In prime time, the suddenly surging Falcons show their class
Sean Weatherspoon's team had a ball Thursday night. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Here’s where we haul out the wide-angle lens. Here’s where we recall those prime-time Falcons games that went the other way.
Like the one in 1984 that left O.J. Simpson, then an ABC analyst, chucking over the local team’s capacity to throw three-yard passes when trailing by three touchdowns. Or the 36-0 loss in 2003 that led Arthur Blank to write a letter of apology to the network. Or the 20-point home loss to New Orleans on Dec. 10, 2007 — the same day Michael Vick was sentenced to prison, the night before Bobby Petrino left to go call some Hogs in Arkansas.
And here’s where we step back and say: The woebegone Jacksonville Jaguars we saw Thursday night? Those used to be the Falcons.
Maybe the 2011 Birds haven’t been quite the team we hoped they’d be, but let’s get real: This club is 9-5 and headed for the playoffs. The Falcons have had chances to spit the bit and have declined every time. They’ve given themselves a postseason chance, and that’s all any team — even mighty Green Bay — can hope to do before the playoffs commence.
There was a time — heck, it was two years ago — that we Atlantans celebrated the Falcons finally managing consecutive winning seasons. On Thursday they clinched a fourth in a row, and none of us cared. Because we’ve been conditioned by Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith and Matt Ryan and Roddy White and Michael Turner to expect bigger and better.
“In-house, our expectations are much higher than just a winning season,” Smith said. “When you’re where you want to be as a team, winning seasons are expected.”
Raging mediocrity was left in the dust the January after Vick went to prison and Petrino split for the Ozarks. A franchise that looked to be three years from even a sniff of anything sweet hired a smart general manager and an unadorned coach and drafted a quarterback, and most everything since has been an unflagging march toward excellence. Tony Gonzalez came aboard. Julio Jones was taken after a bold managerial move upward. We might quibble with what the Falcons have become, but we cannot deny that they’ve become something worth watching.
On Thursday night we were treated to most of it. To Turner busting up the gut. To Jones splitting defenders to score. To White running the precise patterns that made him a 1,000-yard receiver. To Ryan managing the game and making the requisite throws. To John Abraham sacking the Jaguar quarterback so often that the name “Gabbert” got imprinted on the Dome turf. To Sean Weatherspoon doing his search-and-destroy routine. To a good-looking NFL club, in sum, treating its opponent with abject disdain.
It was 7-0 after four minutes, 17-0 after 17, 27-0 at the half, 34-0 in the first minute of the third quarter, 41-14 when it ended. No, Jacksonville isn’t much of a test, but that’s the point. The Falcons are no longer just another team. They’re one of the league’s best, and they’re getting better as they go.
We cannot know just yet, but it could be that the comeback in Charlotte five days ago marked a Rubicon. Down 23-7, the Falcons scored the final 24 points. Then they scored the first 41 against Jacksonville. For those without a handy abacus, that marked 65 consecutive Atlanta points. When last have we beheld a Falcons team capable of that? In the Super Bowl season of 1998? In the great-leap-forward year of 1980? Ever?
You mightn’t pick this team to win the Super Bowl, but no opponent will want to see the Falcons across the line of scrimmage. There’s enough talent here to reach the game so big we had to let the Romans number it, more talent than at any time in franchise history. (Yes, that includes 1998.) The Falcons’ next game will be in New Orleans the night after Christmas, and there’s no cause to believe it’s unwinnable.
At peak capacity, this team can beat anybody. Trouble is, the Falcons didn’t function at peak capacity against the Packers in October or the Saints in November … or against anybody until Thursday. Players and coaches kept saying, “We haven’t yet played a complete game,” but on this night they came pretty close. (There was that blocked punt, though.)
We’ve been wondering since September how these Falcons in full flight would look. We’re getting an idea. The offense isn’t as good as Green Bay’s or New England’s and the defense isn’t as unyielding as Houston’s, but not many teams have a better combination of the two. Not many teams can match 53-man rosters with this.
There was a time when we in this city had cause to dread every prime-time slot the Falcons were handed, and mercifully they weren’t given many. That time is gone. These Birds aren’t clowns. These Birds are class.
