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
BC
November 22nd, 2010
5:13 pm
If ESPN didn’t have an obvious bias of sports, why would they continually show one Sportscenter Patriots/Colts highlights and talk about every time Mark Sanchez throws a touchdown as opposed to talking about the only 3 teams in the league who are 8-2? Yeah, that third team, they’re the Falcons, and they’re legit. Did anyone else see the stats of how the Falcons play their game during the Rams game? They run the lock out by being EFFICIENT on offense (especially on 3rd down). When you have Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, or Tony Gonzalez to go to for sure hands on a 3rd down (and at worst, Michael Koenen punting it if you don’t convert), you have a legit offense and team. They may not be as flashy or a marquee “big play” team, but they are the most effiecient team in the NFL on both offense and defense (no one talks about how great our secondary has become with the pass rush and Dunta Robinson/Grimes playing corner). They don’t have all the big names, but the Falcons can go VERY far this year!!
truth
November 22nd, 2010
5:13 pm
8-2 enough said Mediocre. BWAA HA HA!!!!!!
BC
November 22nd, 2010
5:14 pm
*clock
PEGGY
November 22nd, 2010
5:23 pm
From the #1 Packer fan in the south who have watched every snap since week 1……
The Packers are NOT the same team from the 1st half of the season. I don’t know where this defense came from. By week 3 the Packers were the most banged up team in the NFL with too many starters out. In the last 4 weeks these replacements have shown out & cost pro bowl veterans too be waived. My Clay Mathew jersey & row 15 tickets are in the mail. I will see u good folks Sunday.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
5:34 pm
I’m not a pro football fan, they lost me during the strike, (but I’m a HUGE College football fan). But I AM an Atlanta fan. I try to watch every Falcon, Hawks, Braves game I can. Although I watch a larger percent of the Falcon just because there are fewer games. If Atlanta ain’t playing, I’m not watching. So I really can’t comment on “who’s better” based on other teams performances that I haven’t seen.
I’m proud of our Falcons. As someone pointed out earlier, they are still “building” this team. Smith said they haven’t played a complete game of 60 minutes yet. Just imagine what happens when they do. Hopefully they will be peaking when the play offs come.
Despite the trash talk I’ve read by non-Falcon fans, the bottom line is this: Good teams FIND a way to win. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it still goes in the win column. We lost to the Stealers and to Philly (ouch that Philly loss was an UGLY game). The Stealers didn’t have their resident rapist playing when we played them. We won’t see the Stealers again this year, but there is a great chance we’ll see Philly again. I hope we’ll be ready this time because when we see them again it’s go forward or go home time. The Packers issue will be settled for good come Sunday one way or the other, I don’t think we’ll see them again. (why do I have this juvenile impulse to call them the Fudge Packers lol).
Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait until Sunday to see the game. I wish some kind soul would give me a ticket……………..
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
5:34 pm
Got an extra ticket Peggy?
Neutral Fan
November 22nd, 2010
5:36 pm
A couple of responses to my earlier post that the Eagles are better than the Falcons because the Eagles won that game were:
The Packers beat the Eagles. That statement being correct
must mean that the Packers are also better than the Falcons? Fortunately we will not know until Sunday night.
My slip up….I`m really not neutral. Go Falcons
Seen
November 22nd, 2010
5:37 pm
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay has been moved to 4:15pm……………..
B
November 22nd, 2010
5:39 pm
I am about to end this Vick Lying to Arthur stuff. If anyone on this blog never lied to their boss about anything I got a million dollars for you. I do not have to tell my boss the truth about my personal nor do I want him to know. So stop saying he lied that holds no weight b/c everyone lies to their boss.
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
5:43 pm
@ Jay
Not true. We beat the Eagles 14-10 in 2005 on a Monday Night game.
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
5:44 pm
you might be a scumbag lying POS B but don’t try to paint everyone else with your liar brush. I know it makes you feel better when you cheat steal and lie to say “Everyone else does it” but everyone else does NOT do it you scumbag.
