SI’s King picks Falcons to win South, lose in playoffs
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) cannnot make the catch as Miami Dolphins defensive back Nolan Carroll defends during the second half of an NFL preseason football game on Friday Aug. 24, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Sports Illustrated’s love affair with the Falcons continues.
Well, sort of.
After picking them to win the Super Bowl last season, SI tabbed the Falcons to finish 11-6, win the NFC South and then be kicked out of the playoffs — again — in the wild-card round by the Bounty Hunting New Orleans Saints.
You can read more about this diabolical plot in Sports Illustrated’s NFL Preview issue, which hit the newsstands on Wednesday.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King spent some time with us in Flowery Branch during training camp. (He doesn’t have to stay in the media box with the sponsors, either!) However, the local media must thank him for our new coffee machines. On a previous visit, he couldn’t believe there wasn’t any coffee in the media room.
The Falcons had to send an intern out to the QuikTrip to get King some java beans. I pointed out to him that we had a brand new coffee machine and that all of the local hacks were thankful. He seemed to get a kick out of it.
But back to this prediction stuff, his crystal ball is seeing another playoff disaster by the Falcons. Another wild-card loss would make the Falcons 0-4 in the playoffs under coach Mike Smith.
The preview discusses how offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter plans to perk up the offense by throwing deep passes to Julio Jones — we saw that against Miami in the regular-season dress rehearsal — and by throwing screen passes to running back Jacquizz Rodgers.
Kings notes that the pass defense should be improved with the addition of Asante Samuel.
King says of the Falcons: “To win in the postseason the Falcons will practice being more explosive in the regular season. And for that reason, Koetter’s play-calling will be under close scrutiny from the opening snap in Kansas City on September 9. You can almost hear him whispering to Jones: Go deep, young man. Go deep.”
Another playoff loss and this time to the Saints! He even brings up the Braves repeated playoff failures.
King writes: “Much as it was for the crosstown Braves in the ’90s, making the playoffs isn’t enough anymore for the Falcons or their followers. They’ve got to do something when they get there, or [Matt] Ryan risks joining the line of good quarterbacks who couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.”
I’m pretty sure that Falcons owner Arthur Blank will not be too happy if King’s crystal ball is correct.
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84 comments Add your comment
Grape Nuts are neither grapes or nuts
August 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Grape Nuts are neither grapes or nuts
August 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
My remarks about Peter King and his coffee were removed.
Nice work.
Mike Franklin
August 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
History points the way; each and every Super Bowl contender has had to slow-build a team of talent against the tides of FA and injury so… there has to be that intangible called ‘luck’ factored in as well. Those teams, even lacking the pure, raw talent of those old dynasties like Dallas and Pittsburgh and new England, can win a Super Bowl with a little luck mixed in.
This explains well how teams like the Saints have maintained their hallowed status against all odds, and won games they should have lost. It also helps when you have the sports media parroting for you at every turn as well, lol.
The Falcs don’t have a light schedule. We won’t make it to the playoffs unless we do play well and play well for 60 minutes each and every contest. That’s the honesty factor. The luck comes in when that silly ball starts bouncing around on the field…
Whadda Ya Know?
August 30th, 2012
2:32 pm
Who cares what Peter King thinks. He’s been way off any other time. What makes anyone think this time will be better?
old qb
August 30th, 2012
3:04 pm
I still say the Falcons wil finish 9-7 (and maybe still make the playoffs). They have some weaknesses, but so does every other team in the NFL. The Packers did well last year with a really overall weak defense.
The biggest weakness for the Falcons has and still is we can’t stop anyone on third down. Although I keep hearing Arthur Blank and Smitty talking about the additions the only one still here is Samuel, and Ady Reid might have had something since I’ve seen Samuel get torched more than once so far. And Ray Edwards has proven he can stop the run, but he’s no pass rusher. That leaves the same defensive cast as last year and Abraham is a year older. Nope, third down still looks like a thrill a minute.
Not to be all gloomy I think Antone Smith will surprise with his speed in the backfield. I also really like Tim Toone, but the Falcons like big receivers–nobody ever heard of Wes Welker.
Hopefully, Sam Baker is healthy–that way if he keeps getting burned he can’t blame it on injuries.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
11-6? So the Falcons get to play an extra game?
