NFL: Atlanta Falcons Fan Blog

2008-11-26T11:11:00.002-05:00

Hey, in case you haven't been to the Falcons home page, they're running a contest right now--the prize is a $250 gift card and an autographed Matt Ryan jersey. Know anyone who would be thankful for that prize this holiday? :) I gotta go enter to win.

2008-10-30T14:20:00.001-04:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Falcon fans!

2008-10-20T11:09:00.001-04:00

Jeez! Have you guys been to the Falcons home page lately? Go here and watch the super creepy football player bust out of the screen. I thought we were supposed to encourage kids to stay away from the 'roids!

Wow!

2008-08-18T15:31:00.002-04:00

I recorded the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and I've been watching them a little at a time. (It's 4.5 hours of recording!) I know China's got their issues, but they sure can put on a good show. Beats the hell out of Atlanta's Olympics years back. All we had was a crazy bomber.

Check out this slideshow someone put together of the ceremonies in Beijing:

Falcons going up, Dimitroff's vacation on hold

2008-04-23T12:53:00.002-04:00

Aww... looks like Thomas Dimitroff won't be able to make his big trip to Europe and Tour De France appearance the way he'd wanted to, because outlooks for the draft are just too good this year. I hope no one minds if I don't feel too terribly broken up over the prospects of a smoking hot draft this year?

Almost enough

2007-08-29T14:53:00.000-04:00

Sigh. Vick's almost enough to make me want to switch leagues. College football, anyone?

Clarification

2007-08-17T15:25:00.000-04:00

Rofl! I hope the sarcasm wasn't completely lost in my previous post. You guys did notice it was from Spoof News? Meaning, not real, as in, a joke? I'm as upset as anyone else about the Vick stuff, believe me.

When regular news isn't enough

2007-07-12T00:58:00.000-04:00

"'This pretty much clears [Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick] of the dog fighting allegations,' said Virginia State Police Sgt. D.S. Carr. Vick held a press conference a few hours later where he stated once again that he was not involved with dog fighting, but did confess to occasionally filming bum fights for distribution on the internet."

Gotta love Spoof News.

Falcons see action across pond

2007-05-10T18:24:00.000-04:00

Adam Anderson, Michael Bozeman, Brent Grimes, Taurean Henderson, and Dan Sheldon are representing the Falcons in the NFL Europa league this season, which is nearing its halfway mark. The league plays mostly in Germany and has been for 15 seasons, using slightly modified rules.

Albatross or Falcon

2007-03-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

Okay maybe I am being a bit harsh but the Falcon's take off during the free agency negotiation period was (strategically?) slow. Signing (high dollar) Ovie Mughelli, Horn and Sanders seems like a good start and maybe we will see more from the Falcon's offense and defense this seaon. Let's see if Petrino made the right calls.

2007-01-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

No news to report--the Atlanta Falcons have been quiet since replacing Mora with Bobby Petrino....anything new going on with this team?

Big Loss on Saturday Night

2006-12-18T12:21:00.000-05:00

Despite two record-breaking performances the Atlanta Falcons fall short of the Dallas Cowboys losing 38-28. Falcons quarterback Michael Vick broke the single season rushing record for a quarterback set by Bobby Douglass in 1972. And kicker Morten Andersen became the all-time leading scorer for the NFL breaking the record set by kicker Gary Anderson. But the real story is that the Falcons could have greatly helped their chances get the wild card with a win, but instead are still on the bubble. Next week's game against the struggling Carolina Panthers will be as big as they get for the Falcons.

Falcons Still In It

2006-12-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

After losing 4 games in a row, the Atlanta Falcons have won 2 in a row and are looking to make a push for the wild card. The Falcons continued their winning ways last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning 17-6. The Falcons held the Bucs to zero second half points and no touchdowns. That kind of defensive effort will have continue next week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Playoffs?

2006-12-02T16:27:00.000-05:00

Can win the rest of our games? Will we make it to the Playoffs? Lets keep our hopes high and our chins up and continue to support our team!

Bird Flu?

