The Falcoholic - Falcons-Cardinals Gameday CoverageFalcons News, Analysis & Tomfoolery For and By Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21944/falcoholic-fave.jpg2012-11-18T16:24:12-05:00http://www.thefalcoholic.com/rss/stream/34206192012-11-18T16:24:12-05:002012-11-18T16:24:12-05:00Falcons 23- Cardinals 19: A Quick And Dull Recap
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The Falcons are not playing exceptionally well right now. </p> <p>I typed the following sentence before the game is over. Here goes: The Falcons are playing horrible offensive football right now.</p>
<p>This team is overflowing with talent and has some of the most respected coaches in the league on their sidelines. You're going to have miserable games during the course of an NFL season, but the worst games from the best teams tend to look merely mediocre. Against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>, the Falcons looked like the second coming of the three games the Tony Graziani-led 1996 Falcons suffered through.</p>
<p>Matt Ryan threw <i>five</i> picks. The ground game managed just 37 yards. <span>Asante Samuel</span>, <span>Julio Jones</span> and <span>Harry Douglas</span> all got banged up. Facing a dominant passing defense, the Falcons looked like a lost team. Mike Smith even got in on the fun, throwing a useless flag that negated a review. I think it was, considering all variables, the worst game the Falcons have played this year by a very wide margin. The only thing that saved them was a stellar defensive effort against a very weak Cardinals offense.</p>
<p>Earlier this week I urged you to be happy with these Falcons, because they were 8-1. The record is still something worth being proud of, but I'm not going to tell you to paste a smile on your face today and tomorrow. These <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> are going to get absolutely destroyed if they play at this level against a team with an actual offense, and we have to worry about, no matter how good 9-1 feels.</p>
<p>Walking off this field with a win is a minor miracle, however, and that's the part worth celebrating. The Falcons are virtual locks for the playoffs, which means the rest of the season provides a nice opportunity to work out the problems and morph into the world destroying squad we all know they can be. It has to start now.</p>
<p>Talk Falcons and late games here.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/18/3662764/falcons-23-cardinals-19-a-quick-and-dull-recapDave Choate2012-11-18T13:35:04-05:002012-11-18T13:35:04-05:00Falcons-Cardinals Second Quarter Open Thread
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The second quarter has begun. Let us speak of it.</p>
<p><b>GO FALCONS!</b></p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/18/3661958/falcons-cardinals-second-quarter-open-threadDave Choate2012-11-18T12:20:01-05:002012-11-18T12:20:01-05:00Atlanta Falcons-Arizona Cardinals Open Thread
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Gametime!</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> are home again and looking to avenge their first loss of the season. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> are coming off a bye week and hoping to get their season back on track.</p>
<p>Discuss the game here and look for new game threads each quarter. Let's hope it's an enjoyable one.</p>
<p><b>GO FALCONS!</b></p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/18/3656796/atlanta-falcons-arizona-cardinals-open-threadDave Choate2012-11-18T12:17:18-05:002012-11-18T12:17:18-05:00Sean Weatherspoon To Miss Cardinals Game
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>'Spoon can't eat. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> will be missing their best linebacker for the third week in a row, which is a major bummer. <span>Julio Jones</span> will play, which is the exact opposite of a bummer.</p>
<p>Jones will start but may be slightly limited against a tough Arizona pass defense, which means the Falcons should mix in healthy doses of <span>Harry Douglas</span> and <span>Drew Davis</span>.</p>
<p>With 'Spoon out, the Falcons will trot out <span>Akeem Dent</span> on nickel packages for the third straight week. Dent is becoming a player, though he's still not the best in the NFL against the pass. Given the relative ineptitude of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> offense, this is probably the best week for 'Spoon to miss. Hope he's back soon, however.</p>
<p>Here's the full list of inactives for today's game.</p>
<p><b>INACTIVES</b></p>
<p>OLB <span>Sean Weatherspoon</span><br>QB <span>Dominique Davis</span><br>S <span>Charles Mitchell</span><br>OL Phillipkeith Manley<br>DT Travian Robertson<br>OT <span>Lamar Holmes</span><br>WR <span>Kevin Cone</span></p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/18/3661978/sean-weatherspoon-out-julio-jones-in-versus-cardinalsDave Choate2012-11-18T06:00:28-05:002012-11-18T06:00:28-05:00A Pregame Report For Falcons-Cardinals
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>It's almost time for the Falcons to play their tenth game. </p> <p>For those who want to know, here's the weather, gametime and coverage for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Falcons</a>-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> game. Glad to help.</p>
<p><b>Game Time: 1 p.m.<br></b></p>
<p><b>Stadium: The Georgia Dome<br></b></p>
<p><b>Weather: It's a dome. <br></b></p>
<p><b>Television: On FOX</b></p>
<p><b>Will the Falcons win? After last week, I'll offer up a cautious yes. 27-13, Falcons. <br></b></p>
<p>Talk Falcons until gametime!</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/18/3656520/a-pregame-report-for-falcons-cardinalsDave Choate2012-11-17T16:00:25-05:002012-11-17T16:00:25-05:00Four Critical Matchups For Atlanta vs. Arizona
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>On paper the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> have the upper hand against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>. Arizona started off hot with a 4-0 record, but the wheels are coming off after five straight losses.</p>
