Atlanta Falcons

(Though how classic and awesome would a tie be?

(5-4) Atlanta Falcons at (5-4) New York Giants

After solid starts to their seasons, both of these squads are heading in the wrong direction and are in serious danger of missing the playoffs altogether. Tom Coughlin's Giants have lost four straight while the Falcons have dropped three of their last four. Big Blue's vaunted defense has failed in recent weeks, but the offense is the real culprit. They've strayed from the running game and Eli Manning has turned the ball over with regularity. Atlanta's Matt Ryan is in a similar boat, with more interceptions through nine games this season that he had all of his rookie year. Whoever loses will almost certainly miss the postseason.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 11"

, who need to rally this season to be credible again. 

(4-5) Carolina Panthers 28
(5-4) Atlanta Falcons 19 

Simply did not see that coming. Jake Delhomme not sucking, I mean. Atlanta’s lost some tough games and is in trouble of losing out on the playoffs entirely. Odder things have happened I guess. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 10"

(My Bears need help!) 

(4-2) Atlanta Falcons at (6-0) New Orleans Saints 

Monday Night Football will be rocking at the Superdome! The offensive juggernaut that is the Saints welcome Matt Ryan and the Falcons for an important NFC South division showdown. If Atlanta is going to make a push in this race, now is the time. They can’t afford to fall another game behind the streaking Saints. If Sean Payton’s team can make it to 7-0, they have to be the clear favorites to win the NFC. With a remaining schedule that includes Tampa twice, Carolina twice, Washington and St. Louis, they have a great shot at 12-14 wins. Look out everyone else. 

Continue reading "Joe’s NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

eating a hot dog on the bench was amusing enough though. 

(4-2) Dallas Cowboys 37
(4-2) Atlanta Falcons 21 

Well holy crap, someone is looking like T.O.’s replacement in Dallas, and it isn’t Roy Williams. Miles Austin snagged six Tony Romo throws for a whopping 171 yards and two scores. Romo has found his stride these past two games, this time leading his team to a win over a solid Falcons squad. Don’t look now, but at 4-2 these Cowpokes aren’t out of the NFC East mix yet.  With the same 4-2 record, the Falcons are in danger of falling behind the undefeated Saints.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

Hasn’t looked like it to me. Oh Oakland, keep on suckin’!  

(4-1) Atlanta Falcons at (3-2) Dallas Cowboys 

Hey, did you notice last weekend there wasn’t an ounce of Cowboy news? Thank goodness for bye weeks. The ‘Boys are back this week as they welcome the Falcons into their behemoth of a stadium. I’m still not a believer in these Cowboys’ chances. Their running game is key to their success, but Falcons’ defense is stout on the ground, as evidenced by their game against Chicago. Matt Ryan should have a big day against a Dallas defense that has had trouble rushing the passer.  

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 7"

So that happened. After threatening on several occasions in the red zone and leading a possible game-tying drive to the five-yard line, the Chicago Bears rightfully lost a game they had no business winning.

Continue reading "Missed Opportunities Lead to Bears' ..."

Carson Palmer should be back on his way to the cream of the quarterback crop. 

(3-1) Atlanta Falcons 45
(3-2) San Francisco 49ers 10 

Hm. I can’t for the life of me figure this game out. Matt Ryan and the

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

that swarming defense will try to make a statement at the expense of their division rival. 

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) at San Francisco 49ers (3-1) 

Fresh off of a bye week, the Falcons need to ramp it up a notch if they’re going to leave San Francisco with a win. Their running game has failed to produce at last season’s high level and Matt Ryan has not been getting the ball downfield. The Niners, on the other hand, just blanked St. Louis 35-0 in week four. Mike Singletary’s team is persevering despite a low-powered passing attack. Throwing safe passes, running the ball and not being afraid to punt have been the key to success in San Fran.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 5"

rrible call from a good coach.

  
Bunk.

(2-1) New England Patriots 26
(2-1) Atlanta Falcons 10 

Regardless of their wide receiver troubles (Brady yelling at them was fun), New England racked up plenty of yards on the ground on their way to beating a solid Falcon squad. Moss caught another ten passes for 116 yards while veteran Fred Taylor rushed for 105 yards. If this Patriot offense can find balance, look out. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 3"

ingletary’s defense needs to go above and beyond if they’re going to stay undefeated.

