Atlanta Falcons are Overrated
 

I'm really kinda tired of hearing Atlanta as being contenders now that T.O. is out... Not on these forums, but in the media.

They had the easiest schedule, It's painful to look at.

Let's break it down shall we: I'll put their opponents record over to the right

Opponent Time/Result

@San Francisco Won 21-19 Opponent: 2-12
St. Louis Won 34-17 Opponent: 6-8
Arizona Won 6-3 Opponent: 5-9
@Carolina Won 27-10 Opponent: 6-8
Detroit Lost 10-17 Opponent: 5-9
San Diego Won 21-20 Opponent: 11-3 <- exception!
@Kansas City Lost 10-56 Opponent: 6-8
@Denver Won 41-28 Opponent: 8-6
Week 9 BYE
Tampa Bay Won 24-14 Opponent: 5-9
@N.Y. Giants Won 14-10 Opponent: 5-9
New Orleans Won 24-21 Opponent: 6-8
@Tampa Bay Lost 0-27 Opponent: 5-9
Oakland Won 35-10 Opponent: 5-9
Carolina Won 34-31 Opponent: 6-8

total opponent win/loss: 81 - 115, 70 - 112 if you take away the Chargers game

I really hope they get exposed in the post-season...

comments?

i agree...every falcons game i watched it seemed like they got lucky and squeaked out a win. i know they played some good games, but none that i saw. i just dont think they have the consistency or the confidence to go deep in the playoffs

Over-rated indeed. I stated the same thing in this thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=78947

Yeah I saw that Rdr4evr, it's also what inspired me to make this thread.

I thought they were so over rated that they needed their own thread proclaiming it

Putting Vick in a "West Coast" system with those five turnstiles in front of him is like putting the Mona Lisa in the toilet and then using it for toilet paper.

I'm pretty sure the point of installing the West Coast offense was to plan for a similar situation to last year. Because Vick's "playbook" consists of one play, when he got hurt for an extended period last year no one on the offense knew any plays and they had to hurriedly install a brand new offense in a very short time. I think that both Johnson and Kittner got bad raps last year because they were playing behind a line that is designed not to block and with an offense that had just gotten a brand new playbook only a couple weeks before. I'm not saying those guys are great, but very few traditional pocket qb's could suceed in the Falcons' system from last year.
When Mora came in, he realized that the way Vick plays will get him hurt, they should plan for similar situations. They tried to get another scrambling backup and couldn't (is Seneca Wallace still 3rd string on Seattle?). They put in the West Coast offense so that when Vick gets hurt and Schaub has to come into games, the offense might actually be able to run some plays. That's the real reason Vick played so little in the preseason. You don't need to practice "You guys run upfield and if I happen to notice that you are open in the 2 seconds before I run the ball myself, I might try to throw it to you." The Falcons have no intention of teaching Vick any kind of offense because he is what he is: a great athlete who will make plays on his own until an injury seriously degrades his athleticism or ends his career. They put in the new offense for when he gets hurt.

You can never count out a team with a healthy Vick on it. That guy does things that boggles the mind. They also have decent backs and a solid defense. They may be a tad overrated, but they are still very, very good. With TO being out, I think they'll make it to the super bowl.

with TO out, im not too confident that philly will make it to the superbowl, but i dont think atlanta will either. i think it will either be philly or a surprise team, maybe green bay or someone else who has struggled during the year but gets a miracle run during the playoffs

I don't know... they just haven't shown the poise and consistency to take it to the next level... I mean I'm die hard Pack, but I'm also not optimistic beyond reasonable expectations... Like commentators picking Carolina to win the NFC again.

But I agree with your statement it will be Philly or a surprise.. I seriously doubt Atlanta will make it

What suprise? The NFC is terrible this year. I think the Eagles are going to choke early without TO, and the Hawks are going to the super bowl. But hey, to each his own.

I just stumbled on this thread, but since you read the other one you probably already know, I disagree.

Teams play who are on their schedule, they don't make their own like college football. It's not fair and it is a factor to consider when rating a team, but it can't be changed.

