Super Bowl hangover proving to be real for struggling Atlanta Falcons

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Prisco’s Power Rankings: Week 7

Prisco’s Power Rankings: Week 7

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The Atlanta Falcons are not going back to the Super Bowl. There, I said it.

Maybe the Super Bowl hangover is real and maybe it is a media phenomenon, but whether related to their historic meltdown to the Patriots in the title game last February or not, the Falcons are not playing winning football. Even in some victories they have been less than impressive, no one is mentioning Matt Ryan in any MVP conversations (in fact guys like Alex Smith and Deshaun Watson are getting far more accolades) and while there is still plenty of football to be played, the Falcons have seemingly quietly, been among the biggest disappointments to many (although personally I had then pegged for significant regression).

Amid all of the talk of the Patriots’ barely-there defense and Raiders’ collapsing offensive line and Dallas’ overall contraction and Pittsburgh’s Jeckyll and Hyde offense, well, the Falcons have kind of been skating by. Heck, on a national level I’ve heard more about Seattle’s perennial slow start than I have about Atlanta kind of fading away since opening their new stadium. But there are ample reasons for concern, especially with the Saints and Panthers making some power moves in the NFC South this month, and this hasn’t been nearly the same prolific outfit it was a year ago.

Losing Kyle Shanahan as offensive-guru and game planner and play caller was always going to be a massive blow, and its showing up all over. You aren’t seeing a new hero emerge from week to week and lesser cogs like Taylor Gabriel having nearly the impact they did in 2016. People aren’t being as schemed open nearly as often, it seems to me, and the pace, tempo, productivity and unpredictability isn’t nearly what led Atlanta to the cusp of a championship a year ago.

The 2016 Falcons were a force of nature on the offensive side of the ball, storming to early leads, with Ryan playing near-perfect football in the first quarter all season, allowing a still-evolving defense to hunt the opposing passer with a lead and putting the Falcons in position to kill off games in the second half with a multi-pronged run game. That’s hardly been the case this season, Atlanta has been one of the worst second-half teams in the NFL (whether related to choking against the Patriots or not) and the dirty (Bird) little secret is the running game is actually improved over even the gaudy standard set under Shanahan … yet the overall offensive output is shriveling.

Last season Atlanta scored 505 offensive points (eliminating special teams scores, defensive scores, etc), which was 38 more than any other team in the NFL, for a ridiculous average of 31.6 per game. This year, it’s not even close. Atlanta ranks 14th in offensive points scored, at 22.8 per game, almost 10 points less than a year ago. That is a game changer, folks, with the margin for victory – or defeat – now much tighter and leading to more close and late defeats (and had the Bears not dropped a pass in the end zone the Falcons would’ve lost in Chicago and it took a gift call to get them past the Lions in controversial fashion; this team could easily be 1-4).

Atlanta is on the same pace as a year ago in terms of explosive runs – gains of 10 and 20 yards or more on the ground – which helped fuel them a year ago. The yards per carry average is 4.79, up from 4.58 last season, and they are running the ball 26 times a game, up from 25 a year ago. The volume and output on the ground is greater, though the pace of rushing touchdowns is slightly down.

Where it’s fallen apart is through the air.

Ryan has been pedestrian, with six touchdown to six interceptions with a rating of 87.3. he tossed just seven touchdowns all of last season, he is averaging 8 yards per attempt after 9.3 a year ago and his completion percentage is down from 70 percent to 66 percent. He averaged over two touchdown passes per game in 2017 and is barely at one per game now. Ryan ranks dead last, among 24 qualified quarterbacks, in terms of biggest drop-off from his 2016 pass rating to his 2017 rating.

A year ago, that 17-0 lead over Miami at home would have ended up a 41-10 blowout. Instead, the Falcons found a way to lose the game outright, failing to score a single point in the second half. Ryan has looked like his second-half self from the Super Bowl – in the second half of games this season he has three touchdowns to five picks with a brutal rating of 72.6.

Atlanta’s minus-32 second-half scoring differential is third-worst in football (only Arizona and Indianapolis are worse) and, while overall NFL teams are 33-9 when leading at the half at home, the Falcons are just 1-2 in those instances in their new football palace (Dallas is 1-2 as well, accounting for nearly half of such losses in the entire league between 2016 NFC runaway division winners).

Could they reverse some of this? Sure. And getting Vic Beasley back on defense to lead the pass rush should certainly help. Perhaps, a Super Bowl rematch with the Patriots Sunday night will get them going, and if they can’t put up 30 on that atrocious defense they’ve really got issues. But then again, they play four of their next five on the road (Patriots, Jets, Panthers, Seahawks), and their December schedule looks daunting, too. Regardless, it’s not too soon to worry about this team, and where it’s going, especially in light of what went down in Houston in February.

