UNDEFEATED: Can the Falcons pull it off?
Cover of Mike Freeman's book "Undefeated: Inside the 1972 Miami Dolphins' Perfect Season."
FLOWERY BRANCH — Just got to the Branch today, waiting for the open locker room session at 11:40 a.m.
After the game on Sunday in Philadelphia, the lovely Ashley Fox of ESPN.com asked me when the”Undefeated” talk would start.
I told her to wait until the Falcons get to 10-0, which would be a new franchise mark for most wins in a row. They’ve won nine in a row twice, in 1980 and 1998.
Then, I was working on the laptop on Monday and the wife (Queen Led) brought Mike Freeman’s book in from a stack I had in the garage.
I’m going to wait awhile before I track down Mercury Morrris, Don Shula and the rest of the South Florida crew.
In the meantime, I’ll enjoy Freeman’s book.
But, the schedule doesn’t look too daunting. Both of the Saints games — Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 29– will be tough. Then there’s the matter of facing the defending Super Bowl champs on Dec. 16 and more than a safety will be required.
When should the “Undefeated” chatter start?
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140 comments Add your comment
TommyNobisfan60
October 31st, 2012
4:33 pm
@4:13 Bennett- You are wrong about the Braves, including this year us fans have had moments just like this of greatness but have had to many shares of disappointment. Falcons have been good since that bozo coach Petrino left us in the middle of the night. What feels different about this team is they are not coming out of nowhere to do this where say the 98 Falcons was a shock to us. This team has been poised to get into a position like this for the past 5yrs. I love A. Blank and wish I could beg him to buy the Braves as well. GO FALCONSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
LET-THE-NERDS-H8
October 31st, 2012
4:34 pm
@Tampa, @N.O., and Giants game will be tuff… if we get thru those we can have a chance to go indefeated
Keeping it real
October 31st, 2012
4:43 pm
I would love for the falcons to go 16-0,but we gotta get to 8-0 first! Go Falcons.
retired
October 31st, 2012
5:31 pm
NO UNDEFEATED TALK TILL 18-0
UNTIL that point the ONLY game that matters is the next one …..
Got it no distractions…
GO BIRDS GO FALCONS…..
TommyNobisfan60
October 31st, 2012
6:09 pm
I don’t see nothing wrong with talking about a undefeated team. The Falcons are the only ones who can talk about is so why not? A distraction would be the ones talking about the need for a running game or what is wrong…that is more of a distraction then talking about a undefeated team. Talking about a undefeated season is more of a motivation factor then a distraction. GOOOOOO FALCONSSSSSSSS
The Real Rick
October 31st, 2012
6:17 pm
Undefeated talk starts and ends every Sunday…..just go undefeated that day…that’s the only talk they should be doing…..
Just Sayin.....
October 31st, 2012
7:07 pm
Dallas is like a ticking time bomb. They are ranked in the top 10 in both offense & defense.
Just Sayin…..
Old Fart Dawg
October 31st, 2012
7:08 pm
Too early to even think about “undefeated”, and who cares? It’s the post season that will decide this team’s legacy.
Just Sayin.....
October 31st, 2012
7:09 pm
If you get shutout again vs the Giants, is there really a point in playing them in the playoffs?
Just Sayin…..
SeasonTicketHolderFalcons
October 31st, 2012
9:56 pm
DLed…win a superbowl…I don’t care what the record is when they do it! Bring me a championship for my years of sitting in the Dome!!!
Keith
October 31st, 2012
9:59 pm
officially I’ll agree with Technut not until it’s done! but if I was gonna guess… after the 1st Tampa game, they have a hard stretch coming up the ‘boys, at NO, then the Cards, then at TB if they make it through TB then I’ll start talking until then as Smitty said one game at a time RISE UP
Th
October 31st, 2012
10:35 pm
It sure is nice being the only team that can.
Johnny Vaught
October 31st, 2012
10:50 pm
They play the Giants, don’t they? That answers your question …
jc_dawgs
November 1st, 2012
7:03 am
Taking away the games played versus the Falcons….our opponents that we have played thus far are 15-21. Thus…we have played an easier than average schedule thus far. The remainder of our schedule is against teams with losing records except for the Giants. Our pt diff is not the best in the league.
