Falcons Can Reverse Woeful History Against Browns On Sunday
by Dave Choate on Oct 8, 2010 1:19 PM EDT
in Falcons News
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PrintYou've heard the stat by now. The Atlanta Falcons have lost ten games to the Cleveland Browns in the last 44 years, and only won two. That's a streak of ineptitude that's hard to believe, even accounting for the fact that the Browns were once a pretty great team.
As discussed this week, these aren't your great uncle's Falcons. This is a lean, mean, game-winning machine of a team, a whirling dervish delivering destruction to an unsuspecting NFL. There's no good reason to believe the Falcons won't march into Cleveland and leave it like Constantinople. No reason, that is, except that godawful history.
The Browns are the poster child for an upset for that reason, and for the reason that they're not as bad as their 1-3 record suggests. The Falcons had a shaky game against a motivated 49ers team last week, and Cleveland is, like San Fran, a decently talented defensive team with a good ground game and an alarmingly inconsistent passing game. Also, Peter King picked against us.
That, coupled with my desire to see our record improve against a team that is employing Jake Delhomme, makes this an oddly important game. The Falcons can really announce their presence to the NFL by moving to 4-1 trouncing a team on the road that has historically owned them.
Honestly, I expect them to do so.
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Glad Delhomme is starting.
He’s thrown for 9 touchdowns and 20 interceptions since last year. He’s going up against a defense that has 8 interceptions in four games. The Falcons should be salivating.
I have the Falcons D on my fantasy team
for this exact reason
Same here
I also have Matt ryan Roddy white and jason snelling starting
by LORD91 on Oct 8, 2010 7:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Got Roddy and the D starting
Still debating on putting Gonzo in. I really hope the “new” Jake shows up this week.
Hopefully is isn't like last year
Delhomme arguably had his two best games against our defense last year and never threw and interception.
maybe that will change.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
I'm sure the browns will go run heavy
with Hillis and Harrison. Man I really like our defense right now, but that feeliong can be fluid. Just a little more consistency at rushing the passer will make me happy. I can’t ask for too much more.
Dave, really? You expect it?
You of all people should know by now, that we can never expect anything from our falcons but inconsistency.
This is a lot tougher road game than people think it is. The Dawgpound is a tough place to go in and win. The browns are a physical team with a great front 7, I expect them to run the ball a lot in the first half, mainly to the left behind their probowler OL Joe Thomas, right AT Abe to wear him down for passing downs later in the game to eliminate him as a pass rushing threat – as I read in the falcons report I think it was.
Ryan CANNOT have another bad game and we win, there is no way!! To beat the browns you must be good at the passing game that day, cuz they will take away your running game all day.
It’ll be tough, but as long as we don’t let them jump out 14-0 on us like we let the 49ers do then I think we can sneak out of there with a win – say 24-19. Which for me would be a great road win against a tough physical team!!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
14-0
that’s what the Browns did to us last time.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
i know
But i was suggesting we could return the favor of what they did to us four seasons ago.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
by brotherbrown on Oct 9, 2010 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
wait, I meant 14-9 Falcons win.
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
don't know how reliable this is
but if it is in fact true, the game will be easier for our D:
this one will be a tough game because no matter what they (our team) will say all week, the Niners game highlighted they can underestimate the opponent. the positive thing is that the Browns themselves are an inconsistent team.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
eric mangini
“claims” he is only resting hillis and he’s not injured. id rather play hillis anyway so when we win the other team doesnt have an excuse
New Orleans Saints: Established 2010
by dirtybirds233 on Oct 8, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Mangini
Is the undisputed champ of playing games with the injury report these last few years. But I say it doesn’t matter if Hillis plays or not (or Delhomme, for that matter). Unless Joe Thomas secretly gets hurt, their Offense is going to be OK. I think it’s going to come down to how Matt Ryan plays – they have the #27 DVOA in Pass Defense, and #11 Adjusted Sack Rate (very similar to SF). And all that could fly out the window if something stupid happens on Special Teams…
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
Just a couple of years ago we set an NFL record
Fewest return yards on punts. Now it’s a worry. Punt blocked, long punt return, kickoff for a TD, TD saving tackle by Mr Koenon. It’s funny, we were all worried that the FG unit was gonna b the weak link. Let’s hope a week of practice plugged some of those leaks. Josh Cribbs is a hell of a return man.