2006-11-16T12:54:00.001-05:00

I'm looking for a pattern here. I'm just trying to get a handle on why the high-flying Atlanta Falcons have had their wings clipped two weeks in a row, and by the likes of the lowly Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. You can talk about turnovers and penalties, but those are symptoms, not causes. Something has got Michael Vick and much of the Atlanta team looking more than a bit peaked, and we need to diagnose it soon.

For now, we need to hope that, if it's the bird flu, the Baltimore Ravens will catch it too.

Bird Flu?

2006-11-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

KEVIN MATHIS INJURED.

2006-11-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

Kevin Mathis will be placed on the NFL's injured reserved list according to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons made the announcement on Monday. Mathis injured his neck during Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. His coaches expect him to make a full recovery and most likely not need surgery. Mathis was injured during the opening kickoff at Ford Field on Sunday. It must really suck to sustain an injury on the first play of a game.

Falcons to Swoop Down on Detroit

2006-11-03T13:25:00.000-05:00

It looks like Atlanta’s Michael Vick has hit his stride, and an impressive stride it has been in the last two games. Including seven touchdowns, almost double his previous total for any two consecutive games. Tight end Alge Crumpler commented that Vick has been a driving force behind the scenes as well. “He never points fingers at anybody…and is constantly encouraging everybody.”

I like to hear that kind of stuff from star player’s teammates. After all, even though the big names probably sell a lot of tickets, football is a team sport. It can’t work any other way. Still, it’s a lot easier to be positive when you’re on a winning streak. So, Falcons, let’s go pounce on the Lions the way we just did the Cincinnati Bengals!

Like that Gershwin Tune

2006-10-25T13:41:00.000-04:00

Who Could Ask For Anything More? Four touchdowns from Michael Vick (his career high) and an overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers! (Didn't they win the Super Bowl sometime recently?)

Two nice do-overs here: one for Morten Anderson, who got to put us over the top (41-38) with a field goal that made up for the 52-yarder that missed during regulation time. The other was for all of us who weren't satisfied with the previous meeting between the Steelers and Falcons, an overtime 34-34 tie.

MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THE RED ZONE

2006-10-04T19:48:00.000-04:00

Michael Vick and the gang sure need to work on converting those long drives into real scores. Six trips inside the twenty and no TD? C'mon, guys! The golden goose has laid the golden ticket for you. The Atlanta Falcons could be the best team in the league if they didn't buckle at the 20. Try getting the ball to Fred McCrary more.

Chalk Up Another Falcons Win to Our Defense

2006-10-02T18:35:00.000-04:00

The Arizona Cardinals did manage a TD against us, but that wasn’t the fault of the Falcons’ defense. (It was a 99-yard run made by Adrian Wilson after he made an interception.) Gee, if our defense gets any more consistent, the games will start to get boring.

Not really. But, c’mon guys, there’s a way to make things a bit more exciting: when we get down close to the goal line, say, inside the 20, we might surprise our opponents and make a touch down. I mean, Morten Andersen is amazing – his tying his career record with 5 field goals in a game was to me the most impressive thing about the whole game on Sunday. But he’s going to eligible for Social Security soon, I believe, so we really, really want to find a way to score from that red zone!

Falcons' Schedule Will Challenge Michael Vick

2006-06-12T17:50:00.000-04:00

Six of the opponents the Falcons face during 2006 will be teams that made the playoffs of 2005: the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Bucs, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, and the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael and Team, please don't let this discourage you--let it motivate you! We're buying our Falcons tickets to see you and cheer you on!

Fallen Falcon in the News

2006-05-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

I read some disturbing news last week. Former Falcon Travis Claridge died from acute pneumonia in February of this year. ESPN reports he had intoxicating levels of the oxycodone, a pain killer, in his blood when he died. They say that he died from the combo of the drugs in his system and an enlarged heart. I suppose these athletes get fed pain killers all the time for injuries and stuff and get so used to them that they take too much. I think it is sad.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2438741

Draft rumors abound on the net.

