB but is not, nor will he, ever be great. He is a “safe” face-of-the franchise meaning he won’t get arrested for drugs or fighting dogs. He will lead Atlanta to 8-8 maybe 9-7 seasons but that will be about it going forward. Blank is paying him loads of cash but is not getting his money’s worth. Where the hell was Gonzalez tonight? Who cares about the Hawks or Braves? How much longer until college football kicks off?
Tim
January 16th, 2011
12:15 am
Same old Falcons. Even when they’re good, they suck. They were pretenders in the end. Several wins in photo finish fashion that easily could have been losses. No way Matt Ryan should be a Pro Bowl QB and Rodgers isn’t. Bottom line is, Ryan has slightly above average talent. He can’t get it done in the money games. The defensive line is an abortion. A complete do-over. Secondary still has weaknesses that were exposed again tonight. Running game showed declining productivity in the second half of the season, particularly against better teams. All in all, this team is about like every other pro team in this city. Not ready for prime time.
Voice of Reason
January 16th, 2011
12:16 am
Good article, Mark. Matty played horrible. Defense played horrible. Hell, everyone except Eric Weems played horrible. If you would have told me at the beginning of the year we’d be 13-3 and the number one seed in the NFC, I would have considered this one of the best seasons ever. That said, it was still one of the best regular seasons ever. But we need to build a better team to compete in the post season. For one, we need much more pressure on the QB. Second, we need more playmakers on offense. We need to learn from this and move on. I am more that disappointed — and angry. But we either quit or we get better. See y’all next year.
Nino Brown
January 16th, 2011
12:16 am
Your team gets destroyed at home and the best thing you can say is something about the city of New Orleans. Why don’t you go there and say it. A bunch of Cyber Thugs. Your team got stomped tonight and you can’t be a fluke like the Saints (since you call our Superbowl run a fluke). Why didn’t the Falcons sweep that fluke? At least we followed our championship win with an 11 win season ( a sign of consistency). The Falcons followed their only Superbowl APPEARANCE with a 5 win season (a sign of a fluke). Your team had NO major injuries and got pimp slapped tonight. Don’t talk about the city of New Orleans and a murder rate, talk about how your sorry azz team got murder tonight in front of you (if you were dumb enough to pay to see that crap). One and done is one and done. It don’t mean a thing if you don’t have a RING!!! You say RISE UP, the Packers said Raise Up and get out of the playoffs PRETENDERS!!!!! The “Fans” are the reason why this city will NEVER EVER WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! TRENT DILFFER WAS CORRECT LOL
old yeller
January 16th, 2011
12:16 am
It’s not Matt Ryan. He does not play on the defensive side of the ball. The whole defense needs to be looked at including the staff.
Dan
January 16th, 2011
12:17 am
Falcons have a great coach, great QB and a great team. As a Saints fan we look forward to next year. I hope that things stay professional. NFC South is a tough conference.
Mark Bradley
January 16th, 2011
12:17 am
Back from the locker room. The Falcons are stunned, as you’d expect. They didn’t think such a thing could happen. And neither, to be candid, did I.
dan
January 16th, 2011
12:17 am
Conservative coaching. Didn’t learn anything from the first meeting. Three man rush doesn’t work.
Sack Van Gorder! Mularky needs to go too! Too conservative!
Football wife
January 16th, 2011
12:17 am
Thanks Saints1Fan–You prove that there are indeed classy Saints fans.
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:18 am
St. Richt, YOU are giving grammar and punctuation lesons? Really? Have you READ your posts lately? What are you, seven? Actually, that’s an insult to seven-year-olds!
TCCB
January 16th, 2011
12:18 am
CHOKE is going to have a FIELD DAY OVER HERE!!!!!!!
the u
January 16th, 2011
12:19 am
No pressure up the middle has to fixed. Played the worst game all season in the playoffs. we may have some young cb help in domique franks but up the middle d stinks. harry douglas should be able to provide the explosiveness next year to make jenkins the 3rd reciever. rise up dimitroff
Chuck
January 16th, 2011
12:19 am
That’s why you’re a tool, Bradley, and you always have been. Real sports observers saw this rolling down the street in a Cadillac because Green Bay has been white hot.
