Despite first bad sign (Ryan: flu), Falcons won’t fizzle again
Here are two reasons why Falcons won't collapse this season.
FLOWERY BRANCH – The unique thing about the NFL is it’s set up to avoid exactly what it is the Falcons have managed to do. Bad teams draft early and are given easier schedules. Good teams draft late and are given death marches on national television.
There’s only one way to explain an extended run of calamity and infamy, and that’s some unexplainable mutant force, like, say, Al Davis.
But where’s the limb? I’m ready to venture out.
And they get along better than these two guys.
The Falcons never have posted consecutive winning seasons. It stands as arguably the most remarkable failure over the last 43 years in pro sports, and certainly in the NFL. But it ends here. The 11th winning season in franchise history in 2008 will be immediately followed by the 12th winning season in 2009.
I think. (Hey, it’s Monday of Week 1. Matt Ryan just missed practice with the flu. I need to hedge a little.)
“It is surprising,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said when asked about the streak. “That’s a long time. But very few of us who came to the organization last year were even aware of it [until hearing about it] after the playoffs. To be honest, I think a lot of people and this coaching staff took [the stories] a little personal, the insinuation that last year was a little bit of a fluke.”
So it’s a driving force this season?
“I don’t want it to seem like it’s a cross we’re bearing. But it’s just a subtle reminder that there’s another stigma to overcome.”
This would seem like an easy goal to achieve. The four corners of any NFL team — ownership, management, coaching, quarterback – are solid and stable. But we were here in 2002, when the Falcons went 9-6-1 in Michael Vick’s first year as starter. We were here in 2004, when they went to the NFC title game in the first season under Jim Mora.
Ten times, they’ve been here, only to fade, collapse or walk into a door. They went 12-4 in 1980 but then 4-9 down the stretch the following year to finish 7-9. A Jerry Glanville team went from 10-6 to 6-10 in 1992. The lowlight: Going 5-0 against California teams in 1991, prompting Glanville to create the “California Trophy,” and bring it with him to San Francisco. The Falcons (56-17) and then the trophy were destroyed.
Year-after collapses have varied from the spectacular (June Jones starting 0-8 and getting into a sideline argument with Jeff George) to the luck-less (injuries to Jamal Anderson and Vick) to the borderline comedic (Jim Mora becoming unraveled during a 2-6 second half in 2005, melting down in news conferences and placing a desperate sideline cell phone call at Tampa Bay to determine if a tie game would help his playoff chances).
Most current Falcons aren’t even aware of the streak. It would be like cracking a Norb Hecker joke and wondering why everybody’s giving you a blank stare.
But Todd McClure certainly knows. He’s the longest-tenured Falcon. So he’s the one most prone to motion sickness. This year, he believes, the ending will change.
“This team is different than any one I’ve played on,” he said. “It’s different in the way they’ve brought guys here who have bought into what the coaches are teaching them. We’ve got enough guys who aren’t going to let [a significant decline] happen. I know what you’re thinking: ‘That’s easy to say.’ But I’ve been here for 10 years and I recognize what we have.”
There’s an uneasiness in Las Vegas. The Falcons won 11 games last year. The over/unders in Las Vegas for this year’s win total: 8 or 8 ½.
But the bad history predates the GM (Dimitroff), the quarterback (Ryan) and the coach (Mike Smith). Out on a limb: The curse is dead. And note to Ryan: Advil.
♦ ♦ ♦
Tracking the Falcons after their 11 winning seasons.
Year Record Next
1971 7-6-1 7-7
1973 9-5 3-11
1978 9-7 6-10
1980 12-4 7-9
1982* 5-4 7-9
1991 10-6 6-10
1995 9-7 3-13
1998 14-2 5-11
2002 9-6-1 5-11
2004 11-5 8-8
2008 11-5 ?
* Strike-shortened season.
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92 comments Add your comment
Eric
September 7th, 2009
5:40 pm
First, 11-5 and we will win the division, somebody get Matt Ryan some theraflu!!!!!!
