It’s now official that Adrian Peterson will miss the game against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend, giving backup running back Toby Gerhart(notes) a chance to potentially shine. The Minnesota Vikings may have to lean on Gerhart heavily, even going up against a Falcons defense that has been pretty good against the run in the past.

Atlanta gives up just 85.4 yards per game, but the team has also had teams with weak running games like the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts on the schedule. It could simply indicate that the Falcons can simply slow down teams that are bad on offense, and that would also include the Vikings. It certainly raises the level of risk associated with giving Gerhart the start, but sometimes fantasy football owners have to take the ris k.

On Saturday, the Vikings announced that Peterson got downgraded from being doubtful on the injury report to being out of the game. He is not even traveling with the team to play Atlanta, meaning there is no chance that he will see action against the Falcons. That’s good news for fantasy football owners that are stepping up to try out Gerhart this Sunday (Nov. 27), but it also means that those owners hoping Peterson would come back need to scramble.

Through 10 games this year, Gerhart has just 24 rushes for 118 yards and no touchdowns. It is easy to expect that he will have his biggest game of the year against the Falcons, but just how many yards he can get on the ground is an area for debate. He will get at least 20 carries as the featured back, and it is also likely that he will get used in a number of screen plays that could raise his number of receiving yards. That’s good news, especially for leagues that count receptions as positive points.

The Minnesota vs. Atlanta game takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 27, and you can bet that this is an audition to decide if Gerhart deserves to have a bigger part in the offense for the Vikings going forward. If his time at Stanford is any sign of the talent he has now, then this could turn into a coming-out-party for one of the more underrated backs in the game.

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Week 11 Top Defenses

5_Frustrating_Players

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The Atlanta Falcons had a somewhat sloppy performance last week, but still
managed to win. The players know they can’t make the same mistakes and still
prevail, although they might be able to get away with it against the lowly
Minnesota Vikings.

Especially if they’re without Adrian Peterson.

The Falcons hope to erase some of last week’s miscues Sunday when they host
the struggling Vikings, who could be without their best player.

After a heartbreaking 26-23 overtime home loss to New Orleans on Nov. 13,
Atlanta (6-4) bounced back with last Sunday’s 23-17 win over Tennessee to pull
within one game of the NFC South-leading Saints. Matt Ryan(notes) passed for 316 yards
and Michael Turner(notes) rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Titans, but
the defending division champions were hardly spectacular.

On six possessions in the red zone, Atlanta scored two touchdowns, settled
for three short Matt Bryant(notes) field goals and Turner lost a fumble. The Falcons
are 12th in the NFL in red zone touchdown efficiency at 54.1 percent.

“When we get the ball in there close, we’ve got to score touchdowns,” said
Ryan, who has recorded back-to-back 300-yard passing games for the first time in
his career. “That’s something we’ll work on and try to get better at this
week.”

The Falcons also allowed the Titans to rally from a 23-3 third-quarter
deficit behind rookie quarterback Jake Locker(notes), who threw a pair of touchdown
passes after Matt Hasselbeck(notes) was injured.

“Once we get to the playoff-caliber teams, we’ve got to be able to put that
ball in the end zone,” said tight end Tony Gonzalez(notes), who became the 13th player
in NFL history to reach 13,000 yards receiving. “I think we will. We have the
talent and we have the players and we have the execution to do it. But we
haven’t been able to do it.”

The Vikings (2-8) are hardly a playoff-caliber team.

Minnesota is trying to avoid its first 2-9 start since its 1961 inaugural
season, but that might not be so easy if Peterson can’t play.

Peterson, who enters Week 12 sixth in the league in rushing with 872 yards
and an NFL-best 11 rushing touchdowns, suffered a high ankle sprain in the first
quarter of last Sunday’s 27-21 loss to Oakland. It is possible he could return,
but coach Leslie Frazier might not want to risk the health of the four-time
All-Pro considering the Vikings are essentially out of the playoff picture.

“We don’t want to put him at risk. You know how valuable he is to our team
and our franchise,” Frazier said. “So we’ll monitor where he is and try to make
a good decision with what’s best for him and what’s best for our team as well.”

If Peterson can’t play, this likely means more carries for second-year
running back Toby Gerhart(notes) and more pressure on rookie quarterback Christian
Ponder(notes).

