SB Nation Atlanta - Cowboys vs. Falcons, Week 9: Atlanta stays undefeated behind Turner, Bryanthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2012-11-06T18:48:45-05:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33620012012-11-06T18:48:45-05:002012-11-06T18:48:45-05:00Falcons sit atop power rankings
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<figcaption>Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>A perfect 8-0 start has the Atlanta Falcons sitting alone atop all the major power rankings throughout the world wide web.</p> <p>After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> find themselves as the only remaining unbeaten team in the league, and consequently, find themselves atop all the major power rankings around the world wide web.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/11/6/3608654/nfl-power-rankings-week-10-texans-bears-falcons" target="_blank">SB Nation's Joel Thorman</a> not only ranks the Falcons as the league's No. 1 team, but he also predicts that the Falcons are looking at a 13 win season -- minimum.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings" target="_blank">ESPN's panel of NFL experts</a> ranked the Falcons No. 1 in their power rankings -- and they look ahead to Atlanta's Week 10 game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>, in what looks like a do-or-die game for Atlanta's NFC South rival.</p>
<p>Like ESPN and SB Nation,<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/week-10-power-rankings-184808522--nfl.html" target="_blank"> Yahoo! Sports </a>ranks the Falcons as the No. 1 team in the NFL -- for now. The folks at Yahoo! look forward to a potential NFC Championship Game showdown between the Falcons and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> -- and wonder if the Falcons are "better on the field."</p>
<p>Still, Yahoo! has the Falcons as their No. 1 overall team halfway through the season.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/6/3611150/nfl-power-rankings-week-10JP Starkey2012-11-06T16:29:43-05:002012-11-06T16:29:43-05:00Falcons place Garrett Reynolds on IR
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<p>Garrett Reynolds was placed on injured reserve today, ending the 25-year-old offensive lineman's season.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a> placed offensive guard Garrett Reynolds<a target="_blank" href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Reynolds-Put-on-IR/5a0c6afb-b0b5-4ee3-be6b-2ee53559cae4"> on injured reserve Tuesday</a>, ending his season after just eight games.</p>
<p>Reynolds has missed Atlanta's last two games with a back injury, and will now miss the rest of the 2012 season because of the injury.</p>
<p>In a corresponding roster move, the Falcons signed offensive guard <span>Phillipkeith Manley</span> to the active roster.</p>
<p>Reynolds entered the season as Atlanta's starting right guard, beating out rookie <span>Peter Konz</span> for the starting job. Konz started in Reynolds' absence against the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a> and <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a>, and will likely continue to start in Reynolds' place.</p>
<p>Reynolds was selected by the Falcons in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and has spent each of the last four years with the Falcons.</p>
<p>Atlanta entered the 2011 season with Reynolds as the starting right guard, but head coach Mike Smith replaced Reynolds halfway through the season because of poor performance.</p>
<p>Konz, Reynolds' likely replacement going forward, was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/6/3610826/garrett-reynolds-injury-injured-reserveJP Starkey2012-11-05T17:56:54-05:002012-11-05T17:56:54-05:00Asante Samuel says Falcons playing like champions
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<figcaption>Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Asante Samuel has a lot of confidence in the undefeated Atlanta Falcons. </p> <p><span>Asante Samuel</span> doesn't care if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> don't get the respect perhaps deserving of an 8-0 team, the only undefeated squad in the NFL. The Falcons won a close game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> on Sunday night to extend the winning streak, but with some their defensive stats, it calls into question whether the Falcons have been more lucky than good.</p>
<p>All that Samuel and the Falcons seem to be concerned with are the results. Halfway through the regular season schedule, Atlanta is unscathed and boasts the best record in franchise history. Quarterback Matt Ryan is a legitimate MVP candidate, this after early questions as to whether he could lead the team away from the Georgia Dome and through a playoff run.</p>
<p>The questions about the playoffs are still there. Some experts believe more in teams like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>. <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/11/05/postgame-comments-from-the-falcons-locker-room/">Here's Samuel</a> on the Falcons' confidence and leadership:</p>