By Mark Bradley
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257 comments Add your comment
take it from me.
December 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
Falcon may are may not win the superbowl this year,but this is a young and coming team,and with thier young ,and inproving players will be a force next year,and years to come.On the other hand, Saints are an ageing team with no future.The Atlanta Falcons will return to thier rightfull spot atop the NFC South for years.We own the Saints!
FalconFan
December 16th, 2011
12:45 pm
Manny, Quite seriously the Saints should look at RG3. Brees isn’t getting any younger. Ryan is 26. Brees will be 33 in January. RG3? Seriously? He will be another Vince Young with a Heisman.
FalconFan
December 16th, 2011
12:47 pm
And Manny, Vick may be happy in Philly, but read about him in the Philadelphia papers. They aren’t happy with him. And it looks like Reid is on his way out, then what?
KakNiqueTree
December 16th, 2011
1:33 pm
The Falcons are no longer about BS — so great to see.
Football Bat
December 16th, 2011
1:52 pm
RODDY WHITE LIGHTNIN’!!!!
AceDawg
December 16th, 2011
2:10 pm
This is spot on, Bradley. The Falcons fans should be delighted to have this team representing the city. The coaching, management, and ownership have changed the fortunes of the Falcons. Hopefully they find a way to get a division title and home playoff game, but even if not, at least this team will be lining up in the post season – again.
Breeswarning
December 16th, 2011
2:17 pm
Every time the Falcons win a game against a terrible team the idiots come out.
Fact: Falcons 2-4 against teams with winning records
Fact: Saints 5-1 against teams with winning records
So while the Saints are sitting at home with a bye because they are going to be the #2 seed and
the Falcons are again going to be one and out in their wild card game please don’t start talking
about next year.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
December 16th, 2011
2:19 pm
And just like the bulldykes, when the Falcants play a good team, they get slaughtered.
Kramer
December 16th, 2011
2:24 pm
Breeswarning, why not issue a Seahwk warning as well. You chumps will choke again this year like you did last year. Hey, it might just be against us. Good luck on living that one down slappy!
Kramer
December 16th, 2011
2:27 pm
HAHAHAHA, let us guess. You are a diehard lsu and aints fan and have been since oh, about 2 months ago when it looked like they would be winners. Last year it was Roll Tide and the Packers. You are a joke of a fan. Laugh that off funny boy.
Brendan
December 16th, 2011
2:39 pm
Mark, the Falcons are rolling along, as a 9-5 team, towards the playoffs. We’re all a bit concerned about the Packers and Saints, but … it’s at least nice to know that we’ve clinched 4-straight winning seasons and, who knows, this is why they play the games. What I don’t want to see … is this “See, we knew they wouldn’t get past the Saints and Packers. We’re just not Super Bowl material yet” kind of talk. What’s the alternative, people? Blow up the team and start over?? C’mon. This season, our franchise took another step TOWARDS a Super Bowl season. Next year, we’ll take another. Our owner, Arthur Blank, wants to win. He’ll grind the grist that the mill requires to get there. There is accountability with coaches and scouts and trainers and ticket takers, for that matter.
Let’s not get so down on the Falcons if they don’t win the Super Bowl. Matt Ryan isn’t a bad quarterback. He isn’t the reason why the Falcons may not win a Super Bowl this year. Look at the Packers and ask yourselves, “Who ELSE can stop them?” Maybe the Baltimore Ravens? Could the Steelers do it? Maybe the Saints. Or, will they all fail, just like Atlanta? And if you conclude that everyone ELSE will fail to stop the Packers, then why torment your Atlanta Falcons?
Overall, this is a “decent” NFL franchise. Not elite. Not Super Bowl bound. “Decent.” And I’ve sat through enough “hopeless, hopeless, utterly hopeless” Falcons seasons to appreciate ones like the 2011 campaign. Let’s just hope they can pull an upset or two.
Batcork
December 16th, 2011
2:41 pm
“Suddenly surging”? This is typical knee-jerk media/fan reaction to the latest ball game. Total doom and gloom after a loss, euphoria after a win. In the last 14 Falcon quarters (starting with that tepid 2nd half vs Minnesota), there have been 9 quarters of crud followed by 5 good quarters. The last 4 of which were against a raw QB, a porous O-Line, and a brand new coach trying to cope with a short week and playing a road game.
