NFL Week 15-Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks Review

This game is what most of us expected, a grind it out type of game. The Falcons were almost dead even on offensive plays mixing between 35 passing plays to 37 rushing. The Falcons were held to under 100 yards rushing as a team for the sixth time this season (Steelers, 49ers-98, Eagles, Ravens, Buccaneers). One popular belief of the national media is that if you stop the Falcons rush you shut us down, clearly not the case. That being said, when Atlanta rushes for 100 yards, and more importantly when Michael Turner eclipses the century mark the Falcons become a dangerous team, going 17-2 when it happens. Even without ever getting the going they won their third game road game and a league leading eighth overall.  

The defense looked shaky at best on the first drive of the game getting eaten up for yardage as the Seahawks offense went to work mixing between swing passes and runs up the gut. Van Gorder seemingly rallied his troops and took away the swing passes and receiver screens for the rest of the game. In the 3^rd quarter, when the defense has been susceptible to mistakes, they stepped up and forced 3 turnovers.

While we’re talking about the Atlanta defense that is constantly getting drug through the mud, I ask the question, who in the NFC is better on D? This same defense held the Seahawks to their third lowest yardage total on the season only allowing 235 yards. Two teams that some say are better than ATL on D are New Orleans, gave up 424 to Seattle, and the Chicago Bears who surrendered 353 yards both of these teams played their games against the Seahawks at home. I’m not saying that Atlanta has the best defense, but it is far from the liability it’s being called around the nation. They have only allowed over 25 points twice this season and it was to Cincinnati, who lit it up through the air after exhaling a little too early after heading to half up 24-3.Chicago has also only given up 25-plus points twice, elsewhere NFC teams New Orleans has done so five times, the Eagles seven times, Giants six times. The Packers have a great defense but right now they’re on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

Matt Ryan didn’t have a killer game, but he led the team in the most hostile environment in the league and communicated like a 10 year vet. His interception to lil’ Babs was about as bad as they come since he never saw him coming, but didn’t have many other poor throws. The Falcons’ signal caller now has 32 career wins as a starter in his first three seasons, the second-most wins of any quarterback to begin their career since the merger, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. His primary target, Roddy White had seven receptions to give him 106 for the season. White is the third Falcons player with 100 or more receptions in a season and is five shy of tying the single-season record set by Terrance Mathis in 1994.

With under 2 minutes to play in the first half Atlanta marched down the field and added seven points to the scoreboard and in true Falcons’ fashion did so using 13 total plays.

The special teams unit continued to play consistent football in all areas. One of the biggest plays of the game was Michael Koenenan’s 56-yard punt that pinned Seattle at their own 4-yard line and led to the Anderson strip of Hasselbeck that was recovered for a TD by big Babs. 

NFL Week 12-Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers

It’s week 12 in the NFL which matches arguably the best two teams in NFC, the Atlanta Falcons (8-2) and the Green Bay Packers(7-3). This is a huge game for the Falcons as a win would keep at least a one game lead on division foes, New Orleans Saints (7-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers(7-3), and would give the Birds the tie-breaker if it comes down to ATL and the Pack for home field advantage and first round bye. It’s been well documented how strong the Falcons have been at home with Mike Smith and Matt Ryan, as the duo is 18-1(.947) in the Dome and if you’ll remember that one loss was in 2008 against the Denver Broncos in a game the Falcons had no business losing (Falcons gave up the game winning score with five minutes to play and on 3^rd and 18 from around the 50 with little over a minute to go the now sure handed Roddy White dropped a wide open TD pass in the endzone). The Dome should be rocking, especially after head coach Mike Smith has implored the fans to come out early and be loud as well as the great pregame concession deals they’ve created this year.

It was just six weeks before their only home loss that the Falcons proved to me that they were on the way back. On October 5^th, 2008 the new look birds traveled to Lambeau and came home with a 27-24 victory. The last meeting between these two teams helped Atlanta take a huge step forward in their 2008 playoffs run and their overall rejuvenation as a franchise. I remember keeping up with the game on my phone (I was working) and checking the score in the first quarter with the Falcons up 10 and lighting up with disbelief and telling another Falcons fan in amazement that we were leading the mighty Packers in Green Bay with that rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan. I got to my car after work just in time to hear Wes Durham count down the seconds to a huge win, a win that would propel the Falcons to an 11-5 record and a playoff birth.

Green Bay has always been somewhat of a measuring stick for Atlanta when they have met. In the 2003 playoffs the Falcons rolled into Wisconsin as the sixth seed to take on the Pack who were 13-0 all-time in home playoff games, including 11-0 at the house that Lombardi built. If that wasn’t enough the Packers (12-4) were the three seed and just one week before lost home field and a first round bye with a loss to the Jets. The Falcons not only ended the home playoff winning streak, but in convincing fashion, 27-7.

Now fast forward to 2010 where the two teams meet again, in what could be an even bigger for the Falcons as they take a step towards their next overall goal, a date in Dallas. Also, a win would guarantee a third straight winning season.

The Packers have been battling injuries all season long but are currently been playing some of the best football in the NFL. Most recently the Packers, like the Falcons, have won four straight games beating the Vikings at home 28-24, the Jets 9-0 at the New Meadowlands, before putting the last straw in both Cowboys’ coach Wade Phillip’s (45-7) and Vikings coach Brad Childress’ (31-3) firing hats. Obviously the Cheeseheads’ passing game with Aaron Rogers and Greg Jennings will be the focal point for Brian Van Gorder and the Atlanta defense. The home team could gain a big jolt if John Abraham can go this week (he missed the St. Louis game with a groin injury). Having the Predator and rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on the field together for the first time since Cleveland would be a major upgrade to an already stout D. On the offensive side of the ball there has been a lot of talk about the explosiveness of the Packers, but the Falcons rank higher in 4 out of five key offensive categories including points, total offense, rushing yards/game, and TOS, while only five yards behind them in passing yards/game.

The overall record between these two opponents is 12-13 with the Packers holding a one game lead in the series.  Here’s hoping the Falcons tie up the series and take that next step in the Dimitroff/Smith Playbook.

What are your predictions for the Falcons-Packers game?