3 points about the Falcons, who put Peyton in his place
Robert McClain, who's not exactly world-famous, returns his interception. (AP photo)
1. In victory, the Falcons were equal parts happy and relieved. They knew full well that they’d been starved for Signature Wins, and this qualified. They beat Peyton Manning, who’s among the best ever, and the Denver Broncos, who made the playoffs last season and beat the Steelers once there, on a Monday night. The Falcons led from the game’s third minute until the end, and they made the great Manning look addled early. In sum, it was a big night for this franchise.
2. The Falcons’ secondary might have played its finest game since the 1998 NFC title tilt in Minneapolis. Brent Grimes, who’s a starter, has been lost to an Achilles tear. Asante Samuel, who’s a starter, missed plays Monday night with a neck injury but returned. Christopher Owens, the new nickel back, suffered a head injury and didn’t return. Working with guys such as Robert McClain, who had been cut by both Carolina and Jacksonville, and Dominique Franks, whom the Falcons themselves cut during training camp, they nonetheless made Manning work for everything and intercepted passes on the game’s first three series. Massive kudos to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan for disguising the coverages so deftly.
3. The running game isn’t functioning. The Falcons ran the ball 28 times for 67 yards, and this total includes 19 yards gained on six Matt Ryan scrambles. Michael Turner needed to break a 15-yarder on the final series just to get over 30 yards on the night. (He finished with 42. Then he went out and got himself arrested for DUI.) On 28 carries over the first two games, Turner averaged 2.6 yards. That’s terrible. Coach Mike Smith pointed to Turner’s clinching first down as an indication the Falcons can run when they needed to run, but that seemed sugar-coating.
By Mark Bradley
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133 comments Add your comment
Pobby Betrino
September 18th, 2012
9:31 pm
Call me. Love you. Mean it.
Falcon James
September 18th, 2012
9:32 pm
Unbelievable the amount of haters in here. The Falcon played a very good team last against arguably the best QB who has every played the game. I can’t understand why people would believe that the Falcons would just run away with this game. The Broncos had a game plan. They saw the successful screens last week and game planned for them. They also knew they needed to shut down the run game because they new the Falcons would try to grind it out on the ground to work the clock. The Falcons pulled off a great win last night. They fought hard and won. Not every game is going to be a blow out.
haha
September 18th, 2012
9:32 pm
choke u need ur own blog dude.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
way to go michael turner.
bigdave
September 18th, 2012
10:51 pm
you are gonna find Matty Ice is one of THE BEST QB’S ANYWHERE!!! LOOK AT THIS GUYS RECORD! IT TAKES A “TEAM” TO WIN A PLAYOFF GAME. DON’T BE STUPID. IT TAKES TEAMWORK, GUTS, COMMITMENT AND A LOT OF LUCK TO GET TO A PLAYOOF GAME, MUCH LESS WIN ONE. FALCONS NEED SOME BACKS…NOT MIDGETS…GOOD GUYS THOUGH. WE JUST NEED SOME FREAKS OF NATURE WHO RUN OVER PEOPLE!!!
Tap Out
September 18th, 2012
10:55 pm
Our running backs seem to be searching for wide open holes, instead of attacking the line of scrimmage. That brief hesitation is killing our running game. Otherwise, great game for our Falcons!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 18th, 2012
11:01 pm
What’s going on 0-Infinity LOSERS……
2004 & Counting suckas….ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 18th, 2012
11:04 pm
Hey CHOKE what are your plans after the 1st round of the playoffs?….ha ha
Boo Brees
September 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
I saw Vick’s last playoff win on the back of a milk carton the other day. It was last seen about 8 years ago and has been missing ever since.
It was reported that Vick is desperately searching for it due to him being carded at The Playoff Win Club.
“Yeah man, it’s crazy because it’s like…… people forgot he won a playoff game it was so long ago. 10 years ago I think” said an anonymous player. Actually it was only 8 years ago, but who’s counting?