I’m not saying the Falcons won’t make a run. Maybe they will. But way more evidence is needed, people. Only when they show any ability to stop a good passing game from swallowing yardage at will (one with a real O-Line plus a Brees or a Rodgers, or heck, even a Yates) will I start truly believing.
Breeswarning
December 16th, 2011
2:52 pm
Kramer: Yea Saints are chokers. Just like they did when they WON THE SUPERBOWL. Of course only a team that has actually won a Superbowl can talk about winning the big game. It takes a Lombardi to be a real champion and as long as Brees is in the South the Falcons will never get a chance. Enjoy your wins against the bottom feeders and your one and out in the playoffs. Saints will be playing in the NFC championship while you are at home again. What a bunch of losers
Kramer
December 16th, 2011
3:00 pm
Breeswarning, yeah you won a Super Bowl and then you turn around and lose to the only team with a losing record to get into the playoffs! Congrats! Lets see who you choke to this year? The Falcons? The Giants? the Cowboys? The Lions? Good news slappy, all of these teams will have a winning record. Won’t be as embarrassing to you this year.
When it's all said and done
December 16th, 2011
3:16 pm
FALCONS 11-5
— sAINTS 10-6
Von
December 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
truth is somewhat right…the Saints do sometimes play down to the caliber of their lesser opponent usually once a season. The bad thing for the Falcon’s…they play extremely well on prime time television against anybody…especially the Falcons. They play the Falcons on Monday night at home…now seeking the second seed. Dats the truth!
Nola
December 16th, 2011
3:39 pm
All this fare weather fans hoping the Flaconscan compete against my Saints NOT!!!!! We will be ready to whipp yall again bc we are playing for bigger things especially since we already won the division
warfalcon
December 16th, 2011
3:50 pm
Thanks Falcons for a good night,get your rest and lets do it again on PRIME TIME MONDAY NIGHT DECEMBER 26, 2011.LETS GO FALCONS
falconion.4.life
December 16th, 2011
4:12 pm
Brendan and Batcork, I think you two both made excellent posts. I simply wish most of the posters on here were as intelligent and would think before they wrote instead of resorting to childish name-calling like “aints” and “falcants”. Last night’s win was wonderful as any win in the NFL is because as the old cliche’ goes, “on any given Sunday…”. I dislike the ignorant Saints fans as I do most ignorant people but must respect intelligent people and recognize what the Saints have done since their tragic hurricane in 2006. We as Falcon fans must realize that what they’ve done since then is nothing short of incredible. They almost moved to San Antonio immediately after that storm but the league blocked it. Instead of sulking, they cleaned house and hired a football man in GM Mickey Loomis and a fabulous football mind as their coach in Sean Payton. They lucked out by having Brees fall into their lap. Brees, who many thought would never play again because of a shoulder-shattering injury at the time, went to the Saints and has played for relatively peanuts considering the salaries of other so-called “elite” quarterbacks during his time in New Orleans. Brees will, in all likelihood, walk into Canton five years after retirement. What we as a Falcon organization should do is, instead of mocking that team, is try to emulate what they do. Smitty is an excellent coach but, being realistic, isn’t as creative as Payton. Ryan is no Brees, I think we’d all agree. And rather than make fun of the Saints losing to the only losing team to make the playoffs as they did last year, is be opposed to such a thing occurring to any team because such as it happened to the Saints, it could happen to us or any other team that is worthy of homefield advantage in the playoffs. No team with a losing record should be allowed into the playoffs, let alone host a game. We can mock, belittle and resort to namecalling all we want when it comes to the Saints. But Brees, who may break Marino’s single-season passing record this year, will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. Without even considering the circumstances, we could only wish our last five years were as productive as the Saints’ last five years.
PMC
December 16th, 2011
4:40 pm
yeah unless the Saints defense manages to run into Marshawn Lynch again.
