Jets @ Falcons

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20131007001&home=1&vis=20

 

(AP) -- While the Atlanta Falcons caught their fair share of breaks last season, they haven't been nearly as fortunate this time around.

 

A visit from the New York Jets and their struggling rookie quarterback could be just what they need to regroup.

 

Hoping to avoid losing three straight for the first time during the Matt Ryan era, the Falcons try to add to Geno Smith's woes Monday night.

 

Atlanta (1-3) opened a franchise-best 8-0 in 2012 before finishing 13-3, with seven of those wins coming by seven points or less. The Falcons, though, haven't really seen things go their way in their first four games, which have been decided by a combined 24 points.

 

"You just don't panic," said wideout Roddy White, who continues to play through an ankle injury. "You are what you earn in this league, so we're 1-3. You just go out there and correct the problems that you have and get ready for the next game. We know at 1-3 that we can't get back to .500 after one game."

 

After giving up the go-ahead touchdown with 38 seconds left in a 27-23 loss at Miami in Week 3, Atlanta fell 30-23 to undefeated New England last Sunday night. Ryan completed 34 of 54 passes for a career-high 421 yards and two touchdowns, but the Falcons' potential game-tying drive was stopped on the Patriots' 10-yard line in the final minute.

 

They haven't lost three in a row since a six-game skid in 2007.

 

"Obviously, we're not where we want to be," said Ryan, who dropped to 34-6 at home. "We've got to claw ourselves back to where we want to be. It's a long haul. There's still a long way to go."

 

Atlanta's troubles can largely be attributed to its inability to convert in the red zone. The Falcons, who failed to score a touchdown on five of six possessions inside New England's 20, rank 29th in the league in red-zone production at 38.9 percent.

 

"It's killing us right now," White said. "It's something that we continue to work at, but we've got to do a little more and win some one-on-one battles, especially when it's time for one person to make the play when it's presented."

 

The defense has also struggled, giving up 26.0 points per game to rank 22nd in the NFL, a big step back from last season's mark of 18.7. Atlanta has also recorded just seven sacks.

 

The Falcons, though, would appear to have a favorable matchup against Smith, who is tied for the league lead with 11 turnovers after throwing eight interceptions and losing three fumbles.

 

Four of those turnovers came last Sunday in a 38-13 rout at Tennessee. Smith threw for 289 yards and a score but was sacked five times, bringing his season total to 14.

 

"It's just taking ownership to your mistakes and manning up," he said. "A lot falls on my shoulders as far as taking care of the ball, but that's something I have to do.

 

"No one wants to make those mistakes. It's something that has to stop now in order for us to progress and to get better as an offense and as a team."

 

The Jets (2-2) are on the verge of opening 0-3 on the road for the second time in three seasons, and while Atlanta hasn't been playing up to par, they know they have a difficult task in store.

 

Julio Jones leads the league with 481 receiving yards and Tony Gonzalez is coming off his best game of the year, hauling in 12 receptions for 149 yards and two scores last week.

 

"They're big, fast. It's definitely going to be a huge challenge for us," coach Rex Ryan said. "Playing on a Monday night with their crowd, we know it's going to be a very hostile environment."

 

Giving up only 79.3 rushing yards per game, New York will face an Atlanta team which continues to play without injured All-Pro running back Steven Jackson (hamstring) and has run the ball 31 times for just 94 yards in splitting its first two home games.

 

New York has some injury concerns of its own with starting receivers Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and Stephen Hill (concussion) banged up. If they can't go, David Nelson could be thrown into the fire after signing Wednesday.

 

Running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) is also uncertain to be available, but Mike Goodson is set to debut after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

 

What a bad MNF game.

[KempBolt 498]

20

21

 

Atlanta is not very good this year, but they're always tough at home.

[Cheese Head 11]

I think Matt Ryan & Julio Jones both have a big game in this one.

 

Falcons: 34

Jets: 13

[theMileHighGuy 656]

Not much of a game, the Jets can stop the run, but the Falcons don't run the ball anyway. Geno will give the game away early.

 

37

16

[seanbrock 1,684]

I think the Jets stun the Falcons at home on MNF. Geno Smith gets his first signature win of his career. Atlanta is banged up a little and I think Rex Ryan puts together a good game plan to stop this potent Falcons air attack.

 

23-13 Jets

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

27-17

[Dutch 874]

28

 

17

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

I remember when the Jets were supposed to be the worst team in the league.

[Cheese Head 11]

Hell of a game. Great win for the Jets. The Falcons are in trouble at 1-4.

[Dutch 874]

I don't know if the Falcons defense is just really that bad or if Geno Smith and Marty Mornhinweg put together a really great game. Either way, the Falcons are in deep trouble and in danger of missing the playoffs. Also, the Falcons are idiots for not immediately calling timeout to try and get the ball back with a little bit of time left. They'd rather try and ice the kicker with 2 seconds left

Edited October 8, 2013 by dutchff7

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Falcons defense is that bad. Their pass rush is non-existent (3rd to last in sacks), and they're 28th against the pass.

 

I should have thought that over before I threw money on them to cover the spread.

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

Geno can manage a game after all.

