Falcons vs Cardinals
Well Week 3 of the NFL Season has come around, and for my team this week we face the perennial strugglers Arizona. Below I will do my best to preview the game, based on my limited but growing knowledge!
NFL - Week 3
Conference Game
Arizona @ Atlanta
Venue: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
When: Sunday, September 26th @ 1.00pm
This week sees Atlanta at home to Arizona it what looks likely to be a big win for Atlanta. Currently on their longest winning streak since 2002, Atlanta are full of confidence heading into this game with a perfect 2-0 record, and perhaps their most dangerous weapon...a fit Michael Vick.
Vick has been excellent in Atlanta's opening 2 wins, last week Rushing for 109 yards (the 3rd time in his career) and passing for 179 yards, against a St Louis team that is more highly regarded than Arizona.
The Falcons have won the last 2 meeting between the two teams, with the last being a 31-14 win at the Valley of the Sun. A critical part of the Atlanta game this year has been their ability to get a fast start. They have outscored their opponents 31-10 in the first half in the first two games, and come up against an Arizona outfit, that is stingy in defence only conceeding 40 points in 2 games. This for a team like Arizona is an excellent effort, so they are a team that shouldnt be taken lightly. But this week they face the ultimate defensive dilemma...how to stop Vick! He is unlike any QB in the game, in that not only does he have a strong, deadly accurate arm he also has the ability to cut up the defence with amazing runs and this weapon is just as deadly as his arm. Arizona will need to be on their A-game if they are to limit Vick, with the possibility of him recording an amazing total of 300+ Total Offensive Yards! This is Vicks 13th career start at the Georgia Dome, and he has a 10-2 record as a starter, including 7-1 in the last 8 starts!
But while their offense is top class, the defensive unit also holds its own. In the 2 games this season they have only conceeded a total of 36 points!! Based on this stat alone, Atlanta will win. Their defence has only allowed a total of 123 total rushing yards in the first 2 games, keeping St Louis to only 30 yards last week. Put the strong Atlanta offense up against the weak Arizona offense and we could have a blowout game here. In the first 2 games, Arizona has conceeded 51 First Downs, over 800 yards of total offense and 348 Rushing Yards, the latter being the most frightening stat for Cardinals fans. 348 Rushing Yards in 2 games, at an average of 174 is scary and with Vick, Duckett and Dunn to combat they will find it very tough.
Whilst I am talking a lot about the rushing capabilities of Atlanta, it is one of their strongest areas and one that will pose a lot of problems for Arizona. Of Atlanta's 36 First Down's this season, 19 have been from rushing! In terms of Total Yardage, Atlanta have a total of 337 Total Rushing Yards and 306 Total Rushing Yards.
Looking at the QB of each team, Michael Vick, the guide to Atlanta's form over the last few seasons, is rated 6th in NFL for passing, while for Arizona is ranked 32nd! Here are the stats for passing:
Michael Vick
Attempted: 41
Completed: 27
Yards: 342
TD: 2
Sacks: 5
Josh McCown
Attempted: 58
Completed: 31
Yards: 341
TD: 0
Sacks: 7
Very interesting to note that McCown has Attempted 17 more passes, and completed 4 more yet has one yard less and has been sacked 7 times. Atlanta sacked the Rams QB on 3 occasions last week if I remember correctly, so McCown will have to be wary of the Falcons defence, but he will also need very good protection.
Arizona will be helped by Running Back Emmitt Smith of Dallas Cowboys fame, who will need to be at his absolute best of Arizona are to pull off an amazing upset. He is ranked higher in the NFL than Warrick Dunn of Atlanta for RB Rushing, and with Josh McCown struggling as QB, Smith might have to become the main attacking prospect for Arizona. While Atlanta are very strong at keeping the opposition rushing yards to an absolute minimum, I would be surprised if Smith didnt rush for over 80 yards, as I can see him, as I said, as their main form of attack!
So anyway you look at it, it all leads to a comprehensive win to Atlanta. I cant see Arizona getting within cooee of Atlanta, and expect Atlanta to make one of thier characteristic fast starts and build on it from there!
My Prediction:
Atlanta - 41 (5 TD, 2 FG)
Arizona - 10 (1 TD, 1 FG)
Michael Vick to get over 300 Total Offensive Yards!
