So the Falcons sit atop the NFC? Alert ESPN and Peter King
The Falcons have the NFC’s best record. They’re 8-2, having won eight of nine. In November alone they’ve beaten Tampa Bay, which is 7-3; Baltimore, which is 7-3, and St. Louis, which is 4-6 but was 4-1 at home before the Falcons showed up.
And yet: The ESPN.com home page as of 9:25 a.m. Monday asked two questions. “The NFC’s best team? Why not the Eagles?”
And Peter King of SI.com lists the Falcons No. 5 in his Fine Fifteen, with not one but two NFC teams above them. Asks King of Green Bay, which he ranks No. 1 in the league: “Who’s played better over the past month? Beat the Vikes 28-24, the Jets 9-0, the Cowboys 45-7, the Vikes again 31-3.”
Note to P.K.: Uh, maybe the Falcons? (And aren’t the Vikings and Cowboys, against whom three of those four Packer victories have been achieved, the NFL’s biggest duds? Didn’t one just fire its coach? Isn’t the other about to fire its coach?)
Understand: I’m ordinarily not one who believes The National Media Never Gives Atlanta Teams Any Credit. I don’t think there’s a vast right- or left-wing conspiracy out there to ignore our fair city. (And I would stipulate that Green Bay isn’t exactly the hub of 21st Century journalism.) That said …
The Falcons are playing pretty darn well. They’ve beaten the Saints (No. 6 according to King), the Ravens (No. 7) and the Bucs (No. 12.). They’ve lost only to the Eagles (No. 3) and the Steelers (No. 8), both of those coming on the road.
Side-by-side comparison: The Packers have beaten two teams that hold winning records; the Falcons have beaten three.
Loading ...Further comparison: The Eagles have beaten four teams that hold winning records, the Falcons among them. And Philly beat the Falcons soundly using its backup quarterback. You can make the case, I submit, that the Eagles might — I said might — deserve to be placed ahead of Atlanta, but I don’t see a reason to elevate Green Bay above a team with a better record.
What’s that ? You say the Packers will play here this Sunday? How intriguing. And how convenient.
Guess we’ll do this the old-fashioned way. (Or, for you college fans, the non-BCS way.) Guess we’ll settle this on the field.
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488 comments Add your comment
BRAD STEVENS
November 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
To HELL with Paul Hewitt and the Dawgs. Go Falcons! Tyrone- you are an idiot!
Headley Lamar
November 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
Vegas ALWAYS gives teams a three point bump for playing at home, so Green Bay would be a 1 point favorite over Atlanta on a neutral field.
Given the fact that Matt Ryan is 18-1 at home they may even get like 4-5 points.
TampaGator
November 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
Willy….
I think the Eagles are the best team in the NFC right now….they beat the Giants last night (absolutely crushed the Redskins last week)…and they overwhelmed the Falcons when they played them. But the Falcons are healthier now…and a rematch would be a closer game.
NCBravesFan
November 22nd, 2010
10:53 am
Let’s let them decide it on the field. The National writers usually follow a blind herd-like mentality (see Heat, Miami), and Vick is the hot thing right now.
Perhaps Peter King thought two wins over the now-dethroned ESPN NFL savior-king Brett Favre and his hot mess Vikings was impressive.
buff
November 22nd, 2010
10:53 am
do not care for the falcons but guess it is better than the inbred cajun who dats of the world…anyone notice how huge wes durhams backside is getting? could he not get on an excercise program?
All I'm Saying Is...
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 am
To be fair, Bradley, Peter King also wrote:
“The Packers, for what it’s worth, look like the best team in the league to me after 10 games for a couple of reasons (and if you want to say it’s the Patriots, I couldn’t argue much, or the Eagles or Falcons or Jets or even the Saints).”
So he is not disputing that the Falcons could be regarded as superior to the Packers. Since Falcons lost to Eagles in head-to-head match-up, we are no better than second in NFC. Win against the Packers, however, and we’ll leapfrog the Eagles in the eyes of many, I bet.
At the end of the day, I don’t want to be the best team after 10 games. What matters is being the best team after the Super Bowl.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
GSU Eagle 91
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 am
Tyrone..Back to the ghetto..and STFU…
Matt Ryan has done Very well here….MV is playing this well because he has luckily found a new home with Philly and with Andy Reid and Marty Morningweig…That have coached him well….
