A Look Ahead: Electric Boogaloo

by tlozwarlock on Nov 5, 2009 7:15 AM EST Comment 21 comments

Well gang, the new layout has seemingly eaten my Observations post. The transition happened around the time I was doing the post and it's disappeared, lost forever in that great todash space between our servers and your minds. If any of you get that reference, five points to Falcondor. Here are my observations in a quick nutshell:

"Grimes. Air Grimes."
Heart, thy name is Falcons Defense.
Matty Ice gets rattled, Falcons lose game. Bad formula.
Coy Wire: determination, passion, hunger defined. On the fringe? Never again.
THE BURNER RETURNETH
Rematch is guaranteed. Outcome is not. Dwell on that, NOLA.
The Falcons are on a precipice. This is the turning point of the season. If Falcons come out determined, angry, vengeful, and spittin, cussin' mad, we've got a wonderful half season ahead of us. If they come out dejected, tired, and mediocre, we're in for a long, long winter of discontent.

Skins_medium

Washington Redskins
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday November 8th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: We need at least one guaranteed win this year!

Importance: Serious Business. Why? We just lost two in a row for the first time since Smith and Co. took over. Do not, I repeat, do not expect it to happen again any time soon.

Notes: The Redskins D is perceived to be semi-fantastic. So was San Francisco's. Falcons are angry, determined. Redskins are a half-season away from an overhaul. Do the math. It ain't pretty.

The Falcons win if: they perform at least on a third of the level they did Monday night.

The Redskins win if: Falcons are tired after a short week. Trap game? Nah.

Prediction: Falcons demolish them, start very long winning streak.

Carolina Panthers Part Deux
Where: Bank of America Stadium
When: Sunday November 15th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business, so we can keep them at the near-bottom of the NFC South pile

Notes: Carolina may actually be gelling by this time. still...

The Falcons Win If: They continue to show the maturity and poise and outright bombasticness they showed Monday night.

The Panthers Win If: The Falcons lay another Road-Game Egg (tm).

Prediction: Falcons win.

New York Giants
Where: Giants Stadium
When: Sunday November 22nd, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Importance: Pay Attention. A loss here won't exactly doom anything for us, especially our winning season. But a win here would be the second prominent road win after three prominent road losses. Let's bring that road record to 2-3, shall we?

Notes: Where'd the Giants' D go? If it doesn't return to form by this game, even with us as visitors, they're in for a long afternoon.

Prediction: The Falcons win. Yes, I'm flip-flopping because their D has shown me nothing to say we can't win it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday November 29th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business. Tampa sucks. If they have a win by now, it'll be by sheer luck alone.

Notes: What more can I say? I truly believe they will be winless at this point and they will certainly not be getting one in the Georgia Dome.

Prediction: Falcons stomp 'em.

Philadelphia Eagles
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 6th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Because Eagles and Falcons are natural enemies.

Importance: Serious Business. Let's avenge 2004's playoff loss.

Notes: Eagles have looked up and down all season. With them on our turf for a change, I do not expect them to be able to roll all over us.

Prediction: Falcons finally get their revenge.

New Orleans Saints 2: The Season Definer
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 13th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business. No more joking around. The Saints should have the division title. A win here does, however, almost guarantee a wild-card berth. Prepare for another toughly contested game.

Notes: Our Home Crowd better darn well show. I'll be there, screaming my eyeballs out. If we can almost beat the Saints in their own house, I have no doubt we can beat them in ours. Revenge is best served cold, but with the way Turner was scorching their D, I'd say give it to 'em piping hot.

Prediction: Falcons win a very close one. Yup, changing this one too. That's the beauty of week-to-week articles like this.

New York Jets
Where: Giants Stadium
When: Sunday December 20th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Because New Yorkers couldn’t get enough of us the first go round against the Giants.

Importance: Pay Attention

Notes: I still call this one a tough one, even if "Sanchize" isn't working out so well. Their D is monstrous and managed to reign in an admittedly battered Brady. Regardless, this one will be the only loss in an avalanche of W's.

Prediction: Falcons lose.

