The Falcons can make the Super Bowl: Do they know that?
"Stand aside, striped stripling! I'm bound for glory!" (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The bye week arrives at a propitious time. The Falcons are 5-2, owners of the NFC’s best record. (The Giants would likewise be 5-2 if they beat Dallas tonight.) They’ve done good work. They’re capable of better.
The bye week brings time to refocus and recalibrate. Everything the Falcons believed about themselves when they reported to training camp has been borne out: They are indeed a massively gifted team. We saw as much Sunday when the Bengals brought a bunch of brand-name players — Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Adam “Pacman” Jones — to the Dome. The Falcons built a three-touchdown lead, tossed it away and then surged backed ahead by two touchdowns.
And therein we bore witness to both the Falcons’ inherent potential and their one liability. They’re good enough to beat anybody, but sometimes they don’t seem to grasp how good they can be. Oh, they talk about it. They pay lip service. But I’m not yet sure that there pulses within this team the rock-solid belief — as opposed to the suspicion — that its manifest destiny is the Super Bowl.
New England bears that belief. Pittsburgh, too. But those teams have been there and won it all, and the Falcons have graced the game with the Roman numerals only once, and that was four coaches ago. The Falcons are 25-14 under Mike Smith but haven’t yet won a playoff game, losing at Phoenix in January 2009 as a road favorite. And for all the fine players imported by Thomas Dimitroff — Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Mike Peterson, Dunta Robinson — not one of them wears a Super Bowl ring.
And that’s really the only flaw I see. This offense is capable of great things. This defense is getting better as it goes. (Yeah, Palmer threw for 412 yards Sunday, but that can happen when a team gets that far behind.) My issue with the Falcons isn’t what they can do but in how often they do it. They played wall-to-wall in the signature overtime victory in New Orleans. They got away with a half-effort against San Francisco. They didn’t get away with it in Philadelphia.
To me, the game that still resonates was the opener in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger and still carried themselves as if they expected to invent some way to win, which they did in overtime. The Falcons messed around and managed not to score a touchdown. Yes, the Steelers can play some D, but still … no TDs for the offense of Turner and Gonzalez and Roddy White and Matt Ryan? Seriously?
What needs to happen over the bye week is that these Falcons look both without and within. Check around the NFC and they won’t find one team with more talent. Those touted most in preseason — Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay and New Orleans — have all wobbled. The Falcons have climbed to 5-2 and have already played their most difficult road games. They’re not just playing to win the NFC South; they’re playing for the No. 1 seed.
And that’s the reason for the look within. The Falcons have to say, “We’re doing this.” Not: “We can do this.” They already know, or at least have reason to suspect, they can. The test now is simply to do. No more slack Sundays. No more sluggish starts with a blocked punt thrown in. Only big-time professional football from here on, the kind the Steelers and the Patriots play as a matter of course.
This doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t lose another game. They probably will. (Baltimore at the Dome on Thursday night — tough duty.) What it means is that the belief/expectation needs to grow within the complex at 4400 Falcon Parkway that this is now the home office of a fully expectant champion.
Mike Smith has a Super Bowl ring from his days as a Baltimore assistant. He should pass it around and let his men assess its size and importance. Because these Falcons could all be wearing such a ring very soon. Their sin would be in waiting too long to grasp what’s at stake. This team is good enough to be playing in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2011. It absolutely is.
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279 comments Add your comment
Sports Review
October 26th, 2010
12:55 pm
[...] (blog)Return of injured players could help Falcons' struggling pass defensePro Football WeeklyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -NFL GridIron Gaball 24 news [...]
DR. DIRTY BIRD
October 26th, 2010
1:15 pm
I think some of those who are criticizing this article are missing the point. The Falcons have a talented team, coaching staff and GM. We show moments of domnating….moments of swagger – but we’re still a young team. Our guys DO need to have what I’d call a “come to Jesus” moment within themselves. They’ve got to work harder and believe more than they ever have…that this just might be their time! If they do that…. I DO believe they’ve gotta great shot at making it to the Big Dance! Rise Up & Believe Falcons….This Is Your Time!!!
