Atlanta Falcons
2011 PFF All-NFC South Team
I’m not sure if this article wouldn’t be better titled “All-Saints offense” and “All-Falcons defense” because of the majority each team is featured in those respective units.
It’s not all good news for New Orleans, however, as three of their best players are set to become free agents. The fact the Bucs have just two participants here goes a long way to explaining why Raheem Morris no longer has a job. The up-and-coming Panthers have four entrants which, while still pretty poor, at least helps to avoid Tampa Bay’s embarrassment.
With that said, lets train our gaze on the PFF All-NFC South team for 2011.
Re-Focused: Falcons @ Giants, Wild Card Round
An eerie sense of déjà vu descended on MetLife Stadium as another playoff victory and another chance to prove their doubters wrong slipped through the fingers of the Atlanta Falcons. After a solid start where the Falcons spurned their chances to make early inroads on the New York Giants, they simply fell away and were comfortably picked off. The Giants got off to a very lethargic start on offense, but once they got into some sort of forward gear they never looked back and cruised to a rematch with the Green Bay Packers, harking back to memories of their last Superbowl run.
For the Falcons this was yet another crushingly disappointing playoffs loss in the Mike Smith/ Matt Ryan era where once again the promise they showed in the regular season failed to materialize in the postseason. Their offense looked slow and ponderous, making poor use of the offensive upgrades they acquired, while the defense (though solid for much of the game) wasn’t good enough to keep the Falcons in a slug fest. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Falcons @ Giants, Wild Card Round
After 12 months of waiting, the Atlanta Falcons finally have their opportunity at redemption this Sunday in New York. The 17 weeks of the regular season have been all about getting to this point and nothing more, righting the wrongs of their home playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last January. A home playoff game would have been nice, but they now have the chance to prove the doubters wrong, do things the hard way, and make progress through the playoffs on the road. They have the talent to do it–they had the talent to do it last year and they are, if anything, a more talented team now–but can they put in the big performance when it is needed to get that elusive playoff win?
They face an opponent in the New York Giants who, having crawled out of an incredibly disappointing NFC East, have very little pressure on them. At times this season they’ve heard calls for their head coach to be sacked, players to be cut, and just generally for a team overhaul and fresh start. A team playing with the pressure off in the playoffs can be a dangerous thing and with the Giants’ passing game humming in spite of an offensive line that is falling apart at the seams, the Falcons’ defense will have their hands full. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Buccaneers @ Falcons, Week 17
The Blowout Bowl. Atlanta entered this game with the number five seed still needing a victory to seal, so they came to play. Tampa Bay entered this game with nothing at stake, with no reason to play, and with pride long since evaporated away from the season. The results were predictable, as the Falcons steam rolled their way to a 42-0 lead before putting backups into the game in the second quarter.
In the end the Buccaneers were able to claw their way back to within three scores in the fourth quarter, thanks to some Falcons mistakes and the cumulative weight of passing against garbage time defenses. The truth is that the end result of 45-24 dramatically flatters a team that was frankly embarrassing for much of the game.
If Raheem Morris wasn’t already for the chopping block heading into this game, he was a dead man walking at halftime.
Three to Focus on: Buccaneers @ Falcons, Week 17
Neither one of these teams are where they want to be right now. The Falcons have lost their chance at the division, and didn’t look good against the Saints last week. The only way they can avoid a rematch against the Saints is if they win and the Packers beat the Lions, or if the Saints can get a first round bye. No matter what, if the Falcons want to make a run it won’t be going through Atlanta.
Tampa Bay last won a game way back in Week 6, and haven’t been very competitive in any of the games since then. We could be seeing Raheem Morris’ last game coaching the Buccaneers, and a win or a loss probably won’t make much of a difference. Tampa Bay’s best chances involve Atlanta resting some of their players. Since they have a later kickoff time, the Falcons will know if they have something to play for by the time this one kicks-off. Here are three matchups to keep an eye on.
