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
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Let’s not split hairs over misspelled words now “Where’s the defense?” I’ve seen plenty of errors on this page. But fact of the matter is, at the end of the day, the Saints won and the FALCANTS loss. End of story….Matty “Ice” Ryan melts again when the heat and pressure is on. And the millions spent on defensive players did not fair too well today people!!! Furthermore, I do not call being up by 11 points going into the fourth quarter barely beating anyone. Let alone a missed TD opportunity. This score could have been worse. Thank our kicker for giving us three points instead of one point after we would have scored a touchdown in the third quarter. My work here is done! Hey best of luck you Dirty Birds against Arizona!!! Maybe it will be a better outcome for yall loser next week! LMBO! Who Dat!!
oh brother!
November 11th, 2012
11:26 pm
who cares…just be glad you don’t have to live around the cesspool that is new orleans.
meg
November 11th, 2012
11:26 pm
Assante Samuel should be benched for that penalty. Belicheck never took that crap from him and Smith needs to stop it NOW. Samual is not a team player, he is so full of himself. For every good play, he has at least one huge screw up. That’s why he is no longer a Patriot. Michael Turner and the O line?? What a joke. Turner can’t find enough players to run into right in front of him. Cut him loose. What a waste of money.
Bird
November 11th, 2012
11:30 pm
Can’t get a friggin yard! This team is a fraud!
Bird
November 11th, 2012
11:31 pm
All the cesspool people are moving to Atlanta!
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
November 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
@Eric C. Think carefully…..we are a sub-par 500 team that your superior birds couldn’t beat, what does that say about the Failcant’s. It says we own your asses no matter our record. Who’s your daddY?…..BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Matt Ryan
November 11th, 2012
11:41 pm
I’m tired of this crap. Can someone please get me a decent running back?!
E Love
November 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
Are you kidding me? We can not get one yard. We just let a dangerous team back in the playoff race and I am not confident that we can handle them in the playoffs. We should have eliminated this team today. Mark my word we are going to see this team in the playoffs.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
11:46 pm
Is everyone done over reacting?
SAINTS4SHO
November 11th, 2012
11:47 pm
Tiffany
November 11th, 2012
11:49 pm
UNDEFEATEFD TO INCOMPLETED!!! Don’t you just HATE that the Saints took that perfect season away? Tell Roddy White maybe he should stop running that big mouth of his and bring it to the field! WHO DAT
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
11:56 pm
Blank needs $ for a new stadium. Please contribute.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 12th, 2012
12:00 am
Lol @ Aints fans.
We are sill gonna win the division and make the playoffs. Yall will still be on the outside looking in.
Harpie
November 12th, 2012
12:02 am
It’s not Turner’s fault! It’a the horrible run -blocking by the offensive line – they suck!
Tiffany
November 12th, 2012
12:03 am
@atlfalconsfan0125…….NO
FalconJim
November 12th, 2012
12:03 am
Michael “The Burner” Turner went down in flames, today!!! 15 yds. on 13 carries? SERIOUSLY??? And against the worst team in the league against the run? Stick a fork in him, people, he’s DONE!!!
And too, unless we get a RB with some speed, we’re one-and-done in the Playoffs, AGAIN. Matt Ryan can’t do it all. You need a running game to keep teams honest.
If I’m Smitty, I get rid of Turner any way I can, and acquire someone, ANYONE, who has some speed, A.S.A.P…..meaning, before next game. Heck, I’d prefer Snelling & Jacquizz right now, and sit Turner’s big fat azz on the bench!!! We’d NEVER miss him, I promise.
GO, YOU DIRTY BIRDS, RISE UP!!!
Tiffany
November 12th, 2012
12:07 am
@atlfalcons0125…..you can win the division….and make the playoffs…..but the question is will you win a Superbowl? I mean you haven’t yet…so call us aints all you want….FAILCANS!
Cpt Kirk in Arkansas
November 12th, 2012
12:09 am
Despite all the success in the Smith Dimitroff era, success in the postseason aint happening until those in the organization responsible for player personnell decisions can evaluate defensive talent. Ive said this before but Ill reiterate:
Who in their right …**cin mind drafts Peria Jerry when a Clay Matthews or BJ Raji is avialable..
Who in their right mind allows a Julius Peppers free agent to end up elsewhere, especially after wintessing him chase Micheal Vick around the Ga Dome..
Who’s drfinkin this cool aid when rhese decisions are made.. The list of All Pros this so called “professional football” Falcons so-called mangle-ment “Experts allows to slip through their fingers would fill a wing in the Smithsonean…
Super Bowls or playoff wins aint happening until they can effectively select the right players on both sides off the Ball
One hit with a Julio Jones, doesnt outweigh a half dozen misses with others. Its great that they attempted to bolster the ineffective run bllocking O line by drafting O linemen high on the list..but other than Konz, are both starting and are both difference makers…havent seen it.
I cannot imagine who Dimitroff & Co will attempt to obtain as Turners replacement.. We need a big 230 lb bruiser with speed or a system of backs by commitee aka the ASints and Giants..
