The 2010 Falcons: They’ll win 12 and play for the NFC title
Dunta Robinson: You wanted a cornerback, and here he is. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
For football, June is the silly season. Nothing much is happening, but everybody has an idea what will happen. Here’s where I add to the silliness. Here’s where I tell you why the Falcons will play for the NFC title on Jan. 23, 2011.
1. The NFC South is the league’s most fluid division. Not once in eight tries has it yielded consecutive division winners, not even when the reigning NFC South champ was also the Super Bowl winner. (Tampa Bay went from lifting the Lombardi Trophy in February 2003 to finishing 7-9 ten months later.) This is noteworthy because the New Orleans Saints, as we know, somehow won Super Bowl XLIV.
2. The Saints are vulnerable. They’ve had the usual post-Super round of controversy and then some. A lawsuit (since withdrawn and sent to arbitration) by the team’s former security director accusing Saints staffers of misusing Vicodin. Tight end Jeremy Shockey fainting in the weight room. Safety Darren Sharper getting into a Twitter fight with a former Minnesota teammate. Tackle Jammal Brown and running back Pierre Thomas wanting more money. The Saints weren’t that much better than the Falcons a year ago, and this time they won’t be as good.
3. The defensive upgrade begun in the offseason of 2009 will grow teeth in 2010. The Falcons changed five starters from 2008 to last season, but they didn’t get immediately better at every position. Some of that had to do with injury, and tackle Peria Jerry’s return to health stands to give the D-line a boost. The same should happen in the secondary with the advent of cornerback Dunta Robinson and at linebacker with the addition of Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons actually nosed upward defensively in 2009 — they finished 21st in total defense, up from 24th in 2008. They should be close to the top 10 this season.
Loading ...4. If 2009 was as bad as it gets for Matt Ryan, the Falcons will be just fine. The quarterback wasn’t awful last season; he just wasn’t quite as precise as he’d been as a rookie. Yes, there were mitigating factors: Michael Turner got hurt and Jerious Norwood stayed hurt and the line didn’t block as well for the run as it had in 2008. But the Falcons’ whole offensive approach seemed a tad off last season. Too many short passes — that’s what happens when you add Tony Gonzalez — and not enough field-stretching. That figures to change in 2010. The Falcons have had a long time to scout themselves and see where they went wrong, and slot receiver Harry Douglas is due to return from knee surgery.
5. That never-consecutive-winning-seasons thing has finally gone away. Even Falcons insiders were of two minds about the much-discussed mark of ignominy: Some didn’t think it was a big deal, and some thought it was the biggest deal going. But now it’s gone, and the Falcons deserve great credit for taking a season going wrong and wringing a 9-7 record out of it. They know now that these coaches are clever enough to have a Plan B — as opposed to Jim Mora and Co. — and that there’s enough talent and resolve on this roster to persevere in the face of injuries and distractions. No, 2009 wasn’t a championship season, but it could well have been the season that prefigures a championship.
Prediction time: The Falcons will go 12-4, will beat Green Bay in the conference semifinals and will play Dallas in Dallas for the NFC title and the right to play in Super Bowl XLV, which is also in … er, Dallas. And how, you’re asking, will the Falcons fare against the Cowboys?
And I say: Let me hold onto a shred of mystery, please. It’s June. I see no reason to offer a prediction on the outcome of the 2011 NFC championship game until at least the Fourth of July.
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393 comments Add your comment
MIchael59
June 20th, 2010
8:26 am
Ken, keep up the good work bro.
buckblue
June 20th, 2010
9:05 am
Give some more respect to the Saints….
Super Bowl Champs….
Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Saints repeat….and extend their 3 game winning streak against the birds…..
buckblue
June 20th, 2010
9:07 am
Ken…Who Dat don’t have no rings….you dat
Punk a&& bi()h
buckblue
June 20th, 2010
9:09 am
WHO DAT
Saints Dat
2 DAT
Johnnnnny UUUU
June 20th, 2010
9:13 am
NO WAY
2 Words….why
DREW BREES
Johnnnnny UUUU
June 20th, 2010
9:13 am
DID I MENTION DREWS BREESSSSSSS
hiramsaint
June 20th, 2010
9:20 am
actually, mikey, i and my team are winners. also you should’nt use your iq as part of your name but thats to be expected… crymea[chatahoochee]river–do you believe?
