The Panthers are in disarray?  Great!  Good for me!  What a break for the Falcons.  Uh, what does disarray mean?

Disarray - disorder, confusion.  OK.  Great!  It's a good thing, if your for the Falcons.

According to Scott Garbarini, NFL contributing editor, "the Panthers -- the consensus preseason favorite in the South -- have seen their postseason chances basically go up in smoke because of a current four-game losing streak.

This just keeps gettin' better and better.  Because I agree with another thing Scott wrote, a win this Sunday is "vital" for the Falcons.  Uh, I think, what does vital mean?

Vital - extremely important.  OK.  Great!  It's a good thing, if your for the Falcons.

Scott also says.  "Losses in five of its last seven games, including last Saturday's 38-28 setback to Dallas, have put Atlanta's once-promising season on the brink."

Before I get to excited,

Brink - edge or verge.  Not real clear but I think it's kind of like if I stand too close to the bank at one of my favorite fishing holes where there is a straight ten foot drop to the water level and if I've had too many Sammy's and I'm not careful, I might fall in and bonk my head on the shallow bottom near the bank.  That's not good, if your for the Falcon's.

Courtesy of The Sports Network

Scott Garbarini, NFL Contributing Editor

The two most recent Panther losses came without the services of quarterback Jake Delhomme, who has a ligament tear in his right thumb and is unlikely to play again this week. That would still leave the offense in the shaky hands of Chris Weinke, who has guided the Panthers to victory just once in 17 career starts.

It's been a struggle for Weinke (593 passing yards, 1 TD, 4 INT) since the former Heisman Trophy winner was forced into action because of Delhomme's injury. The 34-year-old Weinke failed to move the offense last week against Pittsburgh, although he didn't get a whole lot of support from a mediocre and ####ed-up offensive line that's been a sore spot for the Panthers all year long. Carolina ranks just 27th in the league in scoring (16.4 ppg), partly because game-breaking wide receiver Steve Smith (76 receptions, 1,081 yards, 6 TD) has been the offense's lone legitimate big-play threat. Veteran Keyshawn Johnson (66 receptions, 770 yards, 4 TD) has also had a good season opposite Smith, and Drew Carter (28 receptions, 357 yards, 3 TD) has emerged as a reliable option as the third receiver. Carter sprained an ankle during the Pittsburgh game, however, and could be unavailable on Sunday.

Weinke's numbers could very well improve against an Atlanta defense that has surrendered the second-most passing yards in the league (236.2 ypg) and was powerless in its attempts to stop Dallas' Tony Romo, who rolled up 278 yards and completed 22 of 29 throws last week. The secondary does possess a Pro Bowl player in DeAngelo Hall (54 tackles, 4 INT, 10 PBU), although the cocky corner is coming off a rough outing against the Cowboys in which he was beaten for a pair of touchdowns by Terrell Owens. The beleaguered unit may get a boost by the hopeful return of cornerback Jason Webster (49 tackles, 2 INT), who has missed six straight games with a groin injury but is now back practicing. The Falcons have compiled a respectable 34 sacks on the season, and should be able to pressure the immobile Weinke, who has been sacked seven times in his two starts, provided brittle end John Abraham (17 tackles, 4 sacks) can be effective after tearing a ligament in his left thumb last week. The pass-rush specialist had a monster game in Atlanta's Week 1 win over the Panthers, producing six tackles, two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

http://www.ktvu.com/nfl/10585741/detail.htmla>

"Now with two games to go in the regular season, we find the Falcons in a most familiar position - at the crossroads. A playoff appearance is still very much within reach, but so is the possibility of a second straight idle January.

In other words, time to put up or shut up."

DeAngelo Hall, congratulations on the pro bowl, now forget it, you have to put up or shut up.  Shut Steve Smith down.  Completely!  He gets less than 25 yards receiving and that's it!  If he spits in your face, break his collarbone.  Make it look legitimate.

