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
Covers Dixie like the Dew
December 27th, 2010
10:43 am
Coach Mike Smith is good.
J-Smoove
December 27th, 2010
10:51 am
The Dome is going to be electric tonight! I can’t wait to get that Dome rocking and send the “Who Dat” nation back to NOLA crying and praying they can beat Tampa Bay just so they can get in the playoffs. GO FALCONS!!!
willdave
December 27th, 2010
10:57 am
Jeff, here’s the problem. The Falcons have posted far more losing seasons than winning ones over the past 44 years of their existence. Then, of those few winning campaigns that resuled in trips to the playoffs, each postseason appearance has ended in a humiliating defeat. Even their 1998 team, the best one they have ever produced until this current roster, suffered a somewhat lopsided defeat in the SB.
Thus, I’m afraid that, despite how incredibly well they have played and how often they have won this season, the only way these 2010 Falcons will earn the widespread respect that they deserve is by winning the Super Bowl convincingly. In other words, there cannot be a bad call by an official or some other fluke occurrence that critics can point to as credit for their victory.
All that said, I believe that the Falcons will beat NO tonight, and, yes, I really do believe Atlanta will win the SB in February. Then they will finally get the widespread respect that they so richly deserve. Mr. Blank, TD, Smitty and all their players have done an absolutely amazing job at turning this long-suffering franchise into a legitimate winner.
GO FALCONS!!! THIS IS YOUR YEAR!!!
BirdDawg24
December 27th, 2010
10:59 am
coach smith is a good coach, the falcons running game will probably be slowed down tonight. the birds will have to win this one with passing game and special teams. any ryan interceptions thrown tonight will be very very bad news. our secondary wont be able to stop the saints for long.once brees gets warmed up it wont be pretty. Falcons game plan score- fast – early – and often and nooo turn-overs. if they get 14 points down its over.this could turn into an epic battle or a blow-out.it certainly has a play-off atmosphere about it. I cant wait for the game to get started. forcast calls for a cool brees to blow into town so we better turm the heat up in the dome.
JSS
December 27th, 2010
11:06 am
@ Eric C.
Danny White? Ha ha, he never won one big game in his career! Danny White threw for 320 yds on the best Falcons had to offer till the 98 team along. He did make a career of sending the Falcons home twice! Danny White 2 Falcons Zip! Geez!!! Hey was a helluva of an Arena League coach!
“Cut and Paste King,” nah that is Sid…
JSS
December 27th, 2010
11:13 am
In tribute to the greatest comeback quarterback in post season history: Danny White!
http://lonestarstruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG00251-20090923-0752-300×225.jpg
Frozen Rope
December 27th, 2010
11:15 am
Everyone knows the cut and paste King of the World is Matt “Choke” Ryan,,,
Papa
December 27th, 2010
11:16 am
To those objecting to JSS. As an observer of him over months: He is reasonably intelligent, makes pretty astute comments, is (in his mind) a celebrity, and likes to tick people off so he can condescend to them. Don’t feed the beast.
stendek
December 27th, 2010
11:16 am
Have been Falcon watcher since 1966 so put those tar and feathers away. Could this scenario occur? Close loss to Saints at Georgia Dome. Unthinkable upset defeat against Panthers? No division title. No home field playoff advantage. Wild card playoff spot. Could that nightmare occur? Hope not! Honestly. Packers scare me Hell of a lot more than Philly Vultures. Like Falcon chances in rematch with thug dog killer Michael Sick birdies. Do not feel confident about rematch with Packers. Anyone else concur? Oh well. Just rip Saints to wipe that distasteful scenario out entirely! GO FALCONS! STENDEK
Ozzy
December 27th, 2010
11:16 am
I say don’t play hard tonite to avoid risking injuries to starteers. Even if we lose, we can win next week against carolina (walk in the park) and still be number 1 seed. Who cares about bragging rights? It is all about results. We have all our starters healthy right now and number 1 priority should be to keep them that way
FalconFan
December 27th, 2010
11:18 am
The Falcons are for real. ESPN and others can talk about the Eagles, (who btw were 11-5 last year, 10-4 this year so far. What’s the big deal). They can talk about the Packers, Giants, whomever, but in the end the Falcons will be holding up the SUPER BOWL trophy and THEN they will talk about them, or make excuses why the other teams they love lost.