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) at New England Patriots (1-1)

Matt Ryan has a chance to prove he’s an elite quarterback this Sunday, and there’s no better way to do it than to out-duel Tom Brady. The Patriots are struggling on defense, but Wes Welker’s return to action should do wonders for Brady and their underneath passing attack.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 3"

ars!) Let’s take a look at the week that was in my Week 2 edition of the Final Drive!

(2-0) Atlanta Falcons       28
(0-2) Carolina Panthers   20

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

the Opening Drive, here are some teams who need to avoid an 0-2 start.

Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0)

What’s the over / under on Jake Delhomme interceptions in this NFC South match-up? I’m going to set that line at 2. Though after 9 picks (and 2 fumbles) in his last two games, I’m being generous. His leash could not be shorter. If Atlanta takes down the Panthers, they could share the division lead (or own it outright) after only two games. Expect heavy doses of both teams’ running attacks.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 2"

running game must be the propeller of they are to make it back to the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

In a meeting of 2008 shockers, the Miami Dolphins are out to prove they can repeat as division champions. No one should be caught off guard by the “wildcat offense” this year, but with rookie QB Pat White taking the “cat snaps,” defenses will be forced to guard against the pass as well. Unfortunately, in such a difficult division, the Dolphins have their work cut out for them if they are to repeat. If they can only turn it over 13 times like last season, I’d give them a fighting chance. With a returning Jason Taylor, their defense is primed to pressure the quarterback.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 1"

Peanut Butter and Jelly, Woodward and Bernstein and Batman and Robin are all synonymous with good pairings. Unfortunately, the coupling of Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles may be synonymous with nails on a chalkboard.  

Continue reading "Michael Vick and The Eagles make a bad pair."

It's that time of year again folks. Time to start predicting the unpredictable. Will any of the Denver Broncos running backs get enough carries to warrant a spot on your roster? Can Michael Turner replicate last season's performance and warrant the second overall pick in your draft? What will Terrell Owens's numbers look like now that he is in Buffalo? And how does that impact Trent Edwards value as the Bills' QB? Who am I taking if I get the first pick? What if I get stuck at the end of the first round? Do I snatch up two running backs? Or should I go one running back and also nab a top tier receiver?

Continue reading "Fantasy Footbal is Upon Us"

ekick.

Seriously.

It's evident by the latest unconfirmed internet reports that Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback went to a Virginia Beach (Va.) strip club just hours after he completed a 23-month sentence for operating a dogfighting ring, that he's still too much of a hot button for any NFL franchise to touch.

Continue reading "Two Words of Advice for Vick: Reality Series"

Dave Dameshek, an ESPN.com podcaster gave kudos to Andre Agassi today, ( http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?context=podcast&id=4352192) on his podcast for his infamous mantra “ Image

Continue reading "James, Vick, Manny, and Beckham take ..."

With just one month left in his prison sentence, Michael Vick must endure his last thirty days under house arrest. We know what that means: tons and tons of tv watching. Here are the Top 10 tv shows Vick is most likely to watch:

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at the weekend that was in this Wild Card edition of the Final Drive. 

Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24

In much the same vein as Miami, it was hard not to root for Arthur Blank’s Falcons as they traveled to Arizona to take on the reeling Cardinals. Unfortunately, they must have misplaced their identity in transit. The normally accurate and poised Matt Ryan threw two costly interceptions and dropped back to pass a staggering forty times, while Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood only racked up 54 yards combined on their twenty carries. Contrast that with the Cardinal’s performance, as Kurt Warner completed 19 for 32 with two touchdowns and only one interception. Even more surprising was the re-emergence of Edgerrin James, who found an unusual amount of running room against the Atlanta defensive front, rushing for 73 yards on only 16 carries. While they only averaged a little over three yards a carry, Arizona ran the ball 28 times, which is a drastic change of tactics for their normally pass-happy offense. Cardinal receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin each had lengthy touchdown receptions early, giving Ken Wisenhunt’s team the lead. Atlanta appeared to have regained the momentum going into halftime after scoring 17 points in the second quarter. That momentum was derailed when Antrel Rolle recovered a Ryan fumble for a touchdown within the opening minute of the second half. The Cardinals shut out the Falcons in the third quarter while tallying sixteen points of their own, securing the victory and propelling them into a match-up with the Carolina Panthers next weekend.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Wild Card Weekend"

Let’s get you ready for this weekend with a wild-card edition of the Opening Drive.