So tired of hearing about the Saints as if they are some kind of world beaters, The Falcons won 13 games and the division last year. Saints and Falcons split last season. The situation in the NFC south is reversed this year. There is absolutely nothing special about the Saints defense. Nothing. The teams are fairly close together with the exception of the offensive scheme and head coach (Payton is better) and QB (Brees is obviously better)
Other than that, it’s a close matchup between 2 good teams.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 16th, 2011
4:46 pm
Atlanta is just above average and that is all. The offensive line is a joke at best and will have to be fixed before you move up a level. Jax couldn’t win the ACC.
Joseph Allen McWhorter
December 16th, 2011
4:47 pm
Very good article Mark and I think that as great and unbeatable as the Green Bay Packers look right now and even if they go into the playoffs still undefeated, they do not and I repeat do not want to face either the New Orleans Saints or our Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs. Those would definitely be two teams which would be very dangerous opponents for the Packers in the playoffs. I can’t say enough about the job Mike Smith has done in four years as head coach. He inherited a total mess when he took over four years ago and now the Falcons are one of the most respected teams in the NFL. They just have to prove they can win playoff games. That is still missing. The Falcons are now a quality organization because they have quality management and quality players. Mike Smith has done one helluva job as head coach. I tip my hat to that man!!
falconion.4.life
December 16th, 2011
5:03 pm
Let’s not lose sight of this: Many of the posts today are making allusions as to how we’ve “turned the corner” and how “good we’ve played the last six quarters”. Last night we played against a dreadful football team. We were supposed to beat them and good teams stomp bad teams when hosting them in their house – which was refreshing to see. Still, we’re in a dogfight to make the playoffs. Yet many in our fanbase are insinuating about how deep a run we’ll make in the post season. Wake up people, it ain’t happenin! I’m as wishful as everyone here is but it isn’t going to happen. Let’s be realistic. We’re simply a middle-of-the-road to just above-average football team. We don’t have the quarterback that can lead us in a close game. We don’t have the defensive secondary to stop a Brees, Rodgers or Manning. We’re not a good road team. Many in our fanbase are very short-sighted. Have we forgotten what happened a year ago when we had a bye and hosted Green Bay just a week after they defeated Philadelphia in a difficult game on the road and won by five? They stomped us in our house. The game was over by halftime. And many among us are wishful thinkers. I’d like us to make the playoffs, sure. But I’m certainly not naive enough to think that even if we do back into the playoffs and qualify for a wildcard berth that we’d win a game, if that. I wouldn’t begin to think that we’d go to Frisco, Lambeau, New York or New Orleans and win two of three – which is what would be necessary to make the Super Bowl. Let’s not get carried away with delusions of grandeur as it would make us appear ignorant.
take it from me.
December 16th, 2011
5:08 pm
I for one beleive the falcons are a better team than the an’ts!The Ant’s are a one man team.Stop brees or nock him around a little,and Falcons win on monday night football.its just a matter of time before the Falcons right the record and put the ant’s back were they belong,the laughing stock of the leauge,the clock is ticking for the over the hill Ant’s.there’s a new king of the south division,and its the Atlanta Falcons! It’s a great day to be A falcons fan.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
December 16th, 2011
5:10 pm
“Saints lose to the Vikings on Sunday. Right it down.”
Sounds like marching orders. Left, Write, Left, Write……..
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
5:29 pm
Now that “Tebowing” is a word, you think getting “Sandusky’ed” is next?
Mr Charlie
December 16th, 2011
5:30 pm
As unbeatable as the Pack looks, they do not look like they could have lasted until halftime against the 07 Pats. And we saw how that turned out.
JSS
December 16th, 2011
6:15 pm
D.U.I. …
Only on the AJC blogs! (At least the NBA will be back next week)
DMAN
December 16th, 2011
6:41 pm
What jumps out is the 50 plus plays over 20 yards,compared to 32 last year!
bobwhite
December 16th, 2011
6:53 pm
Yeah..Birds beat to hell another 4-9 team..Yippee yo yaw yeah! Wonder why they saw fit to leave the regulars in after the half? That blocked punt was something else!
Sid
December 16th, 2011
7:27 pm
Falcons own the record against the Aint’s…………45-39. All time Saints W-L, 296 wins 386 losses 5 ties Postseason play 5–7, you got so lucky, and you had to resort to an onsides kick to win your biggest. I really don’t want to do the research but my guess is it would be difficult to find another 20th ranked defense that took the Lombardi. So currently with the 27th ranked defense……….good luck.
