NFL playoffs about QBs, coaches — and Falcons have shot
Matt Ryan and Mike Smith will be looking to improve on their postseason resume in three weeks. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
With few exceptions, Super Bowls are won by teams with a great quarterback and a great head coach. Or in the case of the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, a defense so great that it can overcome Trent Dilfer.
Results by Matt Ryan and the Mike Smith-coached Falcons this season suggest Atlanta is in a pretty good spot to go to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history, and possibly win it. Ryan is having the best season of his career. Smith has kept his team focused and ascending over the past four weeks (exception: the Carolina game) and upgraded his staff with coordinators Mike Nolan (defense) and Dirk Koetter (offense).
What Ryan and Smith both lack is a playoff resume. Here are my rankings of the potential 15 quarterback-coach combinations in the playoff field (10 teams that have clinched, five that are in the hunt):
1. Tom Brady-Bill Belichick (New England): It has been eight seasons since the Patriots have won a Super Bowl. But with a game on the line, Brady and Belichick (three Super Bowls won, two lost) still rank above any other duo. The Patriots are the league’s highest-scoring team (35.3) and probably still the most feared team, despite a very average defense.
2. Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy (Green Bay): The only quarterback with more touchdown passes than Rodgers (35) is Drew Brees (39). The difference: Rodgers has eight interceptions, Brees 18. The Packers were probably the best team in the league last season, but killed themselves with four turnovers in the playoffs against New York.
Nobody will be too upset if these two don't make the playoffs. (AP)
3. (Not in) Eli Manning-Tom Coughlin (N.Y. Giants): The Giants likely will miss the playoffs, which should comfort everybody else. For as many regular season problems as they’ve had, Manning and Coughlin have won eight of their last nine postseason games, including two Super Bowls.
4. Peyton Manning-John Fox (Denver): Fox made it to a Super Bowl in his second season with Carolina. Manning lost his first three playoff games but won seven of his next 10, including a Super Bowl. Personally, I think Denver is a little overrated because of a soft schedule (helped by the AFC West), but Manning and Fox aren’t going to be an easy out.
5. Joe Flacco-John Harbaugh (Baltimore): The defense isn’t as strong as past Baltimore teams. But the Ravens have never been one-and-done in four postseasons with Flacco and Harbaugh. Flacco has seven touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last four playoff games.
6. Matt Ryan-Mike Smith (Falcons): They’re 0-3 in the playoffs and had better performances as quarterback/head coach rookies in 2008 than the last two years. Lost to two Super Bowl winners (Green Bay and New York) and one finalist (Arizona) is some consolation. But the last two years the team didn’t look prepared for the moment.
7. Matt Schaub-Gary Kubiak (Houston): Schaub has never taken a playoff snap. Kubiak coached in his first postseason last year, impressively winning a game with a rookie backup quarterback (T.J. Yates). The Texans are similar to the Falcons: a playoff unknown.
Did Jim Harbaugh choose right with Colin Kaepernick? (Getty Images)
8. Colin Kaepernick-Jim Harbaugh (San Francisco): Harbaugh is a great coach, making it to the NFC title game in his first postseason (losing to the Giants in overtime). But switching to a rookie, Kaepernick, in midseason from Alex Smith was a big risk, even if Kaepernick has a bigger upside.
9. (Not in) Tony Romo-Jason Garrett (Dallas): Tony Romo is talented and tough, but he still makes too many mistakes in big moments and he’s only 1-4 in the playoffs. Jason Garrett might just be keeping the job warm for Sean Payton.
10. (Not in) Robert Griffin III-Mike Shanahan (Washington): Shanahan won two Super Bowls in Denver, he’s one of the best offensive/quarterback coaches in history and he’s done a nice job with RGIII. But Griffin probably is too banged up to expect a long playoff run (if the Redskins get in).
11. Andy Dalton-Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati): Marvin Lewis has been in Cincinnati for a long time (10 years) for a guy who’s never won a playoff game.
12. Andrew Luck-Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis): Luck (taking over for Manning) and Pagano (coming back from leukemia) makes for the best story of the playoffs. The Colts could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
13. Russell Wilson-Pete Carroll (Seattle): Two guys who have far exceeded expectations. But sorry. I’m not buying in. The Seahawks (3-5 on road) will be a one-and-done wild card.
14. (Not in) Jay Cutler-Lovie Smith (Chicago): Cutler has the talent, just not always the head or leadership to go with it.
15. (Not in) Christian Ponder-Leslie Frazier (Minnesota): If we were ranking running games (Adrian Peterson), the Vikings would be a lot higher.
By Jeff Schultz
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205 comments Add your comment
lowdownjj
December 25th, 2012
11:16 am
Not bad. Although I would swap ATL and Baltimore (even with the postseason success I give more credit to the Ravens D than to Flacco). Hopefully the Ryan/Smith combo jumps up the list after this year!
Birdhair
December 25th, 2012
11:21 am
where to put birdhair & murray?
Paul in NH
December 25th, 2012
11:23 am
Jeff – Overall rankings look about right.
A belated Happy Hannukah and enjoy your Chinese food today.
Paul in NH
December 25th, 2012
11:26 am
Haven’t the Pats lost 2 Super Bowls with Brady and Belichik?
Ansel
December 25th, 2012
11:27 am
Habaugh made it to the NFC title game, not AFC.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 25th, 2012
11:27 am
First year I didn’t have to run out and buy batteries at low, low convenience store prices.
They grow up quick.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 25th, 2012
11:28 am
Ain’t Skeered…….we can beat them ALL
Intellectual Ninja
December 25th, 2012
11:30 am
You are very, very wrong about Seattle.
The only team in the NFC that should scare the Falcons is a physical Seattle team that punches teams in the mouth and always seems to find a way to win the tough games.
This team, with its D, can beat anyone, anywhere. Russell Wilson is Drew Brees-esque in his ability to make the right throw at the right time, with the kind of mobility to keep plays alive that Brees never had.
Seattle is a team that punches you in the mouth and asks are you man enough.
Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, Bears, Vikings, 49ers? They all have gigantic holes the Falcons can exploit.
Seattle has no holes. Punishing defense that forces mistakes. Opportunistic offense that doesn’t make mistakes. And special teams that are also ranked in the top-5.
They are legitimate in ways no other team in the NFC is.
The Falcons could be that kind of legitimate, if Mike Smith stopped being a damn Marty Schottenheimer and stopped forcing Michael Turner on the offense, and just put the whole thing in Matt Ryan’s hands.
But Mike Smith refuses to do that. Anyone want to bet it was just as much Mike Smith as it was Mike Mularkey, who came up with that horrible gameplan against the Giants last year, where they took the ball out of Ryan’s hand and tried to force the offense to go through a gassed Michael Turner?
We see it this year. Time and time and time again, Smith takes the ball out of Ryan’s hands and tries to sit on leads. And time and time and time again, the Falcons go a quick 3-&-out and then the defense gives up a TD, and he lets the other team back in the game.
Until Mike Smith changes his Marty Schottenheimer ways, this team has no real chance.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:37 am
Repeating a post I had on Facebook and Twitter: Peace, love and serenity to all, regardless of your religion, race, gender, political affiliation or where you stand on the whole Tim Tebow thing.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:38 am
Paul in NH — Haha. Thanks. Christmas and Kung Pao, a marriage made in heaven.
Not yet a believer
December 25th, 2012
11:38 am
Based on your Denver comment, wouldn’t the Falcons be the little overrated from the NFC based upon that soft AFC West schedule help?
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:39 am
Paul in NH — Yes, will fix that.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:39 am
Ansel — Did I write that? Lemme double-back.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:40 am
Chef Tim — No kidding. Had to do a separate budget for batteries in old days.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:40 am
Intellectual Ninja — You disagree with me? Suddenly I feel so much better about my Seattle projection. Hah!
DJANGO
December 25th, 2012
11:42 am
All 32 teams have a shot every season. Only great teams seize the opportunity
And this team crumbles to hot teams every season and now we have
Seattle, greenbay and Washington all peaking.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:46 am
Not yet a believer: Yes. But Falcons 4-0 vs. AFC West, 9-2 vs. everybody else. Denver slightly worse: 5-0 (so far) vs. AFC West, 7-3 vs. everybody else. Denver also handled by three best opponents: New England, Houston, Falcons.
DJANGO
December 25th, 2012
11:48 am
Not yet a believer great point!
Ole Smoky
December 25th, 2012
11:52 am
Can’t stand Pete Carroll but has his team coached up & ready to roll on the road. Clearly most dangerous NFC team.
DJANGO
December 25th, 2012
12:06 pm
Greenbay would be the team I fear most. Aaron Rodgers
Is the best qb in the league and they are playing like 2010 and
We all remember their dome visit.
Me Too
December 25th, 2012
12:15 pm
Intellectual Ninja – “Until Mike Smith changes his Marty Schottenheimer ways, this team has no real chance.”
