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
Walmart > K-Mart
December 19th, 2010
9:03 pm
No matter what is said here, it does not take away from the fact that UGA has beaten Tech 9 of the last 10 games.
GO DAWGS!!!
boiler up
December 19th, 2010
9:03 pm
Anybody with the name Rabbit foot instead of Grace is definitley bad luck for himself. Plus, anyone who knows the exact numbers.. Get a girlfriend, wife or boyfriend. whichever makes you happy.. Go Falcons!!
Atl Native
December 19th, 2010
9:03 pm
@ Chesire
I agree totally, I am not saying the Eagles are world beaters or anything. But, after so many, many heartbreaks being an Atlanta Fan over the years (all teams), it just feels like if Vick were to come in here…
I dunno, just seems like we would be reading in the paper the next day about the “Vindicated Vick” or “Bitter Homecoming” in the papers the next day. Just seems like the Atlanta narrative is all.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:04 pm
And the endorsements keep rolling in: Alpo, Kibbles & Bits, Jim Dandy, Ole Roy, Gravy Train, and even Meow Mix for the cat lovers.
Jethro
December 19th, 2010
9:04 pm
I for one would like to see a Falcons-Eagles rematch. So, I’m thinking, is Mike Smith.
Tim
December 19th, 2010
9:05 pm
FalconsFanSince1991
The tiebreakers are like this…
#1 Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
#2 Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
#3 Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
#4 Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
If NO wins out and the Falcons lose out, Atl would have three division losses (2 to NO, and 1 to Carolina) compared to NO 1 loss to atlanta
Pluto
December 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
Don’t forget, Wal-Mart, that you also run this state. Gotta get that one in there. And if you’ve got a list of the scores or happen to have them all memorized, now’s the time to post them.
Dr Henry
December 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
If Philadelphia gets the Saints in their playoff opener I don’t think the Eagles can win that game….Regardless of how good Vick has been this year Drew Brees can be better and the Saint’s have a lot of speed on Defense….I’m saying here that the Falcons will win out all he way to the conference championship and play N Orleans…
Falcons 2010
December 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
I’d rather the Eagles get eliminated in Philly before having to come to Atlanta.
Simple reason: how maddening it would be to hear BOTH Falcon and Eagle fans cheering Vick (aka the enemy) and holding signs of support on pretty much every single Eagle possession of the game.
I don’t think I could take listening to that, you don’t hear Falcons fans in the Dome cheering any other QB but they most certainly would cheer Vick which really has no business happening at home … in the NFC Championship … with a berth to the Super Bowl on the line. So please get eliminated before than Eagles, spare the sane fans of the Atlanta Falcons.
St. Clarkston
December 19th, 2010
9:07 pm
I’m glad the Falcons have Ryan. He is the ideal qb for the ball control offense they run. I am also happy for Vick. He paid his debt to society. He is injury prone.
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:08 pm
Well, if the Falcons lose their last two games in the Dome, one of them to arguably the worst team in the conference, then the don’t deserve the division. But I don’t expect it to come to that.
durtydog
December 19th, 2010
9:08 pm
Im black and i dont like Vick. So stop with the race thing. I dont like him because he didnt do what he was suppose to do to be great. He admitted it himself. Im a GA boy through and true. I love my Falcons and if we have to bash Vicks head in, so be it. It pisses me off to see hours and hours of NFL coverage and only ten minutes dedicated to the best team in the league. Thats ridiculous. For some reason, sport networks do not like any of our teams. The only way to get respect is to win and win often.
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:10 pm
“The don’t deserve” should of course be corrected to “they don’t deserve.”
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:10 pm
Mark, did you hear that Vick was getting a new PC? Yeah, apparently the one he has now doesnt have enough bites. heh
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:12 pm
When asked if he would take one more question at a news conference, Vick replied “I’ll bite”.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:13 pm
Mr Vick, have you been able to sell your house in Atlanta? “No, but I’ve had a few bites”.
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:13 pm
Todd, you’re on a roll. You must be dog tired.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:14 pm
What did Mr Blank say to Vick a couple of years ago? “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, son.”
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:14 pm
Hey Mike, been fishing lately? Yeah, didnt catch any but got a few bites.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:15 pm
Mr Vick, did that negative newspaper article bother you? “No, I’ve gotten used to biting comments”.
Fred
December 19th, 2010
9:16 pm
If we lost to the eagles here against dog killer 7, that would be the worst thing to ever happen sports wise. Worse than all the braves chokes combined.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:16 pm
yep, Ekim, just trying to wind down on a Sunday evening on the blog.
Mark Bradley
December 19th, 2010
9:16 pm
I don’t think the Panthers are “arguably” the worst team in the conference, Ekim. On the record, they’re inarguably the worst.
Mark Bradley
December 19th, 2010
9:18 pm
In the spirit of Todd Grantham: The National Anthem for the NFC title tilt will be sung by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose bassist is named …
Flea.
Falcons Chic
December 19th, 2010
9:19 pm
Yes we can’tt — I think our chances improve substantially if we play Philly in the Dome.
ekiM — I’m with you. I’m not the man — in more ways than one — that Arthur Blank was to even call the former abysmal employee to congratulate when he again became a starter in the NFL.
That being said, I enjoy watching Vick play and hope the redemption continues. I can even vote for him for the Pro Bowl. However, I want us to get past Philly and other NFC teams to try to get Tony G a SB ring (if not the MVP.)
Barry
December 19th, 2010
9:19 pm
sorry but the patriots are the best team right now.
if they somehow lost to gb, then you would be correct.
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:20 pm
Mark, I thought that was true about the Panthers, but I was too lazy to look it up. So I used a weasel-word.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 19th, 2010
9:20 pm
Can we get some TICKS put in MV7’s hothel bed the night before the game?
