Falcon Disrespect

rockhardfister · 01-16-13, 12:08 PM

Falcons don’t measure up to San Francisco 49ers
By: Dylan Kruse | 01/14/13 9:42 PM
SF Examiner Sports Editor | Follow On Twitter @Dkruse16

GETTY IMAGES FILE PHOTO
The San Francisco 49ers are just one game away from playing in the Super Bowl, which would be their first in 18 years.
If we learned anything after 16 regular-season games and last week’s divisional playoff round, the 49ers will be making travel arrangements for New Orleans and Super Bowl XLVII about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

While San Francisco still has to beat the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, it’s a mere formality at this point.

That’s not pandering to the hometown crowd. Facts are facts. Matchups dictate games. And come Sunday, Atlanta will be exposed by a diverse, explosive 49ers offense and thoroughly manhandled by an aggressive, physical San Francisco defense.

The playoff chips couldn’t have fallen any better for the 49ers. First, the Green Bay Packers lost their regular-season finale, giving ailing defensive lineman Justin Smith and the rest of the Niners a week to heal and guaranteeing a home divisional playoff game. The Niners did their part and took care of business against the Packers on Saturday night, tossing them around like rag dolls to the tune of 323 yards rushing.

Then Sunday, despite giving its best effort to hand the Seattle Seahawks a victory on a silver platter, Atlanta emerged victorious, setting up Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. The Seattle matchup, even at Candlestick Park, would have been dicey for the 49ers. But that’s not the case against the Falcons.

This is a Falcons team that only saw three of its 13 regular-season victories come against winning teams. A Falcons team that had to struggle to beat the Raiders — yes, the same Raiders — and the bottom-feeding Arizona Cardinals at home.

A Falcons team that has become notorious for pulling a David Copperfield and disappearing in big-game situations. Sunday’s escape job against the Seahawks sure wasn’t enough to shake that reputation — that performance was more like slapping a Band-Aid on a broken leg.

The Niners’ superiority will be most evident in the trenches, where Atlanta is weakest. The Falcons ranked 29th in rushing and 21st in stopping the run. The Niners? Frank Gore and Co. were the fourth-best rushing attack this season, and the defense was the fourth-best at stuffing the run.

When you add Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the read option to the equation, look out. The Falcons have been terrible at defending mobile quarterbacks. Russell Wilson ran for 60 yards and threw for 385 yards last week. Cam Newton threw for 502 yards, ran for 202 yards and totaled six touchdowns in two games against the Falcons this year.

You can be sure coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are salivating after watching those game tapes as they devise new ways to utilize Kaepernick’s dynamic playmaking ability.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will fling it around to Roddy White and Julio Jones, and Atlanta will score some points, but it won’t be enough. The X’s and O’s favor the 49ers, who have the added edge of motivation after their shot at the big stage slipped through Kyle Williams’ fingers last year.

It’s been 18 years since the 49ers have played in the Super Bowl. With the Falcons flagging, Kaepernick under center and a razor-sharp offense, that drought ends Sunday.

Dylan Kruse is the sports editor of The San Francisco Examiner. He can be reached at dkruse@sfexaminer.com and followed on Twitter @dkruse16.

rockhardfister · 01-16-13, 12:09 PM

Brent Jones says the 49ers will eat the Falcons alive

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Grant Cohn

Brent Jones spoke on KNBR Monday afternoon. This is what he said about the 49ers’ upcoming matchup against the Falcons.

Q: Are you worried about the Falcons?

BRENT JONES: “I am feeling very confident. The Falcons are paper falcons. Let’s call them that. I think physically, the 49ers are going to intimidate. I don’t think it’s going to be close in the physical matchup.

“I think as far as mental toughness, they’re not there. They’re not at the same level as the 49ers. They’re mentally weaker. They tried like heck to give that game (against the Seahawks) away. The Seahawks drove the ball up and down the field on those guys and should have hammered them. I don’t think the Falcons are going to be able to handle the 49ers’ swagger, the attack. I just think physically they’re not there.

“Now, I will say this about their offense. Matt Ryan – I cannot believe he made that throw, up by a couple of touchdowns into double coverage (for an interception). What was he thinking? Your whole career to this point has been defined by not being able to make that smart decision when you have to, or not being able to win it – Tony Romo-esque. And then Ryan makes that throw and I’m like, are you kidding me? Come on! Man, they tried to lose it.

“People are saying this win will give the Falcons confidence and they’re off the schneid – no it didn’t. The 49ers are going to come in and eat them alive in my opinion.

“Now, crowd noise, Julio Jones, Roddy White – those guys are legit. You’re going to have to stop Michael Turner. He looks better than he has in a while I though. I saw him running a little bit more downhill than I’ve seen him.

“But I’ll bet on our defense. I think our defense played well against the Packers.

“I think the 49ers would trade the home game with Seattle to go play Atlanta. I think that they think they’re going to match up much better with Atlanta. The Seattle game would have been a slugfest. I know it would have been at home, but that’s a crapshoot.

“This one – money in the bank. Locking it up on Monday.”

Q: Straight up or will you give the four-and-a-half points?

BRENT JONES: “I’ll give eight points. The momentum is there. They are playing with an intensity that I haven’t seen. We saw it for most of the Patriots game, and then we didn’t see it. The Seahawks game it wasn’t there. The Cardinals game it wasn’t there. That’s what I was waiting to see. The week off obviously served us well. It’s go time.”

