New York Giants (8-5) at Atlanta Falcons (11-2) Preview

After a tough 30-20 division loss against the  Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons return home to take on the defending Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants. With three games remaining in the 2012 season, the Falcons return home to play the defending  Super Bowl champion New York Giants and look to earn revenge after last year's embarrassing playoff loss in New York.  This will be one of the biggest games of the season especially with the bitterness that all the Falcons players and fans have towards this team after losing the playoff game and watching this team go on to win Super Bowl XLVI. Expect to see both the Falcons and the Giants play with a chip on their shoulder and battle for a full 60 minutes. New York, coming off a huge 52-27 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday enters this game with a one game lead in the NFC East and can't afford to take a loss as the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins are also in the hunt to win the division title with only three games remaining in the NFL season. The Giants will look to continue their push for another Super Bowl run against the Falcons on Sunday. As for the Falcons, with a victory and a little help, they could lock up the top seed in the NFC for the 2012 NFL Playoffs. Atlanta is also looking to earn their first victory against the "G-Men" since 2004 and to earn revenge after suffering an embarrassing 24-2 loss to the Giants in last season's Wild Card Playoffs. The Falcons also haven't earned a home victory against New York since 1978 and a victory on Sunday would end that drought as well. The all-time series against the Falcons and Giants is tied at 10-10. Sunday's contest will be a tough and competitive match-up against a veteran and Super Bowl winning football team; however, earning a win against the Giants will boost the confidence of the 2012 Atlanta Falcons as they look to make a run at a Super Bowl this season. Defeating the Giants could start a surge to the playoffs for the Falcons. At the very least an Atlanta victory could provide evidence that its poor effort in the 30-20 loss at Carolina was an let-down after a huge win against New Orleans two weeks ago. This is a huge game and will explain a lot about the Falcons progression as the Giants, who are battling for the playoffs and is a very good team in December, will bring their best; however, the Falcons must rise up to the challenge and earn a victory. Now, I will give my keys to victory against the Giants, match-ups to watch, and my final score prediction.


KEYS TO VICTORY:

1: Establish the Running Game Early:

One of Atlanta's biggest issues throughout the season have been their lack of running the football effectively; however, as the season comes to an end, it's imperative that the Falcons start finding ways to establish their dominance on the ground. On Sunday, Atlanta's facing a Giants defense which currently ranks (22nd) in rushing defense as they give up an average of (123.3) yards per game to their opponents and in four of the Giants five defeats , they have surrendered over (100) yards to their opposing running backs and their linebackers have struggled to contain running backs that possess an explosive asset to their game. On Sunday, the Falcons need to attack the Giants front line with their balanced running game from Michael Turner, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Jason Snelling. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter needs to give each back a set amount of carries because the Falcons will need to limit the aggression that the Giants defensive line will attempt to use against Atlanta's offensive line. Rodgers could have a huge game against their front seven and getting their ground game rolling will open up the Falcons offense to successfully throw the ball against this Giants secondary, who is opportunistic; however, they will surrender big plays as well. The Falcons also need to design plays which benefits each running back when they are receiving carries in the offense. For example, Michael Turner is a back who needs a full back to open lanes for him and can also run stretch plays successfully. Jacquizz Rodgers can cut-back and find lanes so they should use him in pitch plays and his explosive running style will keep the Giants defensive line's aggression down. With Jason Snelling, the Falcons can use him in multiple ways in the running game also. The rushing attack will be a huge key for Atlanta if they are going to win the football game.

2. Falcons defense must contain the Giants offense from long drives:

The Falcons need to force Eli Manning into short drives or three and outs in order to provide their offense with more opportunities to score. In the past two weeks, the Falcons defense  struggled getting off the field on third down. Against Carolina, the Panthers converted nine of their fifteen third down and that's another reason why their offense was effective in last week's loss and in the victory against New Orleans, the Saints converted seven of their fourteen attempts. On Sunday, Atlanta will get tested against yet another high-powered offense in the New York Giants, Atlanta must limit these long offensive drives. For the most part, the Falcons defense have performed very well; however, you have to limit the Giants offense from making a huge impact on Sunday's game because an elite quarterback like Eli Manning can get into a rhythm and carve any secondary in the NFL apart when given the opportunity. Atlanta is average to this point when it comes to getting off the field defensively in third down situations, ranking (23rd) in the NFL with (41%) of their opponent's third downs being converted and that's a major test against the Giants, who converts (41%) of their situations, which is tenth-best in the league. Atlanta's defense have been very consistent so far; however, against Eli Manning on Sunday, you must be ready to make the big stop or give the Falcons a boost when the time comes.The Falcons defensive front must apply pressure on the Giants offensive line, who is one of the best in the league. Entering the game, New York have surrendered the least amount of sacks with (15) and Manning have the second least QB hits taken throughout the NFL season with (40). If the Falcons defense can disrupt Eli Manning's rhythm, they could cause turnovers at an alarming rate because from week in and out, you never know which Eli Manning will show up on the field. Expect defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to disguise their defensive looks due to the success the Falcons defense had when they used this strategy against Drew Brees and Peyton Manning earlier this season. Atlanta also need to limit the effectiveness of Ahmad Bradshaw and David Wilson on Sunday afternoon because New York will attempt to establish a ground attack against the Falcons defense, who is having an inconsistent season as far as limiting the rushing attack. If Atlanta can contain their running game and force Eli Manning to throw the football most of the game, the Falcons defense will then have opportunities to make big plays against arguably one of the best offenses in the NFL today.  

3. Matt Ryan have to utilize all of his weapons in the offense and become less predictable:

With an aggressive Giants defensive line coming in on Sunday, Matt Ryan must spread the ball around  and make the Falcons offense tough to contain. Ryan have to use all of his weapons to their strengths and give the offense opportunities to have a big game against this Giants defense. Atlanta's offense is ranked (4th) in the NFL in passing yards per game with (289.2) yards per game and this offense can be one of the most explosive attacks around the league; however, you must allow all aspects of your passing game get involved  We are used to seeing Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez get their fair share of receptions in the Falcons offense; however, Atlanta needs to spread the ball to their other receivers and use other passing options. Harry Douglas is a tremendous slot receiver and can create big plays in the passing attack for the Falcons offense and against New York on Sunday, he could be a key contributor because the Giants secondary seemed to struggle against explosive players and "HD" could provide the spark the Falcons are looking for in the game. Atlanta needs to utilize Drew Davis as well because he's another receiver that can stretch the field and can make plays when called upon. Although Ryan is having his best season of his career, if he can get more of his weapons to evolve in Atlanta's passing attack, then, the Falcons will be a tough team to beat. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter also need to use the screen game and allow Ryan to take some shots down the field against a pretty shaky Giants secondary. The Falcons have three guys in Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez who are all defensive mismatches can create big plays for the offense; however, use all options in your passing attack and the team will be successful. The Falcons receiving core all possess the ability to turn any small pass into an impact play to extend drives or score points. 

