ESPN commentator: Seahawks, Redskins better than Falcons
The Falcons had the best record in the NFC this season, but an ESPN commentator sees at least two other teams better than them in the conference playoffs.
Michael Wilbon discussed the Redskins-Seahawks game on ESPN 980 this week and said he felt both teams were better than the Falcons.
The Falcons routed the Giants a week after a national analyst said New York was a better team.
“I think the winner will beat Atlanta. I think the winner’s a better team than Atlanta. I would never use the word upset. I think the Redskins are better than Atlanta, and I think Seattle’s better than Atlanta.”
The Falcons beat the Redskins 24-17 on October 7. Atlanta is 13-3, Seattle is 11-5 and Washington is 10-6.
Wilbon’s comments continue a trend.
On Dec. 9, NBC analyst Rodney Harrison said, “Atlanta is the No. 1 seed, but no one is afraid to play Atlanta,” Harrison said. “To me, the team to beat in the NFC is the New York Giants.”
A week later, Atlanta routed the Giants 34-0.
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199 comments Add your comment
Admansteve
January 4th, 2013
3:23 pm
These guys just like to hear themselves talk. What makes them experts? The Falcons are better than either the Redskins or the Seahawks and Mat Ryan is a better quarterback than either RG or BW. All teams have some weaknesses but good teams that go 13-3 find ways to win. The week after they make predictions we never hear about the ones they get wrong.
Debbie
January 4th, 2013
3:31 pm
We don’t need respect. That talk is getting old. I’d rather us continue to fly under the radar. We don’t need respect; just a Super Bown Win!!
FalconsForever
January 4th, 2013
3:35 pm
Wilbon is an idiot!
badger58
January 4th, 2013
3:38 pm
After the Bucs game, who can blame them? These guys have to realize they have to do more than get off the bus in order to win games. I hope to hell I’m wrong, but I think that Bucs games was a disaster.
Glory Between the
January 4th, 2013
3:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Falcon Flap
January 4th, 2013
4:03 pm
Wilbon is obviously bitter over the ending to his Bears season. He has got to take his fustration out on on someone. I know the Falcons could choke, but its not going to be against washington or seattle AT HOME in the first round.
jfreak13713
January 4th, 2013
4:55 pm
The Falcons must win in playoffs before they can earn respect nationally. I don’t think Washington or Seahawks are better than Atlanta but they have to prove us right on the field during the playoffs. I disagree with ESPN EXPERT on this one but I do understand why he feels the way he does. Just look at last game in Tampa where we played all our starters against sub .500 and still got beat!
If you want respect you to earn it! Go earn it Flacons!
EB
January 4th, 2013
5:26 pm
I can’t tell you how THRILLED I am that the fat, moronic Wilbon is running his mouth about the Falcons again, which with any hope should mean they will FINALLY win a playoff game!! I think ESPN actually looks for complete idiots to hire for their programs because they seem to have the MOST idiotic people working for them. In fact, his buddy on PTI is just as bad if not worse at running his mouth and then acting as if he didn’t once he is proven wrong! I quit watching ESPN years ago because of their actions and for how they LOVE to pick on the poor lowly Raiders constantly, even though everyone on the planet has known how bad they are 10 years ago, and ESPN still wants to kick them when they are down, which imo is quite petty & pathetic to say the least! Looks like among his many mistakes over the last 10 years of his life, Al Davis was at least spot on with his feelings towards ESPN! When it comes to Wilbon and his cohorts, they tend to ALWAYS talk smack about things they truly seem to have no clue about, and I hope it turns around and bites them squarely on their backsides. That should mean that the Falcons go all the way this year and we get to see jackhole’s like Wilbon act like they NEVER said anything negative about Atlanta!!!
Big Ron
January 4th, 2013
5:55 pm
Micheal wilbon is a biased a**hole he is a midwestern guy he likes no southern teams like every year he says the SEC is down so i really dont value his opinion like someone said if we had a black quarterback he would pick us but since we dont he picks against us seattle and washington have black quarterbacks so of course he is gonna ride them not to mention he has ties to washington d.c. so screw him we will show his uncle tom ass!!!