I’m still happy for Vick and the success he’s having. Shame he had to go to jail to learn what you haven’t learned, and that’s that character and hard work are essential. When you couple the raw talent that man has with hard work and character, it creates a virtually unstoppable force.
Mediocre NFL Teams
November 22nd, 2010
5:47 pm
Hey @ truth check your full schedule even with those stats you have not played against, but two solid QBs all season ! Drew Brees & Joe Flacco , & Carson Palmer does not count because he is playing more like Jake Delhomme this year ! In case you forgot here is the list.
1) Dennis Dixon L 236 yds
Josh Freeman W 189 yds
2) Derrick Anderson & Max Hall W 164 yds
3) Drew Brees W 365 yds
4) Alex Smith W 188 yds
5) Seneca Wallace & Jake Delhomme W 246 yds
6) Kelvin Kolb L 326 yds
7) Carson Palmer W 416 yds
9) Joe Flacco W 215 yds
10) Sam Bradley W 233 yds
Yes @ truth with all these great QBs the Falcons have faced this season, it’s easy to see why they are ranked 24th against the pass HaHaHaHaHaHa ! 244.2 yds a game gimme a break. Superbowl what ?
todd
November 22nd, 2010
5:48 pm
Because Atlanta treated Michael Vick so bad when he was here, this lead him to take out his frustrations on the Pittbulls. But the citizens of Atlanta only have themselves to blame for this. I mean people don’t understand the pressure that comes along with $115 million dollars.
Seriously, has Michael Vick ever said anything intelligent in an interview ever? I cringe every time he speaks. I’m just glad he doesn’t represent us anymore- and I don’t care if he wins the Superbowl. Call me a hater, whatever, I don’t care. I honestly don’t care because I would rather lose with what we have than win with Vick. Teams like the Bengals, Cowboys, and Eagles will always sell their souls to win.
I don’t fear Vick but the Falcons staff better come with a better game plan if we get another crack at the Eagles. I think Vick has flaws that can be exposed in the playoffs. When Vick is pressured he makes mistakes-fumbled twice against the Giants because he still hasn’t figured out how to tuck the ball away, missed wide open WR’s on a number of occassions. Also noticed a lot of dropped balls by the Eagles WRs. Not sure if this was just one game or if its because Vick doesn’t throw an easy ball to catch. He puts a lot of heat on it and when he’s slightly off it makes it tough to catch. The Giants win that game if Manning doesn’t fumble without even being contacted by a defender.
VP Dick Chainey
November 22nd, 2010
5:49 pm
Much better play calling Mularkey. Keep letting Matty Ice change plays at the line of scrimmage, seems to work a very high percentage of the time.
Sid
November 22nd, 2010
5:52 pm
Falcons Offense
PTS 25.6 (6th) YDS 371.4 (7th) PASS YDS 242.4 (13th)
RUSH YDS 129.0 (7th)
Green Bay Offense
PTS 25.2 (8th) YDS 347.6 (13th) PASS YDS 247.1 (11th)
RUSH YDS 100.5 (19th)
Falcons Defense
PTS 19.2 (7th) YDS 339.5 (17th) PASS YDS 244.1 (24th)
RUSH YDS 95.4 (6th)
Green Bay Defense
PTS 14.6 (2nd) YDS 323.4 (12th) PASS YDS 211.3 (11th)
RUSH YDS 112.1 (18th)
***************************************************
Adrian Peterson gained 72 yards Sunday against Green Bay but that says little when you are playing out of a hole. Doubt we will get #55 back for this game, given recent history. The Packers had 70 yards rushing total if you take away Rogers 3 runs. The Packers only had one sack and one interception…………31-3 wasn’t so much Packer domination as it was Viking implosion……!!
We can beat this team……….
Sid
November 22nd, 2010
5:53 pm
todd
November 22nd, 2010
5:48 pm
Because Atlanta treated Michael Vick so bad when he was here, this lead him to take out his frustrations on the Pittbulls.
