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
Colonel Kurtz
November 22nd, 2010
4:26 pm
What are they gonna say about the Falcons? What are they gonna say? That they was are a good team? That he was are a great team? That they have Super Bowl plans man? That Smitty has wisdom? Bird droppings, man!
D Orlando Bedwetter
November 22nd, 2010
4:27 pm
Cmon over to my blog. I will band you if you talk football but keep you a round if you make fun of othrs.
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
4:27 pm
Falcons will beat the cheese out of the Packers.
True Falcon Fan
November 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
@Obvious — he was a mistake MV7 – “WHY” bring up his existence?? “PERIOD” end of a Falcons chapter — So he went to Lavenworth “he committed the crime” – “he did his time” – so he is NO longer a Falcon — “Forgetaboutit”
GO FALCONS
BeerDawg
November 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
SeenThisB4 is just another smelly New Orleans refugee living off the government dole b/c of the lame “Katrina” sympathy….bet he still lives in one of those white trailers, probably busy frying something to eat using food stamps
inthecellar
November 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
Well Peter can place the Falcons anywhere he wants in his fantasy league. The show is on the field. Now speaking of the plays on the field. Someone with connections please tell ESPN football announcers it is not about them. It is about the game. We need to tell them that every play day!
I love watching the team line up and see how the defense is schemed to attack the offense but you can not see it. Why? Because the ESPN fellows throws up useless charts and comments that only they care about. I know they get millions of dollars to perform so they have to make up anything to portray themselves as an authority. I usually mute the channel but I can not get rid of the charts. One day I will get a chance to tell one of these prima donnas it is ok to talk but stay off the screen. I dont care about you or your stats!!
Keepin it REAL
November 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
Unless the “Birds get home field for the entire playoffs, they have no shot going to Philly, Green Bay, or NY & winning, if they get the 1 seed & play the NFC championship game in the Dome, yes they have a shot at losing the Super Bowl to the AFC champ, otherwise the Dome field advantage will come back to bite them!!!
Packer Backer in ATL
November 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
Neutral fan- Green Bay beat the Eagles
##############################################
“The Eagles started Kevin Kolb from the UFL and came back when Micheal Vick entered the game…they ran out of time”
“Kevin Kolb from the UFL” beat the Falcons.
WeenscaredofGB
November 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
I believe there will be no doubt about who is the best team come this Sunday….
truth
November 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
@ TampaGator….You said “It makes you realize how bad the coaches were in Atlanta when Vick played here….or how unwilling to be coached Vick was….who knows.”
Vick himself said he didn’t try in Atlanta and that he cheated Atlanta, so…….I blame him according to his own words.
GO FALCONS!!!
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
4:31 pm
@ Packer Backer
The Pack got beat by the sorry Redskins.They are not that good. GO PACK GO. NOT!
Rise up !
Matt
November 22nd, 2010
4:31 pm
Does no one remember that Green Bay beat Philly… in Philly… with Vick and Kolb? They stopped Vick on fourth and one? I mean if we are all chatting about what Philly did to Atlanta, it might be nice if one person remembers what Green Bay did to Philly. They’ve also only lost three games, two in ot, one on the last play of regulation.. They are missing ten players, five starters, and are still right here. It’s clear to me that they have more of a case than Mark would lead me to believe.
hiramsaint
November 22nd, 2010
4:32 pm
the falcons are pretty good this year but have 1 decisive win and a whole slew of just squeakin’ by at the last second wins. can you blame them for not ranking you higher. if the refs were honest you’d be6-4 so be happy with where your at and enjoy because next year things can be totally different!
truth
November 22nd, 2010
4:34 pm
The Falcons will cut the cheese this Sunday!!!!!
JerryT
November 22nd, 2010
4:35 pm
@Nuwanda – On the other hand, the loss to the Steelers was in overtime, on the road. One play.
Steve
November 22nd, 2010
4:35 pm
Have you guys ever thought the reason the Falcons don’t get any respect is because they are like all the other Atlanta teams: Thrashers, Braves, and Hawks. They do well during the regular season, but when the post season arrives they ALL play like high school kids. So in order to earn respect you have to produce during the post season!!!! That’s why the experts don’t show them any love because they know whats going to happen in the post season…..
