Giants were no better vs. winning teams than Falcons
Matt Ryan's Falcons went 2-4 vs. winning teams ...
... but Eli Manning's Giants were worse at 1-3.
OK. No more picking on the Falcons for going only 2-4 against teams with winning records this season. It turns out they’re better than at least four other NFL players — five if you go by percentage points and include their opponent Sunday, the New York Giants.
Since I noted the other day that the Falcons (10-6) largely fattened up on mediocre opponents this season while going only 2-4 against winning teams, I thought it would be only fair to break down every team in the NFL playoff field.
It turns out they’re near the middle of the pack. Guess what? Even the Giants, Sunday’s wild card opponent, went only 1-3 (.250) against winning teams this season (beating New England; losing to San Francisco, New Orleans and Green Bay). The Falcons’ 2-4 mark actually factors out to a better winning percentage (.333).
The best teams in the playoffs aren’t a surprise: Green Bay (5-0 against winning teams), New Orleans (6-1) and Baltimore (6-1). Only one among the worst jumps out. You’ll know it when you see it: Denver (1-4), Cincinnati (1-6), New England (0-2) and Detroit (0-5).
The Patriots (13-3) finished tied for the league’s second-best record. But they had the softest schedule among playoff teams, facing only two with winning records (losing to both Pittsburgh and New York). They went 7-1 against losing teams and 6-0 against .500 teams.
Following is a breakdown of the playoff field.
Does it make you feel a little better about the Falcons’ chances?
Team vs.W vs.L vs.E Overall
Green Bay 5-0 5-1 5-0 15-1
New Orleans 6-1 6-2 1-0 13-3
Baltimore 6-1 4-2 2-1 12-4
San Francisco 4-1 7-0 2-2 13-3
Houston 4-3 6-2 0-1 10-6
Pittsburgh 5-4 7-0 0-0 12-4
Falcons 2-4 7-1 1-1 10-6
N.Y. Giants 1-3 3-3 5-1 9-7
Denver 1-4 3-2 4-2 8-8
Cincinnati 1-6 7-0 1-1 9-7
New England 0-2 7-1 6-0 13-3
Detroit 0-5 5-0 5-1 10-6
•
Earlier blogs
– S.I. reverses field but many pick Falcons over Giants
– Mike Smith trying to instill playoff toughness in Falcons
– Ranking the coach-QB duos in NFL playoffs
By Jeff Schultz
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224 comments Add your comment
JSS
January 5th, 2012
11:55 am
Michaml is that your Disney Dream moment?
Sid
January 5th, 2012
11:57 am
No doubt the Birds are better than their record and the Giants aren’t as good as theirs. The Falcons are peaking at just the right time…………just like Green Bay last year. If we could get the entire team buying into playing every down for 6o minutes we could take this baby home.
Mediocrity continues...
January 5th, 2012
11:59 am
Did you watch the N.O. game? Not sure I’d call the “peaking” at the right time. Gotta put together 4 quarters against a good team first.
Blove
January 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
No
JSS
January 5th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Peaking?” No comment…
Noneya
January 5th, 2012
12:28 pm
Totally agree. This is a game we should win. Time for the Falcons to take a step towards being a team that’s not just satisfied with winning seasons and making the playoffs.
Days In The Lives Of Falcons Fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QKLJ4wY_yQ
Sid
January 5th, 2012
12:31 pm
Seattle (7-9) went into MetLife Stadium this year and spanked ‘em. Giants lost to the Redskins (5-11) twice this year. Are we impressed they beat the Cowboys twice? Nope. They beat New England in Gillette Stadium after they were gifted 4 turnovers. 32nd in the rush, 29th in passing defense. Yeah, they’ll be blue alright. Falcons 33 Giants 23
SawThat1nce
January 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
I think that the Falcons will win this one by over 11 points.
True Falcon Fan
January 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
11:37 now why bring me into this BS —– Ole wondrous one?
Go Falcons – Gmen Next
True Falcon Fan
January 5th, 2012
12:57 pm
I’m jus thankin’ our Falcons will bring it this comin’ Sunday afternoon in all that misty, snowy, wet weather in Jersey
Go Falcons – Gmen next
True Falcon Fan
January 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Jeff, by the way GREAT post!!!!!
SawThat1nce
January 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Eric C. @4:56am………Things falling “converse” to the right way in 2011?
