Falcons get a chance to clinch division and quiet critics
After Brent Grimes secured last week's win in Seattle, the Falcons are one celebration away from clinching the NFC South.
After a 12-2 record, the clinched playoff berth, the likelihood of a division title, the likelihood of home field through the playoffs and several thousand more fans suddenly following Roddy White on Twitter, the Falcons may actually be close to securing their greatest achievement of all: Acceptance.
They’ve beaten New Orleans. They’ve beaten Baltimore. They’ve beaten Green Bay. If they defeat the Saints for a second time, shouldn’t that smother the lingering doubts?
They’ve won games running. They’ve won games passing. They’ve won games with their 5-foot-10 cornerback (Brent Grimes) and their 5-9 kick returner (Eric Weems) and their 35-year-old, 5-9 kicker (Matt Bryant) and, yes, maybe the winning lottery numbers.
They haven’t always been impressive. But doesn’t it say something when a team just keeps winning, like at no time in franchise history since the season it went to the Super Bowl?
Will there come a point at which everybody suddenly agrees: “OK, forget about style points and the fact Michael Vick dominates the first 27 minutes on SportsCenter. The Falcons might just be the team to beat”?
Here’s one more chance and one more national audience. The Falcons play host to New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Win this, and they’ll clinch the NFC South. They won’t have to pack a suitcase again until Super Bowl week.
Also, maybe everybody shuts up.
“I’ve said that all along that we don’t need anybody patting us on our back,” linebacker Mike Peterson said. “We’ll take that underdog role. We’ll take it all the way to Dallas.”
There are advantages to being 12-2 and having people doubt you. It keeps a team on edge. Players are less likely to get too comfortable when they’re basically being told every week that they’re a house of cards.
That happened again this week. Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, now of ESPN, likened the Falcons to the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 13-3 in the regular season, only to get bounced in their first playoff game. Dilfer said he could easily foresee the Saints winning this game and then returning to the Georgia Dome in the playoffs and winning again, this despite the fact the Falcons are 19-3 under coach Mike Smith at the Dome (6-0 this year) and quarterback Matt Ryan is 19-1.
There’s at least one significant flaw in Dilfer’s comparison. Those Chiefs started 9-0, then faded in the last seven games of the regular season (4-3), allowing 90 points in losses to Denver (45-27) and Minnesota (45-20). These Falcons are on the up-tick. They have won eight straight since a blowout loss at Philadelphia.
That said, the Saints obviously are capable of winning twice here. They are 10-4 and the defending champions. These teams are long-time division rivals. Home field tends to be an afterthought. But the difference between the Falcons and the Saints — and even the Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Bears, to a degree – is the Falcons sense they aren’t being given the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe that’s a statement on franchise history. Maybe it’s just that some of their wins haven’t been overwhelming.
Regardless, when Dilfer said what he said, White blew up on Twitter, later commenting: “I just don’t like the fact that he said that about my team. I guess we’ll have to show him. … Everybody wants to doubt us. That’s fine. We’ll just keep winning and do what we’re supposed to do. It’s not about the other teams. We feel, whether we win or lose a game, it’s really up to us.”
Three months ago, the Falcons won at New Orleans 27-24 in overtime to improve to 2-1. We wondered about potential. Now they’re 12-2 and some still are wondering. Unfair?
“That’s cool,” Grimes said. “It just gives something extra out there, not that we need it.”
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– Atlanta can suddenly hit pro sports utopia
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204 comments Add your comment
Blake
December 26th, 2010
11:11 pm
@Matt “CHOKE” Ryan…BTW…what are you afraid of dude? Why do you care? We’re not playing the Eagles…we’re playing the Saints…So like I said…go get on a Philly blog or take a flight to Philly or choke on a Philly cheese steak windbag!!!!!