Chris Crocker, there's a movie out about your school, you can let people know it in the post game interview if you make some plays damn it!  Are you an NFL player or are you an also ran?  You are not exactly a household name.  Break up some passes to Keyshawn.  He gets nothing.  He gets less than 25 yards and that's it.  I am holding you responsible.  If he spits in your face, sprain his wrist.  Make it look legitimate.

Rod Coleman, nice response to my calling you out (I know he reads my blog, what Atlanta Falcon wouldn't?).  Great job on getting two sacks last week, now forget it, call Delhomme a coonass, he'll know what it means, and yes it is acceptable language down in Louisiana, or at least it seemed so to me during my 8 years in Shreveport, and no it does not mean what #### meant to me growing up in Tennesssee, no offense toward you is intended.  If you find out it is exceptionally offensive to him to the point it might get you fined, then maybe you best not say it.  But you better sack his #### no matter what kind of #### it is.  If not, you might find yourself back in Oakland next year where they lose an awful lot and life really sucks!  And oh yeah, if Jake spits in your face, bite his ankle, while under the pile, just slightly enough to leave him limping should do the trick, never mind making it look legit, just make sure nobody sees it.

If we have to be the Dirty Birds to get back to the playoffs, then so be it, obviously all the NFL will do is levee meaningless fines on us so go for it!

Thank you, damn it! 

The Falcons gave up the passing yardage I feared they would against the Cowboys and next week, unfortunately for me, I'm afraid, the same thing is likely to happen against the Panthers.  The records say we should win the game.  Statistics say otherwise.  So I guess I am forced to call it a tossup, like it, or not.

The only defensive player we have to defend passes is Deangelo Hall.  DeAngelo will have to forget the spitting incident and move on.  This week he will have to face Steve Smith, another premier receiver, currently ranked eight in the NFL in receiving.  While DeAngelo performed admirably against T.O., limiting his yardage despite the two touchdowns he gave up, Hall will need to perform at an even higher level if his admirable play is to translate into Atlanta victories.

Problem is, the Panthers have another little receiver, Keyshawn Johnson, and Atlanta has nobody to stop him.  Keyshawn is 30th in receiving.  Thank God Carolina does not have a pass catching Tight End.  We may have a chance. 

I have been hard on the Atlanta Defense this year.  In my opinion they are more responsible for the Falcons lackluster showing than Vick and the offense.  At a minimum the offense is adequate.  Defense wins championships.  That has been the Falcons shortcoming this year.

But not the last two weeks.  During the past two weeks the defense has shown up.  Granted, they have had slow First Quarters.  But during the last three quarters of the last two games they have put the hammer down.

Yesterday John Abraham let his presence be known.  There is no doubt than when healthy this man can bring it.  With Abraham, health is the issue.  But he was healthy yesterday.

From: atlantafalcons.com

The key play of the was the fumble recovery and return by Williams. The Bucs were leading, 6-0 and had driven to the Falcons' 34 midway through the third quarter as they looked to extend their lead.

With just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucs faced third-and-4. Gradkowski went back to pass and Falcons LB John Abraham sacked the Bucs QB. Abraham's arm connected with Gradkowski's and the ball popped loose at the Falcons 42. Bucs T Anthony Davis touched, but did not control the ball, as he fell to the ground. Williams picked up the loose ball at the Falcons 46 and ran untouched 54 yards for the touchdown with 9:51 remaining as the Falcons took their first lead of the game, 7-6.

"You look at most games and there's a play or two in there that really make a difference, and that got us going," Mora said about Williams' play.

Demorrio Williams shared the spotlight with Abraham yesterday.  Known as Demo, the Falcons have many Williams's, Williams put his name in the spotlight when he picked up the fumble and returned it for the TD.

Lost in the high-lights, due to time constraints I am sure, were some tense moments for Falcon's fans.  At first the referees couldn't even decide if the play was reviewable or not.  When they did decide to review it Falcon's fans feared the worst, that the key play would be overturned.

From: falcons.com