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Falcons fall short against Eagles backups 24-17

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Sunday 31 December 2006 at 9:52 pm

The Eagles starters just made brief appearances in this game and they still beat the Falcons.  Michael Vick completed 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards and a TD.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 17 yards (5.7 ypc).  Matt Schaub then got his chance to shine and he played well.  Schaub completed 15 of 21 passes for 175 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 21 yards.  Jerious Norwood had a decent game with 10 carries for 63 yards (6.3 ypc) and he caught 3 passes for 28 yards.  Warrick Dunn carried the ball 19 times for 58 yards (3.1 ypc) and caught 3 passes for 17 yards and a TD.  Roddy White had a good game with 4 grabs for 90 yards.  Alge Crumpler had a real good game with 6 catches for 64 yards and a TD.

The Falcons defense stuffed the Eagles’ running game as they carried the ball 17 times for 43 yards (2.5 ypc).  The Eagles shredded the Falcons secondary as they completed 23 of 36 passes for 350 net yards passing.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Friday 29 December 2006 at 1:41 am

The Falcons have lost 2 games in a row but can make the playoffs with a win and help.  The Eagles are soaring as they’ve won 4 games in a row and can clinch the NFC East with a win.

The Falcons offensive strength (running the ball) matches up perfect with the Eagles weakness (defending the run).  So look for the Falcons to run the ball almost every play on Sunday.  Warrick Dunn (1,082 yards rushing), Michael Vick (1,022 yards rushing) and rookie Jerious Norwood (570 yards rushing) should all have good games against the Eagles soft run defense that has allowed 134.9 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry so far this season.  Michael Vick must be careful if he decides to throw the ball to Alge Crumpler because he’ll likely be matched up against big-time safety Brian Dawkins.

The Eagles would prefer to get a lead passing the ball and then grind out a win.  Jeff Garcia (96.2 QB Rating) has been fantastic since taking over for Donovan McNabb.  The Falcons are vulnerable to the pass as they allow 221.2 net yards passing per game.  Look for Garcia to throw short stuff to LJ Smith and Brian Westbrook, and when the Falcons sneak up to try to stop that, whammo Garcia will throw the ball deep to Donte’ Stallworth and Reggie Brown.  Brian Westbrook (1,214 yards rushing) should find some running room against the Falcons who allow 107.6 yards rushing per game.

Look for the Eagles to get a quick lead and take the Falcons out of their running game.  I like the Eagles to win this game by about 10 points.

Falcons playoff scenarios

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Thursday 28 December 2006 at 8:26 pm

The Atlanta Falcons can clinch a playoff berth with:  1) a win and Carolina, Green Bay and NY Giants all lose or tie  2) a tie and Carolina, Green Bay, NY Giants and St. Louis all lose.

The Falcons need a miracle to make it to the playoffs after an up and down season.  It’s not impossible, but everything would have to break just right for it to happen.

Falcons play pathetic on offense and lose 10-3 to the Panthers

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Monday 25 December 2006 at 2:00 am

The Falcons played an awful game on offense and that did them in yesterday.  Michael Vick had a horrible game throwing the ball as he completed only 9 of 20 passes for 109 yards and 2 INTs.  Vick did carry the ball 4 times for 32 yards (8.0 ypc) and became the first QB in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.  Warrick Dunn only carried the ball 9 times for 29 yards (3.2 ypc) and Jerious Norwood carried the ball 5 times for 20 yards (4.0 ypc).  Ashley Lelie (3 rec, 40 yards) and Alge Crumpler (3 rec, 39 yards) were the leading receivers on the Falcons.

LBs Edgerton Hartwell (12 tackles) and Keith Brooking (9 tackles) led an inspired effort by the Falcons defense.  The Falcons did allow the Panthers to rush for 183 yards, but it took them 52 carries (3.5 ypc) to get it.  The Panthers only completed 4 of 7 passes for 11 net yards thru the air.

The Falcons fell to 7-8 on the season with this loss.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Wednesday 20 December 2006 at 5:02 pm
The Panthers have lost 4 games in a row including a 37-3 meltdown last week to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Falcons lost 38-28 to the Cowboys last week, but have won 2 of their last 3 games.

The Panthers would be smart to run the football with DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams against the Falcons who have allowed 102.2 yards rushing per game this season and 3.8 yards per carry.  The Falcons pass defense allows 236.2 net yards passing per game, but Chris Weinke has had big-time trouble with interceptions.  Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson could have good games if Weinke plays better than he has, but their are no guarantees that he will.

The Falcons will go with the recipe that helped them dominate the first meeting between these two teams and that’s to run the football alot.  Warrick Dunn (1,053 yards rushing) & Michael Vick (990 yards rushing) look to join Kevin Mack & Ernest Byner and Larry Csonka & Jim Kiick as the only pairs of players to each rush for over 1,000 yards during a season for the same team.  That will happen sometime probably in the first quarter.  If the Panthers stack the box, and they probably will, look for Vick to throw the ball to Alge Crumpler or deeper to Ashley Lelie, Roddy White or Michael Jenkins.