They are the number one rushing team in the NFL, 13th out of 32 in overall defense. They win close games. Like I mentioned in another thread, their QB has an outstanding record as a starter. They went to the playoffs and beat the Packers at home two years ago, they aren't some fluke team.
I am not oblivious though, I recognize that their pass offense is weak. They lead the NFL in yards per rush, as a fan I am happy they are sticking to their bread and butter. Overrated to me is the Seahawks, who were a popular pick to go to the Super Bowl before the season started.

against a team with a solid defense, in the pressure of the playoffs vick will crack, or have his legs broken it is bound to happen

youre right cross-over...the seahawks were overrated, but everyone admits that theyre pretty lousy right now.

i donno, to me they looks too much like a surface team. kinda like the colts i guess. they can play offense and win games, but they cant really come from behind or make drives when they absolutely count the most, or stop someone when they absolutely need to. Like you said, they both rely on their bread and butter, and if that doesnt work they just sit back and watch themselves lose...they have nothing else to rely on or to help bring back the momentum. The real powerhouses do: NE, Pittsburgh, Philly...

Did you know that in 03 NE ranked 6th last in rush offense. Teams knew they were going to pass, but they still were successful in doing so all the way through the Super Bowl. Bread and butter can be a good meal.

well they had their defense to rely on. and i would feel alot more comfortable relying on NE's defense than on atlanta's. atlanta's phantom "13th defense" to me is like Dallas' #1 defense last year. bull-fucking-shit...everyone know that defense sucked, it was just a piss-poor schedule. You could see them giving up lots of yards to big teams, and hardly nothing to the bad ones...the result was a low yards allowed, but the team still coudlnt run with the big boys

Week 1: " Rod Coleman batted down Tim Rattay's pass on a 2-point conversion attempt with 40 seconds left in the Falcons' 21-19 victory over the 49ers"

Week 6: "After struggling for three quarters, Vick rallied Atlanta from a 10-point deficit with an electrifying display in the fourth. He ran for one touchdown, threw for another and then helped run out the clock in the Falcons' 21-20 victory"

Week 11: "linebacker Keith Brooking broke up a fourth-down pass to seal the win"

Week 12: "the Falcons rallied to beat the New Orleans Saints 24-21 when Vick threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Crumpler with 1:22 remaining"

Week 15: "Michael Vick ran for a 12-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal with less than 2 minutes left in regulation, literally flying through the air to get the Falcons to overtime"

Those are examples of everything you say they can not do. You are absolutely incorrect.

That was two posts ago :-b. anyways...well clearly, being a 10-3 team, there will be more instances than not of them stopping people or beating people. but you cant really judge their character based on the games theyve played. Im not saying that if you put them in a tougher schedule they would suck ass and lose every game, because no one knows. im just saying that from what we've seen, its impossible to tell. I dont think anyone can make a convincing argument that they are superbowl caliber, and that is just what people are saying. Now if they make a playoff run and do get to the superbowl, then there will be a convincing argument.

And dont be so blindly confident, lest you will eat your words like last time. Im still waiting for you to let me knee you in the balls. repeatedly. : b

I dont think that the Falcons as a team are overrated. Its more of VIck thats overrated. To me he has to prove that he can make plays with his arms not his feet. if he can do this in the play-offs they can make it far because they still have their great defence, a good running game with warrick dunn, and T.J Duckett. To bring this all together Vick needs to step up his game.

The only close win that should be given credit was over San Diego

The other teams are shit and a team that is touted as Superbowl contenders should mop the floor with them, not win by a squeaker

Overrated....agreed.

Don't forget about the ass-whooping the Bucs gave them. 27-0. Zero, nadda, zilch. There have only been three shutouts all season. Cleveland, San Fran, and ??Atlanta.??

Superbowl teams don't get shut out. Period.

A team that plays good team defense can contain Vick and frustrate him into mistakes. Scheme them to make him run, then punish him.