RFGH
September 7th, 2009
5:51 pm
Unfortunately, if Ryan has the actual flu not just an ordinary respiratory virus, no medicine, including Tamiflu, will have him ready for Sunday’s game. Fortunately, Redman is a very capable back-up. Defense is the concern flu or not.
Doyle, Winder
September 7th, 2009
5:54 pm
I’d “settle” for 10-6 and a 1st round bye. Ditto Eric on the theraflu!
Dawg95
September 7th, 2009
6:06 pm
Apparently you haven’t seen the falcons secondary.
Falcons aren’t winning jack s**t until they do something about that.
sportaree
September 7th, 2009
6:08 pm
Hopefully those four corners you talked about means this team will do a full 360 degrees and come full circle.
Waycross
September 7th, 2009
6:17 pm
I see no way Ryan doesn’t play Sunday if he’s able to stand on two feet.
leland
September 7th, 2009
6:30 pm
Dear Mr. JS–sometime funny, sometime not funny. This time, not. Your pal, Leland
PMC
September 7th, 2009
6:30 pm
Please never show Jeff George again. That period never existed. It is completely blacked out. That guy is a pathetic excuse for a human much less worth the 2 number ones they traded to bring him here.
jim
September 7th, 2009
6:32 pm
Schultz, you should have at least acknowledged in this piece that the Falcons have the league’s third toughest schedule. Research is a bitch, huh.
Jack S**t
September 7th, 2009
6:35 pm
They got me won over.
unemployed
September 7th, 2009
6:40 pm
Go DOLPHINS!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 7th, 2009
6:49 pm
Unemployed:
Go DOL…Dept. of Labor
Screech Razortalon
September 7th, 2009
6:57 pm
Nice article to wind up the holiday Schultzie. Today is Monday…Matt should be fine by Sunday.
Birds win 31-24. Our defensive line rules and the secondary finds a pulse. Ryan has a field day and Turner rushes for 120+. Surprises: Marty Booker key third down catch. White and Jenkins will prove again why they are a formiddable tandem. TG in the end zone twice. Question Mark: Falcons return game.
June Jones and Jeff George…now there’s a time in Falcon Lore I’d like to forget. Mora picks up Milloy…interesting. I think Milloy has still got some gas left in the tank. Small surprise about Jamaal Fudge…but I guess somebody had to go to make room. Think TD is done working on the secondary? Or waiting to see what we got in Brian Williams and Tye Hill?
Did Jerious practice today? Any update on the neck/leg injuries?
Huge Falcon Fan
September 7th, 2009
7:01 pm
I once heard someone say a compulsive gambler is someone that would always take the Falcons and seven points. Get feeling better Matt. I want to see some attitude on offense and defense. Lay it on the Dolphins.
RomeDawg
September 7th, 2009
7:02 pm
Charles Dimry has just been called out of retirement! Anyone know Bruce Pickens phone #?
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2009
7:04 pm
It depends on what kind of flu it is. If it’s the swine flu then all bets are off and Matt may be rooting around on the field and rolling around on the sidelines. Let’s hope it’s not the swine flu. Imagine if Chipper was to catch the swine flu. We’d never again hear from him.
Brent
September 7th, 2009
7:14 pm
Hey leland, blow it out your bellybutton. Your little schtick’s gone stale, too.
Sincerely, Brent
WHAT UP!!!
September 7th, 2009
7:15 pm
12-4!!! Go Falcons!!!
Falcons 35
fins 10
preston
September 7th, 2009
7:16 pm
I dont know Jeff………I have been a falcons fan for a long time…..I was sure….would have bet my life on it on more than a few times that the streak was definately over. This team and coaching staff is probaly the most solid and capable of putting a fork in the streak for that we have ever had. But, how many times have we been here before? Matt Ryan and Micheal Turner are two of the best offensive players that we could ask for to lead this team…they give us an offensive identity, and we and everybody else know exactly what we are……lol..even Dennis Green. But what can be said about the defense? I am afraid to say that we know exactly what we are too in that area,and it is not good, infact it is horrendously bad, and there are not many bright spots to talk about there, besides John Abraham…..when he is healthy. We all know what wins games……defense. and as good as our offense is…..any defensive pressure and lock down to our offense or off games by Ryan or Turner will kill us, because our defense will not win any games for us. St Louis caught lightnening in a bottle last yr, but they may have given the league a formula for actually disrupting our offense. So, I dont know, I will reserve my euphoria over breaking this streak until I see that we will actually end up winning more games than we will lose this yr.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 7th, 2009
7:16 pm
What if it’s the boogie woogie flu?