NOboy · 01-16-13, 12:16 PM

What's new? That's from the sfexaminer lol. It's funny how people do not see how much this defense has regressed. 28 ppg on the road the last four road games. Almost 80% of opponent RZ possessions are TDs. Not that great at stopping the 3rd down conversions on the road either. Justin Smith isn't at 100% and without him firing on all cylinders, aldon Smith is useless. 1 sack last week against one of the worst OLines in the league, now they are up against a team that is one of the best at keeping the QB upright. And if you can't get back there, Matt Ryan will pick apart any defense.

NOboy · 01-16-13, 12:19 PM

Lol! I'll give this guy a call and ask for 8 points and what ML he will offer me . LOL. Over confidence.... Love it. I'm sure people said that about Denver vs. Baltimore. That Denver would win handily. Guess not. First year starter on the road giving this team 4 points?!

rockhardfister · 01-16-13, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by NOboy

What's new? That's from the sfexaminer lol. It's funny how people do not see how much this defense has regressed. 28 ppg on the road the last four road games. Almost 80% of opponent RZ possessions are TDs. Not that great at stopping the 3rd down conversions on the road either. Justin Smith isn't at 100% and without him firing on all cylinders, aldon Smith is useless. 1 sack last week against one of the worst OLines in the league, now they are up against a team that is one of the best at keeping the QB upright. And if you can't get back there, Matt Ryan will pick apart any defense.

Bro its everywhere I turn. Its either a negative campaign against the Falcons or the media swinging from Kapernick's nuts. I caught an NFL Network segment last night about what QB, outside of Brady, did the panel trust most in the NFC Championship game. The two coaches (Mariucci and Billick) and one guy I didn't recognize selected Flacco because he's played really well the last 2 or 3 times he's played the Patriots. Heath Evans and some other guy picked Kapernick because they didn't believe the Falcons could stop his passing or running ability. No one picked Ryan. Its everywhere...who knows man, maybe its penetrating true! Im almost convinced now...LOL

NOboy · 01-16-13, 12:35 PM

Over confidence and the media on a team's sack is never good. Look at Denver. Look at GB. Who would have though giants or gb would have won the last two years? NO ONE. Hindsight is 20/20. I call BS on anyone touting those two teams to win. Neither were impressive until the playoffs.

rockhardfister · 01-16-13, 12:56 PM

Most people I talk to are just loading up on SF this week because the Falcons screwed them so bad last week? Its like some rebound bet! Cant say I havent done it before.

slacker00 · 01-16-13, 01:14 PM

ATL is undervalued. ATL is a great bet. Put your money down and go to the next bet. Why cheerlead for ATL?

rockhardfister · 01-17-13, 11:47 AM

There are going to be a lot of unhappy viewers on Sunday when the Falcons win.

rockhardfister · 01-17-13, 11:49 AM

Golden Tate Claims He Caught Final Hail Mary In Falcons Game
Sports News in Brief• sports• football• nfl• ISSUE 49•03• Jan 15, 2013

ATLANTA—Following the Seahawks' playoff loss to the Falcons, Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate reportedly insisted Sunday that he caught Russell Wilson’s 48-yard desperation pass as time expired, claiming that the play should have been ruled a touchdown. “I had possession at the end. I absolutely did. I got in there under Julio Jones, I fought for the ball the whole way, and I came down with it,” said Tate, adding that after briefly conferring at the back of the end zone, the referees “made the wrong call.” “It’s hard to tell because there’s no perfect camera angle on the replay, but if you were there and you saw it up close, I clearly caught that ball. It was a legal catch.” Pressed for further explanation, Tate claimed that while the pass was in the air, he slid inside Julio Jones’s jersey, controlled the ball with two feet down, and then slid back out

vaas187 · 01-17-13, 01:12 PM

Atlanta will be lucky to put up 14 against SF

NOboy · 01-17-13, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by rockhardfister

Golden Tate Claims He Caught Final Hail Mary In Falcons Game
Sports News in Brief• sports• football• nfl• ISSUE 49•03• Jan 15, 2013

ATLANTA—Following the Seahawks' playoff loss to the Falcons, Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate reportedly insisted Sunday that he caught Russell Wilson’s 48-yard desperation pass as time expired, claiming that the play should have been ruled a touchdown. “I had possession at the end. I absolutely did. I got in there under Julio Jones, I fought for the ball the whole way, and I came down with it,” said Tate, adding that after briefly conferring at the back of the end zone, the referees “made the wrong call.” “It’s hard to tell because there’s no perfect camera angle on the replay, but if you were there and you saw it up close, I clearly caught that ball. It was a legal catch.” Pressed for further explanation, Tate claimed that while the pass was in the air, he slid inside Julio Jones’s jersey, controlled the ball with two feet down, and then slid back out

This can't be real. This guy was already gifted the fail Mary catch lol. Now he wants another?

rockhardfister · 01-17-13, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by NOboy

This can't be real. This guy was already gifted the fail Mary catch lol. Now he wants another?

It was a joke from the Onion. Last sentence gave it away.

Angry Gambler · 01-17-13, 07:18 PM

Needed the laugh..Falcons MIGHT cover the 4.5 but their last win for the season was last Sunday when God answered Tony Gonzalez's prayer of not going out without a playoff win.