Is this the best Falcons team ever? It’s definitely in the hunt
Oh, those dirty, dirty Birds: Jamal Anderson and Dan Reeves dance in the Metrdome. (AJC file photo)
Jeff Van Note arrived as a Falcon three years after the Falcons came into being. As a player (All-Pro center) and an announcer (color commentator on the team’s radio broadcasts), he has seen every Falcons team worth seeing and many more that were not. And if you ask the grizzled Van Note if the 2010 installment is the best team this franchise, in its 45th season of operation, has ever known, he says:
“I think that would be correct.”
For all the losing seasons this club has endured, there was one shining moment in January 1999 when play-by-play man Jeff Hullinger could intone, without fear of contraction, “The Falcons are going to the Super Bowl!” And sitting beside Hullinger that day in the Minneapolis Metrodome was one Jeff Van Note, who could be heard yelling over the call as Morten Andersen’s overtime field goal sailed true.
Obvious question: These Falcons are better than those Falcons?
Van Note: “I don’t want to take anything away from the ‘98 team. That team was very well-assembled and had big-play potential … [But] I think this team might be a little better defensively.”
Jessie Tuggle was the middle linebacker on the 1998 Falcons, who finished the regular season 14-2 and who stunned the 15-1 Vikings to take the NFC title. He disagrees, if slightly, with Van Note regarding the respective defenses. Said Tuggle: “We had myself, a Pro Bowler, and [defensive end] Chuck Smith and [cornerback] Ray Buchanan and [safety] Eugene Robinson. Overall we might have had more talent on that side of the ball.”
This should not, however, be taken to mean that Tuggle considers his ‘98 team superior to this bunch. “That was a special team,” he said. “But this team is just as special as we were.”
The numbers are fairly similar. Those Falcons started 5-2 and didn’t lose again until falling to Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII. These Falcons started 4-2 and haven’t lost since. The ‘98 Falcons ranked fourth in the NFL in both points scored and yielded; the 2010 team ranks fifth and seventh, respectively. The ‘98 Falcons were seventh in total offense and eighth in total defense; this team stands ninth and 17th.
One difference: The ‘98 Falcons won only three regular-season games against teams that finished above .500; as Van Note notes, this team has won five.
Van Note: “I think this team is better overall. I’ve always been taught that the goal is to get it to the fourth quarter with a chance to win, and this team does that … They do all the little things: The third-down conversions; the defense that keeps the score down even if it gives up yards; they don’t get penalized; they make good adjustments; they play good field-position football, which is vitally important; it’s a very well-coached team that plays 60 minutes.”
As regards overall excellence in Falcons annals, there aren’t many other points of comparison. The 1980 team finished 12-4 but revealed an inherent defensive weakness in the fourth quarter of its playoff opener against Dallas. The 2004 team went 11-5 and played for the NFC title but did only one thing — run the ball — better than the NFL average. The feel-good 2008 team finished 11-5 despite having the NFL’s ninth-worst defense.
Loading ...The Falcons’ offense in 1998 was predicated on Jamal Anderson thumping — he rushed for 1,846 yards on 410 carries — and Chris Chandler throwing long off play-action. This offense has a better wide receiver in Roddy White, a better tight end in Tony Gonzalez and, believes the former lineman Van Note, a better O-line.
At issue is whether these Falcons can defend at a Super Bowl level. Said Tuggle: “They had questions at linebacker and in the secondary coming into the season, but they’ve put it together. [Cornerback] Brent Grimes — he’s a playmaker. There’s something about winning that breeds confidence. Grimes might be playing above his head at the moment, but he’s making plays.”
That’s another factor, perhaps the biggest factor, shared by the Falcons of 1998 and 2010: The more they played/play, the better they got/get. Tuggle again: “It’s a game of momentum, and right now the Atlanta Falcons have it … It’s tangible. It’s in the body language, the belief in yourself.”
And if these Falcons do grace Super Bowl XLV, they’ll need only dip into team history to learn how not to handle a big event. Recalling Robinson’s arrest for solicitation on Super Bowl eve in Miami, Tuggle laughed and said: “If they get there this time, Arthur [Blank, the owner] might lock every door in the hotel himself.”