4. Offense must start fast and score touchdowns in the red-zone:

The Falcons offense have went through their ups and downs on offense from the start; however, Atlanta must consistently find a way to start off fast and effective. Atlanta has a issue sometimes of starting off very slow and shaky or having a long stretch throughout the game when they can't move the football; however, against the Giants on Sunday, the Falcons need to get off to a great and balanced start and score points early. Also, the Falcons must convert those long drives into touchdowns because the Giants is a football team who can score fast and put the pressure on the opposing offense to respond fast. Atlanta's offense have been outstanding for the most part this season; however, the Falcons must address their efficiency within the 20-yard line. The Falcons have too much talent not to score more touchdowns within the red-zone, which is a struggle we've encountered from time to time throughout the 2012 campaign. Atlanta must work on mixing their plays when they are approaching the end zone because at times, the Falcons will throw in situations where they should run the football and the same situation when they made decisions to run the ball instead of utilizing their passing weapons such as Julio Jones, Roddy White or Tony Gonzalez. On Sunday, the Falcons could be in a position where scoring seven points will be the difference in the contest, especially if the New York Giants are scoring touchdowns and making Sunday's game very interesting. It's vitally important that Atlanta scores touchdowns and keep the pressure on the Giants offense throughout the football game. Another issue the Falcons must fix is their third down inefficiency they have encountered in the past few weeks against the Giants on Sunday; entering the game, Atlanta is ranked (3rd) in the NFL in converting third down opportunities at (45%); however, in the previous two games against the Saints and Panthers, Atlanta have struggled to extend their offensive drives as they were a horrific (1/11) against the Saints and in Sunday's loss against Carolina, they were only (2/8) and if you're not converting those chances against New York, you're rushing your defense back on the field and giving Eli Manning too many opportunities to score points. 

5. Battle of the trenches: Atlanta's offensive and defensive line must rise to the challenge and dominate:

On defense, the Falcons will have to step up to the challenge and get pressure after Eli Manning. During the regular season, the Falcons defense have endured a tough time remaining consistent when it came to their pass rush. Atlanta have made (28) sacks, which is ranked (19th) in the NFL; however, the defensive line needs to interrupt Eli Manning from having an effective day in the passing game for the Giants offense. The Falcons are facing one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season in Manning, who posted (3,429) passing yards and (20) touchdown passes. Majority of the Giants success came from their passing attack; but, even with one of the best seasons that Eli Manning had as a NFL quarterback, he is still a turnover prone quarterback. Manning have (13) interceptions to this point and applying pressure to the eighth year quarterback gives the Falcons a major chance to cause havoc in the backfield. On Sunday, John Abraham and Kroy Biermann must step up and disrupt Eli Manning from having the proper amount of time to get the Giants offense moving and they need to put their defense in position to force turnovers. Applying pressure to Eli Manning will give you a better chance to shut down the Giants passing attack from making a huge impact on Sunday's game. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan needs to establish different blitz packages that will allow the Falcons front four to get after Eli Manning and force him into costly turnovers. Zone packages will not be a smart option to use against this Giants offense because that will give Eli Manning time to create big plays for the New York offense and that can't happen if the Falcons are going to win on Sunday. On the offensive side of the ball, the Falcons offensive line must contain the Giants defensive line from interrupting their flow of the offense. Falcons offensive line must make it difficult for opponents to sack Matt Ryan and disrupt the Falcons passing game. A key addition to the lineup was the return of Sam Baker, who was injured and did an outstanding job protecting Ryan's blindside throughout the season. On Sunday, Baker will be matched up against Giants star defensive end Justin Tuck. Tuck had a down season on the Giants defense as he only recorded three sacks this season and will be looking for a game to build off as the playoffs are getting closer. The second biggest match-up will be Tyson Clabo vs Jason-Pierre Paul. Pierre-Paul is not having the type of season he was used to posting as he recorded (6.5) sacks to this point, which is half the amount he recorded last season; however, when he's given the opportunity to cause havoc in the backfield, he will be a force to be reckoned with on the field and that's what the Falcons must limit. If Atlanta's offensive line can keep their defensive unit intact, they have a great shot of winning the game.

6. DOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:

The Falcons home crowd must be loud and cause Eli Manning and the Giants to have a rough time hearing signals and force some false start penalties. In two of the Falcons biggest home wins (New Orleans and Denver), we saw the home crowd in their seats early and making noise when thee opponents were on the field. Atlanta's "12th Man" have done a tremendous job all season and I expect to see the fans ready and fired up for another playoff like atmosphere in the Georgia Dome on Sunday afternoon.Although many people many not view the Falcons home crowd as a factor to a home win, this is  going to be critical on Sunday. The Falcons fans must make the atmosphere hostile and that can give the Falcons defense an extra boost. Fans need to be in their seats before kickoff and not making their way into the Dome late in the first quarter or halftime, the team needs to feel the support from their hometown fans from the start in order to motivate them to play Falcons football against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today. Nationally, Atlanta fans are not given much credit for their support of the Falcons and Sunday would be a prime example to send a message to the league that this fan base have faith that we can win a big game against a legitimate contender. 


KEY MATCH-UPS IN THE FALCONS vs GIANTS GAME:

1. Roddy White vs Corey Webster:

The Falcons will have a favorable match-up between these two players as Roddy White is having yet another tremendous season and is a tough match to handle for an opposing secondary and he should have a big game on Sunday. Corey Webster, who was great in 2011 have not looked as impressive this season as he's struggling to recognize certain coverage and have been burned by some of his receiving match-ups as well this season. Matt Ryan needs to take advantage of this match-up and expose Webster while covering Roddy White or whomever he'll cover in Sunday's game. Despite the struggles against some of the best receivers in the game today, Webster can still make a huge impact on a football game for the Giants defense. For the Falcons, Roddy White can't drop any clutch passes in this game or that could be deadly to the passing attack. 