Gen Neyland
December 26th, 2010
11:29 pm
The Falcons offense isn’t, or hasn’t been the
? mark going into Monday night. I think the defense will take offense to this specific attitude amongst the football world’s talking heads and put it on the Katrina’s. Falcons 27–Ain’ts 16…and GBO
idot
December 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
Falcon 31—–saints 0
An Adult
December 26th, 2010
11:45 pm
Dear Bloggers
Ignore Matt Choke Ryan… if you don’t respond to ANYTHING he writes, it doesn’t matter if he is on the blog or not. Ignore the mother, period. Don’t give him the satisfaction. He’s clearly not adult enough to stay on his NO blog sites and just talks trash on our and other sites. He doesn’t have a life and he isn’t intelligent so just ignore him!!!!!!!!!!! His mother doesn’t let him stay on line that late each night anyway, so eventually he’s off the site daily
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 27th, 2010
12:27 am
@An Adult
It’s usually easier to ignore a blogger by not mentioning you will ignore them
Just a thought Einstein.
For the record, I have been blogging here since 2007, so figure the odds of me disappearing
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
12:31 am
Thats a little sad actually…since 2007
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 27th, 2010
12:44 am
You got my cookies or what?
Blake
December 27th, 2010
1:55 am
He’s not a New Orleans fan…He’s an Eagles fan! That’s cool…He can sit right beside me at the dome and I’ll personally show him what Atlanta fans are all about. I’m sure If I showed up at an Eagles game In my Falcon gear…I would probably get shot are stabbed…City of brotherly love until you walk In their stadium!
Big B CH 99
December 27th, 2010
2:37 am
I say lets talk about the games one week at a time. Right now, it’s the Saints. We can talk about the Eagles if & when it comes to that. I certainly believe that it’d be a better game than earlier in the year. I just know that the Saints will be tough, they’re the defending champs until someone dethrones them. We’ve had trouble w/ Pass D all yr, & Brees we all know Brees can win a game by himself. BUT If I have to choose, I’d rather lose to the Saints in the regular season, then beat them in the playoffs. It’s almost impossible to beat a good team 2 or 3 times in the same season.
Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
M
December 27th, 2010
3:30 am
FALCONS WILL MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THE SAINTS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. THE SAINTS CHAMPIONSHIP WAS ALL A SETUP. THIS IS WHY THE MEDIA WILL NOT HONOR THE FALCONS AS THE BEST UNTIL THEY TRULY WIN IT ALL. ALL U HEAR IS BRET FARVE, PHILLY, GREEN BAY, BUT WHEN WILL THEY TALK ABOUT “THIS” TEAM???? THE #1 TEAM IN THE NFL BY RECORD, *’THE ATLANTA FALCONS’*
M
December 27th, 2010
4:03 am
Who is the “Crack head” talking about Matt Ryan choking? He must not be checking the stats. Make sure u say all of this after the game okay??? U never can find these freaks after the game is over. They make some of the strangest statements not knowing that Matt is perfect at home in the Mighty Dome baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring it u punk B’s. Just like santa said, you are a HO, HO, and a HO.
Iceman
December 27th, 2010
4:44 am
@ Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
The Eagles are the poster boys for choking this decade, followed by San Diego. And how exactly is Matt Ryan a choker when he has brought this franchise back to respectabilty in his first 3 years.
falconfan70
December 27th, 2010
5:26 am
Isn’t it funny how the Aint’s won the superbowl last year…was the football gods looking down on them or the NFL? makes one mind wonder…I mean it was a good story for the NFL..
West
December 27th, 2010
6:21 am
ESPN- Eastern Sports Predictable Nitwits! Keep it up Trent, the lack of respect keeps me fired up week to week.
Bravesfan79
December 27th, 2010
6:54 am
Im hoping the Saints are on the other side of the bracket in the playoffs
JSS
December 27th, 2010
7:28 am
@ Jeff Schultz…
“There’s at least one significant flaw in Dilfer’s comparison. Those Chiefs started 9-0, then faded in the last seven games of the regular season (4-3), allowing 90 points in losses to Denver (45-27) and Minnesota (45-20). These Falcons are on the up-tick. They have won eight straight since a blowout loss at Philadelphia.”
But he’s (Dilfer) right about one thing, the Chiefs ran into someone who was equally as hot coming off their 1st round bye: The Indianapolis Colts! Not a fan of Dilfer, he keeps sleazy company (Cowherd and Kincade). Only time will tell about that insight. because who should know more about stinking it up in the Divisional round than Trent…
Louisiana Falcons Fan
December 27th, 2010
7:29 am
Doesn’t everyone know that the Falcons have to win the superbowl for 15 years straight before ESPN will finally give them credit for having a team that is allowed to win a few games…
JSS
December 27th, 2010
7:50 am
@ Jeff Schultz…
And the Chiefs were like the current Falcons in this respect; QB Trent Green, Priest Holmes, and Tony Gonzalez, go look at the numbers. Ryan, Turner, and Gonzalez… I will take White over Morton or Kennison; but that hits you in the face like a wet towel.