Gerhart has only carried the ball 24 times – four fewer than wide receiver
Percy Harvin(notes) – for 118 yards. It will likely be tough for Gerhart to find much
space against the Falcons, who are second in the NFL against the run, allowing
an average of 85.4 yards. They limited three-time Pro Bowl running back Chris
Johnson to a season-low 13 yards on 12 attempts last week.

With Peterson sidelined for much of last week’s game, Ponder was given more
responsibility. He threw two touchdowns, but also had three costly interceptions
for the Vikings, who committed a season-high five turnovers.

“We’re not good enough to overcome some of the mistakes that we’re doing to
ourselves,” Frazier said. “So we need to figure that out, or we’ll be doing
what we’re doing right now, talking about a loss.”

The Vikings, 3-10 on the road since the start of last season, also need to
figure out a way to slow down Turner, who enters the week ranked fifth in the
NFL with 888 rushing yards.

The two-time Pro Bowl running back is averaging 105.6 yards over his last
five games, while Minnesota is allowing an average of 125.0 rushing yards in its
last five.

In the last meeting between these teams in 2008, Turner rushed for 70 yards
and a TD on 19 carries in Atlanta’s 24-17 victory. Ryan, who is 23-4 in
regular-season games at home, passed for 134 yards and a touchdown.

ATLANTA — One way to win a game is to let another team lose it. New Orleans Saints fans know this misery more than most. For years, the Saints seemingly invented ways to lose games they should have won. They were masters at the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And some of the most heartbreaking losses came at the hands of the hated archrival Falcons.

On Sunday, Atlanta returned the favor.

The city that so warmly welcomed and sheltered thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans continued to shower love on its southern neighbors.

This time the hospitality came in the form of a gift-wrapped 26-23 overtime football victory, thanks largely to a momentary bout of insanity from Atlanta Coach Mike Smith.

Smith’s controversial decision to go for it on fourth-and-inches at his own 29 in overtime will be second-guessed around these parts for a while, especially if the Falcons fall short of the playoffs this season.

Frankly, it was the kind of dubious decision Saints fans became all too familiar with during the Aints era. And it resulted in the same ignominious outcome.

“When you can defensively stop someone on fourth-and-1, that’s a significant way to win a game … an emotional way to win a game,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said.

Falcons fans undoubtedly wanted to fit Smith with brown-paper headgear after the Saints stuffed Michael Turner for no gain, then converted a couple of quick first downs to set up John Kasay’s winning field goal.

“To get a win like that is amazing,” Saints tight end Jimmy Graham said.

Said defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who along with Will Smith, made the double-stuff on Turner: “I’m new to this rivalry, but it was a moment, wasn’t it?”

Yes, it was.

The Saints have won a lot of big games in the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era but few were more satisfying than this one. On the road. Against your division rival. After squandering a 10-point lead in the final 5 minutes.

Only two weeks ago, the Saints were 5-3 and coming off an embarrassing loss to the previously winless Rams. Now they’re second-lining into the bye week at 7-3 and with a comfy 1½-game lead on the rest of the NFC South.

“We found a way to piece it together and come away with two extremely hard-fought victories,” Brees said, also referring to last week’s win against Tampa Bay. “It says a lot about this team that we found ways to win.”

Or, more accurately, the Falcons found a way to lose.

To say Smith’s decision was surprising would be an understatement. It’s one thing to have confidence in your offense and be aggressive. But this was downright reckless, especially considering the Falcons’ defense had held the Saints to 16 yards and one first down on their two previous drives.

Smith’s decision was less a vote of confidence in his offense than it was a lack of confidence in his defense. Minutes earlier, he’d sent a similar message with an unsuccessful onside kick even though his team trailed only by three points with more than four minutes to play. Clearly Smith was telling his defense he didn’t think they could stop Brees another time.

Smith’s indecisiveness — initially sending out his punt team, then calling a timeout and changing his mind — didn’t help matters.

Afterward, Falcons players universally backed Smith’s decision and even Brees praised the call, saying it took some “steel you-know-whats” to make it.

Others, though, were rightfully incredulous.

Told that the Falcons have a history of making good on such gutsy calls, Will Smith just shook his head. “Yeah, but not on the 30, in overtime. If they don’t get it, it’s pretty much ‘game over’ in a sense. You can’t put that pressure on your defense.

“If it was at the 50 we probably would have imagined they would have went for it, but at the 30, no.”

In 1978, then-Saints Coach Dick Nolan went for it on fourth-and-2 at the Atlanta 43-yard line instead of punting. You know the rest of the story. The Saints failed to convert, setting the stage for Steve Bartkowski’s 57-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Alfred Jackson in the final seconds.

