AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > November > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPlayers eagerly await next step
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Flowery Branch — They answered one question in Detroit: They are not, as was briefly feared, on the road to ruin. This week brings another question, a tougher one: Just where are these Falcons headed?
“This is about a playoff berth, a Super Bowl,” said DeAngelo Hall, the burgeoning cornerback. “We’re good enough to go there. Last year, we thought we lost a game [the NFC championship in Philadelphia] we should have won.”
And this is how it works in the careening world of professional sports. One week you’re wondering if you can beat anybody; the next you’re thinking you can handle everybody. The Falcons went to Detroit and beat a bad team the way you’re supposed to beat a bad team, and now they believe again. They believe they can go to Charlotte and beat a team widely considered the best — not just in their division but in the NFC.
“This is championship football right here — bar none,” Keion Carpenter, the strong safety, said. “In order to get where we want to go, we’ve got to win this game.”
Sure, the Falcons could still make the playoffs if they lose to Carolina, but their offseason vision of themselves — heir to Philadelphia as the NFC’s next great power — would take another hit. These guys carried great expectations into September, and those consecutive home losses to the Bays (Green and Tampa) seemed to serve as a sobering blast of reality. Winning in Charlotte would go a long way toward proving that the Falcons are really and truly better than they’ve played to date.
Toward that end, Detroit was a necessary new beginning. “It was a steppingstone,” Carpenter said. “And now we get the next steppingstone.” Then, giving the Lions the benefit of the doubt: “Anytime you can go out and dominate a good team, it builds your confidence.”
Nothing that has happened, not even the back-to-back losses, has put a dent in the Falcons’ self-assurance. Some of that comes from Jim Mora, who’s a can-do kind of guy, and much of it stems from having the incomparable Michael Vick on the roster. “He’s the best player in the league,” Hall said Monday. And then, just to balance the ol’ ambition scales, Hall announced that his goal is “to be known as one of the best defensive backs ever to play this game.”
This doesn’t sound like a team that will be satisfied with a wild card. This sounds like a team with a greater point to prove. The Falcons gave the football-watching nation a taste of their worth on Thanksgiving, but that was only a taste served up against an opponent so moribund that it just sacked its coach. “I don’t think we answered the question last week,” Hall said. “I think we’ll answer the question this week. … How we play this week should define our season.”
That’s a lot to thrust on any regular-season game, but the Falcons really haven’t had anything approaching a defining win since opening night against Philly. From here on, they’ll play only one lightweight — New Orleans in another Monday-nighter. Everything else will be big-time. The Falcons, it must be noted, don’t appear to be trembling at their mission. They appear to welcome it.
“This is why you play the game,” Carpenter said. “It’s easy to go out and play when you’re 3-13, but players are made in these games right here.”
The Falcons have a slew of gifted players. The guess here is that these players also possess the requisite grit. They can win Sunday. They can take this division. They can go just as far as they did last season, and maybe further still.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Mark Bradley
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Buck
November 28, 2005 09:09 PM | Link to this
Nice article Mark. I’m glad the players know the game against the Panthers will define their season. Hopefully, the defense will show up and the O-line will protect Vick against a fast and strong Panther D. DeAngelo will have to back up his words with blanket coverage of Steve Smith, who has shown that he is back and a pro-bowl bound receiver to be reckoned with.
After the Panthers, assuming the Falcons win, they will have one defining game after another. They will have to bring it every week to wind up at the top of the division. I believe they can do it.
Props to Vick, Dunn, Kerney, Coleman, Brooking and Rossum for stepping up to show the young guys how it’s done. Hopefully, some of that will rub off on them for the Panthers game. They are going to need it.
By B.Talon
November 28, 2005 09:35 PM | Link to this
I like the Falcons chances againts the Panthers because of one intangable.
The Falcons and Vick are in thier(the Panthers)heads,they are to the Panthers what the Flordia Gators have been to the UGA Bulldogs.
The Falcons know they can beat the Panthers,the Panthers wonder if they can beat the Falcons.
For some reason thats a big Falcon advantage.
