The last thing anyone — from fans to players to coaches — wanted to see in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Buccaneers was an injury, no matter how severe.

The nature of football, however, sometimes has other ideas, and the Falcons lost two starters for the game in the process.

Cornerback Dunta Robinson left the game in the first quarter with what was called a head injury. Robinson went into the locker room in the second quarter for further evaluation and was announced as out of the game shortly after.

“Dunta, I think, will be fine. We have two weeks,” head coach Mike Smith said after Sunday’s game. “I don’t know exactly if they’re calling it a concussion. He did not return to the game. I’ll have an update on that (Monday) at the press conference.”

The biggest scare came in the third quarter when defensive end John Abraham went to the turf clutching his left ankle. After sitting with the athletic performance staff on the field, Abraham needed to be helped to the sideline. Once there, he was carted to the locker room and did not return to the sideline.

Smith was cautiously optimistic after the game.

“The early reports are that it’s minor,” he said. “We’re not overly concerned. We’ll definitely have an evaluation (Monday). We don’t know a whole lot more. I did check with the trainer just prior to coming in here.”

Smith’s weekly day-after-game news conference will be held at 2:30 p.m. ET Monday. Follow the @Atlanta_Falcons or my account, @FalconsJAdams, on Twitter for live updates.

The Falcons have been in this situation before. They’ve been 13-3 heading into the postseason with the NFC’s No. 1 seed. We remember how that turned out.

Head coach Mike Smith has been intent on making the bye week before the divisional round playoff game different than it was in 2010. That year, Smith gave the team plenty of time off to rest and recuperate before what they thought would be a long playoff run.

Even before Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Buccaneers, Smith has said that this coming week would be very different in that he plans to practice with the team quite a bit.

“We’re going to be in all week, it looks like,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said after Sunday’s game. “It’s not really a bye week; we just don’t play a game. That’s all it is. That’s what expected of us and he’s the bossman, and we’re going to come in and get after it because maybe it’s good to keep the wheels turning, keep the car running and make sure we come out and have a good showing in that first (divisional) round game.”

During this week’s practices, however, the Falcons will have one specific opponent they’ll be focusing on: themselves.

The coaching staff will be preparing for a multitude of potential divisional round opponents with the Falcons’ first postseason opponent of 2013 not determined until next weekend, but the players will be focused on improving their own play.

The Falcons are planning to go through a thorough self-scout this week and prepare to face each other for three or four days — something the players very much look forward to.

“The number one thing is the intensity from both sides,” wide receiver Harry Douglas said of the Falcons-on-Falcons practices. “Both sides want to do good, so it’s always great when you have a good defense and a good offense that can go against each other and compete, and it’s a friendly competition. It’s not, ‘We’re better on this side,’ ‘No, we’re better on this side;’ We help each other out and we get better that way.”

The Falcons are no strangers to Falcons-on-Falcons practices. They’ve had several this year and tend to come off of them well.

Those types of practices allow the Falcons to get back to basics and focus on things like their own techniques and fundamentals, instead of having to worry about game-planning for an opponent.

“You get back to things that have gotten you to the record you have,” Douglas said.

Quarterback Matt Ryan has broken a bunch of Falcons records already this season, and he added a big one Sunday. A fourth-down pass from the Bucs’ 8-yard line to Harry Douglas put Ryan in the record books as the Falcons’ all-time single season passing touchdown leader.

Ryan came into Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay tied with Ring of Honor member Steve Bartkowski at 31 touchdown passes this season. Bartkowski’s record was set in 1980.

Ryan broke his own club marks for most passing yards in a single season and most completions in a single season in Week 15. Ryan’s 342-yard performance in Week 9 broke Bartkowski’s record of 12-career 300-yard games, set between 1975-1985.

Ryan also broke Bartkowski’s single-season record for pass attempts, set at 571, in Sunday’s game during the first quarter.

More bad news in a game that could use less of it on the injury front. Defensive end John Abraham was carted from the sideline in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.

The injury came when he was rushing Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and it appeared like he was bent backward over his ankle.

The official call in the press box was that he is questionable to return.

FRIDAY
Did Not Participate
G Roger Allen – Groin (Doubtful)

Full Participation
DE Da’Quan Bowers – Hamstring (Probable)
CB LeQuan Lewis – Knee (Probable)
CB EJ Biggers – Hip (Probable)
TE Nate Byham – Illness (Probable)
TE Dallas Clark – Illness (Probable)
G Jeremy Zuttah – Ankle (Probable)
T Donald Penn – Not injury related (Probable)

THURSDAY
Did Not Participate
G Roger Allen – Groin
T Donald Penn – Not injury related

Full Participation
DE Da’Quan Bowers – Hamstring
CB LeQuan Lewis – Knee
CB EJ Biggers – Hip
TE Nate Byham – Illness
TE Dallas Clark – Illness
G Jeremy Zuttah – Ankle

WEDNESDAY
Did Not Participate
CB EJ Biggers – Hip
TE Nate Byham – Illness
TE Dallas Clark – Illness
T Donald Penn – Not injury related
G Jeremy Zuttah – Ankle

Limited Participation
G Roger Allen – Groin

Full Participation
DE Da’Quan Bowers – Hamstring
CB LeQuan Lewis – Knee

Falcons fans may still be scratching their heads over the Falcons only having three players selected to the Pro Bowl despite owning the NFL’s best record, but there’s some solace to take from ESPN.com NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas’ All-NFC South team.

Here’s the thing: Few people know the NFC South like Yasinskas, so there’s lots of credibility in his selections. Plus, he’s got the Falcons very heavily represented on his all-division team, which certainly makes it worthy to point out here.

Let’s start with Yasinskas’ MVP selection, and it should come as no surprise that it’s quarterback Matt Ryan, as Yasinksas wrote:

“But the most impressive thing about Ryan’s season might be the 13 wins he already has led the Falcons to. It all has come in a season in which the Falcons have overhauled their offense to make the passing game a priority.”

You can click here to view the full NFC South team

Two highlights: The Falcons have 14 players represented on the team, more than any other division team and while Falcons defenders may have been snubbed at the Pro Bowl, six help make up Yasinksas’ All-NFC South defense.

The last time the Falcons had such success during the regular season, they ended up sending nine players to the Pro Bowl. At 13-2 heading into the final week of the regular season and with the Pro Bowl rosters being announced Wednesday night, there was the prevailing thought that the Falcons would be well represented on the NFC team this year.

When the announcement came and the Falcons had three players — QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio Jones and TE Tony Gonzalez — named to the roster, there was confusion from the media to Twitter to the Falcons locker room.

“I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if guys really weren’t paying attention to us and see how we’re playing this year. Our record shows it,” said defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who’s one of a couple of players who got left out that could make a strong case for their inclusion. “I felt like a lot more guys should have went — special teams, too. It is what it is and we’ve got to continue to move forward. We’ve got bigger and better things going on this year besides worrying about Pro Bowls. We’re looking forward to getting into the playoffs and making a lot of noise.”

That’s the attitude the snubbed Falcons, and even the ones chosen to the Pro Bowl, took less than 24 hours after the announcement was made. The Falcons have much bigger goals this year than the Pro Bowl and they’re focused in on them.

Should the Falcons reach that bigger goal, they won’t be able to play in the Pro Bowl anyway. And that’s what they’re hoping for.

“I think what’s important is that we had guys that played at a Pro-Bowl level. That’s the most important thing because that makes a good football team,” Gonzalez said. “Yeah, you can make an argument for sure for a couple of guys on this team, but that’s the way it goes. Our goal as a team is to play in the big game at the end of the year anyway, so it’s obsolete anyway. Hopefully, it’s moot at the end of the year.”

Falcons head coach Mike Smith said Wednesday after practice that safety William Moore — who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury — would likely miss Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay at the Georgia Dome.

“I would like William to be ready to go, but the doctors, they’ve got to make that determination,” Smith said. “We’re to a point in the process where we can get him as healthy as he can be, so I would say that he’s not going to play in the game this week, obviously. That would be our take right now on it.”

Chris Hope tightens his tie, puts on his sport coat and finishes packing up his temporary locker below Ford Field after the Falcons just finished polishing off their 13th win of the season. Before he picks up his bag and heads to the buses going to the airport, the Falcons safety reaches into the locker and pulls down the picture frame that was sitting inside it.

Inside the frame is a photo Hope holds dear. It’s a picture of him standing with his grandmother, Christine Wilie — a woman who taught Hope so many things in his life. Hope takes the frame in both of his hands, looks at it for a moment and carefully places it inside his bag for the trip home.

This isn’t the first road game Christine Wilie has been on. As Hope puts it, she has never missed a game — home or away.

“She was a big inspiration to me. One of the most important people in my life,” Hope said. “Growing up, I looked up to her. She had 13 kids. Never really had an education, but she always had something to give, whether it was money, advice, love. I’ve never seen her have a bad day.”

Wilie died of cancer during Hope’s first year with the Tennessee Titans in 2006. Before her death, Wilie took so much pride in what her grandson had accomplished. She got to see him go from special teamer to starter to Super Bowl champion while with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilie would fill her old Bible with newspaper clippings and photos of Hope she had collected through the years. Even when she didn’t watch Hope’s games on TV or wasn’t able to come to a game, she was at home praying for him.

She was always with him then, and she’s always with him now.

The photo of Hope and his grandmother sits at Hope’s home during the week, right on his dresser where he can look at it every day. When it’s time to get ready to play, more important than anything else in his travel bag, the framed photo always has a place among his must-haves.

“I get upset if I ever forget that picture,” Hope said. “I’ve almost missed the plane going back and getting that picture.”

The first thing he does in any locker room — away or in the Georgia Dome — is pull the photo from his bag and set up the frame in his locker. She always has a place there.

Before he goes out to the field and after halftime, he kisses the photo and has a few words with the woman he described as his best friend.

“I always tell her to be my eyes for me,” Hope said. “One of my goals in life was to make my grandparents proud. To hear them say they were proud of me, that was one of the best feelings I ever had. … She hasn’t missed a game yet, so I bring her to every game.”

On paper coming into the season, the Falcons secondary was thought to be one of the best in the league. The addition of Asante Samuel via trade to Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes was going to set the Falcons up as incredibly difficult to throw on.

Then the first game happened and Grimes came away with a season-ending injury, forcing the secondary to scramble and other players to step up to fill the void. We all know the pleasant surprise of Robert McClain by now, but three players in particular have really made an impact in the secondary — two of them being the “forgotten” part of that on-paper fearsome secondary.

Thomas DeCoud and William Moore have quietly become one of the best safety tandems in the league, and along with Samuel, the three have set some Falcons history. With Samuel’s interception of Matthew Stafford in the Falcons’ 31-18 win over the Lions on Saturday night, Samuel, Moore and DeCoud became only the fifth group of three-or-more defensive backs to each record four-or-more interceptions.

“It was huge because we all, at least in the back end, realized that’s what was missing from our game as an entire secondary was the ability to get the ball back,” DeCoud said Wednesday. “We really took that to heart and made sure that, if we’re in the positions that we’re in that we can finish the plays with the ball, and I think we’ve definitely done that.”

DeCoud leads the team in interceptions with six with Moore and Samuel each at four apiece. The last time the Falcons had three players with at least four interceptions was 1989.

The NFL will be announcing the 2013 Pro Bowl rosters at 7 p.m. today on NFL Network’s “Total Access,” and we’ll also have the announcement on AtlantaFalcons.com as soon as players are confirmed on the roster.

With the Falcons sitting at 13-2, there’s a strong possibility for a strong representation on the roster this year. Two years ago, when the Falcons finished the regular season 13-3, there were nine Falcons in Hawaii.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez finished fan voting at No. 1 at the tight end position in the NFC, so it seems likely that he’d make it, giving him his 13th career Pro Bowl bid. Quarterback Matt Ryan spent much of the voting period in the top 10 in fan votes across the whole league.

Of course, the Falcons are hoping to not be eligible to play in the game in Hawaii (because of a different Bowl they’d have to be preparing for), but it’s a huge honor for players to be named to the roster. Here’s hoping there are plenty of Falcons being recognized tonight.

The Falcons have started to regain some respect as they head into the final week of the regular season. NFL.com has the Falcons ranked the highest at No. 1 with Bleacher Report putting the Falcons at No. 5:

NFL.com Power Rankings – “Roddy White was due for a big outing. Three of his previous four games coming into the Saturday night special in Detroit had been disappointing, but he was on point at Ford Field, hauling in eight balls for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Speaking of on point, Matt Ryan played at such a high level that general faith in the Atlanta Falcons must have risen a tick.” This Week: 1; Last Week: 2

NFL.com Week 15 Power Poll – The Falcons have vaulted back into the top 2, sitting behind the Broncos among the 13 NFL.com and NFL Network experts. This Week: 2; Last Week: 5

ESPN.com Power Rankings – “Matt Ryan completed all seven play-action attempts with three TDs against the Lions.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 5

CBSSports.com Power Rankings – “Has any top seed received as much scrutiny as the Falcons? It’s time to realize they are legit.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

Bleacher Report Power Rankings – “In a week when the Atlanta Falcons had lost the public vote for the best team in the NFC, they went out and won. Again. With 13 wins, the Falcons have the best record in the NFL. Critics will wisely point out that the best record in the regular season means nothing once the playoffs start. I agree, but that doesn’t mean we should all jump on the Falcons and overlook their success this season. The goal is to win a Super Bowl, and having the best record is a big help in getting there. Home-field advantage, a bye week to rest and recover and the benefit of never having to travel are all major advantages, and if the Falcons do their jobs next week, that’s all theirs.” This Week: 5; Last Week: 6

Pro Football Talk: – “In less than three weeks, we’ll find out whether this Falcons team really is different.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 3

The biggest question after the Falcons earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the postseason with a 31-18 win over Detroit on Saturday didn’t have anything to do with how they would react in their third straight trip to the playoffs.

Instead, it revolved around what is now a largely meaningless game in the grand scheme of things against Tampa Bay: Will head coach Mike Smith play his starters against the Buccaneers?

Smith said during his press conference Sunday that the game is, in fact, important, as all division games are, and that the Falcons will prepare this week like they have for any other game.

“We’re going to play the game to win,” Smith said. “That’s how we’re going to approach it. It’s an important game because it’s a division game. All games, I think, are important. In terms of the importance of it, does it have no bearing? It really does, because we want to win every time we go out and play.”

Because of the No. 1 seed, the Falcons will have a first-round bye in the postseason, giving them an extra week to rest. Smith now has to tussle with whether two weeks off for his starters is more of a risk than playing them against Tampa Bay.

The Falcons are taking another brief rest this week as players have been given Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off. They’ll report back to Flowery Branch on Wednesday to begin preparations for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against Tampa in the Georgia Dome.

Your favorite bird is giving away some of his own game-worn jerseys for the Falcons’ fan appreciation game Dec. 30 at the Georgia Dome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There’s only one more day to sign up to win, so hurry! Winners will be chosen at random and notified via e-mail. The contest is only open to those 18 and older and living in the United States.

Click here to sign up for your chance to win a Freddie Falcon jersey!

Below are the playing time percentages and number of snaps each of the Falcons played in Sunday’s game. (ST = special teams)

Playing Time Percentage
Offense
T Tyson Clabo – 60 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (100% offense, 23% ST)
G Justin Blalock – 60 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (100% offense, 23% ST)
T Sam Baker – 60 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (100% offense, 23% ST)
G Peter Konz – 60 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (100% offense, 23% ST)
WR Roddy White – 60 snaps offense (100% offense)
QB Matt Ryan – 60 snaps offense (100% offense)
C Todd McClure – 60 snaps offense (100% offense)
TE Tony Gonzalez – 54 snaps offense (90% offense)
WR Julio Jones – 51 snaps offense (85% offense)
WR Harry Douglas – 40 snaps offense (67% offense)
RB Jacquizz Rodgers – 31 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (52% offense, 23% ST)
RB Michael Turner – 23 snaps offense (38% offense)
FB Mike Cox – 14 snaps offense, 6 snaps ST (23% offense, 23% ST)
TE Michael Palmer – 13 snaps offense, 13 snaps ST (22% offense, 50% ST)
RB Jason Snelling – 12 snaps offense, 12 snaps ST (20% offense, 46% ST)
G Mike Johnson – 1 snaps offense, 12 snaps ST (3% offense, 46% ST)
TE Chase Coffman – 1 snap offense (2% offense)

Defense
S Thomas DeCoud – 57 snaps defense, 8 snaps ST (100% defense, 31% ST)
LB Stephen Nicholas – 57 snaps defense, 7 snaps ST (100% defense, 27% ST)
LB Sean Weatherspoon – 57 snaps defense, 6 snaps ST (100% defense, 23% ST)
S William Moore – 57 snaps defense, 6 snaps ST (100% defense, 23% ST)
DT Jonathan Babineaux – 52 snaps defense, 6 snaps ST (91% defense, 23% ST)
CB Asante Samuel – 49 snaps defense (86% defense)
DT Vance Walker – 48 snaps defense, 13 snaps ST (84% defense, 50% ST)
CB Dunta Robinson – 44 snaps defense (77% defense)
DT Corey Peters – 41 snaps defense, 5 snaps ST (72% defense, 19% ST)
DE John Abraham – 37 snaps defense (65% defense)
CB Robert McClain – 32 snaps defense, 19 ST (56% defense, 73% ST)
LB Akeem Dent – 28 snaps defense, 7 snaps ST (49% defense, 27% ST)
DE Kroy Biermann – 27 snaps defense, 18 snaps ST (47% defense, 69% ST)
DT Travian Robertson – 16 snaps defense (28% defense)
DE Cliff Matthews – 12 snaps defense, 13 snaps ST (21% defense, 50% ST)
CB Chris Owens – 5 snaps defense, 20 snaps ST (9% defense, 77% ST)
LB Mike Peterson – 5 snaps defense, 1 snaps ST (9% defense, 4% ST)
S Chris Hope – 2 snaps defense, 3 snaps ST (4% defense, 12% ST)
CB Dominique Franks – 1 snaps defense, 2 snaps ST (2% defense, 8% ST)

Special Teams
LB Robert James – 13 snaps ST (50% ST)
WR Drew Davis – 13 snaps ST (50% ST)
WR Kevin Cone – 13 snaps ST (50% ST)
P Matt Bosher – 12 snaps ST (46% ST)
RB Antone Smith – 8 snaps ST (31% ST)
DE Jonathan Massaquoi – 7 snaps ST (27% ST)
LS Josh Harris – 7 snaps ST (27% ST)
K Matt Bryant – 6 snaps ST (23% ST)

Hosting the Saints on Thursday Night Football on NFL Network, the Falcons have a very limited amount of time to get ready for the team that handed them their only loss so far in 2012.

Securing a win Sunday was big for those preparations, but they can’t enjoy it as they’ll treat the week as somewhat of a mish-mash of their usual routine with Monday being more like a Wednesday.

“It’s big to get any football game, especially in your division. This was a big football game for us,” cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “We wanted to win this game. It’s a short turnaround. Hopefully, everybody’s pretty healthy. We’ll come in focused this week. Let’s have a good week of practice and let’s go get win No. 11.”

Robinson, Asante Samuel and Corey Peters all left the game with injuries, but all ended up returning. Samuel seemed to be injured on the game’s final play, but walked off of his own volition.

“I think everybody will get their rest. We’ll have ourselves prepared,” QB Matt Ryan said. “We played them a couple of weeks ago, so they’re still fresh in our minds. We’ll just try to get as much rest as we can so we’re fresh Thursday night.”

With Doug Martin as the next running back up, the Falcons defense knew it had to have Sean Weatherspoon back from an ankle injury that kept him out the previous three games.

After declaring himself ready on Wednesday, Spoon came into Raymond James Stadium fired up and high on the emotions of being back on the field.

Clearly a shot in the arm for a Falcons run defense that has struggled at times, Spoon helped lead an effort that kept Martin to just 50 yards on 21 carries, his second lowest output of his impressive rookie year.

What’s more: Spoon is back and feeling good.

“Yeah, I felt good. I feel like I’m there,” Weatherspoon said. “I just have to keep working. Every now and then I’d step in the ground a little bit awkward but, I felt good.”

Running back Michael Turner had a big run in the fourth quarter that gave the Falcons a 24-23 lead over Tampa Bay, but it was even bigger for the record books.

The touchdown moved Turner into a tie with Terance Mathis most touchdowns scored in franchise history. Turner and Mathis each have 57 touchdowns for their career.

Coming into the game, Turner was tied with Andre Rison at 56.

If there was any doubt about Julio Jones’ ankle, wonder no longer.

Spotting a one-on-one matchup with rookie CB Leonard Johnson on the outside, Matt Ryan delivered a beautiful downfield pass to Jones, who hauled it in, broke a tackle and streamed down the sideline into the endzone for a one-play drive that took 11 seconds.

The catch ties Jones’ career high as he caught an 80-yarder against the Colts last year.

Jones now has 11 touchdowns in 13 road games in his career.

It seems like a weekly occurrence, but once again, Tony Gonzalez has padded his already impressive NFL resume.

With a 20-yard reception in the second quarter Sunday against Tampa Bay, Gonzalez went over 14,000 yards for his entire career. To put that into perspective, it’s almost eight miles in receiving yards.

The milestone makes him the eighth player and first tight end in NFL history to reach 14,000 receiving yards.

Gonzalez also became the seventh all-time leader in receiving yards Sunday, passing WR James Lofton, who racked up 14,004 in 13 seasons.

Falcons fans may know practice squad linebacker Pat Schiller as the quiet, emotionless guy in the back of D-Block who doesn’t move and isn’t allowed to talk.

But there’s plenty more to know about Schiller, who has experienced every emotion available during his trip to this point in his career.

New York Times Magazine featured Schiller extensively in an article this week that details his journey from late-round projection to undrafted free agent to Falcons practice squad member. Schiller’s journey is much more typical in the NFL than the star top-draft picks we hear so much more about.

The article, written by Schiller’s uncle Charles Siebert, goes very, very in-depth about Schiller’s path and everything he experienced throughout camp. A great read if you get some time.

Click here to read about Schiller’s journey in the NFL

Things were looking up for LB Sean Weatherspoon on Wednesday and then took a turn Thursday as he was listed on the Piedmont Healthcare Injury Report as “Did Not Participate” with the same ankle injury that kept him out the past three games plus an illness, which is new to the report.

Samuel also did not practice Thursday, the second day in a row for him. Still no word yet if he’ll be available for Sunday’s game against the Bucs.

In a bit of good news, WR Julio Jones went from not practicing Wednesday to limited participation Thursday.

FRIDAY
Did Not Participate
S Cody Grimm – Hamstring (Out)

Limited Participation
CB Eric Wright – Achilles (Questionable)

Full Participation
S Ahmad Black – Illness (Probable)
DE Aaron Morgan – Shoulder (Probable)
WR Tiquan Underwood – Head (Probable)
DE Michael Bennett – Shoulder (Probable)
CB Leonard Johnson – Heel (Probable)
DE Dakoda Watson – Hamstring (Probable)

THURSDAY
Did Not Participate
S Cody Grimm – Hamstring
CB Eric Wright – Achilles

Limited Participation
S Ahmad Black – Illness

Full Participation
DE Aaron Morgan – Shoulder
WR Tiquan Underwood – Head
DE Michael Bennett – Shoulder

WEDNESDAY
Did Not Participate
WR Arrelious Benn – Shoulder
S Ahmad Black – Illness
S Cody Grimm – Hamstring
CB Eric Wright – Achilles

Limited Participation
DE Michael Bennett – Shoulder

Full Participation
DE Aaron Morgan – Shoulder
WR Tiquan Underwood – Head

When looking at Sunday’s 23-19 win over the Arizona Cardinals, you might point to the 1-yard touchdown run by Michael Turner as the saving moment of the game as it proved to be the one that lifted the Falcons.

But perhaps you might overlook Chris Owens’ efforts in securing the Falcons’ ninth win.

But it’s true: Owens is as much to credit for the Falcons’ win as anyone else on the field, because of what he was able to sniff out that hardly anyone noticed.

