5 reasons the Falcons will still have a winning season
Matty Ice has been put on ice, but he'll presumably be back. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
1. They didn’t put Matt Ryan or Michael Turner on injured reserve. This might seem a technicality, but it isn’t. Roster spots are precious, and teams don’t hold them open on a whim. Once you’re on IR, you’re gone for the duration. The Falcons believe these two essential players will return at some point this season. Speaking of which …
2. Forget Philadelphia. Forget New Orleans. Look beyond. The final three games come against the Jets (5-6), Buffalo (4-7) and Tampa Bay (1-10). Win those three and there’s your second consecutive winning season, and right now that seems a more realistic goal than making the playoffs. This isn’t to say the Falcons can’t beat Philly and/or the Saints. This is, after all, the NFL. And didn’t Tampa Bay nearly beat the Falcons? Speaking of which …
3. This coach won’t let this team quit, and this team won’t quit on Mike Smith. They could have rolled over Sunday. They didn’t. They won a game they had to win, albeit in underwhelming fashion. But the standings bear no category for UW’s (underwhelming wins). Just W’s and L’s and T’s.
4. Tony Gonzalez is proving he can carry a team in a way tight ends rarely do. He catches the tying touchdown in New York traffic against the Giants. He snags four passes on the winning drive Sunday. He’s a great player and a greater addition. Imagine where this team and this offense would be if Thomas Dimitroff hadn’t made that trade. (Do I hear 4-7?)
5. Sagacity will have its reward. The Falcons have been playing since 1966. They haven’t yet had consecutive winning seasons because they were both unlucky and unwise. This team has been unlucky with injuries, but management remains stalwart. TD and Smitty are the best combo this franchise has had, and smart teams can override even the vagaries of Dame Fortune. This isn’t a great team, but it’s a smart one.
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157 comments Add your comment
Vick Supporter
December 1st, 2009
2:03 pm
Vick will shine again
Vick Supporter
December 1st, 2009
2:04 pm
Also, the Jets and Bucs will smash the Falcons
MCook
December 1st, 2009
2:04 pm
Ahh jeez, here we go again…
Hillbilly Deluxe
December 1st, 2009
2:06 pm
Sagacity will have its reward.
The secondary and the offensive line don’t look sagacious enough to me. They have to win 4 of 5 and I can’t see them doing that. Maybe I’m wrong.
Benjamin
December 1st, 2009
2:15 pm
You really think we’ll lose to the Jets and Bucs, VS?
gdg73
December 1st, 2009
2:18 pm
Mark, you claim that Dimitroff is such a great GM. But please tell me this. Why didn’t he sign McKenzie or McCallister when everyone on God’s green earth knows our corners stink? These two guys, walking in off the street, are better than anything we have right now. I guess it’s the “Patriot Way” that made him not sign either. I am so sick and tired of this sorry franchise and the front offices’ lack of guts when it comes to fixing this defense.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 1st, 2009
2:27 pm
Train Wreckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
Baba O'Riley
December 1st, 2009
2:32 pm
If you’re so sick and tired of this franchise…Jacksonville could use a few fans.
TechBuzz
December 1st, 2009
2:33 pm
Mark, I agree with your assessments. I don’t think the Falcons make the playoffs the year, due to the whole tie-breaker scenario’s with the Giants and Dallas. Granted, they all still have to play each other in the NFC East, so yeah, anything is possible.
I am cautiously confident the Falcons have back-to-back winning seasons, but I feel the play-offs are far fetched at this point. We have way too many injuries to key players right now, and with our SSS defense syndrome (Seriously Sucking Secondary), we can’t pass cover worth a flip right now. I don’t care who they put back there, we are going to get burned every game.
Dimitroff needs to do some SERIOUS CB shopping this of season. I, personally, don’t want another rookie draft pick at CB next year. We need a solid veteran at those spots. From the LB corp in to the D-Line, we are o.k., for now, maybe just plug a hole or two, but for the most part, we are o.k.