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Arizona made the playoffs simply by beating up on the NFC West. No other team in their division was over .500, and Seattle and St. Louis are two of the worst teams in the NFL. The Cardinals went 6-0 against their NFC West rivals and 3-7 against the rest of the league. That statistic doesn’t bode well for Arizona as they’ve lost four of their last six and welcome the surging

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Wild Card Weekend"

ets and Dolphins playing 2 and 3-win teams this weekend, New England has the tougher road to hoe.

Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5)

Shocking as it may sound; the Atlanta Falcons

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 16"

The Final Drive of week 15 fills you in.

Atlanta Falcons 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

If the Falcons are going to make it into the playoffs, this will be the win that propelled them. Matt Ryan played one of his worst games of the season, throwing two interceptions against a hard-nosed Tampa defense. Coming to his aid was running back Michael Turner, who posted 152 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Atlanta abused Tampa QB Brian Griese by sacking him four times, three of which came from defensive end John Abraham. Griese filled in for the injured Jeff Garcia, who sat out with a calf injury. If Garcia is out for any significant period of time, it could spell doom for the Bucs’ playoff chances after being in the driver’s seat only a few weeks ago.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 15"

quo;s get to the best of week 14 in the latest edition of the Final Drive.

New Orleans Saints 29, Atlanta Falcons 25

The Saints aren’t exiting the NFC South playoff hunt without a fight. Matt Ryan of the Falcons may have been the better quarterback on the field, but Drew Brees had a better running game backing him up. New Orleans racked up 184 yards rushing thanks to 102 yards from Pierre Thomas and 80 from the now healthier Reggie Bush. Atlanta still has a shot at a wild card spot since Dallas lost, but they didn’t do themselves any favors.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 14"

(albeit mixed with the Bengals and 49ers); they’ll need some help to make it into January.

Atlanta Falcons 22, San Diego Chargers 16

Anyone who predicted that the Atlanta Falcons

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 13"

k, and if he can’t make a go of it the Redskins will be beaten before the game even starts.

Atlanta Falcons (7-4) at San Diego Chargers (4-7)

Among a glut of improved teams in the NFC, the Falcons are without a doubt the biggest surprise. Being a surprise doesn’t have to be the whole story in 2008 though, as Atlanta still has a chance at the division as well as a possible wildcard spot. Matt Ryan will get strong consideration for Rookie of the Year, and Michael Turner may have been the best free agent signing of the off-season. Turner departed the Chargers, who are fighting for their lives in a less-than-stellar AFC West. A loss would ensure San Diego goes no better than .500, but with a strong possibility to end up with a losing record. That won’t be enough for a team with all this supposed “talent.”

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 13"

Cardinals may get a rematch in the playoffs, so they’ll need to learn from their mistakes.

Atlanta Falcons 45, Carolina Panthers 28

With the Panthers having a tough stretch through the final five weeks, the Falcons have an inside track to the division title. Their remaining schedule is a difficult one, but they have another divisional game against Tampa Bay (8-3 at the top of the NFC South) that will factor heavily come January. At the least one wildcard team could easily come out of the South, and Atlanta has a great chance to take that spot. Carolina’s defense was overmatched by Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, never stopping the Falcon offense from marching down the field. Jake Delhomme is now unquestionably the worst quarterback in the division.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week Twelve"

game may prove they're not ready to ascend to greatness just yet.