Anyone looking for some hard news or new policies to come out of the just-completed owner’s meetings in New York didn’t know what they were looking for. This was always about furthering the dialogue between players and owners about means to address social injustice, and showing solidarity in that regard and continuing to identify areas where they can push for reform (criminal justice, mandatory minimums, bail reform, etc.).

While there are certainly still differences among owners about the ongoing matter of players not standing for the national anthem, and some of that sentiment was shared, the league’s hope moving forward, I’m told, is to have owners and teams focus on the tremendous good that players do in their communities. To assist them in that regard and to ignore the inevitable Tweets, rants and tirades from Donald Trump and other politicians who want to continue focusing on the protests as a matter of attacking the NFL and playing to their base and maintaining a divisive rhetoric. I’d suspect we hear a lot less from football people about protests and demonstrations moving forward in hopes that this issue diffuses (only a handful of players are kneeling or sitting around the league).

Defense a big concern for Bucs

The Bucs are the team with the deepest concerns in the NFC South, by far. They are in danger of getting hopelessly left behind and the defense has been nothing short of a failure. Much talk focuses on Jameis Winston and he needs to improve and with him injured right now he’ll remain the primary topic of discussion in Tampa. But that non-competitive defense is bad enough to undermine any offense in the league.

Tampa is getting exposed in the redzone. Opposing quarterbacks have a 119.4 rating, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions and just one sack on 29 passing attempts. You get inside the 20 on the Bucs, there is a good chance you will hit paydirt. Couple that with the fact that opponents are converting at a staggering 46.2 percent on third down, and you have the makings of one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Tampa has been stout against the run, but the lack of pass coverage is undermining them. Opposing quarterbacks are completing over 70 percent of their passes for a rating of 104, overall, and the Bucs pass rush has been beyond tepid. They are last in the NFL with six sacks, and when they do blitz, opposing passers have a 141 rating against them (behind only Oakland and New England).

More from the NFL
Looking for another reason to like the Bills and Chiefs? They are the only teams in the NFL yet to allow a giveaway point this season. Of course, you could also look at that and say a trend like that has to change soon, too. On the opposite side of the ledger, the Bears and Ravens have each given up a league-worst 40-percent of their overall points allowed off turnovers. And given the poor state of their offenses, a stat like that will doom them moving forward My buddy/favorite foil, Duval Pete Prisco, keeps telling us on The Pick Six Podcast that Jacksonville will be/is the best defense in the NFL. We keep laughing at him. The Jaguars are allowing a ridiculous 5.69 yards per carry on first down – worst in the NFL, and 5.33 yards per carry on second down, third worst on the NFL. That’s the only running downs in the league and that’s a huge problem. Show me one truly elite defense that is that inept against the run.Speaking of bad defense, the Patriots have allowed 14 passing touchdowns already, tied for the most in the NFL, and 154 offensive points against, a touchdown more than any other club (San Francisco is next worst). They still have a back-up quarterback who never plays who they pretend they would never trade under any circumstances. Only, the trade deadline is now less than two weeks away and that’s their last/best/only chance to actually improve this horrific unit, you know, if they want to try to win another Super Bowl with a 40-year old Tom Brady and all.Part of the reason the AFC North has been so difficult to watch much of this season? NFL leaders in giveaways: DeShone Kizer (12), Ben Roethlisberger (9), Joe Flacco (8), Andy Dalton (8). Not a good look.Kareem Hunt leads the NFL in fourth-quarterback rushing, with 37 attempts for 304 yards, and is tied for the NFL lead with three rushing TDs in that quarter. Andy Reid will ride that rookie when he gets the lead. Another note on the Chiefs, Alex Smith is the NFL’s best quarterback in the shotgun so far this season, going 104-for-134 (77 percent!) for 1,239 yards (second-best in NFL), with 11 TDs, no picks, and a rating of 132.6.

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Atlanta Committee for Progress Releases “Go-Forward Priorities” for City of Atlanta

Five key focus areas; "economic opportunity for all" major theme

ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), a partnership between the city’s top business, civic and academic leaders, and the Mayor of Atlanta, today released a public policy platform with priorities for the city’s future and recommendations for the next mayoral administration. The overarching goal of the ACP’s recommendations is to accelerate Atlanta’s competitiveness for residents, businesses and investment while expanding economic opportunity for all.

The five "Go Forward" focus areas are: (1) Maintain a financially strong city; (2) Expand economic opportunity for all; (3) Invest in transit connectivity; (4) Strengthen student achievement and (5) Keep Atlanta safe.

The recommendations set specific goals for each focus area, including keeping the city’s general fund reserve balance above 20 percent of the city’s operating budget. Since 2010, the city’s reserves have grown from $7.4 million to more than $175 million under Mayor Kasim Reed’s leadership. The priorities also include an increased focus on public-private partnerships to support workforce development initiatives and career readiness of Atlanta public school students.

