John Madden is not too impressed with the undefeated Falcons
FLOWERY BRANCH – Hall of Fame coach and renown broadcaster John Madden is not sold on the Atlanta Falcons as Super Bowl contenders.
On his weekly show “Madden Football” show on SiriusXM NFL Radio show, he repeatedly called the league’s last undefeated team “solid.”
“Solid” is good for .500 team. “Solid” is not good if you plan to contend for the Lombardi Trophy.
Former Oakland Raiders Coach John Madden gestures toward his bust during his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2006. (Associated Press/Mark Duncan)
“I think they have solid players,” Madden said. “They are solid on offense, solid on defense, special teams, the whole thing. They play very well as a group, as a team. But at this halfway point, I know they are undefeated. They have the best record. But I’m not really ready to say, ‘OK the Super Bowl is theirs. They are the World Champions.’”
Madden also doesn’t believe the Falcons are going undefeated.
“I think they are going to have, I heard Rich (Gannon) say earlier, that he thinks they are going to lose a game in route and I do to too,” Madden said.
The bottom line for Madden, and it seems for the rest of the nation, is that the Falcons have flopped in the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
“But how are they going to do in the playoffs?,” Madden said. “At some point, with the Falcons I think you can be ready to jump into the playoffs and say how are they going to do there and that’s where I would start to have questions.”
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139 comments Add your comment
HC007
November 9th, 2012
9:32 am
Its sad to see that senility has set in, poor Madden.
Just The Facts.......
November 9th, 2012
9:36 am
Outscored 72-23 in last 2 playoff games and shutout offensively in the last. Does this deserve respect?
True Falcon Fan
November 9th, 2012
9:43 am
To: All Critics — This Falcons team is a very mature group! So ALL the folks out there, John Madden’s etc., PLEASE, PLEASE keep throwing-up the “CRITICISM”, that is “one of the driving forces” that keeps this team motivated and they keep “WINNING”!
Somebody PLEASE stick a sock in #84 Roddy’s BIG MOUTH! We love ya buddy “You jus need to think or eat pizza” before talking……
GO FALCONS —- Rise-UP ATL, RISE-UP —- Ain’ts next
FalconFanSince RunNShoot#!M1983
November 9th, 2012
9:44 am
Truth be told, when you’re on top people always gonna have something 2 say bout you.. But we built our team from the ground up over the last 5 years, drafting high character players and smart guys.. When we be dancing down Bourbon street in Feb then what they gonna have 2 say.. Oh they played a weak schedule.. Noo its tha DAMN NFL noo team is weak.. That why u have CFL, Indoor Football, arena football, soo kill dat talk bout OUR FALCONS…. LOL RISE UP FALCONATION
Playoff Wins
November 9th, 2012
9:45 am
How much respect do you deserve when your last playoff win was nearly a decade ago?
jerry
November 9th, 2012
9:45 am
John Madden knows football, and as far as we know, has nothing personal against the Falcons, and gave an honest assessment of the Falcons. So what? The people taking his comments personally and attacking his football knowledge are coming across as doped up roofers.
john
November 9th, 2012
9:47 am
Pressure on Brees will produce an easy victory for the Falcons.
KBP
November 9th, 2012
9:49 am
Why does it matter what the National media thinks? I hope we lose a game before the playoffs so the undefeated regular season talk will GO AWAY The distraction is not worth it. A team in 2007 had an undefeated regular season and lost the SB and I bet they would rather have a SB victory. We don’t know if the Falcons are the best team but we do know they have the best record. We know we are one of the few franchises in NFL history to win its first 8 games. Just keep on keeping on.
1eyedJack
November 9th, 2012
9:51 am
At this point I think Frank Caliendo has more credibility than John Madden. However….I don’t see the ‘Coons going undefeated.
KBP
November 9th, 2012
9:53 am
AJC, change the time on this blog. Wow, thought I was late.
Bold Prediction
November 9th, 2012
9:55 am
Enter your comments here
Bold Prediction
November 9th, 2012
9:56 am
Falcons finish 9-7 and Tampa finishes with a 10-6 record.
Chicken
November 9th, 2012
9:56 am
Hiram, there you are little biotch……been hidin’ like the rest of the trolls ??
lowdownjj
November 9th, 2012
10:05 am
Woopty damn doo. Who cares what he thinks? Who cares what anybody outside of Flowery Branch thinks? I am a die-hard Coons fan and even I have a little reservations of what will come in the postseason. But untill then I am loving every minute of it!
