Tough Loss

I’d like to apologize to all the readers of the Dirty Bird Blog because my site has been having some technical issues that have been cleared up, but we are back up and running with all your latest Falcons news and insights. First of all, can I say another tough week? Indeed, Mike Smith may have been fined for the scuffle against the Washington Redskins, but could this be distracting the team? This is a very tough loss to the Carolina Panthers and the Falcons are quickly losing ground against the Saints, who all but seem to have the division as a lock right now. Finally, it is not time for panic in Atlanta because we are still in the playoff picture and hopefully we can thrash our way in there. But, last but not least, here is your insight from this week’s game and enjoy!

As of right now, we are four full games out of first place in the NFC South. We are one game in front of the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Bucs don’t pose any real threat right now. The wild card hunt right now is with Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles, Eli Manning and the struggling New York ‘Football’ Giants, the Green Bay ‘Favre-Less’ Packers, Jay Cutler’s questionable contract and the Chicago Bears, The killer of the Falcons (AKA Carolina Panthers), and finally the very strict San Francisco 49ers. I feel as if one of the wild cards will go to the NFC East and the other spot is up for grabs. I expect the 49ers to go on a surge lately because Mike Singletary will not let them lose.

What I Noticed?
Michael Turner is out and hopefully the prognosis is good because we will be clipped Birds without him. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but the Carolina Panthers are a very fast team because Steve Smith torched us, until he got hurt when he caught that thread the needle touchdown pass. I honestly thought that we picked it off, but Steve Smith was down and out and still had the ball in his hands for a touchdown. Another thing, I have never seen us get burned that bad by a power half back in Jonathan Stewart. I mean he looked like he was playing Stanford, back when he was playing at Oregon with Dennis Dixon.

Who I Respect?
Jason Snelling you are the man. I thought we were gone out of the water when Michael Turner came out of that play limping his way to the locker room, but Jason you stepped it up big time. Even though you didn’t convert on the two point conversion. I cannot blame you for that because even the greatest of half backs like Walter Payton, Jim Brown, and Ernie Davis would have never converted on that play because you had no chance. Snelling brings power to the rushing game and I loved when he steam rolled one of the Panthers defenders because he got an extra yard out of it.

Can The Real Running Back, Please Stand Up?
The Falcons are in a real sticky situation if the Michael Turner injury is far worse than it appears. I mean Jason Snelling could handle the load, but do I want that? No. Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Michael Jenkins all need that insurance with Michael Turner in the backfield because it makers there jobs a lot easier. I’m hoping Michael Turner can come back next week because right now the Atlanta Falcons are on life support with there playoff chances.

Tags: Eli Manning, Ernie Davis, Jason Snelling, Jay Cutler, Jim Brown, Jonathan Stewart, Matt Ryan, Michael Jenkins, Michael Turner, Michael Vick, Mike Smith, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Tony Gonzalez, Walter Payton