Buffalo Bills
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 27th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: CBS
Why: The Bills aren't looking too good. Uh oh...

Importance: Pay Attention. Our hopes of a wild-card record will be likely hanging in the balance after a loss to the Jets.

Notes: If we can corral TO and get pressure, we should have this one in the bag.

Prediction: Falcons win by a touchdown or more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers With a Vengeance
Where: Raymond James Stadium
When: Sunday January 3rd, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Absolultely a Meh.

Notes: Tampa Bay may likely be looking for any win at this point in the season. Missing Gruden yet?

Prediction: Falcons win, even with third stringers. Yes, I said it.

Current season record: 4-3 (Wins against Miami, Carolina, San Francisco, Chicago; losses against NE, DAL, NO)

Current season prediction: 12-4 (Wins: MIA, CAR, SF, CHI, WAS, CAR, NYG, TB, PHI, NO, BUF, TB; Loss: NE, DAL, NO, NYJ)

tlozwarlock's Current Prediction record: 6-1

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Comments

wow

nice reversal there. I think we lose one of these, but I dont think it is the Jets. Giants is still more likely to me. Not sure what is going to happen against Philly either. Depends on which McNabb shows up for the game. I do think we beat the Aints at home. I am looking forward to that one the most. the rest of them I have no problem with at all.

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Nov 5, 2009 7:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know where the Giants defense went

It went to the IR with Kenny Phillips. CC Brown sucks out loud. Before the season, I though that was a loss for sure. Now, I think they can possibly steal that one.

The Saints game is gonna be tough (obviously), plus the Eagles game. I’m not convinced the Jets can win unless they do something crazy like score 2 defensive TD’s. The one that really scares me right now, though, is the @CAR next week. The more I look at the remaining schedule, the more I feel like they’re gonna be OK. The rest of those games they should win.

Good stuff, tloz.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Nov 5, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Someone on one of the pre-game shows said (on the air) that CC stands for Can’t Cover. Think it might have been James Brown.

by NeedATicketToTheGame on Nov 6, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So where do Falcoholics hang out before the game?

I have tickets to this one.

by zooker on Nov 5, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lots of folks tailgate, and others...

go to CNN center and hang out. There is a Dantana’s and a Taco Mac there as well.

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Nov 5, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I almost agree with you...

I think the NY games are both gonna be close games that we could win or lose. I agree about the saints game completely. I don’t know if we’ll beat Philly they are starting to look real good and they could roll into ATL and smack us down!! I am thinking a more realistic 10-6, maybe 11-5, no way do we reach 12-4, unless our defense just happens to turn the corner and becomes a solid unit EVERY game. If our defense can hold teams to around the 20 point barrier we could end up sitting pretty good at the end of the season. We’ll have to practically win out every game to catch the saints for the division title, so we will be on the road in our fist game of the playoffs- @ philly or arizona, or minnesota. Tough places to go in and win.

by ATLsince1972 on Nov 5, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not worried about the defense

they’ve been playing real solidly. What worries me is our offensive cohesion. It seems like we’ve left a lot of points out on the field this year, and in order to beat the high-powered offenses of teams like NO or Philly, we will need to put up 35 points plus.

by orion12 on Nov 7, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry about the post, tloz

Not sure what happened there.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 5, 2009 11:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think 12-4 sounds about right but I’d say we loose to the Giants not the Jets or probably we beat both

I'll Have A Matty Ice Please.

by IllHaveAMattyIcePlease on Nov 5, 2009 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

12-4? Let's hope!

The Saints game at least showed the Falcons have plenty of fight left in them. I’m not sure if we run the table from here on out, but a wild card spot is probably ours if we keep playing reasonably well.

by tom slick on Nov 5, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, the thing to remember is our schedule gets much easier from here on out.

We still have both TB free wins remaining, so any wins we can rack up before then is easy money. Remember also that 10-6 is a decent record. When (not if) we beat the Skins this week, we’ll be halfway there with many more potentially winnable games ahead.