This is the real problem. HC Smith has not learned anything about Michael Turner. Look at the last three minutes of the Detroit game. Turner is given the ball behind the goal line and he is tackled for -2 yards and a safety. If a poll were taken of the fans, it would be almost unanimous that Turner should not be given the ball in that situation based on his results in the past two years. When will REALITY strike HC Smith. I have always said it HC Smith that caused the offensive problems when MM was OC but not all of them. I have a sneaking suspicion that he meddles with Nolan’s defense too. The only thing that can hold the Falcons back is HC Smith.
Geechy Dan
December 25th, 2012
12:26 pm
Hope I’m wrong,but New England will win super bowl…..Belicheck will cheat his way to the championship ( remember spygate) …….In his world,it ain’t cheating til you get caught:)
Discount DoubleDawg
December 25th, 2012
12:26 pm
Matt Ryan and Coach Smith have had their chances to learn what the playoffs are all about. This is their year to prove they are the real deal. I personally think we will make it at least to the NFC Championship game. Tough to predict anything more than that but based on what I have seen this year winning 2 playoff games seems reasonable and even expected.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 25th, 2012
12:27 pm
oh and Merry Christmas!
Dum-Bass
December 25th, 2012
1:02 pm
Strange there’s nothing in the AJC yet about Andruw Jones being arrested last night for battery. Saw it in several other sites and publications. It is relevant as it happened supposedly at the Capitol Club in Gwinnett County.
Dum-Bass
December 25th, 2012
1:04 pm
Oh BTW it will be Atlanta and Seattle playing for the NFC title and Denver-NE for the AFC. Go ahead and mark it down. I said it, it’s so!
kingdaddy
December 25th, 2012
2:05 pm
The wind is still because there is no Brees. Bring out the paper-bags…
Fan
December 25th, 2012
2:45 pm
Falcons will lose in the 1st round, 2nd round for sure.
Dr. Warren
December 25th, 2012
2:52 pm
Happy holidays from Northern Thailand. The Falcons are the official team of Chiang Mai, and large crowd viewed replay of the Detroit game in the walled Old City. I will be making a house call back in Atlanta if the Birds make the Super Bowl…
Larry
December 25th, 2012
3:08 pm
Wishing everyone a very, Merry Christmas here on vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Went Snow Mobilling yesterday to “Old Faithful” in Yellowstone.
Sometimes you just have to buy a “White Christmas.”
Go Falcons and be grateful for an elite QB and a great Head Coach…we could still have NoMora or Quitrino now!
Larry
Mike
December 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
Schultz you are a better writer and prognosticator than Bradley.
dirtybrid!
December 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
RISE UP!!! Love the Falcons.
We got tickets to the falcons game for CHRISTmas. My ten year old little brother will be taking in his very first falcons game.
Eddie G
December 25th, 2012
4:30 pm
I hope the Vikings play Atlanta in the playoffs. Remember 1998? Revenge is best served COLD!!!
Old School Falcon Fan
December 25th, 2012
5:15 pm
If you watched the 49ers game on Sunday, you would be really fearful for the Falcons. They will play the winner of the Redskins/Seattle game and both teams are scary, Seattle has a tough D, a hard running rb, a running QB and is peaking at the right ttme (averaging over 50 points a game the last three games including one agaonst a strong defensive team {49ers]).
45ACP
December 25th, 2012
5:16 pm
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress,non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2013, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.
DJANGO
December 25th, 2012
5:18 pm
Seriously what nfc play off team have the falcons beaten?
JR1967
December 25th, 2012
5:33 pm
As good as the Seachickens are, the team to be concerned with is the Washington Redskins. If they were to play Atlanta, they would have the experience of already played them head-to-head and RGIII has only gotten better as the season went on.
Answer This
December 25th, 2012
5:36 pm
@Fan…
one of those rounds? Lol. You guys have predicted losses all yeat! Part of the Mayan Culture are you? Lol lets go birds…….time to make some real noise!
Answer This
December 25th, 2012
5:36 pm
Yeat = year
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
5:41 pm
Ansel
December 25th, 2012
11:27 am
Habaugh made it to the NFC title game, not AFC.
_____________________
“Habaugh” actually didn’t make it to anything.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
5:44 pm
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
11:37 am
Repeating a post I had on Facebook and Twitter: Peace, love and serenity to all, regardless of your religion, race, gender, political affiliation or where you stand on the whole Tim Tebow thing.
____________________
Same to you, Jeff, and thanks for your tolerance and flexibility–and the effort you devote to keeping your blogs mostly civil and always entertaining.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
5:56 pm
DJANGO
December 25th, 2012
5:18 pm
Seriously what nfc play off team have the falcons beaten?
_________________________
None to date, but 3 that are still alive for postseason play–Dallas, NYG, Washington.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
5:59 pm
45ACP
December 25th, 2012
5:16 pm
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes . . . .
___________________
I believe you’ve covered yourself there. Politically correct from start to finish.
fansince74
December 25th, 2012
6:03 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/, I hope you are right about Seattle and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Son Of Bart
December 25th, 2012
6:31 pm
I’m hoping the new coordinators will be the difference this year. Stay with the Detroit game plan and all will end well. Go back to “Smitty Ball” and it’s one and done yet again.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
6:32 pm
Intellectual Ninja
December 25th, 2012
11:30 am
You are very, very wrong about Seattle . . .
The only team in the NFC that should scare the Falcons is a physical Seattle team that punches teams in the mouth and always seems to find a way to win the tough games.
This team, with its D, can beat anyone, anywhere. Russell Wilson is Drew Brees-esque in his ability to make the right throw at the right time, with the kind of mobility to keep plays alive that Brees never had.
Seattle is a team that punches you in the mouth and asks are you man enough.
Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, Bears, Vikings, 49ers? They all have gigantic holes the Falcons can exploit.
Seattle has no holes. Punishing defense that forces mistakes. Opportunistic offense that doesn’t make mistakes. And special teams that are also ranked in the top-5.
______________________
Wonder how they lost X games.
But yes, they look pretty mean lately. Glad Falcons would have them at home.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
6:33 pm
Make that “Wonder how they lost 5 games.”
kingdaddy
December 25th, 2012
6:37 pm
Would have loved another shot at The Ain’ts, other than that, I don’t care who we play. Bring them on. Time to put up or shut up. We need Oline depth next year and a healthy defensive backfield…
dg03
December 25th, 2012
6:55 pm
It’s not right but it is what it is! There is such a bias toward the Falcons by the media(espn etc) I saw the same against the Bulldogs. It is disgusting! There is hardly any good reporting about the team with the best record! Yes the best record! Did you hear me espn? We are tired of being treated as second class citizens! Ok I am glad I got that out! I was about to explode. Oh did I tell you that the Falcons have the best record?
dg03
December 25th, 2012
6:56 pm
Oh and don’t bring up the Falcon’s playoff record. The playoffs haven’t even started yet!
falcon fan since '66
December 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
Hey Dave, Colin K is not a rookie.. I was on the NBC sports website last week, and they billed the SF/SEA game as a battle of rookie QB’s. So I guess mistakes happenseven to the best!
Merry Christmas and thanks for your work.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
7:12 pm
dg03
December 25th, 2012
6:55 pm
It’s not right but it is what it is! There is such a bias toward the Falcons by the media(espn etc) I saw the same against the Bulldogs. It is disgusting! There is hardly any good reporting about the team with the best record! Yes the best record! Did you hear me espn? We are tired of being treated as second class citizens! Ok I am glad I got that out! I was about to explode. Oh did I tell you that the Falcons have the best record?
dg03
December 25th, 2012
6:56 pm
Oh and don’t bring up the Falcon’s playoff record. The playoffs haven’t even started yet!
______________________
Uh, can I mention the Falcons’ playoff record? After all, that is the reason they still get little respect from the national media. Win in the postseason, however, and that respect will come.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
7:21 pm
falcon fan since ‘66
December 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
Hey Dave, Colin K is not a rookie.. I was on the NBC sports website last week, and they billed the SF/SEA game as a battle of rookie QB’s. So I guess mistakes happenseven to the best!
Merry Christmas and thanks for your work.
_____________________
Who’s Dave?
Cheech
December 25th, 2012
7:23 pm
Dave’s not here man.
Georgia
December 25th, 2012
7:45 pm
The Falcons haven’t committed an act common to the game yet this year, but I like their chances in the playoffs. Go Falcons.
DawgNole
December 25th, 2012
7:55 pm
Cheech
December 25th, 2012
7:23 pm
Dave’s not here man.
____________________
I believe you’re correct, Cheech.
Fickle Mike
December 25th, 2012
8:08 pm
Ok- this is ATL correct ??? Falcons will choke in the playoffs. Book it !!
Chaos
December 25th, 2012
8:28 pm
haters will hate but when they talk about Football you notice how the Falcons name always comes up. If we in the playoffs enough we got to win one someday. Go Falcons!
Ken
December 25th, 2012
8:40 pm
Falcons are going to get 2 playoff wins in Jan 2013!!
1eyedJack
December 25th, 2012
9:34 pm
I remember when Randy Johnson was the QB. Man…am I gettin’ old.
Larry
December 25th, 2012
9:56 pm
“Shanahan won two Super Bowls in Denver, he’s one of the best offensive/quarterback coaches in history..”
