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
Doc Cheney
November 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
If the score in Phily (w/Kolb @ QB!!) had been a little closer more people would be calling the Falcons the best team in the NFC. I’m a huge fan and a long-time season-ticket holder, and I am perfectly happy with ESPN calling them the third best team in the NFC. I think we will find out who we are next week. It’s more likely that Packers, Falcons, Eagles are all at the top together, but we happen to always get outcoached by Andy Reid. Falcons 31, Green Bay 27.
The bigger issue is why hasn’t Fox changed game time to 4pm instead of 1pm next week??
Also, I have never equivocated in my embarassingly crush-like support of MV7. I believe leaving ATL was a part of the whole experience that led him to grow as a person/player, and I am not mad at anyone about him being cut loose here. Anyone who thinks Joey Harrington should have saved his spot while he was away obviously is not a real Falcons fan.
I cannot stand the idea of MV7 coming back to ATL in a playoff scenario; I was @ the Dome last year for the Phily game, and it made me very uncomfortable. I love my Falcons, but I hate the Vick-haters. I watch every Phily play, and I pull for MV7, but if the day comes when it’s us against him in a playoff game, I would rather sell my tix than get caught up in that riot.
Joycee Banicheck
November 22nd, 2010
12:42 pm
if “they” beat GB…
(Un-) Fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2010
12:48 pm
You can make that “both teams (Dallas and Minnesota) have just fired their coaches”. I’m hearing the Childress firing has just happened.
The Sham
November 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
@ Mark Bradley: AHHH finally a piece I can say I agree with you on! You can finally get your rest knowing that I finally will give you praise. Too many of these polls/rankings are about people’s predictions not about real-time assessments. PK may like GB over the long run, but good call that the Eagles are the best team and we should be #2. Despite the records, they beat us pretty good.
Keep it up and I might just have to read you more often… As long as you quit trying to get CMR fired. That may or may not happen on its own, but I don’t think it’s your job to hasten that process…
44ty
November 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
espn never gives the Falcons or Braves or Hawks much love…Lets let the Falcons continue to fly under the radar.
P. Bull Terrier
November 22nd, 2010
12:53 pm
Move over Tyrone, Joe Tess Fish House wants to join you in the Moron of the Day chair.
Joycee Banicheck
November 22nd, 2010
12:53 pm
Yep
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/109908409.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
74 Dawg
November 22nd, 2010
12:57 pm
Didn’t Tyrone use to write a sports column for the AJC ?
Dr Henry / Augusta
November 22nd, 2010
1:00 pm
Who cares what these so-called experts think?? They all have their head stuck you-know-where while they gush and slobber over Vick, Sanchez, Rogers, Brady, etc. The Falcons are a solid team that has steadily gotten better over the last three seasons and only become exciting when they have to….such as the last minute of a game in which they are trailing. I like our chances the rest of the way and in the playoffs. That doesn’t mean we’ll win but when we do it’s not with flashy qb play, gimmicks, and luck. I only watch ESPN for it’s nascar coverage and only buy one SI a year ( Swimsuit issue )
(Un-) Fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2010
1:00 pm
“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.”
I wouldn’t put it that forcefully, Mark. For me, it’s clear the Eagles are head and shoulders above the Falcons, as we’ve still got this pesky little problem of the Falcons getting lost with the luggage any time they travel to the Northeast. I bet you any money you put this current Falcons team on the field right now against Brady in Foxboro and the Falcons still struggle to lose 34 – 17. And I don’t know what explains that really. Do you?
“What’s that ? You say the Packers will play here this Sunday? How intriguing. And how convenient.”
Convenient, indeed. This game will tell a LOT. That much is for sure.
Jesse Stone
November 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
This is the same Peter King that put Devone Bess on his FIRST TEAM mid-season all-pro team. This is the same Peter King that said the Panthers would be in the playoffs this year and Matt Moore would join the upper echelon of NFL QBs. His word means nothing to me.
Ramguy
November 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
Are the Falcons the best team in the NFC? I don’t know and I can’t say who is. The thing about that is Peter King and ESPN doesn’t know either, no matter what they say. With all their inside information at their disposal, they can’t pick games any better than the average fan.