<p>The last time these two teams squared off didn't end well for Ken Whisenhunt's side. Atlanta poured it on down the stretch, finishing with a monstrous 41-7 victory. Derek Anderson (ha) is no longer under center for the Cards, so there's a plus, I guess.</p>
<p>Let's go ahead and take a look at some of the key matchups that should put the Falcons over the top to improve to 9-1.</p>
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<span>Roddy White</span> vs. <span>Patrick Peterson</span>
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<p>Peterson took a step back in the past few weeks, allowing four touchdowns in three games. Remember <span>Michael Crabtree</span> embarrassing him on Monday Night Football? Despite the recent woes, Peterson has still only allowed 53 percent of passes thrown at him to be caught, and he still boasts an opposing passer rating of 74.2. With <span>Julio Jones</span>' status up in the air for Week 11, we can expect Peterson to shadow White all day.</p>
<p>Roddy can take on any defender and fare well, he's just that good. Peterson is right around the same size, he's fast and he possesses a great skill-set to matchup well with opposing wideouts. This will be a fun battle to watch, but Roddy will have to step up and win often even if Julio does play.</p>
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<span>Kroy Biermann</span> vs. <span>Bobby Massie</span>
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<p>Watching the Cardinals in pass protection is like skiing for the first time. You start off barely standing and eventually you're on the ground the entire day. <span>John Skelton</span> can attest to that. As a whole their offensive line has given up 40 (yes, 40) sacks, 23 hits and 122 hurries. Honestly, I swear I'm not making these numbers up. Rookie right tackle Bobby Massie currently leads Arizona with the most sacks (13) allowed, and is second in hurries (34). If Biermann doesn't get a sack this week, I for one will be sorely disappointed.</p>
<p>Massie will start opposite of another rookie, <span>Nate Potter</span>, so the Falcons should have a field day against the young tackles. Should. Let's hope the departure of <span>Ray Edwards</span> will only spur Biermann's motor to kick into an even higher gear. <span>John Abraham</span> should see time against both tackles as well. Over/under on sacks?</p>
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<span>Dunta Robinson</span> vs. <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span>
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<p>Fitzgerald lines up all over the field, but he'll see the most of his action on the left side. Robinson gave up three receptions on three targets while covering <span>Marques Colston</span> last week, including a touchdown on a quick slant route at the goal line. Opposing quarterbacks are enjoying an impressive 117.3 quarterback rating against Dunta in 2012. He'll certainly have his hands full once again facing Larry Fitz in Week 11.</p>
<p>Skelton has thrown four picks when targeting Fitzgerald so far. He forces throws to his No. 1 receiver and tends to miss his mark rather often, completing 51 of 90 targets in nine games. Dunta at least needs to make sure he doesn't let Fitzgerald get away. He scored a ridiculous touchdown against Green Bay after breaking 30 tackles, and he has the ability to take it to the house at any minute. It's really a shame he doesn't play with, you know, a good quarterback.</p>
<h4>
<span>Peter Konz</span> vs. <span>Darnell Dockett</span>
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<p>What little success the Falcons found in the run game last week came on the right side of the line. Konz was rated by PFF as the best on the team in run blocking, and Smitty needs to keep running his way. Dockett will be lining up against Konz often throughout Sunday's game, which is good news for the rookie. With an unbelievably bad rating of -6.0 against the run this season, Dockett can easily be isolated by Konz, freeing up room for Turner/Quizz/Snelling to run and other blockers to work on other defenders.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> found great success running towards right guard against the Cardinals, compiling six carries for 26 yards at this lane. Konz will continue to improve as the season progresses, and so will the Falcons run game if they pick on Dockett and his side of the defense this week.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/17/3657850/key-matchups-falcons-vs-cardinals-week-11Alex Welch2012-11-17T08:03:27-05:002012-11-17T08:03:27-05:00One Falcon To Watch: Michael Turner
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Yes, that Michael Turner. </p> <p>After watching <span>Michael Turner</span> and his offensive line combine for 15 yards on 13 carries last Sunday, you could be forgiven for thinking the burly back was the last player I'd choose for this feature.</p>
<p>You would be wrong. In the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> are facing one of the worst run defenses in the league yet again. They're also facing an elite passing defense, one that will be looking to shut Matt Ryan down. It's a recipe for a run-friendly game, even though the Falcons are sure to take plenty of shots downfield regardless.</p>
<p>Let me break it down this way. The Falcons really want to get the ground game going, Turner has to be smarting after arguably the worst game of his career and this is one of the few times the passing attack will actually be challenged in 2012 by an elite secondary. If Turner is <i>ever</i> going to have a big game again, this is the circumstance.</p>
<p>If he falls flat on his face, however, the Falcons will have to take a hard look at the offensive line and may consider giving some of his careers to Jacquizz Rodgers. Either way, it's a big game for Burner.</p>
<p>Who will you be watching tomorrow?</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/17/3656618/one-falcon-to-watch-michael-turnerDave Choate