***********************************
I am sorry, I have to ask………………..ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
5:55 pm
@ mediocre
Not our problem.We play the teams that are on our schedule, you knuckle head. This is our year. Jump off.
dawg4u
November 22nd, 2010
5:56 pm
Mark I would say that the Eagles are the best team in the NFC and the Falcons second and in the AFC, it would be the Pats and the Jets. The key for the Falcons, I think, would be getting home field advantage in the playoffs, especially in the NFC championship game. The scary thing is that Vick is starting to look polished and at the top of his game in every phase of the game and even the way he is responding to the media now. Matt Ryan is improving also. It would be awesome to have a Falcons-Eagles championship game in Atlanta.
JASon
November 22nd, 2010
5:57 pm
There is so much inane, meaningless talk in the sports world. Mark, you should learn how to tune it out like the rest of us.
FilthaVickia
November 22nd, 2010
5:58 pm
Mark, Atlanta needs you and Schultz on ESPN’s Around the Horn TODAY!!!
No love for this city ANYWHERE!!
Bird Droppings II
November 22nd, 2010
6:00 pm
Peggy,
Where are your seats? I’m in section 111, row 6 seat 1. Go Falcons.
realitycheck
November 22nd, 2010
6:00 pm
It is obviously way too early to determine who the best team will be when it’s all said and done. The Falcons currently have the NFC’s best record but they have some very talented teams right on their tail. The Falcons have an opportunity to potentially have a reasonable chance to really do something this season. My reasons why: 1. There is no clear cut dominant team in either league. 2. The Falcons have been a very healthy team so far this year with key starters in there most all of the time. 3. The schedule has been friendly with games in cold weather cities all finished by mid Oct. 4. Plus 10 in the .turnover battle has been a big plus and certainly something that can’t be counted on every season. 5. Very good fortune at the end of several close games especially against the Saints and 49ers. In other words, the good fortune the Falcons have enjoyed this season so far will not last season to season. The Falcons need to capitalize on their opportunity this season, because in this league you never know how long it might be before another real chance to do something will present itself. Jerry Jones said last summer that the most disappointing thing about last year(Cowboys)was that we were the healthiest team in the league with only one starter missing time. And you can’t count on that for long in this league. Only time will tell what will happen, but it’s fair to say that the Falcons have had more than their share of good luck on many fronts so far this year. We just don’t know how long it will continue.
mattwhite15@yahoo.com
November 22nd, 2010
6:05 pm
People Vick is gone, get over it. I’d take Matt Ryan over vick any day. Ryan Leaf had some good games to but look at him. Vick will fall on his face. This Vick thing is becoming a race issue, which is sad! I don’t care if he is purple. I have hate for someone that screwed the Falcons. He never gave it 100% here, lied to Mr. Blank and all of the Falcons fans. Good for him for paying the price of killing dogs. When a child molester does his time in jail should we all forgive and forget? Pats v. Falcons-Superbowl!
Mediocre NFL Teams
November 22nd, 2010
6:06 pm
Sue me @ Bird Droppings ll The only knuckle head around here is Dimitroff for signing Dunta Robinson , instead of Julius Peppers. LoL ,no pass rush means no Superbowl. As far jumping off something you can’t jump off, what you were never on .
Fred
November 22nd, 2010
6:17 pm
@Bradley: LOl I just now looked at the caption for the photo on this blog. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny. Did you pick it and caption it? If so, nice job.
Mr. T r u t h S e r u m
November 22nd, 2010
6:18 pm
The Falcons like the Hawks are going no where. The quarterback is mediocre at best. Hes best play is a hand off. The team revolves around Turner who will be worn out by playoffs season. ESPN is right on. Truth is much of the city doesnt give the falcons any respect regardless of the record. This city is divided since they let go of Vick. So the Falcons can win a super bowl and the city and the sport pages will look the other way…
me too.
Mark Bradley
November 22nd, 2010
6:29 pm
Fred, I must admit that the captions (and the headlines) are entirely my fault. Thanks for asking.
