Falcons win the Super Bowl! (or so says Sports Illustrated)
If Peter King is correct, Arthur Blank and Mike Smith will celebrate a Falcons Super Bowl win. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
The Falcons ended last season with a 48-21 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. They will end this season with a 24-20 win over the San Diego Chargers . . . in the Super Bowl.
That bold prediction comes from neither a season ticket holder nor owner Arthur Blank but rather veteran NFL writer Peter King of Sports Illustrated. King’s column in Sports Illustrated’s NFL preview issue doesn’t yet appear online, but S.I. publicists sent out a link to his predictions. You can click it and see his division predictions in entirety, but here are the highlights:
♦ NFC division champions: Philadelphia (East), Green Bay (North), New Orleans (South), St. Louis (West). NFC wild cards: Falcons and Detroit.
Peter King had the Super Bowl teams right (but the winner wrong) in last year's S.I. preview issue.
♦ AFC division champions: New England (East), Pittsburgh (North), Indianapolis (South), San Diego (West). AFC wild cards: Baltimore and N.Y. Jets.
♦ NFC playoff results: First round: Falcons over St. Louis; Philadelphia over Detroit. Divisional: Falcons over Green Bay; New Orleans over Philadelphia. Conference championship: Falcons over New Orleans (26-17).
♦ AFC playoff results: First round: Baltimore over Indianapolis; Pittsburgh over N.Y. Jets. Divisional: Baltimore over New England; San Diego over Pittsburgh. Conference championship: San Diego over Baltimore (22-16).
♦ Super Bowl XLVI: Falcons 24, Chargers 20.
S.I. has six regional covers for its NFL preview issue. The one in these parts pictures Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton.
For what it’s work, King correctly predicted Green Bay and Pittsburgh would reach the Super Bowl last season. But he had the Steelers winning.
So how realistic do you think this is?
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
237 comments Add your comment
BFBryan
August 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
GO FALCONS!! Now if we could just get Vick back them Dirty Birds would have the star power too!
I’m glad they were picked. Some say it’s the “kiss of death” but heck, when have they EVER been picked? Have they won the Super Bowl? No. They may actually win with being picked. What do they have to lose? NOTHING because they have never won it.
Mike is Back
August 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
If we can get off the field on third down, than yes I agree with Mr. King’s prediction. ..Oh, instead of a wildcard…we beat those AINT”S for the NFC South title.lol
wes
August 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
Not as bad as the Madden Curse or the SI Cover curse.
It’s just that once you begin being talked up along with the likes of the Steelers/Patriots/Colts, etc… it’s probably not a bad thing.
james
August 30th, 2011
2:02 pm
So let me see if I got this right: the Falcons path to the Superbowl will involve going on the road in beating both Green Bay and New Orleans? For one that would mean that the Superbowl champ, two years running, will have been a Wild Card team. The odds of that happening two consecutive years reside in the rarefied air of winning a state lottery. Secondly, let’s consider the source. SI has not been relevant since the heyday of weekly print editions of sports magazines – way back when, when SI competed for newsstand sales with the Sporting News, Sport and Inside Sports! (Anybody remember any of these? I remember when the Sporting News was a newsprint tabloid, and 90% of their coverage went to MLB, even in the winter!). Anyway, I digress. The Falcons defense will continue to play soft, get burned early and often and the running game is going to falter this year – BIG TIME! I love the Falcons. I am a 13-year season ticket holder, but I’m sorry, they simply don’t have what it takes to be World Champs.