"We’re at a critical moment in time in Atlanta’s growth and development," said Duriya Farooqui, ACP executive director and former chief operating officer of the city of Atlanta. "The city has made tremendous progress under Mayor Shirley Franklin and Mayor Kasim Reed. We must build on that momentum so Atlanta can continue to thrive over the next decade and beyond."

Created in 2003 by Mayor Franklin, the ACP is an example of what makes Atlanta great: Leaders from across all sectors working together for the common good of the city. The ACP has played a leading role in supporting major initiatives and policies, such as the purchase of the papers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; the creation of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership; the enactment of the city of Atlanta’s pension reform; and the passage of the T-SPLOST.

More recent ACP initiatives include this year’s launch of Engage Ventures, which was first envisioned by Mayor Reed. Engage was founded by 10 leading Atlanta companies, in partnership with Georgia Tech, to support entrepreneurs and generate more high-tech jobs in the city. The go-to-market focused accelerator and venture fund invests in startups selected into the program, connects entrepreneurs with advisors and gives entrepreneurs what they need most — market access and distribution.

"As business leaders, we are deeply committed to helping Atlanta remain a city that attracts new business investment and a talented workforce," said John Dyer, ACP chairman for 2017 and chief executive officer of Cox Enterprises. "These five focus areas ensure we proactively address issues such as income inequality and lack of access to job training."

To read more about the Go Forward priorities and learn more about the ACP, click here: www.atlprogress.org.

About the ACP
The Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP) is a unique public-private partnership founded in 2003 by Mayor Shirley Franklin. Today, the ACP includes more than 40 highly-engaged chief executive officers, university presidents and civic leaders who offer expertise in service to Atlanta and its future development under the leadership of Mayor Kasim Reed and 2017 Chairman John Dyer, president and CEO of Cox Enterprises. The organization’s key focus areas have been public sector fiscal accountability; economic development; infrastructure and transportation; K-12 public education; technology and innovation; and enhanced quality of life.

Go Forward Priorities

For more than 15 years, the ACP has forged a partnership between our Mayor and business leaders to support positive change in Atlanta. Together, we’ve taken big strides to strengthen the city’s financial position, spur economic development, invest in infrastructure and public safety, support our public schools, and enhance the quality of life in our city. And much more is possible.

We are ready to accelerate Atlanta’s competitiveness for residents, businesses and investment. With bold priorities and measurable goals, Atlanta can achieve its unequaled potential over the next five to 10 years. It will remain critical to ensure the future success of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta Beltline, and Westside development. In addition, focus is needed on key priorities to help Atlanta Go Higher.

1. Maintain a Financially Strong City
Fiscal health is fundamental to a successful city. A strong balance sheet, ample cash reserves and efficient delivery of services enable Atlanta to invest, grow and expand opportunity for all its citizens. In the wake of the Great Recession, the city has improved its credit rating eight positions to AA+ with the three major ratings agencies, Moody’s, Standard & Poors and Fitch, allowing for bond financing at favorable rates. In addition, under the Reed Administration, the city’s cash reserves (rainy day fund) grew from $7.4 million in January 2010 to more than $175 million.

Goal: Maintain the city’s general fund reserves above 20 percent of its operating budget.

Why It Matters: Atlanta must continue to strengthen its balance sheet, improve its expenditure-to-reserve ratio and maintain a well-funded pension plan. It must be prepared to respond to the next economic downturn and unforeseen circumstances, without draining its cash reserves. A robust rainy day fund also allows Atlanta to maintain and improve its AA+ credit status to remain competitive with peer cities such as Austin, Charlotte, Denver and Seattle. A top-tier rating expands Atlanta’s capacity to access credit markets for bond financing and municipal improvement projects that expand growth and opportunity for all citizens.

What It Will Take: Maintaining the city’s general fund reserves at above 20 percent of budget will require a Mayor and City Council who wisely manage the city’s revenues and expenditures, prudently oversee the city’s airport and watershed enterprise funds, and develop and approve balanced budgets without imposing undue tax increases on citizens. They must exercise discipline to outpace inflation with cost control and efficiencies in delivery services. In addition, pension costs and investments must be well-managed to sustain pension funding levels, with improved governance. It’s a process that requires strong fiscal management and oversight.

2. Expand Opportunity for All
Although overall poverty rates in our region have declined in recent years, a quarter of the residents in Atlanta live below the poverty line or struggle to make ends meet. We need to expand access to jobs across all skill levels, while maintaining our low cost of living and increasing our availability of affordable housing with transit connectivity.

Goal: Increase access to jobs through workforce development and thriving affordable neighborhoods.

Why It Matters: Our city cannot fulfill its potential unless more of our citizens have access to the middle class. Rising income inequality is a major barrier to overall growth and development of the city. A quarter of Atlanta’s residents live in poverty while unemployment rates for low-skill and mid-skill jobs outpace the region. No one wins if the city is divided between the haves and the have-nots.