2. Julio Jones vs Prince Amukamara:

This will be an intriguing match-up on Sunday as the Falcons most explosive receiver faces off with arguably the best cornerback on the Giants this season. Amukamara, in his second year in the NFL have been impressive and made big plays in the Giants defense as well; he's a good coverage corner and rarely is beat on a defensive play; however, he's facing an explosive threat in Julio Jones. The Giants secondary have struggled at times to defend receivers with the play-making ability similar to Julio Jones as they face Dez Bryant twice a year.Matt Ryan will use this match-up often throughout the game and he must also be cautious with his throws because Amukamara could step up and earn a interception. For the Falcons, Julio Jones must remain focused against a stingy New York secondary and Matt Ryan needs to create the opportunities for Julio to use his play-making ability on Sunday afternoon.

3.Hakeem Nicks vs Dunta Robinson:

With all of the hype around Victor Cruz and his impact for the Giants passing game, Hakeem Nicks quietly put together a great season for New York. Nicks, in his fourth  season, is coming off an injury  and coming off a huge game against New Orleans, in which he scored a fewtouchdowns and his match-up will likely be against Dunta Robinson. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan needs to allow Robinson to play man to man coverage on Nicks and prevent him from having any impact in the game for the Giants passing attack. Robinson must take away all of those big plays on Sunday in order to contain their star wide receiver. This match-up could be key in stopping the explosive Giants offense from having a great game. The Falcons secondary is up for a huge test; however, this would be the best match-up for Robinson of the receiving core of Nicks, Cruz, and Barden. In last year's playoff game, Nicks was the difference maker in the Giants victory over the Falcons and if he's not contained, he could cause problems on Sunday afternoon.


FINAL PREDICTION:
The Falcons-Giants game will be a competiitve and high scoring contest between two familiar playoff foes. For the first three quarters, I expect both teams to trade points and the playoff like football game will eventually end up with the Falcons pulling away with either a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter to lift Atlanta to 12-2. I'll return with a post-game blog and analysis after the New York/Atlanta contest. Until next time, FALCONS RISE UP!!!!

SCORE: ATLANTA FALCONS 27 NEW YORK GIANTS 17

Atlanta Falcons (8-0) at New Orleans Saints (3-5) Preview

Matt Ryan #2  passes against the Dallas Cowboys at the Georgia Dome (November 3, 2012 - Source: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images North America)

Coming off yet another huge win against the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Falcons will begin their NFC South portion of the schedule as they travel on the road to New Orleans and face the Saints. Atlanta will look to end their bad streak in the SuperDome as the Saints have won five of the last six games against the Falcons at home, the lone victory came in 2010 as the Falcons won 27-24 in overtime. The Saints, who are riding high off a Monday Night victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, will look to earn another home win and come closer to .500 as the second half begins. The Falcons are coming into the contest facing one of the worst defensive teams in the league as the Saints ranked (29th) in the NFL in opposing passing yards allowed with (294.8) and last in rushing yards allowed with (176.5) per game; however, the Saints offense is one of the best in the NFL as they are ranked fifth overall but their passing attack is a huge reason why. Led by Drew Brees, the Saints have the second best passing offense in the NFL posting (305.4) yards per contest; however, their ground attack is the third worst in the NFL averaging (81.0) per contest. On the other side, the Saints are playing a Falcons offense who ranks (8th) in the NFL in yards per game with (376.6) per contest, but Atlanta is (8th) in passing with (278.1) yards per game and (25th) in rushing with (98.5) yards per game; however, the Falcons are the seventh highest scoring team in the league averaging around (27.5) points per contest. Although the statistics show a certain strength and weakness of both teams, this NFC South showdown will be a close and competitive contest on Sunday afternoon. Now, I will give some keys to victory, key match-ups, and final prediction for the Falcons vs Saints contest. 

KEYS TO VICTORY AGAINST THE SAINTS:

1. The Falcons need to establish their ground game early:

Associated Press/Chuck Burton -  Michael Turner (33) runs away from Dallas
 Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims (59) 

My first point to securing a win against the Saints is opening Sunday's contest with a efficient rushing attack. Although Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing attack is explosive and a big-play offense, getting Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers going early will open up many opportunities against an average Saints defensive unit. Against the Cowboys, Michael Turner ran for (102) yards and a touchdown and also got a lift from back-up Jacquizz Rodgers as well. The Falcons have transitioned from their power running game, which was successful for the first four seasons; however, that's the benefit of having that element to your offense. Don't be surprised if Koetter gets Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers a nice amount of carries early in order to keep the Saints defense honest. Although the Falcons have entered the game with one of the worst rushing attacks this season, make no mistake about it, when Atlanta can establish their ground game, the offense is even tougher to contain. Atlanta enters Sunday's contest facing one of the worst rushing defenses as they allowed over (176.5) per game, and that could be a huge boost to Atlanta's offense. Another important factor in establishing the rushing attack is the fact that the Falcons are a ball-control football team as their offense ranked tenth in the NFL as they have possession of the football (31:38) per contest. The Falcons offense need to conduct lengthy but efficient drives in order to keep Drew Brees and the Saints passing attack off the field and keep the crowd from causing any havoc when they are on the field. Once your rushing attack gets going, many opportunities will open up for Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing game, which could cause a long day for the New Orleans Saints. 

2. The Falcons defense must disguise their scheme to confuse Drew Brees:

Jonathan Babineaux gets pressure on Tony Romo
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

The Falcons defensive unit have a interesting challenge as their passing defense will face one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Drew Brees. Although the Saints record is not favorable, for the most part, their offense is still consistent in the air. Drew Brees is posting an average of (305) yards per contest and their offense is scoring an average of (27.2) points per game as well so the Falcons defense must be ready to defend Brees. One significant point the Atlanta Falcons have presented on defense since acquiring coordinator Mike Nolan in the off-season is their ability to make adjustments at the line and disguise their scheme to perfection in order to confuse their opposing quarterbacks. Their ability to disguise their defensive game strategy caused them to force some of the top tier quarterbacks in the NFL such as Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers into costly mistakes. On Sunday, the Falcons must control the tempo on offense and create havoc on defense including throwing different looks at Drew Brees. This could be a critical point in whether the Falcons win or lose on Sunday because if you're going to show Brees your defensive strategy, he can pick your defense apart, which was a huge reason why the Falcons struggled against him in former coordinator Brian Van Gorder's scheme; however, Nolan's scheme is very unpredictable. Another key component for the Falcons defense is creating big plays on defense and through eight games, the team have excelled at that ranking fourth in the NFL in interceptions with (10) and (13th) overall in quarterback sacks with (20) so Atlanta's opportunistic defense could make a huge stand or play that could lead the team to another victory. Atlanta's scheme could also force the Saints offensive unit to commit costly penalties as well, who have made (52) penalties through eight games. The Falcons will also need to prevent long drives from New Orleans as well, you want to limit their production on offense as much as possible. The Falcons are average to this point when it comes to getting off the field defensively in third down situations, ranking (21st) in the NFL with (41%) of their opponent's third downs being converted and that's a major test against the Saints, who converts (44%) of their situations, which is seventh-best in the league. Atlanta's defense have been very consistent so far; however, against Drew Brees on Sunday, you must be ready to make the big stop or give the Falcons a boost when the time comes.

