As for the Falcons’ game itself: It was pretty crummy, too
The Falcons stopped Doug Martin the first time around, but not the second. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
This post is an adjunct to the game column, which can be found by clicking here.
1. Offensively, the Falcons were offensive. Matt Ryan’s longest completion — in 44 throws — was for 28 yards, this against an opponent that ranked last in the NFL in pass defense. Their longest run was a 17-yard touchdown burst by Michael Turner, who finished with only 18 yards on six carries. They converted three of 14 third downs. They managed but 278 total yards, their second-lowest yield of the season, and 17 points, a seasonal low. Good thing they played the starters, eh?
2. Defensively, they weren’t much better. The Falcons didn’t muster a sack. They intercepted only one pass by Josh Freeman, who’d thrown eight in the past two games. After holding the smallish rookie Doug Martin to 50 yards in a narrow victory in Tampa on Nov. 25, they saw him rush for 142 yards on 28 carries Sunday, including a rather galling 40-yard touchdown ramble. Good thing they played the starters, eh?
3. About his contingency plans for those starters, coach Mike Smith was vague. It wasn’t clear whether his plan was to stick with them for the duration or to lift them if the Falcons got a lead, which they didn’t. “I can’t say (he’d have played them) all the way through,” Smith said, and then: “If we felt the game was won, then we would make the decision to take players out.” What happened was close to a worst-case scenario: The Falcons played their starters, lost anyway and saw John Abraham and Dunta Robinson injured.
By Mark Bradley
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196 comments Add your comment
truthbtold
December 31st, 2012
10:22 am
This was another opportunity to show that our coaching staff still doesn’t have any idea how to use our offense. With all of the weapons we have, playing this late in the season against the worst defense in the league, this is all of the scoring we could muster playing at home? The entire league sees that all you need to do is put a little pressure on Matt Ryan and you neutralize the Falcons. Getting hot at the right time is the key to winning a Super Bowl, not win/lose, win/lose. Check out the Broncos!!!!
Buddy Landel
December 31st, 2012
10:25 am
Ted M
December 31st, 2012
10:05 am
Maurice Jones-Drew is 10 times better then MT so is Rashard Mendenhall for the Steelers
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MJD has been hurt. I think he was referring to the other Jax backs. Mendenhall of 2012 may be about the same as Turner, but 10x better he’s definitely not. He was de-activated for a few games this year due to fumble-itis and is 3rd on their depth chart
MontanaDawg
December 31st, 2012
10:30 am
How does a supposed ‘Championship calibre’ team lose to one of the worst teams in the entire league in this fashion – and with all the starters playing? I’ll tell you how: it’s the Falcons. The regular season schedule wa pretty weak overall and the Birds skated by. Now they assume they will coast to the finish. Best record in the league means nothing right now. Everyone is back to 0-0 once the playoffs start. We are just lucky to get a bye next week. Pitifully embarassing performance. And the folks wonder WHY most Falcon fans are non-believers.
Kurtis
December 31st, 2012
10:30 am
If Mike Smith played to win the game yesterday, like he said he was gonna, then be prepared for another one and done in January. But, if yesterday meant nothing, like we all know it REALLY didn’t mean a thing, then WHY, WHY, WHY leave ALL of the starters out there for the entire game, risking devastating injuries in a MEANINGLESS game? BTW, I sure hope JA55 is OK.
I sure don’t understand what I saw yesterday. I saw a team with the best record in the entire NFL get dominated, AT HOME, by a divisional opponent coming in on a 5 game losing streak. WTH??
I’ve always been a Mike Smith supporter, i think he’s a good man, but if we flop in the playoffs AGAIN, Arthur Blank needs to seriously consider going in a different direction.
Blue Flame
December 31st, 2012
10:32 am
Our right guard (Kontz?) needs help on every passing play. Where’s Garrett Reynolds (cringe)?
Also consider…Ryan has no playoff wins. Griffin, Wilson, or Ponder will have one when they come to the Dome.
Still, I’m optomistic and expect the Falcons to win.
Cajun1
December 31st, 2012
10:32 am
Boids can’t beat the cellar dwellers. Super Bowl, BWAHAHAHA !
Who dat !
Ted M
December 31st, 2012
10:35 am
Perhaps the Falcons will have one of their signature late game miracle comebacks…its been a while since they’ve had one of those.