Re-Focused: Falcons @ Saints, Week 16
While the score was flattering, the result was correct and that was really all that mattered, although I got the distinct impression, towards the end, Marino’s yardage record was almost as important. I can see why you’d do it though; the fans wanted it, beneath all the humble rhetoric so did the team and getting it out of the way now allows everyone to move onto Week 17 without anything hanging over them. A bye, of course, would be welcome but that’s unlikely with the 49ers only needing a win at the Rams to secure an extra week of rest.
For the Falcons this was always going to be difficult, having to win away at the Saints and then need more help to win the NFC South. At least they came away knowing their quarterback was in rhythm but they’ll need to up there play in many areas if they are going to avoid being one and done in two weeks time.
Three to Focus on: Falcons @ Saints, Week 16
Outside of maybe the Ravens and Steelers matchups, it’s hard to find two teams that are rivals that you know the game will be close. The last four times the Saints and Falcons have faced off, the road team has won by three points, with the last game ending up in overtime.
A victory by New Orleans clinches them the division, and moves them a step forward to a potential first round bye. A Falcons victory clinches them a playoff birth, and gives them an opportunity to win the division if they can also win in Week 17, and the Saints lose in Week 17.
Along with the typical motivation to win, they have playoff scenarios to increase their motivation, and knowing that everyone is watching them on Monday Night Football. Most importantly, there is not much that can top a win against a division rival. Here are the three matchups where someone will need to do something unexpected to help give their team a victory.
Re-Focused: Jaguars @ Falcons, week 15
Another week is underway in the NFL’s post-lockout season and what a completely underwhelming start the Jacksonville Jaguars provided for us. Depending upon your viewpoint the Atlanta Falcons either mauled the Jaguars or Jacksonville simply rolled over and played dead. From the first drive when the Falcons strolled down the field and put seven points on the board, there was an air of inevitability about it. Even after the Jaguars’ explosion for 41 points on Sunday against Tampa Bay, you felt that lightning wouldn’t strike twice in five days, and it didn’t.
It’s difficult to read too much into this game for Atlanta. This was a decisive victory and a welcome confidence boost as they attempt to turn up their intensity and level of play ahead of a playoff run that is tantalizingly within reach now. The Falcons’ offense came to play early, putting the game out of reach and against an anemic Jaguar offense, a Falcons defense short of their best cornerback was never challenged. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Jaguars @ Falcons, Week 15
The Atlanta Falcons may be close to being out of the race for the NFC South crown but they are still on course for a playoff berth after a late win against Carolina last week. Led by quarterback Matt Ryan (+22.2) they (along with Detroit), have a one-game lead in the battle for a wild card spot.
Their opponents on Thursday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars, come into this game off the back of their win under interim head coach Mel Tucker over the seemingly tackle-allergic Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defense has performed well all year but the offense, and in particular rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert (-42.0), has continued to struggle.
In the opening game of the week Atlanta need a win to keep pace in the race for the playoffs, while the Jaguars players will want to continue to win under Tucker and give fans some hope heading into next season. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the three areas to focus on this week.
Re-Focused: Falcons @ Panthers, Week 14
Here it is, a classic game of two quarterbacks; both getting decent if not great protection, both getting great help from one of their wide receivers, but one looking as though the broadside of a barn may not be big enough.
That’s Cam Newton in a nutshell. We’ll go into it more detail later but in one game he’ll throw the ball with great accuracy and the next, balls will sail further than the Cutty Sark.
As you might expect Matt Ryan (+3.0) has had a far more consistent season and, if he wasn’t exactly great in this game, he was very good and composed enough to put a mediocre second quarter to the back of his mind and bring his team back.
While the Panthers try to build on positive strides (if not great results) over the next three games and understand how to best attack the offseason, the Falcons are still favorites to win a Wild Card berth, but they’ll need to improve in many areas to get beyond their first opponents, never mind Green Bay.
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