The play was called Big Ben and it will live in infamy for Saints fans because it derailed the club’s first real playoff hopes and propelled Atlanta to its first postseason appearance.

Similarly, the fourth-down stonewall in Atlanta could prove to be catalytic moment in this Saints season.

“It’s one of those plays that can change your whole season,” Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said. “When you look back at how your season went and how it unfolds, it might be a play that we can pinpoint, hey, things were a lot different because of that play.”

The Saints have now won 10 consecutive games in November, a streak that dates to 2008. They’ve also won nine of 11 games in the series against their archrivals under Payton, including five of six at the Georgia Dome.

For Saints fans, it’s a refreshing and overdue reversal of fortune. All those years they couldn’t get over the hump against San Francisco in the NFC West. Just as the 49ers seemed to own Jim Mora’s Saints, Payton’s Saints now own the Falcons.

“It’s a big win for us,” Will Smith said. “It gives us the lead in the NFC South. It’s against a team that really doesn’t like us and we don’t like them, as you can see during the course of the game there was a lot of talking and scuffles here and there.

“It’s our rival. It means a lot to us and it means a lot to the city of New Orleans.”

Saints defenders preserved the moment with a postgame celebratory photo at midfield. The smiles on their faces were every bit as wide as they were after Super Bowl XLIV or the NFC championship game. The Saints pulled the same stunt after last year’s 17-14 victory here, an action some Falcons took offense to.

“We don’t just go out there (for the photo) after any old win,” linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar said. “It has to be something significant. It’s no disrespect to the Falcons. We just want memories.”

For the Saints, it’s one they won’t soon forget.

Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.

If there was ever any doubt that the 2011 Indianapolis Colts belong near the bottom of the NFL power structure, it was completely erased when the team thudded to the floor of the league on November 6, courtesy of their 31-7 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Not only did the Colts drop their record to 0-9, but their chief competition in the run toward a potential number-one draft pick next spring, the Miami Dolphins, won their first game of the year by downing the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-3. Like most Colts fans, I had visions of a hometown Super Bowl champion when the season started, but now I think the Colts’ status as the worst team in the NFL has been secured, at least for this week.

The Colts really didn’t do anything right against the Falcons, despite the fact that this game represented Indianapolis’s first home tilt after three weeks on the road and that the Falcons have not been a juggernaut this season. Quarterback Curtis Painter(notes), who showed some promise in the weeks immediately after taking over for the injured Kerry Collins(notes), has regressed nearly completely to the confused signal caller who coughed up the Colts’ perfect season against the New York Jets in 2009 . In this contest, Painter managed just 98 yards through the air and racked up a paltry quarterback rating of 41.9. But the Colts’ problems go way beyond Painter.

Delone Carter(notes), who has had a very solid rookies season, carried the ball four times for just eight yards and lost a fumble. The Indianapolis return game netted just 44 yards on three punt returns and three kick returns, with a 19-yard run off a kick by Joe Lefeged(notes) the highlight of the special teams efforts. This team simply doesn’t have the return talent or blocking abilities to justify doing anything other than taking a knee when the ball is kicked to them.

Of course, the Indy defense is porous against both the run and the pass, and that trend continued against the Falcons. Passing for 275 yards and running for 163 more helped Atlanta hold onto the ball for nearly 38 minutes to the Colts’ 22 and led, once again, to a lot of gassed defenders on the Indianapolis side of the ball. As usual, the defense couldn’t get off the field, and the offense couldn’t stay on it.

The highlight of the day for the Colts came when Jerraud Powers(notes) picked off Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan(notes) and ran six yards for the only Colts points. The fact that there is really nothing else good to say about the team right now makes me feel as if I’m in a blue and white time warp. Maybe next week, Gary Hogeboom can take a few snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Colts fans since the team arrived in Indianapolis on a snowy morning in 1984. The Blue and White eventually replaced the Chicago Bears as his #1 team, and Super Bowl XLI was a dream come true.

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Opening the second half of the season, every Indianapolis Colts fan is questioning whether the team will win a game in the 2011 season. In their ninth game of the season the Colts will return back home after three consecutive road games and face the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have had a disappointing start to the season but are currently 4-3 and trail just the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. The Colts may be the most disappointing team through the first eight games of the NFL season.