NORRIS CHUCK
December 31st, 2012
10:35 am
The problem i see is both the defensive and offensive line. Michael Turner 6 carries for 18 yards is un-acceptable. Then, they dont have a pass rush. So come Jan 13th, somebody is gonna take advantage of either or both the offensive blocking or the lack of a pass rush.
ONE AND DONE FOLKS
Cornbread Earl
December 31st, 2012
10:39 am
Let’s make this clear the Giants wasn’t the great team everybody thought they were.Of all the NFC teams that made the playoffs, guarantee you one thing they all wish to play the Falcons because of our weak coach!
Roger
December 31st, 2012
10:43 am
Running Turner is worse than having Ryan spike the ball(lose a down without a loss of yardage).
Forget the “we have to keep the defense honest” BS. If we threw the ball deep each time a normal M Turner run was called, I am sure we could get a much better outcome(and maybe a few touchdowns).
Not sure its all Turners fault as I think we have a run blocking O-Line nearly as bad as the Eagles(and pass protection not terribly better), but when you know your running gam SUCKS, why keep doing it?
And why dont they find more ways to get J Jones involved, via screens, reverses, sweeps etc.
Mike
December 31st, 2012
10:43 am
Yep falcons a lot like uga. Played a soft schedule. When they meet a top team they lose. Funny how uga whiners complain about uf’s bowl when uf played a scheule much harder than ga. 5 top 15 teams reg season versus 2 for ga. seems fair to me for uf to go. Does anyone really think ga would have beaten fsu lsu and tex am? That’s what i thought.
If the falcons were a college team, they would be in a bcs bowl but not the nc playoff–using next years model. Cause they just aren’t a reliable group. San Fran and GB are both head and shoulders above them. that is obvious. If the falcons are lucky enought to beat seattle minn or wash, then will certainly get pasted by gb or sf. with the idiot coach we have, that’s a given.
Dwayne C
December 31st, 2012
10:45 am
I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments. Obviously some folks believe the Atlanta Falcons can win two playoff games and get to the Super Bowl. I don’t.
Same issues keep popping up with this team. The Falcons are “one and done” again in the playoffs. Look for another article from owner Arthur Blank in the AJC recapping a “great” year and offering an apology(of sorts) for the Falcons falling short in the playoffs.
The Atlanta Falcons are well on their way to becoming the Atlanta Braves of the NFL: good regular season team but lousy postseason team.
Stiffneck
December 31st, 2012
10:45 am
How can a team look so good against the Giants and so bad against TB??? I really doubt this team will venture far in the playoffs. But hey, aleast they are better than the ‘birds of old.
Real championship calibre teams...
December 31st, 2012
10:45 am
…like Denver and New England, dispose of lesser teams like, well, like they did yesterday – but not Atlanta, and they get two key players hurt, to boot!
One and done, just like the Braves – and they did not even win their division; good thing they are not in the NCAA’s…
falconsnut
December 31st, 2012
10:49 am
I have no problem with playing the starters, it’s how the starters played that is disturbing. All the other teams we may face are coming in to the playoffs hot, like a team should. Washington has won 9 in a row, Seahawks have won 7 of 8 and mauled the Niners who at least bounced back and beat a lesser team this week like they should. Minn has won 4 in a row and beat the Texans and GB. Then here come our birds stumbling in like Foster Brooks to a Dean Martin roast, losing 2 of their last four. But I will be there, cheering them on and hoping they bounce back and finally win a playoff game.
Jay
December 31st, 2012
10:54 am
Really?xcllent offense? No NE has an excellent offense. 17 points against tb isn’t excellent. And matt ryan is overrated. Packers qb was getting a lot of pressure too but managed 34 points yesterday. He knows how to scramble and make plays. Ryan is a slow footed weak arm patsie. This will be seen again when he throws 2 pics in a game and they get behind 21-3.
Whopper Dawg
December 31st, 2012
10:59 am
If they ran the clock down to 5 seconds because they were scared of getting sacked, TB completing a pass and then kicking a field goal, then we are truly lost. That is the definition of playing not to lose and not having any confidence in your team. And what about the third and one, where we eschewed the run? I would have sent in the jumbo package and run it twice.
If you believe in signs, there are enough of them coming out of this game to think this team isn’t going very far. Can’t run, can’t stop the run, can’t pass rush, can’t pass block is not a good combination in general and certainly in the playoffs.
TDs work on the lines is atrocious, the best players on both lines were here when he arrived, and he has offered up the likes of Hawley, Johnson, Reynolds, Baker, Jerry, Peters and now Konz, marginal players all.