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
November 22nd, 2010
1:07 pm
Regarding the Philly debacle, every team has the potential for a game like that. What speaks volumes about this Falcons editions is how they got up off the mat from that beat-down and won the next bunch of games. Previous Falcon teams, and some teams in the NFL this year, would have started the folding process when the clock struck 0:00 in Philly. This team is better than most in the NFC precisely because they didn’t fold. Turned that game into just a road bump.
Philly, Atlanta, Green Bay – the top three. Philly gets the nod because of that win. Bring them to the Dome for the NFC championship and let’s see who comes out on top.
Jerome
November 22nd, 2010
1:07 pm
The only person that gave Atlanta their props yesterday was Jimmy Johnson on Fox Post Game Show.
clay
November 22nd, 2010
1:08 pm
Who cares about being noticed or getting more recognition. As long as Atl keeps doing what they have been doing thats all that matters. Who cares about big plays or any of that. Just get the “W” at the end of the day.
Ruffled feathers
November 22nd, 2010
1:09 pm
I don’t get too excited nor depressed about the various rankings. However, P. King found nothing about the Falcons that was worthy enough to discuss in his six page article. He slipped in a token comment about Matt Ryan while posting his “fine fifteen”, but otherwise showed no interest in the progress of the team with the league’s best record.
Oh, well. Just win, baby.
Mike
November 22nd, 2010
1:10 pm
One-Hundred and Twenty-Second!
GregKennesaw
November 22nd, 2010
1:11 pm
Isn’t htis the same Peter King that picked carolina to win the NFC Sout this year?
@Tyrone Exactly how did the Falcon’s organization mistreat Vick, Didn’t they make him the highest paid player in the NFL? Even Vick has admitted that he didn’t give 100% while here. He went to prison for 2 years, that’s not the falcons fault, that’s all on Vick. Did you expect Blank to start Redman for 2 years, waiting on Vick to return, if the NFL even would let him return.
The only ranking that matters!
November 22nd, 2010
1:11 pm
The last team standing on Super Bowl Sunday!
The only ranking that matters!
November 22nd, 2010
1:13 pm
Just ask the 16-0 New England Patriots and the New York Giants
GregKennesaw
November 22nd, 2010
1:16 pm
The falcons have beat some good teams this year. Bucs, Aints, Ravens. They lost a close one to the Steelers in OT, got man-handled by the Eagles… so now we have the packers coming into town. Who’s the best team in the NFC? The best team is either (bears, packers, saints, falcons, eagles, giants, or bucs). We’ll know in Dec. If falcons defense was playing better, then hands down, I would say they’re the best.
The only ranking that matters!
November 22nd, 2010
1:17 pm
GO FALCONS, see ya, back to work.
(Un-) Fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2010
1:18 pm
Jerome: “The only person that gave Atlanta their props yesterday was Jimmy Johnson on Fox Post Game Show.”
Actually Chris Collinsworth put in a strong word to Al Michaels’ oversight during the Eagles game last night.
Terrance the Terrible
November 22nd, 2010
1:20 pm
Ima bust out my ATL-Vick jersey for the NFC championship game. Ima cheer for my Falcons like I always do. And when some punk from Forsyth County wants to start smack about my jersey, Ima hit him with my stun gun. No joke.
(Un-) Fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2010
1:25 pm
Jerome: “The only person that gave Atlanta their props yesterday was Jimmy Johnson on Fox Post Game Show.”
Actually Chris Collinsworth spoke up for the Falcons to Al Michaels during the Eagles game last night.
Aint too Proud
November 22nd, 2010
1:26 pm
The Saints lost to AZ and Cleveland (@home). Reggie Bush is a wimp. Sean Payton wears eye makeup. Without a running game, they are in the middle of the pack in a soft NFC.
(Un-) Fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2010
1:26 pm
Am I blocked for some reason?
jtdawg
November 22nd, 2010
1:31 pm
I can’t believe there’s a deuche bag on here claiming the Falcons mistreaded Mik Vick!!??!!??
WFT is that crap? Stabbed him in the back??? Really???? I am surprised these people are smart enough to know how to use a keyboard….