What It Will Take: Atlanta can leverage its concentration of Fortune 500 and high growth companies to create a stronger pipeline from high school to technical training to jobs matched with skill level. Working with public and private organizations to support job development and career preparedness, beginning with public school students, is also essential. A balanced approach to growth, such as the Atlanta City Design project, that includes a strong focus on affordable mixed-income neighborhoods, with access to public transit, is critical.

3. Strengthen Student Achievement
Over the past several years, Atlanta has made great strides to improve its public education system through dynamic new leadership, an action-oriented turnaround plan, and new public-private partnerships. The School Board and Atlanta Public School system (APS) have come a long way since a cheating scandal and the potential loss of accreditation in 2010. Now we must commit to build upon the gains in student graduation rates and achievement, and better prepare students for career success.

Goal: Improve the college graduation rate and career readiness of APS students.

Why It Matters: Raising the number of students who graduate not only from high school but also from college and/or technical schools is critical for the success of the city. The school district’s leaders have worked to improve high school graduation rates and those efforts must continue. Atlanta must also push to see those who graduate from high school go on to complete either a two-year or four-year degree program or enroll in job training that leads to employment. While APS high school graduation rates have increased significantly to 77 percent, the college completion rate is about 15 percent.

What It Will Take: We need to continue to support partnerships, such as Achieve Atlanta, that support post-secondary education for APS students to improve college graduation rates. In addition, we should invest in partnerships to support career preparation in APS high schools, job training and placement services, including programs that target non-college educated youth and ex-offenders who are working to improve their life outcomes.

4. Improve Transit Connectivity
Good infrastructure powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs and creates opportunities for struggling communities. Atlanta’s voters recognized the needs for new investments through the passage of new general obligation bonds, the T-SPLOST and a tax increase for expanding MARTA. To improve commutes, reduce congestion and connect all city neighborhoods, Atlanta should continue to effectively invest in public transportation access while adopting policies that promote livable, walkable neighborhoods with mixed-income development.

Goal: Build infrastructure for sustainable growth, density and last-mile connectivity.

Why It Matters: More than two-thirds of Atlanta households are more than a mile from a transit stop. Access is especially important for low and middle-income citizens so they can get to jobs, schools and other vital services. Increasing density in historically underserved neighborhoods makes city services more efficient and builds stronger communities — leading to a safer, more livable and vibrant city.

What It Will Take: We must adopt a thoughtful and strategic plan for allocating new public dollars generated by sales taxes and bond proceeds to ensure the needs of all neighborhoods and citizens are being met. The $3 billion in investments that have been authorized must be managed effectively and allocated transparently to maintain the public trust for supporting renewals in future capital investment.

5. Keep Atlanta Safe
Since 2009, major crime in Atlanta has dropped a remarkable 37 percent, including a 20 percent reduction in violent offenses, under the leadership of first Chief George N. Turner and now Chief Erika Shields. Mayor Kasim Reed deemed safety as his number one priority and expanded the city’s police force to 2,000 police officer positions — for the first time in the city’s history.

The city invested in new policing technology and worked with neighborhood stakeholders to ensure that their concerns were being heard and addressed through a new focus on community policing. While the city is on the right trajectory, there remains more work to do — and this should be a key focus area of the next administration.

Goal: Reduce crime by 15 percent with a focus on technology, youth and repeat offenders.

Why It Matters: No city can thrive when crime is high. Residents don’t feel safe and live in fear, more vulnerable young people become susceptible to gangs and violence, neighborhoods falter, and economic development and investment tapers off — sometimes grinding to a halt. That’s not the future we envision for Atlanta, and we look forward to working with a Mayor and City Council that continue to make public safety its number one priority.

What It Will Take: To keep Atlanta safe, city leaders must continue to invest in the police department with cutting-edge technology such as gunshot sensors and surveillance information technology, maintain our recruitment, training and retention efforts for police officers, and partner with the Atlanta Police Foundation. In addition, city data shows that repeat offenders account for more than 7,000 crimes in a year — and nearly three in four receive no jail time. A new approach to address repeat offenders could translate into a meaningful reduction in crime. Finally, efforts such as the @Promise Youth Center that offers youth a second chance and services for improving their lives, have the potential to seed a generational impact in Atlanta.

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks preseason game No. 1: Live updates and chat

Atlanta HawksATLCleveland CavaliersCLE

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers will open the preseason tonight, as they host the Atlanta Hawks.

LeBron James, who is still day to day with a left ankle injury that is not believed to be serious, will not play. But newcomers Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jeff Green, Jose Calderon and others will make their Cavaliers preseason debuts.

Follow along in the comments section as Joe Vardon and I bring you observations and analysis throughout the game. You can also ask any questions you may have and chat with other fans below.

