ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low
One of these two is thinking the Falcons could go 16-0. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Falcons open camp Friday. As noted earlier, more than a few people are high on this team’s chances. We add to this growing list the folks who compile ESPN’s power rankings, the latest edition of which has the Falcons …
Ranked No. 8 in the 32-team NFL.
Given that the same ESPN had the Falcons 15th at the end of the 2009 regular season and 10th in the post-draft ranking, we’re witnessing a rising tide. But ESPN’s survey still doesn’t quite reflect the feeling I have for this team.
I think these Falcons will wind up being better than the eighth-best team in a 32-team league. I think they’ll be in the top five. (To be fair, John Clayton — one of ESPN’s four panelists — has the Falcons ranked fifth.) I think they’ll go 12-4, win the NFC South and play Dallas for the conference championship.
For the record, here are ESPN’s top seven teams: Indianapolis, New Orleans, Minnesota, Dallas, Baltimore, Green Bay and the Jets. Four of those, you’ll note, play in the NFC. But it does have the Falcons ahead of New England and San Diego, which is saying something. And it does slot Carolina, which some observers fancy for no reason I can discern, at No. 22.
And here’s a telling stat: All four of ESPN’s voters — the others are Mike Sando, James Walker and Paul Kuharsky — have the Falcons rated No. 9 or better. That’s something approaching a consensus, I’d say.
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128 comments Add your comment
Sports Review
July 28th, 2010
4:20 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Jared
July 28th, 2010
6:27 am
I would call 9-7 last year mediocre. We had one of the toughest schedules and with a couple better calls and a break or 2 here and there we would have been at least 11-5. Also, we were the only winning team not to make the playoffs.…
geno
July 28th, 2010
6:28 am
8th best team……no way. the falcons are still a 9-7 team….until we get a GM who knows what hes doing (should have drafted Dez Bryant moron)….until we get an offensive cordinator who can get the most out of Jerious (2nd or 3rd fastest back in the leaque) and stops throwing the ball to the TE (multiple pro bowls 0 superbowls)…..until we get a head coach who KNOWS that defense will only take you so far….until we get a 3-4 defense instead of less effective 4-3…..and whos the kicker?
Jared
July 28th, 2010
6:28 am
I meant would NOT
Birdman
July 28th, 2010
7:38 am
One thing I know is that it is good to see this team in the top 10 for 2 years straight . Something to be said for what they use to be .
If all stay healthy this year then next year they start there rain of being in the top five for years to come .You gotta love it . THANKS MARK !
Manny
July 28th, 2010
7:54 am
I got the Falcons ranked 9th. I got the Patriots ahead of the Falcons. And the reason why I think they’re 9th at the most is because if Michael Turner gets hurt, we can’t win big games against playoff teams. Plus, I have concerns about the D-line.
Andy
July 28th, 2010
8:18 am
Teams like New England, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh have respect by media and fans cause they have won or been to multiple Super Bowls. The Falcons must earn it. I’ve been a fan of Atlanta since 1980. I’ve seen few Falcon teams other than the 1980, 1991, 1998, 2002, and 2004, & 2008 ones that should be respected. If the Falcons can reach the Super Bowl and win it this year and continue a five to six year run beyond 2010, then they WILL get earned respect. I’m excited for their future with Thomas and Smitty with a great worker and leader at QB in RYAN! GO FALCONS!!!
GN
July 28th, 2010
8:23 am
Mike Jay I’ll go with Matt Moore for the block and he’ll be pretty good for Carolina too. He ended the season very well for them and I would expect him to get better.
Birdman
July 28th, 2010
8:37 am
A lot of you all say that this season will be more to the falcons advantage because of a better schedule .This may be true but when you compare there schedule to the Saints and them being the 2009 champs there schedules are really not that much deferent . You would think the Saints would have a much harder schedule than they have been dealt this year ?
With that said I think Birds will have a 11 & 5 season or better if they stay healthy .And the Saints with there good but getting old D will only win 10 games . Falcons take out the no 2 ranked team and win the div.And yet but another climb on the Rankings .
Rfbrid
July 28th, 2010
9:08 am
I think all your predictions are great it’s nice to see all the excitement out there, I think if the falcs can get by Pitt week one they could be in for a great season. I would like to see the Ravens in Alt week 9 both undefeated and knock them off THAT would be a great feeling.
wordy
July 28th, 2010
9:16 am
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Sports Review
July 28th, 2010
9:21 am
[...] ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blo… [...]
wordy
July 28th, 2010
9:23 am
whoops-
they win 10 or more based on an easy schedule compared to last year. That is if they make the expected improvement on D.
Tebo's cousin's (3rd removed) girlfriend's brother
July 28th, 2010
9:44 am
I agree with Mark, barring injuries…should enjoy this season with Falcons…Oh did you see Tebo..is doing panty adds?
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:02 am
Not really they are over rated @8th. Ive seen polls that have them as low as 16th with comments that they are weak at the qb position. I notice you picked the poll that had the lame birds rated the highest than the polls(more than one) that has them low. I guess its your job to put a positive spin on things, but damn, lets keep it real
How lame of the falcons to use Samuel Jackson to tried and draw black support, in a Black city….I got a better Idea, Let get the press to apologize for the crucifixion of MV7 and get him back here to lead this team. Lets see if that will draw a stronger fan base.
