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
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237 comments Add your comment
Yeahsure
August 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
For all the haters saying that we wont be able to stop Green Bay, do you not remember that we beat them in the regular season? I guess Green Bay should have thrown in the towel during the play-offs since one defeat means you have a sorry team.
I guess the Jets should have called it a season when they got humiliated by New England. Far worse than our loss to GB. Hold on… didnt the Jets beat NE later?
Fake fans please get off the bandwagon.
Mike
August 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
@ SWAT Native
Falcons 2010 Wins: Arizona, NO (split), San Fran, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay (2x), St. Louis, Carolina (2x), Baltimore, GB and Seattle.
You really want to stand behind a 13-3 record with these wins?
Justin
August 30th, 2011
2:53 pm
@ jam…..what is your IQ?
I’m sure you’re not smart enough to survive a two years in prison and then come back into the NFL and secure a $100 million dollar contract. How’s that for being dumb? LMAO!
#2 and falcons overated
August 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
what do writers know about football. This may be who they want to win. ss on mushrooms juice!! But it sells papers to want to bees to read to make them feel good!! deal with the facts not hype!!
PBR
August 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Falcons have a easy schedule
SWAT Native
August 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
@ Mike – I believe what the Big Tuna said: You are exactly what your record says you are. I see four wins against playoff teams and two against the self-proclaimed best team in the NFC, who just missed the playoffs at 10-6.
BigHittas
August 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
The most shocking thing about King’s prediction is that he thinks the Saints will win the division. I see them as third in the division behind ATL and TB, and that’s only if they can hold off a resurging Carolina.
MRDCLAY
August 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
ATTENTION ATLANTA FALCONS ……WE, THE UNDERSIGNED FANS DARE TO STEP OUT ON FAITH AND AGREE WITH S.I. SPORTSWRITER PETER KING…..WE BELIEVE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!!! WE BELIEVE THAT THE FALCONS WILL BE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS….WE ASK THAT YOU TAKE EACH GAME WITH THE BELIEF THAT YOU WILL BE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS….PLAY LIKE CHAMPIONS…..EXECUTE LIKE CHAMPIONS…..LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD……WILL EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU DARE TO STEP OUT AND BELIEVE WITH US, YOUR FANS AND ARDENT SUPPORTERS!!!!!!!!! JUST BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!
Yeahsure
August 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
No homerism here. Saints do have a chance to win the division. Ingram is a beast. The subtraction of Bush alone makes the Saints better. Brees is Brees. TB will regress. They overachived vs. losing teams last year.
Fan
August 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
Well if a 0-3 preseason helps too win it great but right now we are giving up 71.3 rushing yards and 252 yards passing . We have too stop the bleeding in the passing game. Micheal is not running well with the ball. However, if we were perfect in preseason no one would be talking about this or getting another corner back. I think the falcons are young and they will do well with a 12-4 0r 14-2 winning record . They will be in the Superbowl against the Jets or it could be the Chargers. We will win
ramblingbuzz
August 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
9-7 with losses to Philly, Green Bay, Indy, New Orleans (twice), Tampa Bay, and Houston.
WHO DAT BLACK
August 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
See, this is why I rip you guys. If you want your team to win, SHOW IT! There should be way more Falcons fans standing up for what is obviously a good spirited article. I am of course, a Saints fan, and will never let anyone disrespect my Who Dats. BTW, I never liked Peter King. He looks like Peter Griffin.
Realist
August 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
Silly southerners, Atlanta teams ALWAYS choke in the playoffs. Everyone knows this.
Realist
August 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
Silly Southerners, Atlanta teams ALWAYS choke in the playoffs. Everyone knows this. It’s like death and taxes.
Sorry
August 30th, 2011
3:14 pm
Sorry, not a chance. Bulldogs have a better chance winning the NC than the Falcons making it to the Super Bowl let alone winning it. Get ready for an 8-8 year!
Jam
August 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
@Justin…money doesn’t buy him class or brains…Why do OC’s have to keep dumbing down playbook for him throughout career?
headley lamar
August 30th, 2011
3:17 pm
If the Lions make the playoffs, I’m picking the Lakers to win the World Series. (Scratching your head? That’s the point.)
If you have been paying attention you would know the Lions are much improved. Them making the playoffs is not that big a reach.