Furman Bitcher
December 27th, 2010
11:34 am
Um is Trent Dilfer a Falcon hater or what. I just listened to him say that basically the Falcons will lose tonight and will get blown out. He then said that then NO will come back in 3 weeks and blow us out again. He also alluded that we shouldnt have been anywhere near winning the first game because there was a “fluke” int and a couple of other plays that didnt go the Saints way. Is this guy for real?? Every game comes down to a play or two. These two teams are very equally matched and it can go either way for sure but to say the complete rubbish he said was just rediculous. He talked like beating the Ravens, Bucs twice, Green Bay and winning 8 straight was just luck. What a dolt.
Come on
December 27th, 2010
11:35 am
is Trent Dilfer a Falcon hater or what. I just listened to him say that basically the Falcons will lose tonight and will get blown out. He then said that then NO will come back in 3 weeks and blow us out again. He also alluded that we shouldnt have been anywhere near winning the first game because there was a “fluke” int and a couple of other plays that didnt go the Saints way. Is this guy for real?? Every game comes down to a play or two. These two teams are very equally matched and it can go either way for sure but to say the complete rubbish he said was just rediculous. He talked like beating the Ravens, Bucs twice, Green Bay and winning 8 straight was just luck. What a dolt.
jarvis
December 27th, 2010
11:37 am
“Acceptance” is an “achievement” only for pu$$ies.
JSS
December 27th, 2010
11:37 am
@ Papa…
“is (in his mind) a celebrity”
Nope… I work hard for the money, and shun the limelight… I rather spend any day on a kayak in Catalinas or down in the marshes of Wilmington Island then sit here or my Ipad responding to quasi psychiatric analysis of a undergrad at UGA… Let them take their pot shots, I just comment and move on unless they steal user names or make it personal…
“and likes to tick people off so he can condescend to them.”
Only one person that I like to get after on the blogs; that would be the “Willie Martinez” blogger…
I’ve spent way more of my life liking the Falcons and the Braves than disliking them by the way… It was never been about a single player for me. It certainly was easier to walk away when Derek V. Smith was brought on board as a minority owner… Never lost a moment of peace over the choice since (in terms of the Braves)…
JSS
December 27th, 2010
11:41 am
Sorry…
“It was never been about a single player for me.” should have been “It was never about a single player for me.”
Dwayne C
December 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
My prediction for tonight’s game: New Orleans Saints 30 – Atlanta Falcons 24/ Drew Brees lights up the Falcons secondary. The Birds will beat Carolina and then host either the Eagles or Saints at home.
Should the Falcons and Saints meet in the playoffs it could go either way. Still, I get a strong “2003 Kansas City Chiefs” vibe from this team(KC went 13-3 and was eliminated in their first playoff game) so I’d look for the New Orleans Saints to defeat the Atlanta Falcons again, 30-27 on a late field goal.
Super Bowl picks: NO Saints or Philly Eagles Vs New England Patriots with the Pats winning it by at least ten points.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
Katherine, who were you replying to? JSS, wrote the pessimistic post…not me.
keith
December 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Falcons should come out with a balanced attack with Turner and the short pass. Stay with the long drives strategy and chew up the clock.
Falcons 27
Saints 23
GO FALCONS!
RealStory
December 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Dwayne,
I would take a beat on that score you gave. Want to give me the Falcons and 6 points? I will take that in a heart beat.
Hopefully it won’t be cold in Philly on Tuesday so Vick can have a good game. That’s what the cancellation was all about wasn’t it?
I say the Packers will play the Eagles in the first round, beat them, then the Packers back to Atlanta to play the Falcons in the second round. Falcons will play the Bears (at Ga. Dome) for NFC title and then the Patriots in the SB. Falcons by 3 in the Super bowl.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
@JSS, I don’t know…Danny White was a pretty good QB and kept the Cowboys going when they were on the decline after Staubach. Ryan tied his record of 19-1 in first 20 home games.
Eric C.
