Heat Check: Will the Falcons again feel the January chill?
Here's how it was when last the Falcons were the No. 1 seed. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Fort Lauderdale – Owing to the national championship game, our weekly Heat Check emanates from warm environs. We begin, however, with professional football.
FALCONS: It has already started. The No. 1 seed hasn’t yet stuck its toe in playoff waters, and again we’re hearing that it’s out of its depth. The local franchise sits behind five other teams on the odds-to-win-the-Super-Bowl tote board, and it’s even with Seattle, which has to play in the Georgia Dome on Sunday. Technically the Falcons are a two-point favorite over the Seahawks, which is the same tepid betting line the 13-3 Birds faced when playing host to Green Bay two years ago. And they lost that one 48-21. Atmospheric reading: I’ve been saying since August that these Falcons are different. Here’s where they prove me right.
GEORGIA: Won the Capital One Bowl, lost Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree to the NFL, kept Aaron Murray. That latter bit is the biggie, folks. It’s the difference between being picked to repeat as SEC East champs and being tabbed third behind South Carolina and Florida. Atmospheric reading: The schedule does get tougher next season, at least at the beginning, but that had to happen sometime.
GEORGIA TECH: Won the Sun Bowl over the preseason No. 1, and USC receiver Marqise Lee, speaking here Sunday at a press gathering, said he believed the Trojans actually played hard in that game. (”You’re out there playing — why wouldn’t you try to win? It just didn’t work out for us.”) Atmospheric reading: There’s a chance the Jackets will be the preseason choice to win the ACC Coastal Division. Seriously.
HAWKS: Lost three of four last week, and the last outing — a get-a-big-lead-but-wilt-under-pressure home loss to the pesky Celtics — was the most distressing night of a season now in its third month. Atmospheric reading: If the playoffs began today (which they won’t), the Hawks would be the No. 3 seed in the East. This wobble aside, they’ve been very good.
GEORGIA TECH HOOPS: The Jackets were a fairly rousing 10-2 in pre-conference play but were routed at home by Miami in their ACC opener. Atmospheric reading: This will get worse before it gets better. Tech’s next four games include road dates at North Carolina State, Duke and North Carolina.
GEORGIA HOOPS: After starting 2-7, the Bulldogs have won four in a row to draw within sight of .500. Atmospheric reading: This could start to go bad again. Of Georgia’s first five SEC games, three are against ranked opponents (Florida twice, Missouri once).
By Mark Bradley
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129 comments Add your comment
MatthewH
January 7th, 2013
8:17 am
Monday morning first? Not feeling too good about Tech’s ACC part of the schedule, but I like what I’ve seen so far and I do think it will get better.
Goldenrod
January 7th, 2013
8:21 am
Mark – I agree that Georgia Tech WILL win the ACC Coastal division. as well as knock off the Leghumpers in 2013!
We have already defeated the preseason #1 team in the country and Coach Paul Johnson has restored GT as one of the premier teams in the country!
Wreck ‘Em!
Mark Bradley
January 7th, 2013
8:22 am
Kudos, MatthewH.
All I'm Saying Is....
January 7th, 2013
8:38 am
When does the heat rise on Georgia Tech’s hoops coach? Are you telling me that The U is that good in basketball?
Columbus Dawg
January 7th, 2013
8:38 am
Here’s hoping you are right on the Falcons. I have watched with at least one eye closed since they showed up in the sixties. That’s the Tommy Nobis era to all you nubies. Had fun watching the Bartkowski/ William Andrews era, and was embarrassed by the butt whipping administered by the Denver Broncos in their only Superbowl appearance just like everyone else. I have seen a little bit different Falcons team this season as well, but dropping their last game in a very lackluster way did bring back old memories. They may or may not make the big game this time around, but I don’t think it will be because of the Seahawks if they don’t.
Oh yeah, and sorry, but I just can not pull for the Mobile Homers in the BCS, if there is ANY group of people in need of a little humility, it’s that bunch!
crackbaby
January 7th, 2013
8:40 am
Falcons – Git er done!
Jackets – “Significant improvement” is expected.
UGA – Has Aaron Murray improved at QB since his Freshman year?
Hawks – Don’t match up well against the best teams.
GT Hoops – Desperately need better guard play.
UGA Hoops – KCP and the band of unknowns…
ramguy68
January 7th, 2013
8:43 am
I couldn’t watch the Skins-Seahawks game yesterday but I recorded it and just watched it. Seattle has just became the team I despise the most. Their DB’s think they are the toughest guys in the world and do more trash talking and intimidation attempts than any team I have seen this year and that’s saying a lot. I’m not saying they intimidated Washington’s WR’s but they did overmatch them, I don’t think RW, JJ and AG will be so easily manhandled.
royalair
January 7th, 2013
8:53 am
Don’t understand the fascination with Aaron Murray. Considering what UGA loses on defense, they’ll have a hard time stopping Clemson and Carolina early in the year next season…
If Richt starts out 0-2 (again), will Dwag (sic) fans finally admit that the recent “success” was wholly due to scheduling, and not from actual merit?
DawginLex
January 7th, 2013
8:55 am
Will royalair admit that he is a Tech fan pining for any team that can actually beat us since your own team can’t???
markie mark
January 7th, 2013
8:58 am
royalair – you did hear about the SEC championship game right? Georgia lost to Alabama by about 5 yards and/or 5 seconds, right? take you schedule comment and stick it in your ear…..we proved by that game the schedule didnt matter as much as you want to think….
The Hammer
January 7th, 2013
8:59 am
I’m looking forward to another January freeze by the Falcan’ts.
My predictions going into the NFL postseason have all worked out.
The NFC Championship Game will be Packers vs Seahawks.
The AFC Championship Game will be Patriots vs Broncos.
The Patriots will win the Super Bowl over the Packers.