Are ya listening Dimitroff?????? or is another one n done in the playoffs or a series of them OK w you
It aint with the rest of us..
You’re sposed to be a personnell professional..
How bout acting like one??? How bout some urgency?? some insight as to what this tgeam nees??
Or if regular season wins over sub ‘500 teams defines your notion of success well then Im way off base considering the expectations of this fan base.
Get your act together n do your job I find it in..e..cusable to let a free agent like Perppers slip away considering our anemic pass rush
ATL
November 12th, 2012
12:10 am
I like my Falcons but Roddy White needs to shut up!!!
Can we get rid of him? He talks to much! The Saints played ball. They never talk crap about opposing teams. They let their play speak for them.
Roddy Shut up! Learn to catch the ball. Practice more and shut up!!!
1lovefalcons20
November 12th, 2012
12:11 am
a loss against the worst and dirtiest team in the league??you kiddin me ..cant get in from the 1 yard line?ryan should have took it in…hey aint fans YOU LIKE THE AINTS SO MUCH WHY DO YOU LIVE IN ATLANTA INSTEAD OF YOUR URINE AND VOMIT SMELLIN CITY ???
Ed Stone
November 12th, 2012
12:17 am
Thank God the Falcons finally lost a game. I know MB was spazzing over all of the winning. He couldn’t wait to spew out one of his negative columns. Heck, he even spewed out negativity after a win. His dribble sometimes makes me miss the racist ramblings of Terennce Moore.
E Love
November 12th, 2012
12:18 am
Felix jones will be on the market next year. Get him in here ASAP next year. As far as this year. Sit turner and let’s go e
With Snelling and quizz the next seven weeks. Lets go dirty birds
BigHittas
November 12th, 2012
12:21 am
last I checked 8-1 was a lot better than 4-5?
Saw in Espn report that DaCoup was crying that there’d be a majority of Ariz fans in the dome next week. He’s starting to sound a little like Ron Mexico. Maybe he could up north and play with Ron’s team. He damn sure don’t tackle well or know how to knock a pass down.
DaCoup, you could even go to Ariz if you don’t like the fans here, that way maybe we could sign a decent safety.
B'Red
November 12th, 2012
12:35 am
Enter your comments here
B'Red
November 12th, 2012
12:39 am
please pick up a running back from some where. I here every week on Sunday about some team who has just pick up a player doing the week who comes in a make positive contribution. Where is Marion Barber what is he doing.
BigHittas
November 12th, 2012
12:44 am
where was 25 today? was he on the field?
I was gonna say I am an old man and I could hit the hole as quick as 33, but the truth is, there was no hole to hit. When D is in the backfield bout the same time you take the handoff that ain’t the fault of the RB!!!
Nola Dat!
November 12th, 2012
12:55 am
You guys just need to suck it up — sore losers! The Falcons gave it their all and clearly can’t beat the best! Hahaha — Happy Thanksgiving!
Leeman Bennett
November 12th, 2012
12:55 am
Rodgers is a good speedy back, but you have to have a heavy power running back that can knock people down for yards.
Bo jackson would have run you over in his day. I see a hesitant and scared running back in Turner.
I appreciate what he has done for the Falcons in the past, but the present is now.
Can snelling be that banger type back?
voodoopriest
November 12th, 2012
12:56 am
Yeah, owners of a Super Bowl Ring.
Mike Dikta
November 12th, 2012
1:14 am
Every team needs a “Refrigerator”!
Reality
November 12th, 2012
1:22 am
Falcons getting all the pressure off their back about “undefeated season” now is a VERY GOOD thing. And 8-1…still the best record in the NFL. And with Chicago losing, Falcons still have homefield and bye thru the playoffs. And the Aints, at pathetic 4-5, still have no chance of making the playoffs.
Cedrick
November 12th, 2012
2:22 am
I don’t even need to read this article to know what’s being said. These are the same sad Atlanta Falcons from last year and the years before it. This team had a chance to put a stamp on this season but again folded to the pressure. Mike Smith still can’t beat a bad New Orleans Saints team!!!!
I must admit I started drinking the Koolaid but thank you Falcons I am now off the juice and see you for what you are “Disappointing”.
Nothing but a playoff win will get me back into the fold of this team again. Anything less than that then we need to look at getting a real head coach to fix these problems that we have been having the last few years. SInce we are not too far off we should attract some good offers.
Falcons #RiseUp
November 12th, 2012
2:24 am
Falcons need to start Antone Smith as RB it’s long due for a switch in the backfield
Moorman
November 12th, 2012
3:17 am
Wow at people trying to blame asante……thats why i hate falcons fans and why the flcons aint never won anything. Lastly, this is the second time smith has showed his redneck tendencies on the sidelines……….
Ex Falcon
November 12th, 2012
4:58 am
The play calling was suspect yesterday and we are in desperate need of a running back. This shows why the falcons are not ready to be an elite team. Great teams make big plays!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saints#1
November 12th, 2012
5:13 am
Falcon punks blow into town and blow out again. Nothing but big talk…woulda, coulda,shoulda,BS. You people people up there ever get tired of that crap. Rivalry..LOL…you have to win once in a while instead being a bitch for the Saints. Falcon are a joke.