And it shows on the field, and it shows in the coaching staffs decisions. When your coaching staff is afraid to compete due to a fear of a sack, that speaks volumes.
alphadog
December 31st, 2012
11:00 am
The game demonstrated why Atlanta gets no respect, and deservedly so. Champions consistently take out lesser opponents. In spite of their record the Falcons will not be favored against anyone throughout the playoffs, and goodness knows what damage to their legacy will occur with an early exit.
The Dude
December 31st, 2012
11:01 am
Prepare yourselves Falcon Fans! One and done! The Falcons are the most average 13 – 3 team in league history!
Confused but not scared
December 31st, 2012
11:04 am
Ted M – what Buddy Landel said.
I think the doomsayers are inevitable the morning after a performance like that, but I think everyone is delusional if they think we aren’t a better team than MIN, WAS, and SEA, ESPECIALLY at home. I had a feeling we would drop that Carolina game, then a feeling we would bounce back against the Giants. Had the same bad feeling about yesterday, whether or not we “played to win.” Now I have the same good feeling about this divisional game. It’s all situational and what’s going through the minds of our team — they’ll be ready for the “second season,” as Smitty calls it. I’m not predicting anything about NFC Champ. or SB, but I guarantee the Falcons will emerge victorious a week from Sunday.
realitycheck
December 31st, 2012
11:05 am
The regular season is now over and Mike Smith will put his Bobby Cox cape on and we all know what’s gonna happen next. Falcons season ends January 20th at the very latest, and that’s assuming they win on Jan 12th or 13th. Book it!
Falcon Old Timer
December 31st, 2012
11:08 am
From someone who welcomed the franchise to town in 1965 and was a season ticket holder for many years – past experience tells me – One more game – maybe two if they get lucky.
DO NOT GET YOUR HOPES UP WITH THE FALCONS – ANY TIME OF ANY YEAR!!
The ONLY thing they know how to do – and have done consistantly since they became a franchise is CHOKE.
The only time they did make it to the Super Bowl – what did they do? CHOKE! The only fans who hold out hope and think this franchise has what it takes to win on a consistant basis – are the “new” fans who ignore this teams history. Good luck with that. I’m just thankful I no longer live in the Atlanta area where I’ll have to pay for a new facility for these guys.
GameReviewer
December 31st, 2012
11:15 am
The Falcons were saving their BIG PLAYS for the playoffs. They wanted to put this sorry A** performance on TAPE for their playoff opponent to drool over. Just like the Panthers and then Giants game. The only problem was that they let the BUCS beat us in OUR HOUSE. That can’t be allowed even if the game is not important.
Rick James
December 31st, 2012
11:20 am
One and done in the playoffs?
Peter
December 31st, 2012
11:20 am
No pass rush…. a repeat from a few years ago, we get hammered by a very mobile Arron Rogers.
some day we will get a defensive line that can rush the passer, but by then Turner, Gonzales, and White will be gone.
Always a bridesmaid.
Just Asking?
December 31st, 2012
11:22 am
Can anyone see that that Matt needs to start throwing short passes? He used to be great at that but has gotten enamored with throwing the long route. The touchdown bomb will be open if he starts by throwing to the open guy underneath.
Peter
December 31st, 2012
11:22 am
Let’s make this clear the Giants wasn’t the great team everybody thought they were
Let’s make it clear..they can rush the passer, and that is how they beat New England.
Reebok
December 31st, 2012
11:23 am
One & done yet again. This is like watching the Braves under Bobby Cox…the team has enough talent to make it to the playoffs each year but lacks the guts to man up & beat good teams when it has to.
ctfalconfan
December 31st, 2012
11:31 am
As a diehard fan I was not happy with yesterday’s game however looking back on it, it’s the best outcome we could have wanted heading into the play-offs..
If we had rested the starters, win or lose we would be thinking “No big deal, we are the number 1 seed and we’ll be ready in the PO.”
Start the starters and win, same as above, ” we are the best team, etc..”
Start the starters and lose against the sorry bucs and it’s a good slap in the face to this team and their coaches that they need to wake up and work hard over these next 2 weeks otherwise they will be 0-4 in the PO..
Tarryuga
December 31st, 2012
11:31 am
What in the hell was that?!!
Playoffs?!
Right. They looked really ready for’em.
Ummm, Go Falcons?