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<p>"We've got veteran leadership over here. It's how we approach the game every day. We practice hard, we play hard. We want to win. We want to make the city proud. It means a lot to us.</p>
<p>"We step on the practice field as a champion. That's what we believe in our hearts: we are champions. And we play with confidence and swag and that's what I think it's about. We have got a good team with a bunch of explosive players on defense and offense."</p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">The Falcons face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> next week at the the Superdome. </span></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/5/3606662/asante-samuel-post-game-cowboys-vs-falconsBrandon Scott2012-11-05T16:58:57-05:002012-11-05T16:58:57-05:00Michael Turner jump starts Atlanta offense
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<figcaption>Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Falcons' had run the ball effectively against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night until Michael Turner broke for a 43-yard run in the third quarter. </p> <p>For most of Sunday night's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> at the Georgia Dome, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>' running game was largely ineffective. <a href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Turner-Ignites-Offense/2b851605-7410-4e45-b7e8-d38c4a8cb2e0">There wasn't a lot of scoring from either team</a> when it tied 6-6 in the third quarter. Falcons running back <span>Michael Turner</span> had only 24 yards on the ground until he hit the seam on the strong side and scampered for a 43-yard play. </p>
<p>It eventually led to a short touchdown run by Turner to give the Falcons the lead they'd never relinquish. Atlanta won, 19-13 to improve to 8-0 on the season. The Falcons are still the only undefeated team in the NFL.</p>
<p>Turner finished Sunday night with 102 yards on 20 carries and the lone touchdown. For the season, he has 517 yards on 128 carries. </p>
<p>The Falcons travel to the Superdome in New Orleans to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> next week. The Saints are 2-5 going into their match-up against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> on Monday Night Football. </p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/5/3606366/cowboys-vs-falcons-michael-turnerBrandon Scott2012-11-05T16:05:19-05:002012-11-05T16:05:19-05:00Rushing attack, o-line big in win
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The offensive line and rushing attack was big in the Falcons' win over the Cowboys on Sunday night.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a> quarterback Matt Ryan said <a target="_blank" href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Falcons-vs-Cowboys/c9adc551-9d12-4ec1-8e1c-30bcc501aa33">his team's running game in the second half</a> of Sunday's 19-13 win over the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a> was 'huge':</p>
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<p>"We stuck with it. We knew coming into it that it was going to be a battle. It's a good defensive front seven and really a very good defense. Dirk [Koetter] did a great job sticking with it. I think the guys upfront battled and wore them down in the second half, and Michael [Turner] and Jaquizz [Rodgers] did a great job for us finding some holes and running through them. But I thought our offensive line battled the entire day and played really well for us."</p>
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<p>Turner was the big name on the ground Sunday. He rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Rodgers, meanwhile, finished with three carries and zero net yards.</p>
<p>Turner is the team's leading rusher, but he hasn't been needed too much with Ryan having a great year. On the season, Turner has 517 yards and four touchdowns on 128 carries.</p>
<p>Turner has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in three seasons. He is coming off back-to-back seasons of 1,300 yards.</p>
<p>With Turner's great game, the Falcons didn't need Matt Ryan as much as they needed him in previous weeks. Ryan still had a good game, though, passing for 342 yards and completing 70 percent of his passes.</p>
<p>Atlanta is 8-0 this season and the only undefeated team in the NFL.</p>
<p>The Falcons will try to be 9-0 when they travel to play the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Saints</a> on Sunday. The Saints enter the game with a 2-5 record.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/5/3606124/matt-ryan-post-game-cowboys-vs-falconsRandy Booth2012-11-05T15:50:52-05:002012-11-05T15:50:52-05:00Smith: Mistakes made, but effort was good
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<figcaption>Scott Cunningham</figcaption>
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<p>The Falcons' coach was happy with his team against Dallas on Sunday night.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> coach Mike Smith said his team made some mistakes against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> on Sunday night, but <a href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Falcons-vs-Cowboys/c9adc551-9d12-4ec1-8e1c-30bcc501aa33" target="_blank">he was happy with his team's effort</a>:</p>