Lawton
December 17th, 2011
1:01 am
http://irreverantatlantasports.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/everbodys-talking/
Can I get me some painkillers?
December 17th, 2011
2:36 am
The big bad Saints. By the comments on here from the Saints fans, you would think they beat the Falcons by 40 in the first game. Of course, when you don’t have much going on in life, I guess you have to think like that.
Falcon Phil
December 17th, 2011
2:59 am
The falcons are on fire! Mark this down–ATL upsets Green Bay in the playoffs—its revenge time!!!! Falcons win the NFC!!!!!
trademark
December 17th, 2011
7:01 am
You don’t have to look any further as to how SCARED the Saints fans are than these blogs. They are chock full of trolls who are so pi$$ing in their panties that they have to come to the other teams blog and write about how great their team is. Please.
phil
December 17th, 2011
8:14 am
Katrina hit New Orleans.
That means they should win and we should lose.
We are not worthy….
Of course we’re also not dumb enough to live below sea level.
Saints Choke
December 17th, 2011
9:11 am
Not to worry—the overrated saints will choke again in round 1. Atl beats green bay!!!
Big Al
December 17th, 2011
10:06 am
Suddenly surging Falcons. Damn, you guys can write some funny chit. The Falcons will come crashing down very soon. Not likely that they will ever get a chance to play at Lambeau Field.
Mtn Falcon
December 17th, 2011
10:16 am
Big Al, still buzzed from last night? Or start extra early this morning?
phil
December 17th, 2011
1:38 pm
Big Al – we crash down every year.
You think your prediction is news?
Doof.
Lawton
December 17th, 2011
3:29 pm
Everybody’s Talking about the Falcons now….
http://wp.me/p24d0q-5
Skeezix
December 17th, 2011
7:37 pm
Not convinced on the Falcons — the last two wins were against very poor teams. I think we will know more after the Saints game.
SAINTS-ALLDAY!
December 17th, 2011
7:52 pm
OH AND SAINTS WILL NOT LOSE ON SUNDAY.
I’M SORRY TO BURST YOUR FRIED BURNT FALCON BUBBLE BUT DON’T WAIT ON IT. YOU GUYS ARE SO SCARED ABOUT COMING TO THE DOME IN THRE N.O.-IT REALLY SHOWS!
THE SAINTS KNOW ABOUT WINNING AT THE RIGHT TIME. REMEMBER, WE’VE RECENTLY BEEN THERE-DONE THAT (SUPERBOWL). YOU CAN’T SAY THE SAME. WE HAVE WAYYYYY BETTER COACHES!
THE FALCONS FUNCTION IN THE DUMB ZONE! AS LONG AS THAT EXIST, NOT ONLY MM BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS MIKE SMITH. DUDE IS JUST DUMB AS HELL WITH AN ATTITUDE. NOT A GOOD MATCH.
WHO DAT!!! hahahahaha
SAINTS-ALLDAY!
December 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
Von and Nola – WHO DAT!
THE SAINTS ARE THE KINGS OF PRIME TIME!
PRIME TIME IS OUR TIME! BELIEVE DAT! WHO DAT!
SAINTS-ALLDAY!
December 17th, 2011
7:58 pm
Von and Nola- WHO DAT!
PRIME TIME IS OUR TIME! BELIEVE DAT! WHO DAT!
dat who
December 17th, 2011
8:34 pm
the falcons will beat the saints in new orleans and in the playoffs—take it to the bank. The falcons are on a roll and will not be stopped by the overrated saints.
Hawthorne
December 17th, 2011
9:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Hawthorne
December 17th, 2011
9:13 pm
Since Drew Brees arrived in the Big Easy in 2006, the Saints have dominated the Falcons…the record is 9 & 2 which really should have been 10 & 1 given Hartley’s missed chip shot FG in 2010. Wake up to reality Falcon fans. WE DAT!
knock-down, ........ drag-out
December 17th, 2011
9:16 pm
way down yonder in New Orleans,
who dat gone beat who ?
knock-down, ........ drag-out
December 17th, 2011
9:18 pm
hot lanta’ wins.