Just Saying
January 4th, 2013
6:28 pm
The falcons looked HIGHLY unmotivated in the 2nd panthers and buccaners game. The thing I like about this falcons team is that they have showed up BIG everytime they played in a “big” game this season. Every time the media starts saying the falcons “cant” do something, they have responded this year by doing that exact same thing the media says they “cant” do.
There is NOT a “good” team that hasnt lost to /struggled with what we consider “bad” teams. NOT ONE. But when the falcons lose 3 meaningless games they are called the worst names in the book? Why? They have lost to division opponents by 4, 10 and 5 now they are the worst team ever??? LMAO you people are laughable….When the falcons actually SHOW UP they can look like the best team in the league but they didnt even look motivated to BE THERE , ESPECIALLY against the panthers and bucs.
Jeremy
January 4th, 2013
6:50 pm
If this was the Chicago Falcons, swap the teams cities then Wilbon would LOVE THEM. Everyone at ESPN supports teams that have QB’s that have won superbowls or what they think are the best defenses. FALCONS will never get respect unless they force them to respect us. I know I get upset every time I hear people hating on our team, I only hope the team is just as motivated as the fans. The Falcons when motivated, played more physical versus saints at home and giants. When we aren’t focused we let teams get ahead early and out physical us. We played down to our competition versus raiders, cardinals, bucs, and panthers. ITS TIME TO GO TAKE RESPECT! RISE UP!
hmmmmm...........
January 4th, 2013
7:34 pm
It’s pretty simple if the Falcons start winning playoff games the media will jump on board. The Falcons choked the last 3 years in the playoffs so they need to prove people wrong. Atlanta is long considered one of the worst sports cities in the country.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
8:33 pm
morn
January 3rd, 2013
10:36 pm
This is what happens when you have a rb that cant break through the line and a defense that cant stop the opponents.
____________________
No, this is what happens when you play your entire existence–46 years–with ZERO championships. Win in the postseason, and the respect will come.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
8:38 pm
Snvllestud
January 3rd, 2013
11:21 pm
Who is Michael Wilson and who cares what this ESPN talking head dickweed says?
___________________
I don’t think anybody here cares about Michael Wilson one way or the other. The blog’s about Michael Wilbon.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
8:44 pm
ESPN = Manure
January 4th, 2013
12:03 am
Which Atlanta team has been historically WORSE in the post-season its respective sport:
The Mike Smith Falcons
or
The Bobby Cox Braves ?
___________________
The Atlanta Hawks. The Atlanta Flames. The Atlanta Thrashers.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
8:54 pm
clay
January 4th, 2013
4:30 am
No one in the NFL really gets blown out with the exception of KC and JAX.
_____________________
The Giants got blown out a couple of weeks ago in ATL.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:01 pm
SlimJim
January 4th, 2013
8:23 am
You don’t win 13 games in the NFL w/o having talent, good coaching, and a strong mental approach.
____________________
The Falcons won 13 games two years ago. How’d that work out?
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:04 pm
Rezner74
January 4th, 2013
9:10 am
Its been such a disappointment in the playoffs with the falcons,They are alot like the Braves in the postseason.. They simply choke bottomline!!
______________________
But what about the Thrashers? OK, then how ’bout the Flames? Well, there’s always the Hawks.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:13 pm
Washington
January 4th, 2013
10:20 am
I’m a Skins fan, but it’s obvious that the Falcons are a more complete team with a first-class organization. We’ve got injuries and are a few years behind in our rebuild. Respect.
_______________________
Objective perspective. Don’t see much of that anymore.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:19 pm
Decatur Falcons
January 4th, 2013
10:48 am
I feel the Atlanta Falcons will win their first Playoff Game.
______________________
They already did that–35 years ago.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:26 pm
yeahsure
January 4th, 2013
1:30 pm
Haters gonna hate!!!