I love my Falcons, and so far….so good!
Gbal
November 22nd, 2010
10:54 am
Tyrone— you’re an absolute idiot if you really think that the Falcons stabbed MV in the back. I think the story is a great one and I am glad to see MV rebound, but my friend Falcons did not let MV down. Exact opposite. You have no clue.
brian
November 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
So if Atlanta hosts a playoff game and the Eagles come calling, can the P.A. play “who let the dogs out” when Vick is announced?
Kelvin Frazier
November 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
@DanWeiner, don’t waste your time with people like Tyrone. Those people make up their own set of facts and live in a make believe world. I think the biggest challenge to the Falcons making the Super Bowl will come from the Eagles. Vick is playing well now and the Eagles offense looks like it will be hard to stop. I believe the Falcons can handle the Packers and anyone else in the NFC, but the Eagles worry me.
Falcon60
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Well it didn’t take TOO long for one of the “Falcons stabbed Vick in the back” morons to rear his stupidity. Let it go people! Vick said himself that HE didn’t work like HE should have when he was here. Good riddance.
And just who treated who like garbage? Vick LIED to EVERYONE and got what he heserved, prison AND a second chance. Sh choke on the boob brain. Yeah I’m talking to you Tyrone.
Paul
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Does anyone read anything other than the cover of the book? The Falcons are #1 in the latest ESPN Power Rankings after the Bmore game. That may change, but ESPN has done plenty to inflate the Falcons. John Clayton has picked the Falcons over the Saints since week one, calling Atlanta his pick to win the South in August.
If anything can be attributed to Green Bay’s recent homage, it would be the fact that they beat darling Favre. The media still thinks the Vikings are good…
ATL Observer
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
The NFC South plays the NFC West this year (which is the NFL’s equivalent of gifting). So it’s hard for outsiders to respect the records of ATL, NO or TB in comparison to anyone coming from the NFC East.
The Falcons have lost one game they should have won (the PIT game where Mike Smith elected not to go for the 4th-and-1 that probably would have won it) and won one game they should have lost (the SF game which was given after an INT should have sealed it for SF). They’re 7-1 in the remaining games. It’s hard not to feel good about that. That said, it’s also hard not to see the critics’ points about Philly & Green Bay.
First, Philly. They’re a really well-balanced team: what’s their weakness? Just about the only one anyone can name is their O-line but with a elusive QB, that factors less. Their defense is Top 5 material, their offense has ridiculous young talent, their special teams are solid…and what’s worse, their #2 QB is Kolb….and Kolb is the one that torched the Falcons!
Then, Green Bay: this is a team that could have and may have already won the Operating Room Super Bowl. 7-3 after all the important pieces that got taken away from them. Now their defense is clicking again and AR is on fire.
I’d wager to say that a lot of experts are also waiting for the second NO game for the full picture to emerge on that head-to-head ranking also.
Nothing any team can do but concentrate on its own business. Split the next two games and I feel pretty good about our top seed chances.
Alex Tucker
November 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Mark, we both know why the Falcons are flying beneath the national media’s radar. I refer to Colin Cowherd, who has said on his show that ESPN’s job is to showcase flashy stuff that “moves the meter”. The Falcons play smart, deliberate football that’s hard to translate to 20 second highlights. Nothing very sexy about controlling the clock and converting 3rd Downs, but that’s the kind of stuff that wins championships – I refer to the Colts and Patriots, arguably the best teams of the 2000’s, who made their reps by doing exactly that. Let Mr Vick have his highlights, I’ll take a Lombardi trophy over ESPN’s props any day.
falconfan 24-7
November 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
We are good enough. Dont get caugt up in the national attention. The best team will be crowned in February.The only thing that matters is winning. Beat the Packers Sunday and all will be well. Take it one game at a time. Let Philly and all the other teams get the credit. It is an advantage for the Falcons when we are underdogs. We were the underdog against the Rams yesterday. Go Falcons.
Joe Tess Fish House
November 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
Flacons are along way from being best in NFC. Fist, where is Perrier Jerry? I watch all game and never see him make a play. Next, where was Witherspoon? I watch the hole game and not see him make a paly. Next, Donta Robinson. I watch him get burnt 4 a TD. More. Johan Abraham had no sacks. This may be ok with the rams, but they R playing the Pack next and this wont do.