3. Score touchdowns in the red-zone, don't settle for too many field goals:

Michael Turner breaks for a big run in Sunday's win
(AP-Rich Addicks)

Atlanta's offense have been outstanding for the most part this season; however, the Falcons must address their efficiency within the 20-yard line. Against Dallas, the Falcons struggled to convert their opportunities into touchdowns. Outside of Michael Turner's eventual go-ahead touchdown, the Falcons were 2-4 in the red-zone, including two field goals from Matt Bryant as well as two missed field goals from him early in the first half. The Falcons have too much talent not to score more touchdowns within the red-zone, which is a struggle we've encountered from time to time throughout the 2012 campaign. Atlanta must work on mixing their plays when they are approaching the end zone because at times, the Falcons will throw in situations where they should run the football and the same situation when they made decisions to run the ball instead of utilizing their passing weapons such as Julio Jones, Roddy White or Tony Gonzalez. On Sunday, the Falcons could be in a position where scoring seven points will be the difference in the contest, especially if the Saints are scoring touchdowns and making Sunday's game very interesting. In the Falcons past two losses to the Saints, this was a major concern and played a critical point in the football game. It's vitally important that Atlanta scores touchdowns and keep the pressure on the Saints offense throughout the football game. 

KEY MATCH-UPS AGAINST THE SAINTS:

1. Roddy White vs Jabari Greer/ Julio Jones vs Patrick Robinson:

Julio Jones reception vs Dallas on Sunday
(The Falcon Wing)

The receiving match-ups will be a very intriguing test for the New Orleans Saints secondary because although the Saints won 45-16 in the previous match-up, both receivers posted over (100) receiving yards apiece. On Sunday, Roddy White will face a familiar face in Jabari Greer. Greer is arguably the best corner back in the Saints secondary and have played Roddy White very well in their contests against each other in the past; unfortunately for him and Robinson, this is been a very disappointing year for the corners. New Orleans have allowed over 100 yard receiving to a number of receivers this year such as Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Vincent Jackson, and Demaryius Thomas and their hands will be full with the combination of Roddy Whiter and Julio Jones, who carved up the Cowboys secondary on Sunday as they both went over the 100 yards receiving mark. Of the two match-ups, the biggest disadvantage will be the Julio Jones vs Patrick Robinson match because Robinson tends to struggle against tall receivers which explosive play-making attributes and Sunday will be yet another challenge for the young corner back. 

2. Pierre Thomas/Chris Ivory vs Falcons Front Seven:

Chris Ivory Touchdown Run against the Eagles
(StamfordAdvocate.com)

The Falcons will have an intriguing match-up as the Saints will utilize their running backs on Sunday. Pierre Thomas gave the Falcons defense a tough time in the previous match-up and you always have to play smart against him because Thomas is a power back who can be used in many ways such as in the screen game, which the Saints are well known for using. With Darren Sproles out, Thomas will get more opportunities and you must bring him down immediately because he's a tough running back. Chris Ivory, who is the Saints fourth running back will see more playing time as well after a great showing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night and like Thomas, Ivory is a physical back but possesses more speed and can a problem to tackle. The Falcons must contain him from making any impact on offense by making sure they can get the initial tackle because if you're missing tackles against these type of running backs, that could provide problems for your defense during  Sunday's contest. 

Tony Gonzalez reception against Dallas
(StamfordAdvocate.com)

3. Tony Gonzalez vs Curtis Lofton:
This match-up brings up two former teammates as former middle linebacker of the Falcons, Curtis Lofton will try to contain Tony Gonzalez. In last week's defeat against the Eagles, Lofton had a tough time defending Brent Celek and seemed to struggle a lot in coverage; however, this Sunday will be much tougher for him as the Falcons come to town. Although he was with Atlanta for four seasons, it will be interesting to see how Matt Ryan will get Tony Gonzalez involved against a team mate that they pretty much know Lofton's strength and weaknesses and that could cause major issues for New Orleans on Sunday afternoon. Expect Matt Ryan to target Tony Gonzalez and see can Lofton contain the Hall of Fame tight end. Gonzalez could be due for a huge game in the Superdome.


4. Falcons secondary vs Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham:

Sean Weatherspoon breaks up a pass intended for Jimmy Graham
(November 12, 2011 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

The Falcons must be careful to find a way to contain Colston from having a huge game on Sunday. Colston have given the Falcons defense fits for years and Atlanta's defense must use their ability to disguise schemes to prevent New Orleans from getting their top receiving threat going. Another intriguing person is Jimmy Graham, who is Drew Brees security blanket and second most used target in New Orleans passing attack. Akeem Dent, Sean Weatherspoon and the rest of the linebacker core will need to play tight coverage on the explosive tight end because if he's allowed to have his way, that could cause a lot of issues for the Falcons secondary on Sunday afternoon. If the Falcons can limit one of the two targets, you're in a favorable position to earn a win against the Saints on Sunday.


PREDICTION:

The Falcons/Saints rivalry will once again provide a high scoring contest and both teams will be fired up to play in a game which Atlanta have an opportunity to go to 9-0 and eliminate New Orleans from the NFC South race; however, the Saints could draw a game closer to .500 with a win so both teams will lay it all on the line. In the end, I expect the Falcons to pull out a clutch fourth quarter victory in the Superdome. Until my next blog, LET'S GO FALCONS!!!!