Led
December 19th, 2010
9:22 pm
We need the bears to win out as they have the head to head win against philly. That makes philly to have to play a first round game as well as a road game, likely against the bears in chicago again.
Reality Check
December 19th, 2010
9:24 pm
When you haven’t beaten a team since the last franchise quarterback, who is now the opposing team’s new franchise quarterback – you may have a problem.
You can’t win by hope, unfortunately the NFL is a “reality” league.
The Eagles just proved that even the top pass rushing and blitzing team could not contain them for a full game.
They demonstrated just how explosive they are – 28 points in 8 minutes is pretty impressive.
With Vick under center, they average 37 points per game and have not scored less than 26 points in any single game.
cheshire
December 19th, 2010
9:25 pm
Atl Native, i totally agree. I’ve grown up getting abused by my hometown teams, so i know exactly what you’re afraid of.
Walmart > K-Mart
December 19th, 2010
9:26 pm
42-34
Sorry all you Yankee implants…. but College Football reigns supreme here…. no matter how poor our local teams may have been this year….
right Bradley????
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
Vick’s favorite meal: hot dogs
favorite movie: Dog Day Afternoon, Road Kill
favorite tv show: Rin Tin Tin
least favorite tv show: Lassie
favorite actor: Benji
favorite sport: dog racing, fox hunting
favorite saying: “dog in the manger”
least favorite football play: red dog
favorite cartoon: Scooby Doo
favorite Beverly Hillbilly: Duke
favorite author: Virginia Woolfe
favorite book: Hound of the Baskervilles
favorite song: You ain’t Nothin But a Hound Dog
favorite comic strip: Clifford the Big Red Dog
MississipiDawgFalconFan
December 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
Tim – Atl beat NO in the first meeting,…but your right in that Atl would have 3 NFC losses to NO’s 2…they lost to Cleveland, Baltimore, Arizona and Atl. But as far as Atl losing out – its not gonna happen. Atl crushes Panthers if they lose to NO next week.
Atlanta Peach
December 19th, 2010
9:29 pm
“Choke”, Don’t you wish you could blog here ?!? hahahahahhahahhahahaha !
FalconFan
December 19th, 2010
9:30 pm
Remember this Eagles, the Falcons are NOT the :
Redskins, Cowboys, the roll over and play dead Giants, nor the Lions, or Jaguars.
This Falcon team has won 8 straight since the 9 weeks ago when Kolb beat the Falcons. They said the Falcons couldn’t:
Beat the Packers, but they did
Beat the Ravens, but they did
Beat the Bucs, twice, but they did
Beat the Saints, but they did
That they would slip up against the Rams or Seattle, but they didn’t
BTW, if the Bears and Eagles tie record wise, the Falcons and Bears receive first round byes, not the Eagles.
All the Falcons need to do is pull tape from 2004, 2005 and 2006 and watch how EVERY team defended Vick. You contain outside and bring one man pressure up the middle.
Matt Ryan has more skill and control over this Falcon team that runs the clock and doesn’t let the other offense on the field. The Eagles D stinks, and Turner will run all over them in the Dome.
Yeah the racist group in Atlanta will cheer for Vick, but make sure of this, they will leave disappointed if it were to occur.
Ryan is 32-12 in less than 3 years, 19-1 at home and has thrown for 63 TD’s in that period. He has done something in 3 years that it took #7 Ron Mexico 6 years to do.
PTC DAWG
December 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
I don’t think I could handle the story lines of a Falcons/Eagles game. It would be VICK non stop.
Really?
December 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 19th, 2010
9:29 pm
“Choke”, Don’t you wish you could blog here ?!? hahahahahhahahhahahaha !
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
Ron Mexico. THAT kind of crap is something I’ll never miss.
FalconFan
December 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
Prediction:
Falcons vs Saints in NFC Championship game.
Reality Check
December 19th, 2010
9:36 pm
Enter your comments here
FalconFan
December 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
If Vick were to fly into the ATL, he may not make it through security with his hidden compartment water bottle.
God, isn’t it great to not have to be going through all that any more. No more hidden compartment water bottles, no more Ron Mexico, no more of him flipping off the fans, no more dog fighting, nor his weed smoking.
Those were HORRIBLE days.
Reality Check
December 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
@Falcon Fan
2008 vs Eagles 27-14
2009 vs Eagles 31-7
2010 vs Eagles 31-17
What’s your point?
Pluto
December 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
The only thing that has made this Vick crap endurable this season is the fact that you can turn it off. If the Falcons and Eagles play again, you won’t be able to turn it off. People across the southeast might be drinking Jonestown Kool-Aid just to stop the pain.
Tolis
December 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
I would rather the saints win another SB than to lose to vick and the eagles.
todd grantham
December 19th, 2010
9:38 pm
favorite line by Jed Clampett: Well, doggies!
favorite time of the year: dog days of summer
favorite mascot: Tennessee’s Smokey
favorite bear: guess
favorite bookmark: the dog ear
Ekim
December 19th, 2010
9:38 pm
I agree, Tolis.
Mike "CON" Vick
December 19th, 2010
9:38 pm
Beating the Eagles in NFC champ game and beating the Steelers in SB.
That would be really sweet revenge.
Walmart > K-Mart
December 19th, 2010
9:39 pm
Dawgs > Yellow Pissers
SawThat1nce
December 19th, 2010
9:40 pm
MB,@8:40……..If the Falcons were to lose out(won’t happen), and the saints were to win out(won’t happen), they would both have 12-4 records.
What would be the tie-breaker, that the saints would hold over the Falcons, to enable them to win the NFCS?