By the way, those two losses by the Chiefs came on the road. The Chiefs were 8-0 at Arrowhead coming into the playoffs… We’ve been told by Falcons advocates that this the thing that will put them over the top (home field) …
@ Larry…
I see you had enough Milk, Bread, and some gas for the generator down in the bunker with Heir Eichmann and Gen. Forrest…
Gatorman
December 27th, 2010
8:14 am
I guess the media and some local sports writers can’t count. ESPN is saying that if the Saints beats the Falcons, they will still win the Southeast Conference???? Are you kidding me????? Whether the Falcons win tonight or not, it’s the game next week with Carolina that will determine if they have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Saints need this win to ensure they could finish 12-4 and have the home field advantage in the wild card playoff (first game). I guess most of these folks can’t give up their political party affiliation when determining who wins fairly or who they won’t to win. The Falcons however mush beat Carolina to keep Philadelphia from forcing them to play there, so winning one of the last two is absolutely necessary.
UGASlobberknocker
December 27th, 2010
8:29 am
The lack of respect doesnt bother me..lets face it, in their 45 previous years, the Falcons havent done a whole lot to generate national respect. Last yr everyone said the same thing about the Saints..but they won the SB, proved themselves..so this yr..they do have the respect.
so we can eliminate the respect prob one way..win the SB.
and we are.
Submariner683
December 27th, 2010
8:34 am
Oh joy, the return of Matt “Choke” Ryan. I can attest that he’s been blogging here since at least last season. I actually thought he’s been using a few different other names. To my knowledge he’s not so much a Philadelphia fan but wants Mike Vick to come give him some man love 24/7. He hates the Falcons for having the audacity to release a convicted felon and draft another QB to give the franchise a chance to move on. Mick Vick was 2-2 in the playoffs as a Falcons starter, those two loses both coming at the hands of Philadelphia. He also led the Falcons to ONE division title, ONE.
Mike Vick has had a great 2/3 season. He’s a great player and has matured. Good for him, better for Philadelphia. Quoting stats and final scores as if those matter at all in the future is folly. The Falcons are bound to beat Philadelphia sooner or later. The same can be said about Atlanta’s homefield record of late. One thing I can say about Vick, if he continues to run like he has been, he’s going to get really hurt. He already missed a few games this year doing that.
As far as the Falcons being “lucky”, it takes all kinds to win. New Orleans was the “luckiest” team in the world last year with the all the pick 6s and other turnovers. Last year they went to a last 15-year average of minus 3 turnovers to plus 18. This year they are plus 13. Everybody likes to point at the Saints missed field goal as all luck. True, it was a very short field goal, not much longer than an extra point. The fact remains that the Saints did near nothing during the game save one 75-yard TD play on complete broken coverage and a TD set up by an 70-yard punt return to around the 4 yard line. That was the Saints offense that day. The Falcons dominated time of possession and yards from scrimmage.
Matt “Choke” Ryan is a hater. He loves Vick and now hates the Falcons for ever having the audacity to release him. Last year when Ryan was playing less effectively, he was all over this blog on how he was essentially the same as Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, pick your first round bust. With all the 4th qtr comebacks just this year he needs to change his name.
Submariner683
December 27th, 2010
8:38 am
Sorry, the Saints turnover ratio is back down to around their average, minus 5.
Feels like 13 degrees
December 27th, 2010
8:46 am
Would Arthur Blank want an outdoor stadium for the Falcon’s game tonight ?
MWC
December 27th, 2010
8:47 am
It is a FALCON fan blog….haters go away…
Submariner683
December 27th, 2010
8:50 am
For Matt “Choke” Ryan and his love for stats. Philadelphia has four more interceptions and one less fumble recovery than the Falcons. Since you put up that the Falcons have won mostly on turnovers. Oh, yeah, luck and ref calls too, forgot about those. Unfortunately, there’s no database that I’m aware of that tracks that, maybe you can start a website besides the one where you worship the ground that Mick Vick walks on.