It’s odd for Colts fans that after eight games instead of talk about the playoffs, we are hearing more about a winless season and possibility of earning the number one pick in the 2012 draft. The Colts are now 0-8 on the season and are heading in the wrong direction. After competing and being in a position to win games earlier in the year, the Colts have been beaten badly lately. They are coming off big losses in consecutive games against the Saints and Tennessee Titans.

Matt Ryan(notes), Roddy White(notes), and Michael Turner(notes) will provide no easy task for a struggling Colts defense. It’s surely possible that the Colts offense could get something going at home against an average Falcons defense. The Colts are likely to get several players back from injury this week. They should receive help on the offensive line with starters Anthony Castonzo and Ryan Diem returning from injuries. This can only help Curtis Painter(notes) and the running game of Joseph Addai(notes) and Delone Carter(notes) see improvement.

This game will present the Colts with a big challenge as they face another superior team. This week against the Falcons is unlikely to give the Colts a chance for their first win of the season. Fans have to admire that the team is still playing hard and trying to win. Jim Caldwell and his staff are continuously doing a poor job of getting the team prepared and putting them in a position to win games without Peyton Manning(notes). One of the biggest stories in this game could be whether the home crowd begins to turn on the Colts for the first time since pulling starters in week 15 of the 2009 season against the New York Jets with an undefeated record.

Prediction: Falcons 27, Colts 17

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons almost began the season without Jason Snelling. Now he could be one of the keys to the team’s playoff hopes.

Most of Snelling’s playing time in his five seasons in Atlanta has come at running back. Beginning with this week’s game at Indianapolis, he has an opportunity to prove he take over as the starter at fullback.

Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli’s season-ending knee injury in Atlanta’s win at Detroit on Oct. 23 leaves Snelling as the probable new starter. Mughelli, who was placed on injured reserve last week, had surgery on Monday to repair a tear in his right MCL.

The Falcons signed fullback Mike Cox last week, but Snelling appears to be the first option to replace Mughelli. Snelling’s normal dual role as a backup at running back and fullback will change as he focuses on blocking.

“As you know, Jason has been kind of that back who can play both,” coach Mike Smith said after Monday’s practice. “That’s going to obviously change his role.”

Snelling said he doesn’t think the offence will have to change if he starts at fullback.

“I think we just pretty much call what we’re going to call,” Snelling said Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye week. “I think my coaches have the confidence in me that I can go in there and get the job done and do what I need to do to help my team win.”

Snelling talked with other teams, including St. Louis, as a free agent last summer before signing a one-year, $1 million deal to return to Atlanta.

“I just took the experience for what it was, free agency,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. This is where I chose to come back to and I’m glad to be a Falcon.”

Snelling rushed for more than 900 yards while backing up Michael Turner at running back the last two years. He set a career high with 613 yards rushing in 2009 and added 324 yards rushing last year.

The fifth-year back from Virginia has had only six carries for 24 yards this season. He has 12 catches for 89 yards.

Snelling likely will be the lead blocker for Turner against the Colts as the Falcons (4-3) look for their third straight win.

Snelling helped clear the way for Turner to rush for 122 yards in a 23-16 win over the Lions before the bye week.

“My career here has been as a guy who takes advantage of opportunities and a guy who can play different roles,” Snelling said.

“They have that confidence in me and that’s always good when your team has confidence you can do multiple roles. That was a critical time in the game that I had to go in there and step in. There was never a doubt from my coaches or my teammates that I could get it done, and we ended up getting the win. That was great.”

With Snelling at fullback, rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers could have more opportunities to run the ball.

“Whether Jason is at halfback or fullback, I think Jacquizz has shown he’s got the skill set to be a running back in this league and we need to make sure we spread the ball around through the second half of the season,” Smith said. “We’ve kind of been a little one-sided in our carries.”

Turner has 621 of the Falcons’ 789 yards rushing.

Snelling (5-11, 234) looks more like a running back than a fullback. He’s lighter than Turner (5-10, 247). Smith said Cox (6-0, 252) “is more of the body type of the traditional fullback.”

“We’re going to give him work to see what he can do and try to get him up to speed with our base offence,” Smith said of Cox.

Cox, from Georgia Tech, played for Kansas City the past three seasons. His younger brother Lucas Cox, also from Georgia Tech, was with the Falcons in training camp this year as an undrafted free agent and has helped with playbook questions.

“I was on the phone with him last night,” said Mike Cox of his brother. “There were just a few little questions I had. He’s definitely been a huge help.”