Pi$$onaDawg
June 20th, 2010
10:06 am
Saints fans don’t forget your schedule will be more difficult this year and that is why you will not repeat. Any Saints fans in Atlanta from NOLA why don’t you move back to that lovely town?
Pi$$onaDawg
June 20th, 2010
10:08 am
Dude you live in Hiram that is just a little better than the NOLA 4th ward.
Ed
June 20th, 2010
10:13 am
Bradley why dont you just stop with the predictions and write about the teams and, you know, sports stuff? You predicted the Braves would suck and they are rocking titties. No one cares what you think.
hiramsaint
June 20th, 2010
10:13 am
4th ward ????– did you know that you just showed eveyone from n.o. that you don’t have a clue. if you knew you didn’t have a clue that would at least be something. people like you validate people like us!!!
Sid
June 20th, 2010
10:18 am
@ Navigator
June 18th, 2010
10:21 am
By the way remember the most hated QB Matt Schaub………………….
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Nav, I don’t get the “most hated” tag you put on Schaub. Many of us knew he should be starting over Vick but there was too much Vick mania/hype and had Vick been sent to 2nd string the fan unrest would have been volatile. Schaub is doing in Houston what he could have been doing for the Falcons all along.
How stupid did the then Falcons brass feel after they traded him for essentially 2 second round draft picks? They would have ended up better had he not re-signed as a restricted free agent, getting a first and third round draft pick from any team that signed him. And, of course, the guffaw intensifies as Vick is arrested and the Falcons are left without anyone under center. Thank God Dimitroff and Smith have us talking NFC South title, NFC Championship, and the bold possibility that these Birds will dig there talons deep into a Super Bowl berth.
Schaub finished 09′ first in passing and Houston finished 4th in total offense and did that while finishing 30th in rushing. Sure, Vick had occasional flair and excitement but the fact remains he is not a field general and doesn’t have a touch pass period. Hopefully the Texans drafting of Ben Tate will give them a more balanced attack. I am not a Texans fan but I am a Schaub fan.
But “most hated” Matt Schaub? I don’t get the label.
Lee
June 20th, 2010
10:32 am
Mark ……………leave the predictions alone…………..please…………lol
Sid
June 20th, 2010
10:35 am
@ Gritz Blitz
June 18th, 2010
11:36 am
………………1981 when my heart was broken by the Dallas Cowboys. Nothing would be sweeter than to win the NFC Championship against the hated Cowboys and deny them an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl in their own back yard. Rubbing Keith Brooking’s nose in it would be the icing on the cake. Go Falcons!
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Oh and how bad it would hurt if we did not achieve the victory of vengeance………!! But I like your thinking………………
Sid
June 20th, 2010
10:39 am
@Super Bowl Ring
June 20th, 2010
2:00 am
Stay Jealous, Atlanta. Matt Ryan is overrated garbage and Mike Smith is a crybaby fraud.
***************************************************************************
ROFLMAO………………………..!! ……………..is that all you got …………??
2010-11 Falcons: NFC Champs? - True Sports Core Forums
June 20th, 2010
10:50 am
[...] a prediction on the outcome of the 2011 NFC championship game until at least the Fourth of July. The 2010 Falcons: They'll win 12 and play for the NFC title | Mark Bradley All valid points and solid predictions except for the fact that I don't see Dallas having a chance [...]
