atljbo Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 linkWhite: Playoffs start now for the FalconsBy D. Orlando LedbetterThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionFLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons wide receiver Roddy White doesn't beat around the bush.As far as the Pro Bowl receiver is concerned, the playoffs start when the Falcons host Tampa Bay at the Georgia Dome on Sunday."We are in the playoffs right now," White said.The Falcons are 5-5 with six games to play. If the playoffs started today, they would be on the outside looking in.White has figured that the Falcons need to run the table to make a second consecutive trip to the playoffs."Win them all," White said. "We have to win. We can't have [any] more set backs. It's a six-game end-of-the-year deal."We have to go out there and win six games. If we go out there and win six games, we'll control our own destiny."With Sunday's excruciating 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants, the Falcons dropped to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of last season."It doesn't feel good to be .500," right tackle Tyson Clabo said. "My middle school football coach told us one time that it's like kissing your sister. We just need to win some games and nobody will remember we were .500."The Falcons are five games behind the New Orleans Saints (10-0) in an uncompetitive NFC South division race. Minnesota (9-1) is similarly attempting to run away with the NFC North.The Falcons, as it stands now, will be battling Arizona (7-3), Dallas (7-3), New York (6-4), Philadelphia (6-4) and Green Bay (6-4) for the two wild card berths. Dallas and New York own the head-to-head tie-breakers over the Falcons.The Falcons are just one game head of Carolina (4-6), Chicago (4-6) and San Francisco (4-6). But the Falcons hold head-to-head advantages over Chicago and San Francisco and split their two games this season with Carolina."Coach has a slogan: ‘You get what you earn in this league,' " White said, and the way he sees things, the Falcons haven't been earning much."We are not playing well enough to win games at the end," White said. "We just have to go in there and get back at home. The crowd will be pumped up in the Georgia Dome and get us some wins."Over their last seven games, the Falcons have played four opponents coming off their bye weeks. They were 3-4 over that stretch, including dropping four of their last five."I feel as if we have to be more consistent," White said. "We weren't consistent enough. ... We are digging ourselves holes."At the Dome, where the Falcons play their next three games, the team is 4-0 this season."I don't think we really care about what our schedule was or what it is coming up," Clabo said. "What we care about is who we play this week and getting a win. That's the only thing we are thinking about. We are not worried about anything else." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 It's going to be tough and we need to win out just to have a lock in the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 I agree with Roddy.... I feel like that philly game is the most important game of the season... Who ever wins that game will most likely knock the other team out of the wild card race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossFALCON™ Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 i will say one thing: we do have the easiest schedule of the 4 teams fighting for the 2 wildcard spots by far.we just have to go out and execute. i think there's still a good shot...we probably won't go far if/when we get in though because of our corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commish Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 yeah ive said that before. If we win against philly i believe we will be able to carry that momentum over to beat the saints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Dumb Bedwetter again.The Falcons, as it stands now, will be battling Arizona (7-3), Dallas (7-3), New York (6-4), Philadelphia (6-4) and Green Bay (6-4) for the two wild card berths. Dallas and New York own the head-to-head tie-breakers over the Falcons.Arizona isn't in the wildcard race, they'll take their division.Either Dallas, New York, or Philly will win that division, taking them out of the wildcard race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Even if we do make the playoffs, at least we win back to back seasons, but its still a disappointing season when you can't beat good teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconidae Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Anyone else irritated by ledbetter not knowing that the cards and the boys are division leaders and we're not competing with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Even if we do make the playoffs, at least we win back to back seasons, but its still a disappointing season when you can't beat good teams.9 wins is my goal. Is what I want. If we make it to the playoffs, GREAT. We'll be 0-0 and anything can happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commish Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Anyone else irritated by ledbetter not knowing that the cards and the boys are division leaders and we're not competing with them?for the cowboys we will be competing with them if either eagles or giants take the division and for ari there is always the off chance they falter and sanfran takes the division Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Anyone else irritated by ledbetter not knowing that the cards and the boys are division leaders and we're not competing with them?I don't know why, but it irritates me that he is a sports writer for a credible large newspaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 It's going to be tough and we need to win out just to have a lock in the playoffs.Start it now!!!I BELIEVE!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Start it now!!!I BELIEVE!!!!!Why not us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Zee Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I think we're in a great position to make a late season run. The ridiculous schedule we had with 4 teams coming off bye weeks is done. Maybe its just me, but I really like our chances of winning out the rest of the season assuming Matt Ryan plays like he did last week and we get Turner and Norwood back for the final stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Dumb Bedwetter again.Arizona isn't in the wildcard race, they'll take their division.Either Dallas, New York, or Philly will win that division, taking them out of the wildcard race.dude... i was thinking that when i was reading the article.... I just didnt want to say nothing...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 dude... i was thinking that when i was reading the article.... I just didnt want to say nothing...lolNew York, Philly and Green Bay.Philly has to play New York and us - 2 losses (lol)Green Bay just lost 2 of their key players - Al Harris and Aaron Kampman for the year and they have to play on Thursday - short week.New York has their roughest part of the schedule coming up. Should be interesting over the next few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 New York, Philly and Green Bay.Philly has to play New York and us - 2 losses (lol)Green Bay just lost 2 of their key players - Al Harris and Aaron Kampman for the year and they have to play on Thursday - short week.New York has their roughest part of the schedule coming up. Should be interesting over the next few weeks.I definitely think we have the most favorable schedule left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I definitely think we have the most favorable schedule left.I agree - plus we have more home games coming up. We've ended our brutal part of the schedule - now they just have to take care of business each week.That being said - if they don't correct the kicking problem - whether it's the snapper or the kicker - we are going to be hurting the remainder of this season.Houston - I don't know about him. He looked great the 2 previous games - looked like he had turned the corner - as well as his head. He regressed in this game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripedss Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I definitely think we have the most favorable schedule left.Yep favorable in what way?. Didn't the Raiders just beat the Bengals? So what does Tampa look like? You guys are way ahead of yourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Yep favorable in what way?. Didn't the Raiders just beat the Bengals? So what does Tampa look like? You guys are way ahead of yourselves.We don't play the Raiders or the Bengals.He's referring to the upcoming schedule based on home games vs. away games and records. Very clearly, we have the most conducive record to winning out based on the teams in the running for the playoffs.We still have to go out and play the game - just like they do.What's wrong with discussing the possibilities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrty Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm rooting for one of the biggest comebacks in team history... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Yep favorable in what way?. Didn't the Raiders just beat the Bengals? So what does Tampa look like? You guys are way ahead of yourselves.4 of our remaining 6 games are against teams under .500(Bucs x2, Jets, and Bills). They're a combine 8-22. That's favorable. The two toughest games we have left, the Saints and Eagles, are both in Atlanta, where this team is 11-1 since last year. That's favorable. I'm sorry I'm having to explain this to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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