Here is the GOOD NEWS about our loss

[Xanthri]

Yes, I hate to lose....but honestly I was more worried about winning this game today.

1. It is hard to beat a team three times in the same division.....when teams have met three times the result is usually 2-1 (I think this holds especially true with us and the saints)

2. We had no injuries today. Always a BIG Plus

3. We now get to start a new winning streak, starting with the Panthers....beat them and we only have to string 3 more in a row to hoist the trophy (absolutely doable)....how many teams have stung 8 or 9 wins in a row only to get beaten in the playoffs? (the answer would probably surprise you...) and of course NE went 18 straight before losing to a NYG team they beat easily in the regular season.

4. Shows we can slip at home, makes everyone in the locker room believe they have to work harder to get the win in the playoffs

5. We got a few turnovers off our back, if we take care of the ball better that is a 14 point swing in our favor.....1st fumble led to 7 pts for NO, 2nd fumble kept us from scoring 7 (for saints fans even taking off the Brees pick 6.....7 pts would have still gave us the winning score)

6. Officiating while good for 3/4 of the game was horrendous at the end (that spot was criminal and i still believe should be reviewed (which was why Smitty called a timeout hoping the replay official would review it - in final two minutes it is the replay official that makes that determination)

7. Our Defense PLAYED GREAT

8. Our offense sucked in the huddle, but moved ball relatively well in no huddle (we need to stay in the no huddle)

9. Smitty made a bad punt call at the end of the game (if he had a do over, my bet is he lets Matty go to town)

10. Jenkins proved he has great hands and is a go to third down guy especially on the slant play.....they could not defend him for less than 3-4 yards and often it stretched out to 5-6

11. Tempers flared and despite the Saints trying to get Roddy out of his game and get a stupid personal foul.....he showed restraint (my bet is we won't hear a peep from him until after we beat the Saints the next time around......and WE WILL WIN)

The truth is we needed to lose to point out a few faults and so we could refocus our efforts.....my thought is the Panthers will put us back on track and a winning note. I think the next meeting will likely not be so close and the Falcons will be extra motivated. Just remember We only need to win 4 to hoist our trophy......

[Peyton]

The real good news is that nobody will care at all about this loss if the Falcons win on Sunday.

[Xanthri]

(12-28-2010 11:28 AM)Peyton Wrote:  The real good news is that nobody will care at all about this loss if the Falcons win on Sunday.

Well that too.....but do you really expect anything less than a superbowl effort this weekend? If we lose to the Panthers (or don't beat up on them for that matter), then we do not deserve to play in the Superbowl......

[nativefalcon]

See I said that awhile back and people don't want to hear it, if you look back in NFL history, its almost IMPOSSIBLE to beat a team 3 times in one year. They figure you out. If we would have won and met the Saints again in playoffs, the odds would be in their favor. Now since we lost, the odds are back in favor of us.

Honestly, if the offense played half as good as the defense we would have won the game, and, I don't know if they got cocky or what, but this will bring them down to earth, that next time we play them its not going to be pretty.

[Xanthri]

(12-28-2010 11:33 AM)nativefalcon Wrote:  See I said that awhile back and people don't want to hear it, if you look back in NFL history, its almost IMPOSSIBLE to beat a team 3 times in one year. They figure you out. If we would have won and met the Saints again in playoffs, the odds would be in their favor. Now since we lost, the odds are back in favor of us.

Honestly, if the offense played half as good as the defense we would have won the game, and, I don't know if they got cocky or what, but this will bring them down to earth, that next time we play them its not going to be pretty.

I call it Mularkey play calling.....(get the pun?)

Truth is when Matty calls we move the field and when Mularkey calls we use more clock but very often stagnate......(IE let other teams back into the game)

[Peyton]

(12-28-2010 11:30 AM)Xanthri Wrote:  Well that too.....but do you really expect anything less than a superbowl effort this weekend? If we lose to the Panthers (or don't beat up on them for that matter), then we do not deserve to play in the Superbowl......

Truer words were never spoken.

The Falcons will get what they deserve this Sunday.

[phocis850]

On espn this morning they said that this could be a Falcons blessing.

When 2 10+ win teams meet on the last MNF game of the year, the losing team always went to the Superbowl

[markdzul]

^^^^^^^^

Now that i like.

its a sign from the gods....

[Xanthri]

Planets align.....the Saints think they can beat us at will in our house.....

The magic number is 4....

[phocis850]

(12-28-2010 12:34 PM)Xanthri Wrote:  Planets align.....the Saints think they can beat us at will in our house.....

The magic number is 4....

The game was awesome. It was all defense all game long. Shutting these two teams down on offense was a huge feat. In no way, shape, or form did the Saints have their way with us.