Peter King is a blowhard and a prime example of how someone can be a good reporter and a terrible analyst at the same damn time.
fanATicaL
August 30th, 2012
3:20 pm
I would agree with several previous comments.But I think the biggest thing to take from Peter’s article.Is like Mikey and Mike written earlier is relevance.Also national attention on the big stage.Positive winning relevance on the big stage.As Falcon fans we arenot and won’t be satisfied until a confetti parade down P’tree street.But should we be ? I’m enjoying the road with the Falcons.We are growing as fans in Atlanta.Slowly drawing better coaches and athletes.As our owners are learning how to build great front offices.Who in turn build winning teams.It’s just interesting how our local teams seem to be becoming successful about the same the same moment.As fans lets be able ride the line of recognizing where we came from and not being satisfied with mediocrity
Go Falcons
Season Ticket Holder
August 30th, 2012
4:04 pm
If the falcons starters can stay healthy, then the birds have a legitimate shot at winning the NFC South.
realitycheck
August 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
Michael M…………..Hope you haven’t forgotten all of your kool aid predictions from last year because nearly everything you predicted was wrong. You guaranteed a Falcons sweep of the Saints, and to be fair you did get the sweep part of it right. The Falcons have added a 32 yr old Eagle castoff in the secondary and have lost their best linebacker, yet here you are making the exact same predictions as last year and always hating on the Saints because they are good, have won a SB, and are 10-2 in their past 12 vs the Falcons. What about that “feeling” you had that the Falcons were going to win that Mon. night game in NO? Falcons lost by 29. Keep your kool aid filled loser predictions coming if you wish, but Mike Smith and Matt Ryan aren’t taking the Falcons anywhere close to a SB…….and everyone outside of the 404 and 770 area codes knows it!
hiramsaint
August 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
well peter , the playoff loss is a given
hiramsaint
August 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
as is losing to the Saints
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
Hey A-hole…………..I never made a prediction on anything…………….that was just an example of what-if and what would be the stink if it happen so before you start jaw-jacking get your facts straight cause if you could read between the lines you would see the point…………………….but anyway.how it goes. you probably are one of those moron aint trolls that can’t stand the thought of the Taints getting their ass&S kicked and being seconds to a world class Team that don’t cheat and get caught as well amd keep whining about it…………so why don’t yah stick your little dirty nose in that I dumped on the ground and get a good whif of it…………..loser !……………this is fun……….
SawThat1nce
August 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
I predict, that the Falcons will win the SB this season.
The taints will finish last in the NFCSouth.
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
5:07 pm
and hiramtaint………………. may as well give you a spoonful too……….I wouldn’t jump on a rout by the swamp rats just yet on Kings stupid prediction analysis cause he does it to get peeps to take interest in the SI magazine…………….in fact , being honest I have not listen to anything being said by these so-called sports analysist ………………………its a week by week thing in these football games so put that in your oodle – noodles and slurp it……………………………………………………………………
Big Crimson 75
August 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
F*%# Peter King.
You mean Parcells let him out of the gimp cage long enough to write an article!!
I hope you don’t kiss his tail Ledbetter.
Esquire
August 30th, 2012
5:35 pm
I heard King on the radio predict the Bronco’s in the Super Bowl, I actually think he said the Eagles would be their opponent. Did anybody hear who he said for the NFC?
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@Falcon James
August 30th, 2012
9:07 am
First of all, this prediction is flawed. For this to be legit, one would have to assume that the Saint will even be in the Playoff. The chances of that happening are slim to none.
____________________________________________________
Chances slim to none? NONE. Let’s be clear………….the Aints won’t be in the playoffs in any way shape or form, PERIOD. They’ll finish 3rd in the South between the Bucs and Panthers. FACT!!
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Reprinted without permission: The NFL stuck together four of the NFL’s least accomplished franchises when it created the NFC South in 2002. The division’s four teams have combined to win just two Super Bowls (Tampa Bay, New Orleans) and make one Super Bowl appearance each — in both cases the fewest of any of the NFL’s eight divisions.
But this year the Falcons harbor legitimate Super Bowl dreams,
SeenThisB4
August 30th, 2012
5:35 pm
Here’s something from SI:
Predicted record: 11-5.