Right now, I believe that Falcons fans just want the back to back curse off this cities shoulders. I firmly feel that most Falcons fans don’t expect the playoffs this year, and even if we were to slip in through the back door, it will be an early exit, just like last year. We don’t have the healthy personnel right now to match up with anyone, nor do we have a solid secondary to defend ANYTHING!!
2010, will be the year we start making a serious play-off run. I think last year was just a glimpse of what the Falcons future will be, with a solid franchise qurtaerback. It gave the city hope for what is to come. This year, has just not gone the way we need it. Granted, I think we pissed someone off last year to get the crushing schedule we got this year. I don’t think any team has ever played four teams coming off bye weeks in almost back to back dates. It is what it is.
Right now, we are a little above average team. That is the facts! I love the Falcons, and yes, I would love to win a Super Bowl for the city, but it’s still going to take time and patients. I think we are two years away from a Super Bowl appearance.
Next year, will be for a serious upgrade, God willing, for our secondary and pass rush defense. I don’t foresee much offensive movement by Dimitroff and Smitty, with the exception maybe of bringing in another possession receiver to replace Finneran, whom I don’t believe the Falcons will re-sign after this year. He is too injury pron and he is injured right now. He’s a descent 3rd down guy, but he can’t stay healthy, which is a serious issue they will have to address with Jerious Norwood as well.
There is still much to do with this team. Keep in mind people, we are just one year removed from a complete 50% roster over haul! Plus, this was the first year without MIlloy, Foxworth, and Brooking, which everyone wanted gone venomously. We should have kept Foxworth (considering we only had Houston and Grimes left), but I do agree with letting Milloy and Brooking go, regardless of the seasons they are having with their respective teams. We NEEDED to get younger and faster with the LB positions-granted Peterson is the same age as Brooking, but he had better stats.
So let’s keep some optimism here. I will say, I REALLY hate seeing the Saints having the season they are. It seems like ever since Katrina, the NFL wants everyone to bow down and kiss the Saints a**es, for some reason. Plus, the Superdome has become this “Holy grail” thing with everyone, that makes me want to puke!!!
Come next year, the NFL will see the Falcons at the forefront of the league. In 2007, the Patriots were the darlings of the NFL, in 2008, it was the Steelers. Look at both of those teams now! The irony is that, the Patriots got beat/upset by the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl and look where the Giants are now. In 2008, the Steelers where the team to beat and they just lost in OT to the Ravnes. So it doesn’t matter where you are in one season, b/c the next season, someone is coming along to knock you off. The Saints WILL find that out after this year. GO FALCONS!!!!
Matt Ryan Patty melt(not Ice)
December 1st, 2009
2:35 pm
you have lost your mind!! The word falcons fan have been saying since 1966 wait next year!!
Real Fan
December 1st, 2009
2:59 pm
No doubt, Benjamin! I think he’s like Rain Man jotting down the dates, times, and what people posted. Does the looney bin know you’re online again?
gdg73
December 1st, 2009
3:20 pm
Mark, no comments on King Dimitroff dropping the ball on not signing McCalister and/or McKenzie???
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2009
3:40 pm
We can’t say the Falcons haven’t brought in defensive backs this season. They traded for Tye Hill and signed Brian Williams and re-signed Jamaal Fudge. Now whether they’ve brought it the right DBs — that’s another matter. (Although Williams seemed to play rather well before getting hurt.)
I don’t know what the Falcons’ thinking was on McKenzie. I do know McCalister was considered difficult to coach in Baltimore, which is why he’s no longer in Baltimore.
Vick Supporter
December 1st, 2009
3:44 pm
Benjamin
December 1st, 2009
2:15 pm
You really think we’ll lose to the Jets and Bucs, VS?