2006-04-18T21:23:00.000-04:00

It appears the New Orleans Saints are looking to make everyone think they are going to draft Matt Leinart. The Tennessee Titans are having trouble with the McNair situation. They have tried to stop him from working out on their property so that they will not be liable if he injures himself because they are counting on being able to rework his contract to free up some money room for spending during the draft. Do you have any NFL news to share?

Who could have known?

2006-03-27T21:01:00.000-05:00

The Florida Gators advanced after defeating Villanova 75-62.George Mason, UCLA and LSU also have advanced making up the Final Four. My picks for the Final Four were all knocked out pretty early and Texas almost pulled it off. No one could have predicted this group of teams would be the ones to advance.

No Falcons – Got Braves?

2006-02-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

With football over I have turned my attention to the Atlanta Hawks. They are not doing half as well as the Falcons did this season, and I am surprised by how poor their defense is doing. Baseball season is coming though, and the Atlanta Braves have an exciting spring schedule. I think Bobby Cox has built a good team and our pitching looks like it is going to be stellar.

They were just boys when…

2006-02-12T23:37:00.000-05:00

The Atlanta Falcons 2005 season is being picked apart and looked at from all angles now that things have calmed down in the post-Super Bowl NFL world. I would like to see the critics consider the fact that we had a lot of rookies in our starting line-up and should be grateful for the season we had. Think of how strong those players are going to be in 2006 after their performances of 2005.

Super Bowl XL Competitors to be Determined

2006-01-22T00:54:00.000-05:00

It was upsetting to watch the Atlanta Falcons lose three games in a row to end the season, however I am glad the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t make it to the playoffs either. This Sunday the Denver Broncos go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers will battle the Seattle Seahawks. I’ve bought my Super Bowl XL tickets and I know that no matter which two teams advance, it is going to be an exciting night at Ford Field in Detroit.

An International Friend Learns Falcons Football

2006-01-14T20:11:00.000-05:00

Klaus Alinen is a part of our international practice squad. He came here from NFL Europe as a part of the NFL’s International Player Development Practice Squad program. He really appreciates the opportunity and has grown a lot since the start of the 2005 season when he came here from Europe. Playing as the ninth man on an eight man practice squad, Alinen has learned a great many positions on both sides of the ball. His strength was on offense for the Berlin Thunder but as a Falcon he has gained more experience and depth of talent that he may not have earned playing in Europe. I am glad that the Falcons participated in this project.

Falcons End Season With Lopsided Loss

2006-01-07T20:13:00.000-05:00

We thought we would be able to knock the Panthers out of the playoffs and end with back to back winning seasons but the Atlanta Falcons lost to Carolina 11-44 on Sunday. Injuries plagued the Falcons this year and we ended up playing a lot of our rookie players in place of the veteran starters. So now we look to the off-season for answers and to train up our 13 rookie players a bit more. The Falcons hope to make some player moves and acquisitions that will strengthen the team’s defense and offense. The Falcons will be picking fifteenth in the draft right after Philadelphia.

Falcons Fold Against Bucs

2005-12-29T18:56:00.000-05:00

Our game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came down to the final minutes of overtime and ended in a Bucs victory. Both Matt Bryant of the Bucs and kicker Todd Peterson of the Atlanta Falcons missed field goals in overtime and finally Bryant pulled of a 41-yard kick that ended the extra minutes. DeAngelo Hall had a career high return of 65 yards in the game and our offense looked strong. We just couldn’t outscore the Bucs and the game stayed too close for comfort. I have seen a great number of NFL games go into overtime and get decided by field goals this season. When it happened to us we folded, missing the field goal and allowing the Bucs to advance into scoring range.

Winter Weather Steals Falcons Fire

2005-12-21T18:38:00.000-05:00

We had a great first quarter against the Chicago Bears. After that beautiful defensive showing the Atlanta Falcons got fully dominated by the dangerous Bears defense. They hurried and hassled Michael Vick for the rest of the game and held us to 117 yards passing for the game. The final score was Falcons 3 and the Bears 16. It was the fifth coldest Soldier Field game ever with a game temperature of eight degrees above zero. For the players on the field it was the wind chill of five below that really made the game interesting. Can our Georgia boys really be held responsible for falling to winters bitter bite?

