Unlike 49ers, the Falcons don’t have a signature win
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) passes as Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel (99) tries to block the pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
I woke up this morning with a football revelation.
I said to self, “Self, the 49ers are legitimate NFC title contenders.”
Self said to me, “Go blog about that. Tell the World.”
Well World, the 49ers are legitimate NFC title contenders along with Green Bay and New Orleans. They earned their signature win last night and are thus anointed “legitimate NFC title contenders.”
Jim Harbaugh has done a nice job building on the manhood that Mike Singletary instilled in those players when they were younger.
Rookie defensive end Aldon Smith was awesome. San Francisco safety Donte Whitner came up and laid some nice hits on the Pittsburgh receivers. And just think the 49ers didn’t have linebacker Patrick Willis.
The Falcons have been too inconsistent and don’t have that signature win yet. They could get theirs on Monday night. But they can’t just squeak by with a field goal at the end. A signature win entails beating down a good team.
Falcons linebacker (56) Sean Weatherspoon comes up with the fumble by the Jaguars' Jarett Dillard on a kick return, setting up a touchdown run by Michael Turner for a 17-0 Falcons lead during 1st half action. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
The Falcons only have one win over a team that currently has a winning record. Their signature win was a 23-16 slugfest with the Detroit Lions (9-5) on Oct. 23. Their other “impressive” victories were over Seattle (7-7) and Tennessee (7-7).
Even without their signaturw win, the Falcons chances of repeating as NFC South champions are alive.
The Falcons will need to beat the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finish 11-5 overall, 4-2 in the NFC South.
They would also need the Saints to lose at home to the Carolina Panthers in their regular-season finale. The Saints would finish 11-5, 3-3 in the division.
Since the Falcons and Saints would be tied in head-to-head (1-1) games, the tie would be broken on the second tie-breaker rule: best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Under this scenario, the Falcons would finish with division losses to Tampa Bay and New Orleans. The Saints would finish with division losses to Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Carolina.
“Again, we control what we can control,” Smith said. “It’s obvious that our guys are familiar with the scenarios that we are in. I think this, not just talking about our ball game; it’s going to be a very interesting two weeks for a lot of teams.
“The way that the schedule is put together with all of the division teams playing one another, it makes for a great finish to the regular season. I know that our guys are aware of it.”
NFL Tiebreaking Procedures
The six postseason participants from each conference are seeded as follows:
1.The division champion with the best record.
Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (11) has been sacked 4th-most in the NFL this season. Jason Getz / jgetz@ajc.com
2.The division champion with the second-best record.
3.The division champion with the third-best record.
4.The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5.The Wild Card club with the best record.
6.The Wild Card club with the second-best record.
The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules.
NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.
TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
Two Clubs
1.Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5.Strength of victory.
6.Strength of schedule.
7.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Roddy White wide receiver catches a Matt Ryan pass in front of Jaguars cornerback Ashton Youboty during 1st half action. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
9.Best net points in common games.
10.Best net points in all games.
11.Best net touchdowns in all games.
12.Coin toss
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1.Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5.Strength of victory.
6.Strength of schedule.
7.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9.Best net points in common games.
10.Best net points in all games.
11.Best net touchdowns in all games.
12.Coin toss
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
1.If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2.If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.
Two Clubs
1.Head-to-head, if applicable.
2.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4.Strength of victory.
5.Strength of schedule.
6.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.Best net points in conference games.
9.Best net points in all games.
10.Best net touchdowns in all games.
11.Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1.Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2.Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3.Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4.Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5.Strength of victory.
6.Strength of schedule.
7.Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9.Best net points in conference games.
10.Best net points in all games.
11.Best net touchdowns in all games.
12.Coin toss
When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.
OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
1.Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of the applicable division or Wild Card tie-breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to Step 1 of the two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tiebreaker, all other clubs revert to Step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club format.
2.In comparing records against common opponents among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is the deciding factor, since teams may have played an unequal number of games.
3.To determine home-field priority among division-titlists, apply Wild Card tie-breakers.
4.To determine home-field priority for Wild Card qualifiers, apply division tie-breakers (if teams are from the same division) or Wild Card tiebreakers (if teams are from different divisions).