Game 1: Cavs (0-0) vs. Hawks (0-0)

Tip off: 7:00 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM AM/1100, 87.7 FM (ESP)

Cavs probable starting lineup: Derrick Rose, J.R. Smith, Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder and Kevin Love.

Hawks probable starting lineup: Dennis Schroder, Kent Bazemore, Taurean Prince, Ersan Ilyasova and Dewayne Dedmon.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you’re viewing this on a mobile app, click here to get updates and comment.

LeBron James tests sore ankle, hoists 3-pointers prior to Cavaliers’ first preseason game Wednesday (video)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Despite being ruled out of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ preseason opener Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, LeBron James was on the court early, going through his usual game night routine.

After taking a few free throws, James moved beyond the 3-point line where he hoisted a handful of triples to cap his workout. He needed to make three in a row before moving to the next spot. After a sluggish start from the left corner, James started to pick it up while new teammate and buddy Dwyane Wade watched.

James suffered an ankle injury on the second day of practice, one week ago, when he stepped on Cedi Osman’s foot. James hasn’t practiced since and is currently listed as day to day.

Nearly two hours before tipoff, head coach Tryonn Lue provided an update.

"Went through shootaround today, but still day to day," he said. "We don’t want to rush it, don’t want him to push it. But he said he feels a lot better."

The Cavs will return to the practice floor Thursday and James’ practice availability is not yet known. Their second preseason game is Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

Tyronn Lue said three friends were among those shot at Las Vegas concert

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said three of his friends were among the more than 500 injured at a Las Vegas concert Sunday night in which 59 people were killed.

Lue, 40, has lived in Las Vegas for the past nine summers. A gunman opened fire at the conclusion of country singer Jason Aldean’s concert in what became the largest shooting massacre in U.S. history. In addition to the hundreds wounded by the gunfire, there were also fans who were injured in the frantic effort to leave the concert area.

"I knew a lot of people that were affected, a lot of people that were there," Lue said Wednesday, before the Cavs’ preseason opener against the Hawks. "Just not about my people, but just a horrible thing to have to go through, especially when I lived there for nine years and knowing all the people I know out there that work at the Mandalay Bay and Aria, all different casinos. Having to go through that, being at that concert. It was a tough thing to go through.

"I feel sorry for all the loved ones of each one that lost someone or been badly hurt," Lue continued. "It’s just not a good thing. I knew you guys would probably bring it up. I’ve been touched by a few people who’d gotten injured, who’d gotten shot. Just a tough position to be in.

"When you’re going through your phone and so many people who lived out there, were great friends of yours and took care of you, you’ve been around for so long. It’s just tough to go through that experience."

Lue said 15 of his friends attended the concert, and all three of his friends who were shot are still alive.

Lue owned a home in Las Vegas but sold it two years ago and has stayed the past two summers at the Aria hotel and casino.

The shooter opened fire from a room at Mandalay Bay, which is at the opposite end of the Vegas strip.

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‘Walking Dead’ Turns 100: A Glimpse Into the Future From the Atlanta Set

[Warning: This story contains spoilers for the comic books on which AMC’s The Walking Deadis based.]

Something’s stumbling upstairs — an oddly foreign but familiar figure.

It’s not a new sensation in the world of AMC’s The Walking Dead, in which humans become monsters in the blink of an eye, or, more accurately, in the bite of an arm. But when it comes to the being hobbling through the top floor of a quaint Georgia household with a haunting but humble shuffle, there’s an unmistakable feeling that we’re in the midst of something new, even if it comes in the form of someone old: Rick Grimes, the hero of this tale, eyes slowly opening, body slowly rising as if from the dead. Instead, he’s simply rising from the bed.

On this early May afternoon on the show’s Atlanta set, the lithe Andrew Lincoln looks worse for wear as he wanders the Walking Dead set, and it’s not just because he’s physically weary — though it’s understandable if he is, given that he’s in the middle of shooting the 100th episode of the AMC zombie drama, airing Oct. 22. Instead, it’s because he’s trying on a different version of Rick than ever before: bearded and broken, at least more bearded and broken than usual.

It’s an image that first appeared in the Comic-Con trailer for the upcoming eighth season of the post-apocalypse series, and one that’s very familiar to readers of the comic books from Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard on which the show is based. In those comics, the story eventually jumps forward in time, a few years into the future, following a brutal war between Rick’s Alexandrians and the Saviors, led by the nefarious Negan, played with an ever-present cruel charisma by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

For his part, elsewhere on the set, Morgan’s (Lennie James) menacing mannerisms remain alive and well. The same might not be said for the reformed coward Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam), at least not for much longer, based on the nightmarish nature of the scene being filmed. In the depths of an overly warm soundstage, on a dimly lit set fashioned as a grungy corridor, Morgan as Negan stalks toward a cornered Gabriel, delivering a Neganism that’s already been featured in previews for the season.