Macon Fan
January 7th, 2013
8:59 am
If the Sea Chickens watch ESPN at all this week they will come to the Dome believing that they cannot possibly lose and they will be overconfident. They may leave half of their starters at home. Because, as you may have heard, the Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs in the Smith – Ryan era.
markie mark
January 7th, 2013
9:00 am
“We have already defeated the preseason #1 team in the country and Coach Paul Johnson has restored GT as one of the premier teams in the country!”
Goldenrod, are you kidding me? Your team had to ask for a waiver to just be eligible to play in the dang game….Premier teams? where the hell do you rank everyone else? Good God, son, there’s being loyal, and then there’s being….you…..
morn
January 7th, 2013
9:01 am
Until the Falcons get a running back or change their play calling, not straight up the middle every time, they will struggle. Jones and White need to work on catching footballs throughout the games too and not just in the first and fourth quarters.
Eugene Robinson
January 7th, 2013
9:02 am
The Falcons will win the Superbowl. Bank on it!
juvenal
January 7th, 2013
9:07 am
no defense till the last 6 qtrs., a QB who won 1 close game is gone, WRs now with a year experience, VT & CU at home(?), we still played the ACC champ to one score-how are we not contenders, esp. with 2 teams in our division on probation?
juvenal
January 7th, 2013
9:15 am
happy new year, Lex-you lose a lot of D……..
Gracie
January 7th, 2013
9:18 am
Doesn’t anyone else remember the mess in 2010 right before the Falcons game against the Packers? Snow, ice, nobody moving anywhere – including players not getting to practice. That alone is a HUGE difference compared to this year. They couldn’t focus then, and this year should/BETTER be different.
Freddie Blassie
January 7th, 2013
9:20 am
Murray is a good quarterback and I am sorry that he’ll be back at Georgie next year.
I think the Bees will use this bowl win to have a great off season, spring and 2013 season. I’m looking forward to seeing Thomas and Lee play at QB and how the defense progresses.
Dwayne C
January 7th, 2013
9:25 am
On 1/13/13: Seattle Seahawks 24 – Atlanta Falcons 17
lol
Will
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
I’ll take Mike Nolan vs a rookie QB anyday. I’m sure Nolan has tricks for Wilson. Remember, Nolan confused & beat the Manning Bros. & Brees. Imagine what he will do to Wilson
Tom
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
Markie,
If you had sc schedule last year, you wouldn’t have been in the game. Considering how much bama lost from their 2011 seaon and you still couldn’t beat them with your best team in ages, that says a lot. Now with an average defense, uga will revert back to ho hum.
Confused but not scared
January 7th, 2013
9:31 am
crackbaby – Hawks don’t match up well against the best teams?? They’ve beaten OKC on the road, Memphis on the road, the Clippers, the Pacers, and others. The only top team they can’t match up with is the Heat, but no one can match up with the Heat!
Hawks problem is complacency when they get a lead — shows lack of veteran leadership to help them keep the foot on the gas. No matter what, this year is shattering our “rebuilding” expectations…
JB
January 7th, 2013
9:31 am
Tech has just become delusional since beating a quarterbackless and “bored” USC team who opted for pizza rather than even eat with Tech. USC was embarrassed to be at that game with Tech. Don’t know where the 7 or 9 Tech starters returning on defense are going to find speed and talent between now and next year. Vad Lee will be an upgrade I’ll admit. 8-4 tops.
brad
January 7th, 2013
9:32 am
It’s not just who you play. It’s when they appear on your schedule. UGA had a very soft schedule compared to sc and fla. Now ga adds clemson and lsu. That alone equals at least 2 reg season losses with all the defensive vacancies. And gt will certainly be much improved with lee at qb.
2013 uga 9-3
Confused but not scared
January 7th, 2013
9:37 am
And re Falcons – WE GOT THIS. Let the Worldwide Leader and its group think sheep jump on the Seattle bandwagon. Meanwhile, our guys will fly under the radar (as a 13-3 no. 1 seed) and come in blazing on Sunday. Seahawks needed all the breaks and a hobbling RGIII to get by the Skins. ATL is a FAR superior team than the Redskins, and it will show this weekend. Maybe not Giants-level beatdown, but it’s going to be about 27-13.
Simba
January 7th, 2013
9:38 am
“USC was embarrassed to be at that game with Tech.”
Maybe it’s just me, but if they were truly “embarrassed” to be at that game, then they wouldn’t have let that game get away so easily. Imagine how embarrassing that would be, right?
Gritsfed
January 7th, 2013
9:54 am
Mike Nolan is certainly smarter than me and knows more about football in his pinkie than I know about it in my whole life. But I would seriously like to know of a game where Russell Wilson won it with his arm? Point being: Coach Nolan, stack 8 in the box, with Robinson and Samuel on the corners and put DeCoud or Hope out there at high Safety. CHALLENGE Wilson to beat us with his ARM!!! I say he can’t. If he beats with the legs the Falcons will have some problems but I don’t believe the rookie can win a playoff game in the air. Falcons’ have this! Falcons 34-Seasquakers 13.
yellowfever
January 7th, 2013
10:07 am
I’m sure Mike Nolan will have something the rookie Wilson hasn’t seen but that being said if we blitz, and we will, it only does any good if you get to the QB and get him on the ground. Here’s hoping the Falcons are up to the task.
Greg Brezina
January 7th, 2013
10:20 am
On the Falcons, I’m just praying that the offensive line isn’t as soft and out of sync as it looked against Tampa Bay. (Harvey Dahl, I miss you). Ryan does not have the escapability of other premier QB’s and without a run game it could get ugly. On the other side of the ball it will be crucial to get a push from our Defensive front 4. Marshawn Lynch is a beast and is really who makes that Seattle offense go. I’m a 40 year Falcon Fan so I guess I’m a glass is half empty guy by nature.
jerry
January 7th, 2013
10:21 am
Well, they added Samuel after the debacle in NY last year. They have lost Grimes, Lofton. Dahl, Weems, Ovie, and two free agents, Totupu and Manuwai. It seems to me the only way they could be better is because of the new coordinators.