P Rose
November 22nd, 2010
6:34 pm
Anyone catch Vick’s pre-game interview on NBC last night? When asked what was the worst thing about being in prison, he replied, “Just not being able to get out; feeling trapped. I prayed that God would expedite the process so I could get out sooner.” Nice.
espn | How Do I Get Answers ?
November 22nd, 2010
6:40 pm
[...] So the Falcons sit atop the NFC? Alert ESPN and Peter King – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blo… The Falcons have the NFCâs best record. Theyâre 8-2, having won eight of nine. In November alone theyâve 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 … Nov 22, 2010 3:00pm [...]
AtlJack
November 22nd, 2010
6:50 pm
The Falcons are a COMPLETELY different team in the last two weeks than all prior weeks.
They are no longer predictable on offense and no longer run Turner tackle to tackle whether its working or not.
They now employ a complete offense using ALL the receivers instead of only White/ Gongazles.
This team plays solid, winning -non flashy-football like many, many Super Bowl teams have done.
Kudos to the Falcons for changing the limited offense to a complete offense.
Sid
November 22nd, 2010
7:02 pm
Mr. T r u t h S e r u m
November 22nd, 2010
6:18 pm
*************************************
Serum? ……………….I’d say it’s more like you are on the juice!
a.j.
November 22nd, 2010
7:06 pm
PETER KING IS AT BEST AN AVERAGE SPORTS JOURNALIST, HES JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS WHO JUST WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS, PUT TOGETHER A COLUMN, AND ACT LIKE THERE WORD IS GOLD. PETER KING DO YOUR ENTIRE JOB AND QUIT SITTING BACK AND COLLECTING A CHECK.
P.S. LOOK AT THE PACKERS LAST FOUR OPPONENTS AND THE FALCONS LAST FOUR, WAIT WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT JUST HIT LAST ON YOUR REMOTE CONTROLLER AND IT SHOULD BRING YOU RIGHT BACK TO ESPN, YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF INFO.
Falconator
November 22nd, 2010
7:06 pm
As a diehard Falcon fan even I can see that we are having an Auburn-like season. We have caught some breaks, made some of our own luck and did what we have to do to win. What concerns me is that we can’t seem to dominate anyone, but just manage to outplay them. Bottom line, keep winning and fly under the radar screen right into the playoffs where we peak, beat the Eagles and then the Patriots. A long way to go but we got stay healthy and keep making our own luck. BTW, I can’t stand Auburn. Alabama needs to pull that horseshoe enema out for them this Friday!
ATLER (ramblin wreck)
November 22nd, 2010
7:08 pm
Atlanta doesn’t get it’s do because of the redneck attitude that the State holds ( Not Atlanta ). The Southern redneck attitude is the only reason that we don’t get our props. The mainstream media turns it’s nose up on us true open minded ATLiens that don’t think that everything is political.
Sid
November 22nd, 2010
7:08 pm
As we apporach this holiday season I want to take this opportunity to tell everyone on here (yes, even the 10 faces of Seen) that no matter your persuasion, your character or lack thereof, that I truly hope you and yours have a holiday time filled with love and friendship, passion and purity, romance and dreams. And to those of you that obviously do not have any friends I hope your holidays are not as lonely as to what you have become acustomed. As hard as it may seem try and get a life and a little better understanding of the game of football. Go to a shelter, a mission…..volunteer, anything so as that the highlight of your life is to not just spew stupidity.
a.j.
November 22nd, 2010
7:09 pm
PETER KING REMINDS ME OF MY WIFE, HE READS HALF THE RECIPE, USES HALF THE INGREDIENTS, AND THINKS HE CREATED A MASTERPEICE.
Whatever
November 22nd, 2010
7:11 pm
Stop whining. The Falcons got away with some lucky breaks and won some games that they really should have lost. The defense usually tries to give the game away in the fourth quarter.