Notes: Rookie WR Julio Jones, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice. … Smith said his coaching staff worked in the bye week on improving three areas: first down efficiency on offence, third-down defence and penalties. “We tried to analyze the areas we were getting the penalties and what the penalties were and why,” he said.

by

The Associated Press

Associated Press

Jason Snelling (The Associated Press)

slideshow

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons almost began the season without Jason Snelling. Now he could be one of the keys to the team’s playoff hopes.

Most of Snelling’s playing time in his five seasons in Atlanta has come at running back. Beginning with this week’s game at Indianapolis, he has an opportunity to prove he take over as the starter at fullback.

Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli’s season-ending knee injury in Atlanta’s win at Detroit on Oct. 23 leaves Snelling as the probable new starter. Mughelli, who was placed on injured reserve last week, had surgery on Monday to repair a tear in his right MCL.

The Falcons signed fullback Mike Cox last week, but Snelling appears to be the first option to replace Mughelli. Snelling’s normal dual role as a backup at running back and fullback will change as he focuses on blocking.

“As you know, Jason has been kind of that back who can play both,” coach Mike Smith said after Monday’s practice. “That’s going to obviously change his role.”

Snelling said he doesn’t think the offense will have to change if he starts at fullback.

“I think we just pretty much call what we’re going to call,” Snelling said Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye week. “I think my coaches have the confidence in me that I can go in there and get the job done and do what I need to do to help my team win.”

Snelling talked with other teams, including St. Louis, as a free agent last summer before signing a one-year, $1 million deal to return to Atlanta.

“I just took the experience for what it was, free agency,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. This is where I chose to come back to and I’m glad to be a Falcon.”

Snelling rushed for more than 900 yards while backing up Michael Turner at running back the last two years. He set a career high with 613 yards rushing in 2009 and added 324 yards rushing last year.

The fifth-year back from Virginia has had only six carries for 24 yards this season. He has 12 catches for 89 yards.

Snelling likely will be the lead blocker for Turner against the Colts as the Falcons (4-3) look for their third straight win.

Snelling helped clear the way for Turner to rush for 122 yards in a 23-16 win over the Lions before the bye week.

“My career here has been as a guy who takes advantage of opportunities and a guy who can play different roles,” Snelling said.

“They have that confidence in me and that’s always good when your team has confidence you can do multiple roles. That was a critical time in the game that I had to go in there and step in. There was never a doubt from my coaches or my teammates that I could get it done, and we ended up getting the win. That was great.”

With Snelling at fullback, rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers could have more opportunities to run the ball.

“Whether Jason is at halfback or fullback, I think Jacquizz has shown he’s got the skill set to be a running back in this league and we need to make sure we spread the ball around through the second half of the season,” Smith said. “We’ve kind of been a little one-sided in our carries.”

Turner has 621 of the Falcons’ 789 yards rushing.

Snelling (5-11, 234) looks more like a running back than a fullback. He’s lighter than Turner (5-10, 247). Smith said Cox (6-0, 252) “is more of the body type of the traditional fullback.”

“We’re going to give him work to see what he can do and try to get him up to speed with our base offense,” Smith said of Cox.

Cox, from Georgia Tech, played for Kansas City the past three seasons. His younger brother Lucas Cox, also from Georgia Tech, was with the Falcons in training camp this year as an undrafted free agent and has helped with playbook questions.

“I was on the phone with him last night,” said Mike Cox of his brother. “There were just a few little questions I had. He’s definitely been a huge help.”

NOTES:

Rookie WR Julio Jones, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice. … Smith said his coaching staff worked in the bye week on improving three areas: first down efficiency on offense, third-down defense and penalties. “We tried to analyze the areas we were getting the penalties and what the penalties were and why,” he said.

Read More: nfl injury report, falcons injury report, julio jones injury, Harry Douglas (WR – ATL), Julio Jones (WR – ATL), Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones missed Wednesday’s practice as he continues to try and rehabilitate his injured hamstring. Jones injured the hamstring late in the third quarter of the Falcons loss to the Packers in week five and missed the entire week of practice in week six. A continued absence from practice already this week would indicate he is likely to be no better than a game-time decision on Sunday against the Lions.

Without Jones in the lineup against the Falcons, the Falcons spread the ball around quite liberally with no receiver catching more than three passes. Tony Gonzalez led the team with three receptions, while Harry Douglas led the team with 57 yards. Ovie Mughelli had the only touchdown reception.

