Falcons vs. playoff field: unbeaten but seldom tested (with video)
John Abraham, Jonathan Babineaux and Falcons are 2-0 vs. playoff field. (Curtis Compton)
Much has been made about how difficult the Falcons’ schedule was this season and whether, at 13-3, they’re truly one of the elite teams in the NFL playoff field.
We really won’t know the answer to that until we see how they fare Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and possibly beyond. But here’s one measuring stick, which you may or may not consider relevant. I went through all 12 teams in the playoff field and compared their results against other postseason teams.
The Falcons are the only team that went undefeated: 2-0.
They’ve also played the fewest playoff teams: two (Denver and Washington). Every other team faced between three (Washington) and seven (Minnesota and Houston) playoff teams during the regular season.
The most impressive team: Seattle at 4-1. The Seahawks have beaten Green Bay, New England, Minnesota and San Francisco, and their only loss came to a divisional opponent (49ers) that they later defeated.
Here are the standings vs. playoff teams, ranked by winning percentage.
Atlanta: 2-0 (1.000) (wins: Denver, Washington)
Seattle: 4-1 (.800) (wins: Green Bay, New England, Minn., San Fran.)
Washington: 2-1 (.667) (wins: Minnesota, Baltimore)
San Francisco: 3-2 (.600) (wins: Green Bay, Seattle, New England)
Indianapolis: 3-2 (.600) (wins: Minnesota, Green Bay, Houston)
New England: 3-3 (.500) (wins: Denver, Indianapolis, Houston)
Cincinnati: 2-2 (.500) (wins: Washington, Baltimore)
Houston: 3-4 (.429) (wins: Denver, Baltimore, Indianapolis)
Minnesota: 3-4 (.429) (wins: San Francisco, Houston, Green Bay)
Denver: 2-3 (.400) (wins: Cincinnati, Baltimore)
Baltimore: 2-4 (.333) (wins: Cincinnati, New England)
Green Bay: 2-4 (.333) (wins: Houston, Minnesota)
The Falcons swept eight games against the NFC East and AFC West this season, but only one team in each of those divisions ended up making the playoffs.
The relevance of all this.
We’re about to find out.
By Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
176 comments Add your comment
LOL at the Aints
January 7th, 2013
9:24 pm
JSS
January 7th, 2013
3:26 pm
I don’t care what people say,
LOL! and I’m pretty sure nobody cares what You say, LOL:)
LOL at the Aints
January 7th, 2013
9:27 pm
Looks like you had a busy day on here JSS, LOL, All in good fun right! LOL
JSS
January 7th, 2013
9:38 pm
^^^^^^^^^^
Scratched records always skip and repeat…
Say what
January 7th, 2013
9:45 pm
LOL at the Aints, I know, right? What kind of person has “fun” ruining the blog for Falcon fans?
JSS
January 7th, 2013
10:11 pm
@ LOL…
Sarcasm, it is lost on some…
Answer This
January 7th, 2013
10:20 pm
@Larry and @ Say What
That question you keep asking about why are you here will always go unanswered! Many have asked and they only get the same response…silence. and he is correct he will never get booted from a blog, Schultz gave warnings to the last blog he had up and immediately on the post right after he gives the warning about being booted he post exactly what Schultz says will get you booted. And as you can see he is still here…..why…we will never know but he is still here. Telling you he must have pictures or something?
Answer This
January 7th, 2013
10:26 pm
And about these empty stats above……who cares. This is a different season as the “talking heads” put it. No one cares about what.you did for 16 weeks because if they did we would be the all mighty crushers for winning 13 games. What matters is that you beat the team that you play that week…..by one point! No style points in the NFL! Just win and keep RISING UP! Its funny, the Miami Heat owner kniws how the Falcons feel. He tweeted today that he did not know it was a crime to be #1 in his conference and still get so much flack about the team. Go figure!? Lol. We have a new Dangerfield….the Miami Heat!
Atlfalconsfan0125
January 7th, 2013
10:33 pm
The BCS is an absolute. They need a tournament system like the FCS. But money has to ruin it.
Atlfalconsfan0125
January 7th, 2013
10:34 pm
Joke*
Say what
January 7th, 2013
10:36 pm
@Answer This. Yeah, unlike some (cough), the fact that Seattle beat some good teams doesn’t impress me. I watched their game against Washington, and they ain’t all that and a bag of chips. They’re waaaay over-hyped. I expect the Falcons to answer the bell, like they have all year.