FINAL PREDICTION: 
ATLANTA FALCONS 27 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 20

Atlanta Falcons defeats the Oakland Raiders 23-20; Recap and Analysis

Matt Bosher and Matt Bryant reacts after the game winning field
goal to give Atlanta a 23-20 win.
(AP-Rich Addicks)

The Atlanta Falcons entered the game with a (5-0) record after beating the Washington Redskins 24-17, which was their best start in franchise history and returned home with an opportunity to earn another victory before their bye week. Their opponent, the Oakland Raiders entered the game off their bye week with a (1-3) record and was looking to earn their first win on the East Coast for the first time since 2009. With a victory, Falcons head coach Mike Smith would tie former Falcons coach Dan Reeves for the most victories in franchise history under his tenure with (49) total wins. Also, the Falcons were looking to finish a perfect 4-0 against their AFC opponents for the first time in a regular season. As the game began, the Falcons struggled from the start. Atlanta won the coin toss and received the ball first and after their first play of the contest was a (25) yard reception from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones, their (3) plays, (58) yards drive came to a shocking end as Matt Ryan threw his fourth interception of the season after Joselio Hanson jumped a route intended for Harry Douglas, which was Oakland's first defensive interception of the season. On the Raiders first drive, they would turn the ball over after running back Darren McFadden fumbled after a Jonathan Babineaux tackle, which Falcons corner back Robert McClain would recover to place the Falcons at the Raiders 32-yard line. On Atlanta's second possession, their four-play, (7) yards drive ended with a rare Matt Bryant missed (43) yard field goal attempt. After the Raiders second possession ended with a punt, the Falcons would again start another possession with a big play after Matt Ryan threw a (26) yard reception to Roddy White and an extra fifteen yards was added after a roughing the passer penalty. This Falcons possession would end with Ryan throwing his fifth interception of the season on a pass intended for Julio Jones as safety Michael Huff would earn his first takeaway of the year. The Raiders would capitalize on their second forced turnover of the game as Oakland took a (8) play, 65-yard drive which took (4:24) and ended with Sebastian Janikowski nailing a (52) yard field goal to give Oakland a 3-0 lead with (:24) remaining in the first quarter. In Atlanta's first possession of the second quarter, the Falcons finally capitalized on a (10) play, 80-yard drive which took (5:33) and ended with a Matt Ryan touchdown pass to Roddy White to give the Falcons a 7-3 lead with (9:51) remaining in the quarter. Oakland would respond with another scoring drive on a (10) play, 76-yard drive which took (5:40) as the Falcons defense made a defensive stand as the Raiders had to settle for a (22) yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal after driving down to Atlanta's 1-yard line to cut the deficit to 7-6 with (4:11) remaining in the second quarter. The Falcons next offensive possession ended with yet another costly turnover as Matt Ryan threw his third interception of the first half to Tyvon Branch on a pass intended for Tony Gonzalez and the Raiders would have the ball deep in Atlanta territory with (2:44) remaining. Oakland would waist little time as they capitalized on a two-play, (28) yard drive which ended with a Carson Palmer touchdown pass to Denarius Moore to give the Raiders a 13-7 lead with (1:50) remaining in the first half and would take the lead into halftime as the Falcons trailed at the break for the first time in the 2012 season. As the third quarter began, both the Falcons and the Raiders first offensive possession would end in a three and out. After the Falcons defense halted the Oakland offense again, their next possession would end with them capitalizing on a (9) play, 47-yard drive which Matt Bryant nailed a (41) yard field goal to trim Oakland's lead to 13-10 with (5:06) remaining in the third quarter. On the Raiders next offensive possession, the Falcons defense would make a game-changing play as John Abraham would force a fumble after sacking Carson Palmer and defensive end Ray Edwards recovered the ball and returned it down to Oakland's (2) yard line. The Raiders responded with a good defensive goal line stand and forced the Falcons to a field goal attempt which Matt Bryant would nail to tie the game at 13-13 with (2:31) remaining in the third quarter. After the score, both the Falcons and Raiders would fail to get a great offensive drive going to take the lead; however, Oakland's third possession of the fourth quarter would be huge in the game's final results. The Raiders offense finally started a late drive to potentially take the lead and even getting as close as the Atlanta (30) yard line; however, the Falcons defense made the play of the game with less than three minutes remaining. On third and six at the Falcons 28 yard line, Asante Samuel jumped a route intended for Denarius Moore and returned it (79) yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 20-13 lead with (2:50) remaining in the game. The interception was Samuel's first in his career as a Falcon and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Falcons. However, Oakland would respond again with a (8) play, (80) yard drive which ended in a Darren McFadden two-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 20-20 with (:40) remaining. Oakland left too much time on the clock for Ryan and the Falcons. Matt Ryan conducted yet another late drive in which he was (5/6) for (43) yards as the Falcons drove to the Raiders (40) yard line and with six seconds remaining, Matt Bryant would nail a game-winning (55) yard field goal to give the Falcons a 23-20 win and Atlanta improved to 6-0. Now, I will give my players of the game, things we learned from the victory and things which should be adjusted heading into Atlanta's bye week. 

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

JOHN ABRAHAM:

John Abraham's forced fumble in the 3rd quarter
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

Usually, I would have selected a offensive player; however, one of the biggest reasons why the Falcons defense kept the Raiders from pulling away on Sunday was the play of veteran defensive end John Abraham. Abraham finished the game with (5) tackles, (3) sacks, and a forced fumble, which proved to be one of the game-changing plays  as the Falcons would tie the game and have a chance to win in the final period. Sunday's game was his best game of the 2012 season and leads the team with (6.0) sacks through the first six weeks. Abraham is still one of the best pass rushers in the NFL today and when he's effective, he can change the momentum of a game like he did on Sunday. Abraham's ability to sack the quarterback and also force the opposing quarterback into costly turnovers. When he's able to cost havoc in the backfield, the Falcons defense are dangerous! He's one of the key component to the Falcons being successful on defense. After the bye, we could see his game become even more effective with the return of defensive tackle Corey Peters returning to the Falcons lineup. 

ASANTE SAMUEL:

Asante Samuel fourth quarter INT for a touchdown
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

Asante Samuel, who was acquired via trade during the off-season have brought a new attitude to the Falcons defense and they began playing much more aggressive on the field this season and has resulted in Atlanta's defense ranking the best through six games in forcing turnovers with (17). In a crucial third down situation, at the Falcons 28 yard line, Asante Samuel jumped a route intended for Denarius Moore and returned it (79) yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 20-13 lead with (2:50) remaining in the game. The interception was Samuel's first in his career as a Falcon and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Falcons. The critical play saved the Falcons from giving the Raiders a chance to take a late lead and also placed the Falcons in great position to win the game. Samuel has always been recognized as an aggressive corner back who can make plays such as the interception late in Sunday's game. 

