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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
488 comments Add your comment
Ueeediot
November 22nd, 2010
11:39 am
Here’s to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and the Falcons over the Pack on Sunday….IF that happens, all will be taken care of.
getYourDVRready
November 22nd, 2010
11:43 am
Tyrone- you, my friend- are an idiot. Not only do you keep bringing up the past, but your viewpoint is incredibly skewed.
I agree with what a lot of you have said, this game against the Packers will say a lot. Win that game, and no other NFC team can hold a head-to-head tie-breaker over your head like the eagles can.
What do falcons do? RIIIIIIISE UP!
Once "Recent" Reader
November 22nd, 2010
11:45 am
Hey Mark! Last night I went back to August to review your game picks. 9-1 thus far . .. . .told D.Led to congratulate you on an earlier post . . .but since you have this blog running . … .Congrats!!! I remember much of the ridicule spewed out on that post. Well except for the Steelers game you are right on target . . ..and an * on your assessment of Bucs this year (which was the same as most!) as you had both games as pretty much blowouts. A win in the Falcs column and yours anyway. Now, as I mentioned in by post on D Leds blog . . . .I hope after this week the Falcons have the same record as you!! Since you picked the Pack to win:) If the Falcs win . . .which I’m sure you are rooting for . . .both will be 9-2. If Pack wins . . .you are 10-1 in your picks. That sounds like something to take to Vegas!!!
Phattso
November 22nd, 2010
11:47 am
Huge Falcons fan here… ESPN currently has the Falcons ranked #1 on the Power Rankings. And they will likely be there again next week beating St. Lous on the road. Not sure what the commentators are saying, but he “experts” who make the picks have the Falcons at #1. So, I don’t understand the gripe that ESPN doesn’t give the Falcons their props. I still fear Philadelphia and them vs. us would make for a heck of a NFC Championship game.
Ueeediot
November 22nd, 2010
11:47 am
Frame it like this….
If your girlfriend (Mike Vick) told you that “it” didnt happen, it was all lies and “the truth would come out and set you free”….and then you found out she was lying, exactly how long would you have kept her around?
Remember, Vick sat in Blank’s office and denied everything. And this isnt the local police its the feds (with a 98% conviction rate). Then you fail a drug screen while in pre trial release. (in other words…you KNEW a drug screen was coming) then you lie to Blank AGAIN.
If you are sympathizing with Vick, then I suspect you dont mind being lied to, misled, and cheated on.
As you continue to point out Vicks success, remember you are validating what everyone on this blog, in this newspaper, and in this town said about him for years….protect the football, stay in the pocket, follow your progression and you will be successful.
Its about dam time that guy became the QB he should have been 6 years ago.
ATLDIRTYBIRDS78
November 22nd, 2010
11:48 am
Well I think the Falcons can beat anyone but they gotta learn to play a full 4qtrs of football from the D# O# & Special Teams and so far they have not done this our Special Teams has looked awful and our 2dary still needs huge improvement Grimes makes some good plays yes but its the 14 he screws up that kills us but if we can do as I said we can beat the Packers & Eagles if not then no way
Once "Recent" Reader
November 22nd, 2010
11:52 am
If this shows up twice . . . sorry. Got a duplicate statement warning for double clicking but do not see my message. Here it goes again! Mark B. I had to look in the archives for your August game-by-game predictions for Falcs. I’m impressed . .. .9-1 thus far. Earlier I actually posted on D-Leds blog of Peele telling him to give you congrats. That August blog was filled with many who “strongly” disagreed with your 12-4 assessment, and particularly certain game predictions. Except for the Pittsburgh game, you are on the money. Now I’ll add an * next to the Bucs game. You picked the correct winner . ..but I think you as well as the rest of us are very suprised by the Bucs . . as you had it a blow out. (You can go in and amend the score for the next Bucs game:) ) Now, I hope at the end of this week your prediction record is 9-2 as well as the Falcs . .. ..since your pick was the Pack to win. Still . .. .9-2 or 10-1 . .. ..you could take it to Vegas and do very well . . … didn’t check how it all worked with the spreads though!
Rick Sund
November 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
Does it matter. Continue to win games and people will respect you. You must be bored Mark.
SID
November 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
105st
Dirty Jacket
November 22nd, 2010
11:56 am
This article by the same guy who just two weeks ago was bashing the Falcons? Bradley…you are a joke.