As soon as the Falcons face a good team in the playoffs, they're done.

i agree dave...but that made me realize something. a good team in the playoffs might not exist in the NFC. the eagles are good, but theres always the possibility that they will be bummed over the loss of TO or self-condem themselves to the idea of a NFC Championship curse, and just not play as well as they can. sigh....

[QUOTE=DDDDave]Overrated....agreed.

Don't forget about the ass-whooping the Bucs gave them. 27-0. Zero, nadda, zilch. There have only been three shutouts all season. Cleveland, San Fran, and ??\QUOTE]

The Bucs play good D , and have a history of dominating Vick and the Falcons. I can admit that. If you were familiar with the NFC south you would recognize that. "Hey, let me find the most obsolete detail and dwell on it." Zero, nada, zilch affect on their PLAYOFF destination. Keep searching for these little blurbs while they coast into the playoffs.

Shpoop, you are regressing. You went from calling them out an overrated team to saying they aren't Super Bowl caliber. Big difference. Not offense, it's just clear that you were way too "gung ho" in your criticism earlier. I clearly disproved that, why not just say you were wrong?

Ace of Spades, thats total fucking bullshit. They should get credit for every single victory. The Dolphins beat one of the best teams in football, don't talk about "shoulds". All teams consist of wonderful athletes. Don't insult the sport. The schedule is the NFL's fault, not the Falcons. You're dewlling on some bullshit about their schedule rather than something worth debating.

no no, i have always been saying the same thing. I dont think they are superbowl caliber, and now that TO is out that is what everyone is saying: Altlanta=superbowl. I disagree wholeheartedly, and hence, i think they are overrated. I wasnt arguing that theyre bad, because they arent...just that theyre overrated when people think they are going to the superbowl

Well, Atlanta may very well indeed be overrated. But you know what? The entire NFC is awful now that the Eagles have lost T.O. I honestly believe you could end up with Philly, Atlanta, Carolina, Green Bay or just about anybody else in the Super Bowl. The conference is wide open.

Let's let the post season show them for who they are. That's all I have to say about Atlanta anymore. They had a piss easy schedule and they're going to get their asses handed to them when they face someone with talent.

My arguments are not shit, I consistently back up my arguments with statistics and base, you on the other hand are resulting to name calling and favouritism.

You say don't insult the game? How is saying that the Patriots should have beaten the Dolphins insulting the game, if i were to say that? Just like a superbowl quality team shouldn't be in tight with New Orleans.

What would you rather debate? Vick? There's an argument on that going on in the Pro Bowl thread... What would you like to debate? Their shitty ass Offensive Line? What?

I've given Atlanta credit where credit is due, they just aren't due much credit.

This is just getting ridiculous. You can argue that the Sparrows are not over-rated until hell freezes over, but the facts have been presented and ignored (statistics/schedule, etc). Vick is a disgrace of a QB who couldn't pass if his life depended on it, and the fact that he is even thought of as an all-star is disgusting.

The Sparrows have been embarrassed by sorry teams and have barely squeaked wins by, uh, other sorry teams, and without a passing game, they will not win in the play-offs. If they do, than I will apologize and take back everything I said (depending on who they play in the play-offs), except the fact that Vick sucks, I will not take that back until he proves he knows how to throw the ball (not just with power either).

15 fumbles and 12 INT's and this guy is a pro-bowler, comedy at its finest indeed. It's a shame that worthy contenders didn't make it.

Agreed, except I believe that the Eagles are the only team in the NFC that GENUINELY has a good team on both sides of the ball. Also, everyone in theis thread are slamming th eFalcons for an easy schedule, but the Eagles have played a lot of games against sun .500 teams as well, yet I see no comments about that.

Either way, I don't think the Falcons are a bad team, but their record does not really, IMO, reflect the their true nature. I was hoping that they'd go 10-6 this year, so 11 wins going into week 15 is amazing for a team with really no depth, and very little post-season experince.

Having said that, I thikn that Mora can bring this team further if they can keep the core players, diversify the offence a bit, and, hopefully, get some good play-off experience.

