Poll time: How should we define success for Falcons?
Brian VanGorder and Mike Smith have a lot to fix before playoffs. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(Updated)
The Falcons tell us how that just making the playoffs isn’t good enough any more. So you wonder why they played one of their worst games ever under coach Mike Smith — Monday’s 45-16 loss at New Orleans — the night after they had clinched a postseason berth?
But let’s move on. The Falcons play their final regular season game against Tampa Bay Sunday. The game may or may not their impact playoff seeding and match-up. Nobody’s expecting an overly festive atmosphere in the Georgia Dome for the season’s final home game. (The only way the Falcons could host another game would be as a No. 5 seed if they faced No. 6 Detroit for the NFC championship. Not likely.)
Loading ...For all of the regular season success under Smith, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and quarterback Matt Ryan, the team has whiffed in the postseason. They’re 42-21 in four regular seasons, but 0-2 so far in the postseason.
So what qualifies as success this season? Here are the choices:
• Achievement: Making the playoffs. Breakdown: The Falcons are there for the third time in four years, which is unprecedented in franchise history. But the bar was supposed to be raised. Conclusion: Not good enough.
• Achievement: Win one game: Breakdown: This would be an improvement over the last two years. It would mean the Falcons had beaten New Orleans, New York, Dallas or San Francisco. There are varying degrees of difficulty in those games. But what should be kept in mind is: What was the expectation level before the season? Conclusion: Better, but still not good enough.
• Achievement: Win two games: Breakdown: This could be as difficult as beating the NFC’s two best teams, New Orleans and Green Bay, on the road. The easier end of the spectrum would be finishing as a No. 5 seed and Detroit upsetting New Orleans, which would mean the Falcons would need to only defeat the NFC East champion (New York or Dallas) and San Francisco. Still, it would be impressive. Conclusion: Winning two road playoff games, regardless of the opponents, would qualify as success.
• Achievement: Get to the Super Bowl: Breakdown: For this to happen, the Falcons would need to be far more physical and consistent than they’ve been this season. There has been no indication that is going to happen, but we’ve seen strange postseason developments before. Conclusion: Definitely something worth celebrating.
• Achievement: Win the Super Bowl: Breakdown: Honestly, if the Falcons can winning three NFC road playoff games, beating New England, Pittsburgh or any AFC opponent on a neutral field wouldn’t seem as daunting. Conclusion: Duh.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours? What do you believe qualifies as a successful season?
The poll is up and the floor is yours.
By Jeff Schultz
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418 comments Add your comment
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:09 pm
@ Matt “CHOKE” Ryan……..see a lot of you on here and some of the stupid comments you make so I thought i try you on for size buster……….can you tell me which freight train you fell off drunk on and ended up in our fair City ?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2011
9:15 pm
“CHOKE SWAN SONG”?
Hey yo yo my name is Matty Ice
I straight up suck, but my dumb fans think my game is nice.
My arm is so weak, oh the ghost of Mike Vick haunts me in my dreams
Winning play off games, so easy that dude made it seem.
But you I aint down with running, I still get paid
While yall fools hate on Vick, I’m relaxing in the shade.
Yeah my arm may be weak
But my fans still blow up my tweets.
Playoffs? Man you straight up tripping
Stealing Arts money, that’s what I’m dealing.
In the no huddle, I just copy ole Manning
Hell no, hitting Gonzalez is the only thing I was planning.
Roddy & Julio gets mad, cause I don’t go deep
But going deep, only in my sleep.
Yo, I’m out!
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:18 pm
Go figure …………….another typical idiot !
Time to Rise Up Atlanta Falcons ! Just show us !