Soshelist Yutopia
January 7th, 2013
10:23 am
1. Aaron Murray could have ended up a late first rounder based on the QB talent coming out this year. Why he would come back to a team that has repeatedly proven itself incapable of winning games that matter is beyond comprehension. Anyway, I guess it works out for everybody but him. GO Dawgs.
2. The Falcons will WIN on Sunday if the 12th man shows up. The ‘Hawks are vulnerable on the road, and the Dome can be a tough place to play (when you don’t have 5,000 or so fat ladies in cheese hats shouting “let’s go pack”) when your fans don’t travel like Green Bay’s, for example.
BUT . . . Falcons fans cannot show up at this game and sit on their hands. I know it’s a 1PM kickoff and it takes time to prime the pump. So here’s what I suggest: get a good night’s sleep on Saturday. No booze; sleep in your own bed. Then, on Sunday morning, take a hot shower, put on clean underwear, and get to the Dome no later than 10AM. And remember, you can’t buy booze on Sunday before 12:30 – anywhere in GA. So plan accordingly. If you’re not cursing at strangers by Noon you have no business being at the game.
As for me and my buddies, we’ll be in Gulch I drinking Maker’s Mark and injecting bath salts the minute they open the gate.
This year is different. Hakeem Dent will have a dozen tackles, and we will hold Marshawn Lynch to under 100 yards.
Like the volume level in the GA DOme, it’s time to RISE UP ATLANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
headley lamar
January 7th, 2013
10:25 am
Maybe it’s just me, but if they were truly “embarrassed” to be at that game, then they wouldn’t have let that game get away so easily. Imagine how embarrassing that would be, right?
Not as embarrassing as being there in the first place
Tech Fan
January 7th, 2013
10:25 am
Congratulations to the Yellow Jackets on a great bowl victory. If the defense continues to play good, Tech will have a very good 2013 season.
Congratulations to Mark Richt and his dogs for a great season and bowl win. I hope they win the SEC in 2013 with one loss to the Yellow Jackets.
Say what
January 7th, 2013
10:26 am
If our offensive line gets manhandled, we’re toast. If they don’t, we win. In other words, Seattle will come after Ryan, and if the line can keep them out of his face and give him time and the room to step into his throws, he will torch them and get that playoff monkey off his back. We need lots of screens and draws to slow down the rush and please don’t start the game with Turner up the middle. Start with a fake to Turner up the middle and a shot to a streaking Julio.
Yellow World
January 7th, 2013
10:27 am
” markie mark
January 7th, 2013
8:58 am
royalair – you did hear about the SEC championship game right? Georgia lost to Alabama by about 5 yards and/or 5 seconds, right? take you schedule comment and stick it in your ear…..we proved by that game the schedule didnt matter as much as you want to think…. ”
It’s kind of easy to show up for ONE game against a quality opponent especially with so much on the line and having most of the team fresh due to an easy schedule, any team with any size could had did what Georgia did in that game, especially against an Alabama team that wasn’t as good as last year’s, so try another using a better logic. .
extremus
January 7th, 2013
10:27 am
The two biggest liabilities for the Falcons all season have been the lack of any consistent running game and a usually non-existent pass rush. If Russell Wilson has all day to stand in the pocket as most opposing QBs have this season, the Falcons will have serious problems; his mobility when pressured makes him even more of a threat. It’s going to be a delicate balance between rushing Wilson and making sure some guys stay back to prevent him from drawing everyone in and then rabbiting out for big yardage.
Unless you’re doing straight north-and-south draw plays (and then only if they actually work for positive yardage) I highly recommend giving the ball to Rodgers over Turner in the running game, but in the end the outcome of this game will hinge on Matt Ryan and the receivers. It is also incumbent upon the Falcons defense to once again find ways to create turnovers and big plays against a Seahawks team that doesn’t make many mistakes.
mister.earl
January 7th, 2013
10:29 am
Exodus
The Falcons cannot fall behind by more than a touchdown on Sunday. If that happens, the halftime rush during the Green Bay playoff game will look like a Sunday stroll in Piedmont Park.
Seattle is playing with house money. The Falcons are expected to win and win BIG. This is not a test of physical matchups or athletic ability. This is final exam whether the Falcons have the mental resolve to not flinch at the first sign of trouble in a meaningful game.
Turnovers happen. Interceptions hurt. The Georgia Dome fans may not be so forgiving with the threat of Personal Seat Licenses being subtracted from their household budgets.
The opponent is not the Seattle Seahawks. It is the ghosts of recent NFL Playoffs past.
DawginLex
January 7th, 2013
10:31 am
yellow world
Florida would have pounded Tech
So would Vandy
So would SC
So would Tenn
So would Mizzou
GS would have given them a 4 quarter war
We will switch schedules with you anytime you want to.
juvenal
January 7th, 2013
10:33 am
JB, 8-4 not good enough to win the acc? fsu QB coming back? who does Clemson lose? the Q is, can we win the acc………
buzzwax
January 7th, 2013
10:34 am
Falcons – Can they run the ball? If no, they lose.
UGA – Will their Defense be as good as this year? No, they will not repeat as SEC East Champs even with Murray. SC and UF look to be even better next year.
GT – USC was just not ‘into the bowl game’ they were just OVERRATED with a POOR Head Coach. If you couldn’t run the ball on GT’s front seven then you are simply OVERRATED. GTs LB’s and DB’s should be decent next year but again will be replacing 2 of 3 DL. Has CPJ recruited well along the DL? Counting on unproven RsFr,So DL in the 3-4 (Gotsis/Kallon/Gamble) with no injuries is not a recipe for success. The DL recruiting pipeline at GT will once again be the teams weakness regardless of who the DC is. UGA’s OL and RB’s will run over GT again. (And I’m a GT fan) But will the GT defense improve over 2012? How can they get any worse? So yes they have a legit shot at the ACC Coastal. Vad Lee or Justin Thomas will be electric on offense as the pipeline of OL recruits is STRONG. Miami has self imposed two bowl bans already. IF by a miracle Miami doesn’t get a third bowl ban (and disqualification from the ACCCG as they were this year) when the NCAA FINALLY comes to a decision, Miami should be the favorite as GT has to play at Miami.