The Saints are still the best team in the division. But taking on an NFL season without your head coach is uncharted territory for an NFL franchise. And Payton was no ordinary coach: the organization’s fortunes changed instantly the day that he and Brees rolled into town. Coupled with defensive concerns (the Saints were ripped for 4,157 passing yards in 2011) it’s hard to envision another 13-3 romp.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/08/28/nfc-south-preview-2012/index.html#ixzz254FnEIkd
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
But STB4………….you remember you stated that you had a Coach hidden from view behind the scenes up in a secluded room doing all the play by play…………………lmao
hiramsaint
August 30th, 2012
5:44 pm
Enter your comments here
hiramsaint
August 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
mikey m – don’t get caught up in all the hype but given your past accomplishments -or lack thereof-what did you expect him to say ? your team has done nothing in the off season to improve so a winning record and a playoff loss to the Saints is more than a fair expectation for y’all
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
heres another prediction forecast………………………………………some nay some yay………………….
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000054842/article/2012-nfl-season-previews-for-every-team?campaign=Ext_Email_1st10_Daily&cvosrc=Ext.Email.1st10.Daily
You can’t accurately predict this , you never know what might happen to your key players……………………………………………..
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
5:52 pm
9-7 is good to me with the schedule…………….anything better will be a plus……………..I expect the worse and only hope for the best……………..yah not hanging me here…………………………………the 98 team had not much going for it and we all know how that year turned out……………………………..
realitycheck
August 30th, 2012
6:19 pm
Michael M……….I was just calling you out on your last season’s predictions and they were terribly inaccurate and you know it. Must have struck a nerve since you referred to me as an a-hole. Guess the truth has a way of doing that!
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
6:27 pm
I forgot last season just like the Falcons forgot to score points to beat the Giants………..don’t bring up painful wounds…………………………………………………………………..
Michael M.
August 30th, 2012
6:45 pm
Its like that first series the Jags had…………and Atlanta recovered and scored………………now who in the he&& would have predicted it to take place………………………………………………….
FEATURED FALCONS ARTICLE: SI’s King picks Falcons to win South, lose in playoffs | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
August 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
[...] The rest of the article can be found here: Atlanta Falcons [...]
Posts about The Falcons From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
August 30th, 2012
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[...] roster for the 2012 Atlanta Falcons. You’ll find mine after the jump, with more… SI’s King picks Falcons to win South, lose in playoffs – blogs.ajc.com 08/30/2012 Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) cannnot make the [...]
BigDaddyP2
August 31st, 2012
1:33 pm
Last season Peter King picked the Falcons to win the NFC South and the Super Bowl. After making that dump predition you would think he would know better by now. He is always picking against the Saints and they keep on winning. For everyone talking about the Saints can not win a playoff game on the road. Just remember the Saints are 10 – 2 against the Falcons since 2006. The last game last season against the Falcons the Saints beat them so bad the local media was sacred of the ideal that the Falcons would potentially have to face the Saints again in the playoffs. Whether the games are played at home or on the road against the Falcons the results are the same. Who Dat !!!!!
Samuel
August 31st, 2012
5:23 pm
Mike Smith has brought in new coordinaters and some new players. I hate to be sitting across from Arthur Blank knowing I had lost another playoff game.
Smegma
September 1st, 2012
8:50 am
I don’t believe Mr. King can predict his next BM. Matt Ryan is a nice guy. He could date my daughter….(if I had one) but he’s not the guy to take us to the superbowl. He cannot hit a WR on the run. They always have to stop or come back to the ball. It’s a problem with his precognition of space and time. He will always throw the pick because of it. This is not the birds year. They have not improved the defense. We got Asante Samuels 7 years too late. Andy Reid knows talent. (See McNabb ) There is still no pass rush and running Jaquizz between the tackles will probably get him a few inches shorter. Unfortunately Matt Ryan is due to get hurt and miss a few games this year. The rookie will get in and look…like a rookie. We lose both games to the saints and at least one to the bucs and panthers as well….Maybe both games to one of the last two teams. This team will be worse this year than they have been in a long time. (sigh) I’ve seen this before.
Angelo
September 1st, 2012
7:01 pm
All Atlanta sports teams suck and they choke when it counts.
Angelo
September 1st, 2012
7:03 pm
All Atlanta sports teams suck and choke when it counts.
Angelo
September 1st, 2012
7:05 pm
The Atlanta Falcons will choke.
martin
September 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
Another year of smack talking by the POOR Atlanta Failcants Fans. Always about what your team is going to do to the MIGHTY SAINTS. Let’s see what’s being said at the end of the year and i’ll leave it at that.
Let’s see who will be eating their words when the regular season is over.