Ivan
November 22nd, 2010
11:56 am
The Falcons could go 16-0 with a schedule that had them play every game on the road, out doors, in the snow, and ESPN would still do their 24 hour broadcast of Brett Favre asking him questions about the Dallas Cowboys.
tim
November 22nd, 2010
11:56 am
Peter King is always full of crap. On Sunday Night Football in America he ALWAYS says…..I just got off the phone with ****, I just talked to ****, After the game **** called me, blah, blah blah. FULL of Crap!
Tweets that mention So the Falcons sit atop the NFC? Alert ESPN and Peter King | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 22nd, 2010
11:57 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by NFL Reflector, Steven Godfrey. Steven Godfrey said: This is just terrible – I absolutely agree with a reasonably thought out column by Mark Bradley. I know, I know. http://bit.ly/csgItn [...]
Once "Recent" Reader
November 22nd, 2010
11:58 am
Actually went back and checked your scores along with the W/L predictions. Pretty darn good there . . …you seemed to call most of the close games correctly . . ..pretty scary on the Saints score . ..you had 26-24 Falcs, final 27-24 Falcs. That one is obviously the most impressive as I’m sure most Falcon fans saw that away game as a strong potential loss at the beginning of the year.
O.G. Falcon Fan
November 22nd, 2010
11:58 am
Where was Harry Douglas yesterday?? Was he inactive because he has been ineffective? Fin got the start over him. Then Spoon was in the game late? What’s up with that?
Ackshun
November 22nd, 2010
11:59 am
1 win away from 3 straight winning seasons. 8-2 and our best football is still in front of us. Feeling pretty good about these birds.
Sports Review
November 22nd, 2010
12:00 pm
[...] So the Falcons sit atop the NFC? Alert ESPN and Peter King – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blo… [...]
Willy
November 22nd, 2010
12:01 pm
@ Dirty Jacket. I don’t remember Bradley ever bashing the Falcons, unless you’re referring to the article where he questioned if they knew how good they are.
Maybe you’re thinking about one of those 45 million Bulldog pieces he writes each week.
Ryder
November 22nd, 2010
12:02 pm
What people have to understand is that the media likes to go to teams that have the “excitement” factor. Aaron Rodgers is considered the league’s best QB because he throws the ball a lot and people tend to like passing offenses. Vick has the excitement factor which the media mistakes as making them dangerous, especially after what happened in DC a week ago.
Since Atlanta has more of a run first offense and Matt Ryan doesn’t throw the ball for 500 yards every game, he isn’t considered a great QB. That should tell you more about the poor media perception than it does about Atlanta.
Ross
November 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
Don Banks is OK but the rest of the whole crowd are a bunch of pussbags who should be writing for GQ or Cosmopolitan. The commentary shows are all unwatchable, other than Deoin, Irvin, and Mariucci. Peter King is puss 0, what a tool!
PreyDawg
November 22nd, 2010
12:06 pm
@DanWeiner- Earth to Dan…I dont care if we are #1 in the power rankings. Bradley nailed it. We get ZERO respect on ESPN RAdio or TV. I do watch and we can barely get a mention. Tampa has had three times the press that we have had.
Tampa Gator. I could not disagree more. Playing Vick in the playoffs would be a nightmare. I dont want to go to a home playoff game and hear the other team QB being cheered for at the expense of our own team. It happend just last year when I was there and it makes me sick.
I am happy for Vick the person too. But he chose not to be our guy. I will never cheer for him again in our place. I DO NOT want to wait my whole life for an NFC championship game here and then have to endure that CRAP.
DHD
November 22nd, 2010
12:06 pm
What do you win if ESPN says you’re the best? What about Peter King…whoever he is?
The AJC has been running articles for weeks questioning the Falcons. Are they the best? Are they really that good? Guess what? Who gives a flying rip what anybody says. Just win the games and get the trophy. This is not the NCAA.
TR
November 22nd, 2010
12:09 pm
Here you go..http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/32088/power-rankings-revisited-week-11-2
PreyDawg
November 22nd, 2010
12:09 pm
Let me post again since my first apparently got deleted for no reason.
@Dan- are you kidding? We get NO coverage from ESPN I dont care WHAT the power rankings are. The commentators refuse to even MENTION us. PTI makes me want to PUKE. Mike and Mike are not much better.
extremus
November 22nd, 2010
12:10 pm
The Falcons’ meltdown against Philadelphia (which came because of better game preparation by the Eagles as well as being on the road) will very likely not be repeated should the two teams meet in January; I think it will be a much closer contest however it goes, but it could go either way. That first game was an aberration and the Falcons since then have a perfect record.