chris
December 28th, 2011
9:20 pm
for someone who has watched the falcons never put two winning seasons back to back for nearly two decades then make playoffs 3 out of 4 years i think making playoffs is at least a sign of success even though we all long for a super bowl win mid February. Yes this team has holes and can certainly improve. Yes the Saints looked like they were playing Tech’s Jr. Varsity squad Monday night. And the fact we may be back at Superdome in two weeks does not bode well for our playoff chances doesnt take away from what I feel is a good year for this franchise. Yes the bar has been raised under Dimitroff and Smith. But I am afraid we are becoming like the Braves fans of the 90s who got so accustomed to the team going to the playoffs year after year then bitching they didnt win em all to come to realizations the past five years as to the significance that its not a given ANY team makes it to the post season 14 straight years on any level. I feel we need to appreciate the fact we have had four consistently winning seasons and three trips to the playoffs win lose or draw. Yes I’d like to see us do better in the post season but its just good to know we’re IN period. A few weeks ago I dont think any of us was sure we’d even make it period. Enjoy the moment, roll the dice and hope for the best. It’s the NFL and not to sound like a cliche’ but on “any given Sunday you’re either going to win or lose, it’s whether u win or lose like a man.” Rock and Roll Sunday, hope the Lions go down in Green Bay and head to NY or Dallas the 8th
DetroitBraves
December 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
If asked at the beginning of the season I would have seen winning only one game as disappointing. Now? If that one win comes against New Orleans or S.F. I would be happy with that. I would also be pretty darn surprised. A win against Dallas or N.Y. would at least be a playoff win for this group but those teams aren’t all that good either, probably worse than Atlanta, and would do nothing to make me think the Falcons are any closer to making a serious run. Don’t need a championship necessarily this season but there needs to be something to make us think the team is close to making a big run in subsequent seasons. Even a hard-fought, close one and done loss to one of the conference elites in my mind is better than a win against a weaker team from the East if it’s followed by a poor effort in New Orleans or Green Bay.
Remember
December 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
Yall Falcons fans don’t forget where we were before Ryan and Smith. They have led us to 2 playoff games. Yeh Ryan is 0-2 in the playoffs but he got beat in his rockie year. He is also 300 yards away rom braking the record for falcons qb yards of all time. He is gonna gonna be a beast in few seasons. It took Payton manning 6 seasons to win a playoff game Ryan still has 2 extra to go. Falcons need a new DC and OC coaches as both suck and have no passion to do anything. Also TD needs to get better scouts. Falcons are a few moves away from winning the Super Bowl! Believe. Also why are y’all so down because of 1 lose. Falcons almost won that first game and the game against green bay was on Mularky. Falcons are awesome and stop taking crap from these Aints fans!
dbird1
December 28th, 2011
9:57 pm
Mr. SaintsFan Jr. = class. thank you sir
DetroitBraves
December 28th, 2011
9:59 pm
@remember, you’re right, of course, about the Falcons being much better now than…well….ever. I appreciate that they are finally a legitimate franchise but let’s not settle for this. Coming off of 13-3 the goals are much loftier than coming off of the Vick/Petrino fiasco, or most seasons that came before that. So in that context, this season has been disappointing so far and more of the same would also be disappointing. Bad? No. But mildly disappointing. Just how it goes. But I totally agree with you on OC and DC. It may be that some of the players just aren’t as good as we all thought but I would like to see what other minds can do with them before making that judgement.
St Simons - we're on Island time
December 28th, 2011
10:16 pm
Success would be one draft choice or trade – ONE, that was worth it
still zero, after 45 years
GameChanger
December 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
Thre is NO WAY this team can beat New Orleans or Green Bay. The coaching staff and the players are not on the same page or just not up to the task. Did you see the DB’s out of position all night. New Orleans receivers wide open and the DB’s just let them run free. Why?
Here’s the call. Pick the closest guy to you and follow his A** around. Is that too tough of an assignment? For Dunta it seems to be. How many times did he release the receiver looking for help? There might not be any help. Stay with the guy even if you get help.
Forget the zone. Rogers and Brees can pick that apart. Go man to man and blitz, it’s the only way to have a chance. Could it be any worse than what we just saw Monday night?
vuduchld
December 28th, 2011
10:41 pm
I see nothing in this team that gets them past the second round and it will been a stretch for them to win their first playoff game. People, this is who the Falcons are, always has been and always will be. GET USED TO IT!!!
MG3
December 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
Agree with game hanger…our zone D is getting picked apart anyway so blitz the house and rough up the opposing QB! I’d rather see a few late hit penalties and at least know the pressure is being felt.
MG3
December 28th, 2011
10:45 pm
Gamechanger…
cdog
December 28th, 2011
10:45 pm
falcons, please set your runs and passes up. don’t just call plays just to be calling plays.get the ball down the field, oline, block, block.execute fundamentals and we win going away.mike smith stop smiling so much while you let the officials cheat and take your games.i’ve never seen someone get flagged for making a tackle or jump offside right in front of an official and you just sit there smiling.coach the game the way you know you can.
MG3
December 28th, 2011
10:49 pm
Not to be argumentative but this is certainly not who we always have been. Back to back playoff appearances is light years from where this team ever was. I’ll gladly get used to consistently making the tournament. We are in and anything can happen.
Remember
December 28th, 2011
10:56 pm
@ vuduchild. Well ur Aints just became good and now u are bitching at a Falcons paper. The Falcons are very capable of beating ur Aints. Its hard to beat a team 3 times in the same season. If the Falcons come fired up they will win. After a few seasons Brees is going to retire. Well that’s basically ur whole team. Why u even on here? Aints have no brain cells!