5.To determine the best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed, add a team’s position in the two categories, and the lowest score wins. For example, if Team A is first in points scored and second in points allowed, its combined ranking is “3.” If Team B is third in points scored and first in points allowed, its combined ranking is “4.” Team A then wins the tiebreaker. If two teams are tied for a position, both teams are awarded the ranking as if they held it solely. For example, if Team A and Team B are tied for first in points scored, each team is assigned a ranking of “1″ in that category, and if Team C is third, its ranking will still be “3.”
TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION MEETING
1.Clubs not participating in the playoffs shall select in the first through 20th positions in reverse standings order.
2.The Super Bowl winner is last and Super Bowl loser is next-to-last.
3.The losers of the Conference Championship games shall select 29th and 30th based on won-lost-tied percentage.
4.The losers of the Divisional playoff games shall select 25th through 28th based on won-lost-tied percentage.
5.The losers of the Wild Card games shall select 21st through 24th based on won-lost-tied percentage.
If ties exist in any grouping except (2) above, such ties shall be broken by strength-of-schedule. If any ties cannot be broken by strength-of-schedule, the divisional or conference tie-breakers, if applicable, shall be applied. Any ties that still exist shall be broken by a coin flip.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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297 comments Add your comment
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
I don’t think that there is another team in the NFL that gets nearly as many “favorable” calls made for them by the NFL officials, that the saints get.
2009, the SB was given to the saints by the NFL.
You know that it is true.
Leeman
December 20th, 2011
3:32 pm
I believe they will still be missing that signature win around mid-January. I see a steamroller ahead…
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
3:36 pm
I am still in shock from watching Atlanta demolish the Jags the other night. I thought they would beat them by a touchdown but not the aXX whooping they put on them.
Big Ray
December 20th, 2011
3:37 pm
Hiramsaint ,
Classless move.
You can talk Saints beating Falcons all day long, but no need to reference the health of our
Big Ray
December 20th, 2011
3:38 pm
head coach. But then, I forgot…class is not something that I can expect out of a Saints fan.
Big Ray
December 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
Michael M,
It’s called hitting your stride. The Falcons were focused. They won in convincing fashion after having only three days between games. Not only did they earn their extra rest, but they won’t get rusty while they’re out. Not even close. Saints fans can only hope for such a thing. But it ain’t gonna happen.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
3:45 pm
I sure hope they stay hot because the team on the field the other night would stomp a mud hole in any of the other teams in the NFL. They all seem to have jumped to the next level out of the blue. That was a statement game in its own self.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
The Jags put up 41 points the week before and then get their tails handed to them 4 days later, ” Statement Game Indeed ! “, D-led
DecaturJim
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Well, I read all the way down here, and actually found some good comments. And good analysis.
Somewhere way back up there, a poster asked about the Saints blog. Yea, there is one, and if you read it, you’ll find the same thing there as here, only in reverse. Saints trolls here, Falcons trolls there. No difference. Check it out here: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.html It’s essentially the same as here but with a butt load of wasted graphics.
Anyway, for the game, you can forget all the stats, smack talk, etc. At the end of the day (night) this will be a very hard fought, exciting game -just like always- probably coming down to either one or the other barely hanging on, or the infamous, last minute FG (either made or missed!!)
Let’s all enjoy the ride and the entertainment. Sadly, we have much bigger problems facing us in the “real world!!”
DecaturJim
December 20th, 2011
4:02 pm
OOops! One thing from an analysis standpoint that I wanted to mention: in the last game here in the Dome, their coach Peyton was not on the sideline. Some may think this insignificant, but I don’t. He’s one of only a handful of talented coaches that wants to “feel” the game. Influences his play calling, I think. (side note: I actually can see Matt Ryan doing this down the road; very similar to Peyton in that regard.)
Somehow, Peyton seems to get a feel for the game just being right there; feeling it you might say. I do believe this could be significant. Let’s see.
Sheffield
December 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
Get to the playoffs and win 4 straight!!! Period…Go Falcons!!!!