I don't think the Falcons underestimated an opponent
Ryan and Falcons were talking about focusing all week before the Niners game, but sometimes you can’t game plan against an X factor that is unmeasured and unseen (the Niners new offense and reinspired defense (playing like the should have all season)
Feeding the Monster since 1984
and that makes that W so much more valuable
they managed to pick themselves up and beat an opponent they were trailing for 59 minutes
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
I hope Dave's right...
and after a couple down to the wire wins, a trouncing of an opponent on their own field would be awesome.
No matter who you play though, you don’t underestimate them. Every team is a professional football team. You show each team respect, but then you try to whoop their ass, and then you shake hands after the game.
No matter what happens or how pretty or ugly, I thoroughly expect the Falcons to be 4-1 after week 5 is all said and done.
The only Falcons fan in Los Angeles? The Billionth Lakers fan in Los Angeles? Either way, I'm happy.
i expect a win but i must say
This is the most nervous I’ve been for any game we’ve had yet this season. Who’s gonna step up this week?
by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Oct 8, 2010 2:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
why so nervous?
i understand this is a high risk low reward game but i cant think of a way we’d lose. we are better in litteraly every single stat going into this game and numbers dont lie. all they can do is run, and even iff they do pass we lead the league in INTs.
New Orleans Saints: Established 2010
by dirtybirds233 on Oct 8, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
youre smart to be nervous.
the falcons overlooking the browns should be #1 on the list i posted below.
it’s not idiot fan-speak to say the browns should be 4-0.* hear me out:
1. vs. tb browns up 14-3 and delhomme throws effective pick6 with 30 secs left in half. also sprains his ankle.. but remains in game. hillis averaging 6 yd/carry but loses fumble in red zone and gets benched. offense halts, buc make one play — loss.
2. vs kc delhomme out, wallace starts. browns/hillis controlling game first half. playcalling in 2nd half strangely features jharrison (to get balance). hillis doesn’t see ball again until kc has taken lead. lose by 2.
3. vs bal delhomme out. hillis featured all game, gains 150+ vs ravens. dc ryan leaves cb wright alone vs boldin for three – THREE – wide open TDs. lose by 3.
dont fall in love with palmer’s or owens’ numbers last week. browns controlled game and were able to kill final three minutes on the ground. as a fan watching, i was never really nervous if you know what i mean.
we’re probably better than you think. (likewise, i’m not placing too much discredit on you all for the iffy game last week. niners are solid when they have their stuff together.)
good luck, should be great game. and glad for you. always nice to see a suffering fanbase turn it around. from here you look like the class of your division… saints seems off this year.
*anytime anyone starts with ‘we should be xx-xx…’ it is, by definition, idiot fan—speak. work with me here.
by jimkanicki on Oct 8, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You make some very good points
Feeding the Monster since 1984
by brotherbrown on Oct 8, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
just in case that link didn't take it is this 'hickory stick" thats all carved up
It’s on the official web site.God I love saying that.That’s what my life has come to these days.None the less its a great life in spite of all the bad stuff.The Falcons are winning and what more could we ask besides a better left tackle and ……….
A D coordinator
That doesn’t leave the entire middle of the field open on 3rd and 8? Or doesn’t drop DT’s into coverage?
here's one browns fan's take on what we need to do.
your guy adam contributed a nice appraisal on a cleveland blog today. not that you asked, but thought i would return the favor.