Well Week 3 of the NFL Season has come around, and for my team this week we face the perennial strugglers Arizona. Below I will do my best to preview the game, based on my limited but growing knowledge!
NFL - Week 3
Conference Game
Arizona @ Atlanta
Venue: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
When: Sunday, September 26th @ 1.00pm
This week sees Atlanta at home to Arizona it what looks likely to be a big win for Atlanta. Currently on their longest winning streak since 2002, Atlanta are full of confidence heading into this game with a perfect 2-0 record, and perhaps their most dangerous weapon...a fit Michael Vick.
Vick has been excellent in Atlanta's opening 2 wins, last week Rushing for 109 yards (the 3rd time in his career) and passing for 179 yards, against a St Louis team that is more highly regarded than Arizona.
The Falcons have won the last 2 meeting between the two teams, with the last being a 31-14 win at the Valley of the Sun. A critical part of the Atlanta game this year has been their ability to get a fast start. They have outscored their opponents 31-10 in the first half in the first two games, and come up against an Arizona outfit, that is stingy in defence only conceeding 40 points in 2 games. This for a team like Arizona is an excellent effort, so they are a team that shouldnt be taken lightly. But this week they face the ultimate defensive dilemma...how to stop Vick! He is unlike any QB in the game, in that not only does he have a strong, deadly accurate arm he also has the ability to cut up the defence with amazing runs and this weapon is just as deadly as his arm. Arizona will need to be on their A-game if they are to limit Vick, with the possibility of him recording an amazing total of 300+ Total Offensive Yards! This is Vicks 13th career start at the Georgia Dome, and he has a 10-2 record as a starter, including 7-1 in the last 8 starts!
But while their offense is top class, the defensive unit also holds its own. In the 2 games this season they have only conceeded a total of 36 points!! Based on this stat alone, Atlanta will win. Their defence has only allowed a total of 123 total rushing yards in the first 2 games, keeping St Louis to only 30 yards last week. Put the strong Atlanta offense up against the weak Arizona offense and we could have a blowout game here. In the first 2 games, Arizona has conceeded 51 First Downs, over 800 yards of total offense and 348 Rushing Yards, the latter being the most frightening stat for Cardinals fans. 348 Rushing Yards in 2 games, at an average of 174 is scary and with Vick, Duckett and Dunn to combat they will find it very tough.
Whilst I am talking a lot about the rushing capabilities of Atlanta, it is one of their strongest areas and one that will pose a lot of problems for Arizona. Of Atlanta's 36 First Down's this season, 19 have been from rushing! In terms of Total Yardage, Atlanta have a total of 337 Total Rushing Yards and 306 Total Rushing Yards.
Looking at the QB of each team, Michael Vick, the guide to Atlanta's form over the last few seasons, is rated 6th in NFL for passing, while for Arizona is ranked 32nd! Here are the stats for passing:
Michael Vick
Attempted: 41
Completed: 27
Yards: 342
TD: 2
Sacks: 5
Josh McCown
Attempted: 58
Completed: 31
Yards: 341
TD: 0
Sacks: 7
Very interesting to note that McCown has Attempted 17 more passes, and completed 4 more yet has one yard less and has been sacked 7 times. Atlanta sacked the Rams QB on 3 occasions last week if I remember correctly, so McCown will have to be wary of the Falcons defence, but he will also need very good protection.
Arizona will be helped by Running Back Emmitt Smith of Dallas Cowboys fame, who will need to be at his absolute best of Arizona are to pull off an amazing upset. He is ranked higher in the NFL than Warrick Dunn of Atlanta for RB Rushing, and with Josh McCown struggling as QB, Smith might have to become the main attacking prospect for Arizona. While Atlanta are very strong at keeping the opposition rushing yards to an absolute minimum, I would be surprised if Smith didnt rush for over 80 yards, as I can see him, as I said, as their main form of attack!
So anyway you look at it, it all leads to a comprehensive win to Atlanta. I cant see Arizona getting within cooee of Atlanta, and expect Atlanta to make one of thier characteristic fast starts and build on it from there!
My Prediction:
Atlanta - 41 (5 TD, 2 FG)
Arizona - 10 (1 TD, 1 FG)
Michael Vick to get over 300 Total Offensive Yards!