By PC
November 28, 2005 10:52 PM | Link to this
The key to the Falcons is in their lines, offensive & defensive. They need to touch the opposing QB & keep Vick from getting touched. In the two home losses, they did not touch the QB at all.
The special teams leaves a lot to be desired. After Rossum’s great playoffs last yr., he has done nothing but run into tacklers, fair catch on returnable kicks, & be tentative.
In both of the above, the Falcons seemed to slightly correct both issues last week, but…that was against the Lions. Don’t get me wrong…I’m a big Falcons fan, but until they show me something against a good team, Wild Card here we come.
By Bob
November 28, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this
Let’s all laugh about Detroit being a stepping stone. Fact is, Detroit management was so embarrased about the way Detroit GAVE the game to the Falcons that they canned the coach.
Regarding the post about Atlanta being defined by a team that scores 13 against Buffalo? What will be the definition? It is looking more and more like this division is a joke.
By e.b.
November 29, 2005 12:19 AM | Link to this
Bob, not sure by your comments if you’re a Falcons fan, or if you’re that phantom falcons hater that keeps posting messages on the Vent section.
By Russ
November 29, 2005 01:10 AM | Link to this
The Falcons can and will win this division.If not for a couple of miscues the Detroit victory would have been a greater blow-out. It seems the defense has finally awaken from it’s slumber. The offense has played good enough win the last three games and appears to be peaking at the right time.Lost in this three game shuffle is the maturation of Michael Vick,although he’s never looked bad as some people said,he’s beginning to look like a $137,000,000 quarterback. Vick and the offense should spear-head the stretch run which won’t be easy but should be conquered by still the best team in the NFC. Falcons 31 Panthers 21
By James
November 29, 2005 04:37 AM | Link to this
This will be an exciting game. I see this game coming down to the special teams and who can make the big plays. If the Falcons passing game can come up to another level the Falcons are definitely for real. A field goal will win the game Falcons win by three.
By Sandra L.
November 29, 2005 04:44 AM | Link to this
The Falcons must find the players that played with their team in the first game of the season with the Eagles. Those players showed up with strength, heart and a must win attitude! The coaching staff and players must keep the remainder of the season (including practices) in prayer and be sincere. Just like a family that prays together stays together; a team that prays together stays together. Falcons your time has arrived to have the pie in the sky but you must reach for it in order for it to be yours. Good luck with the remaining of the season and we look forward to seeing you at the Big Show!!!
By Larry
November 29, 2005 07:23 AM | Link to this
Remember the Green Bay game!
Championship teams do not take games off at home when competing for the playoffs and precious home field advantage.
Should the Falcons lose on the road in the playoffs or, worse, fail to make the playoffs, remember the first half against Seattle and the Green Bay game.
A well coached and led team NEVER takes games off at home. NEVER!
Remember the Green Bay game!
By Andy
November 29, 2005 09:28 AM | Link to this
I will forget the GB game for now for the focus is on the Panthers…only after the season will I look at the GB game…and as far as Seattle…if Vick’s hammy is fine, we win…that simple…I want the W this weekend and all will be back to normal with us on top of the South.
By kudzu
November 29, 2005 09:28 AM | Link to this
Well said Larry… lose this week, or the next five, the turning point will be back in the Green Bay and Tampa Bay games (Seattle is dang good). The Falcons do not always look prepared to play, and if you’re not prepared EVERY week, you’re going to lose. My instinct says we’ve got a tough uphill battle and we may have already shot ourselves in the foot. Crap…
By Ron Roberts
November 29, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this
Carolina and Tampa have their “Green Bay games” this season, too, let’s remember.
Carolina lost to Miami and Tampa Bay lost to San Francisco…and damn near (should’ve, actually) lost to Detroit at home.
It’s a sign of parity in the league. But the more I think about it, if the Falcons do make the playoffs after this grueling part of the schedule, I don’t see ‘em going deep, only because it’s gonna be hard to keep up that kind of intensity, week after week, when facing quality opponents each time.
