Eight years later, the Packers must come to Mr. Blank’s house
That giddy night in Green Bay: Blank, Vick and Sonny Perdue. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Eight years ago, the rookie owner saw his sixth-seeded team upset Green Bay at Lambeau Field on a snowy Saturday night. This Saturday night, Green Bay will play here as the lower seed, as an underdog seeking to unseat a member of the NFL’s upper crust. Because that’s what Arthur Blank’s Falcons have become.
“We’re a relevant team in the NFL now,” Blank said this week. “This is an important team in the NFL.”
Note that Blank chose to use one word twice — “team.”
On the night of Jan. 4, 2003, the emphasis wasn’t so much on the collective as an individual. That famous upset was seen as a function of Michael Vick, described in the fifth paragraph of the Associated Press game report as “the 22-year-old improvisational genius.” But Vick would preside over only one more playoff victory as a Falcon, and he took his final snap for this franchise on Dec. 31, 2006.
Yet here the Falcons sit, the reversals of losing Vick and Bobby Petrino, head coach for all of 13 games, having been rendered a long-ago memory. They were a playoff team in 2008, a winning team in 2009, the class of the NFC this season. These Falcons, simply put, are constructed better than any Falcons have ever been.
Said Blank: “This team reflects Thomas [Dimitroff, the general manager] and Smitty [coach Mike Smith]. This team is very balanced — No. 5 in both offense [points scored] and defense [points yielded] and last in penalties. That’s not a formula for glamorous, but it is a formula for success.”
Back to January 2003: Vick controlled that game in Green Bay and the Falcons became the first visitor to beat the Packers in a playoff game; a week later, the Eagles controlled Vick on a blustery night in Philadelphia and won by two touchdowns. Those Falcons had but one way to win, and that way was tied to No. 7. These Falcons have many ways.
“We’re more balanced,” Blank said. “There’s not a single player who’s the focus. Michael was extremely talented, and win, lose or draw there were people who’d come to watch him play.”
Also this: “I’m thrilled about this year, but also beyond this year — and not just because of our quarterback Matt Ryan. We’re positioned for success for a very long time.”
Blank’s first season as owner was giddy beyond all expectation: He bought the team in February 2002, saw Vick rise from newly promoted starter to Pro Bowl quarterback, saw his team finish 9-6-1 but back into the playoffs when New Orleans lost at home to Carolina on the regular season’s final day. Then the Falcons went to Wisconsin and won, and in July 2003 the team arrived for training camp in Greenville, S.C., widely tipped as a Super Bowl team.
Then Vick broke his leg against Baltimore in the third preseason game, which undid the 2003 season, which led Blank to fire Dan Reeves and hire Jim Mora, who led the Falcons to the NFC title game — also in Philadelphia, also a comprehensive loss — before running out of ideas. So Blank fired Mora and hired Petrino, and by the shank of 2007 this team had become an object of pity: Quarterback in jail, coach in Arkansas.
The Falcons weren’t seeking excellence when they went out hunting a new GM and a new coach in January 2008 — they were hoping for a shred of credibility. They found Dimitroff via webcam and Smith via a series of interviews at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and now Blank’s beloved franchise appears built to last. Which beats the heck out of being built to finish last.
First things first, however: The Packers in another playoff game. Who’s Blank picking? The Pack by a touchdown? “Yeah, right,” he said, unappreciative of the insolence.
Then: “We’re certainly in a better position [as opposed to eight years ago, when the Falcons, as the No. 6 seed, couldn't play a home game] … We’re set up to have a chance to do well. That said, we’re playing a team that travels very well.”
Eight years ago, the Falcons had to go play in the snow to announce themselves to the NFL. This time the road to the Super Bowl leads through Atlanta — where as we know it never ever snows.
By Mark Bradley
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238 comments Add your comment
Samuel Clemens
January 15th, 2011
10:01 am
I just got all four wisom teeth out yesterday morning and im still going to be in Sec 225 tonight!!!!!!!!!!! Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!
MARCIA
January 15th, 2011
10:06 am
Could you possibly have found a picture WITHOUT
MARCIA
January 15th, 2011
10:08 am
could you have found a pict without vick
papadawg
January 15th, 2011
10:45 am
We’re going to win by uglying the Packers back to Green Bay
ijonathan
January 15th, 2011
10:49 am
@JSS…”Cutty Shark”…LMAO…
JSS
January 14th, 2011
4:11 pm
“No, I would imagine that Mr. Blank is probably more likely to be sipping on Dom Perignon.”
He drinks ‘Cutty Shark’ like most of his generation, and cuts it with anything but water like you’re suppose too…
quickwitt
January 15th, 2011
10:56 am
PMC – Falcons ARE relevant. Their 13-3 season, number one seed, makes them quite relevant. What they don’t yet have is respectability. Nearly all the pundits are picking the Packers to win; they picked the Saints 3 weeks ago for the same reason: opponent perceived to be the better team. Falcons did not win that game, hence more of the same rhetoric this week with Packers being the consensus national choice. A big difference this time is there’s no tomorrow. With the Saints game, a loss was inconsequential because a bad Carolina team was next on the schedule. I expect a greater sense of urgency and focus, particularly offensively for this game.