Positive Notes From The Victory:

Matt Ryan continues to deliver in clutch situations:

Despite having one of his worst starts of his career, when it came time to place the Falcons in position to earn another clutch victory, Matt Ryan delivered yet again. On the final possession of the game, Ryan completed five of his six passes to advance the Falcons to the Oakland 40-yard line, where Matt Bryant would close out the win for Atlanta. For the third consecutive week, Matt Ryan led a fourth quarter comeback and helped his team win another critical game. Sunday's victory against the Raiders was Ryan's (19th) comeback or fourth quarter victory in his young career. Over the past three weeks, the Falcons have played less than spectacular but this team is resilient and when it's time to secure a victory, Atlanta seems more poised than ever to finish their job. Matt Ryan also have an outstanding career of 29-4 in the regular season at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons have continued to deliver in the fourth quarter when it matters and Sunday was another prime example. Matty Ice continues to deliver in late game situations in the regular season and this will be critical to Atlanta's success in the second half of the season. Matt Ryan has more fourth quarter comebacks/ game winning drives than 

Atlanta's defense continues to impress each week:

Jonathan Babineaux strips the ball from Darren McFadden
(AP- John Bazemore)

Despite the Falcons offense having one of their worst efforts of the season, the defense kept the game within reach and made big plays to help their offense pull off the ugly victory on Sunday. As I mentioned earlier, the efforts of John Abraham's three sacks and critical forced fumble in the third quarter allowed the Falcons offense to score points and get back into the game. Ray Edwards, who have struggled most of the season, made a smart play by picking up the fumble and placing the Falcons in goal line position, which eventually led to the game-tying field goal. Jonathan Babineaux may not have made much noise as far as on the stat sheet but he was disrupting the flow of the Raiders offensive line and Vance Walker also had a monster game as they both caused havoc against Oakland. The Falcons defensive line forced Darren McFadden to (70) yards on (27) carries!! That's a tremendous stat when you're only surrendering (2.5) yards per carry and that forced Carson Palmer to beat the Falcons in the air. Asante Samuel, of course, made the biggest play of the game with his interception for a touchdown late in the football game. Samuel looked good in coverage all season long and that was his first interception and he couldn't have picked a more fitting situation to make the biggest impact on a football game. The Falcons defense did a very good job despite being on the field for (36:26) of the game due to early offensive turnovers. It wasn't a perfect effort from the defensive unit; however, Atlanta did enough to find a way to win the game. 

Things To Improve During The Bye Week:

OFFENSE:

Running Game:

Michael Turner rushes against the Raiders on Sunday
(AP- John Bazemore)

One of my biggest concern with the Falcons offense is the lack of a running game during game day. Many people are criticizing Michael Turner for his inability to break the big run on offense; however, Turner needs a certain amount of carries in order for him to get going on the ground. Michael Turner is not the same, explosive running back who can use his speed to break through opposing defensive lines. Turner needs a full back or a small hole in order to make the big runs because once he gets a decent lane, he's still one of the toughest running backs in the NFL to bring down. You have to establish a rushing attack to make your offense unpredictable because at the moment, many teams are expecting Matt Ryan to throw the ball to his explosive receiving core and their defensive schemes are limiting the effective impact from Roddy White and Julio Jones. Atlanta must re-establish a balanced offense because that's the one advantage of having a physical runner like Michael Turner due to his ability to allow the Falcons to dictate the tempo as well as your time of possession throughout the game. In Sunday's contest, Turner broke a few runs of (9)  yards rushing early in the game but the Falcons offensive line failed to give their rushers any extra push at the line and usually results in runs of one to three yards. The Falcons offensive line must improve on run blocking because they're failing to provide lanes or the right blocking scheme to establish the ground game for Turner or Jacquizz Rodgers. 

Offensive Play-calling:

Harry Douglas reception vs the Raiders
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has impressed so far with his new scheme and Matt Ryan is  adopting well to the game-plan; however, the scheme must continue to have balance and not become one-dimensional. For example, the Falcons made a few questionable decisions with their play calling such as throwing on 1st and Goal from two yards out late in the third quarter. From the incomplete pass, Atlanta ended up getting two chances to run the ball; however, both attempts failed. The Falcons also have to improve on their decision making on third and short plays. On the Falcons first quarter drive which ended in a missed field goal, Jacquizz Rodgers received a pitch on 3rd and 1, which was for a loss. The Falcons should have either ran a quarterback sneak or even allow Turner to get the extra yard for you. A similar situation occurred on 3rd and Goal from Oakland's one yard line when Jason Snelling tried to score a rushing touchdown, that was another situation where you should consider allow Matt Ryan to sneak in the end zone instead of attempting a similar play that was unsuccessful earlier in the game. Atlanta must make a few adjustments on their play call in different situations and start to provide a more balanced and effective scheme whenever the Falcons are on offense. Another component of the offense which was absent was the screen game. Koetter must apply some more screen passes and allow the offensive line to adjust to establish excellent blocking on plays such as the screen. It's early in the season but the Falcons must adjust the plays to best fit the talent in order to keep the defense honest. 

DEFENSE:

On Sunday, the Falcons defense vastly improved their efforts against the run; however, Oakland had a few explosive plays on the ground including a 20-yard reverse to receiver Darius Heyward-Bey and a 43-yard run by backup running back Mike Goodson, which are two of the nine explosive plays the Oakland Raiders were able to get. The Falcons must address the run defense issue because it's becoming a major problem for their defense. In the last three weeks, the Falcons allowed Oakland, Carolina, and Washington to carve their defense up for over 100 yards and is a huge reason why their offense was able to compete in those games. One major concern is the play of middle linebacker Akeem Dent. Dent is in his second year in the NFL but became the starter after Curtis Lofton left during free agency and Lofa Tatupu suffered a season-ending injury. Throughout the first six weeks, he wasn't on the field much due to the nickel packages; however, the previous two games, Atlanta ran a 4-3 package and he received more playing time, in which he struggled. Dent's biggest issue is over pursuing on running plays in which he'll try to play too aggressive and it causes him to be blocked by a lineman and allow the rusher to break for a decent gain, which is hurting the Falcons defense. Atlanta's passing defense has done a pretty good job this year; however, if you're allowing the running back to have a huge impact on the game, you'll become vulnerable to both phases of the opposing offense and that must improve before we head to Philadelphia after the bye week. This problem could be fixed with the return of defensive tackle Corey Peters in two weeks as well, but Atlanta must find a way to reduce the amount of rushing yards they are surrendering per game. 