Atlfalconsfan0125
January 7th, 2013
10:39 pm
This year the Falcons have played really well in the all the big games. This year feels different compared to the last two. The coordinators have a lot to do with it.
Atlfalconsfan0125
January 7th, 2013
10:51 pm
UGA lets their Title chance slip away. SPIKE THE BALL.
Say what
January 7th, 2013
10:57 pm
@ Atlfalconsfan0125, agreed. I think “it’s different this year” should be their slogan. And, yes, Nolan and Koetter have made a huge difference. There is the whole “execute versus scheme” argument, but you have to do both well — have good playcalling and preparation, and good execution on the field. In the past, we’ve gotten good results with very good execution overcoming weak schemes and predictability on offense. For the most part. Now we have both sides of the equation, and that makes this year much different.
Atlfalconsfan0125
January 7th, 2013
11:03 pm
I think the fact that we put the offense in Ryan’s hands instead of Turner’s is the main difference. In the past if teams stopped Turner, they stopped the Falcons. Thats how the Giants got us last year. But now that it goes through Ryan, the chains can keep moving even though Turner is being stuffed.
LOL at the Aints
January 7th, 2013
11:04 pm
JSS
January 7th, 2013
8:53 pm
“Banned?” You have me confused with someone else, never happened on a AJC blog and never will…
Wow,, thats pretty snarkey, LOL
LOL at the Aints
January 7th, 2013
11:06 pm
I just love using your own words and making you look like the fool that you are,, LOL
JSS
January 7th, 2013
11:11 pm
“making you look like the fool that you are,, LOL”
Nope, it takes an idiot to get banned when people tell what you an and cannot do… And despite the cries to the contrary, I know and have been told where not to go… Easy as that, some of them should try that… J. Edgar Hoover been dead for 40 years, blackmail is for suckers…
JSS
January 7th, 2013
11:12 pm
“can”
Say what
January 7th, 2013
11:17 pm
Atlfalconsfan0125 @ 11:03. Re: Ryan’s offense now. Absolutely. Still would be nice to be able to run for yard when you need it on third down. Also re: that is how the Giants got us last year. Right, and that is how everyone knew the Giants were going to stop us last year, yet Smitty and Mularkey had no answer. SMH.
The Beast cometh
January 8th, 2013
12:00 am
So Atlanta has gone 2-0 against playoff teams this year. Well wooptee fricken do. And one of those teams was the Redskins. We put down those suckas last week. And we went 4-1 against playoff teams this year. Very close to 5-0. You guys had a soft schedule and now just enjoyed a soft week off. Hope your guys enjoyed a week of golf, water-slide parks and all you can eat pancakes. Their ain’t going to be anything soft about this next week, suckas. Better get ready to feel same pain up in your princess dome. Legend of Boom is coming to town. And THE BEAST COMETH. Say yo prayers, suckas.
The Beast cometh
January 8th, 2013
12:10 am
You guys haven’t played a game against a play off team since week 2 and 5. The Broncos you barely beat at home and the DC victory was less of a margin than that of the Seahawks victory. Soft schedule, soft defense, soft running game. Hell, you guys just soft all over!
RogueRunr
January 8th, 2013
12:35 am
To bring back a quote from the 70s, growing up in the ATL: AIN’T NOTHING TO IT BUT TO DO IT!
Birds just need to take care of business, forget all the talk, kick @$$.
Cannonball Butler
January 8th, 2013
1:50 am
Jeff,
You made a mistake…..Seattle was actually 3-2 against those teams. They lost to Green Bay!
Ryan is awful
January 8th, 2013
2:49 am
Wilson 1-0 in playoffs.
Ryan 0-3 in playoffs.
Wilson has a higher passer rating than Ryan on the season as well.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
6:01 am
7 SEC BCS National Championships in a Row by Alabama, Alabama, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU, and Florida.
Before that there is the Texas, then the vacated, then LSU and of course, it all started with Tennessee in 1998 over Florida State (FSU.)
All told The SEC has been invited to 9 BCS National Championship Games, and has won all 9.
The PAC-12 out there in the Land of Fruit and Nuts where nobody cares about football, has -0-.
The Big XII has 2, and all the rest have 1.
But, they wouldn’t have, if they had invited an SEC team to the Title Game those few long-ago years.
Choklahoma has been invited to the most Title Games, and LOST the most.
Choklahoma’s 3 LOSSES are nearly matched by Florida State (FSU) and Ohio State.
The Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Program has never Won the BCS National Championship Game, and of the 120 Division FBS teams, only 10 have.