Falcons to Face Bears

2005-12-15T19:42:00.000-05:00

Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons has said he will be playing on Sunday against the Bears despite his bruised ribs. This is a welcome surprise after the Saints game in which he was injured. The Falcons looked pretty quiet for the first half of the game, allowing 17 Saints points without an answer. They came out fired up in true Falcons fashion for the second half. The Falcons prevented the Saints from scoring any more points and from converting on third downs for the rest of the game. This team can definitely beat the Bears on Sunday and hopefully the win will bolster the team’s confidence for our second match up with the Carolina Panthers in two weeks.

Panthers Strike in Atlanta

2005-12-08T19:57:00.000-05:00

The Atlanta Falcons performed pretty poorly in their unfortunate loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers managed to hold us to under 300 yards offensively and were brutal on the pass rush. Michael Vick was sacked by the Panthers defense five times and he threw two interceptions, adding to the many mistakes of the game. We just couldn’t stop their offense from scoring and their running game was pretty successful, gaining over 140 yards. This game like many this season came down to the final minutes and we lost to the clock without scoring one touchdown. This is the only game of the regular season in which we did not score at least one touchdown.

Falcons Stomp Lions 27-7

2005-11-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

The Atlanta Falcons are on their way to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. After our win over the Lions and with a 7-4 record the future is looking up. Our schedule only gets more difficult from here and we are going to face Tampa Bay again before the end. But if we can win over the Panthers we have a good chance of pulling off the conference and going to the playoffs. I don’t think it is too early to talk about that, especially with some of the superior performances we have had. Warrick Dunn got over 100 yards rushing and has now gone over 1,000 yards this season. Michael Vick racked up over 200 yards on offense in this Thanksgiving stomping of the Lions.

Turnovers Do It Again

2005-11-22T19:36:00.000-05:00

The Falcons are going to play their first ever Thanksgiving game and first game against the Detroit Lions this season on Thursday. The game at Ford Field will be the Atlanta Falcons chance to get even with the Lions for last years defeat. Last weeks loss to Tampa Bay is still fresh in our minds, but with a 6-4 record we need to be worrying about the next few games not a 3 point loss in which we played pretty well. Michael Vick threw for 306 yards, a season high, and we converted very well on downs. Our defense and offense were well executed and proved that we could have a better record if we would stop all the devastating turnovers that turn into rival points.

Something I Noticed

2005-06-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

When you look at the Atlanta Falcons offensive line, there are two names that come to mind. There is right tackle Todd Wiener and left tackle Kevin Shaffer, who paved the way for the number one rushing attack in the league last season.

But after looking through some taped games I noticed something.

To my knowledge the run is supposed to set up the pass. Right? It wasn’t like Michael Vick didn’t put up decent passing numbers but they weren’t the type of numbers one would expect from a team with a great ground attack. I noticed that both offensive tackles need much more improvement in the pass protection.

Not Good

2005-06-02T18:46:00.000-04:00

My sympathy goes out to Peerless Price. I feel sorry for the guy. He might be forced to call his career off very prematurely, because of a retinal condition that was thought to be treatable but just seems to be getting worse.

Pass Catching

2005-05-31T15:32:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Falcons have a running back in Warrick Dunn. Dunn got most of the carries in the 2004 season and had over a 1,000 yards rushing. The Falcons also have Michael Vick who acts like a running back as well, Vick himself almost had a 1,000 yards rushing last season as well.

So the question I guess is what to do with T.J. Duckett. He was mostly used in short yardage situation but only caught three passes the entire season last year. I am almost positive that Duckett will have a new role as a pass catching RB out of the back field this coming season.

Just a Thought

2005-05-25T18:25:00.000-04:00

So how many of you crazy cats in Atlanta are real die hard Falcon fans? I was noticing that a lot of people wear a Falcons jersey (number 7). I am curious to know how many of you fans jumped on the band wagon just because first year head coach Jim Mora Jr. took his team to the NFC Championship game. How did you guys become Falcon fans and why?

