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
bigdave
January 16th, 2011
12:46 am
the blame on the coaching staff yet the players didnt make the plays..
riiiiight.
SAINTS LSU
January 16th, 2011
12:46 am
The Falcons are not the Saints get over it superbowl champs not NFC South champ
Trent Dilfer
January 16th, 2011
12:47 am
You guys are frauds and I said that all year. Reminded me of the 13-3 Chiefs that were one & done, unless your offense wakes up in the 21st century don’t expect Matty Meltdown to be a elite QB.
Dixiecom
January 16th, 2011
12:47 am
Goodbye Coach Smiff, Mattie Ice, Tony G88!
Highflyrep
January 16th, 2011
12:49 am
Matty Ice….are you serious? Give a nickname to someone that achieve things, other than throwing the ball to the opposing teams! Same ole b/s, can’t handle the pressure and can’t evade on coming defensive pressure. Also fire the ultra conservative Offensive Coordinator and demote that reject Coordinator from the UGA. Need nasty disposition players on the field, rather than a bunch of nice guy types. Sick and tired of mediocrity and players with no sense of urgency. Rather than doing it on the cheap, find players that live up to their salary! Not blaming Arthur Blank, but everthing beneath him has to step up to the plate
Saints1Fan
January 16th, 2011
12:49 am
Trent: Why did you forget the 13-3 Cowboys in 2007. That team resembled this Falcons team more. They had Terrell White, Tony Ryan, Jason Gonzalez, and Marion Turner. LMBO. They also went one and done.
Skip Bayless
January 16th, 2011
12:50 am
Like I said this whole year, the Falcons just aren’t that impressive… Hartley missing a gimme FG, 49ers fumble when they had the game in hand, getting manhandled by the Eagles, barely beating the Bucs twice, getting beatdown by the Saints on national TV on Monday Night Football. This team just seem to have too many flaws, you guys have a good core but you really need to upgrade the offense with some playmakers. Matt Ryan’s YPA is too low and if teams roll coverage towards Roddy White, you can’t really move the ball. Being dead last in plays of 20 yards or more didn’t help matters as well.
Dan
January 16th, 2011
12:51 am
we have a ring, if you talking to me I am in Section 625 in the Dome and a Saints Fan . come stop by.. this saints falcons BS is for losers because we both are. neither of us are moving forward. if you want to rest on SB 44 go ahead cause it was last year. some one else gets the attention this year.
Matt
January 16th, 2011
12:52 am
How about your team sucks? You were over-rated? You played no one all year…. enjoy another off season… You’re still the Falcons… You still mean nothing to the NFL.
go pack
January 16th, 2011
12:52 am
how about the 6th seeded team putting a butt kicking on the #1 seeded team. Matty-ice got thawed!!! Go pack
Old Slugger
January 16th, 2011
12:53 am
Dumb/stupid defense penalty plays in the beginning spelled defeat–the boys choked when the curtain raised.
CAPTAIN Kirk
January 16th, 2011
12:53 am
HEY JUNBUG!!!!
pathetic stinkin city??? compared to where..if that were the case and you had your facts correct or even some concept of reality..youd have some numbers to back it up…
Fact in 1981 and thruout the 80s ATL was considerdd THE metro area to live in because of favorable economic factors, COL, schools, low taxes, etcx..so much so that GWinnett County was the fastest growiung county in the US for over a decade..
nuther fact.. more prople moved to ATlanta metro in the 90’s than any other major top 20 metro area in the US…….
stinkin city?? compared to what///how??? and what shining emarald city do YOU live in??
Ive travelled all over this nation workin for a Fortune 500 and when I went into a manufacturing plant anywhere and ther suits there asked me where I lived and I told em ATlanta..their eyes lit up and they pumped me for info about COL and other “relocation” type info……..
stinkin city???? try to assemble a few facts before opening mouth and swithcin size
AkBad504
January 16th, 2011
12:53 am
Maybe next year, Girly Men!!! If Atlanta could win a game other than against the panthers by more than 10 points, they wouldv’e had a chance, NOT!!! Ya’ll talk toooooo much sh*#, get good instead of lucky. Matty Ice looked like Chinese Rice!!! Haaaaaaaaaaa
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:53 am
atl will win a super bowl…right after haiti becomes the only superpower in the world
North Over South
January 16th, 2011
12:54 am
LOL how do you spell loser you spell it atlanta sport team
Boo
January 16th, 2011
12:55 am
We totally sucked! I am so embarrassed!
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:56 am
dan,you are the loser…WE WON THE SUPERBOWL LAST YEAR. HAS ATL EVER WON A SUPERBOWL OR EVEN A PLAYOFF GAME SINCE THE 90′S
rooster
January 16th, 2011
12:57 am
@we have a ring. I suspect you could LEAVE a ring in a mud puddle. By the way, do you speak the way you write? Pity.
