Atlanta Falcons
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.
Three to Focus on: Falcons @ Panthers, Week 14
The final month of the Carolina Panthers 2011 season will feature Cam Newton coming up against his divisional opponents for the second time this season. As we will get to see with another recent Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow, what will defenses do differently and possibly more effectively to try to take away Newton’s efficiency as a runner and a passer?
His first “re-test” against the Atlanta Falcons this week provides an interesting first case study as it puts Newton back in against a defense he struggled with in his first game against them this season. Newton threw three interceptions in a two touchdown loss in Atlanta earlier this season and was only a threat running on scrambles, his only designed run went for just 4 yards. Can Newton rise to the occasion and prove that he can beat the Falcons defense or will the Atlanta secondary prove that the last game was no fluke and that they have Newton’s number? Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Falcons @ Texans, Week 13
Houston was rolling this season, then an injury to Matt Schaub threatened to derail their year completely. Matt Leinart didn’t make it through his first game in Schaub’s stead, meaning the Texans were down to T.J. Yates.
This game was going to go a long way towards telling Houston how much of a problem they have at quarterback going forward, and if this game means anything, they may just be ok.
The Falcons continue to underwhelm this season, appearing to have taken steps backwards from last season, rather than stepping closer to Green Bay. They now sit at 7-5 and find themselves in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race.
Three to Focus on: Falcons @ Texans, Week 13
If you wanted to see how Matt Schaub would fare against his former team in a relevant game, you’ll likely need to wait another four years. Just because that storyline is out the window doesn’t mean this isn’t an incredibly important game for both teams.
Early on in the season, Atlanta had the makings of a one-year wonder last year and a bust this year. The lack of an offseason to incorporate Julio Jones and the loss of Harvey Dahl to St Louis took longer than expected to overcome. However, they’ve now won five of their last six with their only loss being an overtime classic against the Saints. This puts them back in the playoff race and in control of their wild card destiny. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Vikings @ Falcons, Week 12
After a comfortable first half in which the Atlanta Falcons seemed to be headed to as easy a win as the matchup on paper would suggest, they made life difficult for themselves in the second stanza. The Falcons took their foot off the gas and allowed the Minnesota Vikings back into the game when they should have been cruising to a 7-4 record. One key offensive drive and an even more important tackle on the ensuing kickoff spared the Falcons blushes as their defense stood tall with a four and out inside their own five yard line.
For Atlanta this was about getting another win and the second half malaise will likely have no long term effect, as they are unlikely to have such comfort in more important games. For the Vikings they at least showed some fight but at 2-9 are now boasting their worst record through eleven games since their inaugural season in 1960 and are now guaranteed back to back losing seasons for only the second time in 25 seasons. These two teams are clearly headed in opposite directions this season, let’s take a look at some key performances that set these teams apart.
Three to Focus on: Vikings @ Falcons, Week 12
When the Minnesota Vikings travel to Atlanta, millions of eyes will be glued in anticipation. Not because of the content at hand, but because their fantasy seasons could depend on whether Adrian Peterson plays. That’s been the biggest talking point this week, with a Falcons victory guaranteed by a media who are playing the percentages.
You can’t blame them a great deal given everything stacks up in the Falcons’ favor. They’re at home, have a healthy habit of not losing to teams with winning records, and have assembled a more talented group of players. A trio of reasons for triumph if ever there was one, right? Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Titans @ Falcons, Week 11
While the score looked close, the game was basically dominated by the Falcons who had a 13:58 time of possession edge. The Atlanta offense scored on their first three drives of the game, as well as the first two drives of the second half, showing how strong the coaching staff had game-planned here. On defense, the Falcons completely shut down the run game and only half the passes that were thrown by the Tennessee offense were caught.
The only reason the margin of victory wasn’t larger is that Atlanta had to settle for field goals while the Titans offense had a few big plays that led to points. Prior to the Titans’ final drive the Falcons had a 400-214 yard edge when Michael Turner fumbled on the Titans’ 8-yard-line. It wasn’t the most exciting game you’ll ever see since the winning team rarely made a huge play. They just consistently made the plays they needed to as they kept the momentum the entire game. The Falcons are now a step closer to the playoffs while the Titans are a step further away. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Titans @ Falcons, Week 11
Outside of the battle of the Babineaux brothers, there isn’t much of a history between these two teams. Just a year ago, Matt Ryan and Matt Hasselbeck lost in the divisional round of the playoffs. Now both teams are sitting at 5-4, and if the playoffs started now they would be on the outside looking in. This isn’t a rivalry game, this is simply two football teams needing a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
On the other hand, the losing team will sit at .500 with just six games remaining in the season which likely means a 5-1 record the rest of the way would be needed. While possible, it’s unlikely, meaning this matchup could almost be considered an elimination game. Here are three matchups that will determine who stays alive.
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