MWC
December 27th, 2010
9:00 am
“Choke” is a crybaby…let it go…
Joey
December 27th, 2010
9:02 am
FALCONSSTINK,
“…smelly Atlanta…”?
Dang, son, did you think that none of us on here been to New Orleans, smelled the filth, and seen the freaks?
“Smelly” doesn’t even begin to describe that cesspool . . .
Joey
December 27th, 2010
9:21 am
We’ll find out soon enough is Matt Ryan is a choker. What we do know is, so far: he doesn’t flip off the fans; he hasn’t gotten caught with stolen watches, pot, dead bulldogs, etc, and hasn’t served a single day in the pokey.
I am inspired by Mike Vick’s comeback and his play this season for the Eagles, and believe he has changed his life.
However, it’s silly and petty to call Ryan a choker when you consider how many wins (and comeback wins) he has led this team to in almost 3 seasons. Ryan’s only playoff game was a loss, true, but AZ was better team, and came within seconds of a Super Bowl win.
Hopefully, the Falcons advance in the playoffs, and “CHOKE” has to change his name!
kaminari
December 27th, 2010
9:27 am
I’ll be watching the game from Japan, through my computer, starting at 10:30am. I can only watch the first half cause I gotta hop on the train and teach English during the second half. I’m wondering how I’m gonna feel tomorrow afternoon, when the game is finished. Will I feel some kind of redemption with a Falcons win that not only makes a statement but gets us 1st seed since 1980? I was that kid in 1980 in the backyards on the south side, down past the airport, wearing either my William Andrews or #10, playing tackle the man with the ball, happy that Church finished at 12 cause I knew that God wanted us to watch football at one. That kid is still alive and happy as hell that these Falcons are 12-2. Nobody can appreciate it more than actually the players, but when you grew up living and breathing your Sunday heroes, and watching them fail miserably, morally, at the highest level, you come to appreciate something more than wins and losses. And that’s just having the opportunity to play the game. We are there folks. Regardless of what happens 24 hours from now, the Falcons are the Class of the NFC and it only took three short years for this coach to get us there, and only 30 years for this team to rise up, rise up again.
Go Falcons!!
Trent dipper
December 27th, 2010
9:28 am
Hey choke,you remind me of a segull,all you do is eat crap, and squak!
A Fan
December 27th, 2010
9:29 am
FALCONSSTINK? Atlanta is smelly? Really?
1998 – Minisota was already thinking about making plans for The Super Bowl, after leading the game by almost two touchdowns.
Last Year – Nobody gave the Saints much chance. They are a class act. I’d rather see the Saints vs Falcons in the NFC title game, than Vickiggles.
1980 – The Falcoms had how much of a lead, and lost. One play at a time, one series at a time, one quarter at a time, one half at a time, and one game at a time. We’ve won nothing yet.
Rise Up!
idot
December 27th, 2010
9:43 am
It looked like the saints team choked, in the last meeting of the two teams.
Falcons looked like they tried to give the victory to the saints, after the Falcons had kicked their behinds for 3/4 of the game.
But, the saints choked on the ball.
Tired
December 27th, 2010
9:47 am
I am getting sick and tired of hearing all those so-called know-it-alls on ESPN and NFL Networks selling the Falcon’s short….lets just hope they shut-em up for good tonight…..Deion Sanders and Jamie Dukes are excluded from the know-it-all team as they are tghe only true believers in the Falcs!
Al Davis
December 27th, 2010
9:49 am
Just Win Baby!
always high
December 27th, 2010
9:53 am
This “JSS” character is the biggest know it all of all time. He is the “king of cut and paste”. A regular “fountain of knowledge”…NOT! You’re a joke little fella.
Choke on this Bloggers!
December 27th, 2010
9:57 am
They might call me choke…………but aren’t you glad that Chad Henne,Jimmy Clausen,Eli Manning,Tony Romo,Brett Farve,the Smiths in SF,Carson Palmer and Kyle Orton aren’t on the Falcons….what they all have in common is that they are the starters on teams that are either going to FIRE THEIR HEAD COACH or already have due to their Quarterback’s inconsistencies or inabbilities!