Hawks – NBA – wake me up when its the playoffs.
GT hoops – Guard play wins in college ball, Mfon is not a natural PG. Can Solomon Poole grow up that fast? (was playing HS ball LAST MONTH) 2013/2014 will be the year to see if GT hoops can break into the top third of the ACC. (But SU, Pitt and ND come into the league, man ACC hoops is going to be SICK. Add Louisville in 14/15, CRAZY)
lanier
January 7th, 2013
10:34 am
1 and done falcons. nothing changes
juvenal
January 7th, 2013
10:34 am
maybe not Tenn……
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
10:39 am
The game against Miami was pretty tough to watch. The freshman played like freshman, we couldn’t make any shots, we couldn’t rebound, and we didn’t play and backside defense. It was basically a layup fest for them when they weren’t getting wide open threes. Its not very surprising though with a team this young who hasn’t played that tough of a schedule. This will be a tough stretch but we will get much better.
brad
January 7th, 2013
10:41 am
Who cares what a team is ranked in the preseason. They finished UNRANKED. Do you actually think USC was a good team? They sucked all year and Tech beat them because they are trying to get Lane Kiffen fired. If you think that was a marquis win for Tech, YOU ARE KIDDING YOURSELF. Tech wont win 6 games next year.
Matt
January 7th, 2013
10:42 am
Falcons are dooooomed. Sorry, I want them to win, but the way “the Squawks” are playing and the unimpressive up and down play from the Falcons this season, leads me to believe that they are going to blow it again.
Yellow World
January 7th, 2013
10:43 am
dawginLex, you might be right; however, would Georgia had beaten teams such as Clemson, Florida State or even Virginia Tech (depending on the day) this year??? Georgia got by because of a soft schedule and lucky breaks such as the Florida turnovers and SC’s running back getting injured again. I’m no homer, Georgia Tech was difficult to watch at times this year, but I honestly do not believe that the best overall team from the SEC East was in the championship game this year…. But then again, the East was flawed in many ways this year.
I coined the term "Fandamonium."
January 7th, 2013
10:54 am
The difference in this year’s Falcons is the way they have managed Michael (formerly known as “Burner,” but now prefers to be called “Cheeseburger”) Turner.
With little more than half the touches he had in 2011, he is well rested after the regular season this year.
Naturally Coaches Smith and Koetter advised Turner to save all his energy for the playoffs this year. All those times you saw Turner get the ball in the backfield, look at his watch, check his phone to see if it was his turn on Words With Friends, and then start chopping his feet and surveying the line to see if there were any available holes through which to trot, he was following a well-written script. Coach said “Mike, if it’s not there, don’t force it. We can get the No. 1 Seed with you averaging less than three and a half yards per carry.” And that’s what he did. If he had been out there knocking heads and trying to break the ball outside, the Falcons would have gone undefeated.
So look for Michael to turn up the heat this Sunday. You may not recognize him (so bring a photo of him from a contract year). Mark it: Turner will carry for more yards than Lynch. There, I said it.
RISE UP delusional Facon Fans!!!!!!!!
jo
January 7th, 2013
10:55 am
The Falcons scare me…but if I think coldly about it, thay have won every “must win” game this season. The Seachickens did NOT look impressive yesterday AT ALL. They looked, well, like the falcons when they play lethargically which will not be the case next Sunday,. Falcons 27-19.
Confused but not scared
January 7th, 2013
10:59 am
Matt – you’re right about “up and down play” from the Falcons, but what’s to say this isn’t an “up” week? The BIG difference from previous years is we actually showed up for primetime/spotlight games this year — Broncos, Saints, and Lions — won all 3. Don’t read into that Bucs game. If anything, it provided fuel for the fire.
Mad Max
January 7th, 2013
11:07 am
GT ,Go ahead and get your letter ready for 2013 bowl game!!! lol gezzzzzzz
Indydawg
January 7th, 2013
11:11 am
Falcons- By the time Sunday rolls around, they might just come out like Ralphie in A Christmas Story on the bully– and they’re going to have to win the whole thing in order to get “respect”. Seattle might be in trouble this weekend. The Falcons might have just reached their breaking point. Expect a hard hitting game.
My Dawgs- yeah, they could win the SEC East, but they could also end up eating more chicken on New Years Eve. One thing is certain, Richt will have them underprepared—Again….Murray needs to read “Good to Great”.
TECH- Please win eight games to keep Paul Johnson around…we get that game every year Johnson is a bigger joke than Richt…
Hawks- are LAZY. 3 seed at best. Bounced in the second round. Next.
Tech Hoops- Too early to tell, they need more players. Keep recruiting.
Uga Hoops- no one cares. Tubby Towel anyone? Fox will be gone in another year.
Miam is underrated
January 7th, 2013
11:13 am
YES, MIAMI IS THAT GOOD. They played the 4th toughest schedule in the entire country to date and included a win against a very good Michigan State team. 10-2 coming into the GT game. Miami is a top 25 team flying under the radar. GT could have played better, but Miami is clearly the better team and will surprise folks in the ACC this year (once they get Reggie Johnson back from injury).
Just Wanna Say
January 7th, 2013
11:14 am
@Yellow World
Please, just stop talking. You’re embarrassing yourself. On second thought, I enjoy Tech people making a**es of themselves, so keep going.