Still, the Falcons are my team, and even if they don't really deserve, don't we all want to se our team win a bowl? They won't, Pittsburgh will win the Superbowl anyway, but still, dare to dream.

Go Falcons!

Peace,

Pierre

Ace O Spades, I edited by thread before you replied. Regardless, I didn't call you names. I am showing favouritism, and you are showing dislike. You don't like the Falcons, its evident.

What stats and base are you backing it up with. You posted their schedule, thats a good point. You got nothing else besides opinion, for example, "The only close win that should be given credit was over San Diego...The other teams are shit".

I agree to disagree.

Rdr4evr, I acknowledged their schedule. I brought up that they don't pass well. What other stats am I ignoring?

Keep complaining about Vick’s pro bowl status, but remember that NFL players, coaches, and fans all voted him in. You are the minority champ.

The Falcons have lost to a few weak opponents. However, although they pulled off a couple of squeakers, they have proved to be able to hang with other top NFL teams. How can you are that the Eagles are superior to the Falcons? The Falcons have beat 2 teams with winnining records. The Eagles have only beaten three. Granted the falcons received a couple of ass whippings, the Eagles didn't play so hot against the Steelers. I think the Steelers loss was much more significant than the Falcons' three losses. You have to prove you can contend with top teams.

Neither team has looked impressive in the past few weeks. I think a match-up between these two teams would be a good football game, and I would like to see it.

As far as Vick goes, some of his stats look impressive. Some such as the interceptions and fumbles mentioned above definitely things you want to have under your belt. However, I think Vick is a pro bowler because of what he contributes to his team. The Falcons would not be in the great situation they are currently in without Michael Vick leading them.

Disclaimer: I'm going to start by saying I'm a Falcons fan.

I totally agree that their record is in part due to a weak schedule. Before the season began, with the team they had assembled, I expected them to get 8-10 and have a shot at a wild card. For them to get 11, and possibly up to 13, is extremely fortunate.

But I also think that part of their record has to do with the fact that they have a healthy Vick, and a pretty solid defense. I don't see them getting 11 wins with Matt Schaub as their QB, or with the same defensive scheme as was used last year.

To me, the Falcons aren't overrated, but just simply decent. Not stellar, but just decent. I can't fault people saying that the Falcons are contenders for the Superbowl, simply because you have to admit they have a pretty good shot. They have a home game in the playoffs, which is a huge advantage, and (assuming both they and Philly win) will face a weakened Eagles team. Certainly Vick and co will have a revenge factor in their minds from their divisional playoff loss from 2 years ago.

Also, I can certainly use the same overrated via strength of schedule argument with the Eagles. But I'm smarter than that because I know that the Eagles have a decent team (but should be interesting to see how they respond to the TO loss).

Whatever happens the rest of the way, the Falcons will need to get some WRs and develop Vick more as a passer. I still hold my breath every time he runs up the field and flails his body after a dive/awkward tackle. But the thought of a Vick who can both pass well and bust out a highlight reel rush every game is better not just for the Falcons but for the NFL in general.

i guess i will concede to that. they are only decent, but have a shot because of the mediocrity of the NFC. i think that if they get to the superbowl and face the patriots or steelers, they will get smoked and a pancake.

Vick just got a 10 year fucking contract! BAHAHAHAHAHA, what a joke, this guys legs aren't even going to last 10 years. I heard that he will get $100,000,000 as well, which is more than that other QB makes, you know, the one that is actually good? I think his name is Manning. The Falcons might as well taken that money and burned it, what a waste. They will regret this one in a year or two.

http://nfl.com/teams/story/ATL/8030762

Vick is getting paid more than Manning? Wow, this is a new low for football.

Vick's total deal is worth more, but thats because he signed for 10 years (Manning signed for 7).

Per year, Manning makes more.

Vick got a better signing bonus as well......

Bingo! To continue to beat a dead horse....