By Mark Bradley
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
223 comments Add your comment
Jake
December 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
1980 team was better.
torgo
December 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
I like the list that Tommy posted on the first page. My own top ten is pretty similar:
# 1 = 1980. They choked in the final five minutes and broke our hearts. But they had a whole lot of talent, plus depth as good as any future Falcons team in spite of NFL rosters having only 45 players in those days. I think that most of us who watched both teams first hand would give the 1980 bunch the edge. But it’s admittedly very, very close.
# 2 = 1998. Second best regular season record in the league that year. It’s really tough to put them # 2 instead of # 1, as they won our only conference title and had a better regular season record.
# 3 = 2010. Of course, this one gets the “pending” caveat as a work still in progress. Their postseason performance could put this year’s group over the top.
# 4 = 2004. Surprised? Take another look at this bunch, as they certainly deserve the kudos. They won the division title and were the # 2 seed in the conference. And they lived up to it in the postseason, making it to the NFC Championship game.
New coach Jim Mora and new GM Rich McKay completely rebuilt the secondary and overhauled the o-line on a shoestring budget. The result was a much improved pass defense and a lethal rushing attack.
2004 also deserves a little extra attention for its draft. While many (for example, Jeff Schultz – who thought McKay was responsible for the 2003 draft and refused to include Jason Snelling as part of the 2007 draft class even after the omission was pointed out to him) will disagree, I’ll contend that the 2004 draft was *THE* key first step in the foundation of the current Falcons roster.
It wasn’t just Michael Jenkins. DeAngelo Hall and Matt Schaub were traded for the draft picks that ultimately brought us Justin Blalock, Sam Baker, Garrett Reynolds, Vance Walker, and Harry Douglas.
In other words, 2004 wasn’t just a pretty good team. It was one whose legacy remains strong even six years down the road.
# 5 = 2008. 11-5 record and only a missed Saints field goal (in their season finale against the Panthers) from taking the NFC’s # 2 seed. This team obviously also had a serious impact going forward thanks to a strong draft and the acquisition of Michael Turner, so it deserves a top five berth. But it still had holes (particularly at DT) and made a quick exit from the postseason against an arguably lesser Arizona team, so # 5 is as high as this group gets.
# 6 = 1973. This forgotten team had the franchise on the verge of joining the league’s elite. They were the NFC’s # 5 seed, falling one win short of making the postseason. Alas, a disastrous trade and perhaps the worst draft of all time the following spring set the franchise back several years. (The silver lining of that 1974 collapse: Atlanta was able to draft Steve Bartkowski in the next draft.)
# 7 = 1991. Glanville’s bunch was fun, took the Falcons to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade with a 10-6 regular season record, and topped it off by beating the Saints in an outstanding wild card game.
Unfortunately they were in the midst of the Ken Herock draft years, so sustaining any momentum was well nigh impossible. Even if they hadn’t traded that QB they took in the second round, they were probably doomed thanks to other picks that became spectacular flops – such as Bruce Pickens, taken with the #3 overall pick that same year.
# 8 = 1978. The league’s #5 overall defense was more fun to watch in the late ’70s than the Falcons offense, and this group gave Atlanta its first ever postseason appearance plus a playoff win against Philadelphia in the wild card game.
They’d be higher up the list, but they had an utterly inept running game – featuring that almighty duo of Haskel Stanback and Bubba Bean. (How’s that for a frightening flashback!) Eddie LeBaron quickly addressed this deficiency. The Falcons drafted all three of William Andrews, Lynn Cain and James Mayberry the following spring, setting the stage for 1980.
# 9 = 2002. The youngsters might feel this bunch should be higher thanks to the playoff win over the Packers in Green Bay. But otherwise, this 9-6-1 team really wasn’t all that special. They ranked 14th in total offense and 19th in total defense. They didn’t win the division, and they squeaked into the playoffs as the # 6 seed.