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
Their blog site is a far cry from anything we have over here in the Atlanta area. Another reason to be proud of where we live and what we have options to here in Georgia Area. That’s the first I ever saw of their blog site and I for one am not jealous at all.
Matt does feel out the field when he is out on it, “watch his eyes when he is in the no-huddle”. Amazing quarterback out there in that no-huddle. He may not be the elite QB as some seem to have on their football teams but when he is calling his own plays that whole offense just seems to rally around him.
Failcants have no chance...fact
December 20th, 2011
4:39 pm
Must be sad to know that your future is dependent on Melted Ice, Rusty Thug White and Who-We-Owe….LMAO….this will be like clubbing baby seals for the Saints….fact…you know it, we know it….it is just a matter of time….tick, tick, tick….
F-105 Thunderchief
December 20th, 2011
4:56 pm
So, is Smitty building on what Petrino did? Probably not. Harbaugh is doing what Singletary cannot do. Geez.
Sleepy4
December 20th, 2011
4:58 pm
I don’t know what games the Aints fans are watching. They act like they blow out the Falcons everytime. I can only remember one year they beat us in both games. We beat them in the Superdome last year and they beat us in the Georgia Dome. They just beat us again this year (we did give them the game, it should not have gone into overtime if Roddy would have got the TD pass). Where does 3 in a row come in?
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
5:04 pm
9 of 11? 3 in a row comes a few times and i can’t wait to watch smitty vapor lock after another stupid decision that even further suggest why he has no business being a head coach…as if 0-2 in the playoffs isn’t enough reason
Najeh Davenpoop
December 20th, 2011
5:07 pm
The Falcons had two signature wins last year, against the Ravens and Packers. How did that work out for them in the playoffs?
The 49ers are this year’s version of last year’s Falcons. One and done. That ultra-conservative sh-t isn’t going to fly in the playoffs.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 20th, 2011
5:08 pm
Looking through the thread I see I am not the first to point that out.
Mister.Earl
December 20th, 2011
5:21 pm
When Matt Ryan has his own ESPN spot we can talk.
Go easy with Breezy
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
5:26 pm
One thing i will give the crummy Saints fans is that Brees is indeed much better than Ryan, and not because Ryan is a bad quarter back, but because Brees is the best in the league right now. I hate to say this, because i hate the Saints, but if Rodgers wins the MVP over Drew Brees then the whole thing is fixed. Who cares if Rodgers is 13-1, Brees has the numbers.
That being said……Falcons 28-27
saintbim
December 20th, 2011
5:29 pm
truth is ,atlanta, your team is very good allround. some of these fans on both sides predicting a blowout is not very likely. will be a very hard fought game i think witin 10 points. Sean Payton is very smart and will not take atlanta lightly. atlanta fans claim their team is peaking after 2 wins, they may be. Saints have been peaking 6 straight games. advantage to the home team New Orleans Saints.
12 men in the huddle
December 20th, 2011
5:32 pm
First of all, that was NOT a statement win by the 49ers last night. They beat a cripple playing quarterback and a team without it’s best defensive player serving a well deserved suspension! Secondly, even if the Falcons do beat the Saints Monday night, they would still have to get help from a weak sister team, the Panthers, to win the division…which ain’t gonna happen. We are just about locked into the 6th seed and will play either the Giants or Cowboys on the road. Then….we would draw Green Bay IN Green Bay if we moved on to the second round. Hey, it’s always fun to make the playoffs and we are just about in….unless we lose at home to Tampa Bay the last week of the season!
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
Only thing the Aints will be doing is ” Peeking at the Scoreboard” to see if they have enough time to come back to win !
Mister.Earl
December 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
ohhhYEAH – you are a gentleman and a scholar.
If Matt Ryan decides to change every other play at the line of scrimmage the MB Superdome will only get louder. The Falcons would be wise to run the play called in the huddle.
The team that slows the opponents running game will win.
BigSaints
December 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
10 years from now when you are playing s sports trivia game and the question is, What was the team Da Saints were playing when Brees broke the single season passing record? The answer: Atlanta Felcons
saintbim
December 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
mm, you are wishful thinking there fella. I dont see Drew comming out at the end of the 3rd quarter. you will get a full 60 min play from him and his team.