Based on what?
Shanahan is the most overrated head coaches in NFL history who simply was fortunate enough, unlike Dan Reeves, to get John Elway paired with a great RB in Terrel Davis yielding two Suer Bowls. This was the 97 & 98 seasons (13 seasons ago) and he has done absolutely nothing since.
Shanahan was simply lucky to inherit Elway, that’s all.
GJ
December 25th, 2012
10:22 pm
I think that Seattle is the most dangerous team, they’re hot at the right time of the year
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
10:33 pm
Dawgnole — Thank you.
Jeff Schultz
December 25th, 2012
10:35 pm
Larry — Talk to the quarterbacks and the offensive players who’ve played for Shanahan and you’ll have your answer. I can also tell you that I covered the 49ers during and post-Bill Walsh, and Walsh told me Shanahan took his offense to places he never thought possible. That’s a good enough source for me.
Tundra Dude
December 25th, 2012
10:36 pm
GJ wrote:
I think that Seattle is the most dangerous team, they’re hot at the right time of the year.
The playoffs are a whole different ballgame. Wouldn’t surprise me if they laid an egg on the road vs the Redskins.
Nobody noticed, but my Packers are getting their starters back……
We’ll be down there for the NFC championship game.
ps: Rodgers loves them domes….better footing, no wind, better grip on the ball, compared to frozen Tundra balls.
Mora less Petrino
December 25th, 2012
11:02 pm
28, mora less. (Not in, not even close) Michael Vick – Andy Reid (Philadelphia Eagles): Sunday at 1:00 in NY, Titanic II will be on stage for the final performance. Spoiler Alert: Though some of the crew survive, the Skipper and his First Mate go down with the ship.
LOL at the Aints
December 25th, 2012
11:07 pm
45ACP, Well said, LOL
Memo to NFL Contenders: Trying to Win Helps – Wall Street Journal | SportsNewsTime
December 25th, 2012
11:10 pm
[...] Super Bowl winners have gone 37-9 (.804) in their final regular-season game. Super Bowl …NFL playoffs about QBs, coaches — and Falcons have shotAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 47 news [...]
twoiron
December 25th, 2012
11:13 pm
I would flip 5 and 6
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 26th, 2012
12:44 am
I would flip 9 and 6 they fit together better. LOL
ChipperisGod
December 26th, 2012
1:39 am
To all the people complaining about Turner, I have this to say. Yes he’s slowed down, and is aging. But he gets no help from his offensive line a lot of the time. That safety that happened on Saturday was a direct result of Konz missing his block who is proving that he is having a hard time adjusting moving to the guard position.
Our O line isn’t good at supporting the run (much better at pass protection than last year however), and most importantly we have no real FB. Mike Cox is a terrible blocker and the running game has been hurt ever since he took over as FB.
Ovie made a huge difference when he was here with his fantastic blocking. Ever since he went down for the season last year, our running game has been anemic for the most part. He was the X factor in my book, because before he went down, Turner seemed a bit slower, but still put up solid numbers. Now he looks so much slower and that is due to the line and to the lack of a true, nasty FB.
NFL playoffs about QBs, coaches — and Falcons have shot | football-feed.com
December 26th, 2012
2:02 am
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
Sargent Carter
December 26th, 2012
5:08 am
Sorry, just clicked my heels 3 times and Falcons did not call Super Bowl home, gonna be another of many depressing endings for us falcon fans….something missing from this team AGAIN?!…AGAIN???????….Dallas 30 atl 27 1980 something
Jes
December 26th, 2012
5:56 am
Sounds Good, about the coach and qb…but don’t forget the other players who run the damn ball and whi catch the damn ball.
Me Too
December 26th, 2012
6:06 am
ChippeisGod – “Ovie made a huge difference when he was here with his fantastic blocking.”
Go to ESPN stats for previous years and look at the lost games. You will see when Ovie was in Turner made no difference. It is especially true for the playoff loses. If the offensive line is so bad, it doesn’t take a idiot to know not to run Michael Turner from 7 yards deep in the end zone. So why hasn’t HC Smith recognized it doesn’t work.
RB
December 26th, 2012
7:22 am
Don’t sleep on the Seahawks!
Call It Like It Is
December 26th, 2012
7:27 am
Sorry don’t wish to be a naysayer but every year same thing with the Falcons and the Braves, they get everybody hyped up than, bam out they go. Wish them the best, but prepared for the worst.
Chop Buster
December 26th, 2012
7:28 am
Please stop with the Seahawks proclamations. They have weaknesses just like any other team. Here’s what they’ve done:
Losses
Cardinals
Rams
49ers
Lions
Dolphins
Wins
Cowboys
Greenbay – questionable TD to win
Panthers
Patriots
Vikings
Bears
Cardinals
Bills
SF
The 50 burgers were put up against the Cardinals and Bills. I’ve said all year SF has a weak secondary. This team will get its butt kicked if they come into the GA Dome. They have a new QB, but that’s the same defense and secondary Roddy, Julio, Tony G and HD abused last year in Seattle. Have we all forgotten that?
Chop Buster
December 26th, 2012
8:08 am
Just heard Seahawks worked out Ray Edwards…hmnnnn wonder what’s that about? Can’t be for his talent. Maybe they’re trying to get some early Falcons scouting information.
Angela
December 26th, 2012
8:12 am
The Falcons were in the Super Bowl in 1999 under Dan Reeves where they lost to the Denver Broncos. They have been beyond the first round of the playoffs.
greg
December 26th, 2012
8:20 am
gonna be a crazy playoff picture with no nfc east team,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, wait,,, jeff didnt count out the eagles
Nick
December 26th, 2012
8:34 am
where do Sanchez and Rex Ryan rank? LOL
CS
December 26th, 2012
8:56 am
@Chop Buster- very good point about the pasting we gave the Seahawks last year!
Gabe
December 26th, 2012
9:08 am
17 killed in car wrecks over the christmas weekend-tuesday. I guess we need car control and also limits. One car per person and the car can’t be a sports car nor a car over 12 years old. And it must pass more rigorous inspections.
JSS
December 26th, 2012
9:10 am
“Please stop with the Seahawks proclamations. They have weaknesses just like any other team. Here’s what they’ve done:”
Losses
Cardinals
Rams
49ers
Lions
Dolphins
24 point difference total in those 5 losses. In all of those games, they were never out of any of their losses. That is 2010 Green Bay stuff regardless of how you want to marginalize them. That running game travels. That defense travels, only one team has scored more than 24 points on them (28 by the Lions), and that was two months ago. Whoever comes out that 3-6 matchup is going to be battle tested…
Larry
December 26th, 2012
9:13 am
Jeff,
In his 15 seasons as a head coach (Oakland, Denver, Washington) without the services of John Elway paired with Terrell Davis Mike Shanahan is barely above .500 in winning percentage. 15 seasons is overwhelming and convincing evidence of the very definition of an “average” coach at best. Worse, he has the reputation of a snakelike, backstabber who planted a butcher knife in the back of the man that hired him after his disastrous Oakland record, Dan Reeves.
John Elway piloted Denver to three Super Bowls BEFORE Shanahan became head coach won two because of the addition of Terrell Davis and an improved defense, not because of anything Shanahan did.
Shanahan is grossly overrated.
Larry
December 26th, 2012
9:14 am
Jeff,
In his 15 seasons as a head coach (Oakland, Denver, Washingtin) without the services of John Elway paired with Terrell Davis Mike Shanahan is barely above .500 in winning percentage. 15 seasons is overwhelming and convincing evidence of the very definition of an “average” coach at best. Worse, he has the reputation of a snakelike, backstabber who planted a butcher knife in the ack of the man that hired him after his disastrous Oakland record, Dan Reeves.
John Elway piloted Denver to three Super Bowls BEFORE Shanahan became head coach won two because of Terrell Davis and an improved defense, not because of anything Shanahan did.
Shanahan is grossly overrated…case closed.
DJANGO
December 26th, 2012
9:15 am
The D is silent but Ray Edwards is spilling all the play book to Seattle.
Talk about irony and karma.
carzo
December 26th, 2012
9:17 am
ChipperisGod: Are you kidding? Cox blocks fine. Watch the game sometime. Turner is a complete plodder who runs up linemen’s backsides continuously and has no ability to cut or change direction. Sure, the O-line could be better. But watch any NFL game and compare their RBs to Turner. No contest.
DJANGO
December 26th, 2012
9:17 am
You guys are missing the big picture. Most of Seattle losses
Were on the 1st half of season. They are 6-1 since.
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December 26th, 2012
9:22 am
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DP
December 26th, 2012
9:27 am
Gabe, don’t be an idiot. Cars have a purpose. What is the purpose of an assault weapon other than to kill a lot of people in a minute or less?
JSS
December 26th, 2012
9:28 am
As much as I dislike Shanahan’s stubborn side, going to the Niners saved him. He discovered the run-heavy version of the West Coast offense. He got Elway to buy into letting the runners shoulder the load. Go look at the numbers.