BigHittas
August 30th, 2011
3:17 pm
lol, most Saints fans I know are too drunk to know if they’re in the playoffs. They just show up at games and yell. I give them credit for that.
joewhite
August 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
Double G its not like its his first time predicting a team to win it all and is not right, he has predicted the past two champs, so why not but you probably not a true falcon fan anyway.
headley lamar
August 30th, 2011
3:18 pm
I’m sure you’re not smart enough to survive a two years in prison and then come back into the NFL and secure a $100 million dollar contract. How’s that for being dumb? LMAO!
He hasn’t secured anything. None of that money is guaranteed.
When he gets hurt they can cut him and not pay another penny.
NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed money like baseball
BigHittas
August 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
everybody in the division has a chance to win the division. But I’d pick ATL or TB to do it before the Saints.
I totally disagree about TB going down…I think they’ll be the team to beat.
BigHittas
August 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
I disagree with King picking New England as well….safe pick. Y’all seen what Detroit did to Tommy? Belicheat will have to come up with some new holding techniques for his O line if they’re gonna win.
Big Daddy
August 30th, 2011
3:25 pm
I would like a sip of whatever he is drinking. I agree about the wild card team part but it is such an uphill battle to get in the playoffs as a wild card team and make it to the conference title game, let along the Super Bowl. I know it has been done but I am just wondering what SI thinks they know about us that we don’t. My family has been season tickets holders since the beginning but that doesn’t mean that I fall for that analogy. This first time I did. There was a picture of Steve Barkowski on the cover of SPORT magazine, about to take a snap and the cover read; “The Next Football Dynasty”. While hope springs eternal, after awhile you temper your celebration to keep from being too disappointed. I will always root for my team but I have to also have realistic expectations.
duh
August 30th, 2011
3:25 pm
When coaches have to consistently simplify playbooks for a quarterback, those coaches have dumb quarterbacks. Do not equate athletes contracts with them necessarily having brains.
Yes, vick is dumb as a brick, STILL
duh
August 30th, 2011
3:25 pm
Enter your comments here
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
my book i got in the mail has the falcons beating the jets for the super bowl i say the falcons go 7-9 or worse and the first round pic next year will be A GREAT ONE, FOR THE TEAM THAT GOT IT FROM JULIO JONES.
Big Daddy
August 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
@Headley;He hasn’t secured anything. None of that money is guaranteed.
When he gets hurt they can cut him and not pay another penny.
Vick’s contract has $40 million guaranteed and if he keeps out of trouble, he will show them he is worth every dollar.
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
the preseason does count the falcons defense SUX.they are bad really and matt ryan is the same as tony romo great palyer in the regular season awful in playoffs. this team is headed for disaster if they dont beat the bears game one iguarantee they lose game 2 and 3 so start 0 and 3 see what i mean.
MRDCLAY
August 30th, 2011
3:31 pm
By the way….congrats to former Falcons QB Michael Vick on the $100 mil. contract….proof that not only can God forgive you, but can make you a better man.. …pay no attention to those who want to see you fail….hatred and cynicism is deeply embedded in their hearts, and no matter how much amends you try to make, and no matter how well you do…the “haters” will always resent you because hatred is all they know, it’s in their hearts, so it comes out of their mouths. Just continue to be kind to others and forgive AND forget.
Bueller?, Bueller?
August 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
Anyone else see Bruce Pearl easily becoming one of those sleazy, slimeball AAU coaches. When he’s too sleazy for TN, he’s pretty darn sleazy.
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
eagles game 2 in atlanta have my ticket i pity vick that day.
FlashMarker
August 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
Stinger2: you are WRONG about the Braves and the Falcons. I believe just the opposite of what you wrote on your blog will come true. I THINK THE FALCONS AND THE BRAVES WILL BOTH BECOME WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS. BOTH THE BRAVES AND FALCONS WILL WIN TITLES THIS SEASON and give Atlanta a sports rennaissance.
militant marker
August 30th, 2011
3:35 pm
@Gary, The Falcons didn’t prove we were a much better team than the Saints last year, if the Saints kicker wouldn’t have missed a gimme field goal in the first game, they would have swept us last year, and trust me, it’s hurts me to say that. Saying the Saints are no match for our team because of Julio is ridiculous especially with our secondary having an inability to consistently get teams off the field on 3rd down. If the Falcons had a killer instinct it would be more than dangerous.