For fantasy purposes, Harry Douglas could prove to be a decent pass catching option in bye weeks. The Falcons have a bye in week eight so he would be a very limited option. For now you will simply have to sit on Julio Jones for another couple weeks. Given the upcoming week eight bye, he should be good to go by the time week nine rolls around.

For more on the Falcons, check out The Falcoholic. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

ATLANTA – Cam Newton cheered on the Atlanta Falcons during their only Super Bowl season. He always joined right in for the team’s trademark dance.

“The Dirty Bird era,” Newton recalled, a tinge of nostalgia in his voice. “On Monday, every kid would come to school doing the Dirty Bird. There’s a lot of history with me loving the Falcons.”

Now, he’s trying to beat them.

Newton will lead the Carolina Panthers into the Georgia Dome on Sunday, a homecoming for the Heisman Trophy winner who’s off to a blistering start as an NFL rookie.

The native of College Park, which is south of downtown Atlanta, threw for more than 400 yards in his first two games, and tacked on a 374-yard performance at Chicago two weeks ago. Only three quarterbacks have thrown for more yards this season, and it’s not a bad group — Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, who’ve got five Super Bowl rings between them.

“He’s their leader,” Falcons safety James Sanders of Newton. “He’s making plays for them. He’s running that offence and leading them like a 10-year veteran. I’m sure he’s learning along the way, but he definitely doesn’t look like a rookie out there.”

Of course, Newton is more than just a passer, as he showed during one brilliant college season at Auburn. He’s also become Carolina’s primary goal-line weapon, accounting for five of the team’s six rushing touchdowns. Throw in seven TD passes, and he’s had a hand (or legs) in all but one of the team’s 13 trips to the end zone.

To demonstrate how much of a boost he’s been to a team that was downright feeble a year ago, the Newton-led Panthers are three TDs away from their total for all of 2010.

“He’s gotten off to a great start,” said Newton’s Atlanta counterpart, Matt Ryan. “I think everybody is surprised when a rookie comes in and performs the way he has. But he’s a talented guy.”

After running the spread in college, Newton figured to face a steep learning curve in a pro-style offence — especially when the lockout wiped out the off-season program, usually the time when a rookie will get familiar with the playbook and begin to mesh with his new teammates.

Even with a short training camp and four preseason games, Newton took over like this has been his team for years.

“I thought he was talented in college. He made some incredible plays at Auburn,” Ryan said. “But to have a short preparation time just adds to the difficulty. So credit to him. He’s done a tremendous job since he’s come in.”

The only thing missing from Newton’s resume is a few more wins. Carolina (1-4) has been in every game, its losses coming by a combined 18 points.

Well, the team he grew up rooting for as a kid would like to keep that trend going for at least another win. The Falcons need a win, too, in the worst way.

Projected as a Super Bowl contender coming off a 13-win season and NFC South championship, Atlanta (2-3) has been one of the major disappointments in the early going this season. A supposedly high-powered offence has looked out of sync,and the defence hasn’t been playing well enough to bail the team out.

Last week’s loss to defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay was especially frustrating. The Falcons raced to a 14-0 lead on their first two drives, then managed nine first downs and 106 yards the rest of the way, continually shooting themselves in the foot with silly penalties and untimely mistakes.

“There’s a sense of urgency,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “We can’t keep winning one game, losing one game, winning one, then losing one. We need to get off that. We need to start being consistent and put together a string of wins, start being the team that we can be.”

Playing from behind much of the season, the Falcons haven’t been able to establish their trademark running game. Michael Turner has gone three straight weeks without reaching 100 yards, and Ryan is throwing a lot more than the coaching staff would prefer, tied for second in the league with an average of 39.2 passing attempts per game.

The Panthers look like an inviting target for Atlanta to turn things around. They’re 27th in the league against the run (135.2 yards) and a rash of injuries on defence makes them appear even more vulnerable.

“They’re giving up a lot of yards rushing,” Falcons receiver Roddy White said. “We’ve got to be able to run the ball, play-action pass, do things like that.”

Besides, Atlanta will be short-handed in the passing game. Rookie Julio Jones, who has 25 catches for 358 yards, is out because of a hamstring injury. Harry Douglas will take his place, a speedy player but not nearly the target that Jones usually provides as a complement to White.

“We’d like to be a little bit better balanced,” said Ryan, who ranks 21st in the league in passing efficiency. “But we’ve put ourselves in some tough positions. We haven’t been able to remain balanced because of mistakes that have kind of backed us up into a corner. I think it comes down, point blank, that we need to play more consistent. If we do that in the run game and the pass game, that will add up to a little bit of balance.”