MoeHoward
August 30th, 2011
2:02 pm
Its really amazing! Right when you think you’ve heard it all, then you are picked to win a superbowl with essentially the same team you had the year before. Look, if the Packers could crush us 48-21 in a playoff game that means everything last year, whats to say that Vick and the Eagles wont obliterate us 63-7 when its for all the marbles in a playoff game. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS. ATLANTA TEAMS ARE CURSED AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. UNDER BOBBY COX THE BRAVES HAD ENOUGH TALENT AND SHOULD HAVE WON FIVE TITLES–THEY MANAGED ONLY ONE. The Falcons under Dan Reeves made it to the superbowl, only to look like fools when Eugene Robinson screwed up literally only days before the big game. The Falcons then lost to Denver in the superbowl to a team the same Falcons had blown away during the regular season. The Hawks, Thrashers, Flames and Georgia Bulldogs have similar stories about how close they came, but coughed up dirt because they couldnt claim the prized championship trophies. The only way to save atlanta sports franchises from themselves, the best advice i could give is SELL ALL THE TEAMS AND GET THEM OUT OF HERE. Atlanta will never win a thing as long as there is a CURSE SURROUNDING THE CLUBS.
Reggie
August 30th, 2011
2:03 pm
I’m down with my Falcons 100%. But if we don’t fix our “watered down” secondary we won’t be winning a game in the regular season. Let along playoffs or super bowl
Wink
August 30th, 2011
2:05 pm
I am a longtime Falcons fan, but the SB is not in our future. Two reasons why we want make it:
1. Our offense is built between the 20’s, we have a melt down of creativity in the Red Zone; that why we are so focused on the explosive plays of 20 yards or more…we need the YAC to score. Too many field goals…look it up!
2. Our defense can’t defend 3 down and long; I would much rather the opposition have 3rd down and 3 than 3rd down and 15. We can’t get pressure and the secondary can’t defend. This is the reason we need a ball control offense to keep the opposing offense off the field.
Should these two things change…then I will drink the Falcon cool aid…since we are dreaming!!!
Joe
August 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
I’m not sure about the Falcons going to the SuperBowl, on that same point i’m not sure about anyone going to the superbowl but (as the saying goes) thats why we play the game. I do like the sound of it though. To all the Vick (in your face) people, the falcons have moved on, falcon fans have moved on, Vick has moved on, eagle fans who didnt want him at first has moved on, what are you waiting on?
Pauls Johnson
August 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
Wow Moe,, thats pretty grim stuff there,, think i’ll go hang myself in the garage now….
Parade of Knuckleheads
August 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
The Sports Illustrated Magazine jinx has the Falcons a Wild Card becoming Super Bowl Champs.
They have the Saints winning the NFC South and losing to the Wildcard Falcons.
—– SI is wierd again.
3000
August 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
uhhhhh.. Did they miss last season’s playoff “performance”? Falcons will always break hearts, but I’ll keep watching. It’s just what I do.
RP
August 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Can’t believe people are taking this seriously. If you read this article closely, King also picked the Lions to make the playoffs. Which should tell you everything you need to know about the validity of his so-called prediction. If the Lions make the playoffs, I’m picking the Lakers to win the World Series. (Scratching your head? That’s the point.) Peter King is not only a sportswriter, he’s obviously a comedian. I agree the Falcons are a playoff-caliber team but they’re nowhere near Super Bowl contenders.
UGASlobberknocker
August 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Too bad they are always wrong. Maybe this prediction would look more credible if the opponent wasnt the Chargers. I know everyone loves Philip Rivers..me , I dont think he makes his teram better nor can he win the big game. Think about their seasons every yr..up and down no consistency.
Hope they are right on the Falcons though
kreedham
August 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
Jinx’s, curse’s, Madden, SI….geez people it’s just a prediction and that won’t get them in nor keep them out.
Cocern
August 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
When has SI ever get anything correct.
After all I did see one game last year against greenbay. I am not a believer.
duece coupe
August 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
The Raiders and Steelers won the Super Bowl as Wildcards,
but overall it’s kind of rare.
John
August 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
Now wild-card teams are being picked to win the Super Bowl like the Pack last year? That doesn’t happen but once a century.