Lol. We beat Redskins at Washington with a healthy RG3. Nuff Said
_____________________
Healthy? Huh? he left the game with a concussion–and didn’t return.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:31 pm
extremus
January 4th, 2013
1:50 pm
The Falcons have heard this stuff all throughout the season, and the reason is obviously their last two (very poor) playoff showings…
____________________
That’s only a small part of the reason. The main part is ZERO championships in their entire 46-year existence.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:34 pm
Admansteve
January 4th, 2013
3:23 pm
All teams have some weaknesses but good teams that go 13-3 find ways to win.
________________________
The Falcons were a good team that went 13-3 two years ago. Did they find a way to win their only playoff game following that season?
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:40 pm
badger58
January 4th, 2013
3:38 pm
After the Bucs game, who can blame them? These guys have to realize they have to do more than get off the bus in order to win games. I hope to hell I’m wrong, but I think that Bucs games was a disaster.
___________________
You’re not wrong. It was a disaster.
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:43 pm
Just Saying
January 4th, 2013
6:28 pm
The falcons looked HIGHLY unmotivated in the 2nd panthers and buccaners game . . .
There is NOT a “good” team that hasnt lost to /struggled with what we consider “bad” teams. NOT ONE. But when the falcons lose 3 meaningless games they are called the worst names in the book? Why? They have lost to division opponents by 4, 10 and 5 now they are the worst team ever??? LMAO you people are laughable….When the falcons actually SHOW UP they can look like the best team in the league but they didnt even look motivated to BE THERE , ESPECIALLY against the panthers and bucs.
_______________________
They show up unmotivated and you’re trying to justify it? Hello?
DawgNole
January 4th, 2013
9:47 pm
hmmmmm………..
January 4th, 2013
7:34 pm
It’s pretty simple if the Falcons start winning playoff games the media will jump on board. The Falcons choked the last 3 years in the playoffs so they need to prove people wrong. Atlanta is long considered one of the worst sports cities in the country.
____________________
They’ve “choked the last 3 years in the playoffs . . .”?
Actually, they’ve choked in the playoffs since 1966.
Dogmatic meme
January 4th, 2013
10:02 pm
yeah its tough to get it up for ugly broads(car&tb) but when N.Y. & N.O. (2 of the last 3 SB winners) came to town, that ass got pounded real good! (RGIII got a good SPOONIN Too!) so whoever wants it bad enough, Yeah come on in here girlfriend and LETS GET IT ON!!! we’ll send ya home sore n knowin what ya cum for!!!
miraja6
January 4th, 2013
10:12 pm
i cannot believe some of you so called falcons fans comments first of the falcons have always been a franchise of shame disarray i mean nothing to be proud of 40 plus years of disappointment since my era all i can think of is deion sanders an mike vike was the only glimmer of hope we had but deion eventually left an won super bowls no comment on vick but matt ryan mike smith an staff has done something that no other coach has done in falcons history WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! made us relevant first you got to get to the playoffs consistently compete for a super bowl that never was the case but now it is an now you wanna dog matt the team the staff cause they lost in the playoffs hey i remember when we never went so hold ya horses give them a break plus i no some teams have been in our shoes before indy with peyton tampa bay couldnt get over the hump the saint our most hated rival just to name a few
Dogmatic meme
January 4th, 2013
10:16 pm
yeah I’m thinkin of changin ta doggie-style meme Oooh!! (diceman!)
The Dude
January 4th, 2013
10:51 pm
Sorry, but I have to agree with Michael Wilbon!
Gritsfalcon
January 5th, 2013
5:51 am
Wilbon’s comments aren’t that surprising considering what else (or what hasn’t) has been coming out of ESPN commentator’s mouths about the Falcons’ all year. Right now, by the way, I am listening to ESPN radio’s build up to the Ala.- ND game. You won’t believe how they are just trying to point out every little Alabama flaw but talk little or nothing about the Irish’s flaws. At least Colin Cowherd picks the Tide and gives GOOD, solid, reasons as to why.
About Wilbon’s comments on our birds; I hope Mike Smith makes it bulletin board material! And I DO HOPE the Falcon’s play the Seahawks so when the Falcons’ kick that Seattle %$#@ these media guys in New York will shut up or at least give the Falcon’s their due! Falcons ARE going to the Super Bowl! And they will beat the Patriots!!!! (Watch out for Bengals in the AFC, though.)