The Packers come into the Georgia Dome this week so obviously the outcome will affect how the Falcons are perceived by the likes of ESPN and SI. I think this game could go either way but I like the Falcons’ chances playing at home.
Bottom line: any of these three teams could probably beat the other two on any given Sunday, so ranking them is fairly irrelevant. The only thing that will matter in the end is who is left standing after the NFC championship game (and obviously we’d be remiss to leave the Bears, Saints and Buccaneers out of the conversation). The perception by the national media is that the NFC is the weaker conference, but I have a feeling that when all 16 games are played that there will be several very worthy teams with great records headed for the playoffs (and two and maybe even three could come from the NFC South).
For me, it’s absolutely fine if the Falcons continue to “fly under the radar” of the likes of Peter King and the rest; it means they won’t have the target painted so much on their backs week in and week out. But on the other side of the coin, it’s great to see a team with such a chequered history finally gaining not just some swagger but also attaining personal and franchise-level expectations of victory not unlike the Braves had during their big run (that eighth win marked THREE straight .500 or better seasons; keep it going!!!). Make no mistake, these Falcons are learning from past failures and have one common goal in mind: a Superbowl championship in 2010.
Here’s hoping that 32nd pick in the first round of the NFL Draft next year goes to the Atlanta Falcons. Then rest assured the respect will be there both from the national media as well as the entire league.
BooBoo
November 22nd, 2010
12:13 pm
Atlanta played like a rag doll against the Vick led pit bull Eagles. They were good over-achieving doggies that day. No need to strangle them with an electrical cord. That says the Eagles are a better team than the Falcons, frozen in the time of that one Sunday. Still, the Falcons have not proven that can stop Walrus-boy’s Philadelphia teams EVER.
The Falcons play Green Bay to see who is better between those two, for another moment in time.
All talk about who is better is nothing more than Monday morning quarterbacking, best doone in an easy chair, sipping wine, while Vince Young lights your cigars and shines your shoes. Its a venture into the surrealistic world of imaginary dreams, although I hear it is still real life in some places in India, where good ole boys like to conject who is the better cricket club.
In other words, after the Super Bowl is played the world will know who the real number one is. Before then, it does not matter.
JROLL1
November 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
dylan…check the HIGHLITE REELS. MIKE VICK HAS HAD WAY MORE THAN ONE GOOD GAME. FALCONS CANNOT MATCH EAGLES OVERALL TEAM SPEED….WILL BE NICE TO SEE THEM MATCHUP IN THE PLAYOFFS.
papadawg
November 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
All ESPN cares about is their precious NorthEastern teams. I watched ESPN this morning for over an hour and all I saw was reruns over and over of the Jets, Giants, New England games and nothing else so ESPN can kiss my Arse
majordawg
November 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
Great job calling out the team, Mark. This SHOULD provide the team with some bulletin board fodder. I sure hope they get motivated.
But I sort of enjoy the “below the radar” status the Falcons are getting away with. Easier to play the “us against the world” card as a coach.
clay
November 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
Bottom line…I dont see how you can rank a team ahead of the other team ex:philly over atl when atl has a better record. If they had the same record then you put philly over atl, but until then how can anyone put philly over atl….oh, and who cares about every ones prediction…these guys know about as much as I do when making a prediciton.
FrontRow
November 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
Falcons didn’t melt down in Philly; they got robbed. It was funny seeing the Philly fans boo the refs for the cheap shot by #22; a few weeks ago they were cheering when the little smurf #10 got the drive extended on a clean hit by #23.
ESPN is a northeast based “media” outlet catering to the northeast fan. Their “journalists” couldn’t keep their jobs if they didn’t play up the home teams vs. a hillbilly team.
Although your TV most likely does not have a knob, you can change the channel or better yet show up at the game (on time) and support your home team.
Ted M
November 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
Philly is the best team in the conference. The Falcons really need home field advantage in the playoffs.
Just think if the Falcons drafted Clay Matthews, Jr instead of Peria Jerry then we might be the best team. Jerry is starting to look like a bust.
Shawny
November 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
What difference does it make? It is some dudes stupid rankings.