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
12:57 am
The failcants are like seven up…you never had it, and you never will…NEW ORLEANS HAS WON A SUPER BOWL BEFORE.
Mike Vick
January 16th, 2011
12:58 am
Hey suckas I tolds ya aint nothin without me. Melted Ice has a weak noodle arm and cant get things done. Ya gonna regret lettin me go!
Bob in buford
January 16th, 2011
12:58 am
Matt Ryan played horribly just like he did against the saints on Monday night. He made horrible decision and his arm strenght is questionable. Dunta Robinsonson isn’t worth the money we paid and Abraham is no Dwight Freeny, overpaid as well.
Lawmoe
January 16th, 2011
12:59 am
Wow – you people are harsh. The knock on Rogers was that he could not win in the big games and play offs. He proved that wrong. So will Ryan. Give him time. A good team had a bad night and my Packers roll on in an improbable fashion.
go pack
January 16th, 2011
1:00 am
First seed what a joke!!! Matty ice just got thawed go pack go falcons better luck next year!!!
jestjuda
January 16th, 2011
1:00 am
The Atlanta Chicken Chokers coughs up another one!!!
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
1:00 am
You can call me what you want rooster, but you can’t call me RINGLESS…
scott
January 16th, 2011
1:01 am
i have never,never been so dissapointed in my life i was excited all week didnt want my coworkers to speak to me so so i could save my voice for the georgia dome and my falcons..and this is what i get?????where was the game plan??where was the defense??falcons you had it very good (home field and a no.1 seed and a fan base at the georgia dome that was ear splittin and ear bleedin loud and you stunk up the dome and dissapointed and embarrassed Atlanta..and fed the media what it had thought all year around the overated title…FALCONS i wont get over this for weeks!!!
THE PETRINO
January 16th, 2011
1:01 am
Our team may have pissed on ur 50 yard line but the Packers $HITTTED on yall feathers LMFAO this was so pathetic of yall so called GREAT TEAM. CHOKE CHOKE time to get some NYQUIL!!!!!!
RISE UP anbd Please exit the GA DOME ur ARSE has been handed to u.WHO DAT!!!!!!!!
we have a ring
January 16th, 2011
1:03 am
I just woke up from a dream. Atl was destroyed by GB. That couldn’t happen. This is the only year atl will ever be the 1@ seed…
Packer Fan
January 16th, 2011
1:03 am
Guys, it is simple: the Packers were just more dynamic tonight. The defense speaks for itself and Aaron Rodgers had one of the best all time performances as a quarterback in the playoffs. Matt Ryan is a great quarterback; do not throw him under the bus. You could use a number two wide out and a tight end under the age of 35. Defensively speaking, it is just hard to match up with the Packers. There was virtually no pressure on Rodgers tonight, and when there was he just avoided them…
Ed
January 16th, 2011
1:03 am
The offense was ok at best tonight, but the defense was HORRIBLE. Lots of work to do before next year.
renton
January 16th, 2011
1:03 am
……dam this is the busiest Ive seen this place since Vick was caught dog fighting ….
Bobby Petrino
January 16th, 2011
1:04 am
PIG SOOEY! Now ya’ll know why I left when I had the chance!
Boo
January 16th, 2011
1:05 am
To all you AINTS losers, we made it further than you! Go die in all your Katrina and oil crap! We hate you as much as you hate us!
AJCGIRL
January 16th, 2011
1:05 am
Michael Erving called this game in the pre-game. He said that the Falcons were going to fall tonight. 1) Because they were due for a bad night. 2) Lacked defense. Overall, live and learn. Good season.
Dogman MV7
January 16th, 2011
1:06 am
Hey Arthur….Can you say…….EMPTY DOME 2011!
Micheal
January 16th, 2011
1:06 am
Ok, I have been a Falcons fan my whole life and the attitudes that I see in this post is pathetic. Yes, we got our butts kicked, but the only way to change this is for us to stop being negative and realize that we did have 3 winning seasons in a row and wll be looking at a 4th next year. I think if we support the team and beg and plead for Arthur Blank to really spend the money and get us the “killer instinct” players that we need that we can build on this season. Next year will be tough….Tampa will be strong and I am sure that New Orleans will too, so I am sure that we can be even better next year. Smith is a fantastic coach but we could use some changes elsewhere for sure. Maybe getting our butts kicked is a blessing…..a wake up call! We need to stop jumping off the bandwagon and be true fans. I know many of you are mad….I am too! Many of you are hurt….I am also! I am taking the next step by pledging that I am not going to have a bad attitude! Falcons, you have my support! Blank, the killer instinct that the packers had tonight is what Champions have and we aren’t there yet! Please do whatever you have to do to give us a champion! Go Falcons!
rock
January 16th, 2011
1:08 am
Dam it! You would think after two weeks off, the Falcons would well be prepared for this big game. Wrong! No defense, no offense, no tackling, no pass rush and just a poor game plan and a very poorly played game. I am still a Big Falcon Fan. Hopefully, this game will be a motivating lesson learned for next year.
