The unbeaten Falcons fall in a distressingly familiar way
Just a reminder: This is how it looks when a running play actually succeeds. (AP photo)
New Orleans — First, a spot of perspective. The Falcons are 8-1 and positioned to win their division. Just because they lost an excruciating game to the hated Saints doesn’t override all the good work that came before. That said …
The good work that came before didn’t include much in the way of short-yardage excellence. And when a team that couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1 on three infamous occasions last season loses its first game of another year due to the same failures, a flag gets hoisted. No, not a white one of surrender, but surely a bright red banner of warning.
“I don’t know what situation you’d rather be in,” said Michael Turner, the feature back who managed 15 yards on 13 rushes Sunday. “You’ve got one yard for the lead.”
“You’ve got to punch the ball in,” said Jacquizz Rodgers, the change-of-pace back whose 18-yard burst had pulled the Falcons within sight of that final yard.
“Of course you (think you’re going to get that yard),” said Harry Douglas, the receiver who barely missed scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a slant on first-and-goal from the 10. “That has to be your approach.”
That the Falcons’ first play from the 1 was a Matt Ryan pass for Tony Gonzalez tells us they weren’t convinced they could push the Saints backward even three feet. (Malcolm Jenkins knocked the ball down in the end zone.) That the third-and-goal call was a handoff to Turner that became yet another damp squib — of his 13 carries, seven either gained nothing or lost yardage — drove home the point:
An 8-0 NFL team could not line up and gain a precious yard against the league’s worst rushing defense.
By losing a yard on third-and-goal, the Falcons had no choice but to pass on fourth down, and again Ryan’s pass was flicked away. This time it was Jabari Greer, flashing in front of Roddy White. The Falcons would get the ball one last time, but their chance to stay unbeaten had come and gone.
Not that staying unbeaten was such a big deal. “That’s a distraction out of the way,” free safety Thomas DeCoud said, and he had a point. Trouble is, the the Falcons never want to lose to the opponent that has beaten the Falcons of Mike Smith seven times in nine tries.
DeCoud again: “That’s the one team you don’t want to have your first loss against.”
That Sunday’s game was a carnival ride surprised no one. Ryan threw for 411 yards, a career best, and if not — stop me if you’ve heard this one — for a failure on third-and-1 on the Falcons’ second series they might have seized a 14-0 lead.The Saints, who can play offense if not D, overrode that early deficit and took an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter. The Falcons cut it to four points with a touchdown and an extra point, Smith choosing (oddly and wrongly) not to go for two with 13:27 remaining.
They would draw within one point on a field goal after an incompletion on third-and-2. The Saints pushed the lead back to four, leaving the door ajar. The Falcons were too weak to kick it in.
Said Smith: “We were not getting the surge we needed on running plays … We did not win the line of scrimmage in the running game.”
Said Todd McClure, the center: “Every third-and-1 (not converted), every fourth-and-1 … I’m sure there’ll be a lot written about it tomorrow and we’ll be (seen as) a terrible offensive line. But we didn’t get it done today.”
For all their skill — the Falcons outgained the sleek Saints — the question remains: Is this team forceful enough? And not just along the O-line: The Falcons’ defense yielded 148 yards rushing and mustered one sack. For eight games people had been saying, “There’s going to come a time when the inability to run the ball and/or stop the run is going to bite this team.” That time arrived Sunday.
“We’ve got to address (the issues in the running game),” Turner said. “We’ve got to fix it. That’s what championship teams do. There’s attitude, there’s scheme … everything’s involved.”
The Falcons are 8-1. They did not become a terrible team by losing one game, but they cannot become a great one until they figure a way to gain a yard when a yard is mandatory. Is Turner too slow? Is the line too feeble? And if the answer, as seems likely, is a combination of the two, how do you work around it?
After every game, win or lose, Mike Smith says of any lapse, “We’ll get it fixed.” His Falcons have seven more games before the playoffs commence, which means …
Clock’s ticking, Smitty.
Further reading: Here’s why Mike Smith should have gone for two.
By Mark Bradley
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384 comments Add your comment
The 'Blo
November 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
It’s triple F (FFF) times fans. Fatal Falcons Flaws. Is there a fullback on this team? If so, who is it, and does he ever play in the game? Miss you Ovie! Michael “The Slug” Turner needs to be replaced. Hopefully, he’ll get another DUI tonight without killing anyone and the Falcons will release him. Quizz was great. Where did that Snelling guy get off to? I’d bet my house that Jason would gain a yard before The Slug. Is there a punt returner on this team? Dominique Franks’ sole mission in life seems to be is to fair catch every punt without fumbling. I am sure that strikes fear into the hearts of the cover team. Mike Smith says on the Falcon pre-game show we got to get touchdowns instead of field goals in the red zone. I guess, talk is pretty cheap these days. Falcons played hard and should have won this game. Nobody wins them all. Granted. But these fatal flaws will keep this team from winning a Super Bowl until these issues are addressed, like now, or perhaps, last week!