People keep whining about the Falcons strength of schedule this year...well as all of you by know by now, the NFC is a busch league, cupcake conference this year. Only 4 teams at the moment are playing ABOVE .500 ball. FOUR teams. So every team plays an easy schedule, it's really that simple. Before the season began the Falcons were projected to have something like the 14th hardest schedule in the league, pretty much right down the middle - it's not their fault that their competition fucking blows. BUT, what does matter is the fact that they get the job done. They win the games they're supposed to win, it's really that simple. Not sure how people can fault them for that.

And about these close games. I think a sign/mark of a talented and gully team is the boys that pull out the close ones. Look at the Pats from years past...hell, look at the Panthers from last year and all their come-from-behind-wins and squeakers. You have to know how to win the close ones, period.

Having a rushing attack/time control offense of a healthy Duckett, Vick, and Dunn combined with their above average D I think makes them easily the top team in the NFC now that TO is gone...I'm sitting here picking my brain for another NFC team that someone else can even argue. First off fuck the NFC West. So they're out. Second the problem with the NFC North is a common problem among the two top teams - coaches by the name of Mike. Third, in the NFC East the Iggles are the most famous chokeartists since well, since Monica Lewinsky. And until they prove otherwise, WITHOUT TO, and with pussy ass reveivers like Pinkston, I'll continue to pick the Falcons as the favorites. Easily.

i say whether they're overrated depends entirely on what you think of 'em. as far as 3-loss nfl teams go, they're in the lower chunk of them historically. still, who's more deserving of a bye in the nfc? i say no one. who's got a qualified case to make a super bowl run? i say carolina if they still have a way in, and maybe minnesota if randy moss is actually healthy and playing hard. beyond that, the top 2 teams always have a huge advantage with home field and the bye week, and i think it puts both teams (atl phi) in good shape since they don't stand to see any teams noticeably better than they've already played.

i also think your argument is slightly problematic when you take the only game they've played against high-level competition (SD) and disregard it. if they're 1-0 against teams with great records, maybe they're one of those teams that just always pulls out wins. their team, with a strong running game and TE, is built MUCH more for wearing teams down and playing close. i think that plays to their advantage with their home crowd, and if they have to play outside in the cold (philly)

This is the funniest part of Vick's contract: the $37 million in guaranteed money. Now when Vick gets hurt again or for good, they still have to pay him. What a great idea.

Didn't Vick miss todays game? I think he had a shoulder injury......won't be his last.

The Falcons just lost to the Saints 26-13. Is anyone going to praise them now?

I will.

They were resting Vick, Crumpler, and Duckett'll be out until the playoffs. They already wrapped up a bye in the first round and there's no way to catch the Eagles for home field throughout. Who knows who else they were resting...why would they risk injuries to their starters?

Here's the sub's (Matt Schaub) glorious stats in leiu of Vick: 17/41, 188yds, 0 TD's, 2 INT's, 1 Fumble, sacked 3 times

Those numbers are almost equal to Vicks.....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

hahaha!

That one actually had me laughing out loud

Sad thing is that it's true, take a look at Vicks numbers from his last game:

28-11 for 154 yards and 2 INT's with a 51.8 rating and 2 fumbles. He was also sacked 4 times. So really, this Schaub guy is better.

I think you forgot to mention that he also rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown. Oh, and you also conveniently forgot the most telling stat...THEY WON!!!

We all know Vick's no Kerry Collins but come on man... :rolleyes:

Are you saying that Vick is better than Collins? Now I will be the first to say that Collins is mediocre and I would take Gannon over him any day of the week, but the numbers he has put up have been FAR better than Vick (I'm assuming you were being sarcastic, if so, refer to the numbers below for proof that Collins is better, if not, ignore this).

VICK: 314 - 175 for 2278 yards with 13 TD's and 12 INT's and 15 fumbles with a rating of 76.4

COLLINS: 474 - 274 3353 yards with 21 TD's and 17 INT's and 4 fumbles with a rating of 79.6

Point proven.

Ok, so I don't know when exactly this thread turned from a discussion of the Falcons in general into a Vick bash-fest, but whatever.