MountainDawg
November 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
The Falcons are of the best in the NFC & NFL. GB & “Filthadelphia” are solid…but I expect (con)Vick to soon be exposed (as overrated & over-hyped). The Falcons need to focus on winning the division (first & foremost) & not get caught up in this “best of the NFC/NFL” right now. I think the Birds can win the NFC & Superbowl, BUT need to take each game at a time. BTW, I favor the Pats to win the AFC (powered by Brady, Welker & the grossly under-rated Danny Woodhead).
JP
November 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
Who cares where we are “ranked” in the pundit’s rankings. It doesn’t de-value an 8-2 record one bit. Birds just need to keep on winning.
Mike
November 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
I read Peter King’s article today and thought the same thing. Plus, last night Chris Collinsworth was under the impression the Falcons are 7-3…??? He mentioned the Packers, Bears, and Saints before he could mention Atlanta when.
chris
November 22nd, 2010
11:02 am
I’ve been looking forward to this game for a few weeks. I think if the Falcons can get past the Packers, the NFC road to the Super Bowl will likely have to go through Atlanta. I think in fairness to King that the Eagles are playing the best in the NFC right now. However, get past the Packers on Sunday (Yes I know we still have one more with the Saints) but I think a rematch of Eagles-Falcons starts looking good for the NFC Championship.
Oh….The Eagles travel to Chicago this weekend. This won’t be an easy game for Vick and crew.
willdave
November 22nd, 2010
11:04 am
Having the respect of ESPN is great, but NFL championships are won on the playing field. The Falcons just need to keep taking care of business on the field like they did yesterday. They started out shaky again. They let the Rams take a 17-16 lead in the third quarter. Then the Birds just pulled away from them, eventually doubling the losers’ final score.
I loved the way Turner ended up running for a touchdown when the Falcons were basically just trying to run out the clock. I got a little nervous when it seemed like he was about to just stop before crossing the goal line. Hey, Falcons, don’t ever worry about running up the score on any NFL team, especially the Rams. I’m old enough to remember countless times in the past when the Los Angeles-St. Louis Rams would embarrass our team by ridiculous scores like 56-3. Every other team has also had its share of lopsided defeats over us. Now that you guys finally have the talent to avenge these debacles, I say, “Score, baby, score!
Fish Bisch
November 22nd, 2010
11:04 am
I like the fact that no one is respecting the Falcons a this moment. It is better to be ‘under the radar’ than being on everyone’s hit list. It can also be motivation for the Falcons about not getting the recogintion that is deserved. I hate how the national media gushes over the AFC. It is not an unstopable juggernaut the media has created. Currently, the NFC is 15-17 against the AFC, which is closer to .500 than the AFC being the dominate conference. Atlanta is 3-1 against the AFC and also beat the Jets in late December last year. So continue national media, keep on lusting over the AFC, Philadelphia, and Green Bay. Maybe the Falcons will methodically control the time of possession battles all the way through January.
PMC
November 22nd, 2010
11:05 am
It doesn’t matter. Just beat Green Bay on Sunday and then collectively respond in a Belicheck drone when any of these guys asks a question.
Every one of these guys is just waiting to write I TOLD YOU SO when the Falcons finally lose a game.
Just keep winning, and keep letting them ignore you.
When Peter King was fat
November 22nd, 2010
11:06 am
You don’t like what I write? Bite my clank!
PMC
November 22nd, 2010
11:06 am
Philly is a better team than Atlanta right now because they make more plays.
Atlanta has got to start making more plays to get noticed.
Dont
November 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Enter your comments here
chalkdawg4
November 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Any chance this game gets moved back? When does the network get the option to move games to later. This one has a 4:15 start written all over it. Plus I am driving back from the beach Sunday. I would love to see the 2nd half.
Jack
November 22nd, 2010
11:10 am
BC, you are right on about the ESPN bias towards teams in the Notheast. I stay away from ESPN as much as I can for that reason…
drew
November 22nd, 2010
11:11 am
I’m glad this team is flying under the radar, and hope they continue to do so. I don’t need SI or ESPN to tell me how good they are.
Fact is, this team is good enough to win it all, but it’s also inconsistent enough to lose in the first round of the playoffs. Other than the Arizona game, they have not put anyone away, even bad teams that they should have put away. Good to hear coach Smith is not satisfied…there’s still work to be done. Home field would be huge in the playoffs, so hopefully they’ll keep the pedal to the metal down the stretch.