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
vick will buy more dogs now to destroy he has 40 million just like blank gave him 100 million he stole from atlanta., vicks 2and 1/2 years in prision is not enough he needs to pay more and in atlanta that day he will.
Bueller?, Bueller?
August 30th, 2011
3:36 pm
@MRDClay, go back to your “Im a victim” pulpit…..Maybe Sicko Vick can pay back all his creditors….Hope they grab all his checks while the ink is still wet
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
the falcons need to break his legs for what he did to the falcons.
willieg hates bill shanks
August 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
he owes the falcons a ton.
WHO DAT BLACK
August 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
Big $hittass,
Don’t hate, kiss the Lombardi. We got the best QB in the division, the best WRs in the division, and the best coach in the division. Who Dat!!
Mr. Know it All
August 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
And this is why you should stay in school kids…Falcons winning the superbowl…My side is still hurting from reading the article…
Yeahsure
August 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
@MRDCLAY
LOL. You are on a sports blog preaching forgiveness. There is no forgiveness in sports!! I will forever hate MV7 and any individual who screws over our franchise. Petrino? Parcells? Yeah… hope they choke as well.
Bueller?, Bueller?
August 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
@Who Dat Black……And you have the most illiterate, classless fans obviously. Looks as if you head the pack.
Mr. Know it All
August 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
The Steelers will get number 7 this year!
Bueller?, Bueller?
August 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
@yeahsure….can’t get through their thick skulls….don’t bother trying….it’s all about the color with those idiots
BigHittas
August 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
LOL @ Who Nut Sack!
You got me there with your literary ability sha! The Lombardi is currently in GB and the aints last I heard lost to the really strong Seahawks in the playoffs. Keep dreamin or get drunker, it’s all the same.
artyc
August 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
dream on
Ronald Millsaps
August 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
Detroit hasn’t been as bad as labeled over the past couple of years. Now with Nick Fairley, they’re reminding me of the Falcons’ 1997 defensive line, which was extremely good, by the way. I can picture them being in the playoffs. Cleveland should be pretty good also, given Colt McCoy’s being their leader. Washington’s a dark horse; I hope Rex Grossman gets the shot he deserves at being the starter, and congratulations to him for his astute observation about how good his team can be.
I have a hard time not picturing Houston in the playoffs. Their offense is top of the line, and Wade Phillips should have a huge influence on that defense. They very well might win the whole thing.
Michael Vick deserves every dime of his contract, folks. He’s easily one of the top five talents in the sport’s history, and Andy Reid is using him wisely, like Dan Reeves did, not foolishly, like Mora did.
Speaking of Reid, we hear a lot about alleged racial discrimination in terms of coaches/managers being hired. A more-prevalent problem is discrimination based on age. Society has an overt prejudice against older people. Many alleged whistle-blowers act openly like it’s no big deal. We’re seeing fewer and fewer Phil Fulmers and more and more Lane Kiffins, no matter the disparity of credentials……. Then we hear the David Sterns of the world act like Larry Bird made a borderline-racist comment when saying the NBA could use a white superstar to attract more white players to the sport. Nothing was wrong with the statement, just like nothing was wrong with Hank Aaron’s saying the same thing about baseball in regard to Jason Heyward’s influence.
Has Atlanta’s defense improved enough to vault to the top? I don’t know. You’d think a 13-3 team could’ve won at least a series here or there against Green Bay’s offense. Then again, it was one game. Maybe the team has learned a lot from it. I’d like to see a sharper offensive attack. They might as well have run Jerious Norwood out of town because they stopped using him wisely after 2008. I’d like to see Jason Snelling as the main back because he’s harder to bring down. Maybe use Michael Turner more in the second half than the first.
Hamad Meander
August 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
Bank on it. Bet on it. Hope for no injuries and a lot of good luck.
tv
August 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
As Whitney would say, “Crack is whack, SI.”
realitycheck
August 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
Much better chance the falcons won’t make the playoffs than them playing in NFC title game
Ronald Millsaps
August 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
“realist”– One problem with the South is that we’ve let way too many Northerners in and have apologized for our heritage.