WreckingBall
October 26th, 2010
3:12 pm
It looks as though the Falcons gave up too soon on D-Hall. D’Angelo Hall is NOW the best cornerback in the league after sundays record setting afternoon of four picks, including a pick-6. Hall has done what no other cornerback in league history ever did, not even Dion Sanders. Hall should probably now go to Hall of Fame, which was NAMED after Hall.
GraveDigger
October 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
The Falcons appear to have a team that can be in superbowl contention if they decide that is something that they want to do. The intensity at which the Falcons play from here on will dictate how far in fact do the Falcons go. On paper, the Falcons have the BEST team in the nfc with the best record thus far. There are probably at least four teams in the AFC that I think are as good as the falcons: Colts, Patriots, Jets and Steelers. THE FALCONS ARE DEFINITELY IN THE ELITE GROUP OF TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE. Beyond that, how far the Falcons ultimately get will depend on just how much desire they have to become CHAMPIONS.
Sports Review
October 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
[...] Tops All NFL ReceiversFootball News NowFalcons Hold Off BengalsAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -NFL GridIron Gab -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 29 news [...]
MB
October 26th, 2010
8:50 pm
First.
m foreman
October 26th, 2010
10:22 pm
I already “know” what “elvisaintdead’s” problem is. The middle letters (5,6,7,8 & 9) spell out his main problem! LOL!
Sports Review
October 27th, 2010
12:25 am
[...] Tops All NFL ReceiversFootball News NowFalcons Hold Off BengalsAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -NFL GridIron Gaball 29 news [...]
Sports Review
October 27th, 2010
2:10 am
[...] Journal Constitution (blog)Falcons' Roddy White Tops All NFL ReceiversFootball News NowAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -NFL GridIron Gaball 29 news [...]
Sports Review
October 27th, 2010
10:25 am
[...] White having his best season yetSifyFalcons Hold Off BengalsAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Football News Now -NFL GridIron Gaball 32 news [...]
PaulWarfield
October 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
The Falcons are probably the leagues biggest surprise this year so far. I hope the Falcons will win the superbowl this season to simply ‘GET THE MONKEY OFF ITS BACK’. The Falcons have been in the league for 44 years, with no superbowl win to show for it. Even the Saints got a championship before we did. This is our year though and I’m expecting the Falcons to win the whole enchalada this year. Go Falcons!
ShempHoward
October 27th, 2010
2:33 pm
LABRON JAMES TOOK THE WRONG APPROACH TO WINNING A TITLE. THE HEAT WILL PROBABLY BE ABOUT THE LEAGUES 10TH BEST TEAM THIS YEAR. I THINK LABRON JAMES WILL FAIL TO GET A RING IN HIS CAREER. LABRON WILL END UP LIKE PATRICK EWING, CHARLES BARKLEY AND KARL MALONE, WASTING THEIR CAREERS FOR NOTHING.
SpencerTracy
October 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
SHEMP: GOOD BLOG. YEAH, LABRON IS A MORON. LBJ WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING HIS RING OUT OF THE GUMBALL MACHINE THAN WINNING IT ON AN NBA COURT WITH A GLITZY TEAM OF SELFISH PRIMA DONAS.
Buster
October 27th, 2010
4:41 pm
We have been down this road before. We were 6-2 at the half way point with Jim Mora as coach and finished 1 and 7 the second half of the season. As a 30 year season ticket holder I don’t get excited until December. Don’t count any team out. Super Bowl is up for grabs.
ChakaZulu
October 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
Eveybody keeps raving about how great our tight end is (Tony Gonzales). Of course Tony is a future HOF’er, without a doubt but we used to have a tight end here who was a perennial pro bowler (Algenon Crumpler). In fact Algae was so good that when passes were thrown into his “CRUMPLE ZONE” he would waltz into the end zone virtually unchallenged.
ClaudeHumphrey
October 27th, 2010
5:43 pm
Buster: you are right. We have been down this road before, but this falcon team is almost identical to the 1998 team that made it all the way to the superbowl, just to have Eugene Robinson wreck it for them. What I’m telling you is over the next nine games, the Falcons will win all them going 9-0, sweep the playoffs and win the superbowl game. THIS FALCON TEAM IS DIFFERENT!!!!!!!
