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.
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
837 comments Add your comment
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:37 am
MV7,
Ryan 25 TD’s, 3350 yards 12-2
Vick 20 TDs’ 2700 yards 10-4
Headley Lamar
December 20th, 2010
11:39 am
Atlanta has beaten
Tampa Bay 8-6 twice Because of Luck and the Refs
Baltimore 10-4 The Refs were on their side
Green Bay 8-6 Luck
New Orleans 10-4 Luck
SF 5-9 Lucky once again
And Cincy also was Luck and thats why no one respects the Falcons as a contender
Thats just dumb. You might get lucky once or twice but not that many times. When you are 12-2 in the NFL youve earned it. I understand the racists dont wont to give Matt Ryan any credit because he is white but any fool can see he is doing his job and performing well.
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
11:39 am
Oops — I should have addressed “ASHCAN” in my rant. My apologies to “Member of Humanity!” (I didn’t realize you were quoting Mr. “ASHCAN,” sir.)
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:39 am
Ok, enough time statiing the obvious.
Vick is a convict that is broke and will continue to be broke. See link below.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Despite-success-on-field-Michael-Vick-still-fac?urn=nfl-291781
Ryan is class and is 32-12.
Go Falcons! Not going to waste my time talking about a weed smokiing killer.
Courtney
December 20th, 2010
11:40 am
People get over it!!! Vick paid for his mistakes and has moved on. Maybe we should do the same. He has apologized, he speaks to young kids about the wrong he has done on his days off and he has shown so far that we wants to do better. Everyone makes mistakes!!! Wouldn’t you want someone to give you a second chance if you were in his shoes?
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:40 am
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:36 am
MV7,
The issue with Cincy was after they came back the Falcons scored 15 unanswered points on them to show them they are not the GIANTS.
And when has Ryan lead his team to a win while being down by more than 14 points, he tried in Philly but Noodle Arm couldn’t do it
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:41 am
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:37 am
MV7,
Ryan 25 TD’s, 3350 yards 12-2
Vick 20 TDs’ 2700 yards 10-4
How Bias can Atlanta Fans be, you didn’t even include his rushing stats, That is Bias
Reality Check
December 20th, 2010
11:42 am
What separates the Eagles vs the Falcons the most is their front office and Andy Reid. When they draft they really do their home work – no wasted picks and they don’t spend their drafts with wasted number one picks.
Here is just a snap shot of their draft picks since 2007 alone:
2007 Kevin Kolb, quarterback (2nd round)
2007 Brent Celek, Tight End
2007 Jason Avant, Wide Receiver – voted best hands in NFL
2008 Desean Jackson, Wide Receiver (enough said)
2009 Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver (Leads team in receiving yards/tds)
2009 Lesean Mccoy, RB (Leads team in receptions/yards from scrim)
2010 Brandon Graham, DE (Starter)
2010 Nate Allen (Starter)
That is just a snap shot of how effectively they draft. They didn’t waste a 2nd draft pick on an aging tight end who will probably retire
next season, leaving the Falcons to spend another draft pick on a
tight end.
Whoever said that Smitty is a lock for coach of the year is seriously delusional. The Philadelphia Eagles were in a rebuilding season, dumping all of their veterans.
Mike Vick is only 30 and he is one of the oldest players on the team. The team overall ranks 3rd in the NFL as the youngest.
Andy Reid will hands down win the award.
Katherine
December 20th, 2010
11:43 am
Saints Lover
December 20th, 2010
11:36 am
@Katherine said:
You keep typing but all I see is blah blah blah…and no you don’t make any sense…
You are right all I see from you blah blah blah. You can’t take the truth because the truth hurt.
You don’t seem to get it….the way you speak is illiterate. I’m not talking about your facts lol Oh, and a win is a win and the falcons already beat the saints this season once…no matter how it happened. I think the Saints are the ones who shouldn’t be bragging right about now about how great they are and how they are better then the falcons.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:44 am
Thats just dumb. You might get lucky once or twice but not that many times. When you are 12-2 in the NFL youve earned it. I understand the racists dont wont to give Matt Ryan any credit because he is white but any fool can see he is doing his job and performing well.