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:19 am
Eric C: I’m a football fan. Man, ya’ll have a good team. I pulled for GB because I think they were the only team left that can beat any of the AFC teams in the SB. With that being said, hell, they could lose next weekend. They have the firepower to match up with NE, and the passing attack to abandon the run against Pittsburgh.
St. Richt
January 16th, 2011
12:19 am
old yeller, its not all Matt Ryan but the pick 6 he threw at the end of the first half was the worst pass I’ve ever seen in the playoffs. I’m a Ryan fan but there is no excuse for throwing that pass, it was god awful. He telegraphed it the whole way when everyone in the planet knew he was throwing an out route to Roddy with no timeouts left. That is Mularkey’s favorite play, the 8-10 yard out.. That is a problem in and of itself. But even this Matt Ryan fan can admit he sucked tonight. And that pick was the start of the downhill slide..
Don’t get me wrong, the D sucked too.
Bob
January 16th, 2011
12:20 am
After reading a lot of these comments, I realize one reason why the Atlanta sports teams struggle so much…..they, for the most part, have horrible fans. I bunch of people who don’t really care about the teams…and only support them when they’re doing good, and then trash on them win they don’t win a championship. Some cities have it just as bad or worse than Atlanta does…and their fans still stick through. Most Atlanta fans are a joke. Not saying all are, I’m very thankful and appreciative for all those true Atlanta fans out there. Bad and disappointing loss tonight, but don’t worry, Falcons will be back. Atlanta will have its time to shine.
Signed, an Atlanta sports fan that sticks through the bad years.
ThisAintKoolAid
January 16th, 2011
12:20 am
Saints1fan. Hey… your fellow fan was the one that greased this slope, and everybody deals with injuries. Thats just football!
Matty Falcon
January 16th, 2011
12:20 am
Wow. All you sorry ass fans. This team went 13-3, beating the world champs, Ravens, PACKERS and so on. Yes they had a bad game. New England got there asses handed to them by the Browns last year. So blame the sports in this city for not having championships but you as fans jump off the wagon the moment the don’t do 100% what you think they should do. I think this year was magic and it made those 13 weeks in my life go by a little better. If your gonna say your a fan then be a fan during the good and the bad. Some of you would fire the how damn coaching staff. Great year Falcons!!!
Football wife
January 16th, 2011
12:20 am
I think we’re all a bit stunned.
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:21 am
Hey st dickt, not only are you a loser, but also an KKK member. WE WON THE SUPERBOWL LAST YEAR. HOW MANY HAVE ALT WON?
Truth 66
January 16th, 2011
12:21 am
Great season, but a bad way to go out. Packers did their part. Falcons have to bring in a more creative defensive coordinator. Van gorder is good for college not the pros. Ryan has to learn to move to the side or forward. Need a more spirited/faster running back for the type of offensive line we have. Falcons are good for another run into the playoffs next year. But the defense has to improve greatly.
St. Richt
January 16th, 2011
12:21 am
Chuck, go chuck yourself.
Tim
January 16th, 2011
12:22 am
Old Yeller – Ryan’s interceptions at the end of the first half killed the game tonight. It was over at half-time. Defense did play poorly. That’s because they are poor. But Ryan’s poor play took away any chance for a win. He can put up 200 yards passing. Maybe 250 on a good day. That’s about it. Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL right now and he’s not going to the Pro Bowl. Look for the Falcons to take a big step backwards next year. Sort of like they did tonight.
Richard Burnham
January 16th, 2011
12:22 am
Here are the facts. A defense performs poorly when an offense is great. Offense performs poorly when defense is great. Don’t blame the team that performed poorly. Packers are just a far better team.
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:22 am
Mark: This game shouldn’t be much of a shock to you. The Falcons offense did not show up most of the season, but you were able to get by with close games and turnovers and penalties helped a little. If you watched the Falcons last 4 games, they struggled against TB, NO, on offense. It would be tough for them to beat any high powered offenses like GB, NO, and Philadelphia. They would have to face a team like Chicago or Seattle.