The Atlanta Falcons own The National Football Conference’s best record at 11-2. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is 68 yards away from reaching the 4,000-yard mark in passing for a second consecutive season. The Falcons have clinched The NFC South Division Title for 2012 and they have their eyes set now on a first-round bye as well as home field advantage throughout The NFC Playoffs. The Falcons have a lot going for them, but they are still searching for respect and they have an opportunity to earn some when they face the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants this Sunday at The Georgia Dome. Winning in the regular season hasn’t been the problem for The Falcons under head coach Mike Smith as they are 77-54 in his four-plus seasons in Atlanta. The Falcons have continuously came up short against the teams that can be categorized as the class of The NFC.
Along with The Giants, The Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints have combined to win four Super Bowl Championships since 2007. In the past few seasons The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers have emerged as contenders in the conference as well. Since Smith became The Falcons head coach in 2008, Atlanta is 7-10 against these teams in the regular season. It hasn’t helped The Falcons case that they are 0-3 in the postseason with Smith and Ryan which includes two blowout losses to The Packers and Giants. In order for The Falcons to make it back to The Super Bowl for the first time since 1998, these are the teams that they are going to have to contend with in the month of January.
Some skeptics of The Falcons might look at this season and criticize the team for winning seven games so far that were decided by a touchdown or less; but in The NFL you don’t apologize for losing. In the postseason it is all about winning the close games in order to advance.
The Falcons will have a chance this Sunday to quiet all of their critics in front of a national audience. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will more than likely be calling the game for FOX which means that they will be busy criticizing Giants quarterback Eli Manning which will allow Ryan and The Falcons to fly under the radar. The Falcons are undefeated this season at home, but they are playing a team in The Giants that have made it an art form to win on the road as seven of their last eight playoff victories have come on the road including two Super Bowl triumphs.
Led by Ryan, The Falcons boast the fourth best passing attack in The National Football League as Atlanta is on pace to finish the season with three receivers going over the 1,000 yard mark in receiving as wide receiver Roddy White (1,140), Julio Jones (997), and tight end Tony Gonzalez (831) have all put up big numbers. The key for The Falcons will be running the football as running back Michael Turner is not on pace to reach the 1,000 mark in rushing. Between Turner and running back Jacquizz Rodgers, The Falcons have not a had running back reach the century mark in rushing since Week 9 when Atlanta defeated The Dallas Cowboys by a score of 19-13. As a team The Falcons are only averaging 3.7 yards per carry which is 28th in The NFL.
The Falcons must contend with a Giants special teams unit that saw rookie running back David Wilson record 227 kick returns yards which was highlighted by a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown yesterday in The Giants 52-27 victory over The Saints. Through 13 games The Giants defense only has 31 sacks on the season, but you know that defensive ends Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Jason Pierre-Paul can explode at any time which means that Ryan and his offensive line must be ready.
Sunday’s 30-20 loss to The Carolina Panthers is not what The Falcons needed as it will add more fuel to the fire of their skeptics, but they have a chance on Sunday to wash away any doubt about their ability going into the playoffs. If The Falcons are able to defeat The Giants on Sunday then they would have defeated every team in The NFC East this season. It would also somewhat wash the bad taste that The Falcons had to endure when they lost to The Giants 24-2 in The Wild Card Round last season. Over the past few seasons The Giants have embraced the spotlight while The Falcons have melted under it. You don’t ask for respect, you earn it and this Sunday opportunity will be knocking for The Falcons at The Georgia Dome.
Leave A Comment