History suggests Falcons are headed for a 9-7 campaign
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) scores a touchdown in front of Philadelphia defender Ellis Hobbs (31). AP
PHILADELPHIA – History suggests that the Falcons are headed for a 9-7 season.
This was the third season that the Falcons have opened with a 4-1 mark.
After the other 4-1 starts, the team finished 9-7.
Last season, they went 4-1 before losing consecutive games at Dallas and at New Orleans. A rash of injuries started to set in and the team finished 9-7.
The Falcons started 4-1 in 1995, before losing to the St. Louis Rams 21-19 to drop to 4-2. They never got on a roll and finished 9-7, but went to the playoffs where they lost to the Green Bay Packers, 37-20.
The Falcons best start was in 1986 when they opened the season 5-1-1, before losing five straight and closing out the season 7-8-1.
The franchise went 5-1 twice. In 2004, they went on to finish 11-5 and reached the NFC championship game. In 1998, they went 14-2 and went to the Super Bowl.
The Falcons have never started a season 6-1.
“We are 4-2, hopefully we can win next week and be 5-2 going into that bye week,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “We’ll still be sitting pretty. It’s not a time to panic. We just have to go out there and keep getting better in practice.”
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158 comments Add your comment
Falcon Jim
October 18th, 2010
5:14 pm
cejay, I think if we talk about him, we will”channel” him.
Nedt
October 19th, 2010
9:23 am
I will start by stating that I am an Eagles fan and was at the game on Sunday. No question that the Eagles totally outplayed and outcoached the Falcons. In fact, the final score was not indicative of the beating the Eagles put on the Falcons. However, I was shocked that the Atlanta coaching staff (or Matt Ryan, for that matter) did not work to abuse Ellis Hobbs at left corner. Whichever receiver lined up on Hobbs’ side was sure to be open. Hobbs was playing off the line the entire game. he chipped no one at the line. He allowed the Atlanta WR’s to operate in wide open space and did nothing to slow them down. Not only was he terrible in coverage but he struggled tackling all day as well. The first TD to Gonzo was a one-on-one isolation on Hobbs and it was no contest. If the Falcons staff and/or QB were savvy, they would have exploited the Hobbs matchups all day. Instead, Ryan threw at Samuel, a Pro Bowl DB, more than any other QB in two years. Made no sense. The opportunity was there and Ryan just didn’t capitalize on it. Had he gone after Hobbs, it would have hanged the entire game… Thx.
GunnerWashington
October 19th, 2010
1:20 pm
Andy Reid is esctatic that he can waffle back and forth between starting Vick and Kolb. Both guys are great #1 starting qbs. Kolb is the one with the hot hand now so Kolb temporarily has the starting job until Vick does something spectacular and the pendulum shifts back to Vick. I’LL SAY THIS ABOUT THE VICK/KOLB QUARTERBACK CONTRAVERSY. Vick can do anythinng Kolb can do. Kolb cannot do anything that Vick does. That is how I would determine who the starter is.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
October 19th, 2010
4:33 pm
D-Led – I’m just trying to understand how you were able to make that giant leap from game five in the season to end up at 9 and 7 for the year?
The years that you are comparing aren’t even comparable. Oh ye of little faith….
ShempHoward
October 19th, 2010
5:28 pm
I am disappointed that Mike Vick didnt get a chance to play against his former team the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday. I’m sure Vick wanted to show Arthur Blank and the organization that they made a mistake letting Vick and Schaub go to stick with Matt Ryan. I’m sure Matt is an overall better quarterback than Vick. Schaub is better than both Vick and Matt. Ryan will make the hall of fame and have a similar career to that of Steve Young. Matty had one of the best rookie seasons on the books in nfl history AND Matty Ice also won offensive rookie of the year honors in his first season for a spectacular performance on the field. I am predicting that Matt Ryan will be the best quarterback in the league in 2-3 years from now. I know for sure that when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning retire, Matt will be the best quarterback in the league. IF THE FALCONS FACE THE EAGLES IN THE PLAYOFFS, THE MATCHUP OF VICK VERSUS MATT RYAN WILL REAPPEAR AND FANS WILL DELIGHT IN GETTING THE CHANCE TO SEE RYANS PERFORMANCE VERSUS VICK.
ShempHoward
October 20th, 2010
2:17 pm
I dont understand why Mike Vick has been dropped to No. 3 qb by Reid. Vick is #1, gets a few cracked ribs now all of a sudden he has to take a back seat to the two other qbs on the team. This is insane. Mike should have EXPLODED once he found out he was being demoted for getting cracked ribs. This proves beyond a doubt that there is no honesty in sports anymore. How could Andy Reid look Michael in the face and say, you know what Mike, were sorry you got a few ribs cracked in the game, but you will be rewarded for it by giving up your #1 position and taking two backseats and moving all the way back to #3 (the last qb position). Ive never heard of that happening before and I feel that Mike Vick should sue the Eagles for discrimination and unlawful personnel practices.
PaulWarfield
October 20th, 2010
3:28 pm
I read earlier where some moron said that Vick needs to be in a Falcon uniform. I am sure there are just a handful of idiots who feel that way (mostly the Vick supporters and the Matt “Choke” idiots) but the vast majority of fans dont want to ever see Vick ever again. Vick is the Philadelphia Eagle mascot (bird brain) and will continue as the no. 3 qb until he gets his unconditional release. VICK WILL MAKE NO MORE OF AN IMPACT THAN A STATUE OR A STORE MANIQUEN.
JuniorBridgeman
October 20th, 2010
3:36 pm
Dunta couldnt stop when he speared jackson last sunday. Dunta could see jackson in his rear view mirror but couldnt see him until he became a deer in his headlights and rammed him into the ground driving him into the dirt with the force of a nuclear explosion.