Here’s why the Falcons should have gone for two | Mark Bradley
November 12th, 2012
5:42 am
[...] This post is an adjunct of the Falcons-Saints game column, which can be found here. [...]
Samuel
November 12th, 2012
6:00 am
It’s not the running back, how fast do you need to be on the one yard line? The truth is the offensive line is better at pass protection than run blocking. Plain and simple. Also whoever is hot at running back should keep playing. They could try putting Turner and Antone Smith in the back field at the same time, fake it to Turner and let Smith try to get to the edge. Remember Shady Mccoy with the Eagles who beat the Falcons to the outside. Wish list, be able to stop the run consistently, improvement in red zone efficiency and vast improvement in run game.If not you will be one and done in playoffs. Way too many silly penalties and too much show boating after making a play.
RampartStreet
November 12th, 2012
6:05 am
The Saints are 4-5 but 3-1 in their last four games and are just beginning to click. The chaos of the off season for the Saints produced an 0-4 start, but now the team is playing well. It’s a long shot, but the Saints may very well finish 10-6 or even 11-5 and make the playoffs, even though the Falcons are going to be NFC South champs barring a total meltdown. Bottom line, the Falcons didn’t lose to a bad team, the Falcons lost to one of the best teams in the NFL over the past three seasons….just as they have regularly for the past six years.
Willie Stark
November 12th, 2012
6:07 am
The Falcons will make the playoffs, then go out in the first round. Past performance is a predictor of the future, unlike in the financial markets.
Jonathan
November 12th, 2012
6:09 am
The Samuels penalty is being overblown. It was first and 10, not 25. We didn’t make a first down after the turnover, that was the problem (third and 1 of course). Would have just been an easier field goal.
George Burdette
November 12th, 2012
6:18 am
Turner does not hit the hole with any speed or authority. Looks like he is waiting to be tackled. Falcons need a running back with power and speed.
phil
November 12th, 2012
6:40 am
Pathetic losers yesterday. No heart, gutless chokers.
A preview of January yet agin.
Fire someone!
Chip
November 12th, 2012
6:48 am
GET RID OF MICHAEL TURNER !! HE IS WASHED UP AND IS NOT GIVING ANY EFFORT !!
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 12th, 2012
7:34 am
The whole Falcon fanbase keeps asking for Antone Smith, and I have to agree.The only time he gets a chance to run the ball is in pre season games where he does really well. I know Quizz is good but maybe Antone could be better. How do you know if you don’t try?
loel
November 12th, 2012
7:50 am
Turner is not only slow, he is NOT quick. there is a difference. The offensive coordinador also slow and not quick. He should have already known this. The worst teams in the league have better backs. This shows how great Ryan really is. He gets over 400 yards and they know he is going to throw. If you can’t get somebody off the street to replace Turner, then just go ahead and throw it on every down.
pk61
November 12th, 2012
8:08 am
I said 2 years ago they were “a 9-7 team in disguise”. I stick by that today. They’re lucky not to be 6-3.
There’s no way this team that can’t run or stop the run will do much in the playoffs. No chance. They still haven’t addressed the o-line
, problems. I like Rodgers, but he’s too small to be tje go to guy. Turner’s slow, can’t catch. The team is going to end up in a long list of talented underachievers. They’ll probably go 12-4, get a week off, then get punk’d in their first playoff game.
Saints Fan
November 12th, 2012
8:18 am
Well, speaking as a Saints fan, I am very satisfied with this win. But Falcon fans have nothing to hang their head over besides the bitterness of a rivalry loss. You’re still 8-1 and poised to take the division.
Turner’s lost a few steps, but he still put up 100 yards against an NFL defense last week. The O-Line definitely needs work before the Falcons are ready for the playoffs.
But you’ve got a killer quarterback with a stable of good receivers. Ryan is the real deal, and a class act, and will get better in the next few years with good coaching and a good work ethic.
Feeling your pain, but keep your perspective. Saints fans know how frustrating it can be, but you’ve got a guaranteed winning season and a very probable division title.
Permit me to say I just hope you don’t solve the Saints this year, but you’ve got a team worth your support.
RCDubya
November 12th, 2012
8:26 am
The BIrds were definitely good enough to get the job done, but there are some serious problems with the running game. Doesn’t matter whether it’s the O Line or MT, it’s not working and trying to pound the ball inside all day when it clearly isn’t working doesn’t make a lot of sense.
But the Defense shares in this one, too. Virtually zero pressure up the middle on Brees…give him all day to throw and he’ll pick you apart.
turb0
November 12th, 2012
9:08 am
hahahah i love coming here after a loss and watching the wheels fall off. your team is classless and they run their mouths like a bunch of babies. the saints put on a clinic and all your piece of garbage receiver can say is that they gave away the win. i’d say he should stop, but honestly its that kind of mentality and ignorant bs thats gonna push the saints to embarass the falcants in their own house. hahaha bunch of clowns.