—————————————————
Yes I do, Benjamin. The Falcons cannot beat any team that has a QB that can push the ball down the field. Freeman has a gun, and the Bucs’ defense is actually decent. The Jets are a sleeper team with a good running game and a pretty good defense. The Falcons struggled with the 1-9 Bucs on their home field when the Falcons are usually a good home team.
Also, in the few plays that Vick will get this Sunday, he’s going to break a big play on the Falcons.
“Vick will shine again”
Bluto
December 1st, 2009
3:49 pm
Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 1st, 2009
3:57 pm
Train Wreckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Laughing at Blank “Wishing he was Benson”
Laughing at Dimitroff “Wanna be Belechick”
Laughing at Smith “I hit players because I can’t coach”
Laughing at the CHOKE “Faking injury to save my tiny ego”
Laughing at the AJC “Minor league journalism”
Laughing at “YOU” people “Believing you can win without Vick”
Damn I just love laughing at you CLOWNS
AlternateReality
December 1st, 2009
4:21 pm
Check out Peter King’s story on McKenzie in MMQB today. Apparently after an ACL in 2007 and a broken kneecap in 2008, NOBODY thought he could still play, even the Saints, who signed him out of desperation. If he was such an obvious choice, don’t you think someone would have shown interest?
TMoney
December 1st, 2009
4:30 pm
Germans?
DJ Sniper
December 1st, 2009
4:31 pm
I usually avoid responding to the idiot known as Choke(how this fool continues to be able to post on this board is a mystery), but I’ll say this to him/her/whoever the hell it is: Matt Ryan was limping yesterday. When he left the sidelines to go to the locker room, the announcers mentioned the fact that he was limping worse than he was when he first came off the field.
Choke is a Joke
December 1st, 2009
4:34 pm
Forget it, he’s rolling.
MV7
December 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? Have you seen my career?
James
December 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Choke, does your therapist know about this?
"Choke" on this
December 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
we love laughing at you……you are the biggest joke on the blog.
"Choke" on this
December 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan’s life…….Train Wreckkkkkkkkkkkk!
Laughing at “Choke” believing his opinion matters
Greg Mendel
December 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
I see the Falcons have let Elam and Pittman go.
According to the AJC story online, Elam is “making $1.7 million this season and is set to make $1.97 in 2010 and $2 million in 2011.”
Well, heck. If he was going to make less than two bucks next year, that explains the missed kicks. No incentive.
(Seriously, too bad. He was a great kicker, and will probably kick successfully again somewhere soon.)
Noodle Legs Rules
December 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
Wow Choke,, you get around buddy,, just read the exact same post on Jeffs blog,,, to think you spend hours doing this. That must be some kick ass crack your smoking.
Samuel
December 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
If the defense can find it in themselves to play a lot better the sky is the limit. I’m confident that Norwood and Snelling can get it done. I think Redman is a precise passer, given the time he can get it to the open guy. Eric Weems has to have two run backs before the season ends. We need Kory Beirman to step his game up and go after Donovan Mcnabb. Next man up…………
mike
December 1st, 2009
5:42 pm
I love the optimism, but I just don’t see it. I’ve been a Falcons fan long enough to accept the truth of our franchise being cursed.
I have said all along that all I wanted was a nine win season, but I just don’t see it. That loss to Carolina will be the difference maker.
MCook
December 1st, 2009
5:44 pm
Choke and VS,
Bitter, unhappy little boys, broken record posts,racial overtones, etc,etc…
It’s very,very sad.
Edward
December 1st, 2009
6:11 pm
I can’t for the life of me understand why everyone is cashing in the season now that Chris Redman has to quarterback the Falcons against the Eagles on Sunday. Is this not the same Eagles team that lost to the Oakland Raiders and nearly escaped the Washington Redskins last week, besides Philly owes us one after the refs screwed us at the Linc last year on the non-existent muffed punt call. While Matt Ryan and Michael Turner being out certainly adds to the adversity that the Falcons are facing this season, there is definitely room for optimism, Redman appeared to be a more than capable backup for leading the Falcons to victory and Snelling and Norwood can certainly get the job done. The biggest key to beating the Eagles on Sunday lies along the defensive line. How well John Abraham and the rest of the down linemen get pressure and contain McNabb will make all the difference.