unemployed
September 7th, 2009
7:16 pm
I’d like to dedicate this to “Chef” Tim Dix
Miami has the Dolphins the GREATEST football team,
We take the ball from goal to goal like no one has ever seen
Were in the air, were on the ground were always in control
and when you say Miami Your talking Super Bowl
Cos were the Miami Dolphins, MIAMI DOLPHINS, Miami Dolphins Number One
yes were the Miami Dolphins MIAMI DOLPHINS, Miami Dolphins Number One.
preston
September 7th, 2009
7:22 pm
Sonny Clusters- now how much of a bad omen would that be….Matt Ryan not feeling well and as much as we havent thought twice about it, I guess the realty of the swine flu would really hit home if something like that were to happened…………but wouldnt that be just the thing that you would expect to keep this snake bittten franchise non back to back winning seasons alive and kickin’.
Waycross
September 7th, 2009
7:24 pm
unemployed….keep your day job. Oops, my bad.
John
September 7th, 2009
7:26 pm
Go Falcons….. The Mighty Birds of Prey
Rod
September 7th, 2009
7:26 pm
Redman wants to start next year probabley and if the falcons plan on getting anything for him they need to trade him before he blows his cover from the preseason performance.
Larry
September 7th, 2009
7:32 pm
Sonny,
No worries! Chipper now knows he won’t have to play in October so he can head to his Texas ranch for opening day of deer hunting season. No way he catches the flu or gets hurt now!
Twitter Trackbacks for Despite first bad sign (Ryan: flu), Falcons won't fizzle again | Jeff Schultz [ajc.com] on Topsy.com
September 7th, 2009
7:36 pm
[...] Despite first bad sign (Ryan: flu), Falcons won’t fizzle again | Jeff Schultz blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/09/07/despite-first-bad-sign-ryan-flu-falcons-wont-fizzle-again – view page – cached The Falcons have never posted consecutive winning seasons in their history but the team should be strong enough to avoid that this time. — From the page [...]
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
September 7th, 2009
7:45 pm
Preston…you depress me….(good post….the truth hurts)..
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
September 7th, 2009
7:47 pm
news flash…Chipper broke his right hand…he cannot hunt this year…….
Bad News
September 7th, 2009
7:47 pm
Take away the cellar dwellers:
-Detroit
-St Louis
-Oakland
-Kansas City
-Denver
Their offense was a below the pack 18 points a game.
Those cellar dwellers are not on this season’s schedule – we shall see.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2009
7:48 pm
We was always washing our hands during the season so we wouldn’t catch nothing. Having the flu before the game can really mess with you and having the flu on the field can be messy. “Mess” being the key word here. One time Stinky Wintes threw up on the field with his helmet on and the face guard was dripping stuff and that made Jeff get sick and he was over on the sidelines getting some oxygen and he threw up in the oxygen mask and the trainer got mad at him and started calling him names and Coach come over there and straightened out that trainer because Jeff was the star of the team and he was all pasty and white and shaking and stuff was coming out of his nose and he started crying a little bit and Coach just walked off and didn’t say nothing. Stinky Wintes went on to win the game late with a field goal. We will never forget that game. We was hoping that won’t happen again.
Dirk
September 7th, 2009
7:48 pm
The Mora meltdown was 2005 not 2004 … obviously.
Bad News
September 7th, 2009
7:55 pm
Unless Pat White comes into the game, it will be a battle of 20-yard bombs by NOODLE ARM & Chad
Too much Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown & Pat White
Dolphins 30
Falcons 13
DR Feel Good
September 7th, 2009
7:55 pm
Ryan does not have the flu,he has the Hawaian fever.He should be find after a night on the town.