"I hope you’re wearing your shitting pants," Negan tells Gabriel, talking and walking slow, his barbed-wired baseball bat Lucille never far behind. "Because you, are about to shit your pants."

Never mind that Negan apparently believes people in the apocalypse have the luxury of owning a pair of "shitting pants," let alone believes in the very concept of "shitting pants" at all. The point is, the arch-villain of Alexandria is exactly as we left him at the end of season seven: deeply dangerous and at least a little bit deranged, ready to emotionally and physically break apart anyone who crosses his path.

The sameness of Negan stands in sharp contrast with the future glimpse of Rick Grimes, hair cropped short, except for the beard, impressive in its heft, wise in its graying hue. In person, it’s easy to see through the fiction, even if the aged Rick reads fine on camera. What’s most jarring about this look at Rick, however, isn’t the uncanny valley quality of the makeup, but the fact that The Walking Dead is moving into this valley at all. In the comics, the time jump doesn’t occur until the immediate aftermath of "All Out War," the arc in which Rick and Negan’s forces break out into — that’s right — all out war. It should come as no surprise to people who haven’t read the comics that Rick’s side wins the fight, albeit with casualties, some more devastating than others. But the fact that the outcome is being lobbed up here in the season eight premiere, the 100th episode of the series, is certainly an unexpected outcome.

Most fans would have pegged the time jump to take place in the season finale, or even further down the line, given the way Walking Dead often paces out. The second season’s focus on the Greene family farm, for instance, was a fairly significant expansion of the location’s appearance in the comic books, which lasted no more than a small handful of issues early in the run. Similarly, the first half of season six (as well as the midseason premiere) unfurled over the course of little more than a day. The Walking Dead likes to take its time, in other words, slowly stalking forward like the walkers at the heart of the tale, not to mention Old Man Rick in his Alexandria home.

What’s with the glimpse into the future, then? Mum’s the word when poking and prodding around Senoia, Georgia, which stands in for the Alexandria Safe-Zone, and serves as the site of Grandpa Grimes’ new household. But the fact that the series is already willing to move into that far-future territory stands as a testament to an idea the Walking Dead crew will happily engage: season eight, on a structural level alone, is designed to be unlike anything that’s come before, which means a swifter story momentum than ever before.

"It’s funny — in some ways, I was trying to make it a little smaller and more intimate," showrunner and executive Scott M. Gimple told The Hollywood Reporter and other press about the script for the 100th episode of The Walking Dead, during a conversation in a screening room on the set. "I made the mistake of telling that to [executive producers Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse], and when they got the script, they were horrified to not see small and intimate. Instead, it was, ‘How are we going to [shoot] this in nine days?’ I was trying to counter the pressure and go in a different direction, but there’s a certain pull to the story and to the characters. It got very big, very quickly, but in a different way."

Nicotero, the legendary horror effects mastermind chiefly responsible for the show’s zombie design, also serves as one of the most seasoned directors on The Walking Dead, and with that in mind, he’s the man stepping behind the lens for the 100th episode. In terms of the pace of the season, he fully backs Gimple’s claim: "The show is going to have a tremendous amount of momentum this year."

"We left season seven with Negan standing in front of the Sanctuary and saying, ‘We’re going to war!’ Everyone was there, ready to go to war, and I would say this is by far the most propulsive season premiere we’ve ever done in terms of setting the stage for knowing we’re in the war," says Nicotero, sitting in the living room of the same house where an older Rick Grimes stirs in bed one floor above. "That’s fun and exciting, and just the idea of knowing our story arcs that tend to play out over different episodes, where people sometimes disappear … we’re accelerating our pace this season a little bit, with some of those moments concluding a little sooner as opposed to maybe dragging them out over long periods of time."

For many of the people involved with the series, the incoming season’s sense of forward momentum isn’t anything new, of only on a practical level. Take Norman Reedus, for instance, who has starred on The Walking Dead as the rugged Daryl Dixon since the very first season. He sits in the middle of a different Alexandria living room, speaking with gathered reporters, wearing a Walking Dead hat emblazoned with the number 100, designed to honor the milestone episode. To hear him tell it, he’s as surprised as anyone that the series has reached its current place at the edge of war: "I never knew the show was going to be around this long, to be honest."

"We fight really hard for the show to be what it is," says Reedus. "It could have gone south so easily in the beginning, with zombies and crossbows and samurai swords and all of that shit. We fought really hard to keep it as real as possible. Every year, we see a new guard of people come in and join the show. Some of us old-schoolers work really hard to keep this train on the tracks."

The new-schoolers work hard, too, at maintaining their guard in all corners of the zombie apocalypse. For example, there’s Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter, the brilliant but often cowardly survivor who stands on the wrong side of the battlefield, firmly one with Negan. McDermitt, who joined the series in season four, says he’s in awe at not only what’s ahead in this season of The Walking Dead, but at the sheer volume of story the series has already accumulated over the years.