Carolina Panthers (8-2) at Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

No one’s really hopped on the Panther bandwagon. I suppose struggling against two of the worst teams in football will do that to your expectations. Jake Delhomme has put together a string of awful performances that were saved by an outstanding ground attack. Jake’s going to need to pull it together for these final games, or Carolina might not be able to hold off the nipping Falcons and Buccaneers. Defeating Atlanta on the road would be a welcome confidence boost for John Fox’s squad.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Twelve Preview"

ome of their teammates quit during the game, the Browns’ woes may not be over anytime soon.

Atlanta Falcons 34, New Orleans Saints 20

Matt Ryan is the real deal. A frontrunner for rookie of the year through nine games, Ryan out-dueled MVP candidate Drew Brees to put his Falcons at 6-3. Unfortunately that puts them tied for second place in a cutthroat NFC South. If they can’t overtake the Panthers, it is possible they could sneak in as a wildcard in the NFC. Even if they don’t make the playoffs, this year has been an unequivocal success for owner Arthur Blank.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 10"

so Cutler won’t feel the pressure to make as many plays. 

New Orleans Saints (4-4) at Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

The Saints will be missing Reggie Bush for another week, even as they come off a bye. Though they managed to defeat San Diego without Bush, the longer he is out the more a playoff spot slips away from the Saints. Drew Brees has been simply amazing this season, but without a steady running game and Bush’s threat on special teams, he might not be able to keep up this pace. 

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Ten Preview"

Brees is the Saints’ only hope this Sunday, but the odds are against him.

Atlanta Falcons (4-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

It’s looking to be a regular madhouse in Philadelphia this weekend. Game three of the World Series is on Saturday, followed by Falcons v. Eagles Sunday afternoon and game four Sunday night. Thankfully, Philadelphia sports fans have enough emotion to go around. Though if their teams go 0-3 for the weekend, there could be a riot. They’ll have a little more hope for the Eagles, as Brian Westbrook is probable for Sunday’s action. The bad news is the Pro Bowl guard Shaun Andrews had surgery on his back Tuesday, and won’t be expected to return for six weeks. With that timeframe in mind, Andrews would barely be back in time for the playoffs, if the Eagles make it that far. Donovan McNabb doesn’t have any room to maneuver, as any mistake in the next few games could cost them a trip to the postseason. The pressure is on, and Coach Andy Reid has to be ready to bear the brunt, so he can keep the spotlight off his star QB.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Eight Preview"

All year long everyone have been on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and the rest on the NFC East bandwagon! Now with the Dallas Debacle and the Redskins now back to earth, except for

Continue reading "NFC South is the Best"

That one hurt. The Bears had no business winning that game, and after taking the lead with eleven seconds left, they proved that ideology correct. There are plenty of issues to be taken up with Lovie Smith and his coaching staff regarding the decisions made late in that game, but the blame must be shared equally with the players on the field. Their execution (or lack thereof in the case of the defense and special teams) let the Falcons steal back their victory from the Bear jaws of defeat.

Continue reading "Bears and Falcons get Crazy in Atlanta"

troit, the Chicago Bears are facing some stiff competition this Sunday in the form of the resurgent Atlanta Falcons. Each team sits at 3-2, but while Atlanta is looking up at Carolina in the standings, Chicago is perched alone at the top of their division. Both are coming off of impressive victories against NFC North opponents and need to continue building momentum towards successful seasons.

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Bears at Falcons"

has found his old self after returning to Carolina, finding the end zone on a 47 yard reception.

Atlanta Falcons 27, Green Bay 24

The Falcons may not win the NFC South, but they’re definitely keeping pace thus far. Matt Ryan has been a pleasant surprise for Atlanta after their gamut of quarterback issues over the past two seasons. However, the real shock has been the play of newly acquired running back Michael Turner. He’s leading the NFL in rushing after five weeks, which does nothing but help rookie Ryan as he tries to avoid making the big mistakes. Wide receiver Roddy White is continuing his ascension from last season as he caught eight balls for 132 yards and a score. Green Bay has gone in the opposite direction, dropping three straight after impressively winning their first two. Aaron Rodgers has played well in spite of these losses, as the Packer defense has failed to play their best. Missing cornerback Al Harris is starting to show its true effect, as Charles Woodson now takes the responsibility of covering the offense’s best receiver, formerly Harris’ role in the defense. Green Bay could be in trouble, and it has nothing to do with missing Brett Favre.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 5"

its rhythm with Ryan Grant; otherwise Aaron Rodger’s solid play won’t mean anything.