Dude
January 16th, 2011
1:09 am
Packers fan here. Good game Atlanta. Best of luck in the 2011 season.
By the way, what’s with all the annoying Saints fans trolling around this blog, talking smack about teams other than their own, yet they got upset (and in my book, humiliated) by the Seahawks (a team with a LOSING record)?????????
Jim Mora Jr.
January 16th, 2011
1:09 am
You guys will regret letting go of me, at least I took you to a NFC Championship game and showed up in the Playoffs. Your team plays like cowards in the Playoffs, back in 2008 and today!
Matt
January 16th, 2011
1:10 am
Defense Failed us…
13 plays 76 yards GB TD
10 plays 92 yards GB TD
7 plays 80 yards GB TD
12 plays 80 yards GB TD
8 plays 50 yards GB TD
THE PETRINO
January 16th, 2011
1:11 am
@ St.Richt
Actually the way Green Bay murdered the Fraud Birds I would say they need to Conduct a CIA investigation LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
Kool Papa
January 16th, 2011
1:11 am
Okay, somebody said that there was no “name” talent on Green Bay’s offense. This is why Packer fans were voted, far and way, by the NFL player’s in a recent poll by Sports Illustrated as the most knowledgable fans. Rodgers – great, your guy, Ryan, no matter how many cute nicknames you want to adorn him with to equate coolness – average. The receiving corps, as a whole – not just your team, but any team in the NFL – they would give their eye teeth to have as a group, given their talent, experience and athletic ability, as a whole. Your team got beat by a really good team of skill players, and very good supplemental players, on both sides of the ball. Your team is good. They would not have been 13-3 if they were not. They got beat by a Super Bowl calber team tonight.
renton
January 16th, 2011
1:11 am
Man I might just keep this game on TIVO just for sh*ts and giggles , there can be only one Thunder Dome and thats in NEW ORLEANS!!!!! Where the hell did all them rude ATL fans go durring the 4th quarter, try to show your team a little support , when playing in your dome . Try using that homefield advantage.
Richard
January 16th, 2011
1:11 am
Embarrassing! Plain and simple. Every player should sign their check and donate it to charity. That’s the only good thing that would come out of this game!
david
January 16th, 2011
1:14 am
No biggie,at least we won our division…Dallas did not.It was all too much hype,we are still better than 24 teams in the NFL.
Mike
January 16th, 2011
1:16 am
All of you fair-weather Falcons so-called fans, get the hell out of the GA Dome and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Go ahead and jump off the bandwagon. See ya.
No question this crushing defeat was disheartening. But keep in mind the Falcons’ defense was not supposed to play as well as it did this season. It was supposed to have been still a work in progress. They still had weaknesses, which got exposed this game by a quarterback who will become legendary some day in his own right, but the Falcons played above their abilities all season.
I grew up in Chicago in the 1970s, when the Bears were terrible and Walter Payton was the only reason to cheer. No matter how bad the Bears were or how cold the temperature was outside with that wind ripping off of Lake Michigan, Solider Field was sold out game after game after game.
And now here we have a Falcons organization that is first-class from top to bottom. We have an outstanding coach and yes, a great quarterback, and both are good people whom fans can truly get behind and cheer about. I am astonished by the bad-mouthing of this team by so many here. The Falcons will be back in the playoffs next season because of the quality of this organization. And hopefully, at that time, the GA Dome will be filled only with TRUE fans who stand behind their team, win or lose.
Thank you Falcons, for a very good and fun season. I for one will be back with my family to see you again next season.
go pack
January 16th, 2011
1:16 am
So called Matty ice can’[t win a play off game. How does the #1 seed lose to the 6th seeded team. matty ice got thawed, and by the way your defense sucks, i think a high school team could have done better, enjoy the off season you losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Pack Go
Rodney King
January 16th, 2011
1:16 am
I thought my beating was bad, but I actually feel bad for the Falcons!
BoWeevil
January 16th, 2011
1:19 am
Brian VanGorder has NEVER won anything.
Brian VanGorder has had 2 games at Georgia where he won a big game against a great opponent. Those 2 years, however, he LOST 4 games one of the 2 years and he LOST 3 games the other year he actually beat a team who finished in the Top 10 AP Poll.
Brian VanGorder certainly hasn’t won anything with the Falcons either, who by the way still have never won a play-off game in consecutive seasons.
scott
January 16th, 2011
1:19 am
where was tony gonzalez??tony i,m bitterly dissapointed.Atlanta falcons you have shamed the city in the spotlight again!! DEFENSE WAS TERRIBLE!HOW COULD YOU FALCONS??HOW COULD YOU HURT AND DISSAPOINT SO MANY PEOPLE???YOU HAD 2 WEEKS TO PLAN AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME UP WITH???..VERY DISSAPOINTED HERE!!