# 10 = 1995. June Jones has his moment in the sun as an NFL coach. This group’s high octane chuck-and-duck offense had a 1000-yard rusher (Ironhead Heyward) and THREE different 1000-yard receivers (Eric Metcalf, Terrance Mathis and Bert Emanuel). But they barely squeaked into the playoffs with a 9-7 record, edging out the Chicago Bears for the third and final wild card spot – where the Packers promptly stomped them by a 37-20 score.
And even that was, of course, too good to be true. Ken Herock delivered a typical subpar Falcons draft that year and gave up the team’s first two picks of 1996 in trades – the first rounder as the last component of the Jeff George trade, and the second rounder to acquire safety Patrick Bates.
The team went 3-13 in 1996, and Jeff George and June Jones had their famous spat on national television. George was waived, Jones was fired, Herock was ousted, and Bates was arrested – all before the 1997 draft.
Honorable mention = 2009. It’s our only other winning season in franchise history. Sad but true.
Joe Brown
December 17th, 2010
4:21 pm
F Danny White!
GO Falcons!
WE DAT!
reebok
December 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
I think the 1998 team was maybe a little better overall, but there’s no comparison at QB. Matty Ice is far better than Crystal Chandler.
SawThat1nce
December 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
The 1980 team was a great team. They made a mistake in the playoffs when they knocked out Staubach. But I think that the Cowboys Dline and Oline dominated our teams couterparts to them in the 4th qt., and were the difference in that game.
The 1998 team was good, but in the NFC Championship game, the Vikings coach lost that game for them with his play calling. The Vikings could have easily beaten the Falcons, if Grant(think that was his name) had not gone too conservative.
This team is by far the best team the Falcons have ever had, even if they were not to make it to the SB this year. This organization’s future is very bright.
bigdawg
December 17th, 2010
4:32 pm
BTW, until last month the last time the Falcons and Hawks had simultaneous five-game winning streaks was 1980!
Now:
Ryan vs. Chandler: Ryan
White vs. Terence Mathis: White
Turner vs. Jams: I gotta take Turner b/c Jams had one great year and was “poof” gone!
Gonzalez vs. Crumpler: No contest.
O-line vs. 1998 O-line: 2010 better, faster, meaner!
2010 is the better team b/c we know they won’t fold after this year as did the 80 and 98 teams.
GO BIRDS!
December 17th, 2010
4:33 pm
Joe Tess Fish House
December 17th, 2010
10:28 am
Busts? Really? Huffing gas is bad for you.
GO BIRDS!
December 17th, 2010
4:36 pm
@ sawthatince
“They made a mistake in the playoffs when they knocked out Staubach.” His last year was 1979. ????
Dwayne C
December 17th, 2010
4:49 pm
As an Atlanta Falcons fan who has watched this team for over forty years I was devastated when the 1980 team, the consensus top team in the NFL that year, lost at home to Dallas. That loss seemed to send this team into oblivion for an entire decade.
The difference between now and the past is we have good football people at head coach and GM in Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff. Gone are the days when this team had buffoons like Jerry Glanville as head coach and Ken Herock as GM.
The Birds may never win a SB but at least they’ll contend for the playoffs often with their current front office which is a welcome change from having a decent year and playoff appearance once or twice per decade in the past.
Bird Droppings II
December 17th, 2010
4:50 pm
Lets’ wait and rank em in February!
extremus
December 17th, 2010
4:55 pm
While accolades should obviously wait until the outcome of the season is decided, I guess at the moment the 2010 Falcons are the best team in franchise history. They still have issues on the defensive side of the ball and are maybe one extra solid WR (though Harry Douglas looked good again against the Panthers) from putting together a truly explosive offense. But from front management to players, this Falcons team is built with more stability, following the 2000s Patriots model that Thomas Dimitroff learned while with New England. That’s why I give this year’s team the edge for now; I think if guys stay healthy and continue to improve, the Atlanta Falcons will become a perennial playoff and Superbowl contender for years to come, not just another one-shot wonder like the 1980 12-4 team or the ‘98 14-2 team, both of which had disastrous seasons the year afterward (the key blow for the latter the injury to a single player, Jamaal Anderson).
