A Closer Look: Another all-around Falcons’ aerial assault
1 HR AGO - Matt Ryan needed all of his playmakers to put the Falcons on the winning side of another wild Expand
1 HR AGO - Matt Ryan needed all of his playmakers to put the Falcons on the winning side of another wild shootout. It’s been an impressive resurgence for Matt Ryan over the past month. After the opening night debacle in Philadelphia, the former MVP has been playing at an elite level. The discussions about his fading arm strength and velocity quickly went away. One humid rainy night shouldn’t lead to major questions about one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
Excluding the game in Pittsburgh where he was left helpless under pressure, Ryan has thrown 13 touchdowns and one interception in four games. His strong rapport with Steve Sarkisian has clearly paid off. When the quarterback and offensive coordinator are on the same page, it elevates an offense filled with playmakers into becoming nearly unstoppable.
Injuries to Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu kept the Falcons from scoring more than 40 points. They otherwise shredded a discombobulated Tampa Bay defense. As Ryan’s supporting Collapse
Early Bird Report: Falcons getting serious love from expert pickers; Matt Ryan and Julio Jones chasing records
2 HRS AGO - Today’s Early Bird Report includes a look at the expert picks for the Falcons-Giants game on Expand
2 HRS AGO - Today’s Early Bird Report includes a look at the expert picks for the Falcons-Giants game on 'Monday Night Football' as well as Atlanta’s new normal with injuries Collapse
Questions about Falcons’ sack total, running the table, wearing black, power rankings, NFL Draft
3 HRS AGO - You’ve got questions about the Falcons and we’ve got answers – Straight from the ’Beek
Grady Jarrett expected to return to practice, according to Falcons coach Dan Quinn
5 HRS AGO - Jarrett has missed the Falcons' last two games against the Steelers and Buccaneers
The Falcoholic Live: Ep56 - Week 6 Recap & Giants Preview
18 HRS AGO - Join the crew at 8:10 PM ET for Episode 56 of The Falcoholic Live! Tonight we’ll be breaking down Expand
18 HRS AGO - Join the crew at 8:10 PM ET for Episode 56 of The Falcoholic Live! Tonight we’ll be breaking down the Falcons’ Week 6 victory over the Bucs, giving a (lengthy) injury update, and looking ahead to Monday Night Football against the Giants. Watch Episode 56 below beginning at 8:10 PM ET
Welcome, fellow Falcoholics, to Episode 56 of The Falcoholic Live! On tonight’s show, we’ll start off by recapping the Falcons’ (2-4) victory over the Buccaneers (2-3). We’ll also be giving an injury update on players like Devonta Freeman, Calvin Ridley, Mohamed Sanu, and Matt Bryant. Finally, we’ll wrap up show with a preview of the Monday Night Football matchup with the Giants (1-5).
As always, we’ll also be taking your questions throughout the show. If you’d like to ask a question, there are two ways to do so:
Ask your question in advance by tweeting it to the show @FalcoholicLive.
Ask your question live by sending it in the comments on the Facebook Live broadcast.
We hope you guys enjoy the show! Collapse
Falcons fans feel a surge of confidence after Week 6 win against Buccaneers
22 HRS AGO - It’s not surprising, since we’re all casting about for hope. The Atlanta Falcons finally got Expand
22 HRS AGO - It’s not surprising, since we’re all casting about for hope. The Atlanta Falcons finally got their second win of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and unsurprisingly, hope is on the rise in the fanbase. It’s surprisingly easy to talk yourself into this team, as injured as they are.
Our FanPulse for Week 7 revealed that fan confidence among those we poll every week, which has cratered over the last three games, rebounded after the win. In fact, it rose 16% based on that single performance, which if we’re being totally honest was not quite the lopsided beatdown any of us hoped for. C’est la defense.