# 1 Consensus Alabama
# 4 Consensus Georgia, was Alabama’s Greatest Win 2012 season and has good chance to be # 3 in the AP Poll in a couple of hours, now. The Coaches’ Poll is a Dictatorship in a couple of hours now, and are told they MUST vote by Rule Alabama # 1 and an-undeserving 28-0 halftime 42-14 with 2 meaningless late touchdowns Nick Saban (4) $ 5 million dollars was upset at his team for giving up to Notre Shame.
The Falcons, likewise win against Seattle for the SAME REASON. 5′ 11″ with 4.5 speed Seattle Quarterback Russell Wilson is no match-up with Matt Ryan, otherwise Seattle would win.
# 3 AP Poll 2002 Georgia
# 2 AP Poll 2007 Georgia
# 4 AP Poll 2012 Georgia with a shot at # 3, will be close with ESPN saying NOTHING about how Georgia was Alabama’s Greatest Win and NOTHING about UGA opening Top 5 now 2013 with Aaron Murray returning. In fact, if Seattle had Aaron Murray, instead of NC State Quarterback who quit that team to choose Wisconsin team his senior season last year, Russell Wilson, Seattle would beat the Falcons. That’s how bad Russell Wilson is as a match-up against Matt Ryan.
Buddy Landel
January 8th, 2013
6:13 am
UGA finishes tied at #5 with A&M
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
6:39 am
No.
Mask of False Bravado
January 8th, 2013
7:30 am
Yes.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
7:49 am
Buddy Landel,
You’re correct.
Texas A & M indeed finished with its highest ranking in the AP Poll for a season since 1956 tied with Georgia at # 5 in the AP Poll just after the game, while Georgia under Mark Richt has finished # 3 for 2002 season and # 2 for the 2007 season, along with tied with Texas A & M for # 5 in the 2012 AP Poll.
Notre Shame dropped all the way to # 4, as I predicted they should 42-14 thrashing by 1 of many SEC teams whom Notre Shame would have lost to, to put me at 94 % nationally in the Bowl Challenge.
# 2 Oregon AP Poll 2012 season. The only poll published by the AP Poll for the 2012 season.
# 8 South Carolina
# 9 Florida, whom Georgia beat scoring 2 TD to Florida’s zero TD 2012.
# 17 LSU
# 23 Vanderbilt for 4 SEC East as I guaranteed to only 3 SEC West
In 1999, The Mighty SEC had 7 teams in the final AP Poll Top 25, matched by the Big 10 that season.
SEC 7 Top 25 AP Poll 2012 season, ties that record for any conference anytime.
Finest Hour for The SEC 2012 Season. And, a great season by The Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Team, returning Heisman Candidates Todd Gurley and Aaron Murray, both All-America 1st Team 2013 season.
# 7 Stanford
# 10 Florida State (FSU) to UGA at # 5 tie with Texas A and M
# 11 Clemson our opening opponent 2013
# 12 Kansas State
# 13 Louisville who EMBARRASSED The SEC and Florida in Sugar Bowl to Florida # 9
Who was the better team ?
Who had the better season ?
# 25 Nebraska
# 22 Northern Illinois
So :
Georgia beat 2012 season :
# 25 Nebraska
# 23 Vanderbilt
# 9 Florida
For 20 Wins Mark Richt era vs teams making the AP Poll Top 25
And, 4 wins now against teams making the AP Poll Top 10, which is pretty good – not much difference in Georgia with 4 wins over teams making the AP Poll Top 10 than other programs in the Mark Richt era, not as good as some by a win or so and better than some as I’ve detailed here and can do so again upon request.
Buddy Landel, you’re right Texas A & M indeed TIES Georgia at # 5 AP Poll 2012.
http://www.ajc.com/news/ap/top-news/tide-rolls-to-no-1-in-ap-poll-for-record-9th-time/nTp3r/
Alan
January 8th, 2013
7:56 am
It’s simple. If the falcons play call like they did against tb and car, they lose. If they run plays and execute like they did against the nyg, they will win. And you never know which team will show up. The past two have been the former.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
7:58 am
Coaches’ Poll Final 2012 Season :
# 4 Georgia, as I predicted. I got 1 of the 2 Polls correct.
I thought they had to vote Notre Shame # 2 but they are # 3.
Oregon is # 2 in both.
# 5 Texas A & M at 11-2 to # 4 UGA at 12-2.
Texas A & M LOST to Florida and UGA beat # 9 Florida, and Texas A & M beat Alabama whom Georgia should’ve too for clock mis-management, not because Alabama would’ve stopped Georgia on 1 more second or even 1 more play.