Hopefully all of this Superbowl talk won’t come back to hurt this team or once again leave the fans deflated and disappointed. But I like Mike Smith’s even-keeled, focused approach to each and every game; I don’t think he’ll allow a let-down against Seattle in a critical matchup for our home field hopes. Again, stability and personnel with good heads on their shoulders is key. Just play each game to win and overlook NO ONE, and hopefully the Falcons will be able to bring the first of several Lombardi Trophies home to Atlanta this February!
GO FALCONS!!!!
pOAd's friend
December 17th, 2010
5:19 pm
Eric B
Tommy Nobis don’t need no Falcon Hall of Fame. He is on St. Peters SHORT LIST at the Pearly Gates.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 17th, 2010
5:28 pm
I ahd a Danny White Doll on a stick. He was hanging about 10 inches from the end of the stick on a Rope. I used that doll like a Bolo Ball to a Paddle. That game sucked. The weather was bad and PEOPLE want an open stadium? HHAHAHAHA great Team, Great Game, Lousy Conditions. Hampton, Ga lost the Season Ending NASCAR race because of our WEATHER. You people want an open-air stadium?
5150 P.O.A.D
December 17th, 2010
5:30 pm
I have a FRIEND? WOW thanks. You LIKE ME!!! You Really LIKE ME!!! Thanks!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2010
5:30 pm
Let’s see them get to a Super Bowl before we put them ahead of the 1998 team. That’s still the best of my lifetime.
Greg Mendel
December 17th, 2010
5:38 pm
The 1980 and 1998 teams weren’t exactly flukes, but they felt that way to me, because they represented the endless years of inconsistency that plagued the Falcons until the Smiths finally let go. There’s no question the 1980 team was exciting and good. I was thrilled the ‘98 Falcons made it to the SB, but wasn’t a bit surprised at the outcome.
I think the 2010 Falcons are capable of getting to the SB, legitimately. I don’t think they can win it this season. They’ve made it to 11 – 2 with talent, coaching, effort, and confidence. I just think they’re a couple of players away from being as “complete” as they need and plan to be.
Still…
How’s Matt Bryant feeling?
pOAd's friend
December 17th, 2010
5:39 pm
Slow down dude. I get your passion, but You do go OVER the line. I am Sure you like TECH, but you hit almost every other NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, and SEC team prety hard. You can make fun without be so “MEAN”. You have said some Racists or CLOSE to Racists things. In this Holiday Season please Respect the true hart of College sports. These are Young Men that could be FIGHTING for or DEFENDING OUR country. The Young Men we are talking about could be doing a lot worse.
Paddy
December 17th, 2010
5:57 pm
Joe Tess… you are a liar! Get off this blog. You hate the Falcons for not signing Owens. What a nice job he has done for the Bengals. Go away, we don’t need your kind around here. Root for your own team and leave us alone you Maroon!
GaCracker
December 17th, 2010
6:17 pm
It’s definely the one which makes fewer errors (turnovers, penalized team, and has the most consistent QB.
Bravesfan79
December 17th, 2010
6:19 pm
Jamal Anderson of 98 was a BEAST! Id take him over Turner anyday. But besides that, you gotta love this 2010 team.
Bravesfan79
December 17th, 2010
6:21 pm
Someone dissed the Falcons for not signing that Idiot TO? What a moron. Him and Randy Moss are both washed up has-beens.
MountainFalcon
December 17th, 2010
6:26 pm
JoeTess ur childish postings have gone beyond boring, I challenge MB to ban your stupid azz from his blogs. These Falcons have heart and a whole lot of. We won’t stop til we make the big dance.
GO BIRDS!!!