Kerry Collins might have better numbers than Vick as a pure passing QB (I wouldn't really go so far as to say "FAR better"), but Vick and Collins are completely different QB's, and it's kinda useless to compare them statistically side-by-side. If you do, you definitely cannot neglect the 800+ yards rushing he's contributed.

I'd love to see Vick develop his passing game more, but until then, I'm quite happy with Vick, and I'll take him any day over Collins, and most (not ALL) of the other QBs in the league.

just my $0.02

Wow... talk about a thread full of jealous Vick/Falcon's haters. Ive never seen so many in my life.

I dont feel like arguing, so im just gonna say see ya guys in the Super Bowl. Its gonna happen.

I am an Atlanta Boy... cut my teeth on Bartkowski and Jenkins, Riggs and White Shoes... Quit hatin folks... I mean YES their schedule was the weakest of the teams remaining in the playoffs... But I predict Atlanta gets into the Superbowl...

First they spank the real pretenders from St. Louis...
Second Philly will have their hands full with a talented Minnesota and will exhaust themselves .... Atlanta Beats Philly in Philly...

Atlanta Looses to the Steelers... a truely well rounded Team.

Vick should move to reciever or R.B. then Shaub will be a great Q.B. and have an awesome aresenal to work with.. Dunn, Ducket in the backfield... Crumpler on the end and Price will finally pay off because everyone would be double teaming Vick on the long routs.... You heard it here first!

Go Falcons!

Oh and before I forget... Remember 2 yrs ago... Vick Ran amuck on the Vikings to get into the playoffs... then dismantled Green Bay in Green Bay... So keep on hating if you want. He is NOT a true "old fashioned" quarterback... he is the essence of something new to come across football... Did anyone see the Rose Bowl? The Texas Q.B. is in the Vick mold and he single handedly won that game.... All hail the new King of football... Vick is a God amid mere mortal football players... We have built it and now people are coming in droves....

See you in Jacksonville in February.

Vick? King of football? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!! I think I just wet myself from laughing so hard.

That's a VICKtorious remark. Very insightful.

I think business decision wise this wasn't a bad move. He's brought so much extra revenue in it's insane. Is he worth it as a player? I personally think so. Business side though, a healthy Vick is insanely marketable.

Remember it's a sport, but it's also there to make money. A person with what Vick has is amazingly sellable.


I'm kinda a falcons fan and you know what, I have fun watching their games. If you die hard football fans wanna rant and rave about consistency making a team, let me just remind you about which teams have won the last 3~5 super bowls. Other then the patriots, it always changes.




Out of topic, these are the same people who probably make fun of the Atlanta braves because they can't win a world series but don't even acknowledge the 13 season win streak.



back on topic,

Go for who you want, all I know is whatever team is in the superbowl I don't care cause I'll still be f'ing drinking and slutting around.

After giving the beating they gave St. Louis they have a good shot at the Eagles. But I think no matter what who ever wins the Patriots-Steelers game is going to win the SB. Unless hell freezes over.

Numbers are everything in football. That's why the Colts, with record breaking Peyton Manning, whomped the Patriots, with a far less impressive Brady. That's also why Vick is a terrible QB who has no impact on the defenses he plays, and has led his team right into the ground with a terrible record and a high pick in the draft.







Wait...

@Kansas City Lost 10-56 Opponent: 6-8

Thats pretty bad, they are not even a playoff team, the pats barely lost to a non playoff team and that was not a blow out, the iggles have only lost to a 15-1 team with their starters in, and the stillers only loss was to a good baltimore team and with tommy maddox. They are the worst team still in the playoffs

opinion of a die hard raider fan living in atlanta:

atlanta knows they live and die by vick. if he plays, they tend to win, if he doesn't play, they tend to lose. his first season as a starter, they make it to the playoffs, beat green bay in green bay. the next season, breaks his leg in preseason, falcons finish 5-11. this season, 11-4, nfc championship round.

