The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions will meet tonight for a special edition of ESPN's Monday Night Football. The game is being played today with Monday being Christmas Eve.
After going to the playoffs last season, Detroit is 4-10 this year and are playing the role of potential spoilers. They can postpone the Falcons' chances of clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win today. The Lions have lost their last six games of the season, including a brutal beating by the Arizona Cardinals last week. Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, two were returned for touchdowns in the 38-10 loss. Former Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the teams' only bright spot. He needs only 182 more receiving yards to break the all-time record that the legendary Jerry Rice set back in 1995. He has twelve career receptions against the Falcons for 222 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons had a terrific game last week against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Matt Ryan threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns in the 34-0 victory. The Falcons can clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs, but they hope their playoff success can be better than recent years. In 2010, the Falcons went 13-3 but lost their first playoff game. Last year, the Falcons went 10-6 but once again lost the first game in the playoffs. They need to keep up their great play and show they are a Super Bowl contender. Here are two things they need to accomplish today.
First, they need to win and get the home-field advantage. They need to just get it done with now and not delay until next weekend. Also, if they can clinch it today, they can rest their starters for most of next weekend and play the reserves to ensure their best players will be well rested for the playoffs. It would also prevent critics from tearing the team down again, which is what a loss to the Lions would do.
Second, the team needs to play with that intensity they had against the Giants last Sunday. They seem to relax when playing a team that is supposed to be an easy opponent. The two losses this year have come against teams with losing records. Plus, they have had plenty of other games in which an easier opponent has given them a rough time. If the Falcons dominate tonight, it will help state their case as the best team in the NFC.
The Lions are falling apart and the Falcons are rising up. With those facts in mind, it should be a good night for Atlanta as they win their thirteenth game and clinch home-field advantage.
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