Dr. Warren
August 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
Why are so many people on this blog so negative about the Falcons? Enjoy it, how about it? Only one city of 31 (NY has 2 teams) has their team picked to win the SB by the most famous NFL writer. Can’t you just back and marvel how far we’ve come since Petrino and Vick left us for dead?
John
August 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
Basically the writer picked the Falcons to lose to the top tier teams, beat the lower tier teams, hope the top tier teams beat each other so the Falcons can squeak into a wild card spot and win the NFC…..then win the Super Bowl.
Fish Bisch
August 30th, 2011
2:15 pm
Falcons- Supper Bowl bound. Has a nice ring to it.
BlueEagle
August 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
He obviously hasn’t seen our defensive backfield at all…Unless we beat everybody 50-49, this is unlikely this season. That said, Go Falcons!
hbcuclassics
August 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
HBCU Classics
2011 Pre-season
All-Americans
Offense
QB Stan Jennings, Albany
RB Marcus Wright, Tx South
RB Nic Cooper, WSSU
RB Mike Mayhew, NC A&T
WR Justin Wilson, Del St
WR Marcellos Wilder, Jackson
TE Tony Davis, FVSU
OL Terren Jones, Ala St
OL Sanford Banks, Grambling
OL Kendall Noble, Norfolk
OL Natiel Curry, Bethune
OL Alex Monroe, Bethune
P Ronnie Partridge, Stillman
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Booger Beer
August 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Let’s just get to the games and picks, ok?
time to sack schultz
And without reading story, I see Techno nerds coach johnson actually said something sane and I agree with…..ex-college stars should be punished for their actions!
BFBryan
August 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
@ MoeHoward August 30th, 2011 2:02 pm
“Its really amazing! Right when you think you’ve heard it all, then you are picked to win a superbowl with essentially the same team you had the year before. Look, if the Packers could crush us 48-21 in a playoff game that means everything last year, whats to say that Vick and the Eagles wont obliterate us 63-7 when its for all the marbles in a playoff game. ”
Weren’t the Falcons 13-3 and only one team had a better record? Now mind you they lost at the worst possible time but don’t good team lose, even sometime to teams that they are better than? Wow no faith in the home town team, that is actually a good team! The great thing is that the DO have essentially the same team. Don’t have to train a bunch of new players and have them get in where they fit in. The same group that killed teams last year are going to do it this year AND now they have post season experience to not make the same mistakes as last year.
GO FALCONS!! Prove the haters wrong!!
Pauls Johnson
August 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
Mr. Warren you are correct sir,,, its been an incredible turn around… lets try to enjoy it…
Not in My Opinion
August 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
They will barely make last place in the Division playing like they have been……and here is hoping that Vick has a career ending injury soon ……what a punk and thug……once and always!
D.J. Mase
August 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
Falcons schedule is brutal….If they can come out of it 10 – 6, their chance is as good as anyone, but it looks like Green Bay is hitting on all switches and they are still young, and look for Tampa Bay to raise sand too…
Mike
August 30th, 2011
2:24 pm
I knew there was a reason I cancelled my SI subscription years ago.
Booger Beer
August 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
Is Julio turning into a dropper? At least all the Matty haters found out Matty could throw the long ball on target…but he has to have someone be able to catch it!!…got that Julio…
welcome to the pros…honeymoons over.
SWAT Native
August 30th, 2011
2:27 pm
@ James – I remember when Inside Sports said the Falcons would be the team of the 80’s. Didn’t quite work out.
npgator
August 30th, 2011
2:27 pm
Lions are going all the way this year!
Gary
August 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
I dont get the national fascination with the Saints again. I think the Falcons proved last year we were the better team yet we still get no love in the Division race? I think the off season moves and the great draft choice of JJ makes us even better and the Saints moves no match for Atlanta. We’ll go to the playoffs as division winners, not wild card, then run the table. By the way, those measuring our defense by the preseason performance need to realize these games are not a true assessment of how teams will play during the season so get over it already.
