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NFL Sun, Oct 12, 2003
Numbers stacked against Atlanta
Julian Dickinson
The Atlanta Falcons will have to overcome some discouraging statistics if they hope to upset the St. Louis Rams in their Monday night showcase.
It's been a long time since the Falcons saw the bright lights of Monday Night Football, but aside from the obvious prestige of the game's grand stage, they were probably happy to remain out of the spotlight. Despite some struggles of their own, the Rams are 11-point favorites against an Atlanta team whose fortunes have been as black as their helmets this season.
The last time Atlanta was interesting enough to merit an appearance was back in 1999, in the days of the 'Dirty Bird'. The team went 1-2 on Monday nights that season, and the Falcons' all-time 6-17 record is the worst in the NFL when it comes to playing on MNF.
The hype and enhanced television coverage on ABC adds an element to the game that might throw off some players. But others see it as an opportunity to improve the team's tarnished image.
"It's always fun to play on Monday nights because everybody around the league is watching," linebacker Keith Brooking told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "A lot of negative things have been said about the Falcons, and this is an opportunity on national TV to show what kind of team we've got and get on a winning track."
That will mean improving their play in a number of areas, but none more urgent than defense.
The Falcons have lost their last four games mainly because their defense has performed worse than any other unit in the league. They allowed an average of 31 1/2 points in those losses and at times appeared unable to stop anything on two legs.
To be fair, the Falcons have faced some of the league's most potent offenses early in their season. Four of their opponents are among the top five in offensive production and hot teams like Minnesota and Carolina have made things tougher in the last couple of weeks.
"We're definitely shocked about [being ranked last]," said linebacker Chris Draft. "Our No. 1 goal is to win, and we're not winning. If you're able to make plays at the right times, you might give up yards . . . but you still make key plays to win. We haven't done that."
St. Louis is no longer 'The Greatest Show on Turf', but they are still one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL. They have are seventh best in scoring and average 25 points per game. They're also coming off a bye week after an impressive 37-13 win over Arizona.
At 2-2, the Rams could be one of the more underrated offenses in the NFL. Everyone remembers Kurt Warner's six turnovers in a 13-23 Week 1 loss to the Giants. Since then, St. Louis hasn't scored fewer than 23 points.
With Warner, Marshall Faulk and Michael Vick out of the game, ratings might be lower than expected, but it's still Monday night.
"It's showtime," said Atlanta linebacker Sam Rogers. "Your mentality has got to be like, 'Wow, millions of people are going to be watching all over the world', so you've got to go out and play like it."
NFL Sun, Oct 12, 2003
Numbers stacked against Atlanta
Julian Dickinson
The Atlanta Falcons will have to overcome some discouraging statistics if they hope to upset the St. Louis Rams in their Monday night showcase.
It's been a long time since the Falcons saw the bright lights of Monday Night Football, but aside from the obvious prestige of the game's grand stage, they were probably happy to remain out of the spotlight. Despite some struggles of their own, the Rams are 11-point favorites against an Atlanta team whose fortunes have been as black as their helmets this season.
The last time Atlanta was interesting enough to merit an appearance was back in 1999, in the days of the 'Dirty Bird'. The team went 1-2 on Monday nights that season, and the Falcons' all-time 6-17 record is the worst in the NFL when it comes to playing on MNF.
The hype and enhanced television coverage on ABC adds an element to the game that might throw off some players. But others see it as an opportunity to improve the team's tarnished image.
"It's always fun to play on Monday nights because everybody around the league is watching," linebacker Keith Brooking told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "A lot of negative things have been said about the Falcons, and this is an opportunity on national TV to show what kind of team we've got and get on a winning track."
That will mean improving their play in a number of areas, but none more urgent than defense.
The Falcons have lost their last four games mainly because their defense has performed worse than any other unit in the league. They allowed an average of 31 1/2 points in those losses and at times appeared unable to stop anything on two legs.
To be fair, the Falcons have faced some of the league's most potent offenses early in their season. Four of their opponents are among the top five in offensive production and hot teams like Minnesota and Carolina have made things tougher in the last couple of weeks.
"We're definitely shocked about [being ranked last]," said linebacker Chris Draft. "Our No. 1 goal is to win, and we're not winning. If you're able to make plays at the right times, you might give up yards . . . but you still make key plays to win. We haven't done that."
St. Louis is no longer 'The Greatest Show on Turf', but they are still one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL. They have are seventh best in scoring and average 25 points per game. They're also coming off a bye week after an impressive 37-13 win over Arizona.
At 2-2, the Rams could be one of the more underrated offenses in the NFL. Everyone remembers Kurt Warner's six turnovers in a 13-23 Week 1 loss to the Giants. Since then, St. Louis hasn't scored fewer than 23 points.
With Warner, Marshall Faulk and Michael Vick out of the game, ratings might be lower than expected, but it's still Monday night.
"It's showtime," said Atlanta linebacker Sam Rogers. "Your mentality has got to be like, 'Wow, millions of people are going to be watching all over the world', so you've got to go out and play like it."