Sonny Clusters
November 9th, 2012
10:05 am
What’s different about this and the Braves? Nothing much that we can see. Until the Falcons can win in the post-season they will be discounted just as the Braves have been again and again. Remember, we got mad at ESPN for saying it but their analysts said, “the Cardinals will play up, and the Braves will play down” in the play-in game . . . and they were right! Chemistry decides what will happen and the Falcons changed chemistry for this season. Let’s hope that works. The Braves came back with the same old same old. Let’s hope they will make big changes beginning in Spring Training with a concentration on pennant winning baseball instead of golf and fishing.
A Fan
November 9th, 2012
10:06 am
One game at a time. The way to anything good is by earning it. We’ll either win and earn another round of this, or lose and earn another round of this. We’ll have to earn our way to the big game, but we’ll have to earn our way into the playoffs, and then earn those wins to the end. Call em statement games, big games, or whatever. Smitty has the boys thinking process. And this weekend is just another step in that process. I’m glad nobody believes. Everybody loves underdogs. It’s hard being an underdog at 8-0. Dale Earnheart said he hoped that he got booed. He’d go to the bank and cash the check on Monday…
MJM
November 9th, 2012
10:07 am
Madden is absolutely right, our Falcons, and I love them, have not blown any one away. Oakland, Panters were last minute wins, The schedule gets tough now, Tampa Bay will be especially tough but I hope we can keep on winning.
me
November 9th, 2012
10:13 am
So the guy who can’t control his fear of flying in an airplane offers an opinon. It’s just another opinion.
joe in tucker
November 9th, 2012
10:14 am
really don’t care what that fat assed blow hard says, never have, never will…..
FalconUGAFan
November 9th, 2012
10:14 am
So what?…I got an opinion too, but what does that have to do with the fact we have to take one game at a time. Worry about New Orleans. Brees has our number and we better be ready.
me
November 9th, 2012
10:14 am
@MJM
Madden is absolutely right, our Falcons, and I love them, have not blown any one away.
Other than the Eagles, San Diego and Denver, you are correct.
papadawg
November 9th, 2012
10:15 am
Mr. Brees will light up the injured Falcon D and I don’t think Matty Ice & Co will be able to outscore him. I expect 35+ from Brees & gang
Jason
November 9th, 2012
10:19 am
Score. Board.
Jason
November 9th, 2012
10:21 am
One more thing: while looking at the Giants at this point of the year last year, would anyone have described them as a juggernaut? Nope. They would likely have been described as “solid” as well. Those of us who live here know this team is something special. It’ll be our little secret until January. Fine by me.
SawThat1nce
November 9th, 2012
10:22 am
Don’t bet any money on that papadawg.
Brees won’t be on the field that much(unless they decide to play him on defense).
Look for the Falcons to run the ball down the taints gullets.
Dawg Fan
November 9th, 2012
10:28 am
Madden is still alive??
John Madden not a Falcons believer
November 9th, 2012
10:28 am
[...] “I think they have solid players,” Madden said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “They are solid on offense, solid on defense, special teams, the whole thing. They play very well as a group, as a team. [...]
Mike Jay
November 9th, 2012
10:30 am
He’s mostly right except for calling the offense solid. If that offense is merely solid I would hate to see what a good or even great one looks like. He also did not emphasize how well this team plays together. IMO that is one of the biggest overlooked things in the NFL where every team has talent. Also coaching really does make a difference. Look at the Denver gaem. Peyton did not just have a bad game as most pundits say. He was masterfully game planned for and completely confused. Bonus to Madden if he had also mentioned (he didn”t)they are the least penalized team in the NFL, which they have been for the entirety of Smith’s stewardship. Keep on hating and not believing and The Falcons will just keep on winning.
TDnoclue
November 9th, 2012
10:39 am
What makes Madden so smart. How many Super Bowls did he win.
That’s right….one. Just like a dozen other average coaches.
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 9th, 2012
10:43 am
Madden has a point, The Falcons have a weak schedule and haven’t played any of the top 10 teams. Denver was just bringing in a new QB when the Falcons played them . All the other teams they played are mediocre at best. Falcons played three of these mediocre teams even and were outplayed but fortunate to beat the Panthers who are 2 – 6. This probably the best coaching staff the Falcons have ever had. Bat New Orleans in the Dome decisively and I will be more of a believer.
ASHCAN!!!!!!
November 9th, 2012
10:44 am
It don’t matter if they go 16-0, question is can they win in the playoffs???? We all have opinions thats why a blog was created, but i personally don’t think the falcons can beat SF,NYG,GB in the playoffs. They will be exposed like they always do.Until they do it i’ll always have my doubt, the falcons have been disappointments since the 1980 team losing to the cowboys with a good lead with 3min left. I know this is not that team but just saying,been hype you up then a no show when it really counts.
ASHCAN!!!!!!