"Not a lot of shows get to episode 100, so this is exciting," he says, sitting in the same screening room as Gimple. "And the last show I was on [the TV Land sitcom Retired at 35] only got to episode 20, so this is even more exciting. Five times the fun! Getting to episode 100 on a show that isn’t 22 episodes every season is a feat. The fact that people are still coming back and watching it? It’s exciting. I was a huge fan of the show before I started working on it. Being a part of it at this milestone, it’s really special. I’m blessed, man. It’s kind of awesome."

Even as the series reaches its 100th episode, and even as it starts showing signs of the future, the cast and crew are clear about their desire for the milestone installment to keep one eye firmly on the past. In that regard, Nicotero says: "One of the things that’s most exciting about the episode is every once in a while we like to remember where the show came from. It’s an opportunity to thank our fans and thank our viewers for staying with us for so long. We can pay tribute to what makes the show so great. That’s what’s most exciting to me about where we are on the show, and this episode especially."

"That’s just a straight yes, and even in the whole season," says Gimple, when asked if the 100th episode of The Walking Dead will pay knowing homage to moments from the show’s past. "In a lot of ways, this whole season pays direct references to the past stories. Some visuals are carbon copies of earlier visuals. It very much has to do with the cumulative nature of the story. Where the story is now, the history of the show is weighing upon each character. In some ways, it’s made them who they are. In other ways, some of them are fighting that history. The history of the show in general is very much in the first episode [of season eight], and even in the whole season."

"Episode 100 is huge in itself," adds McDermitt. "It’s massive. We always say that for whatever premiere or finale, whether it’s midseason or otherwise, that it’s big. After a while — and I don’t know how the fans take it, or how you take it — but it just sounds like we’re saying the same thing over and over again. But as I read this script, I’m thinking, ‘God, I have to read that again to comprehend everything.’"

Indeed, McDermitt’s feelings toward the 100th episode’s script — the need to read it again, in order to properly process its events — certainly extend to the sensation of watching a post-war Rick walking through the set, at a time where this version of the character by all rights shouldn’t exist. For now, there are no answers to this glimpse into the future. Instead, here’s a suggestion from someone who watched Old Man Rick rise from the bed: when the eighth season premieres, perhaps its wise to heed the words of warning from Negan to Gabriel, at least in terms of your viewing attire.

Follow THR.com/WalkingDead for more stories from our visit to the set, plus continuing coverage as we approach the milestone 100th episode of the series, premiering Oct. 22.

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How To Find When You Go To Atlanta Georgia This Year

Traveling to Atlanta is on your vacation destination list this year, you should know that you are going to have a lot of fun. There are places that you can visit which are perfect for adults, and there are also destinations just for kids. It’s a large city, one that is very accommodating for people from all over the world. You will always be able to find something exciting to do when you get to Atlanta. Here are a few things that you might want to consider doing.

Tours That You Can Take While You Get Settled In Atlanta

There are several tours that you can take which are actually very fun, but it depends on your personal type of interest. For example, if you like the hunger games, or The Walking Dead, you will enjoy some of these tours. There are also those that will talk about the Civil War, and you can take a tour of the Atlanta studio for CNN. For kids, they might enjoy the Coca-Cola tour, or a trip to the Georgia aquarium, one of the largest in the world.

How You Can Get Started Booking Your Trip

Booking a trip is easy when you do this on the web. You can find flights, hotels, car rentals, and discounted tickets on the different tours and exhibits that you can see. It is going to take you about an hour to go through everything, making sure that you have the lowest prices, and then schedule your vacation. As long as you do this a couple months in advance, you should get some of the lowest prices available. This will help you out more money to spend once you arrive. Atlanta is a beautiful location, one that you should definitely see if you have never been there with your significant other or family.

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First-year club Atlanta United sets MLS single-game attendance record

(Photo: John David Mercer, USAT)

ATLANTA (AP) — The MLS single-game attendance record belongs to a first-year expansion club.

Atlanta United’s crowd of 70,425 Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium had everyone buzzing about the new game in town.

"It’s incredible," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "I think it says that there are really no limits. We never really expected this to happen."

Breaking the MLS mark of 69,225 set at the Rose Bowl by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996, Atlanta hosted the most attended U.S. soccer game since the New York Cosmos sold over 77,000 tickets for a North American Soccer League playoff game at Giants Stadium in 1977.

United drew over 150,000 fans to its first three games this week at the new $1.5 million stadium, which will host another sellout Sunday night when the Atlanta Falcons play the Green Bay Packers.

