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01:31 AM ET 11.27 | When I watch the Falcons, I'm not just looking for positive plays from the offense and defense, I'm also looking for how well they are are able to succeed in different phases of the game. The Falcons had been very poor against the run, but turned things around against Tampa Bay by really stopping Doug Martin from doing a whole bunch. They were successful in the run on that side of the ball, but they showed next to nothing in a specific part of the run game yet again. Early in the game, we saw some really good runs from the Falcons, so it's not like they couldn't run the ball whatsoever. But the majority of those runs came outside of the tackles, with receivers put in motion to trap defensive players, and clever use of angles by the Falcons to outflank the Buccaneer defense for solid gains. I don't want to say that those were smoke and mirror plays, because they certainly weren't but they were far from smashmouth, running-between-the-tackles offensive plays. And that's a big problem.

Michael Turner, Getty Images/Al Messerschmidt

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November 28, 2012 07:44 AM ET

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this isn't a recent development, it's been a problem all season. rogers needs more reps, and turner needs to stop running into the pile....he's been renamed 'one yard burner' turner.

ATLfan7

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November 28, 2012 07:58 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 07:57 AM ET 11.28 by Eli's Revenge III

Then there's Atlanta. A team that proves every year that it doesn't matter what your season record is. Winning in the prayoffs is all that matters. This team needs to man up.

Indoor teams.... Saints are the toughest indoors.

Robataille

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November 28, 2012 08:04 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 07:44 AM ET 11.28 by ATLfan7

this isn't a recent development, it's been a problem all season. rogers needs more reps, and turner needs to stop running into the pile....he's been renamed 'one yard burner' turner.

Agree about Rogers... I don't know if he is a "full-time" guy but he damn sure brings a dimension that makes the Falcons more dangerous.

I still remember that kid single-handedly destroying USC - need to get him more involved. Use Turner late in games as the "finisher".

Otis B. Driftwood

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November 28, 2012 08:36 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 07:57 AM ET 11.28 by Eli's Revenge III

Then there's Atlanta. A team that proves every year that it doesn't matter what your season record is. Winning in the prayoffs is all that matters. This team needs to man up.

Prayoffs... how telling for Atlanta

RustyBawl

Baltimore, MD

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November 28, 2012 08:43 AM ET

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Turner is getting old in RB years. He's lost more than a step.

Devi8ed

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November 28, 2012 08:52 AM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:04 AM ET 11.28 by Otis B. Driftwood

Agree about Rogers... I don't know if he is a "full-time" guy but he damn sure brings a dimension that makes the Falcons more dangerous. I still remember that kid single-handedly destroying USC - need to get him more involved. Use Turner late in games as the "finisher".

i don't know about 'finisher', that play call on 3rd and 1 at the goal line against the saints in n.o. was questionable at best. turner had been doing the same thing the whole game...why put the game in his hands at that point?

the most telling stat from sunday's game vs. the bucs: turner, 17 yds on 13 att for a blistering 1.3 yds per carry.