UGA83
December 26th, 2012
9:28 am
Flacko had a very slight edge on Ryan about three years ago, since then Ryan has clearly been the better QB. Eli has been very overrated due primarily to a helmet catch of another poorly thrown ball. Yes they made two great playoff runs all the way to the top, but I’d love for thme to back in and play the Birds in round two.
extremus
December 26th, 2012
9:29 am
I have a strong feeling that Michael Turner won’t be with the Falcons next season regardless of this year’s outcome. A bruising, explosive power running back is something the Falcons offense sorely needs for the passing game to be used to its full potential…and Turner ain’t it. Don’t think for a moment that Dimitroff and Smith don’t realize that (though I agree on the point they’re still giving the ball to him way too often, particularly on futile sweep pattern attempts). If the Falcons can get a good RB and a legitimate pass rush over the offseason (along with perhaps a kick returner who doesn’t fair catch by default), they just might be a “complete” team.
Just an Old Falcon Fan
December 26th, 2012
9:31 am
The Seahawks are a up and down team. If they come in here on one of their down weeks we will probably blow them out. If they come in here on one of their up weeks we will have our hands full. One thing is for sure and that is if we aren’t spring loaded ready for anything and everything that comes our way there will be no SB for the Falcons.
JSS
December 26th, 2012
9:33 am
CS
December 26th, 2012
8:56 am
“@Chop Buster- very good point about the pasting we gave the Seahawks last year!”
Tavaris Jackson (2011 Seahawks QB) will be nowhere in the vicinity, that automatically makes any game more competitive…
Larry
December 26th, 2012
9:35 am
JSS,
Would I be guessing correctly that your favorite two teams for the playoffs are Seattle and Washington?
DP
December 26th, 2012
9:36 am
“Eli has been very overrated due primarily to a helmet catch of another poorly thrown ball.”
UGA83, you can’t be serious, or you have a very bad memory. Take a look at that play again on YouTube and you’ll see Eli somehow escaping what looked like a sack and throwing that ball into the teeth of the defense. And he had to take the Giants the rest of the way down the field after that.
How about that throw on the deep sideline pass to Manningham in the game winning Super Bowl drive last year. Was that also a “poorly thrown ball”?
Two game winning no huddle drives to win Super Bowls and you think Eli is “very overrated”? I can only imagine what you must think of Aaron Murray.
Nativebird
December 26th, 2012
9:52 am
We will see if Mike Smith has learned what it takes to win championships in this league. And yes, right now I would indeed say more like Marty Scottenheiner but even more like MARV Levy right now. What these Falcons need is a Jimmy Johnson or Bill Belichek type….nice guys may not finish last in the NFL…but they certainly don’t finish first.
okeetee
December 26th, 2012
9:55 am
“The only team in the NFC that should scare the Falcons is a physical Seattle team that punches teams in the mouth and always seems to find a way to win the tough games.”
…correct me if I’m wrong but haven’t the Falcons beaten the SeaHawks the past two years IN Seattle, which basically the same team they have now, with the exception of now starting a ROOKIE quarterback…..and they will have to win or beat us in OUR house this go a round? The Sea Hawks have been playing well…..but I’m still more concerned about the Packers and Aaron Rogers!
SawThat1nce
December 26th, 2012
9:56 am
Where have the 5 Seahawks losses happened at?
JSS
December 26th, 2012
10:02 am
No Larry, I have no favorite, but as you do what you always do and try to inject an agenda on to my opinion, the team that doesn’t turn the ball over and converts scoring opportunities into TDs will win…
6 years later, and accolades for QBs like Rodgers, Luck, Flacco just goes over your head.
Oh yeah, if you hear a load crack, turn on the GPS locator…
Chop Buster
December 26th, 2012
10:03 am
JSS – “Tavaris Jackson (2011 Seahawks QB) will be nowhere in the vicinity, that automatically makes any game more competitive…” But the defense is still the same. Don’t act like the Seahawks are some undefeatable team. They have a rookie playing QB and if the Falcons defense can confuse both Mannings and Brees, I’m pretty sure they can confuse a rookie QB. Also, you seem to have a counter to anything any Falcons fans point in their favor. Whose team are you a fan of?
JSS
December 26th, 2012
10:06 am
And Larry, nothings changed, you still should not try to contact me on these blogs… “No” means “no,” try it some times…
JSS
December 26th, 2012
10:17 am
Those corners have been augmented, they saw their weaknesses and addressed them, that D is not the same, they went out and got 3 more pass rushers and shouted up that front 7 (4 of those 2012 draft picks are playing an active role)… No team is “undefeatable” (not a word). Nevertheless, like I said that running game and defense travels. If you’re counting on a defense “confusing” a rookie QB, good luck with that, a power running game can be a equalizer on the road…
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
10:20 am
I see a lot of people complaining about Michael Turner continuing to get the ball. I don’t see one complaint about the numerous play action passes that have gone for big gains or TDs. You can’t have it both ways. You want to take the ball out of Michael Turner’s hands, then you can forget about play action. And if you just straight drop back and pass with no running game and no play action, you can forget about moving the ball at all. So just be quiet about it – if you don’t understand the dynamics of football, don’t post criticism that makes it obvious.
Fetus Breath
December 26th, 2012
10:25 am
HEPPY BURFDAY JEEBUS!!
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
10:26 am
The Falcons are the best home team in football and the Seahawks are BY FAR the worst road team in the playoffs this season. I was impressed by them too but let’s not give them more credit than is due. Yes – their defense has been stout. But don’t you think some of that stoutness is a function of opposing offenses not being able to communicate due to deafening crowd noise at C Link? The home road splits certainly seem to indicate crowd noise is a greater factor than the Seahawks “legit” defense.
There is NO WAY any Falcon fan should be worrying about the Seahawks bringing their rookie QB into the hostile GA dome to play the best home team in football in a thunderous environment with the worst road record of all teams in the playoffs.
Personally, I’m praying for the Seahawks to make it to the Dome, but honestly, I expect they will be out of the playoffs in the first round.
Patman
December 26th, 2012
10:33 am
I love my dirty birds but history tells us not to get our hopes up for Atlanta teams at playoff time. I have seen Atlanta team after Atlanta team, Falcons, Hawks and Braves, get our hopes up only to let everybody down with a lack of heart or real commitment to winning when it counts. I’m not trying to throw cold water on the Falcons, just being real.
Chop Buster
December 26th, 2012
10:35 am
JSS – “No team is “undefeatable” (not a word).” It is a word smart guy. Use a dictionary sometime. We can go back and forth with this all day (seems that’s what you like), so I’ll let you keep your opinion and I’ll keep mine of the Seahags.
DP
December 26th, 2012
10:35 am
Joshua, I’ll bet you thought there was NO WAY the Packers could come into the Georgia Dome and hang 48 on the Falcons and NO WAY the Falcons could lose 24-2 to the Giants.
Unless somebody called the Giants winning the Super Bowl last year or is willing to bet their house on this year’s playoff games, how about giving the assertions about who is going to win in the NFL playoffs a rest. Shouting the loudest doesn’t make you the most knowledgeable; if it did, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith would be NFL GMs. The playoffs are a crapshoot. Virtually every team in can win it all if they get on a roll and any of them can lay an egg in their first game.
JSS
December 26th, 2012
10:38 am
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
10:26 am
“The Falcons are the best home team in football and the Seahawks are BY FAR the worst road team in the playoffs this season.”
Somewhere the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chicago Bears (if the Vikings stumble) are grinning from ear-to-ear…
Hahahahahaha
December 26th, 2012
10:46 am
The Falcons chance at actually WINNING a playoff game is zilch! 0! They will lose the first playoff game they play. They are NOT a CHAMPIONSHIP team and thier fans are NOT CHAMPIONSHIP WORTHY fans. This is going to be good! I can’t wait to watch that game and watch Rodriguez cry on the side of the field like he ALWAYS does when they lose! hahahahahahahaha!
Hahahahahaha
December 26th, 2012
10:46 am
OOPS Gonozalez….shoot all of those names sound the same to me. no pun intended.
Msg. to 'Chopbuster'
December 26th, 2012
10:54 am
Undefeatable IS a word. There goes that Georgia Education System again!
JSS
December 26th, 2012
10:59 am
When a word only appears in “abridged” dictionaries, there is a reason…
“Seahags?” It will be a witches brew if they are on! http://www.hark.com/clips/mjysnfhwgw-popeyes-laugh
Go Falcons..!!
December 26th, 2012
11:02 am
@hahahah
Say it to his face CHkn $hit. no pun intended.
Joey
December 26th, 2012
11:11 am
If Smith allows his OC and QB to run the offense, the Falcons will at least get to the conference title game.
If Smith insists on running his fat-ass for 2 yard losses, it will be yet another 1-and-done.
Chop Buster
December 26th, 2012
11:17 am
Msg. to ‘Chopbuster’ what are YOU talking about? I know undefeatable is a word. Tell that to professor JSS.