If the Falcons want to garner respect nationally, they simply have to win this game. It’s time!
DMAN
January 15th, 2011
11:00 am
Why do you waste time commenting on SORRY, been doing same crap last 2yrs.Well rested Falcons = long night for Pack!
Who Cares?
January 15th, 2011
11:08 am
Hey Falcons Sorry, just a “heads up” that the gub-mint offices will be closed this coming Monday, so your checks will be a little late next week.
Perdue won’t be at the game tonight either. It’s his first weekend to be out of the Governor’s office and in Houston County, where he and his neighbors can celebrate the $60,000,000.00 he funneled their way while he was in office for special interest projects. Who knows, he and Vick have such similar character and ethics, they might just spend the weekend fishing together!.
SawThat1nce
January 15th, 2011
11:13 am
Falcons will win by 10.
I knew it was coming
January 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
The first visitor to be GB in a playoff game. Hell, he was the first in a line of playoff losses. First, nothing else. GB before that game had something special. After that game, they lost many. Had GB lost only that playoff at home, now that is something to write about.
I didn’t know the idiot only one one more playoff for Atlanta.
By the way. who threw the last pass for Philly this season. Whose bone ahead decision was it? Exactly, Vick was a farce….again….this season.
carnac the magnificent
January 15th, 2011
12:05 pm
Who are two dudes who need to get a life? Buck Commander & rawdawg
I knew it was coming
January 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
I can’t smell or typ this mornings.
I knew it was coming
January 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
Remember the pic of Vick sitting of the bleachers with Blank and Blank’s hands on Vicks knees. Blank got what he deserved with Vick. He kept coddling and coddling.
Joe Tess Fish House
January 15th, 2011
12:20 pm
Perrier Jery is a fist round bust and ti will caused the Flacons tonignt now that Gren Bay has a powerfil runnin attack.
Sorry 2 say but 1 and done.
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
Bobby Petrino and whenever anyone in the ATL uses the outhouse we say “just a minute I have to take a Petrino”…I know I know it never gets old saying it.
richardb
January 15th, 2011
1:00 pm
Vick doesn’t play for us anymore so let’s leave hime at home where his team is and focus on our Falcons. Green Bay is dangerous and we need to be ready. If we take away Rodger’s ability to go downfield, think we win going away. We need to keep our penalty and turnover free play going and no team can stop us!
Mike Smith is great coach, Blank did an awesome job picking this guy. Hope he leads us to the Super Bowl like Reeves did but with a different result.
Joe Tess Fish House
January 15th, 2011
1:16 pm
Enter your comments here
SawThat1nce
January 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
MB……Why do you have to have a picture of two people that mean nothing more to Ga. than bad history, attached to your article?
Georgia Man
January 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
82% of Georgia natives are introduced to their future spouses at family reunions
Mora less Petrino
January 15th, 2011
1:34 pm
TheAntiMe, GO BIRDS! (Here and Chicago), means Falcons & Seahawks this weekend. Actually, I’d like for the Falcons to play the Bears. If ATL plays Seattle next week, everyone would discount the Falcons getting to the big show. With a win tonight, either team coming from the Chicago game should be a W in the Dome for our guys.
Mora less Petrino
January 15th, 2011
1:44 pm
GO BIRDS here and Chicago means Falcons & Seahawks. Wouldn’t mind see the Bears come here though.
GT
January 15th, 2011
2:12 pm
Two years ago the press was tearing into the Falcons for not having receivers. The great thing about a drop back quarterback that doesn’t move much in the pocket, the receivers are not ambushed by the ball, not knowing where and when it is going to be released. I often wonder if Vick had stayed would we have traded White, like we had years ago with a talented quarterback who ended up in Green Bay.
Ty
January 15th, 2011
2:31 pm
Falcons will lose 27-24!
Underground Atlanta
January 15th, 2011
2:43 pm
`
Harvey Dahl and Tyson Clabo will take care of business again.
Michael Turner will
smoke some cheese.
>>>>>
Trent Dilfer
January 15th, 2011
2:59 pm
GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!! WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!
Van Brocklin
January 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
………. Win one for “The Dutchman”.
ATLFalcons4Eva
January 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
Just 2 wins and we’re in the Superbowl ! !
Put another way, Bean the Packers tonight, and we pretty much as set to beat the Bears / Seahawks and it’s on to the Superbowl.
My prediction:
Falcons 24 Packers 21
Bears 31 Seahawks 24
Falcons 21 Bears 10
Superbowl:
Falcons 24 Ravens 21
WIDawg
January 15th, 2011
4:00 pm
Too bad that this game had to happen before next weekend. Going to be a good gane that sends Matty Ice home from the playoffs early. GB wins 24-17. Packers are just too good and it actually helps them to be in the dome. They play better indoors.