Goldie
November 22nd, 2010
4:36 pm
ATL Falcons– Rise UP!
JD
November 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
On the CBS pregame show Boomer Esiason said the Falcons would not be able to score on the Rams defense. Wonder what he has been smoking?
Matt
November 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
Packers are 7-1 in games Clay Matthews plays the entire game… Better hope that OL can slow him down…
D Orlando Bedwetter
November 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
Bow ties are cool
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
4:39 pm
@ hiramsaint
The Aints luck has ran out. They are not even in the conversation. Go back to your hole. Go Falcons.
Packer Backer in ATL
November 22nd, 2010
4:39 pm
“@ Packer Backer
The Pack got beat by the sorry Redskins.They are not that good. GO PACK GO. NOT!
Rise up !”
Yeah, we had to take that mulligan. But considering that we lost three games by a total of 9 points with 5 starters and 10 total players on IR, I’d say that we are pretty good.
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
November 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
BE LOUD, Falcons Fans, BE LOUD!!!
Go Falcons!
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
Matty Ice is unbeatable at home.The only game Matt lost was in 2007 against the Broncos when Roddy dropped the potential winning touchdown.
Matt
November 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
Fans will be loud on Sunday, the only problem is they will be yelling “Go Pack Go!” Don’t kid yourself when it comes to an Atlanta crowd…
The AintHATER
November 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
isn’t that how the ain’ts got to the superbowl there year, squeaked hard earned victories, man these saints, they will not make the playoffs, Phi, NYG GB Stl Atl TB…………..Sorry Chi and NO……..no PO’s for you unless your players are DUI’s
Cheeze heads
November 22nd, 2010
4:44 pm
Matt don’t start that S$%#
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
4:44 pm
Correction, in 2008.
jay
November 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
Neutral fan- Green Bay beat the Eagles
##############################################
“The Eagles started Kevin Kolb from the UFL and came back when Micheal Vick entered the game…they ran out of time”
“Kevin Kolb from the UFL” beat the Falcons.
###########################################
So what does that say about the Falcons…LMAO!!!!!
MF
November 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
PackerBacker-Have some respect and pride in for the city that you live in! Fans or northern teams that live in ATL that turn around and trash all things Atlanta and southern really pi** me off!
Go Falcons!
Cheeze heads
November 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
Did you watch the RAVENS GAME, EVERYTIME THEY AUDIBLED, all position players had to come as close to flacco as they could just to hear the play…….CMO’N MAN the DOME WILL BE ROCKIN THATS WHAT WE DO DOWN HERE, WE ALL THE WAAAY TURRRNT UP….READY FOR THIS ONE……….NO PACK NO, MUSIC NO PACK NO MUSIC NO PACK NO………
icedawg
November 22nd, 2010
4:47 pm
Right now the Eagles look to be the better team, especially the way they previously whipped the Falcons. 31-17 Atlanta is a good team not a great team but there is also parity in the league this year so there really are not any spectacular teams. At this point the Falcons have a good shot at the playoffs.
Matt
November 22nd, 2010
4:47 pm
MF,
I root for the Falcons when it doesn’t concern the Packers and also pull for the other Atlanta teams, although the Thrashers are the only one I claim as my “team,” but I think most transplants are realistic about the fanbase in Atlanta. It’s just not as rabid as other markets, and that’s fine, but don’t deny it.
Bravesbobblehead22
November 22nd, 2010
4:47 pm
The Falcons have not played up to their potential and still are 8-2. When they stop making small mistakes on defense, they will be very good. They almost beat the Steelers, but were over matched by the Eagles. Vick is good, but time will tell how effective he will be in the long term. Remember Vick was hot, cold, lukewarm, but a good defense they keys on him will stop him. Ryan is more poised however time will tell.
truth
November 22nd, 2010
4:47 pm
hiram…..hadn’t seen your name pop up in a while. Next year will be different hiram…a different year but with the same results.
Cheeze heads
November 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
Jay it wasn’t the QB trust, Andy Reid Staff called a great offensive game, I haven’t seen any team come up with an offensive scheme like that one on us yet……..our defense was totally thrown off from film and admitted they were not prepared for what they saw, after that defense lapse………..ask me how are defense is after that loss……….
crackbaby
November 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
Dudn’t matter who thinks what about number 1 now. It only matters at the end of the season and just being the best in the NFC is still very disappointing when you lose that last game. Falcons need to keep working, stay healthy and leave it all on the field every week!