I guess you are blind as ever then, because missed field goals, fumbles and missed calls by the refs are not earned
real falcon fan
December 20th, 2010
11:45 am
bring on the eagles! vick took this team and this city to its knees, and now it’s time for revenge of the bird’s[FALCON'S ROLL EAGLES] . I HAVE BEEN A FALCON FAN SINCE 1971 ,WIN OR LOSE THIS IS MY TEAM,I MAY BE BIASED BUT FALCONS WILL NOT WASTE ANOTHER SHOT AT THE EAGLES. GO FALCON’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nolabigdawg
December 20th, 2010
11:46 am
Katherine,
You are right, there is nothing wrong with fans supporting their team. However, this article by Bradley and all the messages on this blog are about a NFC championship game between the Falcons and the Eagles. To me that suggests a belief by everyone on this site that the other NFC playoff teams, including the defending SB champs, are a mere nuisance to the Falcons before they get to the Eagles. If the Falcons have that mindset, it will indeed be a short playoff season for them. That was the intent of my post. Please read more carefully before responding next time.
Member of Humanity
December 20th, 2010
11:48 am
“Member of Humanity,” NEWS FLASH: We don’t hate Vick for the color of his skin, you ignorant fool. My neighbor is black, my employer is black, and my president is black, and I like all of them. We dislike Vick because he kills dogs for sick joy, you buffoon. YOU LOVE VICK BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. You probably like O.J. Simpson too, for the same reason. Get off the big-boy blog; you are overmatched here, simpleton
I don’t know how you got that impression from my post. To set the record straight, I despise Michael Vick. The is a special ring in Hell for him, and anyone who did/ does what he has. I’m proud to say that I judge a man by his actions not the color of his skin. And its a shame that we all can’t do the same.
Baby Lover
December 20th, 2010
11:49 am
You all including Katherine talking about Vick killing some stuid smelly dogs. What about all the baby getting killing everyday. Baby means more to the world than some stuid dogs. Man…. the world have change back in my day in the 1970s you could throw rocks at a dog and nothing would be done to you. You do that now you would be in jail. So I can go to the doctor take a pill to kill the baby that legal. I kill a dog that means nothing to the world and that inlegal. That’s ok though because it those people doctors and parents don’t change and repent they will face judment with God and those baby will be right beside God saying that the one who kill me.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:50 am
Member of Humanity
December 20th, 2010
11:48 am
“Member of Humanity,” NEWS FLASH: We don’t hate Vick for the color of his skin, you ignorant fool. My neighbor is black, my employer is black, and my president is black, and I like all of them. We dislike Vick because he kills dogs for sick joy, you buffoon. YOU LOVE VICK BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. You probably like O.J. Simpson too, for the same reason. Get off the big-boy blog; you are overmatched here, simpleton
I don’t know how you got that impression from my post. To set the record straight, I despise Michael Vick. The is a special ring in Hell for him, and anyone who did/ does what he has. I’m proud to say that I judge a man by his actions not the color of his skin. And its a shame that we all can’t do the same.
WHO CARES WHAT BOTH OF YOU THINK, THIS IS A FOOTBALL BLOG NOT A BLOG ABOUT COLOR!!!!
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
11:51 am
“Reality Check,” if Andy Reid is such a great coach, then why does he allow his players to be penalized for showboating so much? Why does he let Jackson do that stupid backsplash into the end zone as he did the other day, costing his team a penalty? Remember when Jackson spiked the ball on the one-yard line last year, costing his team the touchdown? Why does he allow him to run around like a fool in the end zone before taking a knee, taunting the other team, costing them another penalty? Why does he allow him to run along the one-yard line from sideline to sideline before scoring the touchdown, as he did yesterday? The Eagles simply have two or three of the fastest players in the NFL, that’s all. They exhibit extremely poor sportsmanship, and Reid allows it to go on. This is lousy coaching, and one of these days it’s going to cost them a GAME – hopefully, in this year’s playoffs.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
11:51 am
The Great Mike Vick.
EAT THAT, Falcon fans!!! LMAO!!!
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
11:53 am
“Member of Reality,” please see my correction and apology above! (I realized you were quoting “ASHCAN” when I re-read your post.)