CONCLUSION:

It wasn't a pretty win by any means; however, Sunday's game was another testament to the Atlanta Falcons resiliency. The Falcons are (6-0) for the first time in franchise history and they will now approach the bye week and it couldn't have come at a better time. After the bye week, the Falcons have three competitive games in a row: Philadelphia, Dallas, and New Orleans. Atlanta will be tested throughout the second half; however, this team is poised to accomplish great things in 2012. Until the week of the Eagles game, FALCONS RISE UP!!!

(1-0) Denver Broncos at (1-0) Atlanta Falcons Preview

Matt Ryan before the Chiefs contest
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

After earning their first season opening victory in three years and their first road opening victory since 2006 against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Falcons return home for a national television contest against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are coming off a 31-19 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers as Manning threw for (253) yards and two touchdown passes in his first game since 2010. The Falcons are looking to slow down one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in their first game since losing corner back Brent Grimes with an Achilles injury. Peyton Manning will bring a Denver Broncos team into town that is coming off winning the AFC West and still have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Denver brings in the best rushing team in the NFL last season lead by Willis McGahee. The Falcons will look to improve to 2-0 after their victory on Sunday, in which Matt Ryan had arguably his best outing in his five year NFL career after throwing for (299) yards and scoring (4) touchdowns, which included one on the ground and this will be one of the biggest test for the fifth year quarterback, who many experts have compared these two players careers in their first four years in the NFL. Matt Ryan will also look to win his fifth consecutive home opener and continue his dominance against the AFC. In his five seasons, Ryan have an outstanding home record of 7-1 against the other conference, and his only loss was in 2008 against Denver. Atlanta will look to win their first Monday Night Football game since 2005 and their first ESPN prime-time game since 2004. The Falcons are also looking to end Peyton Manning's winning streak against the franchise, which is now three consecutive games and his career average against Atlanta is staggering. Manning, in his four games against the Falcons, he's averaged (261) passing yards, (72%) completion percentage, (3) passing touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of (112.7). With a victory, the Falcons will beat the Broncos at home for the first time since 1975. This will be one of the most anticipated home games of the season and now I will give my keys to victory, key match-ups, and my final prediction.



KEYS TO VICTORY OVER THE DENVER BRONCOS:

1.Falcons must establish themselves on the ground to open up their passing attack:

Michael Turner runs the ball vs Kansas City
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

Atlanta needs to open their game by running the football. In last week's victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Falcons carried the ball (23) times throughout the game , which most of them were used once Atlanta had a commanding lead on the Chiefs late in the game and against Denver, the Falcons must utilize their players. Michael Turner or Jacquizz Rodgers must run for at least (70) yards or more to give the team a huge boost on offense because you don't want to give Peyton Manning the ball and allow him to control the tempo of the game. The Falcons must establish balance on the ground and with a successful effort through the rushing attack, Matt Ryan will have control of the match-up and his play-action passes will be effective and cause the Broncos defense to struggle against Atlanta's talented offense. Michael Turner will need to set the tone for the running game because he's still a defensive mismatch and when he's posting over (100) rushing yards in a game, the Falcons are 22-5. Although new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is transitioning the offense to a more passing based scheme, this team have talented running backs to keep their strategy balanced. The Falcons need to conduct productive but smart and balanced offensive possessions to score points and keep Peyton Manning on the sideline. In some of the key victories the Falcons earned in prior seasons, the Falcons have established their dominance on the ground and opened up many opportunities in the air attack and on Monday, Atlanta will need the same impact to earn a victory. Getting a productive game from either Turner or Rodgers complimented by a more confident Matt Ryan will cause a headache to Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.


2. Matt Ryan needs to utilize all of his offensive weapons in the passing attack:

Harry Douglas reception against the Chiefs last week
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

Matt Ryan, who is coming off the best game of his NFL career, will have another challenging test against one of the best defensive units in the league. Ryan must utilize all of his weapons against the Broncos secondary, who runs a lot of cover four or cover six schemes to prevent the deep pass from their opposing quarterback.In a Cover 4 scheme, this usually refers to four deep defenders, each guarding one-fourth of the deep zone. Cover 4 schemes are usually used to defend against deep passes and their defensive front will try to get after Ryan throughout the game. The main weakness of Cover 4 shells is the large amount of space left open by the retreating defensive backs. Since the defensive backs are working for depth, short pass routes underneath can enable the quarterback to make short- and medium- length passes, as well as isolate a defensive back on a wide receiver near the sideline with little help. In the Cover 6 defense, the field safety and field corner cover fourths of the field, and depend on a field outside linebacker to support underneath them. The free safety covers the boundary-side deep half and the boundary corner plays the flat. Although their scheme is effective, this will be a disadvantage for the Broncos secondary. Matt Ryan need to throw screens to Jacquizz Rodgers and his explosive receiving core and allow your players to create big plays from short passes. Another significant route is throwing slant passes across the middle to Harry Douglas. Harry Douglas could be a sleeper in the offense on Monday Night because due to the lack of tight coverage, Douglas can create a big play in the passing attack and Ryan don't have to force long passes down the field in order to create a impact on offense. Another significant advantage is having receivers such as Julio Jones and Roddy White. In the victory against Kansas City, Matt Ryan was throwing from ten to twenty yard passes to his receivers and Jones  was able to turn the passes into big receptions. The Falcons receiving core all possess the ability to turn any small pass into an impact play to extend drives or score points. 

3. Special teams must provide manageable field position for the Falcons offense:

Jacquizz Rodger's explosive return vs Kansas City
(Kansas.com)

The Falcons will need a big lift from their returners to place the offense into great position when they are on the field. Kick returner and backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers had a productive game against the Kansas City Chiefs and almost scored a special teams touchdown for the first time since 2010. Rodgers is a change of pace athlete and was successful in his tenure at Oregon State and can also provide a big lift for the Falcons special teams unit who were looking to have an explosive asset to this portion of the game after losing returner Eric Weems in the free agency to the Chicago Bears. Rodgers is one of the most explosive players to the Falcons return unit and his excellent vision to find open field can help the Falcons offense by placing them in a good spot on the field. On punt returns, the Falcons will need a huge boost from third year corner back Dominique Franks. Franks, who is the current punt returner, is another player who possess a tremendous amount of speed and his vision to find open lanes are a benefit to our special teams unit. During his career at Oklahoma, Franks was a explosive punt returner who had the ability to place their offense in great position and he'll able to provide the same impact for the Falcons special teams unit. Another significant benefit for Franks is that he was a former running back who converted to corner in his junior year in high school. With the knowledge of both a running back and a corner, this is another benefit for him to give us a huge lift on Monday. Denver had a tough time for a small portion of their previous game dealing with Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown so the Falcons must utilize their weapons to provide a game-changing play for their team. 