I hope I’m wrong. I DO think they’ll beat Carolina (both times) and rise to the occasion against Tampa on the road, too, frankly, plus whip the Saints. That gives us 11 wins and a tough road game at Chicago to ponder. With Vick, who knows, but I won’t wager a guess on it right now.
11 wins will win the division, for sure.
By dd
November 29, 2005 11:39 AM | Link to this
MARK BRADLEY, too many posts on the tech/ga columns for you to read this but hear my plea….first, i apologize to other posters about this off topic post….. MARK, talk to your buddy JEFF SCHULTZ and write another column about the pitiful job chan is doing….DON’T LET UP!…..give us all, chan canners and chan lovers (i can’t believe they still exist), a review of the past 4 years of GT football ( and even chan’s “offensive” (pun intended) record in the NFL for that matter), specifically the pathetic offense chan has run and run into the ground i might add…..let everyone see for themselves just how poorly the offense has been run…..without tenuta’s defense of the past 4 years just how bad would tech have been?…….even LB wilkinson was quoted in bisher’s column that ‘allowing only 14 points should be enough to win a game’…….tech football fans need your help so jeff, mark what say you?
By Larry
November 29, 2005 01:19 PM | Link to this
Ron,
There’s a difference between Atlanta’s and Carolina’s and Tampa’s “Green Bay” game: They played poorley and lost; we didn’t come to play at all!
Good teams do not do this. How many games have the Colts, at 11-0, taken off this season?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Falcons beat the Panthers on Sunday and lose to the Saints the following Monday.
Would anyone else be surprised.
By RAY
November 29, 2005 01:45 PM | Link to this
GOOD ARTICLE MARK. LIKE I SAID BEFORE TO FALCONS STILL CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY W/4 GAMES LEFT IN THEIR DIVISION WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY TO ONLY HAVE ON DIVISION GAME IN THE 1ST HALF OF THE SEASON ANYWAY. I BELIEVE THE FALCONS CAN WIN THE DIVISION IF THEY CAN FIND WHATEVER THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE THAT PHILLY GAME(THE INTENSITY) THE DB’S WERE KNOCKING GUYS OFF THEIR ROUTES & THE D GOT A LOT OF COVERAGE SACKS, THEY EVEN BLITZED THE SAFETIES A FEW TIMES. BUT THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED W/THAT SAME ATTITUDE SINCE THEN. SO IF THEY NEED TO SNIFF SOME MORE AMMONIA CAPS @ GAMETIME THEN DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO BECAUSE THAT’S THE ATTITUDE THE FALCONS NEED TO MAKE THIS FINAL PUSH TO FINISH THE SEASON @ 12-4 OR 11-5 AT THE WORSE.
By Nicholas Irwin
November 29, 2005 01:47 PM | Link to this
There is no difference between those games whatsoever, Larry. In fact, Tampa played worse than we did against Green Bay in their loss to San Fran. In your neverending quest to crap all over everything, you seem to have forgotten that.
By Casey
November 29, 2005 01:57 PM | Link to this
I like our positioning as we head into the final weeks of the season. We control our own destiny. We win 4 out of 5, or even 3 out of 5 and we will be in really good shape. However, it would be nice to run the table… but let’s be realistic! Whatever happened to preasuring the QB. That’s how we had so many sacks a year ago. Did we get a new defensive coord? I know our secondary can be left with man to man coverage all the time, but come on… a few more blitzes would definately help our D. And our defense will decide what happens in these remaining weeks.
By Woodman
November 29, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this
I’m just glad nobody is arguing ove Mike Vick anymore. Now it’s starting to sound like a real fan site. Discussing the reality of our teams chances at reaching the playoffs. Last week was played against a bad team, but the game plan was right on. On both sides of the ball the team was hitting on all cylinders. This hasn’t happened since week 1. It’s time to peak. I think they are ready. Mentally, everyone seems to be where they need to be.
By Woodman
November 29, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this
It’s iron, baby. Iron in the gut. Something they had last year. Maybe they got too wrapped up in “swagger” this year. They showed some of that last week. Get back to the iron and everything else falls into place.