LOL at the Aints
September 18th, 2012
11:57 pm
And how many Superbowls have the Eagles won lately, LOL,, Michael Prick carries the ball like a loaf of bread, and if you hit him hard he tends to get hurt,, LOL
captguitarman
September 19th, 2012
12:14 am
Great game for the Falcons. All of the press about how they have truly transformed themselves was borne out by the defeat of Manning and the Broncos. The defense was incredible doing the disorganized, jumping around mob thing right up until the count, and then suddenly, order and purpose.
The let downs were the predictable Turner up the middle for negligible gains plays on first down while they were deep in their own territory, an the inevitable punt – very nerve wracking with Manning waiting to get back into the game. Why just not tell the refs and the defense . . . we will only use 3 downs this series — the first will be a slow developing warm up running play, which he defense will be playing for, and which will not count. And then we will have two real pass plays, which will also fail because the defense will expect them, and then we will punt.
It would be nice to see a little creativity in those situations. How is a meaningless one or two yard gain, risking a fumble deep in your own territory, more risky than surprising the defense with a screen pass, or even a try for first down to Gonzalez, White (who was terrific) or Jones (where was he he last night?). They need to use all three of these guys, plus add a fast running back who can catch a pass (Addai?).
Ryan has definitely got what it takes, so give him a full arsenal. Montana used to drive defenses crazy by hitting every receiver, including backs coming out of the backfield. Brees does/did the samet thing, because he has the arsenal. Dig out those old 49er films and watch them closely. Be completely unpredictable — just like you were on defense. This could be your year. But not with two yards and a cloud of dust every time you get pushed back toward your goal line.
LOL at the Aints
September 19th, 2012
12:16 am
MCR,, you’re a funny guy,, dont stop,, takes a large Sack to come on here putting down the best QB in the league,, he hasnt won a playoff game,, but he will,, LOL,,
TIRED OF THE RACIST ON HERE !!!!!!!!
September 19th, 2012
1:27 am
if matt ryan was black, he wouldnt be negative at all ! black people always want to blame white people for their failures ! it will never change. the thug did it to hiself ! no ones to blame !!
TIRED OF THE RACIST ON HERE !!!!!!!!
September 19th, 2012
1:44 am
i hope theres a dog in hell waiting on him !!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
2:24 am
CHOKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE….ha ha
Dudes a BUSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Dr. Warren
September 19th, 2012
2:45 am
Jacquizz is the type of back you want to do well, but in a season and two games, he hasn’t shown me much. CJ Spiller is only now doing well in his third season, so maybe there is still hope. But we need it now, not next season.
Esquire
September 19th, 2012
5:34 am
DeepDiver
September 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
The trolls only come around because folks keep putting food out for them. Just sayin’.
in closing, the Saints suck.
________________________________________
So in other words, what you are saying is “Don’t Feed the Trolls”…………..and
that the Saints suck.
Eloquent!
Esquire
September 19th, 2012
5:50 am
5-6-7-8 Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw, People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are, Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
Mighty mighty FALCONS, Mighty mighty FALCONS!!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
CHOKE On This, Jackass
September 19th, 2012
7:36 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
September 18th, 2012
11:04 pm
“Hey CHOKE what are your plans after the 1st round of the playoffs?….ha ha”
________________________________________________________________
Maybe Ryan should check with MV. After all, he’ll have at least one week of a head start on the off-season. Just like last year…
Maybe he’ll attend the “I Want a 66.3 QB Rating, Just Like Mike” School of Passing.
Who was the QB of the so-called “Dream Team” that couldn’t even make the play-offs? I’d rather be in the postseason, and lose, than fail to make it at all.
Oops, CHOKE, you missed a drop. Pay closer attention, or MV will replace you as the person at his knees.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
September 19th, 2012
8:05 am
I think Turner did a good job blocking for Ryan on Monday night.
But our running game (led by MT) hasn’t been too good lately. They flashed Turner’s rushing yardage history on the screen early in the game. He did gain 1300 yards last year, but I’m hard pressed remember a signature run by him.
I’m guilty of calling him Tippy Toes. Not sure he deserves that moniker – but he does appear to run tentatively – with choppy steps – until he hits the hole (if there’s a hole to hit).
