FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Mike Smith wants his first two playoff losses with the Falcons to be “growing experiences” that will help his team prepare for Sunday’s first-round road game against the New York Giants.

With Smith in his first season as coach and Matt Ryan starting as a rookie quarterback, the Falcons lost to Arizona in the first round of the playoffs after the 2008 season. The Falcons had a first-round bye last year before losing 48-21 to Green Bay.

Smith said it’s important the Falcons (10-6) learn from the losses. He said based on those lessons he is planning tweaks to the Falcons’ practice this week.

“I know we’ve had two postseason games prior to this,” Smith said. “We haven’t gotten the outcome we’ve wanted. We are learning from those experiences. We’re going to use those as growing experiences and we’re looking forward to competing this week, and that’s not just Matt Ryan.

“That’s Mike Smith and every member of our team.”

The Falcons, who never enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons before Smith’s arrival in 2008, now have four straight winning seasons and the team’s first back-to-back playoff berths. The obvious missing piece in Smith’s otherwise impressive record is a playoff win.

Smith said he’s glad the Falcons, who capped their regular season with Sunday’s 45-24 win over Tampa Bay, can move straight into their playoff week.

“I think the way that it went down last year, I’d rather be up this week and go ahead and play,” he said. “That was one of the things I don’t know that we handled as well as we should of, the way that I structured it. I think if we get in that situation again we’ll handle it a little bit differently.”

Smith said he also discussed other changes for this week.

“In our staff meeting today, I brought out the notebook in terms of things we wrote down,” Smith said, referring to his notes from the last two playoff games. “You learn from everything that you do in terms of how you prepare. In terms of the actual scheduling, we’re not going to change that, but there are some things we definitely are going to do a little bit differently.”

He wouldn’t provide details of his planned changes.

“Some things I’d rather not talk about in terms of subtle changes in our installation and how we’re going to present things to our football team,” he said.

The NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement strictly limits the number of practices in full pads. Smith said the Falcons have not worked out in full pads since Week 13. He said his players could work in full pads in one practice this week.

“So it changes a little bit from what we’ve been doing in the last six or seven weeks of the season,” he said.

The Falcons had four turnovers, including two interceptions by Ryan, in last year’s playoff loss to Green Bay. They had three turnovers, including Ryan’s two interceptions, in their 30-24 loss to Arizona.

“There was a common theme in terms of you can’t turn the football over,” Smith said. “That was the pressing thing.

“It’s no different than regular-season football, but we’ve got to make sure that we have ball security. We cannot turn the ball over in the postseason. It’s imperative.”

The Falcons led the Buccaneers 42-0 on Sunday before pulling Ryan and other starters out of the game.

Ryan said the runaway win gave the offense momentum for the playoffs.

“I think it kind of put us in a little bit of a rhythm,” Ryan said.

“We made the plays and that’s what we need to do moving forward. I think everybody’s confidence is very high heading into next week.”

Smith said the Falcons have given the Jacksonville Jaguars permission to interview offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for their head coach position. The interview is likely to take place next week.

Linebacker Stephen Nicholas, held out of Sunday’s game with a toe injury, worked on the practice field with trainers on Monday but is doubtful for the Giants game, according to Smith.

Read More: Brent Grimes (CB – ATL), Todd McClure (C – ATL), Stephen Nicholas (LB – ATL), Jahri Evans (G – NOS), Lance Moore (WR – NOS), Will Svitek (OT – ATL), Kelvin Hayden (CB – ATL), Mark Ingram (RB – NOS), Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints

The final pre-Monday round of injury reports is out for the Fancy Sponsor Name Superdome showdown between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. The biggest development: running back Mark Ingram is still doubtful after not practicing all week.

Wide receiver Lance Moore is questionable and missed the week’s practice, while Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes is questionable after getting limited reps during Atlanta’s extended week. The Falcons seem confident Grimes will play, despite his official status.

Grimes is a critical participant, especially with nickel back Kelvin Hayden doubtful. He might be the team’s best defender, and has proved to be a nuisance for Drew Brees in the past. Mike Peterson may need to start at linebacker for Stephen Nicholas.

ATLANTA FALCONS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

For more on this game, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic and Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles.

Read More: John Abraham (DE – ATL), Todd McClure (C – ATL), Stephen Nicholas (LB – ATL), Kelvin Hayden (CB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints

The Atlanta Falcons will take the field against the New Orleans Saints on Monday, likely with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. The Falcons’ relative health should help them in a Week 16 NFC South showdown.

Neither cornerback Kelvin Hayden nor linebacker Stephen Nicholas participated in practice on Friday, but a triumvirate of veterans usually held out of practice to keep them fresh did. Those players, John Abraham, Tony Gonzalez, and Todd McClure, have routinely been DNPs on practice reports in 2011, but all three fully participated on Friday.

Here’s the rest of Friday’s edition of the Falcons injury report for Week 16:

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Kelvin Hayden (toe), LB Stephen Nicholas (toe), WR Kerry Meier (groin), RB Jason Snelling (illness).

LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Harry Douglas (groin), CB Brent Grimes (groin), LB Curtis Lofton (ankle), DT Corey Peters (knee), RB Michael Turner (groin).

FULL PARTICIPATION: DE John Abraham (not injury-related), TE Tony Gonzalez (not injury-related), C Todd McClure (not injury-related), CB Chris Owens (hand).

For more on the Falcons, visit The Falcoholic; for more on the Saints, head to Canal Street Chronicles.

3 Consecutive wins by Atlanta over the Panthers. The Falcons won six in a row from 2000-02.

8 Rushing yards needed by Michael Turner to reach 1,000. It would be Turner’s third 1,000-yard season since joining the Falcons in 2008.

14 Seasons in which tight end Tony Gonzalez has caught 50 or more passes. Only Jerry Rice, with 17, has more seasons with at least 50 receptions.

166 Rushing yards for the Falcons – a season high – in their first meeting with Carolina.

Starting Lineup

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

Injuries

OUT: CB Brent Grimes (knee). DOUBTFUL: CB Kelvin Hayden (toe), LB Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps). QUESTIONABLE: T Will Svitek (groin). PROBABLE: DE John Abraham (not injury related), T Sam Baker (back), WR Harry Douglas (groin), DE Ray Edwards (shoulder), TE Tony Gonzalez (not injury related), C Joe Hawley (ankle), WR Julio Jones (hamstring), C Todd McClure (not injury related), RB Michael Turner (groin), DT Vance Walker (groin), WR Roddy White (shoulder).

Schedule/Results

NOTE: * Time subject to change.

Read More: Roddy White (WR – ATL), Michael Turner (RB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons

Prominent offensive names on the Wednesday injury report for the Atlanta Falcons:

Stud tailback Michael Turner….check.

All-Pro wide receiver Roddy White….check.

Rookie phenom wideout Julio Jones….check.

Future Hall-of-Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez….check.

Such is life for the Falcons, who at 7-5, are trying to use the final four games of the regular season to secure a playoff spot in the NFC. While only Turner was held out of practice Wednesday with groin issues, the Falcons will need all of their stars on deck to be sure they can dance when the playoffs begin.

Here is the full playoff report for the Falcons on Wednesday, as they prepare to face the Carolina Panthers:

For the most up-to-the-minute information on the Falcons injury situations, check out The Falcoholic.