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
Mr Earl,
I do my best. But i do agree that changing the plays at the line wont work in loud stadiums, as we learned in Houston. But, if we let Mularkey call the plays and abandon the no huddle, we’re doomed anyway. I think the solution is for Ryan to call the plays IN the huddle, and go from there.
saintbim
December 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
there is no doubt ryan is smarter than mularkey, but mularkey is your man.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
@ Mister.Earl….you said ” The team that slows the opponents running game will win.”
Advantage Falcons >>> cneck the running stats your team had last time
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
5:59 pm
http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=311113001
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
5:59 pm
not MY man, as far as im concerned i would gladly accept him moving to Jacksonville for that job.
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
6:10 pm
saints vs. failcans—advantage saints in all categories!
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:12 pm
lmao
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
6:17 pm
hiram….you mean all OFFENSIVE categories…..right?
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
6:18 pm
all means all- thers your aps hard at work again
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
6:20 pm
yes but i feel like you didnt really mean all. i know what all means, and the saints certainly arent better defensively, and i see us pretty evenly matched on special teams. so i think what you meant was all offensive categories
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:25 pm
I think he is be drinking too much piss water and it has affected the head now that’s what I think , but usually he does say some of the craziest stuff out of that head anyway. ” Peal Harbor two is soon to be underway ! “
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
6:30 pm
when our D dominates matty melt and the girls monday night then you’ll understand
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:30 pm
D-led just posted a new blog so all of you run over there and go at it again !
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:31 pm
Aint happening sunny boy
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
6:33 pm
hiram….just as an inquiry, what are you smoking? Because i cant remember a single time this year that you defense has dominated ANYONE. At all. So uh….how is it you expect to dominate us?
take it from me.
December 20th, 2011
6:37 pm
I love the way these brain dead saints fans predict scores.The falcons are just now playing thier best football of the year,and the young players are really up and coming.chris Owens is really improving,and is a very speedy defencesive back,i look for him to be strong in the playoffs.JJ is coming into his own,and look out if he gets open because you won’t catch him,and hes very hard to bring down.i would say the only advanage the Saints have ,if they have one, would be homefield advanage.The Falcons should win this game because thier defence is better than the saints.
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
6:37 pm
when we win , and we will, our d will have dominated your o thus providing us the nfc south crown and returning it to it’s rightful owner after being smudged almost beyond recognition by the vile dirty turds
hiramsaint
December 20th, 2011
6:39 pm
D doesn’t win games . brees putting 35 pts. and 350 yds. in the air plus our run game does
realitycheck
December 20th, 2011
6:39 pm
Michael M……….Your predictions have often made you look like a total jackass all season, yet here you are, still on here 24/7, making the same taunting comments toward Saints and other teams fans. You constantly complain about the “aint trolls” on here, but no poster constantly taunts like you do. Most of your predictions have consistently missed the entire target all season. How can you still be on here after constantly embarassing yourself with your posts? Shut the computer down and get a girlfriend!
SeenThisB4
December 20th, 2011
6:40 pm
The Saints gave up two fumbles to begin the game against Vikings at the Metrodome. the next 6 possessions ostensibly ended the game. They pulled Brees with 13 minutes left in the game. The falcant’s played the Vikings at their house and could only manage a 24-14 victory and Petersen was inactive for their game.
The Saints play better at home.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:42 pm
cute
Leeman B
December 20th, 2011
6:42 pm
I think I sacrificed a few of my precious iq points by reading Saint fans’ posts. Wow-kudos to some of those guys for at least knowing how to power up a computer.
Michael M.
December 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
They are worried !
ohhhhYEAH
December 20th, 2011
6:49 pm
ok hiramstain, IF you win, which is probable, being that youre at home and you do have the better offense, but IF, indeed you win, i can guarantee you that it will not be done by the work of your 24th ranked defense. do you even pay attention to how bad your d is? or do you just make wild accusations and hope they prove true? im thinking its more the latter than the former.