Three Keys - Atlanta Falcons

Channing Crowder must tackle a big back today. Something he's relished doing in the past.

Anyone else wake up with a particularly nice hard-on today? Not sure if it's because of the start of football or the crisp fall weather we're having in PA.

To business. Breakfast sandwiches and bloody mary(s) await me.

The three keys today are classics. Football keys. The game today will won or lost by the defense.

First Key - Stop Michael Turner

The 240 lbs of Michael Turner was top last year for YAC. Not after catch. After contact. 917 yards were gained by Michael Turner after first contact.

That's nearly as much as Ronnie Brown had contact or otherwise.

The guy is a load and when he does well the Falcons do well. Matt Ryan is a nice story but the fact is he isn't winning the Falcons' games for them. Michael Turner is.

So Channing, Akin and company... You guys got to put hats on this guy. Otherwise it will be a long day in Atlanta.

Second Key - The Safeties Must Cover Tony Gonzales

Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson must show up and play like the hard-hitting safeties they can be. During the preseason the Dolphins no. 1 defensive weakness was covering the tight end and in Gonzales the Phins have the best to ever play.

Well, the best tight to play whose name isn't Mike Ditka.

In all seriousness the Dolphins could very well stop Michael Turner and then lose because of a big day by Gonzales. The Phins have done a good job of covering him in the past and they will have to do so again.

Third Key - Time Of Possession

Whether by running the ball effectively or through Pennington's tailor made "death by paper cut" style drives, the Phins must own the clock.

The longer that Roddy White and Michael Turner are off the field the better. Big plays are nice, and a Ginn reverse for a touchdown would be swell to see, but the Falcons are a team that can answer quick plays, well, quickly.

Okay, so you got this? Linebackers have to thump the shit out of their running backs. Safeties have to clean their tight end's clock. Then we have to pound and grind their defense until they capitulate.

Now, I bet even the ladies have an extra special hard-on going.