 

 

Learned to reel it in and take what was there for him when his defense was playing well. He did make some rookie mistakes still, like on the one blitz he didn't count heads and didn't audible his WRs to hot routes with a full house blitz coming and his OL didn't have the numbers advantage. Was ice cold in the GW drive though. But yes, the Falcons defense is in shambles. No consistent pass rush, missing a starting DE, two starters at LB, just not playing well.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Season over. Jets defense played real good. There's too many issues for the Falcons for me to even talk about. This was the last year realistically for us to make a SB run in my opinion. Tony is def done this year after the embarrassment it's becoming. Roddy is only getting older..and the same for SJax. The defense is the worst I've seen as a Falcons fan. It's been a fun few years of contention..but I fully expect the Falcons to be a WC at best team for the next few years.

[southgadawg 52]

I can't remember who I was talking with before the season ever started but at the time I remember saying that if the Falcons had some key injuries I wouldn't be surprised if they started the season terribly and MIGHT even finish with a record as bad as 3-13 (I was really counting on wins against the Jets, Cardinals, and the Bills---this was before the Bucs apparently took a nosedive as well.). LOL I will admit that wasn't what I EXPECTED but I realized it could be very bad. Now I look at this team and it's issues after so many key personnel have been injured and I am deathly afraid it could very well LIKELY end up that badly. The Falcons have been very close in some games but they are NOT finishing it out and cannot make key defensive stops. Not a good season at all in the making.

[KempBolt 498]

The Falcons remind me a lot of the Chargers actually. Great QB can keep the passing game productive despite a bad offensive line and porous defense. Probably going to be in every game, but overall season success is totally dependent on whether or not things go their way in one score games. Inability to consistently run the ball. Not much of a pass rush. Injuries taking their toll on limited depth. Lots of similarities.

 

But seeing as how I'm an SD fan and not an ATL fan, I saw this coming a long way off for the Falcons. Mike Nolan's penchant for creating effective defense with less than stellar personnel is generally good for about one season before teams figure out his blitz schemes and start picking him apart. He has been much less successful this season scheming around the absence of much pass rush ability. Offensive line has also been pretty underwhelming. Jets basically reset the LOS 3 yards back on the start of every run play. And I'm pretty sure all of Ryan's picks have come when under duress this season.

 

I am hoping that the Chargers continue to invest in the trenches and I think Falcons' fans should hope for the same. Outside of the QB, addressing skill positions when the lines aren't up to par usually amounts to lipstick on a pig. Just look at the Jets this season- rookie QB, terrible WR's, no name TE's, pedestrian running backs, and hit-and-miss in the back 7 on defense. But they're in almost every game because they have a decent offensive line and a great defensive line. It matters.

[southgadawg 52]

Wondering if I am the only one who is actually thinking of whether the Falcons should fire Nolan or not. I don't think it is that drastic yet by any means (i mean it is obvious that he was going to have some no-names this season and injuries to Sean Weatherspoon and Kroy Biermann among others definitely hasn't helped). The Falcons are young on defense so if nothing else this season their record may stink but these guys will get in a lot of experience they wouldn't have any other way. HOPEFULLY it isn't so bad to scar them forever.

[KempBolt 498]

Wondering if I am the only one who is actually thinking of whether the Falcons should fire Nolan or not. I don't think it is that drastic yet by any means (i mean it is obvious that he was going to have some no-names this season and injuries to Sean Weatherspoon and Kroy Biermann among others definitely hasn't helped). The Falcons are young on defense so if nothing else this season their record may stink but these guys will get in a lot of experience they wouldn't have any other way. HOPEFULLY it isn't so bad to scar them forever.

 

I understand the impulse, but I don't think Nolan is the problem. I know I just said that I think offenses figure him out and expose him, but I should be specific when I say that-- what I mean is that they figure out the way he schemes around a lack of talent. Most defensive coordinators can't even do that in the first place, and I don't think many are as successful as Nolan. But eventually you've got to get him some talent or the whole thing will pop like a giant bubble.

 

If you take an honest look at what he has to work with, it's hard (at least for me) to really fault him. Bear in mind, I mean no offense with any of this. Just my opinion of the defensive personnel. I think some reasonable upgrades would go a long way in making Nolan's defense look better. But this is kind of what happens to a defense when you spend 2 first round picks, a second round pick, and 2 fourth round picks on a wide receiver.

 

DE: Atlanta has one active DE on the roster who has recorded a sack. The 4 others currently on the roster have a combined zero career sacks. And Osi isn't dominant either, but he stands out as a solid player in a very bad group. This is the heart of the problem with the Falcons- if you can't rush the passer, it's extremely difficult to win in this league.

 

DT: Peters, Babineaux, and Jerry are a decent trio. Not dominating or necessarily difference-making, but solid and reliable as far as I can tell. Unfortunately, this is probably the strength of the defense.

 

LB: Not a single standout in this group.

 

CB: Samuels is still a good player, but ATL is dealing with the ups and downs that come with rookie corners. And unfortunately they're having to rely heavily on two of them.

 

S: Decoud and Moore gave up a ton of yards last year, but it was made up for with all the turnovers. I don't think either of them have ever been all that skilled in coverage. Now that the pressure has dried up, so have the turnovers for the most part. And now they're just a duo that gives up a ton of yards.

[Dutch 874]

The Falcons need pass rushers more then anything.