JSS
December 26th, 2012
11:33 am
Oxford is clear on “undefeatable.” Merriam-Webster on the other hand only accounts for it in “unabridged” dictionaries because it was considered an archaic term and was better used in different structure. Just as I would not use “niggardly” as a word instead of “stingy” or “miserly.” It is no longer an efficient use of wordsmith… It is on the ash heap on English words,
LOL at the Aints
December 26th, 2012
11:35 am
Got me a Rodriguez jersey for Christmas,, man I was Pi##ed LOL
JSS
December 26th, 2012
11:40 am
It is archaic, Oxford has stricken it from the language… I bet you used a certain “n” word instead of miserly or stingy… It is a poor use of wordsmith… “Any team can be defeated.”
DGAD
December 26th, 2012
11:41 am
Denver will go further than Falcons in the playoffs.
I watched the game Saturday night and for the first half the announcers were slobbering all over the Falcons. Then, the Falcons let the Lions back in the game in the third and and first half of the fourth quarters. Also, CJ was lighting up the Falcons for the receiving record. Any let up like that in the playoffs will get you sent home. Also, the next day, Baltimore creams the Giants. Wasn’t beating the Giants the Falcon’s big win? Seems like everyone is doing it. The Falcons are good, but they ain’t nothing special.
GTBOB
December 26th, 2012
11:44 am
Falcons will lose the first playoff game! If they had a running game like Tech and a genius for a coach..they might make it to the Super Bowl! Watch Tech destroy USC and put a whopping on UGA next year!
JSS
December 26th, 2012
11:50 am
The team with a QB who throws 3 INTs against Oakland and 5 INTs against Arizona (both at home) and is not a rookie is certainly a magical elixir for confidence… They’re undefeatable! Maybe or maybe not, but big physical CBs who can man cover and are no longer rookies in their 4th game means something… That is the rationale used by Falcons fans to explain Julio Jones as a positive…
E Pluribus Falcon
December 26th, 2012
12:06 pm
The Falcons might have some difficulties with a “running” quarterback (Green Bay, San Fran., or Seattle not MV7-Philly) but I rate their probability of a SB win at: .85 (Divisional Round) X .75 (Conference Round) X .50 (SuperBowl) = 32%. About 1 in 3.
Flo-Ri-Duh
December 26th, 2012
12:07 pm
The best thing the Falcons have going for them is that they got rid of Van Gorder and his defense and bought in Asante Samuel – a CB that can actually cover a Pro Bowl WR. The defense is much better in pass coverage this year. Still concerned about the OL. The playoffs re won and lost in the trenches and the Falcon’s OL was awful in the playoff game last year.
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
12:16 pm
Joshua, I’ll bet you thought there was NO WAY the Packers could come into the Georgia Dome and hang 48 on the Falcons and NO WAY the Falcons could lose 24-2 to the Giants.
Unless somebody called the Giants winning the Super Bowl last year or is willing to bet their house on this year’s playoff games, how about giving the assertions about who is going to win in the NFL playoffs a rest. Shouting the loudest doesn’t make you the most knowledgeable; if it did, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith would be NFL GMs. The playoffs are a crapshoot. Virtually every team in can win it all if they get on a roll and any of them can lay an egg in their first game.
=========
A crap shoot? I think not. Don’t let the recent anomalous trend of “hot” teams making deep runs fool you to the fact that since the inception of the SB, the top seeded teams have been dominant. We are talking about a span of 6 or so years where a few hot teams have went on runs vs several decades of dominance from top seeded teams.
Aside from that, I had no expectations of a Falcons run last year. Watching them play all season made it obvious they did not have the fortitude for a run. And I was not surprised by the Packers in 2010 either – it was the second time they had played that year and the game was tightly contested until the pick right before the half which absolutely destroyed the Falcons momentum.
Also, I’m not predicting the Falcons will win for certain, which appears to be how you interpreted my post. I never said that. What I’m saying is that the Seahawks should not be worrisome. I mean none of us can control whether the Falcons will come out and lay down and die like they did last year, but that has no bearing on how intimidating of a match-up the Seahawks would be. That is all.
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
12:19 pm
The Falcons might have some difficulties with a “running” quarterback (Green Bay, San Fran., or Seattle not MV7-Philly) but I rate their probability of a SB win at: .85 (Divisional Round) X .75 (Conference Round) X .50 (SuperBowl) = 32%. About 1 in 3.
======
They shut down RGIII with authority.
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
12:23 pm
JSS
“The Falcons are the best home team in football and the Seahawks are BY FAR the worst road team in the playoffs this season.”
Somewhere the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chicago Bears (if the Vikings stumble) are grinning from ear-to-ear…
======
The Bears are 4-3 on the road, the Bengals are 6-2 on the road. I’m not sure I follow your logic.
Peter
December 26th, 2012
12:28 pm
I like the Falcon’s chances for a few reasons…… First if Peyton manning could lose hid first 3 playoff games as Ryan did, then we know all can turn around….. plus Ryan got stronger and more physical this year, which bodes well for him.
Second and more important is the turn over in the coordinators….. The Defense is better this year,
and we are making better adjustments at 1/2 time….. Last year we got beat in the second half, ,and this year that is not the case.
I see the Falcon’s in the NFC Championship game, and at home I like our odds.
E Pluribus Falcon
December 26th, 2012
12:33 pm
24-17 is solid, Joshua, but maybe a little shy of “…with authority.” I like the Falcons over everybody in the NFL – everybody – if they play their game. But the playoffs are full of really good teams and they’ll have to win THREE in a row against those teams. I hope they play their game, three in-a-row.
JSS
December 26th, 2012
12:50 pm
Cincinnati and Chicago are teams that can be attacked, and turnover the ball… 11 TOs and 16 TOs since compared to 5 for Seattle since the mid point of their respective seasons … Home or away, that is a recipe for playoff disaster… Wanna guess how many TOs Atlanta have in that period? Despite turning over other teams, sooner or later the chickens come home to roost…
Paul in NH
December 26th, 2012
1:01 pm
I am not sure I understand the unbridled optimism from Falcons fans. It is a little different in Boston. The Pats have a better QB and a better coach than Atlanta and the fans expect NE to not win the Super Bowl.
Jonathan
December 26th, 2012
1:09 pm
What’s the latest on whether or how much Matt Ryan will play this Sunday?
JSS
December 26th, 2012
1:17 pm
Paul, Pats fans love them but generally always see their shortcomings…
Paul in NH
December 26th, 2012
1:24 pm
JSS
That comes from most Pats fans also being Sox fans. They expect heartbreak.
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
1:26 pm
E Pluribus:
24-17 is solid, Joshua, but maybe a little shy of “…with authority.” I like the Falcons over everybody in the NFL – everybody – if they play their game. But the playoffs are full of really good teams and they’ll have to win THREE in a row against those teams. I hope they play their game, three in-a-row.
======
I was specifically speaking to holding RGIII in check – not to the game as a whole. If you think about that game, the Redskins scored one of their TDs on an interception return, and the other by a long pass from Kirk Cousins via badly blown coverage. RGIII was completely ineffective (10/15 for 91 yards passing and 6.1 ypa, 7 yards on 1 rush attempt) thus the with authority comment =]
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
1:27 pm
I am not sure I understand the unbridled optimism from Falcons fans. It is a little different in Boston. The Pats have a better QB and a better coach than Atlanta and the fans expect NE to not win the Super Bowl.
=====
It’s simple: the Falcons are better than New England.
Joshua
December 26th, 2012
1:32 pm
JSS:
It goes without saying that turnovers are the biggest deciding factor in most games. No team can afford to lose the turnover battle but let’s take solace in the fact that the Falcons have one of the best turnover differentials in football, and that turnovers are less likely when playing in front of a friendly crowd (due to easier communications, etc).
Rasta Roddy
December 26th, 2012
1:33 pm
No worries, mon.
Dem falcons goan be ready dis year fah certain.
Wit Michael Turner rested and da defense peaking at jist da right time, day goan be unstoppable.
Look fah big plays from rodgers, snelling and douglas. And doan fuhget about Chris Hope and Antoine Smith on special teams, mon.
Da best is yet ta come!
Decatur Falcons
December 26th, 2012
1:33 pm
People, the Atlanta Falcons have a great shot at making the Super Bowl, we the fans of the Atlanta Falcons have to believe. The NFL is so cruel, and with one game left in the season anything can happen. Dallas Cowboys can make the Playoffs or the NY Giants. It is true you need a good QB and coach to win these playoffs games. It is a tough job, but it can be done. GO FALCONS!!!!!
Rasta Roddy
December 26th, 2012
2:11 pm
An’ anudda ting. Doancha worry bout Mr. Michael Turner.
Da coaches knows wat dey do.
He be restin’.
Mark it.
Dey say, iss ok Michael.
Ya hit dem holes and chppa feet an if dem holes doan open jus take a lil nap on da field.
No need to over exert yaself before da big games get here.
He has less than half the carries he had at this time in 2010 when Mularkey rode like a cappucin monkey on a shetland pony in a freak circus.
Trust me when I say Michael goan be crackin skulls in the playoffs.