is vick worth the money? blank thinks so, and i guess that's pretty much all that matters, lol. in reality, only 37 million is guaranteed... which isn't all that bad, considering 1. vick puts fans in the seats 2. provided he makes it 10 years, he'll only be 34... not to mention the contract will likely be restructured after 4 or 5 years anyway (huge contracts of this magnitude are almost always to defer salary cap monies).

what do they do well? run the damn ball. led the league in rushing without a player in the top 10. dunn was #15 in the league (finished with over 1000 yards), and i believe vick finished #27 (with over 900 yards).
what else do they do well? run defense.

where are they poor? passing offense. outside of alge crumpler, the falcons have no credible/legitimate threat at wide receiver. peerless price, finneran, jenkins... can't get it done. can't get open deep, can't get open short, not on slants, not on curls... their performance is poor. it's not as if they've been facing the toughest pass defenses either.

also, though vick's scrambling ability can be an asset in designed rollouts, qb draws, etc. ... it hurts them in drop back passing... you have receivers who can't get open (with the exception of alge crumpler), and a guy who can run... once the receivers are consistently not getting open (which is pretty much every game), vick's gotta run. can't believe in the receivers, but he can believe in his legs. with all of that movement and lack of trust, it's hard for the o-line to hold blocks for any longer than about 3 seconds (since vick's gotta make the decision to run or not by then). add to that, the o-line's not very big and you can see the dilemma.


are the falcons overrated, idk.
but the eagles corners will surely shut down the falcons receivers this weekend (not that it will be that hard in the first place). the eagles can easily afford to put 7 or 8 guys in the box, knowing the falcons want to run, without fearing that the falcons will stretch the field.

the falcons db's have to put pressure on the eagles receivers... not too hard, as the panthers did it last year... guess we'll see if d'angelo hall is the real deal or not this weekend. right now, i don't think he's the real deal (as he was absolutely smoked by randy moss in preseason before the hip injury, a game i attended :) ).

I'm sorry man, but KC is no push over team . . . They had a shitty year because their defense isn't great . . . but look over their schedule, not only did they have one of the hardest schedule in the NFL, they never lost a game by a margin of more than 10 . . . they only did that in the 2 of the first three games that they played!

L 24 - 34 09/12/04 at Denver Broncos
L 17 - 28 09/19/04 Carolina Panthers
L 21 - 24 09/26/04 Houston Texans
W27 - 24 10/04/04 at Baltimore Ravens
L 16 - 22 10/17/04 at Jacksonville Jaguars
W 56 - 10 10/24/04 Atlanta Falcons
W 45 - 35 10/31/04 Indianapolis Colts
L 31 - 34 11/07/04 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 20 - 27 11/14/04 at New Orleans Saints
L 19 - 27 11/22/04 New England Patriots
L 31 - 34 11/28/04 San Diego Chargers
W 34 - 27 12/05/04 at Oakland Raiders
W 49 - 38 12/13/04 at Tennessee Titans
W 45 - 17 12/19/04 Denver Broncos
W 31 - 30 12/25/04 Oakland Raiders
L 17 - 24 01/02/05 at San Diego Chargers

I agree with FailedEagle, the Chiefs were better than the record would indicate. They came into Baltimore, and beat the Ravens on Monday night. The Ravens have lost only three times at home the last two years, and two of those were at the hands of the Chiefs. Another Chief victory this year was over the Colts, a 12-4 division champion.

People forget that Atlanta scored a whole 3 more points than their defense gave up. They were right in the middle of the NFL in ratings for both offense and defense. The Eagles, on the other hand, were tied with the Patriots in terms of points given up by defense. Their offense ain't bad either. With Trotter inserted into middle linebacker, the Eagles rushing yards given up per game dropped considerably.

Putting up 47 points on STL is good and all but STL is one of the worst defenses in the game, and you did that at home on turf in a dome. Going to Philly outside in subzero temperatures on the raod is going to hurt. Philly was 8-1 at home (indeed undefeated til they put their starters on the bench at the end of hte year) while Falcons were 4-4 on the road.