Defensive Strides

2005-05-23T17:08:00.000-04:00

Despite outside linebacker Keith Brooking having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early April, he seem to move around well in practice. During team activities, Brooking showed now sign of pain and showed no negative effects from the actually operation. The operation cleared loose cartilage from the joint, so hopefully now we can have a healthy Brooking who dominate with his speed at his position.

A tight Situation

2005-05-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

from Foxsports.com

TE Eric Beverly wants to prove he give the offense an extra receiver so the team would have a legitimate alternative if Alge Crumpler is hurt. Beverly arrived last year with expectations of starting at left guard. Instead, the retirement of Hunter Goodwin before the start of camp forced the team to move Beverly to a position he hadn't played in nine years. He has few troubles executing pass protections or taking on linebackers he must block on run plays, but Beverly runs deficient routes and drops too many passes in practice. Those problems must be solved before the season starts.

Is it that Secondary

2005-05-09T20:18:00.000-04:00

from Foxsports.com

Uncertainty at right corner and both safety positions will affect his performance, but LCB DeAngelo Hall has all the tools needed to become an elite player. With 4.31 speed and a 41-inch vertical leap, Hall is an exceptional athlete whose interception total could be hindered by the team's zone scheme. Jason Webster, the right-side starter, and Kevin Mathis, who effectively filled in at both positions last year, have upside as long-time veterans, but both have a history of injuries. If Hall had more man-to-man assignments, his interceptions would increase. Unfortunately, neither safety position is settled, and coordinator Ed Donatell likes to limit the risk of a big play with lots of nickel calls and zone coverage in base schemes.

The Aftermath

2005-04-25T18:06:00.000-04:00

G.M. Rich McKay views the draft as a means of adding depth and allowing the newcomers to learn positions they'll start in in a year or two. WR Roddy White, DT Jonathan Babineaux, LB Jordan Beck and DE Chauncey Davis will join rotations and contribute on special teams. WRs Peerless Price, Dez White and Brian Finneran have watched the team use first-round picks in 2005 on Roddy White and in 2004 on WR Michael Jenkins.

That serves notice to all three that they must improve route running and separation. Davis should back up LE Patrick Kerney and RE Brady Smith as the No. 3 end. Davis played primarily the left side at Florida State and won't spend much time at the other position because Kerney moves to the right side when Smith leaves a game.<

Targeting

2005-04-12T20:43:00.000-04:00

From Foxsports.com

The team likely will target the best player available with its first pick, which could be Michigan WR Braylon Edwards or one of two quarterbacks: Cal's Aaron Rodgers or Utah's Alex Smith. Though the Dolphins have a good group of receivers, new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan emphasizes throwing downfield. Getting Edwards would give Miami exceptional depth at receiver and allow it to run the three-receiver alignments Linehan prefers. Smith is a favorite of Linehan, who recruited him in college, but has to learn to play under center rather than in the shotgun. The Dolphins also have scouted former Florida State QB Adrian McPherson, who put on a show at his workout but is dogged by gambling allegations from his college days and will be a mid- to late-round pick.

If the Dolphins don't take a running back in the first round, Cal's J.J. Arrington or Florida's Ciatrick Fason could be options at No. 70. Through the rest of the draft, look for the Dolphins to rebuild an aging defense with an emphasis on linebacker, safety and tackle. Saban would like to get a linebacker/end similar to the Patriots' Mike Vrabel who would allow the team to switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3.

Falcons bleed red and Gold?

2005-03-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

The acquisitions of Ronnie Heard and Todd Peterson make me wonder about how player acquisitions work in the NFL. I guess that certain player could not just stay away from Jim Mora Jr. The Falcons went to the NFC champions this past season. In doing it was Mora’s first season as a head coach and it was a successful one at that.

One can only assume Mora has a good idea of what he is doing. Taking a young team as far as he did and turning some into pro bowlers. Bet you the Niners are scratching there head’s and why they didn’t give the job to Mora two years ago.

Dirty Birds!