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
11:00 pm
To all the Falcon fans who attack the city of New Orleans because of a lost football game, please understand that our city is like any other big city in america. we have a high crime rate, murder rate , certain parts of the city that smells and is dirty because of the numerous tourist who come to New Orleans to let their hair down, who get drunk and vomit and sh$$ and piss on our streets and go back home and say how foul and how dirty our city is.We are not proud of the high crime rate or the murders , the filth and like any other city we would like to see changes. Don’t attack what you don’t know, we have great hard working people who work hard to take care of their families, we want the very best for our city and america as a whole which you are a part of.This was only a game and thats all it will ever be, so no personal insults just stick to sports and let the polticians worry about the big stuff.
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
11:00 pm
To all the Falcon fans who attack the city of New Orleans because of a lost football game, please understand that our city is like any other big city in america. we have a high crime rate, murder rate , certain parts of the city that smells and is dirty because of the numerous tourist who come to New Orleans to let their hair down, who get drunk and vomit and sh$$ and piss on our streets and go back home and say how foul and how dirty our city is.We are not proud of the high crime rate or the murders , the filth and like any other city we would like to see changes. Don’t attack what you don’t know, we have great hard working people who work hard to take care of their families, we want the very best for our city and america as a whole which you are a part of.This was only a game and thats all it will ever be, so no personal insults just stick to sports and let the polticians worry about the big stuff.
JoFo
December 28th, 2011
11:08 pm
“Say It Aint So”, you said, “First the Bucs won a Super Bowl, then New Orleans. The door is closing quickly, Carolina may be closer to winning a championship than we are. Extremely hard to be a sports fan in Atlanta. Hope we don’t get smashed again. Mike Smith is too damn nice. We need to be hated like all the successful teams are”. My response is you are so right!
On NOLA.com they have “sportswriters” talking about how Drew Brees decision to go for the record late and with a 21 point lead was perfectly fine and “had nothing to do with the FALCONS” and was not about them but about the sAINTS march to greatness and into history!!! In fact, “they” are wrong as it did, IN FACT, show a complete lack of class and was no more than running up a score and piling on further embarrassment!
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
11:20 pm
Mr Jofo, the Saints broke the record not to embarrass the Falcons. the fans, or the city of Atlanta. It was done because he only needed 30 yards, also toget that damn record out of the way so they can concentrate on the playoffs.The record just happened to be broken on your team and thats the reason for all the bitterness and the personal attack on the Saints, coaches, and the city of New Orleans. Now I need a real honest Falcon fan to answer this question truthfullly,if Matt Ryan had the same opportunity Monday night and needed only 30 yards to do it that you would have wanted to see him get that record against the Saints? I can answer that for you HELL YEAH!.
Greg Mendel
December 28th, 2011
11:34 pm
The Falcons have proven to be an inconsistent team in 2011. That means they could ‘inconsistently” win at least one playoff game. The Saints are very, very good, but could suddenly revert to the same team that lost to the Rams and the Seahawks.
PS to MrSaintsFan Jr: You’re absolutely right about mindless stereotypes and hatred. As I’ve said before, I like New Orleans and respect the Saints. It’s just a game.
The Peach State
December 29th, 2011
12:10 am
MrSaintsFan Jr, unfortunately ignorance is a willful act and it also generational! A clever way to control folks is to keep them stuck on stupid….Your seeing a taste of it on this blog….The enemy is brilliant you know?
Chris WHODAT
December 29th, 2011
12:21 am
Quit calling it running up the score AJC. We score that TD if we hand it off 5 times too. Were we supposed to run victory formation with over 3 minutes left? Bunch of cry babies is what’s up. You guys act like us kicking your ass is going to be extra motivation. If you need extra motivation in the playoffs against your division rival, then you just aint that good. There is no way Saints fall short of the NFC championship this year. Dirty Birds will NOT be that 6th seed. Saints are to the Falcons what the Niners were to the Saints in the late 80’s early 90’s, alot F*#@$*&%! better! WHO DAT!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
12:42 am
So many sad faces…………….