The Falcons certainly aren’t taking this one for granted. Facing a division rival they dominated a year ago, Atlanta knows it has taken a step backward, while the Panthers have taken a major leap forward. The record doesn’t show it yet, but Carolina has all the signs of a team on the move — and moving fast.

The Panthers are tied with New England for the most big plays, both teams going for at least 20 yards on 33 snaps. The Falcons, by comparison, have only 16 plays that the coaches like to call “explosive.”

“When you look at the film, they’re just making little mental mistakes, a turnover here, a turnover there,” White said. “That’s why they’re not winning. But they’re a real dangerous team. They’re really explosive.”

Newton looks forward to returning home, but his main focus is on getting a second victory.

Close just isn’t cutting it.

“I’ve done all right,” he said. “But I can’t hide the fact that each and every game, we’ve had a chance to win.”

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Atlanta Falcons’ rookie receiver Julio Jones will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring injury.

Fantasy owners, sit him. Fantasy owners and the rest of us, close your eyes and go to a fantasy world where Jones actually ends up in the end zone, whether we want to see him do it for points or just for the sake of doing it.

Open your eyes now. Reality is that fantasy hasn’t come true.

Jones pulled up in the fourth quarter of a 25-14 loss to Green Bay while running a deep route down the sideline. He’s been able to do some light running with the training staff, but coach Mike Smith said Wednesday there’s no chance of the first-round pick playing against the Panthers.

Harry Douglas will start in place of Jones, who has 25 catches for 358 yards. Kerry Meier and Eric Weems should get more playing time out of the three-receiver sets.

“One man’s misfortune is another guy’s opportunity.” said Smith.

The Falcons are 2-3, a record that many hope would be reversed, if not, better. Jones was supposed to play a huge part in making the team better than they were last season, being expected to produce touchdowns alongside Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White. But Jones has accounted for no touchdowns thus far for a team in need of a better deep game, despite QB Matt Ryan and White.

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For a guy who left Alabama after his junior year, much hype has enshrouded him, and rightfully so. He was the Crimson Tide’s best receiver throughout those three years, helping lead the team in 2009 to win the BCS National Championship. Fast forward to the 2011 NFL Draft, and the Falcons dealt five picks to the Cleveland Browns, including a first-rounder in 2012, to move up 21 slots to claim Jones.

Just one word describes why: explosiveness.

At 6 feet 3 inches and 220 pounds, a 4.39 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical leap, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff pretty much thought the same thing we thought of Jones. He’s a must have…but for the Falcons especially.

Remember when Atlanta earned a No.1 seed last season with the NFC’s best regular-season record (13-3), then was trounced in its playoff opener by the Green Bay Packers? Dimitroff certainly does.

“We learned that we have to have explosive playmakers if we’re going to go tit for tat with explosive teams.” he said.

What’s ironic about Dimitroff’s comment is that 90 percent of today’s NFL teams are explosive. That means the Falcons need Julio Jones practically every game to get the Falcons to the next level.

However, as someone that has come out of a Nick Saban team, Jones needs to get himself to the next level first by correcting his mistakes once he’s healthy again and becoming that wily young veteran that he can be.

The glaring omission to his game is his touchdowns. His start of 25 receptions and 358 yards is justified. Defenses are going to stop a tall receiver, especially a move-the-chains guy like Jones. But, if Jones wants to play to our own and his own high expectations (which I’m sure he has), then the fat donut in the TD column must disappear.

RENTON, Wash. – Seahawks defensive co-ordinator Gus Bradley says that while the Atlanta Falcons have been more vulnerable to pressure this year, he’s preparing as though this was the same group that handily beat Seattle last December.

“They’re about good, fundamental football,” Bradley said. “Mistake-free, no turnovers, limited penalties, and that’s what was impressive to us. We know they’ll get back to that. We talk constantly in our room about just take care of what we do and if they’ve got issues or they’ve got things they need to work out, they’ll get that taken care of, but that can’t affect how we perform.”

So far, Seattle’s defensive line has been the team’s most confident positional group.

Last Sunday, the line looked particularly strong in a 13-10 win over Arizona, sacking Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb three times and harassing him constantly using multiple defensive fronts.

This week, the Seahawks will go after Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who has already been sacked 13 times through three games after being sacked just 23 times all last season.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll knows how important it is to bring pressure; it’s what his defence is built upon.