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) at Carolina Panthers (2-1)

An early season meeting of two division leaders could help shape the landscape of the NFC South. Carolina lost their last game against Minnesota, dampening the spirits from Steve Smith’s awaited return. Atlanta, on the other hand, pummeled the defenseless Chiefs in their last contest. While Tampa Bay is facing a tough game against Green Bay, one of these teams could hold the division lead after this weekend. It’s too early to crown anyone, but it is never too early to start building a lead. Atlanta will look to run the ball as they always do, keeping rookie QB Matt Ryan from making unnecessary mistakes. The Falcons defense is underrated, but might not be able to keep track of Steve Smith. Carolina should return to the game plan they employed while Smith was out, which is a healthy dose of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Smith will get his opportunities out of the play action pass, which needs a set-up from the running game.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Four Preview"

     Friday Night Lights has come and gone, but the picture at quarterback has only gotten murkier.  Every quarterback made his mark--be it positively or negatively.  In his two series with the first team, Chris Redman, who is commonly projected to start the season at the top of the depth chart threw exactly one completion--to linebacker Michael Boley.  Matt Ryan's first series went three-and-out and included an unspectacular intentional grounding penalty when Boley (again) came through the line and applied pressure.  Ryan rebounded in the first series of the second half, finding Roddy White for a 60-yard TD pass.

Continue reading "Training Camp Checkup: A team with ..."

The signing of Robert James does a lot to help the linebacking corps.  Yes, everybody wants James to produce this year.  I do, too.  But James's contributions to the LBs this year will

Continue reading "Signing James Just Makes the Strong Stronger"

     John Clayton's July 9th blog ( http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=clayton_john) about the state of pre-camp signings portends more possible trouble for the Falcons organization leading into training camp on July 25.  Clayton explains that agents trying to get pre-camp signings for first and second round draft picks have encountered what the military calls a snafu.  Without getting too down and dirty, the sticking point in contract talks regards a rule that regulates increases in rookie salaries to 25 per cent, annually.  Agents have made a practice exploiting a loophole in this rule that allows bonus money to be guaranteed for the final year of a contract in a lump sum.  This protects players who bust out of the NFL before their contract expires and helps players who outperform the built-in strictures of their contracts.  However, with the CBA ending in 2011, first and second round picks--who typically sign contracts of four, five, or six years--can't be guaranteed any money because there is no framework in place to do so.  The bottom line: we're at an impasse.    

Continue reading "Unsigned Picks in Unsettling Circumstances"

ing camp, there are always a lot of question marks for a team in a rebuilding phase.  The 2008 Atlanta Falcons are no exception.  Will Matt Ryan start week 1?  Is Sam Baker an elite (or even starting) left tackle at the NFL level?  Looking beyond these common questions, however, lies another set of questions, the resolution to which will go as far as any other in determining the Falcons success in 2008 and beyond.  These questions revolve around the guys you haven’t heard much about.  That you haven’t heard about them is the scary part.

Continue reading "Paying the Piper: Ghosts of the 2006 ..."

Since I'm still finding a more thoroughgoing blog voice re Lakers, I thought I'd post here my reply to Kareem's informative and enjoyable post off nba.com:

Kareem, you will always be my all-time favorite Laker. The grace, dignity, and extraordinary numbers you posted over your long distinguished career remain nonpareil. And the multi-champ team with you and Magic and Worthy, et al remains my fave too.

Continue reading "KAREEM POST"

utside and there are no donkeys flying but it has been a bit cold…

This game against the Atlanta Falcons was vintage Buccaneer defensive football! With the first touchdown coming courtesy of a Rhonde Barber interception, the D continued to cause turnovers and embarrassment for the Falcon offense. It was quite an emotional game that had the players duking it out on a few occasions! More importantly, the Bucs clinched the NFC South title.

Continue reading "A streak-breaking day for Florida NFL teams!"