Having said that, and at the risk of quoting an idiot: “JUST WIN BABY!”
kreedham
November 22nd, 2010
11:12 am
Several things….Remember Vick has admitted that he was a slacker here! Maybe he should designate part of his next contract go to the Falcons for under performing….the more he plays the more film opposing coaches have making it somewhat easier to defend…Falcons just need to win….with home field the Falcons are a lot tougher to beat….Saints and TB are on our tails and the birds know that they so they’ll be playing to win…TB and NO still have to play Baltimore which is still pissed about losing to the Falcons….and remember no one’s in the playoffs yet!
Alex Tucker
November 22nd, 2010
11:14 am
@ Drew I agree with you 100% about the Falcons. BTW, Al Davis died in 1993, it’s just nobody’s told him yet.
GO BIRDS!
November 22nd, 2010
11:14 am
The falcons are not new england peter king!!! So was not the aints and they won. Whats your point Peter KIng? The falcons could get stronger as the year goes. Go Falcons!
falconfan 24-7
November 22nd, 2010
11:18 am
Both Eagles and Packers have a loss against the Redskins. Does this makes the Redskins the best team in the NFC? NOT!
The bottom line we have TWO losses againt teams with winning records while the Eagles and Pack have THREE loses consisting of teams with losing records. Do the math.
JeanE
November 22nd, 2010
11:18 am
The Falcons are always the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. But, fine, let’s fly under the radar and then we’ll get everyone, silent but deadly!!! I love the way this team professionally goes about their business, and that starts from the top with Mike Smith. If we were playing Green Bay on the road, it would be very difficult but this team has the definite Dome Field Advantage! Special teams coverage breakdowns continue to be a concern but our punting and kicking are excellent. Love the way we spread the ball around on offense, that is when we win. Way to go Finn!!! Who said we need a “new Finn” when the old Finn had still got it!! And Roddy after the bad personal foul, went back to sticking it to them with his on field play, that’s the way to do it Roddy! I had no idea Abe was hurt, that really put us at a disadvantage, Sam Bradford played very impressively, just that one huge rookie mistake with the shovel pass, thank you Sam!! I continue to be so impressed with Matty Ice and how he just evolves more every game, what a cerebral guy he is. Love the team, just got to cut down on the special teams breakdowns and like Matty said, get more TD when in the red zone. Go Birds!!
TradeMark
November 22nd, 2010
11:18 am
Mark, THANK HEAVENS someone said it. After the Ravens game a couple of weeks ago, the Mass. Boys (King was born there) were crying like children. King: “There is No #1 team in the NFL” Geeeeeez…you can almost see him with puffy eyes and a runny nose. What a child. Seriously, the Green Bay wins are not as impressive as what the Falcons have put together. And you cannot get any more recent than yesterday, where they JUST hung 34 points on a St. Louis team AT HOME, that averaged in the 5 home games before that giving up about 12 (and an average of about 18 per game all together). Against some teams with pretty good offenses (San Diego being the best of that lot). Sorry, but that is damned impressive. No credit. Fine. A lot of these morons picked the Colts over the Saints last year too. Let ‘em stay homers. GO FALCONS!!!!
Michael
November 22nd, 2010
11:24 am
I am as big a Falcon fan as any, however, i must admit that green bay does look better than us at this point as well as the Eagles, and the Saints are coming on strong. What all those other teams have in common has been the ability to have consistant above-par performance for 4 qtrs. This is something our Birds have yet to accomplish. Its hard to gage us until we see that effort. till then I have Packers, Eagles, then Falcons in that order.With that being said, we can look forward to our toughest limtus test thus far when the packers come to town….
Denver Falcon
November 22nd, 2010
11:25 am
the Falcons are a good team, and for years we would’ve gladly been satisfied with that. But eventually we must seize our window of opportunity. How many times in a row have we lost to the Eagles? Going back how many years? Before our dreams can come true we’re gonna have to learn how to beat a team from Pennsylvania…
mountain_jim
November 22nd, 2010
11:26 am
Eagles at best then Falcons and Packers settle number 2 (as of now) next game.