Football wife
January 15th, 2011
8:09 pm
Falcons will be sending cheese whiz back to GB–24 to 17.
Football wife
January 15th, 2011
8:10 pm
Way to go, ZAC BROWN BAND! Go Falcons!
Your Shiny Happy Discotheque Falcons/Packers Open Thread [Video] | Star Talk
January 15th, 2011
10:00 pm
[...] Owner Arthur Blank is happy that “we’re a relevant team in the NFL now.” Meanwhile, in Green Bay, Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers “continues to [...]
respect the house
January 15th, 2011
10:35 pm
the packers should respect blank’s house or he’ll get mad and order atlanta to give him a new stadium!
matt's the man!
January 15th, 2011
10:55 pm
next year, matt should be a lot better and the falcons may win it all!!!!
Troy
January 16th, 2011
4:18 am
Well, I guess you have to give it to “Falcons Sorry.” He predicted exactly what was going to happen in the Green Bay game there at the end of the 2nd quarter. Well played, Sir.
bill
January 16th, 2011
2:38 pm
FugitivePoet
January 14th, 2011
4:42 pm
Come on down packers and pasteurized-food heads: We got sumpin’ for your ####.
Take note pasteurized-food heads: these are not your father’s Southerners. We have learned to temper our hospitality. Only those that are deserving receive our concern. Y’all in the stadium that are clad in envy-green and baby-puke yellow can expect a piece of the beatdown that will be received by your team on the field. You are likely to be less “well traveled” in the future where Atlanta is concerned.
Postscript:
We, the good people of Atlanta, are ever hopeful that, after the Falcons have handed the packers their #### on a platter, the national media are able to capture the doe-eyed tears of Trent Dilbert and his coconspirators—the assembled northeast-biased wasps from that CT network—after their petty dreams and animus have been shattered and as they attempt to slither unnoticed to their limos.
Moreover, we, the good people of Atlanta, demand after said defeat that Dilbert, et al., consider themselves persona nongrata in our beloved South, never to darken our doorways again.
Lastly, after we are awarded the trophy, don’t y’all try to come around for our reknowned hospitality, iced tea, penetrating conversation and world class photo-ops with an “aw shucks, didn’t mean nuthin’” grin on your faces. We will not ever forget your disrespectfulness and insults. Especially you Dilbert.
Rise Up ATL! Rise Up Falcons!
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Hahahahaha, now you sound pretty stupid.
where's vick?
January 16th, 2011
8:25 pm
the falcons never should have gotten rid of vick. with vick, the falcons would in the super bowl. blank blew it—they need to git rid of ryan and bring in a real qb who can win big games. with all the african-americans in atlanta, vick would bring more fans to the games.
Green Bay...All Day
January 16th, 2011
9:23 pm
Ohhh, look at the “Pre-game comments”..where are ya’ll busta’s now? We (Green Bay) dominated you on the field, in the stands, yds. coaching etc…..Ya’ll a long way from being us! I’ll remind you of this beating next year when we come back to the “frozen tundra of the south”! And when we do we’ll bring back a fully participated in camp 2nd yr RB beast of James Starks, a healthy “looking over his shoulder” for Starks RB Ryan Grant and the Beast of them all Jermichael Finley! ooooh ya’ll ace’s are in trouble!!!! But for now keeping watching the replays on NFL Network!
SportsFan31313
January 18th, 2011
1:46 pm
This is what happens when you sell out Michael Vick. “Green Bay played us just like we thought they would play us.” The Falcons had all of the tools to be a Super Bowl Team. They just had an over-rated Matt Ryan. Arthur Blank played up to some of the Fans and sold out their Prize Quarter Back “Michael Vick”. Had they kept Michael Vick, they would definitely won that game and would win this Super Bowl. Arthur Blank, you get what you pay for.
In business, there are no permanent friends and permanent enemies. That is why you were video taped standing in Michael Vick’s Locker Room, prior to the start of the Falcons eagles game in an attempt to patch up your slick dirty deeds you did to him. Michael Vick did nothing to you or the team. He did admit to and was convicted to a crime in which he served time for. Now he is with the Eagles whom Tony Dungy, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, and the Eagles owner felt kind enough to give him another chance. He turned out just great. In fact, spectacular.
If the Eagles had the caliber of players that the Falcons have on the offensive Line and Defensive Secondary, The Eagles would be going to the NFC Championship game next week. But it’s water under the bridge. So just as I predicted it would happen this way, it did. “The Dirty Birds will go one and done, and they will also have the opportunity to sit at home on the couch and watch next week’s game along with everyone else”.
Try again next year, but guess what Mr. Blank. The results will be the exact same. Better try and get Michael Vick. But I doubt that he would ever want to play for you or the organization again.