Sure numbers aren't everything at all in football but the media is overrating Atlanta hugely. Its like defense in baseball - often the best defenders are the ones who don't need the highlight reel plays - they do it good constantly and consistently.

I have to agree about the Chiefs are a better team than their record would indicate. They have an excellent offense, but their piss poor defense kills them.

Vick is not mature enough but they should be a team to contend with in the coming years, as long as their defense improves along with Vick.

You may apologize now.

My point that Vick and the Falcons suck has once again been proven. Like I said, without a passing game, they're not going anywhere.

Defense wins games

The fact that the Eagles had a better running game going today - a team that ran the least all year - simply showed how much the media overrated Vick. The fact the two teams were called equal by the media... the Eagles lead the whole way.

I cant believe people still want to stick up for Vick, he is garbage. He cant pass for shit, pretty much something every quarterback needs to do. Could you imagine how much it would suck to have to play offense on that team? As a receiver you know your career is over because your never going to get the ball unless your up against some crappy D. As for running backs, they might as well just snap the ball to Dunn and have him hand it off to Vick. It just seems like every play is a broken play and Vick has to run it, gimme a break the Falcons are mediocre at best and did not deserve to be in the NFC Championships.

Rdr4ever, I hoped you had more tact than to come in here with an "I told you so" attitude after the loss. It figures you didn't mention anything after their playoff blowout victory last week. I guess you don't have to apologize since your statement was dependent on "who they play in the play-offs". Lame. Regardless, you said they wouldn't win in the playoffs, and you were wrong. Look at my very first thread, I said the Falcons win by going to their bread and butter (running). Did I chime in after last week’s victory on how that paid off for them. Not exactly, this isn't about me being right or John Doe being wrong. They suck? You are wrong, they are a divisional champ who made it to the NFC Championship. Regardless of schedule or competitors, that is bullshit they can't control. You obviously don't like the Falcons, but coming in here insulting them after they accomplished what only 3 other teams did is pathetic. You don't like the Falcons, that is the only thing you have PROVEN .

The Falcons weren't a Super Bowl team. Vick isn't a great passing quarterback. But how can you call them a bad team with Vick. They may not have an amazing playoff record, but the Falcons win more with Vick than they do without him. I think Mora is about two years away from getting them to the big dance, but don't expect them to be patsies along the way.

They played an 8-8 team last week, that's why I didn't say anything. But you're right about me saying they won't win a play-off game, I apologize for that, but I also did say they wont make SuperBowl either, especially without a passing game. Had Atlanta been in the AFC, they would be lucky to even have a chance, so yes, they still do suck, making play-offs in the NFC this season doesn't prove a thing. St. Louis, Seattle, GreenBay and Minnesota all made it, and who are they? Anyways, no point in arguing now as we all see the Falcons can't win until Vick learns how to play his position.

They showed their overratedness in the Eagles game, unless Vick can do a better job throwing the ball they aren't ever going to the Superbowl.

Sometimes you can't be good unless you break the mold, sometimes you can't be good unless you are the mold.

Like politics sometimes it's a no win situation.

Sometimes, just sometimes... the team in the big dance is just there because of luck.

Sure sometimes you need to break the mold but it showed how one dimensional their team was - and when the Eagles shut down their run, it was over.

i'll just repeat part of the statement i made on 1/20:

the falcons problem is not vick, it's not the fact that they will run on any given play. it's the receivers who fail to get open with any consistency. you can't expect a guy to pass the ball to receivers who can't get open.

the eagles rushed vick, stayed in their lanes, keeping him in the pocket... and no receivers are open, of course the guy's going to get sacked.

the falcons need to draft a legitimate wide receiver and/or make a play for a free agent veteran.

Definently agree. Price is nowhere near the go-to guy they thought he would be when the brought him over from Buffalo, and I can't remember the last time I heard Dez White's name in the play-by-play. I think as Michael Jenkins matures he'll develop into a solid across the middle receiver, but he's definently not a deep threat. I think you have to give credit to Finneran though; he seems like the only receiver on the team who can get open and catch the ball consistantly, although he's not a deep threat either.