I disagree, I think that 3 missed plays were the reason they lost those three games.
ohhhhYEAH
January 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
JSS
I truly hope you are not lumping every single fan on here into your “fans who dont read their own posts,” because some, in fact, do raise valid points without having to piss and moan and can actually post objectively. Some are not so disillusioned as to think Atlanta is the best team in the league or the playoffs. But these other guys, they’re just excited about being back in the post season, and rightfully so. There are 20 other teams in the league that would love to trade places right now. So its OK to be excited about this. However, getting the first win would be nice
Falcons4Eva
January 5th, 2012
1:02 pm
To all my fellow Falcon fans who bother READING and more importantly RESPONDING to anything that these folks have to say:
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan and
JSS and
SeenThisB4
Just let it go man for at least the rest of this season. Just STOP IT. Continuing to comment on their comment is so POINTLESS and STUPID given that they only do it to upset you and get a reaction from you.
There is nothing to be gained by it. Your continued responses to their postings shows you (and them) just how STUPID YOU REALLY ARE and HOW SENSITIVE you are. Man UP and Let it Go.
Why bother caring what they say? Really? Is your life so incomplete that you have to carry on a back-and-forth dialog with someone you don’t know, and don’t really care for you OR our team? Just stop it. If this blog had a “ignore” button, and we all “ignored” their post, I doubt they bother posting as much – their thoughts, and comments would be irrelevant to the discussion.
True Falcon Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:21 pm
Ya see 1:02 —- My ??? JSS is very astute in knowledge of the game “dont cha NO” —- i happen to think “The wondrous wizard of OZ” could rank up there with the best in this field of trolling in abyss & wealth of what’s called “walking book of knowledge of the game”. However seeing how all i know about ??? JSS is he’s from Canton, lives with Mom (taking care of Mom), i think he hates pawn shops “for some crazy reason, heaven only knows why”, be that as it may. I do want to state this about JSS, I’ve gained “respect” for some of his post since the beginning.
Back to the game of the week —- Go Falcons bring home the bacon boys!!!!!!! Gmen Next
SawThat1nce
January 5th, 2012
1:26 pm
Perhaps they are off of their meds.
Brian
January 5th, 2012
1:41 pm
All I know is Matt Stafford and Cam Newton have passed Matt Ryan on the top QB’s list. I don’t say this to criticize Ryan, as he is a quality QB, but if you ranked the top NFC QB’s Ryan is behind Rodgers, Brees, Eli, Stafford, Romo, Cam. Ryan and Vick are about even.
Scott
January 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
Giants aren’t a good team. Eli is good–and smart. Falcons won’t be able to disguise blitzes. The D is lousy, especially the passing D (if you can protect the QB you will score on their DBs). Falcs can run early and often. Special teams are awful. 28-17 Falcons.
PreyDawg
January 5th, 2012
2:34 pm
@JSS- Your point is well made. I agree completely about the Line and yes we did give up a TON. We have cap room but I am not sure there is a true road grader guard in Free Agency. And we both know there are very few good left tackles available. So in that way, I have to say, you are correct.
The line is my biggest concern for Sunday as well. I don’t know that we can block the Giants front four. I worry about our yards per carry. We cant win with a bunch of 1 and 2 yard runs on first and second down. That is usually when we go to the spread. Only after we realize we can’t run on first and second down out of our tight formation.
Considering where we are on the O-line, I have called for more running plays out of the 4 wide set. Have you noticed we hardly EVER run out of that set? I also think Jacquizz should get more touches. We dont open holes we sometimes open cracks. He can slip through the crack and break one or two big runs.
Hillbilly D
January 5th, 2012
4:59 pm
Key to this game is Falcons’ OL vs Giants’ DL. Whichever one comes out on top, that’ll win the game.
Matt Ryan is ready to make amends in NFL playoffs | Jeff Schultz
January 5th, 2012
6:18 pm
[...] doesn’t need to project “Hall of Fame” credentials against the Giants. He just can’t kill drives and hopes with turnovers. The Giants generate a strong pass rush [...]
TFrank
January 5th, 2012
9:04 pm
Falcons have the WORST SOV (Strength Of Victory) of ANY playoff team except Cincinnati.. (.375)
Meaning the record of the teams they beat was .375 or 6-10 average recordt.
Ryan is 0-2 in Playoff games… Including a HOME blow-out loss last year as the TOP seed.
He definitelt earns the nickname “Matty Ice” as he is ice cold in playoffs.
Eli Manning has proven his mettle in the clutch time of playoffs and this year
threw more 4th quarter TDs than any QB in HISTORY.
This year, the Falcons are 2-3 outdoors (Thanks to wins over Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Seattle).
They will have to have everything go their way to beat even an average NY Giants team on the road.
Otherwise, you’re looking at a 30-17 loss.
Sorry Falcons fans… another over-hyped season and team.
Nerehere
January 6th, 2012
1:59 pm
The game of good football for the Birds is part of an evolution. Enjoy the journey!
Roxana Tsakonas
January 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
I am still learning about ZUmba but so far I love what I see!