TODD BARNETT
December 17th, 2010
6:49 pm
I THINK THIS YEARS TEAM IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN IN ATLANTA.THESE MEN PLAY LIKE THEY WANT IT ALL.I BELIEVER THIS IS THE BEST IN PTO FOOTBALL
CanThinkForMyself
December 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
‘I don’t think the defense is quite up to the standard of 98 yet. I do think they are becoming better. I had no idea that Abe was 3rd in the NFL with 11 sacks. The Linebackers are youthful for the most part (sorry Mike Pete) but they are making plays. The Secondary is still a little young at safety, but the corners are every bit as good as Ray Buchannan and company. They tackle very well at the CB position. The offense isn’t close to being as explosive, but they move the chains, one of the biggest assets is keeping the Falcon defense rested on the sidelines. The by far best part of this year is that they are playing fundamentally sound football and the ceiling of this group is ridiculously high. They are still building this team and they are winning tough close games. Love this Falcons team.’ YEAH, BABY, YOU SAID IT ALL!
tell it like it is
December 17th, 2010
7:01 pm
You don’t hear much about the Falcons on the National media as being one of the best teams at 11-2, wonder why?
MR Zizzle
December 17th, 2010
7:02 pm
The 1980 team is the reason why I’m a fan today. I live in Seattle and became a fan of the team September 13th 1980 when the Falcons beat the LA Rams. I would say the order of best teams goes as follows. (…and yes I will be rooting for our boys at Quest Field Sunday!)
1998 Super Bowl Dirty Bird Team
1980 William Andrews Steve Bartkowski and the boys
2004 Duckett Vick Dunn “DVD”
2002 Dan Reeves and Andy Reid are the only ones that understood how to coach Vick’s strengths
2008 Matty Ice the Savior!
1991 Andre Rison, Hammer and Deion “Too Legit To Quit”
1978 First post season and victory over The Eagles
1995 Jeff Geoge, Metcalf, Iron Head, Mathis, Emanual. Lots of Offense, Little Defense
1982 May have made a great run if not for the strike year. Bartkowski and friends lose to Viks in Playoffs.
Conner Huffman
December 17th, 2010
7:30 pm
I love all the people comparing this season to the 1980 season. THAT WAS 30 FREAKING YEARS AGO!!!! REALLY?!?!? Stop saying this season is gonna be just like that season. If that happened last year, or two years ago, it might be a different story but comparing a team from THIRTY years ago to a team from 2010 is ridiculous.
Conner Huffman
December 17th, 2010
7:31 pm
Great post btw Mark. And go Falcons.
dawg4u
December 17th, 2010
7:43 pm
The 1980 team definitely had the most talent at the skill positions. Steve Bartkowski was in his prime and the running backs were both good in William Andrews and Lynn Cain. The wide receiver tandem of Alfred Jenkins and Wallace Francis plus Alfred Jackson were really good plus we had a rookie tight end Junior Miller who really had a good year although injuries sidelined him for the rest of his career. That team played the eventual NFC champs, the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly that year and won 20-17 in an early December game. It was probably the best offensive line performance ever by a Falcon team. That team also had a reserve back named Ray Strong who had a great season helping us win an overtime game against the then St. Louis Cardinals with a 40 plus rush for a TD. As earlier posts have stated, coaching cost us that playoff game against Dallas in which Leeman Bennett went PREVENT defense in the 4th quarter and got totally conservative on offense after our passing game was blowing the Cowboys away. The weak link was the secondary as Danny White exploited for Dallas. It was our best team talent wise but the ‘98 team was next followed by this year’s team. I like our coaches better this year and think we are much better suited for the future than either of those teams. We could even go far into the playoffs this year but Mike Smith and his staff have done a GREAT job with this team. GO FALCONS!
yo mama
December 17th, 2010
8:06 pm
Enjoy, I thought falcon Fans would like this post I just put on Youtube.
To All Atlanta Falcons fans a treat, a blast from our past, and a pretty cool
video clip about the history of the Atlanta Falcons, narrated by Nick Charles. this clip aired just after the Falcons clinched their first Super Bowl appearance. Enjoy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEhsjl_C2Yc
Billy Jack
December 17th, 2010
8:49 pm
I cried in 1980..I was 12yrs old…..I’ll never forget Dallas beating us..and I looked at my daddy and said…”What happened daddy”..?
his response….the Falcons just lost son…..
yall may think this post is silly…but it’s not….anybody out there born in 1968….???