GT GRAD
December 26th, 2012
2:23 pm
Might I suggest a list of the all-time best Superbowl Championship teams based on the best combination of OL #1, DL #2, QB #3, Head Coach #4, OC #5 and last but not least DC #6. Rather ridiculous to suggest the QB and Head Coach are the most important/critical factors………put the best QB and a stellar Head Coach on a team with a group of less-than-average OL and DL players and the team will probably miss the playoffs completely! A team usually needs the complete package #1 thru #6 listed above to actually win a Superbowl.
My point is obvious……..the OL and DL on a football team typically make or break a team (especially during the playoffs)!!
Matt Ryan and Mike Smith have had success with average (at best) OL and DL players……the OL and DL has played much better this season than in the past 4-5 years though. I just hope these guys are good enough to take the team all the way to a Superbowl Victory!!!!!!!!!!
UGA83
December 26th, 2012
2:45 pm
My guess is we get the Redskins-Seahawks winner here for our first game, with GB and SF in the other game. That’s about as good as it can get for the Falcons. I think we match up pretty well with any of the NFC playoff teams, and I expect the Birds will still be in the hunt in the 2nd half of the NFC championshipo game!
E Pluribus Falcon
December 26th, 2012
3:16 pm
Joshua @ 1:26
Agreed.
Bob Griffin
December 26th, 2012
3:49 pm
If we are fortunate to get to the second round and travel to Atlanta Ima let Mr. Weatherspoon play with my Cousins this time. Do not want.
GTBOB
December 26th, 2012
4:23 pm
Falcons will lose first round game! They need Paul Johnson!!
wreckmaniac
December 26th, 2012
6:43 pm
Three teams are highly likely to make it- New England, Denver, and Green Bay. The rest are higher risks including Baltimore since Flacco hasn’t been impressive this year. All others are wannabees.
Atlanta has more than enough talent but no prior success and is thus not taken seriously.
Hillbilly D
December 26th, 2012
8:47 pm
It was Pete Rozelle’s dream to have every team in the league be equal. That’s never quite been achieved but with the exception of a team or two, on both ends of the spectrum, it’s pretty close. So pretty much anything can happen. Just like the NHL playoffs can be determined by a hot goalie, these playoffs will turn on solid, fundamental football and whoever makes the fewer mistakes. Pretty much any of these teams can win but none of them can win if they don’t come ready to play or take anything for granted.
Like I’ve said before, I’m just a causal football fan but I’m guessing the teams that can run the ball, control the clock, and stop the other team from running the ball, have a leg up.
SawThat1nce
December 26th, 2012
9:41 pm
It’s Seahawks-mania this week, because they ran up the score on two down-and-out teams, and beat a injury riddled 49ers team in the seahawk’s home stadium.
Last week it was 49ers-mania, because they took advantage of the Patriots mistakes in the 1st half, and survived a Pats on-slaught in the last half of the game.
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:41 pm
we are the best give it up the rest
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:43 pm
wreckmaniac u are stupid, the falcons are the best your stuipidity give it a rest
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:46 pm
falcons teach that seattle fool a lesson, he had a student live in his home in hawaii and ran our with all the punishment hit USC, falcons not scared of that coach
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:48 pm
He was a cheat in USC and ran with the punishment while he keep his sexy student in his hawaii home, we know the truth
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:49 pm
SPOON TEACH THAT KID A LESSON, HE SHOULD OF STAYED WITH BASEBALL, HE FACE OUR FALCONS HE WILL GET HURT
goFalcons
December 26th, 2012
9:51 pm
WE RUN THE SCORE UP ON THEM IF THEY LUCKY ENOUGH TO FACE US
JSS
December 26th, 2012
9:59 pm
@ Hillbilly D…
That ain’t casual fan stuff, that’s Football PhD stuff… You’re wasting it on this bunch… If boasting was a championship, AJC version of Snarky Central fans would have been 48 times Lombardi champs!
Thomas Brown
December 27th, 2012
6:04 am
0 Pro-Bowl Selections Joe Flacco
2 out of current 3 Pro-Bowls Matt Ryan
JSS
December 27th, 2012
8:54 am
@ Hillbilly D and Paul in NH…
See what I mean?
zbulldawg
December 27th, 2012
9:16 am
Just remember P-Manning took 3 seasons. Elway took maybe more I don’t remember. But I do know that the teams that get there & win always makes the big play Or catch, turnover !! Some thing that turns the game their way. The teams that can win without playing their best is key also. I believe a team can WILL itself to win. To refuse to lose sorta say !! The team that truely believes that they will win through out the game no matter what happens is the team I would fear the most. The team that doesn’t have to have everything go their way has the best shot. So Rise Up my Dirty Birds & Will the WIN !!
Thomas Brown
December 27th, 2012
9:39 am
2-time Pro-Bowl QB out of current 3 years, Matt Ryan, is just a quarterback doing well for his franchise, or 1 who is doing better than that ?
Routine...Routine
December 27th, 2012
10:20 am
Falcant’s WILL lose the 1st game they play in the playoffs. Mark it down. They will never sniff a Super Bowl!
Nativebird
December 27th, 2012
10:44 am
Well, at least we have ONE half of the requisite combo needed to win the superbowl, Matt Ryan is indeed a great Quarterback.
JSS
December 27th, 2012
11:04 am
“Just remember P-Manning took 3 seasons. Elway took maybe more I don’t remember.”
Elway led his team to the Super Bowl in his 4 season and 2nd round of playoff appearances.
Again, bury the Manning comparison, what Jeff Schultz and others who use it fail to tell you is that there’s a counterweight to Manning, it is Ken O’Brien (the former Jets and Eagles QB)… Go look at his post-season resume… He’s has more in common with Ryan than Manning…
Rob
December 27th, 2012
11:42 am
Nothing against Frazier, but having Christian Ponder’s name anywhere on this list is a joke. He’s not in the top 25 QBs in the league, and since the Vikes haven’t won a title under Frazier, there is nothing he could possibly have done to get that tandem on this list.
JSS
December 27th, 2012
12:13 pm
Ponder went all David Archer 1986 on the 49ers in the Metrodome, his only professional accomplishment. Handing off left and right to Adrian Peterson is super job security!
Hillbilly D
December 27th, 2012
12:40 pm
But I do know that the teams that get there & win always makes the big play Or catch, turnover !!
That’s an interesting point. It’s basically the Alex Hawkins’ theory. His thinking was that these games usually turn on big plays and that the team with the most “big play” players, usually wins. There’s truth in that, especially in a close game but all in all, I’d choose dominating the line play on both sides of the ball, if I was the one doing the choosing. If you do that, you probably don’t have to worry about a close game.
2012 NFL Season Wrap – ESPN (blog) | NFLGame.Net
December 27th, 2012
1:28 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Matty Bicep
December 27th, 2012
9:31 pm
The playoff game is a football game, the same game we played all season, against the same teams we played all season. We beat the consensus #1 team rather easily, we laid the largest beating on the defending super bowl champions that one has ever seen. Hillbilly, you are right, it is up to the football gods. The only constant in Pete’s dream is the inconsistency every NFL team has displayed. I would say the favorite is Green Bay due to Mr Rogers.
LOL at the Aints
December 27th, 2012
10:54 pm
We are in the tournament, there are many teams that would love to be in our shoes, Can we win it all, Who Knows,, its a crap shoot from here on out, That having been said I like our chances, 2 wins at home and we’re in. With all due respect to JSS and the rest of the loser haters, I like our chances. We Shall See,, LOL
LOL at the Aints
December 27th, 2012
10:57 pm
Go Birds
Matty Bicep
December 28th, 2012
5:11 pm
Ken O’brian? LOL, you got mad football evaluation skillz JSS. Comparing a guy with a 50-59 record to a guy who wins 70% of his games. A guy who made the playoffs 2 times in 9 years to a guy who has started his career off going 4 of the first 5 years. Sorry JSS, your really getting desperate.
Matty Bicep
December 28th, 2012
5:25 pm
JSS, if you want to be taken serious, find a QB who has been to the playoffs 5 our of their first 5 seasons. Find a guy who has won 70% of their games after 5 seasons. Find a guy who has not won a playoff game after 4 seasons in the league. TRY and weigh facts, ALL the facts, instead of tossing up random comparisons of one single thing that shows a total lack of thought. Just advice, you seem desperate for friends.
JSS
December 28th, 2012
8:57 pm
Sorry to tell you this, you just indicted Ryan while trying to tear down others… People have been telling you folks this forever, Matt Ryan is the first QB in NFL history that’s had winning percentage that high and has not won a playoff game by the 2nd appearance in the post-season… It is not even close… Even if he wins a playoff game, he’ll be in the record book for a long time unless Luck and Griffin somehow morph into Ryan and lay eggs in multiple playoffs too!
Peyton Manning did not lead teams to the post-season 2 of first six seasons… So 0-3 in his first three appearances, that was indicative of what the problem truly was, the Colts were defensively neutered and the running game stifled… When they finally got Bob Sanders, they finally firmed up the D along with moving around their linebackers… They never have duplicated the success… They took the ball out of the air and ran it… It was especially true in coming back against the Patriots in their championship season…
You prove that you have no clue about the teams that O’Brien QB’ed in the NY. The were run heavy teams (sound familiar)? What were the Jets record in his first two seasons in the starter’s role (both playoff years)? Yeah, they were double dights Ws and I do O’Brien a disservice, he threw for 200 yards once in his 0-3 playoff 0′fer! So, instead of worrying about Ryan’s regular seasons, compare what matters, the post-season! And that is weighing “real facts.” You really don’t want people weighing those gaudy Tom Brady, Joe Montana, or Troy Aikman first 3 post-season numbers to the great Matt Ryan do you?