December 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
Papa,
Ha, I know that…but he still ticks me off.
Jim
December 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
N’orleans. A great sports city. In the NBA they have oops they’re gone. In the NHL they have uh nobody. In MLB they have the Pelicans. Oh they aren’t MLB? Oh yeah welfare. Over half the population is on the public dole. Great sports city. I love it. Go there often.
TU87
December 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
That is the point of tonight’s game. Falcons have had trouble with Brees and the stated weakness on the team by everyone is their secondary. Also remember all the doubters last year about New Orleans, everyone liked the Vikings because of Favre. Now that the Saints won the SB, they are in the “circle” – teams like the Pats, Steelers, etc. that “experts” always like.
Tempest
December 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
I’m not sure which ending would be more enjoyable:
1] Saints thrashing Falcons on MNF
[remember 9/25/06 ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw4JFabSivo&feature=related ]
2] Saints thrashing Falcons in playoffs [after losing 2 in regular season]
3] Vick returning to GeorgiaDome and thrashing Falcons with 75% of crowd wearing Vick’s Falcon’s jersey
4] Falcons manage to survive, only to get thrashed in Super Bowl … again.
Truly an embarrassment of riches ….
JSS
December 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
@ Katherine…
To quote the late great Chuck Daly: “A pessimist is a optimist who has been around the block!”
I’m fine with the people who I want to be around; if it scares off the “somewhere over the rainbow” crowd; I’d be doing cartwheels and pooping sugar cookies! Happy Holidays!
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Eagles get 4 days between games. Tomorrow the Vikings and Sunday against Dallas. That could be a Tall Order. MV7 will lose one of these games.
mgm
December 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
This could be the most incredible and difficult run to the Super Bowl ever or another chapter in the Falcons’ curse as a franchise on the verge of greatness. Ignore this game tonight. Regardless of the outcome, (the Falcons will beat the Panthers and secure the number 1 seed), the playoffs are shaping up to look like this.
The best two teams by record are in the same division, Falcons and Saints (what are the odds? Curse or Blessing?) Saints get the 5 seed. Saints play the worst team in the playoffs (NFC West winner) in the first round and easily win. That puts them back in Atlanta for the first playoff game. Game one: Atlanta vs. the defending Super Bowl Champions. If they win, incredible feat but more to come. If they lose, another disappointing exit akin to 1980 vs. Dallas. Game two: Atlanta vs. Philadelphia. (I am predicting Philly wins either one or two games to get to the NFC Championship game. Not too far fetched at this point) If they win, the demons from the Mike Vick era are exorcised. If they lose, I don’t even want to think of it. Talk about a kick in the face. SuperBowl: Atlanta vs. New England. (Another prediction not too far fetched at this point). If they win, Atlanta just went through arguably the most difficult teams ever to win a Super Bowl. All is good in the world. Osama is captured, the Mayans were wrong, the words Loserville and Atlanta are never uttered again. If they lose; well it was to one of the greatest teams of the past decade. But it will still suck.
cajun2good
December 27th, 2010
12:45 pm
Dear Dirty Birds,
The Saints will make a Gumbo out of you tonight…Check our record for Nationally televised games since the Sean Payton era….97% win……The big mouth of your team has given the edge and advantage to the Super Bowl Champions….
JSS
December 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
@ Eric C…
Ha ha, why be “ticked off?” Stop by Caribou or Starbucks and get a Chai Tea! Enjoy the game and don’t get too invested…
By the way, Danny White got beat out by another all-time great: Gary Hogeboom before he imploded too! They were competent QB’s, but were never World beaters! Mahalo!
Joseph
December 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
I agree with B Grimes. The Falcons are constantly being overlooked and doubted, thanks Dilfer. Nonetheless, the Falcons continue to excel at stacking up wins, one on top of the other. I do get tired of the dominant talk today on NFL network being the Pats and Schott said that the Lombardi will be the Pats, it is essentially in the books. I do look forward to the show that is for sure, I will just have to mute the sound until the game is in hand. Go Birds! Bring it home!
Hurt Kurbstreit
December 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
At this point in the season, you are what your record says you are, and the Falcons record says they are the best team in the NFC. Falcons over the Saints in the GA Dome. Count it baby!