Troy
October 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
Great article….I’ve been saying that the Falcons need to go out there and play with the “X” factor that the Steelers and Patriots do. Across the board they have just as good of talent that the Vikings, Packers, and Saints have.
Willie in Woodbury
October 28th, 2010
8:44 am
Nice Post MB., but I think our Birds’ need to start finishing off games in the 1st and 2nd halves. It seems they are making games more diffucultt by not staying focused the whole 30 minutes of each half which allows a team to get more confidence. That could lead to trouble later in the year if not corrected. I think the coaching staff should stress this as much as possible.If you have a team reeling “drive the stake”!
bigdave
October 28th, 2010
11:46 am
I could not believe the awful way the team played in Philly! Seems like the FALCONS can make any dimwit quaterback look like a superstar! Whats going on? Carson Palmer the same way…superstar! Defensive schemes stupid, rush schemes childish. This team could be much better! Another rusher needed, another hard hitting Dback needed, a superfast halfback needed…great head coach they have, great quarterback and an offensive line that plays meaner than a defensive line. I knew Roddy would be a superstar and guess what, if Mike Jenkins can stay healthy he is another one along with Douglas. Roddy will be doubled so that will open up all sorts of opps! But the DEFENSE? We shall see. GO FALCONS!!
bigdave
October 28th, 2010
11:57 am
So you think you want the ex-con Vick back? The guy who stabbed MILLIONS Of PEOPLE in the back, broke MILLIONS OF HEARTS including his TEAM MATES and COACHING STAFF? Get down on your knees VICK and ask for forgiveness, rather than saying you can’t wait to play against them! VICK will not last, he will continue to get hurt, too many huge/fast guys in this league now…all it takes is one hit….kind of like the last one. Has VICK ever apologised to his team mates? Hey, he broke my heart too, I recorded every game I could and watched the games over and over again many times and I was living in LA, marvelling at Vick’s talent, but I could tell something was amiss. Sometimes his head was not in the game and it was obvious, but who knew the reason? Then finally we all did. What a freakin shame!
PaulWinchester
October 28th, 2010
2:22 pm
I dont quite understand why ANYONE on Gods green earth would want conVick back into an atlanta falcons uniform. It absolutely turns my stomach to think there are people out there who condone killing dogs and persecuring them by electrocution, drowning, bludgening or whatever and they will forgive and forget and let this inhumane, APE take his place under center for the Falcons. Its insane and I’ll never get over it. conVick should have gotten two life sentences PLUS 80 years for the mass killings that he and his dumb buddies perpetrated. For conVick to see daylight, much less regain a starting qb position in the nfl is a miracle beyond all miracles. Its only a matter time until conVick screws up again, and he will once again be sporting the orange jumpsuit garb that he has grown accustomed to wearing when youre under complete and unmitigated LOCKDOWN.
bubba7020
October 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
only tough games are left is, 1. ravens 2. green bay, 3. tampa (at their house) 4. saints beside those games we should be good
OtisThorpe
October 29th, 2010
1:33 pm
PaulWinchester: wrote, “It absolutely turns my stomach to think there are people out there who condone killing dogs and persecuring them by electrocution, drowning, bludgening or whatever and they will forgive and forget and let this inhumane, APE take his place under center for the Falcons,”. Paul you are correct. I am completely dumbfounded and befuddled why ANY GENERAL MANAGER IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL would hire this SAVAGE BEAST to play quarterback for them. He should be a poster child for “ANIMAL HOUSE” or “ANIMAL KINGDOM”. This guy is half monster and half vampire. MIKE VICK SHOULD NOT BE STARTING QUARTERBACK IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. PERIOD.