Of course, fans are going to need to see a lot more from Atlanta before more than half of those polled feel good about the team, but the bounce is noteworthy. It’s easy to tell yourself that if the Falcons beat the Giants, get a little healthier during their bye, and make some changes on defense to lessen Duke Riley and Jordan Richards’ snaps that they can start making a run. Collapse
Early Bird Report: How the Falcons' win vs. Bucs affected the power rankings
1 DAY AGO - Today’s Early Bird Report includes a look at the Falcons’ standing in the latest power rankings as Expand
1 DAY AGO - Today’s Early Bird Report includes a look at the Falcons’ standing in the latest power rankings as well as Ito Smith’s mission moving forward Collapse
Falcons vs. Giants odds: Atlanta’s a touchdown favorite at home for MNF
1 DAY AGO - It’s not surprising in any way, shape, or form. The Atlanta Falcons are fresh off a Expand
1 DAY AGO - It’s not surprising in any way, shape, or form. The Atlanta Falcons are fresh off a confidence-building win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even if it wasn’t a particularly impressive win.
Now they’ll get another shot at a struggling team in the cozy confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This week, it’s a Giants team with a decrepit Eli Manning at quarterback, but a difficult-to-stop rookie running back in Saquon Barkley. The Falcons could lose this one in a myriad of ways, but at least Manning suddenly catching fire seems fairly remote at the moment. At the moment.
Given that Atlanta just won and is at home, plus Eli’s well-chronicled struggles, it’s no great surprise that the Falcons are favored by about a touchdown. They looked a tiny bit better on defense against the Bucs, the offense is still humming, and the Giants haven’t looked remotely close to getting their stuff together yet this season. These are the 2018 Falcons we’re talking about, but it’s a reasonable to think they Collapse
Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Wednesday, Oct. 17
1 DAY AGO - Another day, another IR stint. These ramshackle Falcons lost another starter on Tuesday, this time Expand
1 DAY AGO - Another day, another IR stint. These ramshackle Falcons lost another starter on Tuesday, this time with Devonta Freeman heading to injured reserve. At this point the IR list looks like a menu at The Cheesecake Factory, but nevertheless the Atlanta Falcons are 2-4 and looking to claw closer to even with a Monday night clash against the New York Giants. Here’s Wednesday’s Falcoholinks to get your day started.
Devonta heads to IR
This development was a bit less shocking than the small army of other Falcons that hit injured reserve, only for the fact that Devonta has been hurt for the majority of the season. He was held out of the Tampa Bay game due to a foot contusion and a groin injury, and the team announced today that he would join the gathering on IR. ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reports that Devonta was initially planning to put off a recommended surgery, but has opted to go under the knife and potentially return by December 23.
Devonta Freeman had an MRI of his groin a couple days Collapse
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Falcons sign Jermaine Grace to practice squad, waive Richie Brown
1 HR AGO - The Atlanta Falcons made a pair of moves at linebacker on Thursday
Dan Quinn announces Freddie Falcon placed on injured reserve, will miss remainder of 2018
3 HRS AGO - It’s disappointing news for a mascot fans were expecting to return soon. The season of injuries Expand
3 HRS AGO - It’s disappointing news for a mascot fans were expecting to return soon. The season of injuries continues strong. The Atlanta Falcons lost Devonta Freeman for likely the rest of the season thanks to a groin injury this week. It started with Deion Jones and Keanu Neal going to injured reserve after week 1. Then came Andy Levitre, Ricardo Allen, Grady Jarrett, Matt Bryant, and even today injuries of unknown severity to Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley.
Just when you think the Falcons could not have any other injuries, Dan Quinn confirmed rumors from earlier in the day: Frederick Falcon is heading to injured reserve.
“This may be the toughest injury to overcome this season. After consulting with multiple doctors, it was determined that Freddie [Falcon] needs to undergo surgery. He won’t return this season. But there’s no quit in this team. We are always talking about next-man-up. It’s time for some younger guys to step up and keep us in this season. We know Freddie, and he’s going to Collapse
Falcons vs. Giants: What you need to know to watch MNF in Week 7
4 HRS AGO - It’ll be a chance for the 2-4 Falcons to enter the bye on a strong note, while the 1-5 Giants just Expand
4 HRS AGO - It’ll be a chance for the 2-4 Falcons to enter the bye on a strong note, while the 1-5 Giants just don’t want to lose again. On paper, the Falcons and Giants aren’t even close. If this were a fully healthy Falcons team, I’d be making the rare decision to project a massive win from Atlanta, because the talent gap between the two squads is so vast. Unfortunately, injuries have closed that gap a lot.