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=34674&cpage=1#comment-140678
one thing he said was insightful and overlooked by most brownie fans. “Our linebacking corps has been phenomenal against the run and our secondary (with the exclusion of D’unta Robinson) has been very opportunistic.”
i agree and i dont see peyton hillis bludgeoning you guys into submission. (even though we pretty much did vs ravens, so props to the falcons if they stop him.)
i think this has got to be jake’s game if the browns are to win it. i doubt any of you paid too much attention in pre-season, but jake looked damn fine. the huddle presence and line reads remind me of brian sipe (in a good way). whether the pick6 he threw in week 1 vs TB haunts him is a big question.
anyhooos… here’s one browns fan’s take on what we need to do. looking forward to it.. it’s a major test for both teams. ps, don’t underestimate us.
browns win if:
1. delhomme plays;
2. delhomme plays with the confidence he showed in pre-season;
3. delhomme reads the D at line and adjusts play calls to take what they’re giving;
4. delhomme successfully jams a completion to watson in coverage;
4a. delhomme shakes off an interception after jamming a throw into coverage;
5. weatherspoon does not play;
6. ryan stunts or delay-blitzes rather than tipping off easy-to-read corner blitzes;
7. massaquoi pulls down a reception of 30+ at least once to get respect from the safeties;
8. st. clair stays on the sideline;
9. all short yardage rushes include vickers in the backfield — no single back sets;
10. ryan gets benard and roth on the field at the same time;
11. wright doesn’t give white a 10 yd cushion off the line (knowing safety help is behind him);
12. gocong/fujita continue impact play they started against cincy.
but mainly, this is jake’s game. i don’t think we win this on hillis. plus i wouldnt be surprised to find hillis is injured worse than theyre saying.
Our experience with the Panthers might be helpful
If you shut down the run game, and force Delhomme to throw more than 15 times a game, the man goes from starting quarterback to interception/incompletion machine. I’d expect a healthy dose of run blitzing, especially through the A gaps to shut down Hillis and put a rusher in Delhomme’s face. If we can’t stop the run, then you guys are going to be in this game all the way.
by TheAreopagite on Oct 8, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
ravens didnt stop browns run... but..
…the ravens stubbornly kept 7 in the box. was almost a pride thing with them. should have burned them.
your guy schultz says your rush D has been solid and i’m seeing 90 yd/gm and 5 forced fumbles. nice job on gore last week. one caution for you if you’re leaning on run blitzes – lawrence vickers is the best blocking back in football. he has the right head for it – see this interview and you see what i mean: http://is.gd/fSxVv so it may take more than blitz scheme.
as for jake.. first, understand that we’ve been watching bad high school qb’s for the last 3, 5, 10, 20 years. i’ll live with some picks. we’ve been living with check-downs on 3&12, so a qb with courage is ok with me.
also.. run blitz against wallace and you may blow it up, vickers or not. but (i’m hoping) jake will read that and we actually have two pretty good TEs in watson and moore to fill any empty zones behind the line. it’s definitely all about jake for us.
also.. run blitz against wallace and you may blow it up, vickers or not. but (i’m hoping) jake will read that and we actually have two pretty good TEs in watson and moore to fill any empty zones behind the line. it’s definitely all about jake for us.you guys may find success with white and jenkins (love jenkins) if rob ryan didn’t learn anything the last two weeks (boldin 150yd/3td; owens 220yd/1td). i think he will fix that.
also.. run blitz against wallace and you may blow it up, vickers or not. but (i’m hoping) jake will read that and we actually have two pretty good TEs in watson and moore to fill any empty zones behind the line. it’s definitely all about jake for us.you guys may find success with white and jenkins (love jenkins) if rob ryan didn’t learn anything the last two weeks (boldin 150yd/3td; owens 220yd/1td). i think he will fix that.as for me, i worry about michael turner busting an 80 yard run while our safeties are tending to white/jenkins.
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