And again I’ll say, all I care about is win #9 at this point. And I’ll also hope we don’t go into Week 17 at 8-7, else I’ll need open heart surgery to repair my poor heart.

by Zippo729 on Nov 5, 2009 9:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bonbasticness?

Bombastitude? Bombastage. Bombast.

Our chances of a big win against the Cats drops by a third if DelHomme isn’t allowed past the sideline stripe.
The Jets will be a festival of offensive scheming to try and neutralize their gap control.
I’m VERY concerned that the Giants’ defense is suddenly cured by the Falcons’ oft-times porous o-line.
10 & 6.
—AOb

How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!

by AnOldBird on Nov 5, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

12-4 or 11-5

I can’t figure out the Giants, Jets, Saints trifecta but I feel we’ll take 2 of the 3 and should win the other remaining games.

I got tix this week to the Jets game so i’ll be out there talking big trash to the denizens of the Meadowlands in December on behalf of Falcoholics everywhere.

by gametheory7 on Nov 5, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do us proud, brother!

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 5, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Amen, please do

by Zippo729 on Nov 5, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we can take the Jets.

Of the three games mostly in question, they’re (Jets) the weakest. I’m not sold on the Giants being bad. It’s unfortunate we (catch them after their !#%!@$ bye week) have to go to their house. This is the time a team like NYG will either start playing to their potential or will become exponentially worse.

I do believe we can win 2 of those 3 games, and potentially all three.

by Zippo729 on Nov 5, 2009 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

jets??

i didnt know til a few days ago that we’re gonna play the giants after their bye …that kinda sucks because i was pretty sold on us beating them. I think we might lose that one in a close game …but i do agree with mostly everybody here. We played a great game against the saints in NO (i wish they would have called that pass interference on vilma on the INT right before the half cuz that changed the game) but if we played them that well there we should beat them in our house. The saints capitalized on every opportunity that i saw, and we missed on ALOT so if we play a mistake free game i think we could beat them. I say we find away around the blitz happy jets …they lost, what? 3 games in a row?? we can beat them and alot of these other teams now that we got turner going again (thnx to mugheilli or however you spell it) ive been sayin 11-5 or 10-6 so i agree with mostly everything you said. lets do this falcons!!! …matt ryan …be smart please JUST THROW IT TO WHITE/GONZALES!!! and run turner now

by Ant13 on Nov 5, 2009 10:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Assuming Norwood isn't out for the season

the blitz happy Jets will be screen happy Falcons’d if Norwood (or even Snelling….or even Turner) can return by then. I’m hoping they let Norwood rest against the Skins. I honestly don’t think they’ll put up much of a fight. Their offense is horrid, and their defense will tire out by the time we’re done. I also can whole-heartedly say this: This ain’t your daddy’s Falcons. Heck, this ain’t even your older brother’s Falcons. The old Falcons would’ve melted away after two tough road losses in a row. I think we come out as angry as ever on Sunday. I would not be surprised in the least if we had some absurd number of yards on the ground. Turner’s starting to get hot, no reason to not give him the rock some more. I’d say sit some of the banged up players unless the game gets close. Or at least sit them for a half, anything to keep the injury bug (which is spreading like H1N1) as far away as possible.

by Zippo729 on Nov 6, 2009 1:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cool link to the Coy Wire On the Fringe vid Tloz

I love that we have guys like that on out team.

by NeedATicketToTheGame on Nov 6, 2009 6:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Add two more losses

No way the Falcons get by the Eagles. Not unless the Eagles suffer a catastrophic injury. The Eagles look like the best team in the NFL right now.

Saints round #2. Seems like Falcons fans are forgetting that they had a big lead, got a ton of turnovers from the Saints, got really lucky, our top run stuffer was (and still is) out, and the Georgia Dome is like playing in an empty field with no fans. Saints win 2x this year against Falcons.

by xen-cuts on Nov 7, 2009 9:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Georgia Dome is like playing in an empty field with no fans

In 2007, this was true. In 2009, not so much. I should know, I go to every game. And the Saints and their fans are in for a real treat when they come to the ATL. We’ll treat you right. Insert winky face here.

You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.

by tlozwarlock on Nov 7, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs