Falcons need boost from Vick

ATLANTA - It wasn't that long ago Mike Vick was the toast of the NFL. In fact, it was only a month ago.

Things have changed quickly since.

Vick followed three consecutive victories last month against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati - games where he threw for seven touchdowns - with three dreadful losses that included four interceptions, two lost fumbles and only three touchdown passes.

As Atlanta prepares to entertain the New Orleans Saints this afternoon at 1 inside the Georgia Dome, the Falcons have become defensive about criticism aimed at their quarterback. While today's game will go a long way in defining both team's playoff hopes, Atlanta is just as consumed by supporting Vick as they are winning the game.

At 5-5, the Falcons can't afford to lose again in the NFC South. New Orleans and Carolina are 6-4 heading into today's games, and with the Saints' victory earlier this season in New Orleans, Atlanta essentially would be three games behind in the division since the Saints would win all tiebreakers.

So much of the Falcons' success is predicated on Vick's ability to run and throw. When he can't, Atlanta doesn't seem to have any other options.

"What's funny is people are very critical when we win games because we win games the way we do it," said tight end Alge Crumpler. "All we got to do is do what we do to win the football game and everyone should shut up and be happy. Everybody's too critical of Mike when we rush for 250 or 300 yards and we don't throw for a lot of yards and we're winning games. Now we've experienced what it's like to go out there and somewhat be one-dimensional (by throwing more than running) and not be able to win the football game.

"The bottom line is if we go out and do what we're capable of doing , and that's getting back to smashmouth football, running the football, hitting people in the mouth and winning games, that's the only thing that matters."

The attention to Vick, who's completed only 47.3 percent of his passes in the last three games, was magnified this week when Jim Mora, a former NFL coach and father of Atlanta's head coach, Jim Mora Jr., called Vick a "coach killer" while talking about the Falcons on Fox Sports Radio.

"It worries me a little bit because my son is the head coach down there," Mora said during his radio show. "But he's not a passer. And you need a passer at quarterback to be successful consistently in the National Football League. And he ain't getting it done in that category."

Vick called the comment "crazy." His coach, like everyone else with the Falcons, rallied around Vick.

"I'll just say this, and you know this: I'm a huge Mike Vick fan and I always have been," Mora Jr. said. "I love the guy. I think he's a great player and I think he's a better person. I don't really care what anyone else says about Mike. I know this, if I was starting a franchise and I could pick one guy of all time, I would pick Mike Vick. That is how I feel about him."

The Falcons are ranked 31st of 32 teams in passing, averaging 150.3 yards a game. New Orleans, on the other hand, is ranked first at 305.1. Those numbers have meant little since the Saints have lost three of their last four games.

Vick accepts some of the blame for Atlanta's recent struggles.

"I wish I could have a couple of throws back," he said. "It is Week 12, there is nothing to work on; you have to just go out and do it. This is the time that you have to be at your best and be ready to play on each and every down. You are going to make mistakes, but you have to be mentally prepared to handle any situation.

"I think we have to just execute. You are not going to be able to just get it done in the run game. Sometimes you are going to have to put it up in the air. When you can't put it in the air, you have to be able to run it. It is a balance that has to take place within our offense. We have to click on all cylinders."

The Falcons defense should benefit with the return of defensive end John Abraham (groin) and middle linebacker Ed Hartwell (knee). Both have been injured most of the season and have yet to be on the field together at the same time. Both practiced this week and are expected to play.

"You've got to have hope," Mora Jr. said. "You know, we started out pretty strong and then we stumbled a little bit. We find ourselves at 5-5 and only one game out. There are a couple 6-4s and there is the Bears. So, there is just a big clump of teams. So, we still got a shot and that is what we have to focus on. We have to win a game."

To do that, Vick said the Falcons need to run the ball and not rely on his left arm.

"I agree with coach, we have to get our running game going because it is the key to winning football games," he said. "Running the ball and playing good defense wins football games. The running game has to pick back up. We have slacked off a little bit the last couple of weeks and it has to pick up, especially this time of the year."