09' Strength of Schedule
June 20th, 2010
11:03 am
2009 TEAM-BY-TEAM STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE Team Win Loss Tie Pct.
1. Miami Dolphins 152 104 0 .594
2. Carolina Panthers 151 104 1 .592
3. New England Patriots 151 105 0 .590
4. Atlanta Falcons 150 105 1 .588
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 148 107 1 .580
6. Buffalo Bills 146 110 0 .570
7. New York Jets 145 110 1 .568
8. New Orleans Saints 142 113 1 .557
9. Philadelphia Eagles 137 119 0 .535
10. New York Giants 134 120 2 .527
11. Dallas Cowboys 131 123 2 .516
11. Jacksonville Jaguars 132 124 0 .516
13. Indianapolis Colts 131 125 0 .512
14. Tennessee Titans 130 126 0 .508
15. Houston Texans 129 126 1 .506
16. Washington Redskins 125 129 2 .492
17. Kansas City Chiefs 123 131 2 .484
17. San Diego Chargers 123 131 2 .484
19. Denver Broncos 122 132 2 .480
19. Oakland Raiders 122 132 2 .480
21. Detroit Lions 119 136 1 .467
22. Cincinnati Bengals 119 137 0 .465
22. St. Louis Rams 119 137 0 .465
24. Seattle Seahawks 117 139 0 .457
25. Cleveland Browns 114 140 2 .449
26. San Francisco 49ers 113 142 1 .443
27. Arizona Cardinals 113 143 0 .441
28. Baltimore Ravens 111 143 2 .438
29. Pittsburgh Steelers 110 144 2 .434
30. Green Bay Packers 109 146 1 .428
31. Minnesota Vikings 107 148 1 .420
32. Chicago Bears 105 149 2 .414
10' Strength of Schedule
June 20th, 2010
11:04 am
Is it just me or does it seem odd that the Saints got an easy schedule…………………..??
NFL Strength of Schedule 2010
1 Houston Texans 140-116-0 AFC South
2 Tennessee Titans 140-116-0 AFC South
3 Dallas Cowboys 139-117-0 NFC East
4 Cincinnati Bengals 138-118-0 AFC North
5 Jacksonville Jaguars 137-119-0 AFC South
6 New England Patriots 136-120-0 AFC East
7 New York Giants 135-121-0 NFC East
8 Washington Redskins 134-122-0 NFC East
9 Philadelphia Eagles 133-123-0 NFC East
10 Cleveland Browns 132-124-0 AFC North
11 Indianapolis Colts 132-124-0 AFC South
12 Baltimore Ravens 130-126-0 AFC North
13 Detroit Lions 130-126-0 NFC North
14 Chicago Bears 129-127-0 NFC North
15 Minnesota Vikings 129-127-0 NFC North
16 Buffalo Bills 128-128-0 AFC East
17 Miami Dolphins 128-128-0 AFC East
18 New York Jets 128-128-0 AFC East
19 Oakland Raiders 128-128-0 AFC West
20 Atlanta Falcons 127-129-0 NFC South
21 Pittsburgh Steelers 126-130-0 AFC North
22 Green Bay Packers 125-131-0 NFC North
23 Kansas City Chiefts 125-131-0 AFC West
24 Denver Broncos 124-132-0 AFC West
25 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 123-133-0 NFC North
26 Carolina Panthers 122-134-0 NFC South
27 New Orleans Saints 120-136-0 NFC South
28 San Francisco 49ers 117-139-0 NFC West
29 San Diego Chargers 116-140-0 AFC West
30 Seattle Seahawks 116-140-0 NFC West
31 St Louis Rams 115-141-0 NFC West
32 Arizona Cardinals 114-142-0 NFC West
FalconsFan284
June 20th, 2010
11:22 am
So many Saints fans, so very little intelligence!!!!
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
11:22 am
To all delusional New Orleans Saints fans, your team is the defending Super Bowl champions, and you have every reason to be proud. BUT PLEASE DON’T LET ONE YR OF PRIDE MAKE YOU FORGET YOUR AWFUL LEGACY OF LOSING. You didn’t rename yourselves the ‘AINTS and wear bags over your heads just because you were being honest about your team being losers. Many teams have had losing periods without resorting to such drastic measures to demonstrate their feelings about their team losing.
You wore bags over your heads to demonstrate the depth of embarrassment you felt about your team losing so badly, so often and for so long. The New Orleans Saints went their 1st 20 yrs(1967-87) without a single winning season, an NFL record for absolute futility. Then you followed that up with 7 consecutive none winning seasons(1993-1999). You’ve only had 9 total winning seasons in your 42yr history.
WINNING ONE(1)SUPER BOWL DOESN’T PUT A SINGLE SAINTS FAN, WITH AN ACTUAL IQ, IN A POSITION TO TALK ABOUT THE WINNING OR LOSING TRADITION OF ANY OTHER NFL TEAM, PERIOD.
Both Chocolate cities and it’s citizens have always embodied a certain spirit that has allowed them to endure and over come adversity. Let’s not lose sight of that fact, and let’s not lose respect for each other as both rival and sister cities that share a common bond.
FalconsFan284
June 20th, 2010
11:28 am
Here’s not a first, I’m scooping the AJC yet again by announcing the signing of Mike Johnson our third round pick!!!!