85' Bears
November 22nd, 2010
1:31 pm
What going on with all this North/South stuff? The same people (ESPN) who are supposedly biased towards the North loves the SEC and its football. ESPN loves stars and stories (it is a TV network for goodness sake) so of course it will choose the teams with the more prominent stars. Matt Ryan is a good quarterback, but he ain’t better than Aaron Rodgers. Michael Vick is doing things this year that most people thought he can never do (you know, pass from the pocket and read defenses). The Eagles also beat the Falcons head to head so they get a nod above the Dirty Birds on that fact alone. At least the Falcons are in the conversation. The Bears are 7-3, and those same experts still expect them to fail. When we beat Philly next week, maybe we might start getting respect.
Vu Du Huong
November 22nd, 2010
1:31 pm
Although I’m a really big falcons fan, I’d have to wager on the Eagles who I think will take it all this season.
Cheesehead
November 22nd, 2010
1:32 pm
The Packers DEFENSE is the difference! I pull for the Falcons but Packers are better on defense and I am a Cheesehead. This will be a tough weekend for me! A Tie??
Free Mike Vick
November 22nd, 2010
1:33 pm
Gloat all U want Flacon fans. Vick will exach his revenge in the NFC championship game in Atlanta. He will make Mr Blanks regret he and the Falcons turned there backs on him!
Mark my words!
85' Bears
November 22nd, 2010
1:35 pm
The Falcons go to the Superbowl if they get home field. If they have to play any game outside the Dome however, it gonna be a long flight back home.
Hello
November 22nd, 2010
1:38 pm
Wow another crap article bradley. Why do you get paid again? Who cares where they are ranked. Just win baby.
SawThat1nce
November 22nd, 2010
1:39 pm
I really don’t care what espn of si have to say about anything.
The Falcons are one of the best teams and organizations in the NFL.
And the thing is, that they are getting better every week, win of lose.
Hello
November 22nd, 2010
1:39 pm
Free Mike Vick
Half our fans still wear Mike Vick jerseys so they would probably be happy with that. They also call into radio shows and yell and say how good Mike Vick is like we ran him out of town or something. HE WENT TO JAIL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Its not like AB cut him from the team.
SawThat1nce
November 22nd, 2010
1:40 pm
GEAUX FALCONS!! OUR TIME!!
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:40 pm
What is strange is that the Falcons were rated #1 in several major polls last week, including ESPN.
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:41 pm
And how many talking heads called the STL game a trap game and picked STL to win due to their great home record?
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:42 pm
Going back farther, most talking heads picked the Ravens.
Hindu Elvis Pimp
November 22nd, 2010
1:43 pm
So if the Falcons are not ranked number 1 they will not get an invite to a BCS bowl?
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:44 pm
I say, whatever…these Falcons don’t need polls and opinions to validate their success. The relatively easy win at STL (without Abraham even) shows they mean business.
Great Falconi
November 22nd, 2010
1:44 pm
Ahhh, a Power Rankings-related blog.
This is lazy, sports talk radio-style crap.
Then again, I suppose that’s what the Internet really is now.
Free Mike Vick
November 22nd, 2010
1:45 pm
Mr Blanks did turn his back on Vick. He could have resigned him after he got out of jail. Imagine how good the Falcons would be now. Ryan is good, but Vick is great.
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:45 pm
The offense is perhaps the most balanced and solid in the NFL and is SB worthy…just imagine if Norwood could stay healthy.
GregKennesaw
November 22nd, 2010
1:45 pm
There is no reasoning with the Vick supporters, they want vick to get his “revenge”on the falcons, only Vick himself said last week that he regretted how he treated the falcons and Mr. Blank. People like “free mike vick” and Tyrone, there is no logical rational reason they think the way they do, I’m with you, it’s amazing they know how to post.
Look the vick supports are upset because Blank brought in a new coach, GM, OC,DC, and QB and they all have one thing in common. that and the fact they’re 8-2. LMAO!
GregKennesaw
November 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
all you haters! the falcons have the best record in the NFC! 8-2 baby! hate all you want
Eric C.
November 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
The Giants showed that Vick can still get very rattled under pressure…and that his receivers can drop easy throws.
SawThat1nce
November 22nd, 2010
1:49 pm
Free Mike Vick@1;45…….l take Ryan anyday. He has more intelligence.
Jesse Stone
November 22nd, 2010
1:50 pm
Ray Childress is gone. Next on the chopping block…Marvin Lewis