The rest of the schedule will be difficult though because our divisional rivals will be up to knock us off. They will likely bring there a-game when we play them. TB is playing really good now.
To gain more confidence going into the playoffs….I want to see more physicality out of this team…primarily in the trenches. That means getting the running game going and becoming more balanced on offense. On defense…we need to generate more of a consistent pass rush with just our front 4. Do that….then I will feel better about advancing in the playoffs.
Esquire
November 1st, 2012
7:58 am
atlfalconsfan0125
October 31st, 2012
12:08 pm
The Falcons owe their fans a 19-0 season after all the crap they put us through over the years.
***********************************************
I disagree. But the difference between the Rankin Smith era and Arthur Blank era is simple. The Smith’s ran the Falcons as a business for profit. Arthur Blank wants to win a Super Bowl.
Jimmy Crack
November 1st, 2012
8:08 am
Maybe the Falcons can go undefeated for 2 seasons in a ROW!! Or maybe, starting this Sunday, in the next 3 years, Matt Ryan can throw 500 passes without an interception! AND, if Matt Bryant can play into his 50s, he could kick 100 consecutive field goals WITHOUT A MISS!!!
If you put more KY on your hand, maybe you can be a porn star!
Esquire
November 1st, 2012
8:31 am
Just Sayin…..
October 31st, 2012
7:07 pm
Dallas is like a ticking time bomb. They are ranked in the top 10 in both offense & defense.
********************************************
They can tick all they want…………………the Falcons will bring the EXPLOSION…….!!!!
Esquire
November 1st, 2012
8:49 am
Jimmy Crack
November 1st, 2012
8:08 am
Maybe the Falcons can go undefeated for 2 seasons in a ROW!! Or maybe, starting this Sunday, in the next 3 years, Matt Ryan can throw 500 passes without an interception! AND, if Matt Bryant can play into his 50s, he could kick 100 consecutive field goals WITHOUT A MISS!!!
*********************************************
Great post…………….until you went solo.
CDFALCONS
November 1st, 2012
8:51 am
Don’t count your chicken’s before they hatch. Dirty birds loyalist, remain calm, take one game at a time. Cowboy’s are next then we move on to the next game. Remember dirty birds we haven’t won a thing yet!
Go Falcon’s!!!
coleski
November 1st, 2012
9:56 am
I don’t want to rain on all these over the top predictions but, I am looking for the win streak to end Sunday. I hope not, but the Cowboys came close to beating the Giants, even with all the turnover
Mikey
November 1st, 2012
11:36 am
The time to think about that will be after game 14. Not too likely they will be undefeated since most coaches with brains pull out key players if they have already clinched everything they can get. This team may stomp other teams with their backups by that time though so anything is possible. I personally ook more for continuous i
Mikey
November 1st, 2012
11:38 am
Sorry… hit the wrong button… The time to think about that will be after game 14. Not too likely they will be undefeated since most coaches with brains pull out key players if they have already clinched everything they can get. This team may stomp other teams with their backups by that time though so anything is possible. I personally care more that they show continuous improvement during each week of the regular season. GO FALCONS! YOU ARE RISING UP!
Chuck
November 1st, 2012
2:26 pm
Sooo, had they beaten the Falcons, they’d have a record of 22-14?
Wow, sounds pretty good – above average even
warfalcon
November 1st, 2012
3:15 pm
never,ONE GAME AT A TIME,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaxcomet
November 1st, 2012
7:25 pm
Atlanta is a good team but not a dominant one. They’ve already pulled two games out of their azz. They’ll probably go 13-3 or 12-4 and win one playoff game.
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Still Gritz Blitz'n
November 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
Good points w/ the “caution”sayers, & is very true, say we lose tonight, or week 14, then key is do the Birds rebound quickly against the next team, next game, that’s a statement. Finding there consistency, keeping focus.
Still Gritz Blitz'n
November 4th, 2012
8:03 pm
“Almost Gametime”.
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david
November 5th, 2012
6:01 pm
I don’t see them going undefeated…too hard to do in the NFL….but who cares…Just win the Superbowl!!…Patriots went undefeated and lost the Superbowl….and nobody is talking about the undefeated season….win the Superbowl….win Respect!!
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