Rick in Macon
November 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
Both the offensive and defensive line play stunk. The offensive line couldn’t run block for anything and the defensive line rarely got any pressure on Brees. Absolutely pathetic. And Dunta Robinson…has he ever tackled anyone?!?!? Every touchdown pass he was standing around…get rid of him NOW!!!
Michael "the dynasty" Vick
November 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
Turner is too predictable and slow. Stand straight up and his yardage stinks. He needs to be schooled by Warrick Dunn. Warrick could fall for 3 or 4 yds because he went under the defender.
Schilling would have way more yd if they would give him more opportunities to learn the game.
C Bass
November 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
Midseason lesson…
Michael “The Burner” Turner is now Michael “The Crock Pot” Turner.
And how many times are we going to hear they want to get Turner involved in the passing game and the bum can’t even catch a 5 yard pass?! (week 9)
“The Slow Cooker” needs to lose some weight and take a serious look in the mirror about what he needs to do to be a starter on this team. In the meantime, I’m happy with Jacquizz starting and Snelling backing up….at least they can both catch the ball.
QuizzRocks
November 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
Less Turner
More Quizz
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
LMBO! It’s funny being on this website reading all of these sorry excuses. The bottom line is the ATL Falcants LOSS and the Who’s Your Daddy of the NFC South won! Regardless of the records, it proves the Falcants had a weak schedule and will be tossed once again out of the playoffs the first game played by them this year. WEAK!!!! See yall on Thursday night football in a few weeks! Dueces.
Who Dat!!
K
November 11th, 2012
10:20 pm
I believe part of the problem is coaching & the owner. Smith gives them days off when they win a game. They should be out there practicing. Coach needs to be more of a hard azz. Mr. Blank has spoiled them rotten & they don’t play with intensity knowing the coach will give the same hokey answer/excuse for them not performing. Now I know all the turner up the middle plays are coming from Smith and not the oc. Turner rushes for a 1.2 average and quizz only gets 3 touches & Snelling none. Come on.
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!! Who Dat!!! We DAT!!!!!
UGABrave
November 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
Michael turner is extremely slow and has almost no burst at all..can’t we pickup a better RB in the free agent market? There are much better options out there…
Cloudodust
November 11th, 2012
10:25 pm
Apparently the Saints saw the rivalry a bit differently today than the Falcons did. That being said, it’s a good thing to lose to them. I suspect we’ll see a rebirth until we meet them again and when again comes, we better see a different approach. It’s called knock ‘em down and get off the field..,Samuel. And speaking of Abraham, that’s only the second time his name was mentioned today. Offense good, defense fair. On to next week…
dawg52
November 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Couple of weeks ago Turner was all-world…….ITS THE O-LINE!!!!!!!!!
C Bass
November 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
Michael “Concrete Boots” Turner
What a dissapointment. I’m tired at yelling at the TV over this overcooked baked potato who keeps running into his own linemen and falling over like the “Line of Scrimmage Sniper” just dialed in another headshot.
What on earth were they thinking putting him back in there when the game was on the line.
Our chances are way better with 4 passing plays if you refuse to use Jacquizz.
The Slow Cooka’ looks like an extra in The Walking Dead. Someone spike him and put him out of his misery.
DJ Sniper
November 11th, 2012
10:29 pm
First off, ya’ll need to stop bringing up the schedule. Schedules are determined years in advance, so stop with the lines about this time has a weak schedule, that time has a strong schedule, etc. You don’t pick who you play. Second, the Saints still have an uphill climb to get to the postseason. Let’s not act like ya’ll are tops in the division or anything like that.
Also, I fully predict that these same Saints fans will disappear again with another loss or two.
darryl
November 11th, 2012
10:32 pm
99% of the runs up the middle with Turner fail. Woking with two downs is too tough. Turner is too slow
moboman
November 11th, 2012
10:33 pm
I believe Turner can still be the back we expect, but not at this weight. Remember his first years how the announcers used to rave about a guy with his power having his speed? He’s not that old. His problem isnt what he’s lost, its what he’s GAINED. Why doesnt management see this? Quizz is great at what he does, but has his limits due to his size. I would rather see A. Smith and Snelling get some reps, and get Turner on the treadmill and back to a better playing weight.