I still feel good about this one, primarily because the Giants passing attack, offensive line, and most of the defense is in disarray. New York can just lean hard on Saquon Barkley and bull rush Matt Ryan and have some success with that approach, but they seem married to Eli Manning to the extent that they won’t take the ball out of his hands as often as they should. That’ll likely be to their detriment against a Falcons team that is starting to pull down key turnovers despite their losses on defense.
Either way, you’ll need to know how to watch it, and we’ve got you covered.
Falcons Collapse
Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Thursday, Oct. 17
7 HRS AGO - Links! Hello, Atlanta Falcons fans near and far!
Rise and shine, and grind up a fresh cup of Expand
7 HRS AGO - Links! Hello, Atlanta Falcons fans near and far!
Rise and shine, and grind up a fresh cup of links to help brighten your morning.
The Atlanta Falcons are preparing for their Monday night tilt with the New York Football Giants, and we’ve got the news you need as we get closer to that obviously huge game for the 2018 season (well, at least what’s left of it).
Amazing Grace
Well, if you haven’t heard, linebacker Jermaine Grace is back in town.
Just after his release from Seattle, the Falcons seems to have swooped back in and brought back the 2017 fan favorite in some way, shape or form. Grace broke the news himself on Instagram to the excitement of many.
We don’t know exactly how Grace will join in, whether it be on the practice squad or active roster, and who’s being released to make room for him. He’s the second player waived in 2017 to return (the other being RB Brian Hill), and for the “draft and develop” crowd, this is a mighty victory. Folks love the types of players who, Collapse
Per Jermaine Grace, Jermaine Grace rejoins the Atlanta Falcons
20 HRS AGO - The Atlanta Falcons are desperately trying to improve their struggling linebacker group, and Grace Expand
20 HRS AGO - The Atlanta Falcons are desperately trying to improve their struggling linebacker group, and Grace is a great, young addition that could impact early. The Atlanta Falcons have been switching up their linebacker group which has failed to look the same since Deion Jones left for injured reserve. We noted earlier this week that Duke Riley seems to have taken a back seat to Foye Oluokon. The defense looks improved but there was definitely still work to do.
Also if you have been paying attention, the Seattle Seahawks put former Falcons preseason standout on injured reserve earlier this season. Now healthy, they waived him instead of bringing him back to the team.
Jermaine Grace is healthy https://t.co/UhsYIWD2Ry— Draftaholic Matt (@FalcoholicMatt) October 15, 2018
It was really a match made in heaven.
View this post on Instagram
God did not give me the opportunity to come back for no reason, it’s really time to show out.... let’s GO Collapse
If you could take one New York Giant and add him to the Falcons, who are you taking?
23 HRS AGO - Hint: It’s not Eli Manning. Every week, we ask you who you’d add to the Falcons roster from the Expand
23 HRS AGO - Hint: It’s not Eli Manning. Every week, we ask you who you’d add to the Falcons roster from the upcoming opponent. Some weeks it’s absurdly difficult to pick one, and other weeks there’s really only a handful of options who would actually make the team better. This week is the latter.
That’s because this week’s opponent is the New York Giants, a team that has gotten to this low point not by injuries or mistakes in execution, but foundational mistakes in team-building. As Falcons fans we’re no strangers to that failure, but it’s still sort of astonishing to see the Giants ignore what’s right in front of their faces: Their roster has a ton of holes, and one of the biggest ones is quarterback, where Eli Manning has gone from good-but-overrated to just plain bad.
There’s still talent, though. There’s promising rookie Saquon Barkley, who has looked like one of the more frightening running backs in the NFL in his rookie season and seems likely to gash the Falcons on Monday Night Football. Collapse
The Baker’s Dozen, Week 6: Raiders are officially the worst, Bears lose to Osweiler, Packers pull off comeback
1 DAY AGO - The Raiders are officially the worst, the Bears lost to Brock Osweiler, and the Packers pulled off Expand
1 DAY AGO - The Raiders are officially the worst, the Bears lost to Brock Osweiler, and the Packers pulled off a great comeback on MNF. We bring you all the best takes from Week 6 of the 2018 NFL season. Whew, we had some real doozies in Week 6 of the 2018 NFL season. The Sunday Night and Monday Night games both featured exciting conclusions, and Falcons’ fans got to see a win (albeit a narrow one) for the first time in nearly a month. Outside of those games, however, we saw a whole lot happen in the NFL this week. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with this Week 6 Edition of The Baker’s Dozen. Read on for all the biggest takeaways from this week’s games.