4DaBirds
December 31st, 2012
11:33 am
I’ve never seen so many dumbasses that think they know football. I’ve never seen so many naysayers predicting the demise of the Falcons. JUMP OFF THE BANDWAGON! You are the ones stinking it up with gloom, doom and idiotic rants.
d-man
December 31st, 2012
11:36 am
Quite a few on here have blasted the Falcons offense for the loss yesterday. They certainly did their share (especially the O=line) to contribute to the loss. However, after the Falcons intercepted and the offense scored, the defense turned right around and let the Bucs score almost immediately and easily. Then there was the blocked punt on special teams, so this was a TOTAL team loss. I think the biggest negative from the game (aside from possible injuries) was it once again showed the potential opponents that if they can dominate our offensive line then they can win the game. No big secret I guess but it probably makes game planning a lot easier.
WhatNoOneWillSay
December 31st, 2012
11:37 am
I don’t think the Falcons will do well in the playoffs. And the reason is the people who run the Falcons are simply not very smart.
Point 1- Smith and Blank have never understood that the playoffs are like playing a different sport. During the regular season teams are not playing at MAXIMUM effort and you get the luxury of playing mediocre teams. This is where Smith’s no turnovers / low penalties create a lot of wins.
But in the playoffs there are only good teams who REALLY want to win and the old Falcon predictability made that easy for opponents to do.
Point 2 – Smith WILL get conservative in the playoffs because that is who he is. Smith is a very nice man who has never understood that ALL great battles are won with boldness, NOT with being conservative. Washington attacked the British when they least expected it. MacArthur attacked an Inchon which was a huge risk.
The Falcons are a very good football team with a very good QB and lots of talent.
But “Management” playing the starters in a meaningless game because “resting” the players in previous years shows they are too dumb to understand why they failed before and so risked the entire season.
What if Ryan had been hurt for the rest of the season. That alone would have meant end of season.
What if Abraham had broken his ankle? Why not let Assante rest that injured arm?
Again, Smith is a nice guy, I like him but he can’t be very smart in that he kept MaLarky for four seasons. Not only did MaLarky’s predictable offense spell doom for the Falcons against good teams, look what MuLarky did for Jacksonville. Jacksonville went from 5 and 11 to 2 and 14.
In their 18 year history this was their worst season (they were 1 and 7 at home).
Boldness wins and intelligence wins. Smith does not have boldness and playing already injured starters in a meaningless game shows real stupidity.
JSS
December 31st, 2012
11:39 am
“Lowly Rams” you can tell who never watches the other games in the league… The Rams get off the field on 3rd downs… Still, the Seahawks ran the ball down their throats, only two teams have done that to them, the Vikings and the Seahawks… Keep on dreaming… It is finally the playoffs!!!
mock1
December 31st, 2012
11:40 am
The lack of pressure from a pass rush and no running game will lead to another early exit i am afraid,but I hope they can Rise Up!…SMH!!!
Finklestein
December 31st, 2012
11:47 am
The Falcons played like a bunch of girls. Did you see the Green Bay-Minn. game yesterday? Both teams played great. Now that’s how teams should play and look going into the playoffs.
Finklestein
December 31st, 2012
11:47 am
Man up Falcons! Man up!
optimistic
December 31st, 2012
11:48 am
The o line was wooped, but it was a meaningless game. Divisional opponents are built to match up against the Atl – NO type offenses, 3 losses against division, none against anyone else. I sure hope TD is scouting hard for a power RB. Another Alfred Morris type in the late rounds would be nice.
Anyway 2 weeks and forward is all that matters for the birds. Go get ‘em.
ctfalconfan
December 31st, 2012
11:50 am
We can beat MN, SEA or WAS so don’t everyone start panicking….
We will host GB or San Fran in the Championship!!
Now, whether or not we can beat those 2 team i a different story..
Go Falcons!
jbill
December 31st, 2012
11:53 am
Pretty Crummy too…is mild for damn right sorry. How do you earn RESPECT playing like crap on both sides of line.
Meaningless—without significance or purpose…then why play the damn game and charge for it..Tell that to the Buc’s who played their a@@ off to win. Senseless.yea right.
You play the game to win…every game!