Cap Status

2005-02-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

The team is about $4.5 million under the cap. Because the team still doesn't know the retirement status of NT Ed Jasper, it will wait until early next month to file paperwork with the NFL management council regarding QB Michael Vick, who received a $7.5 million bonus when he signed a new contract last month and is due a $22.5 million bonus in March. Language in Vick's contract lets the team decide if it will prorate those bonuses over five or seven years.

Eye for an Eye

2005-02-07T15:23:00.000-05:00

There have always been questions about wide receiver Peerless Price and why he has not produced the ways the Falcons would like him to, they the fans would like him to. So wondering about this dilemma figured what his problem was.

Apparently Price has a retinal disorder that affects his sight which indirectly and directly affects his play. It is a problem that was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist before the pre-season started in ‘04.

He held off surgery for the sake of not missing the majority of the season and wore a protective shield. He wore the shield on doctors’ recommendations so he wouldn’t loose his eye sight if he ever got hit there.

Now the season is over and Price is schedule sometime in February to go ahead with the surgery in order to have plenty of time to recover for next season.

"Dirty Birds"

2005-01-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

What a season for the Falcons.

It was just that last game that leaves a bitter taste. After all, Vick went 11-of-24, with four sacks, and threw a key interception in a 27-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

That was Vick's first NFC Title game, and 24-year-old Vick is in a great position for only getting better. In his third season and only second full season of play, Vick is making his 2nd pro-bowl appearance.

Well that is just dirty, as in good. Vick also singed the most expensive contract in NFL this year. Personally I think they need to spend more money on wide outs.

Falcons to the NFC title game

2005-01-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

Here are some reasons why the Falcons will be playing in the NFC title game.

from the official home page of the Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons established club postseason records with 327 rushing yards (previous 192 at G.B. 1-4-03) and total points scored (previous 30 at Minnesota 1-17-99).

The Falcons 8.18-yard per-carry average was the third-highest per-carry average in NFL postseason history: The Falcons actually broke the record in the first half of the game when they amassed an astonishing 239 yards.

1) 9.94 San Diego vs. Boston, 1963 AFC Divisional Playoff (32-318)
2) 9.29 Green Bay vs. Dallas, 1982 NFC Divisional Playoff (17-158)
3) 8.18 Atlanta vs. St. Louis, 2004 NFC Divisional Playoff (40-327)

The Falcons scored touchdowns on the first three offensive series of the game, drives consisting of 22 plays and amassing 241 yards.

PR Allen Rossum established an NFL postseason record with 152 punt return yards on three returns (previously held by Anthony Carter vs. N.O. 1987).

Rossum set an Atlanta postseason record with a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter (previous record held by Tim Dwight for 36 yards vs. S.F. 1-9-99).

Rossum became the first Falcon and the 17th player in NFL postseason history to return a punt for a touchdown.

QB Michael Vick's 119 yards rushing were the most ever for a quarterback in NFL postseason history (Donavan McNabb, 107 yards vs. Green Bay, 1/11/04).

RB Warrick Dunn established a club record for most rushing yards in a playoff game after a 142-yard effort on the ground. Dunn's 142 rushing yards broke former Falcons
RB Jamal Anderson's single-game postseason record (113 vs. S.F. 1-9-99). Dunn had 106 yards rushing in the first quarter alone.

Dunn also established an Atlanta record for the longest postseason rush after a 62-yard touchdown run on the Falcons second drive that resulted in Atlanta taking a 14-7 lead.

The Falcons 28-point first half performance set a franchise record for most postseason points in a half (previous was 24 points at G.B. 1-4-03).

The 45 combined first-half points marked the second-highest total in Division Playoff history.

Tonight's game marked the first time that three touchdowns of at least 50 yards occurred in a Divisional Playoff game since 1-6-90 (Cleveland-Buffalo).

DE Brady Smith tied the NFL postseason record for most safeties in a game (1) following his fourth quarter sack and safety of Rams' QB Marc Bulger (last Javon Kearse vs. Buffalo 1999).