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
11:29 am
I posted over a month ago that the Falcons, Saints and Bucs will all make the playoffs. So far it has held true to form. If we win the division we will probably host the Saints or Bucs in the divisional playoff game, providing they win their wild card game. I do not wish to play the Eagles with their trickery. Coach Reid always outcoach us when our teams play.We will need help to eliminate the Eagles if they make the playoffs.
With the new NFL schedule format, teams will have 4 or 5 diviional gaves at the end of the year. Four of our last six are divisional games. Go Falcons.
McDawg
November 22nd, 2010
11:30 am
ESPN/NFL Inc..
Bret Farve, Farve, Moss, TO, Moss, Brady, Manning, Brady, Favre, Farve, Moss, oh yeah Brady, Farve, Farve, Farve, Manning family, TO, the other wierd dude on the Bengals, Farve, Brady’s hair, Cowboys
Just show the highlights!
November 22nd, 2010
11:30 am
I really don’t care where they rank the Falcons at this point because in the pros (unlike college) they actually have a playoff and the teams get to decide on the field who is best. All of that will work itself out. What I am upset about is that they don’t even respect the Falcons enough to show their freaking highlights this morning!!! Some of us didn’t get to watch the second half last night and some highlights on espn from the team with the NFC’s best record would be nice.
Andy
November 22nd, 2010
11:31 am
Eagles beat the Falcons soundly so they deserve to be ahead of them for now. Good thing we have playoffs in the NFL unlike college where this debate would rage on forever. All will be settled in the playoffs.
Wes
November 22nd, 2010
11:32 am
@ chalkdawg4 – I’m going to the Falcons-Cheez Its game on Sunday, and I completely agree with you. It’ll most likely get moved to a 4 or 4:15 start, which I prefer. Hopefully it will NOT get moved to the Sunday Night game (8:15 start). The Chargers and the Colts have that time slot, so that probably won’t happen.
GO FALCONS!
porta pottie
November 22nd, 2010
11:34 am
The Green Bay question will be answered on Sunday…it’ll be a true test for the Falcons. The Eagles are a very agressive team and the Mike Vick Space Shuttle will eventually blow up into small pieces (on or off the field); hopefully before the Falcons have to play them again in the playoffs…
Will
November 22nd, 2010
11:34 am
Earlier in today’s “Monday Morning QB” story, Peter King states:
“The Packers, for what it’s worth, look like the best team in the league to me after 10 games for a couple of reasons (and if you want to say it’s the Patriots, I couldn’t argue much, or the Eagles or Falcons or Jets or even the Saints).”
He’s a pretty fair writer and although he doesn’t necessarily give the Birds as much credit as you and I would, I certainly don’t think he’s slighting our team. Coach Smith himself said that this is a team that has yet to play a complete 60 minute game.
GO BIRDS!
November 22nd, 2010
11:35 am
Alex Tucker
November 22nd, 2010
11:14 am
@ Drew I agree with you 100% about the Falcons. BTW, Al Davis died in 1993, it’s just nobody’s told him yet.
@Alex, Now only his image appers like Old Ben on Star Wars, along with yoda.
Chillin on Paradise Island
November 22nd, 2010
11:36 am
@ Tyrone
When did the Falcons treat him like garbage? If anything he treated the Falcons like garbage. He admitted on not preparing for games when he was in Atlanta. We stood behind him no matter what he did. He was Atlanta’s Lebron. He was that idiot who had to go kill dogs. If he hadnt done that, he still would have been the king of Atlanta. That dog fighting thing was the last straw for the Falcons. Hes paid his debt and its nice to see him succeed somewhere else. But i think all REAL falcons fans are happy with Matt Ryan.
Back to the Falcons:
I think that its good that the Falcons dont get the media love. We dont need distractions. We just need to keep our eye on the prize. The road to the Superbowl for the Falcons is becoming clearer week by week.
GO FALCONS! 8-2 Baby! How great does that sound?
falconfan 3411
November 22nd, 2010
11:36 am
The Falcons, Jets , and Patriots @ 8-2 own the best record in the NFL not the Eagles or Packers. Do the Math knuckleheads .This is not the NCAA where rankings matter. In the NFL ,You are what your record say you are, Go Birds.
Bigg Bird
November 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
@ Tyron
Vick treated Vick like garbage.
GO BIRDS!
November 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
“Mcfadden, only when you use the force, you will score”