JuniorBridgeman
October 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
I remember when the Falcons got stomped by the Eagles earlier in the season while vick was injured, more fans were dissapointed that Vick didnt play in the game than the Falcons getting beat. Most of the Atlanta fans were disspointed they didnt get to see if Vick could get revenge on the franchise that treated him so horribly. Well, the only way for the Falcons to avenge the loss and give the fans the chance to see vick against his former team is if the Falcons meet the Eagles in the playoffs or the NFC championship game. That would be a good test for the falcons to #1:see if they can advance to the superbowl, and #2:one and for all judge and evaluate if Mike Vick is truly better than Matt Ryan. Most falcon fans still are not sure that Ryan is better than vick and Ive even heard sports talk show radio hosts here in atlanta saying vick right now is a much better quarterback than ryan. Here is what the truth is with vick versus ryan. VICK IS A WANNABE QUARTERBACK WHO IS PLAYING GREAT NOW, BUT WILL REVERT BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS AND WILL EMBARRASS THE EAGLES ON AND OFF THE FIELD. Ryan on the other hand, is centuries ahead of Vick and had the BEST ROOKIE SEASON A QUARTERBACK IN THE ASSOCIATION EVER HAD. Whats more, according to a reliable source in Steve Young, Matt Ryan played his rookie season like a hall of fame quarterback. In addition, most football experts believe that MATT RYAN WILL BE A FUTURE FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK. That is the true story behind Vick versus Ryan. One is great (Ryan) and one is slime (Vick).
Paddy O
October 29th, 2010
8:17 pm
bubba – I concur – but all those teams have question marks – the Raven O is not all that solid, the Packers defense & coaching can be beat. Tampa makes me a little nervous – they don’t have much rep, but are succeeding. If we are lucky, NO will stay in this funk all year long. Carolina, I am worried by the time we get there they will have fired Fox & the whole team will be fired up to avenge their crappy early play – but, we shall see.
Paddy O
October 29th, 2010
8:19 pm
The immoral, unethical and apathetic (plus demented) among us don’t know right from wrong – most likely because they were not raised by two married adults who loved each other – therefore, they have never formed the proper character and conscience. Those who root for Vick, never enter into a business contract with them.
Ken Strickland
October 30th, 2010
3:23 pm
The only advantage the Ravens have over us is OC MMularkey’s inability to come up with an OFF gm plan for successfully attacking the 3-4 DEF. After 3yrs, he simply doesn’t have a clue. In a 3-4 DEF, the front 3 DLinemen are usually very big, stout, and good run stoppers, but usually lack range, lateral movement athleticism, and usually aren’t very good pass rushers. Therefore, the OLB’s are relied on to be the primary pass rushers, and that’s who you attack with your OFF.
YOU CAN’T CONTINUE ATTACKING THE STRENGTH OF THE 3-4 DEF BY CONSISTENTLY RUNNING BETWEEN THE TACKLES MMULARKEY. You must use your RB’s as outside running and passing threats, pressuring their OLB’s to provide outside protection, which eliminates them as pass rushers. I would start by playing RB’s MTurner and JSnelling together, which would definitely give both their OLB’s and ILB’s something to be concerned about. Using FB OMughelli more as a runner and receiver would also help.
Once you spread the DEF and limit their OLB’s from rushing the QB, we can attack their secondary, and our WR’s and TE are far superior to their secondary. A good inside play fake to one RB can freeze the ILB’s, while the other RB goes outside and is isolated on an OLB, becoming an outlet or down field receiving option. While the Ravens’ OFF is much better than last yrs, which isn’t saying a lot, it’s not prolific or dynamic in any way, so our DEF can handle it.
JUNIORBRIDGEMAN-Exactly what did the Falcons do to treat MVick so badly? Were they the ones who got him involved in, or blew the whistle on, his ILLEGAL activity, did they provide state and federal evidence against him, did they refuse to sign him to a massive contract, or lie to him about anything? At this point in his life and career, anyone predicting what MVick might or might not do, on or off the field, is indulging in WISHFUL THINKING.
PADDY O-You show your own immoral, unethical and apathetic(plus demented) attributes when you ASS-U-ME everyone raised without two married adults, who loved each other, will never form proper character and conscience. If you are a Christian, how do you feel about worshiping Jesus, who wasn’t raised by either of his parents. Are you saying all children who’ve lost a parent(s) due to injury, illness, disease, accident or war, and raised by a single parent, will never be able to develop the character and conscience you pretend to possess, you HIPPOCRITICAL B!TCH.
FITZ
October 30th, 2010
7:08 pm
THE PHILLY GAME WAS ALL THE FALCONS NEEDED IT EXPOSED BAD COACHING SO IT WAS EITHER CRAP OR LEAVE FOR BOTH COORDINATORS
World Spinner
October 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
The Falcons can reach the Super Bowl, but do they know that ……
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……