As the Cardinals lined up to kick a field goal that would break a 16-16 tie at the start of the fourth quarter, Owens noticed something not quite right off to the Arizona sideline. The Cardinals had lined up for a fake field goal.

“We practiced it and we knew it was coming all week in practice, so it was just preparation,” Owens said. “It looked like they were having Fitz (Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald) talk to (someone on the sideline) and play it off like it wasn’t a play, and it happened to be a fake.”

Owens noticed it and immediately dropped back into coverage. The Cardinals had to bail on the idea. Had it been successful, the Cards could have taken a 23-16 lead into the start of the fourth quarter.

“They were trying the old sleeper play that San Francisco ran on St. Louis, the Chicago Bears ran on Monday night years ago, where people are in the transition of the skilled personnel leaving the field and the field goal personnel coming on and somebody just slides off to the side,” special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “We talk about it every day and he saw it and picked it up.

“I teach them to check the sideline every time, especially when you’re to their sideline. … Check their sideline and you should be OK. He saw it and they had to take a delay of game and backed it up.”

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon spoke to the media for the first time in weeks Wednesday afternoon, and before stepping in front of the cameras, he stepped into a large brown jumpsuit he called his “coming-back-to-work-suit.”

Shortly after, Spoon proclaimed that he’s back.

“Yeah, I’m ready to go,” Weatherspoon said. “I’ll be out there at practice today.”

Weatherspoon missed the past three games due to an ankle injury suffered against Philadelphia. There was a thought that Spoon would return last week against Arizona, but he shot that down.

“I don’t think I was that close,” he said. “But I feel a lot better this week.”

Below is a look at some power rankings from around the Web. The Falcons fell a spot to No. 3 in Bleacher Report’s power rankings while they maintained across the board in the rest of the rankings.

NFL.com Power Rankings – “Big ups to the Atlanta Falcons’ defense. Mike Nolan’s unit continually bailed out Matt Ryan, who threw five picks against the Arizona Cardinals. The defense has not been dominant, or even formidable, but it has been quite effective at limiting big plays in the passing game. The Falcons have allowed only 26 pass plays of 20-plus yards (tied for sixth in the NFL) and just aren’t giving opposing offenses any gimmes down the field.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

NFL.com Week 11 Power Poll – The Falcons went without first-place votes again this week, but still finished ahead of San Francisco and behind Houston. This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

ESPN.com Power Rankings – “It’s tough to argue with a 9-1 record unless you’ve watched the Falcons play lately.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

CBSSports.com Power Rankings – “The past two weeks have exposed some of their deficiencies. They better fix them or they could be a one-and-done in the playoffs again..” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

FoxSports.com Power Rankings – “With five interceptions on Sunday, quarterback Matt Ryan clearly wasn’t at his best. But it says something about a team that can find a way to win even with a minus-5 turnover differential.” This Week: 3; Last Week: 3

Bleacher Report Power Rankings – “At some point, the Atlanta Falcons’ habit of playing close will come back to haunt them. It may be in the playoffs, but it will happen. Guaranteed. The Falcons have won six games by less than seven points and lost another by four. The way the team plays down to their competition (no offense, Arizona) has to be a concern for a team that’s supposed to be the NFC’s best ballclub. It’s just tough to see the Falcons being a dominant team who can run away with the conference. To be fair, they don’t have to be dominant, they just have to win. And that’s something the Falcons are doing a lot of this year. A team that can find a way to overcome five interceptions by their quarterback has some serious heart. Two more wins and they clinch the NFC South.” This Week: 3; Last Week: 2

Pro Football Weekly: – “Doubt in Atlanta seeping in after a rough early showing vs. Arizona.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

Pro Football Talk: – “When a team can have six turnovers and still win, that’s a pretty good team. (Then again, it may have had something to do with the fact that the team it was playing is pretty bad.).” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

Now, in my opinion, the Falcons have one of the best player intros in the league (and since I travel with the team, I get to see a lot of them). From James’ perspective, they’re even more impressive.

Check out the video he updated this morning from inside the tunnel.

Falcons Player Intro POV from James H on Vimeo.

Tonight at 8 p.m. on Golf Channel, Ryan will be featured on the show “Playing Lessons.” You can check out a preview clip of the show here.

Set your DVRs.