November 9th, 2012
10:49 am
And for everybody all over madden for telling truth, when it happens don’t change your mind calling him a great football mind. Like what are you going to do, stop playing his game on ps3 for him calling out your team??? LOL truth hurts.
Tim
November 9th, 2012
10:55 am
sorry John your just old
RGO67
November 9th, 2012
10:55 am
BIRD CALL to DIRTY BIRD NATION!!!!!
Yes it would be nice to have all the National Attention from the media but we really need to win a playoff game this year before they really jumpon the wagon. Deep down inside they all believe but as long as we the DIRTY BIRD NATION believes it just shouldn’t matter.
Until then either RUN WITH US or GET RUN OVER!!!
RISE UP DIRTY BIRD NATION!!!!
BillyBob
November 9th, 2012
11:00 am
As Falcon fans we know this is the best team and organization in the history of the franchise. That gets us excited but unfortunately we don’t have a great history and until a team start winning playoff games they will not get the respect. I Iove this team but I understand how all this works. If we go one and out then this great start will mean nothing to anybody, other than Falcon fans. Two or three more wins we go to playoff and then and only then will a win mean something to the pundits. Sad but true.
Jst Askn
November 9th, 2012
11:14 am
Why do we care about the opinions of a ‘has been’ too afraid to get on an airplane? Take two seats in your RV, Madden!
TheAintsDefenseSuk
November 9th, 2012
11:14 am
I am so over what the rest of the NFL has to say about the Falcons. Just continue to win one game at a time, and we will see what’s up after we win the Super Bowl.
monty
November 9th, 2012
11:16 am
Time to start being physical, not saying stop passing but be able to grind out a 3rd and 2 every now and then instead of have to go to the pass for short yardage. Grind out some 1st downs at the end of the game instead of being forced to pass to do so. WHere are we ranked defensvily? Are we just “solid” or are we near the top? Can we stop a good run game? Have we faced a great passing game yet? Lot of questions about this team still. Hopefully everything will be answered favorably in time!
THE ATLER
November 9th, 2012
11:20 am
You guys stop being soooooo sensitive when people talk bad about the Falcons. As long as we’re still winning who cares what they say. I’m ready to get the playoffs and let our play speak for us. We don’t have to get all defensive and mad when the national media doesn’t agree with us about the Falcons. Let em hate and we will just keep winning.
1stn10
November 9th, 2012
11:25 am
Here’s what I like to think about. The Falcons have 8 games left, if they play .500 ball we end up at 12-4, if the aints do they end up 7-9. So please chill out the Falcons are in the drivers seat. Does anyone think that the Falcons will loose more than 4 games the rest of the season?
1stn10
November 9th, 2012
11:28 am
The Falcons have no pressure on them at all, every other team in our division does. All they need to do Sunday is not beat themselves are it’s on to 9-0. It may be a tight game but the Falcons will win.
GO Falcons..!!!
November 9th, 2012
11:33 am
I remember when Madden would call MNF and atlanta was playing. Madden always found something positive about the Birds play. even when the other guys would gush over the apposing team. Anyway my point is , I dont think he was slamming the Falcons. He’s an ex coach telling atlanta they got a ‘Solid’ team. He’s right.
Go Falcons…stay healthy,stay focused…
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
November 9th, 2012
11:44 am
Go Falcons. Win for REVENGE. Win for LOVE OF COUNTRY. Win because I LOVE THE FALCONS.
Go Falcons!!!
Kelly
November 9th, 2012
11:46 am
And? Next.
I am Third
November 9th, 2012
12:07 pm
1998 All Over Again
John Madden said the same thing about the Falcons in 1998 and how they were not in the same league with Minnesota etc. I remember him saying this on Thanksgiving Day or Thanksgiving weekend. What does this Mean? I think he is too slow to give the team credit where credit is due, just like the rest of the media. This team reminds me of the early Patriot teams of the 2000s that did enough to win before they later became dominant.
They had football then ?
November 9th, 2012
12:10 pm
lol, This coming from a man who played with a lather helmet…..geezer
They had football then ?
November 9th, 2012
12:11 pm
*leather
Ivan
November 9th, 2012
12:12 pm
All the talk about “Falcons need to win the playoffs” will be relevant in January. Because that’s when the playoffs begin.
Right now they’re playing the regular season. So save the “0-3 in the playoffs” until the it actually gets here.
True Falcon Fan
November 9th, 2012
12:25 pm
@ Bold Prediction = DumbASHES! enough said!
November 9th, 2012
9:56 am
Go Falcons —- Nawlins next
Disgusted
November 9th, 2012
12:29 pm
And how many big games did Madden lose when he was coaching the Raiders.
Were they not the team that “could not win the big one” for some time.
Look at the record. Perrennial losers of the AFC championship game till he got one in ‘76.