Whatever
November 22nd, 2010
7:13 pm
..and SI is the same outlet that gave the Braves credit where they didn’t deserve any.
a.j.
November 22nd, 2010
7:18 pm
WHATEVER- GIVE ME FIVE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE NFL THE DIDNT GET A LUCKY BREAK THAT MADE IT TO THE SUPERBOWL OR EVEN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THAT MATTER, AND PLEASE DONT SAY THE SAINTS OF LAST YEAR.
Falcon James
November 22nd, 2010
7:18 pm
at lease lofton knows what everybody else already know. the falcon dont play like champions like philly and saints do. we have the easy road schedule this season. we try too much to give up the game. it only time before it catches up. we need to be more agressive on defence and offence. the other team just having bad luck against us. our rookie look like rookie. our vets look like rookie. the only thing we got is a good kicker. bryant look like rookie too, but he make the kicks we he need to. he will choke before the season over. i honestly think our competition look better than we do in the game they just loose and that good for us. it not good when we loose because it bad for us. Robinson is not real good either. we paid too much money for him cause he cant cover my grandmother. i think the opposite opposing team should target him more if I were them. we have tough schedule coming up. i think if we win a few more game we might still have a chance to make the wildcards but if we loose we might not.
Sid
November 22nd, 2010
7:26 pm
I have got to get off of here but I have one last thing I want to mention………………..the penalty on Roddy White
1st quarter !2-13-ATL 30 (11:55) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 84-R.White to ATL 34 for 4 yards (24-R.Bartell). PENALTY on ATL-84-R.White, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ATL 34.
Roddy, that is something like your friend Michael Vick would do, you cost us 15 yards because all of a sudden your a thug. This team has strong character and what you did was classless. I don’t care what the dude said or did, you have got to control yourself or it could cost us a game, a championship, or a Superbowl. You are not beyond suspension so maybe your head is getting a little full of yourself……………… Get it together Bro.
Chuck
November 22nd, 2010
7:28 pm
So the Falcons beat the Saints without Reggie Bush, and all of sudden people want them to bow down. In order to gain respect, you got to put together wins on the road consistently. If you have to ask this question then you are not studying all factor, just trying to rile up readership.
Whatever
November 22nd, 2010
7:34 pm
Giving up huge leads and a lot of close games…not exciting.
aaa
November 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Markie Mark is right about Vick. He relied solely on talent while he was here and didn’t put in the time to study and get better. If he played anywhere near how he’s playing right now, we would’ve had at least 1 championship.
not MV7
November 22nd, 2010
7:44 pm
Tyrone… what planet are you visiting from? please get yo ass back there. now!
Once "Recent" Reader
November 22nd, 2010
7:49 pm
For the Poster trashing the Falcs pass defense .. .what was it 24th? What also must be considered is that they are #6 against the run. That is VERY important . … it forces the other team to pass. It also allows for Ints! Falcons are #3 in Ints. So that 24th is deceptive. What is not deceptive is that the Falcons dominate time of possession in almost every game by a good margin. Also what is not deceptive is 8-2.
FrontRow
November 22nd, 2010
8:08 pm
How did the Packer defense get so good in the last couple of games? 2 words – Cowboys and Vikings.
2 teams that stink so bad they fired their coach. I guess they think Smitty is about to get fired.
They’re right – Smittys gonna get fired – UP!
rrf
November 22nd, 2010
8:55 pm
Guess 8-2 just isn’t that good enough anymore..sort of like a million dollars isn’t quite good enoughanymore. Falocns will crunch the Pack.
Judas Favre
November 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
to front row
Sure the Pack beat the Vikings and Cowboys, but they also went to New York and shut out the Jets. Only giving up 10 points in the last 3 games is something to pay attention to. This still is the NFL and not college.
techengineer
November 22nd, 2010
8:59 pm
The Falcons need to learn how to run a damn screen!
Eagles and Packers are head and shoulders above Falcons. Sure Falcons have a shot against them in the Dome but no shot whatsoever on the road against either team.