Don't Drink the Kool Aid
June 20th, 2010
11:41 am
Yeah – perfect prediction – We will win the Division and Play for the NFC title – 12 games – we improved over the Saints – yes – I see it and I think you just dooomed our team for 2010 – we have not improved past the Saints and how about givning a division foe some credit. The Saints somehow won a Superbowl – what does that say about us?????????????
Sid
June 20th, 2010
11:42 am
Yesterday’s news FalconsFan284
FalconsFan284
June 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Sid—-Yeah, I didn’t see it. My fault.
Steve
June 20th, 2010
12:19 pm
C’mon, Mark — did you have to include the immature comment about the Saints “somehow” winning the Super Bowl? As a Falcon’s homer, I can understand your confusion about how a team would go about winning a Super Bowl. First, make the playoffs — if you can. Then, win all of the playoff games — it really helps if you keep your players away from the hookers during this important time of the season. As soon as the Falcons do that, let’s talk. Until then, keep your petty jealousy under wraps.
steve
June 20th, 2010
12:51 pm
Falcons finish under .500. Blame Mark. When was the last time he got a prediction correct?
CJ
June 20th, 2010
12:52 pm
Falcons are laughable at best.
EZ
June 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
“The Saints weren’t that much better than the Falcons a year ago”
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahaahaha
EZ
June 20th, 2010
1:53 pm
“BUT PLEASE DON’T LET ONE YR OF PRIDE MAKE YOU FORGET YOUR AWFUL LEGACY OF LOSING.”
That just makes winning all the sweeter. And yes, Falcon’s fans will want us to remember that as much as possible because it eases the pain you feel as the result of our ultimate achievement. You’re misery wants company but I’m afraid it won’t have it any longer with the Saints. One Super Bowl makes up for a LOT of failure in fan’s minds. But you wouldn’t know how it feels first hand.
EZ
June 20th, 2010
1:55 pm
“Just because you had one winning season doesn’t mean the rest of your History falls away.”
We’ve had several of those but last year we won it all. That makes up for everything. So if you’re mystified as to how we can be so gleeful after so many lean years, just tell yourself “I’ve never been where they are so I don’t know.”
John
June 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
Well, no city that has hosted the Super Bowl has ever had its team in the game. So, by this logic of MB’s, the Falcons are in. Unless he wants to go so far out on a limb and say history will be made. Since it’s the Cowboys, I pray that’s not the case.
kmart
June 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
12 wins are you for real ryan is overated , wr are not gd and the defense please 10 games maybe vikes , cowboys , and saints are just better no champships here in atl people Lol
Power Up In My Pants
June 20th, 2010
2:33 pm
Must be hard to hoist the Super Bowl.
Suckers.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 20th, 2010
2:43 pm
hiramsaint yes the 4th ward. It is part of the old French Quarter down to the river. There are businesses back in the area and many people living in the area too. Pretty good police presence also. It ain’t Atlanta but close to Hiram in class, housing, and opportunities. You would have to be in Clayton, Dekalb, or SW Atlanta to be in a place like the 9th ward in NOLA. Do you get it now? I wasn’t trying to call you or Hiram ghetto fab-u-lus.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 20th, 2010
2:48 pm
The best thing from NOLA to ever come to Atlanta was White with bad socks and could play Basketball. Pistol Pete. Everything else from NOLA can move the hell back.
Manny
June 20th, 2010
2:53 pm
I got the Falcons going 11-5 and reaching the playoffs, too. I don’t have them winning the playoff game, but I have them going.
steelers have 6
June 20th, 2010
3:26 pm
nfc championship? dude, pass that dutchie on the left-hand side.
vuduchld
June 20th, 2010
3:31 pm
The Falcons are going nowhere. Turner still has a ton of miles on those wheels, no matter how healthy he say he is. Matt Ryan has been figured out and from here on out will be a medicore QB, much like Chris Miller. This season they play the AFC Central as well as several other playoff type teams. The defense, even with the additions will still be suspect and vunerable. Last but not least, the AFC South will be ruled by the Saints and Carolina because they have better personnel and talent. Thus is a 9-7 team at best with NO playoff chances.