Eagles get back on track
After going into a bit of a slump over the past month, the Eagles (3-3) have begun to right the ship on the back of a two-game winning streak. Carson Wentz was sharp against the Giants (1-5), throwing for nearly 300 yards and 3 TDs in the victory. While the running game isn’t quite up to par and Philadelphia is Collapse
The Falcons are already used to life without Devonta Freeman
1 DAY AGO - There is no grand adjustment period, because the Falcons have already adjusted. If Devonta Expand
1 DAY AGO - There is no grand adjustment period, because the Falcons have already adjusted. If Devonta Freeman had just suffered a season-ending injury after six productive games, the Falcons would have a major adjustment period to navigate now that he’s on the shelf for at least most of the rest of the season. As cruel as it sounds, though, Atlanta doesn’t have to do much to prepare for life without Freeman over the long haul.
That’s because they’ve barely had Freeman, of course. He’s touched the ball just 19 times for 103 yards in 2018 between two weeks, leaving Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith to carry the load. Neither has been all that effective on a per carry basis, but Smith has had some terrific runs and has shown a nose for the end zone, while Coleman continues to be a dangerous weapon in the passing attack. The team doesn’t even need to go out and scour the wire for a third back, as Brian Hill is already kicking around on the roster.
Still, the Falcons could probably be more effective Collapse
The power rankings agree: The Falcons are better now
1 DAY AGO - Everything is going to be okay, power rankings say. The Falcons lost Devonta Freeman, possibly Expand
1 DAY AGO - Everything is going to be okay, power rankings say. The Falcons lost Devonta Freeman, possibly for the season. We still aren’t certain if Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu will be able to suit up this week. Matt Bryant is hurt. The team already has lost Deion Jones, Keanu Neal, Ricardo Allen and Andy Levitre for either most or all of the season. But the power rankings don’t care about.
The power rankings care if you win. And the Falcons won. Barely, yes, and with plenty of questions still to answer. But they won, and the gods of the power rankings smile. Oh, how they smile. Let us see how.
SB Nation: 23 (25)
The Falcons got a coach fired. Alas, Mike Smith, we knew ye well. That plus a 43-year-old kicker wresting an ex-mammal stitched together for the amusement of men from the bonds of gravity and injuring himself in the attempt will get you two (2) spots in the power rankings. All is measured.
ESPN: 19 (19)
The Falcons stayed where they were for ESPN, though their playoff chances Collapse
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Falcons on ‘Monday Night Football’: Top five performances, including Julio Jones and Roddy White
1 HR AGO - The Falcons will make their 43rd appearance on 'Monday Night Football' against the Giants. Let's Expand
1 HR AGO - The Falcons will make their 43rd appearance on 'Monday Night Football' against the Giants. Let's look at some of the best performances from Atlanta players in this game Collapse
Grady Jarrett and Derrick Shelby to return to practice Thursday
3 HRS AGO - It’s Jarrett’s first practice since his injury in week 6. Atlanta’s defense has been struggling Expand
3 HRS AGO - It’s Jarrett’s first practice since his injury in week 6. Atlanta’s defense has been struggling with injuries, and could be euphemistically described as inconsistent. Without top defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, it has been a tire fire disaster. We never really know what to expect with Dan Quinn’s injury news, which are usually vague and optimistic before a player ends up on injured reserve.
The fantastic news today is Jarrett is finally returning to practice. Derrick Shelby will be there too.
Coach Quinn tells @929TheGame that Grady Jarrett and Derrick Shelby will practice today. Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley will be limited. Matt Bryant OUT for Monday.— Weñdy Adams (@wendyradio) October 18, 2018
This is a huuuuuuuuuuge upgrade for the Falcons defense tasked with slowing down the New York Giants offense. The offense, of course, consists almost entirely of Saquon Barkley. The rest of the offense relies on Eli Manning so we aren’t too worried about Odell Beckham, Jr.