Falcons 21
Eagles 17
MCook
December 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
Edward,
I agree 100%.Redman is gonna be fine,no worrys.
It WILL be a hell of a game.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 1st, 2009
6:22 pm
THE TRAIN WRECK SAGA(A True Hollywood Story)
BEST ACTOR: Art Blank
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Thomas Dimitroff
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: Coach Smith (Angry Old Man)
LEADING ACTRESS: Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
This is indeed a true story on how to take a franchise from:
- Consecutive sellouts
- Season Ticket Holders waiting list
- Pro Bowl representation by the leader of the team
- Playoff wins
- Respect throughout the league
Now the franchise is……………
A TRAIN WRECKKKKKKKKKK
Congratulations Atlanta for a job well done – Oakland has been defeated as the doormat of the NFL.
True Fan
December 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
I known who Choke is now. With the comment about Smith hitting players, it is clear he is MeAngelo Hall. No wonder the deadskins are so bad. The only thing Vick will “shine” on Sunday are the Eagles bench!
hiramsaint
December 1st, 2009
7:28 pm
y’all need to be real and get off this beating philly and beating the saints in the ga. dome fantasy. your coaching staff are morons or they would have dipped into the free agent market long ago. oh , i forgot, you picked up stecker to try and beat the saints the first time. why not learn football smitty then try to coach it . i bet dan reeves laughs his rear off everyday at you.
Kant git it up
December 1st, 2009
7:53 pm
hahaha, ya’ll aint seen no winnin seesuns wit da falcuns cus dey caint win wit da deefense dey hav, hahaha
Mary Norwood
December 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
Vote for me and Vick will not be allowed off the plane.
Chattanooga Dawg
December 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
I’m not saying I’m predicting the second coming of Johnny Unitas this weekend, but I think Redman will do well. He has shown that he is more than capable.
Johnny Unitas
December 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
Dude, I’m dead….How dare you make fun of me!
Ken Strickland
December 1st, 2009
9:16 pm
We just might have an advantage with Redmon starting against Philly instead of Ryan. We played Philly last yr and they already have Ryan thoroughly scouted, but not Redmon. They have only 1wk to prepare for him, and have little footage and info to work with.
The return of MVick should get both the MVick Haters and Lovers cranked up. The Haters will be spewing their special brand of personal and/or cultural ignorance. The Lovers are probably already experiencing erections in anticipation of seeing him on the sidelines. Oh, remember VICK SUPPORTER, if your erection lasts more than 4hrs, see a doctor.
MV7
December 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
I woulda voted for Kasim but felons can’t vote, y’know?
Johnny Unitas
December 1st, 2009
9:34 pm
Uhhh…..Ken? They do have Redman(spelling) scouted. From last week and when he last played. Just because he has little action over the years does not mean he is a mystery. Teams in the NFL have so much info on every player, both active, on practice squads and players not even on teams.
Just asking....
December 2nd, 2009
10:42 am
Can someone please explaine to me what you guys have seen that makes you continue to think that the falcons are good enough to count wins against The Bills, and the Jets??? They are sub par teams… But so are the Falcons. The Jets have a Defense that can get to who ever the Falcons have at QB… And that Bills have HUGE receivers and a QB that can throw the long ball. But Now I have to read about you guys telling me how the Falcon D can contain TO, and the other 6′4 Buffalo receivers….
NERDS!!!! had a nice compact swing
December 2nd, 2009
12:32 pm
Prediction: Redman throws downfield all day, and Jenkins *gasp* CATCHES THE BALL!!!
Just Answering...
December 2nd, 2009
12:34 pm
You really don’t have to read this blog.
T.O.