Great second half yesterday!
jay
November 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
ATL Falcons– Rise UP!
##################################
“Rise Up.” Why do they change they’re war cry every year? That’s why Falcons fans are disloyal. No sense of tradition. You dont see the Brave fans doing the Tomahawk Chop one year and then the Harlem Shuffle the next…
ICECOLD
November 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
all that doesn’t even matter.. the only thing that matters is who will win the Superbowl!!! we can be the sorriest playoff team ever.. but the way the falcons play, the run hard and take time off the clock ( control the clock ) this team could win it all..
as long as they stop giving up the big plays, get more sacks from the defensive ends, and stop giving up the big runs outside.. this team will be alright
Mediocre NFL Teams
November 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
None of this power ranking stuff matters, the playoff slots will be decided in the next 4 weeks . Atlanta is not really shutting anyone down, like Green Bay & though Ryan is playing well Rodgers is in the MVP hunt. Philly is the most dagerous team out there just because Vick is an equalizer for his defense.Contenders will find out who they are, because the fight for playoff lives begin this week. Falcons have been getting some breaks here & there, but that pass rush is a joke, especially without Abraham. If Smith gets outcoached again like in Philly, against the Bucs the cat will be out of the bag.Every team has at least 2 losses so every team in the league has some weaknesses.
Packer Backer in ATL
November 22nd, 2010
4:53 pm
MF,
I’m not trashing the Falcons. As I mentioned earlier, I’m happy for their success. I love my adopted home, but I can’t give up a 35 year allegiance to the Packers. Sorry.
If it makes you feel any better, I hope that the Falcons beat the Saints a second time and win their division.
Beyond that, Go Pack Go
DHD
November 22nd, 2010
4:53 pm
What’s the obsession about the Falcons being ranked by anybody? It means NOTHING. You keep obsessing over it with articles every week just like you do with Vick articles. The only thing that matters if we make the playoffs and win our last game. Rankings mean nothing. Write about something else of value.
truth
November 22nd, 2010
4:56 pm
The Falcons are better then EVERYONE!!!
There…that should get some tempers flared.
truth
November 22nd, 2010
4:59 pm
Agree DHD. Every week the “experts” say the Falcons can’t do this ot that but in the end they are left eating crow. With that said I don’t care what people think about this team because their 8-2 record speaks for itself. I guess the next thing we hear is….”well the Falcons can’t win if they can’t breath.” Just wait something will come out this week as to why the Falcons can’t beat the fudge Packers. Why not a reason the fudge packers can’t beat the Falcons? Hmmm…..
jay
November 22nd, 2010
5:00 pm
Jay it wasn’t the QB trust, Andy Reid Staff called a great offensive game, I haven’t seen any team come up with an offensive scheme like that one on us yet……..our defense was totally thrown off from film and admitted they were not prepared for what they saw, after that defense lapse………..ask me how are defense is after that loss……….
#######################################################
If they lined up and played again, at the Dome, the Eagles would still put it on the Falcons. I dont recall the Falcons beating the Eagles one time in the new millenium.
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
5:03 pm
@ packer backer
Why are the Packers the only team in the NFL without cheerleaders?
jay
November 22nd, 2010
5:04 pm
Kroy Beirman is buggin’ if he really did knock up that Deperate Housewife of Atlanta
Mediocre NFL Teams
November 22nd, 2010
5:05 pm
19.2 pts per game thats almost 3 TDs a game on defense. *
18 sacks in 10 games Abraham has 8 of them ranks 24th *
244.1 pass yds. per game on defense ranks 23rd *
With that type of pass defense going against some of these playoff contenders with great QBs in the NFC will not be a walk in the park & don’t forget both Bradley & Freeman, the youngsters, had decent games
Mediocre NFL Teams
November 22nd, 2010
5:12 pm
LoL about Biermann getting that basket case knocked up CMU
htwo0rider
November 22nd, 2010
5:12 pm
Packer Backer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzTyM8ViDo