Yeahsure
August 30th, 2011
2:31 pm
@MoeHoward
how is this the same team we had last year? Fans complained about Jenkins… we went and got arguably the top WR prospect in Julio. Fans complained about the pass rush… we went and got arguably the top DE FA in Edwards. Correct me if im wrong, but that only adds to the NFC #1 seed from last year. Preseason records mean nothing folks. We go through this every year and it always proves to be correct.
Didnt the Lions wins their preseason games a couple years back and go on to make history?
Geaux Braves
August 30th, 2011
2:32 pm
Saints – 24
Patriots – 21
Sorry Falcons, but yall will never win a Super Bowl.
Justin
August 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
@ Rod Paradise
What does Vick have to do wit this blog? Vick wasn’t even mentioned. How about spewing your hatred on another blog. IDIOT!
james
August 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
npgator – as a Michigan native, I would love to see the Lions and Falcons face-off in the NFC Championship game. Equally, a Tigers-Braves World Series would be outstanding – I would love to see it! But make no mistake, I will be rooting for MY Braves and MY Falcons in both cases. I grew up in Michigan, but I live in Atlanta now – and unlike a countless number of others who moved to ATL – I always pull for OUR teams, no matter what!
happy, happy, joy, joy
August 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
Cracked up at the “white” Vick…premise of article is what would people think if he were white? He would still be a sick, f’ing, sadistic, low-life, dog killer surrounded by sick, f’ing, sadistic, low-lifes.
That answer your question espn?!
#2 and falcons overated
August 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Put the pipe down. SS is just like standard and poors down graded. They must have a pay off first to win~!! and ryan will be hurt this season . he is hurt now with a weak arm!!
Yeahsure
August 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
Ok. I wont be lazy. Here it is. Lions 2008 preseason:
New York Giants W 13-10
at Cincinnati Bengals W 27-10
Cleveland Browns W 26-6
at Buffalo Bills W 14-6
How did that turn out? Preseason is Preseason.
Mike
August 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
@ Gary
You and Peter King must have the same “supplier.”
The Birds have Indy, Green Bay, Philly and New Orleans (twice). Not to mention Houston. If that front four can’t rush the passer (and all indications are that it won’t) the secondary is gonna have its arse handed to them.
Eagles deserve
August 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
what they pay for…..trash
LOL FALLS OUT LAUGHING
August 30th, 2011
2:39 pm
What, LOL, FALLS OUT LAUGHING… NOT
Coach13
August 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
That’s all that is, a prediction. Their D isn’t good enough and the Chargers won’t make it either. I predict I win the lottery this Friday.
Jam
August 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
@happy, happy..you forgot dumb as a brick, too!
SWAT Native
August 30th, 2011
2:41 pm
@ Mike – Other than Indy (which is on the way down BTW), the Falcons played those teams last year and went 13-3. I would rather play Indy and Houston than Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
JSH
August 30th, 2011
2:42 pm
While we are predicting: Georgia wins the SEC
Tech wins the ADD
Braves win division
Columbus High wins state champion
All done with a straight face!
JSH
August 30th, 2011
2:42 pm
Tech wins the ACC
Pass Coverage
August 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
It begins and ends with pass coverage. Top 20 in the league, maybe. 21-on, nope.
Wink
August 30th, 2011
2:44 pm
@Booger Beer – Julio will be fine.
Just as much as we would like to think Matt can make that throw consistently, then Julio will consistently catch it. Ryan has been throwing high all preseason, not only to Julio but everyone. Preseason is for practice, I will withhold judgement on Matt Ryan, until practice is over. We will wait for that opening game, then we can welcome them all back to the NFL!
All aboard for the One game, One Unit…Falcons We’re One Tour!
M
August 30th, 2011
2:47 pm
If they do go,,,, I will be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhh yeeeaaaa baaaaby!!!!! Bring it!!