Let it play out and see who is around in late Jan.
htwo0rider
November 22nd, 2010
12:21 pm
Mark,
I’m a huge Falcons Fan, but the Eagles are better. There is no “might make the case” to it. Our Falcons have only beaten them once in the last 8 years, and that was at home. Until they beat Philly, (I hope this year in the NFC Championship game) you can’t possibly argue the Falcons being better.
Ted M
November 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
If the Falcons beat Green Bay they’ll have a great shot at the number 1 seed.
The Eagles and Vick in Atl for the conference championship. That’ll be a great game.l
NoleRick
November 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
I watched ESPN, NFL network and the Sunday night game last night for about 2 hours of highlights, and the Falcons only got about 2min worth coverage. Fat azz Peter King never even mentioned the Falcons in his MMQ.(except #5 in his rankings)
dawgchoker
November 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
For all you Vick lovers I hear there are alot of houses for sale in Philly so move there and buy you a green Vick jersey cause Hes not a Falcon anymore.
htwo0rider
November 22nd, 2010
12:23 pm
Front Row. They did not get “robbed”. They got worked.
FrontRow
November 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
Just like ESPN – Mark MUST write good stuff about the Bulldogs or you all would string him up in a tree.
It’s hard to be objective when you see the noose. Keep up the great work Mark.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
Why would anyone care what the “sports media” thinks..except for members of same said self important media.
I love the Falcons and 8-2 makes me smile even on a monday.
Watching all those pounding hits on the dogkiller last night was pretty sweet, also.
Growler
November 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
Mark & Co.:
Firstly, power ratings are ridiculous. The only one that matters is the one the day after the Super Bowl.
As for Peter King… yeah he writes some interesting things (with a LOT of filler material) but he’s the last person to be predicting anything about the NFL (he had the Panthers in the playoffs, for instance). And like most of the national media, he’s very flavor-of-the-month. So don’t put much stock into anything he says. Like most of these supposed “experts”, he’s usually wrong.
TruthSeeker
November 22nd, 2010
12:27 pm
Peter King has a history of never giving the Falcons much love. He picked us lower than Carolina in the preseason. Now he rates two NFC teams with worse records than the Falcons ahead of them. Mike Smith must have spit in his coffee or something.
I can give ESPN a bit of a pass because they’re all about entertainment. They’re going to beat our skulls in with Michael Vick and Brett Favre 24-7 because they know we as a country are fascinated by those guys.
Jethro
November 22nd, 2010
12:27 pm
Peter King is a Yankee who hates everything Southern except for Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. A good writer who has become too comfortable with cliched stories. It’s like he sneers when he even has to mention them. More celebrity, less sportswriter if you ask me. A shame. He used to be pretty good.
Ted M
November 22nd, 2010
12:27 pm
The Falcons are a lot better then the Jets.
CBBrave
November 22nd, 2010
12:33 pm
you can now update your story! Brad Childress is toast!
yo mama
November 22nd, 2010
12:37 pm
MB correction, the falcons started out 0-1. they won their first game against a 1-0 cardinals. which in fact means the falcons have beaten 4 winning teams(if you are counting in the current record for each game). I believe I am correct! Kudos to me.
Uniform
November 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
Maybe not a national media conspiracy against Atlanta teams, but there’s a subtle bias in favor of northern teams in sports across the board.
Some of it’s downright blatant (Tim McCarver’s attitude toward the Braves for example) but most of ‘em probably don’t even realize they’re doing it.
Supes
November 22nd, 2010
12:39 pm
I guess we’ll see who is better 2nd round of the playoffs when those Eagles come to Atlanta and play us…The Falcons will exercise the dog killer demons that game and move on to the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers.
Supes
November 22nd, 2010
12:39 pm
And Mark, for the record there is a HUGE ESPN anti Atlanta Bias with very few exceptions.
You should know that as a member of the media sir.
Joycee Banicheck
November 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
Here’s the deal with Peter King, getting his blessing is kinda like getting yours when it comes to UGA. Not necessary and a total JYNX. Follow me?
If the Falcons would learn to play a complete game and put teams away when they should they’d be higher than 3 or 4 on “Power Rankings”. Now, if the beat GB a the dome this week, it’ll be hard for them to look past these guys, not that I want the attention on the Birds. My philosophy is this, win the dam* Super Bowl then we’ll be the only team they talk about. Well, us and whatever team Brett Favre is going to play for. King loves Favre, kinda like how Schultz used to love on Vick.