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<p>"Winning in the NFL is a week-to-week proposition. You have heard me say it many times. What happened in last week's game can have no bearing on what's going to happen in the next ball game and I thought our guys really had a hard-fought football game against a very good football team. It was an electric atmosphere for the entire 60 minutes. I like the way our team played tonight in all three phases. We made a lot of mistakes but they are all correctable and we'll get on those corrections tomorrow. But I like the effort that we had."</p>
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<p>Atlanta used an improved running game to beat the Cowboys, 19-13. The win pushed the Falcons' record to 8-0. Atlanta is the only undefeated team in the NFL.</p>
<p>For once, it wasn't the air attack that led Atlanta. <span>Michael Turner</span> broke out with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.</p>
<p>Despite not throwing a touchdown, Matt Ryan was still strong in Atlanta's win. Ryan completed 24-of-34 passes for 342 yards.</p>
<p><span>Julio Jones</span> and <span>Roddy White</span> were the favorite targets of Ryan on Sunday night. Jones caught five passes for 129 yards, while White had seven catches for 118 yards.</p>
<p>Atlanta will try to become 9-0 next weekend on the road against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>. The Saints enter the game with a 2-5 record.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/falcons/2012/11/5/3606054/mike-smith-post-game-cowboys-vs-falconsRandy Booth2012-11-05T10:07:13-05:002012-11-05T10:07:13-05:00Falcons fans can't complain about 8-0
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<figcaption>Scott Cunningham</figcaption>
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<p>Atlanta Falcons fans do not have much to complain about after the Falcons moved to 8-0 with a Sunday night win over the Dallas Cowboys. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a> pulled out a hard-fought 19-13 victory over the desperate <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a> on Sunday night. With the win, the Falcons kept their undefeated record intact, moving to 8-0 at the halfway point of the season.</p>
<p>Atlanta has not made things easy on the path to 8-0, winning five of its eight games by a touchdown or less. The close win over the struggling Cowboys may not seem all that satisfying, as there are some who feel the Falcons should have won more handily.</p>
<p>But Dave Choate of SB Nation's Falcons blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/11/5/3601750/8-0-is-all-that-matters-a-falcons-cowboys-recap">The Falcoholic</a> does not feel that way, and is accepting the win for what it was:</p>
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<p>Yet for the first time this season, I'm not going to let that get to me. There are problems and mistakes to correct, and I'm not going to turn a blind eye to them at all. Only a fool gets too comfortable with winning, even if they are 8-0. Instead, I'm going to focus on the fact that the Falcons won an extremely gutsy football team against a desperate squad that needed a victory so badly you could see it in their bearing. Your old Falcons might have folded in those same circumstances.</p>
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<p>While Atlanta has had its fair share of mistakes this season, all that matters is that it is 8-0. And as Choate points out, if the Falcons actually do put together four quarters of great football, the results will be scary for their opponent. Choate goes as far as saying that the Falcons would "torch any team in the NFL."</p>
<p>Atlanta continues to hold a four-game lead in the NFC South and will visit the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Saints</a> in Week 10.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/cowboys-vs-falcons-week-9/2012/11/5/3602950/falcons-cowboys-2012Jason Patt2012-11-05T09:20:28-05:002012-11-05T09:20:28-05:008-0 Falcons Building Something Great in 2012
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The Falcons improved to 8-0 following a close, tough win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Fans know this team is for real, but will Atlanta finally command respect among fellow teams and the media? Can they stay undefeated going forward? </p> <p>To be fair, Atlanta's matchup with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> had "upset special" written all over it.</p>
<p>Dallas looked pretty mediocre at 3-4 following an embarrassing four-INT performance by <span>Tony Romo</span> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> in week eight. The Cowboys have traditionally played the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> well, and have masqueraded as "undefeated-killers" throughout the decade. They were a team with their backs against the wall, fighting irrelevancy yet again.</p>
