The Falcons are the class of the NFC, but a familiar face looms
Feeling fearless in Seattle: Another three-touchdown game for Matt Ryan. (AP photo)
They’re in the playoffs, and they’re as close to having the No. 1 seed throughout the NFC bracket as you can get without clinching. They’ve got two games to go, both of them here. Win once more — here we note that the Falcons meet the NFL’s worst team, Carolina, in the regular-season finale Jan. 2 — and they won’t play anywhere but here until February.
And that’s the way it ought to be. If you’re looking for the NFL’s best overall team, it’s Atlanta. (And if you’re wondering when last we could say that about the Falcons with any conviction, the answer would be, “Um … never.”)
The Patriots have a fabulous offense, but their defense entered the weekend as the league’s fifth-worst. Maybe Tom Brady is good enough to override that failing, but at some point a championship team has to stop somebody. (Doesn’t it?) The Ravens are stout, but the Falcons have beaten them. The Falcons lost to the Steelers, but that was before the local team figured out how good it could be.The Jets are more a TV show than a Super Bowl winner. Those are the only AFC teams worth mentioning.
As for the NFC: The Giants just blew a 21-point lead in a prove-it game, meaning they proved they don’t belong among the elite. The Saints lost in Baltimore on Sunday, solidifying the season-long belief that the reigning champs are indeed last year’s team. The Bears lead the NFC North but don’t seem a threat. But there’s one team that does.
Given the Falcons’ run of last-gasp victories and their absence of serious injuries, this has been a charmed season for the franchise that, 45 years on, hasn’t known many. These Falcons don’t dazzle you with footwork; they just hammer you with basics. They’re not rattled by an opponent’s quick start. They’re not rattled by anything. That said …
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming fast. (Emphasis on “fast.” Those guys can really run.) They weren’t supposed to lead the NFC East with two games to go — back in September, Dallas and the Giants were the touted teams — and however the Eagles fared was supposed to hinge on new quarterback Kevin Kolb.
Two weeks into the season, the Eagles had a new new quarterback. Andy Reid, the low-key coach, chose to elevate Michael Vick to No. 1 after saying repeatedly he would not. (Kolb had gotten hurt in the opener.) The Eagles made the announcement via a mass text message at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday night. At a Wednesday briefing Reid faced an enraged Philly media, which demanded to know why it should ever trust him again.
Today the Eagles are at worst the NFC’s second-best team, and they’ve already beaten the Falcons on a day when Vick didn’t play. (Question for a rainy afternoon: Are the Eagles deeper at quarterback than the Phillies are in starting pitching?) The Eagles are having a season kissed by the angels, same as the Falcons. You know something strange is happening when, as happened Sunday, a Vick-fueled Philly rally enables his former team to clinch a playoff berth.
Loading ...So now we ask: Is it possible to have two teams of destiny? If so, which one wins?
Speaking last week, the former Falcon great Jessie Tuggle said: “I’m a little biased, but I think [the Falcons are] the best team in the NFC.”
Then, after a pause: “But Philadelphia could push them.”
Think about it. Jan. 23, 2011: The Georgia Dome stages its first conference championship game, and who should be the opposing quarterback? Only the guy who used to pack the place.
Me, I’m thinking that would be the toughest ticket in the history of Atlanta sports, above even Muhammad Ali’s comeback fight against Jerry Quarry in October 1970. And I’m also hoping it doesn’t happen for a selfish reason: The profession I’ve chosen would be rendered null and void, at least for that week.
If ever a story could write itself, it’d be this: Michael Vick returns to Atlanta, a Super Bowl on the line. Nuff said.
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837 comments Add your comment
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:07 pm
Mindy,
Did you ever date a guy named Ron Mexico?
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
MV7,
No the Giants let the Eagles get back.
ie” Onside kick
Punt return
Defenders falling down on pass plays
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
BTW, don’t talk the rushing stats for Vick. Unless you want to include Michael Turners 5000 yards rushing. A QB is the leader. Do you think Vick is better than Manning, Bres, Brady, Rivers? I don’t think so, and how many yards have they rushed for?