CSamuels
January 7th, 2013
11:17 am
You know I have sit around and listen and watch the haters all season.. Fans who claim to be Falcons fans.. It is just simple..Atlanta never EVER tried to really run MT this season because they wanted to prepare MR for the post-season with getting better with deep routes etc.. DK-OC fooled everyone because MT was just suppose too be resting and getting ready for 30 carries per playoff game. DK has 1000S and 1000s of in different packages.. When I think of DK he is just like Sean Payton of the Saints with those types of packages. MR want pass the ball more than 28 times per game.. There is NOTHING wrong with Turner at all.. Atlanta vs. GB NFC Champion game Atlanta revenge Packers and Turner do too them like AD did..and guess what! the falcons also knew they were going too play HAWKs so they have been preparing for two weeks MIke Nolan and DK.. THINK NOW REALLY THE FALCONS CANNOT NOT RUN WOW.. PACKAGES WERE SET-UP TOO DEVELOP PASSING GAMES THIS SEASON AND ALL ALONG THE FALCONS WERE WORKING ON THE RUN GAME IN PRACTICES
Say what
January 7th, 2013
11:24 am
Mark, did you have to use that picture? C’mon man. We’re trying to put the past behind us.
SeahawksEatFalconsForBreakfest
January 7th, 2013
11:26 am
The falcons will do what they do best and choke Sunday. Couldn’t happen to a better team either. I have lived in the Atlanta area my whole life and the falcons have never done anything but give me a reason to laugh at their fans. I’m guessing that as the fans are leaving the dome (which is perfectly fine and doesn’t need to be replaced with a new waste of money stadium) they’ll say next year is the year the falcons win a playoff game. The Seahawks are going to have their way Sunday. Lynch will run for over 125 yards and the D will limit the falcons. Heck matt ryan may even have another awesome day and throw 5 interceptions.
Call It Like It Is
January 7th, 2013
11:35 am
Well as they say, “If you want to be the man, you got to beat the man!” Falcons deserve all the hate. They have never done anything to show otherwise. Do one thing, win that ring, and all the hate goes away. Flub it with Seattle and everyone will say told you so, and it will repeat next year.
D man
January 7th, 2013
11:36 am
I can’t wait until Sunday. This is our year Falcon Fans. BELIEVE!!!
Ho Hum
January 7th, 2013
11:36 am
MB did you get hold of some bad “Eggnog”? Tek winning the ACC Coastal – ha is all I can muster at the moment. If in fact you are correct then the ACC is far worse than I envisioned.
If beating an overrated & uninspired USC is the springboard for next year the techies are in for a rude awakening.
FarTrain
January 7th, 2013
11:37 am
Of course the Falcons lose, it’s in the Atlanta water. It is inevitable. They are following the script just like Washington has done. Washington Nationals caved in, Braves choked. The Redskins lose yesterday, so next it’s the Falcons. Just no way around it. The Falcons will find a way to lose.
Dino
January 7th, 2013
11:37 am
relax—seattle doesn’t match up with the ATL. The falcons win this game easy–the D will dominate. Falcons 27 seattle 10
Ho Hum
January 7th, 2013
11:40 am
I have to agree with the techies – UGA did have a light schedule – tek was on it
CloudmanJacket
January 7th, 2013
11:45 am
We will not beat UGA next year. We will be unable to stop their offense and by 1/2 time they will be dialed into the high school option. CPJ still needs to go. I like how someone on here said Tech is back because we beat So. Cal. who was the preseason # 1. Really? Preseason # 1? Who gives a crap about a preseason ranking. So. Cal was a horrible team playing their backup QB. Their defense did a good job against Tech, but their offense was just terrible. I guess I am glad that CPJ finally won his 1st bowl. I guess I can now overlook everything else…Mid. Tennessee, BYU, Virginia, Kansas, Air Force, Iowa, and the annual beat down by the Mutts.
Sean
January 7th, 2013
11:46 am
Did one of the early comments really say that Paul Johnson has restored Tech to one of the elite teams in the country?
Hahaha. Ah, Techies…
Wutehvah
January 7th, 2013
11:50 am
Falcons have a chance to quiet the critics, but will they RISE UP?? Let’s go Falcons!!!
Jorge O'leary
January 7th, 2013
11:53 am
markie mark
January 7th, 2013
8:58 am
royalair – you did hear about the SEC championship game right? Georgia lost to Alabama by about 5 yards and/or 5 seconds, right? take you schedule comment and stick it in your ear…..we proved by that game the schedule didnt matter as much as you want to think
You still lost! This was your year! Next year you will lose 3! 1980 will be in your grasp again 20 years from now!!
DawginLex
January 7th, 2013
11:54 am
yellow world
Clemson and VT and FSU all would have lost to UGA 2012
We whipped florida and florida exposed FSU as being overrated. Then florida went out and crapped thebed against Louisville(which I very much enjoyed)
Clemson will be hard to handle next year in the opener for us up there if Boyd comes back. Could be 49-45
Sunday - the 13th...
January 7th, 2013
11:54 am
Regarding the Falcons and Seahawks game this coming Sunday. It’s basically a done deal. The Falcons will lose. The Seahawks is a better team…The Falcons had a really lucky and easy season. Now they have to face the Seahawks. I say the score will be 32-6 Seahawks.
Jorge O'leary
January 7th, 2013
11:58 am
We whipped florida and florida exposed FSU as being overrated. Then florida went out and crapped thebed against Louisville(which I very much enjoyed
Whipped Florida??? When Florida gave you 6 turnovers, and you survived by a last second strip in the end zone? If you whipped them, then Alabama whipped you!! Loser
KCFalcon
January 7th, 2013
12:00 pm
AJC Editors-
Why show a photo of Matt Ryan burried nder a lineman’s ass. Have the trolls moved into selecting editorial content now? Just giving more fuel to the fire.
I can’t believe there are so many haters on here. Well actually, one with about 15 different screen names.
Nothing the Falcons have done in the other 3 playoff games since 2008 has anything to do with this game.
Way past time to shut up the trolls, and the national squawkers with the same rock.
trailerparkted
January 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
Seahawks 28 Falcons 3
Reebok
January 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
Predictions…Seahawks over Falcons, Tech slightly better next year (Vad Lee), UGA slightly worse(losing a lot of D), but sadly, UGA will still beat GT in November. Hope I’m wrong on that one…happy Monday!
jj
January 7th, 2013
12:02 pm
I know who Dawgs DID whip last year and that was Tech.