Falcons and United owner Arthur Blank told Garber that soccer would be a big draw in Atlanta, a city known mostly for its affinity for college football, the Falcons and Braves. Garber took a wait-and-see approach, but he started being convinced when United played before sellout crowds earlier this year at Georgia Tech while Mercedes-Benz had construction delays.

"We’ve been in the soccer business for a long time and we’re continuing to have experiences like this that are defying everyone’s expectations and my expectations," Garber said. "When I look at all this, I want to remind myself to suck it in, take a deep breath and remember that this is a beginning for even greater things to happen in our league."

For Jonathan Rivera, who grew up in Spain and moved to Atlanta 20 years ago, United’s 3-3 draw with Orlando City took no luster off the big day.

Rivera, 38, was hoarse from yelling in the supporters’ section. He arrived to tailgate at 9 a.m., walked into the stadium about an hour before the match and spent the first half bouncing around on the front row of the lower level.

"This is one of the best things to happen to Atlanta," he said. "I’ve been here for a long time and I plan to be here for a long time. I’ve got season tickets for the Falcons, but you never see people happy like this. If the Falcons don’t win tomorrow, you won’t see very many people smiling."

Part of Saturday’s appeal was getting a chance for a first-time experience at the stadium — even if that meant sitting in the top row of the upper level.

Regina Montgomery, 58, of Atlanta, doesn’t describe herself as a soccer fan, but she climbed 56 steps up to her corner perch in section 334 so she could take in the atmosphere from the nose bleeds. She’s been a Falcons season-ticket holder for 16 years and will be much closer to the action in section 105 on Sunday.

"I certainly won’t be up here," she said. "But even in these seats you really can see pretty well. The whole field’s right here in front of you. You feel pretty close even though you’re not."

Aaron Popkin, 53, grew up in Atlanta as a Braves and Falcons fan and never gave soccer much thought until his four boys started playing. The family persuaded him to buy United season tickets, and they watched the match from section 232.

"If you remember, back the first time when they tried the MLS, it didn’t work," Popkin said. "This time it just works. I think we have more kids growing up not playing football and, unfortunately, not playing baseball, which I love. But they all can play soccer."

His son, Reece, 12, was having the time of his life.

"I just like the action of it," he said. "There’s no stopping. Everything just keeps going."

Carolina Rollins, 27, didn’t know what to expect when she and her friend Laura Cunningham headed downtown for the match. Now she’s sold.

"Being born and raised here, I’m very avid Braves and Falcons fan, but now it’s so exciting for the Atlanta United to be in town," she said. "I’m more of an American football fan, but the atmosphere here is great."

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Atlanta Braves Apologize for Tone Deaf ‘Rock Me Like a Hurricane’ Song Choice

The Atlanta Braves have been criticized for demonstrating very poor song choice on Thursday night when The Scorpions’ 1984 hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane” blasted out over the loudspeaker while they played the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park in Georgia.

Many deem it a tone deaf move considering that Hurricane Irma is currently barreling towards Southern Florida from the Caribbean and sparking widespread evacuations.

According to the Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer, a Braves official later apologized for the song, saying that it was on the team’s regular playlist but should have been pulled. The official added that the rock song would not be used again during the series.

The insensitive set list did not go unnoticed by the Twitterverse, with one user calling it “a savage move,” and one Fox Sports affiliate predicting “someone is about to get fired.”

Despite the musical faux pas, the Braves have been praised for offering free tickets to fans displaced by Hurricane Irma.

Watch Obama and Every Living Former President Urge You to Help Hurricane Victims (Video)

“The Atlanta Braves are extending an invitation to all Florida residents, as well as residents of the Georgia and South Carolina counties under evacuation orders who travel to the Atlanta area, to be their guests for the next four nights at SunTrust Park,” the team posted on their official website earlier on Thursday.

“Displaced residents under evacuation orders can come to the Braves ticket office on the day of the game, show their valid state I.D. and receive a complimentary ticket.”

Derek Schiller, Braves President of Business, also said in a statement: “We know how difficult it has been for those who have had to pack up and leave their homes as Hurricane Irma approaches.

“We hope we can help take their mind off the storm for a few hours by coming to enjoy a baseball game at SunTrust Park.”

On Friday, it was reported that next week’s three-game series between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays to be relocated to Citi Field, the home of the New York Nets. It will be considered a home game for the Rays.

16 Biggest Sports Tear-Jerkers of 2016, From the Chicago Cubs to Muhammad Ali (Photos)
bill murray Chicago cubs world series

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From the deaths of sporting legends to the end of championship droughts, there was plenty for fans to cry about this year

Chicago Cubs fans cried with happiness – and Cleveland Indian fans from broken hearts – when the team broke a 108-year drought and the curse of a smelly goat to win the World Series Game 7 victory that will go down in baseball history. Amid the celebrations, diehard Cubs fan Bill Murray cried, chugged champagne … and drunkenly interviewed Cubs general manager Theo Epstein in the locker room.

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