The Falcons won the first meeting between these teams 20-6 in Carolina.  The dropoff from Jake Delhomme to Chris Weinke almost guarantees an easy with for the Falcons.

Keith Brooking leading the way again on defense

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Sunday 17 December 2006 at 11:15 am

Keith Brooking has 120 tackles to lead the Falcons so far this season.  This makes Brooking’s 6th straight season that he’s had over 100 tackles.  He also has 2.5 sacks and has defensed a pass.  Brooking brings toughness to the defense and he’s a very sure tackler that doesn’t let anyone get away from him.

Falcons can’t keep up with Cowboys and lose 38-28

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Sunday 17 December 2006 at 12:52 am

The Falcons played very hard on offense, but their defense couldn’t hold off the Cowboys offense that made alot of big plays.  Michael Vick had a great game completing 16 of 24 passes for 237 yards passing with 4 TDs and 1 INT (it was returned for a TD).  He also carried the ball 8 times for 56 yards (7.0 ypc).  Warrick Dunn played thru pain in his calf and carried the ball 18 times for 56 yards (3.1 ypc) and he caught 2 passes for 19 yards.  Justin Griffith only carried the ball once, for 15 yards.  He also caught the ball 4 times for 34 yards and 2 TDs.  Roddy White had a good game with 3 catches for 104 yards.  Alge Crumpler caught 5 passes for 59 yards.  Michael Jenkins caught 3 passes for 37 yards and a TD.  Ashley Lelie added 2 catches for 17 yards and a TD.

OLB Michael Boley had a good game with 6 tackles and an interception.  Rod Coleman added 2 sacks.  The Cowboys carried the ball 27 times for 94 yards (3.5 ypc).  The Cowboys threw the ball real well as they completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 net yards thru the air.

The Falcons playoff hopes took a hard jolt with this loss that leaves them at 7-7 on the year.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Friday 15 December 2006 at 2:55 pm
The Cowboys are coming off their worst beating of the year, 42-17 at the hands of the Saints.  The Falcons won their last two football games.

The Cowboys will look to throw the ball alot in this game.  Tony Romo is coming off the worst game of his career, but the Falcons defense is banged up.  The secondary is especially thin, so look for the Cowboys to attack with whichever receiver that DeAngelo Hall is not covering.  Also, look for him to use Jason Witten alot on the underneath passing to take on the Falcons safeties.  The Falcons are allowing 234.5 net yards passing per game, so look for Romo to have a huge game.  The Cowboys will not forget about the running game, as Julius Jones (993 yards) and Marion Barber (567 yards) will get their share of the action in this game.

The Falcons are pretty banged up on the offensive side of the ball.  Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood both left the game with the Bucs injured last week.  Norwood has returned to practice, but Dunn is looking like a no-go for Saturday Night’s game.  Justin Griffith looks to get plenty of action if Dunn doesn’t go and Norwood is limited.  The Falcons have averaged an amazing 232.3 yards rushing per game at home, so it doesn’t matter who gets the carries, the Falcons are going to run the ball.  The Cowboys defense has only allowed 95.6 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry, so every yard will be a tough one.  If Michael Vick is forced to beat the Cowboys by throwing the ball, the Falcons will be in deep trouble.  And that’s not to blame Vick, it’s more an indictment of his receiving corps that has been dropping alot of passes this season.

This should be a very interesting game.  The Cowboys will likely try to pass alot to get a lead and then grind out a win on the ground.  The Falcons will probably just try to push the Cowboys around in the running game.  I side slightly with the Cowboys in this game because of their passing attack.

 

Falcons sign Jamal Robertson

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Injured Reserve,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Thursday 14 December 2006 at 12:46 am

Jamal Robertson was signed to give the Falcons a healthy body at running back.  Robertson has played in 33 games in his career and has carried the ball 62 times for 248 yards (4.0 ypc) and 2 TDs.  He also has caught 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg).  He should be able to give the Falcons some good carries if they need him to step in.

Falcons searching for a running back

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Uncategorized by ravenhater on Tuesday 12 December 2006 at 4:26 pm

The Falcons brought in Quentin Griffin for a workout on Monday and are considering bringing in Duce Staley or Lee Suggs for a tryout too.  The reason the Falcons are bringing in so many backs is that Warrick Dunn (calf) and Jerious Norwood (knee) both left the game last Sunday against the Bucs and their status is in the air for this week’s game. 

Their also has been talk that the Falcons might consider starting Michael Vick at running back and Matt Schaub at QB for one week.  This would be interesting, but I don’t think Vick would go for it.