In this league, with the defense being able to run a 4.2 and the linebackers getting bigger and faster, the running quarterback will be the wave of the future. All the other guys you talked about, will be vegetables if they stay in the pocket and take those hits from people who outweigh them by 30+ pounts.
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Vick Supporter, I admit it. Vick can run faster and throw the ball farther than Ryan. But he is an absolute zero for a brain with zero character. In the end he will be a loser. Enjoy him while you can.
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
Mindy, Did you ever date a guy named Ron Mexico?
No but I heard you did. No worries, I have plenty of gay friends………
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
MV7,
No the Giants let the Eagles get back.
ie” Onside kick
Punt return
Defenders falling down on pass plays
ANYMORE EXCUSES?? Vick is bette than Ryan hands down, Vick has beat both Manning brothers this year, what has Ryan done
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
Saints Lover @11:54……I’ll answer that one. I don’t know how tough they were, but the Falcons beat three teams that defeated your so-called Bad-a$$ saints, and here they are.
AZ Cardinals beat the saints. ha-ha.
Cleveland Browns beat the saints. ha-ha.
Baltimore Ravens beat the saints. ha-ha.
Silly saints lovers.
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Top 10 Clutch QBs in NFL History
Check NFL.com for the story below
Matt Ryan may be on pace to be most clutch QB ever.
John Elway: 47 Game Winning drives in 16 yrs,
Joe Montana 33 in 16,
Steve Young 14 in 14,
Tom Brady 29 in 10,
Peyton Manning 44 in 12.
Matt Ryan has 14 in 2 1/2 Seasons. If he stays on this pace, he could have 44 in 10 seasons. It’s possible he could break Elway’s record in that time.
Reality Check
December 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
Headley Lamar
December 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
Mike Vick is only 30
Thats getting old in the NFL. Especially for a running QB. Plus he is 20 – 30 million in debt.
He will never pay all that off. He gets an allowance from the court instead of a paycheck. Sad.
——————————————————–
Are you a math major or what?
Vick has started the endorsements rolling in. Just this month alone, he has signed with 2 endorsement companies and with his MONSTER contract coming at the end of this season, the signing bonus alone will be ALL his debt in full.
So Mr. Math Major please explain to me how you reached the uneducated conclusion that he won’t pay off his debt?
I’m waiting Einstein.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:13 pm
@VickISSICK
I see you pulled up some stats…even with all of what happened when The Great Mike Vick played here, he was a SUPERSTAR. Ryan is not a superstart and will never be one. he is an above average QB with an average arm.
I gurantee you that Ryan willl not eclipse Vick in stats like you say he will. Vick is a MARVEL….Ryan is average. Did you not see the game? Vick put the franchise on his back like he always did here…down 21 POINTS WITH 7 MINUTES LEFT…and won the game. Ryan could NEVER do that…EVER. Ryan cannot carry a team by himself. No Mike Turner = Average Matt Ryan. I’m telling you….the Eagleshave lost many players FOR THE SEASON and they are STILL WINNING BECAUSE THEY HAVE MIKE VICK.
Shut it up, woman. Vick is the MVP of the league and Ryan is still throwing his 5yd slants
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
Mindy, go ahead and teach your children poor sportsmanship, then you can laugh YOUR fat azz off when they get knocked around on the playground for showing their skinny azzes every time they make a play. This used to be a great country when sick fools like YOU were in the minority, but thanks to mothers like you and “role models” like Mike Vick and DeSean Jackson, our streets are now a ghetto. Nice job!
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
Ryan has beaten
Bres, Flaco, Rodgers, Freeman (twice), Bradford, Palmer. Should I continue?
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
MV7@12:11…..”What has Ryan done this year?”. Ryan has lead his team to a 12-2 record, playoff berth, and probable #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
Seriously? Are you even saying that Eli Manning is better than Ryan? God, I see you don’t know much about football.