“find a QB who has been to the playoffs 5 our of their first 5 seasons. Find a guy who has won 70% of their games after 5 seasons. Find a guy who has not won a playoff game after 4 seasons in the league”
Easy, A. Joe Flacco, B-C. It is not the end of year 5 for Ryan, but he’s the only QB in league history along O’Brien and Manning to go 0-3 in playoff appearances… Ha ha, even Craig Morton could pull that one off!
Kiss my Fishbone, that’s where my friends and I will be desperate together tonight! Stick to Ryan hero worshipping, pray for that first 200 yard passing performance… I know you’ll crow to heaven if it finally happens…
JSS
December 28th, 2012
9:17 pm
Oh don’t worry, he (Ryan) can get in some rarefied air with another loss, Y.A. Tittle will appreciate the company in post-season infamy (he was 0-5 all-time)… Good news for you Ryan-philes, at least you can revel in the Hall of Fame with all of those gaudy regular season stats…
JSS
December 28th, 2012
9:45 pm
@ Hillbilly D and Jeff Schultz…
I remembered this article from a ways back, it certainly speaks volumes as to way the Patriots have fallen off in their playoff production… I know Hillbilly will raise an eyebrow…
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/the-lord-postseason-stats/5048/
Matty Bicep
December 28th, 2012
10:48 pm
Ryan is what he is, and I think it actually takes a special talent to keep getting back after crushing defeats. He has learned to throw the deep ball, his completion percentage has improved, the guy looks like he might be ready to take the next step, but maybe not, we shall see.
As you pointed out, a lot more goes into a playoff game than QB play.
Flacco? Congrats to him, but here we are with another opportunity and nobody knows what will happen.
Actually, for a guy who predicted that the Eagles would actually be good, and that Cam would build on his Rookie year and actually GET to the playoffs, you have proven yourself a very poor judge of talent, and really don’t have any credibility anyway…. now ain’t that the truth.
Matty Bicep
December 28th, 2012
11:34 pm
Hillbilly, in the last 13 years, there have been 26 teams play in the Superbowl, 15 of those teams were QB’d by a guy named Manning, Rothisbuger, Brady or Warner. No so coincidentally, two on that list is who beat Ryan.
An JSS, I have not heard you talk about how Ryan can’t throw the deep ball in awhile, other thing you were wrong about, so your batting about .250, if Ryan does manage to win a playoff game, you will go be an epic fail.
Matty Bicep
December 28th, 2012
11:39 pm
Another interesting fact, since Ryan game in the league, they trail only New England in regular season winning percentage, and Brady was one and done twice, they did get to the SB last year, but they had to beat teams like Tim Tebow’s Broncos, and Flackos Baltimore team, only to lose to the very team that knocked us out the playoffs, so you can argue that they did not accomplish anything more that we did, for the AFC is just a weaker division.
JSS
December 29th, 2012
7:25 am
“An JSS, I have not heard you talk about how Ryan can’t throw the deep ball in awhile, other thing you were wrong about, so your batting about .250,?”
Mistaken me with Matt “Noodle Arm” Ryan, that his line. He’s still not a great long thrower, when the Haruki Nakamura’s of the NFL tripping over themselves on rainbows, it looks great to someone like you…
Still laughing at your Cam Newton crack, I don’t predict team regular season records, haven’t since the ‘09 season. Newton’s is a wash by the way. As badly as he started the season, he been hot as an firecracker. I’m no “Cam Newton is a god” fan. But unlike a clown like Slimey Ray who kept trying to say he was worthless, I realize that kid has talent. Funny. he’s within 400 yards of passing for 4,000 in first two seasons. Moreover, the 13-2 Falcons have yet to stop him since 2nd half of the 2011 game in Charlotte… His TDs passes are up, and his INTs are down… A peson like you would start Jimmy Clausen, Joey Harrington, or Brady Quinn instead…
Another indictment of the current Falcons roster and administration made by you inadvertently, no team since the 1990-1992 Kansas City Chiefs has that high of winning percentage, yet has not won at least one playoff game! Everyone knows they are right behind the Pats in “regular season” wins, with the Ravens right behind… But where the rubber meets the road, they are futility personified… Shoot, even the Schottenheimer led Browns won playoff games… Don’t try to live vicariously through the victories of the teams who laid waste to Smith’s teams… Your teams haven’t been competitive in the 2nd half of the last two playoff games… Here’s the difference, you mention Tebow, whose team is he leading? Elway knew, gone… You mention Flacco, where Billy Cundiff kicking these days? Where’s Cam Cameron game planning this weekend? Better try next time, those teams made hard choices, not smoke and mirrors one…
JSS
December 29th, 2012
9:53 am
Dang, the 1991 KC Chiefs won a wild card game… It is the Falcons record all alone!!!! The 1996 Chiefs missed the playoffs, so that eliminated them (95-97), you must be so proud!
Big Ray
December 29th, 2012
10:18 am
http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/top-news/ap-sources-saints-payton-agree-to-terms-on-deal/nThQB/
Now there will be no excuses for the a$$ kickings that are still coming….
Good luck with trying to overcome your cap issues, age of players that were worth something, and lack of a defense. LOL
Big Ray
December 29th, 2012
10:25 am
But unlike a clown like Slimey Ray who kept trying to say he was worthless, I realize that kid has talent. Funny. he’s within 400 yards of passing for 4,000 in first two seasons.
Slimey? Can’t spell? OH, and nobody told you to swallow…..
But you’re natural born liar, as anyone around here can see. I never said Cam was useless…only that he was no leader and was turnover prone.
Funny, you like to rip Ryan and the Falcons like the hater you are (surprise), and you love to post Cam’s stats. All those stats have accounted for how many wins? How about playoff appearances (something Ryan was able to get to in his rookie year)? You can’t get a shot at playoff wins if you can’t get to the playoffs.
Cam has killed off one GM, might kill off a coach as well. At this rate, he’ll have MV7 beat on that account. Difference between the two is I think Cam has learned about himself a hell of a lot faster than MV7 ever was going to.
Cam isn’t as bright or as intuitive as RGIII. And sooner or later, he won’t be able to run on defenses the way he has. He’s got a shot at being damn good (and more than just a guy who gets his own stats…but not wins). Might even become a good leader (something MV7 never could). We shall see.
In the meantime, let him LEAD a team somewhere besides down the toilet, before even trying to make comparisons.
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
10:27 am
Funny JSS how you forget to mention that the 93 Chiefs played in the AFC championship, and we all know how the great MV7 played in a conference championship, so that must be the only thing that matters. Greatness is not about Superbowls or anything, just winning a division round, and the team you compare the Falcons to did that.
That is why your analysis is so weak. And for Cam, he is a talent, it just goes to show it just ain’t that easy. Sure, he has been a handful for the Falcons, but except for this last game, he single handily lost 3 of the 4 games he played against us. He has struggled to perform in the clutch, a regular season choker…..Now ain’t that funny?
But since we like to take careers in progress and compare them to full careers, RG3 seems like a MV7, right? You know, guys who came on the scene, took the league by storm by running the ball, only the be injury prone and get’s “figured out” and turned out to lead the biggest hype loser team in NFL history, and kill a HOF coach in the process……Right?
And as for Shottenhiemer, they love him in KC, maybe he did never win in the playoffs as much as some, but he won a lot of games.
Finally, I do remember you bringing up Ryans deep ball stats on many occasion, so don’t start lying, but you are correct in saying that he does not have one of the stronger arms in the NFL, so we are back to that Payton Manning comparison again, you don’t need it. But, his deep ball is nice, he puts air under it, but he is hitting guys in stride, his pass to White the other night was a think of beauty.
My point, for a guy who prides himself on analysis, you are very poor at it.
Big Ray
December 29th, 2012
10:30 am
Sorry to tell you this, you just indicted Ryan while trying to tear down others… People have been telling you folks this forever, Matt Ryan is the first QB in NFL history that’s had winning percentage that high and has not won a playoff game by the 2nd appearance in the post-season… It is not even close… Even if he wins a playoff game, he’ll be in the record book for a long time unless Luck and Griffin somehow morph into Ryan and lay eggs in multiple playoffs too!
What an obscure stat. Only a dedicated hater would be able to find something that even the sports media doesn’t see fit to discuss.
LOL….and he says I’m a clown. It will be interesting to see what is said when the Falcons win. Not that this azz clown will stick around.
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
10:30 am
When Cam scored within 2 minutes of the first half against the Falcons, it was the first points this season he put on within the last two minutes of any half. CHOKE?
Big Ray
December 29th, 2012
10:37 am
Matty Bicep ,
Waging war in the slums like me, eh? LOL.
One does seek cheap entertainment from time to time….