<p>By halftime, Atlanta's winning streak appeared dangerously close to ending on the national stage. And yet it didn't.</p>
<p>Despite the Falcons once again not playing a perfect or even complete game - the defense didn't even force any Tony Romo turnovers, though they came very close - the birds in red and black managed to dig deep and tear an upset attempt away from the Cowboys at home.</p>
<p>But what, exactly, has been that special X factor keeping the Falcons winning week after week?</p>
<p><b>Two for one: Atlanta finds its old tailback and a new spark plug</b></p>
<p>Through the first half of play, <span>Michael Turner</span> had just 18 rushing yards on eight carries. <span>Jacquizz Rodgers</span> had compiled negative yards on the ground. The Falcons were mired in offensive stagnation.</p>
<p>But by game's end, Turner had eclipsed the century mark with 102 yards rushing, and Rodgers had four catches out of the backfield for 53 yards.</p>
<p>And let's not forget that each made an absolutely back-breaking play in the process. Turner's 43 yard sprint down the sideline - bringing back memories of his 2008 heyday - set up his three-yard score that broke the scoring deadlock early in the fourth.</p>
<p>On the ensuing possession, Rodgers chipped in with two key receptions in the open field that his shiftiness turned into big plays, including one for 31 yards that set up another <span>Matt Bryant</span> field goal. Somewhere in Dallas, <span>Orlando Scandrick</span> is nursing his broken ankles.</p>
<p>Who do we credit? Dirk Koetter's the easy choice. He's shown the propensity to make great half-time adjustments week after week, something Mike Mularkey never really could do (though I heard the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a> doing alright this sea- LOL just kidding).</p>
<p>However, by doing that we're ignoring a quiet but important change on the offensive line since the bye week: rookie <span>Peter Konz</span> is finally starting over <span>Garrett Reynolds</span>. The difference?</p>
<p>Look at it this way: the Falcons only managed 45 rushing yards in their near-loss against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Raiders</a>.</p>
<p>In the two games since - both starts by Konz - the Falcons have compiled 269 rushing yards. Keep in mind that the Cowboys are still top five in the league in total defense.</p>
<p>Konz's impact has been immediate and easily noticeable. Perhaps the Falcons have finally found a suitable replacement to fill the void <span>Harvey Dahl</span> left.</p>
<p><b>Pass rushers should be blocked, in theory</b></p>
<p>This applies to both teams, actually.</p>
<p>Though the Falcons only managed one sack all night, courtesy of <span>Jonathan Babineaux</span>, both he and <span>John Abraham</span> managed to create consistent pressure on Romo throughout the contest.</p>
<p>Time and again, he was forced outside of the pocket. A couple of times that resulted in a big play. But more often than not, it resulted in an incompletion. Twice it resulted in a near-interception (<span>Asante Samuel</span> dropped his, and <span>Thomas DeCoud's</span> was called back due to defensive holding).</p>
<p>On the other side, the Falcons had pass-blocking miscues of their own. Matt Ryan was sacked twice, but the <i>way</i> he was being hit in the pocket was more troubling.</p>
<p>On one play, Demarcus Ware came in from Ryan's blindside <i>completely unblocked</i> and absolutely nailed Atlanta's franchise QB (a mental error by <span>Sam Baker</span>).</p>
<p>On a couple of other plays, though they didn't end with sacks, Ryan was being hit by Ware after letting go of the ball.</p>
<p>That should never happen. Ware is easily the top pass rusher in this league, and to forget where he is on the field or not double him is dangerous at best and potentially season-killing at worst.</p>
<p>If anyone's willing to donate, I'm starting the "Keep Matty Ice Upright" campaign any day now.</p>
<p><b>Dangerous duo of the NFC</b></p>
<p>Despite some spotty offensive line and secondary play, the Falcons really put forth a solid game. They limited Dallas to 65 yards on the ground, and stepped up on defense in the red zone by allowing just one TD all game.</p>
<p>But the guys who really lit up the national stage were Matt Ryan's top two targets.</p>
<p><span>Roddy White</span> and <span>Julio Jones</span> each posted 100-yard receiving totals: Jones had 129 yards on five catches, and White had 118 on seven.</p>
<p>I'll remind fans that even after last night's 342-yard passing total, the Cowboys still have the No. 5 pass defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed. White and Jones are just that good.</p>
<p>That showed when White passed Terence Mathis to become the Falcons all-time reception leader. This is one game after Mike Smith became the Falcons all-time win leader.</p>
<p>All of this comes as part of a historic 8-0 start to the Falcons' 2012 season. This team is dangerous, resilient, and in the words of Kendrick Lamar "really, really real."</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2012/11/5/3601844/atlanta-falcons-dallas-cowboys-recap-roddy-white-michael-turner-jonathan-babineauxTurnerTheBurner