For the past 4 seasons, just like clock work your hopes are taken away like Scrooge
I told you CLOWNS the Mike Vick Curse is in full effect
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
12:44 am
CHOKE gives you DELUSIONAL dreamers just enough stats to get your hopes up, but in
the end he just RIPS out your hearts like your prom date
Chris WHODAT
December 29th, 2011
1:06 am
Oh and for the record. I don’t hate anyone from Atlanta. I don’t hate any of the players, well maybe Roddy White. But I DO hate the FALCONS!!!! And S%&* Talking is the best part of the Rivalry, so you sissy ass crybabies need to bow down and kiss the ring, because we are going to hang 50 on you in round 1!
m man
December 29th, 2011
1:33 am
The Braves,Falcons & Hawks are all winning teams but only the Hawks, Lakers & Celtics have made the second round of the playoffs for the last 3 years in a row. Last year & Hawks had more second round wins then the Lakers & Celtics combined. Yet Shultz has stated that the Hawks management is the worst in pro sports. A statement lacking even a shred of journalistic integrity.
Arthur Blank is a directer of the company that owns the paper that employees Jeff Shultz which could be why he is so selective in choosing the teams he unfairly attacks.
ANT MAN
December 29th, 2011
2:13 am
The Falcons have done just about all they can do with what they haveto work with. They can only hope for a better coaching staff for nesxt season. another thing, the falcons are stuck on moral commitments to their players, which is not a bad thing, but it doesn’t help when you are wanting a championship. The Saints got ride of Reggie Bush to get Sprolls. Don”t even think about the falcons getting a more flashy back that can be used in the capacity as Sprolls. So if you are a falcon fan you have to be satisfied just playing basic footbll and being in contention each year, or rid those conservitive coches.
Jim
December 29th, 2011
4:44 am
How about just some limited success, i.e., beat a few quality teams. This bunch of yo-yos has only dogged sorry teams, then they rant on post game shows about being able to play with anybody. This team reminds me of the old Wendy’s commerical: “Where’s the beef?”
Falcons: Play 60!
December 29th, 2011
5:13 am
“How should we define success for Falcons?”
winning seasons are in the past, it’s time to start making progress in the post season and it starts this year.
2012 is the year!
December 29th, 2011
5:27 am
ATL had a lot of bad breaks and injuries in 2011. In 2012, Atl will be a lot better and should be able to win 1 game in the playoffs!!
Mr. Charlie
December 29th, 2011
6:54 am
Good luck Saints! Hope you win it all!
DC Dirty Bird
December 29th, 2011
6:58 am
ANT MAN alludes to a point that I’ve been making for the last three years. When it comes to filling needs on our team, we are risk adversed and seem to find reasons not to pursue players that have nothing to do with playing the game. We’re always looking for the “well-rounded”/”ready-made” player. How well has that worked with P. Jerry and Sam Baker?
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 29th, 2011
6:59 am
Yes AJC…we ran up the score. We took pity just like you took pity against Jacksonville the week before. This is a gladiator sport. Like the warriors in the movie 300 say: “GIVE THEM NOTHING BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING.”
Get on board Mike Smith or we will eat your women and children and burn down your city!!!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 29th, 2011
7:04 am
If you didn’t want the Saints to score you should have punted the ball. Then Drew could pass for 30 yards and get the record at Midfield or so. Then they would have kneeled on the ball or just run the clock out….but you were still trying to win the game so you get what you deserved. More aggression….that’s how we play.
tom
December 29th, 2011
7:44 am
I think the Falcon’s already have acheived a good season, no matter what else happens. For the first time in their history they play sound, non gimmic football, evaluate what they do, make reasonable adjustments, and consistently move forward. Obviously some adjustments will not work and have to be changed, but for once the coaching, player evaluation, and management are all working right. I believe they will continue to improve over time if they stay on course with Dimitroff and Smtih.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 29th, 2011
7:46 am
At least one strong playoff win and a tough loss….would be a success…and give you a true indicator where you need to improve. Falcons won’t go on a run like Greenbay did to win it all. REMEMBER…Greenbay & Arizona played that crazy playoff game where they scored a bunch of points in 2009….Greenbay lost but you could see their offense coming together. The next year they get Dom Capers on defense and they win it all in 2010.
Falcons need both defense & offensive help…..nothing is Elite about this team.
derrick
December 29th, 2011
7:59 am
It really comes down to the players willing to stand up and fight. also number #23 has to step up . The falcons need to stop with this recover two crap. also they need to practice blitzing so when they do itit will pay off!
Ivan
December 29th, 2011
8:21 am
LOL @ the mention of Vick still being here. He sure did lead that dream team of his deep into the playoffs. Oh wait…..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
8:53 am
@Mrs. Charlie (AKA Coward)
The perfect example of a coward. Out of her mouth comes gibberish during the pre games
then when they play a “real” team he goes into hiding curled up like a wounded deer shot down
by an NRA animal abuser
He shows up at the end of the blogs, dodging and facing the music that he orchestrated during
the previous days. He shows up when the fires simmer down, but will re-kindle one more time
and then go into his annual hibernation after another melt down by the CHOKE master.