Manning won a Super Bowl (since you’re basing strength of team only on the QB); what has Ryan won? What about in college? BTW what college did he go to anyway?
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
Matt Ryan has 14 in 2 1/2 Seasons. If he stays on this pace, he could have 44 in 10 seasons. It’s possible he could break Elway’s record in that time
Ryan can only do it if the Falcons are only down 7 points, that is all he can do but more than 2 touchdowns, he shows he is average
GT Crow
December 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
Hypocrites Fools have not self-awareness
December 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
For all the so-called dog/animal lovers – I’m curious – do you guys eat meat? Are cow, chicken, and pig meat necessary for human survival? No. These animals are violently slaughtered and sold for consumption at your local grocery store. Where is the outrage? The person eating the meat is just has guilty as the person slaughtering and killing it. Keep telling yourselves that you are a better person than Mike Vick, though.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Slaughtering livestock for food isn’t the same and you know it! Enjoy your hummus flower child.
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
Ryan just wins baby, just wins. Not like Vick (as stated above put the Falcons on his shoulders) yeah, thanks for the 2 winning seasons.
No, Ryan has just brought his team back 14 times in 2/ 1/2 years to win.
Go Falcons!
December 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
So don’t give me this crap about Vick better than Ryan. You are correct, it’s not close. That is that Vick is no where close to the talent and leadership of Ryan.
—-
Ryan is good, but to say he far superior to Vick is incorrect in my opinion. Ryan could do nothing without a solid running game. Vick can throw the ball just as well as Ryan – and Vick has more arm strength – yet Vick has no equal when it comes to QB’s running the ball. Vick has accounted for 3 more TD’s than Ryan while playing in 3 fewer games. Their completion percentage is identical
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Vick Supporter, I admit it. Vick can run faster and throw the ball farther than Ryan. But he is an absolute zero for a brain with zero character. In the end he will be a loser. Enjoy him while you can.
—————————
You forgot to mention him completing 63% of his passes, and 105 qb rating…and add over 500yds rushing and 9 TDs…and carrying a team to Vicktory down 21 with 7 mins left.
If you want to debate, state the facts, woman
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:17 pm
MV7,
Go back to the Tampa Bay game just 2 weeks ago. Pulled the Falcons back from 14 down to win.
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:18 pm
Go Falcons:
Is that why Ryan threw for 350 yards against the Ravens when Turner only had 43 yards rushing?
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:19 pm
Mindy,
Hell Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl with Baltimore. Does that make him better than Marino?
Just so you know, Ryan went to Boston College, in the same conference Vick and his criminal brother played in at Virgina Tech.
JB FALCON
December 20th, 2010
12:20 pm
I read four pages of this blog and skipped to here. The entire thing is not worth reading since the only thing Bradley cares about is getting responses to his article. Throwing -ick into the fray is a cheap way to get responses. Very little of what I read had anything to do with the Falcons.
Reality Check
December 20th, 2010
12:20 pm
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
Ryan has beaten
Bres, Flaco, Rodgers, Freeman (twice), Bradford, Palmer. Should I continue?
——————————————————-
How many of those are Superbowl quarterbacks?
Vick has beated 4 Superbowl quarterbacks this season alone, including the Manning brothers 3 times.
Please provide feedback.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:21 pm
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:17 pm
MV7,
Go back to the Tampa Bay game just 2 weeks ago. Pulled the Falcons back from 14 down to win.
———————
You’re right. The Falcons came from behind…against the upstart Bucs…..who just lost to the Lions who haven’t won a road game in two years. Hell, the Giants could beat the Falcons in the dome with NO PROBLEM
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:21 pm
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:17 pm
MV7,
Go back to the Tampa Bay game just 2 weeks ago. Pulled the Falcons back from 14 down to win.