# 10 Florida Coaches’ Poll
# 20 Vanderbilt
# 23 Nebraska
A
January 8th, 2013
8:05 am
Saban will leave bama this week for an nfl team.
4DaBirds
January 8th, 2013
8:09 am
Seattle is garbage, and they will get trashed come Sunday.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
8:15 am
NFL not really going to pay Nick Saban more than he got at Alabama 2012 season.
Miami Dolphins were paying him $ 32 million for 4 years.
He gets $ 45 for 8 years at Alabama starting 2012.
$ 5,625,000 is pretty nice for a program who had not won a NC since 1992 before he arrived. Alabama is satisfied and Nick Saban is satisfied, and said he’d retire from this cushy job at Alabama when he signed the deal.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
8:18 am
Only $ 4 million NFL, eight (8) years at $ 32 million.
just sayin'
January 8th, 2013
8:52 am
RISE UP?…yup, i can see the fans RISING UP and leaving their seats just after half time…
tidog
January 8th, 2013
8:58 am
When I look back over this regimes’ playoff debacles its evident that Van Gorder was in over his head. Once those teams began to steamroll Van Gorder had no adjustment plan. I’ll keep playing my soft zone read and react. I feel Nolan has more savy than to allow a failed defensive scheme to continue to operate. Mularkey was a genius in his own mind therefore the offensive ineptness in each playoff game. I believe Nolan and Koetter will be the difference makers this weekend.
Dwayne Krawl
January 8th, 2013
9:12 am
Wear the throwback jerseys!!!
Joe Don Donnan
January 8th, 2013
9:15 am
Michael Strahan called a Falcons/Broncos Superbowl on Letterman last night. Book it?
What?
January 8th, 2013
9:45 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Of course the Falcons are NOT an elite team..hahahahahahahaha! Too funny!
I needed a good laugh today! Thanks! 
Vince Wilson
January 8th, 2013
9:51 am
Falcons must actually win a playoff game before consideration for elite status. Plus, Seattle’s win over Green Bay shouldn’t count in their comparison to other teams.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
9:57 am
I don’t know why not. Today is January 8 and Seattle beat Green Bay, so that we don’t have to face Green Bay, who does have a QB who does match-up with Matt Ryan, our strength. Seattle certainly doesn’t.
LOL at the 'Cants
January 8th, 2013
9:59 am
when has Strahan ever been right?…another talking head…but i CAN see the Broncos playing for the SB….
JSS
January 8th, 2013
10:07 am
There is no information like AJC Sports Blog misinformation, Russell Wilson was college graduate with a remaining year of eligibility. He was not a “senior.” He’d also signed a MLB minor league professional contract. He was like a select few players because he was red-shirted in 2007 allowed a graduate eligibility year (in effect a graduate free agent)… Therefore he entered grad school at Wisconsin… Moreover, Tom O’Brien made the mess in the first place when he made it competition between Wilson and Glennon.for the NC State QB job…
SeaHawks Invader
January 8th, 2013
10:14 am
I once worked with a fellow named Willy who was a longsnapper fot K.C. He told me about opposing players threatening mayhem and huge pain on him; he would always respond with: “I’ll be there at gametime.” We die-hard sold-out 12th manners here in the northwest are very enthusiastic about our team this year-and we love it when the NFL channel and ESPN opinionators dismiss us. After all, we’ve never won anything and truly have no history to brag about. All I can say to you lovely Falcons’ fans is: “Our team will be there, and then let the game speak for itself.” Have a super-sparkly day! …And may the stronger Raptor prevail.
Thomas Brown
January 8th, 2013
10:21 am
You ain’t going to prevail with Russell Wilson compared to Matt Ryan and his targets.
SawThat1nce
January 8th, 2013
10:22 am
Seahawks were very fortunate that the Redskins QB’s knee gave out.
Jimmy Foley
January 8th, 2013
10:28 am
Yeah, I gotta say that the Seahawks win over the Redskins was nothing special. They looked like crap the 1st half and when RGIII got hurt that sealed the deal for the skins. The hawks only won by two touchdowns. Good grief.
Mask of False Bravado
January 8th, 2013
10:30 am
I keep looking at the schedule to see who the Saints play this week, but I can’t findt it. Do they have a BYE again this week?
Say what
January 8th, 2013
10:30 am
“we love it when the NFL channel and ESPN opinionators dismiss us.” Same here, Seahawks Invader. But we must watch NFL Network and ESPN at different times, because all I see is a love-fest with Seattle and Russel Wilson.