Reid Adair
September 7th, 2009
7:57 pm
The overall organization is certainly much stronger now than it was either in 2003 or 2005. I think that will pay off by seeing the streak end. I don’t think the team will win 11 in the regular season like a year ago, but I think they will have a winning record.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2009
8:04 pm
When we was playing we played ‘em one at a time like Chipper says. We’d play one then we’d play another and then another. One at a time. That way, it was easy not to say 11 wins when we didn’t have 3 wins yet so we just did it one at a time. We was 2-0 one time and somebody asked Coach, “Do you think you’ll end up 11-0?” Coach just looked at him and said, “We play ‘em one at a time and we’re shooting for 3-0 right now.” Coach was smart like that and we almost never got to be 11-0 until we was 10-0. We was always clean and had good manners and was polite to our elders and would shake hands after the games. That’s why it wouldn’t work out for us to be journalists but working at the plant and at Citi Field it works pretty good. We was never really sick on the field so we don’t know how to deal with that but we hope Matt Ryan gets a lot better before game time.
Jeff Schultz
September 7th, 2009
8:16 pm
Winder – 10-6 could win the NFC South this year.
Dawg95 — Agree (but without the cleverly disguised profanity). Defense will need to generate a strong pass rush to aid the secondary.
Leland – sometimes serious, sometimes not. this time serious.
Waycross – pretty funny.
Dirk — Typo fixed, thanks (those damn fingers sometimes take over my brain, like HAL the computer).
Mitun
September 7th, 2009
8:46 pm
the Falcons will have a back to back playoff season this year even though our Road Schedule is really difficult. I have one thing for this team and that my friend is the word “Believe”.
preston
September 7th, 2009
8:50 pm
sorry Bob Horner, but if it makes you fell any better, you are one of my all-time favorite braves!!!
Harry B
September 7th, 2009
9:15 pm
So Jeff, if the Falcons do not do well this year, I hereby ask you not to be the bandwagon journalist that you are and talk trash about them if they fail. You are so good a praising a team beforehand, and even better at trashing them when they do bad.
My point: Sportswriters have to be hypocritical at times, like going back on what they predicted, but please dont act like you knew it all along, its very smug.
Eric C.
September 7th, 2009
9:48 pm
Huh? “The Falcons (56-17) and then the trophy were destroyed.” I know what you’re trying to say but this didn’t come out right.
Jeff Schultz
September 7th, 2009
10:00 pm
Harry B– I do not jump on our off the bandwagon. I praise when a team does well and criticize when it doesn’t. Process that slowly. With any luck, it will sink in. Cheers.
Jeff Schultz
September 7th, 2009
10:03 pm
Eric C. — The Falcons were destroyed. 56-17. Then an unidentified player on the Falcons sideline smashed the trophy. It was left on the sideline in pieces.
Bad News
September 7th, 2009
10:24 pm
I have a man crush on Matt Ryan. He truly is the best looking QB in the NFL. I once thought Vick was but he went to prison and fell in love with Bubba fudgepacker so I had to let him go.
Go Matt and shake your booty on the feild just for me!!!! oxoxoxox
WHAT UP!!!
September 7th, 2009
11:05 pm
I hate Vick so much! I know Matty Ice can’t hold his jock, but I just wanted to come out of the closet but he rejected me because he is straight. Vick sucks!
WHAT UP!!!
September 7th, 2009
11:08 pm
Dammit everybody knows I’m gay now!
Bad News
September 7th, 2009
11:10 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290103022
Oh the memories
Ryder
September 7th, 2009
11:22 pm
Atlanta has a true leader on both the sidelines and in the huddle. Unfortunately this may not be enough as they are facing some of the best offenses in football this year (Philly, Dallas, New England). If Atlanta is to even go 9-7 they must play well against their own division as well as the teams they are even against (Miami, Chicago, Washington).
BraveCat
September 7th, 2009
11:28 pm
As a Braves fan, I have seen stumbling……….lately.. and a lot. But this is team, is it. What up scares me………He has many issues. Go Falcons.
Bad News
September 7th, 2009
11:52 pm
Matt Ryan vs Arizona Cardinals:
-2 interceptions
-1 fumble
-safety
That’s some real clutch play……
Way to go ole NOODLE ARM