Navigator
December 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
This team is a better team no matter how they finish this year because it’s built for the long hall with 3 consecutive winning seasons and two playoffs and no other team even came close to that. Go forward, you might ask which team had the best winning streak and that was the 1998 team that took there’s right to the super bowl and I don’t think this years team will make it that far. The lack of pass rush hurts them against the best teams, and in the playoffs their best chance is gaining the home field advantage forcing all the other teams play here. We might all be surprised with 13-3 regular season, and a run to the super bowl again, where again they won’t be able to beat New England with the Falcon defense.
Dan
December 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
Best Falcons team in history?
Let’s at least win a playoff game first
Child Support
December 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
Enter your comments here
Atlanta Peach
December 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
@Billy Jack, yes, 1963.
Charles
December 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
I think the difference here is the QB- In 1980, Bart was a relatively older QB who had a lot of injury problems. 1998- Chandler was ok, but he too was older and had his limitations. 2010- Mattie Ice is still young, has shown a whole lot of smarts behind center. He reminds me of Brady of 2002. So in my opinion, This team has the better QB of all three teams.
RAMBLE ON!!!
December 17th, 2010
10:19 pm
I was sick for 3 days after the 1980 loss to Dallas. That’s when I learned the only thing the prevent defense does is prevents you from winning.
I still curse Roland Lawrence to this day.
bob
December 17th, 2010
10:20 pm
The 1980 Falcons were by far the best Atlanta team, and the best team in the NFL that year. But limited playoff experience and Stupid play calling with the lead led to Rolland Lawrence getting burnt twice in the final 5 minutes vs. Dallas at home. It wasn’t the prevent defense, it was 3 straight runs which automatically gave Danny White the ball back in the final 2 minutes. Doubt these birds will make that mistake. This defense has not stopped anybody in the last 2 minutes all year.
Greg Mendel
December 17th, 2010
10:29 pm
Don’t drag out the “Dirty Bird” dance, no matter what. No dancing. No idiot slogans. Just play!
dcfalconsfan
December 17th, 2010
10:40 pm
The best team ever? Based purely on record & going to the Super Bowl (isn’t that what all NFL players say they want?) – it has to be the 1998 team (so far).
The 1998 team could run the ball, just like this team. Both teams emphasize Time of Possession. In 1998, there was a game in NO when the offense took the 2nd-half kickoff and drove down the field for a touchdown and took 12:30 off the clock! N.O. didn’t get the ball in the 3rd Qtr until there was only ~2:30 left. Amazing. That’s one reason why the current version reminds me of the 98 team.
This team has the better quaterback. Chandler was much too fragile.
Both teams were/are plus in the most important stat – turnover ratio.
This team is better by far in the ‘fewer penalties’ category. That’s due to good coaching.
So…the jury’s still out on the 2010 team, but who’s to say this ‘Which Team’s Best’ ranking won’t change come February?
Now, how about some rankings for other Falcons teams throughout the years.
The most fun team to watch: The 1978 Falcons. Remember Big Ben? It seemed like every game was a nail-biter that year. How about the first-ever playoff win? How about ALMOST beating a much better Cowboys team in Dallas?! I still contend if they had been able to score a TD (instead of a FG) right before the half, they would have won. A TD would have put them up 24-13, as it was, they lost 27-20.
The best team on nobody’s radar: The 1981 team. This team could easily have been 14-2. Nobody remembers this team because they ended up at 7-9. They still had Bartkowski and most of the players from the 1980 season. The problem was, this team could not catch a break. They lost 7 games by a total of 19 points. If just a few calls/turnovers had gone their way, they would have made the playoffs.
The best team that should’ve won the Super Bowl: The 1980 team. They had the number one seed and would have played Philly in Atl if they had beat Dallas. They may not have beaten Oakland, but they at least would have played better than Philly did. Besides, they were the best team in the NFC that year and should have been in the Super Bowl.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
whatever happened to tj duckett anyway? i think this years team has the potential to become the best in history for the falcons. we have what it takes, just need to keep the foot on the pedal. matty ice has proven to be a 4th quarter QB and as long as everyone stays healthy….no telling what we can accomplish.