Compare Turner’s performance Monday with Willis McGahee’s. When Willis made contact with the defense, the pile moved forward. Sometimes it looked like a mole plowing his way through soft dirt because you couldn’t actually see him, just the mass of defenders on top of him. But you knew he was under the pile somewhere – five yards north of the original line of scrimmage.
Turner demonstrated a little forward lean on his first couple runs Monday. But he still pretty much melts once first contact with the defense occurs.
He looks like a power runner, with his squat physique, but he’s never really played like one.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
8:08 am
Giants 24
Defense 2
CHOKE 0
Elite?…..ha ha
JB
September 19th, 2012
8:13 am
They better get some players back in the defensive backfield. Manning played like a rookie. They have QB’s in this league who will burn these guys.
Call It Like It Is
September 19th, 2012
8:15 am
Nice win for the Falcons, but would have been nice if we could have capitalize more on the 3 interceptions and 1 fumble in the first ½. Those were gifts and we only had 13 points to show for it. Running game is dismal. Not sure why Turner was drinking in celebration, he did nothing for the win. Manning was off for sure, wonder how this would have played out if the game had been in Denver? Just not quite ready to name the Falcons king of the hill yet.
DC
September 19th, 2012
9:22 am
Look at the other blogs Choke commented on…especially during the Bucs Giants game…that one is hilarious…he is hating b/c the bucs are dominating…then…THEN…crickets…I busted out laughing looking at that blog!
C from Marietta
September 19th, 2012
9:42 am
Eli Manning first three play-off games were losses. Does he suck?
Jax
September 19th, 2012
9:50 am
Time to run Snelling more. Oh yeah how about some SCREENS to Jacquizz Rodgers out of backfield. He would be deadly running the old skool GB Packers screen to running back. Don’t know why our Falcons have such trouble executing screen plays. Been that way for YEARS and YEARS. Glad team and media is finally talking about it. I have been telling people about it (or lack of it/screen game) for years.
D man
September 19th, 2012
9:53 am
On the fumble, the falcon that recovered the ball at the bottom of the pile let go of the ball when the ref said Atlanta ball. The announcers and the media won’t stop talking about how the ball should have been Denver’s ball. They are trying to downplay Atlantas efforts and apologize for their boy Peyton.
D man
September 19th, 2012
9:56 am
ESPN & NFL Network, get over it. Atlanta won because we played great Defense and great run the clock out offense in the second half. It had nothing to do with the refs…
Elvis the Falcon Fan
September 19th, 2012
10:37 am
1) Glad Turner was stopped b4 he hurt someone. 2) IF he has a problem I hope he gets help 3) Quizz is not the answer 4) Great win on a national stage. 5) “Choke” needs to get a life
Football Runners » 3 points about the Falcons, who put Peyton in his place
September 19th, 2012
11:39 am
[...] Click here for full article [...]
About that fumble
September 19th, 2012
12:41 pm
The announcers made hay about the fact that a Denver player came out of the scrum with the ball but possession was awarded to Atlanta, as if the same situation has never occurred with the regular officials. Fact is, this happens all the time. Find something else to bitch about. Bad calls? You bet, but the refs didn’t play favorites with them. That’s more than I can say about the usual zebra crews on occasion.
Psychobird
September 19th, 2012
12:42 pm
Yeah, “only the great Mike Vick can overcome 4 ints and still win”. Lol that is just awesome. First off, he has to overcome 4 ints almost every game because he cant read defenses. Second off, when are you fools gonna grasp the Vick is past his prime and will only decline from here on out. he is never gonna live up to the hype. he will never lead you to a Super Bowl and will never be a top tier QB. Have fun hanging on the hope that ONE DAY he will be what he was supposed to be.
JSS
September 19th, 2012
4:02 pm
“If matt ryan was black, he wouldnt be negative at all ! black people always want to blame white people for their failures(sp)!”
Halleluah, Joey Harrington, Doug Johnson, and Chris Redman sure wish they could use your brain!
Michael Turner hasn’t had a great week, but he’s still needed | Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2012
4:31 pm
[...] totaled a whopping five yards on four carries, and there didn’t seem to be many holes until Turner popped the clinching 15-yarder on the night’s final handoff. To that point, the longest gain by a Falcon had been a seven-yard Ryan [...]