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
9:57 am
This will be there togouest game yet and with Perreier Jerry never playing, Sean Witherspoon alyways injrued, Roddy runnin his mouth and dropping balls, Donte Robionson giving cheep shots and Matt Ryan throin INTs, I just dont see them gettng 2 the Superbowel. This team could be a hole lot beter hat they lesssoned to me.
Choke on this Bloggers!
December 27th, 2010
10:02 am
Perhaps you Nay-sayers would rather have McNabb as quarterback………….No heres a good one for YOU CLOWNS…………….Derek Anderson!
Roddy Piper
December 27th, 2010
10:04 am
I see that I’m not the only Roddy that RUNS MY MOUTH IN ATLANTA!
blazerdawg
December 27th, 2010
10:10 am
Mike Bell is an idiot, but who did not know that.
Dome will rock tonight.
Russ555
December 27th, 2010
10:12 am
Go Birds.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2010
10:20 am
@JSS,
“This team is eerily similar to the 1980 team. They were balanced (in their mind); they beat the vast majority of the teams in front of them; but when pudding was pulled from the oven, it came back tasteless at the biggest meal… You people are obsessing over best record and that home field advantage. The lone glory of this franchise came at the expense of a team (the Minnesota Vikings) that hadn’t lost on their home field either… I’ve said it all along regarding this team, until the clock shows 0:00:00 in Dallas I will not waste a minute of belief in them…”
The 1980 team was great, but keep in mind, they were playing against Danny White in the playoffs…and the only other QB that could pull off his feat in that nightmarish playoff game (among potential NFC div round opponents) is Matty Ice. So much for your comparison.
Joey
December 27th, 2010
10:22 am
I just hope we can get through the next 2 weeks with no injuries.
I’m glad Blank didn’t hire Singletary back when he interviewed for the job. He was terrible, even in a terrible division.
JChikara
December 27th, 2010
10:26 am
Deion Sanders made an interesting point on NFL Network last night. He asked “What if the Falcons decide to go vanilla in this game?”
That would make sense, and sounds like a Belichick move to throw off the opponent. Atlanta knows that they only have to win one of their last two games, so tonight’s game is about nothing more than something to give the media more reason to hate on the Falcons, regardless of what they do in this game.
If the Saints go up 10-0 or 14-0, I’d call off the dogs and bring in the backups, knowing that home-field advantage is still obtainable regardless of what the Saints do next week. The more this team stays under the radar the better chance they have of beating up on teams when no one expects it.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2010
10:28 am
If the Falcons lose tonight, which is very possible, it will sting…but in the grand scheme, it will mean very little once the Falcons dispatch the Panthers next week. From a psychological perspective, a loss by the Falcons would ensure they avoid the “hard to beat a team three times in one year” stigma, assuming they meet the Saints in the playoffs. Having said that, I hate looking for positives from a potential loss. It would sure be nice to take care of business tonight and get a few players some rest and avoid any key injuries.
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
10:31 am
This team is eerily similar to the 1980 team. They were balanced (in their mind); they beat the vast majority of the teams in front of them; but when pudding was pulled from the oven, it came back tasteless at the biggest meal… You people are obsessing over best record and that home field advantage. The lone glory of this franchise came at the expense of a team (the Minnesota Vikings) that hadn’t lost on their home field either… I’ve said it all along regarding this team, until the clock shows 0:00:00 in Dallas I will not waste a minute of belief in them…”
Wow..what a true fan….i’m sure you are a delight to be around with your cynical, depressing outlook. Try being an optimist…you will feel a lot better.
Frozen Rope
December 27th, 2010
10:33 am
Shut up Ho Joe Tess,, nobody cares what you think,, your not a Flacons Fan..
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
10:35 am
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
9:57 am
This will be there togouest game yet and with Perreier Jerry never playing, Sean Witherspoon alyways injrued, Roddy runnin his mouth and dropping balls, Donte Robionson giving cheep shots and Matt Ryan throin INTs, I just dont see them gettng 2 the Superbowel. This team could be a hole lot beter hat they lesssoned to me.
Seriously? Let me just correct you and your ignorant ways of spelling…. always, injured, running, cheap, throwing, getting, superbowl, whole, better and i have no idea what “hat they lessoned to me” means.
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
10:36 am
Oh I forgot a few: their, and toughest.
Frozen Rope
December 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Matt “Choke” Ryan = Joe Tess Fish House