Mrs. Charlie if you can’t take the heat, keep your sissy ole butt out of the kitchen. Just like CHOKE you quit your team and leave them to handle all of the bashing and criticism earned by another CHOKE.
Well done Mrs. Coward – Well done
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
8:57 am
Ivan
December 29th, 2011
8:21 am
LOL @ the mention of Vick still being here. He sure did lead that dream team of his deep into the playoffs. Oh wait…..
____________________________________________________-
Did you see that BEAUTIFUL front page on the ESPN website of Cam Newton & Mike Vick of
teams most poised to make an impact in 2012.
Even in a losing season, Mike Vick is always the favorite, and nothing bothers you more
A losing team sending more pro bowlers to Hawaii than the insignificant Falcants
One pro bowler? Are you serious? HA HA HA
Only in this city would they start a 3rd stringer as their franchise qb
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
8:58 am
A MESSAGE FROM MIKE VICK:
I won the last playoff game for this sorry city 8 years ago.
Why is it taking so long
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 29th, 2011
9:01 am
What’s the matter Falcants fans?
Why all the sad faces?
Cheer up, there is always the draft. Oh that’s right your draft is in Cleveland
Your free agent signings suck and no draft, what a combination.
The free fall has started and what a bumpy road is in store.
Will Art Blank stay quiet this off season?
Well you can’t trade CHOKE because he has ZERO trade value.
Sorry Art, you are stuck with the CHOKE for another season
ShempHoward
December 29th, 2011
9:37 am
Mike Smith is FINALLY on the HOT SEAT where he belongs. To try and peddle a pathetic product like the falcons who are so weak that they had to struggle and rally just to come from behind and beat a carolina team. They barely held on for dear life to beat seattle when they started out with such a big lead. All the signs are negative and pointing in the wrong direction for the Falcons. The Falcons like EXPLOSIVENESS, CONFIDENCE, GUTS AND GENERAL TENACITY and are playing like lambs instead of flexing their muscles like tigers. The Falcons have the talent to win the superbowl, but until the talent is coached properly, IT WILL GO TO WASTE AND THE SEASON WILL BE A COMPLETE WASTE. The falcons talent is just as scary as the Eagles. Its just that the eagles have a great coach in andy reid and the falcons have a marshmello and vanilla coach in Mike Smith. MIKE SMITH NEEDS TO BE FIRED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!
Jerome
December 29th, 2011
9:55 am
@ Chop-It-Up All-Star, to any team in the NFL, anything less than a Super Bowl appearance/victory is a disappointment. Anyway I think this team has had success with what we have. You all forget, this is the NFL, all teams have a chance to win the Super Bowl every year but because of injuries and other factors, some great teams fall and some suprise team rises and makes a run deep in the playoffs. I am happy we are a playoff contender every year, Some people on this blog didn’t have a good Christmas so they are using the Falcons as their outlet. I believe we will be sucessful in the near future and Carolina still has a long way to go before they can even hold the Falcons jock.
evermax
December 29th, 2011
9:58 am
in a city like atl (loserville) just having a winning record is a huge season!!! have a parade!!!
Jerome
December 29th, 2011
10:04 am
@ShempHoward, You must have been hitting the crack pipe this morning because you are an idiot or under the influence of something if you think that we need to fire Mike Smith, the most successful coach in the franchises history. We still need pieces on defense and the offensive line before we can make a legitimate run. Ryan cannot have success if he does not have the protection he needs to throw the ball. We need to get pressure on the QB in order to play the type of defensive scheme we have in play. A playoff win or two will be great but I will not be disappointed if we lost in the first round. I will be back in the dome next year ready for a playoff run no matter what.
Mr Charlie
December 29th, 2011
10:18 am
Someone is using my screen name….Nothing says you have been beaten to a pulp like having to steal your adversaries screen name since your own screen name has been stripped of credibility.
Choke, Know that I’m sayin?
Mr Charlie
December 29th, 2011
10:21 am
Sorry I have not been able to keep you entertained during the game Choke, but I do have places to be during the games….Anyway, since you miss me so much, is that you posting under my screen name?
Mr Charlie
December 29th, 2011
10:21 am
Sorry I have not been able to keep you entertained during the game Choke, but I do have places to be during the games….Anyway, since you miss me so much, is that you posting under my screen name?