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
10:37 pm
Keep on dreamin! WE Saints fan will disappear just like the Falcants do in the playoffs ( 2 points last year) and mind you even NFL analyst said today how much of a lack there of a quality opponent the Falcants played thus far. Cry later, the bottom line is the Falcants can’t and never have or will handle pressure or adversity. Tell me one other NFL team that has been as much as the Saints in the last 10 years?! Don’t worry I’ll wait!!!!! Falcants suck and lose the big games as always when it counts. Chill out and lick your wounds later Dirty Birds!!!! Who DAT!!!
btwarren
November 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
Falcons run game is abyssmal. Something has to change or we will not go very far in the playoffs. New offensive strategy…stay away from 3rd and 1s as much as possible. This game should have been won. The inability to get short yardage continues to haunt this team. I like Turner but let’s face it something is wrong. The line allows too much penetration and turner is too slow to make anybody miss. Can’t pitch it to him to go outside either. I agree with others that Snelling is a harder runner, but i always feel like he is going to fumble becasue he doesn’t know when to get down. Can’t complain too much being 8-1 but Mike Smith knows this one got away and shouldn’t. He needs to fix that run game and fast!!
Columbus
November 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
Stop over-reacting. First its not a rushing league anymore so this is not as big of a deal as it would have been a couple of years ago. To support my point is the that Falcons barely lost on the road with their low rushing yardage and attempts and actually could have won the game easily had a pass or 2 connected at the end and if not for a big play by their guy covering White or had Ryan seen the open Gonzalez, we might not be having this conversation and staring at 9-0. I think any of you will admit that with the Saints playing better and desperately needing to win, tham being at home and with them also finding extra motivation to give their arch rival their first defeat, well we all knew this would be a game the Falcons could easily lose. With all that going for the Saints, they still barely won at home and could have easily lost. The Falcons are a pass first team now and should be because that is what is winning in the current era. So while it would have been very distressing a few years ago in the league and even last year when the Falcons were running Turner as many times as they were passing, nbut ow they can and will pass before they run so its not nearly as big a deal. Its a passing league now. Had the game today been on a neutral field, Falcons would have won this game regardless of rushing yards. The point there is that the Falcons should have home field in the playoffs.
Who is the idiot talking about the Bucs being within 1 game of controlling their own destiny and the Falcons will be flat and lose if Turner stays at feature back? I will take some action on both. Bucs wont win regardless of anything and they also will not be controlling their destiny….one close loss on the road and you guys start freakin? LOL. The Falcons passing game is so good and has so many weapons, the running game is not nearly as critical. Chill. Its gonna be OK. Barely lost today on the road under ideal conditions for the Saints and had Ryan seen Gonzalez open on the 4th down, still would have won…its all good. This aint your daddy’s NFL….
adam b
November 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
these problems were fixed in the offseason. remember… we drafted two guys on the oline with our first 2 picks. FAIL!!
Fats G
November 11th, 2012
10:43 pm
Bradley told the truth on this weak running attack when we need a yard or two. Turner just AINT getting it done anymore on those situations. Either the play is taking too long to develop or Turner has gotten SLOW. Not sure,but at LEAST Bradley wrote of what we need to FOCUS on to improve. Oh well……………8-1 is still kicking butt
Falcant's
November 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
C. Tampa Ironworse … Know what’s good about Atlanta….No….Really…. About the same as New Orleans, with more people(thugs)….
K
November 11th, 2012
10:47 pm
Mike Smith=Bobby Cox
moboman
November 11th, 2012
10:48 pm
This is not GLOOM AND DOOM Columbus. But no one can ignore the fact that something needs to be fixed in the running game. I gotta believe that the easiest way to go about it is to get Turner on some Slimfast in order to make the most of what we’ve got. We’re still 8-1 and thats damn good, but we have to be able to punch it in on 1st and goal.
FALCON4LIFE
November 11th, 2012
10:49 pm
SAINTS4SHO, do you know what 4-5 means!? Probably not since you are most likely a product of the NO public school system!
GO FALCONS!!!
Man
November 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER
HE IS THE WEAK LINK ON THIS TEAM!!!!!!!
WE NEED A PREMIER OR EFFECTIVE RUNNINGBACK TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP!!!!!!!