DB DeAngelo Hall's third quarter six-yard reception was the first of his career.

QB Marc Bulger's 57-yard touchdown pass to WR Kevin Curtis on the Rams first drive marked the first time that Atlanta had allowed a touchdown in the first quarter at home this season.

The Falcons registered their first safety in their playoff history early in the fourth quarter when Brady Smith crushed Rams QB Marc Bulger in the Rams' end zone.

Game Notes

2004-12-27T20:25:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Atlanta Falcons

Rookie QB Matt Schaub got his first NFL start in place of regular starter Michael Vick, who is nursing a shoulder strain suffered in the thrilling OT win over the Panthers.

Four of Matt Schaub's first six passes were dropped by the intended receiver.

Free agent veteran FB Fred McCrary started in place of regular starter Stanley

Pritchett, who went on Injured-Reserve this past week after breaking his thumb on the first play of the win over the Panthers.

TE Eric Beverly got his first start at tight end for regular starter Alge Crumpler, who is nursing a sore knee.

The Falcons and Saints combined for five punts in the first quarter.

The Falcons incurred their first safety of the season when QB Matt Schaub was sacked in his own end zone in the first quarter. It was the Falcons first safety since a 10/13/03 game at St. Louis, when RB T.J. Duckett was tackled in the end zone.

RB Warrick Dunn's 59-yard second-quarter reception was his longest of the season, and the second-longest for the Falcons in 2004. It bested Dunn's 56-yard reception at Kansas City. The longest reception of the season was FB Justin Griffith's 62-yard reception vs. St. Louis.

Dunn's 16-yard third quarter run gave him nine on the 2004 season, a new career best.

Pro Bowl LB Keith Brooking continued to assert his big-play sensibilities with his third interception of the season, a career-high for the seventh-year pro. Brooking's pick and 27-yard return to the Saints 11-yard line was the longest of his career.

Newly-signed rookie CB Christian Morton (Illinois) entered the game in Falcons nickel packages and even played some man-on-man. Prior to the game, the Falcons waived DE Junior Glymph and signed Morton.

DT Travis Hall registered his second sack of Saints QB Aaron Brooks in the second quarter. It was Hall's first two-sack game since 12/5/99. Hall's career high in sacks per game is three, which he accomplished on 10/12/97.

Saints return man Michael Lewis returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown given up by the

Falcons since 10/15/2000, when Tony Horne ran back a kickoff 103 yards for St. Louis.

Lewis' 96-yard touchdown was one yard shy of his career long kickoff return for a touchdown (97 yards - 12/15/02).

Falcons DE Patrick Kerney notched his 12th sack in the fourth quarter, tying his career high, which he also amassed in 2001.

Duckett to undergo knee Surgery

2004-12-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Alanta Falcons

Running back T.J. Duckett will have minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Tuesday and will miss the Falcons upcoming contest against the Carolina Panthers this Saturday night.

His status for the Falcons December 26 game against the New Orleans Saints will be updated next week.

Last Sunday Duckett established new Falcons single-game franchise marks for scoring, touchdowns and rushing touchdowns with a four-touchdown performance in Atlanta's 35-10 victory against the Oakland Raiders.

The victory gave the Falcons their 10th win of the season and secured Atlanta its third division title in team history.

Duckett is currently first on the Falcons and tied for fourth in the NFC with eight rushing touchdowns.

The "Chop" Block

2004-11-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

From ESPN.com

Don’t think for a second that the Falcons’ offensive line is bothered by all the talk that it has become a dirty unit under OL coach Alex Gibbs. Gibbs is a big believer in the cut block, in which an offensive lineman tries to knock a defender off his feet by diving at his legs. Cut blocks can lead to knee injuries for opposing defensive linemen, but head coach Jim Mora insists that Gibbs doesn’t send his guys into battle with the intent of injuring anyone. However, we’re told the Falcons’ linemen are enjoying their growing reputation because they believe they will have an easier time controlling opponents if the D-line is intimidated by their methods.

Tough loss

2004-10-11T14:03:00.000-04:00

After going three years without a road victory, the Lions made it two in a row Sunday with a 17-10 victory over Vick and the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons.