CFB realist
January 7th, 2013
12:12 pm
markie mark
January 7th, 2013
8:58 am
royalair – you did hear about the SEC championship game right? Georgia lost to Alabama by about 5 yards and/or 5 seconds, right? take you schedule comment and stick it in your ear…..we proved by that game the schedule didnt matter as much as you want to think…
———————-
MM, ask the Funky Bunch when I should stop laughing. And who is WE?
UGA probably played their best game of the season vs Bama, and still lost. Now, just like Nebraska’s Ds inability to get off the field on 3rd downs (12 of 17, 71%), the can’t expect to block a FG, return it for a TD, and int their opponent, in the endzone, as they did vs. Bama.
If UGA’s O converst 71% of their 3rd downs in 2013 and their D block a kick, returns it for a TD AND ints the opp in the endzone, then UGA should be back in the SEC champ game next season.
And they’ll also need a team that’s better than them to commit 6 TOs in their game (i.e. UF).
Amazing, now there’s a Dawg fan claiming ONE game (a loss) is why UGA’s schedule wasn’t the easiest in the SEC the past 2 seasons. What will the next excuse be???
juvenal
January 7th, 2013
12:14 pm
& Tech broke the blue jersey hex!
Heat Check
January 7th, 2013
12:17 pm
Picking a blowout for the Falcons game for either team is silly. The seahawks haven’t lost a game all season by more than 7 pts and the Falcons make a habit of going to sleep letting teams hang around or get back into games.
whoever wins the game won’t be decided by more than a TD
monty
January 7th, 2013
12:17 pm
Murray should wind up being the all-time leading passer in the SEC.If he never does anything after that he’ll still have the record. I believe that is important to him and being a sure top 1st round pick.. Could mean the difference in starting and having to carry a clipboard a couple of years, not to mention the money.
CFB realist
January 7th, 2013
12:18 pm
In the past 2 seasons here are the GOOD teams UGA has played:
2011: Boise St, SC, LSU, Mich St
2012: SC, UF, Bama, and maybe Nebraska (b/c they won 10) but not Nebraska (b/c they gave up 63 to Ohio St & 70 to 6-loss Wisconsin)
What’s UGA’s record vs. the GOOD teams they’ve played? 0-4 in 2011 and 1-2 in 2012. And I’ll even give you the Neb win, and the Dawgs are still 2-6 vs. the 8 GOOD teams they’ve played the past 2 seasons.
The UGA fan purported genius, Grantham, ain’t so good when his D is matched up vs. equal or better talent … 7 of the 8 teams scored 31+ pts.
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
12:19 pm
UGA beat one good team this year and that team got blown out by a Big East team in their bowl game. They are losing the best defensive players from a team that wasn’t very good defensively anyways and they play a tougher schedule. I know UGA fans like crowning themselves champions every offseason but come on. You guys aren’t really expecting to be contenders next year, are you?
trailerparkted
January 7th, 2013
12:19 pm
I thought that last year heat check, until the 1st round of the playoffs were over!
FalconFan
January 7th, 2013
12:22 pm
The “pundits” on Sports Center are already listing all the wonderful attibutes of Russell Wilson and why he will be able to handle the Falcons. Counting on you Falcons to prove them all wrong!
EastCobbRick
January 7th, 2013
12:28 pm
I’ve been watching ESPN all morning, and the sports intelligentsia have decreed that neither the Falcons nor the Tide should bother to even show up for the game. They say neither has a chance! Well, we’ll see, won’t we…
JSS
January 7th, 2013
12:29 pm
Fact:
Of the 13 wins registered by the Falcons, 6 of those teams will either be having new head coaches or offensive coordinators next season (Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland – fired OC Gregg Knapp, Philadelphia, Arizona, and New Orleans – Payton returns)…
ESPN hates the Falcons, for good reason!
January 7th, 2013
12:46 pm
Where did all these Seahawks fans come from?
Roddy and Julio will have a hard time against Seahawks big secondary.
Richard Sherman will get under Roddy’s skin and make him lose his cool.
Seahawks 27 Falcons 23
There will be no Matt Ryan miracle comeback on Sunday.
DawginLex
January 7th, 2013
12:56 pm
Jorge O’leary
January 7th, 2013
11:58 am
We whipped florida and florida exposed FSU as being overrated. Then florida went out and crapped thebed against Louisville(which I very much enjoyed
Whipped Florida??? When Florida gave you 6 turnovers, and you survived by a last second strip in the end zone? If you whipped them, then Alabama whipped you!! Loser
**************************************
Created 6 turnovers. They were not gifts. Held them to under 100 yards rushing and ZERO touchdowns. That’s a whipping
I know as a big Tech man it is hard for you to describe what a whipping supplied by a defense looks like since your defense hasn’t administered one since Eisenhower was President.
42-10 11 out of 12 Who is the loser?
Gorilla Biscuit
January 7th, 2013
12:59 pm
“There’s a chance the Jackets will be the preseason choice to win the ACC Coastal Division. Seriously.”
Boy, that conference must REALLY suck.
Plucked Falcon
January 7th, 2013
1:06 pm
This Russell Wilson guy, first year in the league, one playoff game and has already won more playoff games then Matt Ryan. Lol Seahawks D against a hobbling RGIII nothing to write home about. It’s their offense and the 24 points they put up while missing or fumbling several sure TDs that need to be on the radar.
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
1:07 pm
Created 6 turnovers. They were not gifts.
Really? All 6 of the Florida turnovers were because of incredible defensive play by UGA and had nothing to do with Florida just screwing up? You are really going to go with that? Why hasn’t UGA “created” 6 turnovers against anyone else?
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
1:11 pm
Told you last year thatt Tech would be lucky to play .500 ball and next year will be worst! Johnson’s last year!!