Dude can’t help himself. He’s a liar. Pathological, even. Must be a closet Saints or Panthers fan to have this much hate for the hometown team. Perhaps bitter over the salary cap and franchise killing MV7 who has proven that “redemption” simply isn’t for everybody.
Strange thing about talent. Seems to me that Ryan Leaf was considered talented prior to his NFL debacle.
So was Vince “I can’t get a job in the NFL now” Young.
I’ll bet there are a plethora of alibis in the mind of this clown where Cam Newton is concerned. Things like coaching, the play of other guys….oh, wait. Those are REAL reasons, because this is an 11-on-11 game. So while the play of the QB may trump that of any other SINGLE individual, it IS a TEAM GAME.
So while there are factors that have affected Cam’s and the Panthers’ ability to win….you KNOW that no such reasons would exist in the mind of a fanatical, hatred-filled moron’s head when talking about anybody else. In other words, if anybody offered coaching, gameplanning, or failure to execute on the part of others in defense of a bad game by Matt Ryan, that would be BS to him. Meanwhile, it would be a perfect alibi for “Superman.”
By the way, if Matt Ryan got “hot as a firecracker” at the end of a season in “leading” his team to a less than .500 record…..do you suppose he would be revered as much as Cam Newton is right now?
Big Ray
December 29th, 2012
10:39 am
Thus endeth the lesson…
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
11:24 am
BR, yea, felt like getting a little dirty. It is silly, but for a guy who claims to follow football, he really knows nothing. Cam might make a run one day, but he is not lived up to his hype, thats for sure.
JSS
December 29th, 2012
1:28 pm
And thus ends the lesson on why he’s devolved into “Slimy Ray.”
When is the next Hawks fan blog going to be up?
“Pathological” is the right word, the one for you… No one made “alibis” for Newton (especially me). He played badly in stretches, and still he’s somehow salvaged the season… “Revered” is a word you have no clue about. You’ve been spending too much time holding court over on the D3 Back Slap-a-thon… You can’t keep your own lies that y’all tell each other in place… “Football is a team game.” Did you discover the internal combustion engine too? Ray, the only “slum” is the one floating in the liquid suspending your disease riddled brain (or what’s left of it) inside your skull… That is the only reasonable explanation for the fantasies roaming around in there and being manifested on these blogs… You two idiots can go back to patting each other up in the D3 tickle pile…
JSS
December 29th, 2012
1:38 pm
I didn’t mention the 93 Chiefs because of the obvious reason, they brought in Joe Montana and Marcus Allen and took their hands off the offense and let them see they could get to the Super Bowl… That team was the exception… The next year, they were jettisoned in the Wild Card round and Montana retired… And like you and Ray, they shot their load years ago and have ever since wandering aimlessly hopelessly (enjoy)…
JSS
December 29th, 2012
1:44 pm
And Slimy, who the heck are you to talk about CAP SPACE? Enjoy that Ray Edwards’ hit… Genius!!!
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
2:28 pm
Ok, so you want to talk about obvious differences between KC and the Falcons QBs? We started off with a rookie QB, not a washed up retread Dave Kreig, and it is funny, between 1990 and 1995 they did win 2 playoff games….Now, refresh my Memory, exactly how many playoff games it the mighty MV7 win in his illustrious career? You know, in the 10 years?
Hmm, your arguments lack cohesion between subjects, your logic is bent based on the player or team. Your analysis is a farce.
And for KC “blowing is load” as you know, we certainly blew ours between 2000 and 2007, but thanks to Matty Ice, we have hope, a chance, and pardon my pun, but a dog in the fight. That is all I can ask for.
JSS
December 29th, 2012
2:41 pm
See this is the reasonyou never have rational football talk on these blogs…
Funny, spin this one http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/advanced-nfl-stats-cam-newton-has-had-the-best-first-two-seasons-of-any-quarterback-ever/
This is why you use words with meaning like “talent.” Not the “greatest,” “best,” but a talent…
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
Cam’s problem is, he can’t run a 2 minute offense. when you got 80 yards to go and 50 seconds and one time out, you can’t take off running, and trying to drive the ball down the field is into the teeth of a defense is fruitless. He might learn, and if he does, his stats will mean more than just stats, but if you can’t win the close ones in the NFL, you might have “great stats”, but you will be lucky to be a .500 team.
JSS
December 29th, 2012
2:55 pm
And again, you are on a Vick rant, get your targets straights… Oh that is right, you can’t… First year QB or 17th year QB like Tittle, that is unimportant… Brady was a 2nd year QB! Marino was a 2nd year QB… It is sad, that is the true farce… The question is not whether a they won games, it was the historical context of failures. You can’t get that through your head for trying to keep Ryan from being the footnote that he already is in the record book… Forever linked in the NFL records, Question: most wins to start a career without winning a playoff game. Answer: Matthew Thomas Ryan – 2008-2011… It hurts you, no shame in that, but it is a shame to try to spin it…
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
4:15 pm
I don’t try to spin it, it is what it is, but it is not any indication of the future. I find it comical that you try so hard to try and “hurt me”, but you are 100% percent correct that his history is set in stone, but the future is not.
And your right about Brady, but Brady has had his one and dones. Elway was a guy who “could not win” the big one until he won the big one twice after 15 years in the league, so does the fact that it took 15 year somehow take away from his accomplishment because Brady won one in year 2?
And going to the playoffs is better than missing the playoffs, ask Cam.
Matty Bicep
December 29th, 2012
4:20 pm
You cherrypick your stats, that is flawed analysis. Again, why compare him to Brady early in their career, and not Manning?
If you want to come out and just say that you hope Ryan fails because you just hate him, do it. But to try and pass it off as good analysis is just silly, like I said, your a farce.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
10:36 am
You compare him to winners because you clowns make the excuse that “experience” is the reason why he’s need to have time.. It was not an excuse that Peyton should have been accorded, and neither should Ryan… The 2000 Patriots were 5-11! The excuses just flow from you…
I don’t hate Ryan… That is waste of time and good hate… I dislike that he was paid $72 million bucks and set the NFL on the path of destroying a perfectly good collective bargaining agreement… I dislike that a team neglected its core and depth in order to try to prop up his inabilities and inadequacies in playmaking abilities. Now, you have the nerve to use “cherry-pick.” Ignoring the history of the moment (exactly what you and the slimy one does) is why the word “ignorance” exists.
Again, you deflect on Newton. He’s a “talent.” That only mean that he has an opportunity. If Carolina chooses to squander it, that is their issue… I’ll still be watching the NFL, CFL, and UFL… I’ve seen thousands of American football players come and go… The world is not going to end when Ryan takes his last snap, it didn’t when Baugh, Unitas, Montana, or Favre left as well… There is always something to replace it down the road… That is how life works..
Matty Bicep
December 30th, 2012
11:23 am
Ok, fair enough, we are all entitled to our opinions. But there is an underlying issue you refuse to acknowledge. But you are right about surrounding him with tools, but that is what you do, you try and get players that compliment your existing players, it has not paid dividends in the playoffs, but you got to get to the playoffs first, right?
Cam? who knows, the entire comparison thing is a waste of time, some players come in at a level and develop skills as they go (Matt Ryan), others come in and don’t develop, that is the entire trick to drafting players. If Cam develops, if he learns how to operate a 2 minute offense, he will be very successful.
To say “a good waste of time and good hate” sounds pretty hateful, and god knows, you sure spend a lot of time on here talking about a guy you care so little about that you care so little about that you don’t want to waste any time on him.
FALCONFAN
December 30th, 2012
6:07 pm
Yes football is about coaching. After watching Falcons loss too Bucs, I believe Mike Smith is the dumbest , stupids coach in NFL. If you going too play starters why not play too win. I do not know why the offense played the way they did. But there were bad play calling by DK or maybe he was told too call game as he did. Bucs get a win and the falcons come up with two players hurt Duante and Abe. With out these two playing in playoff, falcons sure will be one and done.
Smith is the Bobby cox of football. I wish Blanks would fire him!!
JSS
December 31st, 2012
12:19 am
I answer the questions poised to me in most cases… Most of you want people to love his skill set, sorry, as it was sold (supposedly his reads, quick release, and his ability to lead in the clutch – not regular season alone, but on the big NFL stage the playoffs)… Told people that this “team” and Ryan were a poor match if the post-season was the goal… Nothing since has taken that off the table… If they’d realized that when they still had flexibility, they could have built and drafted to augment Turner (instead of cast-offs Clabo, McClure, and Dahl)… Had money and the temperament to keep people like Boley… That is depth! Now all of your draft picks are in Cleveland, and you’re hoping that you can out explosive play teams that have the ability to still impose their will on them… SMDH… Don’t you’ll confuse them…
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
11:02 am
Well, JSS, your criticism notwithstanding on how to build a franchise, apparently the NFL disagrees with you, for we have 3 assistants and a front office guy being interviewed by other organizations for HC and GM positions. Again, your analysis is a farce, you know nothing about football, your buying to the hype of the eagles did not prove that, and now they are trying to pluck or assistants to show them how you do it. Now that is funny.