During the first 3 quarters, I was really pissed about the score, but between the 3rd and 4th QT's, I started reflecting about the game and I came up with this: Our defense was OUTSANDING to say the least. 1,000X better than last year. We didnt give up any huge plays that were our fault. All the big plays were exceptional plays by them. Porter was silenced because all the attention went to him, so JT and Merling took advantage of his dirty work. Our offensive struggles are fixable. If it wasn't for the TO's, we would've won this game. Heck, just erase the Fasano fumble at the end of the first half, the game would've been 10-7 going into halftime. We would've won in my opinion. Our offensive struggles are fixable with better line play and more aggresive playcalling. It is easy to fix. Hopefully the long week helps. We need a lot of work. I think we will come out firing next week. I can see us holding Manning to an average game since Anthony Gonzales is yet another injury and Bob Sanders is injured as well. The secondary played SOOOOO much better than it did in the preseason. Hopefully next week we can get much more pressure on the QB, and force them to make more mistakes. The Falcons didn't have one turnover today. I am still feeling good about this season. Bring on the Colts!
I see what you're saying and agree, but disagree in that no loss during the regular season feels good to me.
i can never feel good about losing......in the afc east....our division can come down to one game.....i dont understand the "its only week 1" logic.....if we lose the playoffs by 1 game.....this loss wont feel good anymore....
Sorry, but I think you're fooling yourself. Yes, the D line and LBs looked good, but when the DBs had to make the plays on their own, without a powerful pass rush, they didn't do it very often. Ryan missed the throws a lot more often than our DBs prevented them from being caught. That crap won't fly against the Colts, who have a great O line and a QB and WRs who WILL make us pay.
I'm glad to see optimism, but man nothing felt good about that. The offense was just so bad. But here's to hoping Sparano can get it fixed.
I hear what you're sayin' dolfan94. But, I'm sorry...nuthin' about that game felt good to me. I just as soon try and forget about it quite frankly. But, I just can't quite seem to get it out of my head...
Actually, if Fassano doesn't fumble there it might be tied 7-7. The only reason they got 10 was because of that fumble. Score at half is 7-7 or at least 7-3. Changes the entire 2nd half.
Yeah, forgot about that. And yeah, nothing felt good about it, but Im just pointing out the positives from the game. And there were a bunch. And the negatives can be improved quickly.
Enough of this "if" talk. The Falcons also missed 2 field goals and an extra point. This was an embarrassing loss.
I hope Sparano is screaming at them tomorrow... and I hope he shows them the tapes 50 times to show them how piss-poor they played. I expect a much better team next Monday, I know they are more upset about this loss than we are.
This was our wake up call. Glad it happened in game ONE so we will be much more intense from here on out, imo. This team lacked hunger, intensity and urgency today. We'll get it back this week... like we did after the horrible Cardinals loss last year.
I felt terrible about the game, more than I should about an opener. I hate to admit this but I'm already in slight panic mode.
That's exactly what I think. They lacked intensity and I can already feel the intensity which they will play with next Monday. Im hungry for this game and I know that Sparano has them hungry as well. Im not buying all the negativity. Lets kick their ****ing asses!
I'm fearing a terrible season and last place. The game was that bad. Maybe I feel worse because I was there but it was tough to me. We're about to find out what kind of coach Tony Sparano really is. I'll tell you one thing, if that Oline doesn't get significantly better this season I'd cut or trade every one of their high paid ***es.
I think our defense played pretty well considering all the weapons the Falcons have. It is tough staying with a Tight End like Tony Gonzales and he made some really great catches. I don't know of any d-backs who could have stopped him from making those catches. We got some decent pressure on Ryan, and Chad actually threw for more yards than Ryan. You just cannot win many games when you turn it over four times. On to next week!!! OHHH and was it just me, or did Ronnie Brown turn into the invisible man yesterday???? Dan Henning has to go if this keeps up.
This kind of game makes you start wondering how much of it was the offensive players effort and how much of it was Dan Henning's game plan. A game like that sure is depressing and makes you wonder how good our team really is.
Oh I agree completely. My point was not to sugar coat things. That game made me throw a little in my mouth. I was just trying to point out how close this game was from being different in the 2nd half. A TD (or even an FG) instead of a fumble there would have changed things. Now whether the offense could have carried that momentum into the 2nd half is a seperate debate.