Jarrett is Collapse
Stats don’t lie: Matt Ryan having another historic season
5 HRS AGO - Matt Ryan is in rarefied air in 2018, accomplishing a feat only two QBs have since 1950. The Expand
5 HRS AGO - Matt Ryan is in rarefied air in 2018, accomplishing a feat only two QBs have since 1950. The criticism of Matt Ryan last year was mostly misplaced. Sure, he made some poor decisions and at times didn’t appear on the same page timing-wise as his wide receivers, but a large chunk of Ryan’s seemingly lackluster season can be chalked up to drops and poor luck. It doesn’t assuage the fantasy crowd, but Ryan was still a solid starter in 2017 — racking up over 4,000 yards for the seventh-straight time and tossing 20 touchdowns.
In 2018? He’s simply laying waste to defenses. In six games so far, Matt Ryan has thrown for 1,955 yards and 14 touchdowns against two interceptions. He’s also added 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns for good measure. But the real eye-opening statistic of Ryan’s current season — and one that puts him among historic company — is the passing yardage and touchdown figures.
For the second time in his career, the Falcons’ signal-caller is averaging over 325 yards per Collapse
Falcons WR Julio Jones is staying out of the end zone at historic pace
16 HRS AGO - Fact: Julio Jones did an unassisted handstand when he was four days old Atlanta Falcons wide Expand
16 HRS AGO - Fact: Julio Jones did an unassisted handstand when he was four days old Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is arguably one of the best offensive players in the NFL. Heck, in terms of raw talent and athleticism, he’s one of the best to ever play the game. Under ideal circumstances, no one doubts his ability to rack up touchdowns like Dave racks up public intoxication citations. Actually ... on second thought, strike that. For reasons I can’t fully comprehend, a vocal minority has publicly called out Julio since the 2017 season began.
Let’s set the stage: Julio has zero receiving touchdowns this season. He had only 3 receiving touchdowns in 2017. Given that he amassed 78 receiving touchdowns between 2011 and 2016, it isn’t crazy to wonder what’s been different since the Super Bowl loss that will live in infamy. But again, laying the blame at Julio’s feet is equal parts nonsensical and offensive.
Julio has racked up 707 receiving yards this season. (Y’all see what he did Collapse
Falcons fits: These players are racking up serious style points off the field
21 HRS AGO - Here's a roundup of some of the more eye-catching off-field looks by Falcons players
The Falcoholic Postgame Podcast: Falcons vs. Bucs, Week 6
1 DAY AGO - Come celebrate the win with us! Hey, the Atlanta Falcons won a football game! An actual football Expand
1 DAY AGO - Come celebrate the win with us! Hey, the Atlanta Falcons won a football game! An actual football game! With points and stuff!
The team’s victory over Tampa Bay was a welcomed one for the Falcons as they get to 2-4 on the year, and The Falcoholic’s Postgame Podcast is here to give you the rundown.
The Falcoholic’s DW is here to join the show as we break down what’s what and what’s ahead for the team.
On the Docket:
How the offense continues to excel
How injuries are putting a hamper on the season
Is the offensive line on the downward slope?
What’s up with the defensive line’s lack of an impact?
How is Matt Bryant (don’t worry — we knew less at the time)
What this team’s futures are going ahead
You can follow along with D.W. on Twitter at @FalcoholicDW and read his work and listen to his and Jeanna Thomas’ The Falcoholic Podcast here on the site.
You can follow along with me on Twitter at @CoryWoodroof47 and read all of his awful takes on The Falcoholic.
Be sure to tune in Collapse
Questions about winning the next 10 games, the Giants, Devonta Freeman, and a Black Out on Monday
1 DAY AGO - You’ve got questions about the Falcons and we’ve got answers – Straight from the ’Beek
The Season Of Injuries: Falcons Devonta Freeman Goes On IR
1 DAY AGO - In another major setback for a team that already has lost several key players, Atlanta Falcons Expand
1 DAY AGO - In another major setback for a team that already has lost several key players, Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is going on injured reserve. Collapse
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