December 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
You think Burnt Grimes and Crisp Houston can stop ME?!!
SeenThisB4
December 2nd, 2009
3:13 pm
Okay, so the Saints game plan was a little “off” for the first dirty bird game. They’ve been working it though, tweaking here, nipping that, adding one or two pieces here and there according to the needs brought on by injury list.
Good news though bird fans: We’re getting some of our walking wounded back, in time for our visit to your town next week. Saints promise to give you a better execution of the game plan. Not for your benefit as much as in preparation for our next big game, against the cowboys on a Saturday night game on NFL Network. But, they will give you a better game than they did last time, bank on it!
Hope you guys go 8-8 or 9-7, for a middle of the first round selection position. Just like we had last year, and let’s see how you do,….next year!
As always, this won’t be just another game (who am I kidding, yes it will!)
Chaos
December 2nd, 2009
4:26 pm
It seems the prevailing hope is for a winning season, that’s all I hoped for from the beginning of the year, but! Don’t be suppressed if we go further in the playoffs than last year. We have more players with experience now because of all the injuries and Redman can win, remember that QB we had in 98….anyway it turns out, I had a great season of hope and excitement and I know we have a team and a organization that’s headed in the right direction for many years to come…..Go Birds!!!
hiramsaint
December 2nd, 2009
5:44 pm
chaos…further in the playoffs than last year, really , y’all are done dude. the only way you get close to the playoffs is if you move your chair closer to the t.v.
Barry
December 2nd, 2009
5:46 pm
Hey Y’all:
We need to do something with our “OFFENSIVE PLAY CALLING AND SCHEMES”, especially in the passing game. We do not show a v”THREATENING” passing game in stretching the field and spreading the ball around, long and short passes, to different receivers. I look at so many teams like New Orleans, the Colts, the Vikings, and these teams passing game is fast passed and aggressive. They throw down the field witth aggressiveness with their player catching the ball on the run. Our plays, quarterback, and receivers play slow ball. Everyhting they do is methodical and slow. I hate to say this, but they are not moving in aggressive “ONE HEARTBEAT!” style. The offensive coach, the quarterback coach, and the receivers coach need to get together and come up with some innovative and creative passing routes where our receivers can reat space between defensive backs and catch the pass o the run. This will allow our receivers to get more “RUN AFTER CATCH (RAC)” balls, which can eventually lead to touch downs. WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. ANd the last time I heard is that “YOU WIN THE GAME BY SCORING POINTS!!!”. Let’s “FIX” this COACHES. IF SO, WE WILL WIN MORE GAMES.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THis is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………………………………………..”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!!”…………………………
Ken Strickland
December 2nd, 2009
6:46 pm
JOHNNY UNITAS-I didn’t say he hadn’t been scouted. I said he hasn’t been scouted extensively, or thoroughly, and he hasn’t. Last wks gm isn’t much for them to go on, and his previous experience with the Falcons was under an entirely different system, OL and HC. Before that he was out of the league for a while. I honestly think Philly would be more comfortable with MRyan starting at QB than CRedman(thanks a lot for the spelling correction).
I’m really glad to see Norwood back. Teams have learned to stack the middle on us to stop MTurner and have been vulnerable to the outside. Snelling is a solid RB, but he lacks the speed and quickness to consistently punish a team by bouncing to the outside. Teams really fear Norwood getting past the line of scrimmage because they know he has the speed and quickness to take to the house from anywhere on the field.
Here’s what’s puzzling to me. The Falcon DEF definitely does a good job of putting teams in 3rd and long situations, but for some reason they seem to fall apart on 3rd down. We actually do a much better job on 3rd and short than we do on 3rd and long. Now that’s crazy.
If the DEF plays solid, especially on 3rd down, we’ll win this gm. If our pass rush and CB play are as ineffective as they’ve been the last few gms, McNabb will carve us up like a Honey Baked spiral ham. This is going to a very interesting gm to watch. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!