JooJoe
November 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
Yes, Yes, Yes! Trash us if you want to but we got your number. Atlanta Chokers ain’t got diddly squat!! You won’t be in the Crescent CIty for the Super Bowl unless you got tickets!! GO Niners, Bears, Packers!! We cannot do that to a good team. You are blowing your chances with Sean Payton out. More of the same in Atlanta for the rematch!!!
jaz
November 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
Since Turner is going to be here the rest of this season, and we are going to go with what we have, I vote for more of Snelling and Quizz. All last year I suggested letting Turner go, but Mike Smith sees something there that I don’t. How did the saints get that stable of horses they’ve got? Mike, at least ask Turner not to pause when he reaches the line, please?
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
FALCANTS suuuuucccckkkk!!! Yall are in trouble. First half of the season, 8-0, second half 3-5 at best!!! LMBO! every year yall Falcants find a way to lose. Yall will never get respect in the league losing games you all are favored to win!!!! To be the man, you gotta beat the man. And I must say the one time undefeated leader as in record of the NFL, you all just got beat!!! WHO Dat!!!! Time to hit the panic button, yall been skating by for weeks and this blemish was on the horizon! Most dangerous team in the NFL! The Saints are starting to pick up the pace after a sluggish start!!!!
The 'Blo
November 11th, 2012
10:53 pm
This didn’t start today. This pattern has been going on for several years now. There is no rule in the NFL that says every Falcon game has to come down to the very last play. No rule that states you can’t beat the Saints 62 to 7 with Falcon Dick Shiner, of all people, as your quarterback.
Falcant's
November 11th, 2012
10:54 pm
11-2 since 2006…////Not bad….///
Man
November 11th, 2012
10:55 pm
OH YEA ONE MORE THING
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER!!!
ALL YOU PEOPLE MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIM WILL EAT YOUR WORDS WHEN WE GET CRUSHED IN THE PLAYOFFS BECAUSE THEY SHUT DOWN THE PASSING GAME!!!!!
Lesa
November 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
Everybody’s blaming the offense, but this game shouldn’t have been that close. Where was our defense today? Brees had all day to throw the ball and he picked us apart. And they made huge gains against us on the ground. The tackling (or lack thereof) by the Falcons on that long TD run was abysmal. Where was the innovative game planning Nolan showed versus the Broncosin game 2? Our D was playing tough and getting lots of turnovers earlier this season, but the past few games they’ve looked flat to me. I don’t put this loss on the offense; I blame the defense. I love my team, but I am majorly p o’d at them for letting the Aints be the ones to break our unbeaten record. Having to listen to Brees say, “We own this division” pre-game, then watching them prove it has made me sick to my stomach. Ugh!!
sb
November 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
The Saints have 4 running backs that are better than anybody we have…why can’t we get Ivory, or Thomas ?
FALCON4LIFE
November 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
Again SAINT4SHO can u add!? Even if we did finish 11-5 (per your NO public school math) we would be in playoffs and you would be still selling beniets in the French Quarter!
GO FALCONS!!!
GB's Hamburgers
November 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Heard It All Before
November 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
TD’s OL Draft Picks… Mike Jhonson,Garret Reynolds,Sam Baker,Joe Hawly,Andrew Jackson Are Pathetic,Not 2 Mention Other Of His Draft Day Bust… Dominique Franks,Chris Owens,Akeem Dent,Kory Mier,Robert James,Etc… It’s Seems Like Every Since The Vick Situation,All We Do Is Draft “Choir Boys”,We Don’t Take “Risky” Players W/Huge Upside,Out Of Fear Of Bad Public Relations… Well Let Me Tell U,Other Teams Draft These “Fringe” Players,Set Up A Support System,And Those Players Thrive!!!… Until We Stop “Red Flagging” Half Of College Football,Because The Player Smoked Pot,Has A Speeding Ticket Or Had A Bar Fight,The Rest Of The NFL Will Continue 2b Light Years Ahead Of Us In Toughness,Alone!!!
moboman
November 11th, 2012
11:00 pm
SB – we dont really know that they have 4 better than ours. Our other two backs (Snelling, A Smith) never get a chance.
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
11:00 pm
FALCON4LIFE; I would be cautious talking about school systems if I were you lol! Isn’t Georgia still or was investigated and found guilty for a cheating scandal?! And public, private, charter or parochial school doesn’t matter… flaws and mistakes have been found in all of them. Don’t get mad because your Falcants bubble just got burst. And tell that loud mouth Roddy White, yeah, we down here in the N.O. don’t like the Falcants or the ATL neither. The feeling is and forever will be mutal!!!! 4-5 is not 8-1, however, strength of schedule says the Saints actually played some real contenders the first half of the season compared to the FALCANTS!!! Good luck the rest of the season FALCON4LIFE!!!