Happy New Year all fans, reporters and good Americans.
truthbtold
December 31st, 2012
11:54 am
Why have the Falcons not picked up another defensive end? We cut Ray Edwards, and have a spot on the roster open and money to pay a top player. Lord knows we need one! The brain trust on this team just defies logic. Why do we keep taking the opening kickoff at the beginning of games when we obviously need to have the kickoff to start the second half because we play so tight? Does it take a genius to figure out that this team has a severe handicap at play calling? The defense demonstrated effective play calling against Denver early in the season, and hasn’t used that tactic since. I don’t think we know what a blitz is? And every team in football sees that if you continually rush Matt Ryan, you completely shut down the Falcons. They become a 3 and out team. Special teams hasn’t scored all year, and the defense still has fundamental tackling issues. Get it together Falcons – It’s playoff time!!!!!
teetyme
December 31st, 2012
11:54 am
Why did we let the last minute or so go without using the three time outs? Stranger things have happened. Smith is so erratic, always changing his mind or not…who knows what he is thinking. Time for him to go. I cant see the Falcons winning anything. We have absolutely no pass rush, no stunts, no kick blocking ability, we never get close to a block. Cant stop the bull rush when we punt. Have no special teams coach who can set up returns, etc, etc, etc. You think we’ll win…good luck. And I have been a Falcon fan from the beginning. Sickening. We have hit a plateau, just like we did with Leamon Bennett.
ctfalconfan
December 31st, 2012
11:56 am
jbill – The bucs played their @$$ off since this was their Super Bowl..lol..
- They were playing and coaching as if their livelyhoods depended on it which they did…
david
December 31st, 2012
12:01 pm
Confused but not scared,
You really think the Patriots’ RBs are worse than Ryan? Have you seen Stevan Ridley play this year? He has 1,300 yards, is averaging 4.5 per carry, and has 12 touchdowns. Please don’t tell me Turner is having a better year than that.
This team is majorly flawed in two areas (they’re flawed in more than two, but these are the biggest weaknesses): Offensive line and running back, in that order. And the offensive line, unfortunately, is very flawed on the interior — Konz and McClure are getting pushed around, which doesn’t allow Ryan to step up in the pocket, and puts the pressure right in his face on every snap. Having watched what Arizona, Oakland and TB did to us, I can’t imagine a team not just sending people up the middle at us — it’s very effective, and it doesn’t matter how good Roddy, Tony and Julio are if we don’t have time for the routes to develop.
jbill
December 31st, 2012
12:04 pm
I believe the Falcons can win..the players just did like MARK kept preaching its Meaningless and didn’t show up! Coach Smith had said all week we’ll play to win..well the players didn’t get the memo!
jbill
December 31st, 2012
12:06 pm
ctfalconfan..I agree…they deserved to win.
ctfalconfan
December 31st, 2012
12:07 pm
truthbtold – the team is still paying for Edwards every though they cut him.. Also once the season starts there aren’t extra DE (who could make an impact) bagging grocies that you can just go sign.
Teetyme – Agree, I was beside myself as to why we weren’t calling our 3 time outs at the end of the game, then force TB to kick a FG. We would get the ball back with ?? 20-30 sec. down by 8. I know the odds of us scoring and getting a 2 pt conversion would be slim but it’s a shot.
Same at the end of the half. We run the clock down to 5 sec? Why? We could have called a TO with 30-40 sec left try to get a first down then we would have time to move into FG range or try a shot or 2 into the endzone.
Smitty on 4th downs last year. The 2 point conversion he didn’t go for that cost us the game in New Orleans this year.
Also I HATE 3RD AND ONE OR TWO and we ALWAYS ine up in a shot gun formation with no back in the backfield?? Ryan is no threat to run so you are telling the defense 101% chance of a pass, even if you are going to pass put a RB in just to keep the defense guessing.
I like Smitty but he needs to step up big time if we are to reach te next level.
falconsOdor
December 31st, 2012
12:15 pm
This team lacks killer instinct…unfortunatley this looks alot like 2010 with a one and done…hopefully in the offseason some changes will be made…starting with mike smith having some fire in his belly and get a real running back…turner is washed up..
Buddy Landel
December 31st, 2012
12:22 pm
JSS
December 31st, 2012
11:39 am
“Lowly Rams” you can tell who never watches the other games in the league… The Rams get off the field on 3rd downs
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Yes, the lowly Rams. They had a losing record including losses to teams like Miami and NYJ. Apparently, they get off the field on 3rd down on OFFENSE too much.
senior falcon
December 31st, 2012
12:23 pm
I realize that Kontz was drafted as a center but if he is to play guard(or even center)he is going to have to put on AT LEAST 20 lbs of solid muscle. He has been run over more times than road kill on 285.