Joey
January 7th, 2013
1:22 pm
Really Goldenrod?
Tech was one of our (the Leghumpers) 3 EASIEST wins in ‘12.
42-10.
Through 3 quarters.
You better leave the prognosticating to Mr Bradley . . .
One and Done again
January 7th, 2013
1:26 pm
Facons will loose on Sunday. Can’t run the football and can’t stop the run. Seattle and Lynch will pound us to death and keep O off the field.
KCFalcon
January 7th, 2013
1:27 pm
Is Matt Ryan the only player the Falcons have used in any of these games?
The the Top 10 Falcons plays of the year, and the defense has made many of them. My point, Ryan will have more help now.
KCFalcon
January 7th, 2013
1:29 pm
Loose? Choke, you forgot something.
D'OH
January 7th, 2013
1:30 pm
Why are you sooooooo concerned with EVERYTHING that has to do with Georgia Football Square Pants? To say that UGA did not have a good team is so absurd. They were not the best, but they were very good. To say other wise is moronic and having no clue about Collge Football………. Geez, why am I so surprised this rhetoric comes out of the mouth a tech fan? Go away Sponge Bob!
KCFalcon
January 7th, 2013
1:32 pm
How does it feel to be called Choke all the time? That’s a great way for you to go through life. You brought it on yourself. You’ve lost a lot of karma in your life because of the past 5 years.
Fair n Balanced
January 7th, 2013
1:43 pm
When does A get serious about basketball?
Paul in NH
January 7th, 2013
1:46 pm
Falcons-Seahawks – team with the former ACC QB wins
UGA FB – Murray coming back is a positive but I don’t see how a team can lose the best LB in their history, one of the best safeties and some stalwart D-linemen and not drop off.
GT FB – A nice win over USC but no indicator either way of how the team will look in 2013
Hawks – not good against the Celts- and these are not the Celts of 25 years ago. Heck, they aren’t the Celts of 3 years ago.
GT Bball – a bad loss to a good Miami team and looking at a 1-4 start in the ACC. They need Poole to develop to be better in the 2nd half
UGA Bball – one good player only gets you so far.
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
January 7th, 2013
1:48 pm
GEORGIIA DOME !!!BE LOUD!! VERRRRY LOUD AND CONSTANTLY LOUD!!!!!!ATLANTA FALCONS WIN THIS ONE!!!!27 -14…..ROCK THE GEORGIA DOME AND BLOW THE ROOF OFF FALCON FANS NO SIITTING AND CLAPPING !!!!!GET STUPIDLY LOUD !!!REDNECK LOUD!!!
DAMN GOOD JACKETS
January 7th, 2013
1:50 pm
not fair to have to play at Clemson two years in a row but the ACC may just do that to Tech when realigning the schedule. If not, GT has a shot.
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
1:51 pm
They were not the best, but they were very good.
UGA was maybe a top 15 team and I think that is being generous. If you don’t play anyone for most of the season then it is easy to say you are very good. The truth is no one really knows how good they were. They beat who they should have beat and lost to who they should have lost to.
old dog
January 7th, 2013
1:56 pm
The x-factor in the Falcons game is: RUSSELL WILSON! I watched hin at State, then Wisconsin..he has “it”, the factor that all winners have. (I ain’t sure what it is, but he has it.)
wrecked
January 7th, 2013
1:58 pm
Will Miami, UNC and VT be that bad again in 2013.
cdog
January 7th, 2013
1:59 pm
the falcons will dominate this game.mike smith need to stay on the officials because they will let the seahawk corners grab and hold julio jones and roddy white.if they call it right, the falcon recievers and matt ryan should have a field day.
Joey
January 7th, 2013
2:05 pm
Mark, when does the statute of limitations on getting all the damn calls, run out for the Celtics?
If the Hawks so much as looked at Paul Pierce, the zebras tooted their whistles, but Josh and Al got hacked over and over and not a peep.
A&M 29 -- Bama 24
January 7th, 2013
2:20 pm
Enter your comments here
DawgDad
January 7th, 2013
2:34 pm
Sure, the Seahawks are a good team, but so are the Falcons. Falcons have the veteran QB and they are rested and at home in the dome (noise factor). Wilson has talent but he is not on par with a veteran Warner, Manning, or Rodgers in terms of taking over a game. Listening to the media and that big-mouth Philly native on radio you’d think the Falcons were 3-13, not 13-3.
I see the Dawg-doubters are out in force. I like the tougher schedule; beat Clemson and claim the high-ground in the polls early.
TEXFAN
January 7th, 2013
2:52 pm
Just a few points:
1. I think the Falcons pull this one out. Although the Hawks beat the Skins on the road, I don’t see them doing it two times in a row. And we can’t forget a big reason they won was RGIII’s injury. Granted, if the Falcons do lose again, this will be bad….
2. I will be shocked if UGA does not drop off. Having Murray back I guess is good-but his games against UF and USC were terrible. Good against Bama, but then not so hot against Nebraska-alot of TDs, but 2 picks, and this game was close to teh 4th. A very schizo QB-I want to belive he has turned the corner. The bigger issue is the D and sked. The D has woefully underperformed given the abundance of 1st rd talent, and I think Grantham is the problem. Maybe this next crop will be more cohesive, but I doubt it. And the sked–UGA’s sked this year was the easiest it is ever going to get, with no Bama, LSU, or AM, and out of conference is a joke (inluding the Institute, Techies). I am seeing 2-3 reg season losses next year, but not to Tech.
3. Tech will improve, but incrementally. Clemson is not going away, too much talent. UNC, VaTech, UVA, Miami all recruiting much better than Tech, and all in-division. Vad Lee is a vast improvement talent wise over Tevin, but can he actually run the offense? The D is also playing much harder, and better fundamentals. This year was a bit of a fluke, Tech wasn’t 6-6 bad. 8-4.