The falcons were down 10 points that game, I am looking at the box score now, and Eric Weems lead that come back not ryan
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:21 pm
Rose what an IDIOT you are!!! You allow yourself to be deceived!! This country was great BECAUSE of people like Vick and Jackson. Washington et al, were traitors. They were rebellious, cocky, and had a belief in themselves. People who were kowtowing to the british were called loyalists, people like Washington et al., were called traitors.
Do you even KNOW your American History? If so, why did you make such a STOOOOPID comment like that? Duh!
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:22 pm
@Reality Check
There is no feedback that they can give you. Vick will destroy this team if they meet in the playoffs
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
The Great Eric Weems, LMAO!
Gatorzone
December 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
Really??? This tired arguement continues? I am glad I no longer reside in Atlanta. Vick is doing well, and I am glad for him. However, to act like it is the fans and Falcons fault he is no longer on the team is delusional. Vick has admitted that he did not work hard in Atlanta.
He is a good player and looks really sharp this year. I wish we could have seen more of that player during his time in ATL.
Reality Check
December 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
Seriously? Are you even saying that Eli Manning is better than Ryan? God, I see you don’t know much about football.
Manning won a Super Bowl (since you’re basing strength of team only on the QB); what has Ryan won? What about in college? BTW what college did he go to anyway?
_________________________________________________
He spent 5 LONG YEARS at Boston College and not once did he lead his team to the lousey A.C.C. title game, and to top it off he threw 22 PICKS as a 5th year senior.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:26 pm
He spent 5 LONG YEARS at Boston College and not once did he lead his team to the lousey A.C.C. title game, and to top it off he threw 22 PICKS as a 5th year senior.
I guess that is why Ryan CHOKES so much when the game is on the line(ie Arizona)
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:26 pm
This used to be a great country when sick fools like YOU were in the minority, but thanks to mothers like you and “role models” like Mike Vick and DeSean Jackson, our streets are now a ghetto
Oh yes, if only I was a Danny Heatley’s sainted mother!!! OH how GREAT it must be for her to know that her son was convicted of VEHICULAR HOMICIDE yet he is still a MODEL of sports manliness!!! Yes, that’s right Rose(Pete Rose the gambling loosing convict….hmmm??); what a GREAT mother she is!! I bet she told Danny, Danny go on out and drive drunk, don’t worry about it; you’re just some poor, little white kid from the trailer park, you won’t get a DAY
Yep. That’s one classy broad!!
Gary
December 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
Don’t focus on the Eagles. The Saints are the Falcons problem right now and all attention should be given to them, the NFC Division crown, and the #1 seed. The Eagles right now are not in the playoffs and won’t even the #2 seed after the Bears win in Minnesota tonight. Worry about them when and if we have too. Right now, my money is on the Bears and the Falcons playing in the title game.
Go Falcons!
December 20th, 2010
12:29 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Slaughtering livestock for food isn’t the same and you know it! Enjoy your hummus flower child.
Humans were not created to eat meat. I eat it, and so do most people I know. Still, no animal life is more important than another, whether it be a dog or livestock. What makes a dog’s life more important than a cow? Please explain? Pigs are intellectually more intelligent than dogs, so theoretically, shouldn’t they have a higher standing in society than canines?
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:30 pm
Mindy, Hell Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl with Baltimore. Does that make him better than Marino?
Numbers wise — NO. Rings wise — YES.
Dilfer – one.
Marino – ZERO.
All those years, and only bad knees to show for it. The one time he went to the supeerbowl with the dolphins he choked. Dilfer, when he had his chance, made it happen. So much for stats……
Falcon Fan
December 20th, 2010
12:30 pm
“Vick has beated 4 Superbowl quarterbacks this season alone, including the Manning brothers 3 times.”