Detroit (3-1) harassed Vick into three turnovers, including a fumble in the final minute that sealed the victory.

We were simply outplayed. I think we were caught up in our own glory and took it too relaxed. We could have torn up the Lions but they played with 100% intensity and we didn't compliment that. We couldn't get our offense off the ground to much to make plays. Their defense forced turnover after turnover and it just ultimatley led to the loss. We have a tight schedule year long with no real breaks. We need to work on a alot of things this week and if we can improve the protection we should start a new streak.

Defying the polls...

2004-09-25T17:36:00.000-04:00

After early polls this year putting down our Falcons, we have seemed to pull together something to shove in their face. We left the Rams awestruck with their defeat and we completley deserved it. Vick played much better this game than the last and Dunn(2 TDs) continued to amaze us all. Vick hasn't quite made up for last year but its a start. We are going to playing the Cardinals tommorow and they are probably low on themselves after loosing the first 2 games. We have to take advantage and jump on them while they are already down. Lets get another one Falcons and keep up the good work!

Dunn makes up for Vick

2004-09-14T17:42:00.000-04:00

After Vicks, not so flattering preformance in the Season opener, I am liking the way Warrick Dunn sort of took charge with 2 TDs. Its almost as if we have a renewed offense that doesn't solely rely on the preformance of Vick. Lets hope we can keep up the stronger sense of offense but not so much the preformance by Vick. We have the potential we just need to use it. Now lets get some more wins Falcons!

Cuts and a loss

2004-09-06T21:38:00.000-04:00

The Falcons cut veterans Bob Whitfield and Tod McBride along with some rookies to make the final 53 player limit on players, on a bad note as well... we were shut out in the last preseason game against the Redskins. Lets hope we wont have another post like this.

Another one in the bag

2004-08-29T16:30:00.000-04:00

This time we blew out the Bengals 37-10. After Michael Vick wasn't started no played after complaining of pain before the game, Matt Schaub was started and the came through with an amazing game. Along with the whole offense, they played brilliantly and Schaub going 30 for 39 is another reason he has the capability not only to be a secondary but a starter. Lets see how the fend against the Redskins next week. Keep up the good work Falcons!

We bounced back!

2004-08-21T11:48:00.000-04:00

With the laughable game against the Ravens, I was happily relieved that we played such a great game against the Vikings. Michael Vick and Matt Schaub played brilliantly and I was happy too see them back in action. Lets hope they can keep up the good work. Goooo Falcons!

Preseason starts now

2004-08-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

With one day from the preseason opener against the ravens, the Falcons need to prove themselves this season or they will have to go back home with thier ring finger bland. If you guys havnt been keeping up with the draft, heres what happened for the Falcons:
From sports.yahoo.com:

1
8 (8)
DeAngelo Hall
CB
Virginia Tech

3
27 (90)
Matt Schaub
QB
Virginia
(from Indianapolis)

4
5 (101)
Demorrio Williams
OLB
Nebraska

5
10 (142)
Chad Lavalais
DT
LSU

6
21 (186)
Etric Pruitt
S
Southern Miss
(from Miami)

7
18 (219)
Quincy Wilson
RB
West Virginia

Lets see how they do against the Ravens in the season opener.. Lets get out thier and cheer them on. Go Falcons!

Atlanta Falcons' 2004 Schedule

2004-07-28T17:10:00.000-04:00

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 12 at Baltimore 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 20 Minnesota 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 Cincinnati 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Washington 7:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 12 at San Francisco 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 19 St. Louis 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 Arizona 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Carolina 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 10 Detroit 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 San Diego 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Kansas City 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Denver 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 7 Open Date
Nov. 14 Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 at New York Giants 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 28 New Orleans 4:05 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 12 Oakland 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 18 Carolina 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 26 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Seattle 4:05 p.m.

All times are Eastern

New Falcons Blog

2004-07-22T14:12:00.000-04:00

Hey, just getting set up for right now. I'll soon be posting regularly, so come back and check it out!