DILLIGAF
December 17th, 2010
11:34 pm
torgo:
4:19 post
Great post, it really brought back alot of forgotten stats and memories.
I usually don’t read drawn out diatribes but you reeled me in from the beginning.
UGAJD
December 17th, 2010
11:45 pm
The 1980 team was the best Falcons team ever. I still remember John Madden’s introductory remarks prior to Super Bowl XV, when he predicted the Raiders would win, because the NFC’s best team, the Atlanta Falcons, was not there. This year’s team has the potential to be the best, but they have a few more mountains to climb.
UGAJD
December 17th, 2010
11:51 pm
Kudos to torgo (@ 4:19), unofficial Falcons historian. Great post!
Atlanta Peach
December 18th, 2010
12:12 am
Here are some more memories, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkj_Zp2hpe8&playnext=1&list=PLC36B63D0C82DC7C1&index=24
florida falcon
December 18th, 2010
12:19 am
Seriously people, we haven’t won S…….! The 98 team got us to the big dance, let’s win the division first. Until this squad gets us to the dance, the 98 team will be better. PERIOD!
Hayseed Dixie
December 18th, 2010
12:20 am
Best Ever Falcons.
Matt Ryan Is Just Getting Started.
realitycheck
December 18th, 2010
12:30 am
The Falcons are a very well coached team that is overachieving. As I have stated in previous posts, the Falcons have had way too many close games considering the stats I’m about to list: 1. They are among the league’s healthiest teams. Hardly a starter has missed a game. 2. Their primary running backs (Turner and Snelling) haven’t had a fumble all season. 3. Their turnover ratio is one of the best in the league. 4. Their quarterback has a low number of int’s compared to most of the other qb’s(Brees 18). 5. Though they have made their own luck many times, the god’s that be, certainly were looking out for them late in the games vs the 49ers and Saints. 6. A favorable weather schedule where all three potential cold weather games(Pit, Cle, Phi), were played by the middle of October. Considering everything I just listed, one must wonder why the Falcons have had so many close games? The fair and objective answer is that this team must not have anything close to elite talent. I think the coaching staff is an excellent one, and they are getting the max out of what they have. The Saints are 10-3 and their qb has 18 int’s. That tells me they must have a whole lot of talent to be able to overcome all of those picks. I am not saying that the Saints are better than the Falcons this season, but I don’t think the Falcons have that same margin for error that the Saints do. The Falcons need to take advantage of this season’s opportunity, because I feel that the Falcons will probably not have this chance next season. Their margin for error just isn’t too much!
Parking Dawg
December 18th, 2010
12:33 am
These Falcon’s sure have been a nice respite to my Dawgs this year. However, there is something I have seen about this Falcon’s team that I haven’t seen about teams in the past. They are the full meal deal. If Ryan isn’t having a good day, the D is stepping up and keeping us in these games. When games could have been lost we have found ways to win. I have grown up on the birds, and I can confidently say this is undoubtedly the best team all around they Falcons have ever put on the field. I think this team will do for Atlanta football, what the 91 Braves did for Atlanta baseball. That is to make us a franchise players want to play for. You can’t single out a coach or player to thank on this team. They are truly a champonship team! I’m just waiting for them to bring the trophy home.
Once "Recent" Reader
December 18th, 2010
1:13 am
MGM . . . . .as a long time Pats Fan – since 70s and also a fan of the Falcons since the Bartkoski/Gritz Blitz days . . . .. .I would not have any problem saying that talent wise that 18-1 Pats team that lost in the SB was as probably the best Pats team ever. Just came across a buzz saw Giants D and unfortunately Brady was a little gimpy. No excuse – Giants earned it . . . .but damn that team was a minute and a should have been Asante Samue Int away from going 19-0!!! There are a lot of factors that go into winning the SB . . . . .certain things falling into place and some breaks in playoffs . . .as almost all the teams involved are strong. I kind of find it humorous when folks seem to believe its SB or bust. I’m sure there have been many years when the pundits don’t feel it was the “best” team that won SB. The past two Steelers wins are a prime example of things just falling into place . ..along with some bad calls in SB.