Kevin
June 20th, 2010
3:45 pm
The Falcons are a mediocre team. If the Falcons make the playoffs in the upcoming season they will make it because they have a weak to mediocre schedule and not because they are an exceptional team. And expect them to be dispatched from the playoffs long before the NFC Championship game should they somehow back in to the playoffs, can someone say first round.
Geaux Saints!
Sid
June 20th, 2010
4:35 pm
@ Eyes wide open!!!
June 18th, 2010
12:02 pm
You Falcon fans have lost your D***M Minds!!!! this is the same team that got pushed around by Carolina and the Giants, and needed a last second pass to beat the lowly Bucs at home!!!!You have no pass rush, your QB led the league in 4th qtr INTs and your O-Line is suspect at best!!!! I know its friday, but please put down the weed and step away from the bong!!!!!!You have to be high to believe this kind os **ish!!!!!
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In the Giants game the Falcons scored 24 points in the 2nd half to go into overtime. They did not have Turner and averaged only 3 yards per rush. The Giants were 8th in total offense, 13th in total defense. Essentially they lost this game on the flip of a coin.
Let’s see, that’s the same Carolina team that beat New Orleans 23-10. The Falcons beat Carolina 28-20 the first time they met. (Note to Eyes Wide Open: that’s a W …….!!) In the second game Delhome was on, Muhammad was back from missing 6 games, and the Falcons squandered chances to win. That’s not exactly getting pushed around.
In the Tampa WIN Matt Ryan was knocked out of the game in the first quarter. Redman did a great job running the offense. So what, they scored with 26 seconds left and won the game. That is what good teams do.
And what about that Jets game………pretty good huh? Jets were 1st in Offense, 1st in Total Defense, and 1st in Pass Defense……….and they were at home. The Falcons played solid football in both games against New Orleans, nearly winning both. Not bad mi hijo…!!
And one last thing, the fact is Mark Sanchez led the league in 4th quarter interceptions not Matt Ryan. Your are an idiot.
Athens
June 20th, 2010
4:42 pm
Oh, Falcons fans… I weep for ye.
W H O D A T!!!
Sid
June 20th, 2010
4:55 pm
@ vuduchld
June 20th, 2010
3:31 pm
***********************************************************************
Yeah, the Saints and Carolina have much better chances in the AFC South.
Do you have any more amazing prognostications oh gifted one…………….??
Listen to this……………………………….hear it……………..?? No……….? Listen harder, hear us laughing at you VOODOO………………….roflmao.
Flipper
June 20th, 2010
5:03 pm
Pie in the sky, Mark. I’ve watched the Falcons since their inception in 1966, and you would have made a lot more money betting against them than betting on them.
Expect the worst and hope for the best, and you won’t be too disappointed.
A Super Bowl this season? Not much chance!
Iceman
June 20th, 2010
5:09 pm
Jason Elam’s foot is all that kept us from beating New Orelans at least once last season.
buckblue
June 20th, 2010
5:41 pm
Saints even have more people in the NFL Hall of Fame than the nasty ringless birds….Who Dat……
Win one then you nasty birds can post…..
Ronald Millsaps
June 20th, 2010
6:04 pm
Good article. Drew Brees shouldn’t go anywhere, but the Saints probably won’t be as good, and Matt Ryan and Michael Turner should play more like their 2008 selves than their 2009 selves. The same goes for Mike Smith’s coaching. I’d like to see Turner, Jason Snelling, and Jerious Norwood back, and I’d like for Norwood to be used outside the tackles and not in predictable situations, either. (Predictable playcalling has been a weakness.)
Atlanta has more depth than New Orleans, and the defense should be very strong. Dunta Robinson helps enormously. Our draft was very strong, and we’re getting Peria Jerry back. We can beat the Saints at the line of scrimmage. That’s where it matters most.
crymeariver
June 20th, 2010
6:27 pm
I think the saints fans on this rag are sensitive about someone saying any little thing about their team, because deep down, they really know that the saints aint that much.
hiramsaint
June 20th, 2010
6:47 pm
we may not be that much but that much has been enuf to win 7 of 8 so wheres that put U?
hiramsaint
June 20th, 2010
6:48 pm
up the hooch without a paddle—-lvq
crymeariver
June 20th, 2010
7:39 pm
hiramsaint…….You might want to watch what you post, little buddy.
Someone might report you to the AJC Blog Police, and you may be banned from MB’s blog, just like you have already been banned from Shultz’s blog.