JoeFalconsFan
January 5th, 2013
11:56 am
I love it when the Falcons prove all these ESPN know-it-alls wrong!! I feel this will continue to be the trend.
SawThat1nce
January 5th, 2013
12:28 pm
Dawgnole @9:47……..”Actually, they’ve choked in the playoffs since 1966.”
How did they choke in the playoffs since 1966, when they didn’t get into the playoffs until 1978? Duh?
DawgNole
January 5th, 2013
12:38 pm
SawThat1nce
January 5th, 2013
12:28 pm
Dawgnole @9:47……..”Actually, they’ve choked in the playoffs since 1966.”
How did they choke in the playoffs since 1966, when they didn’t get into the playoffs until 1978? Duh?
______________________
You’re correct.
It’s actually better to choke in the playoffs than not to make the playoffs at all, which was the case with the Falcons until 1978. My point, of course, is that they’ve never won a championship (since their inception in ‘66). I should’ve done a better job of writing that.
Rick in Warner Robins
January 5th, 2013
8:02 pm
What do you expect when you have a team that has no pass defense, can’t pass block, can’t run the ball and can’t score anything but a field goal once they get in the red zone?
Bob
January 5th, 2013
9:07 pm
He can go suck hundred year old eggs…
It is simple
January 5th, 2013
9:15 pm
Win it all and they all shut up…..Go Birds
The Grudge
January 5th, 2013
9:15 pm
ESPN analysts are like little school girls- they are chosing teams based on how pretty the uniform colors are. F them all, win the two home games, and have Deion Sanders dump ice water on them.
R Platt
January 6th, 2013
7:00 am
No way a rookie is coming into our house and leaving with a W…… end of story !!!! it’s not happening….. Seattle and Wash are really good teams with good QB’s….. but their rookies. We have different offensive and defensive coordinators then we had the previous years. Mike Nolan is gonna throw so many different looks at those guys. Although i am enjoying being the underdogs….. let’s just wait and see.
SawThat1nce
January 6th, 2013
10:38 am
I suppose that the NFC Championship, is not a real championship.
DawgNole
January 6th, 2013
12:59 pm
SawThat1nce
January 6th, 2013
10:38 am
I suppose that the NFC Championship, is not a real championship.
_____________________
You suppose right–just like the National League Championship is not a real championship.
Pete
January 6th, 2013
1:52 pm
Wilbon is a Moron and the Falcons will make the Superbowl-If you doubt it then GO FU** Yourself!!!
DawgNole
January 6th, 2013
3:09 pm
Pete
January 6th, 2013
1:52 pm
Wilbon is a Moron and the Falcons will make the Superbowl-If you doubt it then GO FU** Yourself!!!
_________________
Hopefully they’re not satisfied with just “making” the SB–if they get that far.
SawThat1nce
January 6th, 2013
10:41 pm
I wonder why the NFL calls it the NFC Championship Game?
Perhaps they should check with you, so they can give it a proper name, that you can give your blessing to.
Being as you seem to be THE authority.
Football
January 7th, 2013
12:20 pm
Who cares what espn says?? Thats why they play the game..Everyone dont like the birds..thats kool…if you like’em that should be good enough…Its the racist comments that crazy…started by a whiteman like myself…Its ok to agree to disagree..sounds like a personal problem(sickness)to me….
just saying
January 7th, 2013
5:24 pm
I was watching NFL channel. They took a survey of which home team they think was in trouble this coming weekend. People that took poll had falcons. Sixty-seven per cent said falcons.
I hope they are wrong. Go FALCON!!!!!! We have too win , too get any respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wilbon
January 7th, 2013
7:30 pm
You rednecks have it all wrong!
Wilbon
January 7th, 2013
7:36 pm
You see, I’m a big shot ESPN sports commentator which means I know a whole lot more than you country bumpkins.
camptwoshop
January 8th, 2013
3:01 pm
Finally, cant wait to get our first playoff win.