HAHAHA……spoken like a true Vick fan. Can’t even get proper English right. Oh and just for the record, those Manning brothers have 2 SuperBowl rings. How many does Vick have? Oh that’s right, his sorry arse didn’t want to play when he was here.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:34 pm
@Falcon Fan
Give it up man. You’re getting your azz dominatined on this blog. Vick is the best and you know it
Scott
December 20th, 2010
12:35 pm
I don’t hold any animosity against Vick , i am very happy for him . But the DirtyBirds will beat the Eagle when and if they ever meet in the play off .I Remember the those first two games of the season against the Eagles and PIT, the Falcons beat themselves with penalties , the Falcons is also a different team now .
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:38 pm
HAHAHA……spoken like a true Vick fan. Can’t even get proper English right. Oh and just for the record, those Manning brothers have 2 SuperBowl rings. How many does Vick have? Oh that’s right, his sorry arse didn’t want to play when he was here.
How many does Ryan have??? Do you want to talk about playoff wins because Ryan has the same number ZERO!!!!!!!!!
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
12:40 pm
The bottom line is the Falcons are in the playoffs right now, and the Eagles have not made it there yet.
If the Eagles make it, and the two teams should meet in the playoffs, the players will decide which team progresses forward.
So jaw all you like, the players will decide.
Debating people like MV7, is like agruing with a stop sign, a mindless waste of time.
out.
Katherine
December 20th, 2010
12:40 pm
Saints Lover
December 20th, 2010
11:54 am
@Katherine… You’re the one who seems to not get it. If you so smart name one team the Falcons face that was tough. I will answer every game you got. Come on name one game.
Look…what is comes down to is that the falcons have found ways to win games all season. I’m sorry you are bitter that the falcons won the game against the saints…it happens. We all know that the team the ultimately wins it all has to have a combination of skill and good luck. A bad bounce here , a missed field goal can make the difference in a season. Go Falcons!
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:42 pm
Debating people like MV7, is like agruing with a stop sign, a mindless waste of time.
out.
The TRUTH hurts doesn’t it!!!!!! VICK is better than Ryan
Kane337
December 20th, 2010
12:43 pm
“Tolis
December 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
I would rather the saints win another SB than to lose to vick and the eagles.”
I agree.
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
12:44 pm
Haha! I love it when the AJC writes about the great MV7! That’s when we all get to see everyone’s true colors. This man brings out our deepest passions, just as O.J. Simpson did in 1995. What is the true definition of a “racist?” On this blog, apparently, it depends upon whom you ask — a Vick hater or a Ryan hater. Ah, but this is the essence of Atlanta, my good ol’ hometown. Folks, I could argue with you on this topic all day, but I really need to focus on work now. Bradley, congratulations on drumming up tons of readership with yet another story about the great Michael Vick. Later!
Headley Lamar
December 20th, 2010
12:47 pm
So Mr. Math Major please explain to me how you reached the uneducated conclusion that he won’t pay off his debt?
I’m waiting Einstein.
Because
1. He is still hated in this country by the majority of people.
2. Whatever endorsements he gets will not even come close to covering his debts
Vick is as broke as broke gets. He gets an allowance from the court.
Kind of sad really.
Sports Review
December 20th, 2010
12:50 pm
[...] of the cropWashington PostLet's just give the Falcons homefield advantageProFootballTalkAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Examiner.com -SB Nation Atlantaall 28 news [...]
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
12:51 pm
So Mr. Math Major please explain to me how you reached the uneducated conclusion that he won’t pay off his debt?
I’m waiting Einstein.
Because
1. He is still hated in this country by the majority of people.
2. Whatever endorsements he gets will not even come close to covering his debts
Vick is as broke as broke gets. He gets an allowance from the court.
Kind of sad really.
——————————
And Vick just bought his fiance a Porche. I wouldn’t call that broke…and Vick is getting PAID after this season
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 20th, 2010
12:57 pm
This whole issue will be settled when both the Eagles and the Falcons are sitting at home watching the TWO DAT!!!
Saints Rule Everything Around Me!!!
Ross
December 20th, 2010
12:58 pm
Guess what – in another strange move on the part of the Atlanta football gods, Tech is playing their bowl game on the same day as the Saints vs Falcons (27th) at 5 PM.