GB's Hamburgers
November 11th, 2012
11:02 pm
You got it right. It’s an offensive line problem, so you have to allow for that. Instead of running at guard of tackle move it out a bit where there are fewer bodies and the guy can bounce it out if he needs to. We should keep them honest …. pass when they expect a run and run when the expect a pass. I’ve seen some of that this year but not today in the red zone.
FALCON4LIFE
November 11th, 2012
11:04 pm
Ummm….we play the same teams Saint4sho. Please see your losses in week 1-3 and week 8! We manhandled those teams ( that means all wins)!
GO FALCONS!!!
moboman
November 11th, 2012
11:05 pm
Ease up Saints fans. Yall played as tough as we expected. We knew what Brees and Co. would bring today and expected nothing less. WE had the chance to get a road win today and didnt get it done when we should have. This discussion is about what we didnt do.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
11:10 pm
Don’t you just love all these Nostradumba$$’s that can predict the future so well. The Falcons have not made it to the playoffs yet but they’ve already lost their first game and are out! I admit they have problems, but let’s give them a chance to work them out. Maybe we get some of our injured back and get better. It is obvious that the Falcons did not play their best today and the Aint’s barely beat them and were lucky to do so.
Heard It All Before
November 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
TD’s Drafts In General Have Stunk Up The Joint Besides Matt Ryan,Julio Jones,Sean Weatherspoon,Curtis Lofton,J. Rodgers & Corey Peters… Other Teams Find Hiding Gems In The 4th Round On Down ((As Well As Undrafted FA)),We Can’t Evan Find Practice Squad Worthy Players… Are We Under Paying Our Scouting Department???… TD’s Drafts Have Been Horendous For Years,Which Explains Our Lack Of Depth @ OL,WR,LB,CB & TE!!! Every1 Is Bashing Turner,How Bout Acknowledging Our Terrible Run Blocking & Dimmitrioffs Draft History Folks,It Starts @ The Top… Mike Smith,Kotter & Milan Just Coach The Cotton Soft Players That Dimmitrioff Provides,U Can Bet They Don’t Have A J. Walking Ticket,If He Drafts Them!!!
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
11:13 pm
SAINTS4SHO
“the feeling is mutal.” What’s that you were saying about schools?
Chris
November 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
Lesa is right, D was more to blame. No pressure on Brees as usual. Nice as it would have been to beat them in NO, let’s send ‘em packing at our place. Can’t wait for the Brees press conference when aints miss the playoffs.
anthony
November 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
We are still 8 and 1 and I’ll take it any day. Glass half full here. i have all the confidence in our coaches that we will get it fixed. This team wasn’t built on a wing and a prayer.
Falcon Old Timer
November 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
I’ve been watching the Falcons since they moved into Fulton County Stadium – and one thing has remained constant over the years since 1965 and it’s spelled the same way now as it was then – CHOKE. If they’ve ever been consistant – it’s that they’ve been consistantly bad as evidenced by their over all record since they’ve been in the league. Why hold out hope? It’s much earier on the psyche to write them off as perennial losers and be emotionally gratified when the win than to expect them to win – even against the leagues worst defense – and be disappointed once again.
The game was lost early last week when White started mouthing off about going undefeated and then Brees in the Saints in their pre-game huddle proclaimed to his team mates that the “Saints owned this league”. The thing is – Brees and team was able to back it up while only part of the Falcons (everyone but the offensive and defensive lines) considered this to be a “real” game. The Falcons should be embarrased – but they’ll not be and figure this was bound to happen sooner or later. The Saints have now won 11 of the last 13 games between themselves and the Falcons. They not only own the league – they own the Falcons!
Georgia Saint
November 11th, 2012
11:17 pm
The Saints have the Falcons number. Just be happy you don’t play them 16 times a year. The Falcons better hope the Saints dug themselves to big of a hole and does not make the playoffs. No Super Bowl for the Falcons.
lees
November 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Despite the offensive line not being able to handle business today and the absence of a pass rush, what might have happened if Asante Samuel had kept his trap shut and come off the field like a real matured pro after his interception???????????? He could have come over to the sideline and then showed the whole crowd his out of control alpha male BS.
Between him and Roddy White tweeting…….. For God’s sake, just go out and play the game like a true respected pro.
Outsider
November 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
As an outsider, how is this game a rivalry game, Saints winning 11 of the last 13 games make this far from a rivalry. I guess the Birds forgot they are suppose to win sometimes to make this a rivalry.