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
Katharine is a woman, so her understating of sports is minimal at best. If thise were a blog about cooking and cleaning then she could tell us off.
JSS
December 27th, 2010
12:58 pm
@ Katherine…
Enjoy this, make sure to catch the interlude at 2:37 to 2:50… “Ah!”
JSS
December 27th, 2010
12:59 pm
http://georgevelez.com/i-dont-believe-in-reincarnation-because-i-refuse-to-come-back-as-a-bug-or-as-a-rabbit/
JSS
December 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
@ Joe Tess…
No need for that, misogyny doesn’t cut… You can disagree without going there…
JoeFan
December 27th, 2010
1:02 pm
Falcons know they have Carolina next week and play with less urgency than New Orleans. Falcons loose tonight but clinch the division and home field next week. Playoffs, well at least they will make it to the second round since they will have a bye the first week. The ball has been bouncing their way all season, lets see how it bounces in the playoffs.
Playoff poll: Do you prefer Falcons play Saints or Packers? | Jeff Schultz
December 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
[...] – Falcons get a chance to clinch division and quiet critics [...]
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
JSS U tryin to hit on Katharine? Good luck. She aint my type.
JSS
December 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
@ Jo Tess…
Katharine? No thanks, but I’m not going to play that “women don’t know sports card.” She’s entitled to her opinion, so are you… Now I’m getting out the middle of it… But both of you need to get out of that name calling and the bringing the cities into it… Just a suggestion, Happy Holidays!
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
1:51 pm
I aint never called her a name. I just said shes a women and dont no sports. U need 2 pay atention.
JSS
December 27th, 2010
2:02 pm
I’ve been paying attention, “Women” do know sports… Saying a “woman” does not know “sports” but “cooking and cleaning” blog is name calling They own teams, they are the Mothers of everyone of the players and generally spend more time around the games and practice than any Father. Don’t get all off of the subject in that regard… You both enjoy that sparing, it ain’t my cup of tea…
truth
December 27th, 2010
2:15 pm
There is no way the Falcons are over looking the aints to get to the panties. After 3 years under Smith some of you still don’t get it. Tonight is when the Falcons want to clinch the division. Do some of you really beleive he holds a meeting and says, “Ok men we don’t have to win this week because we have the Panthers coming here next sunday.” Naaa……he’s saying “Men it’s been nearly a month since we’ve been home, go take care of buisness and let’s celebrate in out lockroom tonight.”
GEAUX FALCONS!!! Hey Seen do you hear that…..tick….tick….tick….Falcons win this one tonight.
Falcons 28
aints 17
Dwayne C
December 27th, 2010
2:15 pm
@ RealStory: think the Falcons will beat the NE Patriots in the SB by three? LOL
Tom Brady = three SB titles and having another banner year at QB and possible league MVP
Matt Ryan = good QB and and up and comer but with no championship rings
Tom Brady at QB, improving NE Patriots defense & preparation of head coach Bill Belichick > Atlanta Falcons and a suspect secondary and even more suspect defensive coordinator in Brian Van Gorilla
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
2:22 pm
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
Katharine is a woman, so her understating of sports is minimal at best. If thise were a blog about cooking and cleaning then she could tell us off.
Why don’t you shut your mouth and make me some dinner
It is a fallacy that only men know about and like sports…I guess all those years spent in your mom’s basement didn’t teach you that…
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
2:25 pm
Anyway….I sure wish I had tickets to the game tonight. I hope people get there early for once.
Ho Ho Ho Tess Fish House
December 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
JSS were takin UR man card away. Either that or U must B Rosie Odonnald. Looks like a man, thinks like a women.
Already taligaiting!
December 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
We’re here in the Gulch tailgating. I plan on being so drunk when the game starts! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
iwbam
December 27th, 2010
2:42 pm
This is the ATL, you think we care what a washed up critic thinks, please……….
sick em Roddy!
Katherine
December 27th, 2010
2:45 pm
Already taligaiting!
December 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
We’re here in the Gulch tailgating. I plan on being so drunk when the game starts! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Don’t be too drunk to enjoy it