“(The quarterback is) the brains of the whole thing, and you need to affect the way he’s thinking and what he’s seeing as much as you can,” Carroll said. “Plus, he’s the most vulnerable player on the team. We have to do whatever it takes to get that done. Whether that’s taking more chances, or giving our guys more opportunities to come off the edge and bring the pressure, we have to find that.”

Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane said the Seahawks have been bringing pressure recently using multiple blitzes and defensive fronts.

When he looks at the Falcons, he sees the same team from last year.

“You know, they’re having their issues, but we’re not going to sit up here and doubt them,” he said. “Our job is to go out there and apply pressure — do what we’ve been doing. We’re not going to underestimate them. We know they’re going to make changes, and do things to get back on their feet.”

NOTES: Left guard Robert Gallery was the only player listed as out on the Seahawks’ injury report; Carroll said that Gallery is “a couple of weeks away at most” from returning from a groin injury. Safety Kam Chancellor (quadriceps) and cornerback Byron Maxwell (ankle) were listed as doubtful. Tackle Jarriel King (ankle), running back Michael Robinson (ankle) and linebacker Matt McCoy (shoulder/head) are probable.

Read More: Roddy White (WR – ATL), Matt McCoy (LB – SEA), Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks will take on the Atlanta Falcons this weekend as the team looks to move to .500 for the first time this season. Both teams are facing injuries this week, though the Falcons have been struck a little bit harder on this front. Linebacker Matt McCoy is dealing with two injuries while the Falcons missed their top receiver in practice on Wednesday, according to Seattle Pi’s Chrisitan Caple.

Wide receiver Roddy White of the Falcons did not practice on Wednesday with a thigh injury. White is a central part of the Falcons pass attack and broke through last weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccanners with his biggest game of the season, racking up 140 yards on nine receptions. His status for Sunday is unclear at this point, but the Falcons will be at a disadvantage if they have to play without him.

Linebacker Matt McCoy, one of the only Seahawks to be dealing with injuries this week, is actually dealing with multiple injuries. In addition to the head injury he suffered last weekend against the Arizona Cardinals, the linebacker is also working through a shoulder injury . This season, McCoy has started only one of the team’s three games while recording 15 tackles. His status is uncertain as well at the moment.

Other Seahawks held out of practice today include safety Kam Chancellor (quadriceps) and cornerback Byron Maxwell (ankle). The Seahawks, at this point, appear to be in pretty good shape ahead of Sunday’s home game.

CHICAGO — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan knows his team built a solid foundation with a strong season last year.

Now he’s ready to top it all off with a title run.

“I feel confident in our football team heading into the regular season,” said Ryan, who led Atlanta to the best record in the NFC (13-3) last year. “If we want to get there, we’re going to have to take it one week at a time, and it all starts this week.”

Ryan threw for 3,705 yards with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year, but the Falcons, No. 1 seeds out of the NFC, were upended by the Packers 48-21 in the second round. Then came the confusion of the lengthy lockout, and the Falcons sat around stewing over their interesting free-agent situation, which included three out of their five offensive linemen set to test the waters.

“It’s something that is a concern for every team when you have free agents,” Ryan said. “But for us, that area of concern was high because it was our offensive line this year.”

The Falcons were able to sign two of their three linemen, and though the group that had been together for three years is slightly broken up, there is still enough continuity there to keep their quarterback’s mind at ease.

“I was very fired up, very excited, that we brought back Justin Blalock and Tyson Clabo,” Ryan said of his two veteran linemen. “Obviously, those guys have been a big part of what we’ve done offensively here in the past.”

Atlanta handed Ryan another gift by drafting wide receiver Julio Jones, a guy who has already impressed his head coach, Mike Smith, with his intensity and his willingness to learn.

“Julio is such a competitive guy he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure he’s successful and that he does everything in his power to make our team successful,” Smith said. “That’s one of the things that has stood out in the short time that he’s been here, that he’s a team player.”

And with a running attack that is propelled by former-NIU great Michael Turner — who had 1,371 rushing yards and 12 TDs last year — Ryan has plenty of talented teammates to pick and choose from when it comes time to decide who to feed the ball to. The time is coming fast, as the Falcons get set to face the Bears in Soldier Field at noon Sunday.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith put it bluntly: “Matt Ryan’s a great quarterback. I couldn’t even start listing all the offensive weapons they have.”

They may want to make a list before Sunday.

Reach staff reporter Jay Taft at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.