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
11:53 am
GO FALCONS AND saints Lover………ya’ll sound like you just got out of a time machine, from the 18 hundreds.
There are plenty of female sports fans, you ignoramuses.
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.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:54 am
Mike Vick is the MVP and Ryan is not!!!!!!
Eat Crow, Falcon Fans AND MR.BLANK HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
P Rose
December 20th, 2010
11:55 am
Vick Supporter AKA Jock Supporter.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
11:55 am
@Katherine
Get out of here please. Go comb some hair or something
Dawgs Fan
December 20th, 2010
11:56 am
@SawThat1nce….. You’re right. Man looking female with short hair sports fans. Isn’t that right Saints Lover.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
11:56 am
@P Rose
Come up with something new,lol. Vick is the MVP. Ryan is the checkdown king. Ryan is NOWHERE CLOSE to Vick. You know it
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:56 am
Add 1200 rushing yards for Michael Turner
300 for Snelling
3350 yards passing for Ryan
100 catches for White
Best TE in the league with Gonzalez
Best Kicker in Bryant
Anthony
December 20th, 2010
11:57 am
Vick actually lost one game this year, I believe. Kevin Kolb lost the other 3
Tweets that mention The Falcons are the class of the NFC, but a familiar face looms | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
December 20th, 2010
11:57 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by willmcjunkin, Atlanta Daily. Atlanta Daily said: Mark Bradley – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) http://bit.ly/g3FcSK [...]
papadawg
December 20th, 2010
11:57 am
I don’t care what Vick is or was but I know one if you ain’t wearing a Falcon uniform you ain’t S__T
Saints Lover
December 20th, 2010
11:58 am
@Vick Supporter… Now you talking. Yeah, Katherine go comb her hair. HAHAHA!!!!!!
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
11:58 am
I’m not a hockey fan, so I don’t watch it on TV; but I wonder if everytime Danny Heatley suits up to play, if they, the media, play over and over again, the videotape where his car crashed into that fence and killed his best friend. Or, if it’s even MENTIONED over and over and over and over…….Heatley didn’t serve ONE DAY for that; where’s the moral majority outrage over THAT? How can HE get away without consequences but you people want Vick to burn in h3ll for some dogs? Why didn’t HE smudge the sacred name of Atlanta? Why is HE forgiven for vehicular homicide, but Vick will be forever denigrated because of the dog fighting?
PS: I’m glad he’s back. And I hope he beats the crap outta Atlanta — just so that you holy rollers can REALLY have something to hate him for.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2010
11:58 am
@VickISSICK
Woman, if Mike Turner got hurt it would be over for the Falcons. HE is your best player. Not Ryan
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:58 am
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
11:56 am
Add 1200 rushing yards for Michael Turner
300 for Snelling
3350 yards passing for Ryan
100 catches for White
Best TE in the league with Gonzalez
Best Kicker in Bryant
And a loss to the EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
11:59 am
papadawg
December 20th, 2010
11:57 am
I don’t care what Vick is or was but I know one if you ain’t wearing a Falcon uniform you ain’t S__T
And that is why VICK is better than every player on the falcons team because they ain’t sh!t
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.
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
Mv7, Vick supporter, ashcan, Ryan haters, Falcons haters,Eagle fans……Micheal Vick, will not even be in the NFL, three years from now, nobody will be talking about him, and the Eagles will be in the bottom of the NFC barrel.
Matt Ryan, and the Falcons will still be at the top of the NFL, and contending for the SB each year, in three years, with many, many years of success in their future.
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
They exhibit extremely poor sportsmanship, and Reid allows it to go on. This is lousy coaching, and one of these days it’s going to cost them a GAME – hopefully, in this year’s playoffs.
Yeah it’s poor sportsmanships because they’re winning. If they were loosing you’d be laughing your fat azz off!!
Danny Heatley is the poster boy for good sportsmanship you betchaa!! And the best part is that he ’s not a convicted felon!!! Nope not him!!! He drove drunk, killed his best friend and didnt’ serve ONE DAY OF TIME SO NO RECORD!!! Gotta love these double standards!!!