4. The Falcons defense must set the momentum against Peyton Manning:

John Abraham sacks Matt Cassel vs the Chiefs
(AtlantaFalcons.com)

The most significant factor to help the Falcons earn a huge victory at home against the Broncos is on defense. Under new coordinator Mike Nolan, the Falcons are looking to show more aggressive looks against their opposing offenses; however, the Falcons must play smart and effective defense against Peyton Manning. Manning is one of the smartest quarterbacks I've ever seen and he can make great passes whether he's able to stand in the pocket and find  a good receiver or even make a pass when he's under a lot of pressure so the Falcons will have to throw different looks at him. In last week's victory against the Steelers, the Pittsburgh defense  was sending Troy Polamalu or another safety out to blitz for majority of the game and after a stretch of successful plays, Manning started to recognize the scheme and it forced the Steelers to struggle. The Falcons will have to send some blitz packages as well as play tight coverage against the passing attack because Manning is such a smart individual and he can recognize many schemes that his opponents will use against him. The Falcons front four must also get a lot of pressure against the Broncos offensive line and force Peyton Manning out of his comfort zone and make him throw passes under pressure or get sacks against him. John Abraham will be the key for the defensive unit to apply pressure to Denver's offense. Last, but not least, the Falcons defense must get the Broncos off the field on THIRD DOWN!!! In last week's victory against the Chiefs, Atlanta struggled surrendering (11) third down conversions and against the Broncos, this can't happen because you're allowing Peyton Manning the opportunity to extend drives, which could ultimately result in points scored.


5. Dome Field Advantage: 

Atlanta Falcons fans before kickoff
(AJC.com)

Although many people many not view the Falcons home crowd as a factor to a home win, this is  going to be critical on Monday Night. The Falcons vs Broncos game is one of the most anticipated home openers for the Atlanta Falcons in their franchise history. The Georgia Dome must be full and loud from the start in order to make it difficult for Peyton Manning and his young offense to focus in a tough road environment. This is also the first road contest that Manning is playing in with the Denver Broncos and his only game that's in a domed environment. The Falcons fans must make the atmosphere hostile and that can give the Falcons defense an extra boost in front of a national audience on ESPN. Fans need to be in their seats before kickoff and not making their way into the Dome late in the first quarter or halftime, the team needs to feel the support from their hometown fans from the start in order to motivate them to play Falcons football against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today and one of the best of all-time. Nationally, Atlanta fans are not given much credit for their support of the Falcons and Monday would be a prime example to send a message to the league that this fan base have faith that we can win a big game against a legitimate contender. 



MATCH-UPS TO WATCH ON MONDAY NIGHT:

1. Von Miller/ Elvis Dummervil vs Sam Baker:

Von Miller against the Steelers
(USA Today)

The Falcons offensive line have looked very impressive and this will be the first game where they will face a very tough Broncos defensive line. Sam Baker, who is coming off a season-ending injury looked great against the Chiefs on Sunday, but, the Falcons will receive a test from arguably two of the best defensive ends in the game today. Von Miller, who is coming off a great rookie season posting (11.5) sacks on his way to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and had two sacks against the Steelers last week. Sam Baker struggled against some of the best defensive linemen in the league in 2011; however, he'll look to continue his impressive start to the 2012 campaign. Elvis Dummervil is another guy to watch because the Broncos defense may switch the two linemen to opposite sides of the field and Dummervil is another force that can create havoc in the backfield and the Falcons must be prepared to contain these two individuals. 


2. Roddy White/Julio Jones vs Tracy Porter:

Julio Jones reception against the Chiefs
(Kansas.com)

The Falcons receivers are very familiar with Broncos corner back Tracy Porter. Porter, who was recently acquired by the Denver Broncos, played with the New Orleans Saints for a few seasons and Porter struggled against Falcons receivers. Porter is a talented corner back and is smart on the field; however, his aggression is sometimes a huge reason why he surrender big plays on defense. Roddy White and Julio Jones will need to run double moves to confuse Porter because he's vulnerable to jump those routes and Matt Ryan will have an open pass to his receivers down the field. Porter excels on reading curl or slant routes so the Falcons must be cautious not to force those routes or it could result in an offensive turnover that we're looking to avoid.


3. Falcons secondary vs Broncos slot receivers:

Brandon Stokley against the Steelers
(9news.com)

The Falcons secondary, who lost Brent Grimes to an achilles injury earlier this week, will receive their biggest challenge of the season facing Peyton Manning. Chris Owens and Dominique Franks will have to step it up and prevent receivers such as Eric Decker and Manning's favorite target throughout his career in the NFL, Brandon Stokley. Manning will more than likely target the slot position when the Falcons are on defense to test the corner position and try and have a huge game for Denver. Peyton Manning will show more respect to the outside tandem of Dunta Robinson and Asante Samuel because those guys are intelligent corner backs and will be able to read certain routes and prevent the Broncos receiving core from making major impacts down the field or even in tight coverage. For the Falcons nickel position, you must be cautious of the out and curl routes because Manning love to get his slot receivers involved that way. For example, Owens or Franks will need to play the inside shoulder and trail the route by a yard in order to trick Peyton Manning into throwing the ball to the receiver and at the last moment, they'll be able to either knock down the pass or intercept the ball. Manning's passes in tight coverage are not what they used to be a few years ago so the secondary must prepare to defend the routes with caution.



FINAL PREDICTION AND CONCLUSION:
The Falcons are in for a tough contest against one of the best teams in the NFL and they must be prepared to take their game to the next level and earning a win against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos could be the boost that this franchise need in order to have a successful game on Monday Night. In the end, I think the Falcons running game will have a huge night and Michael Turner will have a great game as the Falcons earn a close victory at the Georgia Dome. My next blog will be the recap of this highly anticipated Monday Night Football match-up, until next time... GO FALCONS!!!! RISE UP


FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: FALCONS 31 BRONCOS 24