Stinger 2
January 7th, 2013
2:56 pm
Mark: Could I just say go Braves in 2013. These guys are warm and comfortable now and will get hot by the time ST starts in a few weeks.
windu
January 7th, 2013
4:42 pm
How sad that the Falcons’ hometown paper uses that photo on what really is the first day of the buildup to its playoff run (the first day when we know our opponent). Mark, if you hate the Falcons, just say it. I can only imagine what it’s like to live in a real NFL city with a real newspaper covering it instead of trying to embarrass it when all eyes are watching. Just sad.
Michael M.
January 7th, 2013
4:53 pm
It never ends for the Falcons…………..just a 2 point favorite over the Seabuzzards?……If I remember correctly, everybody thought Eli Manning and th Giants would come into the Dome and blow the Falcons away.
What happen? …………..0 points for the Giants………….and that was worse than the playoff game that the Falcons had last year with them. The Falcons will be ready for the buzzards Sunday afternoon and it will be glorious to see the Team advance to the NFC title game in the Georgia Dome.
Who is the Buzzards quarterback again? I can’t even think of the guy’s name but nevermind that……………..he sure isnt Drew Breeze and he sure isn’t the other Manning and he will be sent home Sunday on a long plane flight back home.
Falcons – 34 ………..Seabuzzards – 13
pat
January 7th, 2013
6:22 pm
Please don’t fuel Roddy White.
This is the time where he causes 2 STUPID 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalties.
By the way, I am not a Roddy White fan—but he has had a GREAT year. Doing all the right things—very few penalties, catching everything even over the middle in traffic.
Please Roddy, don’t get caught up being an idiot with those DBs—–Sqawks—they are going to test your manhood—-Show them the way back to Seattle as losers !! Be a star not a man!!
C from Marietta
January 7th, 2013
6:45 pm
Murray was “not so hot against Nebraska-alot of TDs”. That’s the funniest thing I have read today.
467 yards and 5 TDs. Not so hot? Don’t know what planet your from.
WTF?
January 7th, 2013
6:52 pm
pretty bad when the #5 seed is only a 1 point underdog in the dome. #mattychoke again. Matty Ryan and Paul Johnson of Ga Tech would be a good one two combo for never being able to play the big game!!!!!!!
GTBob
January 7th, 2013
7:06 pm
Tech will be lucky to win four games in 2013!!
Techster
January 7th, 2013
7:08 pm
Mark states: “Tech’s next four games include road dates at North Carolina State, Duke and North Carolina.”
Well at least the Tech BB team doesn’t play a cupcake schedule like The dog football team does.
Felix
January 7th, 2013
7:17 pm
I am not confident the Falcons will win. The Seahawks look pretty darn good, seem to be getting stronger every week and their QB, Russell Wilson finds ways to win. The Falcons need to show up and play much better than they did in 3 out of 4 of their last games…..and those losses were against lousy teams.
Flounder
January 7th, 2013
7:54 pm
Sounds like the Dwags are claiming a “Moral Victory” against Bama. We already know they are stupid and delusional … now we can add hypocritical to the list
damngooddawg
January 7th, 2013
10:18 pm
Goldenrod: Mark – I agree that Georgia Tech WILL win the ACC Coastal division. as well as knock off the Leghumpers in 2013!
We have already defeated the preseason #1 team in the country and Coach Paul Johnson has restored GT as one of the premier teams in the country!
Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee…..Dang, what planet are you on, dude?
damngooddawg
January 7th, 2013
10:21 pm
By the way, I thought pre season rankings didn’t mean anything????? Tech will be better next season, but……a premier team in the country?????? You need to specify which country you’re talking about.
Malco
January 8th, 2013
4:47 am
alabama was lucky to beat ga—the dogs are the better team and would have won if alabama didn’t get all the calls from the bama loving refs.
damngooddawg
January 8th, 2013
9:11 am
Hypocritical? Stop the hate dude. The elephant in the room is that Georgia can kick Tech’s butt at any time and YOU CAN”T STAND IT! Tech is delusional to think that because they beat a team whose qb was on the bench and who phoned the game in, that they are some how now players with the big boys. Dang, what a bunch of nimrods..
antman
January 8th, 2013
11:32 pm
This up comming game against the Seahawk is so simple it’s not much to discuss: If the Falcon’s can find a way to run the ball, and stop the run, which they have had very limited suscess with all year, they will have no problem with to Seahawks. And if they don’t susceed, they will be made a mockery of.
Falcon fan 24-7
January 9th, 2013
2:51 pm
Our OC and DC will have a great plan to defeat the Seahawks. The Falcons will pressure Russell Wilson like they did the Manning brothers. This pressure will cause Wilson to throw at least four picks, and Lynch will fumble the ball at least once. However, we only win by a last second field goal.
Disregard the Bucs game, it was more like a scrimmage game. It meant absolutely nothing.
We have already defeated the AFC top seed (Broncos) , who should represent the AFC in this years Super Bowl. It will be a rematch of the 1998 Super Bowl, Falcons vs Broncos .Go figure
The 12th Falcon
January 9th, 2013
8:44 pm
Make the Dome extremely LOUD.
Roger
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
Seattle has the two most overated cornerbacks in the history of the NFl…Hell one is a castoff CFL player….Both big but which one runs a 4.2 4.3? ANSWER none
Both will get beat ofter and easily…this one end as a laugher!
Roger
January 9th, 2013
10:03 pm
We need JSS our pseudo intellectual(hey he has a masters degree from a school I would not teach at unless they gave me a countryyclub of the south house and membership!)to come chime in!
Roger
January 9th, 2013
10:05 pm
I will say this in advance, I have my BA from our own Oglethorepe U….Masters from emory U in history….then got my MBA from University of Nottingham, a Phd too in International business(by the way the University of nottingham is ranked higher than Georgia tech in academics workd wide),.,,,and Im a big GT supporter
molto
January 11th, 2013
3:57 am
roger–learn how to spell with all those degrees