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
three years from now, nobody will be talking about him, and the Eagles will be in the bottom of the NFC barrel.
That’s what you said 3 years ago………..
DollarDawg43
December 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
All of this bickering is entertaining or a little sad, depending on your point of view.
However, to get back to reality and the real subject at hand, there is still a LOT of football to be played. Given the talent on each and every roster these days, any of the three teams being discussed could play well and lose the last two games of the season. All won’t because the Falcons and Saints face off but the point is, don’t get ahead of yourselves, a lot can change in two games in the NFL.
As for Michael Vick, he screwed up, paid the price and earned his way back into the league. I am happy for him but glad he didn’t return here. There was just way too much baggage/history. It would never have worked. It doesn’t mean you have to hate him.
The Saints bother me because (like us) they never seem to get rattled and can score at will when they are clicking. The Eagles bother me because of their team speed-that team is scary quick. That said, we know we have the Saints next week so that is all we have to worry about right now. We don’t know if we’ll even play the Eagles again this year. Why argue about it now?
Saints Lover
December 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
@Katherine… I’m going to go eat lunch but I will be back though. So it I don’t comment right away it because I am eating luch. Just so you know you’re Falcons are sorry. GO SAINTS!!!!!!!
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
Careers Stats:
Ryan (less than 3 years)
61% completion rating
9677 Yards
63 TD’s
34 Ints
86.5 rating
Michael Vick stats (7 years)
55% completion rating
14,300 yards
92 TD’s
57 INT
80.3% rating
In another year and 1/2 Ryan will eclipse Vick’s numbers with better completion % and rating.
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?
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.
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:05 pm
MV7,
Yeah a loss to the Eagles and Kevin Kolb, not Mike Vick.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:05 pm
SawThat1nce
December 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
Mv7, Vick supporter, ashcan, Ryan haters, Falcons haters,Eagle fans……Micheal Vick, will not even be in the NFL, three years from now, nobody will be talking about him, and the Eagles will be in the bottom of the NFC barrel.
Matt Ryan, and the Falcons will still be at the top of the NFL, and contending for the SB each year, in three years, with many, many years of success in their future.
LMAO!!!!! And three years from now Vick will still be outshining NOODLE ARM
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.
Reality Check
December 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
NFL LOVES RATINGS!
The bottom line is Vick puts seats in the stadium and behind televisions and Ryan doesn’t – plain and simple.
Its a reality people and hate is not going to change that.
On PRIME TIME T.V., The Eagles are a perfect 7-0.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:05 pm
MV7,
Yeah a loss to the Eagles and Kevin Kolb, not Mike Vick
Vick will tear the 22nd ranked falcon defense apart
Mindy
December 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
I understand the racists dont wont to give Matt Ryan any credit because he is white but any fool can see he is doing his job and performing well.
Oh grow up!! When Matt Ryan is on par with Peyton Manning/Eli Manning and/or that guy in New England THEN we’ll talk. Until then grow up!
F Troop
December 20th, 2010
12:07 pm
Bradley you’re on to something.
It would appear – assuming a division championship and the #1 seed – that the road to the SB will run through BOTH the Saints and the Eagles. Crazy. It doesn’t get any more poetic or cosmic than that.
Both teams have tormented us this year and in years past. One, a loud and obnoxious arch-rival, is the defending SB champions whose fans never seemed to have learned how to win with class. But that’s OK, they lost a bit of swag with that loss to the Ravens.
The other is led by a QB with more history and drama with our town to officially label him as an abusive ex-lover. While true, the Eagles have beaten us, it was Kolb and not Vick.
If we see the Eagles again it will be Vick, like a Caesar, returing to the Forum – and we all know what happened after that.
The moon and stars seem to be lining up and directing our gaze in the direction of those two teams – and all I can say is I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Nice win, Falcons, and keep looking up!
VickISSICK
December 20th, 2010
12:07 pm
Mindy,
Seriously? Are you even saying that Eli Manning is better than Ryan? God, I see you don’t know much about football.
MV7 for MVP
December 20th, 2010
12:07 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
And Vick LEAD his team back from 21 points down, when has RYAN(AKA NOODLE ARM) done that