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Not really they are over rated @8th. Ive seen polls that have them as low as 16th with comments that they are weak at the qb position. I notice you picked the poll that had the lame birds rated the highest than the polls(more than one) that has them low. I guess its your job to put a positive spin on things, but damn, lets keep it real
How lame of the falcons to use Samuel Jackson to tried and draw black support, in a Black city….I got a better Idea, Let get the press to apologize for the crucifixion of MV7 and get him back here to lead this team. Lets see if that will draw a stronger fan base.
We havent forgot the clear racism.
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:07 am
“One thing I know is that it is good to see this team in the top 10 for 2 years straight ”
What did the falcons finish last year? 8/7? top ten? LMAO
I guess nortre dame dame will get 4 nationally televised games be rank top15 but end up out of the picture as they do every year. Nothing like a press booster shot!
Then reality sets in.
Got VICK?
Falcon Fanatic
July 28th, 2010
11:24 am
I would be thrilled with back to back to back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. A wildcard birth would be great too. Winning one of two against the Saints would be great. If we could go 6-2 at home and 4-4 on the road that would be great. Anything more than these goals would be AWESOME!!!!!!!
GO FALCONS
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
back to back
9-7/9-7
Gee thanks. keep the change.
Ken Radcliff
July 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
Dear Arthur,
When you bought this team I didn’t know you from Adam’s house cat. Sure, I’ve been to Home Depot, but I still had no idea who you were. When I heard you had paid over 500 million for the Falcons I was pretty sure you were just another eccentric billionaire with a flair for life and needed to find a tax write off suitable for an outlandish lifestyle. Well, I’m not too proud to admit, I was wrong.
I’m 43 years old and I never remember not being a Falcons’ fan. My older brother tried to sway me at an early age but somehow it just seemed wrong to not pull for the Falcons. Afterall, I was born and raised in Georgia. I was laying on the livingroom floor in the same exact spot for Big Ben I and II. When the Falcons lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs I was a 14 year old kid and I cried like someone cancelled Christmas. I’ve stuck to these Falcons through the lean years like hair on soap. My blood runs Falcons’ red.
Shortly after you bought this team you stood in front of a small Georgia Dome crowd and vowed to others and myself that you would not rest until you brought a championship to the city of Atlanta. I’m sure you would be the first to admit that it hasn’t always been an easy road thus far. We have encountered our share of disappointment and anguish. Even though we have yet to reach that pinnacle it pleasures me that you have not quit in your quest. The expectations are high for this team and for good reason. The transformation this franchise has made in just over two years is beyond remarkable. I have never been more excited about an upcoming Falcons’ season.
What these Falcons have become goes well beyond football. You emphasize family and giving back to the community. The work that our players do off the field is a direct reflection of the values that you instill and demand. You evidently have a knack for making people believe that they can make a difference. You make people want to make a difference. Your passion for life and the beauty of sharing that with others is your greatest achievement among many…..even when we do eventually hoist that Lombardi trophy high in the air.
The signature you have left on this team makes me proud to say, “I’m a Falcons’ fan”.
Thanks,
Ken Radcliff
Don't Drink the Coolade
July 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
That’s it M. Bradley – lets raise expectations as high as we can – please stop the madness. You are assuming a lot things before they are even accomplished. I’m tired of hearing oh we are better than the Saints this year – well this is not 2009 – it’s 2010. Who cares where we are ranked and when was the last time a 9-7 team was picked as the prohibitive favorite to win the NFC??? I’ll answer that for you – NEVA!!
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
1:53 pm
MV7 THE LEGEND LIVES ON.
DEAR AUTHOR TRADER AZZZ BLANK FCUK U!
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
DEAR AUTHOR TRADER AZZZ BLANK FCUK U!
ONE DAY YOU WILL HOIST DEZZ NUTTZ
Carl
July 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
GO FALCONS!! I cried after Danny White’s 4 second half TD’s beat the 80′ team that was the best we’ve had, better than the Super Bowl team. TD is building a team that will rival that one with a few more defensive players in next year’s draft and F.A. mkt.. Get ready for the ride of your life fellow Falcon fans. No more worries about rankings, just Championships!
Carl
July 28th, 2010
2:45 pm
Ken, don’t you work fo rthe Falcons? I have a friend named Ben in Eufuala, AL who told me about you I think ?
Ken Radcliff
July 28th, 2010
2:52 pm
Not me Carl. I live down in Valdosta.
……..just a lifelong fan.
josh
July 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
A catastrophe of major proportions has to occur to prevent the Falcons from making the playoffs. Matty Ice has the experience (whoever said we’d be 5th with Vick should stick to watching the Braves), the players are healthy, got rid of the dead weight (mostly defensive side) and the schedule could not be better for the birds. Even coming off a solid season, we could have been much better. The games we lost could have gone either way including to the Saints.. Regular season should and will be a blowout…. just a question of who will be healthy for the playoffs and how the guys will perform post-season.
The Falcons are getting a lot of love this offseason. Is it deserved? « control+ATL+delete
July 31st, 2010
2:01 pm
[...] Bradley says the ranking is too low. But what if it is too high? Call me a pessimist if you want, but let’s consider the other [...]